As results on the pitch continue to encapsulate their struggles even after the Premier League season has concluded, Manchester United have reportedly already set their sights on some key upgrades.

Man Utd defeated by ASEAN All-Stars

Whilst other clubs have taken a much-needed rest following a frantic Premier League season, Manchester United are currently in Asia on a post-season tour. But even outside of Europe, they haven’t been able to escape their problems. Just one week after suffering defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, the Red Devils were humiliated by ASEAN All-Stars earlier this week to only add to their misery.

In a game which featured several mainstays, including Andre Onana, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund, Manchester United’s Asian fans would have been expecting Ruben Amorim’s side to get back to winning ways, albeit only in a friendly.

What they received instead, however, is the experience that many around Old Trafford have become accustomed to. And like those at Old Trafford, they reacted by booing the defeat that they were witnessing – boos that Amorim has since admitted his side need to hear.

The Manchester United boss told reporters after yet another defeat: “I’m always guilty of the performance of the team, no matter what. Since I’ve been here from the first day, I am guilty. The boos from the fans is something that we need, maybe. Because every game we lost in the Premier League, they [fans] were always there [supporting].

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“It’s like the way of playing, if they see that it’s not working, they will change the way they behave. But I felt when we finished and walked away, the supporters were with us. But, again, let’s wait for the next season.”

The defeat once again highlighted just how desperately Manchester United need to get things right this summer, perhaps starting with a signing that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly not giving up on.

Man Utd set to hold more Joan Garcia talks

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are now set to hold new talks to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia in the coming days, with Ratcliffe failing to give up on the deal despite interest from Barcelona, who are the current favorites to get a deal done. Reports from Spain have even claimed that Garcia has even chosen Barcelona, but Man Utd are looking to hiajck a move.

The interest of the Red Devils comes as little surprise, given they had discussions for the keeper last month. Garcia, with a release clause worth just €25m (£21m), ticks the box for the type of bargain that United must target this summer as they look to replace Onana.

Starts

38

34

Clean Sheets

8

9

Saves P90

3.68

2.59

Save Percentage

75.5%

68.9%

If there are any concerns that Garcia wouldn’t be a major upgrade on Onana, then the numbers should put those concerns to bed in an instant. The Spaniard has enjoyed an excellent season at Espanyol and has been praised by Ben Mattinson since the very start, with the analyst dubbing him “dominant” back in August.

For just £21m, the deal makes perfect sense for Manchester United if they want to end their goalkeeper struggles once and for all in the coming months.

Chelsea have plenty of work to get on with as the window kicks off in earnest and have now put a bid in for a talented defender despite preparing for the Club World Cup, according to a report.

Chelsea prepare for Club World Cup opener

Despite the Premier League campaign only ending a matter of weeks ago, Chelsea are in action on Monday against Los Angeles FC as they look to claim the Club World Cup title this summer.

Making a swift start on the market, the Blues have brought in Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, Estevao, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez, and they are unlikely to stop there in another few months of upheaval at Stamford Bridge.

Assessing Enzo Maresca’s sizeable rebuild in West London, Claude Makelele believes Chelsea are on the right track as they aim to close the gap between themselves and some of their Premier League rivals.

Hugo Ekitike has been tipped to follow Liam Delap to Chelsea by Florian Plettenberg, albeit Liverpool also have designs on the forward amid his progress at Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade is also in the frame to add competition through the middle, signifying that Maresca would have some pretty exciting competition to pick from between either of the pair, Delap, and Nicolas Jackson.

On the contrary, reports suggest that Chelsea have now turned their attention to a defender who they have reportedly put a bid in for and received a reply, per recent developments.

Chelsea receive reply to Mario Gila bid

According to Il Messaggero, Chelsea have seen a £29.8m bid turned down for Lazio defender Mario Gila, with Bournemouth seeing an offer of their own turfed out for the ex-Spain Under-21 international.

Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur are also in the race for his signature, though the Serie A giants are said to be holding out for £42.5 million before considering a sale.

Five similar players to Mario Gil (FBRef)

Levi Colwill

Chelsea

Jan Paul van Hecke

Brighton & Hove Albion

Benjamin Pavard

Inter Milan

Strahinja Pavlovic

Milan

Anthony Rouault

Rennes

He has won over the likes of Maurizio Sarri in the past, and it is easy to see why given the Barcelona-born defender scored twice in 43 appearances for Lazio across the campaign gone.

