All posts by z3u9t.icu

Fulham have now identified a £5 million manager who is destined for “big things” as a candidate to replace Marco Silva should he leave, according to a recent report.

Latest on Marco Silva's future at Fulham

It has been another impressive campaign for the Cottagers in the Premier League, as they have a really good chance of finishing in the top 10 and potentially even sealing a place in a European competition for next season.

Fulham and Silva could sign £30,000-p/w full-back instead of Walker-Peters

Fulham now have their eye on another defender who could be signed instead of Kyle Walker-Peters.

ByBrett Worthington May 1, 2025

Given how well Fulham have done ever since Silva arrived at Craven Cottage, it may not come as a surprise to supporters to see him linked with a new job. The future of Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is very much up in the air, as reports have suggested that the Australian could still be sacked even if Spurs win the Europa League. Silva is said to have an £8 million release clause in his Fulham contract that expires in 2026, and is now a frontrunner to replace Postecoglou.

But it is not just Spurs who are chasing Silva; in fact, the reason he could leave Craven Cottage is for a move to Saudi Arabia. It’s been reported that Al Hilal have set their sights on Silva as they look for a new manager before the Club World Cup starts in June, and there are even claims that Silva has agreed to leave Fulham and make the move to the Saudi Pro League.

Fulham eyeing Danny Rohl

The Cottagers are wasting no time in looking at candidates to replace the former Everton manager. According to Sky Sports German reporter Philipp Hinze, Fulham are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as manager should Silva leave Craven Cottage.

Hinze states that it looks likely Rohl will be leaving Sheffield Wednesday after another campaign of the German keeping the Owls in England’s second tier despite financial difficulties.

Rohl does have an exit clause in his contract, and it’s been reported that it is worth £5 million. That figure doesn’t seem to have put off interested parties, as both Fulham and Crystal Palace are keeping an eye on his situation given talk of their managers possibly leaving.

However, they are not the only teams from England interested in the 36-year-old, as Leicester City and Southampton are also admirers of Rohl as they prepare for life back in the Championship. Hinze does also state that there is interest from the Bundesliga in Rohl, but as things stand, interest is ‘hotter’ from England.

Games

89

Won

34

Drawn

19

Lost

36

Points

121

Points per game

1.36

Rohl, who has been dubbed as being destined for “big things” as a manager by Rob Staton, has limited experience in management, as Wednesday was his first managerial role. Should Fulham decide he is the man to replace Silva it would be a gamble, given he has never managed in the Premier League.

After earning promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking, Birmingham City reportedly mean business ahead of what will be a crucial summer transfer window.

Birmingham emphatically return to the Championship

When the Blues were in a position to spend as much as £20m to sign Jay Stansfield last summer, promotion became a must for all involved at St Andrew’s. And to their credit, promotion is exactly what came next. The Blues dominantly raced to the top of the tree, breaking the League One points record by reaching the 108 mark with one more game left to play.

Expressing his delight after breaking such a record, manager Chris Davies told reporters: “For all the people that thought it was going to be easy for Birmingham, you can never take away from this group of players what they’ve done.

“They’ve achieved history and I’ve said to them I don’t think that’ll ever be beaten. To beat Wolves’ record and get 105 points in a season is an incredible achievement. Full credit to everyone, players and staff for what they’ve done. They’ve given so much and they deserve to have an occasion like this.”

Wagner and Brady already in "talks" to sign EFL star for Birmingham City

They’re not alone, though.

1 ByCharlie Smith Apr 11, 2025

Now, with the Championship awaiting, Birmingham will be looking to take things to another level under the ownership of Tom Wagner, which could yet result in more than just survival next season.

The Birmingham chairman took the opportunity to promise those at St Andrew’s that this is just the start of the history created during his tenure, telling fans amid the Blues’ recent title celebrations: “I just want to say a big thank you to all of the supporters.

“We don’t forget that this is your club and it’s an honour to be a Blue. I promise you that this is not the best day that we will enjoy together. It’s not even close.”

Exciting Birmingham transfer plan emerges

According to Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, Birmingham are likely to be targeting similar players to Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town this summer, despite only just earning promotion from League One.

