All posts by n8rngtd.top

Mason Greenwood held his nerve to convert a last-minute penalty for Marseille against Monaco, with that effort sparking wild post-match celebrations.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ex-Man Utd forward converted from the spot
• Took part in post-match singalong
• Up to nine goals for the 2024-25 campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  It appeared as though the points would be shared at Stade Velodrome heading into the closing stages of a keenly-fought contest, with Luis Henrique having cancelled out Aleksandr Golovin’s first-half opener for the visitors.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There was, however, to be a dramatic twist late on, with Greenwood being presented with an opportunity to fire home from the spot. After taking a couple of deep breaths, the ex-Manchester United forward did just that as he sent Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki the wrong way and found the bottom corner.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  A 2-1 victory has lifted Marseille back above south coast rivals Monaco and into second place in the Ligue 1 table – seven points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain. With Roberto De Zerbi’s squad in high spirits, they gathered around a table in the home dressing room for a passionate post-match singalong – with Greenwood joining in as the volume was raised and bottles of water squirted everywhere.

Glasgow Rangers have already played two matches in the 2024/25 campaign and it seems as though supporters may have to be patient with Philippe Clement.

The Belgian boss has attempted to overhaul the playing squad, with several players moving on and arriving at Ibrox, but it has largely been the same players from last season playing in the first two matches.

Connor Barron, who arrived from Aberdeen, is the only player who was not at the club last season who has started in the first two games against Hearts and Dynamo Kyiv.

Jefte did come off the bench at half-time on Tuesday night, though, and Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny came on to assist Cyriel Dessers' last-gasp equaliser in the Champions League qualifier.

There is still plenty of time left before the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of this month, though, and this means that Rangers could yet make further additions to replace some of their current underperformers.

One player who must be replaced and dropped from the starting XI before the end of the window is attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence, who continues to underwhelm.

Tom Lawrence's struggles in a Rangers shirt

The Welsh whiz is not a terrible player who is of no use to Clement, as he could provide a decent option to bring off the bench, but he has not done enough to suggest that he should be starting games on a regular basis.

Attacking midfielders Ianis Hagi and Alex Lowry have reportedly been told that they are free to move on from Glasgow this summer, and fellow number ten Todd Cantwell has handed in two transfer requests.

This has left Lawrence as the only senior attacking midfield option for Clement to call upon, which was a concern ahead of these recent matches due to his lack of form last term.

As you can see in the table above, the former Derby County player rarely made an impact at the top end of the pitch, with five direct goal contributions in 23 appearances.

He scored one goal every 589 minutes in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers and that did not suggest that the club should rely upon him as a regular starter this season.

Lawrence has blanked in the first two games of this term, starting against both Hearts and Dynamo Kyiv, with zero goals and zero assists for the team, including just one chance created in 90 minutes in the league on Saturday.

At the age of 30, there may not be much – if any – development left for the Wales international to go through, which means that he may not improve his lacklustre returns in front of goal.

Therefore, Rangers must dip into the market to sign one of their reported transfer targets in order for Clement to drop Lawrence from the team.

Rangers keen on Premier League midfielder

It was recently reported by TEAMtalk that the Light Blues have identified Manchester United central midfielder Hannibal Mejbri as a potential target this summer.

The outlet claimed that the Scottish giants have already been in contact with the Premier League side to discuss a possible swoop for the Tunisia international.

It was stated that the Gers, in an ideal world, would like to bring the 21-year-old star in on an initial season-long loan with an option to make it permanent next summer.

However, Manchester United would prefer to cash in on the academy graduate on a permanent basis, rather than sanctioning a temporary exit from Old Trafford.

TEAMtalk claimed that the two teams have, though, held positive talks over a potential deal for the Tunisian prospect, which suggests that it may not be an impossible transfer for the club to pull off.

The report added that the Red Devils would be looking for a fee within the region of £7m for Hannibal and it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers would be willing to pay that kind of price for his services.

Nils Koppen and Clement must work hard to see if they can get a deal over the line for the midfielder, whether it is on loan or a permanent basis, as he could come in and replace Lawrence.

