"I'm really sorry" – Ex-Premier League referee reveals Mac Allister moment that devastated him

The only person criticised more than a struggling Premier League player is a top flight referee. Most decisions are scrutinised, the time it takes to make a decision is often at the centre of complaints and wrong decisions steal headline after headline. But it’s not just the fans that despise VAR.

Graham Scott: VAR is "utterly unenjoyable"

The introduction of VAR was supposed to take away any controversy in certain decisions. Diving would be eradicated, offsides made undeniable and most headlines could finally centre around the football. Six years on, however, the Video Assistant Referee has done none of those things. In fact, all it has done is increase the noise surrounding refereeing decisions.

Fans often make their opinion known and so do the managers in the Premier League. Burnley manager Scott Parker told reporters about his frustration after his side suffered a late 3-2 defeat against Manchester United in a game that saw the Clarets have a goal narrowly chalked off.

It’s not just the managers and fans who have been critical of the technology, though. Former referee and VAR official Scott recently told talkSPORT: “Off the field you can’t control anything and the noise now is insane. It’s almost unbearable and it becomes an extremely challenging role. Then, layering on top of that being VAR, as I’ve tried to convey in my piece, being a VAR is utterly unenjoyable.”

The former referee didn’t hold back after that, either, and even revealed the time that he felt sorry after a decision against Alexis Mac Allister.

Scott reveals devastation over Mac Allister decision

Continuing, Scott revealed that he felt devastated after ruling out Mac Allister’s stunning goal against Leicester City. The then-Brighton midfielder thumped home an unstoppable strike, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out for a marginal offside against Enock Mwepu after five minutes of checking.

Speaking about the decision, Scott told talkSPORT: “He scored probably the best strike from outside the box I’ve ever seen and you just put your head in your hands. You think, ‘I am going to have to chalk this off now’, and you look at the replay, ‘oh no, his shoulder looks like it might be off’.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“And you draw these tiny lines and think ‘this is gonna end badly, I can tell’ and you end up going I’m really sorry but I’m gonna have to disallow this goal that everyone’s loved and the crowd has gone mad. You spend minutes hoping it’s alright and it’s not.”

In a rare insight into the life of a referee, Scott revealed the struggles of being a VAR official and shared similar frustrations with the managers as well as the fans in the Premier League.

Chelsea join race to sign £17m German forward who Bayern Munich also want

Chelsea have now joined the race for a “flamboyant” forward, who is also being targeted by Bayern Munich, it has been revealed.

Blues set sights on another young forward

Jamie Carragher has repeatedly made it clear he isn’t a fan of the Blues’ recruitment policy, suggesting the ownership are now focusing too much on signing young players, rather than trying to compete for major trophies.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “Chelsea are not being judged to the same standard they were under Abramovich because they are hiding behind a prolonged transitional phase, which keeps extending by targeting a similar profile of young players in each transfer window.”

In truth, it is difficult to disagree with the former Liverpool man, given that a number of the Blues’ summer additions haven’t exactly hit the ground running, with young wingers Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho failing to register a Premier League goal or assist between them.

It was arguably a questionable decision to focus so heavily on bringing in new forwards in the summer, given that it may have made more sense to sign a new centre-back following the ACL injury suffered by Levi Colwill.

However, it appears as though Chelsea are set to continue their current approach in the transfer market, with a report from Absolut Fussball revealing they have recently joined the race for FC Koln forward Said El Mala, who is attracting widespread interest.

Indeed, El Mala is also being targeted by Bayern Munich, and a number of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Brighton & Hove Albion making an approach in the summer, at which point a deal may have amounted to €20m (£17m).

Club 'ready to accept' potential £52m Chelsea bid for defender wanted by Real Madrid

The Blues and Todd Boehly could make a sizeable saving in the market.

BySean Markus Clifford

However, the German side may soon be able to fetch a higher transfer fee, given that a number of big clubs are keen, following an impressive start to the campaign…

"Flamboyant" El Mala off to solid start in the Bundesliga

Despite being just 19-years-old, the starlet has already established himself as an important player for FC Koln, having made six Bundesliga appearances this season, during which time he has amassed two goals and one assist.

