The goalkeeper is leaving the Red Devils on loan for Trabzonspor after two error-strewn years, and he will not be remembered fondly

So it's farewell Andre Onana. Although the Cameroon international spent only two years at Manchester United before leaving on loan for Trabzonspor, fans actually got to know him pretty well. They spent much of that period cursing his propensity to let soft shots slip through his hands, his failure to find team-mates with his passing or him conceding goals directly from corners.

Onana signed for United from Inter in the summer of 2023 for £47 million ($63m) and was billed as one of the best goalkeepers in the world with the ball at his feet. His arrival was expected to unlock United's potential under Erik ten Hag – his former boss at Ajax – and bring more fluidity to the team's play. But all it brought was howler after howler while United never saw any benefits from his supposedly top-class distribution.

Signing Onana meant United humiliated a club legend in David de Gea by withdrawing their contract offer to him, and it was hardly worth it because just two years on their goalkeeping situation remains a giant mess. The promising yet inexperienced Senne Lammens was brought in on transfer deadline day after two costly gaffes from Altay Bayindir and Onana's woeful performance in the shock Carabao Cup exit by Grimsby to start the season.

As Onana heads to Turkey with huge doubts over his long-term future at Old Trafford, GOAL has ranked his most embarrassing errors in his two seasons in the team…

Getty16Lobbed against Lens (August 2023)

It might have only been a friendly, but this was a terrible way for Onana to introduce himself to Old Trafford, as he was lobbed from the centre-circle by Lens' Florian Sotoca before ending up tangled in the back of his own net.

Sotoca took advantage of Onana's high positioning and let fly after intercepting a loose pass from Diogo Dalot to put Lens in front, and though United turned the game around to win 3-1, it was a sign of what was to come from their new £47 million ($62m) signing.

AdvertisementGetty 15Botching Ziyech's free-kick (November 2023)

United had got off to a dream start against Galatasaray in their Champions League group-stage clash thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes, but sloppy goalkeeping by Onana from a free-kick reduced the deficit in the first half.

The Cameroonian did not set his wall up well and then reacted too slowly when Hakim Ziyech's strike went through it and into his net. And yet, it would not be his lowest moment of that evening in Istanbul ()

Getty 14Mix-up with Dorgu (February 2025)

Patrick Dorgu was the main culprit for handing Jaden Philogene a shock fourth-minute goal for Ipswich Town at Old Trafford during their Premier League meeting in February 2025, but Onana played his part in the omnishambles, rushing out of his goal while not shouting for the new signing to leave it.

It was a further sign that Onana is often not on the same page as his team-mates and struggles to command his area – but it was not even his worst moment in that game either…

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Getty13Sane's shot slips through (September 2023)

Onana's performances in the 2022-23 Champions League campaign with Inter were a big reason why United were convinced to sign him, but the Red Devils' return to Europe's top table got off to a nightmare start when the goalkeeper allowed Leroy Sane's tame attempt from outside the box to slip under his body.

United had made a good start to the game at Bayern Munich, but the 'keeper's clanger put the Germans in front against the run of play and they charged to a 4-3 win. It was the first mistake of many for Onana in what turned into a rotten Champions League campaign.

Glasgow Rangers will take a healthy lead over to Czechia next week after they hammered Viktoria Plzen 3-0 at Ibrox under the lights on Tuesday night in their Champions League qualifier.

It was their best performance under Russell Martin, to date, with a clear style of play that brought success in and out of possession throughout the match.

The Ibrox boss made some bold calls with his team selection for the game, as he left out captain James Tavernier and Nicolas Raskin, whilst Oliver Antman was also handed a debut shortly after arriving in Glasgow from Go Ahead Eagles.

Antman did not need much time to settle into life in Scotland. The Finland international provided an assist of sorts in the first half, as his driving run won a penalty for the Gers.

He is not the only summer signing who has made a fast start to life with Rangers, though, as Djeidi Gassama continued to show that he has the potential to be an exceptional player for the club this season.

Why Djeidi Gassama can be a star for Rangers

The 21-year-old forward was signed from Sheffield Wednesday this summer to bolster the manager’s options on the flanks, but he did not arrive as a marquee signing.

Rangers reportedly paid a fee of around £2.2m to sign the French talent after he scored eight goals in 47 outings in all competitions for the Owls last term, which shows that he did not come in as a big-money recruit or a player with an outstanding record for his former team.

