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With their first pre-season under Arne Slot well underway, Liverpool could finally seal their first arrival of the summer transfer window – with an offer reportedly expected in the coming days.

Liverpool transfer news

A new manager, a new sporting director in Richard Hughes and the return of Michael Edwards, combined with international tournaments this summer, was always going to delay the Reds in their transfer business. However, now in August, some may have expected those at Anfield to have had at least one deal over the line. Alas, that hasn't been the case, and it seems as though they won't be rushed into securing incomings that aren't deemed suitable enough.

Liverpool could sign best CF since Suarez with move for £59m "powerhouse"

FSG would need to break their record to land this goal machine…

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 3, 2024

The lack of fresh faces hasn't stopped Slot's first pre-season from going to plan, either. The Dutchman has overseen friendly victories over Real Betis and Premier League rivals Arsenal, during which Liverpool fans got a potential glimpse of what he's asking his new side to do.

That's not to say that fresh faces won't be on their way, with fresh reports suggesting the exact opposite. According to Sportmediaset via TuttoJuve, Liverpool are expected to submit an offer for Teun Koopmeiners in the coming days in a deal that would see them sign a midfielder who previously worked under Slot at AZ Alkmaar.

Previous reports indicated that Atalanta have set a hefty price tag of £50m for the Dutchman, which would undoubtedly kickstart the Reds' transfer window just before the Premier League campaign gets underway. Following rumours that Wataru Endo has been attracting the interest of Marseille, who even saw a bid rejected, those at Anfield may well be in need of a midfield addition this summer. And Koopmeiners would certainly be an impressive coup.

"Complete" Koopmeiners can replace Endo

Although Koopmeiners' main position is attacking midfield, his ability to play in both central and defensive midfield means that he could emerge to replace Endo in the long term. The former Stuttgart man even admitted that he is not a long-term solution at the heart of Liverpool's midfield at 31 years old, saying (via This is Anfield): "I don’t care about those reports, but I also think it would be better to get a No. 6 midfielder."

The numbers instantly highlight Koopmeiners' versatility, managing to match Endo defensively whilst also adding an attacking element that the current Liverpool midfielder lacks.

Described as "complete" by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Atalanta man could be the final piece of the Reds' midfield rebuild and the key to the perfect debut season for Slot at Anfield. Having worked with the Dutchman before, it would feel somewhat fitting that Koopmeiners emerges to finally kickstart Liverpool's summer less than two weeks until the Premier League campaign gets underway.

All eyes will be on Slot's first Premier League game against Ipswich Town, which may yet feature a fresh face in the form of Koopmeiners.

Newcastle United’s hunt for a new right-sided forward seems as though it has been going on for months, with the club seemingly no closer to a deal to bring an attacker to St James’ Park.

Noni Madueke has been the name most frequently touted with a move to the Magpies, potentially moving to Tyneside with Newcastle preparing a bid for the talent who is valued at £30m by current club Chelsea.

The youngster would provide an added goal threat in the final third with his record of seven goals or assists in his 23 league appearances last season – an average of one goal contribution every 3.2 appearances.

However, despite his impressive record for the Blues in recent times, Eddie Howe’s side could target another option, who’s available for a cheaper fee, but has already impressed during the 2024/25 campaign.

Newcastle could land £25m attacking sensation this summer

Newcastle's hunt for a new forward to feature alongside the clinical Alexander Isak has taken them all over Europe, but they could agree a deal for a player who is currently plying his trade in England’s second tier.

Earlier this summer, Howe’s side were linked with a move to sign Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto after their failure to secure an immediate return to the Premier League at the end of last season.

The Italian has also been subject to interest from fellow Premier League side Everton this window, with Daniel Farke’s side demanding a fee in the region of £25m to part ways with the 20-year-old.

Gnonto has already impressed during the new campaign, scoring in the 3-3 draw against Portsmouth last weekend, but it’s his stats from last season that would make him a better addition than the Chelsea ace.

