All posts by h716a5.icu

Whilst promotion back up to the Championship was joyously celebrated, everyone at Birmingham City will have known in that moment that this was just the first step in the Blues’ mission to restore the club to its previous grandeur.

After all, Chris Davies’ giants were Premier League regulars all through the noughties, with an unbelievable EFL Cup trophy success even coming their way in 2011 when Alex McLeish was at the helm.

The desire up a division from Birmingham’s perspective will be to compete with the top dogs of the division again, therefore, with a new addition here and there this summer undoubtedly improving the Blues’ chances before they officially get underway in the challenging league.

How Birmingham could strengthen this summer

Much like Wrexham who will want to spend big after promotion, Birmingham won’t be shirking away from attempting to land statement buys to make an impression in the Championship.

Already, the ambitious Blues have been tipped to bring back Che Adams to St. Andrew’s to enhance their impressive attacking personnel, with their interest also stretching out to potentially adding in Premier League experienced Mark Travers in goal.

But, the deal on everyone’s lips at Birmingham is the one that could see Peterborough United superstar Kwame Poku enter the building shortly, with reports last month suggesting that there is a lucrative £30k-per-week deal on the table for the Ghanaian to jump up a division.

Whilst the “outstanding” EFL performer – as he’s been labelled by journalist Lukman Evergreen – has been known to fire home goal after goal for Darren Ferguson’s Posh at a devastating rate, he has also shown throughout his bright stint in Cambridgeshire to date his unselfish approach when teeing up teammates for countless opportunities.

How Poku could make Stansfield better

Poku’s arrival on the scene could end up making everyone around him even better, judging by his unplayable wing play, but it’s Jay Stansfield who will no doubt be licking his lips the most at the idea of linking up with the in-demand 23-year-old.

Transfer Focus

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

Whilst the 22-year-old striker is unquestionably one of the finest talents to recently grace the third tier – seen in his 19 league strikes across 2024/25 – he is arguably not the finished product yet in the league above.

Indeed, the former Exeter City forward has only amassed 12 Championship goals across his varied career to date.

But, with Poku by his side who will be equally keen to prove himself in his new terrain, he should be able to keep up his blistering League One form.

Games played

37

27

Goals scored

19

12

Assists

3

8

Shots*

2.7

2.4

Touches*

29.0

46.3

Accurate passes*

8.1 (69%)

20.3 (80%)

Big chances missed

13

3

Big chances created

6

9

Combined last season in League One, the dynamite duo would pick up a mammoth 42 goals and assists across 64 appearances, meaning the thought of both of them together under Davies’ wing in the Championship is a frightening prospect.

Eight of Poku’s sizeable 20 goal contributions for the season would fall into the assist category too, with the 23-year-old far more comfortable than his counterpart in roaming forward and creating openings, seen in his far higher amount of touches averaged per league clash.

Whereas, the Birmingham number 28 excels more as a poacher waiting in the box to pounce, with the 22-year-old perhaps capable of finishing off even more opportunities moving forward if Poku was supplying him with chances galore.

With Poku down the right wing and Stansfield as a number ten, Davies could make his attacking options even deadlier by landing the aforementioned Adams as an out-and-out centre-forward, with this potential front three running rings around Championship defences.

Of course, no such statement deals have crossed the line just yet, but expect Davies’ side to look unfazed by the pressures of Championship action if Poku enters the building very soon.

Instant Neumann upgrade: Birmingham line up move for "heroic" EFL star

Birmingham City could be about to land an upgrade on new defender Phil Neumann with this inspired buy.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 13, 2025

Liverpool are now showing serious interest in signing a “wonderful” midfielder, who’s been likened to Real Madrid icon Toni Kroos, according to a report.

Carragher urges Slot to sign new central midfielder

FSG took a gamble by not providing Arne Slot with a new central midfielder last summer, but it was a decision that ultimately ended up paying dividends, with Ryan Gravenberch stepping up to the plate and playing a key role in the Premier League title triumph.

However, Jamie Carragher believes the Reds have been too dependent on Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister this season, with the Sky Sports pundit urging his former club to bring in a new central midfielder last month.