It would be a major statement of intent to compete with the three relegated Premier League sides, but as they showed when they splashed out to sign Stansfield last summer, Birmingham certainly have the resources.

Just who arrives is the big question, as rumours begin to emerge. A move to St Andrew’s is no longer one which comes with the fear of relegation – it’s one which should come with excitement over a project that is still in its early days yet already proving to be a success, perhaps even following the tracks of Ipswich last term.

Alongside Wrexham, Birmingham could shake things up in the summer transfer window in the Championship. In previous campaigns, it’s been the relegated sides at the forefront of the big moves, but under rich ownerships, the two promoted teams are reportedly likely to go head-to-head with those at the very top of England’s second tier.

Leeds United left it late on the final day of the Championship season but Manor Solomon’s dramatic strike right at the death would secure Daniel Farke’s men the title.

Amazingly, both the Whites and their nearest competitors in Burnley would end their mightily impressive campaigns on 100 points each, but Leeds’ sturdy goal difference would hand the esteemed honours over to Farke and Co, instead of more party celebrations taking place at Turf Moor.

But, as much as the West Yorkshire titans have been able to blow teams away with ease in the second tier, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Therefore, some potential attacking recruits are now being linked with a switch to Elland Road to help navigate the tricky step-up in quality.

Leeds' list of attacking targets

Already, Leeds have been linked with a whole host of new faces up top, with reports suggesting that the newly crowned champions might look to snap up Omari Hutchinson from recently relegated Ipswich Town.

Moreover, other rumours indicate that Leeds are intrigued by the prospect of bringing AZ Alkmaar goal machine Troy Parrott back to England, meaning the striker department would also be given a potential facelift.

Yet, there’s one name that sticks out as a top buy away from both Hutchinson and Parrott, with TBR Football revealing that Farke and Co are looking at a number of targets from Celtic, including Hoops attacking hotshot Nicolas Kuhn.

The Whites have had success when shopping from the Glasgow giants in the past, with Whites legend Mark Viduka once plying for his trade for the Scottish titans before becoming a fan’s favourite at Leeds. So, there’s clearly a proven recipe for success right here.

How Kuhn could be even better than James

If Kuhn can lift his game to be on the same level as Viduka’s – who would score a colossal 72 strikes for Leeds – he would further go down as a more impressive winger than Dan James over time, even with the Welshman fresh off just winning the Whites’ Player of the Year accolade.

James should be commended for how he’s managed to turn around his up-and-down stay at Elland Road, with the ex-Manchester United attacker undoubtedly a top-drawer talent in the EFL having previously struggled in the top-flight.

Indeed, the blistering number seven has tallied up a sizeable 41 goal contributions in league action over the last two seasons, but there will be a concern in the air lingering that the 56-time Wales international isn’t cut out for the bright lights of the Premier League.

Indeed, his best tally for a campaign up a division currently sits at a mere four goals and five assists.

On the flip side, Kuhn has proven again and again for Brendan Rodgers’ men – albeit in a far less strenuous top division in the Scottish Premiership – that he can dazzle defences under immense pressure. He’s even scored in the Champions League.

Staggeringly, across all competitions this campaign, including on Europe’s grandest stage, the German forward has amassed a bumper 34 goals and assists from 47 clashes, with a chance in the Premier League to come a deserved next step for the former RB Leipzig winger.

SPL

29

12

8

Champions League

10

3

1

SFA Cup

4

0

1

League Cup

4

5

4

In contrast, James accumulated a lesser 21 from ten fewer clashes, meaning he could take a back-seat now down the right flank for the “breathtaking” winger, as he’s been lauded in the past by pundit Marvin Bartley, to take over.

Obviously, it isn’t set in stone that Kuhn will be able to instantly acclimatise to the pressures of the Premier League, but history might well repeat itself here, especially if the Hoops number 10 can prove he belongs at the daunting level like Viduka before him.

Rio Ferdinand 2.0: Leeds want to sign "extraordinary" £20m defender

Leeds United are keen on signing a £20m star who could be the next Rio Ferdinand at Elland Road.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

Since taking the job as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has made his fair share of dire signings.

