All posts by z3u9t.icu

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

This might just be a case of being caught in the moment.

However. one of the goal scorers from Leicester’s victory over Burton Albion in the league cup made everyone realise that he was still actually there, previously slipping under the radar somewhat in recent months.

It was a situation that was enough to provoke the question: just what has happened to Kelechi Iheanacho and does he have a future at Leicester?

If you take a look at his goal record at senior level whenever he has been able to get onto the pitch, he has a return of 33 strikes in 129 appearances (via Transfermarkt), which works out at just under a goal every four games.

If you extrapolate that over the course of a 38 game Premier League season, that gives you just under ten goals a campaign.

But that is when he is a substitute. If he was given the opportunity to play not only more regularly, but also with an extended time on the pitch, there’s no reason why that number can’t increase to anywhere between 15-20 goals across a league season.

Check out the best fan reaction from Southampton 0-9 Leicester in the video below…

He was only able to manage 24 starts at Manchester City and although things have got slightly better with 26 at Leicester, is that really enough for someone of his age and capabilities?

The £10.8m-rated striker’s preferred and natural position is that of a centre-forward, the spot currently occupied by Jamie Vardy in Leicester’s 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 system, who although aged 32, doesn’t show any signs of slowing down with nine goals in ten league games so far.

There’s no chance he’s going to dislodge someone like Ayoze Perez or Harvey Barnes either, who have both become regulars out wide at the King Power. That’s unless they see a drop in form or get seriously injured.

Iheanacho is now aged 23, so if he isn’t going to get first-team football now, you have to start asking the question is it time that he possibly looked at moving away from the King Power?

It’s clear to see that he can offer a lot to a team in this division, but he needs to be given the chance to show it off, and at the moment he’s being stifled by Brendan Rodgers.

It almost feels pointless having him linger around.

Sheffield Wednesday slumped to a late defeat at Blackburn Rovers at the weekend as the Owls lost their winning position at Ewood Park in the final few minutes of the game.

The men from the Steel City went into the match on the back of a decent draw with Leeds United, whilst Rovers were out of form having themselves thrown away a lead last weekend against rivals Preston North End.

However, it was the home side that won this one at the weekend, with Wednesday failing to convert Jacob Murphy’s 83rd-minute strike into three points.

Work for Garry Monk and his men to do this week, then, in order to learn from that with the Championship looking as tight as ever.

And, indeed, it seems as though Owls fans would appreciate it if Joey Pelupessy worked on his crossing and corners in particular, with him taking a hammering on social media in the last couple of days.

Let’s take a look at what Owls fans have had to say about the midfielder’s display against the former Premier League champions…

Leeds United ended their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 campaign with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Elland Road in the Championship on Saturday.

Daniel Farke’s side had drawn against Portsmouth and West Brom and beaten Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City in their first four matches of the season.

That run came to an end, however, as Luca Koleosho scored the only goal of the game in the first half, with a composed finish into the bottom right corner after a slip from Manor Solomon at the other end.

The Tottenham Hotspur loanee had an unfortunate moment for the goal but he was not the worst player on the pitch for Leeds, as the rest of his performance was promising.

Manor Solomon's game in numbers

Solomon lost his footing around the halfway line to allow Koloesho to race through and score past Illan Meslier, with weak covering defending from his teammates.

However, the winger had plenty of positive moments in the game and showed nice touches and turns on the ball to make things happen for Leeds in the final third.

The Spurs loanee created three chances and completed 86% of his chances, whilst completing all three of his dribble attempts, and this shows that he was largely impressive in his use of the ball.

He also won six of his seven duels on the ground and made two tackles to help out his team defensively, which shows that the forward was strong out of possession and worked hard for the team.

Meanwhile, Wilfried Gnonto, on the other flank, was the real villain for the Whites with his disappointing performance at Elland Road on Saturday.

Wilfried Gnonto's performance against Burnley

The Italy U21 international struggled to make any impact at the top end of the pitch and will surely be frustrated with his lack of threat in the final third.

Gnonto had one glorious chance to find the back of the net in the first half, after Brenden Aaronson slipped the ball through to him, but he failed to beat James Trafford with a left-footed effort that hit the goalkeeper.

The Italian winger had three shots in total and failed to score, missing one ‘big chance’, and also ended the match with zero key passes (chances created) to his name.

