How can you follow Thursday night?

Well, Manchester United are back in action at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon, with Ruben Amorim’s men needing to shift their focus following the chaos of their Europa League exploits.

Unsurprisingly, the former Sporting CP boss has openly admitted that the club’s European commitments are now the priority, not least with it already confirmed that United are set for their worst-ever Premier League points tally.

The need to put all their energy into seeing off Athletic Bilbao next month should not mean that the Old Trafford side simply throw in the towel domestically, however, with now the time to build some momentum to help aid their continental fortunes.

Equally, United will also be keen to avoid losing out to the Molineux side for the second time this season, having notably been undone by a Matheus Cunha-inspired performance as the Old Gold secured a 2-0 win on Boxing Day.

That drab display memorably saw captain Bruno Fernandes dismissed after picking up two yellow cards, with Cunha also scoring directly from a corner to pile the misery on his potential future employers.

Will there be further drama this time around, with Amorim looking set to ring the changes?

Man Utd team news vs Wolves

Speaking after Thursday’s thrilling 5-4 win over Lyon, the Portuguese head coach admitted that it might be time to play “the kids” in the Premier League, with alterations needed after such a gruelling 120 minutes of action in midweek.

Indeed, the 40-year-old went on to state in his pre-match press conference that the likes of Diogo Dalot could be among those to make way, with the United boss suggesting the defender was among those looking “really tired” against the Ligue 1 side.

Amorim appears keen to avoid the “risk of injury” with his first-team stars, albeit with his options set to be boosted with both Victor Lindelof and Noussair Mazraoui set to be available once again, after the pair were forced to leave at half-time due to ‘personal issues’.

Meanwhile, Amorim did suggest that it is “not the best moment or the best season” to unleash academy talents, albeit while pointing to the rise of Ayden Heaven as an example of where throwing a youngster in at the deep end can bear fruit.

As for those who could follow in the footsteps of the likes of Heaven, Chido Obi and Harry Amass, it was noteworthy that Jack Moorhouse, Godwill Kukonki and Jaydan Kamason were all part of the matchday squad in midweek, with the teenage trio still waiting for a first taste of senior action.

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In the case of Kamason, in particular, the need to take Dalot out of the team could see the young full-back finally make his first-team debut.

How Man Utd can replace Dalot against Wolves

Having claimed the club’s Players’ Player of the Year of the award last season, Dalot’s form has somewhat “fallen off a cliff” this time around – as per one content creator – with the Portuguese full-back having perhaps been hampered by repeatedly being forced to line up on the left flank in the early months of the campaign.

Diogo Dalot

While even his suitability as a wing-back on the right flank can be questioned, the 26-year-old has quietly come good of late, notably teeing up Fernandes for the third goal against Leicester City, while also scoring himself against both Real Sociedad and Lyon at the Theatre of Dreams.

Described as an “elite” talent by Statman Dave, the former Porto starlet is particularly crucial to his compatriot, Amorim, due to his remarkable availability, having started 49 games this season, while missing just one game against Southampton due to suspension.

Man Utd in 24/25 – Most appearances

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

Diogo Dalot

50

3

5

Alejandro Garnacho

50

10

9

Bruno Fernandes

49

17

18

Noussair Mazraoui

49

0

3

Joshua Zirkzee

48

7

3

Andre Onana

44

0

0

Rasmus Hojlund

44

8

4

Matthijs de Ligt

40

2

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Whether it is to give Dalot or rest, or merely to see a different option in that role, now is the time for Kamason to be unleashed, with journalist Shaun Connolly suggesting that the 18-year-old is “banging” on the door for a first-team chance.

The promising Englishman notably played every minute of United’s run to the FA Youth Cup semi-final this season, having even netted a crucial, stunning strike in the 3-2 win over Arsenal at the quarter-final stage.

With two goals and six assists to his name in 31 games in 2024/25, as per Transfermarkt, the right-back has showcased his attacking quality for the U18 and U21 sides, with it no surprise that he is now in the mix in Amorim’s ranks.