Maintaining an element of dominance, Gila won 37 tackles and 67 aerial duels on Serie A duty, lending credence to why Chelsea have identified him as the man to shore up their backline.

With two years left on his contract, it remains to be seen whether Lazio retain their star man or risk losing him for less money as his market value begins to dwindle.

Over the years, Manchester United have landed countless young talents who have joined the club and made a huge impact on the first team at Old Trafford.

Amad Diallo is just one player who falls into that category, costing £37m from Atalanta back in 2020, before spending various loan spells at the likes of Rangers and Sunderland.

The Ivorian has now registered over 60 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring on 14 occasions – including the winner in the Manchester Derby back in December.

However, the off-season presents Ruben Amorim with an opportunity to invest in more young talents who can make an immediate impact for the Red Devils, whilst also keeping an eye on the future.

Numerous names have been mentioned as potential targets ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, especially as the club looks to return to their former glory.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Youngsters have been a key focus over the last couple of weeks, setting them up for potential long-term success, which aligns with the current project in operation.

Benjamin Sesko, Rodrygo and Yann Bisseck are just three names mentioned with a summer switch to join the Red Devils, all of whom are under the age of 24, having the ability to star in Amorim’s revival.

However, another name has been added to the mix over the last couple of days, with Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney the latest on their radar, according to GIVEMESPORT.

They claim that the Championship are willing to part ways with the 22-year-old after United’s interest, led by Jason Wilcox, demanding a fee in the region of £20m to sell the academy graduate.

The report also states that they face tough competition from the likes of Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Spurs and West Ham for the midfielder, who made 43 appearances in the league last season.

Why United’s £20m star could be Amorim’s own Carrick

Midfielder Michael Carrick was a superb servant during his spell as a United player, racking up over 450 appearances for the club over a 12-year period at Old Trafford.

The Englishman joined the Red Devils way back in 2006 in a £13m deal from fellow top-flight side Tottenham Hotspur – a fee that would prove to be a bargain given his time at United.

During his time as a player, the now-43-year-old won five league titles, one Europa League and one Champions League, along with 11 other trophies – offering a consistent presence during Sir Alex’s reign.

He became known for his excellent work ethic and superb passing ability, which saw him register a total of 35 assists and 24 goals – an impressive tally from his deep-lying position.

However, in the present day, Amorim could be about to land his own version of the midfielder in Middlesbrough’s Hackney, with the youngster having the tools to follow in his footsteps.

The 22-year-old, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, has been able to learn from the United legend, after plying his trade under him for multiple years at the Riverside Stadium.

He’s also been dubbed a “young Carrick” by the Second Tier Podcast, further showcasing the potential he has to explode should he move to the North West this summer.

When delving into the youngster’s stats, he’s managed to impress with the ball at his feet, further indicating how he can replicate the 43-year-old’s achievements at the Theatre of Dreams.

Hackney has managed to complete 10.4 progressive passes per 90, with 8.6 of which going into the final third – handing those ahead of him the opportunity to impress at Old Trafford.

Hayden Hackney’s stats for Middlesbrough (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

43

Goals & assists

8

Pass accuracy

84%

Progressive passes

10.4

Passes into final third

8.6

Tackles won

1.3

Blocks made

1.5

Stats via FBref

He’s also won 1.3 tackles per 90, whilst making 1.5 blocks per game – subsequently having the defensive talents to be the perfect deep-lying option in Amorim’s midfield.

£20m could prove to be an absolute steal for the Red Devils, signing a youngster who can easily cement his place at the heart of the side for many years to come.

However, given the interest from elsewhere, they will have to work tirelessly to avoid missing out on his signature and subsequently improving a divisional rival ahead of 2025/26.

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Manchester United fell by the wayside last season, but the early readings from the summer transfer market suggest Ruben Amorim and INEOS are doing all they can to lift Old Trafford back to its feet.

