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Being one of the biggest clubs in world football, Manchester United have completed some hugely exciting signings over the years.

While they don’t always work out, the Red Devils have signed more than their fair share of bona fide superstars over the years, like Paul Pogba and Ángel Di María, just to name a couple.

However, when it comes to the transfer that captured the most headlines and caused the most excitement among the fans, it’s hard to look past Cristiano Ronaldo’s return in 2021.

Interestingly, if reports are to be believed, United are looking to make another signing in that vein this summer.

United working on Ronaldo repeat

While last season was Manchester United’s worst in the Premier League era, the club have had an excellent summer when it comes to transfers.

Transfer Focus

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

While it looked like they’d struggle to bring in their targets at one point, the Red Devils have now overhauled their entire frontline with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Yet, instead of sitting back and being pleased with their efforts, the club look intent on making more signings, and are now looking at a deal which would be very reminiscent of Ronaldo’s in 2021.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Sun, which claims United are interested in David de Gea.

In fact, the report has revealed that INEOS and Co have been making ‘discreet calls’ behind the scenes and have been tipped off that a clause in their former player’s current contract with Fiorentina could see him ‘leave for a relatively small sum.’

It’s unclear what that fee would be, but given Andre Onana’s struggles last year, United should pay it and bring the Spaniard back, just like they did with Ronaldo.

Why De Gea would be Ronaldo 2.0

While there are probably other signings you could compare it to, especially when it comes to the position, there are a few reasons why bringing De Gea in this summer would feel a lot like Ronaldo’s move in 2021.

The first is obviously the fact that it would be United resigning an old player, although more than that, it would be the club bringing back someone who had been one of their very best players for years.

During his time in the North West, the “phenomenal” Spaniard, as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand, made an astounding 545 appearances for the Red Devils, in which he kept 190 clean sheets, averaged 1.84 points per game and won more than his fair share of major honours, including one Premier League title, an FA Cup and the Europa League.

Moreover, like the former Real Madrid star, the shot-stopper would be making his way back to Old Trafford from Serie A, and he would also almost certainly do so under the promise he’d get plenty of first-team football this season.

After all, one of the primary reasons this deal even seems plausible is the fact that Andre Onana has been an issue for the club, and they need someone more reliable between the sticks as soon as possible.

We can see that the former United star would be able to fulfil that role by looking at both players’ underlying numbers from last season, as in almost every relevant metric from saves per game to save percentage and even passing accuracy, he comes out on top.

Ultimately, while some might argue United shouldn’t go back for a player they sold in the past, it’s clear they need a more reliable goalkeeper this season, and from everything we’ve seen over the last year or two, it’s clear that De Gea is precisely that.

Therefore, just as they did with Ronaldo four years ago, the Red Devils should bring the Spaniard back to Old Trafford.

Bad news for Mainoo: Man Utd to open talks to sign £100m Baleba alternative

Manchester United have made their move for another star instead of Carlos Baleba.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 17, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers stated on August 1st that his squad needed attacking signings to replace the quality that has been lost this year, through Nicolas Kuhn, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Jota.

The Northern Irish boss said: “I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”

19 days later and the Hoops started their Champions League play-off tie against Kairat at Parkhead with James Forrest, Adam Idah, and Daizen Maeda as their front three, with Hyun-jun Yang as the only natural winger in reserve.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, despite the level of opposition, the match ended in a 0-0 draw with few chances for either side, and some home supporters decided to voice their concerns with boos.

Adam Idah's toothless performance for Celtic

The Ireland international failed to score in the opening two games in the Scottish Premiership, missing three ‘big chances’, but was rewarded with another opportunity to impress on Wednesday night.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Unfortunately, Idah did not impress at Parkhead in the first leg clash and was substituted at half-time in favour of Yang, which allowed Maeda to play through the middle.

In his 45 minutes on the pitch, per Sofascore, the former Norwich marksman registered zero shots, created zero chances, and only completed five passes. Toothless.

