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      How Florian Wirtz will bring a new dimension to Liverpool and why the German star could be a £109million bargain

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      LIVERPOOL are ready to spend a huge £109million on Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz.They moved quickly to try to acquire the services of the 22-year-old, who has snubbed German giants Bayern Munich to move to the Premier League champions.The Reds have bid £109m for the Bayer Leverkusen midfielderCredit: GETTYFlorian Wirtz is said to be keen on joining Liverpool after a productive chat with Kop chief Arne SlotCredit: APIt will be a statement signing by Arne Slot after winning the title in his first season in charge at Anfield.The Reds have already made their first move in the summer market, by recruiting Jeremie Frimpong.The Bayer Leverkusen right-back, 24, makes the switch to Liverpool for £29.5m to replace outing Trent Alexander-Arnold who is joining Real Madrid.The moves come on the back of extra investment in the squad with the new deals completed for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWirtz is considered a generational talent in Germany.And he will bring a touch of the unpredictable to Liverpool’s attack next season.Tactics expert Lee Scott believes the arrival of Wirtz will help prolong the career of one of their biggest stars.Goal threatLast season saw Wirtz contribute an impressive 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKHis ability to create space for himself and to be decisive in the final third really stood out as key for Leverkusen as they attempted to retain their Bundesliga title.He is dangerous in 1v1 situations when picking up possession wide or in the inside channel, or even centrally.And when he is moving at pace he is a threat with his shooting from distance with the ability to generate power and accuracy.Positionally when he is in the attacking third he does not really stick to one area and instead likes to drift to find himself pockets of space.Jamie Carragher reveals why PSG’s Luis Enrique is refusing to speak to him and CBS Sports before Champions League finalWirtz had 10 goals in the Bundesliga last seasonLooking at the current Liverpool squad it is likely that Slot will want to use him from the left of the three-man attack with Salah on the right.This will effectively give Liverpool true gamebreakers on either side of the attacking three.In the example below, Wirtz takes possession with the opposition, who are leading, in a deep defensive block. The thing that makes Wirtz different to most young attackers as this defensive block is not a barrier for him. He takes the ball and drives through the centre of the defensive block before scoring from the edge of the area.Wirtz receives the ball wide on the left wing but has the ability to drive to goal from an unlikely starting pointWirtz drifts into space but prefers the left sideIncreasingly we have seen teams have to worry about the performances of Salah on the right-side for Liverpool. This means that teams tend to slide their defensive blocks slightly over to that side of the pitch.They want more protection against the Egyptian international and try to stop him going 1v1 against a single defender.Now, with Wirtz on the other side of the flank, opposition teams cannot overload their defence to either side. Next season Liverpool will have one of the most balanced and dangerous attacks in football.Wirtz is also very comfortable in the inside channels when receiving the ball.With rumours that Liverpool are also looking to add an attacking left back, they could be heavily reinforced on the left-side of the pitch to help to break down deep and stubborn defensive blocks.In this second example, Wirtz is holding the width and playing on the outside of the deepest opposition defender. As he receives the ball in these positions he generates real threat with his ability to drive inside and finish.Wirtz is a genuine goal threat and is able to play on the wing or in the middleAdding a player of Wirtz’s quality to their attacking options will increase the output from Liverpool in front of goal.But it will also make it far more difficult for opposition teams and coaches to figure out how to defend against them.Creativity in the final thirdAs we have already mentioned above, Wirtz finished with an impressive 15 assists in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season. While his goal output will be important for Liverpool in terms of adding direct threat to their attack, his creativity in and around the final third will also bring value for Slot’s team.Wirtz takes intelligent positions on the pitch to receive the ball and often finds himself in a pocket of space.The fact that he is then a threat to turn and drive at teams through the centre of the pitch makes defenders less likely to want to get tight to defend against him aggressively as they run the risk of being quickly outplayed. The fact that they will then tend to sit off against him though just gives him the time and space to find passes to outplay the defensive line.Wirtz has the ability to read the game, and here picks out the run of Garcia and pulls the ball back to the edge of the penalty areaWirtz doesn’t always play the obvious pass. Here, he goes out wide and gets his head up and instead of firing across goal as many other players would he identifies that the better ball is a deep cut back to the edge of the area to the incoming Aleix Garcia, who then scores.One of the things that makes Wirtz such a dangerous player around the final third of the pitch is that he seems to be able to slow the game down and find time to get his head up to identify the best option. Wirtz is one of the best passers in EuropeHe is rarely rushed, even when under pressure, and he has the technical ability to stay on the ball and then find the correct option at the correct time.Having a player who is a creative passer in their forward options will bring another dimension for Liverpool in their attack. While they have the likes of Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz as options for the left side of their attack, both are more direct players who lack the ability to slow the game down and play the killer pass.In the example below, Wirtz is in possession with a solid defensive block ahead of him.He sees the angle to bypass the entire opposition defence with a low driven through ball to release his striker in behind.Wirtz hits the killer pass to put the striker clean through on goalLiverpool are obviously looking for ways to make themselves less predictable in the attack. Signing a player who is as creative and dangerous as Wirtz will go a long way to making that happen for them.Intelligence in the opposition halfWe touched on the fact that Wirtz is the kind of attacking player who is able to slow the game down when under pressure and in tight spaces. This is a mark of his game intelligence and the fact that he has the technical level to be able to trust himself and his touch when under pressure.He has an innate ability to be able to take the ball and make positive decisions with the ability to hurt the opposition defence. He can get on the ball and either drive forward into the heart of the penalty area or he can play on the half-turn and combine quickly or play the final pass to break through the opposition defensive line.In the example below, he gets on the ball in the No10 position and immediately drives forward into the heart of the opposition defensive block. Wirtz makes a driving run into the Dortmund defenceWhile this may not always lead to a shooting opportunity for himself it will pull defenders towards him and create space for teammates.He scans and checks his shoulder often in the final third and this means that he will find himself in space with time to receive the ball whether that is wide or in more central areas of the pitch.This will allow Liverpool to quickly progress the ball forward and into more dangerous areas of the pitch.This time we see Wirtz occupying intelligent spaces in the final third and between the lines. As he receives the ball he has no defenders in a position to immediately get touch-tight to him and he can take the ball and turn towards goalWirtz here has found space and can turn and run at the defenceWith Salah perhaps being best as a front facing threat who likes to get on the ball when facing the opposition goal, it is interesting that Liverpool are adding a player in Wirtz who is more creative with his positioning.Again, this signing will make planning for matches against Liverpool a very difficult experience for opposition coaches.Read More on The SunConclusionWhile the expected fee for Wirtz will be extremely high there is a sense that Liverpool will still be getting a bargain when they sign the 22-year-old German international. They will be signing a player who can extend the effective career of Salah straight away and when they do eventually move on from the Egyptian they will have their next attacking talisman in the building already. More

