Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Victor Osimhen this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.
What's the latest on Victor Osimhen's future?
According to Italian news outlet Il Mattino, Manchester United have an advantage in the battle to sign the Napoli striker this summer.
As per the report, the Red Devils will need to meet a mammoth €160m (£139m) price tag in order to secure the services of Osimhen in the upcoming transfer window, but are considered the front-runners due to negotiations attempted last year when they offered Cristiano Ronaldo as an asset to the Serie A giants.
What could Osimhen offer to Man United?
It is no secret that Erik ten Hag will make filling the striker role this summer his highest priority, with the club unable to replace Ronaldo since his shock exit at the end of last year.
Ronaldo's departure has presented an opportunity for the Red Devils to find their centre-forward of the future who can offer consistent goal contributions to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona and Ruud van Nistelrooy to name a few who became greats in the position at Old Trafford.
As a result, the signing of Osimhen would be a major coup for the Red Devils as the 24-year-old can offer consistent goal contributions and become the focal point in the team for years to come.
Over 35 appearances, the Nigerian striker has scored 28 goals and tallied up five assists – with a goal contribution every 82 minutes played, which would be a huge asset to Man United if he could keep up his form in the Premier League.
Osimhen has deservedly earned high praise for his outstanding form in Italy this season, with even Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, weighing in on the striker's impact in Napoli’s Scudetto win:
"The real deal, or idán gangan as younger folks may describe him; Victor has continued the fine tradition of Nigeria’s footballing excellence on the global stage. We are all proud of him and wish him well in what is already a remarkable career.”
The thought, therefore, of Ten Hag's men lining up with the attacker next to Bruno Fernandes is a mouth-watering one.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Indeed, it would give the Man United midfielder a high-quality teammate who can consistently convert the chances he delivers into the box.
Nobody in the Premier League has created more chances this season than Fernandes who boasts 103 creations to his name at a stunning rate of 3.1 per game.
That would be a tantalising prospect for anyone in the game, let alone someone of Osimhen's pedigree, with Roy Keane having claimed in the past that Fernandes' vision is phenomenal.
"His quality of his balls into the box – if you’re a striker it’s a dream, you make some runs and he picks you out," he noted.
With that being said, if the Man United hierarchy could secure the signature of Osimhen this summer, it could spark a huge improvement in the attacking threat going into next season.
Tottenham Hotspur are targeting Feyenoord's star striker Santiago Gimenez, according to reports.
Who could join Spurs this summer?
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy currently has many plates spinning in north London, not least his desire to secure a permanent replacement for Antonio Conte and new sporting director.
Headway has been made behind-the-scenes, according to reports, with there being suggestions that Slot is firmly in pole position for the Tottenham hot seat.
Spurs have also been tipped with interest in former Spain and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim, Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou (Evening Standard).
However, Slot is believed to be out in front, and his appointment could even happen within the week if all goes to plan, at least according to Football Insider.
Tottenham have even earmarked potential signings for the Slot era, with links surrounding Feyenoord playmaker and Turkey international Orkun Kokcu.
Alongside the 22-year-old, it is now reported that Spurs are targeting Feyenoord's Gimenez as well, with 90min sharing some news.
Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez celebrates scoring their first goal
As per their information, Tottenham have joined the growing list of sides interested in signing the Mexican, with Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Leicester City also in the mix.
Gimenez has apparently caught the eye of Spurs chiefs alongside both Slot and Korkcu as they eye a Feyenoord raid, despite their general manager previously insisting the forward is not for sale.
Who is Santiago Gimenez?
The 22-year-old stands out as one of Feyenoord's key players – contributing with crucial goals on their way to securing this season's Eredivisie title.
Gimenez stands out as their top goalscorer with 15 in the Dutch top flight, registering a further two assists and averaging their joint-highest rate of attempts at goal per 90 alongside Kokcu (WhoScored).
ESPN podcast host Herculez Gomez even claimed he could go on to break the record for goals in a single European season from a Mexican player, calling Gimenez the "real deal".
Former Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt has also praised the star attacker for his pace and finishing.