With sights set on driving their way back into the Premier League ascendancy next year, getting their foot back through the European door, the Red Devils acted swiftly to activate Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha’s £62.5m release clause, and that’s despite interest from Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The prestigious outfit needs new goalscoring superstars, and Cunha will certainly add to that department. However, United are also pushing to sign another who could become their new talisman.

And all this before they even sign a striker.

Man Utd still leading race for Premier League star

It’s safe to say that the ongoing transfer window has all been about attacking additions for United. After a move for Cunha was completed, Jason Wilcox and Co have turned their attention to the likes of Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports.

However, while Gyokeres would allegedly favour a move to Arsenal instead of Old Trafford, that’s not the same story for another of football’s brightest forward players.

As per TEAMtalk, Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Bournemouth for the transfer of Antoine Semenyo. Why is this relevant? Well, because Spurs also have a vested interest in Bryan Mbeumo having appointed the winger’s former boss, Thomas Frank, as their new manager.

Mbeumo, 25, has been immense for Brentford and is a wanted man. With Frank heading to Spurs, there were fears that he may not sign for United now, but as with Cunha, his preference is still to move to the Theatre of Dreams.

United have already seen an opening offer worth £55m rejected, and are expected to go back in for the Cameroonian with Fabrizio Romano revealing that there is an ‘agreement with the player in place’ on personal terms.

Why Bryan Mbeumo could be Man Utd's answer to Salah

Mbeumo did rather well across the recently finished campaign, only outscored in the Premier League by Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland – not bad competition to be pitted against.

1.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

2.

Alexander Isak

34

23

3.

Erling Haaland

31

22

4.

Chris Wood

36

20

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

It certainly makes a convincing comment on Mbeumo’s skillset, not least because he, like Liverpool’s Salah, is a right-sided, left-footed forward, not technically a striker.

In fact, Mbeumo has been described as a “mini Salah” by talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy, arcing inward to curl powerful strikes into the back of the net.

Anfield’s Egyptian King has so often been a thorn in United’s side, but in Mbeumo they might just find their own version, one whose prowess could inflict damage not just on Liverpool but the division at large, having ranked among the top 2% of positional peers in the English top flight in 2024/25 for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Moreover, Mbeumo isn’t just a sharpshooter, and would instead dynamise the Red Devils and raise their creative bar through his skilled performances, having created 17 big chances last season, averaging 1.8 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Playmaking has increasingly become a defining part of the 33-year-old Salah’s game as his athleticism drips away, and so it’s good to know that Mbeumo already plays with a natural focus on linking play together and helping his team in that regard.

Mbeumo has performed with gamely courage and a confidence in his high-level quality. He’s only 25, which, coincidentally, was the age Salah was when he joined Liverpool from Roma for £34m in 2017.

It’s clear that Man United need to forge ahead with this exciting signing. Mbeumo wants the move and has the English experience to lift the club and propel Amorim toward greener pastures.

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Will Chelsea spend big again this summer?

Since being taken over by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital three years ago, the Blues have signed over 35 senior first-team players for in excess of £1bn, but are showing no signs of slowing down.

The Blues have already completed the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m, meaning he will be eligible to feature at the Club World Cup, with Enzo Maresca’s side kicking off their campaign against LAFC next Monday.

Before that match in Atlanta, could Chelsea sign another young attacker?

Chelsea's search for a new wide-attacker

BlueCo are incredibly busy trying to improve the squad before the Club World Cup gets underway with Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan reportedly closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge.

Yet, he’s not the only player who could arrive before Chelsea’s American adventure.

According to a report by RMC Sport, Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens on a whopping seven-year contract.

Transfer Focus

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

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This comes after David Ornstein of the Athletic reported that the Blues have submitted an official bid, although Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland claims that Chelsea’s initial bid of €29.5m was “rejected”, with die Schwarzgelben “demanding” closer to £51m.

Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian has previously documented that adding a ‘right-footed left-winger’ to their squad, having previously assessed Nico Williams and Alejandro Garnacho, but Gittens has emerged as the first-choice target.

So, it appears to be just a matter of time until this deal gets done, although they only have until 7pm (BST) on Tuesday to finalise the transfer, if Gittens is going to feature at the Club World Cup.

How Jamie Gittens could unleash Liam Delap

Neel Shelat of Total Football Analysis outlines how Delap has all the attributes to be a top-class penalty box poacher, so why would Gittens’ arrival be the dream signing for him?

