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The winter window has slammed shut, and GOAL has passed judgement on all the biggest deals throughout the month

The 2025 January transfer window has been and gone, with clubs around the world having weighed up how they could improve their squads while others look to raised funds by selling fringe players or loaning out youngsters to gain experience.

January is a notoriously difficult time to do business, and it seems that teams are being more careful with their finances than ever before given the threat of punishment for over-spending. Despite that, there were still some headline-grabbing moves over the course of the past month.

GOAL has been here every step of the way to pass judgement on all the biggest deals as they happened, awarding grades to both the clubs involved for the business they did, as well as whether it was the right move for each player.

Check out our grades for the biggest deals and let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Getty/GOALFebruary 3: Nico Gonzalez (Porto to Manchester City, £50m)

For Porto: An offer too good to turn down. Porto would have preferred to hold onto such an important figure until the end of the season, but City have effectively met Gonzalez's buy-out clause, with the only difference being that the money will arrive in instalments rather than one lump sum. The Portuguese club will also be pleased that they've still managed to make a tidy profit on a player they only signed 18 months ago for €8.5m despite the midfielder's former club, Barcelona (arguably the big winners here), being entitled to 40 percent of the fee because of a sell-on clause in his contract. Once City made their move, Gonzalez was always going to end up at the Etihad. Grade: C

For City: A new defensive midfielder – at last! Pep Guardiola thought that City could cope without Rodri, but he was wrong. Neither Mateo Kovacic nor Matheus Nunes (who has ended up at right-back!) have proven themselves up to the task of filling in for the best No.6 in world football – and the soon-to-be-dethroned English champions have suffered horribly as a result. That City have signed Gonzalez is something of a surprise, though. They were linked with better defensive midfielders than the Barcelona reject (such as Ederson and Martin Zubimendi), but the mere fact that he was school at La Masia clearly played a part in Guardiola's decision to bring him to Manchester. Grade: B

For Gonzalez: A dream deal. Gonzalez was let go by Barca in the summer of 2023; now he's just signed for Guardiola's City. As turnarounds go, that's pretty impressive, and it's all down to his impressive performances at Porto. Gonzalez is versatile enough to play as a No.8 and has added goals to his game this season, but the expectation is that he'll be immediately asked to belatedly fill the massive Rodri-shaped hole in front of City's defence. Gonzalez is very confident on the ball, he moves well, has good vision and rarely looks rushed, but this is a massive test of his talent. Gonzalez is not an elite-level midfielder – not yet, at least. He's never even been capped at international level by Spain. So, it will be fascinating to see how he copes with the pressure and demands that come with playing for Pep. Grade: A

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFebruary 3: Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich to Tottenham, loan)

For Bayern: An unsurprising decision. Bayern would have been happy to sell Tel now at the right price, given he's barely got a look-in since Vincent Kompany took over last summer, but a loan with an option to buy is not a bad outcome for the Bavarians. There was certainly no point in him spending the second half of the season sitting on the bench. Of course if Tel now tears it up at Tottenham, the Bavarians will lose him for £45m – a fee that could look like a bargain for a 19-year-old forward. At the end of the day, though, it's a risk that Bayern are willing to take as they're not short on quality wide players and there's no guarantee that Tel will realise his potential. Grade: B-

For Tottenham: A badly needed reinforcement. Spurs have been decimated by injuries in recent weeks, and although a versatile left winger was hardly high on their list of priorities, Tel represents a very welcome addition. Indeed, the word is that beleaguered manager Ange Postecoglou played a pivotal role in convincing the teenager to move to north London, so he clearly believes that Tel can play a big part in turning Tottenham's season around. Managing to negotiate the option to make the move permanent could also prove a masterstroke by Daniel Levy, who simply had to strengthen Spurs' attack and, in theory, that's what he's done by snapping up a player that several other teams were interested in acquiring. Grade: B+

For Tel: A chance to show what he can do. At 17, Tel was breaking all sorts of records at Bayern, but he's been surplus to requirements this season and it's well worth noting that he's not scored a single goal in 14 appearances in all competitions. He'd undoubtedly argue, though, that he wasn't given his fair share of opportunities by Kompany, having started just four times under the Belgian boss. However, the onus is now very much on Tel to prove his worth in the Premier League. With Dominic Solanke presently sidelined through injury and Ricarlison still terrible, Tel should certainly be afforded more minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium than he was getting at the Allianz Arena. He'll need to make the most of them if he's to convince people he's really as good as he believes himself to be. Grade: B+