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      Man Utd identify £70m ex-Premier League star as Bruno Fernandes replacement if captain leaves for Al-Hilal

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      RUBEN AMORIM will make a £70million swoop for Pedro Goncalves – if Bruno Fernandes heads for Saudi Arabia.But Manchester United’s hopes of landing the Sporting Lisbon prize guy could be scuppered if the Portuguese club sell Viktor Gyokeres first.Pedro Gonçalves played under Ruben Amorim at SportingCredit: GettyBruno Fernandes has been linked with a Saudi switchCredit: PAUnited skipper Fernandes has until Friday to tell Al-Hilal if he is up for a move to the Middle East, and the Saudis are ready to pay £100m if they get the thumbs up.And if Fernandes does take the plunge on a three-year deal, the cash-strapped Reds could afford Goncalves – also known as Pote – with money to spare.Manager Amorim would still prefer to keep his captain, and insisted he was confident of doing so after United’s post-season trip to Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.But he is equally aware that a salary of more than £1m a WEEK is hugely tempting for Fernandes.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd the Old Trafford money men know they will hit the jackpot by banking such a fee for a man who turns 31 a month into next season.Goncalves, 26, had two years at Wolves as a teenager, but returned to Portugal without playing a game.Amorim took him to Lisbon from Famalicao six years ago, transforming him into a more attacking midfielder who can also play wide.Goncalves, who hit 23 goals as Sporting ended a 19-year title drought in 2021, missed five months of last season with a ruptured thigh muscle.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKBut he returned in April and scored in the final day victory over Vitoria which clinched the Portuguese championship again.Goncalves is also on Aston Villa’s wish list, but United believe his relationship with Amorim puts them in pole position.Ruben Amorim bursts out laughing when asked about Man Utd star’s futureThe biggest stumbling block could arise if Arsenal or Napoli can seal an early deal for £67m-rated striker Gyokeres, as Sporting would be unwilling to cash in on two of their star men.But the Portuguese side will land a £5m-plus jackpot if Fernandes heads to the Middle East, thanks to a clause giving them ten percent of any profit United make on their skipper.Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford More

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      Plymouth confirm exit of Wayne Rooney replacement in blunt 13-word statement as chairman sends surprise message

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      PLYMOUTH ARGYLE announced the departure of manager Miron Muslic with a blunt statement on social media after some turbulent negotiations.Muslic, 42, took over at then-Championship Plymouth in January following the unceremonious departure of Wayne Rooney, who only managed five wins and 14 losses in 25 matches..Plymouth Argyle confirmed manager Miron Muslic’s departure with a blunt statementPlymouth chairman Simon Hallett shared a lengthy statement reacting to Muslic’s dramatic exitHowever, Muslic couldn’t steer Argyle to safety and suffered relegation to League One, finishing second from bottom.The Pilgrims wanted to keep the ex-Cercle Brugge boss but he dramatically opted for a move to Schalke, who will be playing in Germany’s second tier this season.The Greens went on to confirm Muslic’s departure to the German outfit with a very short tweet following another furious statement accusing him of “breaking previous promises”.Plymouth tweeted: “Miron Muslic has left Argyle to join 2. Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04.”Read More on FootballThe club shared a longer announcement on their official website where they praised some of his work, such as his famous FA Cup triumph over Premier League champions Liverpool, and wished him the best.Plymouth announced: “Miron Muslic has departed the club to join 2. Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04.”Muslic joined Argyle in January, overseeing 23 matches, including the memorable victory against Liverpool in the Emirates FA Cup. “Despite his best efforts, he could not stave off relegation with Argyle dropping to Sky Bet League One on the final day of the season.Most read in EFLHOW TO GET FREE BETS ON HORSE RACING”We wish Miron all the best for his future endeavours.”That led to a lengthy statement from Argyle chairman Simon Hallett who insists he did not want Muslic to leave and wanted him to lead next season’s bid to return to the Championship.Wayne Rooney starts new job in Middle East as Man Utd legend touches down for first day after leaving Plymouth Hallett stated: “After the season ended, and with rumours flying that Miron was attracting interest from other clubs, I called him personally and he assured me that he was 100% committed to Argyle. “As a result, Miron continued to take part in all recruitment meetings and was involved with interviewing and recruiting players until just last week. His colleagues had no indication that he wanted to leave.”Last Saturday, Miron informed the club that he wished to speak with Schalke with a view to joining them. Under his contract, a club wishing to speak with him needs Argyle’s prior permission. “We were unwilling to give such permission, but Miron informed us that under no circumstances was he going to return to Plymouth. Thus, we reluctantly gave the necessary permission.”By making clear his intention never to return, Miron gave us no choice but to move on. “We could have insisted on the full compensation and gone to court to enforce his contract but would not have had his services as head coach, and progress on recruiting a replacement would have been blocked. Chairman addresses Muslic exit”Rather than get mired in a protracted, and highly disruptive, process we settled for an amount of compensation that, while below the contracted sum, is a strong financial outcome for a League One head coach, enabling us to move on positively.”Hallett admitted there will be no new investors coming in to Plymouth any time soon.However, the owner promised he and existing shareholders will provide the necessary funds that will help the team and Muslic’s replacement meet their goals this coming season.Hallett added: “As you know, we have been in talks with a prospective new investor in our club for over a year. Those talks led to an application for approval of that investment being lodged with the EFL in February.”Unfortunately, negotiations have taken too long and the key information that both we and the EFL required to complete the deal has not been forthcoming. I no longer believe that news of the new investor is imminent.”As a result, existing shareholders (I, Argyle Green and the Holliday family) will provide the funds to ensure that we stay on course with our plans. Read More on The Sun”This means making funds available to ensure we have a competitive football budget to aim to return us to the Championship as soon as possible, as well as continued investment in Foulston Park. Our budget next season will be twice that we had the last time we were in League One. “These additional funds equate to the same level of financial support that was written into the investor plan for year one.”Plymouth Argyle Chairman Simon Hallett’s messageDear Green Army, I am sorry to have not written earlier after relegation was confirmed, earlier this month.Jane and I had personal issues in the US that forced us to cut short our visit to the UK, and we have been occupied taking care of them for a few weeks. Our thanks to those who sent best wishes, and all is ok now. We are making plans for a return to the UK later this summer.We are disappointed at Miron Muslic’s departure – not at his joining a club with a profile such as Schalke, but in the timing and manner of his leaving.We hired Miron in January, giving him a three-and-a-half-year contract. Shortly after his joining us, we also hired the staff he requested, in an assistant head coach, head of elite performance, performance analysis and, a little later, a set-piece coach. A recruitment team was in place for the season, augmented by our securing the services of Stuart Webber, a very experienced and well-regarded Sporting Director, to assist with the post-season rebuild of our squad, along with Tom Randle, who has subsequently joined us on a full-time basis as Head of Recruitment. After the season ended, and with rumours flying that Miron was attracting interest from other clubs, I called him personally and he assured me that he was 100% committed to Argyle. As a result, Miron continued to take part in all recruitment meetings and was involved with interviewing and recruiting players until just last week. His colleagues had no indication that he wanted to leave.Last Saturday, Miron informed the club that he wished to speak with Schalke with a view to joining them. Under his contract, a club wishing to speak with him needs Argyle’s prior permission. We were unwilling to give such permission, but Miron informed us that under no circumstances was he going to return to Plymouth. Thus, we reluctantly gave the necessary permission.By making clear his intention never to return, Miron gave us no choice but to move on. We could have insisted on the full compensation and gone to court to enforce his contract but would not have had his services as head coach, and progress on recruiting a replacement would have been blocked. Rather than get mired in a protracted, and highly disruptive, process we settled for an amount of compensation that, while below the contracted sum, is a strong financial outcome for a League One head coach, enabling us to move on positively.As you know, we have been in talks with a prospective new investor in our club for over a year. Those talks led to an application for approval of that investment being lodged with the EFL in February.Unfortunately, negotiations have taken too long and the key information that both we and the EFL required to complete the deal has not been forthcoming. I no longer believe that news of the new investor is imminent.As a result, existing shareholders (I, Argyle Green and the Holliday family) will provide the funds to ensure that we stay on course with our plans. This means making funds available to ensure we have a competitive football budget to aim to return us to the Championship as soon as possible, as well as continued investment in Foulston Park. Our budget next season will be twice that we had the last time we were in League One. These additional funds equate to the same level of financial support that was written into the investor plan for year one.I completely understand that this will be very frustrating for fans, as it is extremely frustrating for me and the rest of the Argyle Board. I have said constantly that my resources can enable us to be a sustainable Championship club, but that if we wish to aspire beyond that we would need new investment. I can provide some of that new investment, with the Holliday family’s and Argyle Green’s help, but not all.While progress towards a transaction in its current form looks to have stalled, we will continue to explore alternative routes, including being open to revised terms with other investment groups. It is important that we get the right investor, not the quickest investor, and this may take some time. We are committed to this, but in the meantime, current shareholders can (and will) support the club through its next stage of development.This current situation is disappointing, obviously, but honesty and transparency are important to us. It’s been a long, ponderous process, but one we thought would come to a successful conclusion. It has not, but we remain in a very strong financial position.Over the past five or six years, we have set out a clear pathway to achieving success at Argyle. In that time, we progressed from League Two to the Championship, where we spent two seasons, before suffering relegation. Our mission has been, and remains, to be a sustainable and competitive Championship club, but some of the decisions we have made in the last two seasons have not worked as we had hoped. Those decisions obviously contributed to our relegation, but were decisions made by the entire board, and it is entirely unfair to blame any individuals. Unfortunately, in sport, as in life, decisions made do not always work out. We are sorry and will do everything we can to put it right.Argyle’s long-term strategy is set by the board and executed by Andrew Parkinson, our CEO, and his team. Away from the pitch, the club continues to make significant strides. Thanks to the efforts of all staff, we have seen remarkable off-pitch progress including record revenues this year. We’ve also been recognised with several industry awards – testament to the quality of work happening every day behind the scenes. This progress is a direct result of the hard work and commitment of staff across all departments. Our focus on sustainable growth has led to significant infrastructure investments that now generate substantial revenue which supports our football operations.The first and still the largest of those investments was the refurbishment of the Mayflower Grandstand. Today, that not only provides outstanding match-day hospitality to our fans, but a facility for businesses and other organisations in the area. The revenues generated now number in the millions, and go directly into the running of the football club, primarily the football budget. The Grandstand refurbishment was the first and remains the biggest investment, but has been followed by the acquisition of Higher Home Park, part of which is now used as the Biffa Fan Zone; by the Green Taverners’ building, now the Far Post; by the acquisition of Goals, now Harpers; and by many smaller investments that have improved the experience for fans and sponsors. As a result, the stadium has been full for most home games. We have also invested in players, breaking the club transfer record several times and realising substantial surpluses on subsequent sales of players. The result is that your club is now financially stronger than it has ever been with a strong and diversified revenue base. Those revenues have, until last season, helped lead to our success on the pitch. We have consistently achieved more than would be suggested by what we are able to spend on the first-team squad alone. Sometimes, our results flattered our performances but, overall, the strategy to compete by outsmarting not outspending our competitors has been successful. Last season, it was not, and the board took the decision in January that our best hope of avoiding what by then was a very likely fate was to hire a Head Coach who could introduce a new playing style. We narrowly failed, despite the efforts of our staff and our players. I thank them all.We will play the coming season in League One, as we did three years ago. Our circumstances, though, are much changed, because of the investments we have made and the support you have given us. We will have the financial resources to compete strongly at the top end of the division. Relegation is always disappointing, but we are now in a position where we end up stronger than we began. In the long-term, this is not being a yo-yo club, this is being a club that invests for the long term and emerges stronger from any setbacks.You will know that former Head of Recruitment Jimmy Dickinson has left Argyle after a successful six years. Jimmy has been a positive influence on the club, and we wish him well in the future. We also congratulate Ross Goodwin, our Head of Football Data, who will return home, and take on a senior role as Head of Recruitment at Dundee United. We are delighted to welcome David Fox back to Home Park in a senior management role as Head of Football Operations. He will be responsible for helping formulate and executing strategy on the football side of the club. Initially, he will be aided by Stuart Webber, whose experience and abilities as a Sporting Director will be hugely beneficial to Argyle. David and Stuart have been actively engaged in the process of recruiting a new head coach, and we hope to have an appointment in place as soon as possible. David will be provided with the support, resources and structure he needs.As I mentioned above, we also welcome Tom Randle as Head of Recruitment. He, David and Stuart have already been working behind the scenes to identify and recruit the players who will join us this summer. Recruitment is led by David and Tom, with other senior executive involvement. This structure means recruitment continues regardless of any changes in coaching staff, ensuring alignment with the club’s long-term football strategy.We have already seen the fruits of this combined effort, and I’d like to welcome Jamie Paterson, Caleb Watts and Jack MacKenzie to Argyle.I’ll be back in the UK over the summer, when we will host a Fans Forum ahead of the new season. I’ll be very happy to address the questions I’m sure you will have on the investment setbacks and how we intend to take things forward to achieve our goals.Finally, to you, the fans – you have been outstanding. Week after week, match after match, home or away, your support never wavers, and all at your club are grateful to you. We’ve never been more determined to succeed and, alongside your unrivalled backing, through the highs and the lows, together we’ll do this.See you soon,Simon More

