Tottenham Hotspur are now racing Arsenal for the signature of a £130m+ attacker, who’s been described as a “true icon in the making”.

Tottenham eyeing new attacking midfielder amid Simons' slow start

It is still very early days, but Xavi Simons hasn’t exactly set the world alight since his arrival from RB Leipzig, most recently failing to create any big chances and completing just one of the four dribbles he attempted in the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In fairness, the Dutchman is arguably being deployed out of position, having predominantly been given the nod at left-wing by Thomas Frank up to this point, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes the 22-year-old will be a success in north London long-term.

Tottenham now expected to submit £25m+ offer for "special" Brazilian forward

Spurs are poised to submit an opening bid for a new forward, who’s been dubbed a “quality finisher”.

ByDominic Lund Sep 28, 2025

The former striker said: “Simons has only just started, but I like Simons. I really like him. I think he’s going to be a big, big, big success at Spurs. He can play on the left or as a No. 10, but he’s also not scared, and that’s why I like him.”

Lucas Bergvall started in the number 10 role against Wolves, but given that the Sweden international is only 19-years-old, it would make sense to bring in another attacking midfielder.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham have now joined the race for Real Madrid star Arda Guler, having sent scouts to watch the youngster in action, but there could be competition for his signature, with a number of other big clubs also keen.

Arsenal, Newcastle United, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are also named as potential suitors for the attacking midfielder, but any of the interested parties may have to shell out a huge fee to get a deal done, with it previously being revealed he is valued at over £130m.

The report makes it clear that Madrid are reluctant to sanction a departure, given that Guler has emerged as a crucial player since the arrival of Xabi Alonso.

Guler living up to his potential at Real Madrid

After impressing at international level in the summer, scoring against the USA and Hungary, scout Jacek Kulig suggested the Turk could go on to be a future star.

Since then, the 20-year-old has gone from strength to strength, picking up three goals and three assists in his opening seven La Liga games, with the starlet establishing himself as a key player for Real Madrid.

Having also been lauded as a “special talent” by scout Ben Mattinson, Guler could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham, but it seems very unlikely that a deal will be possible, given his astronomical price tag.

With the title race having already swung back and forth while the top-four and relegation battles are as open as they have been for a few years, the Premier League is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Sure, the odd match still follows the formbook, but a number of teams are proving tough to pin down and figure out what to expect from them on a game-to-game basis.

As such, knowing what shape the news cycle is going to take is anyone's guess at the start of a round of fixtures. Refereeing controversies, outrageous managerial quotes and even the reactions of big-name pundits can drive the narrative around the English top-flight, and thus it's difficult to figure out what will be dominating the newspaper back pages, website homepages and fan reaction shows in the hours and days that follow.

That hasn't stopped us at GOAL from trying, though. Rather than merely predicting the weekend's results, we have looked into our crystal balls to figure out what headlines you, the fans, will be reading and clicking on as you digest the latest Premier League action…

Getty Images Sport'Man Utd emerge as title dark horses after breezing past Brighton'

Manchester United's first win over Liverpool at Anfield for nine years was the turning point in Ruben Amorim's reign. Not only did the Portuguese coach handily outfox Arne Slot in the tactical stakes, he also finally ended his wait for back-to-back victories as United manager, and you could feel the confidence surging through the Red Devils' squad.

It has so often been one step forward, two steps back for Amorim, but Brighton won't have enough to halt his team's momentum at Old Trafford on Saturday. With new goalkeeper Senne Lammens bringing a sense of stability to a defence that had been lacking for so long and feeding long balls to the frontline, United finally have a recipe for success.

Whether Mason Mount starts as a false nine again or Benjamin Sesko gets the nod upfront, the Red Devils will have too much firepower from the second balls for Brighton to cope with. A third successive win and a clean sheet are on the cards, which could put United into the top six. With no European football commitments and all the players now fully up to speed with Amorim's system, they should then be considered dark horses for the title, and 'The United Strand' will soon be able to take a hair clipper to his out-of-control afro.

