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A potential £43 million Tottenham bid for two players in one swoop could well be accepted this summer, according to reports this week.

Spurs set sights on new forward and rising stars of the future

A reoccurring theme of Spurs' transfer policy over the past 12 months is buying young, quality players with high ceilings.

Tottenham ready to offer "important sum" for Serie A star as price tag set

The north Londoners are prepared to spend.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 28, 2024

Micky van de Ven, Brennan Johnson, Alejo Veliz and Ashley Phillips arrived last summer, with all players coming under the age of 23 at the time. Meanwhile, Spurs also sealed a deal for promising young defender Radu Dragusin from Genoa in January this year.

The Lilywhites continued in their quest to bring in Europe's most exciting talents by hijacking Barcelona's move for Swedish sensation Lucas Bergvall, who joined Ange Postecoglou's side on a buy-to-loan-back deal.

Currently back out on a temporary stint at Djurgardens IF before linking up with Spurs in the summer, things could've been very different if they won the race for Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa.

Tottenham were competing for Nusa's signature before ultimately losing out to Brentford, who then pulled out of signing the 18-year-old after he failed a medical.

Now, it is believed Postecoglou is still interested in signing Nusa, as per a few reports in the press. The teenage forward is seen as one of real promise, and it appears Tottenham rate him highly, as they haven't given up on a potential deal.

Nusa is now back at Brugge after his failed move to Brentford, where he boasts three goals and three assists in 20 Jupiler Pro League appearances. In an interesting bit of further information, it is believed that Tottenham also want his teammate, Andreas Skov Olsen.

The Dane is into double digits for league goals, scoring 10 and assisting four others in 28 outings, with Voetbalkrant now stating that a double-swoop from Tottenham is possible.

Skov Olsen and Nusa double signing possible at Tottenham

The news outlet claims that a £43 million bid from Tottenham for both Nusa and Skov Olsen is seen as "very realistic", and it's a figure that Brugge would be inclined to accept.

Spurs are apparently considering a double swoop for the duo, with talks already opened over a move for Nusa in particular. Arsenal captain and Norway international teammate, Martin Odegaard, is a huge fan of the forward.

“Fantastic! He is an incredibly exciting player," Odegaard told TV2 (via Sport Witness).

"You see it, everything he gets the ball, it’s exciting. He is still young and will get even better. It was cool to see him. He deserved to get the chance that he takes it to such an extent. Incredibly cool!"

Manchester City winger, Oscar Bobb, is reportedly facing months out after fracturing a bone in his leg on the eve of the new Premier League season

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• Bobb made a good impression in pre-season
• Suffered a broken leg before the PL campaign
• Faces several months on the sidelines

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Bobb has fractured a bone in his leg, which is a major blow to City. They had high hopes for the Norwegian international following his impressive performances during the previous campaign and pre-season and now must rethink their tactical strategy as he is likely to be sidelined for months, as reported by .

  It has also been reported that City are exploring the possibility of sending the talented winger to Barcelona for a thorough examination by the renowned specialist, Dr Ramon Cugat.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Moreover, reports that initial assessments at the Etihad suggest that the injury might not be as severe as initially feared. However, the club is erring on the side of caution and will await a full diagnosis before making any decisions on the winger’s treatment plan and recovery timeline.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bobb’s injury is particularly disheartening given his recent standout performance in the Community Shield against Manchester United. The young winger was instrumental in the match, setting up Bernardo Silva’s equaliser with a dazzling piece of skill in the dying moments of the game. City eventually triumphed in the penalty shootout, and Bobb’s contribution was a reminder of the creative spark he brings to Guardiola’s side. The Norwegian's ability to influence games was one of the reasons City felt comfortable allowing Julian Alvarez to join Atletico Madrid. Now, the young winger’s potential absence could force Guardiola to rethink his attacking options as the club looks to secure a record-extending fifth-consecutive Premier League title.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

  Manchester City’s Premier League title defence begins with a challenging away fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 18. And in the absence of Bobb, new signing Savio is now expected to be the primary option in the right-wing position.

Manchester United transfer target Manuel Ugarte has reportedly been left out of Paris Saint-Germain training by head coach Luis Enrique.

