Glasgow Rangers completed their latest signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday when they confirmed the arrival of Djedi Gassama at Ibrox.
The 21-year-old winger has arrived at Rangers on a four-year deal to bolster Russell Martin’s options on the flanks, after he scored seven goals in 43 games last season.
Gassama will be hoping to provide a threat in the final third on a regular basis for the Scottish Premiership giants next term, and could be in line to make his debut against Panathinaikos in the Champions League qualifier later this month.
The French forward may not be the only player to arrive at Ibrox this week, though, as there is another player who wants to make the switch to Glasgow in the coming days.
English star pushing to sign for Rangers
One of Martin’s transfer targets is said to be pushing for a move to Ibrox this week, and it could be an even better signing than Gassama if they can get it over the line.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to the Daily Record, Leicester City central defender wants to complete a transfer to Rangers from the Championship side by the end of this week.
The report claims that the former England international is ready to plead with the Foxes to give him the green light to make the move to Ibrox, in order to be in the squad to face Panathinaikos later this month.
It adds that Martin is a big fan of Coady and that the player wants to join the club to be the ‘linchpin’ of the new defensive set-up at Ibrox next season.
Why Coady would be a better signing than Gassama
At least for next season, the veteran central defender could be an even better signing than Gassama because of the quality and experience that he could use to hit the ground running.
Gassama, at the age of 21, is a young and promising forward who may need time to adapt to Scottish football and to grow as a player, having only managed eight goal contributions in 43 games in the second tier in England last term.
Meanwhile, Coady is 32 and has made 198 appearances in the Premier League. He has proven himself at the very top level in domestic European football, and showcased his in-possession qualities when Leicester were in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign.
Passes completed
84.99
Top 5%
Pass accuracy
93%
Top 1%
Progressive passes
7.20
Top 1%
Passes into the final third
7.20
Top 2%
xAG
0.05
Top 16%
Progressive passing distance
556 yards
Top 3%
Through balls
0.26
Top 2%
As you can see in the table above, the English star is a centre-back who has the quality and mentality to be incredibly progressive with his use of the ball, helping his team to play through the thirds quickly and effectively in a ball-dominant team.
Off the ball, Coady won 64% of his duels that season for the Foxes in their title-winning campaign, which shows that he can also dominate opposition attackers in physical tussles.
Leicester City's Conor Coady.
The former Wolves captain, who was described as an “infectious” character by Gareth Southgate, is a proven quantity who would be able to arrive at Rangers to provide instant, almost guaranteed, quality on the pitch with his abilities in and out of possession as a centre-back.
There is far less risk attached to signing a proven player like Coady, who was playing in the Premier League last season, than bringing in a 21-year-old from the second division in England.
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That is not to say that Gassama will be a bad signing, or that he is not an exciting addition, but Martin also needs instant quality and that is why Coady may be an even better piece of business if they can get it over the line this week.
Manchester United have now made contact with the agents of a £34m star, who’s “the best in his role in the world”, journalist Orazio Accomando has revealed.
Man Utd lacking cutting edge in attack
Man United’s 2024-25 campaign was one of their worst in modern history, but they still managed to create 400 chances in the Premier League, the sixth-highest total in the top flight.
Those figures suggest that a lack of cutting edge in attack is the real issue, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just seven goals between them, so it is little wonder the Red Devils are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker.
However, Ruben Amorim may also be keen to relieve the burden of creating chances which currently rests on Bruno Fernandes, with the Portugal international directly involved in just under half of the 44 Premier League goals United scored last season.
As such, an approach has now been made for a new creative midfielder, with Accomando taking to X to reveal Man United have now made contact with the agents of Inter Milan star Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who is looking to leave the Italian club this summer.
The maestro is eager to return to his home country and sign for Galatasaray, but the Turkish champions are unable to offer more than €15m (£13m), with Inter looking to hold out for a figure close to €40m (£34m).
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Fulham have also made contact over a deal for Çalhanoğlu, and if a bidding war breaks out, Galatasaray could find it very difficult to get a deal over the line.
Çalhanoğlu impressing in Serie A for Inter Milan
The 31-year-old has been a regular source of goals and assists for Inter over a number of years, picking up 70 goal contributions in 182 appearances for the Italian club, indicating he could provide support to Fernandes in attack.