“He’s back here in the middle of the defenders and he’s really fast, said Kuyt (via Get Belgian and Dutch Football News and One Football)"Watching the keeper before he shoots, the rest. In my opinion, he is currently the best striker in the Eredivisie."
High praise from a former Premier League star, it will be interesting to see if Spurs follow up on their interest in the North American.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has been handed a significant boost ahead of Sunday's Old Firm tussle at Hampden Park, with the Greek-Aussie confirming that Reo Hatate, Jota and LIel Abada are all set to be in contention to make their return from injury.
In the case of the latter man, the Israeli international has not featured in any of the Parkhead outfit's last four Scottish Premiership games, having previously racked up ten goals and five assists in 29 top-flight appearances so far this term.
Clearly a real "handful" and a "goal threat" – in the words of his manager – the 21-year-old has unsurprisingly attracted significant interest as a result of his standout displays, with recent reports suggesting that the winger could be set for a summer exit, with a fee of around £10m having been mooted.
This comes amid claims that the former Maccabi Petah Tikva ace has turned down a new contract at the club, with that only serving to heighten the belief that the £3.6m addition could be on his way at the end of the season.
Any concern with regard to the prospect of losing the £15k-per-week man could well be eased, however, by the fact that the Hoops could have already identified a dream replacement, with The Scottish Sun reporting that AEK Athens marksman, Levi Garcia, is of interest to the Glasgow giants.
The report suggests that Postecoglou and co are 'keeping tabs' on the Trinidad and Tobago international ahead of the summer window, amid the 'ongoing uncertainty' surrounding Abada's future at Paradise.
What is Levi Garcia's style of play?
While Garcia has typically operated in a centre-forward berth so far this season, the 25-year-old would also represent a fine replacement for Abada due to his ability to feature on the flanks, having been hailed for his "great speed" and "powerful shot" by former US soccer star Earnie Stewart.
Much like the current Celtic wide man, the £3m-rated speedster also possesses a real goal threat having bagged 18 goals and six assists in 33 games across all fronts this term, taking his overall tally for the Greek side to 51 goal involvements in just 107 outings.
The former AZ Alkmaar man – who boasts a haul of eight goals in 37 games for his country to date – has seemingly been a figure to look out for in recent years, having been included in Four Four Two's list of the 100 best teenagers in the world back in 2017 – ranking 37th on the list.
Celtic's Liel Abada
As the publication noted at the time, the then-youngster was said to have been 'tipped for greatness' by Dutch legend Marco van Basten, having also been lauded for his 'sprinter's pace' and 'hypnotic trickery'.
Although Garcia may not have quite hit the heights that may have been expected of him, the 6 foot ace has begun to flourish in his current home, ensuring he could represent a real coup as far as Postecoglou is concerned.
While there may be fears about just how effectively the title-winning coach will be able to replace Abada, the case of Josip Juranovic, for instance, should ease those concerns, with the former Celtic Park star having been swiftly forgotten about due to Alistair Johnston – the latter man proving a "definite upgrade", according to club legend Stiliyan Petrov.
As such, Postecoglou could again showcase his "exceptional" recruitment – as hailed by ex-Bhoys skipper Scott Brown – by showing Abada the door for a profit, before plugging that gap with the addition of the lively Garcia.
YouTuber Conor McGilligan has slammed Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca amid his poor form following the club's recent defeat.
What's the latest on Marc Roca and Leeds?
It certainly was a match to forget for the Whites on Monday night as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
Indeed, the Reds came to Elland Road and blew their opponents away as they netted six times, while Leeds only managed a consolation through Luis Sinisterra.
The loss means Javi Gracia's men are in real trouble down at the bottom of the Premier League, sitting just two points above the relegation zone with seven games to play.
After any 6-1 defeat, very few players will come out with any praise but it seems as though Roca stood out as one of the worst performers.
Indeed, while talking about the Spaniard on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan explained just how disappointed he's been with the midfielder of late.
He said (25:46): “I've said multiple times, I'm a big fan of Roca. He is embarrassing at the minute, embarrassing."