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• Ugarte left out of PSG training
• Agent in UK to negotiate a deal with Man Utd
• Red Devils want his price tag reduced

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per L’Equipe's Loic Tanzi, the Uruguayan midfielder, along with Danilo and Nordi Mukiele, was left out of PSG training on Tuesday amid rumours of all three players leaving the club in the ongoing transfer window. Ugarte has been linked with a move to Manchester United for some time, and it now looks like the deal could get sealed soon.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fabrizio Romano reports that super agent Jorge Mendes, who formerly represented Cristiano Ronaldo, has arrived in the UK to negotiate deals for his two clients Joao Felix and Ugarte. Chelsea are in talks with Atletico Madrid over a possible transfer for Felix. As for Ugarte, he has already agreed personal terms with United, however, they are now pushing to reduce the transfer fee. If PSG refuse to budge on their asking price, United will have to sanction some more sales before sealing the deal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Manchester club were also linked with a move for France international midfielder Youssouf Fofana, however, the player is reportedly interested in making a move to Serie A giants AC Milan.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Erik ten Hag's side will begin their 2024-25 Premier League journey on Friday as they take on Fulham in the curtain raiser at Old Trafford. Ugarte, meanwhile, is not expected to feature when PSG open their new Ligue 1 campaign against Le Havre on the same day.

Crystal Palace are "confident" of securing an early move for a £20,000-a-week player ahead of the summer, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace transfer rumours

The Eagles arguably aren’t safe from Premier League relegation just yet, with Oliver Glasner’s side eight points clear of the drop zone with 10 games remaining.

A crucial trip to 18th-placed Nottingham Forest is next on the agenda for Palace, however, it does look as if preparations are being made behind the scenes ahead of the summer transfer window.

It will be the first chance for Glasner to put his mark on his squad by bringing in some new players, and there have been a number of rumours in recent weeks.

In attack, it is believed that Palace are readying an offer to sign Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah but could face competition from Brentford and Wolves.

Crystal Palace hit the jackpot on ace who's worth more than Wharton

The talented Palace star has seen his value rapidly rise over the last few years.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 27, 2024

Meanwhile, full-back Lewis Hall, currently on loan at Newcastle from Chelsea, could also be one to watch heading into the 2024/25 season. Another full-back linked with Palace has been West Ham defender Ben Johnson, and a promising new update has now emerged.

Ben Johnson transfer update with Crystal Palace move close

There were reports last week that Crystal Palace were in advanced talks with Johnson over a move to Selhurst Park. The £20,000-a-week defender is on course to become a free agent at the end of the season, and there has been a new update.

According to GiveMeSport, Palace are now “confident” of signing Johnson for free and would be shocked if he was playing his football elsewhere in 2024/25.

The report adds that Johnson is close to becoming the first signing of the Glasner era, with Palace ‘on the verge of striking an agreement’. A ‘deal has been in the works for a number of months’, however, West Ham ‘are still desperate to convince him to sign fresh terms’.

The 24-year-old has highlighted his versatility this season, turning out all across the backline and even higher up the pitch in 19 appearances under David Moyes.

That could come in handy at Selhurst Park under Glasner, and Johnson has also been praised by former West Ham coach Stuart Pearce, who said about the defender: "He's a wonderful professional to deal with and work with.

"We're very proud to have him out of our academy system as well, which is a real plus for us, especially with the connection to this club with the academy. I think he's just developing and getting better and better, and like with all young players, the more game time they have, the better they'll get, so I am delighted for the boy."

Southampton will look to get out of a sticky patch of not winning in their last three Championship matches by overcoming Coventry City tonight, after an underwhelming away trip to Blackburn Rovers last time out.

The stalemate at Ewood Park saw Southampton fail to show their superiority near the top of the division compared to Blackburn's lowly 16th spot, managing just two shots on target all game in the frustrating 0-0 draw.

The Saints firing blanks in Lancashire could see Adam Armstrong removed from the first-team picture for the clash with the Sky Blues tonight, a potentially bold call by Russell Martin but one that could work with the experienced centre-forward struggling last time out.