Minutes played

90

Pass accuracy

81%

Key passes

0

Big chances missed

1

Duels won

7/14

Possession lost

16x

As you can see in the table above, the attacker endured a rough afternoon, losing half of his duels and giving the ball away 16 times, without making any real contributions in the final third.

Whereas, Solomon, despite his slip for the goal, created three chances for his teammates and won the vast majority of his duels to keep hold of the ball for Leeds.

These statistics show that Gnonto was even worse than the Spurs man and that it was a performance that may now leave Farke thinking about whether he should remain in the starting XI next time out.

Leeds forward was sold for mega £20m, now he's being outscored by Struijk

The Whites raked in a huge fee for the player who struggled to produce in front of goal.

ByDan Emery Sep 12, 2024

There's no hiding from it: Everton have suffered a dismal start to the 2024/25 campaign. Bewildered players dotted the Goodison Park pitch as Bournemouth engineered the most dramatic of comebacks to win 3-2 before the imminent international break.

The positive? The Toffees played well, led by two goals with 86 minutes on the clock and with a clean sheet at that. But after being thrashed by Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur in previous fixtures, this was most unwelcome for Sean Dyche and co.

Luckily, the September break allows Dyche to regroup. There is, however, a glaring issue: Everton's defence looks a shell of itself.

Everton's defensive conundrum

Last season, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite enjoyed one of the Premier League's steeliest defensive partnerships, with Everton's Jordan Pickford keeping 13 clean sheets, second and behind only Arsenal's David Raya.

But Branthwaite has yet to make his seasonal debut as he continues to nurse a groin injury that his manager appeared to admit may not be overcome when Aston Villa are taken on in just under two weeks.

Michael Keane has played in the athletic 21-year-old's stead, and while he scored against Bournemouth, the 31-year-old has long flattered to deceive at Goodison Park and has only won 40% of his ground duels this term, as per Sofascore.

Branthwaite, conversely, won 67% of his ground battles last season. The disparity is stark. Jake O'Brien was signed from Lyon for £17m in July to shore up the backline but he has yet to rise from the bench in the top flight.

Might there be a market opportunity for Dyche to capitalise on?

Why Everton should sign Joel Matip

It's a deal that would send shockwaves across Merseyside. The transfer window might have slammed shut but one or two Premier League outfits are still scouring the market for reinforcements.

West Ham United are one such outfit, interested in adding to their defence after losing Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd this summer. According to club insider ExWHUEmployee, the Irons are pushing ahead to sign Joel Matip, who is a free agent after his contract with Liverpool expired in June.

Were Everton to forge ahead and hijack their divisional rivals' signing, it would be controversial indeed, but there's little question that the 32-year-old Cameroonian could be the perfect addition to add some depth and leadership at a crucial point in the Merseysiders' history.

Indeed, nothing new has bobbed to the surface, but Matip has been on Everton's radar this summer. According to Caught Offside one month ago, Everton were actually locked in talks with the player's agent to determine the probability of completing a move. Bayer Leverkusen and Fulham were also interested, though Matip remains on the market, free of charge.

Everton lost all sense of defensive purchase in that late-stage horrorshow, and an experienced head such as Matip's could go a long way to changing the mentality and ensuring that such issues are put firmly to bed.

The fact that he's enjoyed a decorated career across the road at Anfield is something to be taken into account, but Matip knows the city well and could be inclined to extend his stay, especially when considering that he is still actually at the top of his game – or at least, he was before suffering an ACL injury against Fulham last December, which remains his last professional appearance.

Matches (starts)

10 (9)

Goals

0

Clean sheets

2

Touches*

67.5

Pass completion

88%

Ball recoveries*

5.8

Tackles*

1.2

Clearances*

4.1

Total duels won*

4.3 (61%)

Once hailed as a "titan among ants" by editor Robin Wigglesworth, the veteran is a colossal presence but he's also got some excellent technical qualities that could actually raise Everton's level, allowing more fluency and a ball-playing channel from which those further up the pitch can feed onto.

Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 5 giant ranks among the top 20% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 16% for passes attempted, the top 17% for progressive passes, the top 20% for progressive carries, the top 6% for blocks and the top 9% for aerial duels won per 90.

Branthwaite's injury has issued a solemn comment on Everton's strength in depth at the back. Ten goals have been conceded across only three matches, zero Premier League points have been claimed and, to exacerbate the flaming situation, Aston Villa will await the Blues at Villa Park on Saturday the 14th of September.