However, the Inter and Turkey star has most commonly featured in a deep-lying playmaker role, where he has flourished, according to Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella, who said: “Hakan has been the best in his role in the world in recent years.”
Inter Milan's HakanCalhanogluduring the warm up before the match
The 2025 Champions League finalist is in doubt over his ability, having also ranked himself alongside some of the world’s best midfielders, saying: “I’m not far from De Bruyne or Modric. Maybe in this period, those who play in the Premier League have more visibility.”
Having never played in the Premier League before, a move to Old Trafford would provide Çalhanoğlu with the opportunity to prove himself as one of the best in the world, although United should be cautious about paying £34m for a 31-year-old.
Glasgow Rangers have now identified a £6.5 million forward as a potential replacement for Hamza Igamane, who looks set to leave Ibrox, according to a new report.
Hamza Igamane closing in on Lille transfer
The Scottish giants signed Igamane from AS FAR Rabat last summer, a transfer that fans were not sure what to expect from. It took a while for the 22-year-old to get going in Scotland, but once he found his feet, he showed his true qualities.
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The Gers want a permanent transfer.
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Igamane scored 12 goals in 33 Scottish Premiership games last season, as well as netting four times in the Europa League. The Moroccan scored two goals in the final four league games, and, unfortunately for Rangers, they could be the final goals he scores for the club.
That is because, according to Sacha Tavolieri, Rangers are now in talks with Lille over the sale of Igamane. The French side have made the Rangers forward their top target to replace Jonathan David, and they have already agreed personal terms with the striker. All that remains is for the two clubs to work on finding an agreement for a transfer fee, with separate reports stating that the Gers would want around £20 million to part ways.
His departure now feels expected, and therefore, Rangers will need to enter the market to find a suitable replacement for Russell Martin as he bids to get the Gers through the early stages of the Champions League, which starts in a few weeks.
Rangers identify £6.5m forward to replace Igamane
According to TEAMtalk, Rangers are keen on signing Matija Frigan after identifying him as the player to replace Igamane.
Russell Martin watches on whilst in charge of Southampton.
The report states that Rangers are preparing for a summer overhaul of the squad, and they have now accepted the fact that Igamane is set to leave at some point in this transfer window. Frigan is a potential target, as he fits the club’s policy of buying talent at a low price and then potentially selling for a big profit.
The 22-year-old currently plays for Belgian side KVC Westerlo and has done so since 2023. The forward netted nine goals in 29 league games last season, and that has put him on the radar of Rangers, whose recruitment team have been left impressed by his finishing and work rate.
Apps
72
Goals
19
Assists
5
Frigan is valued at £6.5 million, but Rangers believe they could get a deal done for a lower price, with add-ons taking it to that figure.
The Gers have already been handed a boost in their pursuit of the player, as he is set to be ‘enthusiastic’ about joining Rangers, given the history of the club and the fact they can offer European football. Frigan is unknown to English football, but scout Jacek Kulig has likened the forward to Italy striker Ciro Immobile, which shows how promising his career could be.
After failing to negotiate a new contract with Abdoulaye Doucoure, Everton watched on as the Frenchman departed and are now reportedly eyeing his potential replacement in a £25m deal.
Everton must replace Doucoure this summer
For all his experience and important moments to match, Everton failed to offer Doucoure a new deal in Merseyside in a decision that they’ll be desperate not to regret this time next season. The veteran midfielder spent five years at the club in a spell full of ups and downs, from being dropped by Frank Lampard to thriving under Sean Dyche and David Moyes.
Doucoure was the man who scored the goal to keep Everton afloat in the 2022/23 campaign and he was the man who battled Curtis Jones in what proved to be his final-ever Merseyside derby. A Frenchman turned scouse, there is no denying that replacing his influence will not be a simple task for the Toffees this summer.
Saying goodbye to the fans, Doucoure said at the end of last season: “Hi Evertonians – just wanted to share this message with you that I’m going to leave the football club at the end of the season.
“After five wonderful years, my time at Everton came to an end. Everton means a lot for me. Obviously the past five years it’s been hard but I will always remember my time as a dream for me, to play for Everton Football Club.”
Everton fighting Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland for free agent signing
The Toffees are lining up a bargain transfer…
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It’s a decision that Everton must now justify by signing a younger, improved model this summer and, to their credit, they could do exactly that by welcoming one particular midfield star.