However, Idah was far from the only Celtic attacker who failed to perform. Rodgers should also ruthlessly ditch James Forrest from the starting XI for the second leg.

Why James Forrest should be dropped

As aforementioned, Rodgers wants more attacking players in the building and that is why it feels harsh to criticise the veteran Scottish winger too badly, as he may not have been playing if the manager had his way with transfers already.

However, you have to deal with the situation at hand and that is why the manager should drop Forest, who was given a 5/10 player rating by the Scotsman, for the second leg, as he was just as ineffective as Idah at the top end of the pitch.

Whilst the Irish striker did not do himself any favours with some of his touches, the lack of quality in the wide positions also meant that the forward was starved of service most of the time.

As you can see in the table above, Forrest had 36 more touches than Idah yet did not attempt a single cross into the box in an attempt to create a chance for his teammates.

His lack of quality in his attempted dribbles played a part in that because his failure in three of his four attempts limited the space he had to put crosses into the box, as he was unable to beat his opposing full-back to create the space that was needed.

Ultimately, Celtic should not want to be relying on the 34-year-old, who scored one goal in all competitions last season, to win them matches in the Champions League, but that is the situation they have found themselves in.

It did not work on Wednesday night and that is why Rodgers should roll the dice with Yang out wide on the right for the second leg, unless the club are able to wrap up a move for a new winger in the days leading up to the trip to Kazakhstan.

Yang upgrade: Celtic have serious interest in deal for "flamboyant" winger

Celtic reportedly have a serious interest in a star who would be a big upgrade on Hyun-jun Yang.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 20, 2025

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard passed the Topps FC quickfire quiz with flying colours, showing off his knowledge of modern football history when answering questions under pressure. The ex-Rangers and Aston Villa boss was put on the spot in a test of his wits, but showed why he was once considered one of the game’s greatest minds on the pitch by remaining cool when in an intense spotlight.

• Gerrard put under pressure in quiz

  Gerrard, a player who loved a sliding challenge in his heyday, had to tackle the Topps FC quickfire quiz. He proved that despite retiring from playing football almost a decade ago, he still has as sharp a mind as ever, coming back with rapid responses to all the questions laid before him.

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• Legendary midfielder shows off his extensive knowledge

  In an interview with GOAL, Gerrard had to answer questions about current players at pace, and the link between them was that their names spelled out his own last name.

  Question: G – Nottingham Forest midfielder who didn’t sign for Spurs?

  Gerrard: [Morgan] Gibbs-White.

  Q: E – Brazil wonderkid who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras?

  Gerrard: Estevao.

  Q: R – 16-year-old winger making headlines at Liverpool?

  Gerrard: Rio [Ngumoha]!

  Q: R – goalkeeper who shared last season’s Golden Glove?

  Gerrard: [David] Raya.

  Q: A – Fulham winger who played for Barcelona and Middlesbrough?

  Gerrard: [Adama] Traore.

  Q: R – Man Utd legend who Martin Keown shouted at?

  Gerrard: [Ruud] van Nistelrooy.

  Q: D – Brighton captain who led them from League One to the Premier League?

  Gerrard: Lewis Dunk.

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• Gerrard shows love for Ngumoha

  Gerrard, who is considered to be one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players and served as captain at Anfield for over 10 years, was noticeably enthusiastic about the chance to namedrop Reds wonderkid Ngumoha, who has since turned 17 and signed his first professional contract with the club. Ngumoha became the youngest scorer in the history of the men’s first team when he popped up with a 100th-minute winner in their 3-2 victory away at Newcastle United in August. This was also the latest winning goal Liverpool had ever scored in the Premier League.

  Already a vital part of Arne Slot’s first-team squad, Ngumoha has helped Liverpool maintain a perfect start to the 2025-26 campaign, winning seven games across all competitions thus far, including five in the Premier League and one apiece in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Rangers’ centre-forward options at Ibrox are set to undergo a mass overhaul during the final few days of this transfer window.