Well, Felix Johnston describes the 20-year-old winger as “electric”, praising his “variation with crosses” and ability to make threatening “back post” runs.

Meantime, Lebohang Mwamuka of Breaking the Lines believes Gittens has the ability to become a ‘regular creator from wide areas’, given that he is “strong with both feet… dynamic” and possesses “remarkable dribbling’.

Jacek Kulig of Talent Football Scout agrees, believing Gittens’ ‘potential is extremely high’, noting that his primary strengths are dribbling, ‘decision-making and movement’.

So, let’s analyse Gittens’ statistics in the Bundesliga this season.

Gittens Bundesliga statistics 2024/25

Statistics

Gittens

Bundesliga rank

Minutes

1,776

149th

Goals

8

32nd

Assists

3

71st

Progressive carries

113

4th

Attempted take-ons

171

1st

Successful take-ons

77

2nd

Carries into penalty area

63

1st

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, there are few better dribblers in the Bundesliga than Gittens, ranked first for attempted take-ons and carries into the opposition penalty area, behind only Liverpool-bound Florian Wirtz for successful take-ons.

In fact, across Europe’s big five leagues, the Englishman ranks seventh for attempted take-ons as well as seventh in the Champions League for the same metric. Thus, Gittens’ dribbling and creative abilities would surely get the best out of centre-forward Delap.

The duo have actually played together on nine occasions before, seven of which have been with England’s U21s, while they were briefly teammates in Manchester City’s academy too, with Delap assisting Gittens for a goal against Liverpool’s U18s in September 2019.

Thus, if the pair are reunited in West London later this summer, they could form quite the devastating attacking duo.

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Everton are reportedly interested in signing a “complete” midfielder in the summer transfer window, and his versatility could be a major weapon for David Moyes.

Everton reveal £100m transfer budget

The Blues feel like they are beginning a new chapter in their great history, with life at Goodison Park coming to an end and their move to Bramley Moore Dock finally coming to fruition this summer.

Moyes will know the importance of being backed in the transfer market, and it looks as though that will be the case, with a recent update revealing that as much as £100m could be made available to add to Everton’s squad.

Former defender John Stones has been mentioned as a high-profile option for the Blues, with the England international potentially leaving Manchester City this summer.

Meanwhile, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has talked up the idea of a “marquee signing” arriving, also confirming the likelihood of a £100m summer: “One marquee signing is certainly possible, especially with some players out of contract, but the chances of a series of big names is less likely. A spend of £50-£100m is the ballpark unless there are exits.”

Everton keen on signing "complete" midfielder

Now, according to an update from The Express, Everton are interested in signing Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande ahead of next season. It is claimed that Blues chiefs have identified him as a “candidate” to bolster Moyes’ options in the middle of the park – the 23-year-old can play as a six, a box-to-box player, a ten and even at full-back.

Kevin Thelwell is of course leaving to join Rangers, perhaps allowing for smooth negotiations between the clubs as incoming Toffees CEO Angus Kinnear looks to make his own first signing on Merseyside.

Diomande could be just what Moyes is after in his midfield, coming in as a young option who has already shown that he can handle British football.

The two-cap Ivory Coast international has made 73 appearances for Rangers, dealing with the pressure of playing for a huge club, scoring eight goals and registering 10 assists along the way. Analyst John Walker has also hailed him as a “complete” player.

Diomande isn’t out of contract at Rangers until the summer of 2028, so signing him on the cheap may not be easy, but he stands out as a strong option for Everton, not least because of his versatility.

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He would immediately add so much depth to Moyes’ squad, and at 23, his best years should still be ahead of him.

Liverpool are making some statement moves this summer as they bid to retain the Premier League title and could now see another young star join the club, according to a report.

Liverpool agree deal to sign Florian Wirtz

The most high-profile story of the transfer window so far has, without doubt, been Florian Wirtz’s impending move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool following a stellar campaign in his homeland.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that all that remains are formalities to be put in place before the Germany international officially pitches up at Anfield for a British record fee if he meets all the add-ons.

Following Jeremie Frimpong through the door, Bradley Barcola and Anthony Gordon could join the Reds as Arne Slot looks to strengthen the wide areas.