The likes of Pablo Mari, Willian, Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira are some examples of players who either failed to live up to expectations or were just poor when they played.

However, for all the bad, Arteta has also overseen plenty of sensational signings, with Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and David Raya and perhaps the best of the lot, Declan Rice, joining the club under his stewardship.

The former West Ham United captain has been sensational for the Gunners since his club-record move in the summer of 2023, and now it would probably be fair to say one of the manager’s signings from last summer has proven to be his best since the Englishman.

How Arsenal's summer signings are getting on

So, it would be fair to say that overall, the campaign has been a mixed one for the signings made last summer, so before we get to the player in question, it’s worth going over how the others have fared, starting with the worst of the lot: Raheem Sterling.

The Kingston-born star joined the club on a season-long loan deal on transfer deadline day, and while he told the fans they would “see the best” of him, the complete opposite has been true so far.

For example, in 24 appearances, the former Manchester City monster has scored just a single goal, which came against League One Bolton Wanderers, and provided five assists, meaning he’s averaging a goal involvement every four games.

Appearances

13

6

1

4

Minutes

352′

297′

80′

270′

Goals

0

0

0

1

Assists

2

2

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.15

0.33

0.00

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

176′

148.5′

N/A

135′

It’s been a more positive year for fellow summer signing Riccardo Calafiori, who joined the club from Bologna for around £42m, as when he’s played, he’s looked good and has an impressive tally – for a defender – of three goals and two assists in 26 appearances so far.

However, there has been one significant problem, which is his fitness.

So far, the Roma-born international has missed a whopping 24 games for club and country thanks to three knee injuries, one muscle injury and one calf injury, allowing Myles Lewis-Skelly to come in and make the left-back position his own.

Aside from David Raya, who initially joined the club on loan in 2023, and Neto, who barely played, there was one more senior signing made in the summer, a signing that might be Arteta’s best since Rice.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Arsenal's best signing since Rice

So, with all the other signings from last summer covered above, it should be no surprise that Mikel Merino is the addition in question.

The Spanish international joined Arsenal for around £31.6m in late August after what felt like a particularly protracted transfer saga, but things did not start out well.

In cosmically poor luck, the European champion fractured his shoulder in his first training session with the club and remained out of action until the Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on the first of October.

Unfortunately, his luck didn’t improve much over the coming months as he struggled to assert himself in the team and, as a result, found himself constantly in and out of the starting lineup, which understandably made it hard for him to establish any sort of rhythm or consistency.

However, things took a turn for the unexpected in February, as injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus left the Gunners without a recognized number nine, so after a rather paltry first 70 minutes of goalless action away to Leicester City, the Spaniard was thrown on to lead the line.

Somehow, even though he had admitted to never playing there before, the former Real Sociedad ace looked right at home, scoring a brilliant header and then slotting home another to secure the North Londoners all three points.

Since then, the 28-year-old “mentality monster,” as dubbed by podcaster Matt Kendala, has scored another four goals to add to his two assists, and following his exceptional strike against Real Madrid, it’s hard to imagine that the club are still officially without a fit centre-forward in the team.

The Pamplona-born game-changer has been hearing his song sung by the fans more and more in recent weeks, and if he keeps on producing in the way he is, Kendala’s claim that he’s “approaching cult status” will undoubtedly be proven correct.

Ultimately, while he’s not on the same level as the Englishman, it would be hard to deny that, thanks to his performances of late, Merino is unquestionably Arteta’s best signing since Rice in 2023.

He's like Saka & Yamal: Arsenal in talks to sign "world-class" £39m star

The incredible winger would bring so much experience and quality to Arsenal’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 15, 2025

Taiwo Awoniyi is a player who could find himself with a move away from Nottingham Forest this summer, as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to take his side to the next level.

The Nigerian has been the man to lead the line in recent matches after Chris Wood’s injury setback, starting matches against Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United.

However, the 27-year-old missed the trip to face Aston Villa last weekend with a suspected hamstring injury, once again proving he can’t be relied upon given his own setbacks.

