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Arsenal transfer stunner and embarrassing Man United mistake among biggest free transfer losses

Trent Alexander-Arnold will reportedly leave Liverpool for Real Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the season. As you can imagine, the Anfield faithful have reacted in a completely normal way and they wish their academy graduate – who has won everything with them – nothing but the best.

There have been some huge players walk on a Bosman over the years and Alexander-Arnold would arguably be the biggest ever to depart a Premier League club. If he does indeed join Los Blancos, he would certainly replace a former teammate as the biggest in the Reds’ Premier League history.

We have picked the biggest free transfer exit for each of the 20 Premier League sides.

Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey
If we did not restrict it to Bosman transfers, there would be a plethora of options for Arsenal. Mesut Ozil, ex-captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and club-record signing at the time Nicolas Pepe all had their contracts terminated, but did not leave on a Jean-Marc.

Ramsey leaving was disappointing but nobody could blame him; the wages Juventus offered him were extraordinary and only a fool would have said no, especially taking into account it is a huge European club he was joining. It’s a shame it didn’t work a hero in two FA Cup finals.

Aston Villa: Thomas Hitzlsperger
Ron Vlaar, Brad Friedel, Nigel Reo-Coker and Mark Bosnich were all considered but a wise man once told me, ‘If in doubt, go for Der Hammer’.

The midfielder returned to Germany with Stuttgart following the expiry of his Villa contract in 2005. He did come back to England, signing for West Ham in July 2010 and spending the majority of 2012/13 at Everton.

Bournemouth: Jefferson Lerma
Lloyd Kelly might have prevailed through recency bias but Lerma’s departure was hardly ideal for Bournemouth in their preparation for returning to the top flight.

He was a linchpin in the Cherries midfield and has been an inspirational free transfer signing for Crystal Palace.

MORE: Every Premier League club’s best free transfer signing EVER

Brentford: Christian Eriksen
It doesn’t matter that there are barely any options for Brentford because Eriksen is the clear winner.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur playmaker had to leave Serie A after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 and Brentford offered him a return to the Premier League, which was perfect in every way. The large Danish contingent would have helped Eriksen settle back into a competitive setting and the Bees were nowhere near bad enough for Eriksen to snub them and not good enough for there to be any chance of making him look out of his depth.

Despite wanting to keep him beyond the six-month contract he signed in January 2022, Brentford could not convince Eriksen to sign and the midfielder went to Manchester United.

Brighton: Jose Izquierdo
Enock Mwepu obviously does not count but is worth a mention considering the horrendous circumstances that ended his career while at Brighton.

Albion were a tricky one but we are pretty content with Izquierdo’s inclusion. What a throwback that is, by the way.

Davy Propper was originally our first choice but no Bosman means no inclusion. It threw a spanner in the works when it became clear he was still under contract when he left.

Chelsea: Antonio Rudiger
Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen, Willian, Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, N’Golo Kante, Hernan Crespo, Nicolas Anelka, Andriy Shevchenko… Chelsea are comfortably the club with the most options.

Losing a prime Antonio Rudiger would have stung though. The German centre-back spent five years at Stamford Bridge before being snapped up by Real Madrid for nothing.

Crystal Palace: Wilfried Zaha
No contest here. Zaha is Palace’s greatest player of all time. He left when his contract expired in the summer of 2023, joining Turkish giants Galatasaray in an ambitious move for Champions League football.

After years of transfer stories linking him with a move to Arsenal, Zaha could not shine in Turkey and was loaned out to French side Lyon after a season. That did not go to plan either and he is now playing under Dean Smith for Charlotte FC in MLS.

Everton: Wayne Rooney
Obviously not the first time because that was for a transfer fee, but the second time Rooney left Everton is probably their most significant Bosman loss of the Premier League era.

Rooney scored an impressive ten goals in 30 league matches in 2017/18. Not only was his Goodison Park exit felt, but his arrival in the United States to play for D.C. United was as well. He would later go on to manage the MLS side for 453 days.

Fulham: Tosin Adarabioyo
Fulham screwed the pooch by letting Moussa Dembele join Celtic but that is more of a regret than a big transfer. Tosin Adarabioyo left the Cottagers for west London rivals Chelsea last summer in his prime years. It was gutting for Marco Silva but they have done just fine with Joachim Andersen returning as his replacement.

Ipswich: Sylvain Legwinski
It was always going to be difficult to find someone Ipswich regretfully released while they were a Premier League club and it turns out there was literally nobody worth mentioning. As a result, we have copped out and picked the player with the highest market value on Transfermarkt to leave the Tractor Boys for nothing. That man is Sylvain Legwinski, who departed after the 2007/08 campaign and did not find a club until the following April before spending a few months at St. Neots Town.