Undoubtedly, the Premier League title race is set to be a rollercoaster next season, with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea all bolstering their ranks. Therefore, it makes sense for Liverpool to ensure they have adequate strength in depth to compete on all fronts.

Victor Osimhen could be a statement striking addition from Liverpool should Darwin Nunez move on this summer. Nevertheless, Manchester United remain in pursuit of the Nigeria international after he turned down Saudi Pro League interest.

Plenty of movement is beginning to occur as the Reds plan for the next few years. Immediate first-team level signings will be the priority, though identifying prodigious talent at youth level will also be an important feature.

In light of that statement, Liverpool now have a teen on their radar that could soon officially become the latest in a potential long line of new assets at Anfield.

Liverpool agree fee to sign Sidy Barhama Ndiaye

According to journalist Nabil Djellit, Liverpool are keen to finalise a deal for Sidy Barhama Ndiaye for a fee in the region of £850,000 after agreeing on a price for the Diambars Academy teen.

After scouting the youngster at the Under-17 African Cup of Nations, he impressed officials and now appears to be primed for a dream move to the Premier League.

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Born in 2009, Ndiaye is capable of featuring on either flank and is renowned for his quick feet and rapid acceleration. Nevertheless, not much is known about the rising star in the public domain.

Ultimately, Liverpool have a duty to explore all avenues in order to bring in untapped talent with room to develop, either readying them for first-team action or to sell on for profit. Ndiaye appears to fit that mould and will no doubt be a name that excites supporters, even if he is one for the future.

Wolverhampton Wanderers know they will enter the 2025/26 season without the services of Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is set to join Manchester United in a deal worth £62.5m in the coming weeks and this will leave the Old Gold short in the attacking department.

Cunha was arguably the reason why Wolves remained in the Premier League last season. All good things must come to an end, however, and Vitor Pereira will now be looking to replace the former Atlético Madrid man when the transfer window opens.

Matheus Cunha's Wolves record

Cunha was the club’s biggest attacking threat last season. Not only did he top the scoring charts with 17 goals, while finishing second in the squad for assists with six in all competitions.

Indeed, Cunha registered the most goal involvements (21) in the squad during the Premier League, while also ranking first for big chances created (13), key passes per game (1.8) and successful dribbles per game (1.8).

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

36

17

6

2023/24

36

14

8

2022/23

20

2

1

If it weren’t for his contributions in the final third, Wolves might have found themselves in graver danger towards the end of the season, that’s for sure.

Now the onus is on Pereira to find a suitable replacement for the Brazilian talisman. One who can hit the ground running at Molineux at the start of next season.

Could the manager target a player from a fellow Premier League club?

Wolves could land Premier League star as Cunha replacement

Last week, Birmingham World claimed that the Old Gold were considering making a move for James McAtee of Manchester City this summer.

A fee of around £25m appears to be what Pep Guardiola is set to demand for the youngster. Given that Pereira will have money to play with upon Cunha’s sale, this shouldn’t be a problem.

McAtee has already made 48 Premier League appearances throughout his embryonic career, scoring six goals and grabbing three assists.

Despite playing 27 times last term, only nine of these came in the starting XI. If McAtee wishes to fulfill his potential, moving to a club like Wolves will allow him to play every week.

Hailed as a “special player” by Guardiola, the Englishman would certainly offer something extra to the Wolves side next term.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, McAtee ranks in the top 1% for goals (0.78) and the top 6% for total shots (3.53) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

If given chances, he will certainly score plenty of goals for Wolves. Furthermore, he also created two big chances and had a goal conversion percentage of 25% in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season.

This was despite averaging just 24 minutes per game for City. He might not be at the same level as Cunha just yet, but the English talent certainly has the tools required to eventually get there one day.

Transfer Focus

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

Pereira will need to act swiftly, as there are a few other teams also seeking a move for the City starlet this summer.

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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and his ‘scattergun’ approach to the transfer window continues, with a fresh report claiming that discussions are now being held over a marquee Serie A star.

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Berta operates a different transfer strategy to his predecessor, Edu. Rather than identifying one key target to seriously pursue, the Italian is known to work on numerous deals simultaneously before landing on the best one for a key position.