However, Gassama has quickly shown that he has the quality to emerge as a star for Martin and the Light Blues with his performances on the pitch for the Scottish giants.

Minutes

15

34

83

Shots

1

1

2

Goals

1

1

0

Key passes

0

0

1

Dribbles completed

2/2

0/1

2/3

As you can see in the table above, the Frenchman scored two goals and completed four of his six attempted dribbles in his first three outings for the club against Panathinaikos and Motherwell, before his impressive showing against Plzen on Tuesday.

Gassama added two more goals to his tally in the win over the Czechia outfit, scoring a curling effort in the first half before he headed into the bottom corner from Antman’s perfect cross in the second half.

The electric winger has offered a direct and exciting presence on the left flank for Rangers, and has provided goals to add substance to his performances, which is why he has the potential to be a superstar for the Light Blues.

Rangers made approach to sign new winger

According to Africa Foot, Standard Liege are looking to move on from winger Moussa Djenepo because of his wages, and the winger has a £1.7m release clause in his contract at the club.

Their report adds that Rangers and Leeds United, the two 49ers-owned clubs in Britain, have both made approaches over a potential deal for the winger this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the outlet does not explain whether or not either of those teams are planning to follow up on their interest in the former Southampton man, which means that it remains to be seen whether or not he is an active target for the Gers.

Africa Foot reveals, though, that Tractor SC and Persepolis are both interested in a deal to sign the Mali international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

This means that Rangers may have to move swiftly to conclude a move for the former Premier League forward, if they decide to pursue his services before the end of the summer window.

Why Rangers should sign Moussa Djenepo

The Gers should swoop to sign the 27-year-old attacker in the coming weeks because he could be a bargain signing to play as a back-up for Gassama.

Djenepo and Gassama could be a brilliant one-two punch on the left flank for Rangers, with one starting and the other able to come off the bench to make an impact against tired defences.

Like the former Sheffield Wednesday man, the Standard Liege winger is a direct forward who likes to get fans off their seats by taking opposition defenders on. This is evidenced by his 2.2 dribbles completed per game in the Super Lig on loan at Antalyaspor in the 2024/25 season.

Dribbles completed

4.08

Top 1%

Dribble success rate

55%

Top 24%

Touches in the opposition’s box

6.12

Top 6%

Fouls won

2.89

Top 4%

Penalties won

0.17

Top 3%

Assists

0.00

Bottom 3%

Goals

0.17

Top 49%

As you can see in the table above, the Mali international excelled as a dribbler, committing defenders and winning fouls, in the Super Lig, but he did not back it up with goals and assists.

The wing wizard, who once scored a stunning solo goal for Southampton in the Premier League against Sheffield United, only scored two goals in 23 league games for Antalyaspor.

Djenepo, who only scored five goals in 91 games for the Saints, is unlikely to arrive at Rangers as a winger who is going to produce 20 goals and assists over a season, but that would not be his role.

The £1.7m-rated star was once hailed as “hugely underrated” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, and the forward could play an underrated role as competition for Gassama on the left flank.

Martin could use the French winger to start matches and then bring Djenepo on as a perfect impact substitute, due to his terrific ability to dribble past players and win fouls to get the team up the pitch and to relieve pressure on the defence if they are holding onto a lead.

Overall, a £1.7m deal for Djenepo would be a low-risk signing that could allow the Gers to give Gassama a rest at the end of matches, whilst providing the Gers with another direct winger who can excite fans, even if he is unlikely to be a star player for Martin.

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ByDan Emery Aug 5, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie are just three attackers who managed to win the Premier League Golden Boot award during their respective periods at Manchester United.

All three players managed to capture the hearts of the fanbase, helping Sir Alex Ferguson claim 13 top-division titles at Old Trafford, subsequently transforming the club into one of the world’s biggest clubs.

However, since his retirement back at the end of 2012/13, the Red Devils have failed to finish at the top of England’s top-flight, with their lack of attacking threat playing a huge part in their lack of success.

Ruben Amorim’s side only managed to score 44 times in their 38 league outings last campaign, resulting in the big-money additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

Despite the work already being conducted by the hierarchy, further signings are being targeted within the final third, in an attempt to return to their former glory.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers

Countless strikers have been constantly linked with a move to join United this summer, but as of yet no deals have been completed to land Amorim a new talisman.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Nicolas Jackson and Randal Kolo Muani have all been touted with moves to Old Trafford, but they may have been trumped by one other target.