Everton eyeing £25m Yarmolyuk deal
As reported by Caught Offside, Everton are now eyeing a summer swoop to sign Yegor Yarmolyuk from Brentford, who value their young midfielder at just €30m (£25m).
The 21-year-old is represented by the same agent as Everton left-back Vitalii Mykolenko and could now join his countryman in Merseyside to hand Moyes his Doucoure replacement. Joining Everton in pursuit of his signature, however, are Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.
Minutes
1,450
2,564
Progressive Passes
3.91
2.88
Tackles Won
1.74
0.98
Ball Recoveries
7.02
5.26
More robust than Doucoure whilst also outperforming the Frenchman when progressing play last season, there’s even an argument to be made that Yarmolyuk would be an upgrade on the former Everton man rather than just a replacement.
At just 21 years old, the Ukraine-born midfielder has already found himself at the centre of praise and that includes from Ben Mattinson. The analyst dubbed the Brentford star “underrated” and “physical” back in January and could now watch on as he swaps West London for Merseyside.
Yegor Yarmolyuk
In a deal that would reportedly cost around £25m, the Toffees could commence their summer business with an absolute bargain whilst instantly replacing Doucoure in the process.
After announcing the return of Kieran Tierney on a free transfer, Celtic and Brendan Rodgers are now reportedly plotting another bargain move to sign an impressive playmaker.
Celtic seal first major summer signing
Six years on from swapping Glasgow for North London and Arsenal, Tierney is officially a Celtic player for the second time. The Scotland left-back initially got off to an excellent start in the Premier League, but injuries soon struck and eventually controlled the narrative of what was ultimately a frustrating six-year period at The Emirates. Now back where he burst onto the scene, however, Tierney will be desperate to put those problems behind him.
After putting pen to paper to officially seal his return, Tierney told Celtic’s media channels: “Everybody’s known for a few months and just to be here with the Celtic strip on again just feels amazing.
“I spoke with the manager, and obviously I had worked with the gaffer before and I’ve always kept in touch with him. He’s one of the best so I’m so lucky and grateful that he’s given me the chance to come back again.
“He never had to convince me much but it’s just a huge bonus that he’s the manager because I loved working with him. He knows how to get the best out of me, and I just loved my time under him.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
“He’s a great person that I’ve always kept in touch with, John Kennedy as well, who is also someone I’ve kept in touch with and who I still meet regularly when I’m back, and Cal and Jamesy, who I’ve been close with now since I was 17.”
Even after Tierney, though, Celtic could just be getting started with their summer business, having also reportedly set their sights on an impressive 16-goal playmaker.
Rodgers personally plotting Nygren move
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Brendan Rodgers is now personally plotting a Celtic move to sign Benjamin Nygren from Nordsjaelland this summer. The winger has just six months left on his current deal and is not set to put pen to paper on fresh terms, meaning a departure from the Danish club is likely in the coming months.
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Celtic could land their target for a bargain price as a result of his contract situation too. Reports suggest that Nygren could leave Nordsjaelland for just £2m this summer in what would be an excellent deal for a player who scored 16 goals in the 2024/25 campaign.
After already signing Tierney on a free, signing a player who has been praised for an “incredible” season by a Danish scout for just £2m would represent another piece of excellent business from Celtic this summer.
Sunderland will be playing in the Premier League next season and they know that their recruitment work this summer will need to be spot on to give them a chance of avoiding an instant relegation.
The Black Cats recently confirmed the signing of Enzo Le Fee on a permanent basis from Roma for a club-record fee of £20m as their first addition ahead of their return to the top-flight, after he spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan with Regis Le Bris’ team.
Le Fee showed quality on the ball, with 1.3 dribbles completed per game, but combined that with 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game in his 11 league starts, which suggests that he could thrive in a relegation battle where plenty of defending will be needed.
The French maestro also heads into the Premier League with plenty of experience in Europe’s major leagues, with 132 games in Ligue 1 and six matches in the Serie A, which means that he is used to playing at the top level and that is why he could be an excellent signing for the Black Cats.