“The best way of describing it is that Andrea Berta’s approach is different to Edu. If he was going to a party, he would lay out three or four outfits, try them all on and finally decide what to wear,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on talkSPORT recently.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

“With this race for a number nine, what’s happening is that both deals, for Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, are being advanced or ‘tried on’ before a bid is made. Andrea Berta is out in the market, effectively lining up both deals, whereas Edu tended to pick one and be very meticulous, and then discreetly try and get it over the line, often with a series of bids.

“It was either a very smart tactic because Arsenal had confidence that they would get that man, or it dragged on, and we got more summer sagas. We won’t see that with Andrea Berta.”

This was echoed by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg last month, who revealed that Berta held talks over “numerous” transfer targets for the wide area.

Recent reports from Turkey state that one of the many wingers on Berta’s Arsenal radar is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

Yildiz was said to have emerged as a “prime” Arsenal target recently, and a further update has now come to light on their interest.

Arsenal in discussions with Juventus over signing Kenan Yildiz

As per news outlet Juve FC, the Turkey international commands a valuation of around £85 million, following an excellent 2024/2025 campaign where he finished the Serie A campaign as the Old Lady’s best-performer by average match rating, according to WhoScored.

It’s also reported that Arsenal have entered discussions with Juventus over signing Yildiz, despite their unwillingness to sell the 20-year-old, as they also try to tie him down with a new deal which could run until 2031.

Juve view Yildiz as a future star and cornerstone of Igor Tudor’s team, while the player himself isn’t exactly chomping at the bit to leave either, despite some contact made with his “close” circle.

The Turk is currently starring at the Club World Cup for Juve, scoring in their 5-0 win over Al Ain, and with £97 million worth of prize money on offer to the victors, Tudor won’t want to lose one of his star men before the tournament ends.

A decision on Babar’s captaincy is not immediately expected, given Pakistan’s next white-ball game isn’t till November

Danyal Rasool20-Jun-2024

Pakistan selector Wahab Riaz was travelling with the team during the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

The seven-member PCB selection committee is likely to undergo changes in the wake of Pakistan’s dismal T20 World Cup campaign. While the PCB will undertake a review to assess what went wrong for Pakistan, it is understood streamlining the operations of the selection committee is a top priority for the board. ESPNcricinfo understands the number of people on the selection committee will be reduced, with the PCB also considering ditching its brief experiment of having a selection committee without an official head or chief.It was less than three months ago that the present selection committee was unveiled. Wahab Riaz, who had until then served as its chair, was stripped of that title, although he did remain a member of the committee. Each of the seven members carried an equal vote, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi saying at the time that the committee would “make a majority decision based around debate and argument to reach a satisfactory conclusion”.Wahab, though, is not expected to regain his position as the head of the committee, should the post be recreated. ESPNcricinfo understands there is frustration at the PCB, including from Wahab himself, about public perception that he runs the selection committee as its de facto head, and consequently shoulders the brunt of any criticism. Wahab’s departure from the committee altogether remains a very strong possibility, with Naqvi keen to publicly demonstrate no one is immune from adverse consequences.Meanwhile, it is believed a decision on Babar Azam’s captaincy is not immediately expected. Despite a situation that has become increasingly emotionally charged since Pakistan were knocked out of the ongoing T20 World Cup, it is felt the need to take a call either way is not pressing, given Pakistan’s next white-ball game isn’t till November.The review will include feedback from several members of the management who were with the side on tour, most notably head coach Gary Kirsten. Kirsten’s opinion holds sway at the PCB, having been appointed in April after an extensive search for a coach. Following Pakistan’s exit from the tournament, multiple reports emerged of Kirsten expressing dismay at the lack of unity in the side. And while the veracity of the specific content of Kirsten’s remarks remains hazy, it is understood there was a frank and robust exchange of views, which could set the tone for the tour report he submits to the PCB.If no decision is publicly communicated by that time, indications of any further changes to the national set-up may lie in the revisions made to players’ central contracts when they expire on June 30. Though the PCB and the players agreed to three-year contracts in a landmark decision last year, that only applies to the overarching terms of the contract. Individual players can be moved up and down in categories – or left out altogether – depending on their performances. At the moment, there are three players in the highest category: Babar, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.