Adam Armstrong's performance vs Blackburn in numbers

Facing off against one of his ex-clubs in Blackburn, Armstrong would have been licking his lips at the prospect of firing in a couple of goals to haunt his former employers to steer Southampton to a win.

In reality, the 27-year-old striker would fail to really strike fear into the Riversiders at the back with a lacklustre 77-minute display.

Managing just 29 touches of the ball up top, with Southampton shot-stopper Gavin Bazunu managing 61 in stark contrast, Armstrong never found his groove against John Eustace's men and saw the game pass him by consequently.

Missing a big chance in the contest meant Armstrong couldn't follow up his last Championship strike away to Ipswich Town with another on his travels to Ewood Park, the usually potent Saints number nine uncharacteristically wasteful instead.

Martin could well be cursing his decision to play Armstrong through the centre for this game therefore, having got more out of the 27-year-old down the wings in recent weeks with the former Blackburn man helping himself to 11 assists alongside his 20 second tier strikes in this more creative role.

It remains to be seen whether or not Martin moves Armstrong back out wide or axes him completely, but if he does switch up who his main striker is for the game with Coventry, Che Adams might well find himself back in his manager's plans again after sitting out the Blackburn stalemate.

Che Adams as Armstrong's replacement

Before Adams potentially walks out of St. Mary's in the summer for free, the in-demand number ten will hope he can fire in more goals for his promotion-chasing side to make an immediate return to the Premier League become reality.

The ex-Birmingham City attacker would have felt hard done by to have been dropped for the trip to Blackburn, having netted in the 3-2 defeat at Ipswich alongside Armstrong before the underwhelming display from his teammates versus the Riversiders.

Southampton were sorely lacking a figure like Adams in the forgettable match at Ewood Park, with the 29-time Scotland international throwing himself about effectively with four duels won in the game at Portman Road alongside notching up two key passes.

Armstrong, on the other hand, would win just two duels against Blackburn in total on top of making zero key passes to try and tee up a Saints shirt for an elusive strike.

Martin will hope these recent poor performances and results to match don't hinder his side's confidence too much, with the playoffs very much coming into view soon for the Saints.

It could well be a bold call from the Southampton boss to drop his team's top goalscorer, but it could prove to be a decision that takes Coventry by surprise on the way to three points being clinched.

Martin must now unleash Southampton machine who won 100% duels vs Boro

Russell Martin will want a response from his Southampton troops this Easter Monday.

By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 1, 2024

Conor Gallagher exploited La Liga rule while completing his move to Atletico Madrid as he followed Jude Bellingham's footsteps.

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• Gallagher completed the move to Atletico
• Exploited La Liga rule to get registered
• Followed Bellingham's footsteps

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The English midfielder's transfer saga finally came to an end earlier this week as he completed his move to Atletico Madrid. His transfer move was finalised a long time back, however, it got stuck after Samu Omorodion's transfer to Chelsea collapsed at the last moment. The Blues then roped in Joao Felix which allowed Gallagher to move to Atletico.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  Per Ball.ie, the 24-year-old exploited a La Liga rule while completing his move as he used his Irish Passport. According to La Liga rules, a club can register up to five non-EU players in their squad. Gallagher, who was born in England and represents the Three Lions, also has an Irish lineage and holds the country's passport. Using his Irish connection, the player was registered as the club's regular signing, thus allowing them to register one more player from outside Europe if they want to.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The former Blues star followed in the footsteps of England colleague Jude Bellingham who similarly used his Irish lineage to register himself as a regular European player with Real Madrid last summer while completing his move from Borussia Dortmund.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CONOR GALLAGHER?

  The player could play his first match of the new season on Sunday as Diego Simeone's side take on Girona at home in La Liga.

Summer signing Dani Olmo is reportedly finally set to be registered to play for Barcelona following an injury to team-mate Andreas Christensen.

