Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola now wants to sign an “ice cool” player, amid concerns over the performances of a current starter, according to a report.
On paper, Man City should have been no match for Al-Hilal, and they certainly had the better of their opponents, creating more chances and having over double the amount of shots on target throughout the match.
However, the Blues ultimately ended up crashing out of the Club World Cup after a shock 4-3 defeat, with Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou putting in a phenomenal performance, making eight saves from inside the box to keep Guardiola’s side at bay.
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The City boss refused to be too critical of his players in the wake of the result, while also singling out Bounou for praise, saying:“It is a pity. We have been on incredible journey together and were in a good place. The vibe was really good. I cannot thank the players enough for training and playing how they have been.
“But it was a difficult game. The margins were minimal. We created a lot and (Yassine) Bounou made incredible saves but we were so open.”
However, behind-the-scenes, Guardiola is still planning to make some changes to his squad, with a report from Spain revealing the Man City manager has made it clear that he wants to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
FC Barcelona's Marc-AndreterStegenlifts the trophy with teammates afterwinning LaLiga
With Ederson not the player he once was, having lost consistency in his performances, there is a desire to bring in a new goalkeeper, and Guardiola believes Ter Stegen could be an ideal fit, believing that he has the qualities to succeed in the Premier League.
Barca would be willing to sanction a departure if a good offer comes their way, as the La Liga side are looking to reduce their wage bill, and the German rakes in a sizeable £105k-a-week.
"Ice cool" Ter Stegen has track record of success
The 33-year-old has won 20 major honours throughout a glittering career, having been an important player for Barcelona over a number of years, making a total of 422 appearances for the Spanish side.
That experience at the top level could be very useful for a Man City side which needs to start winning again, having endured a rare trophyless season during the 2024-25 campaign.
The “ice cool” goalkeeper is also comfortable in possession of the ball, which could make him a good fit in a Guardiola system, with counterpart Thibaut Courtois describing the Barca shot-stopper as the “best in the game” with his feet.
Ter Stegen could be a fantastic signing for Man City, but there may be some concerns over the fact the goalkeeper is already 33-years-old, making him two years older than Ederson, which indicates he is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for the Brazilian.
Glasgow Rangers have recently sacked Michael Beale, and a fresh report has shared a surprising new candidate who would be interested in accepting the job in the Scottish Premiership.
Who is the favourite to be the next Rangers manager?
On Sunday, Beale was relieved from his duties having been in charge since last November, which saw Steven Davis made interim manager, and his new temporary team consists of Alex Rae, Steven Smith, Brian Gilmour and Colin Stewart north of the border, as per the club's official statement on their website.
The Ibrox side have had a mixed start to the new campaign having won four and lost three of their opening seven league games, finding themselves third in the league table, and the fact that they are already so far behind Celtic – and also crashed out of the Champions League – became the final nail in the coffin for the former coach.
The Light Blues have already been linked with numerous candidates including Frank Lampard, Kevin Muscat, Pascal Jansen, Philippe Clement, Chris Wilder, Graham Potter, Ryan Lowe and Billy Davies, and the following update shares which of those are leading the race, as well as revealing a new name to have entered the running.
Are Rangers appointing Steve Bruce?
According to Football Scotland, Steve Bruce has "been put forward" to the board at Rangers as a potential option to succeed Beale. The Teddy Bears are "unlikely" to place the veteran under serious consideration as it stands, but it's stated that his history and experience in the dugout could provide a "valuable change" at Ibrox.
Lampard and Muscat are the two current favourites for the role, with Jansen and Clement next on the list as outsider options, but Bruce still remains "keen and hopeful" despite his slim chances.
West Bromwich Albion's former manager Steve Bruce.
How many manager jobs has Steve Bruce had?
Since the start of his coaching career, Bruce has taken charge of 11 different clubs, which are Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Hull City, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United and West Brom, twice taking the reins at the DW Stadium.
Bruce has a pretty poor record from the sidelines however, having won 385, drawn 250 and lost 384 of his 1019 matches, averaging only 1.38 points per match, so his record is extremely inconsistent and one that the hierarchy definitely shouldn't be attracted to.