Why Gnonto would be a better signing than Madueke

Newcastle talisman Isak has been the club’s go-to man when it comes to goals in recent seasons, scoring a combined 35 goals in the last two campaigns in the Premier League.

He’s proven to be worth every penny of his £60m transfer fee, leading the club to the Champions League for the first time in two decades – an unthinkable feat at the time of his arrival.

Whilst any new addition must be able to contribute with their own goals, they must be able to provide chances to the Swede in the final third to allow the club to try and replicate the 2022/23 season which saw the Magpies reach the Carabao Cup final.

Gnonto would be able to do just that for Howe’s side, achieving more combined goals and assists than Madueke during the 2023/24 campaign.

The Leeds man also completed nearly double the amount of crosses per 90 compared to the Englishman, showcasing his impact in the final third – handing Isak added opportunities in the box to lead the club back towards a European spot.

Apart from providing for his teammates, Gnonto also averaged a higher goal per shot on target rate than Madueke, showcasing his clinical ability in and around the box.

Whilst both players would undoubtedly thrive under Howe on Tyneside, Gnonto would be a cheaper but more effective option that would increase Newcastle’s output in the final third.

He would also be a cheaper option than the Chelsea forward, potentially having the ability to thrive and turn into one of the best young attackers in the division if given the chance in England’s top flight once more.

Newcastle chasing "frightening" PL ace who had a better season than Madueke

Eddie Howe is in the market for a right-winger before the transfer window closes…

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 13, 2024

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed the key improvement Jadon Sancho has made since joining the club from Manchester United.

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• Sancho joined Chelsea in summer
• Blossoming into key player under Maresca
• Has scored two goals and laid on five assists

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sancho has enjoyed some exceptional form for Chelsea in recent weeks, scoring in both of their last two Premier League games, against Southampton and Tottenham. He has also laid on five assists, and Maresca has explained that the winger has managed to add a "finish" to his game.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 24-year-old only managed to contribute to 18 goals throughout his time with Manchester United, across 83 games. At Chelsea, he has contributed to seven goals in 10 games and Maresca believes he is starting to ally creativity with being lethal.

• WHAT MARESCA SAID

  Maresca told Chelsea's website: "Jadon, since we started, is doing well. He was lacking a finish because we had many different games where he arrived one-v-one and he is always looking for an assist. This is good but sometimes he is in a position where he can take a shot and now he is doing better.

  "If you look at us this season, from the right winger with Noni and Pedro, the right pocket with Cole, the number nine with Christo and Nico, we have scored goals. From the left side and left pocket, we struggle a little bit but now we start with Enzo and Jadon. With the five attacking players, we need goals and assists from them. All the same.

  "Off the ball, the way we work, Pedro and Noni on one side and Jadon and Misha on the other, they have to run when we don’t have the ball. It’s not more than that. You can’t only play football when we have the ball, you have to play it when we don’t have the ball. We require sacrifice and hard work."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea play Brentford on Sunday. They are currently second in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Sonia Bompastor revealed the half-time team talk that inspired Chelsea's comeback win over Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League.

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• Chelsea beat Real Madrid 2-1
• Won all six of their Women's Champions League group games
• Bompastor revealed team talk that inspired Chelsea's comeback

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blue staged a remarkable comeback in the second half as they beat Real Madrid 2-1 to maintain their 100 percent win record in the Women's Champions League group stage and qualify for the round of 16 in first place. Caroline Weir broke the deadlock for the hosts in the seventh minute of the game as they carried a one-goal lead into half-time. Catarina Macario then converted two penalties in a span of five minutes after the break to seal a win for her team.

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  Despite extending their winning streak in Europe, manager Bompastor claimed that she was not happy with the performance of the team in the first 45 minutes and revealed what pep talk she used to inspire her players to stage the comeback.

• WHAT SONIA BOMPASOR SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the French coach said: "I was not happy at half-time. I said: 'We need to be on the same page, we only have 45 minutes to achieve our goal and after you will be on your vacation so just give everything you have'."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The reigning Women's Super League champions will now enjoy a well-earned holiday over the winter break and will be back in action on January 12 when they face Charlton in a Women's FA Cup fourth-round clash.