Carragher said: “They need a centre-back to ensure there is no crisis if Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are unavailable.

“Also a deep central midfielder so that Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are not as overburdened next season as they have been in this one.”

Liverpool in regular talks to sign "incredible" 21-goal ace who Klopp loves

The Reds are positioning themselves.

BySean Markus Clifford May 6, 2025

Back in the January transfer window, it was revealed that Stuttgart maestro Angelo Stiller is among the potential targets in midfield, and there has now been a new update on the Merseysiders’ pursuit of the midfielder.

According to a report from Germany, Liverpool are now showing serious interest in signing Stiller after clinching their 20th league title, with the 24-year-old potentially in line to leave Stuttgart behind for Anfield, just like Wataru Endo.

Endo arrived on Merseyside for a fee of €20m (£17m) back in 2023, but a move for the German could be a little more on the pricey side, with an offer of at least €60m (£51m) likely to be needed to tempt Stuttgart into a summer sale.

"Wonderful" Stiller likened to Kroos

Ahead of the current season, the Stuttgart maestro received very high praise from football scout Ben Mattinson, given his ability to win possession and pick out his teammates due to his fantastic passing range.

Since then, the Germany international has continued to impress in a Stuttgart shirt, particularly catching the eye with his passing and ability to create chances over the past year, and a French journalist has even suggested he is similar to legendary midfielder Kroos.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

85.97 (97th percentile)

Progressive passes

9.68 (98th percentile)

Assists

0.20 (88th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

3.88 (91st percentile)

With Carragher of the belief that Liverpool need a deep-lying midfielder this summer, Stiller’s passing range and playmaking abilities could make him a perfect fit for Slot’s side, so it is exciting news they have now expressed a serious interest in signing him.

A big-name player is “already” in talks to leave Chelsea this summer, and it is believed a move to Saudi Arabia has emerged as a possibility for him as well.

Chelsea set for plethora of summer exit deals in squad overhaul

Enzo Maresca and BlueCo have many important decisions to make with regard to the futures of out-of-favour squad players.

Man City and Liverpool eyeing £165m Chelsea "superstar" with approach made

They are “sniffing around” him

4 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025

Chelsea are tasked with finding new homes for the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi, who were all allowed to depart Stamford Bridge on loan this season.

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

Barring a surprise, all the aforementioned players appear surplus to requirements under Maresca, with journalist Simon Phillips reporting the club may also listen to offers for “many more”.

When taking potential incomings into account, with Chelsea prioritising the signing of a centre-back, winger and striker (Sky Sports), Maresca’s side appear set for yet another busy summer ahead of their looming Club World Cup campaign.

The Premier League confirmed that a special edition summer window will be open from June 1st to June 10th this year, which allows the likes of Chelsea and Man City to bring in fresh faces before the CWC commences.

The window may allow Chelsea to conduct early exit deals in a no-nonsense fashion too, and 2024 summer flop João Félix is yet another player who looks likely to be up for grabs.

The Portugal international made a big name for himself as one of Europe’s rising stars not so long ago, earning a mega-money £108 million move from Benfica to Atlético Madrid in 2019, but he’s since failed to live up to that price tag.

Chelsea re-signed Felix on a permanent deal last year for around £42 million, but Maresca gave the green-light for him to seal a temporary move to AC Milan midway through 2024/2025, where he’s since failed to impress.

Kyle Walker was seen criticising Felix for not passing the ball, and Fabrizio Romano has already confirmed that Milan have no intention of signing the 25-year-old permanently.

Joao Felix "already" in talks to leave Chelsea for Benfica

According to CaughtOffside, the attacking midfielder is making a head start on resolving his long-term future ahead of the summer.

As per their information, Felix is “already” in talks to leave Chelsea as he eyes an “emotional” return to Benfica, but the Primeira Liga isn’t his only potential landing spot.

Clubs in the Saudi Pro League are expressing an interest as well, so Felix has the option of joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East. It would be a disappointing move for him this early in his career, despite the big money which would undoubtedly be on offer.