In addition, the 62-year-old has failed to win any trophies or titles during his time in the dugout apart from one promotion all the way back in 2012/13, so he doesn’t really know what it takes to compete and be successful at the level required in Glasgow, considering the standards they want to achieve.
Furthermore, Bruce’s style of play has been described as very “one dimensional” and “old fashioned” by journalist Josh Bunting, therefore, with Rangers wanting to play more attacking and front foot football, this is a move that should be avoided at all costs, regardless of if he wants to join.
Leeds United are open to selling one of their regular first-team players in January alongside Marc Roca, and a new report has revealed the price that the club have valued him at should he leave Elland Road.
Who have Leeds United just signed?
Over the summer, Daniel Farke brought nine new players to the club in the form of Joel Piroe, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Glen Kamara and Karl Darlow on a permanent basis, whilst recruiting Djed Spence, Jaidon Anthony and Joe Rodon on loan, alongside Sam Byram on a free transfer.
At Elland Road, Tyler Adams and Rodrigo were the only two to depart for good, with the likes of Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra and Marc Roca being sent out temporarily, the latter sealing a switch to Real Betis, as per Transfermarkt, and it’s been reported that his move is likely to become permanent.
Despite the deadline having passed, Illan Meslier is another player that could be heading for the exit door in the new year having attracted significant interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid over the course of the past few months.
Chief executive Angus Kinnear recently confirmed that the French goalkeeper did have opportunities to leave, but the 23-year-old has himself admitted that he wanted to stay at the club because he felt responsible following relegation to the Championship.
Is Illan Meslier leaving Leeds?
According to Football Insider, Leeds are "relaxed about the prospect" of selling Meslier in January because they signed Darlow from Newcastle United over the summer with the view of him being their first-choice between the sticks.
The LS11 outfit had a "willingness" to move on the former before the September 1st deadline, but they failed to receive a suitable offer.
Previously, the shot-stopper had a £40m price tag placed on his head, though it's unknown whether this is the fee that would be demanded at the start of the new year.
Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
How many clean sheets has Illan Meslier kept?
During his time at Leeds, Meslier has kept 31 clean sheets from 131 appearances which doesn’t sound like a lot, but having previously been praised for making some “unreal” saves by journalist Graham Smyth, there’s so much more that he brings to the side.
The Lorient native, who is naturally left-footed, ranks in the 98th percentile for most defensive actions outside of his penalty area, showing that he’s not afraid to come out of his net and clear the danger away, but he’s also impressive with the ball at his feet.
The YPFC client has a 100% pass success rate for both his short and medium dispatches since the start of the current season, via FBRef, which highlights his calmness and composure when playing out from the back to his outfield teammates.
Furthermore, Meslier helped the club to achieve promotion to the Premier League back in 2019/20 so he knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the required level, therefore, it would be a huge blow to lose him in January.
Phil Hay has shared a worrying update on the fitness of one Leeds United star who Daniel Farke has recently hailed.
Leeds United injury news
The Whites have suffered a number of injury concerns this season, with the likes of Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo yet to feature under the new manager. Summer signing Djed Spence is also sidelined, whereas Wilfried Gnonto has recently returned from ankle surgery.
On the pitch, Farke’s side have been in solid form, although Wednesday evening’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke City put an end to three successive victories in the Championship. One player who has starred under the German is Crysencio Summerville, who also has missed parts of the current campaign through injury.
The winger was the hero on the weekend, scoring twice in a dramatic 3-2 win at Farke’s former side Norwich City, however, he was left out of the starting XI at Stoke and only came on as a substitute for the final 20 minutes Taking to X after the game, Hay provided an injury update on Summerville, relaying information from Farke that the attacker is still struggling with a pre-season injury which is requiring painkillers and is preventing him from playing three games in a week.
“Farke says Summerville isn't physically able to play three games a week at the moment, owing to a pre-season injury. Needs painkillers. Also felt he needed to give Kamara a rest after international duty with Finland.”
It represents a concerning update for Farke, who recently praised Summerville, saying after his display against Norwich:
"Crysencio is a baller, it's a joy to watch him. When you see a guy touching the ball like he does, it's heart warming. We always speak with him about wanting him to improve his effectiveness, we need goals, assists, end product. This is the final step for him to find his next step in his career. If he delivers like this, he's on a really good path with goals and assists but he has to keep going. Today he deserves all the praise.”
Leeds United fixtures
The games come thick and fast for the Whites in the second tier, with 12 Championship games scheduled between now and the New Year, so Summerville may have to be used carefully as the club continue to monitor the issue.
Leeds United's upcoming fixtures
Huddersfield Town (H)
28th October
Leicester City (A)
3rd November
Plymouth Argyle (H)
11th November
Rotherham United (A)
24th November
Swansea City (H)
29th November
Middlesbrough (H)
2nd December
Blackburn Rovers (A)
9th December
Sunderland (A)
12th December
Coventry City (H)
16th December
Ipswich Town (H)
23rd December
Preston North End (A)
26th December
West Brom (A)
29th December
At this moment in time, Leeds are sitting in third place in the league, nine points behind Ipswich Town and 14 behind leaders Leicester City. The Whites and Farke will be hoping to be in and around the automatic spots come January, and Summerville may have a big part to play if e can remain fit.
Everton could now allow a "really good" player to leave the club during the January transfer window in order to keep the same suitor away from Jarrad Branthwaite, according to a new update from Goodison Park.
Everton's January transfer plans
It isn't long until the Blues will once again be able to enter the transfer market, with the opening of the January window just three weeks away. Sean Dyche and his side have enjoyed a superb week or so in the Premier League, winning three matches in a row without conceding a goal, including against Newcastle United and Chelsea, and jumping out of the relegation zone in the process.
That's not to say that new signings aren't needed, however, and Everton have been linked with a move for Lyon centre-back Jake O'Brien, with the 22-year-old Irishman impressing France. Meanwhile, the Blues have also been backed to complete the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker, seeing him as someone who could add depth in the middle of the park.
It does look as though one Goodison player could be set to head the other way, however, in an effort to keep Branthwaite on the books.
Everton to offer up Godfrey to stave off Branthwaite interest
According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Everton are willing to allow Ben Godfrey to leave in January, with Tottenham potentially snapping him up as an alternative to Branthwaite, who they are also interested in but the Toffees will refuse to sell.
"Everton are prepared to sell Ben Godfrey to Tottenham in January if a bid is submitted, sources have told Football Insider. Spurs are in the market for a new centre-back in January after losing both Eric Dier and Micky van de Ven to injury in recent weeks.
"The North London side have shown an interest in Toffees duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Godfrey in recent weeks as they look to bolster their defensive options."
This does feel like the natural time to allow Godfrey to leave, even though the 25-year-old is someone who legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti was a big fan of, describing him as a "really good" talent during his time in charge at Goodison. The Englishman is simply not in the current boss' plans however – he has featured for just one minute of Premier League action in total this season, as well as starting one solitary game in the EFL Cup.
James Tarkowski and Branthwaite have become Everton's undisputed first-choice centre-back pairing, and it is hard to see that changing any time soon, so this feels like the right moment for Godfrey to enjoy a fresh challenge.
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He could even flourish under Ange Postecoglou at Spurs, should he be given the chance to prove himself, and he is a powerful player who can enjoy a big influence on his day, whether that be at centre-back or right-back.
Everton could receive good money for him, ahead of his Blues contract expiring in the summer of 2025, and the longer they keep hold of him, the cheaper he will become, further highlighting why January is the best time to move him on.
This summer could, and should, be a seismic one for Arsenal.
Andrea Berta and Co have already added some impressive depth to the side in Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga – not to mention the incoming Martin Zubimendi – but the area of the team that desperately needs reinforcements is the attack.
Moreover, while a new striker is a necessity, it’s just as essential that Mikel Arteta is handed one, or maybe even two, new wingers as well.
Arsenal manager MikelArteta
Fortunately, the club seem to be on the same wavelength, as recent reports have linked them to a player who has been compared to Bukayo Saka on more than a few occasions.