Leicester: Youri Tielemans
Caglar Soyuncu was an unfortunate loss but nothing comes close to Tielemans’ exit at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Belgian left as a club legend after his FA Cup final winner in 2021. He was linked with Arsenal for bloody ages but ended up joining Aston Villa. After a difficult first year under Unai Emery, Tielemans is back to being one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Liverpool: Gini Wijnaldum
Emre Can certainly came to mind, especially as a younger player, but we think Liverpool lost more when Wijnaldum for Paris Saint-Germain in a 2021 summer transfer window that also included the signings of Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sergio Ramos. It is no surprise Wijnaldum’s arrival was overlooked.

The Dutch midfielder is now 34 and living the life in Saudi Arabia.

Manchester City: Ilkay Gundogan
Apologies for snubbing Sergio Aguero and Pep Guardiola’s ‘we cannoh replace him’ crocodile tears, but Gundogan is an easy choice. Alongside Erling Haaland, he was probably City’s most important player in their Treble-winning 2022/23 campaign, with his last job as City captain being to lift the Champions League trophy.

The German returned after a year at Barcelona but he isn’t as good anymore. We thought he would be fantastic as well…

In terms of successful free transfer signings, James Milner’s move from City to Liverpool is certainly up there, but that is not what we are looking at so I will shut up.

Manchester United: Paul Pogba
The difficult years that followed Peter Schmeichel’s departure in 1999 make him worth an honourable mention at least, but the fact Pogba left on a free transfer twice shades it for him.

Pogba’s time at Manchester United was riddled with discourse. On His Day, he was a world beater. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, he was pretty much only ever On His Day for France.

The best part of it all is obviously that Man United let Pogba join Juventus for nothing in 2012, re-signed him for a world-record £89million four years later, then let him join Juventus for nothing AGAIN in 2022.

United giving him a fat new contract and then losing him to that doping ban might have been overkill, even for them.

READ MORE: Antony, Sancho, Di Maria bottom five: Ranking all 65 Man Utd signings since Sir Alex retired in 2013

Newcastle: Jonas Gutierrez
Gutierrez’s exit in 2015 was emblematic of what Newcastle were under Mike Ashley’s ownership. The Argentine kept the Magpies in the Premier League after returning to the team following a bout with cancer and ended up being released over the phone by John Carver.

“John Carver rang me and told me the club weren’t going to offer me a new deal,” Ryan Taylor said at the time. “Then he asked me to pass the phone to Jonas, which was unbelievable… I can’t really blame John because he’s under instructions on what to do.”

Classy.

Nottingham Forest: Stuart Pearce
Despite all the fuss surrounding his arrival, Jesse Lingard was nowhere near good enough to be Forest’s pick, was he?

Psycho was a fair bit older than Lingard but desperate times lead to desperate measures. After spending 12 years at the club, Pearce walked on a Bosman in 1997.

It was a difficult final season for Pearce, who assumed caretaker player-manager duty following Frank Clark’s resignation. The role was eventually shared with Dave Bassett but Forest went down and a 35-year-old Pearce wanted out, joining Newcastle United.

Southampton: Stuart Armstrong
We got a bit stuck. This always happens with our one-per-club features.

Tottenham Hotspur: Sol Campbell
The most famous free transfer in Premier League history. Your Fabrizio Romanos of today would have got in there before Big Sol could rock up for a press conference announcing his astonishing transfer from Spurs to Arsenal in 2001, which left everyone and their nan absolutely shook.

Campbell had previously told fans he was staying but turned down the chance to become Spurs’ highest-paid player to fulfil his dream of playing in the Champions League. There was nothing to indicate Arsenal were even in contention for his signature but stunned journalists witnessed the sensational and iconic unveiling.

Campbell became an Arsenal Invincible and legend, while he remains a ‘Judas’ in the white half of north London.

MORE: Top ten greatest Premier League free transfers ever: Liverpool dominate and Zlatan scrapes in

West Ham: Ben Johnson
It is surprising how rubbish the options for West Ham are. If you have any better suggestions, we are all for hearing them.

Our logic is simple: London lad, been at the club since the age of seven, but most importantly in modern times, was someone the Hammers could have sold for pure profit. Opportunity. Missed.

Wolves: Adama Traore
Adama’s future was a talking point for bloody ages. Spurs were in the mix for a while and many anticipated a move to a big club when his Wolves contract expired in 2023. Alas, he signed for Fulham.

Wolves could have secured a decent fee for the Spanish winger and were gutted to lose him for nothing.

