Man United could see around eight new takeover bids land

Manchester United are expected to receive up to eight bids to take over the club before the deadline on Wednesday evening.

Who is in the running to buy Man United?

It is believed the two parties in the best position to take over from the Glazer family currently is the bid from Qatar and the bid from Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The two parties held talks in Manchester last week on Thursday and Friday – respectively – and both parties were shown around the club's facilities.

It is also expected that Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani could up his bid to purchase the club outright ahead of the deadline on Wednesday evening.

However, he is not expected to be the only bidder come the end of play on Wednesday with Kaveh Solhekol telling Sky Sports the latest coming out of Manchester:

"The information we have is there will be at least five bids for Manchester United going in before the deadline tomorrow [Wednesday] evening. There could be as many as eight, I'm being told.

"These are not all bids to buy the club outright. Some of the bids are just investors, hedge funds who want to buy a small stake in Manchester United, or are proposing to finance other bids, or for instance, lend more money to the Glazers."

Will the Glazers definitely sell?

There has still been the lingering belief that United could still remain in the hands of the Glazer family despite the ongoing takeover situation.

Reports have suggested the current owners could be provided financial backing from Elliot Management if they were to decide they would like to remain at the helm.

However, Solhekol has claimed the Glazers are now keen to pass the club onto someone else but will only do so if the price is right.

Martinez-Man-United-Premier-League-Ten-Hag-Hardley

It had previously been suggested that the bid from Qatar would not be improved and they would not be looking to overpay for the club.

But on the back of the visit last week, it seems as if that mindset has shifted, and Sheikh Jassim is now willing to up his offer in hope of beating the likes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

In comparison, it is believed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's price is fairly stern and he will not be willing to do the same as the Qataris and overpay for the club.

It seems as if Wednesday will provide a clearer indication of where the future of the Glazers lies and it will be interesting to see if a new favourite potentially emerges after the bids are submitted.

Leeds United Should Unleash "Unreal" 17 y/o

Leeds United look set to be without influential midfielder Tyler Adams for a significant period after he was forced to undergo surgery on his hamstring injury.

What's the latest on Tyler Adams' injury?

The USA international picked up the problem in the warm-up ahead of Leeds' win against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month and must now go under the knife to fix the issue, which could rule him out for most of the remaining Premier League fixtures.

Club and international teammate Weston McKennie spoke about the impact of losing Adams during an interview with JER Sports Journalist.

He said: “Devastating what happened, obviously. Hopefully, he recovers quickly, and he can be back with us soon."

Javi Gracia will be thinking carefully about how to replace the former RB Leipzig man in his side and may look towards summer signing Darko Gyabi, who has mustered just seven minutes of Premier League action since swapping the Etihad for Elland Road.

Who could replace Adams at Leeds?

Gyabi's lack of minutes suggests that neither Gracia nor Jesse Marsch trusted him to be a starter in the top flight, so the Spanish boss may instead consider 17-year-old Archie Gray, who is already considered a first-team player at the Yorkshire outfit.

When asked about who could replace Adams, Gracia said:

“Darko [Gyabi] is one option, the same with another young player as well, Archie. These are the players [who] are usually training with us in that position.

“Now we have Marc [Roca], Weston [McKennie], Darko [and] Archie [who] are the players. They usually train as midfielders and we have to take the decision for the next games, if Tyler is out, to choose the best option for us."

Gray is more of an attacking option than Adams but given Leeds have often struggled to break defences down this season, Gracia should perhaps consider adding some more creativity into his midfield, especially if he could be protected by more physical options such as Marc Roca and McKennie.

Soccer Football – Premier League – Leeds United v Southampton – Elland Road, Leeds, Britain – February 25, 2023 Leeds United manager Javi Gracia talks to Tyler Adams Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for f

The teenager boasts one goal and four assists in 21 appearances for the U21s, which includes two assists in the Premier League 2 so far this campaign, which is an impressive return for someone so young.

After he agreed to a professional contract at Elland Road recently, the youngster earned plenty of praise from TEAMtalk editor James Marshment on Twitter.

He said: "Great to see Archie Gray tied down, an unreal talent who has every chance at making it big. The Gray legacy at Leeds now very much into its third generation."