Arsenal's winger search
Given Arsenal’s comparative lack of cutting-edge wide options, it’s not been a massive surprise to see them linked with several exciting options in recent weeks, such as Antonio Nusa and Anthony Elanga.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former is reportedly available for close to £38m this summer and amassed a tally of 13 goal involvements in 40 games last season.
Elanga, on the other hand, could cost as much as £60m, but was that bit more effective for Nottingham Forest last season, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists in 43 games.
However, while there is clear upside in both of these wide talents, neither one has been or could really be compared to Saka, which isn’t the case for Noni Madueke.
Yes, according to David Ornstein, Arsenal are in fact very interested in the Chelsea winger.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Athletic podcast, the respected journalist revealed that the Gunners like the Englishman and are “working” on a deal, which, according to other reports, could cost around £50m.
It might not be the transfer some Arsenal fans would be hoping for, but Madueke has the ability and potential to be something special in North London, and the fact he’s been compared to Saka can only be a good thing.
How Madueke compares to Saka
Now, it should be noted that there are numerous surface-level comparisons that can be made between Saka and Madueke.
These include the fact that they’re both full England internationals, they both play for a ‘big six’ side in London, they’re primarily right-sided wingers, and they both came out of the academy of a North London team.
However, the comparisons do go deeper than that.
In fact, respected analyst EBL was bold enough to argue for the Chelsea ace’s similarity to the Gunners’ star as far back as March 2023, claiming that, he is indeed “very similar to Saka”.
They pointed out that, like the Hale Ender, the former PSV Eindhoven star is particularly adept at lulling an opposition defender into a “false sense of security” by first slowing down with the ball at his feet and then shifiting “the ball to either side” and making the most of his impressive “ball-striking.”
However, that’s not his only avenue for beating opposing defenders, as EBL also highlights his “explosive shift”, which is just a way of describing how he gets around players with a burst of energy when dribbling.
Interestingly, we can see how similar this is to Saka in the numbers, as, according to FBref, the North Londoners’ talisman completed 1.99 successful take-ons per 90 when playing in Europe’s top five leagues or the Champions League, which is the exact same number as the Blues star.
1
Savio
2
Salah
3
Diaz
4
Son
5
Madueke
However, that is not all, as when we look at just the Premier League last season, FBref ranks the “incredible” talent, as dubbed by content creator Matisse Armani, as the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Ealing-born superstar.
Ultimately, while Madueke hasn’t quite reached the levels of Saka, there are some undeniable stylistic and statistical similarities between the pair.
Therefore, if a deal can be struck at a reasonable price, then Arsenal should go ahead and bring the exciting winger to the Emirates this summer.
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Chelsea's most successful manager in recent times has been Thomas Tuchel.
The German tactician, who led the Blues to Champions League glory over Manchester City in 2021, was the last manager to deliver any sort of silverware to Stamford Bridge.
He recorded 63 wins in 100 matches and only tasted defeat 18 times in 20 months while reaching both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals in the 2021/22 season.
Despite this success, Todd Boehly and co ultimately decided that Tuchel wasn't the right man to take the club forward and according to his ex-wife, he was dismissed in September 2022 due to "off-field reasons and because the players lost respect for him".
Thomas Tuchel
While Tuchel's spell in charge ended on a sour note, so too did Chelsea's business during his time at the club, with the 50-year-old misfiring across all fronts in the transfer window.
He brought in the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Saul Niguez and Marcus Bettinelli – who all failed in the blue shirt – and also sold a whole host of talented stars, including Tammy Abraham, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi and Olivier Giroud, the latter of which has gone on to make the Blues regret selling him in 2021.
How did Olivier Giroud perform for Chelsea?
Throughout his career, Giroud has become such a likeable figure everywhere's been. During his six-year stint at Arsenal, the Frenchman earned plaudits for his consistent goal-scoring and his ability to produce the spectacular, scoring 105 times and assisting a further 41 in 253 appearances for the Gunners.
So it came as no surprise to see many Arsenal fans frustrated at the club's decision to sell him to their rivals for £18m in 2018, with Arsene Wenger claiming a year earlier that the striker was performing at the pinnacle of his powers.
He said: "I know how important he is not only as a player – he’s a fantastic player – but also in the group he has a big weight. It was a relief for me he decided to stay. Giroud in his prime is at the top of his game."
After moving to west London, Giroud would become a pivotal figure in the club's quest for European dominance and the "top level" forward – as formerly claimed by Wenger – would perform exceptionally in Europe's top two competitions.
In 2018/19, his eye-watering 11 goals and five assists in 14 appearances helped the Blues win the Europa League, ironically scoring the winner against his former club in the final.
Then in the 2020/21 campaign, the 6 foot 4 phenom would play an integral role in the Blues' run to the Champions League final, having scored a sensational six times in eight appearances, including all four goals in their 4-0 victory over Sevilla.
Given those standout performances on the big stage, it begs the question as to why Tuchel sold him to AC Milan for a measly £1m in the summer of 2021.
How many goals has Giroud scored since leaving Chelsea?
While supporters have been made to sit through the transfer saga involving Romelu Lukaku, the toothless Kai Havertz and the struggling displays of Nicolas Jackson since Giroud's departure, the Frenchman has been a revelation for AC Milan.
At the remarkable age of 37, the sublime finisher has showcased his final-third expertise at the Rossoneri and left Chelsea fans frustrated with the form he's producing.
In 95 appearances for Milan, he's scored 36 goals and supplied 14 assists, a total that has seen him outscore every Chelsea player since his departure.
The 126-cap international also outperformed the majority of his positional peers in the Serie A last season, ranking in the top 16% for non-penalty goals, top 4% for aerials won, top 18% for assists and top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty box, as per FBref.
Giroud's powers in front of goal have also shown no signs of slowing down in this campaign either with four goals and three assists in eight appearances in the Serie A.
The talented Frenchman may be approaching the twilight years of his career, but if anything, he's aged like a fine wine and he continues to make Chelsea regret selling him for such a nominal fee.
Arsenal are thinking about signing a £20 million striker as well as Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and it's been reported that he's set to leave his current club.
Edu targeting new striker for Arteta
While a lot of noise has surrounded Edu's pursuit of a new midfielder, there are still suggestions that manager Mikel Arteta wants to bring in a new striker next year. ESPN recently reported that Brentford star Ivan Toney is still a target for Arsenal as we head into 2024, with Arteta having just Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus to choose from to lead the line.
The Gunners have also been linked with Vlahovic regularly amid their search for a new forward, as they seek to win a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years.
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A proven goalscorer could be the difference between domestic glory and falling just short, especially given Arsenal have to contend with both Man City and Liverpool who are also vying for first place. Club legend Ray Parlour, speaking to TEAMtalk at the start of this month, urged Arteta and Edu to bring in a striker if they wish to maintain their place among England's elite sides.
“Where they are going to be lacking is the striker position," said Parlour. "In teams I played in we had four top strikers so I think that is one area they need to improve.
"I know Jesus is out at the moment and Nketiah did brilliantly getting his hat-trick at the weekend but there is not a lot of options up front.
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah
“I am sure Arteta, if there is someone available whether on loan or someone who is not playing on a regular basis but who he knows can do a decent job, will be looking for options. When you are chasing a goal you have got to change it up front and they do not have that at the moment. That might be the place they will be looking at."
Given Toney could cost a seismic £100 million to prise away in January, at least according to Sky Sports, it could be wise for Arsenal to consider other options.
Arsenal open to Leonardo deal
According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are open to signing Santos striker Marcos Leonardo "as well as Vlahovic" in their pursuit of new options. It's added that the 20-year-old is set to leave his club for Europe in the new year.
The Brazilian is one of South America's hottest young attackers right now, with reports suggesting Santos are also willing to sell for around £20 million.
Santos striker Marcos Leonardo.
This is considerably less than his marquee release clause and Leonardo is a player of serious potential, having scored 13 goals in 29 of his latest Brazilian Serie A appearances.
"I saw in him a brilliant eye for goal, opportunistic and always well placed," the forward's U13 coach Gustavo Roma said (via Football Transfers).
Gets fouled often
Does not dive into tackles
"He is a really good finisher, he always manages to be in the middle of every middle, he's very mobile and intense, with great instincts. He doesn't wait for the ball to come to him, he moves to create the best positions and finish with a goal, that's why he has so many.
"He was our top scorer in 2016 and even as a substitute last year he was one of our top scorers too. He has an eye for goal, he is a killer and born scorer."
Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared news on a "crucial change" Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has made to Spurs training.
Spurs transformation under Postecoglou
The north Londoners are scarcely recognisable from Antonio Conte's regrettable last season in charge. Indeed, since arriving in June, new head coach Postecoglou has taken Spurs supporters on a rollercoaster ride of superb results. Winning eight out of a possible 10 Premier League matches so far, the Lilywhites are yet to taste defeat in the top flight and currently sit pretty atop the table.
Stars like Son Heung-min and summer signing James Maddison have thrived as part of Postecoglou's new-look Spurs side, and it looks as if they could even mount a title challenge. Tottenham's popular new manager heaped praise on his squad's mentality after their latest win, a 2-1 over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
"Top of the table is great and the results are great but it's more in the manner we're doing it," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's form told the media.
"Pretty much from the first game we've had all sorts of different challenges we've had to overcome. Every time there has been a real focus and clear-headedness about the group collectively to deal with that. That has been a really pleasing thing and because they're getting rewards from that then that gives us opportunity to accelerate the growth of giving them more tools out there to help them for whatever we need to overcome."
Ange implements "crucial" Spurs training change
There are many factors contributing to Spurs' phenomenal run, with Maddison being praised for his stellar impact after joining from Leicester City. Meanwhile, new defender Micky van de Ven has dazzled for Spurs alongside Cristian Romero.
Postecoglou's new brand of attacking football has both thrilled supporters and on-lookers, with respected journalist Romano now sharing news on an "important" switch up by Spurs' new manager. Indeed, Postecoglou has implemented a "crucial" training change at Spurs, something which has proved pivotal as Romano explains on his YouTube channel this week.
“What I wanted to share with you is that the players of Tottenham, from what I’m hearing, are not just happy with what they’re doing on the pitch on Sunday or during the week.
“But what they’re doing in training was the crucial change, from what I’m hearing, already in the pre-season and then now. They enjoy the training sessions, they’re very happy with the high-pressing wanted by Ange Postecoglou. New mentality, new approach, new ideas. The pressing is absolutely crucial for Postecolgou, he’s really pushing. For Postecoglou it’s really important.
“But the players are enjoying the training sessions, they really like the manager’s approach, the manager’s ideas, the new tactical idea. They are very, very happy with Postecoglou. Many people didn’t know how good he was, now the numbers speak for him. But training sessions are always crucial to understand how good a manager is. In this case, it was absolutely something important for Tottenham.”
Tottenham take on Chelsea next Monday, and all the signs suggest they'll head into the game favourites, looking to compile more misery on ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Manchester United’s recent 2-1 victory over Brentford was reminiscent of the comeback wins and late, late goals scored when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of the club.
Indeed, ‘Fergie time’ was often the moniker used when the Red Devils were deep into the game and required a goal to secure a positive result and nothing is more famous than the two dramatic goals in the final moments of the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
This never-say-die attitude has been missed at Old Trafford over the previous decade with a succession of managers failing to carry on the legacy of the great man and the club are a shadow of what they were.
His longevity will likely never be surpassed, and the Scot continued to build great teams across all four decades he was in charge of the Red Devils, yet might he have won more had he signed everyone that he wanted?
Who did Man United miss out on under Alex Ferguson?
The legendary gaffer managed to lure some incredible names to Old Trafford during his reign, including the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie among others.
They all played a significant part in their success, yet there may have been another couple of Premier League crowns or European titles added to the collection had Fergie managed to sign some of the names United were linked with throughout the years.