Former teammates like Álvaro Morata have lauded his “special” talent, but Felix has been critcised for his attitude behind-the-scenes, which appears to be casting a shadow over his obvious ability.

Liverpool have defied expectations to move within an inch of the Premier League title, Champions Elect, after the ruling of the majority consigned the Reds to a fight for top four before a ball had been kicked.

How wrong we all were. Even the most optimistic Liverpool supporters will have harboured doubts after Jurgen Klopp shocked the world and stepped down from his throne after nearly nine years, Arne Slot replacing him last summer.

It’s remarkable that he’s done it without making any meaningful first-team investment, dealt with contractual problems and managed a squad bearing weaknesses across several areas.

Centre-forward Darwin Nunez’s woes have been at the forefront of the drama.

Liverpool's striker conundrum

Liverpool signed Nunez from Benfica three years ago. He was 22 at the time, giddy from a clinical season in Portugal and arriving off the back of a staggering £85m transfer fee that, with all clauses met, would make him the most expensive player in Liverpool’s history.

But it hasn’t worked out. Nunez is heading toward the end of the season, having made just eight Premier League starts under Slot’s wing, lacking the streamlined potency that the Dutch tactician seeks out.

In fact, Nunez has only scored 25 Premier League goals across his three years as a Liverpool player, playing 90 times and missing 53 big chances across the time span.

While Liverpool are expecting to break the bank and sign a new number nine this summer, it’s frustrating that Nunez was ever signed in the first place. The passion’s there but he hasn’t made it work.

You almost think that, with Diogo Jota in the mix, his signing could have been avoided altogether if Liverpool had invested more time in Dominic Solanke, who left at the start of his pro career to join Bournemouth for £19m in 2019.

Given that he’s now Tottenham Hotspur’s star striker and record signing too at £65m, Liverpool must harbour some level of regret that they didn’t keep the faith, especially given that Nunez has failed to impress.

It’s a cautionary tale, one that Liverpool might want to bear in mind as they shuffle through their summer plans. Indeed, FSG are in danger of repeating their Solanke blunder.

Liverpool's new Solanke

Liverpool are planning to bolster Slot’s squad with several new parts this summer, but exits will also be considered.

The transfer chiefs will need to ensure they get it right, though, and avoid a repeat of the one-time Solanke sale through the potential departure of Harvey Elliott.

Elliott has been on Liverpool’s books since he was 16, poached from Fulham. Now 21, the Englishman has racked up a considerable number of senior appearances for the Reds, 141, having clinched 33 goal involvements and won a host of major honours besides. He’s a super-talented young star.

And the data really does speak for itself. As per FBref, Elliott ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for all of goals, assists and shot-creating actions recorded per 90.

A slick passer and able ball-carrier, Elliott also ranks among the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 5% for progressive carries per 90.

Despite his limited involvement this term, the England U21 star has enjoyed some rather standout moments, further illustrating his natural prowess in attacking situations, his ability to spark something out of nothing.

That goal against Paris Saint-Germain will gather more dust than perhaps it deserves in the sprawling library of Champions League history – for Liverpool were defeated in the return leg at Anfield – but there’s no denying it was a seismic strike, his third on Europe’s elite stage this season.

Oh, if FSG and Slot were to convene and conclude that Elliott’s future is best served away from Merseyside, Liverpool would no doubt be able to bank a decent sum, as the club did with Solanke way back when.

Newcastle United are among the early contenders, report The Chronicle this month, and Liverpool have thus slapped a £40m price tag on their young playmaker.

But, looking at Solanke’s journey since, it might be a little frustrating that he wasn’t kept on the books, or perhaps loaned out across a string of seasons to foster his natural ability.

Tottenham might be in a pit of despair at the moment, but the England striker has proved himself a talented and dynamic frontman for a forsaken outfit, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists across 31 starts in all competitions.

However, Solanke scored 21 goals across 42 matches for Bournemouth last season and is effectively playing a hopeless part for Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs.

In any case, given that he’s risen to be one of England’s top strikers who fetched a large sum last summer, Liverpool might want to think long and hard about letting Elliott leave as he’s just starting out.