Awoniyi has also failed to deliver with the chances handed his way this campaign, only scoring twice in his 28 appearances across all competitions – with one of his efforts coming against League One Exeter City.

Such a record proves he’s not at the level required for the Reds, especially considering the superb Premier League season they are currently enduring, highlighting the need for one player to return to complete the job in the next few weeks.

Chris Wood’s stats for Forest in 2024/25

Stirker Wood has been Nuno’s main talisman in 2024/25, with his goals firing Forest to their top four standing with just a handful of league matches remaining.

The New Zealand international has netted 18 goals in his 30 matches to date, breaking the club’s record for the most goals scored by a player in the Premier League in the process.

His subsequent tally ranks him fourth in the division’s goalscoring charts, with only Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah scoring more goals than the 33-year-old this campaign.

Wood’s tally works out to him finding the net for 35% of the side’s goals in the league this season, showcasing how important he’s been to the success they’ve recently endured.

His absence has certainly been felt, showcasing the need for added attacking reinforcements this summer, but the club have already found their new version of the star throughout the last couple of months.

The player who’s become Forest’s new Wood

Over the years, Forest have made some questionable additions, many of which have failed to impress at the City Ground – wasting owner Evangelos Marinakis’ money in the process.

The huge summer of 2022 saw over 30 players move to the East Midlands, with such levels of signings undoubtedly going to lead to many of whom failing to deliver.

Emmanuel Dennis was undoubtedly the biggest waste, costing £20m from Watford, but making just 25 appearances, before being sent on three separate loan spells in recent seasons.

Elliot Anderson is another player who cost big-money in a different window, joining in a £35m deal from Newcastle – a club-record deal which was frowned upon by numerous supporters at the time.

Such a deal was similar to when Wood joined for £15m a year prior, both joining the Reds from fellow Premier League outfit Newcastle United after struggling to gain minutes at St James’ Park.

However, like the New Zealand star, he’s exceeded beyond all expectations, starring at the heart of Nuno’s side and becoming a key player in their unexpected hunt for Champions League football.

Anderson, who’s been labelled “superb” by commentator Jamie Martin, has excelled defensively, winning 1.97 tackles per 90 and 6.8 duels per 90.

Games played

31

Goals & assists

7

Pass accuracy

82%

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

1.97

Tackle success rate

64.5%

Duels won

7.8

Ball recoveries made

6.8

However, he’s also starred in possession, completing 1.3 dribbles per 90 and completing 82% of passes, making him the perfect box-to-box option in Nuno’s midfield.

The pair’s combined £50m transfer now appears to be an absolute bargain, especially given their respective impacts in pushing the club towards European football for the first time in a generation.

Anderson may be a completely different type of player and position to the Reds’ talisman, but their situations are very similar, both undeniably changing the opinion of the fanbase with their impact in 2024/25.

Dream Gyokeres alternative: Nottingham Forest plotting move for £40m star

Nottingham Forest could be set for a huge summer under Nuno Espirito Santo if they achieve Champions League football.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 9, 2025

In need of an attacking overhaul, Manchester United could now reportedly offer Rasmus Hojlund in a summer swap deal to sign an instant upgrade for Ruben Amorim and his side.

Amorim bemoans Man Utd's attacking struggles

Manchester United’s attacking problems couldn’t have been summed up much better than just how much more dangerous Harry Maguire looked when leading the line compared to the likes of Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee against Nottingham Forest.

The central defender offered the physical presence that Zirkzee and Hojlund otherwise lack and even moved with the attacking intelligence both forwards have failed to show consistently this season.

Minutes

1,479

1,328

Goals

3

3

Assists

0

1

Expected Goals

3

4.5

Amorim is well aware of his side’s attacking struggles too, telling reporters when asked what needs to change after Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat against Forest: “Yes, because if you look at some games, we cannot create situations where they create. The opponent sometimes create more opportunities and today was not the case.

“They scored one shot maybe two shots at goal and we manage not to score again. We have to improve in the last third. We are improving the way we build up. We are pushing the opponents more to their half, but there’s a lot to be given.”

Man Utd now open to selling star to fund move for "world-class" £62m striker

The Red Devils could cash in on a first-team player, following a very disappointing performance against Nottingham Forest.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 3, 2025

That improvement, at this stage, looks unlikely to come by relying on Hojlund and Zirkzee which is destined to end in an attacking overhaul at Old Trafford. And whilst it remains to be seen just who arrives to solve Amorim’s problems, names such as Benjamin Sesko and Samu Aghehowa have already threatened to steal the headlines once or twice.

There’s no doubt that both would offer United instant upgrades, but there remains questions over their ability to lure such players to Old Trafford in current circumstances. Amid that doubt, the Red Devils have seemingly turned towards an option closer to home.

Man Utd could offer Hojlund in Mateta swap deal

Whilst Hojlund and Zirkzee have struggled this season, Jean-Philippe Mateta has continued to thrive and may yet find himself on his way to Old Trafford as a result this season.

According to Football Transfers, Manchester United could even offer Rasmus Hojlund in a shock swap deal to sign Mateta this summer, landing an instant solution to Amorim’s attacking problems in the process.

Dubbed “amazing” by Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, the Frenchman has outscored United’s two struggling strikers in the current campaign with 12 Premier League goals to his name providing more than enough evidence of his quality.

With talks reportedly already open over a move worth €50m (£42m), INEOS could save themselves some vital funds by ending Hojlund’s Old Trafford nightmare and signing Mateta whilst doing so this summer.

Newcastle United will be hoping for a smoother January transfer window than the one they experienced in the summer. Eddie Howe’s side were embroiled in several sagas, including Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool, which was the talk of the entire transfer window.

They did make some pretty big signings, too. Malick Thiaw joined the club from AC Milan and has gone on to become a key player for Howe’s side.

They also managed to replace Isak with Nick Woltemade, who has impressed in the four months he has been at St. James’ Park, following his club-record £69m switch.

It seems as though the Magpies are lining up some more moves with the next window around the corner.

Newcastle’s latest transfer target

The Magpies are already linked with a couple of midfield targets. Former academy star Elliot Anderson is one man on their shopping list, as is ex-Manchester United and Napoli man Scott McTominay.

Transfer Focus

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

However, according to a recent report from The Athletic, there is another midfielder on their list of targets.

That man is Stuttgart star Bilal El Khannouss, and the report explains he is a player whom the higher-ups at St. James’ Park have already held ‘internal conversations’ about in recent weeks.

This would not necessarily be an easy deal for the North Eastern giants to complete.

The Moroccan star only joined the Bundesliga side on loan this summer from Leicester City. However, he has a buy option in the deal, which may add complications.

As for a price, El Khannouss’ buy clause is worth £21m, so the Magpies may well have to pay a similar fee.

Why El Khannouss would be a good signing

Adding a player with the attacking quality of El Khannouss to their squad would certainly enhance the final third quality that Howe has at his disposal.

As football scout Antonio Mango said, the 21-year-old is a “magician” on the ball.

Indeed, he has shone for German outfit Stuttgart this season. In just 16 appearances across all competitions for the club, he’s managed to score five times and assist four, operating as a number ten.

In the top flight of Germany, the attacker has five goals and assists in ten games.

Let’s not forget that the former Leicester star shone for the Foxes in the Premier League last season. In a tough campaign for the club in which they got relegated, he grabbed five top-flight goal involvements, including this sublime strike against Tottenham Hotspur.

The attacking midfielder’s stats from the Bundesliga season so far show the sort of quality he can add to Newcastle’s attack.

For example, he’s averaging 6.52 progressive passes and 2.81 key passes per 90 minutes, which both rank him in the top 5% of attackers.

Key passes

2.81

95th

Passes into final third

4.5

95th

Passes into penalty box

1.8

85th

Progressive passes

6.52

95th

Shot-creating actions

4.5

85th

This signing certainly has shades of the addition of Woltemade this summer.

As El Khannouss is doing now, the German striker shone in what proved to be his solitary season at Stuttgart and impressed with 18 goals and three assists in just 36 appearances for the Bundesliga side.