Why Rangers should sign Hannibal

The French-born starlet endured a difficult 2023/24 campaign, with just 11 league appearances for United and Sevilla combined, but that should not deter Rangers.

Prior to last season, Hannibal had emerged as an incredibly promising young talent thanks to his form at academy level for United and on loan at Birmingham in the English Championship.

Firstly, the 21-year-old whiz had produced six goals and 17 assists in 41 games for the Red Devils at U23 level, which showed that he is a midfielder who likes to get forward to make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

Hannibal was then given the chance to go out and play regular first-team minutes for Birmingham in the Championship and caught the eye with his performances in the middle of the park, leading to manager John Eustace dubbing him "phenomenal".

As you can see in the table above, the Tunisian maestro stood out among his positional peers in the division in a host of creative metrics in the second tier.

He produced five assists and created six 'big chances' in 21 starts for Birmingham, whilst Lawrence has managed three assists and four 'big chances' created in his last 24 league games for Rangers since the start of last season.

At the age of 21, Hannibal would also arrive at Ibrox with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, and the same cannot be said for the Welsh dud.

As bad as Souttar: Clement must bin 2/10 Rangers man after Kyiv no-show

The Light Blues attacker endured a frustrating evening in the Champions League.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 7, 2024

Therefore, Clement could ditch Lawrence from the starting XI and bring the United youngster in due to his potential to offer more creativity in the number ten role, whilst also having the scope to improve further.

Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario has confirmed plans to run for the CBF presidency as he believes the national team is in a state of "deep crisis".

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ronaldo running for presidency
• Wants to bring more success to Brazil
• National team's last World Cup win in 2002

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo won the World Cup twice with Brazil in 1994 and 2002 but has seen the Selecao struggle on in the international stage since then. Brazil are the record winners of the competition, having lifted the famous trophy five times, but have not claimed victory or even been past the quarter-final stages since 2002 – despite having a vast selection of talented individuals available.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo has now confirmed he is in the running to replace CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues. In a lengthy interview, the Brazil legend says he wants to bring glory back to the national team as he looks to the future and the next World Cup which will be held in North America, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  He told Globo Esporte: "I have hundreds of motivations, but the biggest one is to get Brazilian football back to the world of respect. What happens to me most on the streets is people stopping me and asking me to play again, because the situation of the national team is not the best at the moment, both on and off the field.

  "Mylegacy as a player is indisputable, but I feel that I have an obligation to continue in the soccer industry and help Brazil get out of the situation where we are. We have been at a standstill for 20 years. All countries have evolved in management, in the way they play, and we are at a standstill.

  "We have the best players, we have Vini, Neymar, Rodrygo, Estêvão, Endrick… We have a lot of talent, how can we not play well? I think the problem is not just in the lineup and the coach, it comes from the top down, in a pyramid format, and it's been dragging its feet. We have to change this dynamic. Brazil has to be a protagonist in the World Cup, in the Copa América, it can't miss out on the Olympics.

  "There is a lot to be done, our situation today is very critical. I don't see much of a deep debate about football. We need to open a national debate about the problems and look for solutions. I see a possibility of effectively helping Brazilian football by getting the presidency of the CBF. I really think that the CBF has to be one of the best companies in Brazil. We have to bring the people closer to the CBF, to the National Team, Brazilians have a very strong relationship with the World Cup and we are losing that. The way we are losing the games, the way we are in the qualifiers, the suffering that is going on, we are not seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I am an alternative for important change for Brazilian football, which is going through a moment of deep crisis."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BRAZIL

  Presidential elections are due to take place before the next World Cup, as Rodrigues' term only runs until March 2026. Brazil currently sit in fourth place in the CONMEBOL standings and are due to take on Colombia and Argentina next during the March international break.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been an excellent servant for Everton during his eight-year stint at Goodison Park.

The striker joined the club in a £1.5m deal from Sheffield United back in the summer of 2016, going on to score 68 times in his 247 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions.