Gray certainly looks to have a huge amount of potential and if Gracia puts his faith in him for upcoming games, there seems no reason why he couldn't help fill the gap left after Adams' injury blow. It would be a gamble given the club's position in the table, but youthful exuberance could be exactly what the Whites require.

Leeds United’s £70k-p/w Dud "Needs To Do Better"

Leeds United moved up to 13th in the Premier League table after picking up a vital three points against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

Goals from Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra were enough for the win at Elland Road, with Javi Gracia's side holding their nerve to come from behind and ensure they wouldn't finish the day inside the relegation places.

While there were a number of monumental performances on a tense night in Yorkshire, Patrick Bamford seemed to let the occasion get the better of him, as he continued to struggle in front of goal.

How did Patrick Bamford play against Forest?

As per Sofascore, the former Chelsea striker would earn a disappointing 6.3/10 rating for his performance, which ranked him as the worst Leeds player on the pitch.

The 29-year-old, who earns £70k-per-week, would register five shots in the game but failed to test Keylor Navas with any of them, as he put two off-target and saw three efforts blocked.

Bamford was presented with an excellent opportunity to extend the home side's lead late on after a mix-up at the back by Forest, but he shot way wide when under very little pressure, which is perhaps a microcosm of his underwhelming season thus far.

The injury-prone forward also failed with three of his four dribble attempts, lost possession on 14 occasions and completed just 14 of his 19 attempted passes, with a disappointing success rate of 74%.

Considering he had an expected goal tally of 0.68, you would have hoped that Tuesday was the night for Bamford to add to his woeful goal tally of just two in the Premier League so far this season, but it wasn't to be.

Manchester Evening News journalist Connor McGilligan suggested during the game that the former England international "needs to be better" and that is reinforced by the fact that he has now scored 4.94 fewer goals than expected this season, which is comfortably the worst return of his career.

There is no doubt that Bamford played his part in the victory and held the ball up well, but his main job as a striker is to put the ball in the back of the net, which he is consistently failing to do for Leeds in the Premier League.

On such an important night, the striker's deficiencies in front of goal could easily have cost Leeds three points, as only a mistake from Navas and a piece of brilliance by Luis Sinisterra would unlock Forest's defence.

With Rodrigo left on the bench again last night despite his 11 top-flight goals this season, you wonder how much longer Gracia will stick with Bamford during the relegation run-in, given his barren goalscoring form.

Chelsea: Lampard Must Ditch ‘Lucky’ £100k-p/w Dud

Frank Lampard has been confirmed as Chelsea's new manager on a deal until the end of the season and the Englishman could seal an instant masterclass at Stamford Bridge by dropping Mateo Kovacic.

The 44-year-old, who was sacked by Everton earlier in the season, has returned as the man in the dugout at Stamford Bridge having managed the Blues for 84 matches between 2019 and 2021.

During his time at the club, Lampard would average a solid 1.75 points per game, which is a significant upgrade on the 1.42 points per game averaged by Graham Potter in his spell at the west London club.

Lampard was in attendance for Chelsea's stalemate with Liverpool in midweek and if he was paying attention, he will surely realise that Kovacic needs a spell out of the team, despite his role as captain in the absence of Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Should Chelsea drop Kovacic?

During the game against Liverpool, the Croatia international would spurn two glorious chances to give the hosts the lead, first failing to score after rounding Alisson, before firing over the bar when through on goal, despite having two teammates available in support.

Unfortunately, this was not a one-off for the former Real Madrid man, as he has endured one of his worst seasons in a Chelsea shirt and should surely spend some time on the bench for upcoming fixtures, especially after the return of N'Golo Kante.

In 21 Premier League appearances so far this campaign, the 28-year-old, who earns £100k-per-week, has contributed just one goal and one assist, with WhoScored awarding him a woeful 6.50 rating for his performances.

Considering this ranks him as the 23rd-best performer at Stamford Bridge so far this campaign, it is baffling that he has featured so often, especially when Chelsea have the likes of Conor Gallagher and Denis Zakaria waiting in the wings.

The midfielder's previous seasons at Stamford Bridge have resulted in far-more-impressive average ratings of 7.05, 6.84 and 6.94 in the last three Premier League campaigns, so it seems clear that his standards have dropped so far this term.

Indeed, as far back as 2021, journalist Daniel Childs was labelling the Croat both "pretty awful" and "very lucky."

