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Having sold Romelu Lukaku to Inter, and then giving the green-light for Alexis Sanchez to join the Nerazzurri too, Manchester United headed into the current campaign with very limited options up front.

Anthony Martial’s injury earlier on in the season essentially increased the burden on Marcus Rashford ten-fold, and the 21-year-old has understandably struggled to carry the side’s attack, scoring just four times.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested the Red Devils are interested in signing Juventus man Mario Mandzukic, and Maurizio Sarri revealed last week that the Croatian is not training with the first-team group.

Now, Italian publication Calcio Mercato (via Sport Witness) have provided a transfer update, claiming United “should” be Mandzukic’s next destination, and that “everything indicates” Old Trafford will be his next stop.

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After hearing the latest news on their pursuit of the 33-year-old, United fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

Many supporters of the Manchester side insisted it would be a major mistake, whilst one fan in particular suggested if the club signed the veteran forward it would prove Ed Woodward is “bonkers”.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

After seven games of the Premier League season, Southampton striker Danny Ings would probably have preferred a better start.

The former Liverpool striker has mustered just two goals in his seven league appearances, recording an average rating of 6.67 from WhoScored for his efforts so far.

However, one thing has been somewhat masking his underwhelming start to the campaign.

What is it?

Goalkeeping errors.

Ings’ two goals have both come courtesy of goalkeeping errors by the opposition.

His first Premier League goal of the season came after Liverpool stopper Adrian smashed the ball at him in an attempt to clear his lines, before it rifled beyond the Spaniard into his own net.

Following that blunder, the one-cap England international netted his second Premier League goal this term after Tottenham stopper Hugo Lloris tried to be too clever with the ball inside his six-yard box, where Ings robbed him and tapped home.

Neither of Ings’ two goals were of his own making – although you could praise his desire to press – but without those two mistakes, the Southampton No.9’s poor form would probably be more exposed.

What’s going wrong for Ings?

After moving to St Mary’s in a deal worth a fairly significant sum of £20m, you would expect more of Ings given how much he cost.

Since becoming a Saint, the 27-year-old has scored just nine goals in 31 Premier League appearances, a strike rate that isn’t too impressive for a player meriting such a fee, while also being one of international pedigree with experience of playing for Liverpool.

Ralph Hasenhuttl doesn’t seem to fancy Ings too much either, seeing as the Austrian has started the forward in just four of the Saints’ seven league games so far this term.

His double against Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup will hopefully do him some good, but as of now, goalkeeping errors are helping to mask Ings’ poor form in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen if he can climb out of the hole he currently finds himself in and actually start making things happen for himself.

Spirits are quite high around Newcastle United after last weekend.

The Magpies beat Manchester United 1-0 at St James’ Park, and in doing so they moved out of the relegation zone and up to 16th.

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However, despite the Tyneside outfit’s great result on Sunday, one ESPN pundit doesn’t believe that they have what it takes to avoid relegation from the Premier League this term.

“Spirit is not enough to keep you in the division,” Alejandro Moreno said.

Moreno’s sentiment is hard to disagree with. Newcastle do have a good attitude and a great spirit when they’re motivated against top sides, but the quality just hasn’t been there against the teams they’re expected to get results against.

The Magpies’ only wins this season have been against two of the traditional ‘big six’, and while their fighting spirit has earned them wins against the bigger sides it doesn’t seem as if the same level of commitment and motivation is there when they’re getting beat 5-0 away at Leicester.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Expert Roundup feature, which provides three quotes from those in the know in order to illuminate fundamental strengths, weaknesses, quirks, stylistic comparisons and general observations of players, transfer targets and confirmed signings.

Make no mistake about it this is a huge season ahead for Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson. Having been at the club since he was eight the Londoner built on a trio of introductory appearances in 2017/18 with a successful season-long loan to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga last year.

There he impressed to such a degree that Unai Emery has clearly promoted the youngster into his thinking judging by the consecutive starts against Newcastle and Burnley.

With his development loan behind him this highly regarded England Under 21 international could very conceivably now enjoy a break-through campaign, so perhaps it’s time we found out more about the explosive 19-year-old; to be fully briefed on what to expect.

To do this Football Fancast gathered the opinions of those in the know…

Arsene Wenger, former Arsenal coach

Having closely followed his progress through the Arsenal ranks it was Wenger who gave Nelson his first competitive bow against Chelsea in the 2017 Community Shield. Immediately prior to that, however, an eye-catching performance in the Gunners’ 5-2 win over Benfica in a close season friendly prompted the revered manager to sing the prodigy’s praises. As per Fox Sports Asia:

“He’s a young player from our academy and he has had an encouraging pre-season. He has shown that he can dribble, go past people and he isn’t fazed by the occasion. He looks confident and it’s good for him to play in these kind of games.”

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Martin Keown, former Arsenal defender

If Nelson’s managerial mentors are beholden to be fairly restrained in their platitudes (see Nagelsmann too below) the same does not apply to pundits.

That same summer of 2017 saw Martin Keown suitably bowled over by the wingers’ skill and bravery to display it. So much so that it conjured up a comparison from the very top drawer. As per Bundesliga.com:

“He showed the sort of touches you often see or associate with a Neymar or a real top player. Seventeen years of age, it’s quite phenomenal that ability this boy has, he really does look a wonderful talent.”

Julian Nagelsmann, RB Leipzig manager

Nelson’s year with Hoffenheim in Germany was relatively successful and boosted his profile and reputation immeasurably. Seven goals in 23 appearances briefly saw him rival Jadon Sancho as England’s finest export and helped push Hoffenheim to a top ten finish while his exciting showings had Nagelsmann crooning. As per the Independent:

“He has great potential to develop. That’s why we loaned him in the first place. He’s an incredible player in one-on-one situations”

“It’s about growing in a healthy fashion for young players. It’s like being a musician. One good song can put bread on the table for a few weeks but it’s not about just being a one-hit wonder.

“It’s about being stable for a long time, in the best case doing that over the course of 15 years. So he’s got to work hard now.”

Verdict

Arsenal fans – and Nagelsmann – have little to fear because Nelson looks destined to make sweet, soulful music for years to come.

The song is only just beginning.

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Some QPR fans have taken to Twitter to react to a report stating that the R’s are monitoring free agent goalkeeper Heinz Lindner, ahead of potentially signing the experienced glovesman.

Mark Warburton currently has Joe Lumley as his No.1 with Liam Kelly in reserve, although the former made a horrendous error last time out against Luton that cost his side a goal.

Lindner left Zurich Grasshoppers back in the summer after two seasons with the Swiss club, following a lengthy spell with Austria Vienna in which he made 202 appearances.

The 29-year-old has 28 caps for the Austria national team, and Warburton has reportedly invited him over to train with his side to get a better look at the keeper before making a decision on him.

One fan said that this “could be a good move” from the Londoners, while another seems to think this news suggest Warburton isn’t “convinced” with Kelly as his N0.2.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…

According to a recent report from The Daily Telegraph, Stoke City are one side eyeing up a January move for Charlie Austin. The 29-year-old currently plays his football at Premier League outfit Southampton and has done so since leaving Queens Park Rangers three years ago, only for the arrival of Ralph Hasenhuttl as the new Saints boss seeing him fall down the striking pecking order at St Mary’s.

And a recent report from The Daily Telegraph suggests that the Englishman could be set for a move away from the South Coast outfit this month in a bid for regular first team football, with Nathan Jones’ Stoke one side reportedly (as per The Daily Telegraph) keen on 29-year-old.

And with the Potters having proven to be pretty goal-shy in the second tier this season, luring the Premier League ace away from Southampton would go some way to significantly benefiting Jones’ side ahead of the remainder of the season.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, there was much expectation around the bet365 Stadium during the summer following the appointment of Gary Rowett as the new Potters boss, with the Englishman tasked with turning the relegated side into one challenging at the right end of the Championship this time round.

However, the former Birmingham City and Derby County chief lost his job at the Staffordshire-based outfit earlier this month given his side’s indifferent start to the campaign, with part of their problem their struggle to put the ball in the back of the net – as of now, Stoke have managed to score on just 33 occasions so far this term, which is fewer than all but one side (Middlesbrough) currently ahead of them in the division.

And with Benik Afobe the club’s leading goal-scorer with only eight so far this term, and just three others reaching five in all competitions, it’s pretty clear that striking reinforcements are necessary this month if Jones is to take the club forward in 2019 – after all, they are only eight points adrift of the top six.

And a move for Southampton striker Austin would go some way to seriously benefiting the Potters in the final third of the pitch.

The Englishman may have been playing at Premier League level for much of the last few years, but the 29-year-old has certainly excelled in the second tier throughout his career in spells at Burnley and QPR.