24/25

12 (0)

0

1

23/24

34 (11)

3

6

22/23

32 (18)

1

2

21/22

6 (4)

0

0

20/21*

0 (0)

0

0

19/20

2 (0)

0

0

The previous two top-flight campaigns have seen the talented midfielder make real headway under Klopp, whose regrets over not playing him more were made clear when he left last year.

If Newcastle offer Liverpool £40m, it would be a financial boost but one which could definitely come back to bite the Reds down the line.

Former Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley once praised Elliott for his ability to create “magic” for his side, for his teammates. Liverpool won’t want to lose that magic element as they venture into the unknown, especially since Slot’s set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creativity this summer anyway.

Better than Diaz: Liverpool have strong interest in "special" £100m star

Arne Slot has confirmed Liverpool will strengthen in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 15, 2025

Stan Collymore has warned a title-winning manager not to join Tottenham Hotspur after hearing that the tactician has held talks with chairman Daniel Levy.

Ange Postecoglou relaxed over Tottenham future

Ange Postecoglou is walking a tightrope in N17, with reports surrounding a potential Spurs move for Bournenmouth’s Andoni Iraola, among other candidates.

Tottenham ready to move for "elite" Postecoglou replacement after Chelsea loss

The Australian is treading on very thin ice right now.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 4, 2025

Tottenham registered their 16th Premier League defeat of the campaign away to Chelsea on Thursday, bringing Postecoglou’s future into even more disrepute, with Fabrizio Romano claiming it is Europa League or bust for the Australian.

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

GiveMeSport sources have since reported that, in the aftermath of their London derby loss, Postecoglou might not even get that long. Amidst the consistent noise regarding his long-term future, the 59-year-old has adopted a relaxed mindset, suggesting there will be many outstanding candidates to replace him.

“I know what my responsibilities are. I’m sure if the club decide to go in a different direction, there are some outstanding candidates out there for it,” said Postecoglou on his potential replacement.

“It doesn’t rock my world, it doesn’t consume me. I am here and passionate about what we are doing. I was brought in to change the way the club plays, rejuvenate the squad and bring success. I am focused on that and that’s what I’ll keep doing.”

Postecoglou also commented on a potential return one day for ex-Spurs fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino, now manager of the USA ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where the States will play joint-hosts of their most important tournament since the 1990s.

“If he wants to come back one day then I hope it happens for him,” Postecoglou said when asked about Pochettino.

This follows comments made by the Argentine that he’d one day like to make a return to Tottenham, following five impressive years in N17 where he also guided them to an unprecedented Champions League final.

Stan Collymore urges Mauricio Pochettino not to re-join Tottenham

Now, writing in his column, pundit Collymore has urged Pochettino not to re-join Tottenham, following alleged talks with chairman Levy.

“There has been rumours of Mauricio Pochettino possibly making a return to Tottenham, having seemingly held talks with Daniel Levy,” wrote Collymore for CaughtOffside.

“But if I was him, I would not go anywhere near his former club, as I think very little has changed from when he left in 2019. I was at the Champions League final that year when Liverpool defeated them, and I remember very clearly how frustrated he was with the club after that. If he came back, he [wouldn’t] be given the tools to do the job that he wanted, so it would make little sense for him to be willing to go back there.”

Since being sacked by Levy in 2019, Pochettino has gone on to manage Chelsea and win a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain. He’d be a fantastic appointment considering his proven track record and experience at Tottenham, but supporters would most likely have to wait a while for any reunion.

Manchester United are keen on signing an “exceptional” attacking midfielder who is now looking likely to leave his club this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd eyeing new attacking talent amid Hojlund struggles

It would be fair to say Rasmus Hojlund isn’t enjoying the best of seasons, with the Dane scoring just three goals in the Premier League, while fellow striker Joshua Zirkzee hasn’t exactly been much help either.

As such, a new striker is being targeted ahead of the summer transfer window, with an audacious move for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak being considered, although the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Samu Aghehowa may be more reasonable targets.

Not only is a new striker on Ruben Amorim’s shortlist, but the manager is also keen to bring in new attacking midfielders, having perhaps overrelied on captain Bruno Fernandes this season.