The Premier League is back, and Manchester United got their campaign underway with a hard-fought win over Fulham, who caused them some real trouble last season.

Erik ten Hag's side may have only won the game 1-0, but they looked pretty good throughout the 90 minutes and gave the fans a reason to be hopeful ahead of a long ten months that'll hopefully end in Champions League qualification.

One of the best players in the first half was Casemiro, who showed why he could still be helpful for the team. Likewise, while he could be sold in the coming weeks, Scott McTominay came on for a late cameo and looked okay.

However, while they both looked perfectly fine in their time on the pitch, another starter has seen his valuation skyrocket past theirs'.

Casemiro and McTominay's valuation in 2024

So, based on recent reports, it does look as if McTominay's time at Old Trafford could be coming to an end, with Fulham particularly keen on bringing him to Craven Cottage this summer.

The West Londoners had a second offer rejected for the Scottish international earlier this month worth around £20m, but now it looks like they could come in with a third, improved offer.

However, Marco Silva's side are unwilling to match United's £30m valuation of the player, instead looking to seal the deal at around £25m, although whether the Red Devils are willing to accept that remains to be seen.

Some out there may question such a valuation on the 27-year-old's head, but given that he scored ten goals and provided three assists from 43 appearances last season, it seems more than fair.

Now, while the Lancaster-born ace has seen his stock rise slightly over the last year, his midfield partner, Casemiro, has seen his value plummet.

For example, he joined the three-time European champions for a whopping £70m in the summer of 2022, and while he enjoyed a stellar first season at the club, he struggled last year and, as a result, his valuation from Transfermarkt has plunged to just €20m, which converts to just £17m.

That might seem egregious for such a decorated player, but his fall from grace in the back half of last year was dramatic, with Jamie Carragher claiming that his "legs have gone", which was reportedly also the opinion of the club's coaching staff earlier this summer.

However, with all of that said, while Casemiro's value has plunged and McTominay's has risen, neither player is worth anywhere near as much as one of their young teammates.

Kobbie Mainoo's valuation in 2024

Of course, who else was it going to be? The young midfielder who has seen his valuation explode in the last year or so is 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo.

According to Transfermarkt, the Stockport-born gem is now worth €55m, which converts to around £47m, meaning he is currently worth at least £17m more than McTominay and a massive £30m more than Casemiro.

There may be some people out there who believe this valuation is just too much for a player his age, but based on his performances over the last year or so and his importance to United and England, it's entirely justified.

For example, despite being so young, he made 32 first-team appearances for the Red Devils last season, in which he scored five goals and provided one assist, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 5.33 despite playing all of his games in central and defensive midfield.

Moreover, following his impressive showing at the Euros this summer, the "absolute baller", as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, already has nine senior England caps to his name, which is a glowing endorsement of his immense talent and sky-high potential.

Ultimately, while some may be surprised to see that Mainoo is already worth substantially more than some of his more senior teammates, they shouldn't be, especially as his valuation will keep soaring if he keeps performing at this level.

Deal now close: Man Utd pushing to sign £59m "machine" who's like Rodri

This will complete Ten Hag’s summer spending with a flourish…

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 19, 2024

Tottenham have made a major announcement on star forward Son Heung-min's future amid Barcelona transfer links.

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• Son extends Tottenham stay
• Was linked with a move to Barcelona
• Spurs take on Liverpool on Wednesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The north London club have announced that Son has signed a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until the summer of 2026. There had been speculation over the South Korea international's future at Spurs as he entered the final six months of his existing deal, however, the English side have now put the rumours to rest.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  On Monday, reported that Catalan giants Barcelona were eyeing a move for the Spurs star despite their financial woes, but the Premier League side have now successfully exercised their option to trigger a one-year extension on the 32-year-old's deal. Since joining Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen, Son has appeared in 431 matches across all competitions and has scored 169 goals.

