Man Utd avoid Branthwaite ‘tunnel vision’ through CB trio as Olise alternative sets own asking price
NO ‘TUNNEL VISION’
Erik ten Hag will want to make improvements throughout his Manchester United squad come the summer, with the defence said to be a particular source of concern for the Dutchman.
Jarrad Branthwaite appears to be the most in demand centre-back right now, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid all said to have enquired about the Everton star, but it’s United and Tottenham set for a ‘transfer scramble’, according to the Daily Mail.
The report claims United, whose transfers will be under the control of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s and Ineos for the first time this summer, are said to be targeting two young centre-backs, and Branthwaite is particularly appealing given his preference to operate on the left side.
But crucially, given United’s penchant to put all their eggs in one basket in their chase of specific targets in the past, it’s claimed ‘there is no tunnel vision on Branthwaite’.
It’s claimed they are ‘keeping in contact’ with a number of other options, including Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Jean-Clair Todibo at Nice, and Lille’s 18-year-old Leny Yoro, who has caught Real Madrid’s eye.
SUBJECTIVE OBJECTIVITY
PSV Eindhoven director Earnest Stewart has already admitted that this is likely to be Johan Bakayoko’s final season for the Dutch giants, and amid interest from United, the winger has set his own asking price.
Bakayoko’s got six goals and 13 assists in all competitions for PSV this season, exclusively from the right wing, where his performances have compared favourably with United star Antony, who cost the Red Devils twice as much as Bakayoko reckons he’s worth.
The 20-year-old was particularly impressive in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the Champions League group stage, which likely added a few quid to his Premier League price.
Asked what he reckons he would be worth, Bakayoko replied: “I think that’s a really funny question. You also have to look at what others can do. If you look closely and look very objectively, I don’t think there are many players my age who do what I do. I don’t know what the prices are, but I think between 40 and 50 million euros is reasonable.”
We would query whether a footballer judging their own value can be “very objective” , but Transfermarkt reckon he’s worth €40m, so Bakayoko’s about right.
TOP TARGET OLISE
It seems though that United’s top priority on the right wing remains Michael Olise, though they look set to face a fight from Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City for his services.
Olise has managed six goals and three assists in just 11 Premier League appearances this term, seemingly catching the eye of all the big boys through his displays for Crystal Palace.
Ratcliffe and Ineos are said to be focused on signing homegrown talent, which puts Olise above Bakayoko and other right wing targets on their transfer shortlist.
A swap deal involving former Palace star Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been mooted in the past and transfer expert Alex Crook says that remains a possible route for United to explore, before explaining they are working on the deal behind the scenes in a bid to beat their rivals to the 22-year-old’s signing.
Crook said: “Manchester United will be working on this deal actively behind the scenes. Man City and Chelsea have also shown interest, so I think United will want to try to get that deal done early if they can.”
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Shearer hails ‘unstoppable’ Arsenal star and praises Arteta for ‘clever use’ of one player
Arsenal are on a brilliant run of form with four wins from their last four Premier League matches, including impressive wins over Liverpool and West Ham.
The Gunners have scored 16 goals in those four matches and Mikel Arteta’s side are now firmly back on track in the title race after a shaky December.
Having seen title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City win a day earlier, Arsenal ensured the gap at the top remained at two points by recording their biggest Premier League away win at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Bukayo Saka scored twice, while William Saliba, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Magalhaes and former West Ham captain Rice completed the rout.
And former Newcastle United striker Shearer was impressed by their performance and picked out a number of key performers from the Gunners’ win at West Ham.
READ MORE: Arsenal ‘criticised more’ than others as ‘identical pattern’ of pundit slams emerges
“[Declan Rice was] unstoppable against his former club, setting up two goals before scoring himself,’ Shearer told the Premier League website.
“[Ben White] adapted really well to a new role, moving in and out of midfield, and linked so well with Bukayo Saka. Nothing got past [William Saliba], and he made an impact in West Ham’s box as well with his goal.
“[Bukayo Saka’s] game had everything and, after coolly converting his penalty, his second goal was clinical.”
Speaking about Arsenal boss Arteta, Shearer continued: “His clever use of White was a big success.
“Arteta has got Arsenal’s attack firing again, which is ominous for the rest of the league.”
Saka explained that the Arsenal squad see their impressive win over West Ham as a “statement” win after City and Liverpool’s victories earlier in the weekend.
“We knew this was a big game and it was really important for us to win and make a statement,” Saka said after the match.
“I think we did really well today scoring six and keeping a clean sheet.”
Saka’s penalty saw him move to 50 goals for Arsenal and he now has 10 goals and seven assists in the league this season.
“Of course I have my own targets,” Saka added.
“I know these days the media like to compare players. I just stay in my own lane and stay focused on what I want to achieve and what I wanted to achieve at the start of the season. I’m still going and I’ve got quite a few more to go.”
One player that got away for every Premier League club: Palmer, Salah, Zaha…
Every football fan knows about the ones that got away. We’ve all had a player split our heart into two by leaving too soon.
This time of the year is saturated in perfume and aftershave, garnished with bunches of petrol station flowers and public shows of affection. We’re not bothered about that, though. We’re pining for those players who left our beloved clubs prematurely and went on do great things.
We’ve done some digging into the broken hearts of every club in the Premier League to unearth those feelings that we all keep pushing down, keeping them buried below the surface. Join us in blinking away the tears as we name the ones who got away.
Arsenal – Emi Martinez
The Gunners have no shortage of Academy graduates who flew the nest – Eberechi Eze is lighting up Selhurst Park; Yunus Musah is a Milan regular; and whilst Serge Gnabry has won the Bundesliga five times in the past five years, it’s taken Arsenal 35 years win as many English top flight titles.
Emi Martinez is their ultimate one-that-got-away, though. Fifteen appearances for the Gunners across eight years at the club, left for Villa, became one of the league’s best keepers and won the World Cup with Argentina. At least the Gunners have their keeper position sorted now, though…
Aston Villa – Marc Albrighton
There will be calls for Jack Grealish, here, but Grealish did the business for Villa for years, captained the side, and singlehandedly dragged them up the league for years before being snapped up by City’s substitutes bench.
Albrighton, however, was let go on a free transfer, only to win the league as a key part of Leicester’s miracle team. Lol.
Bournemouth – Tyrone Mings
Partly due to injury, Mings only made 17 appearances over four years with the Cherries. They loaned and, eventually, sold Tyrone to Villa in 2019, where he’s spent the last four years tackling and stamping his way up the Premier League and into the England team.
Brentford – Tyrick Mitchell
Palace’s flying left-back was on Brentford’s books way back in the day, before moving across London.
Bit of an oversight from the Bees if you ask us.
Brighton – Gareth Barry
Dear oh dear. If ever there was an academy player to hang onto… Mr. Premier League himself.
A time before Brighton were perhaps the best-run club in England.
Burnley – Lee Dixon
Dixon played 114.5 times more games for Arsenal than he did for Burnley (458 and 4, respectively). Four League titles and three FA Cups.
The Clarets should’ve probably tied him down to a very,very long-term contract.
Chelsea – Kevin De Bruyne & Mohammad Salah
The Chels deemed both De Bruyne AND Salah surplus to requirements, and that… that is very funny.
Not one, but two complete fumbles. Shambles.
Crystal Palace – Victor Moses
The winger-cum-wing-back made his name at Wigan before becoming Antonio Conte’s favourite, but he learned his trade at Palace. He could definitely have done a job for the Eagles.
Everton – Wayne Rooney
Wazza could have been a club legend at Everton. He could’ve dragged them, kicking and screaming, to better things.
But when Alex Ferguson’s Man United came a-knocking, few turned them down. 
© Provided by Planet Football
READ: 15 of the best quotes on Wayne Rooney: ‘The best English talent I’ve seen’
Fulham – Paulo Gazzaniga
Paulo Gazzaniga played 13 games for Fulham and was then sent out to Girona, where he might yet win La Liga in miraculous circumstances.
Bernd Leno is pretty good, too, though, so we get it.
Liverpool – Anthony Gordon
Newcastle’s rapid new hero was released by Liverpool when he was eleven years old, before making the long journey across Stanley Park to Goodison.
The Toon paid over £40million for him last year, and he’s quickly reaching the level you’d expect a Liverpool winger to be operating at.
Luton – Jack Wilshere
Wilshere was a Luton player until he was nine years old. We hope whichever youth coach at Luton let him go to Arsenal was punished and sacked for his lack of foresight.
Manchester City – Cole Palmer & Douglas Luiz
‘Ice-cold’ Cole has become Chelsea’s best player this season after moving to London in search of game time, whilst Aston Villa’s midfield maestro Douglas Luiz was signed by City in 2017, immediately sent on loan to their close personal friends in Girona, and then allowed to leave for Villa without ever playing a game for the Sky Blues.
Massive oversight. Multi-club nonsense.
Manchester United – Wilfried Zaha
It should’ve been perfect. It could’ve been great. Moysey wasn’t having it.
Manchester United’s loss was Palace’s gain. Palace’s re-gain.
Newcastle United – Mikel Merino & Ivan Toney
Toney joined the Magpies (who are currently looking for a striker) as a youngster, played twice, didn’t score and was sent out on loan six times before finding his way to Brentford via Peterborough. He’s now one of the Premier League’s hottest commodities.
Merino, on the other hand, joined Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle on loan, and then permanently, winning over the Toon Army with some gorgeous passing in his 24 appearances. He was confusingly sold to Real Sociedad a year after he joined, and is now one of Spain’s top midfielders.
A lesson in buying a replica shirt with a loan player’s name on the back for one foolish Planet Football employee who wishes to remain anonymous. 
© Provided by Planet Football
QUIZ: Can you name every player Newcastle have signed for £10m+?
Nottingham Forest – Shaun Wright-Phillips
Let go as a Forest youth player, went onto two FA Cups and Premier League winner’s medal.
Forest have won neither of those accolades in the time since little Shaun left.
Sheffield United – Kyle Walker
Walker was sold to Tottenham along with Kyle Naughton for a combined £9million after only two first-team appearances for the Blades.
We’re starting to think football teams should employ fortune tellers to consult on outbound transfers.
Tottenham Hotspur – Marcus Edwards
Sporting’s highly touted English winger is turning heads in Portugal, and is tipped as a potential replacement for Jadon Sancho at Man United.
Edwards never played a senior match for Spurs. Considering his trajectory since, that feels like a howler.
West Ham – Jesse Lingard
They loved him, he loved them. A romance that burned so bright it threatened to scorch the very Earth itself. And now J-Lingz is in Seoul, waist-deep in bibimbap and bulgogi, hopefully having just as good a time as he enjoyed in East London.
Wolves – Robbie Keane
A man with more clubs in his past than most pro-golfers, Robbie Keane spent just two years with Wolves before departing on his global football adventure. How they’d love to have kept hold of him just a little longer.
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TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every Liverpool player sold for a fee by Jurgen Klopp
Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag among nine Premier League managers on short contracts
We take a look at where every Premier League manager stands with their deal.
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta – 2025
In 2022, Arteta extended his deal to the end of the 2024/25 season. There were reports in September 2023 that they were planning to offer Arteta a contract extension worth £10million per year, but it’s since gone quiet. They’re probably concentrating on a Premier League title that is practically in the bag.
Aston Villa: Unai Emery – 2027
Emery signed the longest deal given to a Villa manager by the current ownership in November 2022 when he inked a contract at least four-and-a-half years in length, according to The Telegraph‘s John Percy. It has been an astute move.
Bournemouth: Andoni Iraola – 2025
Gary O’Neil was axed and Iraola brought in with a more progressive style of football after his contract with Rayo Vallecano expired. He was handed a two-year contract, which seems sensible.
Brentford: Thomas Frank – 2027
After a fine start to life in the Premier League, in January 2022, the Bees gave Frank and assistant Brian Riemer contract extensions until 2025. Then before 2022 was done, they gifted the Dane a two-year extension and improved terms.
Brighton: Roberto De Zerbi – 2026
The Italian is tied down for over two years after signing a contract that Brighton have denied contains a release clause; it was claimed that De Zerbi could be bought out of his deal for £11.5million but Paul Barber says the Seagulls don’t use such clauses in staff contracts. He’s so happy with the Seagulls that he is in talks about a new contract.
He’s the current favourite to replace Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager.
Burnley: Vincent Kompany – 2028
This is a long-term contract, which is a bloody good job as Burnley look set to be a yo-yo club. They seem committed to Kompany, who signed a new five-year deal as soon as the Clarets were promoted. Will he be in place for two more promotions?
Chelsea: Mauricio Pochettino – 2025
A two-year deal with a club option of another year. If gets that far, he will be the first Chelsea boss since Jose Mourinho to make it into a third season.
Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson – end of the season
‘Roy Hodgson to stay on at Crystal Palace next season and targets top-half finish’ reads the headline in The Guardian. Now it’s tough to see him surviving the week.
Everton: Sean Dyche – 2025
Dyche signed for two-and-a-half years when he put pen to paper back in January 2023 on a contract that reportedly contained a clause that stipulated he wouldn’t be sacked if Everton go down, or the Toffees will have to pay up the two years in his deal. They didn’t go down and plans to renew and lengthen his contract have been shelved after the 10-point deduction.
Fulham: Marco Silva – 2026
A new deal was signed last October after a summer of Silva being courted by Saudi Arabian clubs. If he stays beyond this summer, it will be his longest spell at any club.
Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp – 2026
“When the owners brought the possibility to renew to me, I asked myself the question I’ve mused over publicly. Do I have the energy and vibe to give of myself again what this amazing place requires from the person in the manager’s office? I didn’t need too long to answer in truth. The answer was very simple… I’m in love with here and I feel fine!”
Less than two years later he announced his intention to leave at the end of this season. Who will replace him as Liverpool manager?
Luton Town: Rob Edwards – 2026
Remarkably, Edwards took the job on a three-and-a-half-year contract in November 2022 and he is yet to agree new terms despite promotion and possible survival in the Premier League.
Manchester City: Pep Guardiola – 2025
He signed a new contract in November 2022 and recently hinted that he will stay beyond 2025. He will become the Premier League’s longest-serving manager after Klopp’s departure this summer.
Manchester United: Erik ten Hag – 2025
United have the option to extend Ten Hag’s deal for a further 12 months but Ten Hag probably has to deliver Champions League football again if he wants to keep his job under the new regime. There is a queue of managers for the job if he is sacked.
Newcastle: Eddie Howe – long-term beyond 2024
Wor Eddie was given a two-and-a-half-year contract until 2024 when he was appointed in November 2021. Those terms were renegotiated in 2022 but neither the club nor Howe have been willing to elaborate on the length. “It’s a ‘long-term’ deal – that was the wording, I think,” said Howe when asked directly.
Nottingham Forest: Nuno Espirito Santo – 2026
A day after sacking Steve Cooper, Santo was given a two-and-a-half-year contract. That takes him 2026, a year after Cooper’s own contract was due to expire. It would be genuinely astonishing if Santo came even close to seeing out that contract at the City Ground.
Sheffield United: Chris Wilder – 2025
Realistically, the deal is there for Wilder to take the Blades down with some degree of dignity and have another pop at taking them back up.
Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou – 2027
The Australian signed a four-year contract in the summer which is reportedly heavily incentivised, leaving the club very confident that he would turn down any approach from Liverpool to replace Klopp.
West Ham: David Moyes – end of the season
Is it time? The West Ham fans have never warmed to Moyes despite his success and this summer feels like the perfect time to part ways.
Who will replace Moyes as West Ham manager?
Wolves: Gary O’Neil – 2026
After being sacked by Bournemouth six months into an 18-month deal, O’Neil must have feared the worst. But he walked straight into a longer-team deal at Wolves.