Advertisement(C)Getty Images'Salah blows last chance as Liverpool are stung by the Bees'

Liverpool snapped a four-game losing streak by thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday as Slot was rewarded for making some bold changes. That included dropping struggling club legend Mohamed Salah to the bench and shifting to a 4-4-2 formation, which made the Reds both more solid at the back and more potent going forward. 

But Brentford will bring the reigning champions crashing back down to earth at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Despite Salah being on a run of seven Premier League matches without a non-penalty goal, Slot is liable to give the Egyptian one final chance to rediscover his best form, which will mean reverting to a 4-2-3-1 and leaving Liverpool exposed on the right flank again.

The likes of Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago could subsequently have a field day. The Bees have looked very strong at home, beating Aston Villa and Manchester United while drawing with Chelsea, and Liverpool will be their next victims. This game could mark the end of the Reds' title defence and ensure that Salah is relegated to a place among the substitutes for the foreseeable future.

AFP'Villa expose Man City's flaws as Haaland kept on a leash'

"I don’t think they’re a top team at the moment. They’re still in the title race because of [Erling] Haaland," former Arsenal star Paul Merson said on when assessing Manchester City's 2-0 victory over Everton last week. "But you take Haaland out of the equation and then I’d struggle to think they would get in the top four."

Indeed, the Norwegian terminator's haul of 11 Premier League goals accounts for 65 percent of the 17 City have scored so far in 2025-26. Their second-highest scorer is Maxime Esteve, who gave up two own goals when Burnley went down 5-1 to Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad. That is conclusive evidence that City are a one-man team, which makes their current form unsustainable.

The flaws in City's set-up will be exposed when they travel to the West Midlands to face an Aston Villa side brimming with confidence after back-to-back league wins. If Villa can put a leash on Haaland, as they did to Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons when picking up a 2-1 victory at Tottenham last time, it could even be an easy day's work for Unai Emery's men. They should be able to overrun City in midfield, allowing the likes of Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen and Morgan Rogers to wreak havoc upfront.

Guardiola may have to reassess his aims for the campaign after this one.

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AFP'Arsenal lay down another marker with easy Palace win'

Arsenal continued their ominous run of form by putting four goals past Atletico Madrid without reply in the Champions League on Tuesday, and a seventh consecutive win is inevitable when Crystal Palace arrive at the Emirates. Oliver Glasner's Eagles are a match for any side at their best, but they'll only be at 50 per cent again after their Thursday night exertions in the Conference League.

Palace followed up their last European outing with a 2-1 loss at Everton, and Arsenal will be next to exploit their tired legs. Bukayo Saka hasn't scored from open play since matchday two, but he could boost his numbers significantly here, with a battle against Tyrick Mitchell threatening to be a complete mismatch.

After doing a job on Julian Alvarez, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba should have no trouble with Jean-Philippe Mateta either. David Raya will be celebrating his ninth shut-out of the season in all competitions come full-time, and Arsenal will be six points clear of the chasing park after laying down another title marker.

His first Test century in 14 innings helped the visitors recover from 45 for 3 on the first day in Galle

Mohammad Isam17-Jun-2025What could Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim have wished for after enduring a fairly long time without Test centuries? Couple of helpful pitches in Sylhet and Chattogram, perhaps. But those had come and gone. Under pressure, Shanto and Mushfiqur broke free from their barren run on Tuesday on a Galle pitch that allowed them to play freely yet kept them honest to the fact that they couldn’t just play their shots freely.On the eve of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Shanto had pointed out how Galle is at its best for a batter on the first couple of days before the spinners take charge. However, Bangladesh were reduced to 45 for 3 on the first day itself as ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake and seamer Asitha Fernando struck early. But Shanto and Mushfiqur added 247 for the fourth wicket, and went back undefeated on 136 and 105, respectively.It was Mushfiqur’s 12th Test hundred, and his first in 14 innings since August last year. His highest score in this period was 40 against Zimbabwe. After play on the first day against Sri Lanka, Mushfiqur recalled his first innings in Galle from 12 years ago, when he got Bangladesh’s first double-hundred in Tests.Related