Last season, he finished as the club’s joint top scorer alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure, helping Sean Dyche’s side secure their Premier League status despite being hit with a combined eight-point deduction.

He’s since been linked with various moves away from Merseyside this summer, with the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United just two of the sides touted with a move for the 27-year-old.

However, with the huge influx of new signings at Goodison during the off-season, he could see himself lose his starting role should Dyche and Co complete a deal to sign a talented youngster.

Everton could sign talented youngster this summer

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Everton are targeting a move to sign Barcelona forward Vitor Roque this summer.

The Toffees have already lodged an offer for the attacker but it has been rejected by the Spanish giants.

Roque only joined Barca back in January for a fee in the region of £52m including add-ons, but could only manage 16 appearances during the 2023/24 campaign, with only two coming from a starting role.

He managed to find the net on two occasions against Osasuna and Deportivo Alaves, averaging a goal every 160 minutes – a decent return that could see him make a huge impact at Goodison should he arrive.

The Brazilian has undeniable quality, with his potential move to Merseyside arguably resulting in fewer minutes for current centre-forward Calvert-Lewin.

Why Roque is a better option than Calvert-Lewin

Despite his impressive form last season, Calvert-Lewin could find himself as a victim of the club’s ambition to push towards a mid-table finish in the Premier League this season.

Signings of talents such as Jake O’Brien and Iliman Ndiaye are examples of the added quality supplied by the hierarchy this summer, with Dyche needing all the tools to build on the impressive end to the previous campaign.

Roque could be the next in line at Goodison and when comparing his stats to the current Everton number nine, he’s dominated in numerous key metrics that could hand Dyche an added threat in attacking areas.

The “magnificent” Roque, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have scored fewer goals than Calvert-Lewin, but has averaged more goals and assists per 90 given his tally in significantly fewer minutes than the 27-year-old.

The Brazilian has also averaged more shots per 90, whilst posting a 7% higher shot-on-target accuracy rate than the Englishman – a key figure that could help Everton increase their Premier League goal tally of just 40 from 2023/24.

Barca talent Roque has also averaged a 17% higher pass completion rate, showcasing his ability to find a teammate and link up within the final third, handing wingers Ndiaye and Harrison with more frequent opportunities should he join the Toffees.

Whilst it may be a risk to splash the cash on a 19-year-old with no previous Premier League experience, his quality is there for all to see, allowing Dyche’s side to reach the next level.

He has an abundance of quality but has the potential to improve further given his tender age, with Everton needing to act quickly to segue his services amid interest from elsewhere.

Forget Phillips: Everton could land their own Caicedo in £17m sensation

The Toffees could face competition from Manchester United for his signature.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 10, 2024

Ipswich Town look set to add to their squad once again this summer after agreeing another deal to sign an exciting attacker.

It has been a very busy summer for the Tractor Boys, as Kieran McKenna and the club’s board have done everything they can to give Ipswich the best chance of remaining in the Premier League. Their campaign didn’t get off to the best of starts as they were beaten by Liverpool last weekend, and it may not get much better as they travel to face Manchester City this weekend.

However, McKenna and Ipswich will be keen to enjoy the ride, and they know their chances of staying in the Premier League are not going to rest on whether they beat the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Sky Sports: Ipswich Town now also make £15m bid to sign "unplayable" star

Kieran McKenna’s side are making a statement this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Aug 22, 2024

Ipswich transfer news

Given that Ipswich were in League One two seasons ago, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to see the club making several changes to their playing squad as they try to be equipped for the season ahead. McKenna’s side have been excellent in the last few seasons, dominating League One and then the Championship, but the Ipswich boss will know that more quality and experience are needed if they are to survive in the top flight.

Therefore, the club has been busy getting new players through the door, with them so far signing nine players in this transfer window. Some of those additions include Omari Hutchinson, Liam Delap, Jacob Greaves, Sammie Szmodics, and Kalvin Phillips.

However, they are not stopping there, as Ipswich have agreed to sign Chelsea striker Armando Broja, as reported earlier this week. The forward is considered unwanted at Stamford Bridge and has been training with the club’s under-21s. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham, but it wasn’t considered a successful loan spell.

The forward is now set to arrive at Portman Road on a season-long loan deal, with Ipswich having an obligation to sign Broja for £30 million, should they not be relegated to the Championship. But as well as bringing Broja to the club, Ipswich could also be bringing in another exciting attacking player.

Ipswich Town set to sign Jack Clarke

According to the reliable Fabrizio Romano, Ipswich have also agreed a deal which will see them sign Sunderland winger Jack Clarke. The Italian transfer expert states that the deal is now at the “here we go” stage, with the fee said to be worth around £20 million.

Romano goes on to add that Sunderland have secured a sell-on clause as part of the deal that will see Clarke move to Portman Road. The 23-year-old has been with the Black Cats on a permanent basis since July 2022, joining from Tottenham Hotspur, but he also spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light.

Clarke has played 114 times for the Championship side, during which he has scored 28 goals and assisted 23 more. He has already played twice for the club this season in the league and has scored one goal as well as grabbing a single assist.

The winger has received many plaudits during his time playing in the Championship, with Adrian Clarke the latest to describe the player as "unplayable" on the What the EFL?! Podcast.

Paul Pogba won't be signed by a top Premier League side as he has "too much baggage", according to former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Pogba's doping ban reduced
• Midfielder remains a free agent
• Premier League transfer ruled out

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The French midfielder, who is eligible to return to professional football in March 2025, is now at a crossroads as he seeks a club willing to take a chance on him. However, his future in the Premier League appears bleak, with former Villa player Lee Hendrie asserting that top English clubs will steer clear of Pogba due to his reputation for off-field distractions.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT LEE HENDRIE SAID

  In an interview with Hendrie highlighted why Pogba’s reentry into elite football will be fraught with challenges.

  "There's no doubt that Paul Pogba’s always had a talent, hasn't he? I think the flip side of that is what comes with that talent," he said. "It’s the off-the-field situations that he finds himself in. He is a very outspoken person with the way he goes about his business. When he was at United, I felt that they had to get him out of the club. I felt that there was a really bad smell when he was there because of the way he was – the vibes around the dressing room and the football club were not good. I can't see any of the top clubs going near him to be honest.

  "I think someone will take a punt on him, but I don’t think any of the top clubs in the Premier League would take him because, regardless of the talent that he has, there is too much baggage that comes with him. So many clubs look at a player's personality and how they will fit into the environment of a club before signing them. They don’t want to risk bringing in a disruptive personality."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pogba’s absence from competitive football since September 2023 has added to concerns about his fitness and readiness to return. While he recently sparked speculation about his next move through cryptic emojis on Instagram, no concrete plans have been confirmed. Hence, despite his pedigree as a World Cup winner and a former marquee player for Manchester United and Juventus, Pogba must first regain fitness and establish himself at a club willing to support his rehabilitation before his official return to the pitch.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR PAUL POGBA?

  While Pogba’s history in the Premier League makes a return to United or another English club seem appealing on paper, the reality is less promising. The midfielder’s tumultuous time at Old Trafford has left a lingering stigma, with critics pointing to his outspoken nature and struggles to consistently deliver on the pitch.

  Beyond the Premier League, Pogba has been linked to Ligue 1 side Marseille, where his familiarity with French football could provide a pathway to a fresh start. Teams in Major League Soccer have also reportedly expressed interest, offering Pogba the opportunity to rebuild his career in a less intense environment.

Manchester City are interested in signing Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov in the January transfer window, per a new report.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• City eye defensive reinforcements
• Pep Guardiola's team struggling for form
• Khusanov a rapid defender

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per Fabrizio Romano, City have added Khusanov to their shortlist as they seek defensive reinforcements. Pep Guardiola's side are one of several elite clubs eyeing a move for the Lens star, who has clocked a speed of 37 kilometres per hour in Ligue 1.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City have been in rancid form in recent weeks and have won just one of their last five games. They currently sit sixth in the Premier League table and have conceded 26 goals in 19 games; no other team in the top six has shipped as many. They are also 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, leading Guardiola to concede that they cannot win the Premier League title.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  There has never been an Uzbek footballer in the Premier League and Khusanov would become the first were he to move to City. He has 18 caps for his country at the age of 20.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  City will hope to strengthen their squad this month as they aim to climb the Premier League table and get back into Champions League qualification contention. They face West Ham this weekend.

Glasgow Rangers failed yet again to win an Old Firm derby under Philippe Clement. This was the fifth time the Belgian had led the Ibrox side into this fixture, coming out with just one draw for his troubles.

The stark reality is, Rangers' fierce rivals in Celtic were far too good. The Light Blues started brightly, yet once Daizen Maeda scored the opener, there was never going to be a way back into the tie for the Gers.

The international break perhaps comes at the right time for Clement, who will need to have a long think about what is continually going wrong in these matches.

Several of the players who shone vs Ross County last weekend were dismal when the pressure was on, particularly Rabbi Matondo.

Rabbi Matondo’s statistics vs Celtic

The Welsh winger shone against County, scoring twice while grabbing two assists, but playing Celtic at Parkhead is a completely different story indeed.

Matondo was unleashed on the left wing over the weekend, with Clement hoping he could replicate his feats from the previous match.

He only lasted 38 minutes, hobbling off holding his hamstring, but his time on the field lacked any meaningful impact.

The 23-year-old had one shot (off target), missed a big chance, failed with his only dribble attempt and took just nine touches overall.

This plus his injury combined to make it a horrible experience for the player. It remains to be seen how long he will be missing, but his spell at Ibrox has failed to yield any sort of consistency.

Aside from his excellent display against County, Matondo has been off the pace so far this season for the Ibrox side. Perhaps it is time for Clement to unleash Oscar Cortes when he is fit instead.

Rabbi Matondo’s statistics this season

His performance against the Highland side has certainly skewed his statistics, as across the other three Premiership matches, Matondo has been poor.

The winger has missed two big chances already this term, winning only 36% of his total duels per game along with being dribbled past on 0.8 occasions each match. His displays are a far cry from that wonderful goal he scored against Celtic last term. Why can't we see more of that?

Add in the fact he has lost possession 27 times after just four games, and it is clear that while Matondo’s pace might be a great asset, defensively, he is failing to contribute when required.

Cortes appears to be near a return to full fitness. Hopefully, by the time the Light Blues take on Dundee United in the league once the international break is over, the Colombian will be ready to be unleashed.

Although less experienced than Matondo, the 21-year-old has shown flashes of his abilities during his time in Glasgow. A run in the starting XI could allow him to build his confidence, establishing himself as the main option on the left flank.

It is all fine starring against the likes of Ross County, but when it comes to high-pressure games such as the Old Firm, Matondo has failed to showcase anything near his best form.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rangers must drop a star who lost 9/9 duels

The Light Blues attacker may have just played his way out of the starting line-up.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 2, 2024

One of Leeds United’s long list of summer departures is already enduring a nightmare start to his career at his new club.

The Whites will be glad to see the back of the summer transfer window, as it was a very difficult few months for the Championship side, as they lost several key players. But despite the departures, the Yorkshire side are living up to early season predictions, remaining unbeaten in the opening four league games of the season.

Leeds agree post-window deal with player; he's already been to Thorp Arch

Leeds have an agreement in place to sign a new player.

By
Brett Worthington

Sep 2, 2024

Leeds lose £137m in star players

Leeds brought in eight new players over the course of the summer, which was crucial given that they lost a whole host of key individuals over the three-month period.

The Whites saw 19 players leave Elland Road, with most of the money coming from four big moves as they sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur, Luis Sinisterra to Bournemouth, Crysencio Summerville to West Ham and saw Georginio Rutter join Brighton towards the end of the transfer window.

All four players were key for Leeds last season and would have been key again in this campaign as the club bids to return to the top flight. However, Premier League clubs came sniffing around, and in the end, what the club was offered was too good to turn down, as they racked up about £137m in total from summer sales.

Rutter was the last big departure, as he wrote an emotional farewell to fans on Instagram: “It’s hard for me to say goodbye, but the time has come for me to move on. When I joined Leeds, I knew I was becoming part of something special, but I didn’t realise how much this club would mean to me. Leeds United has been more than just a team for me – it’s been like a family that has supported and helped me grow.

“From day one, you, the fans, have always been there, cheering me on and showing me what it means to play for Leeds. You made me feel at home, and I will always remember that.

“My time here was full of hard work, great moments, and strong friendships. I’m leaving as a better player and a better person, and I’m really thankful for that. Even though I’m heading in a new direction, Leeds United will always be a part of who I am. I wish you all the best for the future and the challenges ahead. Thank you for everything, Leeds. I’ll never forget you. MOT, Georginio.”

£8m Leeds sale struggling at new club

Midfielder Glen Kamara is another player who left Elland Road this summer, as he joined French side Rennes. The Ligue 1 side are said to have bought Kamara for around £8 million after he played 42 times for the Yorkshire side last season.

Rennes may be considered a step up for the player, but it has been a difficult start for both the club and Kamara this season, as his new side have suffered two defeats out of three games. And while he has started all three, the Finland international was subbed off after 72 minutes over the weekend.

In the 2-1 defeat at Reims, Kamara had 39 touches of the ball and finished the game with an accurate passing rate of 87%. But the midfielder lost possession of the ball nine times and was dribbled past once in the 72 minutes he played. He finished that game with a Sofascore rating of 6.5 and was given a brutal 3/10 by the national media in France.

According to Stade Rennes Online, relayed by Leeds United News, Kamara struggled with the switch to playing in a two-man defensive midfield situation: “Efficient in the diamond, he completely sank as a pair in front of the defence. Nine ball losses at half-time, difficulties in passing, his pair with Matusiwa perforated without managing to create anything.”

Wayne Rooney is being tipped for a sensational return to Manchester United as a specialist coach, following his sacking as Plymouth manager.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ex-England captain is out of work again
• May fancy a break from management
• Knowledge would be useful at Old Trafford

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After just 25 games at the helm, ex-England captain Rooney was relieved of his duties at Home Park on New Year’s Eve – with the mutual termination of his contract meaning that no compensation will be have to be paid. Having previously lasted just 83 days in charge of Birmingham, it remains to be seen whether another managerial post will be sought.

Advertisement

• WHAT WES BROWN SAID

  Ex-United defender Wes Brown believes his former team-mate will step back into the dugout, telling : "I thought in some of the close games I saw that Plymouth were unlucky but this is a results business and they couldn’t find enough wins. The owners have decided to go in a new direction but Wayne is the sort of guy to keep his head up and wait to see if another opportunity arises. He’ll be ready to take a new challenge again in no time but of course he’ll be really disappointed as he was so determined to do well there.

  "It’s not quite gone to plan but we will have to wait and see, that’s football. Wayne is a good guy and it’s nice to see that they came to an agreement there. It definitely helps Plymouth going forward and he would’ve known that. He wanted to do well but it didn’t work out but he is a good human and would hate to put them under any strain in that sense."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  If Rooney does not fancy being a number one again in the coaching department, then there are other avenues for him to explore. Brown believes his vast experience could be put to good use at Old Trafford, adding: "If Wayne wanted to spend time as a striking coach he would be absolutely brilliant at it, he was one of the best goalscorers we’ve ever seen and was a top playmaker as well. If he wanted to do that he would be very good on movement and things like that, he was one of the best to do it.

  "Could he help Rasmus Hojlund at United? I think all young strikers would love to listen to Wayne and his knowledge. When I was a young player I remember getting a few tips from Laurent Blanc and the little things like that can really help. If Wayne was on hand to give out some advice I’m sure everyone would be willing to listen."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR WAYNE ROONEY?

  Rooney may be willing to listen to offers from United as he will be returning to his family home in Cheshire from a forgettable stint in Devon. His son, Kai, is also on the Red Devils’ books as he continues to catch the eye in a fabled academy system.