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• Olmo signed for Barcelona from Leipzig
• Had registration issues since arrival
• Spaniard may finally make club debut

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Spain international Olmo swapped RB Leipzig for the Catalan outfit earlier this month for a fee that could rise to £51 million ($67.3m). However, the attacking midfielder is yet to make his club debut due to Barca's ongoing registration problems – which stem from their financial issues. Now, claims Olmo will be included in Hansi Flick's teams going forward as defender Christensen is out with an Achilles injury. They say Olmo can make his debut against Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday if there are no setbacks.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona's financial problems are well known and not being able to have Olmo available to them, weeks after signing in a big-money move, is not a good look for the club. But, if he is ready for selection, that is a big boost for his new team, manager Flick, and their chances of success this season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Olmo – who was in Barcelona's academy before joining Dinamo Zagreb in 2014 – played a huge role in helping Spain win Euro 2024, with the 26-year-old finishing the tournament as joint-top scorer with three goals.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona, who sit second in La Liga after two wins from their opening two matches this season, face Vallecano on Tuesday and then Real Valladolid on Saturday. Olmo will hope to feature in both games following these registration problems.

Celtic are still fighting to secure two trophies before the end of the season as they look to wrap up the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup over the coming weeks.

Focus will then turn to the upcoming summer transfer window and possibly improving the playing squad for Brendan Rodgers ahead of next term.

However, the Hoops may also have to fight to keep hold of their best players, as Leeds have recently been linked with an interest in star midfielder Matt O'Riley.

Celtic are no strangers to cashing in on their top talent, including the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Odsonne Edouard, and Jota, and they hit the jackpot when Neil Lennon sold Kieran Tierney for a club-record fee.

Kieran Tierney's Celtic career in numbers

The Scotland international came through the academy system at Parkhead and first became a regular in the Premiership during the 2015/16 campaign, with six assists in 23 outings.

Tierney went on to rack up eight goals and 37 assists in 170 matches for the club in all competitions during his time in the first-team for the Hoops.

As you can see in the table above, the 5 foot 11 left-back provided an attacking thrust down the left flank with a fantastic return of assists each season, given his defensive position.

His fantastic form for Celtic led to interest from Arsenal in the summer of 2019, and Lennon – who was the manager at the time – eventually greenlit a move to the Premier League.

After a £15m bid was rejected earlier in the window, the Gunners eventually landed their man on deadline day for a staggering £25m – a club-record for the Hoops.

Kieran Tierney's current market value

At the time of writing (22/04/2024), Transfermarkt has Tierney's current market value at just €12m (£10m), as he currently plays for Real Sociedad on loan from Arsenal.

This means that the Scottish full-back's value has plummeted by a staggering £15m from the £25m that the English giants paid for him, within the space of less than five years.

At the age of 26, the left-footed dynamo should be heading into his peak years as a player but is, instead, sitting at his lowest market valuation since the summer of 2019 – when he left Celtic.

Tierney, who played 124 games for Arsenal before his temporary move to Spain, has only started 11 league matches for Real Sociedad this season, after six starts in the Premier League last term.

Injuries have hampered his development, with 74 matches missed for club and country since he moved on from Parkhead, and that is reflected in his lack of starts in recent years.

The Scottish star, whose strength was once hailed as "unique" for a young player by Brendan Rodgers, has not nailed down a regular starting spot in the Premier League or LaLiga, which may be why his market value is plummeting.

The "future star" who left Celtic for £0 is now worth more than O'Riley

The Hoops watched the now-Premier League starlet move on from Parkhead for nothing.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 5, 2024

Overall, Celtic hit the jackpot with Tierney as they sold him for a record fee and have watched on as the academy graduate has failed to kick on over the subsequent years, with his current value now £15m less than what they sold him for.

It's been another rough season of Premier League football for Chelsea this year.

Despite spending an egregious sum of money on talented youngsters in the summer and bringing in Mauricio Pochettino to try and get the best out of them, the Blues have struggled to string together a run of positive results and, with five games left to play, it looks unlikely that they'll reach the European places.

That said, at least one positive has come out of this year: Cole Palmer. The young Englishman has been incredible for the West Londoners, and what makes his signing all the more impressive is that he's currently earning less than one of Chelsea's biggest flops in recent years.

Cole Palmer's season in numbers

The Pensioners completed the £42.5m signing of Palmer in September last summer, and while he had looked relatively impressive for City in short cameos, the fact that he had just six goals and two assists in 1481 minutes of senior football for the treble winners made the move a slight gamble.

However, flash forward eight months, and it would be fair to say that the Wythenshawe-born gem has repaid the Blues' gamble, and then some.