On Friday, Hamza Igamane’s departure was made official, joining Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille for £10.4m, leaving under a bit of a black cloud, having refused to come off the bench during last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren, at least according to under-fire manager Russell Martin.

Meantime, Cyriel Dessers has been heavily linked with a move away all throughout the summer, with AEK Athens the club who’ve shown the strongest interest.

For now, the Nigerian remains a Rangers player, but he is a doubt ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox, so Danilo is expected to lead the line against Celtic.

However, ahead of that game, could the Light Blues sign not one but two new centre-forwards?

Rangers' search for new strikers

As has been widely reported, Rangers are set to sign striker Bojan Miovski from Girona for around £2.6m, potentially rising to £4.2m.

The North Macedonian international underwent a medical in France on Friday, with the Gers attempting to get the paperwork finalised in time so that he would be eligible to feature in Sunday’s Glasgow derby.

Miovski will be a familiar face to all Scottish football fans, having scored 44 goals across two seasons at Aberdeen, four of which came against Rangers, only on target against Livingston more frequently, but he is now tasked with scoring goals in light blue.

However, Miovski is not the only centre-forward on his way to Glasgow’s south side.

That’s because, as reported by Mike McGrath of The Telegraph, Rangers are in the “final stages of completing a deal” to sign Everton striker Youssef Chermiti, adding that a deal is now virtually agreed.

Transfer Focus

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

The Portuguese under-21 international will move to Ibrox on a season-long loan, seemingly set to swap Merseyside for Glasgow imminently.

What Youssef Chermiti will bring to Rangers

After coming through Sporting CP’s academy, Chermiti made just 22 appearances for the Lions’ first team, scoring three goals, but this was enough to convince Everton to pay £15m to secure his signature.

However, this move has not paid off so far, with the striker making just 24 appearances for the Toffees, of which only two have been starts, these coming against Brentford in the Premier League in April 2024, and at Doncaster in the EFL Cup soon after his arrival, hooked at half time in Yorkshire with the side 1-0 down.

This might explain why Chermiti is yet to score a single goal for the Blues, having seen just 295 minutes on the field since moving to Merseyside over two years ago.

Thus, he is certainly looking to relaunch his career north of the border.

Analyst Kai Watson labels Chermiti a “proper big man” centre-forward, adding that, despite being 192 cms (6 ft 4 in), he is a “good dribbler”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout asserts that he is a “superb prospect”

Given his lack of game time at Goodison, this signing is certainly a risk, mitigated by the fact it’s only a loan move, but could the Portuguese youngster replicate the success of Rangers’ best loan signing of recent times?

Ryan Kent also arrived at Ibrox on loan from Merseyside, joining from Liverpool in 2018, so successful during that season that they made him the club’s most-expensive signing of modern times, paying £7.5m to make the move permanent.

Before this however, as the table below documents, Kent had shown little sign that he was going to become a high-level performer.

As the table documents, before arriving at Rangers, in 82 senior appearances, Kent had scored just four goals and registered only six assists, ultimately accumulating 33 goals and 56 assists during his time at Ibrox.

Thus, there is certainly a recent precedent for a player arriving in Glasgow on loan and exploding in front of goal, something Chermiti will be hoping to replicate.

He could revive Raskin: Rangers in the race to sign "versatile" £1m talent

After both Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomandé were left on the bench in Brugge, are Rangers about to sign a “versatile” midfielder valued at £1m?

By
Ben Gray

Aug 29, 2025

Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Manchester United will play mid-season friendlies to raise extra revenue and gave his backing to the prospect of playing extra games abroad. The coach's admission has raised the likelihood of United facing Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in the near future. United have extra time to play the games due to missing out on European competition.

• Getty Images/GOAL
  

  United seeking more revenue streams

  The Red Devils failed to qualify for any form of European football for the first time in 11 years after finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham and thus passing up a ticket back into the Champions League. Their failure to qualify for Europe's top competition has deprived the club of around £100m while the lack of games at Old Trafford also means they will not be receiving extra matchday revenue like last season, when they hosted seven Europa League games. 