Sunderland eyeing deal for Premier League defender
Sunderland could repeat the blinder that they have seemingly played with Le Fee, who is an experienced top-flight performer who is already settled in and used to playing for the club, by signing another one of their loan stars.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to the Northern Echo, the Premier League newcomers are considering a deal to bring Chris Mepham back to the Stadium of Light in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Wales international is one of a number of defensive options being weighed up by the board at Sunderland, as they eye up a possible reunion with the Bournemouth centre-back.
It states that there was no obligation for the loan move to be turned into a permanent one this summer, which means that they would have to negotiate a fee with the Cherries.
Why Sunderland should sign Chris Mepham
The Black Cats should swoop to sign Mepham on a permanent basis in the coming weeks because it could be a repeat of their Le Fee blinder.
Like the French star, the 27-year-old colossus would not need any time to settle in because he just played 40 matches on loan at the club in the 2024/25 season.
The Welsh titan also has top-flight experience, like Le Fee, having played 61 times in the Premier League for Bournemouth, which means that he knows the division and could provide vital experience to a young team lacking games at that level.
Mepham, who was hailed as “outstanding” by pundit Carlton Palmer, also delivered solid performances for Sunderland when called upon in the Championship this season.
Appearances
38
Pass accuracy
87%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.3
Clearances per game
6.1
Ground duel success rate
55%
Aerial duel success rate
63%
Clean sheets
11
As you can see in the table above, the Bournemouth loanee was dominant in his duels and helped the team to keep 11 clean sheets in 38 outings in the second tier.
He also averaged the most clearances per match in the entire squad, ahead of the likes of Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard, which may be down to his experience and know-how, as he excels at being in the right place at the right time at the heart of the defence.
Mepham was, therefore, an important player for Sunderland in the Championship and that is why they should press ahead with a deal to sign him on a permanent basis, as a star who knows the club and has Premier League experience under his belt.
Like Le Fee, the 27-year-old brute would hit the ground running on Wearside in the top-flight because of his loan spell at the Stadium of Light and because of the top-flight games that he has played.
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It is now down to the club to ensure that they can strike a deal with Bournemouth to bring him back to Sunderland, to join Le Fee as their second signing.
The Champions League final is the pinnacle of any football season. With the showpiece finale set to bring the curtain down on another dazzling European campaign, it brings around a chance to look back at some of the best finals from years gone by.
While finals can often be drab affairs – the last four editions have all been decided by a single goal – the Champions League final has been no stranger to some of the most dramatic affairs over the years. Here is Football FanCast’s attempt at ranking the very best finals since the first one in 1956, based on the drama and significance of each match.
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Rank
Final
Year
Milan 3-3 Liverpool
2005
Man Utd 2-1 Bayern Munich
1999
Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea
2008
Benfica 1-4 Man Utd
1968
Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid
2014
Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea
2012
Real Madrid 7-3 Frankfurt
1960
Celtic 2-1 Inter
1967
Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Barcelona
1986
Bayern Munich 0-1 Aston Villa
1982
Milan 4-0 Barcelona
1994
Liverpool 1-1 Roma
1984
Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid
2002
Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool
2018
Barcelona 3-1 Man Utd
2011
15 Barcelona 3-1 Man Utd (2011) Guardiola's stars beat United in the final again
Barcelona’s class of 2011 are considered one of the greatest club sides of all time, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta bringing Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka philosophy to life.
The 2011 final, held at Wembley Stadium, pitted the same finalists as in 2009, when Barca overcame United 2-0 in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
First-half goals from Pedro and Wayne Rooney suggested this would be a more even contest, but the second half saw Barcelona’s star men come alive.
Messi put Barcelona back in front shortly after the interval, while David Villa sumptuously curled home to seal the match and the Catalans’ third Champions League triumph in six seasons. The only surprise is that their dominance didn’t exactly endure after this.
14 Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (2018) Karius clangers and Bale wonder-strike completes Euro hat-trick
While maybe not the most spectacular of matches, this game did provide one of the most spectacular goals in a Champions League final, while also including one of the most bizarre. Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius gifted Karim Benzema the opener in Kyiv by inexplicably rolling the ball into his path before Sadio Mane equalised for the Reds.
Gareth Bale came off the bench to score an incredible overhead kick, before the Welshman finished the job with the help of another Karius mistake. It was a third consecutive Champions League triumph for Real Madrid – a feat that hadn’t been achieved for over 40 years.