Tharindu Rathnayake: I switch bowling arm according to weakness of batters

Shanto, Mushfiqur hundreds headline Bangladesh's dominance

“I think I get a pretty good wicket every time I have played in Galle,” he said. “I have seen how some other Tests here had a lot of purchase for spinners. We knew that one of us out of the seven batters had to capitalise on the first two days in Galle. If I am not wrong, myself and [Mohammad] Ashraful batted the whole day here in 2013. It was my plan this time too; I was telling Shanto that we need to bat the whole day.”It was Mushfiqur’s fourth century against Sri Lanka, and his second in the island nation. He said that he had told his younger team-mates about what to expect from Sri Lankan pitches.”After Bangladesh, I [most] love playing in Sri Lanka,” Mushfiqur said. “There is always a sporting wicket, whether it is the red or white ball. If you apply your strength here, you can do well – whether you are a batter, quick bowler or spinner. I was telling this to a few of our young players who are playing their first Test in Galle.”I like to play with wind around. I have to adjust when the newer ball turns a bit, or against the older ball. It is really special to play in Galle. I love batting here.”Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim added an undefeated 247 for the fourth wicket•Associated PressMushfiqur, though, acknowledged that he wasn’t as comfortable this time. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva changed the field several times, often putting catchers in different positions and asking the bowlers to switch from conventional lines. Mushfiqur spent 23 balls in the nineties, before reaching the three-figure mark in the 86th over.”These are not easy runs. I took a lot of time in the nineties, as they were not giving me a freebie,” Mushfiqur said. “It shows that they are a tough side to score against. They made smart bowling changes and field placements. I trust my process when I am batting with control. Usually, we see that our opponents send a fielder to the deep after two or three boundaries. Sri Lanka change their fielding according to the conditions. You have to bat patiently against them.”Mushfiqur insisted that taking plenty of singles allowed him and Shanto to put the pressure back on Sri Lanka. He also praised Shanto, who got to his first Test century since November 2023, for dominating proceedings at the other end without giving a sniff to the opposition.

“You can’t get runs in every game, but when you do the right things over and over, hopefully the big score will come soon enough. When it does come around, you have to make sure to make it count.”Mushfiqur Rahim after an unbeaten 105 on day one in Galle

“I think rotating the strike is important – maybe as much as hitting fours or sixes,” Mushfiqur said. “Rotation of strike causes problems for the bowlers, especially when there’s a left-hander and a right-hander [combination] in the middle. It is very important to pick singles as the fielding side have to constantly change their placements. This is why we are always in training so that we remain fit.”Shanto has been in good form for a pretty long time. He has a good Test record. He is a good batter. It was nothing special. I was really impressed by his control factor today. He scored a hundred in Kandy some years ago, but I thought this was the right approach. It is important to play a chanceless innings, when you are mostly in control. It is going to give confidence to the next batters.”Mushfiqur said that Bangladesh must look to take advantage of such a start by batting long on the second day.”It is obviously a satisfying effort. Nobody wants to get any less runs after playing for so many years for your country,” he said. “You can’t get runs in every game, but when you do the right things over and over, hopefully the big score will come soon enough. When it does come around, you have to make sure to make it count. I am not finished yet. I will try to maximize tomorrow.”

Harry Kane says his first goal away at FC Koln on Tuesday was "one of his favourites" so far this season as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat the newly-promoted Bundesliga side 4-1 in the DFB Pokal. The England captain struck twice as Bayern created history by becoming the first team ever in Europe's top five leagues to win their first 14 games to a season in all competitions.

• Kane strikes again as imperious Bayern march on

  Bayern have been nothing short of unstoppable so far this season and after an early scare, that was the case once again as Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise all got on the scoresheet to secure a comfortable victory in the end.

  The victory also meant that Bayern surpassed 50 goals for the season in just 14 games, 22 of which have been scored by Kane who has earnt early Ballon d'Or shouts. This succession of 14 wins broke a European record set by AC Milan in the 1992/93 season. Bayern have been in truly scintillating form and early tips for the Bavarian giants to win it all feel more than justified.