United linked manager seen as one of “the best in the world” to sign lucrative extension at current club – report

Manchester United linked coach Simone Inzaghi has agreed a significant salary increase to stay at Inter Milan.

Whilst United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly backed Ruben Amorim to stay at the club next season, there continue to be rumours about the Portuguese’s future.

The Red Devils currently sit 13th in the league table and look unlikely to finish in the top half with only nine matches left to play.

There is still the avenue of a trophy and a route into the Champions League next season via a Europa League win but that is still a potential five matches away, as the team are currently preparing to take on Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals.

Before the appointment of Amorim, there were reports that Inter Milan coach Inzaghi was a “serious contender” and it was even claimed that the manager had agreed to become the coach at Old Trafford in 2025/2026, which obviously turned out not to be the case.

More recently, it has also been reported that United were eyeing the coach ahead of next season in case they decided to part ways with Amorim in the near future.

Nonetheless, the high-flying Inter coach is seemingly off the table for now as he is about to sign a new deal at his current club.

Corriere della Sera report that whilst the Italian’s contract expires in the summer of 2026, Inter president Beppe Marotta recently stressed, “the renewal of the agreement is a formality. He is among the best in the world.”

According to the outlet, “Inter are ready to offer Inzaghi an extension until 2027, bringing his base salary to €7.5 million and with bonuses that could see his salary reach the €10 million mark.”

Inter want to reward the great from of the Italian whose side are top of Serie A, in the quarter finals of the Champions League and semi-finals of the domestic cup.

What’s more, according to the Italian outlet Chelsea, Arsenal and United have all expressed interest in the 48 year old manager lately and they want to fend off any potential threat of a move for their league winning coach.

The deal will also make Inzaghi the highest paid coach in Italy.

Featured image Marco Luzzani via Getty Images


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Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.

This is the back three of United’s future, Amorim must back them to finish the season – opinion

With the appointment of Ruben Amorim in November, Manchester United have committed to a back three that has had its problems but it has also shored up the defence in comparison to the hectic days of Erik ten Hag.

Unluckily for United, they have continued to have numerous injuries this season in the centre of defence with only summer signing Matthijs de Ligt being available to play all season.

They lost Lisandro Martinez to a devastating ACL injury that will likely see him out of action until well into next season.

There was also great concern as Ayden Heaven picked up a serious-looking injury in the last game before the international break against Leicester City but recent reports seem to suggest the young January signing will be back in the not so distant future.

In addition, there have even been reports that Luke Shaw may even return to action very soon, further boosting United’s numbers in defence.

In the best case scenario, the Red Devils have 14 matches left to play, 11 for sure as they have nine more fixtures in the Premier League and at least two legs of their Europa League quarter final against Olympique Lyonnais. They will also hope there are two semi final matches and a trip to Bilbao in the final to come.

Moving forward, Ruben Amorim will have some tough choices on who will play in the back three and will surely rotate to give some rest to players before the vital Europa League ties.

Nonetheless, the first choice back three should be clear, Ayden Heaven at left centre back, Matthijs de Ligt in the middle role and Leny Yoro on the right.

The most obvious choice is De Ligt. The Dutchman has had his fair share of critics this season but as previously mentioned, he has held down the fort while the rest of his partners have all missed extended game time. In fact, the 25 year old has played 27 out of United’s 29 league games and 39 in all competitions.

He has turned himself into a true leader and has certainly added some grit and steel to United’s rather flimsy backline.

There have also been real improvements in the defence despite the poor league position. United tend to concede stupid goals down to defensive or goalkeeping errors but statistically and the eye test generally show defensive improvement this year in comparison to last, at least in terms of defending as a unit, and De Ligt is a big reason for this.

United have conceded 40 goals this season which is comparable to a lot of good teams. Manchester City have conceded the same and Nottingham Forest, currently third, have conceded just five fewer goals. Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa have both let in more, despite being ahead of Amorim’s side in the table.

The bigger question comes on either side of the Dutchman. Leny Yoro has had his growing pains this season, in particular a chastening experience against Southampton attacker Kamaldeen Sulemana in January when Southampton came to Old Trafford but on the whole, he has shown strong progress.

The young French star is widely acknowledged as one of the premiere defensive talents in the game and it would be a strange choice to deny him the first team chances in numerous league games that will not mean much in the long run.

What’s more, he has also impressed in some of United’s biggest games this season and would likely stand tall in vital Europa League matches too.

Despite only making his debut in December due to an injury picked up in pre-season he has played 21 matches and has really solidified himself as a potential first team player for years to come.