• WHAT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SAID

  The official statement from the club read: "We are delighted to announce that we have exercised the option to extend Heung-Min Son’s contract, which will now run until the summer of 2026."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SON HEUNG-MIN?

  The Spurs captain will be back in action for his club in midweek as they take on Premier League leaders Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie at home on Wednesday.

Chelsea chiefs now want a Premier League defender, who Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has publicly praised, with Todd Boehly and BlueCo already continuing transfer plans despite a very eventful summer window.

Chelsea spend nearly £300 million on 13 summer signings

The Blues spent close to £300 million (£271 million) on 13 new summer signings, with Joao Felix, Mike Penders, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga, Estevao Willian, Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Caleb Wiley, Omari Kellyman, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho all making the move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea offer 3 clubs out-of-window chance to sign "really talented" player

The Blues are eager to find him a landing spot.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 6, 2024

Chelsea also attempted a deadline day move for Victor Osimhen, but they ultimately failed to reach an agreement with the Nigerian, who was then forced to join Turkish Süper Lig side Galatasaray on loan.

They were successful with one deadline day transfer, though, as Sancho joined Chelsea on loan at the eleventh hour. Their deal for the English winger includes an option to buy him next summer, set at around £20-£25 million, and it will be interesting to see if the Man United outcast can resurrect his career in west London.

Chelsea were also linked with a last-gasp move to sign a centre-back, with Benfica starlet Tomas Araujo entering their radar late in the window. It was rumoured that Enzo Maresca wanted another centre-half to replace Trevoh Chalobah, but given the latter's switch to Crystal Palace came in rather last-minute fashion, there was little time for a transfer to be done.

January could represent an opportunity to rectify that and provide Maresca with another astute option for his backline. There could be a few solid options available to them mid-season and when the winter window opens, including Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior.

Chelsea now interested in Jakub Kiwior

According to journalist Graeme Bailey and The Boot Room, Kiwior is considering an Arsenal exit in January, having pledged to help Arteta's side until the winter – where he will then ponder his options.

The former Spezia starlet, who commanded a £13 million price tag in the summer, made 20 Premier League appearances under Arteta last season – bagging three assists as a makeshift left-back, but centre-half is his natural position.

Chelsea are believed to be interested in signing Kiwior as they look at bringing in another central defender, as are other top-flight sides, so this could be worth monitoring heading into January.

“Very good!”, said Arteta on Kiwior and his versatility.

"Especially because obviously he had not a lot of moments before. We had some injuries, and we are asking him to play in a position that he hasn't played, and he's adapting very fast and his performances, they've been really consistent.

“And that's why you need the players that when you call on them, they step in and they get the job done.”

Glasgow Rangers saw a glimpse of the future during their 1-0 Premiership win on Sunday lunchtime, as Hamza Igamane demonstrated why Philippe Clement spent money on bringing him to Ibrox during the summer.

Cyriel Dessers may have started the game, even grabbing an assist during the opening ten minutes, yet his performance was underwhelming once again.

Igamane replaced the Nigerian forward with 25 minutes to go, injecting a much-needed spark into the Rangers attack.

He demonstrated some neat touches and flicks while coming close to grabbing an assist. Despite not making his first appearance for the Light Blues until the Old Firm defeat at the start of the month, there are certainly plenty of claims for the young Moroccan to start against Dundee this weekend.

This area has been one of concern since Alfredo Morelos departed in the summer of 2023, as the likes of Dessers and Danilo have failed to show that they can be trusted to lead the line.

Yes, Dessers may have scored 27 goals for Rangers, but he lacks a certain ruthlessness in the penalty area. Danilo has been unlucky with injuries, which have hampered his Gers career so far.

Igamane and Dessers’ market valuation in 2024

The two strikers are at opposite ends of their careers, with Dessers about to turn 30, while Igamane is still in the embryonic stage.

This is, of course, represented in their current market valuations. The 29-year-old cost the Light Blues £4.5m last summer, but he is now worth £4m according to Transfermarkt, which is a slight drop from what the club paid for him.

