Manchester United have been very busy this summer as Ruben Amorim goes about constructing a new-look Red Devils side ahead of the forthcoming Premier League season.

There will be a lot of excitement brewing about the attack the ex-Sporting boss will be able to field for the opening clash with Arsenal, as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha look to fire in the goals for Amorim’s revitalised team to put the horrors of Rasmus Hojlund behind them.

Benjamin Sesko has also now been added to the mix for a jaw-dropping £73.7m, with the drawn-out deal seeing the Red Devils beat Newcastle United to his coveted signature.

Now, the focus will surely turn away from adding more attackers to the camp, as a £104m midfielder continues to be linked with a dramatic switch to Old Trafford.

Man United prepare to make bid for £104m star

Nobody can argue against the fact that United are attacking the transfer window with some intent.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Indeed, Amorim’s striker options could soon be enhanced even more by ex-Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin joining on a free transfer, notably sacking his agent in a bid to force through a move to Old Trafford.

On top of that, a move for Douglas Luiz to return to the Premier League after a golden Aston Villa stint could also be on, with United named as a keen party looking at the Brazilian midfielder.

However, their biggest statement signing of the chaotic window so far would come in the form of the Red Devils winning Carlos Baleba’s in-demand signature.

The Brighton and Hove Albion battler has been eyed up by a whole host of top-flight clubs so far this summer, but reports by Spanish outlet Marca indicate that United are now ready to make a bid for the Cameroonian this week.

Previously judged to be worth around the eye-watering £104m price range, it is stated that United believe they have the funds at hand to win the exciting 21-year-old, ahead of every other suitor locked into the race for his elusive signature.

How Baleba is shades of Carrick

Picking up such a promising gem from another Premier League side means this deal feels somewhat similar to when United snapped up Michael Carrick in 2006 from Tottenham Hotspur.

The rest ended up being history for Carrick at the Theatre of Dreams, as he cemented himself as a calm but tough presence in the midfield department during the club’s recent golden years, after waving goodbye to North London.

At the time, the £18m forked out to sign Carrick would have been deemed a pretty penny to pay.

However, he would certainly prove himself to be worth every bit of his price tag across his lengthy stay in Manchester, with a stunning five Premier League titles held aloft due, in part, to the defensive midfielder’s well-rounded brilliance centrally.

From 464 appearances for the Red Devils, Carrick chipped in with a reasonable 24 goals and 35 assists.

Across his entire Premier League career, though, Carrick would stick out as an assured performer with the ball at his feet – away from attempting shots galore – with a sublime 18,978 passes accurately completed across his illustrious playing days at the very top, as per the Premier League.

708 tackles were also won across the same period, with this universal ability to be both classy yet gritty even seeing Spanish legend Xavi herald him as a “complete player.”

Baleba has been displaying sprinkles of this same, versatile game from the centre of the park for the Seagulls for some time now, with a sweet strike such as the one above hammered home against West Ham United up his sleeve.

Yet, he is also keen to get stuck in for his team’s cause, away from just being a lively goalscoring presence, with Baleba now wanting to be the standout spark from the middle of the pitch that restores Amorim and Co. to their former glories, much like Carrick was under Sir Alex Ferguson’s unmatched reign.

Baleba’s league numbers for Brighton (24/25)

Stat (* = per game)

Baleba

Games played

34

Goals scored

3

Assists

1

Touches*

54.0

Accurate passes*

33.6 (88%)

Big chances created

3

Tackles*

2.3

Ball recoveries*

5.8

Total duels won*

5.9

Stats by Sofascore

The table above further reinforces Baleba’s similarities to the past United legend, with his ability to be both forward-thinking, with three big chances created last season in Premier League action, while also winning 5.9 duels per match, making him the perfect candidate to be Amorim’s very own Carrick.

Hailed as being a “powerhouse” for Fabian Hurzeler’s men by football content creator Ryan Adsett, he really could be United’s standout buy this summer over Sesko, Mbeumo, and Cunha, as the Red Devils attempt to become feared title-challengers once more.

Related Ideal Hojlund replacement: "Monster" CF wants to join Man Utd after Sesko

Manchester United could find a dream replacement for Rasmus Hojlund by signing this striker.