While Kamason has operated in a back four at youth level, that desire to get forward should ensure he is well suited to operating in a more advanced wing-back berth, with Amorim currently short on options in that role, particularly with Amad Diallo currently sidelined.

There has no doubt been talk of new recruits arriving this summer to help bolster that wing-back department, in particular – with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong one name to have been mentioned – yet there should also be a willingness to try and solve that issue in-house, by promoting the likes of Kamason.

As such, now is the perfect opportunity for the teenager to show what he can do on the Premier League stage…

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Arsenal’s aim this summer is clear: add more goals to their squad.

Despite being second in the Premier League and through to only the club’s third Champions League semi-final, the Gunners’ lack of goals has unquestionably held them back.

So, do Arsenal lead the race to sign “one of the best wingers on the market”, described as Mikel Arteta’s dream signing?

Arteta's dream attacking signing

According to reports in Spain, via Football365, Arsenal are readying a ‘serious offer’ as they attempt to sign Athletic Club Bilbao forward Nico Williams, whom is believed to be Arteta’s dream target.

The Gunners have a long-standing interest in Williams; alongside Barcelona, they were chasing his signature last season, but the 22-year-old decided to stay at Athletic, aiming to help les Leons win the Europa League at their home stadium San Mamés, on course to achieve this, preparing to face Manchester United in the semi-finals.

Now, Marca are reporting that Barça’s interest in Williams has cooled, partially as a result of their ongoing financial concerns, but also due to the fact that Raphinha has been on fire this season, scoring 28 goals and registering 22 assists across all competitions.

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

Thus, Aditya Gokhale of Goal believes this leaves Arsenal as the front-runners to sign Williams come the summer, with analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as “one of the best wingers on the market”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him “brilliant”.

Pol Ballús of The Athletic documents that Williams’ release clause is just €55m (around £47m), which he claims to be a ‘bargain’ although, according to Capology, the winger earns around £171k-per-week, so would therefore become one of Arsenal’s highest-earners, should he choose to swap the Basque Country for North London.

How Nico Williams would improve Arsenal

Arteta has previously stated that he wants to add “more firepower” to his forward line, and these statistics underline why.

The Gunners have scored one goal or fewer on 22 occasions this season, doing so in 50% of their 32 league fixtures to date, with the table below showing how this compares to previous campaigns.

2024/25*

57

1.78

2nd

2020/21

55

1.45

8th

2019/20

56

1.47

8th

1998/99

59

1.55

2nd

1995/96

49

1.29

5th

1994/95

52

1.23

12th

1993/94

53

1.26

4th

1992/93

40

0.95

10th

1989/90

54

14.2

4th

*season ongoing: 6 fixtures remaining

As outlined in the table, since 1988, Arsenal have only failed to score 60+ goals in a league season on eight occasions, primarily enduring miserable mid-table campaigns whenever they do, requiring three goals from their remaining six fixtures this season to avoid adding to this tally.

This is also quite the comedown, considering the Gunners scored 91 goals last season, their most in a single campaign since 1953.

Despite netting at the Bernabéu this week, Gabriel Martinelli is often widely criticised, with this only his eighth goal of the season so far.

Given that Martinelli is first-choice on the left-wing, it is his place Williams would be looking to take in the team, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Appearances

42

43

Minutes

2,946

2,905

Goals

11

8

Assists

7

6

Shots on target %

42.2%

45.2%

Shot-creating actions

166

85

Goal-creating actions

20

7

Attempted take-ons

264

137

Take-on success %

40.2%

33.6%

Progressive carries

177

141

Ball recoveries

127

95

Duels Contested

471

306

Touches per 90

41

34

Remarkably, as outlined in the table, Williams and Martinelli have played almost a near-identical number of minutes this season to date, there are just 41 between them, which is useful when it comes to comparing the duo.