Getty Images SportFebruary 3: Axel Disasi (Chelsea to Aston Villa, loan)

For Chelsea: Further evidence of their ridiculous recruitment. Chelsea only signed Disasi from Monaco for £38.5m ($48m) 18 months ago – but he's been a reserve since the start of the season, with his only meaningful minutes coming in the Conference League. The Blues board will, thus, be relieved to have removed an unwanted player from the wage bill until the end of the season, with Villa having agreed to not only pay a small loan fee but also cover his salary in full. It will now be fascinating to see if this temporary switch materialises into a permanent move – and for how much money. Grade: D+

For Villa: A vital addition in the centre of defence. Unai Emery's backline has been stretched to breaking point by injuries in recent weeks, so Disasi's deadline-day arrival could not have come at a better time. Villa also had to fight hard to get this deal done, as Tottenham were also in the running, and his signing makes this a very successful window for the club, who have hit pretty much all of their targets. Grade: B+

For Disasi: The move he desperately wanted – and needed. It's worth remembering that he had just broken into the France squad before his ill-fated move to Stamford Bridge, but it's now well over a year since he last represented his country. Disasi's goal will be to turn his career around ahead of the 2026 World Cup – and he could well do that at Villa Park. It's certainly encouraging that he was so keen to join, refusing to even consider signing for Spurs instead. Disasi clearly feels that Villa will provide him with a better platform to prove his worth between now and the end of the season – and he'll likely be proven right. Disasi is still only 26 and should get plenty of game time under Emery. Grade: A

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Getty ImagesFebruary 3: Joao Felix (Chelsea to AC Milan, loan)

For Chelsea: Further evidence of their ludicrous approach to player recruitment. Felix's arrival from Atletico Madrid, which coincided with Conor Gallagher moving in the opposite direction, was clearly motivated by financial factors rather than any sporting considerations. The Portuguese had done very little during his first loan spell at Stamford Bridge to suggest he was worth signing for £42m, so it's not in the least bit surprising that he's now being shipped out on loan just six months after his 'permanent' move to west London. Chelsea have done well to get Milan to cover his wages and pay a small loan fee for his services for the next six months, but it still seems unlikely that anyone will pay big money for a player that has barely done anything but disappoint since leaving Benfica as one of the most highly-rated teenagers in world football. Grade: D

For Milan: The kind of transfer with which the Rossoneri are becoming synonymous. The Serie A side are not the big spenders they once were under Silvio Berlusconi. It's all about Moneyball at Milanello these days, which essentially means taking a punt on unfulfilled talents. Signing Christian Pulisic has certainly worked out well for them and Felix could too, as there is a top player in there somewhere trying to get out. The big question is, though, where are they going to play him? Santiago Gimenez has been brought in from Feyenoord to start up front following Alvaro Morata's move to Galatasaray, while Rafael Leao and Pulisic are considered certain starters when fully fit. At the end of the day, Milan didn't really need Marcus Rashford, so Felix is arguably even less useful. Still, it's been claimed that coach Sergio Conceicao is a fan of his compatriot, so maybe he'll be the man to finally get a tune out of one of the game's most frustrating flops. Grade: C-

For Felix: Yet another move to a big club that he did very little to earn. There were brief spells at Barcelona last season when Felix looked like he might actually realise his potential at long last, but his loan stay in Catalunya didn't materialise into a permanent move – and the Blaugrana don't have any regrets about that fact. Atletico certainly don't regret getting rid of their record signing either. So, what chance does he have of finally finding a proper home for himself in Milan? Very little on the face of it, as he's joining a terribly inconsistent team that turns up one week before then disappearing for a month. Then again, given Felix is just as flakey, maybe he'll fit right into his new surroundings at San Siro! Grade: B-

Arne Slot’s tactical nous lends itself to success in the Premier League. Liverpool’s roaring start to the 2024/25 campaign confirms as much.