As he gets older, this value will continue to deteriorate, especially if he continues to deliver subpar performances for the club.

Igamane joined from AS FAR this summer, as Clement sought to attract youth talent to the squad, although he has only been seen twice during his spell at the club.

The 21-year-old is currently valued at just £840k by Transfermarkt, but unlike Dessers, this should increase exponentially as time goes on.

Once he builds up some match fitness, the centre-forward will be in the mood to score plenty of goals for the Light Blues. If he lives up to expectations, there is no doubt Igamane can become a vital player in the coming months.

Clement will surely make a profit on the striker should he deliver on his early promise, but he isn’t the first striker that joined the club with plenty of promise, yet ultimately failed to shine…

One name that stands out is Tore Andre Flo, who joined the Gers way back in November 2000 for a club-record transfer fee.

How much Rangers paid for Tore Andre Flo

Dick Advocaat returned the club to the summit of Scottish football during his first two seasons in charge, winning five of the six trophies available to him.

When Martin O’Neil was appointed as Celtic manager in the summer of 2000, the Dutchman finally met his match. The 6-2 Old Firm defeat during the early weeks of the new season saw the Parkhead side take advantage in the title race, and they wouldn’t relinquish it.

Needing to do something to stop the charge, Advocaat spent £12m on signing Flo from Chelsea to Scotland, a truly lavish amount at the time, with the fee still standing as the transfer record for the Ibrox side.

A debut goal against none other than Celtic certainly helped endear the Norwegian to the supporters, especially as it was during a 5-1 victory for the Gers, yet they failed to win a trophy that season.

Tore Andre Flo's statistics at Rangers

This maiden strike helped build confidence early for the former Chelsea hitman, who went on to score a further 12 goals.

The 2001/02 season saw Flo emerge as a key player for the club, especially under Alex McLeish, who took over from Advocaat in December 2001.

Indeed, Flo managed to find the back of the net 25 times in 46 games for the Light Blues across all competitions, which included two goals in the League Cup final win over Ayr United – Rangers’ first trophy since the 2000 Scottish Cup.

Hopes were high that the following campaign would see a similar return. Surprisingly, however, McLeish offloaded him to Sunderland in August 2002.

Despite making a loss on the player, judging by inflation, McLeish certainly hit the jackpot on the striker.

How much Rangers sold Tore Andre Flo for in 2024 money

Despite spending less than two years in Scotland, when Sunderland came in with a bid of around £8m after just a few games of the 2002/03 season, it was evident McLeish was going to cash in.

In 2024, however – with Totally Money having adjusted for inflation over the years – this £8m transfer fee would now be colossal.

Indeed, the Norwegian would be worth a staggering £38m if he made the same move just now.

Considering he went on to struggle during his spell back in the Premier League, the decision to sell him began to look like a wise one from the manager.

The Light Blues went on to win the treble that campaign too, yet more evidence that Flo’s departure was a good idea, especially considering how much the club relied on his goals the previous season.

This hefty valuation when accounting for inflation means Flo is worth nearly ten times as much as both Igamane and Dessers combined, showcasing how good a player he was during his peak years.

While Dessers won’t be sold for a profit, Igamane will be hoping to secure a move to a top five league if he lives up to the vast hype that has been generated, not only on his arrival, but also due to his impressive cameos in the previous two games.

Flo may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, but his tally of 38 goals across only 70 games proves he was certainly effective in front of goal.

Clement must now drop 5/10 Rangers ace who lost the ball every 3 touches

The Light Blues struggled during their win over Dundee United at the weekend

By
Ross Kilvington

Sep 16, 2024

Mikel Arteta has hinted Arsenal could use their set piece prowess to hurt Manchester United again, with backup keeper Altay Bayindir set to start.

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• Arsenal host Man Utd in FA Cup
• Bayindir struggled in goal in last game
• Arteta hints at targeting keeper

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal used their set pieces to good effect in their 2-0 Premier League win over United in December and will look to punish the Red Devils again in their third-round FA Cup clash on Sunday in that facet of the game. And after Bayindir, who is expected to start in goal ahead of first-choice stopper Andre Onana against the Gunners, conceded from a corner in their 4-3 Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham, Arteta's men will likely try and test the the Turkey international as much as possible.

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  WHAT ARTETA SAID

  He told reporters: "If there's a way that we believe we can hurt them [United], certainly we will focus on those areas."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  For Arsenal, they will want to bounce back from their disappointing 2-0 Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle last time out, and United will want to start the defence of their FA Cup crown with a bang. Plus, bragging rights are always on the table.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After this heavyweight FA Cup clash at the Emirates, Arsenal take on north London rivals Tottenham in the Premier League on Wednesday whereas United host lowly Southampton a day later.

A week is a long time in football, and while things aren’t all rosy just yet, Manchester United are in a much better spot than they were this time last week.

Erik ten Hag’s side blew Southampton away 3-0 on Saturday and then utterly dominated Barnsley 7-0 in the League Cup last night in what could have easily been a banana skin fixture for the Premier League outfit.

Now, as the Tykes ply their trade in the third tier of English football, United fans can’t and won’t be getting too carried away with the result, but given how poorly the start of the season has gone, it’s still worth celebrating.

There were a number of good performers on the night who have otherwise been underwhelming so far this season, but with a far more challenging test against Crystal Palace to come on the weekend, Ten Hag must immediately drop one of his goalscorers back to the bench.

Antony's game in numbers

Yes, Brazilian winger Antony should be dropped from the starting lineup ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash, despite looking alright against Barnsley.

The former Ajax ace was brought into the team last night in place of the exciting Amad Diallo, and to his credit, he did make an impact.

In addition to winning and scoring his penalty, the 24-year-old took 90 touches, maintained a passing accuracy of 90%, played two key passes, took four shots on target, completed one dribble, and made one interception and tackle to boot.

However, there were still signs of the same frustrating player in his performance to go along with everything he did well, as he lost the ball 13 times, and despite taking so many shots on target, he couldn’t convert any of them in open play, which could help to explain his 6/10 match rating from the Manchester Evening News Samuel Luckhurst.

Moreover, playing well against a team from League One and a team that just gave Manchester City a run for their money in the top flight are two very different things, and the São Paulo-born wideman hasn’t shown enough quality since joining to warrant starting against the Bees.

For example, in his 84 games for the club following his £81m move two years ago, the 16-capped international has scored just 12 times and provided five assists. This means he’s averaged a goal involvement once every 4.94 games, which isn’t good enough, and as such, he should be dropped.

Who should replace Antony

So, for what is already a must-win game against Crystal Palace on the weekend, if United want to keep pace with their top four rivals, Ten Hag should look to bring Marcus Rashford back onto the left wing, move Alejandro Garnacho to the right and start Joshua Zirkzee as the recognised number nine.

Now, starting with the two wingers, and after they both scored last night, they’ve more than earned their place in the lineup and looked far and away United’s most dangerous players on the pitch.

Moreover, while the Argentine wonderkid has looked good from the first game of the season, the Englishman struggled at first, but with three goals in two games, he seems to have found some form. So, the manager should under no circumstances look to take him out of the team and risk derailing what could be the start of a comeback for Rashford.

Zirkzee, on the other hand, has endured a slightly mixed start to life in England.

He scored the winner against Fulham on the opening day but has since failed to add another in his subsequent four appearances.

However, he has had opportunities in each of those games, and the fact that he keeps getting himself into goalscoring positions is encouraging, and with more experience in the first team, the goals should hopefully start to come.

Ultimately, Antony did reasonably well against Barnsley, but he’s shown in the past that he struggles against tougher opposition, so Ten Hag should start Zirkzee up top, Rashford on the left and Garnacho on the right for the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Alongside Rashford: 109-touch "monster" may have revived his Man Utd career

The experienced veteran was superb for 90 minutes.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 18, 2024