Benjamin Sesko is the latest attacker who has appeared on their radar this summer, with Fabrizio Romano’s latest update handing the supporters a reason to be excited.

He claims that Amorim’s representatives have been in concrete talks with the Red Devils over a move to the club, but they could face competition from Newcastle United for his signature.

Romano also states that the Slovenian is now part of the club’s shortlist to be their new number nine, but any deal could cost as much as £80m million during this window.

Why United’s latest target could be their own version of Isak

Alexander Isak has been one of the Premier League’s leading attackers over the last couple of years, often being a player to be feared when coming up against the Magpies.

The Swede has registered 54 league goals in his three years in England, ending last year on 23 goals, with only Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah notching more in 2024/25.

However, he too could be a player on the move, stating his desire to move away from St James’ Park this summer in order to undertake a new challenge.

The Red Devils were one side in the race, but given their recent poor finishes in England’s top-flight, he wants a move to a bigger club, with Liverpool leading the race for his services.

Despite seemingly missing out on the 25-year-old this window, other options such as Sesko have been considered at United, potentially being Amorim’s own version of the forward.

He possesses a very similar skillset given their huge frame and freakish all-round talent in having bags of pace along with a superb aerial ability that could cause the opposition no end of trouble.

They both also have huge ball-striking abilities, with the pair both registering the most powerful strikes in their respective divisions throughout the most recent campaign.

When delving into their stats from 2024/25, the Slovenian managed to produce some impressive numbers, many of which were better than those registered by Isak in the Premier League.

Sesko, who’s previously been labelled “phenomenal” by analyst Antonio Mango, managed to post a higher shot on target accuracy rate last season, subsequently handing United a more accurate option in front of goal.

How Sesko & Isak compared throughout 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Sesko

Isak

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

19

28

Shot on target accuracy

44%

43%

Take-ons completed

1.5

1.3

Take-on success

52%

46%

Aerials won

2.7

0.8

Aerial success rate

59%

32%

Fouls drawn

0.8

0.4

Stats via FBref

Given the club’s lack of quality in forward areas, the Leipzig star’s impressive take-on success could also hand Amorim a new dimension in the final third, having the ability to single-handedly torment the opposition if needed.

His key talents are further reflected in his staggering 59% aerial success rate, outperforming Isak in such a department, which could offer the Red Devils a needed dominant focal point in their quest for success.

His current asking price of around £80m may appear to be hugely expensive, but at just 22 years of age, he has bags of time to build on his early success in the professional game.

If he can replicate such form from the Bundesliga, he would be a stellar addition, having the ability to transform the side’s fortunes in attacking areas, whilst also being able to make them a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League once again.

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Posts ByWill Miller Jul 29, 2025

يحل فريق ريال مدريد، عصر اليوم السبت، ضيفًا على نظيره أتلتيكو مدريد في خضم منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، موسم 2025/26.

ويستضيف ملعب “سيفيتاس واندا ميتروبوليتانو” مباراة الديربي بين أتلتيكو مدريد وريال مدريد، في الجولة السابعة من الليجا.

ويمتلك ريال مدريد 18 نقطة في صدارة الدوري الإسباني في الوقت الحالي، بينما يعاني أتلتيكو مدريد من فترة سيئة حيث لا يمتلك سوى 9 نقاط في المركز التاسع.

ويتحلى ريال مدريد بسلاح النجم الفرنسي كيليان مبابي الذي يتصدر جدول هدافي الدوري الإسباني حاليًا برصيد 7 أهداف. تشكيل ريال مدريد المتوقع أمام أتلتيكو مدريد في الدوري الإسباني

حراسة المرمى: تيبو كورتوا.

خط الدفاع: داني كارفاخال، إيدير ميليتاو، دين هويسن، كاريراس.

خط الوسط: فيدي فالفيردي، تشواميني.

خط الوسط الهجومي: ماستانتونو، أردا جولر، فينيسيوس جونيور.

خط الهجوم: كيليان مبابي.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

He expects to send down a few overs in the next Sheffield Shield match as part of a “slow build” to the Test series

Tristan Lavalette16-Oct-20241:26

How much will Australia miss Cameron Green?