He’s personable and charismatic, but there’s a ruthlessness about Slot that’s refreshing to see. Jarell Quansah’s half-time substitution against Ipswich Town on the opening day proves as much. It was brutal and blunt but saw the tide turned and the tone set for the Reds, who have won nine matches from ten this term.

The Dutch coach has been reluctant, more or less, to make alterations, which might seem to run counter to that point above but is plain, for he has enforced only a few tweaks to the starting line-up since in the Premier League.

There’s a whole world of youth talent, at Kirkby or plying trade elsewhere (for now), with Trey Nyoni and summer signing Rio Ngumoha among the most talented. They aren’t the only ones though, with Ben Doak riding the crest of a wave since leaving on loan in August.

Ben Doak's performances this season

Doak could have provided Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool with much more last season but was ravaged by injury after a promising start, playing from the outset in three of the club’s Europa League group phase matches.

Told that his development would be best served on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, he moved to Middlesbrough in the Championship and has started the past three fixtures, scoring during a 2-0 victory over Stoke City.

That strike has been the standout but the young Scot’s underlying metrics have probably been more impressive. As per Sofascore, the 18-year-old has averaged two key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game, offering a consistent outlet for his teammates down the flank.

He’s since been recalled to the Scotland national team and proved to be a bright spark on a dreary evening last week against Croatia, hailed as the “standout” by former Scotland defender Willie Miller, playing with a fearless and combative approach that complemented his ball-carrying style.

He’s quite the talent, to be sure. But Liverpool might actually have a bigger and more exciting prospect in their midst.

In The Pipeline

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

Liverpool's biggest academy talent

It’s not Nyoni, who has plenty of quality but much to prove, but in fact Jayden Danns, who has already showcased his goalscoring pedigree at the highest level.

Sometimes, you just know. Danns’ brace against Southampton last season made a clear comment on his faculty for goalscoring, the keen-edged blade which he wields in the final third, apt to penetrate the meanest of defences as he continues to grow over the next few years.

Danns is still only 18 but announced himself in some fashion last season, indeed helping injury-hit Liverpool through the FA Cup fifth round against Saints in less than half an hour of action.

He had days before made his Premier League debut against Luton Town, featuring for mere minutes but making a positive impression as he held up play and contributed toward Harvey Elliott’s emphatic late sealing strike to make it 4-1 to Anfield.

Liverpool U18

33

24

4

Liverpool U21

8

3

2

Liverpool

5

2

0

Liverpool UEFA U19

1

0

0

Player. Danns had scored nine goals and added two assists over seven matches in the U18 Premier League for the Reds, bagging in every single one of those matches. Raw talent translation onto the senior stage can be rough at the best of times but his seamless switch speaks of his future role in the Premier League – hopefully for Liverpool.

Youth scout Antonio Mango even hailed him as “unplayable” after one of those matches, a 4-0 victory over Newcastle United, at youth level, and though he’s been sidelined with injury throughout the opening months of the new season, Slot will know the name and indeed consider unleashing him at some point down the line.

He must do so, for Danns’ composure and placement in crucial time-to-shoot moments is something to behold for one so young and inexperienced.

Danns is the real deal, with the prolific edge that could see him become an elite goalscorer and Liverpool’s biggest talent.

Ben Doak just dominated one of the PL's best players for Scotland

Liverpool fans would have been impressed with their ace’s performance for his nation.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 13, 2024

Hoping to get one over on their former sporting director, Newcastle United now reportedly want to sign a Premier League teenager ahead of Manchester United and Dan Ashworth in 2025.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies felt the full impact of Ashworth’s departure in the summer in what turned out to be a nightmare few months for new sporting director Paul Mitchell. On the hunt for reinforcements, those at St James’ Park ended the summer with their best signing being Lloyd Kelly on a free deal having failed in their pursuit to sign both Marc Guehi and then Anthony Elanga late on.

Newcastle star was worth £10m when Howe arrived, now his value's risen 200%

The talent has developed rapidly in a short space of time under Howe.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 19, 2024

Unsurprisingly eager to move on, however, Newcastle have seemingly set their sights on making up for lost time in 2025, with recent reports linking the Magpies with moves for the likes of Leroy Sane.