His speed and ability on the ball is also very necessary to complement De Ligt who whilst not slow, is hardly the most rapid centre back. In addition, Yoro’s height is also another effective tool to defend set pieces into the box.

The final spot is probably the hardest to fill without Lisandro Martinez. Harry Maguire, while not everyone’s cup of tea, has had a decent season and has scored some important goals for his side this season once again.

The 32 year old has managed 28 matches this season and has found a role for himself in Amorim’s back three but he should only be a rotation option and should play more in the Premier League until the end of the season.

With the likely good news that Ayden Heaven’s injury is not too serious, he should be given the nod. Yes, he has only played four senior games for the club and is only 18 years old. Nonetheless, he has dazzled in his limited action. He was outstanding against Leicester City before going off injured and he was also impressive in matches against tough opponents, Arsenal and Real Sociedad.

The English talent is strong on the ball, fast and seems to be capable of making mature decisions under pressure for one so young.

Furthermore, United are in rebuild mode and with a limited budget in the summer, they need to see if these young defenders are ready to be starting players. Playing the likes of Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire regularly will teach Amorim and the club little.

If Heaven proves to be unready, then another first team centre back is probably required in the summer but if he can prove his worth then the club may be content to sign a cheaper back up option to replace Lindelof and Jonny Evans or even promote from within such as Godwill Kukonki.

United must challenge now but build for the future and that is exactly what a 25 year old De Ligt, 19 year old Yoro and 18 year old Heaven represent.

Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images


Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.

Garnacho and Ronaldo at 20: how do they compare?

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Friday 28 March 2025 10:00

Alejandro Garnacho’s goal against Leicester City earlier this month was the Argentina international’s first in 24 games. But it also carried another note of significance.

The 14th Premier League goal of Garnacho’s young career means that he has now equalled the tally that his great hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, racked up before his 21st birthday.

In all competitions, the apprentice is even ahead of where Ronnie was, with 24 United goals to the Portuguese’s 22.

Garnacho does not turn 21 until Tuesday 1 July and, given United are still fighting hard in both the Premier League and the Europa League, the Academy graduate has further time to improve his goals total.

Garna’s 14 Premier League goals before 21 Video

Garna’s 14 Premier League goals before 21

Alejandro Garnacho has scored 14 Premier League goals before the age of 21, equalling the output of Cristiano Ronaldo…

What does it all mean? Well, that’s down to your own interpretation.

But the fact that Garnacho’s career trajectory is comparable with a player who went on to establish himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time does feel like something worth highlighting, particularly after a tricky barren run for Alejandro.

It barely needs to be said, but this is an unforgiving period for United players, with the team enduring its worst league season since the Premier League was founded in 1992.

We suffered a relatively lean period after Ronaldo joined in the summer of 2003 but ‘relative’ is very much the key word there: our league finishes in CR7’s first three campaigns were third, third and second.

Players like Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were integral figures, while Ruud van Nistelrooy led the forward line. Most players in that roll call would be considered an all-time club legend. Sir Alex Ferguson was, of course, still our unwavering, stable manager.

Garnacho and his colleagues have not enjoyed such stability, but still the diminutive forward has contributed in a big way, in difficult circumstances.

Ronaldo was allowed space and time to develop by Ferguson, even being afforded breaks from first-team involvement.

Garnacho has already played 131 games in all competitions, to the 122 Ronaldo notched before turning 21. In the Premier League, he has appeared in 85 games to Cristiano’s 82. Barring injury, those gaps will increase over the next two months.

Will Garna go on to match the United and Real Madrid legend’s umpteen Ballon d’Ors and numerous Champions League trophies? We hope so. But that will be down to many different factors, and not all of them will be within the player’s control.

But, for us fans, Garnacho’s impressive figures should elicit respect and patience. We’re expecting a lot from this lad, and so far he has delivered plenty. But let’s not forget the challenges of the period of United history in which he is learning his trade.

When Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford for the 2006/07 season, his fourth campaign, he hit a three-year run of form that the Premier League still acclaims to this day. That period delivered three consecutive titles for our club, plus a Champions League and a Club World Cup.

No-one is expecting Garnacho to match that same, infernal pace over the next couple of years. But the steady rise of Ronaldo between 2003-2006 teaches us that even all-time greatness must be encouraged, nurtured and, more than anything, supported.

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Friday 28 March 2025 10:00

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Man Utd ‘regret’ signing ‘downright useless’ flop as Red Devils ‘already want him out’

Man Utd are ready to offload Joshua Zirkzee in the summer transfer window after his underwhelming start to life at Old Trafford, according to reports.

The Red Devils have had a miserable season under Ruben Amorim after the Man Utd board made the decision to sack Erik ten Hag at the end of October.