Be it 41 goals in just 82 games for the former between 2011 and 2013, in which time he helped the Clarets record successive mid-table finishes in the Championship, or indeed his 27 goals in 47 second tier matches for QPR between 2013 and 2016, Austin’s record at Championship level is quite extraordinary – there aren’t many strikers like him available at this time of year.

Yes, injuries have somewhat stunted his progress at Southampton, appearing just 72 times for the Saints in the last three years, but it’s clear that when fully fit and firing, the Englishman could be a huge asset to Jones in the second tier – he has the predatory instincts in the penalty area to turn many chances into goals.

And with Stoke seemingly crying out for someone like Austin to lead their line in the second half of the season, a raid on Southampton for the linked-away ace would go some way to strengthening Jones’ side in their quest to mount a Championship promotion push.

Stoke fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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Last season Swansea City finished tenth in the Championship and though at no point was there any realistic push for the play-offs the campaign as a whole was viewed positively.

After burning through ten managers in five years and experiencing relegation from the Premier League in 2017/18, this was a year to right themselves and in appointing Graham Potter they had a highly-rated coach who could do just that.

Furthermore, following a succession of loan spells elsewhere Oliver McBurnie was scoring for fun, dispatching 24 goals across all competitions by the season’s end while racing here, there and everywhere was Daniel James, a revelation no less.

The future looked bright indeed.

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It was a calamitous summer then when the Swans lost all three to the Premier League, withPotter charge at Brighton, McBurnie joining the Blades for a club record £20m, and James – their brightest spark – heading to Old Trafford.

Granted the coffers were given a timely boost but it very much felt like the Welsh outfit had returned to square one and the ambivalence that now was pervasive across the fan-base only grew to concern when the club appointed Steve Cooper as Potter’s replacement.

Cooper’s CV at academy level was impressive, having won the World Cup with England’s Under 17s and with a sterling reputation at Liverpool coaching their youths. This though was his first managerial role. This was a huge risk.

It only got worse too, or at least more concerning. On the opening day of the season all hope of signing quality cover for the departed McBurnie and James vanished and instead crept in a worrying suspicion that Cooper planned to reinstall prized flop Borja Baston as the team’s focal point up front, while promoting Bersant Celina to creator-in-chief.

Since joining in 2016 for a club record £15m Baston has routinely disappointed, so much so that he’s been loaned out to Spain on two occasions. Celina for his part had previously shown flashes of inspiration but only that.

In the event Swansea won their opening game 2-1 at home to Hull with Baston getting on the score-sheet. In the event he hasn’t stopped scoring since and his record now stands at five in five, while Celina has been largely excellent and effective.

At the time of writing the Swans have played six league games and two EFL Cup fixtures. They have won seven, including a statement victory away at Elland Road last time out, and drawn the other. And it’s hardly as if they have squeaked them either.

Explanations for this startling early transformation lie in a number of factors. Cooper’s retention of Swansea’s 4-2-3-1 from last term has been shrewd, with the only adaption being a more rigid structure up front. This has helped Baston. This has helped Celina.

A well balanced midfield of Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton meanwhile – who compliment the other perfectly – has led to a solid framework out of possession but with Fulton offering additional threat to Swansea front four when going forward.

Disciplined displays from Connor Roberts and Jake Bidwell in the fullback positions have also been a key element; their decision-making in when to provide support down the flanks is a reflection on Cooper’s erudite coaching.

There is another reason too; an altogether more miasmic one. Sometimes the stars align. Sometimes things just fit. And judging by Swansea’s sublime start so far that certainly applies here.

How far it takes them only time will reveal.

Leeds United fans will love Phil Hay’s latest claim…

What’s the word?

The Athletic reporter dropped an exciting 12-word update on the contractual situation of Raphinha to Twitter earlier this week.

“Leeds United are increasingly confident of finalising a new contract with Raphinha,” he said before going on to discuss his performance against West Ham United on Sunday in an accompanying column for the website.

Hay described his display as a “creative masterclass” as Jack Harrison’s hat-trick secured an impressive 3-2 win over the Irons at the London Stadium.

A matter of time?

It is surely only a matter of time before we hear official news from the club on this front as all the noises around Elland Road are positive – the fact that one of the most reliable sources associated with Leeds is saying so is massively encouraging.

Indeed, Sunday’s performance was another damning reminder of how important the Brazilian is to Marcelo Bielsa and the squad.

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As per SofaScore, he registered a whopping eight key passes, including an assist for one of Harrison’s three goals. He also accurately delivered 100% of his crosses, registered two dribbles and attempted three shots but could not add to his eight goals.