  On the night, Kane swivelled to strike home his first goal from the tightest of angles, before heading home from a corner in the second half to make the game safe. He expressed his appreciation for the first goal at the full-time whistle.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Kane describes 'favourite' first goal on the night

  Kane told ESPN it was one of his favourite goals of the season so far: "It's one of my favourites. I think, it's a mixture of good finishing, technique, instinct of my surroundings, I liked the goal. I'll have to watch it back.

  “It was a kind of chip, ‘spinny’ one into the far corner, it was nice. I've been playing the game long enough now. When I'm in the box, I know where I am and where the goal is. 

  “I'll probably try that 10 more times and it might not come off the way it did tonight. But that's the important thing, being able to do that in the high-pressure moment.”

• Bayern come from behind but win once again

  Koln took the lead in the 31st minute through Ragnar Ache, who headed into the far corner after a confident start by the home side. But this lead would last just five minutes, as Diaz equalised from what appeared to be an offside position before Kane and then Olise took the game away from their hosts in a ruthless attacking display.

  But Kane would still praise Koln for the pressure they put the champions under in the first half, posing one of their bigger tests of the season so far.

  “It was tough, first half especially,” Kane told ESPN. “I think the first 30 minutes it was a bit chaotic from both teams. We still had chances in the first half that if we take it can be a different game. But then about 15 minutes in they started getting set plays and they started putting balls in our box, the crowd got behind them, and it was difficult. We had to battle. 

  “It was obviously disappointing to concede like we did but then the best part was the reaction, to score so quickly after and bounce back and again to go 2-1 and take control before half-time was the most pleasing thing today.”

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• Getty Images
  

  Bayern are just getting started

  This Bayern Munich train will no doubt steamroller on, with probably their two toughest tests of the season so far coming up in Champions League away trips to PSG and Arsenal. Win both of those, and Vincent Kompany’s side might will surely be the favourites for the competition.

  There is still work to be done on the domestic stage, with Bayern already five points clear at the top with Bundesliga matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin on the horizon. But their start to the season is catching attention across Europe, not least now that they have smashed Milan’s record.

  Kompany said earlier this week: "My team is incredibly hungry for the trophy. It's not just the fans who want the title, it's something we live and breathe.

  "The records come when we approach every game with the mentality of wanting to win. That's the first thing. And the second is quality. The lads are fit and you can see a lot of automatic movements. They're hungry and want more! That's helping us right now."

England’s players were “pretty clear” well before the Headingley Test that Ollie Pope would bat at No. 3 against India despite Jacob Bethell’s emergence. That is according to Ben Duckett, who said he had “goosebumps” watching Pope celebrate his ninth Test century after putting on 122 with him for the second wicket.Bethell’s success at No. 3 in his maiden series in New Zealand heaped pressure on Pope, who batted at No. 6 and kept wicket on that tour, and fuelled speculation ahead of this summer. That only intensified when Ben Stokes inadvertently suggested that Bethell would come back into his side to face India, having missed England’s win over Zimbabwe while at the IPL.Stokes sought to assure Pope, his vice-captain, that his comments had been misinterpreted, but even after he had piled on 171 at Trent Bridge, Rob Key declined the opportunity to confirm he would bat at No. 3 earlier this week. He was eventually locked in when England named their team on Wednesday, and was 100 not out at the close of the second day’s play.Related