In 40 appearances for the two-time European champions, the 21-year-old has scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists, meaning that he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.11 games.

Despite being the top goalscorer and assist provider at the club this season, 15 players are currently earning more than his £75k-per-week, and while that might make sense given his inexperience at the start of the season, it makes the wage given to former Chelsea flop Ross Barkley look all the more absurd.

How much Ross Barkley cost Chelsea

The Blues completed the £15m signing of Barkley under Antonio Conte in January 2018, just six months after the player initially turned down a £30m move.

The Englishman arrived at the club having not played for seven months due to a hamstring injury and subsequent surgery, so there was an element of risk in bringing him to West London and handing him a whopping £100k-per-week deal – £15k more than Palmer.

The Liverpool-born midfielder made only four appearances towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign but played 79 games in the subsequent two seasons. In these, he scored ten goals and provided 11 goals, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 3.7 games.

With his performances and output leaving the club underwhelmed, the former Everton ace was sent on loan to Aston Villa for 2020/21, returning to Stamford Bridge for the following season before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in late August 2022.

Overall, the once-dynamic midfielder made 100 appearances for the Pensioners, scored 12 goals, provided 11 assists, and took home around £20.6m in wages.

Therefore, when adding in his £15m transfer fee, the 33-capped international cost the West Londoners £35.6m, which breaks down to £356k-per-appearance, £2.9m-per-goal, or £3.2m-per-assist.

Ultimately, it would be hard to describe Barkley's transfer to Chelsea as anything other than a disaster, but at least the 30-year-old has rebuilt his reputation with Luton Town this season.

Chelsea make approach to sign dream £42m Palmer partner

The Blues are reportedly interested in a summer swoop for the young centre-forward.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 30, 2024

With the likes of Mary Earps and Nikita Parris having left over the summer, Marc Skinner will need other players to step up over the coming campaign

Rachel Williams, the Manchester United striker, is delighted that the Red Devils will kick-off their Women's Super League season at Old Trafford. That's not because it's an iconic ground or because there will be a big crowd – it's because she knows the team has some wrongs to right after their last visit.

That was on the final day of the 2023-24 season, when Chelsea absolutely battered the hosts in a thumping 6-0 win that secured a fifth-successive WSL title. It was a dismal display from United, one that made the post-match scenes a little awkward. Just a week earlier, they had beaten Tottenham in the FA Cup final to win the women's team's first major title and this league fixture offered a chance to parade the trophy around the ground. Yet, you could forgive those who left before that celebration, given what preceded it.

"How can we go into an FA Cup final, but then we go into the last game of the season, and it's two totally different games?" Williams pondered last week, at the WSL season launch. "I like the fact we're going back [to Old Trafford] because, for me, those feelings on that last day are still very raw. No matter what team it is, we now know that we have to go there and perform the way we know we can and let the fans leave happy knowing, ‘that's a good start for us'.

"I know people say that whole thing of, ‘don't get carried away with the highs and [too] low in the lows’, but for me, the lows sit with me a lot more than the highs, then it gives me that extra 10 percent to go into those games and think, ‘I've got to go another level now, because it wasn't good enough when I was last here’."

It's clear that Williams doesn't just feel that way about returning to Old Trafford. For United, this whole upcoming season has that sentiment of wanting to show that they are better than 2023-24 suggested. There were glimpses – like that FA Cup triumph or victory over Chelsea in the semi-finals – but not on a consistent enough basis to back-up their 2022-23 title challenge, with a disappointing fifth-placed finish instead the outcome last term.

With that desire to be better, some exciting summer signings and important players returning from injury, can United compete with England's elite again? Or will the impact of high-profile departures, doubts surrounding head coach Marc Skinner and concerns about the club's commitment to the women's team dominate the narrative in another underwhelming campaign?

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  Mood around the Red Devils

  'Cautiously optimistic' may be the best way to sum up the feeling around United heading into another WSL season. The summer saw talk of the women's team's training facilities and the exits of star names take centre stage at times, but the club has done some astute transfer business, had a positive pre-season and there is reason to believe that an opportunity to get back into the European places can present itself this year.