From that point, an ostensibly favourable run of fixtures that fans will hope – expect – the Merseysiders to rise to and begin to collect some points and rise above the relegation fodder.

Branthwaite, we all hope, will be fit and firing once again for this crucial spell, but Everton cannot remain reliant on his fitness – or indeed Tarkowski's, who has not missed a match since joining the club in 2022.

You can't help but imagine that the manner of the Toffees' inexplicable capitulation against the Cherries last time out could have been a different story were Branthwaite next to the club's vice-captain.

Pundit Trevor Sinclair has branded Keane as a "liability" in the past and such words seem to be ringing true at present, for he is not contributing to a successful defence at present. Matip would undoubtedly prove to be an upgrade.

The Liverpool "legend" – as dubbed by Virgil van Dijk – would strengthen the framework at Goodison Park, and given Keane's struggles to perform with Branthwaite on the sidelines, it might be a move that Dyche and his transfer team need to make – with haste.

Dyche must drop 5/10 Everton star who's lost the ball 24x this season

Sean Dyche is coming under some pressure after a woeful start to the season for Everton

1 ByRoss Kilvington Sep 2, 2024

Leeds United pushed up to fourth in the Championship table over the weekend with a comfortable 2-0 win over Hull City at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Whites took to the field for the first time since the summer transfer window slammed shut, after the deadline passed on Friday night, and that meant that they finally had a settled squad.

Daniel Farke does not have to worry about any more of his key players moving on from West Yorkshire, which was the case in the first few matches of the campaign.

The German head coach had to watch on as Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter moved on to Tottenham Hotspur, Rennes, West Ham United, and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively.

Those sales did, however, allow the manager to dip into the transfer market to sign Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Joe Rothwell, Joe Rodon, Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle, Isaac Schmidt, and Ao Tanaka.

One player who has felt like a new signing at Elland Road is centre-forward Mateo Joseph, who has taken on a greater role at the start of this season.

Mateo Joseph's promising start to the season

The 20-year-old centre-forward has been tasked with leading the lines for the Whites so far in the 2024/25 campaign, as Farke has placed his faith in the academy graduate.

Joseph has had to bide his time for this chance, after 20 appearances as a substitute in the Championship last term, and is now looking to make the most of his opportunity in the starting XI.

The former England U20 international had caught the eye at youth level with a stunning return of 19 goals in 33 matches for the club's U21 side, which earned him a call-up to the senior team.

He scored three goals in all competitions for the Whites during the 2023/24 campaign, two of which came in a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.

So far this season, Joseph has started all four of the club's matches in the Championship and has impressed with his contributions in the final third.

Appearances

4

Goals

1

Assists

2

Big chances created

3

Ground duel success rate

38%

Aerial duel success rate

8%

As you can see in the table above, the Spanish youngster has been directly involved in three goals in four games, albeit with only one goal in four games as a number nine.

Whilst his efforts in the final third have been impressive, for a 20-year-old in his first run of stars, Joseph does need to improve his work out of possession.

The young forward has been dominated on the ground and in the air by opposition defenders and will, hopefully, learn from his experiences in recent weeks.

His 8% aerial duel success rate shows that centre-backs are finding it far too easy to get the better of him in the air and that will have to change in matches where Leeds will need an outlet to hold the ball up when they are under pressure.

Joseph's struggles off the ball also show that, whilst he has been one of the top performers for Leeds, he's not been the best of Farke's stars.

Instead, that title should go to central defender Pascal Struijk, who has been the true hero of the season so far since his return to the heart of the defence.

Pascal Struijk's frustrating 2023/24 season

The Dutch centre-back missed the last 27 matches of the 2023/24 campaign with a season-ending groin injury that was sustained at the end of December.

That blow meant that Ethan Ampadu, a defensive midfielder by trade, was forced to play as a central defender alongside Rodon in the second half of the season.

It was a frustrating injury for Struijk and for Leeds as the former Ajax man had enjoyed a fantastic start to the season next to the Spurs loanee at the back.

Appearances

23

Pass accuracy

90%

Ball recoveries per game

6.1

Ground duel success rate

61%

Aerial duel success rate

61%

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman was a dominant force at the heart of the defence for Farke in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, winning 61% of his duels on the deck and in the air.

Pascal Struijk's form this season

The left-footed defender returned from injury this summer and has started the season as the manager's first-choice centre-back next to Rodon in the Championship.