  It had been reported earlier in the week that the club were mulling playing a match in Saudi Arabia and Amorim confirmed the as-yet-unconfirmed plans in his press conference on Friday.

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• Amorim: We want to be with our fans around the world

  Amorim said: "We have to do it. And you know, we knew that when we missed out on Europe, we have a lot of things to do. We have our fans, we have the budget, we have to to compensate for a lot of things. So we have to do it. We will do it. We want to be with our fans around the world. If you have to do it, you have to manage to find the space to do it."

• AFP
  

  United set for third foreign jaunt in a year

  If United go through with the plans to play friendlies abroad it will be their third continent-crossing excursion in 12 months. They went on a post-season tour of Asia in May, losing to ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia and then beating a Hong Kong XI. They then conducted their usual summer tour of the United States, facing West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton in the Premier League's Summer Series. Saudi Arabia has been mentioned as the most likely destination for United due to the financial benefits of playing in the gulf nation, which has gone all in on hosting sports events in the last few years, a move driven by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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• Ronaldo reunion on the cards

  The most enticing match from a marketing point of view would see United face Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. Ronaldo left United to join the Saudi giants in acrimonious circumstances in 2022 following his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, in which he slammed the way the club had been run and hit out at coaches Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick. 

  The prospect of Ronaldo facing his former club in Riyadh would be a huge draw for fans and broadcasters and would likely be supported by Bin Salman, who is keen to draw tourists to the Kingdom.

  While United have plenty of free weeks due to their lack of European football and being knocked out of the Carabao Cup, Al-Nassr have a busier schedule, competing in four separate competitions. 

Embattled Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was dealt a crushing insult by LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari on Tuesday, when he gleefully compared her tenure to that of Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. Badenoch and Amorim both took on their respective roles in November 2024, and have presided over some of the worst results in the history of two of the UK's most successful institutions.

• WATCH: Ferrari compares Badenoch to Amorim

  The Conservatives have lost swathes of their councillors and members to the surging far-right vehicle of Nigel Farage, Reform. Now polling as low as 17% with the general electorate according to the latest YouGov polling, calls for Badenoch to step down have accelerated.

  Badenoch was doing her media rounds on Tuesday morning, after she had addressed her members at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester the day before.

  Ferrari used the opportunity to direct the jibe at a slightly bemused Badenoch, comparing the politicians requests for more time to that of the Portuguese manager.

  "If this was like football Mrs Badenoch, you need to look across to Old Trafford, the manager of Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, who keeps saying ‘give me time’ and keeps losing matches," said Ferrari. "You’re losing councillors, you're losing support, you're losing members. You are the Ruben Amorim of politics Mrs Badenoch."

  Badenoch largely skirted around the comparison, instead focussing on her attempts to lead the party through its current predicament. 

  "Well, that is certainly not the case. What we are doing is shedding a lot of the baggage of the last 14 years. I remember last year, we had people defecting to Labour because Labour was doing well in the polls. Now we have people defecting to Reform, because Reform is doing well in the polls. We need people in the party who are here for the right reasons."

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• Badenoch and Amorim – two leaders destined for the chop?

  It's unclear who out of Badenoch or Amorim should be more insulted by Ferrari's jibe. A recent survey of Conservative Party members found that more than half think Badenoch should leave her role. While no such poll of Red Devils supporters exists, it's not hard to think that given the Portuguese's 17 losses in just 36 competitive games at United would likely return similar numbers.

• Man Utd legends continue to criticise Amorim

  Several of United's most decorated players have continued to question the manager's methods of late. Paul Scholes recently claimed the Portuguese is "getting too much time" considering the lack of success on the pitch. 

  On the latest episode of Scholes delivered a damning verdict on Amorim's reign. 

  He said: "I feel like with Ruben Amorim it’s got to the point where we don’t want to talk about sacking managers all the time and Manchester United do give managers enough time.

