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Manchester United brought their Premier League season to a close with a comeback victory over Fulham on Sunday afternoon, with the Red Devils running out 2-1 winners to secure third place ahead of Newcastle United.

Following that final-day triumph, manager Erik ten Hag issued a rallying cry to the Old Trafford crowd ahead of this weekend's FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City, with the Dutchman stating that his side have a "really good chance" of bettering their rivals at Wembley.

Looking past the upcoming showpiece, however, the former Ajax boss is seemingly aware that it will take further additions if the club are to compete with the likes of City next season and beyond, with the 53-year-old having outlined the need to ''invest'' this summer.

According to reports in Spain, one investment that Ten Hag and co could make is with regard to the signing of Real Madrid sensation, Vinicius Jr, with the Carabao Cup winners said to be willing to fork out around €150m (£130m) on the Brazilian international.

That apparent interest from United comes amid reports that the 22-year-old could be looking to secure an exit from the Bernabeu after suffering abhorrent racist abuse in La Liga this season, having spent the last five years in the Spanish capital.

Should Man United sign Vincius Jr?

If there is any small chance that the Red Devils could sign the fleet-footed "phenomenon" – as hailed by Madrid teammate Karim Benzema – then they should certainly pounce, with the young winger having established himself as arguably the "best in the world", according to manager, Carlo Ancelotti.

That glowing praise has come amid the former Flamengo man's stunning form in recent seasons, having provided 44 goal involvements in just 54 games across all fronts this season, after previously chipping in with 42 goals and assists in 52 outings last term.

To be producing the goods on a consistent basis at such a young age is a testament to the 5 foot 9 gem's quality, with it undoubtedly set to be a real coup as far as Ten Hag is concerned if a deal can be wrapped up.

One man who may well be sweating amid the prospect of that signing, however, is Marcus Rashford, with the club's leading scorer predominantly operating on the left flank – much like Vinicius.

If the deal is to be agreed for the Madrid star, it could then be the case that Rashford – who has scored 30 goals so far this season – is re-housed elsewhere in the side, potentially offering a long-term solution at centre-forward.

In fact, that shift could well help to get the best out of the Englishman, as he has scored 11 goals in just 18 appearances as a striker this term – as per Transfermarkt – while bagging 16 goals from 31 outings in his usual left-wing role.

The academy graduate – who burst onto the scene back in 2016 as a number nine – has also received the backing of club legend Gary Neville as a central striker, with the Sky Sports pundit stating earlier this year that the 25-year-old "hasn't got the subtlety" to play off the left, while going on to add:

"Rashford's good at running in behind people, and driving at people, and that's what has happened in the last couple of weeks. Playing centre-forward is a lot less complicated for Rashford."

Therefore, rather than splashing the cash on the likes of Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen, Ten Hag could use those funds to bring in Vinicius on the flanks, while in turn promoting Rashford to a leading role through the middle as the spearhead of the attack.

Leeds United have been embroiled in a frustrating league campaign and stare the threat of Premier League relegation in the face heading into the final day, with even a win against Tottenham Hotspur in their last match potentially not being enough to survive.

Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia have come and gone, leaving it in the hands of veteran boss Sam Allardyce to try and rally his troops for one final push on Sunday.

It is hard to put your finger on where things faltered for the Whites this campaign, though they have conceded the most goals in the English top flight this term, which may explain why the Elland Road outfit is in grave danger of being demoted to the Sky Bet Championship.

In the summer, sorting players' futures out will be a priority in Yorkshire, with uncertainty hanging over many squad assets heading into the off-season.

What's the latest news involving Jack Harrison and how has he fared this term?

One man who looks to set to stay at Elland Road regardless of what division Leeds United find themselves in next year, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones said: "Harrison has got a new contract and stuff that he's tied to. They were desperate to keep hold of him and they managed to do it over the course of the last year, so I don't know that there's going to be the same interest in him as we move forward, so I do see a future for him."

Last month, Harrison signed a new £90k-a-week contract at Leeds United that will tie him to the club until the summer of 2028, much to the relief of the Whites' faithful.

As per The Telegraph, Harrison looked all set to join Leicester City in a deal worth £22 million; however, the move collapsed at the last minute, leading to the 26-year-old seeing out this campaign at his current employers.