Date
26th May 2018
Venue
NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv
Attendance
61,561
Goalscorers
Benzema 51′, Bale 63′, 83′ / Mane 55′
13 Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid (2002) Zidane's worldie wins Los Blancos' ninth CL
Another sensational Champions League final goal; another sensational volley and another Madrid victory. This time it was Zinedine Zidane who scored one of the most iconic goals in the competition’s illustrious history, sending a luscious, looping effort into the top-left corner from just inside Leverkusen’s penalty area at Hampden Park. Zidane’s goal on the stroke of half-time proved the winner, with Lucio having cancelled out Raul’s early opener.
Date
15th May 2002
Venue
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance
50,499
Goalscorers
Lucio 14′ / Raul 8′, Zidane 45′
12 Liverpool 1-1 Roma (1984) Reds win on penalties to upset hosts and favourites Roma
It won’t have been often that Liverpool headed into a European Cup final as underdogs, but Joe Fagan’s Reds were up against it as they prepared to take on Roma in their own backyard, in what was just the hosts’ second European final, having won the Fairs Cup in 1961.
Phil Neal put Liverpool ahead before Roberto Pruzzo levelled things up before half-time. The teams could not be separated, leading to a penalty shootout. It is perhaps best known for Bruce Grobbelaar’s ‘spaghetti legs’ antics in goal, with Francesco Graziani blazing his effort over, handing the Reds match point.
Alan Kennedy netted the winning spot-kick, making Liverpool European champions for a fourth time.
Date
30th May 1984
Venue
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Attendance
69,693
Goalscorers
Neal 13′ / Pruzzo 42′
11 Milan 4-0 Barcelona (1994) Johan Cruyff's Barcelona swept aside by brutal Milan display
Miguel Angel Nadal (l) had a tough night against Milan.
Johan Cruyff’s swashbuckling Barcelona side were expected to wipe the floor with a Milan team shorn of several key players, including Marco van Basten and Franco Baresi, due to injury.
Those expectations could have not ended up being further from the truth, with the Rossoneri delivering one of the finest team performances in a single game in the history of the competition to win 4-0 and claim their fifth European crown. Dejan Savicevic’s exquisite lob over a helpless Andoni Zubizarreta was the pick of the goals as Milan ran riot in Athens.
Date
18th May 1994
Venue
Olympic Stadium, Athens
Attendance
70,000
Goalscorers
Massaro 22′, 45′, Savicevic 47′, Desailly 58′
10 Bayern Munich 0-1 Aston Villa (1982) Peter Withe winner upsets odds as Villans reign in Europe
Not very often does the European Cup final pit a David and Goliath together, but that’s what we got in 1982 when an unfancied Aston Villa set up a grand finale against Bayern Munich.
Bayern were three-time European Cup winners and boasted international stars such as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Paul Breitner in their starting XI.
In contrast, Villa had somewhat surprisingly won the First Division a year prior, and were forced to substitute their first-choice goalkeeper nine minutes into the final, leaving Nigel Spink – who had one first-team appearance to his name – to make his European debut for a Villa side decidedly lacking in star names.
That did not deter them, and they made the breakthrough midway through the second half through Peter Withe’s strike from Tony Morley’s cross, sparking jubilant scenes on the pitch and in the stands.
Bayern then had a late equaliser ruled out for offside as Tony Barton’s side held on to create history.
9 Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Barcelona (1986) Duckadam saves four in incredible shootout
You’re probably wondering what a goalless draw is doing in a best finals piece. Well, in a great example of not needing goals to have drama and heroics, Steaua Bucharest’s only European Cup triumph can be put down to an unbelievable goalkeeping display from Helmuth Duckadam.
The Romanian saved all four of Barcelona’s spot-kicks to win the European Cup for his team. The shootout itself ended 2-0 in favour of Steaua after a goalless draw, with each of the first four attempts saved before Marius Lacatus finally converted.
Granted, some of the penalties weren’t the best, but there’s no denying the greatness of Duckadam’s exploits.
Date
7th May 1986
Venue
Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville
Attendance
70,000
Goalscorers
None
8 Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014) Real blitz Atletico in extra time to earn La Decima
Real Madrid hammered Atletico Madrid in 2014.
Madrid had to wait 12 long years to claim ‘La Decima’, their tenth top-level European crown. They got the job done in style in 2014, though, beating city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1.