• Ollie Pope's century buys him the summer at No. 3

• India's gaffes overshadow Bumrah's jaffas, Pope ton makes it England's day

• Stokes blames media 'agenda' for pre-match pressure on Pope

“There’s noise outside of a dressing room, but there’s no noise in it,” Duckett said. “We’re not having discussions in the dressing room about who’s going to play. It seemed pretty clear coming into this Test match [that] if a bloke scores 170 a few weeks ago, he is going to play this game.”Stokes said on the eve of the match that it would have been “remarkable” to leave Pope out after his hundred against Zimbabwe and that it showed “how well he’s handled that extra scrutiny”. But Pope’s visceral celebration proved that he had felt the pressure, which Duckett attributed to his “courage” and the dressing room’s support.”If someone needs you to get around him, we’ll do that; if someone needs to be left alone, we’ll do the same,” Duckett said. “What’s been going on through Popey’s head for the last few weeks, I don’t know. But to be told two or three days out that you’re playing is probably a good thing… The way Popey’s dealt with it has been superb and just sums up and proves why he’s England’s No. 3.”Duckett himself scored 62 before inside-edging Jasprit Bumrah on to his stumps, and heaped praise onto India’s spearhead.”He is the best bowler in the world,” Duckett said. “He’s extremely hard to face. He’s good in any conditions; he’s good in India on the flattest pitches ever and when he’s coming in down the hill [at Headingley] with the lights on and it’s swinging both ways.”I feel like we minimised the damage early on. It could have been a lot worse today… He is just a world-class bowler, and you can’t let someone like him just bowl; he’s too good for that. You’ve got to still try and put him under pressure, and try to put the bad balls away.”

Giovani Lo Celso has fired a subtle dig at Manchester United over their treatment of a player Ruben Amorim decided to get rid of in the summer.

Ex-Man Utd stars impressing after leaving Old Trafford

In what is, at this stage, an unsurprising turn of events, a number of the players Man United decided to move on in the summer have started well at their new clubs, including Rasmus Hojlund, who opened his account for Napoli on the opening day against Fiorentina.

Marcus Rashford is also off the mark for Barcelona, scoring twice against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in the Champions League, although United legend Paul Scholes hasn’t been left impressed by the England international

Scholes said: “I really struggle to feel happy for Marcus Rashford.

“Mainly because of his attitude. His attitude towards Man United towards the end was disgraceful. The amount of times I saw him walking because he wanted to leave… His whole demeanour about him was a disgrace.”

Antony, who is the second-most expensive signing in United’s history, has also caught the eye since joining Real Betis, picking up nine goals and five assists across all competitions during a loan spell last season.

Man Utd targeting "incredible" 4-2-3-1 manager who's won three league titles

The Red Devils have identified an “incredible” manager as a replacement for Ruben Amorim.

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Dominic Lund

Sep 23, 2025

The Brazilian has since signed for the Spanish club on a permanent deal, with the Red Devils being forced to take a huge loss, and Lo Celso has subsequently praised his new teammate, while also taking a subtle dig at Ruben Amorim’s side.

As relayed by Sport Witness, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder said: “I think his return is important for everyone. It wasn’t an easy summer for him. We know what English clubs are like; they don’t let you train. Every time he touches the ball, there’s a sense of danger. He’s direct and contagious.”

Amorim made the correct decision by selling Antony

Despite Lo Celso’s comments, it was undoubtedly the correct decision to sell the Brazilian in the summer, given that the winger flattered to deceive right across the two-and-a-half seasons he spent at Old Trafford.

In the summer transfer window, it was revealed that Amorim personally wanted to get rid of the 22-year-old, and it is little wonder, given that the Real Betis man very rarely impressed, receiving criticism right the way through his spell with the Red Devils.

On a more positive note, replacement Bryan Mbeumo has made a good start to life at Old Trafford, receiving praise from Amorim after opening his account against Burnley.

The United boss said: “It was impressive, the way he stretched the team, the quality he has in the first touch. You can feel that we are a different team, because when we win the ball, we have one guy stretching the team.”

James Trafford found himself in the bizarre situation where he was both bought and replaced by Manchester City during the same transfer window this past summer, starting the 2025-26 season as the main man between the sticks but promptly dropped. Pep Guardiola is still an admirer, though, ultimately tipping the goalkeeper for a big role with England in the future.