Man Utd battling to sign "magnificent" 19y/o after scouts sent rave reviews

He’s a future star.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 2, 2025

The Red Devils have made contact over a move for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, who has 18 assists to his name already this season, while they have also set their sights on Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard as a potential option.

In a new report for GiveMeSport, Romano has now detailed that Man United are also keen on signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, with there being a concrete chance the attacking midfielder leaves the German club this summer.

Simons is open to an exit at the end of the season, and there is a feeling his price tag could be between £58m – £62m, amid interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are also keen on the £97,000-a-week Dutchman, and there is seemingly a good chance a move to England could be on the cards, with the Premier League said to be one of the top destinations in the attacking midfielder’s mind.

"Exceptional" Simons could be United's next Bruno

Successful signings have been few and far between in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but Fernandes hit the ground running right from the off, and the Portugal international has been very impressive this season, with 16 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.

However, the 30-year-old can’t be expected to do it all by himself, and with Real Madrid eyeing a move for the United talisman, the need to bring in another creative attacking midfielder this summer may be exacerbated.

Simons’ performances in Germany indicate he could well fit the bill, having racked up a remarkable eight goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season, while he already has seven goals to his name this term.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has also given the 21-year-old very high praise, saying: “I think he’s going to have a really good career at the highest level. He has everything, mentality, character and is just an exceptional player.”

Simons could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, particularly as many would agree the squad needs a bit more of that “mentality and character”. However, it could be very difficult to win the race for his signature if they don’t have Champions League football on offer next season, given the level of interest in his signature.

Like all clubs of their size and with their history, Chelsea have had some incredible players represent them over the years.

Moreover, those players have often formed brilliant duos, such as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba and John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.

Another pairing that enjoyed immense success during their time at Stamford Bridge was Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, who played 107 matches together, averaged two points per game and won two Premier League titles.

So, fans should be excited that the club might be able to recreate a partnership similar to that one with the sensational Estêvãoand one of Cobham’s most promising gems.

Estêvão's start to his Chelsea career

There has long been plenty of hype around Estêvão and the kind of player he could develop into.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

In fact, just a few months before Chelsea signed him, respected analyst Ben Mattinson labelled the teenage phenom a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

Of course, there is still a long way to go before that could happen, but so far this season, it would probably be fair to say that the young Brazilian has met, or even exceeded, expectations.

For example, in 17 appearances, totalling just 740 minutes, he has already scored five goals and provided one assist.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.83 games, or more importantly, every 123.33 minutes.

Furthermore, the Franca-born superstar in the making has also already shown an ability to thrive and score in the club’s biggest games.

For example, he came on against Liverpool a couple of months ago and scored the winner and then, against Barcelona this week, he scored the all-important second goal to take the game away from the Spanish side.

Finally, on top of the output, the former Palmeiras prospect also passes the eye-test with flying colours, as Hazard did; he’s a tremendously fun footballer to watch, and it feels like something is going to happen with a ball at his feet.

Now, as if one young superstar in the making wasn’t enough, Chelsea also have a goalscoring machine in the academy who could become Estêvão’s Costa.

The Cobham gem who could be Estêvão's Costa

As always seems to be the case, Chelsea have plenty of seriously exciting youngsters coming through the academy at the moment, with chief among them, and the player who could form a game-breaking partnership with Estevao, being Shumaira Mheuka.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion prospect joined the Blues’ youth setup in 2022 and, in the time since, has become one of the most promising strikers in academy football.

Now, that might sound hyperbolic, but his output over the last couple of years proves that it very much is not.

For example, despite being just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists in 30 appearances across the u18s and u21s.

Yet, while that is an impressive return, he’s taken another massive step forward this year.

So far, the Birmingham-born monster has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 13 appearances for the junior sides, totalling 1,067 minutes.

Appearances

63

Goals

34

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.68

That means the prolific number nine is averaging 1.23 goal involvements every game, or one every 66.68 minutes, which is surely a rate of return that warrants him getting more first-team action this season.

It’s not just at club level where the youngster is making a name, though: in 20 appearances for England’s u19s, he has chalked up a huge tally of 14 goals and three assists.

With numbers like these, it’s not hard to see why respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the youngster as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Ultimately, while it might not happen this year, Chelsea need to play Estevao alongside Mheuka at some point, as they could end up being the club’s new Hazard and Costa.

Chelsea join Arsenal in transfer battle to sign "leader" dubbed the new Saliba

The Blues could get their own version of the Arsenal star.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 27, 2025

On Wednesday, the Pohlad family announced a shocking reversal of course regarding the sale of the Twins.

In a statement, the Pohlads revealed they would no longer be pursuing a sale of the franchise and instead will retain ownership of the Twins while adding two "significant limited partnership groups." The ownership group had spent the last year looking into selling the franchise.

"For more than four decades, our family has had the privilege of owning the Minnesota Twins," the statement read. "This franchise has become part of our family story, as it has for our employees, our players, this community, and Twins fans everywhere.

"Over the past several months, we explored a wide range of potential investment and ownership opportunities. Our focus throughout has been on what's best for the long-term future of the Twins. We have been fully open to all possibilities.

"After a detailed and robust process, our family will remain the principal owner of the Minnesota Twins. To strengthen the club in a rapidly evolving sports landscape – one that demands strong partnerships, fresh ideas, and long-term vision – we are in the process of adding two significant limited partnership groups, each of whom will bring a wealth of experience and share our family values.

"We see and hear the passion from our partners, the community, and Twins fans. This ownership group is committed to building a winning team and culture for this region, one that Twins fans are proud to cheer for."

Back in March reported the Pohlads were seeking a sale price of at least $1.7 billion and that the team had accrued over $425 million in debt, which may have complicated a possible sale.

The Pohlads now embark upon their promised quest of building a "winning team and culture" in Minnesota, which has proven difficult during their 40-plus year stewardship. It will be even more difficult going forward after the Twins underwent a dramatic firesale at the MLB trade deadline and shipped off most of the top talent on the roster, headlined by Jhoan Duran and Carlos Correa.

A new claim has emerged regarding who Norwich City’s next manager could be, with Kim Hellberg reportedly the subject of talks with the club recently.

The Canaries are still looking to bring in the right replacement for Liam Manning, who was relieved of his duties earlier this month, with the 40-year-old sending a classy message to the fanbase.

“I look back on being appointed head coach of my hometown club with great pride. Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve the results or fulfil the plans we set out when we took over in June.​ Although my time with the fans was brief, I want to acknowledge their outstanding support during a challenging period. They continued to show up in great numbers – unsurprising given their passion and loyalty – and displayed incredible spirit despite understandable frustrations.”

“I would like to thank the players for their efforts throughout my time at the club and wish them all the best, both personally and professionally. The club welcomed me warmly, and the dedication of everyone across all departments never went unnoticed. I am truly grateful for that and I wish everyone associated with Norwich City the very best for the future.”

A host of individuals have been linked with being Manning’s successor at Norwich, including former Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson, and now a new update has thrown another name into the hat.

The latest on Jon Dahl Tomasson becoming Norwich City's next manager

Is he the right man for the job?

ByHenry Jackson Nov 16, 2025 Norwich have held talks with Kim Hellberg

According to Sky Sports, Norwich briefly spoke to Hammarby manager boss Hellebrg about taking charge at Carrow Road, but that ship appears to have sailed.

That’s because Middlesbrough are believed to have a verbal agreement in place with the 37-year-old, bringing him in to replace Rob Edwards, who has departed for Wolves.

Hellberg would have been a left-field choice by Norwich, given his lack of experience, but it is easy to see why they have looked at him as a potential strong choice.

The Swede has been lauded as the “brightest football mind” by assistant coach David Selini, highlighting his tactical acumen, and by IFK Varnamo sporting director Enes Ahmetovic for the detail he goes into, and he is at an age where he is likely to bring fresh ideas.

It looks as though Norwich will have to look elsewhere, though, whether it be Tomasson, Gary O’Neil or someone else, and the Canaries will hope that Hellberg doesn’t thrive too much at Boro, assuming he does move there.

Norwich City also had talks with manager who has 100% win record vs Manning

Manchester United might now be winless across their last two Premier League matches, but there aren’t any alarm bells ringing.

Indeed, the Red Devils have shown plenty of fight and determination – qualities that were sorely lacking during the early days of Ruben Amorim – to pick up two consecutive 2-2 draws on the road.

United even had to temporarily play with ten men away at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday lunchtime, when Benjamin Sesko limped off with a late injury, but that didn’t stop the imperious Matthijs De Ligt in his mission to rise above a sea of white shirts to head home a last-gasp equaliser.

In previous years, United would have just folded but there is a hard-to-beat quality deep within Amorim’s side now, with Bryan Mbeumo once again receiving plenty of plaudits at the full-time whistle after he bagged his fifth Premier League goal of the season against Thomas Frank’s hosts.

Ranking Man Utd's summer business

Ex-United midfielder Owen Hargreaves would compare the ex-Brentford forward to Mohamed Salah after the entertaining draw, stating that he always has a “clear picture” of what he wants to do in front of goal.

Having gone his first seven Premier League games in United red with just one goal next to his name, the £71m recruit has now come into his own to be seen as one of the standout bits of business INEOS signed off on in the summer, as his calmly tucked away header got the ball rolling for Amorim and Co in North London on Saturday.

It was another top-drawer display from the Cameroon international, who playing on the left-hand side on this occasion, also missed a big chance from his two shots and won two fouls.

It’s safe to say the winger has started off brightly in United colours, with three goals put away with the same ice-cold nature last month, seeing Mbeumo collect the October player of the month accolade in the Premier League.

Matheus Cunha has also gone down as a sterling summer purchase from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a first United goal finally coming his way against Brighton and Hove Albion at the close of October, even if he did fire blanks against Spurs.

Moreover, Senne Lammens continues to stand out as a rock-solid buy in goal, even if he did fall victim to a late deflected effort from Richarlison, with two saves under pressure from the Belgian ensuring the visitors came away from the contest with a share of the points.

INEOS has managed to rewrite the narrative after falling victim to a few transfer blunders last summer, notably Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee but the window of 2024 wasn’t all a complete failure.

Man United's future "captain" is outshining Mbeumo

When the ship was very visibly sinking at Old Trafford, there was a real lack of leaders attempting to turn the waning club’s fortunes around.

Thankfully, many of the senior figures Amorim has at his disposal – who once shied away from the spotlight – have come into their own over recent matches, with Casemiro now going on to be labelled as the “glue” that holds United together by content creator Liam Canning.

Moreover, Bruno Fernandes showed his immense quality during the 2-2 draw, too, as his inch-perfect corner late on turned the aforementioned De Ligt into a last-minute hero.

De Ligt has further emerged as a dependable performer Amorim knows he can rely on, with ex-United great Rio Ferdinand even stating, back in September, that the Dutchman should be “the first name on the teamsheet.”

He has become undroppable, with a battling performance away at a physical Nottingham Forest outfit seeing him win all ten of his aerial duels, as his aerial prowess was even clearer for all to take in against Spurs, when he headed home the crucial equaliser.

It’s been quite the turnaround in fortunes for the ex-Ajax colossus, with the 26-year-old even once being branded as “awful” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher after a ropey debut season, which saw the former Eredivisie titan collect just three clean sheets from 29 league outings.

Now, however, the previously mentioned Manning is hailing De Ligt as a “serious contender for the next captain” of the Red Devils, as another “clutch” display was put in by the 6-foot-2 battler against Frank’s men.

Of course, signings such as Mbeumo’s will likely steal more of the headlines, with the flashy £71m attacker now living up to his steep price tag.

But, for £42.9m, United seriously hit the jackpot, sealing De Ligt’s signature when they did, as the much-improved number four – who has featured in every possible second of United’s resurgent league campaign to date – now aims to become a permanent fixture in the Red Devils’ defence for many years to come.

It's not Mbeumo: "Unbelievable" Man Utd star looks like Amorim's new Bruno

Bryan Mbeumo stole the show again for Manchester United – but he wasn’t alone…

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 9, 2025