Amorim has won just six of his 18 Premier League matches in charge of the Red Devils as his players struggle to get to grips with his style of play, philosophy and tactics.

Only five Premier League clubs have scored fewer goals than Man Utd this season with Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund coming in for a lot of criticism.

The duo have only scored six Premier League goals between them and now Spanish website Fichajes claims that Man Utd ‘regret’ signing’ Zirkzee – who arrived from B0logna in the summer for £36.5m – and the club ‘already want him out’.

The Netherlands international’s ‘future at Old Trafford appears to be numbered’ after ‘failing to justify the investment in his first season in the Premier League’.

Zirkzee’s performances have ‘fallen far short of expectations’ this season and Man Utd are ‘willing to listen to offers to let him leave in the upcoming winter transfer window’.

His six goals in all competitions has ‘raised doubts among the coaching staff and board, who do not see the player as a key player in the team’s immediate future.’

The report continues:

‘The competition in attack, coupled with his lack of consistency, has left him in a difficult position. The possibility of a sale is already being considered in the offices if an offer is received that would allow for a recovery of part of the investment made.

‘Zirkzee, who arrived with high expectations from Italian football, has failed to adapt to United’s pace and demands. Unless the dynamic changes radically in the coming weeks, his time at the club looks set to be short.’

MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
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The reports come after former Man Utd defender Paul Parker labelled Zirkzee and his team-mate Alejandro Garnacho as “downright useless”.

Parker told SpilXpertan: “I can definitely understand if clubs are lining up to sign him. Arsenal could really use a creative player like him. He has been significantly better than [Martin] Odegaard this season, and the rest of their midfield is nowhere near creative enough.

“Manchester United could also use him in the attacking midfield role, and he would obviously go straight into the starting lineup. Garnacho and Zirkzee have played that position a lot, but they are downright useless.

“[Bruno] Fernandes is the only creative midfielder, and he would link up well with Damsgaard. Maybe Fernandes could even drop deeper so that Fernandes, Damsgaard, and Amad could all be on the pitch at the same time.

“If I were Damsgaard, though, I would really hesitate before signing with Manchester United. He can just ask his Danish friends if they enjoy being at the club. They would probably say no and advise him to stay far away from ‘Circus United.’”

United only have Newcastle to beat to land electric 19-goal Bundesliga striker – report

Eintracht Frankfurt are keen to keep Manchester United striker target Hugo Ekitike at the club this summer.

The Red Devils want to add a number nine to their squad in the upcoming transfer window due to the paucity of goals they have scored this season.

Both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to hit the back of the net enough and it has been decided that the club needs another attacker.

United have been linked to more senior options such as Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres, but it has recently been reported that the Swede rejected a move to Old Trafford in January.

They could also go down a younger path such as Liam Delap if they do not qualify for the Champions League next season via winning the Europa League.

One youthful attacking option that the Red Devils have been said to be interested in is French striker Hugo Ekitike and there have been some reports suggesting that he might be leaving Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.

Nonetheless, Football Insider have reported a couple of major obstacles to United’s move for the young French star.

The outlet claims that “Frankfurt are planning to keep Ekitike at the club beyond the summer transfer window but are bracing for offers for the striker this summer.”

A recent hat-trick against England under 21s has only added to his already growing reputation but the Bundesliga club “will demand a top price in an attempt to deter rival interest and are unlikely to be open to negotiations which would see his price fall.”

Even if the Germans did eventually agree to sell him, United will face competition from at least one rival in the Premier League.

Football Insider claims that “Newcastle United have also held a long-term interest in the forward after they were beaten to his signing by PSG in 2022.”

The French forward has been in imperious form this season, scoring 19 goals and providing eight assists in 38 matches in all competitions.

Featured image Alex Grimm via Getty Images


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Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.

Preview: FA Youth Cup semi-final

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Friday 28 March 2025 09:00

On Monday, our talented Under-18s side — reigning English champions — will continue writing their own chapter in the wonderful tale of Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup.

With three five-goal wins and a dramatic extra-time triumph at Arsenal, confidence is high among our young Reds.

“Everyone’s really excited about the game,” said lead coach Adam Lawrence.

“This competition obviously means a lot to the players and the club, and to get to this stage of it and be playing in a really good semi-final game against really good opposition in Aston Villa at Villa Park, there’s not much to not get excited about!

“We need to be really focused around our work and what we’re doing and our planning and preparation around the game but there’s definitely a buzz around the group and the training ground in general.

