Sports
Sadio Mane: ‘Mo Salah Was Not Liverpool’s Best Finisher
Iconic former Liverpool frontman Sadio Mane once snubbed Mohamed Salah when naming the best finisher he played with during his time at Anfield. The Senegalese star formed a ferocious front three alongside the Egyptian and Roberto Firmino that spearheaded the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure.
It was known that Salah and Mane had a contentious relationship with one another, and some believe that was part of the reason the latter opted to join Bayern Munich in 2022. And after his Merseyside departure, Mane threw shade at the ‘Egyptian King’ by snubbing him as he named the greatest finisher he played alongside.
11 Best Liverpool Finishers in Football History [Ranked]
Mohamed Salah only ranks seventh on the list.
Mane Named Origi as the Best Finisher He Played With
The Belgian was often a super sub who popped up with some big goals
Speaking with 1teamsports, as per The Sun, instead of picking what many would’ve believed to be the obvious answer in Salah – who is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer with 257 strikes – Mane instead revealed that Divock Origi was the best finisher he played alongside while at Liverpool. The Belgian was never a key player in Klopp’s starting XI, but played a major role as a rotational option.
The former Lille striker scored crucial goals in the famous comeback victory over Barcelona and also scored the second goal in the 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham in 2019.
Interestingly enough, it is not just Mane who holds this opinion, as former manager Klopp also made the same claim when it was revealed that the striker would leave the club following the end of his contract.
“He [Origi] is a legend on and off the pitch. Fantastic footballer, a world class striker and is our best finisher. Everyone would say the same. You see this in training. It is a really hard decision to make to leave him out. Everyone loves Divock here.”
What Happened to Origi After Leaving Liverpool
The forward has failed to recapture the same form
After moving to Italy with ambitions of becoming a key figure, Divock Origi found himself isolated at AC Milan, training privately rather than with teammates, until his contract was finally terminated in December 2025. At the time, he’d not played for the Italian club in 1055 days.
He hadn’t featured for the club since the 2022/23 season but did have a loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2023/24, which did little to boost his standing. He likely only lasted in Milan for as long as he did thanks to favourable tax rules for foreign workers,
His limited impact in Italy—just two goals in 36 games—has meant few clubs have rished to pick him up on a free. Going into the summer of 2026, the 31-year-old remains yet to sign for a new club.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – accurate as of 03/06/2025.
Sports
Tottenham Eye Bargain Deal To Sign Marcus Rashford
Tottenham Hotspur are keen to add more experience to Roberto De Zerbi’s ranks after avoiding relegation to the Championship last month.
Spurs retained their Premier League status with a 1-0 win over Everton on the final day of the campaign as London rivals West Ham United were relegated.
Plans are now in motion to strengthen their squad for a full season under De Zerbi. The North London outfit have already agreed deals for Liverpool defender Andy Robertson and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi – with both moves just awaiting official confirmation.
Both players will join on free transfers with their contracts at their respective clubs to expire at the end of this month.
Now Spurs are in the market for more bargains and are interested in a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
Tottenham eye move for Marcus Rashford
That is according to a report from the i Paper, who claim Rashford is of interest as Spurs look to add Premier League experience to their squad.
Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona as he helped the Spanish giants retain the La Liga title. However, Barca’s £69million move to sign Anthony Gordon last week may stop them going through with their option to buy deal.
Rashford has played 297 times in the Premier League and scored 97 goals along with providing 42 assists. Rashford is also attracting interest from Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
The England international spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa. Newcastle, meanwhile, see him as a potential replacement for Gordon.
No offers have been tabled to United as things stand.
Marcus Rashford prefers Barcelona move
According to the report, Rashford’s preference is to return to Barcelona. The La Liga outfit have a £26million option to buy the player but that expires on June 15.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, sporting director Deco and president Joan Laporta all want the player to return to the La Liga champions.
While the Spanish club do want to keep Rashford, they do not want to spend the £26million and are more likely to offer £15million to United after June 15.
The Red Devils are relaxed about the situation and believe interest from other clubs gives them a better chance of selling Rashford for £26million, which in itself is a bargain price for a player of his quality and experience.
If Rashford does not leave the Red Devils before pre-season, he is expected to report to Carrington after the World Cup.
He is under contract with United until 2028, with wages worth £325,000-a-week.
Rashford, who Gordon labelled as ‘one of the best players in the world’, would upgrade Tottenham’s attack and provide the experience the club wants this summer.
Barca’s unwillingness to meet the £26million fee gives Spurs an opening to bring the player to North London.
After Robertson And Senesi: Tottenham Must Seal Five Deals for Dream De Zerbi Squad
Roberto De Zerbi will need to make more signings in the summer transfer window
Sports
Arsenal Get Green Light To Hijack Man Utd Move For ‘Elite’ Midfielder
Mateus Fernandes has been given the ‘green light’ to leave West Ham United following their relegation from the Premier League, according to TEAMtalk.
The Hammers need to sell a handful of players after dropping out of the top flight, with the club required to raise as much as £150million through player sales.
Fernandes is attracting interest from several Premier League sides, with Manchester United in talks over a move to sign the Portuguese star.
The 21-year-old joined West Ham last summer from Southampton, after the Saints were relegated. He still has four years left on his contract at the London Stadium and the Irons are not willing to let him go for cheap.
West Ham want £80m for Mateus Fernandes
According to TEAMtalk, West Ham will demand £80million to sell the ‘elite’ Fernandes this summer.
A fee in that region would smash the Championship transfer record, which currently stands at £53million following Romeo Lavia’s move to Chelsea from Southampton three years ago.
But Manchester United could see their move to sign Fernandes hijacked by Arsenal.
The Gunners have already made contact with the Hammers about a move for the player and are weighing up making a formal bid. While the Irons want £80million for the midfielder, offers are expected to be in the region of £60million.
Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the player.
Former Liverpool player Jan Molby branded Fernandes as an ‘exceptional’ player who has ‘got it all’ and believes the midfielder is the ‘real deal’.
Mateus Fernandes can make Arsenal stronger
Fernandes was predominantly used as a central midfielder for West Ham last season but can play in a more attacking role, as well as a defensive one too.
Declan Rice is one of the first names on the team-sheet at Arsenal but there is room for Fernandes to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI, if the Gunners make a move.
Martin Zubimendi impressed during the first half of the campaign but his performances started to drop off in the final months. Martin Odegaard is captain at Arsenal but the Norwegian has been troubled by persistent injury problems.
Arsenal will be keen to build on their Premier League title win and go one better in the Champions League after losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties last weekend.
Fernandes might not start every game if he moved to the Emirates Stadium but he would give Arteta an incredibly-strong rotation option who can play in any position in Arsenal’s midfield three.
If the Gunners want to retain their title and challenge on more fronts, having two quality players in almost every position will give them the best chance of winning more trophies next term.
He Wants to Join: Arsenal Hold Talks to Sign ‘Generational’ Forward
Arsenal are preparing for another busy window.
Sports
Kyle Walker Names 3 Players Tuchel Should’ve Included in England’s World Cup Squad
Former England international Kyle Walker has named the three players that Thomas Tuchel should’ve named in his squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel named his 26-man England squad at the end of May. The likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice were among the players named in a hugely talented group.
The German left out some big names from his side. Some old heads that have been integral for England over the past decade were omitted, as were some younger players despite impressive campaigns.
Walker, capped 96 times by his country, will also not travel to North America after announcing his retirement from international football earlier this year.
Walker Names 3 English Players That He Would Have Taken to the World Cup
Walker has joined The Sun as a columnist and pundit for its coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has now revealed three stars he would have picked for the World Cup if he was Three Lions boss. Speaking at a special show for The Sun previewing this summer’s tournament, Walker said:
“I probably would have taken Morgan Gibbs-White. He’s been fantastic for Forest.”
Gibbs-White was controversially left out of Tuchel’s side despite a superb campaign with Nottingham Forest. He scored 15 times and recorded seven assists in the Premier League for the Tricky Trees last season.
Walker, now 36 years old, also said that Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw should’ve been included in defence. He added:
“I come back to the defence. I do think there’s a lot there that have probably not played too great or who are carrying injuries that, can you completely rely on for the stretch of the tournament? That’s where I probably question some of them, but I’m not the manager.
“A fit Reece James is the best right-back in the world, for me. But can he (stay fit)? I think (John Stones) is a tremendous player. John’s problem is keeping fit.
“Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have probably had the best seasons for Manchester United in a long time and are now not at the tournament. I do think Luke Shaw, for me, should have been on the plane and I do think Harry Maguire should have been on the plane.”
Shaw played every match in the Premier League this season, while Maguire was excluded from Tuchel’s side despite an impressive campaign at the heart of United’s defence.
Maguire said he was ‘shocked’ and gutted’ after learning he had been left out.
Kyle Walker Gives Take on Phil Foden’s Omission
Phil Foden was also a controversial omission from Tuchel. Walker stopped short from saying he would’ve taken his former teammate to the World Cup.
He said: “I really like Phil Foden. I’ve played with him for eight years, but he’s not on the plane.
“The players the manager has picked, he’s had the tough decision of picking 26 players to go on that plane and we have to trust in him that they are the right ones.
“It’s football. What do you do, sulk and cry in the corner, or work harder? think that in life there’s always setbacks, especially in football. It’s about how Phil bounces back now. You can’t affect that, that’s gone.
“He just needs to make sure that come the start of the new season, whoever the new manager will be for Manchester City now Pep has left, he puts his best foot forward and makes sure that he is the first name on the team sheet.”
England kickstart their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17. Matches against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 follow.
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