Most recently, the Germany U21 winger scored the only goal of the game as his side triumphed 1-0 away at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, which led to his side moving up to sixth place.

The FC Koln star has also been praised by Jacek Kulig in the past, with the scout describing him as a “flamboyant” winger, who is skilled at creating chances and dribbling, while also possessing an impressive work-rate.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

El Mala clearly has the talent to be a success at Stamford Bridge, but it would make little sense to bring in yet another young winger, having signed Gittens and Garnacho during the summer.

Instead, it would be a better idea to bring in a new centre-back in January, given the scale of the injury crisis Enzo Maresca faces, with Colwill expected to miss the majority of the season.

Vitor Pereira has personally asked Wolves to sign 15-goal ace who they once bid for

Wolves are in the market for firepower and have now turned their attention to a Vitor Pereira favourite that he personally wants to bring to Molineux.

Wolves aim to bounce back after the international break

Admittedly, Wolves have suffered a poor start to the campaign, albeit draws against Tottenham and Brighton in the Premier League have provided more cause for optimism in the West Midlands.

Despite being rooted to the bottom of the table, the Old Gold have shown more resolve in recent times, though they are still to find that all-important victory to kickstart their campaign in earnest.

Hugo-Bueno-in-action-for-Wolves
Hugo-Bueno-in-action-for-Wolves

Speaking about his side’s recent form, Hugo Bueno believes his side will eventually find three points and has encouraged his teammates to look past the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser to the Seagulls last weekend.

He stated: “It was really painful, but I try to keep with the positives of this game and I think the team showed a really good character. I think we controlled the game, we played really well, so we have to keep going like this. I’m really proud of the team but we have to look forward to the next games and to the next points and hopefully we can win that one.”

With Matt Doherty set to spend a month on the sidelines, Wolves find themselves with a lack of depth at right-back. Either way, back-to-back fixtures against Sunderland and Burnley simply have to be a launchpad for climbing the Premier League table.

Avoiding relegation will be the first port of call for the Old Gold this term before other objectives are discussed, and they could now be set to target a prolific striker to help their bid for survival.

Vitor Pereira tells Wolves to sign Yuri Alberto

According to reports in South America via Sport Witness, Wolves boss Pereira personally wants to bring Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto to Molineux as he believes the Brazil international could add another layer to his offensive options.

The tactician is also said to have asked Wolves to sign Alberto, so it is clear Pereira is very keen on bringing the attacker to the Black Country.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The 24-year-old has registered 15 goals and two assists in 45 appearances over the current Brazilian campaign and was previously the subject of a failed loan bid with an option to buy from the Old Gold back in 2024.

Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

ByCharlie Smith

By the same token, Alberto has also created 11 chances on league duty, per Fotmob, illustrating his capacity to lead the line efficiently as Wolves look for someone to compete with Jorgen Strand Larsen and Tolu Arokodare for a starting place.

No official proposal has been made yet. Still, the Corinthians striker is now firmly in Pereira’s thinking, and his arrival could add some much-needed goals to a side who have been the Premier League’s lowest goalscorers thus far alongside Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa now overtake Liverpool in race for "outstanding" £43m defender

Aston Villa have now overtaken Liverpool in the race to sign an “outstanding” new defender, with Newcastle United also keen.

Villa still keen on new additions amid uptick in form

Villa endured a slow start to the Premier League season, with the 3-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace likely to be considered a low point, but they have really managed to turn things around over the past few weeks.

Indeed, the Villans have now won five matches on the spin in all competitions, most recently defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on the road, courtesy of a first-half stunner from Morgan Rogers, which was followed up by a winner from Emi Buenda with a little under 15 minutes remaining.

Unai Emery will be very pleased about the recent uptick in form, which has seen his side rise to 11th in the Premier League table, but the manager clearly still feels a fresh injection of quality is needed, with a new centre-back of interest.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Aston Villa have now overtaken Liverpool in the race for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, given that Arne Slot’s side have recently decided to cool their interest.