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh will bowl in the upcoming Sheffield Shield round as he prepares to help cover Cameron Green’s absence during the India Test series.Marsh’s fitness and whether he can return to bowling have grown in significance for Australia since it emerged that Green will miss the entire season due to a stress fracture of his back.Green was heading to Christchurch on Wednesday for surgery and in an Instagram post said: “Heartbroken but let’s get a new back.”Related

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There has been uncertainty if Marsh, who turns 33 on Sunday, can physically handle the rigours of bowling. Since tearing his hamstring during the IPL, Marsh has bowled just four overs – all of which were in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s last month.Marsh made 13 and 94 as a specialist batter for Western Australia in their drawn Shield opener last week against Queensland at the WACA. While in the field he was mostly based in the slips and and occasionally helped carry the drinks.But Marsh said he felt “really good” physically as he builds up his bowling loads against Tasmania in the Shield fixture starting on Sunday at the WACA.”I won’t bowl too much for WA, it’s all part of the building process to get ready for that first Test,” Marsh told reporters in Perth at the launch of the 2025-26 Ashes fixtures. “It’s been a slow build. I’ve been really well looked after by Cricket Australia, Ronnie [Australia coach Andrew McDonald] and Patty [Pat Cummins], with our planning and when I bowl.”I love bowling, so I’m looking forward to bowling for Western Australia this week and build from there.”Mitchell Marsh’s overs could be vital this summer•Getty ImagesWith Australia’s frontline pace attack unchanged last summer, and with Tests played on bowler-friendly surfaces, Marsh wasn’t greatly needed with the ball but still did produce several handy spells.There has been an expectation that the five-Test series against India will be more gruelling, magnifying the importance of Marsh being able to provide support.With Steven Smith to move back to No. 4, Australia’s selectors will likely call in an opener rather than a like-for like replacement for Green. Marsh moving to the top of the order, following in the footsteps of his father Geoff and brother Shaun, has some support, including from legendary Australia batter Greg Chappell.But Marsh dispelled the notion with his focus firmly on contributing as an allrounder and he did not put a cap on how many overs he could bowl in the Tests. “Once you’re in the field of battle, you bowl as many overs as the captain needs you to bowl,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cameron Green (@__camgreen__)

“I see the allrounder role as being really important, especially for when our bowlers need a bit of a break. I think if you look back at the last few seasons, our allrounders have bowled maybe 10 to 13 overs a game, which is not really a lot.”But those 10 to 13 overs can be really important. So for me, it’s about preparing to bowl as much as I can, as much as Patty needs me to.”Marsh said he was “shattered” for Green who is expected to be sidelined for six months.”From all reports he’s pretty good, initially there is always a shock. It all happened pretty quickly,” he said. “Certainly with stress fractures they can be quite a gradual thing, but this one came pretty quickly.”Someone like Cam with his attitude towards the game, he loves it. The thought of missing that much cricket is probably a little daunting for him, but he’s accepted it now and as an athlete you go through these things.”It’s an opportunity for him to come back better and I have no doubt that he will.”

But India head coach admits they need to defend better on turning tracks

Alagappan Muthu31-Oct-20243:41

Gambhir: ‘The more T20 is played, the less people will defend’

A series defeat at home to New Zealand, sealed by a pair of spinners who had come on this tour with a combined two first-class five-fors, has led to questions about whether there has been a decline in India’s ability to play the turning ball on turning tracks. India head coach Gautam Gambhir wasn’t willing to go that far, but he did highlight a decline in defensive skills as a result of widespread T20 cricket.”Sometimes you’ve got to give it to the opposition as well,” he said on Thursday, a day before the third Test in Mumbai. “I think Mitchell Santner was outstanding in the last game, but yes, we’ll keep working hard. We’ll keep getting better. That’s about it. Guys are putting a lot of hard yards in the nets. Yes, ultimately it’s the results that matter when you’re playing international cricket, but I don’t think so that our skill against spin has actually gone down.”India have suffered collapses in every innings of this series. Forty-six all out happened in highly unusual conditions in Bengaluru, but from there, they have lost 7 for 54, 6 for 73 and 5 for 40, which has forced them to work on how to bat time in tough conditions.Related