The Bayern Munich star would be an arrival to silence any doubters once and for all and would arguably be Newcastle’s biggest signing since Alexander Isak. Whilst potentially welcoming the former Manchester City man, however, those in Tyneside could sign a player with a lower profile but someone with plenty of potential.

According to GiveMeSport, Newcastle now want to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton ahead of Manchester United and Ashworth. Although the Saints youngster is currently on course to stay put at St Mary’s for the time being, he’s certainly one to keep an eye on after he stole the show against the Red Devils despite a 3-0 defeat last weekend.

Just 18 years old, Dibling showed all the confidence of a veteran winger against Manchester United in the type of performance that was always going to grab the interest of those chasing the European places in the Premier League.

"Special" Dibling can make an instant impact

Dibling still has a lot of work to do before he reaches his best of course, but that should only be seen as a positive given that he’s already causing sides like Manchester United plenty of problems at just 18 years old. One can only imagine the player he’s on course to become if this is the level he already finds himself at in a struggling Saints side.

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been quick to recognise Dibling’s quality too, saying via the Southern Daily Echo after the Saints narrowly lost against Nottingham Forest last month: “Tyler was brilliant. He was our biggest attacking threat. He was on the pitch for 15 minutes and he’s 18.

“We need a bit more of that mentality, that freedom to go and create, but he’s a really special talent. We just have to take our time with him. But, yeah, we probably need a little bit of help in that area, I would suggest.”

Two-time champions slip to 81 for 7 and lose heavily despite lower-order’s recovery

ECB Reporters' Network17-Jun-2021Northamptonshire Steelbacks slipped to a fourth straight defeat as Derbyshire Falcons ended a two-game losing streak with a five-wicket victory in the North Group match at Derby.A disciplined Derbyshire performance with the ball restricted Northamptonshire to 141 for 8 and the Falcons, led by an unbeaten 48 from Leus du Plooy and 44 from Matt Critchley, eased home on 143 for 5 with 10 balls to spare.Ricardo Vasconcelos scored 38 and Graeme White made 37 from 24 balls but Northamptonshire were restricted by George Scrimshaw, 1 for 13 from four overs and Conor McKerr, 2 for 23.Related

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After losing 7 for 17 in their previous game, the Steelbacks ran into more problems, with both openers dismissed in the first two overs. On a slow, used pitch, Richard Levi chipped Logan van Beek to midwicket and Adam Rossington was caught behind pulling Conor McKerr.Vasconcelos and Wayne Parnell repaired the damage until the Falcons struck again in the final over of the powerplay. Parnell lost his middle stump aiming a big drive at Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Rob Keogh steered the next ball to slip.The slide continued when Saif Zaib missed a sweep at Critchley and although Mohammad Nabi – in his first appearance of the season after quarantining – dispatched the same bowler for two sixes, the Falcons quickly reasserted control.Fynn Hudson-Prentice picked up two wickets•Getty ImagesNabi was caught at deep midwicket attempting a third and Vasconcelos skied a pull at George Scrimshaw to reduce Northamptonshire to 81 for 7 in the 14th over.White and Tom Taylor got their side to a respectable total by taking 41 from the last three overs with both batsmen driving Critchley for six before White hit Hudson-Prentice for three consecutive fours.Northamptonshire had to take early wickets and Ben Sanderson delivered by bowling Harry Came in the second over. Billy Godleman drove Nabi for six before being run out four balls later but the pressure was eased when 17 came from Nathan Buck’s first over.Parnell responded by removing Luis Reece and conceding only two from the next over but du Plooy provided momentum by pulling Sanderson for six to leave the Falcons needing 62 off the last 10 overs.Critchley took Derbyshire to within 14 of victory before he skied Taylor to mid on and although Hudson-Prentice was run out, du Plooy sealed victory in style with his third six.