He has been the star of the show and the real hero for Farke, so far, with his composed and dominant performances in the second tier for the Whites.

Struijk started the season with a goal against Portsmouth in the 3-3 draw at Elland Road, converting coolly from the spot after a penalty was awarded to the home side.

Since that crazy match on the opening day, the Dutch colossus has kept three clean sheets in three Championship games, with West Brom, Sheffield Wednesday, and Hull all failing to score against Leeds.

The 24-year-old titan has been a dominant force at the back once again, winning 62% of his duels, and has won 100% of his attempted tackles in the division, which shows that he has barely put a foot wrong defensively.

Meanwhile, Rodon has only won 52% of his duels and has lost 80% of his battles on the ground, whilst making 2.8 ball recoveries per match.

As you can see in the graphic above, the towering defender has recovered the ball five times per match and registered 95 touches of the ball per game on average.

Struijk has made 18 progressive passes and delivered two shot-creating actions with those touches, which shows that the centre-back looks to play forward and progress the play for his team.

These statistics, and the team's record of three clean sheets in four league matches, suggest that the Dutchman has been the key to the club's success on the pitch, stepping up when Rodon has struggled, and that is why he has been the real hero over Joseph.

Leeds hit gold on amazing star who's worth more than Ramazani & Solomon

Leeds United will hope this star can continue delivering under pressure.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 1, 2024

Glasgow Rangers have submitted an offer to Los Angeles FC for target Jose Cifuentes, according to reports.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news involving Cifuentes?

Michael Beale and those at Ibrox have wasted no time in bolstering the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 season, with four new additions already made.

Dujon Sterling, Kiran Dowell and Jack Butland have all agreed on free transfers to Glasgow, whereas Rangers have also signed forward Sam Lammers from Italian side Atalanta for €3.5m.

That appears to be just the start of the club’s summer business, with Cifuentes looking like he could be the next through the Ibrox door.

Reports have suggested that a Rangers move for Cifuentes could be agreed upon by the end of the month, although a low fee still needs to be arranged with the MLS side, and it looks as if that bid has now been made.

According to journalist Alejandro Ruilova, Cifuentes has agreed to make the move to Rangers, with the Scottish side making an offer to LAFC, who are evaluating the proposal.

“Jose Cifuentes – Ecuadorian player has agreed to go to Rangers. Only that Los Angeles FC asks for an amount of money to be able to release the player before the end of his contract.

“It is being negotiated since Rangers offered an amount that is being studied by the club.”

Who is Jose Cifuentes?

Cifuentes is seemingly at the top of his game with a career-high €12m Transfermarkt valuation and can play as a holding, central or attacking midfielder.

The 24-year-old has made 115 appearances for LAFC after joining back in 2020, contributing to 33 goals along the way. He has also won 15 caps for Ecuador and is sponsored by Nike, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the year.

Lauded as being “very dynamic” by LAFC assistant manager Marc Dos Santos, Cifuentes has also been hailed by Ecuador football expert Benedikt Duda, who said:

“Cifuentes is a no.8, who is physical and strong in defence with a tendency to get involved in the attack. There is a good reason he wears the no.11, and footballing-wise, he models himself after Paul Pogba.”

Therefore, for the right price, it looks as if Rangers could be getting a versatile midfielder at the peak of his powers, and hopefully, he’ll be able to go from strength to strength under Beale in Scotland.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly ready to flex their pull in the transfer window, with a Championship whizz linked to Molineux.

Following news of Julen Lopetegui committing his future to the club, the Old Gold can have clarity on their objectives this summer with a clear horizon on the manager’s status and the club’s budget amidst Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns.

The latest player linked to the Midlands could provide a significant spark to the Spaniard’s midfield.

What’s the latest on Alex Scott to Wolves?

As reported by the Daily Mail in April, Wolves have shown interest in Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott.

The rumours regarding the Englishman’s potential move to Molineux have re-emerged this week, with journalist Ben Jacobs advising fans to “keep an eye on Wolves” alongside Tottenham, who are also looking at the star.

Jacobs reports that Bristol City want a fee in the region of £25m for the 19-year-old – a price that may prove too costly for the Midlands side unless a lower fee can be compromised.

What could Alex Scott bring to Wolves?

Lauded as an “unbelievable talent” by treble-winning manager Pep Guardiola, the teenager’s movements will certainly be something to monitor this summer.

The central midfielder played a pivotal role in Bristol City’s season in the Championship, making 42 appearances and contributing to five goals by registering four assists and scoring one himself, via Sofascore.