Posts 1 ByDan Emery Aug 11, 2025

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin did not do himself any favours with the fanbase when he said that he was happy that the team did not lose against Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday.

In isolation, the comment was understandable because the Light Blues were 1-0 down, with ten men, until James Tavernier’s penalty in the 92nd minute rescued a point.

However, it is not what a lot of supporters wanted to hear after a 1-1 draw at Ibrox against Dundee in the first home match of the Scottish Premiership season, especially after a draw with Motherwell on the opening day.

Whilst the team’s performances in the Champions League qualifiers have shown plenty of promise, there is clearly a lot of work that still needs to be done to get the team to a place where they can realistically compete for the title.

Part of that process will be continuing to use the transfer market to improve the team with new signings before the summer transfer window officially slams shut.

The Gers have already done some good work to bolster their squad in recent weeks and months, as Djeidi Gassama is now the role model for new signings to look at.

Rangers have hit gold with Djeidi Gassama

Rangers reportedly splashed out a fee of £2.2m to sign the 21-year-old attacker from Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent deal to bolster their options on the flanks last month.

It is fair to say that Gassama has not taken very long to become a loved figure among the supporters at Ibrox, thanks to his quick feet and quick start to life in Glasgow.

The French winger has hit the ground running with four goals in five appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, with all four of those goals coming in Champions League qualifiers.

Minutes

15

34

90

83

90

Shots

1

1

N/A

2

2

Goals

1

1

2

0

0

Key passes

0

0

N/A

1

2

Dribbles completed

2/2

0/1

N/A

2/3

2/3

As you can see in the table above, Gassama has also provided quality as a dribbler for the Hoops with his ability to take on opposition full-backs effectively.

The former PSG youngster also won the penalty, of course, against Dundee with a brilliant dribble into the box to draw a foul, which led to Tavernier’s equaliser.

The task for Martin and the rest of the team, now, is to ensure that Gassama is platformed in a way that gets the best out of him, by getting him the ball in the best positions.

Part of that means having a left-back who can complement and support the French whiz down the left side, and the Gers may be on course to lose their current option in that role.

Rangers in talks to sell Brazilian star

According to Globo Esporte, as relayed by Sport Witness, Palmeiras are interested in a deal to sign Glasgow Rangers full-back Jefte this summer.

The report claims that the Brazilian side are currently in talks with the Light Blues over a potential transfer for the 21-year-old defender in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that Palmeiras are set to lose their left-back, Vanderlan, and that they have identified the Rangers dynamo as their ideal replacement for him.

The outlet states, though, that it will not be an easy deal for the Brazilian outfit to get over the line because the Gers are set to demand a fee of up to around £5m for the full-back.

It also points out that there are unnamed clubs in England keeping tabs on his situation, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will enter the race for his signature before the end of the summer window.

Why this could be great news for Djeidi Gassama

This could inadvertently be great news for Gassama and the future of how the left side of the pitch looks for Martin moving forward, if Palmeiras are able to strike a deal with Rangers for Jefte.

It was clear in the opening matches of the campaign that the manager was not too fond of the Brazilian full-back, as he played Max Aarons, a right-footed right-back, at left-back for the first three games.

Jefte, who was described as “suspect defensively” by Maurice Ross last season, has been at Ibrox for a year now, yet has not taken big steps in his development defensively or offensively as of yet.

The Brazilian defender only completed one of his five attempted crosses and one of his four attempted dribbles as a starter against Dundee, whilst he did not create a single ‘big chance’ for his teammates, which shows that he struggled to produce quality in possession.

Whilst Jefte has shown signs of promise with his technical ability at times, his performances in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign also lacked a cutting edge all too often.

Appearances

33

Starts

30

Goals

1

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

1.0

Assists

4

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success rate

46%

As you can see in the table above, Jefte only created four ‘big chances’ in 33 appearances in the division, which shows that he did not provide a constant threat in the final third.

If you go back to the last successful left side for Rangers, Borna Barisic created 14 ‘big chances’ from left-back in the 2020/21 campaign, whilst Ryan Kent scored 12 goals and delivered 11 assists on the wing.

Gassama is similar to Kent in the sense that he is also a right-footed player who likes to drift inside to score and create, which is why he may need a Barisic-esque left-back option to support him.

Having an offensive left-back who can draw attention away from the opposition’s defence to free up space for Gassama could get the best out of him in the Premiership moving forward, as defenders do not currently have to worry too much about the threat, or lack thereof, Jefte offers.

Big Danilo upgrade: Rangers make "lethal" £5m gem one of their top targets

Rangers have made this striker one of their top transfer targets, and he would be a big upgrade on Danilo.

ByDan Emery Aug 8, 2025

That is why selling Jefte could end up being great news for the French winger, as it would provide the club with an opportunity to dip into the market to find a player with a profile that suits playing alongside the ex-Owls man the best.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is reportedly "working hard with Arsenal coach" to improve two key weaknesses after losing his starting spot to Riccardo Calafiori. The teenage academy graduate had been thrown into the deep end during an injury crisis, cementing himself as Mikel Arteta’s surprise first-choice left-back. He racked up 15 league starts in the second half of last season, dazzled in the Champions League quarter-finals by keeping Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo quiet, and even scored on his England debut under Thomas Tuchel.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  But football can be brutal. Fast-forward to now, and the 18-year-old finds himself demoted to the bench, his role reduced to late cameos while Calafiori has stormed ahead in the pecking order. On average, the Italian attempts more passes into the box (1.74 vs 1.18), swings in more open-play crosses (1.01 vs 0.66), and delivers far more attacking threat in front of goal, from total shots (0.91 vs 0.2) to efforts on target (0.55 vs 0.07). Even in progressive play, the Italian averages 13.17 forward passes per game, compared to Lewis-Skelly’s 10.38.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to recognising the need to develop his attacking instincts, new assistant coach Gabriel Heinze has taken Lewis-Skelly under his wing. Sessions have been heavily focused on crossing accuracy and how best to exploit attacking zones when Arsenal dominate possession.

  The youngster has responded well, putting in extra hours after training and working closely with the coaching staff to close the gap to Calafiori. Those at London Colney believe the teenager is still far ahead of schedule, having jumped from the Under-21s to Champions League knockout football in less than a year.

• TELL ME MORE

  While Arsenal minutes are proving harder to come by, Thomas Tuchel has shown no hesitation in trusting Lewis-Skelly for England. He started and impressed in the Three Lions’ 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Andorra, showing the composure and fearlessness that made him such a sensation in his debut year.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lewis-Skelly is still a rock defensively, winning more duels per game last season (6.04) than established stars Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and even Calafiori himself. His relentless tackling, tireless energy and versatility, since he was raised as a midfielder before being shifted to full-back, mark him out as one of Arsenal’s brightest prospects. Club insiders insist his long-term place is secure, pointing to the five-year deal he signed earlier this year.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin wants to make further additions to his first-team squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

The Light Blues are in Champions League action against Panathinaikos tonight, as they look to progress through to the next round of qualifying, after they won 2-0 in the first leg.

Work is still going on behind the scenes to improve the squad, though, despite the season having already got underway, as the Gers attempt to bolster their options in the wide areas.

Rangers are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign right-sided attacker Oliver Antman from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, in a move that could set them back £5m.

The Scottish Premiership giants are also reportedly close to securing a deal to bring England U19 forward Mikey Moore to Ibrox on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Rangers would add to Martin’s options on the flanks if they can get both of these deals over the line in the coming days, hopefully before the league opener against Motherwell on Saturday.

What Moore and Antman could bring to Rangers

Both players are exciting wingers who could provide creative flair at the top end of the pitch if they are able to show the best of their abilities in Scotland this season.

Moore, who has only played 21 times for Tottenham to date, is relatively untested at senior level, though, and it remains to be seen if he can make the step up to be a key player on a regular basis in the first-team at Rangers, as he has yet to prove himself.

However, the 17-year-old talent did produce 19 goals and 13 assists in 24 matches for Spurs at U19 level before he made his first-team breakthrough, which shows that the potential is there for him to deliver goals and assists if he can hit the ground running at Ibrox.

Antman, on the other hand, would be joining the Scottish giants off the back of an impressive campaign with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie last season, as he showcased his ability to create high-quality chances for his teammates at an exceptional rate.

Starts

28

Goals

6

Key passes per game

1.6

Big chances created

16

xA

6.54

Assists

15

As you can see in the table above, the Finland international created a whopping 16 ‘big chances’ in 28 starts in the Dutch top-flight, which suggests that he could be a fantastic addition to the Rangers squad.

This is because no Rangers midfielder, winger, or forward created more than 11 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership last term, which suggests that Antman could come in as Martin’s chief creative threat.

Both players could provide a threat at the top end of the pitch, notably as creators, and that is why the club’s latest transfer target would love both of them.

Rangers in the race to sign new striker

According to Croatian news outlet Germanijak, Rangers are still in the race to secure a deal for Westerlo centre-forward Matija Frigan this summer.

The report claims that the Gers are lining up a move for the Croatian number nine after his proposed transfer to English Championship side Hull City was put into doubt by a transfer ban for the Tigers.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that Spanish side Elche and Premier League team Sunderland are also interested in signing the 22-year-old striker, which shows that there is plenty of competition for his signature.

The outlet states that Westerlo are looking for a fee in the region of £7m in order to allow the forward to move on this summer, whilst Elche are said to be looking at a deal worth around £5.1m.

This gap in valuation between what Elche want to pay and how much the Pro League team are asking for could leave the door open for Rangers to swoop for him in the coming weeks.

Why Rangers should sign Matijia Frigan

The Light Blues should swoop to sign the 22-year-old attacker because he is a talented young forward who could love to play with Antman and Moore at Ibrox this season.

As aforementioned, Moore and Antman are both creative wide players who could provide the striker playing ahead of them with plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net, which is why Frigan could be delighted at the prospect of being in the same side as them.

The left-footed forward’s form for Westerlo in the last 12 months or so suggests that he could come in as an effective forward who could thrive alongside the wing wizards.

Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Frigan has scored 14 goals from 14.26 xG in the Pro League, which shows that he is about on par with where he should be for the chances that have been created for him.

The Croatian forward, who was hailed as “complete” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the finishing powers to potentially make the most of Antman and Moore’s creativity, whilst he may also come in as a big upgrade on Cyriel Dessers by offering a physical presence in the number nine position.

Appearances

35

39

Ground duels won

42

74

Aerial duels won

28

51

Ground duel success rate

34%

43%

Aerial duel success rate

31%

36%

Fouls won

21

35

Fouls committed

32

31

As you can see in the table above, Frigan is far more likely to win physical duels with defenders, on the ground and in the air, which could make him more reliable for Martin than the Nigeria international is.

Therefore, there are technical and physical reasons why the Gers should splash out £7m to bring the Westerlo star to Ibrox before the end of the summer transfer window, as he could be an upgrade on Dessers as well as a great foil for Antman and Moore to play with.

At the age of 22, Frigan would also come in as a young player with the potential to grow and develop during his time in Glasgow, which could make him an excellent long-term signing for the club as well.

Overall, the £7m-rated star is an effective centre-forward who could thrive off the creativity that Rangers are currently looking to add to their squad and could be a very shrewd addition this summer.

The new Amad: Rangers target set to have medical this week before signing

Rangers are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a starlet who could be Amad Diallo 2.0.

ByDan Emery Jul 29, 2025

Manchester United’s transfer window has already been a huge success, with Ruben Amorim making key additions to help him in his quest for success at Old Trafford.

He’s already landed Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, costing a staggering £62.5m but massively bolstering the number ten position within the first-team squad.

Bryan Mbeumo also made the move to join the Red Devils, also costing a pretty penny, with the hierarchy forking out a whopping £71m to lure him away from Brentford.

Whilst the pair have already set the club back over £130m this summer, they will offer that creative spark Amorim’s side have been missing, notching 35 combined Premier League goals between them last season.

However, their big-money window also looks set to continue with a couple of weeks remaining, targeting multiple talents who would further improve the club’s chance of success in the near future.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Benjamin Sesko looks to be United’s latest addition this summer, after the club made a £74m offer for the RB Leipzig striker in the last 24 hours – a figure that could be enough to land his signature.

Newcastle United have also submitted a bid for the Slovenian international, but the latest reports suggest that the player himself is favouring a move to Old Trafford over a switch to St James’ Park.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Juventus star Douglas Luiz a player appearing on their radar, according to Football Insider.

Their report claims that the Red Devils have entered talks with the Serie A side over a move for the Brazilian, who’s been allowed to depart the club less than 12 months after joining.

It also states that West Ham United, Everton and Nottingham Forest are also in the race for his signature, leading to a loan with an obligation to buy being mooted for the 27-year-old.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Mbeumo & Cunha

Given United’s measly Premier League tally of just 44 goals last season, it’s evident that the side desperately needed added reinforcements in the final third – something which the hierarchy have evidently done this window.

The aforementioned duo of Cunha and Mbeumo’s tally of 35 goals would’ve equated to 80% of the side’s tally, highlighting the added threat the Red Devils will possess in 2025/26.

However, they will need ammunition if they are to succeed in their first season at the club, with Bruno Fernandes likely to be the main candidate based on the previous campaign.

The Portuguese international notched 18 assists across all competitions last season, but he could be joined by Luiz in his quest to provide his teammates with chances in the final third.

Whilst he only managed 27 appearances for the Old Lady last season, the former Aston Villa star still managed to thrive with the ball at his feet, making him an excellent deep-lying option in Amorim’s system.

His talent on the ball could provide the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo with added chances for success in front of goal, whilst also being an excellent buy given his previous five-year spell at Aston Villa in England’s top-flight.

Luiz, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Adam Gilks, registered an 87% pass completion rate, whilst making 2.6 key passes per 90 – ranking him within the top 1% of all players in Serie A last campaign.

Douglas Luiz’s stats for Juventus in Serie A (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	19
Minutes played	516
Pass accuracy	87%
Progressive passes	6.1
Progressive carries	2.7
Key passes made	2.6
Passes into final third	3.2
Tackles won	1.4
% of tackles won	67%
Stats via FBref

Such tallies would be perfect for those ahead of him, with his figure of 6.1 progressive passes and 3.2 passes into the final third per 90 further highlighting his creative ability, which would massively aid the new additions in attacking areas.

Out of possession, the Brazilian has been just as impressive, winning 1.4 tackles per 90 at a success rate of 67%, handing the side the needed defensive talent at the heart of the side.

Any move for Luiz this summer would be an excellent piece of business, offering Amorim with the perfect box-to-box option in midfield, subsequently able to have the tools to impress at both ends of the pitch.

If he can carry his creativity over with him from Italy, he can help his fellow new additions to thrive during their first year in Manchester, which could allow the side to rise up the table throughout 2025/26.

The next Bruno: Man Utd readying bid for "outstanding" talent after Sesko

Manchester United’s activity this window is showing no signs after making their move for Benjamin Sesko.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 6, 2025

Will Everton be active in the remaining weeks of the transfer market? David Moyes will certainly hope so!

Earlier this summer, Moyes asserted that he needs “nine or ten” new players before the Premier League season begins for his side with a Monday night trip to Leeds United.

Well, since then, the Toffees have made a few more additions, but many more are surely required, so are the Blues closing in on a deal to bring in a multiple-Premier League winner?

Everton searching for new signing

Not so long ago, as noted by Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show, Everton’s summer window had been quite “underwhelming”, with Mark Travers the new back-up goalkeeper and young left-back Adam Aznou arriving from Bayern Munich, while striker Thierno Barry was the headline addition, joining from Villarreal for £27m.

However, in the last week or so, things have got a lot more interesting, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall joining from Chelsea for £28m.

Meantime, as reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Toffees have had a £40m bid rejected by Southampton for winger Tyler Dibling, although there is optimism an agreement can be reached, with the Saints holding out for closer to £50m.

The teenager was not even on the bench for Southampton’s EFL Championship opener on Saturday, a dramatic 2-1 win over Wrexham at St Mary’s, with Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport adding that he is no longer participating in ‘full contact training’, avoiding any potential injury that could scupper a move.

Everton though are not finished there because, as reported by GIVEMESPORT, they have opened talks with Manchester City, seeking to sign Jack Grealish on a season-long loan. The Toffees are hoping to add the Englishman, as well as Dibling, this summer, according to the report.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Rob Dawson of ESPN adds that Man City’s preference was a permanent deal but, with no potential suitors matching their asking price, a loan appears the most likely outcome, so will Grealish be Everton’s marquee signing as they prepare for life at Hill Dickinson Stadium?

What Jack Grealish will bring to Everton

Just four summers ago, Grealish joined Manchester City for £100m, which remains one of the most expensive transfers in English football history.

During his first two campaigns at the Etihad, he was a key contributor, but his importance has diminished in the subsequent two seasons, as the table below documents.

Appearances

39

50

36

32

Minutes

2,730

3,487

2,114

1,521

Starts

31

41

26

16

PL starts

22

23

10

7

Goals

6

5

3

3

Assists

4

11

3

5

Times an unused sub

11

5

12

15

As the table outlines, Grealish’s importance at Manchester City had already been on a downward slope before hitting rock bottom last season, culminating in him not being included in the Sky Blues’ squad for the Club World Cup earlier this summer.

Nevertheless, his quality has never been up for debate, with journalist Henry Winter labelling him “magic”, adding that he “brings something different” to a team.

Meantime, Richard Jolly of the Independent believes that, back when he was at Aston Villa, he was ‘one of the most exciting attacking players in world football’.

Thus, Moyes and Evertonians everywhere will hope he can rediscover his magic on Merseyside.

If he does, the hope will be that he’ll strike up a good relationship with Iliman Ndiaye, who was Everton’s most-productive attacker last season, scoring 11 goals in all competitions. So, let’s analyse how the duo compare to one another.

Appearances

28

33

Minutes

2,063

2,440

Goals

5

9

Assists

7

0

Expected assists

6.72

1.35

Shots

29

27

Shots on target %

55.17%

66.67%

Chances created

50

18

Big chances created

12

3

Successful take-ons

48

68

Take-on success %

63.16%

51.52%

Touches per 90

62.4

46

Average SofaScore rating

7.34

7.04

As the table outlines, when using data from the most recent season in which Grealish saw more than 1,000 minutes of action in the Premier League, the duo are quite different, which should make them a deadly attacking partnership.

Ndiaye is much more the finisher, scoring nine goals, while a commendably high proportion of his shots hit the target, sat at two thirds for this metric, while he does like to dribble with the ball at his feet too.

Grealish, meantime, will fill the role of chief creator, boasting seven assists, as well as exponentially higher numbers when it comes to chances created, big chances created, expected assists and touches per 90, underlining that he is more frequently involved in play.

Thus, should the England international complete a move to Everton, this is a signing supporters should be excited about for sure.

Imagine him & Grealish: Everton pushing hard to sign "world-class talent"

Everton still need to make a series of signings in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 8, 2025

U.S. international Tim Weah has a knack for timing, delivering his first Marseille goal in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. Weah scored the opener against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the club’s opening Champions League match of the season. The winger was assisted by Mason Greenwood, who found Weah running to his right in the 22nd minute.

• AFP
  

  Opening his account

  Weah had struggled to make an impact in attack for Marseille in his first four matches with the club, registering an xG of 0.01 during that stretch. Some of that was down to shuttling between playing defense and as a winger. But against Madrid on Tuesday, Weah played on the left wing and delivered a clinical finish. 

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  Back and forth match

  Despite OM taking an early lead, Madrid responded almost instantly, thanks to a penalty from Kylian Mbappe in the 29th minute. 

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• Looking ahead

  Following the Madrid Champions League match, OM will take on heated rivals Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique this weekend.

Manchester United are now preparing a £130m double swoop for a “world-class” goalkeeper and a “generational” midfielder, according to a report.

Man Utd ramping up pursuit of new goalkeeper and midfielder

Ruben Amorim made it clear he was happy with his side’s performance in their opening Premier League match, despite suffering a 1-0 defeat at home against Arsenal, with the manager saying: “I am proud of the players. I said so many times that the players need to adapt. Intensity, the way they are sprinting. They fought for every duel. They were so brave playing one against one. They were really brave, and I am happy with that.”

However, the difference between the two sides was Riccardo Calafiori’s first-half goal, which came from a Declan Rice corner that Altay Bayindir dealt with poorly, according to both Roy Keane and Micah Richards.

With Andre Onana also suffering widespread criticism since his arrival at Old Trafford, it is little wonder that Amorim is now looking to bring in a new goalkeeper, alongside a midfielder, with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba known to be well-liked.

However, the Red Devils have halted their pursuit of Baleba, and they have now moved on to an alternative target, according to a report from Spain, which suggests chiefs are prepared to spend big on a midfielder and goalkeeper.

The report states Man United are now willing to shell out a combined €150m (£130m) to get deals for Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton over the line.

The addition of Wharton would ideally provide Bruno Fernandes with more attacking freedom, while signing a new goalkeeper is deemed a top priority for Amorim, following Bayindir’s costly error against the Gunners on Sunday.

Wharton and Donnarumma could be statement signings for Man Utd

Despite being unable to pick up a positive result in the opener against Arsenal, there were some positive signs for Man United, with new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha looking particularly lively.

However, United’s goalkeeper ultimately cost them once again, underlining how vital it is to bring in a replacement before the deadline, and Donnarumma could be a real upgrade, having been lauded as “world-class” by Carlo Ancelotti in the past.

The 26-year-old is proven at the top level, having featured 15 times for PSG en-route to their Champions League final triumph last season, and he should undoubtedly be United’s priority target.

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While Wharton is yet to play in Europe’s elite competition, the Englishman is Premier League proven, much like previous arrivals Mbeumo and Cunha, and he clearly has a lot of potential, having been lauded as a “generational talent” by members of the media.

Hoping to land an instant upgrade, Manchester United are now reportedly “advancing” their deal to sign a summer target who has already said “yes” to an Old Trafford switch.

Amorim "excited" by Fulham trip

Three or four months ago, Ruben Amorim and almost everyone involved at Manchester United would have been dreading the next game. The Red Devils languished in the bottom half and endured defeat after defeat in their worst-ever Premier League campaign. Months later, however, their opening-day display against Arsenal – even in defeat – has handed those at Old Trafford plenty of room for renewed optimism.

Perhaps for the first time since arriving, Amorim is “excited” by his side as they head to Fulham in search of their first win of the season. And whilst there must be caution around his fresh perspective, the prospect of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko starting together for the first time is enough for most involved at the club to remain upbeat.

Alas, there is still one major concern for INEOS to address and that lies between the sticks. For all their hard work last weekend, Manchester United suffered defeat against Arsenal after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir flapped at their first corner of the game to allow Riccardo Calafiori to bundle home.

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It’s been a key factor in Amorim’s downfall since stepping into the technical area, with Andre Onana also often at the centre of moments to forget, but recent transfer rumours suggest that United could be about to land a major upgrade.

Man Utd "advancing" in Senne Lammens deal

According to Fabrizio Romano, INEOS and Manchester United are now “advancing” in their deal to sign Senne Lammens, who has already said “yes” to a move to Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp this month. Whilst earlier reports suggested that Manchester City could swoop in before the Red Devils, it now looks as though the goalkeeper is United’s to lose.

Praised for a “superb” season by scout Jacek Kulig back in June, Lammens would be an instant upgrade on both Onana and Bayindir. Alongside Mbeumo, Sesko and Cunha, the goalkeeper would represent an incredibly solid summer by all involved at Old Trafford.

حقق فريق ريال مدريد، بقيادة المدرب تشابي ألونسو، فوزًا ثمينًا على خصمه فياريال، في مباراتهما مساء يوم السبت، في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة ريال مدريد وفياريال، في خضم منافسات الجولة الثامنة من الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2025/26.

وتمكن ريال مدريد من تحقيق فوز هام على فياريال بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، ليصعد بشكل مؤقت إلى صدارة الدوري الإسباني، لحين خوض برشلونة مباراته في الجولة نفسها ضد إشبيلية عصر يوم الأحد (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة من هنا).

ويُعد ذلك الفوز ثمينًا بالنسبة لـ ريال مدريد قبل فترة التوقف الدولي لشهر أكتوبر، خاصة بعد السقوط في مباراة الديربي بشكل مخزي أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بخمسة أهداف لهدفين. موعد مباراة ريال مدريد القادمة في الدوري الإسباني

ويعود ريال مدريد إلى منافسات الليجا حيث سيخوض مباراة ضد خصمه خيتافي، في الجولة التاسعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، بعد فترة التوقف.

وسيحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على خيتافي يوم الأحد 19 أكتوبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.