Trafford quickly replaced by Man City

City committed up to £31 million ($41m) during the summer to re-sign Trafford from Burnley, having let him go for a fraction of that price in 2023 without making a first-team appearance. But after a patchy start to the season, including a high profile error in the Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Trafford lost his place to fellow new arrival Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose availability on the market at all had been unexpected given his world class status. City remarkably had to pay less money for the Italian, around £26m ($34.5m), who quickly went on to land his second career Yashin Trophy.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGuardiola concedes goalkeeper situation is 'special'

Guardiola has chosen to fight Trafford's corner, defending him in public and insisting City are very happy with him. The Spanish coach has also implied there could be opportunities for rotation in goal, with the club hoping to compete on four fronts this season: Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup. Chances for Trafford may come in the latter two competitions, and if Donnarumma suffers an injury or gets suspended at any point.

"The keeper is a special situation because the keeper plays, normally one, and the second one doesn't. All I can say is we are delighted with his behaviour in training," Guardiola said of Trafford ahead of City facing Swansea in the Carabao Cup fourth round this week. "One of the reasons why we want to go through in this competition is because they all have to be ready in case we need in the Premier League and the Champions League."

England's No.1 sooner rather than later

It's no pressure, but Guardiola believes Trafford has the ability to be a starting goalkeeper for England. He is uncapped by the senior side for now, having made 34 appearances across various age-restricted England teams from Under-17 level through to Under-21. Having been cut from the provisional Euro 2024 list, he has also been selected for every senior England squad for the past year, remaining an unused substitute for each game.

"We have an incredible keeper. For England, sooner or later, he will be the one," Guardiola predicted. "I am pretty sure Gigi learns from James and James learns from Gigi. The goalkeepers are always connected."

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Getty Images SportTrafford fighting two of the best ever

If Trafford wants to command regular minutes for either club or country, he has a monumental job on his hands. Donnarumma is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world right now, having only been improving ever since becoming AC Milan's No.1 from the age of 16 a decade ago. He has two Yashin Trophies to his name under the Ballon d'Or banner and is nailed on favourite to collect a career first Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award in the coming weeks. As much as PSG wanted to move on and play with a different focus, they likely wouldn’t have won the Champions League last season without him.

England's Jordan Pickford is also a mountain to try and move. The Everton stopper has never enjoyed much success during a club career that has often seen him fighting at the wrong end of the Premier League table, but he is easily England's best goalkeeper of the 21st century and also one of the national team’s all-time greats, given his achievements in the role. He's played in two European Championship finals and currently presides over a record of nine consecutive clean sheets.

Moving clubs for 23-year-old Trafford, even so soon after returning 'home', might be the only real solution for him to make good on the potential Guardiola is convinced of.

Rangers are looking towards a new manager target who could bring a traditional front two back to Ibrox.

It looked all but guaranteed to be Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend was telling Rio Ferdinand all about his desire to return to management and talks were held with Rangers, only for their managerial search to continue after his rejection. Back to square one, Kevin Thelwell’s miserable start to life at Ibrox doesn’t look like ending anytime soon and questions are already surrounding his position as sporting director.

Just where Rangers go from here is the big question. After their main candidate rejected them, the likes of Danny Rohl have already been mentioned as potential alternatives.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss performed miracles at times in his last role, with circumstances away from the pitch often limiting his resources and disrupting things. Now, in search of his next coaching position, Rangers could yet come calling.

Related Rangers: 58 y/o league-winner wanted to accept low salary offer from Ibrox

He practically begged his agent to join Rangers.

Posts ByBen Goodwin Oct 13, 2025

The German was a candidate before Rangers chose to hire Martin in the summer, so they should know all about his expertise. Whether the Gers choose to turn towards a 36-year-old in their current circumstances remains to be seen, however.

The last thing that the 49ers need is for their second appointment to go as badly as the first. Whilst Rohl is a manager full of potential, Rangers must steady the ship first and foremost which may see them go in another direction. If that does prove to be the case, then a new name could yet take the vacant job.

Raphael Wicky joins Rangers shortlist

As reported by TeamTalk, Rangers are now considering a move for Raphael Wicky. The 48-year-old – 12 years Rohl’s senior – most recently took charge of Young Boys from 2022 to 2024 and maintained a points-per-game record of 1.97. It stands out as his most impressive role, given that he became a Swiss champion and cup winner during his time at the club.