FA Youth Cup: The story so far Video

FA Youth Cup: The story so far

FA YOUTH CUP PREVIEW | The story so far, as told by our U18 players ahead of next Monday’s Villa Park semi-final…

“The players are really aware of the players who’ve played in this in the past and the success we’ve had in the competition. I think the boys want to give the best account of themselves and every youth-team player remembers their Youth Cup years. There’s a lot that goes on within the programme and a lot of competitions, but the FA Youth Cup is one that the boys definitely look forward to and enjoy.”

HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW

With apologies to MUTV subscribers, we are unable to show Monday’s game due to FA regulations. Aston Villa, as the home team, are permitted to do so, and the FA will stream the 19:00 BST kick-off on their YouTube channel and the FA Player.

Instead, we will offer updates, interviews, highlights and reaction from Villa Park.

Fans wishing to attend the game are encouraged to do so and can buy their tickets from Aston Villa’s website, here. Please buy your tickets in sections B2 and B3, where our supporters have been asked to congregate.

The support of the travelling Reds at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in the quarter-final meant a lot to the players and staff.

“There was a nice moment — it wasn’t nice at the time! — when we were 2-1 down and it was just in that period where we looked like we might be running out of ideas and you could hear singing coming from the crowd,” Lawrence recalled.

“And I realised it was the Man United fans, it wasn’t the Arsenal fans!

“People can’t take it for granted how much the players appreciate the support from all the supporters and that extra bit of energy that it gives them.”

THE CHALLENGE AHEAD

“The tie is nicely balanced in terms of what you’d expect in this competition,” Lawrence said.

“It’s two really good teams littered with good players. It’s about performing on the day. I think it’ll be a really good spectacle and advert for youth football and, naturally, we want to put in a performance and get across the line.”

Furthermore, United and Villa rarely meet at this age group, as we compete in the Under-18 Premier League northern division, with Villa in the southern. While the teams have faced off in a friendly in recent years, it’s a fantastic opportunity for both sides to come up against new direct opponents.

Under-18s lead coach Adam Lawrence has enjoyed a stellar time in charge since summer 2023.

WHAT THE PLAYERS HAVE SAID

“Last season was very disappointing to get knocked out in round four,” said right-back Jaydan Kamason at Old Trafford, when previewing the game for us.

“We were the favourites and we fell short. This season, we’ve started really well. There’s still a long way to go in the semis and the final but we have scored a lot of goals, we’ve played well as a team, and we want to keep that going at Villa Park.

“I think the competition just holds a lot of weight. It’s a very prestigious tournament and, obviously, United have won a lot of Youth Cups in the past. We want to be our own team. Everyone’s watching when you play in the Youth Cup, especially when you get to the latter rounds, and we want to show what we’re capable of.”

THE STORY SO FAR

ROUND THREE: 5-1 v COVENTRY CITY (Biancheri 3, Obi 2) – 18 December

Seeking to right the wrong of both last season’s early exit and the previous week’s UEFA Youth League defeat, United wasted little time by scoring three goals in the opening 13 minutes.

“It’s always nice to get a dominant performance in the first game,” reviewed Lawrence.

“The boys attacked them in a variety of ways. Once we got that lead, it was about the good habits, being professional in the right moments. We did that, killed the game off and were comfortable.”

ROUND FOUR: 5-2 v PRESTON NORTH END (J. Fletcher, Munro, Obi 2, Ibragimov) – 17 January

Another fast start at Leigh established a four-goal half-time lead against PNE, who had put four past Liverpool in the previous round. United overcame the visitors’ second-half resurgence to triumph.

“The boys got into a rhythm well,” Lawrence said.

“With a four-goal half-time lead you want to maintain that, but there’s some lessons for our lads because Preston did well. They tested us.”

U18s highlights: United v Chelsea Video

U18s highlights: United v Chelsea

U18s HIGHLIGHTS | See the best action from our FA Youth Cup fifth-round tie against Chelsea…

ROUND FIVE: 5-1 v CHELSEA (Obi 3, Scanlon 2) – 12 February

After going behind, United showed grit, composure and then real quality to establish a 3-1 half-time lead and prove themselves against the toughest opposition yet. James Scanlon scored two and Chido Obi a clinical hat-trick in an impressive, hard-working team performance that left little doubt as to United’s potential for further Youth Cup success.

“It was a real team effort,” explained Lawrence.

“But also a really good night for the goalscorers. Obviously, Chido is a natural goalscorer, but I was really pleased with his link-up play – not just stretching and running in behind but recognising when to show into feet,  how to use his body to shield the ball and when to bring others into play. And it was nice for Scanners because he got the rewards for the runs he was making.”