Contributing in the final third is a bonus to the attributes that the Guernsey-born gem possesses, highlighting what he could bring to Wolves.

Amid the departure of Joao Moutinho and the saga surrounding Ruben Neves’ future, Lopetegui could land himself a bright spark in Scott, who flexes skill in the defensive and offensive areas of midfield.

Transitioning from the stability that the Portuguese duo handed Wolves is something for Lopetegui to be more excited than daunted about, with a youthful spark in the middle of the park becoming an option going forward.

22-year-old January signing Joao Gomes has impressed since arriving in the Midlands and could form a partnership for years to come with Scott, with the two holding similar values in their gameplay.

As per Sofascore, the Brazilian averages a monstrous 2.6 tackles per game in the Premier League as well as winning 58% of his total duels, with an average of 5.5 per game with numbers that showcase his defensive flair.

Scott recorded similar numbers in the same areas, albeit in the Championship, winning 50% of his total duels with an average of 6.3 per game, as well as making 1.8 tackles per game on average, via Sofascore.

While his defensive numbers are slightly lower than the 22-year-old, the teenager could provide a stronger approach to progressive play than the Wolves ace in ways that convey they may become a perfect pair.

As per FBref, Scott has averaged 3.43 progressive passes per 90 over the past year, with Gomes averaging 2.62 in the same area, allowing the Englishman to establish himself as the ‘roamer’ in a potential pivot.

As told by his four assists and four big chances created this campaign in the second tier, the teenager could flourish in Lopetegui’s midfield renovations if he is able to make the step up to the top flight.

A new dawn is on the horizon for Liverpool. The squad that clinched European glory and a Premier League has been largely separated.Jurgen Klopp must find the antidote to reverse the club’s fortunes and catapult them back into the top four.One of the biggest summers in the Reds’ recent history lies ahead as they must place faith in a new cohort of players.One name that has been mentioned as part of this rebuild is Arda Guler.

What’s the latest on Arda Guler to Liverpool?

According to Aksam (via Sport Witness), Liverpool and Barcelona are interested in signing Fenerbahce Guler this summer.It is understood that both Liverpool and the Blaugrana have 'stepped in' and have 'accelerated their attempts' to secure the signing.However, it could be a complicated deal as Fenerbahce are hoping to keep the youngster for at least one more year.That said, should the youngster leave then it may cost any suitor around £20m.

Who can Arda Guler emulate at Liverpool?

Guler joined the Fenerbache youth ranks in 2019 and signed a professional contract with the club in 2021, making his senior debut as a substitute against Finnish club HJK in the play-offs of the Europa League.Then in August 2021, the "serious talent" – as per Duncan Castles – made his Süper Lig debut, providing the assist for the winning goal to emphatically announce himself into national stardom.Then in March 2022, the playmaker created history as he became the youngest goalscorer in Turkish top-flight history, having only turned 17 three weeks earlier.The youngster was then awarded the club’s number ten shirt and in the first match of the next campaign, he scored twice in 21 minutes.He has continued to excel and has finished the term with 12 goal involvements in 34 appearances in all competitions.During his incredible journey, Erol Tokgolzer, Guler’s former coach, said: “I don't think Arda will stay in Turkey too long. Bids of €20-30m for Arda will become ordinary.”The teen has also been hailed by Andrea Pirlo, who said: “He has the potential to play anywhere in the world. He has quality, he can read the game well, and he has great technique. If he keeps developing his game, there is no limit to his potential.”Only standing 5 foot 9, Guler doesn’t possess a dominant, physical frame – his smaller, more nimble, and insanely intricate style mirrors that of a prime Philippe Coutinho.In 201 outings for Liverpool, the Brazilian – who also operates in a playmaking role – registered 54 goals and 45 assists, and Mauricio Pochettino once said he has “special magic in his feet.”

The rebirth of this silky, innovative, diminutive presence on the Anfield pitch could come in the form of Guler, and it makes for an exciting prospect to see what he could achieve under Klopp’s supervision.

Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou is looking to bring his Celtic assistant coach John Kennedy with him to Tottenham Hotspur, according to The Times.

Is Ange Postecoglou coming to Spurs?

After he clinched a domestic treble with Celtic at the weekend, Spurs have now confirmed that Postcoglou is on his way to north London, and will commence work on July 1.