Now, it makes perfect sense for Lampard to drop the midfielder following Kante's return to action after injury, while the likes of Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka could also be given chances if the 44-year-old continues his philosophy of putting faith in Chelsea's youth.

Whatever the incoming interim manager decides, it seems clear that Kovacic hasn't been good enough this season and as such, it would be a masterclass to instantly remove him from the team.

Arsenal: "Ambitious" Star Eyeing Move To Emirates

Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has shared some promising news on Arsenal transfer target Ridle Baku as he eyes a move to England.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Mikel Arteta’s side are locked toe-to-toe with Premier League rivals Manchester City in the battle to clinch this year’s domestic crown. Just six points separate the two sides with Pep Guardiola also possessing a game in hand over the north Londoners.

Arsenal, as they attempt to maintain their status as an English force, face a crucial final eight games which could even decide whether they have the pull of league champions in this summer’s transfer market. Indeed, certain targets could theoretically be more attracted by the idea of joining Arteta if they were to beat City to the title.

These next few weeks will prove imperative – both in terms of winning silverware and Arsenal’s long-term future.

Sporting director Edu reportedly has an idea of who he wishes to sign for Arteta, with reports suggesting Arsenal have their eyes on a number of midfielders such as Declan Rice and Raphinha.

Ridle Baku.

Sky reporter Plettenberg has now shared an update on Arsenal’s transfer activity – and it involves Wolfsburg defender Baku.

The right-back is apparently a wanted man at the Emirates, with Plettenberg absolutely certain he is a target for Arsenal and has a place on Edu’s shortlist. In a promising development, and one which could assist the Gunners, Baku apparently dreams of a move to England.

The Sky journalist, writing via social media, explained:

What would Baku bring to Arsenal?

Baku is highly versatile and could prove useful for Arteta’s interchanging system, with the German capable of playing at right-back, in central midfield and out wide.

This season, the player has chipped in with five goals and an assist for Wolfsburg and ranks among their best-performing crop by average match rating – according to WhoScored.

What’s more, he could cost around £13m according to Plettenberg – making him a fairly shrewd option financially who could help to reinforce numerous positions.

His mentality has also been praised, with former Wolfsburg boss Oliver Glasner calling him a ‘very humble’ and ‘ambitious’ person.

Leeds Loanee Undergoes Surgery On Injury

Leeds United loanee Charlie Cresswell has undergone surgery on a fractured eye socket and will miss the rest of the season as a result.

What’s the latest injury news on Cresswell?

Cresswell has been out on loan with Championship side Millwall where he has made 30 appearances in all competitions. The 20-year-old has even weighed in with five goals in the second tier, with Gary Rowett’s side currently in the playoff places.

However, the Leeds defender has missed the last three games after suffering a "significant" injury against West Brom at the beginning of the month. There has now been an update on the player’s condition, one that isn’t good for either Cresswell or Millwall.

Reporter Rich Cawley relayed an update regarding Cresswell in the last 48 hours, stating on Twitter that the Leeds gem has undergone eye surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

He added that Cresswell has a five-to-six-week recovery period, but even if Millwall reach the playoff final, would more than likely miss out due to not being match fit.

What next for Cresswell at Leeds?

Cresswell has enjoyed a positive loan spell at The Den and has been the club’s second-best performer this season, leading the way for clearances and blocks made, as per WhoScored.

His average match rating is actually better than any Leeds player, and the Whites’ survival hopes could well have a say in Cresswell’s future. The youngster was heavily linked with a permanent exit from Elland Road back in January, however, he is still under contract in Yorkshire until 2025.

Leeds have been leaking goals in the Premier League in recent weeks, shipping for against Arsenal, five vs Crystal Palace and six last time out against Liverpool, so if they are relegated, Cresswell may find himself with a chance to break into the club’s first-team plans. He could even look at forcing his way into the first-team setup even if Leeds stay up following his successful loan spell, but that may depend on who is in charge heading into the 2023/24 season.

The England U21 international has done his chances no harm this season, though, being hailed as “excellent” by Rowett and his Transfermarkt valuation increasing to a career-high figure. It is unfortunate that his season is now over, but it’ll be interesting to see where he is plying his trade in the 2023/24 campaign.

Man United Could Be Handed Takeover Update Soon

Manchester United fans could be enlightened with a potential takeover update in the coming days following the latest deadline on Friday night.

What's the latest with Man United's possible takeover?