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“Test cricket is about playing sessions,” Gambhir said. “I think if we can start to learn how to play sessions, and the kind of quality we have in our batting line-up, I think if we end up playing four to four-and-a-half sessions, we’ll have a lot of runs on the board.”The inability to meet this fundamental demand has highlighted the challenge that modern-day batters face in the era of T20 cricket. “We need to defend better,” Gambhir said. “I think that is something which is important. And especially on a turning track. Because if you’ve got confidence on your defence, a lot of things can be sorted. And that is something which we need to keep getting better, keep working on.”Because, again, I’ll keep going back to the same answer that a lot has to do with limited over-cricket and T20 cricket as well that when you’re so used to muscling the ball, that you end up forgetting the soft hands and all that stuff, which probably used to happen eight or 10 years back. So that is something, that is why I said that a complete cricketer is a cricketer who plays T20 format really successfully and also the Test cricket really successfully. He can adapt his game. And that is what growth is.”Growth is not only going about hitting the ball in the stands. It’s also about batting sessions on a turning track, where you know that you will not be able to hit in the stands, but you will be able to rotate better. For that, I think the foundation is very, very important.”The Mumbai Test is likely to be played in conditions that should help the spinners as well. At the end of India’s practice session on Thursday morning, the captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli took a good, long look at the pitch with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. Kohli then left, but Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel joined Rohit and Nayar and the four of them were involved in a discussion that lasted about 20 minutes. A little while later, the groundstaff began to brush away whatever grass that had managed to cling to the surface. Batters may have to unlearn the skills that help them succeed in T20s to do well here. But is that possible? Can a coach help them make that switch?”To a certain extent, yes,” Gambhir said, “To a certain extent, it has to come from the individual as well. That how much value does he end up giving it in defending the ball? That is something which is very important. And especially on a turning track. Because I’ve always believed that the best players and the most successful players in this format, or be it any format, always had solid defense. So that is something which we keep talking about. And it is not the overnight thing that we’re going to talk about it today and people will start getting better tomorrow. But it’s a continuous process. We need to keep working on it. We need to keep telling people the importance of defense.”Could India end up facing a situation where they have to look at a separate set of players more suited to Test cricket? Gambhir couldn’t commit to a hypothetical question but he did admit that “going forward, obviously, we will have to identify players who are solid red-ball cricketers. Because ultimately, to get the results, you will have to work really hard for three or four days or five days to be honest. So sometimes, as I just mentioned, it’s important. If we can bat sessions, we know that we’ve got the bowling attack to take 20 wickets. At the moment, it’s difficult to answer.”

Manchester United’s forward line has had somewhat of an overhaul during the summer transfer window, unsurprisingly so given their lack of goals in 2024/25.

The Red Devils only managed a tally of 44 goals in the Premier League, an average of 1.15 goals per 90 – a tally no way near good enough for a side of their stature.

Ruben Amorim has taken measures to improve such a situation, securing the signatures of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – with the pair setting the hierarchy back over £130m.

The pair netted 35 top-flight goals between them last season, potentially forming a deadly partnership with soon-to-be new addition Benjamin Sesko, who has agreed a £74m deal with the club in recent days.

There’s no denying that the trio could cause many sides endless troubles throughout 2025/26, with other areas of the pitch needing similar investment between now and the end of the window.

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

Carlos Baleba has emerged as a shock option for United in the midfield department, with the Brighton star’s agents in talks with the Red Devils over a move to Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old could well be out of the club’s price range this summer, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side slapping a £100m price tag on his head to fend off any interest in his services.

However, the middle of the park isn’t the only area which could also be strengthened, with United making a move to land Fiorentina centre-back Pietro Comuzzo, according to Firenzeviola.

They claim that Amorim’s side have been spotted scouting the 20-year-old during pre-season, with the club able to get a closer look at the talent in the clash against the Italian outfit this weekend.

The report also states that Sunderland and Bournemouth have also been keeping a close eye on his progress, but any deal could cost any interested party a fee in the region of €40m (£35m).

Why United’s £35m target could be their next Yoro

Leny Yoro was a huge addition to the United squad last summer, joining the club in a staggering £59m in a move to bolster the side in the immediate and long-term future.

The Frenchman had to bide his time during the early stages of the 2024/25 season, but after Amorim’s arrival, he cemented his place in the side and demonstrated signs of being a great buy from INEOS.

He managed to register a total of 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring his first goal against Lyon in the Europa League – helping the side secure their place in the final.

Yoro also ended his debut year at Old Trafford with a tally of 1.7 aerials won per 90, along with a 93% pass completion rate – showcasing his superb ability to be a ball-playing option in the club’s backline.

However, a move for current target Comuzzo could see them land another young, talented defender, with the Italian producing numerous top-tier stats despite his tender age of just 20 years.

When comparing his stats to those of Yoro from the 2024/25 campaign, the Italian managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing how he can follow in the teenager’s footsteps at Old Trafford.

Comuzzo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Raffaele Palladino, made more key passes per 90 last season, showcasing his excellent ability to pick out a teammate in possession.

Games played

33

21

Minutes played

2200

1165

Key passes made

0.4

0.1

Tackles won

0.9

0.8

Blocks made

1.4

0.3

Clearances made

4.6

3.3

% of tackles won

79%

68%

Aerials won

2.6

1.2

Aerial success rate

59%

50%

He also managed to win more of the tackles he entered last season, whilst making more blocks and clearances per 90, handing Amorim the added defensive talent he needs ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 20-year-old’s dominance is further reflected in his tally of aerials won per 90, potentially offering the side an added threat at both ends of the pitch – something which has been greatly lacking in recent months.

Whilst competition for his signature is fierce, the club are building an exciting project which any young player may prove to be tempted by in the near future.

£35m for a player of his calibre could prove to be excellent business, potentially seeing Comuzzo strike an excellent partnership with fellow youngster Yoro in the years ahead.

Perfect for Bruno: Man Utd leading the race to sign "phenomenal" £100m gem

Manchester United could be about to land another big-money talent for Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 7, 2025

Chelsea have now joined the race to sign a “sensational” £34m major Ballon d’Or contender, but there could be fierce competition from rival Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Chelsea set to continue summer spending spree after Club World Cup win

The Blues certainly haven’t been afraid of splashing the cash under the helm of Todd Boehly, having made significant losses over the past four seasons in terms of net spend.

Season

Net spend

2022-23

£-486m

2023-24

£-157m

2024-25

£-37m

2025-26

£-191m

However, despite spending big up to this point, with the likes of Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens sealing moves to Stamford Bridge, there is still one problem position, which Enzo Maresca is yet to strengthen.

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Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, Maresca had issues with his goalkeepers, with Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen each being given runs in the side, indicating the manager has major doubts about both players.

As such, the west Londoners may have to bring in a top-level goalkeeper this summer, should they have a real ambition of competing for the Premier League title next season, and they have now identified a new target.

That is according to a report from France, which states Chelsea have joined the race for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is set to make a decision on his future now the Club World Cup has reached its conclusion, with the Blues securing a 3-0 victory over the French giants on Sunday night.

However, there could be fierce competition for Donnarumma, with the shot-stopper also attracting the attention of Manchester City and Manchester United, which could pose a problem.

The 26-year-old’s contract is set to expire next summer, which has alerted a number of clubs to his potential availability, however, despite a reported asking price of £34m, his main priority is to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes.

"Sensational" Donnarumma vying to win the Ballon d'Or

PSG have enjoyed unparalleled success under the helm of Luis Enrique, most notably winning the 2025 Champions League after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, meaning Ousmane Dembele and Donnarumma are among the main contenders for the Ballon d’Or.

While the Italian managed to shut-out Inter in the final, he was particularly impressive in the semi-final against Arsenal, with NBC Sports’ Joe Prince-Wright suggesting he was a real difference-maker over the course of the two legs.

The PSG star made two huge saves to keep the Gunners at bay, and his experience at the top level would make the Italy international an ideal signing.

That said, while Chelsea were recently crowned Club World Cup champions, it could be difficult to lure Donnarumma away from PSG, given his willingness to sign a new deal.

Toni Kroos believes Germany are lucky to have been handed a relatively easy World Cup qualifying group as he highlighted the team's confidence issues.

• Kroos says mentality not Germany’s main issue
• Germany lost 2-0 to Slovakia in qualifiers
• 3-1 win vs Northern Ireland offered slight relief

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Germany’s World Cup qualifying campaign hit another bump last week as Julian Nagelsmann’s side suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Slovakia. The loss sparked a furious reaction in Germany as players, fans and pundits raged at a performance that once again raising questions about the mental strength of the team. The European powerhouse bounced back with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland on Sunday, but even that was hardly convincing as the teams were tied at 1-1 until Nadiem Amiri's 69th minute goal and Florian Wirtz's free-kick three minutes later. 

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Germany were expected to stroll through their qualification group, with Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg standing in their way. However, they are fighting an uphill battle already as they sit three points behind Slovakia. Failure to finish in the top two would see them miss out on next year's competition, and national team legend Kroos believes they are lucky that such an outcome is virtually impossible as he addressed the confidence issues plaguing the squad.