In 2022/23, the former Manchester City star has made 39 appearances in all competitions, registering five goals and ten assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite this, Harrison has suffered a poor run of form at a dreadful time for Leeds United and has recorded just one assist in his last eight fixtures played.

His dip in performance coincides roughly with the date of his contract extension and WhoScored notes that he hasn't surpassed a match rating of 7/10 since his display against Leicester City, in the tie where he notched his last goal contribution.

Leeds Live journalist Ben Cross was critical of his exploits in Leeds United's 3-1 loss to West Ham United last weekend, giving him a score of 3/10 in the match and writing: "Poor decisions with the ball when it came to him, poor execution when he seemed to make better decisions or simply not involved enough to make decisions at other times."

Despite these poor performances, it would come as a big surprise for the midfielder to stay at Leeds, as the Athletic have reported that he has numerous clubs interested and may even have a lower fee clause in his contract.

Harrison is a talented player and was even labelled as "terrific" by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino via The Boot Room earlier this year. Nevertheless, he needs to up his game on Sunday if Leeds United want to stand any chance of staying in the Premier League.

Yasir Shah, the Pakistan legspinner who took a 10-for at Lord’s to lead his team to a famous victory over England, has climbed up to the top of the ICC rankings for bowlers

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2016Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah has displaced England quick James Anderson from the No. 1 spot in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers. Yasir is the first legspinner since Shane Warne in 2005 to be ranked No. 1, and the first Pakistan bowler since Mushtaq Ahmed in December 1996.Yasir’s rise to the top came as a result of his performance in the first Test against England at Lord’s, where he took 10 for 141 to bowl Pakistan to a 75-run victory. Anderson did not play the game because he was recovering from a shoulder injury.ICC Test rankings

Bowlers: 1 Yasir Shah, 2 R Ashwin, 3 James Anderson, 4 Stuart Broad, 5 Dale Steyn, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Trent Boult, 8 Josh Hazlewood, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Vernon Philander
Batsmen: 1 Steven Smith, 2 Kane Williamson, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Joe Root, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Adam Voges, 7 Younis Khan, 8 David Warner, 9 Misbah-ul-Haq, 10 Angelo Mathews

Yasir has 86 wickets from 13 Tests – the most by any bowler after that many games – and has a chance of breaking a 120-year old record – the fastest to 100 Test wickets. George Lohmann, the England bowler, had reached the mark in 16 matches in 1896.Yasir was ranked No. 4 before the start of the England tour, but a compelling display on a day-two pitch offering no turn and remarkable exploitation of a wearing pitch and worried batsmen on day four pushed him up three places. His 6 for 72 in the first innings and 4 for 69 in the second made him the first legspinner to claim a 10-for at Lord’s. Among his wickets was a vicious legbreak that pitched a considerable distance outside the left-handed Gary Ballance’s off stump and turned square to hit leg stump, invoking memories of Shane Warne bowling Andrew Strauss in Edgbaston in the 2005 Ashes.The Lord’s Test was Yasir’s first outside the subcontinent and his 10 for 141 is his best bowling performance in a match. Chris Woakes, England’s standout player in their home summer, has vaulted 28 places up the bowlers’ rankings after his 11 for 102. He is at No. 36.Anderson, who is likely to return for the second Test at Old Trafford from July 22, dropped down to third place with Stuart Broad at fourth. India offspinner R Aswhin, who is in the West Indies preparing for a four-Test series, is at No. 2.Australia captain Steven Smith is the top-ranked Test batsman, followed by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, South Africa’s Hashim Amla.

Manchester United still have plenty left to play for this season with Champions League qualification still in the balance and with an FA Cup final showdown to come with rivals Manchester City, although attention is already turning toward the summer transfer window.

With centre-forward one area that manager Erik ten Hag is seemingly keen to address ahead of next season, there have been reports that the Red Devils are keen on Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen – alongside Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane – in order to find a long-term, number nine solution.

Amid the further belief that the former Ajax boss is also hoping to bolster his midfield ranks, the latest suggestion is that United could well have identified one of Osimhen's Serie A-winning teammates as a possible target, in the form of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

According to a recent report from Napoli Calcio story Live, the Old Trafford outfit – as well as Spurs – are seemingly interested in signing the former Fulham man this summer, with the 27-year-old having only joined his current side on a permanent deal last year, having spent the 2021/22 season on loan in Naples.

As the piece outlines, however, the Italian champions are likely to be in a strong bargaining position amid the option of a two-year extension on the player's existing deal – which expires in 2025 – although United are prepared to make an 'important offer' in order to deal a move.

Would Zambo Anguissa be a good signing for Man United?

The 6 foot "monster" – as hailed by journalist Raj Chohan – has certainly warranted such interest due to his vital part in helping Luciano Spalletti's side to Scudetto glory, having scored twice and registered four assists in 33 league starts to date.

The ex-Craven Cottage ace has been particularly impressive as a result of his ball-winning prowess, notably averaging 1.5 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in Serie A this term, as well as providing a dominant presence in the air after winning a solid 61% of his aerial duels.

Currently valued at around £26m – according to CIES Football Observatory – the Cameroon international could well prove an ideal alternative to another reported United target in the form of Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, with the Uruguayan star having been linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams in recent months.

With the 24-year-old unlikely to come cheap – amid reports that his current deal includes a €1bn (£856m) release clause – the signing of Anguissa could be Ten Hag's answer to the Bernabeu ace, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

That likeness is showcased by the duo's ability to drive forward from deep and spark attacks with incisive forward passes, with the £59k-per-week Napoli man having racked up 51 progressive carries and 164 progressive passes, while Valverde has recorded 69 and 145 for the same two metrics, respectively.

To be compared to the latter man – who has also been described as a "monster" by talent scout Jacek Kulig – is an indication of Anguissa's perhaps unsung talent, with Valverde having been hailed as one of the top three players "in the world right now" by teammate Toni Kroos earlier in the season.

For Ten Hag to find his answer to the Madrid man with a move for the Cameroonian ace could well represent a real coup as far United are concerned.

Arsenal want to add more creativity to their midfield to help support Martin Odegaard, in addition to more defence-minded signings, journalist David Ornstein has revealed.

What are Arsenal planning for the summer?

It has been a season of progress for Mikel Arteta's side, but they look set to fall just short of Manchester City in the title race, but a promising summer of additions lies ahead.

There have been strong links with West Ham captain Declan Rice as someone who can play at the base of midfield, and there have also been rumours linking them with Chelsea's Mason Mount.

Speaking on The Athletic Football Podcast (10.00), Ornstein claimed that a creative midfielder is being eyed up in order to help maintain a high output from the middle of the park.

"In front of that sort of more holding position, the six so to speak, there is need, or the feeling around the club is that maybe a bit more creativity is needed in front to supplement the likes of Martin Odegaard.

"That's why there is admiration for Mason Mount, for example. They'll have others on their list as well no doubt, and other clubs will be interested in him too, so it's whether they managed to get a couple in, in midfield, if they do one now or one in the next transfer window."

Do Arsenal need another creative midfielder?

Arsenal are currently well stocked in terms of attack minded midfielders, with Odegaard an almost guaranteed starter next to Granit Xhaka, and Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe both struggling for game time as alternative options.

Vieira, a £34m signing from Porto last summer, has had a fairly difficult first season of adaptation to English football. Although he has provided a decent level of output, with six assists in all competitions, he particularly struggled in his last league start as Arsenal drew with Southampton.

Smith Rowe has spent most of the season injured, but has had a surprising lack of minutes since returning, and is yet to start a single game this campaign. The 21-year-old was one of the club's standout players last season, and as a youth academy product, he was previously viewed as one of the cornerstones of Arteta's side, having been handed the number 10 shirt.

His lack of minutes this season has meant that if Arsenal were to make a signing in his position, he may be the one sacrificed, and there may be mixed feelings amongst the fanbase if one of the best academy graduates to come through in recent seasons is sold this summer.

Aston Villa are planning on signing two high-profile attacking players during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh report.

Are signings needed this summer?

The Villans have enjoyed an increasingly promising 2022/23 season, with Steven Gerrard replaced by Unai Emery, and both results and performances improving noticeably. They currently sit sixth in the Premier League, almost from nowhere, with four wins in a row coming their way in the competition.

While things are clearly going swimmingly with Emery at the helm, it is also important that new signings are made this summer, with plenty of funds hopefully made available by owners NSWE. The hope is that Villa can improve further after a full window in which Emery can sign the players he wants, in what feels like such an encouraging period at the club.

In attack, the Villans haven't always shone this season, however – Ollie Watkins is the only player who has reached double figures for goals in the league – so reinforcements in that area of the pitch are important, in order for Emery's men to become a greater force moving forward.

That looks set to be a primary aim in the coming months, following a new update regarding the club's transfer approach later this year.

Could big names be heading to Villa?

According to Football Insider, Villa are "planning to sign two A-list forwards this summer", with Emery making it clear that he "wants to recruit a centre-forward as well as a top-class wide forward". Excitingly, the reports also claims that the villans will be "one of the biggest spenders again in the main window despite massive outlays in recent years under owners Naseef Sawiris and Wes Edens".

The aim is to acquire the services of a couple of renowned attacking players who can add "more cutting edge and goal threat" to the team, as they look to battle their way back to being a side pushing for European football every season, rather than one sitting in mid-table or even fighting relegation.

This is certainly an eye-catching update and one that should leave Villa fans feeling positive about the future, with NSWE showing real ambition in the transfer market.

In Emery, the club have an elite manager at the helm – one who has won four Europa Leagues in his career (three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal) – so backing him financially is something that makes so much sense.

Bringing in two big names could left everyone at the club, improving the players around them, and it will be intriguing to see who they move for.

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly be eyeing a move for Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, with the Greek-Aussie having been named among the potential candidates to replace Antonio Conte at the helm.

What's the latest on Postecoglou to Spurs?

The Lilywhites are currently seeking to find a permanent successor to the former Chelsea boss, with Cristian Stellini having taken charge on an interim basis following the departure of his compatriot on Sunday.

According to the Daily Mail, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has identified German coach Julian Nagelsmann as his 'top target' for the position, albeit with the north Londoners set to face a battle to appoint the 35-year-old due to apparent interest from the likes of Real Madrid and those at Stamford Bridge.

The report also reveals that Levy is considering other alternatives for the role, including Postecoglou, with the 57-year-old having previously been mentioned by The Telegraph as a possible option earlier this month.

Should Tottenham appoint Ange Postecoglou?

While the appointment of the Hoops boss would be something of a left-field choice – with the experienced coach currently in just his first managerial post in Europe – the former Yokohama Marinos man has caught the attention due to his impressive work at Parkhead of late.

Having taken on the role initially in the summer of 2021 as something of an unknown quantity, the highly-coveted figure has since been a real "revelation" at Celtic Park, according to former Hoops youth product, Simon Ferry, having brought a "real identity" to the Scottish giants.

The one-time Australia head coach looks set to guide his rampant side to a second successive league title following what has been another standout campaign in the Scottish Premiership, with the Old Firm outfit having already scored 93 goals in just 29 league games so far this term.

Unlike the departing Conte – whose brand of football has been described as "negative" by pundit Chris Sutton – Postecoglou has impressed due to his front-foot and progressive style during his time in Glasgow, having implemented "beautiful, attacking football" over the past 18 months or so, as per BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves.

As Hargreaves also noted, the one-time Melbourne Victory boss simply "goes after everyone" even when coming up against the likes of Real Madrid in Europe, with Ferry also stating that Postecoglou has got his side playing "fearlessly", no matter the opposition.

That 'fearlessness' is undoubtedly a far cry from what has been witnessed by Tottenham supporters of late, with Conte's men notably producing a "pathetic" performance in the Champions League, last-16 exit at the hands of AC Milan, as per journalist Josh Bunting.

While it would be a step up for Postecoglou to take the reigns at such an elite club, the attack-minded coach could well be the man to bring a free-flowing, exciting brand of football back to N17, with recent years likely to have proven to Levy that style is just as important as substance.

Tottenham could potentially ‘make an offer’ for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the coming weeks, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Martinez on the move?

The 30-year-old’s stock has risen since the 2022 World Cup, following some iconic performances for Argentina that saw them clinch glory in Qatar.

Since then, a number of exit rumours have emerged, even though Martinez’s current Villa contract doesn’t expire until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Now, a new claim has emerged – one that further suggests the Argentine could be heading off to pastures new during the summer transfer window.

The Latest: Spurs bid rumoured

According to TyC Sports journalist Gaston Edul on Twitter [via Sport Witness], Spurs ‘may make an offer’ for Martinez ‘in the coming weeks’, as they look for a replacement for Hugo Lloris.

The north Londoners have been linked with him in the past and look his most likely destination this summer.

The Verdict: Exit feels inevitable

At this point, it would be a massive surprise if Martinez was still a Villa player next season, considering so many top clubs are likely to want him in the summer and he seems to have a difficult relationship with Unai Emery.

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The 26-cap Argentina international would clearly be a big loss, hailed by Jamie Carragher for his involvement in an ‘all-time classic’ World Cup final, and it would be hard to begrudge him a move to a Champions League club.

On the plus side, Villa are in a strong position because of Martinez’s contract situation, meaning they can receive huge money for his services and use those funds wisely to bolster their squad.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has made an instant impression at Ibrox, having taken the reins back in November.

A dozen wins and one draw from 13 matches is a fantastic start to the 42-year-old’s managerial tenure, but his first big test arrives today as he has the chance to claim his first piece of silverware in the Viaplay Cup final.

Old Firm arch-rivals Celtic provide the opposition, so it promises to be a tough encounter, but after Rangers’ performance against the Premiership leaders at the start of January, Beale will take a lot of encouragement going into the tie.

He will need to get his starting XI spot-on though, with everyone required to be on top form to claim a record-extending 28th League Cup victory, and the Rangers boss must unleash Fashion Sakala, especially after his previous Old Firm display.

Will Fashion Sakala start the League Cup final today?

In the traditional New Year derby last month, Sakala was outstanding for the Ibrox side, causing chaos down the right wing, and he was pivotal in both of the Light Blues’ goals in the eventual 2-2 draw.

The winger played one key pass that day while winning the penalty from which James Tavernier scored Rangers’ second goal, while also succeeding with three of his five dribbles during the match.

The forward was lauded by Joshua Barrie following his mazy run to set up Ryan Kent’s equaliser, with the journalist describing it as an “excellent driving run”. Jordan Campbell was also full of praise for the Zambian that day, stating that he “changed the game for Rangers”, and it shows how much he has improved under Beale.

Indeed, since the 42-year-old took over at Ibrox towards the end of 2022, the £8.3k-per-week “firework” – as he was notably dubbed by Alan Hutton – has scored three goals and registered five assists, having only contributed one of each under Giovanni van Bronckhorst earlier in the campaign.

The 25-year-old has been revitalised in recent months and he more than deserves his chance to be the hero in today’s cup final. Rangers haven’t lifted the trophy since a 2-1 victory over Celtic back in 2011, but having won the Premiership title in 2021 and the Scottish Cup last year, could a League Cup triumph now follow suit?

If Beale leads the club to silverware this afternoon, it could just be a catalyst for a hugely successful reign at Ibrox, and Sakala could be the man to inspire the Gers to a cherished victory.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that Thilo Kehrer faces a late fitness test for West Ham United and could be in line to start on Saturday lunchtime.

What’s the word?

The Hammers will take on Chelsea in the Premier League at home hoping to pick up another positive result.

Indeed, David Moyes’ men claimed an impressive point away at Newcastle United last weekend and beat Everton in the league the game before.

However, in that 1-1 draw at St James’ Park, Kehrer was forced off at half-time with an injury and his manager even claimed that the defender would miss this London derby against the Blues.

He said: “Thilo is a problem, Thilo came off with an injury, so that’s the main one.”

Despite this, in an update on The West Ham Way Patreon page , Ex has now revealed that the German faces a late fitness test – but he is in the squad and could come in for Ben Johnson.He explained: “There were some injury concerns around Kehrer who had to be replaced at halftime against Newcastle. The club will do a late test on him but he is in the squad.”

He added: “One selection dilemma Moyes has to make is whether, if Kehrer is fit, he sticks with him or brings in Ben Johnson, who was impressive as his replacement in the second half.”

Big call

Since arriving from PSG in the summer, Kehrer has played regularly for Moyes but had actually been dropped to the bench in three of the last five games he’d been available.

However, with Kurt Zouma injured, the defender came back into the team against Newcastle before coming off with his own fitness struggles.

In the game, he was replaced by Johnson who performed solidly and helped the side cling on for a point without letting in any goals while he was on the pitch.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, he finished the match with three clearances, one tackle, 1/1 aerial duels won, and 1/3 ground duels won. As a result, his match score rating was 6.7 – which is better than the 6.3 display Kehrer managed in his 45-minute spell.

All in all, it sounds like German may well be fit enough to make the squad but Moyes may prefer to keep a fully fit Johnson in the starting team regardless.