While talking about midfield partner Weston McKennie, he added (26:19): "I mean Marc Roca has been as bad recently so I'm not just gonna lay him [McKennie] out to dry.
"You know, I think it's just an absolute sham at the minute."
Is Marc Roca's form a big worry for Leeds?
Last weekend against Crystal Palace, the Whites also suffered a heavy defeat at Crystal Palace as they shipped five goals in front of their own fans.
In that game, LeedsLive writer Beren Cross signed Roca out for criticism too, handing him 3/10 in the player ratings.
While he noted: "Began promisingly, but all of his boisterous energy and will to impress amounted to naive anticipation of what was going on around him. Found himself dribbled past by the opposition on at least seven occasions."
Leeds midfielder Marc Roca
With that being the case, it's not hard to see why the £50k-p/w Leeds United star is starting to lose some fans amongst his own fanbase.
And with midfielder partner Tyler Adams still out injured after having to undergo under the knife to help fix a hamstring problem picked up in March, there is even more pressure on Roca to step up with his displays in the middle of the park.
All in all, it's been a bad spell for the Spaniard and if he can't turn his form around, he may be playing in the Championship next term.
Watson’s IPL and PSL experience makes him the key against Pakistan and India, and if Australia are dreaming of giving him a fairytale ending, Watson himself will have a big part to play
Sidharth Monga24-Mar-2016At around 3.15pm, with Australia’s pre-match press conference over, Shane Watson called his team-mates into a huddle. Not the kind they have with their arms around each other just before going out to field. A more relaxed one, just to have a relaxed conversation with mates. Steven Smith and Darren Lehmann already knew. Perhaps, a few of the players close to him knew, too. Now, he told the rest that this World T20 was going to be his last international tournament for Australia, that he was retiring from all international and first-class cricket. Smith spoke after that. Then, Lehmann did. And then, strength and conditioning coach Damian Mednis seemed to suggest, “Let’s not get too soppy. Watto’s still around. Let’s go train.”There were handshakes after that. There were pats on the back. Glenn Maxwell put his arm around Watson, patted him on his head and then let him go. They know there is not much of Watson left. Two games if they don’t play well. Three or four if they hit their stride. An absolute fairytale ending would be to win all four matches. For that, they will rely on the best of Watson. Not just on the field, but also tactically, because he has the most experience of both the PSL and IPL. Their next two opponents are Pakistan and India.”We had a team meeting yesterday,” Steven Smith said. “He had a fair bit of intel, insights about some of their players. It was nice to hear his thoughts. We certainly listened, and they are going to be a tough opponent, we have to be at our best if we have to beat them tomorrow.”Watson as a player holds a big key, with his cutters on the slow pitches, and his batting. He has the experience of batting both in the top and middle orders in the IPL. So far, Australia have used him at the top, presumably to get a left-right combination going with Usman Khawaja, who simply can’t be ignored. That has pushed David Warner down to the middle order. The experiment hasn’t really worked, with Warner scoring 6 off 11 and 17 off 9 in the two matches. It is not set in stone now that Watson opens and Warner bats in the middle.”It’s not too late,” Smith said. “I think it could change. I think it depends on the kind of wickets, what we think at the time is going to be best against certain attacks and it might change in this game, it might change against India as well, so guys are pretty flexible. Everyone, Davey has played quite well in the middle, but we know how destructive he is at the top as well. You’ve got Aaron Finch as well who is sitting in the wings and he’s very destructive at the top.”Having said that, the two starts we’ve had have been good. Hasn’t been in the first game, it wasn’t the openers’ fault that we lost that match. It was our middle order. And our middle order again didn’t do the job to polish off the performance the other night. We’ve got a few options, it’s just about summing up what we think is best for that certain day, those conditions and against that opposition.”Smith said it helps that Watson is adaptable. “I think Watto can [adapt], I think he’s got a bit of extra power,” Smith said. “I’ve seen him bat in one-day cricket at No. 5 and No. 6, he’s batted in the middle order in IPL over here as well, and he’s done quite well. He certainly can. Usman, I think, is suited to the top of the order. He plays just good cricket shots and scores at a pretty good rate without taking many risks.”It depends what we want on that given day. If we want a bit of extra power and get off to an absolute flyer, you’ve got options of Finch and Warner and Watson, and if you want just good cricket strokeplay and then leave it for the middle overs and the back end, I think Usman is suited to bat for a longer period.”Australia certainly have the options with the bat, but they haven’t yet been able to nail them. It has left them needing practically four wins out of four if they are to win a maiden World T20. How they bat against spin and slow bowling will determine how they go. Watson has won 50-over World Cups, he has been the Man of the Match in a Champions Trophy final win, he has been part of dominating Test sides, but to get this final missing piece before he goes, he will have a big contribution to make with bat, ball and tactics on these slow pitches.
TalkSport pundit Darren Bent has mooted Thomas Frank as a suitable replacement for Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur if the Italian leaves in the near future.
Will Antonio Conte leave Spurs?
After defeat in the Champions League this week, Spurs are set to end yet another season without lifting a major trophy.
Seeing as Conte was brought in as a proven winner to try to help the club end what is now a 15-year wait for silverware, it’s safe to say things have not gone to plan.
Consequently, there is already talk that Tottenham could begin the hunt for a new manager very soon, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel being referenced recently by The Guardian.
While speaking about this on TalkSport, Bent suggested that Brentford boss Frank could possibly be a risk worth taking for the Lilywhites.
He said: “I like Thomas Frank. Maybe a slight risk because it’s a step up from Brentford, but he’s got all the credentials.
“And when I say credentials, look what he’s doing with this Brentford side in the Premier League.”
Why would Spurs hire Frank over Pochettino?
Seeing as Frank has been a Premier League manager for less than two seasons, his relative experience at the top level would understandably make him a bit of a risk.
Still, he’s done brilliantly with Brentford to get them promoted and then lead them to a 13th-placed finish as well as having them push for European football this season as they are currently ninth in the league
What’s more, they are currently on a run of 12 league matches without defeat – the longest in the division, despite taking on Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and even Tottenham during their past 10 outings
With that in mind, it’s clear to see how he could have the quality to go and impress at a club like Spurs, who could offer more financial backing than the Bees. What’s more, he would also likely cost less in wages than Pochettino or Tuchel due to his lack of big-club experience.
It will no doubt be interesting to see if Frank is considered when Conte does depart.
Voting has begun for Australia’s best commentator and to help you judge here are the leading tributes. Channel 9 and ABC members polled highly in the nomination stage and there are 26 mouthpieces to consider. You only get one vote, so make it count. To choose go here and more reader praise is here.Ian Healy
Ian is an intelligent cricketer who demystifies the game for his audience. Cricket commentary is changing from the more descriptive to an insightful style. In doing this, Heals exposes the best of any situation, bringing to life the challenges and psychology the players face during battle. As a recent retiree of the game, he knows it and has played with and against many of the current players. Heals is competitive and passionate and his love for the game resonates with me. Cricket is much richer for his commentary. Jason Limnios Mark Taylor
Ever since the introduction of new blood and youthful verve into what was becoming a stale team at Nine, Mark Taylor has shown to have a fine combination of flair for the dramatic and real-life knowledge of the intricacies of the game. I can still hear his voice as Cyclone Gilchrist peppered the Barmy Army during that fabulous knock in the third Test in Perth. “That sounds magnificent … and it IS magnificent!!!” as the camera shows Andrew Flintoff’s eyes upwards and backwards. And as much as they tried to manufacture Bill Lawry’s presence during that moment when Shane Warne reached the 700 mark, time ran out and we were not let down as Taylor captured the moment with all the drama it deserved. “He’s got it, he’s got 700.” It makes the hairs stand up. Andrew McGlynn Ian Chappell
Ian Chappell has the best mix of knowledge of the modern game combined with a real presence with the microphone. He is controversial and opinionated, and his aggressive nature as a captain shines through in his commentating. Jake Robertston Richie Benaud
I was introduced to the game through marriage to a cricket tragic. I’ve become a complete and utter tragic myself! My appreciation and thanks go to Richie Benaud. His careful analytical commentary of cricket has educated me to the nuances of the game. Richie has found the balance. He doesn’t need to speak every moment the game is in play, he is measured, careful, unbiased and a pleasure to listen to. He refrains from talking about his own experience (ad nauseum) and this sets him apart. Thank you Richie, you are a legend. Lilli Parsons Tony Greig
Tony Greig is ahead of the rest by miles. Tony manages to capture the excitement out in the centre at a level that makes you want to watch cricket on TV. Dominic Goonawardena Bill Lawry
Yes he’s got him! The crowd, the atmosphere, the excitement! It’s all happening! And now coming to the crease is a fantastic young Victorian, Cameron White. He’s young, athletic, fantastic in the field, a big hitter and quick between the wickets. He’ll do all of Victoria proud if he can win it from here for Australia. Should be more Victorians in the side but it’s hard to get in front of Symonds, Gilchrist, Clarke, Hussey, all wonderful cricketers. The crowd are on the edge of their seats, it’s 30 off 30, four wickets in hand. It has to be Bill. Matt Renwick Mark Nicholas
Nicholas has it all. He’s as intelligent and as insightful as Benaud, but has the ability to get you fired up in the big moments in the same way Ray Warren can during the NRL or the swimming. Nicholas’ short monologue to finish the day-five covering of the miracle that was Adelaide left me counting the minutes to Perth. Evocative, intelligent, articulate, and obviously a cricket-tragic in the Michael Hussey mould, he’s been an absolute pleasure to listen to over the summer. I hope he returns next year. James Williamson Michael Slater
Michael Slater is a breath of fresh air in the commentary box. His enthusiasm for the game makes his commentating entertaining, easy listening and he is a great “commentary coach” for us armchair players at home. In Slats Channel Nine has found the perfect balance between a recent player and a player who has been out of the game too long. He has played in the modern era, yet has been out enough not to be too closely connected to the players – he has bias but not too much! Joshua Habel
Jim Maxwell
Blues legend B.B. King once said “it ain’t the notes, it’s the space in-between”. When Jim Maxwell levitates over the sound of the bubbling crowd and announces the bowler running in, he times his sweet timbre with the delicate panache of Don Bradman. Never too forceful or too bland, the audience feels the love of the game in his voice. “Caught,” we’ll suddenly hear, or “down to the boundary for four”. Then just the sound of the crowd, Jim lowers his voice, signalling to his commentary partner, it is his turn. Seamlessly, Jim listens to their expertise and never have I heard him answer without respect and intelligence. Rather, like an old blues master, he simply moves with the rhythm. Stephen Kanaris Kerry O’Keeffe
He is insightful, warm, engaging and to put it simply he adds real flavour to the game. He is a far better commentator than he ever was a player. There has always been humour in sport and Kerry never takes either the action or himself too seriously. What really sets him apart from everyone is that he offers opinion before the event rather than after the fact. His eye, much like Ian Chappell’s, is always looking to inform, challenge and offer something different for the punter. He is a rare talent indeed. An afternoon listening to Kerry is as pure a joy as there is. Brett Kajar Peter Roebuck
Peter Roebuck is unparalleled in his incisive, evocative and knowledgeable commentary of cricket, both on radio and in the press. Even the faster one-day form of the game cannot survive mere description of the on-field action. From a field including some very pedestrian pundits, Peter shines in his wisdom, his wit and his palpable love of cricket. He is able to give commentary a sense of occasion, to highlight the ebb and flow of the game, and to do so without resorting to unnecessary hyperbole or bias. Roebuck is a commentator for those who live and breathe cricket. Paul Carrington Glenn Mitchell
Glenn Mitchell can make a dull game sound like a million dollars and what he doesn’t know doesn’t matter anyway. Peter Hart Keith Stackpole
He has an easy-on-the-ears voice, uses precise and compact sentences and has second-to-none cricket knowledge. Stackpole is modest but has a complete understanding of his role as a cricket commentator. He realises that the viewers/listeners want to know what is happening at any given time. He is the sort of cricket commentator you would like to have a cup of tea with during a Test match. Billy Ibadulla Mark Waugh
He is not in the Channel Nine camp, which reduces his exposure to listeners. However, he always commentates in an impartial and professional manner. He is not afraid to say what he thinks, but does so in an unemotional and forthright manner. His comments on batting techniques are always enlightening. The fact that he has played both forms of the game until quite recently means he can provide constructive opinions on up-and-coming players, which is refreshing. The commentator of the future. Bill Chesterman
The 207-run stand between Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal equals Pakistan’s record for the sixth wicket in Tests against India. Saleem Malik and Imran Khan had added 207 in Faisalabad in 1982-83. It’s also the highest sixth-wicket stand at Eden Gardens.
Akmal has been struggling behind the stumps, but with the bat he has done little wrong in the last couple of months. This was his third 50-plus score in his last five Test innings. His 119 is his fifth Test century, and his second-highest, next to the 154 he scored against England in Lahore in 2005-06.
Akmal has has scored five Test hundreds, which is a record for a Pakistan wicketkeeper. Moin Khan is next in line with four.
This was Akmal’s fourth century versus India, against whom he averages 47.64 in ten Tests. No other wicketkeeper has scored as many hundreds against India; Andy Flower has three.
Misbah-ul-Haq has been on a roll as well. Since returning to the Test team in October, Misbah has notched up scores of 23, 23, 41, 82, 45, and 108 not out – 322 runs in five completed innings at an average of 64.40.
This is only the third time that five centuries have been scored in a Test in Kolkata. The India-South Africa Test in 1996-97 and the India-West Indies match in 2002-03 had also seen as many hundreds.
Manchester United have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring just five times across four matches while securing only two wins from these Premier League ties, and it’s evident that Erik ten Hag has to change things up if he wants his team to contend for the title.
Marcus Rashford led the way last season, scoring 30 goals across all competitions, yet he has yet to catch fire this term, netting only once in four league outings, indicating that perhaps he needs more time to get back into his stride.
Bruno Fernandes also proved to be a key attacking outlet for the Red Devils last season, netting 14 times, but like Rashford, he has failed to really get going thus far and Ten Hag will require others to step up and begin contributing.
The Dutchman went all out to sign Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund in the summer transfer window, spending £72m to secure one of the most highly-rated talents on the continent.
Having missed the start of the season due to injury, the youngster will need to hit the ground running and prove to the United faithful why this sort of money was splashed out on him.
How good is Rasmus Hojlund?
During the 2022/23 campaign, the Dane scored 16 goals in all competitions, which included nine for Serie A side Atalanta, having made the move to Italy from Sturm Graz last summer.
He only started 20 league matches for the club, yet ranked third for goals and assists (11), second for shots per game (1.7) and eighth for successful dribbles per game (0.9), indicating that he settled into life well in Serie A, despite his tender years.
Despite these encouraging statistics, when compared to positional peers, Hojlund only ranks in the top 30% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.42), while also ranking in the top 33% for total shots per 90 (2.81), demonstrating that he isn’t quite the finished article yet and there is still some developing to do.
The striker has only scored 27 senior club career goals and Ten Hag is perhaps expecting too much with regard to the youngster leading the line for the Old Trafford side, thus putting a heap of pressure on his shoulders already.
Given their struggles in the final third, what the former Ajax boss would give to have a former United sensation as his main striker right now. The likes of Andy Cole is one such player. He had everything to thrive under the Dutchman, certainly proving to be a bigger talent than Hojlund is currently.
How much did Manchester United sign Andy Cole for?
Sir Alex Ferguson was the master at signing players who were either just about to hit their peak years or had proven that they could thrive in the Premier League.
Andy Cole fits into both of these categories, having spent the previous two and half seasons scoring for fun at Newcastle United.
The Englishman netted 12 goals in the old First Division as the Magpies gained promotion to the Premier League and during the 1993/94 campaign, he exploded into life, making the top flight his stage.
Andy Cole
Cole scored a staggering 34 goals across 40 matches as Newcastle finished the season in a wonderful third spot under Kevin Keegan and the good times finally looked to be coming back to St James’ Park.
Ferguson needed another goalscorer and earmarked Cole as the player who could spearhead the United attack for the foreseeable future.
The wily Scot eventually secured his signature for a fee of £7m in January 1995 and although his signing couldn’t help United win a third consecutive league crown, the future was bright.
How many goals did Andy Cole score for Manchester United?
His first two full seasons saw Cole hit just 11 and six league goals respectively as he struggled to live up to the vast hype, numbers indicative of Hojlund's embryonic years in football. Yet, the former finally hit the ground running during the 1997/98 campaign, scoring 25 goals across all competitions.
Having lost the league to Arsenal, Ferguson made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat of this by luring striker Dwight Yorke to the club, and it proved to be a stroke of genius, with him and Cole forming a deadly partnership when deployed up front together.
Their stunning link-up play against Barcelona in the Champions League during their first season together was a joy to behold, and the duo received praise from a variety of figures, including Ferguson himself.
He said: “Andy Cole had a great time with us. He and Dwight Yorke had that fantastic season in 1999 that year they were the best partnership in Europe.”
Commentator Clive Tyldesley even lauded the pair, saying “They are out of this world,” as they led United to a stunning treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup during the 1998/99 season.
Cole would remain at Old Trafford for the next two and half years before making the move to Blackburn Rovers in 2002, where he won the League Cup just a few weeks after his arrival.
Overall, the 15-cap Englishman made 275 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 121 times in the process while winning five league titles and the coveted Champions League in what was a golden era for the club.
Can you imagine a player like this in the current United team? With creative talents such as Fernandes and Mason Mount producing chance after chance for the striker, and Rashford linking up well from a wide position, it would be a match made in heaven.
Hojlund is still young and relatively experienced at senior level, playing just 88 matches over the previous three seasons but will need to start scoring before the pressure hits unbearable levels. He could well use Cole's example as inspiration.
The latter had everything to be a top-level centre-forward. He was pacy, and could outmanoeuvre even the best of defenders while having a ruthless streak which enabled him to be the main man at Old Trafford for over half a decade.
Hojlund is a wonderful talent and has already shown glimpses of his ability in Italy, but the pressure is greater in Manchester and in order to build on his solid start to life in senior football, he could certainly learn a thing from the success Cole enjoyed at the club.
Plenty of strikers have already tried to crawl out of Cole's shadow and failed; it's now time for the Norwegian to show he won't have the same difficulties. Over to you, Rasmus.
Jude Bellingham has equalled David Beckham's Real Madrid goalscoring tally of 20 goals – and in 126 fewer games.
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Bellingham helps Madrid thrash GironaBags 19th and 20th goals of seasonMatches Beckham's Madrid goal haulGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Los Blancos struck a big blow to Girona's La Liga title hopes with a thumping 4-0 win over Michel's side on Saturday at Santiago Bernabeu. A Bellingham double, either side of goals from Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, saw Madrid go five points clear at the top of the table. The England international's goalscoring feats in 29 matches mean he is primed to surpass Beckham's goalscoring haul of 20 goals in 155 appearances – and in just over six months.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The 20-year-old swapped Borussia Dortmund for Madrid last summer for £89million ($113m) but if anything he has been somewhat of a bargain so far. Last year the midfielder won the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy award and the youngster is playing a huge role in Madrid's success this term. Bellingham is also now 93rd in Real's all-time scorers list, which puts him ahead of legends like Clarence Seedorf and Arjen Robben.
Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
During Madrid's drubbing of Girona, Bellingham went off with an ankle injury at a time where the Spanish giants have a number of key players out on the sidelines. It remains to be seen when he will return for Carlo Ancelotti's men.
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WHAT NEXT?
Madrid are back in Champions League action on Tuesday away to RB Leipzig in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, before returning to La Liga on February 18 at Rayo Vallecano. League games against Sevilla and Valencia follow on February 25 and March 2 respectively and Bellingham will hope to back fit as soon as possible.