  "He’ll never get booed by the fans and it wasn’t until that Brentford game [where they lost 3-1] where I thought, ‘He’s getting a little bit too much time’ and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before things come to an end."

  Wayne Rooney similarly questioned Amorim's performance on a episode of his podcast: "I just don't know what's going on. I have tried my hand in management and it didn't work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I'm sure he still has a massive future, but what's going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around and he does. But if you're saying to me, 'do you believe he will?', then, after everything I've seen, honestly, I've got no faith in it."

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  Man United prepare for Liverpool clash

  Unlike Badenoch, Amorim has a massive chance to quiet his detractors in the coming weeks. After the international break, United will square off against their fiercest rivals Liverpool in a Premier League clash that could have profound impact on both club's respective seasons. 

The mood around West Ham United today could not be more different to the one around the club last week.

There are still plenty of issues that need to be addressed, but a thumping 3-0 Premier League win away to Nottingham Forest, combined with some brilliant signings, has given fans plenty to be optimistic about.

It’s been a pretty good summer for the Hammers so far, with the likes of Mateus Fernandes, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Soungoutou Magassa and Kyle Walker-Peters all quality additions.

Moreover, with the window closing at 7pm tonight, West Ham could be closing in on another top signing, someone who could be their own Marc Guehi.

West Ham target their own Guehi

According to a recent report from Jacob Steinberg, West Ham are interested in Axel Disasi.

Transfer Focus

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

More than that, Steinberg has revealed that the Hammers have already contacted the Blues over a potential loan move for the player.

However, the journalist has also stated that it “remains to be seen” whether the two sides can come to an agreement on the finances of a deal for the £80k-per-week titan.

It might not be the most exciting signing the Irons could make this summer, but Disasi could be an excellent addition to Graham Potter’s defence, and their own Guehi.

Why Disasi could be West Ham's Guehi

So, given the reputation that Disasi has cultivated in recent seasons, the comparison to Guehi might sound absurd to some of you.

However, we aren’t really claiming that the Chelsea ace is on the same level as the soon-to-be Liverpool star, but there are some similarities between the pair, and who knows, with the proper coaching and mentoring, West Ham could be getting their hands on a gem of a player.

With that said, what are some of these similarities?

Well, first and foremost, the French defender is actually far more accomplished with the ball at his feet than people tend to give him credit for.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 5% of centre-backs across Europe’s top-five leagues for pass completion, the top 7% for successful take-on percentage, the top 10% for total carrying distance and the top 15% for live passes, all per 90.

In other words, while he might not show it as much as the Palace star, the 27-year-old is more than capable of playing out from the back, baiting the press and starting attacks.

Another key similarity he shares with the Englishman is his physicality.

At 6 foot 3, the Gonesse-born “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Rahman Osman, is not someone who is easily bullied off the ball, and he puts that height to good use in the air as well, with FBref ranking him in the top 5% of centre-backs for percentage of aerial duels won, per 90.

Finally, like the Abidjan-born star, should this deal go through, the former AS Monaco gem would be another centre-back discarded by Chelsea, which could be the perfect thing for his career at this point.

Ultimately, while Disasi is not on the same level as Guehi at the moment, there are some key similarities between the two, and on loan, there isn’t much risk in West Ham bringing him to the London Stadium.

West Ham in talks to hijack Crystal Palace for £15m "animal" to replace Aguerd

The Hammers are “exploring a move” for a new centre-back.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 1, 2025

Reece James has dismissed talk of a disciplinary crisis at Chelsea despite the Blues receiving their fifth red card in six matches. The captain scored and assisted in a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest before Malo Gusto’s late dismissal took the shine off an otherwise commanding display, leaving Enzo Maresca’s men once again finishing a game with 10 men.

• Chelsea’s Forest win marred by Gusto red card

  Chelsea eventually cruised to a 3-0 win away the City Ground after a poor first-half display, with James at the heart of the performance. The 25-year-old Blues captain opened the scoring with a superb volley and later set up another goal as his side controlled the contest from start to finish. However, their afternoon was tainted in the closing stages when Gusto received a second yellow card for a clumsy late challenge on Neco Williams, reducing Chelsea to 10 men once more.

