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The Chilean forward lit up the Premier League during his time with the Gunners, but failed to transfer that form to Old Trafford

On January 25, 2019, Alexis Sanchez returned to Arsenal for the first time since joining Manchester United in a blockbuster swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan 12 months earlier. Inevitably, Sanchez was painted as the villain heading into the FA Cup fourth-round tie, and his early touches drew widespread boos from the Clock End faithful.

But in the 31st minute, he managed to silence the Emirates with a moment of pure magic. As soon as Romelu Lukaku picked the ball up five yards outside the box, Sanchez sprinted in behind the onrushing Arsenal defence, and the Belgian striker found him with a beautifully disguised pass. Sanchez then proceeded to calmly sidestep Petr Cech before producing a perfectly measured finish from a tight angle to put United in front.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side went on to win the game 3-1, with Jesse Lingard and substitute Anthony Martial also getting in on the act. But this was Sanchez's night, not only because he'd masterminded his former club's downfall, but because it was the first time he really looked like a proper United player.

Unfortunately, he failed to build on that platform. Just seven months later, Sanchez was loaned to Inter and never played for the Red Devils again. Many fans now consider him to be the biggest flop in the club's recent history, but why exactly did his move to Old Trafford go so badly?

As United prepare for a trip to north London to face Arsenal in the FA Cup once again this Sunday, GOAL looks back at Sanchez's torrid spell in Manchester…

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  Ridiculous pay packet – and the piano

  Sanchez committed to a contract at United through to 2022 worth a reported £14 million per year after leaving Arsenal, which saw him become the Premier League's highest-earning player. According to , United also paid the Chilean a £20m ($25m) signing-on fee and another £10m went to his agent, bringing the overall cost of the deal to £93m ($116m).

  Manchester City were also in the running for Sanchez, but ultimately refused to meet his wage demands. United thought they had beaten their rivals to a major coup, with then-manager Jose Mourinho describing Sanchez as "one of the best attacking players in the world" before claiming the 29-year-old "completes our very young and talented group of attacking players."

  The Red Devils were so convinced that Sanchez would be a guaranteed hit at Old Trafford, that their media team even put together a cringe-inducing announcement video with the former Barcelona attacker playing 'Glory Glory Man United' on the piano. Suffice it to say, that clip aged like milk, and became a tool for rival fans to use against Sanchez after every poor performance – of which their were .

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  Very mixed start

  Sanchez scored 80 goals and laid on another 44 in 166 appearances for Arsenal, having initially joined the club from Barca in 2014. Arsene Wenger used Sanchez as a left-winger to start with, but he would go on to prove himself in the No.10 role before eventually being converted into a fully-fledged centre-forward.

  There was a notable drop-off in Sanchez's output in the final six months of his Arsenal career, but he hit 30 goals across all competitions in his last full season at the club, including the crucial opener in a shock 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final. At times, Sanchez looked completely unstoppable; a quick, powerful and elusive forward with ice in his veins – and that's the player United believed they were getting.

  Sanchez started well enough on a cold night in Yeovil, creating two of United's goals in a comfortable 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round win, but came crashing back down to earth on his Premier League debut. Tottenham beat Mourinho's side 2-0 at their temporary Wembley home, and Sanchez failed to muster a single shot, while only touching the ball twice in the Spurs penalty area.

  It was a sign of things to come. Sanchez scored his first goal in the iconic red shirt as United bounced back with a routine 2-0 home win over Huddersfield, but only after getting lucky with a penalty rebound. And eight days later, they lost again, this time at Newcastle, with Sanchez guilty of missing an open goal that would have given his team a vital 1-1 draw. To make matters worse, Sanchez lost possession 36 times in both matches, twice as many as any other United player in a single match up to that point in the season.

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  'Lost confidence and energy'

  Sanchez continued to figure prominently, starting 13 of United's remaining 15 games across all competitions in the 2017-18 campaign, but only mustered two goals. There were still fleeting moments of magic, most notably when Sanchez laid on two superb assists in a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, and he produced a Man-of-the-Match turn as the Red Devils beat Spurs 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-finals.

  But he wasn't the game-changer United wanted, the one who ran defenders ragged with his footwork and fired in shots from all angles in the red of Arsenal. Sanchez seemed afraid to express himself in Mourinho's more defensive set-up, unable to build up any kind of rhythm out wide or in a No.10 role behind Lukaku.

  "I believe he has lost confidence," Wenger said when assessing Sanchez's struggles at Old Trafford on. "The strength of Alexis Sanchez is to show initiative, to dribble, to take people on. These players are the most vulnerable when they have no confidence anymore because their game is based on feeling free to take the initiative. He had a high level of physical energy and he has lost that as well."

  United finished the season 19 points behind champions City, and missed out on silverware after losing the FA Cup final to Chelsea, after which Scholes singled out Sanchez for some stinging criticism. "His performances, well they have to improve," the United legend told . "They can't get any worse to be honest with you. I think the next few games of next season are vital to him, he needs to get fans believing again and believing they are going to get close to City. They need a big player."

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  Cast out by Mourinho

  Sanchez failed to rise to Scholes' challenge. The Chile international's first full season at United would turn out to be a nightmare of epic proportions, as he only found the net twice in 27 appearances across all competitions.

  The first real reality check for Sanchez came when he was left out of a trip to West Ham in September. Mourinho played down the significance of the decision in public, but reported that Mourinho had lambasted Sanchez for his poor form in a team meeting on the Monday before the game.

  "I wasn't picked. That had never happened to me as a player. It bothered me and I said it couldn't be possible," Sanchez said when addressing the incident the following year "To go from being one of the best in the Premier League to not playing in five months. I came to my house and I was very sad. The next day I trained in a double shift, because I love what I do."

  That work paid off in the short-term, as he came off the substitute's bench to score the winner in United's next Premier League game against Newcastle, but the damage was already done. Sanchez had lost Mourinho's trust, and he was no longer a first-choice player.

  Mourinho's eventual sacking in mid-December didn't change things either, at which point Sanchez had been laid low with a hamstring injury. By the time he returned in the New Year, United were enjoying a mini-resurgence under Solskjaer, and Sanchez had fallen even further down the attacking pecking order.

The former Barcelona player has settled into his role early on, but there will undoubtedly be more tests to come

It took Javier Mascherano 10 minutes, back to front. The new Inter Miami manager strolled into a conference room at the Miami Convention Center, adjusted the microphone for MLS's Media Day, and sat up, relaxed, in his chair. Club tracksuit on, an anticipatory air about him. , it all said.

The Spanish chatter in the room quietened. Attention was piqued. And then Mascherano glided through a press conference: he spoke in English and Spanish. He brushed off questions about Neymar, previewed an upcoming friendly with Club America, and batted away anything that seemed to imply he might struggle at the helm.

A “gracias,” a nod, and that was it. Mission accomplished. Nothing to see here. The only real soundbite was an admittance that signing Neymar would be “impossible” due to MLS’s strict financial regulations (something he is very much correct about – and led to only a few retweets and the odd raised eyebrow in the room).

And so continued the public-facing part of Macherano’s Inter Miami tenure. That was just his second presser, and he navigated it as if it was his 500th. There was no drama to be found here. He didn’t misspeak, misstep, or say anything particularly wrong. Much like Mascherano the footballer, who played 147 times for Argentina and 224 for Barcelona, he kept it unbelievably tidy.

This is admittedly just half of the job. Managing Inter Miami is the second highest profile position in American men’s soccer – only Mauricio Pochettino, his fellow countryman, will face more scrutiny in the coming months. But as starts go, it wasn’t a bad one for a head coach who is taking his first job at a club level. And if the other early indicators are anything to go by, there is certainly promise to be found in South Florida.

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  Coaching his former teammates

  The headlines here, of course, center around the fact that Mascherano is reuniting with his old Barcelona teammates, and friends: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. For the first time in Messi’s 21-year career, he will be coached by a former companion on the pitch.

  But Mascherano has emphasized that friendships are irrelevant, at least in a competitive sense.

  “I’m not one to try and force things or prove something that doesn’t need to be proven. In the end, it’s not just my relationship with Leo but also with Luis, Jordi, and Busi… Outside of the club, our relationship will remain the same — I don’t like to mix things,” Mascherano said.

  Either way, the relationships are hard to ignore. There is, presumably, a real connection to be found here. Mascherano was vice-captain at Barcelona from 2015 to 2018. He wore the armband for from 2008-2011 (before handing it over to Messi.) He had the respect of Suarez, who was quick to voice his support for the new manager – even if it is a bit of a change.

  “It’s a bit strange to have him as a coach now, but we respect him for the role he has. We’ve talked – it’s about understanding that he is the one making the decisions now,” Suarez said at MLS media day. “He’s no longer just a former teammate; he’s the one in charge, and we have to respect that.”

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  Managerial credentials

  It’s also worth examining Mascherano’s credentials. On results alone, they’re not excellent. Mascherano, the footballer, was not only a serial winner but also immensely adaptable. He started his career as a center midfielder. Then he dropped deeper into a No.6 role. In his final four campaigns at Barcelona, he was a center back. Versatility was key.

  Mascherano, the manager, though, has shown little such willingness to change. As a coach of Argentina’s youth sides, he was a stern disciplinarian. Reportedly, his players were told to adhere to a strict code of conduct: tidy the dressing room, clear your plates, clean your cleats. Get off your phone, do your homework, learn English, and, crucially, take a communication workshop to learn how to deal with the media.

  Those principles might have instilled some discipline into young men, but they hardly translated to good performances on the pitch. In two years in charge of various youth sides for Argentina, his biggest achievement was a quarterfinal exit at the 2024 Olympics.

  Mascherano, tactically, is caught between two minds. He has admitted that he is a staunch admirer of Pep Guardiola’s game-changing positional play, but his teams look a lot more like the high pressing and rapid transitions of another former Barca coach in Luis Enrique. It seems to be a struggle to implement either in the slog of an MLS season — especially with four aging stars to account for.

  Suarez, for his part, suggested that he is ready for whatever challenges may arise.

  “Physically, I feel great, eager to start a new season, get to know the coaching staff, and find my rhythm,” he said. “As the years go by, you become more aware of the need to take care of yourself even during vacations. Even though we had some time off, you prepare yourself physically to be in top shape for the entire year.”

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  Expectations – and managing them

  The issue is Mascherano will have to adapt quickly. It is one thing to ask someone to switch from international to club management (there are very few examples of that leading to success.) It is another entirely to do it in a league that has rarely been kind to foreign managers with no apparent connection to the league.

  Mascherano said all of the right things at his presser but admitted that he had never attended a Miami match.

  “I haven’t had the chance to attend an Inter Miami match as a spectator yet, but I’ve heard that there are some compatriots in the stands who make a lot of noise,” he said.

  Co-owner Jorge Mas has only piled on the pressure of late, claiming before Mascherano’s unveiling in late November that his team would be MLS’s great entertainers.

  “It’s going to take a manager to play the style of football that Inter Miami wants to play, and we’re going to play an attacking style,” Mas said. “That’s what our teams are going to do, pressure other teams. We’re going to score goals. We’re going to push. This is a team that’s not going to sit back and wait for pressure, and play for 0-0 or 1-0 results with the talent we have."

  Miami is haunted by a first-round playoff loss last year. After winning the first of the best-of-three series against Atlanta United, it lost the next two. were easily cut through by a side that had 34 fewer points than them in the regular season and tactically outdone across the trio of games. Three months on, Suarez knows it.

  “Even though we were the best team in the regular season, we had to show that in the match against Atlanta, and we didn’t. We weren’t up to the challenge. We have to learn from that experience – nothing is given to you in football,” he said.

  The expectation is that they will go three rounds further next year. They are supposed to win the MLS Cup, Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup. A Club World Cup run wouldn’t hurt, either. Of course, that is hardly realistic. Only one MLS club has ever completed a treble. Doing so in Mascherano’s first season in club management would be a remarkable achievement.

  “We have to improve a lot,” Suarez said. With a new coach, a new staff, and new teammates coming in, we need to adapt quickly and aim to be at the level of teams that win the league.

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  Early results show promise

  So far, though, the results look good. An away fixture Club America to open the season was always going to be a tough assignment. But Miami grabbed a late goal, sent the game to penalties, and won on spot kicks. Messi found the back of the net, and exchanged some gestures with Club America fans.

  That led to some controversy – any time Messi does anything but get his head down and play this sport there will be talk. But Mascherano defended him with aplomb.

  “I think that we have more important issues to deal with, yes and logically I have had to play against Mexican teams and against the Mexican national team, we know that they are usually hostile towards us Argentines and well I think that also after the World Cup that wound is still open,” he said after the game.

  Tactically, Miami was hardly mindblowing. But they kept it tidy. Messi played just behind Suarez. Fafa Picault and Robert Taylor offered legs on either wing. Busquets was supported by the hard work of Federico Redondo in the engine room. Miami didn’t have much of the ball (they completed half of the number of passes as their opponents, and ended the day with 35 percent of the possession).

  But there was also encouragement to be found here. They allowed just three shots on target and defended diligently without the ball. This attacking juggernaut showed it could hold opponents away from home, too.

Celtic return to action in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday as they prepare to travel away from Glasgow to take on St Johnstone in the evening kick-off.

The Hoops are looking to continue their perfect start to the 2024/25 campaign with a sixth successive win in the top-flight, along with a sixth clean sheet.

Kasper Schmeichel is yet to concede a goal in the Premiership since his free transfer from Anderlecht in the summer transfer window, although the Denmark international did let in two goals against lower league opposition last time out.

Brendan Rodgers’ side beat Falkirk 5-2 in the quarter-finals of the League Cup and found themselves 1-0 down and 2-1 down during the first-half.

The Scottish giants rallied in the second half at Parkhead, however, and scored four goals to ensure their passage into the last four of the competition.

Rodgers could now look to make some changes to his starting XI after rotating his side for that cup clash, and here’s a look at the side that could take to the field against St Johnstone.

1

GK – Kasper Schmeichel

The Danish titan was beaten at his near post a little too easily for Falkirk’s opener last weekend but he has been flawless in the Premiership this season.

A 100% save success rate and five clean sheets in five appearances show that the former Premier League title winner has hit the ground running in Glasgow.

2

RB – Alistair Johnston

The first change to the starting XI should come in the right-back position as Alistair Johnston should return to replace Anthony Ralston in the backline.

FFC urged Rodgers to instantly drop Ralston from the line-up after his unimpressive display against Falkirk, as the Scotland international was caught out for the second goal – allowing a free header at the back post.

Johnston has created five ‘big chances’ in six appearances in the Premiership and the Champions League combined and could come back in to provide a huge attacking threat from right-back.

3

CB – Maik Nawrocki

The second change to the team could come in the right centre-back position with Maik Nawrocki replacing Stephen Welsh, whilst Cameron Carter-Vickers is a big doubt with a foot injury.

As you can see in the table above, the Polish titan outperformed the Hoops academy graduate in their respective Premiership outings last season, making far more defensive interventions per game and significantly outperforming him in duels.

This is why the former Legia Warsaw defender could be preferred ahead of the Scottish dud for this clash with St Johnstone.

4

CB – Liam Scales

Another change to the starting XI could come on the left side of the defence with Liam Scales returning to the team to replace Auston Trusty.

The Ireland international has started all five league games so far this season, winning 68% of his duels, and should start once again, with Trusty left to bide his time for a full Premiership debut.

5

LB – Greg Taylor

Greg Taylor is another regular starter who should return to the side to replace Alex Valle at left-back, after the Barcelona loanee made his debut against Falkirk.

The Spanish full-back could argue that he was being held back for the opening goal from the Championship side but it appeared to be a weak header down to the opposition, which he did make up for with an assist for Paulo Bernardo’s goal.

6

CM – Callum McGregor

The captain, Callum McGregor, should keep his place in the line-up to provide leadership and stability in the middle of the park for the Hoops.

He has completed 93% of his attempted passes in the Premiership so far this season and will look to dictate the tempo of the game against St Johnstone.

7

CM – Reo Hatate

With Luke McCowan ineligible to play, having featured for Dundee in an earlier round, Reo Hatate kept his place in the XI against Falkirk, and may retain it once again on Saturday.

The Japan international, who has created four ‘big chances’ in five league appearances, will look to provide a creative spark in midfield for Celtic.

8

CM – Arne Engels

The only change to the midfield three for the Hoops could come in the form of Arne Engels’ return to the team to replace Paulo Bernardo, despite the Portuguese star’s goal.

It was harsh on the former Benfica man, who scored a superb volley against Falkirk, but the former Augsburg man has racked up two goals and two assists in his last three games for the club.

Engels, who was described as “underrated” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, came off the bench to assist Nicolas Kuhn with a superb through ball for the German winger.

9

RW – Nicolas Kuhn

Speaking of the former Rapid Vienna star, Rodgers should bring him back into the starting XI to replace James Forrest after his staggering cameo on Sunday.

The left-footed wizard came off the bench with Celtic losing 2-1 to the second tier outfit and racked up two goals and two assists in the second half to lead his team to a comfortable win.

10

ST – Adam Idah

Adam Idah may have done enough to keep his place in the starting XI after finding the back of the net twice in the space of three minutes against Falkirk.

The Irish striker has scored three goals in his last two appearances for the club, whilst Kyogo Furuhashi has only scored twice in all competitions this season.

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been left frustrated after the Reds rejected a mega-money Al-Nassr bid before signing Jhon Duran from Aston Villa.

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• Al-Nassr wanted to sign Nunez
• Liverpool blocked his sale
• Nunez wanted a fresh challenge

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the Saudi Pro League club had expressed serious interest in securing Nunez’s services and were prepared to fork out a substantial bid to lure him away from Anfield. However, Liverpool made it clear that they had no intention of letting the 25-year-old leave. Al-Nassr eventually shifted their focus to Aston Villa's Jhon Duran, finalizing a £64 million ($80m) deal for the Colombian forward.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The speculation around Nunez's future intensified when he was omitted from Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven. However, Slot clarified that the striker was dealing with a minor illness and was not left out for any transfer-related reasons.

  So far this season, Nunez has netted six goals and provided four assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. His performances have been inconsistent, but he has still delivered key moments, including a dramatic late brace that secured a stoppage-time 2-0 victory over Brentford two weeks ago.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite missing that fixture, Nunez returned to training shortly after and has travelled with the Liverpool squad ahead of their Premier League clash against Bournemouth. However, it remains to be seen if Slot hands him a start against The Cherries.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NUNEZ?

  While Liverpool’s rejection of Al-Nassr’s bid effectively ended any immediate speculation, questions about Nunez’s long-term future at Anfield remain. The club is expected to reassess its plans for the forward during the summer transfer window, where a potential move could be revisited. For now, Nunez will look to put the speculation behind him and focus on making an impact when given opportunities as the Merseyside club are competing on four fronts.

Whilst Leeds United eased past Coventry City in a dominant 3-0 victory, their celebrations may be short-lived, with those at Elland Road now left hoping that a star man has avoided an ACL injury.

Leeds injury news

The Whites already entered their game against Coventry without the likes of Maximilian Wober and Manor Solomon in two frustrating blows for Daniel Farke, who could do without mounting injury struggles. However, in the face of those absences, it was still business as usual. Farke’s side swept Coventry to one side, courtesy of goals from Wilfried Gnonto, Jayden Bogle and Joel Piroe in an excellent display.

Having taken all three points, Leeds now sit fifth and just two points below West Bromwich Albion at the top of the Championship, who lost for the first time this season in a shock result against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

With just how tight things are at the top, Leeds could do with a full squad to choose from, but injuries to Solomon, Wober and now potentially another star man may leave Farke scrambling for options.

According to BBC Sport’s Adam Pope (as reported by The Leeds Press), Leeds are now sweating over concerns that Ethan Ampadu suffered an ACL injury against Coventry. The defensive midfielder was forced off at half-time, having initially attempted to run his injury off – perhaps only making matters worse by doing so.

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Farke revealed that the £40,000-a-week star will now be assessed, telling reporters: “Our most important player. We have to wait for the assessment.”

If Ampadu’s injury is long-term, then there’s no doubt that Leeds will face a major problem in pursuit of automatic promotion, with their Welshman a crucial part of Farke’s side, as reiterated by the manager himself.

"Important" Ampadu will be a big miss

A doubt for the Norwich City game on Tuesday at the very least, Ampadu’s absence will provide Farke’s side with a frustrating blow in every game that the midfielder misses, whether that’s just a handful of fixtures or for months to come.

The former Chelsea man has finally found his place in senior football, becoming Farke’s most important player in a Leeds side gunning for a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Prior to coming off against Coventry, the club captain had played almost every minute of Championship football this season, starting from the off in every single fixture in all competitions so far this season. One of the first names on the teamsheet, Leeds must now ask the likes of Ao Tanaka to step up in place of the Welshman.

The summer arrival replaced Ampadu after his injury last time out, and he could be asked to do a similar job against Norwich and beyond. Replacing such an important player will be a near-impossible task, but if there’s any time for the Whites’ summer business to pay dividends, they’ll hope it’s in the next few weeks.

The homegrown duo were crucial to Ruben Amorim's side collecting a fifth consecutive European win to take their place in the last 16

There are four days left in the January transfer window and when it shuts on Monday Manchester United better make sure that Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are still at the club. The homegrown duo both starred as Ruben Amorim's side demonstrated their quality to overpower FCSB 2-0 and take their place in the knockout stage of the Europa League without having to resort to a unwanted play-off tie.

United looked the better team from the off in Bucharest but couldn't take their chances, with Mainoo surprisingly blazing over with a glorious chance from close range. Garnacho and Amad Diallo were summoned from the bench after a goalless first half and the winger should have broken the deadlock when he hit the post. Bruno Fernandes then also bothered the woodwork before United found the breakthrough, Mainoo teeing up Diogo Dalot to tap in at the far post on the hour-mark.

Garnacho and Mainoo, who inspired United to win the FA Youth Cup three years ago, then combined to get the all-important second goal, after the hosts' striker Daniel Birligea had smashed the crossbar with a lethal effort.

So after failing to win any of their first three games, United picked up a fifth consecutive Europa League victory which saw the finish third in the standings, ending as the only unbeaten side in the competition. Full steam ahead to Bilbao…

GOAL rates Man United's players from the Steaua Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Altay Bayindir (6/10):

  Didn't have a save to make until the 80th minute but mighty lucky that Bigligea's thunderbolt didn't drop in. That said, could have commanded his box better.

  Noussair Mazraoui (6/10):

  Better in the back three than at wing-back as in the past few games.

  Matthijs de Ligt (7/10):

  Commanded the defence well.

  Lisandro Martinez (8/10):

  Played a quarter-back role from deep and alert to all the danger down his side.

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  Midfield

  Diogo Dalot (7/10):

  Got the breakthrough goal and helped break the play up for the second.

  Toby Collyer (6/10):

  Gave United energy and control through the middle. Sacrificed at half-time despite a solid showing.

  Christian Eriksen (7/10):

  Another decent display in the Europa League, which appears perfectly suited for his blend of high-level passing but low energy

  Tyrell Malacia (5/10):

  Erratic. Got a booking for giving away a dangerous free-kick and didn't offer much going forward.

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  Attack

  Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

  A quiet first half but much improved in the second, rattling the bar with a long-range howitzer and missing a big chance to put the icing on the cake.

  Rasmus Hojlund (5/10):

  Improved hold-up play but his finishing was still poor.

  Kobbie Mainoo (8/10):

  Thrived in the advanced role. Missed a first-half sitter but made amends by creating the first goal and scoring the second.

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  Subs & Manager

  Amad Diallo (5/10):

  Didn't have a huge impact in his 45 minutes.

  Alejandro Garnacho (7/10):

  Blew the game open, causing chaos down his side. Should have scored when he hit the post but made the second goal.

  Leny Yoro (5/10):

  Helped see out the win.

  Casemiro (5/10):

  Got 18 minutes in his first appearance of 2025.

  Joshua Zirkzee (N/A):

  Didn't get involved much.

  Ruben Amorim (7/10):

  His half-time changes made all the difference and suddenly he has won three games in a row.

Chelsea could replace Mykhailo Mudryk by signing a new winger who’s been called “one of the best” in his country, with the Ukranian enduring a tough time since making the move to Stamford Bridge last year.

Mudryk not involved as Chelsea enjoy terrific run of form

New head coach Enzo Maresca first arrived at a club under serious pressure to perform, having just sacked former boss Mauricio Pochettino despite a promising end to the 2023/2024 campaign.

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Todd Boehly and BlueCo still decided to part company with the Argentine, regardless of Chelsea losing just once in his final 15 Premier League games in charge – an impressive run which helped them qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Maresca was elected to replace Pochettino and tasked to pick up where he left off, but it is safe to say that the former Man City backroom coach has done just that. Chelsea have won four out of his opening six league games in charge, and they’ve been equally imperious in cup competitions so far.

One loss to his ex-employers aside, Chelsea’s wins over Wolves, Bournemouth, West Ham and Brighton ensure that a feel-good factor is slowly returning to the Bridge after a summer of uncertainty.

Cole Palmer continues to dazzle and make his £40 million price tag look like chump change, while striker Nicolas Jackson is proving his doubters wrong as well after a prolific start to the 2024/2025 season.

Summer signing Jadon Sancho has also become only the third Chelsea player in history to bag an assist in each of his first three games for the club, but certain high-profile squad members like Ben Chilwell and Mudryk have been forced to play more of a bit-part role.

Reports claim Chilwell is likely to quit Chelsea in January after being deemed surplus by Maresca, and it is believed Mudryk may also have no choice but to leave in the winter window too, whether that be on loan or permanently.

The latter joined in a deal worth a potential £89 million, including add-ons, but that price tag hasn’t been justified yet. Indeed, Mudryk’s played just 80 league minutes this season, with all of his starts coming in the EFL Cup and Conference League.

Chelsea could replace Mudryk with Thiago Fernandez

According to reports out of Spain, Chelsea are eyeing Veliz Sarsfield winger Thiago Fernandez as a possible replacement for Mudryk, and the 20-year-old has been described as one of South America’s most exciting talents right now.

Likened to Angel Di Maria, Fernandez is also attracting interest from a host of other Premier League sides in Liverpool, Man United and Tottenham. His contract also expires in December 2025 as well, making him a potentially astute transfer option financially.

Chelsea have displayed a real habit of signing young players with a lot of potential since Clearlake Capital’s takeover in 2022, so this could well be one to watch.

“Thiago Fernández, one of the best wingers in the Argentinian First Division and in general in South America at the moment,” wrote football youth scout Thanassis Avastagos on X.

“Among the best players in the attacking phase in the league, very skillful, intelligent, with great vision and dribbling.”

Paul Scholes slammed Manchester United sensation Kobbie Mainoo as he drew comparison with Arsenal's Declan Rice.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Scholes slammed Mainoo
• Man Utd midfield star saw a dip in form this season
• Man Utd take on Spurs on Sunday

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mainoo had a breakthrough year in the 2023/24 campaign at Old Trafford as he appeared in 35 matches across all competitions and had eight goal contributions. His impressive club form earned him a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad at Euro 2024. The midfielder's form, however, has gone downhill in the current season as he has been struggling to figure out his ideal position under new manager Ruben Amorim.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amorim has experimented with Mainoo's role in the team since taking charge of the club last November. In their recent Premier League loss to Crystal Palace, the player was even used as a forward. Looking at the Mainoo's dwindling form, United legend Scholes has slammed the youngster as he drew a bizarre comparison with Arsenal and Three Lions midfielder star Declan Rice.

• WHAT PAUL SCHOLES SAID

  Speaking on , brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes said: "I think Mainoo is lost. I've talked about Declan Rice being lost before – I think Mainoo is lost as well. They don't know what to do with him.

  "I don't think he knows where to play on a football pitch because he's been played in one of the number 10 positions, he has been played in the two in the midfield, which I can see probably doesn't suit him because I don't think the greatest athlete. He's a great footballer. I think the No 10 does suit, (but) the false nine, never in a million years."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  The Red Devils will aim to get back to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday as they travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur.

Aston Villa have made an impressive start to the new season, after a superb 2023/24 which saw them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in over 50 years. Unai Emery’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League on 14 points, just outside of the top four on goal difference.

Their fast start to the new season has also seen them win two from two games in Europe. That includes a victory away to Swiss side BSC Young Boys, and a famous win at home to Bayern Munich. That man who scored the winner against the Bavarian giants has been one of their best players this season, Jhon Duran.

Duran’s 2024/25 season so far

There are few strikers who are as clinical across Europe’s big five leagues this season as 20-year-old Duran. The Columbian has quickly become one of the deadliest strikers on the continent and has scored six goals in ten games already.

To break that down further, the former Chicago Fire striker has found the back of the net four times in seven Premier League games, and once in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

He is currently the joint-fifth top goalscorer in the Premier League, alongside several other players, but has played far fewer minutes. The Columbian has not started a game in the top flight yet this term, playing just 184 minutes which equates to two full 90-minute games. The most minutes he has played in one game this term in the league is just 29.

This has been a real feature of the Columbian’s game since moving to the Premier League for £18m in January 2023. He has developed a reputation for goals off the bench and has become a game-changing substitute for Emery.

As per Statmuse, the Villa number nine has nine goals in 42 Premier League games but has made just three starts.

Duran is not showing any signs of slowing down and will be no doubt targeting double-figure goals this season. If he manages to avoid injuries, he could be a key player for years for the Villans, given he recently signed a new contract until 2030.

Scarily, the Midlands side may well have someone even more dangerous in the academy who could go on to be better than Duran.

Aston Villa’s next centre-forward prospect

The player in question here is Villa’s young Scottish striker Rory Wilson. The 18-year-old made the move to Villa Park from Scottish giants Rangers in July 2022 and has since gone from strength to strength in that famous Claret and Blue shirt.

The youngster, who has played three times for Scotland’s under-21 side, has a superb record for the Villa academy. He has scored 36 goals and has four assists to his name in 53 matches for the under-21s, under-18s and in the UEFA Youth League.

His goal in Europe came in his first, and to date, only appearance for the Villans against Young Boys in a 2-1 defeat. The 18-year-old had an astounding record in the under-18s Premier League last term, with 16 goals in just 13 appearances.

The former Rangers player was once described as “one of the best young strikers in Europe” by Scotland under-17s manager Brian McLaughlin in 2022, just before he moved to Villa. That was a campaign where he scored a whopping 49 goals, joining the Premier League side as a result.

Wilson is a player with lots of composure and finesse in front of goal. Take this superb chip as an example, which he scored at Villa Park. He makes a clever run in behind the opposition defence, getting on the end of the pass and delicately clipping the ball over the goalkeeper.

With an age gap of just two years between Wilson and Duran, it would not be a surprise to see them both in the same side soon enough.

Perhaps the young Scottish striker will become an even bigger star than Duran as he gets opportunities in the first team.

Aston Villa have struck gold on "absolute star” who's worth more than Duran

He was signed by Emery in 2023

By
Joe Nuttall

Oct 10, 2024

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are the favorites to clinch MLS Cup in 2025 despite their Round 1 exit in 2024.

• Inter Miami CF tops DraftKings' odds at +370
• LAFC and defending champions LA Galaxy follows
• Messi's impact reflected in team's favorable position

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  Las Vegas sees Inter Miami CF as the clear favorite to claim the 2025 MLS Cup title. The David Beckham-owned team, led by global superstar Lionel Messi, tops the list with odds of +370. LAFC follows in second place, while LA Galaxy, despite being the reigning champions after defeating the New York Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup final, sit in third.

  One of the most surprising placements is San Diego FC, the league’s newest expansion team debuting in 2025. The 30th team in MLS is ranked 25th with +6500 odds to win it all. Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

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• THE ODDS BREAKDOWN

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Inter Miami's status as the MLS Cup frontrunner highlights Lionel Messi's transformative impact since his arrival at the side. The odds reflect bookmakers' belief in Miami's potential.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  As the 2025 MLS season approaches, all eyes will be on Inter Miami CF to see if they can live up to the high expectations set by oddsmakers. have already kicked off their 2025 season with a 1-0 win over Sporting KC in the First Leg of their Round 1 CONCACAF Champions Cup clash. They host New York City FC in their 2025 MLS opener at the Chase Stadium before welcoming Sporting KC to Miami for the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup matchup.