Before the weekend, he was the only player to have scored more than twice. He also tops the charts for average rating (7.27) by quite some margin, leading the way for key passes (2.1 per game) and dribbles (2.3 per game), via WhoScored.

‘Leeds have no interest in listening to bids for Raphinha in the present transfer window,’ Hay added in his piece for The Athletic. ‘They have received no offers so far and when it was reported in his native Brazil on Christmas Eve that Bayern Munich would sign him before the end of the month, Leeds poured water on the story quickly.’

Raphinha has been a real star for the Yorkshire giants ever since his £17m move from Stade Rennes in October 2020 – now valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, it has looked every bit like an incredible deal for the club.

Of course, United should be resigned to losing him at some point but him being around for the foreseeable future, thanks to an extension to his current £63k-per-week deal is surely going to leave the Elland Road faithful absolutely buzzing.

AND in other news, “This week”: Journo drops big Leeds transfer claim live on air, fans will be buzzing…

A club from the Premier League are reportedly now in talks to sign Rory Wilson from Glasgow Rangers.

The Lowdown: Contract rejected

It has been reported that Wilson has rejected a lucrative contract offer at Ibrox, despite meeting with Ross Wilson and Giovanni van Bronckhorst for talks about his future in the first-team at Ibrox.

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He has been linked with a move to Aston Villa to play under former Teddy Bears manager Steven Gerrard, but now another English top-flight team has emerged into the frame for his signature.

The Latest: Brighton talks

As per Football Insider, Brighton and Hove Albion are now ‘in talks’ over signing Wilson, and have made their move ahead of other sides in the Premier League.

The striker has made it clear that he would like to leave the Light Blues, and a source from the Seagulls has revealed that they are ‘pushing hard’ for his signature.

Wilson is out of contract in the summer, and a deal to take him to the Amex Stadium would only cost in the region of £300,000 in development costs.

The news outlet describes the prospect of losing him as a ‘major blow’, given that he is set to suffer the follow a similar path to now fully fledged Scotland international Billy Gilmour.

The Verdict: Shame

It would certainly be a shame if the Gers were to lose Wilson, but it looks like his fate is already sealed.

Unfortunately the call from the English top flight is one that is very hard to turn down, and the 16-year-old now looks destined to sign for Brighton.

Nonetheless, RFC will now be looking to hold on to some of their other promising youngsters, and not let lightning strike twice.

In other news, find out who Rangers are now fighting Manchester City to sign here!

Manchester United have had a rollercoaster season so far, appointing Ralf Rangnick to steady the ship in late November, with the expectation that he would offload those that were not up to scratch in the squad, and replace them with better-placed footballers, however it looks like these expectations won’t be met in January.

What’s the word?

Fabrizio Romano did a YouTube interview on Tuesday with popular Manchester United fan group, The United Stand, and revealed more about the intentions of the club during this transfer window in particular:

“I am told that the focus of Manchester United is for summer, and not for January. At the moment there is no priority target for January, but if they do something it will be a midfielder.

“Let me say, the focus of Manchester United is on summer, not January. This is what Man United are planning to do.”

Fans will be furious

This fresh blow to the potential transfer plans of the club will leave fans furious, especially after their 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Rio Ferdinand claimed that the side are “lacking confidence” and with that being said, it would surely be ideal for the side to gain new additions to address the current issues and inspire a change in direction for their current Premier League season.

Rangnick’s side are currently involved in the knock out stages of the Champions League, FA Cup and a Premier League campaign where they are currently four points adrift from the top four in 7th competing with West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham, all above them in contention for a spot to qualify for Champions League football next season.

Therefore, it will be surprising to not see players added to the squad to compete with strength across the competitions.

Fans are keen to see new additions to address the clear midfield issues that has seen the current players losing possession hundreds of times per game, with possession lost an overall 167 times alone in their clash with Newcastle United last week, in which the game ended in a draw.

One Red Devils fan Tweeted;

“It’s been 4 days since the transfer window opened and we not close to signing a DM… This club will kill us @ManUtd.”

United will come up against Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Monday, and the German coach will be hoping to put the disappointing result from this week in the league behind him and give the fans something to be happy about with the potential of a good domestic cup run.

However, after this reveal from Romano, their hopes for the rest of the campaign look rather unhappy. They simply have to sign a few players.

In other news: Rangnick could axe Martial by signing Dembele