  The red card marked Chelsea’s fifth in their last six games, adding to the growing frustration surrounding the club’s recent disciplinary record. Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, Joao Pedro, and even manager Enzo Maresca, who was sent off for touchline misconduct against Liverpool, have all received early trips back to the dressing room and it has fuelled criticism of the team’s on-field temperament. However, when questioned about the frequency of red cards this season, Chelsea captain James claimed that there isn’t an issue within the squad

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  James insists there is no discipline issue at Chelsea

  Speaking after the match, James defended his team-mates and dismissed claims that Chelsea have a discipline issue under Maresca. “It’s difficult, if you look at all of them, they’re all very different. They’re not all straight reds,” James explained. “I was next to him (Gusto) when I saw him going for the tackle, and it was a split second in it. He was there to win the ball, and just mistimed it.”

  The England international stressed that the situation has been blown out of proportion and that the team remains united in their approach. “I wouldn’t say it is a problem for us. We have to accept it,” James added. “This is what’s happened in the past few games, but it’s not something that will continue.”

  Maresca also claimed that there wasn’t a discipline issue within the Chelsea camp as he said: "Again, it's something that we can do better, but I'm not concerned. I know that there are some of you that say, 'why is he not concerned?' I'm not concerned, because I like to analyse. It's a moment that we consider a red card, yes. We can avoid that, yes, for sure we can avoid that. But also for me, the desire of the players is important.

  “Today, with 3-0, 90 minutes the game is finished. Malo [Gusto] can avoid that, because it's useless to make a second foul on a yellow card, for sure. But also the good part is, Malo is showing that he doesn't want to concede nothing. They don't want to concede a goal, they are playing for a clean sheet. It's the balance, we can avoid that for sure."

• Are Chelsea’s red cards an anomaly?

  Statistically, Chelsea’s recent red card record contrasts sharply with last season’s figures. In the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, the Blues received just four red cards across the entire regular season and the Club World Cup, suggesting that the current spike in dismissals under Maresca is an outlier rather than an ongoing concern. Internally, there is reportedly confidence that the Blues’ recent disciplinary troubles do not reflect a deeper behavioural issue.

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• AFP
  

  Maresca faces more defensive troubles

  Chelsea’s immediate focus will be on maintaining their upward trajectory while cutting out the needless errors that have repeatedly left them a man short. Gusto’s suspension will force Maresca into another defensive reshuffle, with James likely to shoulder even more responsibility against Sunderland, especially due to the sheer number of injuries in the Blues' defensive line.

After the perfect start against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade has revealed how he’s similar to the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane.

Howe "really pleased" with "humble" Woltemade

Eddie Howe couldn’t have asked for much more from his £69m striker on his debut last time out. The 6’6 forward rose highest to head home what proved to be the winning goal against Wolves, before wheeling away in celebration. After waiting all summer for a new striker, St James’ Park got the emphatic introduction that they had been desperate for.

Like the rest of those watching on in Tyneside, Howe was left delighted with Woltemade, telling reporters: “It was a great moment for Nick. I was very pleased with how he played today.

“You saw his qualities, his technical qualities that we’ve been discussing and his intelligence but most importantly for a striker, when the ball comes into the box, you need to be there and he was.

“It was a great finish. I’m really pleased for him personally because that just settles him down and relaxes him, he’s a very humble guy, he wants to do well and he’s delighted to be here — I think it’s a great start.”

Woltemade’s debut goal would have surprised no one back in Germany. There’s every reason why Bayern Munich were so keen to secure his signature and even more reason why he stole the show at the U21 Euros in the summer. Now, he’s the man that could make Newcastle forget all about Alexander Isak.

Why Newcastle could be facing instant punishment from UEFA back in UCL

It could be bad news for the Magpies…

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 17, 2025

The 23-year-old is hardly short on confidence, either, and has already told Newcastle fans exactly what they can expect from him in the coming years.