Alongside Villa, Newcastle are also credited with a strong interest in the defender, but the Premier League sides may need to shell out a relatively high fee to get a deal over the line, with it being revealed he could command a fee of around €50m (£43m).

Both English sides should be well-positioned to get a deal done, however, with it previously being revealed that Ordonez is keen on a move to the Premier League.

"Outstanding" Ordonez could excel at Villa Park

Lauded as an “outstanding young footballer” by journalist Graeme Bailey, the Ecuadorian is a key player for Club Brugge, having made ten appearances in all competitions this season, during which time he has put in some eye-catching performances.

Aston Villa approach made for record-breaking forward with his coaches contacted too

The Villans are keen to strike to land another offensive option.

BySean Markus Clifford

One of the 21-year-old’s best displays actually came in the Champions League, which is an encouraging sign, with the youngster making a number of important defensive contributions to keep AS Monaco at bay and help his side secure a comfortable 4-1 win last month.

Statistic

Number completed

Duels (won)

6 (5)

Clearances

4

Tackles

3

Scout Ben Mattinson has hailed the Brugge star for his ability in possession too, describing him “secure on the ball”, while also adding he “anticipates well” and “has the pace to recover”.

Villa’s defence has not been a major problem this season, having shipped just eight goals in eight Premier League games, but there are plenty of signs that Ordonez could be a solid long-term addition to Emery’s backline.

Wolves: "Breaking" Rob Edwards update after major Middlesbrough decision

Wolves are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking Vitor Pereira, and their Premier League survival could hinge on finding the perfect Molineux candidate.

Their catastrophic start to the season has plunged the club into crisis, with Pereira dismissed just 45 days after signing a new three-year contract following a 3-0 defeat at Fulham last weekend. The Portuguese’s departure came amid unprecedented failure that has left Wolves rooted to the bottom of the table and staring at almost certain relegation.

Wolves are the only winless side in England’s top four divisions, having taken just two points from their opening 10 Premier League games.

More alarmingly for the Old Gold, no club has ever survived with two or fewer points at this stage of a Premier League season, making the Midlands side overwhelming favourites for the drop after eight successive years in the top flight.

Wolves results in the Premier League so far

Wolves 0-4 Man City

Bournemouth 1-0 Wolves

Wolves 2-3 Everton

Newcastle 1-0 Wolves

Wolves 1-3 Leeds United

Tottenham 1-1 Wolves

Wolves 1-1 Brighton

Sunderland 2-0 Wolves

Wolves 2-3 Burnley

Fulham 3-0 Wolves

Wolves have scored the joint-fewest goals (seven) while conceding the most (22) in the division, and have gone 14 consecutive league matches without victory for the first time since a run of 15 between February and August 2012.

Pereira’s final match saw him subjected to chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” by travelling supporters at Craven Cottage, having previously clashed with fans following a 3-2 home defeat to Burnley.

Amid their search for a new manager, Wolves have now turned their attention to Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards, who made over 100 appearances for the club as a player between 2004 and 2008, though Boro rejected an approach to speak with the former Luton manager on Thursday (Sky Sports).

However, in a sensational turn of events, following his cancelled press conference on Friday, it is now believed that Edwards will not take charge of Boro’s Championship clash with Birmingham City.at the Riverside today.

Rob Edwards "now looking likely to join Wolves" after Middlesbrough decision

This comes after a decision from Boro to stand him down for the clash, with journalist Ben Jacobs reporting that Edwards is “now looking likely to join Wolves” after days of intense speculation.

The 42-year-old, who James Collins called “terrific”, only just took over from Michael Carrick in June and put pen to paper on a three-year deal, but he’s now poised to try and steer Wolves away from the relegation battle despite making a fantastic start to life at Boro.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

This latest twist in the managerial merry-go-round comes after former manager Gary O’Neil emerged as a leading contender but withdrew from consideration, feeling the timing wasn’t right for a return to Molineux.