The table suggests that Williams would be an upgrade on the Brazilian, considering that he’s scored more goals and registered more assists this season, while he is also a more proficient dribbler, and is more dangerous in front of goal.

So, if the Gunners are finally going to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title next season, the Spanish Euros winner would be an excellent addition.

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Glasgow Rangers could be set to see their takeover by the 49ers Enterprises go through by the start of the summer transfer window.

It appears as though it is a matter of when and not if the US-based consortium will arrive at Ibrox, hopefully with plenty of financial investment to help bolster the squad.

There will be several major decisions to make ahead of pre-season. Working out who must stay and who should be sold is going to be crucial ahead of the 2025/26 season for Rangers.

Furthermore, choosing the correct manager to lead the club into this new era could be the most important decision the 49ers make.

Barry Ferguson has been the interim manager since Philippe Clement was given his marching orders a few months ago. He went to get the role on a permanent basis after overseeing just four wins from his ten games in charge at the time of writing, conceding 20 goals in the process.

With the end of the season in sight, the rumour mill has begun with regard to who will be the next manager of the Light Blues.

The managers linked with Rangers

The most surprising name linked with a move to manage the club is José Mourinho. He knows full well about the Ibrox atmosphere having seen his Fenerbahçe side defeated on penalties in the Europa League last month, even congratulating the squad in the dressing room after the game.

According to TEAMtalk, Mourinho would reportedly be keen on making the move to Glasgow, although he would need significant backing from the 49ers that they would provide him with funds to strengthen.

The Portuguese boss might not be at the top of his game compared to his previous successes, but he would certainly be box office.

Former Southampton manager Russell Martin is also a name that has been mentioned regarding the vacant managerial role.

The Scot is reportedly keen on taking over from Ferguson this summer and is reportedly waiting to hear from the hierarchy at the club to discuss a potential move.

Of course, Steven Gerrard has been linked with a return to Ibrox after being sacked by Al-Etiffaq in Saudi Arabia.

This news was once again reported by TEAMtalk. Gerrard knows what it takes to win with the club, having led them to their first league title in a decade during the 2020/21 campaign.

His previous two managerial roles ended poorly, however. They say never go back. Should the club make a move for the former Liverpool icon? Or is time to go in a totally new direction under new owners?

Marco Rose is a name that has been mentioned recently amid the talks of a takeover by the 49ers.

Why Marco Rose could be in contention

Rose was recently sacked by Bundesliga side RB Leipzig after two and a half years in charge.

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The 49ers have a strong relationship with Red Bull and with Rose having managed both RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig during his career so far, the connections are there to be made.

Gretar Steinsson, the 49ers Technical Director, has held discussions with managerial targets across Europe ever since the potential takeover was mooted and this could see the club look in a different direction.

Rose’s managerial statistics

Club

Years in charge

Games

Points per game

RB Leipzig

2022-25

124

1.85

Borussia Dortmund

2021-22

46

1.85

Borussia Mönchengladbach

2019-21

88

1.61

RB Salzburg

2017-19

114

2.35

Lok Leipzig

2012-13

30

1.2

Via Transfermarkt

Rose worked with Steinsson during his spells in charge of both Salzburg and Leipzig, indicating that there is a prior relationship which could perhaps lead to Rose becoming one of the favourites for the vacant role at Ibrox.

This may just be a coincidence, but given his relationship with the Red Bull Group in recent years, Rose might be getting talked about as a potential new manager in the coming weeks, that’s for sure.

Why Rose could be a great alternative to Gerrard

The Ibrox faithful will forever have a place for Gerrard in their hearts, especially after claiming the Premiership title in 2021.

During his final few months, however, the football wasn’t pretty and the Light Blues were struggling majorly.

Spells at Aston Villa (sacked after less than a year) and Al-Ettifaq (left by mutual consent after 18 months) haven’t exactly done much to further his career after success with the Gers.

The only positive surrounding his potential return is that Gerrard knows the standards expected at Ibrox, meaning he could integrate a lot quicker than, say, Rose or someone else.