Diego Godin put Atletico ahead, but Diego Simeone’s stubborn rearguard was not enough. Sergio Ramos sent the game to extra time with a last-minute equaliser, in which Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo scored to complete the rout for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
7 Celtic 2-1 Inter (1967) Lisbon Lions come from behind to become first British champs
Members of Celtic's 1966-67 squad parade the European Cup in 1998.
The famous Celtic side of 1967, dubbed ‘The Lisbon Lions’, triumphed over Inter to become the first British side to win the European Cup.
Celtic went behind through an early penalty, but from then on, it was an onslaught of green and white, with goals from Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers getting the job done. Incredibly, all but two of Celtic’s squad were born within a 10-mile radius of the club’s ground – just one of the reasons that team is still revered today.
Date
25th May 1967
Venue
Estadio Nacional, Lisbon
Attendance
45,000
Goalscorers
Gemmell 63′, Chalmers 84′ / Mazzola 7′ (p)
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ByRobin Mumford May 14, 2025 6 Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt (1960) Ten-goal final hands Madrid fifth European crown on the spin
We’ll level with you: we didn’t watch the 1960 European Cup final. But its significance remains, as does its status as one of the greatest football matches of all time.
High-scoring games weren’t as rare back in the day, with both Real Madrid and Frankfurt reaching the final having put 12 goals past the likes of Jeunesse Esch and Rangers respectively – the latter coming in two brutal semi-final demolitions.
That theme continued into the final, with four-time winners Madrid – who had won every edition of the competition to this point – responding to Frankfurt’s opener by striking six times, while there was still time for Erwin Stein to bag a consolation double either side of Ferenc Puskas’ fourth goal of the final.
Alfredo Di Stefano also netted a hat-trick for Los Blancos as they stretched their historic run in front of well over 100,000 fans at Hampden Park. As the highest-scoring final, it just had to be on this list.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will head into the summer transfer window full of confidence that they can secure a top-half finish in the Premier League next season.
Much will depend on Vitor Pereira’s budget, however. Will he be allowed to spend big in order to carry on the momentum gained over the last few months?
There will certainly be a few sales when the window opens as he begins to build his squad.
The key question for the Molineux faithful: Will Matheus Cunha be at the club on the opening day of 2025/26?
Why Matheus Cunha is a wanted man this summer
If it wasn’t for Cunha’s output in the final third this season, Wolves may arguably have been in real danger of relegation.
The Brazilian has been in remarkable form, scoring 15 times in the top flight while chipping in with six assists in the process.
Not only does this account for 41% of the club’s total goals in the league, but he also ranks ninth in the Premier League for goals and assists.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhacelebrates scoring their fourth goal
Despite this, Cunha has clashed with supporters on social media following a post he put up on his Instagram.
He even confessed that he wishes to leave in order to challenge for trophies, and if a big offer comes in, the forward may depart.
The forward currently earns £90k-per-week in the Midlands and, should he leave, this would help free up a big chunk of the wage budget for Pereira.
It does look likely he will move on from Wolves. But there is one player the manager should be actively trying to sell, especially considering he is earning more than the club’s talisman at the moment – Goncalo Guedes.
Why Goncalo Guedes must follow Cunha out the door
£35m signing Guedes was given a second chance at the club after returning from a loan spell last summer, but he hasn’t exactly taken the opportunity.
Across 31 games, he has registered ten goal contributions – five goals and five assists – but only two goals have come in the top flight.
He started in the 2-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, but was subbed off after 59 minutes.
Goals
2
Assists
4
Shots per game
0.8
Key passes per game
0.4
Big chances created
2
Successful dribbles per game
0.2
During the game, he missed a big chance – notably firing a close-range effort over the far – failed to register a shot on target, failed with his only dribble attempt and won just a solitary duel against the Seagulls.
Due to his lethargic display, Guedes was given a match rating of just 5/10 by Birmingham World with journalist Charlie Haffenden noting that he ‘wasted two big chances in the opening ten minutes’ and was ‘not too involved afterwards’ which just about sums up his time at Molineux.
It’s safe to say that if this was an audition to secure his future at the club, he failed.
The Portuguese forward currently earns the same weekly wage as Cunha which given how differently the pair have performed this season, it is a rather remarkable fact.