QUARTER-FINAL: 3-2 v ARSENAL (J. Fletcher, Kamason, Mantato) – 28 February

Jack Fletcher opened the scoring in north London but the hosts turned the game around, forcing Lawrence’s side into a typical United comeback. Kamason’s excellent finish ensured an additional 30 minutes, during which substitute Bendito Mantato scored the winner.

U18s progress in the FA Youth Cup Video

U18s progress in the FA Youth Cup

🤩 ACADEMY REACTION | Our Under-18s are into the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup and the lads are absolutely buzzing…

ASTON VILLA’S JOURNEY

Monday’s opponents are in their first semi-final since last winning the competition in 2021.

Jimmy Shan’s side began this year’s campaign with comprehensive victories over Accrington Stanley (6-0) and Newcastle United (4-0) before a tighter 3-2 win over Bristol City in the fifth round. Mason Cotcher was the hero on that day with a hat-trick in a three-goal comeback.

Their quarter-final was a little more comfortable, with the Villans seeing Plymouth Argyle off 3-0 at Villa Park.

Aston Villa are four-time Youth Cup winners, having lifted the trophy in 1972, 1980, 2002 and 2021, and finished runners-up on a further three occasions in 1978, 2004 and 2010.

FA YOUTH CUP FORMAT

The FA Youth Cup mirrors the format of the FA Cup, the world’s longest-running national football competition, first played in the 1871/72 season. The Youth Cup began some time later in 1952, designed to encourage development of young players at clubs across the country.

Premier League and Championship sides join the competition at the third-round stage. The games are one-off occasions and, should the match be drawn after 90 minutes, an extra-time period of 30 minutes is played, with a penalty shootout following if necessary.

All players born on or after 1 September 2006 are eligible for selection in the FA Youth Cup, meaning players who are 18 or under.

WHO WILL THE WINNERS PLAY?

The winners of Aston Villa v Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup semi-final will host the winner of Manchester City v Watford in the final. 

FA YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINALS

Aston Villa v Manchester United — Monday 31 March (19:00 BST) — Villa Park

Watford v Manchester City — Thursday 10 April (19:00 BST) — Vicarage Road

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Friday 28 March 2025 09:00

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Man Utd: Mainoo’s camp ‘annoyed by leaks’ amid ‘for the best’ transfer claim as contract talks continue

Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo are now ‘happy with how talks are progressing’ over a new deal at Old Trafford but the academy graduates camp ‘were annoyed by leaks’.

Mainoo has been one of the shining lights for United since breaking into the first team under Erik ten Hag last season, starring in their FA Cup final win over Manchester City before playing a key role for England at Euro 2024.

He’s struggled under new boss Ruben Amorim thanks to injury and poor form as the Portuguese boss struggles to find a suitable spot for him in the team, and disputes over an extension to his £20,000 per week contract amid interest from Chelsea certainly hasn’t helped.

The 19-year-old’s current deal expires in 2027 but he wants a salary in keeping with his value to the team.

Reports have suggested he’s been demanding between £150,000 and £180,000 per week, but new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ‘declared war’ against big contract offers and instead wants players to agree to heavily incentivised deals with lower base pay.

It’s been claimed that policy change has led Mainoo and his representatives to consider his future at the club, and while Chelsea’s interest appears to have gone cold, the England international is reportedly interested in a move abroad to further his career.

United have always maintained that they want to keep Mainoo but would listen to offers given his sale would represent pure profit in their bid to avoid profit and sustainability sanctions as Amorim looks to revamp his squad this summer.

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A report on Thursday claimed the two parties have been ‘in contract negotiations’ since ‘March 2024’, but they ‘could go their separate ways this summer’.

It was claimed that his ‘future is uncertain’ and ‘there is a chance Man Utd could sell him in the summer’.

Regarding ongoing talks, the report states that they are ‘continuing’ but ‘an agreement still hasn’t been reached’.

‘The Manchester Evening News understands there is a genuine chance that Mainoo could leave in the summer.

‘There needs to be a compromise in contract negotiations for Mainoo to stay, which supporters are hoping for, but it’s thought a split might eventually be best for the player and club.

TBR Football now claim that ‘Mainoo’s camp were annoyed by leaks about what a new deal could look like in terms of the player’s weekly salary’, which led to abuse of Mainoo on social media.

But ‘neither Mainoo or United want’ a transfer this summer and ‘there is now confidence from both sides that Mainoo will sign a new deal’, with everyone ‘now happy with how talks are progressing’.

United confirmed as returnees to illustrious summer academy tournament last won in 2022

Manchester United’s return to the annual SuperCupNI has been confirmed.