A former Manchester United player has opened up on his intense personal doubts after being exiled under then-boss Erik ten Hag.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Midfielder fails to fire at Man Utd
• Loan spells don't work out
• Reveals doubts after being exiled by Ten Hag

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Donny van de Beek swapped Ajax for United in 2020 for £40 million ($50m) but made just 23 starts over 62 appearances for the Premier League giants. The Dutchman underwhelmed during loan spells at Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt and now he has opened up on how he struggled being apart from his partner Estelle during his time in Germany at the start of this year.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT DONNY VAN DE BEEK SAID

  He told Voetbal Primeur: “I came from so far away, needed rhythm and a series of matches, but that was simply not possible. The result was that I started to drive myself crazy. I had to show what I could do in a match, which meant I went way too much and passed myself by. In addition, my home situation was anything but pleasant. Estelle was heavily pregnant, and we decided that she would stay in England for the birth. My daughter together with her. She in Manchester, I in Germany. I was there on my own in Frankfurt. My family in England, things weren’t going well with football. I thought during that period sometimes really: What am I doing? If you play so little, you also lose confidence. That starts to eat away at you, and that’s not good as a player.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Van de Beek didn't play a great deal under former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his game time decreased with Ten Hag in the dugout, despite playing under the Dutchman at Ajax. It was right for the 27-year-old to cut ties with the Red Devils and now he is finding his feet at Girona after joining them permanently this summer.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The 19-time Netherlands international could feature for Girona in their Friday night clash at home to lowly Real Valladolid in La Liga action.

Liverpool are expected to ramp up the gas in their quest for signings this summer. The Reds are the only side in the Premier League yet to strengthen with a senior addition, but sporting director Richard Hughes has hinted at an August "crescendo".

New head coach Arne Slot, while still waiting to introduce himself to a host of first-teamers, will have a pretty good gauge of his squad now and, with the 2024/25 season a fortnight away.

Central midfield and defence seem to be FSG's priority positions, and understandably so, but Liverpool could yet move for a new striker after damaging wastefulness pulled Jurgen Klopp's swansong away from silver-laden glory.

Liverpool transfer news

According to a report from Portuguese outlet O Jogo earlier this week – via Paisley Gates – Liverpool are interested in signing Sporting CP centre-forward Viktor Gyokeres this summer after his incredibly prolific campaign.

The Sweden star has an £84m release clause in his contract but Liverpool believe that they can pull off a deal for around €70m (£59m).

The 26-year-old has been linked to some of Europe's top clubs this summer – including Arsenal and Chelsea – with his feats in the final third giving him the mark of an elite-level player.

Viktor Gyokeres' Sporting record

Only one year ago, Gyokeres left Championship club Coventry City to complete a move to Sporting, with the Sky Blues cashing in for an undisclosed club-record fee.

He posted 22 goals and 12 assists for Coventry that season, but his exploits in Portugal have seen him transcend expectations, scoring 43 goals and supplying 15 assists across all competitions en route

Hailed as a "a powerhouse" by analyst Ben Mattinson, Gyokeres' pace and power set him apart from the lion's share of centre-forwards, even drawing comparisons to Erling Haaland for such frightening athletic acumen.

His giddy potential could see him succeed with a shimmer at Liverpool, potentially even blooming into the Reds' finest centre-forward since Luis Suarez.

Liverpool's finest since Luis Suarez

In 2022, Liverpool completed the £85m club-record signing of Darwin Nunez from SL Benfica, but he has only scored 33 times across 96 fixtures and, now aged 25, must hit a far richer vein of form than has been seen thus far if he is to enjoy a fruitful future at Anfield.

The Uruguayan ace is replete with quality but has yet to hone his shooting boots to a fine point that reflects his lofty price tag. He's got a long way to go before he reaches the level of his countryman, Suarez.

Suarez plundered 69 goals and 39 assists across just 110 Premier League matches, almost single-handedly charging Liverpool's title charge in 2013/14, notching 31 goals and 13 assists across 33 top-flight fixtures.

1.

Philippe Coutinho

£142m

2.

Luis Suarez

£75m

3.

Fernando Torres

£50m

4.

Raheem Sterling

£49m

5.

Fabinho

£40m

Suarez's £75m sale to Barcelona after his staggering individual season saw him go on to reap riches in hordes over in Spain, but while Liverpool fell short in the title race one decade ago, the "legend", as he has been dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, will take some replacing on Merseyside.

Nunez could reach similar heights, but his 11-goal haul in the Premier League last term was marred by a whopping 27 big chances missed. Gyokeres, conversely, bagged 29 goals from 32 Liga Portugal matches last year, missing only 12 big chances.

This calibre of clinical quality is something truly special, and with Gyokeres now fully fledged as one of Europe's elite goalscorers, he may well prove to be the best thing since Suarez.