DUTCH STRIKER RUUD VAN NISTELROOY POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS HOLDING A MANCHESTER UNITED SHIRT WITH COACH SIR ALEX FERGUSON AT OLD TRAFFORD.Manchester United’s new signing, Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy (L), poses for photographers holding a Manchester United shirt with coach Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford April 27, 2001. Van Nistelrooy will join Manchester United from the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven from July 1st, 2001 for a #19 million transfer fee. NO ONLINE/INTERNET USAGE WITHOUT FAPL
Icons such as Alan Shearer, Gabriel Batistuta, Gareth Bale and even Spaniard Raul were once linked with a move to Manchester as Fergie sought to bolster his starting XI and these are just a few of the many glamorous figures that were touted for big money moves to Old Trafford.
They all forged legacies at other clubs but one name that the club were linked with went on to become a legend at a club very close to home – Manchester City.
Remarkably, Ferguson tried to lure David Silva to the red half of the city before he eventually joined Man City, and it might well be one of his few regrets in the transfer window given Silva’s impact in the Premier League.
Did Man United come close to signing David Silva?
It appeared that United were keen on the attacking midfielder, yet Fergie wasn’t convinced by his defensive skills which scuppered a move.
“We watched Silva a lot when he was at Valencia,” said the wily Scot. “And the other player they had, the same type, years before it, played in that No.10 role.
“My problem with that was you have to be very, very good to play in that position, because there's no defensive duties for them.
“So if you're wanting to be really successful, everyone has to do their turn, has to work, you know?
“So I had a difficulty with that. But, in the end, of course, there's the greats. You could say Lionel Messi was a No.10 type, Maradona, some fantastic players, and I don't dispute that.”
His attacking prowess surely would’ve made up for his lack of defensive contributions had United signed him, and it proved to be a massive mistake, as he eventually joined City from the Spanish side for a fee of £24m in 2010 and gave Fergie a first-hand account of exactly what he missed out on.
What did David Silva achieve in his career?
Following 168 appearances for Valencia – scoring 32 goals and grabbing 36 assists – the time for Silva to test himself in the Premier League had come, and he joined the City revolution two years after their takeover.
The signing proved to be one of the greatest value-for-money buys in their history as he flaunted his creative talents in England.
436
77
140
168
32
36
93
7
19
36
4
0
10
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Silva played a prominent role in City’s first league title since 1968 during the 2011/12 season, registering a staggering 23 goal contributions from an attacking midfield role, and he was also a factor for their second Premier League crown in 2014, managing 18 contributions from just 27 games.
He flourished under Pep Guardiola, becoming the main link between midfield and attack and during the title-winning season of 2017/18, Silva averaged a mammoth 97.7 touches per game while holding an 89% pass success rate as he controlled games on a regular basis.
His talents in the final third were still outstanding under his enigmatic compatriot, however. He created 16 big chances and averaged 2.3 key passes during the 2018/19 season and these statistics ranked him fourth and fifth across the whole league, indicating that he was still one of the better performers in the top-flight despite his advancing years.
He enjoyed one more season at City before bowing out having won four league titles among a handful of other honours and his creative talents have certainly been missed, despite the club securing a wonderful treble last season.
Jonathan Liew heaped praise on him following his departure from City back in 2020, saying: “Genius. Magician. Best City player ever. One of the greatest-ever Premier League imports. After 10 years, David Silva finally has his due. Maybe in time, Yaya Toure will get his too. This week’s column.”
There is no disputing any of those when describing the Spaniard and might United’s recent history been radically altered had Ferguson looked over his supposed defensive fragilities?
The former Valencia starlet emerged as one of the finest ever Premier League imports during his decade in Manchester, but there is no doubt the recent history of the competition would’ve changed had United lured him to Old Trafford.
£24m may have seemed a lot in 2010 for a player who hadn’t played in England, yet it turned into a wonderful bargain for City and he only got better.
Ferguson didn’t have that many transfer mishaps over the course of his 27 years at the Red Devils, but missing out on Silva might be one which stung rather hard, especially as he got to see his talents up close during his final three seasons in charge of United.
Would the Old Trafford side be in their current predicament had Silva joined them instead of City? Who knows, but they may have been a far better team to watch during their first few years after Fergie’s retirement, that’s for sure.