Famously known by its former name — the Milk Cup, SuperCupNI is a yearly tournament held every summer in Northern Ireland that United have participated in quite regularly since the 1980s.

This year’s competition has been confirmed as taking place from Sunday July 27 to Friday August 1.

United are set to return in the boys’ Premier section which is the U16s age group.

The Chairperson of Budget Energy SuperCupNI, Victor Leonard, said about the tournament, “The 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI is set to be one of the most competitive and exciting tournaments in our 42-year history.

“The return of Manchester United, the defending champions Brighton & Hove Albion and the tournament debuts of Bournemouth and Southampton in the Boys’ Premier Section are a testament to the tournament’s ever-growing reputation on the global stage.”

United will be looking to better their result this year having finished in 6th place last summer but you don’t have to go back far to find United’s last cup-winning side as United lifted the U16s section trophy in 2022.

A number of the 2022 squad are beginning to make a name for themselves in the higher age groups such as Jayce Fitzgerald, Finley McAllister, and James Scanlon, the latter of which is already a senior international for Gibraltar.

Competition will be fierce this year with English sides Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton, and Bournemouth also confirmed as entrants.

Outside of England, Intercontinental FA from the USA, Japanese side Ichifuna and Mexican Liga MX club Tigres UANL will also be present alongside Scottish clubs Rangers and Hamilton Academical.

The American club Intercontinental FA will be a familiar opponent for United having clashed against them last year. The American side had come out on top to claim a 1-2 win in their final group stage match.

It isn’t confirmed yet if United’s girls side will also be returning to the tournament after a successful time last year.

United’s girls U16 side are the reigning SuperCupNI Premier champions after defeating Northern Ireland 2-1 in the finals a year ago.

Feature image Alex Livesey via Getty Images


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A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.

United were close to signing “outstanding” Brazilian ace considered the perfect replacement for legendary PL duo – report

Despite signing Andre Onana as David de Gea’s replacement in 2023, Manchester United are still on the lookout for a commanding presence in between the sticks.

That is because the Cameroonian has kept committing high-profile errors in both his seasons so far and despite publicly backing him, Ruben Amorim is far from pleased.

To add to the complications, backup keeper Altay Bayindir, who has received more minutes under the Portuguese tactician, wants to return back home.

It will not be easy to find the right fit with the Red Devils linked with a move for Lucas Chevalier of Lille, James Trafford and Diogo Costa just to name a few.

Goalkeeper wanted

SportBild have added a brand new name to the list — Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kauã Santos. The Brazilian is only 21 but his shot-stopping has earned him immense praise this term.

Acting as Kevin Trapp’s backup, the former Flamengo ace has managed nine appearances this season and while he has kept a solitary clean sheet, his display against Bayern Munich earned him praise from Bayern legend Thomas Muller, who called him “outstanding“.

The Brazilian national team already sees him as Ederson and Allison’s eventual successor in goal while his former outfit regret the decision to let him leave for a paltry €1.6 million.

Frankfurt will not repeat the same mistake and they feel the Brazil U20 international is far from the finished product and can improve even further.

Which is why they have slapped a €60 million price tag on his head to ward off potential suitors. The Red Devils were one of them, coming close to agreeing a deal last summer.

The Bundesliga side agreed a contract extension until 2030 a week after United expressed their interest, which means the 20-time English league champions will find it hard to come back in for him again given the financial difficulties the club is experiencing currently.

“When Frankfurt goalkeeper Kauã Santos (21) replaced the injured Kevin Trapp (34) in the 3-1 win at Besiktas Istanbul last October and put in an outstanding save, Cláudio Taffarel (58) contacted him.

Brazilian, a legend in the making

“The Brazilians see Santos as a future international and successor to Ederson (31/Manchester City) and Alisson Becker (32/Liverpool).

“Santos is still only at the beginning of his development. Frankfurt believes he has only reached 50 to 60 percent of his potential. According to SPORT BILD, the club is not willing to sell him for less than €60 million.

“Santos’ talent hasn’t gone unnoticed by Europe’s top clubs. Last fall, Manchester United expressed interest in the Brazilian. But he balked. Instead, exactly one week after the match against Besiktas Istanbul, he prematurely extended his contract with Eintracht Frankfurt from 2028 to 2030.”

Amorim desperately needs a striker first and foremost, and if money permits, a midfielder and wingback. The defence is fairly sorted given Ayden Heaven’s impressive form.

Whether INEOS can afford an extensive outlay on the goalkeeping position will depend on Onana’s future. He has been linked with a move away and should he leave for a high fee, there might be a chance United return for Santos.

Feature image Alex Grimm via Getty Images


Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25