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      ‘Snap your hands and take it’ – Paul Scholes reveals why Man Utd should accept Al-Hilal’s £100m bid for Bruno Fernandes

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      PAUL SCHOLES has urged Manchester United transfer chiefs to “snap” the hands off a £100million offer for Bruno Fernandes.Club captain Fernandes was the team’s top scorer and creator with 19 goals and 20 assists across all competitions.Bruno Fernandes could be sold by Man UtdCredit: ReutersPaul Scholes has said the club would be mad not to accept an offer of £100mHowever, with the Red Devils failing to qualify for European football after finishing 15th in the league and losing the Europa League final, he has been the subject of transfer interest by Al-Hilal.The 30-year-old has admitted he would be willing to leave if the club wanted to “cash in” on him, with the Saudi Pro League outfit’s bid reported to be worth around £100m.And Man Utd legend Scholes, 50, believes the club would be mad not to accept the deal given that Fernandes is also a bit of an awkward fit for the 3-4-3 system.Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, he said: “They are talking about £100m for him, Man United cannot say no to that.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I know he has been brilliant and carried the team on his back, but where does he actually play, what is his position? “Do you see him as a number 10? Do you see him as a holding midfielder?“He almost confuses the whole system. I mean, he has been brilliant, don’t get me wrong. “But when you’re getting £100m for him, you snap your hands and take it.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKFormer Liverpool star Jamie Carragher also weighed in on the topic. He added: “I’ve always described Bruno Fernandes as a great talent but not a great player – where does he play?’Shambles’ – Luke Littler savages Man Utd in one word over Bruno Fernandes transfer links and gives Amorim verdict”He’s a bit mad in that he just runs all over the place, like a kid in the school yard. “The best player in the school yard doing everything but in a really poor team. “I don’t think he’s ever had any discipline in those No.10 positions.”The £100m could go a long way to helping the club recruit fresh faces to try and move them back up to the top end of the table.However, manager Ruben Amorim believes his talisman could stay at the club to lead the revolution.Speaking to in a press conference during Man Utd’s frantic post-season tour of Asia, he said: “We’ve talked about this many times. You can see by his [Bruno Fernandes’] performances. Read More on The Sun”You can see by his leadership.“You can see the passion he has for the game. In difficult moments, Bruno is the guy who takes responsibility. He should do it because he is the captain.”Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford More

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      Ruben Amorim ‘demands Man Utd sign ANOTHER attacking midfielder after Matheus Cunha’ in hint Bruno Fernandes will quit

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      RUBEN AMORIM has told the Manchester United board to sign another attacking midfielder this summer after Matheus Cunha, reports suggest.The Red Devils look set to land Cunha, 26, after agreeing terms on a payment structure for the Wolves star’s £62.5million release clause.Ruben Amorim has told Man Utd transfer chiefs to sign another attacking midfielderCredit: GettyBruno Fernandes could be leaving this summerCredit: GettyMatheus Cunha is set to join for £62.5mCredit: PABryan Mbeumo has also been linked with a stunning transferCredit: GettyHowever, with Bruno Fernandes mulling over whether to leave the club amid interest and a £100m offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Amorim has urged club chiefs to sign another attacker.Fernandes, 30, was the Red Devils’ top scorer and creator, with 19 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.Man Utd desperately struggled to score goals despite the Portuguese’s exploits, and more firepower is at the top of the agenda this summer.That led them to buying 26-year-old Cunha from Wolves after his 15-goal Premier League season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut according to sport journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on the United Stand, Amorim has made it clear to transfer chiefs Christopher Vivell and Jason Wilcox that signing just one new recruit is not enough.Amorim has demanded that ANOTHER attack-minded midfielder – whether that be an advanced central midfielder or No10 – be signed in addition to the Brazilian.Jacobs then said that Man Utd are in the chase to land Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo, but will need to fend off rival interest from Newcastle.He said: “Newcastle and Man United, I’m told are the main suitors for Bryan Mbeumo… Another 10 [as well as Cunha] could be possible.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKEarlier this week reports suggested the Bees had set a £50m price tag on the 25-year-old, who contributed 27 goals and assists to the Bees Prem campaign.Thomas Frank has hinted he is up for sale, but will only go for a “nice amount”.Matheus Cunha gifts Wolves team-mates Joao Gomes and Andre a Rolex ahead of Man Utd transferFrank told Viaplay: “It is clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount. It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot.”Then it is clear that it is impossible to replace him one for one. It cannot be done. There is a reason why he costs X number of million pounds, and we do not have X number of million pounds to buy for.“I would say that I would be surprised if a lot of big clubs don’t look at him. I would be surprised with what he has to offer. How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club?”And then with seven assists plus his work ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player.”Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordTransfers this summer will be led by Jason WilcoxCredit: AlamyBrentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted Mbeumo is up for saleCredit: Getty More