=1
Goncalo Guedes
£90,000
£4,680,000
=1
Pablo Sarabia
£90,000
£4,680,000
=1
Matheus Cunha
£90,000
£4,680,000
4
Nelson Semedo
£80,000
£4,160,000
5
Hee-chan Hwang
£70,000
£3,640,000
With two years left on his current contract, this summer would be the ideal time for Pereira to cash in on the underperforming forward.
If so, he will be able to free up a big part of the wage bill in the process.
Wolves flop is now a Ballon d'Or contender and a bigger name than Cunha
Wolverhampton Wanderers must surely rue losing this talent who is now arguably better than Matheus Cunha.
As Ruben Amorim has been at pains to stress, this is no vintage Manchester United side, with even Europa League glory unable to plaster over the damage of yet another miserable Premier League campaign.
A key crux of the issue has been the lack of attacking quality at Old Trafford, with Amorim left to rely on a misfiring forward line that could hardly lace the boots of the figures of years gone by.
In 1968, for instance, Sir Matt Busby’s side were blessed with Denis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton. In 1999, Alex Ferguson had the likes of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to call upon, alongside Ryan Giggs and David Beckham.
Fergie’s next great side – the 2008 Champions League winners – also boasted devastating brilliance in the form of Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. How the mighty have fallen.
At centre-forward, for instance, United’s sole senior option is that of Rasmus Hojlund, with the 22-year-old Dane having scored just nine times in all competitions in 2024/25 to date.
Rasmus Hojlund
Perhaps, the presence of the former Atalanta man will still be enough to steer the Red Devils to their latest European triumph, but something needs to give this summer.
The Latest on Man Utd's striker search
Alongside the addition of a new number ten, in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers man, Matheus Cunha, the signing of a new striker appears high on the agenda for Amorim and INEOS, despite bringing in Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in successive summers.
One name widely tipped to follow Cunha to the Theatre of Dreams is Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, with the England U21 international available for just £30m following the Tractor Boys’ recent relegation.
The Manchester City man has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, although there could be a sense that he is simply just another Hojlund, a player of potential rather than proven quality.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It is with that in mind that United are said to have set their sights on a more experienced, left-field option in the form of Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick, with both Arsenal and Chelsea also battling for his signature.
That’s according to Caught Offside, who have reported that the Bundesliga outfit would be willing to listen to offers in the region of €30m-€40m (£26m-£34m), ensuring that the Premier League trio could see a bid accepted if they step up their interest.
With all three sides set to be keeping close tabs on the 29-year-old’s situation – with just two years left on his current deal at the BayArena – the race is on to see just who will win the race for his signature.
How Schick compares to Rasmus Hojlund
The relief was palpable as Hojlund prodded home against Bournemouth in the dying embers late last month, with the £64m signing notching what was just his fourth league goal of the season.
While the struggling striker had ended last term as United’s top scorer across all fronts, it’s worth remembering that it took until Boxing Day for him to break his top-flight duck, with seven of his ten total league goals coming in a subsequent six-game run.
With only nine Serie A goals to his name in the previous campaign, the 6 foot 4 speedster has hardly showcased that he can be a reliable goalscoring presence during his senior career thus far. There is a player in there somewhere, but can Amorim afford to wait?
Bayer Leverkusen's PatrikSchickreacts
Those woes have heightened the need for a ready-made upgrade this summer and Schick certainly fits the bill. While Hojlund has toiled, the Czech international has been in lethal form for Xabi Alonso’s side, having scored 19 league goals this season – 15 more than his United counterpart.
Even during an injury-impacted campaign last term, Schick still managed to score on 13 occasions across all fronts, with his total tally for the German outfit standing at 79 goals in 166 games. Hojlund, meanwhile, has just 25 goals in 90 games at Old Trafford.
Games
29
29
Goals
4
19
Goal frequency
440min
83min
Big chances missed
4
7
Goal conversion
16%
29%
Shots on target*
0.3
1.1
Assists
0
0
Big chances created
3
1
Key passes*
0.5
0.4
Total duels won*
29%
40%
Described as an “incredible” talent in past by members of the media, the former RB Leipzig man has been head and shoulders above Hojlund in 2024/25, as indicated in the table above, thus representing just what a huge upgrade he would be. Indeed, the contrast in their goal frequency record says it all.
Yes, the signing of a player approaching 30 – in the mould of a Robin van Persie deal – may go against the INEOS model of targeting up-and-coming stars, although for a potential fee of just £34m, Shick could be too hard to ignore.
Of course, as United have seen with the case of Jadon Sancho, who now plies his trade away from Old Trafford, signing players from the Bundesliga is not without its risks, although for that relatively modest asking price, the Leverkusen monster looks like a gamble worth taking.
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While Barry Ferguson remains in charge of Rangers for now, he’s highly unlikely to keep the job beyond the summer.
Last time out, the Gers were dumped out of the Europa League, battling to a goalless draw with Athletic Club Bilbao at Ibrox, before being beaten 2-0 at San Mamés last Thursday.
So, to conclude the campaign, the Light Blues have very little to play for, but have all five post-split Premiership fixtures to fulfill, starting with Saturday’s trip to St Mirren, all but mathematically guaranteed to finish second, 15 points adrift champions-elect Celtic and 13 points clear of Hibs.
Thus, attention has already started to turn towards plans for the summer, so could “one of the best managers” in football history be occupying the Ibrox dugout by the time their season commences with a Champions League qualifier in late-July?
The latest on Rangers' 49ers takeover
As reported by Sahil Jaidka of Sky Sports News on Wednesday, Rangers have confirmed they are in “productive conversations” with an American-based consortium who are planning to take over the club, thereby “injecting additional capital”.
Back in March, Lawrie Anne Brown and Sahil Jaidka also reported that Paraag Marathe, who is president of the investment arm of 49ers Enterprises, is the person spearheading this takeover, ‘aiming to acquire’ 51% of the shares at a minimum.
Ewan Paton of the National notes that, after posting losses of £17.2m last year, an unsustainably high figure, investment is badly needed.
Meantime, Michael Grant of The Times believes that the fact Kevin Thelwell has recently been appointed as head of football operations, arriving from Everton, suggests the 49ers have already started making behind-the-scenes decisions.
Speaking on the Scottish Football Show, Rangers supporter Findlay Marks expects the new owners will want to make a ‘statement appointment’ when it comes to the manager, so are they going to go after one of the most successful managers of all-time?
Rangers' first choice managerial target
According to a report from TEAMTalk late last week, José Mourinho is amongst the front-runners to become the new Rangers manager, with the piece claiming he ‘would be interested’ in taking over.
Well, last month, ahead of Fenerbahçe’s Europa League tie at Ibrox, Mourinho more than intimated that he’d be open to managing one of Glasgow’s big two in the future, adding the Premiership “is a league of passion. Passion in football is everything”.
His current club Fenerbahçe were dumped out of the Europa League by Rangers on penalties, and are staring down the barrel of a trophyless season, ousted in the Türkiye Kupası quarter-finals while currently second in the Süper Lig, five points adrift of Galatasaray with only six games remaining.
The Yellow Canaries appointed Mourinho in a desperate attempt to win their first title since 2014, but appear set to fall just short once again, having been runners-up six times in the last decade.
Nevertheless, fair to say, the 62-year-old has a pretty impressive CV, as the table below outlines.
Benfica
11
54.55%
Zero
União de Leiria
23
52.17%
Zero
Porto
127
71.65%
6
Chelsea
185
67.03%
6
Internazionale
108
62.04%
5
Real Madrid
178
71.91%
3
Chelsea
136
58.82%
2
Manchester United
144
58.33%
3
Tottenham Hotspur
86
51.16%
Zero
Roma
138
49.28%
1
Fenerbahçe
50
62%
Zero
The trophies speak for themselves: two Champions Leagues, league titles in four different countries and, after getting his hands on the Conference League in charge of Roma, he got a tattoo to commemorate the fact he’d won all three major UEFA competitions.
While he was at Tottenham, Son Heung-min described him as “one of the best managers in the world”, while Oisín Doherty of Breaking the Lines believes he was the ‘most dominant manager in world football’ for over a decade.
Manager Focus
Of course, as outlined by Barney Ronay of the Guardian, some of Mourinho’s tactics are outdated, meaning he is past his best, but he would certainly represent a major coup for Rangers and would be box office for all of us who love Scottish football.
He would represent the perfect upgrade on Ferguson, no doubt about that.
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