The Australian, following their 3-1 Scottish Cup victory over Inverness at Hampden Park on Saturday, has agreed to become Spurs' next manager after Antonio Conte.

"Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," said chairman Daniel Levy upon his appointment."He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

The former Celtic boss will join Tottenham and reports have already started coming out suggesting that he is set to be backed by Spurs with additions this summer.

Leicester City star James Maddison is among the targets on Tottenham's radar and it appears they can now focus on the looming transfer market.

Postecoglou will also be looking to shape the backroom in his own image as he attempts to reinstall a brand of attacking football and positivity at N17.

According to a report by The Times, he already has plans in that regard, with the Australian "keen" on stealing away his assistant manager Kennedy down south.

Spurs let go of a lot of their staff when Cristian Stellini left as interim boss, and Postecoglou will need to replace them. He apparently doesn't usually take his assistants between jobs, with Kennedy being the obvious exception.

Ryan Mason may well also decide he wants his own gig elsewhere after chairman Daniel Levy opted not to take a chance on him as permanent manager.

Despite Postecoglou wanting to bring Kennedy to Tottenham, he may well have a hard time in doing so, with Celtic eager to hang on to their 39-year-old who is highly thought of.

Who is John Kennedy?

The coach has worked his way up the ladder at Parkhead, having been under the tutelage of many previous Hoops bosses like Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon.

Kennedy briefly served as interim Celtic manager when Lennon resigned in 2021 and Celtic's board apparently rate him a lot.

The former Scotland international, who was forced to retire from playing at the age of just 26, has also been called a "world-class" coach by former Chelsea star Damien Duff.

With the FA Cup final looming large, Manchester United have been dealt a frustrating setback following the loss of Anthony Martial to injury, with the long-serving Frenchman having been ruled out of the trip to Wembley due to a hamstring issue.

Having already missed 27 games this season through injury, the 27-year-old will yet again be restricted to watching brief on Saturday, leaving manager Erik ten Hag with only Wout Weghorst as a genuine, centre-forward option.

That inability to remain fit and firing in recent years is no doubt a factor in the reports that United are believed to be open to selling Martial this summer, with the former Monaco man having now scored just 11 Premier League goals since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

The £36m addition has also gone over two years without completing 90 minutes in the top-flight, with Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst revealing that the misfiring marksman last achieved that feat back in January 2021.

To think that the £250k-per-week asset remains United's main centre-forward pick despite those woes is a poor reflection on the club's recruitment, with the 30-cap dud simply unable to take the club where they want to go, as treble winner Teddy Sheringham summated back in 2020:

"Manchester United won’t win the title with Anthony Martial as their number nine."

With that in mind, speculation is rife that Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane is the leading target to ease the Old Trafford outfit's striking woes, albeit with MEN reporting that the club have also identified alternative targets to the England skipper, such as Benfica's Goncalo Ramos.

This follows a report from Football Insider that claimed Ten Hag and co were 'plotting' a move for the Portuguese sensation, with a fee of around £70m having been mooted.

Should Man United sign Goncalo Ramos?

While Ten Hag has repeatedly stated that United play their "best football" with Martial in the side, the problem has been actually having the 5 foot 11 dynamo available for selection, hence the need to acquire a suitable replacement.

In Ramos then, the former Ajax boss would be able to find just that, with the 21-year-old having showcased his goalscoring prowess for both club and country in his recent years.

After previously posting "outrageous" numbers for Benfica's 'B' team – as per talent scout Jacek Kulig – the 6 foot 1 machine went on to score eight goals in what was a breakout 2021/22 campaign.

Following that respectable tally, the emerging superstar has since caught the eye after contributing 39 goals and assists in 47 games across all fronts – a far superior record to what Martial has achieved (12 goal contributions in 29 outings).

The youngster has also made his mark on the international scene after scoring four goals in just seven appearances for his country to date, notably bagging a hat-trick against Switzerland at the World Cup back in December after replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup.

While his tally of 12 assists this season would suggest that Ramos is also a creative outlet, the Olhao native's real asset is his ability to come alive inside the 18-yard box, as he has averaged 6.31 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 across the last 365 days, while Martial, by contrast, has averaged just 4.65 in that regard.

With United evidently in need of a more clinical attacking presence – having only been the eighth-highest scorers in the Premier League with 58 goals – the addition of Ramos could be just what Ten Hag is after.

If that deal can be pulled off over the coming weeks and months, it really could be bye bye Martial…