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      Emi Martinez ‘up for challenge of joining Man Utd’ to replace Onana but ‘big clubs queuing up’ to sign Aston Villa star

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      EMI MARTINEZ is the kind of huge character Manchester United need to restore their battered reputation as a global superpower.And the good news for United boss Ruben Amorim is the world’s No 1 keeper would be up for the challenge — if Aston Villa decide to cash in this summer.Emi Martinez could leave Aston Villa this summerCredit: GettyAndre Onana has endured a difficult season at Man UtdCredit: GettyThat is  the word from Neil Cutler, Martinez’s old coach at Villa, who remains close pals with his former star pupil.Cutler, 48, said: “This summer is pivotal for Emi in terms of his career.“He’s been voted the best goalie in the world twice and there seems to be an opportunity for him this summer, with all of his options open.”Big clubs are queuing up to speak to him and he either stays at a massive club like Villa or he goes to a truly world-class club.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“I don’t think it’s about money with Emi so I don’t think he is ready to move to Saudi yet.“If he does move it would be to a much bigger club — one of the really big-hitters like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico… or even Manchester United.”Martinez, 32, fuelled speculation when he broke down in tears and  took a bow in front of the Holte End after Villa’s final home game of the season.Some feared it was a farewell and since then he was  linked with a  lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKUnited, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also rumoured to be keen.Martinez’s contract runs until 2029 but a bid of £40million or more would ease Villa’s PSR concerns.Emi Martinez in tears as he waves goodbye to fans after Aston Villa’s final home gameThe Villans have been linked with moves for Lille stopper Lucas Chevalier, Espanyol’s Joan Garcia and Nice’s Marcin Bulka.Cutler believes this could be one of the rare moments in football when a move could suit everyone.Amorim certainly needs a new keeper after Andre Onana looked weak at Tottenham’s Europa League final winner again and Martinez could be the inspirational figure he is searching for.”United can’t offer him Champions League football but the sheer size of the club and the size of the challenge might appeal to Emi,” said Cutler, now in charge of Wolves’ goalkeepers.”Emi has the confidence required to play for a massive club like United and would feel he could affect the club in a really positive way.”He would look at United and say: ‘Right, I can make this place better. I can help this club get back to where it was.”HE THRIVES ON THE BIGGEST OCCASIONS'”He’s all about the challenge, he’s all about the drive and the desire so I think United would suit him.”He thrives on the biggest occasions and could play for any team in the world as he’s shown by winning the World Cup and Copa America with Argentina.”He would be a comfortable fit at United and would hit the ground running.”It’s all down to what Villa want but, at 32, they will know this is when they can get the maximum return on him. If they hold off until next year they’d get less.”Unai needs a possession-based goalie and the keepers he’s been linked with are top class and younger.”It could be one of those times when it suits all parties.Read More on The Sun”I’m a big Villa fan so I’d love to see him stay – and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Emi lifting the Europa League trophy for Villa in 12 months time.”But I also want to see him play at the highest level possible and, if one of the really big hitters comes knocking, then he could have a huge decision to make.”Martinez, 32, has become renowned for his unusual anticsCredit: GettyThe Argentine is a fan favourite at Villa ParkCredit: Getty More