Since moving to the North East of England, Woltemade has continued that good form.

He already has seven goals to his name in that famous Black and White shirt, with his most recent effort being this exquisite chip against Everton last weekend.

It is easy to see how the potential move for El Khannouss has shades of the Woltemade deal. It seems like the Moroccan star will also spend just one season at the club, and Newcastle could well be his destination.

That is certainly one parallel, but the form which both players have, or did, showcase in the Bundesliga is another interesting dynamic.

Newcastle bought Woltemade based on his sensational 2024/25 campaign, and it feels as though that was some of the logic behind signing the Morocco international too.

If they do only have to pay £21m, that is an extraordinarily cheap fee for a player who could instantly improve their attacking quality.

Outscoring Woltemade: Newcastle preparing move for one of the PL's best strikers

He’s been in excellent form.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 3, 2025

Manchester United managed to return to winning ways in the Premier League last night, after a dominant 4-1 thrashing of bottom-placed side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ruben Amorim’s men produced one of their best performances of the campaign to date, to put themselves into sixth place and just a point off the top four.

Hearts will no doubt have been in the mouths of all supporters at the break, after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde ensured the game was level going into the break.

However, three goals in the second half secured a seventh league victory of the 2025/26 campaign for the Red Devils – now extending their run to just one loss in the last nine outings.

One player deserves massive credit for his showing at Molineux on Monday night, with the first-team member massively excelling during the well-deserved triumph.

Bruno Fernandes’ stats against Wolves

Bruno Fernandes has often struggled throughout the ongoing campaign, as Amorim has decided to utilise him in a deeper-lying midfield role rather than the number ten position.

It’s required the Portuguese international to think more defensively, which has no doubt had an effect on his output within the final third in the Premier League.

However, his showing against Rob Edwards’ men was arguably his best of the season to date, with the 31-year-old notching two goals and an assist in the triumph.

Such a tally takes him to 10 combined goals and assists in his first 15 appearances of the season, but it was his underlying figures that highlighted his impressive display.

He featured for the entirety of the contest and registered 55 completed passes, whilst creating five chances for his teammates – with both the highest of any player in the meeting.

Bruno also completed 12 passes into the final third, and only misplaced eight passes in total, further highlighting his incredible performance with the ball at his feet.

However, without the ball, the midfielder was just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 100% tackles won, seven recoveries made and a total of five combined aerials and ground duels won.

The United player who is as undroppable as Bruno

As seen by his tally of 15 starts out of a possible 15 in 2025/26, there’s little denying that Bruno is undroppable and certainly one of Amorim’s most important players.

Numerous other players are starting to force themselves into such a bracket, with Bryan Mbeumo just one player who should be a starter week in and week out.

The Cameroonian international netted once again in the clash in the West Midlands, subsequently taking his league tally to six this campaign – the most of any player in the squad.

He registered four shots on target against the hosts, whilst also completing two dribbles – largely being a menace to the Wolves backline during the victory last night.

However, the backline has been a cause for concern over the last couple of weeks, especially with the absence of centre-back Matthijs de Ligt in the last two matches.

As a result, youngster Ayden Heaven has been thrown in at the deep end, but he’s managed to impress – with his showing at Molineux certainly one to remember.

It was just his second start of the season, but the 19-year-old appeared unfazed and produced numerous impressive figures that could make him undroppable within the manager’s current side.

The teenager registered 36 passes during his minutes on the pitch, subsequently achieving a completion rate of 100% – the highest of any player who started the match.

Minutes played

69

Touches

49

Passes completed

36

Pass accuracy

100%

Blocks made

1

Clearances made

7

Duels won

100%

Fouls won

2

He also made seven clearances, three of which were with his head, whilst making three recoveries, which enabled him to be in the right place at the right time when called upon.

Heaven’s dominance at the heart of the three-man defence was further highlighted by his impressive tally of six combined duels won – also at a success rate of 100%.

It’s no mean feat for such a young defender to start in the middle of a Premier League defence, but Heaven has made it look routine over the last couple of weeks.

Given his tender age, expectations will no doubt need to be managed by Amorim, but it is certainly hard not to get excited by the youngster after his showing at Molineux.

He’s certainly done enough to cement his place in the starting eleven for the run-up to Christmas, potentially being a huge asset for the club in their hunt for Premier League glory in the years ahead.

Bad news for Mainoo: INEOS make £70m "passing machine" Man Utd’s no.1 target

Man United’s need for a new centre-midfielder is as pressing as ever.

ByAngus Sinclair 4 days ago

The role of a central defender has changed over time, with those at the very top now not just world-class in the air and in a tackle, but also brilliant in possession with the ball at their feet.

The new generation of centre-backs are crucial to their team’s build-up play and, in some cases, pass more than most midfielders, but who is the best in the world at the back at this moment in time?

Ranking factors

To help rank the centre-backs in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has been performing Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others are saying about them 15 Willian Pacho PSG and Ecuador

Willian Pacho has gone from strength to strength after joining PSG from Frankfurt in 2024 and now appears to be a regular at the Parc des Princes.

The Ecuador international is still only 23 years of age and has been described as the ‘wall nobody saw coming’ next to Marquinhos.

The €40m fee PSG paid for Pacho is now looking like a smart piece of business, with the player’s market value already increasing to €65m.

Champions League

2025

Ligue 1

2025

UEFA Super Cup

2025

French Cup

2025

French Super Cup

2025

Belgian Pro League

2023

Belgian Cup

2023

Belgian Super Cup

2023

Copa Sudamericana

2019

Ecuadorian Serie A

2021

14 Antonio Rudiger Real Madrid and Germany

Antonio Rudiger has gone from strength to strength after joining Real Madrid from Chelsea back in 2022, so much so that he was linked with a return to Stamford Bridge.

Over the last 18 months, Rudiger has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti and Mesut Ozil, who have said the German “is playing at his best” and in his “prime”.

However, he has missed the majority of the 2025/26 season so far with a hamstring injury which has dropped him down the rankings.

La Liga

2024

Champions League

2021, 2024

Europa League

2019

FA Cup

2018

Copa del Rey

2023

FIFA Club World Cup

2022, 2023

UEFA Super Cup

2021, 2022, 2024

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2024

Confederations Cup

2017

13 Eder Militao Real Madrid and Brazil

Dropping down the list due to serious injuries in recent years is Real Madrid’s Eder Militao. The Brazilian was dubbed the “best in the world” at the back by Carlo Ancelotti in 2023 and has won multiple honours at the Bernabeu since 2019.

At the age of 27, Militao should still have plenty of high-level years ahead of him and will be looking to remain fit over the coming seasons.

Champions League

2022, 2024

La Liga

2020, 2022, 2024

Copa America

2019

Copa del Rey

2023

FIFA Club World Cup

2023

UEFA Super Cup

2022, 2024

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2020, 2022, 2024

12 Dayot Upamecano Bayern Munich and France

Transformed into Bayern Munich’s Mr. Reliable under Vincent Kompany has been Dayot Upamecano, who has partnered Kim Min-jae at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund has said in 2025 that the Frenchman “has become a leader” who “plays strongly and consistently at a high level.” At the age of 26, Upamecano appears to be entering his prime.

Nations League

2021

Bundesliga

2022, 2023, 2025

Austrian Bundesliga

2016, 2017

Austrian Cup

2016, 2017

German Super Cup

2021, 2022

11 Josko Gvardiol Man City and Croatia

Josko Gvardiol stars as a centre-back and sometimes as a left-back for Man City and Croatia.

Used as a centre-back in the Nations League for his country, Gvardiol turned out centrally under Pep Guardiola in the latter stages of the 2024/25 season, with City winning five out of six Premier League games with the 23-year-old at the heart of the defence.

Premier League

2024

HNL

2020, 2021

FIFA Club World Cup

2024

UEFA Super Cup

2023

DFB-Pokal

2021, 2022

Community Shield

2024

Croatian Cup

2021

Croatian Super Cup

2019

10 Alessandro Buongiorno Napoli and Italy

At the top of his game with a career-high €45m Transfermarkt valuation is Napoli and Italy’s Alessandro Buongiorno.

The 25-year-old is “extraordinary in one-on-one situations” and has been key for Napoli under Antonio Conte, winning the Serie A title in 24/25. Should his rapid rise continue, Buongiorno could climb up this list in years to come.

9 Dean Huijsen Real Madrid and Spain

One of the most in-demand defenders of the 2025 summer transfer window was Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid winning the race to sign the Spaniard from AFC Bournemouth.

Wanted all across Europe, Huijsen starred in the Premier League after leaving Juventus and Tiago Pinto even said he “will be the best central defender in the world in two years”.

Coppa Italia

2024

8 Marquinhos PSG and Brazil

Paris Saint-Germain icon Marquinhos has been leading a new generation of stars at the Parc des Princes under Luis Enrique and has still remained at an extremely high level himself.

Now 31, Marquinhos continues to be a regular in a young PSG side and even became the first player in the club’s history to start 100 matches for PSG in the Champions League.

Ligue 1

2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Copa America

2019

Champions League

2025

Coupe de France

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024

Coupe de la Ligue

2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020

French Super Cup

2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025

Copa Libertadores

2012

7 Ruben Dias Man City and Portugal

Ruben Dias is coming up to five years as a Man City player and continues to be a regular under Pep Guardiola, with Transfermarkt having the Portugal starvalued at €65m.

Rated as good as Virgil van Dijk by Jamie Carragher 12 months ago, Dias’ displays have dipped slightly at the Etihad in 2024/25, however, there is no denying his quality.

Premier League

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Nations League

2019

Champions League

2023

FA Cup

2023

League Cup

2021

UEFA Super Cup

2023

Community Shield

2024

FIFA Club World Cup

2024

Liga Portugal

2019

Portuguese Super Cup

2020

6 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace and England

Marc Guehi is becoming one of the most in-demand centre-backs in world football after his move to Liverpool from Crystal Palace collapsed in the summer of 2025.

Now a regular for England and starring at Selhurst Park, Guehi is on course to become a free agent in 2026 and is being linked with the biggest clubs in Europe.

It shows just how good Guehi has been under Oliver Glasner, lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield with Palace in 2025.

FA Cup

2025

Community Shield

2025

Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a move for an exciting winger compared to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, with Arsenal and Barcelona also in the mix.

Mohamed Salah’s struggles this season continued on Sunday afternoon, with the Egyptian largely ineffective in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat away to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has now even called for the 33-year-old to be dropped by Arne Slot, following a dramatic dropoff from last year’s title-winning brilliance.

“The guy is not giving you anything! You could look at it the other way and say: ‘He’s going to be away for two or three months so we may as well try and figure something out now. Why am I going to wait on a guy who’s giving me nothing? I need to be proactive here. I can’t just sit on my hands and let it happen and hope and pray that all of a sudden somebody waves a magic wand and he becomes the Egyptian King again.’

“I absolutely think he needs to do something and my own person opinion, I would sit him.”

Salah’s form is increasingly showing the importance of Liverpool finding a successor to him, and it looks as though Fofana could be a leading option.

Liverpool keen on signing Malick Fofana

According to Sport [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are tussling Arsenal and Barcelona for the signing of Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who has emerged as one of the most talented young attacking players in Ligue 1.

It is claimed that Barca have made contact with the 20-year-old’s agent over a potential switch, but the Reds and the Gunners are showing the “most interest” in him from the Premier League. He could cost as much £44m, with Lyon refusing to budge on their asking price.

It is easy to see why Liverpool like Fofana so much, with scout Jacek Kulig comparing him to Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr, as well as describing him as “magnificent”.

The Belgian is a left winger by trade, so he could be seen as an upgrade or long-term replacement for Cody Gakpo, but he can also shine on the opposite flank, allowing him to provide competition for Salah.

More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

Fofana has already bagged 17 goals and eight assists in 74 appearances for Lyon, and those numbers should only improve as he matures with his end product.

As bad as Salah: Liverpool flop who lost 100% duels vs. Man City must be on borrowed time