• WHAT TONI KROOS SAID?

  "We're very fortunate that we've been assigned a group where it's impossible to be eliminated," the 35-year-old said on his podcast and went on to explain the deeper issue behind the team. 

  "I don't think we're lacking mentality that much. I think it's more a question of self-confidence and quality. You get the feeling there's a greater fear of making mistakes. That has nothing to do with a lack of mentality. It came across as if they weren't exactly brimming with confidence. Therefore, the image to the outside world is that they don't want to play. I would still never say that no one wants to play these games."

  He added: "It will always be like this: Slovakia will always be more motivated than Germany in a match against each other. That's simply because the team with less quality knows: We need more than our opponents. The difference is that in the past, Germany always gave enough – coupled with their quality – to make it enough."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The 2014 World Cup winners return to action in October with matches against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. With qualification unlikely to be in jeopardy, the focus will be on Nagelsmann restoring confidence and ensuring his team enter 2026 in sharper form.

Liverpool may well be lining up an explosive late move for Alexander Isak in the ongoing transfer market but for Arne Slot and Co, further strengthening the forward line should not be the priority.

After all, despite adding Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong to their ranks, the Reds’ defence looks worse than it did last season.

Trent Alexander Arnold and Jarell Quansah have both left, Joe Gomez is injured and Ibou Konate could follow Trent to Real Madrid.

As a result, Slot has had to tinker with his backline during pre-season. The likes of Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and young Trey Nyoni have all played in the centre of defence in recent matches.

With Liverpool dreaming of retaining their Premier League title this season, they need someone to partner Van Dijk.

Liverpool's search for a new centre-half

In the centre of defence, the Reds have had two main targets this summer.

They first looked at prising Dean Huijsen away from Bournemouth but they were left frustrated by Madrid yet again. The Spaniard only wanted Real and he headed back to his homeland.

Marc Guehi is another priority target for Liverpool and according to reports, they are set to step up their pursuit of the Crystal Palace captain after the Community Shield on Sunday.

Valued at £45m, they are due to hold talks with the Eagles about signing the centre-back before the September 1st deadline.

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Yet, he’s not the only defender on the club’s radar. Indeed, according to Football Espana, Barcelona star Ronald Araujo has emerged as an option.

They reveal that Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs are also showing ‘serious interest’ in the 26-year-old. Manchester United are also said to hold ‘long-term interest’ in the Barca defender.

How Ronald Araujo compares to Marc Guehi

At just £45m, bringing Guehi to Anfield would be a brilliant piece of business. He’s 25, thus approaching his prime, he’s Premier League-proven and having captained Palace, he’s a natural leader.

Including the brilliant price on offer, there are very few cons to signing such a proven player in the remaining weeks of the window; he’d surely hit the ground running swiftly.

However, Araujo is a genuine elite defender and has shown as much for one of the greatest clubs in the land in recent years.

Described by legendary centre-back Carles Puyol as “one of the best defenders in the world”, Araujo could be a brilliant market opportunity for Liverpool.

He’s capable of playing in the middle of defence but also competently at right-back. After missing the first half of the 2024/25 campaign with a hamstring injury, the defender went on to play 24 times at centre-back and played a starring role at the back as Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Unlike Guehi, he’s playing at the very highest level and he’s more versatile too, having played seven times at right-back in the last two seasons.

So, what sets him apart?

Passes completed

79.3

43.3

Pass accuracy %

92%

84%

Key passes

0.48

0.47

Progressive passes

5.83

3.94

Progressive carries

0.71

0.65

Attempted take-ons

0.12

0.44

Tackles won

1.07

1.00

Interceptions

1.07

0.82

Aerial duels won

3.93

2.00

Over the last year, Araujo has showcased that he is an elite defender in a number of metrics. He ranks inside the best 2% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duels won per 90 minutes.

In the air, he’s evidently streets ahead of Guehi. His pass success rate of 92% betters Guehi and ensures that the Barca stalwart ranks within the best 12% of centre-backs in Europe for that metric.

A beast in the air, Araujo also possesses the ability to play out from the back, making him the perfect fit for Slot’s backline.

Cut from a similar cloth as Virgil van Dijk in terms of his physicality, if Konate does end up leaving for the Bernabeu, then there are very few better replacements around the continent.

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