Liverpool in the race to sign £60m "monster" who could be better than Gordon

FSG must seriously consider advancing their interest in this Premier League star.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 2, 2024

أرسل الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، برئاسة هاني أبو ريدة، خطاباً إلى الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر، بشأن مباراة الفراعنة القادمة أمام إثيوبيا في تصفيات كأس العالم.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه منتخب مصر نظيره إثيوبيا، يوم 17 مارس المقبل، في الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم.

وقال مصدر باتحاد الكرة في تصريحات لبطولات: “اتحاد الكرة أخطر الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر بتوفير طائرة خاصة في مباراة إثيوبيا، بغض النظر عن البلد التي ستستضيف اللقاء”.

طالع أيضاً.. كاف يختار لاعب منتخب مصر السابق للمشاركة في سحب قرعة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025

ويتصدر منتخب مصر ترتيب مجموعته في تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 10 نقاط، بعد الفوز في 3 مواجهات والتعادل في لقاء.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، بجانب غينيا بيساو وإثيوبيا وبوركينا فاسو وجيبوتي وسيراليون.

The match could also be the first in Sri Lanka to host fans since the onset of the pandemic

Madushka Balasuriya07-Apr-2021A Sri Lanka Legends team is set to take on a team of current Sri Lankan cricketers, including those who have represented the national team, in a charity match on May 4 in Pallekele. The match is set to be televised and could also be the first in Sri Lanka to host fans since the onset of the pandemic – this, however, is still at the discussion phase with Sri Lanka’s health authorities.Sri Lanka Cricket’s newly-appointed management committee will be overseeing the organisational aspects of the match. The committee was installed last week by Sri Lanka’s sports ministry to run day-to-day affairs at SLC until next month’s board elections, as the previous board’s term in office had expired.”The whole country enjoyed watching cricket and watching these players playing again,” Arjuna de Silva, chairman of the SLC management committee, said. “At the same time we have not seen a live match for more than a year.”From a spectators point of view it’ll be an exciting match, and from the current players’ point of view it will be a good experience, especially because many of them would love to play alongside their childhood heroes,” he added. “Some of the youngsters might also get an opportunity to play as well.”It is understood that the match had been mooted ever since the Sri Lanka Legends team, which came runners-up in last month’s Road Safety World Series, had proved incredibly popular amongst Sri Lanka’s cricket-viewing public.While the former stars set to turn out for the Legends’ team are yet to be confirmed, it is likely that Aravinda de Silva, who currently heads a sports ministry-appointed technical advisory committee at SLC, might play a part. However, neither Kumar Sangakkara nor Mahela Jayawardene will be available due to commitments with the IPL.

Manchester United are "getting closer" to completing the signing of a "world-class" player this summer, according to an update from journalist Romain Collett-Gaudin.

Man Utd transfer news

There is a feeling that the Red Devils are really making moves in the current transfer window, with Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro already joining from Bologna and Lille respectively, and many other exciting players linked with summer moves to Old Trafford.

Xavi Simons is one such figure, coming fresh off the back of a good Euro 2024 campaign with the Netherlands – one that saw him open the scoring with a brilliant goal against England in the semi-finals. The 21-year-old is currently at Paris Saint-Germain, having spent last season on loan at RB Leipzig, but there is hope that United could seal a £75m deal.

The centre of Erik ten Hag's midfield is also a vital area to focus on, following issues there with Casemiro last season, and it looks as though PSG ace Manuel Ugarte has been earmarked as a standout player to come in and provide more legs in that role. The Uruguay international is in talks with United currently, with things seemingly progressing well.

The Premier League giants have also reportedly entered the race to sign Spain star Dani Olmo, whose stock has risen significantly after an excellent Euros. Manchester City are also strong candidates to snap up the 26-year-old, though, so it won't be easy for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS to get their man.

Man Utd closing in on signing "world-class" player

Taking to X, Collett-Gaudin claimed that Manchester United are "getting closer" to signing Adrien Rabiot alongside Ugarte, with the former now a free agent after leaving Juventus when his contract expired earlier this summer:

"Adrien Rabiot is getting closer to Manchester United! Free from any contract since 06/30, the player prefers Man Utd to Liverpool. The entourage in discussions with the 2 English clubs."

As mentioned, midfield reinforcements are a must for United ahead of next season, and while Ugarte coming in could be vital, signing Rabiot on top of him may also be some shrewd business. The fact that the France international would sign on a free transfer immediately takes out a certain amount of risk, rather than snapping him up for big money, and it allows the Red Devils to offer him generous wages.

Granted, he isn't getting any younger, but he should remain in and around his peak for the foreseeable future, and David Trezeguet once said of him: "He is world-class, an extraordinary player. Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was."

Related Man Utd now open to selling "great" £250,000-p/w flop after internal talks

Ruthless from Ratcliffe…

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham Jul 21, 2024

Rabiot would add experience, class and both attacking and defensive quality in the middle of the park, with five goals and three assists registered in Serie A last season, as well as an average of 1.9 tackles per game across 31 appearances.

Newcastle United's summer transfer window is starting to whir into life. Lloyd Kelly has been shrewdly signed on a free transfer after leaving Bournemouth but now Eddie Howe is turning his transfer barrel further up the field.

Astute and ambitious investment over the past several years, following the PIF-backed club takeover in 2021, has seen St. James' Park rise from a slippery position at the bottom of the Premier League to enjoy a campaign in the Champions League, now considered a mainstay in and around Europe-qualifying contention.

Summer 2024 (ongoing)

£28m

£0m

+ £28m

January 2024

£0m

£0m

+ £0m

Summer 2023

£130m

£38m

+ £92m

January 2023

£42m

£8m

+ £34m

Summer 2022

£115m

£3m

+ £112m

January 2022

£86m

£0m

+ £86m

TOTAL:

£340m

£49m

+ £291m

There's no doubt that the Magpies have spent though, with an urgency to comply with profit and sustainability (PSR) rules ahead of the June 30 deadline.

But still, Newcastle have one eye on strengthening once such obstacles have been circumvented.

Newcastle lining up forward signings

As per The Telegraph, Newcastle had been edging toward signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin in recent days.

However, Sky Sports have since revealed that that move has collapsed, taking Yankuba Minteh's move to Everton with it.

Howe's not only considering upfront however, with journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that an enquiry has been made for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto, who is expected to leave Molineux this summer.

Valued at £60m by the Old Gold and on Newcastle's radar for some time now, Neto can play across both flanks and would be a tremendous addition ahead of the new campaign.

Why Pedro Neto would be perfect for Newcastle

Neto would be a credit to any side willing to take him on. Manchester City are also in pursuit of his services but Newcastle's recent willingness to hold talks with Wolves chiefs suggests that plans are being drawn up to lodge a formal offer when presentable.

Let's not forget, the primary focus is on the PSR, an abbreviation very quickly becoming monotonous, but once United venture into sunny July, there will be a fresh lease of life to attack the market and bolster with some exciting signings.

Despite missing half of the 2023/24 campaign, Neto produced a prolific campaign, highly influential on the flank for Gary O'Neil and taking his creative qualities to another level.

Neto, as per Sofascore, started only 18 Premier League matches last season, scoring twice but placing nine assists for his teammates, completing 83% of his passes and averaging 1.9 key passes and 1.9 dribbles per game.

Indeed, as FBref records, the 5 foot 8 winger ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90. It's no surprise that he has been described as a "full-backs worst nightmare" by analyst Ben Mattinson. For those very reasons, he would be perfect for Howe and very much adored by the former Bournemouth boss.

Furthermore, his multi-positional ability on the wings makes him the perfect addition at Newcastle, especially if Miguel Almiron is sold this summer, as rumours seem to suggest.

Almiron has been a mainstay under Howe, completing 107 fixtures for the manager, though he has only scored 17 goals and added seven assists in this timeframe. Aged 30, the Paraguay international only posted three goals and one assist across 33 league games last season, averaging 0.7 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per match.

Neto would bring fresh life to the right flank, upgrading Newcastle's creative spark, combativeness and progressive ability, balancing out the zest and zing of Anthony Gordon on the alternate.

Howe would make stellar use of his talents and would be the architect of a whole new wave of success at Newcastle. He must be signed.

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 10, 2024