Edwards guided Luton Town to Premier League promotion via the playoffs in 2023, demonstrating his ability to work wonders with very limited resources, and the coach’s work at Boro has been exceptional.

He’s guided Boro to their best start in the club’s 149-year history, winning EFL Championship Manager of the Month for August after four wins from four games with just one goal conceded.

The next Kane: Spurs have "one of the best players of his age" out on loan

So then, Tottenham Hotspur are fifth in the Premier League as international action jumps forward once again. After 11 matches, Thomas Frank’s side have been solid, but they have not been spectacular.

Frank is meticulous, looking to dot the i’s and cross the t’s when crafting a tactical system and a winning culture. At Tottenham, though, the scale of the task is vast, and while there have been encouraging signs since the summer, he needs to build a more creative and exciting outfit.

A sure-fire way to move closer toward this level of fluency would be to inculcate into the fold the latest academy star – the next Harry Kane, perhaps?

Spurs need to find Harry Kane 2.0

Of course, this is easier said than done. Kane is one of the greatest footballers England has ever produced, and his personal achievements down N17 have made him one of Tottenham’s biggest legends of modern times.

Months before leaving Spurs for Bayern Munich in 2023, Kane became the club’s all-time top goalscorer. He left having played 435 matches for the Londoners, posting 280 strikes across all competitions.

It’s fair to say that Tottenham have struggled to replace him, with Richarlison and Dominic Solanke toiling away at number nine over the past few years.

To think he was once a fringe player with little hype around his name, loaned out to a string of lower-level sides before establishing himself as “their best-ever player”, in the words of journalist Sean Walsh.

The lift that would be found through unearthing the new version would be immense, and Frank may find the answer in a current prospect out in League Two.

The Spurs talent who could be the next Kane

This young talent may not be a centre-forward, but he is a skilful and dynamic playmaker who could dovetail into a haggard midfield.

Plying his trade for Notts County in League Two, Tyrese Hall is demonstrating a technical craft that could be further developed over the coming years and established somewhere at the top of the Premier League ladder, perhaps finding a way into Frank’s Tottenham first team.

The 20-year-old has won 53% of his ground duels in League Two this season, as per Sofascore, averaging 1.6 tackles per match besides. This is an impressive metric for a young attacking midfielder.

Jermaine Defoe has even said in the past that Hall is “one of the best players at his age I’ve seen in the country.” There’s a long way for him to go, but if physicality and skill can be balanced out, Frank could have a player of surpassing ability on his hands, perhaps even the next Kane.

He’s found his feet as a central midfielder at Notts County, tailored toward creating and influencing between the lines, but Hall has a diverse skillset, and it’s seen him deployed across a host of roles for Spurs’ youth sides.

Tyrese Hall – Career Stats by Position

Season

Apps

Goals (assists)

Central midfield

30

6 (5)

Defensive midfield

19

3 (4)

Attacking midfield

18

5 (3)

Centre-forward

6

3 (2)

Left midfield

3

1 (1)

Right midfield

1

1 (0)

Data via Transfermarkt

Kane’s performances for the likes of Leyton Orient and Millwall during the springtime of his illustrious career likely helped fashion him into the player he is today, the 32-year-old with 23 goals from 17 matches for Bayern this season.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Given that the noise around Hall before his breakthrough is arguably louder, with those in the know believing he is beyond something special, there’s every reason to be excited at Tottenham, especially given that his profile could provide a tonic to the current creative woes.

Said to be “magic on the ball” by Magpies correspondent K-Ci Rennicks, Hall has taken a leaf from Kane’s book and fostered his technical craft away from home, learning fundamental skills that the development scene simply doesn’t have the capacity to match.

His creativity and flair could work wonders in the Spurs centre next season, and he might just make his mark as Kane did when bursting onto the scene way back when.

Frank can end Bentancur's Spurs career by unleashing "future £100m" talent

Tottenham Hotspur have a huge talent on their hands, but his progress is being halted by Rodrigo Bentancur.

ByEthan Lamb

Ex-club chief now tips Tottenham to sign Man City star for £50m in January

Tottenham have been tipped to sign a Man City star for around £50 million in January, with Spurs named as the perfect destination for him.

Spurs scour for new attackers to fix Frank's creativity problem

As per multiple reports, co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange could be about to raid the winter transfer market for attacking reinforcements to solve a key Thomas Frank problem.

The Dane has been heavily criticised for weeks amid Spurs’ real struggles for creativity in the final third, and this was on full display in their recent London derby defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal.

The Lilywhites barely laid a glove on their cross-town rivals in both encounters, and Tottenham currently boast the second-lowest total of shots on goal out of every Premier League side so far.

25/26 Premier League

Spurs

League rank

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

Stats via FBref

Injuries haven’t helped Spurs either, with club-record signing and first-choice striker Dominic Solanke missing for most of this early season and hasn’t played at all since their 2-0 win away to City at Eastlands.

Talismanic creators Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are also out with long-term problems of their own, leaving the north Londoners desperately short of attacking impetus in certain areas.

Randal Kolo Muani provided real encouragement on Wednesday that, once Solanke returns, Spurs could be well stocked for quality centre-forwards.

Tottenham plan record-shattering January transfer swoop after "clear" Frank message

Spurs want to back their under-fire manager.

ByEmilio Galantini

Kolo Muani’s put in a man of the match performance against parent club PSG in the Champions League, scoring a brace and providing an assist for Richarlison, so Frank will be hoping he can build upon that against Fulham.

If so, Tottenham’s search for a striker could well be put on hold until the summer, with the club reported to be massive admirers of FC Porto sensation Samu Aghehowa after his electric 2025.

Spurs are however believed to be in the market for a winger at the very least, and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is attracting real admiration from N17 amid news of his £65 million release clause.

The Ghanaian’s clause will be active for an early period in January as well, but Spurs face overwhelming competition from the Premier League’s biggest hitters for Semenyo’s signature.

If a move for the 25-year-old proves too complicated, perhaps revisiting a deal for Savinho could be an option.

Ex-club chief tips Tottenham to sign Savinho in January

The Brazil international was a top target for Spurs towards the end of the summer window, but City repeatedly blocked a move down south and eventually convinced him to sign a new deal.

However, since then, Savinho has attracted mixed reviews, and with the 2026 World Cup looming, January represents an opportunity to pack his bags and shine elsewhere.

Amid Tottenham’s search for another winger, ex-Everton CEO Keith Wyness has tipped Spurs to sign Savinho in January, and is convinced that the Sky Blues will let him go for around £50 million.

Savinho was actually keen on joining Spurs in the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, meaning they might not run into much trouble on the player side of things.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The 21-year-old bagged 11 goals and 10 assists in his final season at Girona before joining City, spearheading them to a brief but surprising La Liga title challenge.

Savinho can also play on both the right and left-hand side, with the prospect of Mohammed Kudus and the South American on either flank coming as pretty tantalising.

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca provides major Cole Palmer update ahead of Arsenal

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca face their sternest examination yet when Premier League leaders Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Maresca’s side enter the London derby riding a wave of confidence following their stunning 3-0 Champions League demolition of Barcelona on Tuesday night.

The emphatic victory showcased Chelsea’s evolution from early-season inconsistency into genuine contenders, with teenage sensation Estevao’s spectacular solo goal providing a potential glimpse of the exciting future being built in west London.

However, Arsenal represent an entirely different proposition.

Mikel Arteta’s men arrive at the Bridge unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Chelsea, not to mention 16 games unbeaten overall since losing to Liverpool in August.

The Blues currently trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League table, meaning Sunday’s clash carries enormous significance for their title ambitions.

Victory would reduce that deficit to three points and encourage realistic title hopes, while defeat would establish a potentially irrecoverable nine-point gap to the leaders with barely a third of the season completed.

Maresca faces crucial selection decisions, particularly surrounding Cole Palmer’s fitness.

Chelsea have already signed "the next Cristiano Ronaldo" for half of his release clause

He could be their next Estevao-esque talent.

ByEmilio Galantini

Chelsea have done well to cope without their superstar player, but reports have suggested that Palmer could be in contention to face Arsenal after breaking his toe recently.

The England international has been out since Chelsea’s defeat to Man United at Old Trafford in September, first being kept out by a niggling groin problem before then suffering that toe injury earlier this month.

It’s been a nightmare start to 25/26 for Palmer personally, with the Englishman desperate to get back on the field.

Enzo Maresca provides Cole Palmer update ahead of Arsenal clash

Now, in some good news for the Blues, Maresca has confirmed that Palmer is ready to start against Arsenal this weekend.

In more good news, Maresca also confirmed that midfielder and summer signing Dario Essugo also took part in a training session this morning.

Palmer’s availability for Sunday’s clash provides Chelsea with their most potent weapon against the Premier League leaders, coming as a big boost for Maresca.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The 23-year-old has been instrumental in Chelsea’s transformation under Maresca, providing the sheer quality that elevates their attacking play.

The former Man City star racked up 18 goals and 14 assists last term, spearheading Chelsea to the Conference League, Club World Cup and a top four Premier League finish.

His composure in decisive moments separates him from Chelsea’s other attacking options, and against high-pressure opponents like Arsenal, Palmer’s calmness on the ball and intelligent decision-making will prove invaluable.

Suddenly, Chelsea’s chances of upsetting Arteta have just increased tenfold.

Liverpool lead race to sign Madrid star as Salah offers himself to 3 clubs

Liverpool have now moved into pole position in the race for a Real Madrid attacker, amid Mohamed Salah offering himself to three Champions League clubs.

Salah may never play for Liverpool again after Slot comments

Arne Slot has now admitted that he doesn’t know if Salah will play for the Reds again, in the wake of the Egyptian’s bombshell interview after the 3-3 draw at Leeds United.

The manager said: “After tomorrow we will look at the situation. There is always the possibility to return for a player. I have no clue [if he has played his last game for Liverpool] – I cannot answer that question at this point in time.”

It remains to be seen whether Salah can return to the fold after AFCON, but one thing that is for certain is that he won’t be featuring against Inter Milan in the Champions League this evening.

In the wake of his comments about Slot, the forward has now offered himself to three Champions League clubs, namely Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, according to a report from Spain.

Of course, no Liverpool fan wants to see a club legend leave in this fashion, but if he does depart, Slot will need to bring in another attacker, and the Merseyside club are now leading the race for Real Madrid star Arda Guler.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states the Reds are now the frontrunners to sign Guler, despite Manchester United and Arsenal also stepping up their interest.

The Turk is viewed as the perfect addition to Slot’s attack, with the manager keen to bring in a creative forward, amid the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s long-term future, and the 20-year-old is capable of playing at both right-wing and through the middle. It’s previously been reported that Madrid values Guler as high as £130m.

Signing "magic" Guler could soften blow of losing Salah

The Liverpool talisman hasn’t reached his usual lofty heights this season, failing to make it off the bench in two of the last three Premier League matches, but it would still be a real blow to lose the 33-year-old, who has scored 250 goals since arriving at Anfield.

As such, fans will no doubt be hoping the Egypt international hasn’t played his last game for the Reds, and returns to action after he gets back from AFCON.

Gallery: How Salah interacted with Liverpool teammates in training on Monday

Mo Salah is unhappy with life at Liverpool right now.

ByFFC Staff

That said, Salah may find it difficult to force his way back into Slot’s plans, with Jamie Carragher recently branding his comments a “disgrace.”

New attacking options may be needed in 2026 regardless, with Federico Chiesa’s future also up in the air, and Guler could be a top signing, with scout Ben Mattinson praising the impact he’s made for Turkey.

Having registered three goals and seven assists for Real Madrid this season, the 26-time Turkey international clearly has the quality to succeed at Anfield, so it is promising news that Liverpool are leading the race for his signature.

Not just Obi & Amass: Man Utd starlet will never play again under Amorim

Manchester United have been a club in transition over the last 12 months, after Ruben Amorim was appointed as their new manager back in November 2024.

The 40-year-old arrived with huge expectations after his spell in Portugal with Sporting CP, which saw him claim the Liga Portugal title on two separate occasions.

However, his 3-4-2-1 system has failed to have the desired impact at Old Trafford, which has often led to supporters getting frustrated with his stubbornness to change shape.

The fanbase have also been crying out for the likes of Kobbie Mainoo to gain more game time, with the Englishman often having to settle for a place on the bench in every Premier League game this campaign.

He may have opened up a new can of worms over the last couple of weeks, after making some unpopular comments about multiple players on the books at Old Trafford.

Why Chido Obi and Harry Amass are unlucky to play under Amorim

The academy has often played a huge part in United’s success in years gone by, but Amorim has done himself no favours with his comments over recent weeks.

He was asked about the potential of utilising some youngsters within the first-team ranks in the near future, with Chido Obi and Harry Amass two of the names suggested to the boss.

He stated that the left-back was struggling in the Championship during his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, but he’s been one of the standout players for the Owls.

The 18-year-old has already featured on 16 occasions in England’s second tier, and even managed to score his first senior goal against Southampton.

As for Obi, Amorim claimed he’s struggled to start in the U21s side this campaign, but the 18-year-old has already racked up a total of 13 appearances across all competitions.

The Danish youngster has already scored on five occasions, including three in three starts in the U21 Premier League, subsequently demonstrating his clinical nature in front of goal.

However, the manager’s recent comments highlight the lack of faith he currently has in the youth players at United to make the step up and feature in the first-team.

The United star who’ll never play for the club again

The aforementioned academy duo aren’t the only ones who have struggled to make their impact at United over the last couple of months, with Mainoo unable to get into Amorim’s plans.

Like Amass, he’s a product of the Red Devils’ academy, but he’s been restricted to 11 substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, with none of which coming from a starting role.

The player himself has covered his displeasure over his lack of first-team action, subsequently leading to the youngster asking for a move away from his boyhood club.

However, such a move has been rejected, with the Red Devils wanting to keep hold of the youngster despite his lack of action throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

He’s not alone in struggling to make an impact, with centre-back Tyler Fredricson potentially already playing his last game for his boyhood club under Amorim.

The 20-year-old managed to break into the senior ranks last season, subsequently making two appearances in the defeats against Brentford and Wolves.

Subscribe for deeper United analysis and youth insights Keep following Manchester United’s youth and management storylines: subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth coverage of Amorim-era decisions, academy prospects, squad dynamics and clear context on what it means for the club’s direction.


By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

He’s also only made one senior appearance this time around, featuring for just 45 minutes in the now infamous Carabao Cup Second Round defeat against League Two outfit Grimsby Town.

Fredricson may have appeared on the bench against Bournemouth on Monday night, but unfortunately for his sake, he’s been overtaken by Ayden Heaven in the pecking order.

Such a situation, coupled with the manager’s lack of faith in the youngsters at his disposal, could well spell the end of his career at Old Trafford – under Amorim at the very least.

Tyler Fredricson – stats against Grimsby

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Minutes played

45

Touches

50

Passes completed

37

Tackles won

1

Blocks made

0

Interceptions

0

Fouls committed

1

Yellow cards

1

Stats via FotMob

His showing against Grimsby at the start of the season is evidence that, unfortunately, he’s not up to the standard required in the Premier League, given the current situation.

It’s a real shame to see the club’s academy setup going to waste at present, with such a decision potentially being a deciding factor in his spell at the club.

However, for the players currently on the books, it will no doubt spell bad news, which could lead to the departure of Fredricson alongside Amass and Obi.

Far better than Mainoo: Man Utd make £100m star their "top top target"

Manchester United have now set their sights on one player ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb

Game
Register
Service
Bonus