It is now half a year on from when the Glazer family announced that they would be open to listening to offers for the Premier League giants.

And in that time, a number of interested parties have arisen with the likes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Qatari party emerging as serious bidders.

However, in that time, there has been a number of deadlines set for the proposed bidders to table their best offer.

And it seems the latest of those deadlines has been set for 10pm on Friday (28 April) with final bids to be submitted to the Raine Group.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils look set to secure a significant source of revenue on the pitch with Champions League football firmly in their hands with seven games to go.

Speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, David Ornstein has claimed there is the notion an update should follow in the days after Friday's deadline:

(30:00) "The consensus is that after that deadline [28 April], we should have some clarity in the days ahead as to where this is heading. But from my perspective, it remains unpredictable. Clearly there is confidence within those two main parties of [Sheikh] Jassim and [Sir Jim] Ratcliffe. But there is also an issue within the family over whether they stay or go."

Will the Glazer's sell Man United?

Well, it does seem it is not a foregone conclusion that putting the club on the market does, in fact, mean that the Glazer family will sell the club.

Indeed, a report from ESPN has suggested the current owners could potentially look to remain at the helm if they do not feel they are maximising their profit through a possible sale.

The report even claims that the American family could possibly look to remain at Old Trafford for another decade with the notion of increasing their return on investment even further.

Manchester United fans protest the Glazer's ownership outside of Old Trafford.

It is believed the Glazers are looking for a bid in the region of £6 billion to take the reins at Old Trafford as they currently hold the majority stake (69%).

However, according to the report from ESPN, there is the belief that remaining at the club could potentially see their stake in the club rise to around £10 billion over the years.

Erik ten Hag's first campaign will be labelled as a success if they secure a spot inside the top four this season, however, there are clear areas for improvement.

And the longer this potential sale goes on for, the more time it will eat into ahead of the summer transfer window where the Dutchman will be looking for the funds to improve his side.

West Ham’s £60k-p/w Shocker Let Moyes Down Vs Man City

West Ham United remain in real relegation trouble in the Premier League after David Moyes' side lost out 3-0 against title favourites Manchester City at the Etihad.

What happened in Manchester City vs West Ham?

Moyes opted to make a number of changes for the trip north, with the likes of Declan Rice, Nayef Aguerd and Tomas Soucek rested entirely, with one eye clearly on this weekend's game against Manchester United.

Despite the changes, the Hammers defended well in the first 45 and kept the scores level, but the Citizens showed their class in the second half and cruised to victory.

Nathan Ake was left unmarked to head in Riyad Mahrez's free-kick for the opening goal before Erling Haaland scored a record-breaking 35th league goal of the season by dinking the ball past Lukasz Fabianski from Jack Grealish's through ball.

Phil Foden rounded off the victory in the final minutes to send Pep Guardiola's side back top, while the Hammers remain just four clear of the bottom three.

While there were a number of poor performances from those in claret and blue on Wednesday, it was arguably Jarrod Bowen who struggled the most.

How did Jarrod Bowen perform vs Man City?

As per Sofascore, the England international would earn a shocking 5.9/10 rating for his performance, which saw him ranked as the worst player from both sides to feature in the game.

West Ham manager David Moyes.

During his time on the pitch, the right-winger mustered just 23 touches of the ball, completing a disappointing seven passes, both of which were fewer than goalkeeper Fabianski, who managed 34 touches and 16 passes.

Although City were perhaps always likely to dominate possession at the Etihad, Bowen has averaged 19.3 passes per game in the top flight so far this term, so it is clear that he was far more anonymous than usual on Wednesday night.

Unfortunately, on the rare occasions that the former Hull City man did see the ball, he was incredibly wasteful with it, as he lost possession five times, failed with his one cross attempt and was unsuccessful in all three dribble attempts against Guardiola's side.

However, on a night of few chances for the Hammers, the 26-year-old missed a golden opportunity to give Moyes' side the lead in the first half when the scores were level,

Thus, the £60k-per-week winger could certainly be considered to have cost the Scottish manager any hope he had of earning a surprise result against the champions-elect.

It has been an underwhelming campaign from Bowen, with just five goals and four assists to his name in the top flight, and he will be one of many who need to improve next season if the Hammers are going to distance themselves from another relegation battle.

Emery Ditches £13m Liability in Aston Villa Predicted XI

Aston Villa take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this afternoon, and Unai Emery will be looking for his side to bounce back to winning ways following defeat against Manchester United last week.

Villa are chasing a European spot ahead of next season and a win over the Molineux outfit could be vital in their quest for continental football.

Wolves are not quite out of the relegation battle yet, and they will know a win today at home will pretty much guarantee them another year in the Premier League – leaving an exciting match in prospect.

Emery could be set to see Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, Philippe Coutinho and Leon Bailey back in the squad as they all returned to training this week, and he could have a few tough choices in terms of team selection.

Here’s what we are predicting…

How could Aston Villa line up against Wolves?

Emiliano Martinez will continue in goal having conceded just one goal in his previous eight matches, emerging as one of their most important players of late.

The back four will see just one change from the defeat to United last week. Cash will make his return in place of Ashley Young, while Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa will continue their wonderful centre-back partnership as Alex Moreno starts once again at left-back.

Douglas Luiz keeps his spot in the centre of midfield, with John McGinn dropping slightly deeper than last week to play alongside him. This means Leander Dendoncker will be dropped, with the £13m liability averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.76/10 across his previous five matches, suggesting a change is necessary.

He was dubbed “rash” by Nedum Onuoha following his red card against Stevenage in the FA Cup, and dropping him will allow Emery to deploy Bertrand Traore on the right wing, adding a greater attacking threat, especially considering he has scored twice in his previous five league matches.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

Emiliano Buendia and Jacob Ramsey will make up the rest of the attacking-midfield contingent, and they will all provide excellent support to lone striker Ollie Watkins.

The Englishman has been on fire recently, scoring 12 goals since Christmas and his ruthlessness could cause the Wolves defence plenty of problems, with Emery counting on him to secure yet another three points.

Predicted Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Mings, Konsa, Moreno; McGinn, Luiz; Traore, Buendia, Ramsey; Watkins

Man United Could Sign Ruthless £78m Premier League Star

Manchester United could be on the prowl to end their number nine woes this summer if reports surrounding the club’s transfer activity are to be believed.

One of the Premier League’s greatest strikers could be making his way to Manchester next season, and it's exactly what Erik ten Hag needs to take United to the next level.

What’s the latest Harry Kane transfer news?

According to The Mirror, the northwest outfit have made Tottenham striker Harry Kane their 'main transfer target' ahead of the summer window.

It's said that United are preparing to spend heavily this summer as billionaires Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani battle for control of the club.

It’s suspected that Kane will be on the move this summer, with his current contract at Tottenham Hotspur expiring in 2024 and no new deal signed yet.

What would Harry Kane offer to Manchester United?

Ten Hag has had an impressive first full season at Manchester United after taking the reins from Ralf Rangnick in May 2022.

The Red Devils currently sit in fourth and are in a good position to claim a spot in the Champions League next season. This season, ten Hag’s side have scored 49 goals in the Premier League, which is underwhelming in comparison to the top two of Arsenal and Manchester City who have scored over 80 goals apiece this term.

When you delve into the creative spark behind Man United, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford come out on top in terms of goals and assists, registering 65 between them, so one can only imagine a hybrid of the two added to the side in the currently derelict striker role.

Kane ranks as number two in the league for goals this season (26), and number nine when it comes to key passes (20). In terms of Manchester United’s star men, Fernandes has racked up just 20 more key passes than Kane this season (40), and Rashford ranks as the fifth-highest goal scorer in the league with 16 goals.

sergio-reguilon-tottenham-hotspur-harry-kane

Hailed as one of the ‘best passers in world football’ by Jamie Carragher and as a "ruthless" presence by Jack Pitt-Brooke, Kane is as good in the build-up as any which has taken his game to another level.

Indeed, the £78m-rated Spurs striker ranks in the top 40 players in the league in terms of completed key passes in 90 minutes (0.65), as per one-versus-one statistics.

Therefore, the forward would take the creative pressure away from Fernandes and lift the goalscoring burden from Rashford's shoulders, with the three potentially set to create a remarkable trio next term.

United are simply crying out for consistency in their attack, whether it be minutes played or form in general, and not many are more consistent than Kane in the league, with the striker netting over 15 goals per season for the past nine campaigns.

The thought of a goal tally like that alongside Rashford and co is simply mouth-watering; he must be signed.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus