Amorim ‘could quit Man Utd’ as Arsenal target free transfer – 5 possible twists

For many fans, the Premier League season already feels decided. There will be no last-gasp heroics like Sergio Aguero’s iconic title-winning goal in 2012, nor any dramatic echoes of Arsenal’s legendary Anfield triumph in 1989. Liverpool sit comfortably atop the table with a commanding 13-point advantage and only 10 matches remaining. While Arsenal have a game in hand, overturning that deficit appears highly improbable.

At the other end of the table, the bottom three – Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town – are clearly lagging behind the rest. Although not officially relegated yet, Leicester and Ipswich face an uphill battle, trailing 17th-placed Wolves by five points, and the Saints are a whopping 13 points from safety. However, don’t assume all the drama is gone before the season wraps up on May 25. Here, Express Football highlights five unexpected twists that could inject excitement into the final few weeks of the campaign.

Liverpool points deduction

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has suggested that the Premier League might consider implementing points deductions for managers’ conduct following Arne Slot’s heated exchange with Michael Oliver.

Liverpool boss Slot didn’t hold back in expressing his frustration with Oliver after the referee allowed James Tarkowski’s late equaliser in February’s Merseyside derby to stand. As a result, the Dutchman was sent off at full-time at Goodison Park and handed a two-match suspension, which will conclude when Liverpool face Southampton in their next league match.

“I would like to see referees at the final whistle moving towards the tunnel rather than standing in the middle looking for handshakes and any complimentary comments,” Hackett told Football Insider. “This will, I feel, reduce any tensions that have built up in the game. I hope that the level of fines will receive a more controlled approach by the manager and his assistant.

“If these fines going forward do not have the desired effect then we may see points deductions coming into play. The last time they used that sanction for an on-field mass confrontation was in the game between Manchester United vs Arsenal [in the 1990s] where I was the man in the middle.”

Though an unlikely scenario, the prospect of a points deduction would be a nightmare for Liverpool supporters – but it would certainly add intrigue to the season. With three yellow cards already to his name, Slot will need to keep his emotions in check to avoid potentially harming his team’s chances.

Arsenal sign a striker

Arsenal’s ongoing quest for a reliable striker is set to continue in the coming months. However, before the summer transfer window even opens, the Gunners could finally secure a long-awaited forward – this time from the pool of free agents.

While Mikel Merino has put in a commendable shift as a temporary No.9, Mikel Arteta urgently needs a natural goalscorer to bolster the squad before the season concludes. This is especially crucial for their Champions League campaign, which remains their best shot at silverware.

Unfortunately, the free agent market offers few appealing attacking options, forcing Arteta to take a gamble on lesser-known names. Former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela and ex-Premier League champion Diego Costa are among the candidates – neither may have the stamina for a full 90 minutes, but they could still provide valuable contributions. Thierry Henry’s legendary cameo against Leeds United, anyone?

Amorim resigns

With each game as Manchester United‘s head coach, Ruben Amorim seems increasingly like a shadow of the vibrant, youthful man that arrived from Sporting CP in November.

Sixteen gruelling league matches have come and gone since then, with the Portuguese only managing to secure victory in five of them. His struggles have been exacerbated by his stubbornness to stray from his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, and Sunday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Fulham was another devastating setback.

Spanish reports suggest that United executives are inching closer to deciding to dismiss Amorim and have even started to “analyse” potential replacements if the situation fails to improve.

He certainly has a steep climb ahead to reverse his team’s fortunes with the current squad. It’s entirely plausible that the daunting magnitude of the challenge could prompt the disheartened manager to step down to save face.

Maresca gets the boot

Despite Chelsea’s strong start to the season, the Blues have slipped out of the top four and are now locked in a battle for the remaining two Champions League spots, with Liverpool and Arsenal seemingly set to nab the first two.

Enzo Maresca’s men have struggled recently, losing four of their last six matches across all competitions. Their FA Cup exit and drop to fifth in the league has only added to the pressure. However, Maresca maintains that securing a Champions League place was never a target set for him by Chelsea’s hierarchy and won’t dictate his future at the club.

Club director Jonathan Goldstein has also assured that Maresca’s job is completely secure for the rest of the season, despite the team’s dip in form. Still, failing to qualify for next year’s Champions League would undoubtedly slow down Todd Boehly and BlueCo.’s ambitious project.

Chelsea’s board has backed managers in the past before abruptly dismissing them – Graham Potter, now of West Ham, being a prime example. If Maresca’s poor run continues, their stance could change quickly.

Nottingham Forest collapse

In what has largely been a predictable season at the top, Nottingham Forest have provided a refreshing surprise. Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad has exceeded expectations, taking four points from league leaders Liverpool and currently sitting above Manchester City in third place.

However, the chasing pack – featuring Chelsea, Newcastle, and Bournemouth – is closing in, with just five points separating third from eighth. Forest face a crucial run of fixtures in the coming weeks, including clashes with City, Aston Villa, and Chelsea, as they push for a long-awaited Champions League spot.

A Bournemouth top-four finish would mark a historic moment for the Premier League, while Newcastle reclaiming a Champions League place after just a year away could be crucial in fending off outside interest in star striker Alexander Isak.