The case for Rose is also complicated, although he has managed one of the biggest clubs in Europe – Borussia Dortmund – between 2021 and 2022.

Rangers did defeat his side 4-2 during the knockout stages of the Europa League in the 2021/22 campaign as they set the standards on their way to the final that season.

Prior to that, he claimed two Austrian Bundesliga titles with Salzburg, also going on to win the Austrian Cup but it is his spell with Leipzig which was the longest of his career.

During his debut season, the 48-year-old secured the German Cup, but his Bundesliga placings got worse over his time with the club. Third was secured in 2022/23, before a fourth-place finish last season.

When he was sacked, Leipzig were sitting in sixth place and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.

He prefers to use a classic 4-4-2 system, which could be altered in several ways to suit the players at Rangers. Plus, he could be given money to bolster the squad in the transfer market should he join the club.

Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson has heaped praise on Rose amid his name being mentioned with the job, saying: “I honestly can’t believe there’s snobbery around Marco Rose. Take the Celtic scarf picture out of the equation, claiming that he’s a bad or below average manager is truly a wild statement in my opinion. In profile/stature he’s a level above someone like Gerrard, by a distance.”

Interestingly, Rose has defeated Celtic four times in his managerial career, twice each with Salzburg and Leipzig. Of course, beating them with Rangers is a different challenge altogether, but he knows how to get the better of the Parkhead side.

That could be all the difference.

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Reportedly prepared to spend to make the deal happen, Aston Villa and NSWE have reportedly set their sights on winning the race to sign a defender worth £50m this summer.

NSWE prepared to spend despite Aston Villa PSR concern

This summer wouldn’t be the first time that those at Villa Park spent big, given how they’ve splashed the cash to improve Unai Emery’s side in recent windows. Unlike in the past, however, NSWE will reportedly have to walk a fine line if they are to avoid breaking any profit and sustainability rules in a problem that they’re already looking to solve in an unexpected way.

Whether selling stakes in the women’s team solves Villa’s problem remains to be seen, but such a possibility certainly adds pressure to the achievements that the men’s team are in pursuit of. By qualifying for the Champions League for a second consecutive campaign, Emery’s side would undoubtedly provide the entire club with some added funds.

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What will have certainly helped on that front is their 2-1 victory over top-four rivals Nottingham Forest to maintain their push to sneak into European contention. Emery was well aware of just how important the result was, telling reporters: “I’m very happy because here in Villa Park we are feeling very strong.

“We are transmitting our energy to the supporters and their energy is transmitting to us. We are, more or less, winning, responding well.

“The supporters are happy with how we are responding and getting challenges like today against Nottingham, who are having a fantastic season. We’re trying to keep going in the challenges we have: today, next Wednesday, then again in Premier League, the FA Cup semi-final in London.”

What’s more, that financial boost courtesy of European qualification could yet see Aston Villa win the race to sign an in-demand defensive reinforcement in the coming months.

Aston Villa targeting £50m Diomande

As impressive as Aston Villa’s depth has been since the January transfer window, it won’t be long before they lose loanees Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi. And that’s when they could turn towards a £50m defender.

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa and NSWE are now prepared to spend to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Club, who value their talented defender at £50m ahead of this summer.

The 21-year-old has also attracted interest from Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea to form a hectic Premier League race for his signature. Whether other clubs are willing to spend like Aston Villa seemingly are remains to be seen, however.

Described as an “aggressive” and “tough tackling” defender by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Diomande would be worth every penny in a £50m deal this summer, no matter who wins the race for his signature.

Manchester City’s success over the last few years has been largely down to Pep Guardiola and his recruitment in bringing in players who have thrived under his guidance.

The Spaniard has won four successive Premier League titles at the Etihad, but is set to miss out this season with the main fight now to secure Champions League qualification.

Regardless of whether the side secure a top-five place between now and the end of May, an overhaul of the first-team squad is desperately needed to push the club closer to the summit of the division.

