General

Harry Kane has admitted that he is unsure whether he will ever return to the Premier League, insisting that breaking Alan Shearer’s all-time goalscoring record would not be enough on its own to convince him to leave Bayern Munich.

The England captain, who recently extended his contract with the German giants until 2029, has been repeatedly linked with a return to English football since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in 2023.

However, the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner appears content with life in Germany and remains focused on achieving further success with Bayern.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Kane admitted  that a Premier League comeback remains possible but stressed that the circumstances would have to be perfect.

While acknowledging that he will never completely close the door on English football, Kane made it clear that his current priorities lie in conquering the Champions League with Bayern and winning international silverware with England.

He said:

“I’ll be honest, I am really not sure. When I think about coming back, it isn’t just about the record (top goalscorer in the Premier League), there are things I haven’t achieved yet.

“I think it would have to be a perfect situation for me to ever come back, and I can’t see where that would be… One day, anything is possible.”

Currently sitting on 213 Premier League goals, 47 behind Shearer’s benchmark of 260, Kane emphasised that experiencing life in Germany has broadened his perspective, leaving him settled in Bavaria for the foreseeable future.

A return to Tottenham remains on the cards for Harry Kane

Should Kane ever decide to return to the English top flight, Tottenham hold a major trump card.

As revealed by The Telegraph, Spurs retain their first-option matching rights on the striker despite his new Bayern deal.

Because that clause sits directly between the two clubs and covers Kane’s entire employment in Munich, Tottenham retain the right to match any accepted Premier League bid, giving the North Londoners first refusal on bringing their all-time record goalscorer home.

Mauricio Pochettino reunion at Manchester United could appeal to Kane

However, Tottenham could face stiff competition if Kane explores a Premier League comeback later in his career.

Manchester United have long admired the England captain and have been heavily linked with him in past transfer windows.

With Mauricio Pochettino set to take over as Manchester United’s new manager following Michael Carrick’s sacking, the prospect of reuniting with his former mentor at Old Trafford would always represent a tempting proposition should Kane seek one final challenge in England.

Pochettino worked closely with Kane during his successful spell at Tottenham, helping the striker develop into one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.

Under the Argentine, Kane became a central figure in a Spurs side that regularly challenged near the top of the Premier League and reached the 2019 Champions League final.

Their established relationship could make a future reunion an attractive possibility.

For now, Kane appears determined to continue pursuing major honours in Germany, leaving the door to a Premier League return open without making any commitment to walk through it.

The post Harry Kane reveals what would need to happen for him to make Premier League comeback appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United could reportedly now be in with a strong chance of signing Monaco striker Folarin Balogun as he’s keen to work with Mauricio Pochettino again.

The Red Devils look set to hire Pochettino as their replacement for Michael Carrick, whose sacking was officially announced today.

With Pochettino now expected to leave his role as manager of the US Men’s National Team, it seems the Argentine’s presence at Old Trafford could be key to luring Balogun, according to TEAMtalk.

The 25-year-old is said to be available on the market this January, and it’s easy to imagine he could be a good option for Man Utd, who need cover up front.

Even if Balogun isn’t exactly someone who screams ‘world class’, he could give United better depth up front and he’s someone who’s shone under Pochettino, so the pair could work well together.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

What signings could Pochettino make for Manchester United?

Pochettino will need a lot of backing if he is to take over as United manager, with the club currently sitting in the relegation zone after winning only one of their ten Premier League games so far this season.

Balogun alone surely won’t be enough, with MUFC also looking in need of better defensive options, and arguably better midfielders, even though they signed three new players in that position in the summer.

Still, the main thing that’s appealing about Pochettino is the extent to which he can work without spending vast sums of money.

That’s what made the 54-year-old a big hit during his Spurs days, when he largely developed talented young players, including the hugely successful rise of homegrown star Harry Kane.

United have restricted spending a little more under the ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, so that could be a reality Pochettino has to deal with, meaning low-cost options like Balogun might become the norm.

The post 12-goal international star available and ready to join Man United after Pochettino development appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United have today sacked Michael Carrick and it looks like Mauricio Pochettino will be the man to replace him at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils find themselves in the relegation zone after just one win in ten Premier League games so far this season, and it makes sense that they’ve decided to replace Carrick with Pochettino.

The Argentine has not yet been officially announced by Man Utd, but according to journalist Indy Kaila, he has already got a “total reset” of this squad planned for when he takes over.

See below for details as Pochettino is said to be keen to bring in two new centre-backs, two new midfielders, and a world class striker, while several big names like Harry Maguire could be offloaded…

Exclusive ?

Mauricio Pochettino wants a total reset of the Manchester United squad.
He’s targeting two elite centre-backs, two elite midfielders and a world-class striker.

Harry Maguire, Joshua Zirkzee and several others are set to leave by next season.

No more average…

— indykaila News (@indykaila) November 12, 2026

“Mauricio Pochettino wants a total reset of the Manchester United squad,” the account posted. “He’s targeting two elite centre-backs, two elite midfielders and a world-class striker. Harry Maguire, Joshua Zirkzee and several others are set to leave by next season. No more average players at the club. The reset is coming.”

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

United fans will hope this proves to be accurate, as there’s surely a limit to what even a top coach like Pochettino can achieve without major changes to this rather average playing squad.

Mauricio Pochettino’s reset

It will be interesting to see which players United target for those positions mentioned above.

MUFC already signed three new midfielders in the summer, so it remains to be seen if the club will splash the cash so much again when it comes to that department.

Still, there’s surely a strong case for changing things up in defence, where Pochettino did particularly well as Tottenham manager.

The likes of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez don’t look up to scratch, while Matthijs de Ligt has an awful recent injury record.

Meanwhile, a new striker also surely makes sense for United as Benjamin Sesko has under-performed and is also currently struggling to stay fit and make himself available.

The post Mauricio Pochettino eyeing “total reset” at Man United with five new signings appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso reportedly “loves” Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but Alex Scott is the target to watch in that position for now, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Blues could do with strengthening in the middle of the park this January, as they never really replaced Enzo Fernandez after his late summer move to Manchester City.

Scott seems ideal after his fine form for Bournemouth, but Zubimendi is also someone who could work well under Alonso, and there’s perhaps some uncertainty about his situation at Arsenal after falling out of favour in recent months.

Still, Romano is unconvinced about Chelsea moving for Zubimendi right now, as he spoke on his YouTube channel about the Spain international’s situation.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Martin Zubimendi not in talks over Arsenal exit

For now, it seems Zubimendi is not in talks over leaving the Emirates Stadium, even if he would ideally like to play more.

Meanwhile, even if Alonso has been keen to work with Zubimendi in the past, it currently looks like an expensive deal and the priority seems more likely to be Scott, according to Romano.

“First point, at the moment there are no negotiations ongoing between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal,” Romano said.

He added: “Zubimendi has clarified that he’s not desperate to leave Arsenal and also Atletico Madrid are not going to invest €65-70-80 millions on Martin Zubimendi in January. He’s a player they like, for sure. Zubimendi is super appreciated by Atletico, but that’s it.”

Romano went on to say that Alonso asked about signing Zubimendi when he held talks over becoming Bayern Munich manager, though in the end that didn’t happen as he instead left Bayer Leverkusen for Real Madrid.

On Chelsea, Romano added: One day Xabi Alonso would love to work with Martin Zubimendi, but at the moment again that’s it. And also to see Arsenal selling to Chelsea obviously that would take very big money.

“I will keep in mind the name of Alex Scott when we talk about midfielders.”

The post Xabi Alonso “loves” Arsenal star but watch out for another Chelsea transfer target, says Fabrizio Romano appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly decided that Malo Gusto is not in his first-team plans amid interest from Liverpool.

The France international has mostly shone during his time at Stamford Bridge, but so far this season he’s seen a reduced role under new manager Alonso.

The Spanish tactician took over at Chelsea in the summer and his use of wing-backs might not leave much room for Gusto, who has previously been linked with Liverpool by Simon Phillips.

Now a new report from Phillips’ Substack today states that Alonso has advised Gusto to find a new club as he is not in his plans as a regular starter.

It remains to be seen if this will definitely lead to Liverpool making a move for the 23-year-old, but it could be a move that makes sense for all parties.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Malo Gusto transfer could be useful for Liverpool

Gusto might not be every Liverpool fan’s dream signing, but the Merseyside giants could do with making a change in the right-back position.

That area of their squad has been an issue since Trent Alexander-Arnold left, with Jeremie Frimpong struggling since joining from Bayer Leverkusen.

Ronald Araujo, normally a centre-back, is now filling in pretty well on the right since joining Liverpool on loan from Barcelona, but that probably isn’t the best long-term solution.

Gusto could therefore be a good option for LFC to consider if he is indeed set to be available.

Could Chelsea try surprise swap deal?

While this perhaps seems unlikely now, could Chelsea boss Alonso push for a swap deal involving Gusto and Frimpong?

Frimpong was superb in Alonso’s system at Leverkusen, so it could be a good fit, even if he’s struggled in English football so far.

Perhaps Liverpool wasn’t the right move for him, and a return to a system like Alonso’s could get his career back on track.

The post Xabi Alonso ready to let Liverpool transfer target leave Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Tottenham Hotspur star Dejan Kulusevski has expressed deep disappointment toward members of the club’s backroom medical team following an explosive revelation regarding his nightmare injury recovery.

The Swedish international has endured an agonising spell on the sidelines, spending more than 500 days away from competitive action before finally making his return.

Dejan Kulusevski unhappy with Tottenham medical team

Speaking to Swedish newspaper Fotbollskanalen, the 26-year-old winger revealed he was advised to undergo a career-altering knee transplant over the summer, an option he firmly rejected:

“I spent the whole summer talking to other doctors about having another operation. It would have been a knee transplant. I would have exchanged my knee for someone else’s. I said no. If I’m in pain when I play, then I’ll have to play with pain.

“There were many who didn’t believe it, many were sceptical. Even at the club. I’ve been disappointed in people during this period, but at the same time I have to forgive everything.

“Sometimes you wish you’d received more help and so on. But at the same time, I understand we’re all part of a business.”

Spurs medical team has been under criticism for some time

Kulusevski’s explosive interview adds further scrutiny on Tottenham’s medical department, which has faced severe criticism over the last two years.

Several first-team players have endured lengthy absences, with fitness concerns repeatedly affecting the club’s ability to maintain a settled squad.

With questions already being asked by supporters and pundits regarding player welfare and recovery protocols at the club, Kulusevski’s revelation raises serious alarm bells over the department’s methods and player management.

It i worth noting that previously, former Spurs captain Cristian Romero had to resort to a treatment away from club, in his country on an injury showing a lack of trust in the club’s staff. Romero even publicly omitted thanks to Spurs’ medical staff during in his social media post.

Kulusevski returns after over 500 days out

Kulusevski’s emotional interview comes after his long-awaited return to competitive football.

The Tottenham star had spent more than 500 days on the sidelines while dealing with a serious knee problem that disrupted his career.

His rehabilitation involved setbacks and consultations with medical specialists as he searched for a way back onto the pitch.

The prolonged absence was particularly frustrating for a player who had established himself as an important attacking option for Spurs.

Known for his creativity, close control and ability to operate across several attacking positions, Kulusevski offers qualities that Tottenham have missed during his absence.

His return provides manager Roberto De Zerbi with another option as the club looks to build momentum during the 2026/27 campaign.

The post Dejan Kulusevski takes swipe at Tottenham staff as he makes behind the scenes injury revelation appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have reportedly made enquiries about Tottenham defender Pedro Porro ahead of the January transfer window, but the Spanish international would prefer a return to La Liga.

According to TEAMtalk, all three Premier League giants have contacted the relevant parties to assess the 27-year-old’s potential availability as they consider strengthening their defensive options.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City enquire about Pedro Porro

According to the report, the three Premier League heavyweights have actively sounded out the 27-year-old’s availability ahead of the January transfer window.

Chelsea are exploring full-back additions amidst uncertainty over Malo Gusto’s future, while Manchester City and Liverpool are also keen to reinforce their right-sided options.

Porro has come a wanted star following an exceptional World Cup campaign with Spain.

However, the report adds that Spurs hold strong negotiating leverage with Porro, who is under contract until 2031, intending to demand a record full-back fee surpassing the £57 million PSG paid for Achraf Hakimi.

Pedro Porro prefers move to Spain as Barcelona and Real Madrid circle

Despite interest from the Premier League, Porro’s preference is reportedly to return to Spain.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked with the defender as they consider their long-term options at right-back.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have made their admiration clear for the Spanish international.

As per recent reports, Barcelona have even established contact with Porro last month with the report stating that the player would like to play in Spain again.

Liverpool right-back search tied to Ronald Araujo domino effect

Liverpool’s potential move for Porro could hinges significantly on their ongoing negotiations with Barcelona regarding defender Ronald Araujo.

Barcelona have opened talks with Liverpool over a permanent transfer for Araujo, who is currently on loan at Anfield.

That creates an intriguing connection between Liverpool’s defensive recruitment and Barcelona’s pursuit of Porro.

If Liverpool complete a permanent deal for Araujo, Barcelona could find themselves in a stronger position to pursue the Tottenham right-back.

However, there is no confirmation that the two transfers are formally linked or that an Araujo deal would automatically lead to a move for Porro.

The post Liverpool and Chelsea make initial contact for Tottenham star as January transfer preference emerges – report appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in Endrick and could get the opportunity to sign him in a swap deal that would see Martin Zubimendi move to Real Madrid.

The Gunners have long been linked with Endrick and it seems they continue to work on establishing if he’s available this January.

Meanwhile, intermediaries are floating the idea of Arsenal using Zubimendi as part of any potential deal to bring the Brazilian forward to the Emirates Stadium, according to TEAMtalk.

Arsenal are said to be confident that Endrick wants to join, and Zubimendi’s situation could make things interesting, with the Spain international surely not happy with his current situation after falling out of favour in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Real Madrid were known to have been keen on Zubimendi during his Real Sociedad days, and if he’s not going to get regular opportunities at Arsenal then now could be their time to snap him up.

Should Arsenal go through with Endrick and Zubimendi swap?

Arsenal fans will likely have mixed feelings about this potential swap deal, with Endrick looking like he could be a useful addition in a problem position for Arteta’s squad.

However, even if AFC need more options up front, they could arguably aim higher than Endrick, with the 20-year-old struggling to establish himself at the Bernabeu, whilst remaining inexperienced at the very highest level.

It could also be valuable to have Zubimendi around as a backup for the rest of the season, as Arteta’s side will likely have a lot of games to play, and will know all too well just how much injuries can derail a campaign.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

For now, it seems that Bruno Guimaraes and Myles Lewis-Skelly are ahead in the pecking order to partner Declan Rice, but there’ll surely be opportunities for Zubimendi at some point.

While there could be an avenue for this deal, we wouldn’t treat it as certain or even that likely for the moment.

The post Transfer saga takes new twist: Arsenal believe forward wants to join, possible swap deal discussed appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United players reportedly now expect Mauricio Pochettino to be named the club’s next manager, though some of them had hoped for Unai Emery instead.

The Red Devils have been linked with a whole host of managers in recent weeks after Michael Carrick’s struggles at Old Trafford this season.

With just one Premier League win so far, Man Utd find themselves in the relegation zone following a major downturn in form since Carrick took over as manager permanently, despite him having impressed greatly as interim manager last term.

According to talkSPORT, it now looks like Pochettino is expected to replace Carrick, but Emery would have been a popular choice in this squad.

Is Mauricio Pochettino the right choice for Manchester United?

Pochettino and Emery both have their qualities, but it perhaps seems like a bit of a gamble to go for the Argentine at this moment in time.

The 54-year-old is currently managing the US Men’s National Team, and this follows unconvincing spells in charge of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

Although Pochettino did tremendous work at Tottenham, that was a while ago now, and he hasn’t really lived up to those high standards since then.

Emery, by contrast, is doing hugely impressive work as Aston Villa manager, and perhaps seems more like a coach on an upward trajectory with the proven qualities to succeed in the modern day Premier League.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Having said that, Emery had his issues during his time as Arsenal manager, and perhaps the expectations that would come with the United job would see him struggle again.

The Spanish tactician also has a lot of control at Villa Park and a squad built in his image, whereas Pochettino has previously worked under difficult conditions and still been able to thrive at Spurs.

The post The manager Man United players were hoping for instead of Mauricio Pochettino appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are reportedly keen on a potential transfer move for Atletico Madrid winger Alex Baena, who has also been on the radar of Manchester City and other clubs.

The Spain international has shone during his time with Atletico, and is in fine form so far this season, with five goals and four assists in La Liga and the Champions League so far.

It seems Baena is one of a number of attacking players being considered by the Gunners ahead of January, alongside other big names like Eli Junior Kroupi, Antonio Nusa, and Endrick, according to the Independent.

Baena certainly seems like a good option worth considering, with the 25-year-old capable of playing a variety of roles on either flank or up front.

Arsenal need a signing like Alex Baena

Arsenal endured a frustrating summer transfer window as they targeted ambitious signings like Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers, only to miss out on both.

They now surely need to address the issues in their front three, with Mikel Arteta’s side only scoring 15 Premier League goals in their first ten matches.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Even though Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League table, they are all too often relying on narrow victories, and it might catch up with them over the course of the season.

Baena could give AFC something different up front, perhaps as an upgrade on the injury-prone and inconsistent Bukayo Saka, while summer signing Christos Tzolis is still settling in and adjusting to English football.

It will be interesting to see if Man City and other clubs also look to compete for Baena’s signature this winter, but Enzo Maresca already looks like he has enough quality and depth in that department from the likes of Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo, Phil Foden, Iliman Ndiaye.

The post Arsenal keen on versatile attacker who’s also been on Man City’s transfer radar appeared first on CaughtOffside.