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      Ruben Amorim certain Bruno Fernandes will REJECT £100m Saudi transfer as he needs to play in ‘best league in the world’

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      RUBEN AMORIM believes Bruno Fernandes wants to stay at Manchester United — despite a £100MILLION offer from Saudi Arabia.Fernandes’ agent, Miguel Pinho, held talks with Saudi side Al-Hilal at a Riyadh hotel on Thursday over a £700,000-a-week package for the United captain.Bruno Fernandes’ agent has held talks over a move to Al-HilalCredit: GettyRuben Amorim believes his captain will stayCredit: Shutterstock EditorialIt would make him one of the world’s highest-paid players.But Red Devils boss Amorim has a “feeling” the Portuguese midfielder, 30, will stay at Old Trafford — and that the club can raise funds elsewhere despite failing to qualify for Europe.Fernandes played the first-half of United’s 3-1 post-season friendly win over Hong Kong.And when asked if it was the skipper’s final game for the club, Amorim said: “I don’t think so. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“I don’t know for sure, nobody knows, but I don’t think so.“He is seeing us taking some actions to change all the things and I think that is all that he wants to stay.“He’s saying ‘no’ to a lot of things, but it shows that he wants to win.”He’s really young, he’s really good. He needs to be in the best league in the world.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThe Europa League final loss to Spurs capped a disastrous season and threatens to damage Amorim’s rebuild, which includes a £62.5m deal for Wolves’ Matheus Cunha.United player of the year Fernandes admitted after the loss in Bilbao that the club could end up cashing in on him, with Al-Hilal pushing to sign the playmaker ahead of next month’s Club World Cup.Ruben Amorim breaks silence over futures of Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro GarnachoAsked whether United could turn down such a fee, Amorim — who saw Chido Obi (twice) and Ayden Heaven score against Hong Kong — added: “Yes. We can find another way to earn money.“I’m the manager, I’m the coach but sometimes it’s the decision of the player.“I just have that feeling that he wants to stay.”Defender Harry Maguire, though, admits “a lot of players” will be shown the door after the club finished 15th in the Prem.He said: “We will make a lot of changes in the summer. There will be a lot of players who leave and hopefully a lot will come in.“And that’s down to the club to make sure they get that right and it’s down to us players to make sure we are the ones involved.”Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford More

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      Why Liam Delap chose Chelsea transfer over Man Utd… and it’s all thanks to sacked former Blues manager

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      THE reason why Liam Delap snubbed Manchester United in favour of Chelsea has reportedly been revealed.Delap, 22, is set to join the Blues and the deal could be announced as early as next week.Liam Delap has decided to join ChelseaCredit: GettyThomas Tuchel convinced Chelsea is the right moveCredit: GettyChelsea will trigger the £30million buy option in the Ipswich striker’s contract, which became available following their relegation from the Premier League.The fee and personal terms were not going to be an issue for Man Utd – but Delap has opted for a move to Stamford Bridge instead.Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that the player has chosen Chelsea due to their former boss Thomas Tuchel.He claims that the England manager told Delap that playing in the Champions League would boost his chances of making the Three Lions squad heading to next summer’s World Cup.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd those words appear to have helped him make up his mind.Everton were also in for Delap, but like the Red Devils, they could also not offer European football.Man Utd fans reacted: “Did Tuchel forget to tell him he needs to be actually playing in the Champions League not sitting on the bench.”Another added: “He made the wrong decision, if he performed as the main man in the United shirt he would definitely get the call up.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSA third wrote: “Politics in football because he has coached Chelsea before.”Delap scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League games for Ipswich this season.BBC pundit names England’s long-term successor to Harry Kane after Premier League star’s ‘bullying’ performance He is set to battle the likes of Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke to be Harry Kane’s understudy at the World Cup.Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford More