Since Ruben Amorim took charge at United in November, signs have pointed to Rashford’s time at his boyhood club nearing its conclusion. ..Continue Reading
That impression was all but confirmed a month later when the forward admitted in an interview with journalist Henry Winter that he was considering a new challenge away from Old Trafford.
Now, Rashford seems to have settled on his desired destination ahead of the summer transfer window, and he is even prepared to accept a wage cut to make the move happen.
During the winter transfer window, he was linked with several major European clubs but ultimately opted for a loan spell at Aston Villa until the end of the season.
Despite making a strong impression at Villa Park, a permanent transfer to the Midlands club appears unlikely, with Rashford instead hoping to secure a switch to Barcelona.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Rashford has enlisted the help of experienced football agent Pini Zahavi to facilitate his potential move to the Spanish giants, given Zahavi’s close ties to the club.
Zahavi reportedly maintains a solid relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta and also manages both Hansi Flick and Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona previously expressed interest in a loan deal for Rashford during the winter window, and the player believes Zahavi could act as the key intermediary in securing the transfer this summer.
Reports suggest that a loan deal would be Barcelona’s preferred approach, given Rashford’s existing contract with United, which runs until 2028. However, the winger is willing to lower his wages to smoothen negotiations.
Discussions between Rashford’s camp and Barcelona are said to be in the early stages, with a final decision expected after the season concludes.
However, Gyokeres has not entirely ruled out reuniting with his former coach, offering Amorim a glimmer of hope as United navigate a challenging season.
Both Premier League giants are set to be active in the striker market, with Gyokeres among several high-profile names expected to secure moves, alongside Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap.
Despite his strong bond with Amorim, reports indicate that Arsenal currently leads the race for his signature.
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal’s newly appointed sporting director Andrea Berta has identified Gyokeres as a top priority in their summer transfer plans.
Berta had previously attempted to bring the 26-year-old to Atletico Madrid during his tenure with the La Liga club, and his interest remains strong.
Gyokeres’ appeal is clear, having delivered an extraordinary return of 52 goals in 48 appearances for Sporting across all competitions this season.
His prolific form builds upon an impressive debut season, following his move to Lisbon from Coventry City in 2023 under Amorim’s guidance.
While Arsenal is currently leading the pursuit, Gyokeres remains open to a potential switch to Old Trafford—on one condition.
Reports suggest he has informed Amorim that he would consider joining United if they secure a Champions League spot for next season.
United’s domestic struggles have left them languishing in 15th place with three games remaining, but they still have a pathway to European qualification.
The Red Devils hold a commanding 3-0 advantage over Athletic Club heading into Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.
Victory would set up a final clash against either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt in Bilbao on May 21, offering United one last chance to book their place in next season’s Champions League.
Inter Milan secured a thrilling 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona to book their spot in the final.
Barcelona appeared poised to reach the grand stage at the Allianz Arena after overturning a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 in the closing minutes. ..Continue Reading
However, Inter struck a late equalizer in normal time before sealing the win in extra time, in what will be remembered as one of the most dramatic ties in Champions League history.
Either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal will face Inter in the final, with the two teams meeting in Paris for their decisive second leg on Wednesday.
PSG holds a narrow 1-0 advantage following their hard-fought win at the Emirates Stadium last week.
While many pundits believe Arsenal has a real chance of mounting a comeback in Paris, Salah has cautioned that they will once again be facing the ‘best team in Europe’ in PSG.
The French champions eliminated Aston Villa and Premier League winners Liverpool on their way to the semi-finals, also thrashing Manchester City during the league phase.
Luis Enrique’s side dominated Liverpool at home but still arrived at Anfield trailing by a goal after Harvey Elliott’s late strike for the Reds.
Despite the setback, PSG responded with a crucial 1-0 away win before triumphing in the penalty shootout to keep their hopes alive of lifting their first-ever Champions League title.
‘I have to be very honest, PSG were playing a very good game in the first leg,’ Salah told French outlet L’Equipe.
‘We were so lucky that Alisson had his best game in the club’s history probably. Then they came to Anfield. We were so unlucky because we hit the post two to three times.
‘That game was honestly 50/50 who deserved it more. No one could say. We played a very good second half. They played a very good first leg. Nobody here would say they deserved it 100 per cent.
‘It was their day and I shook their hands and said to their players after “congratulations, go and win” and that’s it. We faced the best team in Europe in that tie.’
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, meanwhile, expressed his pride at his team after their semi-final defeat to Inter Milan.
‘I’m very disappointed that we’re out – but I’m not disappointed about the performance of my team. They tried everything,’ he said.
‘We’re out, but next year we’ll start again and we’ll make our fans, the club and everyone around us happy.
‘They [Inter] are a really good team, a strong team who defend well but also they have a really good striker.
‘In the second half we were really good. We gave everything but in the end it was like that and that’s what made me a bit sad.’
The 26-year-old has been at the center of widespread media and fan discussions in recent weeks, culminating in his announcement on Sunday that he will not extend his contract with Liverpool. His current deal runs out at the end of June 2025.
Real Madrid appears to be his next destination, with The Athletic reporting on Monday that the right-back is set to join the Spanish giants as a free agent. Sources in Spain suggest a six-year contract is close to being finalized. ..Continue Reading
In his statement, Alexander-Arnold explained that stepping outside his “comfort zone” was a key factor in his decision to leave the reigning Premier League champions.
Over the past three decades, several high-profile players—including Eden Hazard, Steven McManaman, Gareth Bale, and Michael Owen—have swapped English football for a fresh challenge in Madrid. However, Ronaldo’s 2009 move from Manchester United to Los Blancos remains the most iconic switch.
Despite Alexander-Arnold seemingly set to follow a similar path, he once made his stance clear in an interview with Oh My Goal in 2019, stating that Messi is “the best player of all time.”
In another interview with the Mirror back in 2024, Alexander-Arnold doubled down on his choice, he explained: “It has to be Messi for me, the best player I’ve played, for me the best player that’s ever played the game.”
The right-back added: “I never watched [Diego] Maradona, so I don’t know… to imagine anyone better than what I’ve been able to see… my brain doesn’t comprehend it, there’s no way anyone can be better.”
He continued: “There’s just a different feeling playing against him than I’ve ever felt with anyone else.
“You’re always on red alert when the ball’s near him, I think it’s very rare for a player to have that kind of feeling, to put that feeling into other players. So for that reason, I have to say him.
“For me, I think in many, many aspects of the game, he’s probably the best at any given moment. He can almost do what he wants on a football pitch, so yeah, for that reason, he’s the best.”
Despite admitting that Messi is the greatest of all time, Alexander-Arnold still has huge respect for Ronaldo, and so he should given the fact that the Portuguese is Real’s highest-ever goalscorer and greatest player.
“With Ronaldo being one of the greats, probably one of the best players ever, it’s going to be an honour to hopefully play against him,” Alexander-Arnold said ahead of the 2018 Champions League final, which Liverpool lost 3-1 against Madrid.
“You have to admit he’s [Cristiano Ronaldo] an unbelievable player and he’s done exceptional things in the game,” he added. “The numbers that he does season in, season out are absolutely unbelievable.
“I know a lot about him and the likes of Messi because I watched them on YouTube growing up. You always watch those type of players. But you’ve just got to focus on the game and, if he’s a direct opponent, you have to see what the strengths and weaknesses are and use them to your advantage.”
After enduring a three-month goal drought, the English forward rediscovered his form, expressing how motivated he was to silence his critics. ..Continue Reading
The 22-year-old now has his sights set on becoming Chelsea’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer. His tally of 37 top-flight goals has propelled him into 10th place in the club’s history, drawing level with Brazilian winger Willian.
Despite joining the Blues from Manchester City just two summers ago, Palmer continues to show why Pep Guardiola’s decision to sell him may have been a misjudgment.
With his career still in its early stages, supporters will hope he remains a prolific force for years to come, having signed a nine-year contract in August 2024 that could keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
Palmer’s milestone has come in just 67 appearances, boasting the best minutes-per-goal ratio of any player in Chelsea’s top 10, averaging a goal every 150 minutes.
For perspective, former striker Nicolas Anelka took 125 matches to reach 68 goals, and Palmer is poised to surpass the Frenchman soon.
His £42.5m signing in the summer of 2023 generated plenty of excitement, but few anticipated he would become such a prolific scorer.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, he quickly took on a talismanic role for Chelsea, netting 22 goals in 34 league matches during the 2023-24 campaign.
Palmer struggled to break into Guardiola’s first team at Manchester City and did not score a single Premier League goal at the Etihad.
His second season in London has been a mix of ups and downs, with less reliance on him under Enzo Maresca’s management.
Palmer started the campaign in excellent form, striking 14 times in 21 appearances, but his momentum slowed after mid-January, leading to a frustrating three-month goal drought.
However, his performance against Liverpool signaled his return to form, with his penalty taking his total to 15 goals in 34 games.
Chelsea’s official media account shared the club’s all-time Premier League top scorers list, offering an intriguing insight into their history.
The rankings emphasized Frank Lampard’s remarkable scoring ability as a midfielder, while also highlighting Chelsea’s shortage of consistent goal-scorers—evidenced by John Terry occupying eighth place.
Rival fans were quick to mock the achievement, pointing to examples of past players from their own clubs who would have comfortably made Chelsea’s top 10.
One supporter highlighted how low Palmer would feature in Arsenal’s: “37 Goals at Arsenal will have you at Number 62 behind (Eddie Nketiah).”
Another similarly pointed out: “Theo Walcott 108 is the 10th all-time PL goal scorer at Arsenal, he has more goals than (Didier) Drogba that is second on this list.”
One fan poked fun at Chelsea: “37 goals gets you into the top 10 of a supposed big club’s all-time top scorers list.”
As did another: “Top 10 in the all-time scorers after two seasons is the most tinpot thing I’ve ever seen.”
Another said: “£7.9 billion spent on strikers and John Terry’s in our top 10.”
While others saw reasons to be optimistic regarding the legacy Palmer can achieve at the club. One fan wrote: “He’s going to retire as a legend here.”
Another said: “Cole is just 2 seasons in at Chelsea and he’s already in this conversation.”
Chelsea are in the race for Champions League qualification, and the win against Liverpool has them sitting fifth with 63 points, three above Nottingham Forest, who face Crystal Palace on Monday.
Liverpool fell to a 3-1 defeat against Enzo Maresca’s side in their first match since being crowned Premier League champions.
Still recovering from their title celebrations the previous week, the Reds looked sluggish, allowing Chelsea to seize the advantage early. ..Continue Reading
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring within three minutes after a well-executed move involving Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto.
Chelsea extended their lead with 20 minutes remaining when Virgil van Dijk’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Jarell Quansah and into the net for an own goal.
Although Van Dijk managed to pull one back for Liverpool with a well-timed header from a corner, Cole Palmer’s late penalty secured a crucial win for Chelsea in their push for Champions League qualification.
Salah was unusually quiet throughout the game, and Rooney credited Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella for delivering an outstanding defensive display.
Despite enjoying a spectacular season—having netted 33 goals and provided 23 assists across all competitions—Salah was unable to make his usual impact against his former club.
‘I was really impressed with Marc Cucurella,’ ex-Manchester United and England striker Rooney said on BBC’s Match of the Day 2.
‘I really liked how aggressive he was against Mohamed Salah. He was right in Salah’s face all afternoon, he didn’t give him any time on the ball.
‘Salah can obviously hurt players if he faces you up but Cucurella didn’t let that happen. He kept winning the ball and driving forward, he didn’t really give Salah any joy.
‘I think he won the ball back nine times which was more than any other player on the pitch. He was just really aggressive and I think you need to be against Salah because he will cause you massive problems if you give him time.
‘Mo Salah can make you look silly but Cucurella didn’t fear him at all. I was really impressed with him.’
Chelsea’s decision to spend over £60m on Cucurella in 2022 raised some skepticism, but the Euro 2024 champion has since established himself as a crucial figure in the squad.
Their latest victory brought them level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle United, with just three matches left in the season.
Securing a Champions League spot remains a key goal for Maresca’s team, though Nigel Reo-Coker believes they are not yet equipped to compete at the highest level in Europe.
‘You would have to say they are still in it but there are still a lot more questions about this Chelsea team,’ the ex-Premier League midfielder told BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘Just on the game against Liverpool, they took 45 minutes to get going and then they missed some real good chances.
‘Whether it is the Premier League celebration hangover. Chelsea were let off the hook in this game. It’s going to come down to Newcastle v Chelsea next [weekend] when they play each other.
‘Whoever wins that will be the one who makes it [into the Champions League positions]. I would put my money more so on Newcastle.
‘From their performances and from the way they look. They have won the League Cup this year and they have got tunnel vision.
‘With Chelsea, there are still quite a few questions. I don’t think they are strong enough defensively.’
The Liverpool defender has tested himself against many of the most formidable attacking talents of his generation. ..Continue Reading
He is frequently recognized as one of the toughest opponents by fellow players—Martin Odegaard has described him as his most challenging adversary, while Sergio Aguero also admitted he found it difficult to compete against Van Dijk.
In an interview with GQ, Van Dijk was asked to identify the most difficult player he has ever faced.
The Dutch center-back singled out both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the two most formidable opponents he has encountered.
He acknowledged that defending against either of them posed a tremendous challenge.
Speaking to GQ, Van Dijk was clear in his assessment—Messi and Ronaldo were the hardest players he has ever had to contain.
Van Dijk stated via TBR Football: “Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both very, very, very good players.
“Very difficult to defend against. In my opinion, it is always a privilege to play against the best. You can continually challenge yourself, and you must always be at your absolute best — it is a beautiful thing.”
Van Dijk has gone up against Ronaldo five times, with the Portuguese forward getting the better of him on three occasions.
The Dutch defender has faced Messi three times, suffering defeat twice. However, his lone victory was a momentous one—Liverpool’s stunning 4-0 comeback at Anfield against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semi-final, overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Both Messi and Ronaldo are now in the latter stages of their legendary careers.
Messi currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, while Ronaldo continues his journey in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr.
Arne Slot’s dominant squad celebrated their title win last Sunday with a commanding victory over Tottenham at Anfield, while the Gunners continue their fight to secure second place for the third consecutive year. ..Continue Reading
Despite falling behind Liverpool in the standings, Arsenal has performed admirably against the league’s top sides and held their own in a thrilling 2-2 draw against the champions earlier this season, with Mohamed Salah’s late equalizer salvaging a point for the Reds.
Mikel Arteta’s men remain unbeaten against the rest of England’s elite and have enjoyed a smooth path through the Champions League knockout rounds—until Tuesday, when Inter became the first team to defeat them in Europe this season.
Now, Arsenal faces a major challenge in their quest for a place in the final in Munich, after Ousmane Dembele’s decisive goal secured a first-leg victory for Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG has developed significantly since their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal earlier this season, leading Saka to declare them the strongest side he has encountered all campaign.
‘100% they were like a different team,’ said Saka in an interview with Sky Sports, when asked to rate PSG’s performance in midweek.
‘I know they only changed two players from the line-up against us previously but how much cohesion they have, how they flow, how they move the ball they were a lot better and they impressed me to be fair.
‘I would say so probably yes. They have a lot of threat up at the top end of the pitch and I think in the midfield as well they keep the ball really well and try and make you run. I don’t think anyone likes to run if I’m honest’.
Saka got the better of his opponent Nuno Mendes when the two clashed back in October, but it was a far more even contest in midweek.
‘It was a good battle, he’s a top full-back he’s so quick,’ said Saka. ‘I enjoy those battles and look forward to going against next week.’
Despite a far from ideal scenario heading to the Parc des Princes, the England star remains confident his team are capable of raising their game and overturning a one-goal deficit.
He said: ‘I think it’s important to stay calm but obviously we know we have another level to go and I think we’re going to show it in Paris and I’m confident we can turn it around.
‘It was tough to find space, they put a lot of bodies around me, they defended well and I’m looking at the space I can find in the second leg.’
Journalist Simon Phillips reported on his Substack that both Liverpool and Manchester City have been keeping a close watch on Palmer ahead of the upcoming transfer window. ..Continue Reading
City are also said to have made an official inquiry about signing the talented Chelsea midfielder.
Palmer excelled during the first half of the campaign under new manager Enzo Maresca, netting 13 goals and registering six assists before the turn of the year.
However, his form has dipped in 2025, managing just one goal—a strike in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on January 14—sparking concerns about how he fits into Maresca’s tactical approach.
In The Telegraph, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher weighed in on Palmer’s future, discussing the potential of a move to Anfield, even though such a transfer remains unlikely.
He said: “It surprises me that no-one has argued that Palmer should be on the new champions’ radar.
“Far-fetched? Too expensive? Most likely. Liverpool ‘going big’ for footballers who are already established on mammoth and long contracts elsewhere is not their strategy.”
In addition to Carragher’s observations, Palmer is still bound to Chelsea for the next eight years, following the record-breaking nine-year contract he signed last summer.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old has already expressed his thoughts on the newly crowned Premier League champions.
Speaking in October ahead of the Premier League game between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield, which the Reds went on to win 2-1, Palmer told club media: “I just remember the Anfield crowd from our last game there.
“They had a great team then, and they’ve got a great team now, so it will be a difficult game if we’re not 100 per cent on it.
“As a boy from Manchester, you’re aware of the relationship between both cities. It’s a bit of a rivalry. Everyone knows what their stadium is like, what their fans are like and what their team is like.”
The versatile defender will be rested ahead of the crucial second leg of the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club.
With little recovery time between matches—though Brentford also played on the same night, securing a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest—Amorim is unwilling to take any risks that could lead to injuries before two pivotal European encounters.
The Portuguese coach is expected to rotate his squad, giving young talents like Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson, Jaydan Kamason, Bendito Mantato, and Chido Obi an opportunity after they traveled to Spain for United’s 3-0 victory over Athletic Club.
Mazraoui, who played 74 minutes before being substituted for Luke Shaw on Thursday, will not feature in the clash at Brentford, opening up a spot at wing-back.
Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Leny Yoro, and Viktor Lindelof all completed the full 90 minutes in Spain, meaning players like Hojlund might also be left out due to limited options in attack.
“There are some positions that we don’t have more players,” explained Amorim. “For example, Nous Mazraoui cannot play. He’s in the limit to get an injury.
“So we are going to deal with that and prepare a game against a team that they won today and is in a great moment. And we have always a responsibility to perform. We have always a responsibility to offer the result.
“But in this moment, we have to be clear. Our focus is more on saving players and trying to be competitive. It’s not a good thing to say, but we need to understand the context.”
Amorim confirmed that any player who is at risk of injury will be rotated, despite the huge prize money at stake for each higher position in the Premier League table, with United languishing in 14th.
“The first thing is that the players who are in risk to get injury will not play,” Amorim added. “No matter what. We need to take a risk in [doing] that. And then we are going to assess tomorrow [Friday] and the next day, who are the best players to start the game.
“Then we have to be careful because we are Manchester United and we cannot go to a game without thinking we can win this game. So the process is going to be like that. It’s going to be tough, but we pass so many things this year. It’s one more. Let’s see.”