Alexander Isak is among a number of strikers who will be in demand during the transfer window, while Man United continue to feel the ramifications of their Europa League final defeat.
STATS WHICH SHOW DEPTH OF UNITED’S DESPAIR
If you’re a Man United fan, best you scroll down a few items. However, we’ll try to keep the comment factual and above the belt. When Tottenham beat United 1-0 in the Europa League final, they were winning for a fourth time this season against their English Premier League counterparts.
They did the League double, beat them in the Carabao Cup and then in Europe. Only one other team has ever beaten United four times in a season – Everton in 1985/86. This was United’s 20th defeat of the season, their most since the 22 of 1973/74 when they were relegated. They escaped this time, though.
EVEN THE OLD TRAFFORD SUITES TURN SOUR
The end of the season can’t come soon enough for all involved at Old Trafford. Last November, Trafford Council authorities slashed their food rating from four stars (out of five) to two stars.
And that’s the way it will stay for the foreseeable future after “a large number of mouse droppings” were found in the £600 per person (per match) Manchester Suite.
Droppings were also discovered elsewhere, including under the buffet bar in the £550 per game Number 7 suite. There are 29 kitchens at the stadium, serving 250,000 people in the restaurants over the course of a season.
EUROPA DEFEAT COSTS CASEMIRO R3M A WEEK
Reportedly, therefore open to further scrutiny, Man United’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has lost out on a huge pay rise because they didn’t win the Europa League.
The 33-year-old is currently on £375,000 a week – that’s R9 million a week if he was spending his earnings in South Africa – and would have gone to £500k a week had United qualified for the Champions League next season.
His contract is set to expire at the end of next season as well. It was his first defeat in nine European finals, having won five Champions Leagues and three Super Cups, plus a Copa America.
THE FINAL BOGEY THAT AWAITS CHELSEA
If you’re a fan of the underdogs and believe the footballing gods are favouring them in the cup competitions this season, then Real Betis will beat Chelsea in next week’s final of Europe’s Conference League.
The signs are there. Bologna upset Inter Milan to take the Coppa Italia, their first major trophy in 51 years, Newcastle won the Carabao Cup beating Liverpool to end a 70-year trophy drought, Crystal Palace beat Man City to win the FA Cup, their first trophy in their 120-year existence and Tottenham downed Man United to lift the Europa League, their first silverware in 17 years.
Then there was Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch Cup and even Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup. Plus there’s Harry Kane winning a first trophy. Therefore, your money has to be on Real Betis continuing the trend.
YAMAL, BELLINGHAM HEAD UNDER-23 VALUES
Although many outlets have their own transfer market values and calculations, the most reputable is transfermarkt.com, with their values standing up to real-time moves. So, it was with interest that I looked at their value for under-23 players.
These values have all been converted to pounds for our convenience. The two U23 players with the highest market value are Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Jude Belligham (Real Madrid) at £150m.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (£125m) is next and England’s most expensive young talent, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is valued at £110m.
IS ISAK AN £85M TARGET FOR THE BIG CLUBS?
As clubs head towards the off-season, where the transfer rumours will ramp up, it might be worth looking at the value of strikers out there, should your club have eyes on anyone who will get you 20-plus goals in a. League season.
Those platters are few and far between, and don’t come cheap. Erling Haaland (Man City), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) are two centre-forwards off limits, but the third highest-valued striker might not be? That’s Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who is valued at £85m.
He’s followed by Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Atletico’s Julian Alvarez, both valued at £75m. Could Harry Kane be a bolter now he’s also finally won a trophy? Would you pay £75m for him?