Incomings are most certainly needed in the summer, continuing in the vein of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov, who all arrived at the Etihad in January.

However, if they are to afford such additions, Guardiola may have to offload multiple players, including one who’s unfortunately failed to live up to the hype he arrived with.

Why Matheus Nunes must be sold by City this summer

Matheus Nunes joined City from Wolves back in the summer of 2023 for a reported £53m, looking to inject added quality into an already impressive midfield department.

However, nearly two years on from his move to the Etihad, the 26-year-old has struggled to maintain a regular starting role in his natural position, subsequently shifting to right-back.

Whilst he’s notched 33 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, if the side are to reach the next level after the summer, reinforcements are needed in such a department.

His fate in Manchester also looks to be decided, with Guardiola recently quoted saying that he doesn’t think he can feature in the middle of the park due to not being “clever enough” in such a role.

Such comments could lead to a departure in the summer should an acceptable offer present itself, possibly joining another player out of the door in the process.

The player who could leave City alongside Nunes this summer

Nunes has ultimately been unable to have the impact he would’ve imagined upon moving to City, with a fresh start arguably needed for both parties in the coming months.

Some deals have been worthwhile, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva cementing their places in the heart of the side during Guardiola’s reign.

John Stones was another player who cost a pretty penny, joining the Citizens for a reported £50m back in 2016 from fellow Premier League outfit Everton.

The 30-year-old has been key to their success under the Spaniard, notching 277 appearances in his near nine-year stint in the first team at the Etihad.

He’s also won 13 major honours during such a timeframe, including six Premier League triumphs, with four in a row coming before the ongoing campaign.

However, over the past couple of seasons, the England international has been plagued by various different injuries which have prevented him from making a huge contribution at the Etihad.

John Stones’ stats by season at Manchester City
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2016/17	41	2	0
2017/18	29	3	0
2018/19	39	0	1
2019/20	24	0	1
2020/21	35	5	0
2021/22	27	2	0
2022/23	34	3	3
2023/24	28	1	2
2024/25	20	3	2
Total:	277	19	9
Stats via FotMob

He’s only made 11 league appearances during the current campaign, once again sidelined with a thigh issue which could rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Stones currently earns a reported £250k-per-week, a mammoth figure given his recent lack of minutes, with his total earnings during his nine years at the club totalling £78m.

When coupled with his transfer fee, the 30-year-old has cost the hierarchy around £128m – a staggering amount of money, with the club needing to brutally sell him given his proneness to injury.

He’s been a phenomenal servant to the Citizens, but, unfortunately, he’s been unable to extract his best performance levels in recent years, with fresh blood needed.

It may seem to be a harsh decision, but the world of top-level football is a cutthroat industry, with major calls needed if Guardiola is to lead the side back to Premier League glory next season.

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West Ham United need a big summer window to rectify the misgivings of the 2024/25 campaign. It has been a tough season for the Hammers, who are likely safe from relegation but sit in 17th in the Premier League, 15 points clear of Ipswich Town.

However, the Tractor Boys host Graham Potter’s side on the final day of the season, so a huge swing of momentum in the final throes of the campaign could add more significance to the game for the East Londoners.

Potter will need to be backed this summer, to shape the squad his way and improve the Hammers fortunes in 2024/25. Already, they have been linked with someone who could add quality to their side.

West Ham want to sign Chelsea outcast

The Hammers have made some big signings over the past couple of transfer windows, chiefly spending a lot on the likes of Max Kilman and Mohammed Kudus.

However, with the threat that Kudus heads to Chelsea, as per reports, they could actually look at bringing in someone from Stamford Bridge as a replacement.

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According to a report from TBR Football, the Hammers are ‘interested in a deal’ to bring Joao Felix to the club next summer, after Chelsea ‘made it clear to the Portugal international that he is not of the club’s long-term plans’ beyond this season.

He is currently contracted to Chelsea, and on loan at Italian giants AC Milan, but the Blues seemingly have not been impressed by his displays in Italy.

Unsurprisingly, the East Londoners will not be the only side considering a move for the £45m playmaker. Fellow Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers are also interested, with both clubs plotting a move. Both teams are thought to be ‘willing to consider loan moves’ for the Portugal star next season.

Why Felix would be a good signing

It has not been an easy season for Felix in the 2024/25 campaign, since his summer move back to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid. He struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge and departed on loan to Milan in January.

Overall this season, he has played 34 times for both Chelsea and Milan, scoring eight goals and grabbing three assists. However, just one of those goals has come in a top-flight, for Chelsea against Wolves in their 6-2 win on the opening day of the season.

Yet, despite the tough campaign so far, Felix’s stocks have previously been incredibly high. As a youngster for Benfica, he managed 20 goals and 11 assists in 43 games, and for Atleti, he had over 50 goal contributions.

Benfica

43

20

11

Atleti

131

34

18

Chelsea

40

11

2

Barcelona

44

10

6

Milan

14

1

1

One thing he would bring to the London Stadium is experience. Despite being just 25 years of age, and having not been in the best form, he has played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. He was also on loan at Barcelona last season, and managed ten goals and six assists in 44 games.

Should Felix make the move to the London Stadium over the summer, Hammers fans would surely hope he can replicate the impact of another magical playmaker, Dimitri Payet. Jamie Carragher once described him as “sensational” and said it was a “joy to watch” him play. How right he was.

The Frenchman was exceptional for the Hammers, despite his short time at the club. In just 60 appearances, he scored 15 goals and grabbed 22 assists, leaving him with an impressive goal involvement ratio of 0.61.

He was a wizard with the ball at his feet, running rings around opponents with ease, week in, week out. Just look at this goal against Middlesbrough, a prime example of how dangerous Payet can be with the ball at his feet.

Although Felix has struggled for form, he possesses the same ability to create something out of nothing. The flair is there for the 25-year-old, too, with talent scout Jacek Kulig once describing him as a “nightmare for defenders”.

It would be a statement signing from West Ham, with the impact Felix could have if he finds his best form astronomical.

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Manchester City have already spent big in 2025, and are showing no signs of easing up.

In January, the Sky Blues splashed a reported £180m on five new signings, recruiting Abdukodir Khusanov, Juma Bah, Vitor Reis, Nico González and Omar Marmoush.

Nevertheless, after suffering an early Champions League exit and relinquishing their Premier League title, Pep Guardiola is set to oversee a major rebuild in the summer, with plenty more new signings set to arrive at the Etihad.

Manchester City targeting a new goalkeeper

As reported by Foot Mercato, Manchester City have been ‘given the initial green light’ in their attempt to sign Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who they claim is ‘keen on joining the club’.

The report notes that Costa has a €75m release clause, around £64m, reporting that Man City are willing to ‘break the bank’ to secure his services, following Ederson’s ‘disappointing season’.

Editor Zach Lowy certainly thinks this would be a good move, labelling Costa “one of the best goalkeepers in world football”, notably becoming the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a European Championship shootout last summer, as Portugal dumped out Slovenia in Frankfurt.

Kevin Araújo Fernandes of Breaking the Lines asserts that Costa is ‘inarguably one of the brightest’ goalkeepers on the planet, underlining that he would be an excellent signing for Manchester City, but did they already sell an even bigger talent?

Manchester City already sold a bigger goalkeeping star

On Monday, following their 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Turf Moor, Burnley’s promotion back to the Premier League was confirmed.

Astonishingly, the Claret have conceded just 15 goals in 44 EFL Championship fixtures to date, hence why goalkeeper James Trafford has been earning plenty of plaudits.

Scott Parker’s side kept 11 successive clean sheets earlier this year, just the fifth club in English Football League history to achieve this, while enjoying 28 shutouts in total to date; the previous second-tier record was 25.

Meantime, the former record for fewest goals conceded in a Championship season is 30, while the Clarets’ require clean sheets from the final two fixtures, against QPR and Millwall, to match Chelsea’s all-time record of 15 goals conceded, achieved under José Mourinho in 2004/05, albeit in eight fewer matches.

Trafford has been a key figure in this defensive solidity, described as “world-class” by his manager Parker, with the table below underlining exactly why.

Clean sheets

28

1st

Clean sheet %

65.1%

1st

Goals conceded (min 11 apps)

15

1st

Goals conceded per 90

0.35

1st

Save %

84.5%

1st

% of penalties saved

100%

=1st

Post-shot xG – goals allowed

+10.9

3rd

As the table outlines, Trafford comes out on top for pretty much every statistic this season, with his two penalty saves especially remarkable considering they came just nine minutes apart, in the 88th and 97th minutes no less, denying Wilson Isidor both times, preserving a goalless draw against Sunderland in January.

Trafford joined Manchester City’s academy as a 13-year-old, before being sold to Burnley for a reported £19m two years ago, with Transfermarkt believing his current market value is now at its peak.

Thus, the 22-year-old is unquestionably a talented goalkeeper, so let’s analyse how he compares to Costa.

Appearances

43

41

Minutes

3,870

3,720

Goals conceded

15

44

Clean sheets

28

18

Save %

84.5%

68.3%

% of penalties saved

100%

33%

Post-shot xG – goals allowed

+10.9

-2.7

% of crosses stopped

5.9%

6.2%

Pass completion %

72.9%

78.5%

As the table outlines, Trafford has outperformed Costa this season, while plying his trade at only a slightly lower level; according to Global Football Rankings, the Championship is the 11th strongest league in the world, with the Primeira Liga ranked seventh.

So, regardless of who you believe to be the better goalkeeper, selling Trafford for £19m only to then sign Costa for in excess of three times more may be viewed as a mistake.

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Burnley are now in a transfer battle with Leeds United as they both want to sign a “unique” Ipswich Town star, according to a recent report.

Burnley begin transfer plans as they eye midfield reinforcements

The Clarets only confirmed their promotion to the Premier League on Monday evening, but already Scott Parker and club chiefs are working on transfer business ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

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It’s been claimed by EFL pundit Lee Hendrie that Jonjo Shelvey will likely not be at Turf Moor next season. The midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the campaign, and it is likely that he will not be offered a new deal, according to Hendrie.

That might be because Burnley already have his replacement in mind, as according to Give Me Sport, the Clarets are now interested in signing Harrison Reed from Fulham, a player who Parker knows well from his time working at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are said to be looking to strengthen their midfield this summer, and Reed could be allowed to leave should they receive the right offer. This has alerted Burnley, who are looking to strike a deal as the Clarets try to bring Premier League experience to their team.

Burnley in transfer battle for Ipswich star Hirst

But it is not just the midfield that the Clarets are looking to strengthen, as according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Burnley are interested in signing George Hirst from Ipswich this summer.

O’Rourke states that as well as the Lancashire side holding an interest in Hirst, Championship rivals Leeds are also keen on securing a deal for the striker, as the Tractor Boys look set to return to the second tier in English football.

However, while both sides can offer Premier League football, Ipswich are not willing to let Hirst just leave, as O’Rourke states that the Tractor Boys are desperately looking to tie the striker down to a new contract to ward off the interest, with Liam Delap expected to leave Portman Road this summer.

Hirst currently earns £27,500 a week at Ipswich, so the interested parties may have to stump up a significant increase to better whatever his current employers are offering.

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The 26-year-old, who has been dubbed “unique” by Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, has had to be very patient this season, starting just three of the 21 Premier League games he’s played. Hirst has scored two goals in the process, his latest coming in the 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest in March.

The Scotland international is still under contract until 2027, so Ipswich still have time on their hands, but Burnley and Leeds can both offer the forward another chance of playing in the Premier League, and this may be too hard for Hirst to turn down.

After signing Omar Marmoush in the January transfer window, Manchester City have now reportedly opened talks with another Bundesliga star in what would be a repeat of their deal for the Egyptian.

Marmoush's instant Man City impact

Having arrived for a reported £59m in a season that Manchester City couldn’t afford to get things wrong in the January transfer window, the pressure was certainly on Marmoush to perform. You wouldn’t know it, however. The Egyptian has enjoyed an excellent start to life at the Etihad, scoring seven goals in 18 games in a run that includes a stunning 14-minute hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United.

Pep Guardiola hasn’t shied away from praising the former Eintracht Frankfurt winger, either, telling reporters last month: “The numbers are really good.

“He arrived in the middle of the season and in a moment when we are not good. Sometimes when you come when everything is fluid and everything is fine it’s easy to adapt. But coming when the team is not playing good, that is a big credit.”

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The Spaniard will be hoping to see Marmoush only continue his bright start as Manchester City head into the final four games of their season. Still battling to secure their Champions League place, the Citizens have put together an impressive run of form at the perfect time and have three Premier League games to keep hold of their spot in the top five.

It will then be all eyes on Wembley as City attempt to avoid an upset and defeat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Suddenly, from concerns that they may not even qualify for the Champions League, it’s still possible for the Citizens to finish as high as second and end the campaign with a trophy.

Man City open talks with Hugo Ekitike

Following the success of Marmoush, it looks as though those at the Etihad could return to the Bundesliga once again this summer. According to Bild, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City have opened talks with Hugo Ekitike in an attempt to land a Marmoush repeat and a second Frankfurt player in six months.

The deal, like Marmoush’s in January, will not come cheap, however. The German side are reportedly demanding as much as €100m (£81m) to sell their star striker amid interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and others.

Dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ekitike is someone who would stand every chance of thriving in the current Manchester City side, especially given how successful his partnership with Marmoush was at Frankfurt. By taking that into the Premier League, the duo could help take City back to the top of English football alongside Erling Haaland.

With Matheus Cunha possibly heading for the exit door this summer, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly set their sights on signing an Atletico Madrid star who’s actually been compared to Nelson Semedo.

Cunha could leave Wolves with Premier League giants keen

By signing a new contract and staying put in January, some may have believed that Cunha had put any talk of an exit to bed once and for all. However, it quickly emerged that his new deal included a release clause worth around £63m which is reportedly likely to be triggered this summer.

The Brazilian is certainly not short on suitors, either, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both in the race for his signature. Alas, as things stand, it seems as though it’s Manchester United who are leading the race to secure his signature having reportedly already agreed personal terms with the Wolves star.

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Before the arrival of Vitor Pereira, the thought of Cunha’s exit would have sent most Wolves fans into overdrive. However, even in the absence of their star man thanks to suspension a few weeks ago, the Midlands club began to put together a vital winning run and dominantly ended their relegation fears. It was then Cunha’s return to the side which helped stretch that run to six games before Manchester City stopped it there on Friday.

Speaking with great pride about his side’s run even after it came to an end against Man City, Pereira said: “Yes, but in the end, this is football. I am still proud of my team.

“I told them that we can lose a game, but we cannot lose our identity, our courage, our ambition, our commitment, our team spirit. Today, I saw everything in my team, everything except the result. “

Wolves eye move for Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino

Still needing to replace Cunha despite recent results, those in the Midlands have reportedly set their sights on a new target. According to South American journalist Juan Arrien, relayed by Give Me Sport, Wolves are now eyeing a move to sign Samuel Lino from Atletico Madrid in an attempt to replace Cunha this summer.

A player who has been compared to Nelson Semedo by Football Transfers, Lino mainly operates as a left-winger but can also feature on the opposite flank to offer Pereira key versatility. Having scored four goals and created a further six in all competitions this season, the Brazilian’s output has far from matched Cunha’s, but a move to the Premier League could be exactly what he needs.

Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that Cunha was struggling at Atletico Madrid before starring at Wolves. Once dubbed “incredible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Lino can now follow that same path by swapping Madrid for Molineux in the coming months.