A similar age to Gerrard and a league winner like the former Liverpool man, Wicky could make perfect sense, and according to Transfermarkt would bring a 4-4-2 formation to Ibrox, with the slight tweak of a diamond midfield.

There would be a sense of unknown, but it’s the same kind that Rangers arguably had when hiring an inexperienced Gerrard back in 2019, before he won the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox in 2021.

When it comes to Wicky’s system, Rangers can expect to start with two out and out strikers under the Swiss manager, which could see starts for both Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti as the Gers aim to finally get their attack firing on all cylinders.

So, whilst Wicky doesn’t stand out as the most well-known option, he is certainly an interesting candidate. He is still developing his trade, but doesn’t lack experience as a title-winner and that should hand the 49ers something to consider.

The trophies haven’t always followed, but West Ham United have had some truly sensational players represent them over the years.

You’ve got the historical greats, like Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, and Geoff Hurst, as well as some more modern ones.

Declan Rice, for example, or Dimitri Payet before him, and going back a little further, the livewire that was Paolo Di Canio.

All three made an enormous impact on the club during their time in East London, and Nuno Espírito Santo has someone in his squad today who should be spoken about in the same way.

Di Canio, Payet and Rice's West Ham careers

Starting in chronological order then, Di Canio joined West Ham in January 1999, and while there were some questions over the move for his rash behaviour, and the fact he had just been banned for 11 games for pushing a referee, Harry Redknaap justified the move by simply stating that the Italian could “do things with the ball that people can only dream of.”

Over the next four and a half years, the Roma-born icon would rack up an impressive tally of 50 goals and 19 assists in 139 games for the club, with his strike against Wimbledon in March 2000 later being named the league’s goal of the decade.

While he left to join Charlton Athletic following the Irons’ relegation in 2003, Di Canio made a lasting impression in East London and continues to call the fan base his second family.

Another maverick star who the East End fell head over heels for during his time in the capital was Payet.

The French magician joined the club from Marseille in the summer of 2015, and it didn’t take long for him to announce himself, providing the assist for Cheikhou Kouyaté from a well-taken free kick on his debut against Arsenal.

He ended that season with an outrageous tally of 12 goals and 15 assists in 38 games, which was enough for him to be named the Premier League Player of the Year at the 2016 London Football Awards, shortlisted for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and named West Ham United Player of the Year.

However, things would sour the following season, when, in the new year, he refused to play after making it clear that he wanted to return to Marseille, which he eventually did for around £25m.

Finally, the only academy product of the three, Rice was well and truly one of West Ham’s own.

He made his senior debut for the club in a Premier League game against Burnley in the 16/17 season, and over the next six years would go on to amass 244 more for the club, as well as becoming the captain in the summer of 2022.

His crowning achievement in claret and blue came the following summer, when he led the club to their first European title, beating Fiorentina in the Conference League final.

Unfortunately, he then left to join Arsenal a couple of months later, but he did at least bring in around £105m in the process.

In all, it’s impossible to deny that Di Canio, Payet and Rice are three of the very best players to have represented West Ham in the modern era, although another name might have to be added to that list.

The West Ham star emulating Di Canio, Payet and Rice

Now, while neither the results nor performances have been all that great this season, West Ham still have several incredibly talented players in their squad.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, when it comes down to someone who could emulate and be looked at in the same way as the three icons mentioned above, only one player comes to mind: Jarrod Bowen.

The 28-year-old joined the Hammers from Hull City in January 2020, and while there was some excitement around his transfer, it didn’t feel like it would be such a seismic one at the time.

After all, while his first six months at the club certainly weren’t bad, they also weren’t anything special, as in 13 appearances, he scored a single goal and provided four assists.

Things improved slightly the following year, as he recorded 14 goal involvements in 40 appearances, but it was the season after that, the 2021/22 campaign, when it became clear just how special a player he is.

Appearances

245

Starts

220

Minutes

19521′

Goals

77

Assists

52

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

151.32′

Points per Game

1.46

For example, in 51 appearances, the “unplayable” winger, as dubbed by Thomas Frank, scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.64 games, which was also enough to see him earn his first senior England cap.

However, it was the year after that in which his defining moment as a West Ham player came, as in the 90th minute of the Conference League final, he made a perfectly timed run, and under all the pressure in the world, scored the winning goal to send East London into delirium.

Since then, the firm fan favourite has continued to improve, and since being given the captain’s armband last year, it’s hard to think og what else he needs to do to cement himself as a West Ham legend.

Ultimately, while he might not get the same recognition outside the fan base, it would be fair to say that Bowen is well on his way to becoming one of the Hammers’ greatest ever – if he isn’t there already.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 7, 2025

Manchester United supporters have been starved of huge success for over a decade now, with no manager able to win the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Countless managers have tried and failed to replicate such feats, with Ruben Amorim the latest to try and end the decade-long drought for league glory.

However, it’s safe to say the 40-year-old has failed miserably at the task, as seen by his record of nine defeats in his last 15 top-flight matches in charge of the Red Devils.

The former Sporting CP boss arrived with huge expectations, but he’s failed to live up to them, with his recent slump on the field potentially spelling the end to his time at Old Trafford.

It would be a surprise to no one around the world that he could be replaced in the near future, potentially opening the door for one man to take the reins at the Theatre of Dreams.

The favourites for the Man Utd manager role

Over the last couple of days, former England boss Gareth Southgate has emerged as a potential candidate to take over as United manager should Amorim lose his job.

It’s been reported that the 55-year-old would be open to the role after previously being linked with the role on various occasions throughout his managerial career.

However, he’s not the only option currently in the hierarchy’s sights, with former Barcelona boss Xavi also under consideration, according to one outlet in Spain.

They claim that the Spaniard is emerging as one of the favourites to take over in Manchester, with the 45-year-old currently without a job after leaving Barcelona back in May 2024.

Despite the interest in his services, they may have to act quickly, with Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad also approaching him about taking over after Laurent Blanc was sacked.

Why United’s latest target would be their own Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has been a boss who has constantly proven his worth against United over recent years, often causing the Red Devils fanbase pain in the Manchester Derby.

In his 30 outings against the club, he’s won 63% of the matches – with his tally of 19 wins the fourth-most he’s achieved against any side in his managerial career to date.

His time at the Etihad has seen him win six Premier League titles since he took the reins back in the summer of 2016 – subsequently dominating England’s top-flight after his appointment.

There’s no doubt the fans of the Red Devils must wish they had themselves a manager of such a calibre, especially given the dismal levels they’ve had to endure over the last couple of seasons.

However, that could all be about to change with the potential appointment of Xavi in the near future, with the Spaniard possessing a very similar route to his compatriot in his managerial career.

Both starred at Barcelona as players before making the jump into management, with both going on to lead the Catalonian outfit in LaLiga and the Champions League.

Guardiola has made the move to England and succeeded, with Xavi having the chance to do the same if he does get offered the United job in the weeks ahead.

His stats during his time in charge of the Spanish giants are nothing short of remarkable, potentially having the quality to take the Red Devils back to their former glory.

The 45-year-old, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Guardiola himself, achieved a 70% win record for Barca, winning 71 of his 102 matches in charge of the club.

Games managed

102

Wins

71

Draws

16

Losses

15

Points gained

229

Points per game

2.3

Win percentage

70%

Goals scored

198

Goals against

87

He also achieved a staggering 2.3 points per game record, conceding just 87 times in the process – highlighting his ability to create a well-drilled and defensive outfit – something which the Red Devils have greatly lacked.

Xavi also managed to win the LaLiga title back in the 2022/23 campaign, potentially making him the perfect man to end United’s extended wait for a league triumph.

It remains unclear how long Amorim will be given to turn things around, but it’s evident that the 40-year-old is on borrowed time given the recent form in the Premier League.

However, there’s no denying that other options are being lined up by the board, with the former Barca boss potentially the perfect boss to fill the void at Old Trafford.

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