  Last season was a real mixed bag. To say the Red Devils' performance in the WSL was disappointing would be an understatement, with a fifth-placed finish, some 15 points off the Champions League spots, hugely underwhelming. However, an FA Cup triumph delivered a first major trophy for the women's team, even if several players were quick to admit it papered over the cracks of the campaign as a whole.

  To get to that final, United defeated Chelsea in a brilliant semi-final tie, showcasing their ability to compete with and even beat the elite sides in England. Those glimpses fuel the belief that this team can get back up towards the top of the table, though it is consistency against the sides below them which will be expected from the supporters.

  There is still frustration from the stands towards head coach Skinner. Throughout last season, many questioned his ability to lead this team to its lofty ambitions and, with his contract expiring, some believed the club would find someone new to steer the ship. However, a one-year extension was announced in the days that followed that FA Cup triumph and now Skinner will be out to earn another deal, while hoping to deliver performances and results that the fans can get behind.

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  Transfer business

  There have been so many notable ins and outs at United this summer. The departures of Lucia Garcia, Mary Earps, Katie Zelem and Irene Guerrero all came early in the window and angered fans for different reasons. The former trio all left on free transfers, something which is becoming worryingly frequent at the club in recent years, with Alessia Russo and Ona Batlle also doing so last year. Guerrero, meanwhile, was a player fans wanted to see more of, but the World Cup winner was sold to Mexican side Club America after making just seven appearances – only one of those a start.

  It was important, then, for United to make good signings off the back of this start to the window and they have. Melvine Malard won over fans in her season on loan from Lyon and the forward made the switch a permanent one in July. Further bolstering the attack are the Norwegian duo of Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet, the former after scoring half of Brighton's league goals last season and the latter after shining in a Tottenham side that took real steps forward under Robert Vilahamn.

  There's further excitement over defender Anna Sandberg, who will add necessary depth after full-back Hannah Blundell announced her pregnancy, and Canada international Simi Awujo, who is a thrilling talent at just 20 years old.

  Perhaps the most notable bit of business United did this summer, though, was in keeping hold of Grace Clinton. Spurs were keen to buy the England star after a fruitful loan spell in north London last season, but United stood firm and will integrate the 21-year-old into their starting XI this term.

  For all those positives, though, the transfer window still ended on a bum note when Nikita Parris, who scored 16 goals in all competitions last season, was sold to Brighton on deadline day, while the club also failed to further bolster the goalkeeping department following the departure of Earps. It leaves 19-year-old Safia Middleton-Patel, a promising Wales international but a player who has never played in the WSL, as the only back-up to Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

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  Pre-season performances

  Many teams in the women's game still keep their pre-season campaigns rather secret and, as one that did not embark on a high-profile summer tour, United have been one of those leading into 2024-25. The team went out to Marbella for some warm-weather preparation and results publicised throughout the summer have been positive. Yet, these friendlies are about performances rather than final scores and it's hard to make any judgement on those games when they have been played behind closed doors.

  However, one of the main takeaways has been that Clinton and Ella Toone have been playing in midfield together ahead of the new campaign, rather than it being a case of one or the other. Some thought it could be the latter given both are playmaking midfielders, but Skinner is clearly keen to integrate both into his XI. It's something Clinton herself has spoken about enjoying, though she admitted she's unsure how it will look once the 2024-25 campaign begins.

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  Talking tactics

  There are often two main themes of criticism aimed at Skinner – a lack of play through midfield and a lack of rotation. Both frustrations stem from the abundance of quality in this United squad.

  It'll be interesting to see if the consistency in team selection is any different this season, given the team missed out on European football again and therefore only has 22 league games to contend with, any FA Cup action and a League Cup competition that will likely involve giving younger and fringe players a chance in the group stage.

  The midfield, however, should surely be more involved in United's play this coming season given the unavoidable quality in there. That's not to say that wasn't the case in previous years, but that perhaps the two players most likely to change a game are going to be in there, in Toone and Clinton. If Skinner can find a way to connect those two to the wingers that are often at the centre of his team's attacking play, then this team could be much more devastating and exciting.

  The coach has hinted over the summer at some system changes – it's just a case of waiting and seeing what those are.