Woltemade makes Ibrahimovic comparison

Revealing the players that he’s most similar to, Woltemade compared himself to the great Ibrahimovic. One inch taller than the former AC Milan star, the German’s comparison is a fair one to make, given how he still maintains his technical ability despite his height. Whether he eventually reaches the same level as the Swede is the big question.

Describing his style as “rare” for someone of his height, Newcastle can expect the unexpected from their new striker, who will be looking to follow up his debut goal with another against Barcelona this week.

Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Pedro Miguel Pauleta has labelled Vitinha a "phenomenon," comparing the midfielder to Barcelona's Pedri and the legendary Andres Iniesta. The praise comes after the Portuguese star scored in PSG's 7-2 Champions League demolition of Bayer Leverkusen, with Pauleta hailing his compatriot's technique and positioning.

• Pauleta hails 'Iniesta-like' phenomenon

  The comprehensive victory at the BayArena on Tuesday saw PSG maintain their perfect start to the new Champions League league phase. Vitinha capped off the dominant display by scoring the seventh goal in the 90th minute, adding to a scoresheet that included an own goal from Willian Pacho, a brace from Desire Doue, and strikes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes and Ousmane Dembele.

  Ex-Portugal international Pauleta, who scored 109 goals for the Parisian club during his career, was unequivocal in his admiration for the midfielder and his development under Luis Enrique.

  "It's a huge pleasure to watch players of this quality," Pauleta said on . "Is he the best midfielder in the world? He's at a huge level, like Pedri at Barca. They remind me of Iniesta. Vitinha, he doesn't lose the ball, he's always well positioned. He knows how to do everything with the ball. He doesn't make a mistake and doesn't miss a pass. He has the confidence of his club. He's a phenomenon."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Leverkusen rout cements PSG's European dominance

  Pauleta's comments were triggered by Vitinha's commanding performance against Bayer Leverkusen, a match that cemented PSG's control of their Champions League destiny. The 7-2 victory was a statistical mismatch, with PSG registering eight shots on target from 22 total attempts and commanding 67 per cent of the possession away from home.

  The German side, who managed only two goals from Aleix García penalties, were reduced to 10 men after Robert Andrich's red card and could not cope with the relentless Parisian attack. The win gives PSG nine points from three matches, placing them firmly at the top of the 36-team table. They are one of only five teams, alongside Bayern Munich, Inter, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, to maintain a 100% winning record at this stage of the new format.

• Vitinha's growing influence this season

  The 25-year-old has been central to PSG's strong start to the 2025-26 campaign. In the Champions League, he has started all three fixtures, contributing one goal and one assist over 270 minutes of play.

  His domestic form has been equally impressive. In seven Ligue 1 appearances, Vitinha has already scored one goal and provided three assists, helping his side remain unbeaten. His versatility across defensive, central, and attacking midfield roles has made him indispensable to Luis Enrique's tactical setup. The confidence mentioned by Pauleta is evident in his play, as he has become a primary link between the defence and the club's formidable attack.

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• Praise for Mendes and Neves

  Vitinha was not the only Portuguese player to draw praise from Pauleta. The 52-year-old also highlighted the exceptional technical ability of wing-back Nuno Mendes, who also found the scoresheet in the 50th minute.

  "Nuno Mendes? It's not normal for a defender to have this technique!" Pauleta said. He also singled out 21-year-old midfielder Joao Neves for his maturity: "Joao Neves, given his age, it's not normal either to have such quality, such confidence. He's a treat. It's good for Portugal and for PSG!"

  While his compatriots flourished, striker Goncalo Ramos has had a challenging start to the season, finding opportunities limited. Pauleta offered a lenient perspective on the forward's situation, attributing his struggles to a mismatch in tactical systems. "He's a striker who stays in the box. And that's not how PSG plays," Pauleta explained. "But every minute he plays, he takes advantage of it to help the team."