Sky Sports: United now poised to miss out on £35m deal after club call it quits on player who snubbed them

 Manchester United are actively seeking suitors to take their deadwood off Ruben Amorim’s hands this summer.

As things stand, it’s been an underwhelming window for the Old Trafford faithful thus far, with United having sanctioned only one — albeit exciting — arrival in the form of Matheus Cunha, while they are yet to facilitate any major outgoings.

All of Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have been made available since the window opened, although it’s thought almost any player in the squad could be sold for the right price.

Como were ready to sign £35m-valued Antony 

United may well have received an offer to mull over had one player approved his transfer to a club; Antony had garnered interest from Como in recent weeks amid Cesc Fabregas’ hopes of bolstering his ranks following a stellar Serie A campaign.

However, the winger gave his full priority to a return to Real Betis, where he spent the second half of the 2024/2025 season and enjoyed a new lease of life in their iconic green and white stripes. He is keen to repay Manuel Pellegrini’s faith in him by pushing for a long-term switch to the Villamarin Stadium, so much so that he’s willing to take a 30 per cent pay cut to make a deal come to fruition.

INEOS chiefs are aiming to raise £30-35 million through the Brazilian’s departure; they’d need to earn at least £32.58m to avoid taking a PSR hit following his £86m move in 2022. The fact that Como had joined the race for his signature would have likely had the board crossing their fingers that an agreement could finally be reached.

Como begin targeting Antony alternative 

Yet, after being snubbed by Antony, Como have now turned their attention elsewhere.

According to Sky Sports reporter Gianluca  Di Marzio, the Italian outfit have ignited their pursuit of Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn — a like-for-like alternative to the 25-year-old Red.

Liverpool transfer news: Two more deals confirmed as Alexander Isak requirement revealed

 Liverpool have added another player to their ranks with Milos Kerkez finally confirmed as Arne Slot's newest star. The full-back completed a £40million deal to join the club from Bournemouth.

Following Florian Wirtz through the door, Kerkez signed a five-year deal at Anfield. The transfer takes the Reds' spending up to £170m since the end of the season.

And the club remain hard at work shaping Slot's squad. The club are persistently linked to signing a new forward as Darwin Nunez's future appears to lie away from the club.

The Uruguay striker is drawing interest from Italy with Liverpool happy to part ways after the ex-Benfica star failed to break into his head coach's starting XI plans. And Nunez may not be alone in leaving the club with uncertainty around the likes of Federico Chiesa, Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliott.

Mirror Football takes a look at the latest transfer news and rumours around Anfield.

Kerkez explains Reds move

Speaking after his move was completed, Milos Kerkez revealed Liverpool was the only club he wanted to join and detailed the prominent role Richard Hughes played, in addition to Arne Slot, in the move.

"As everyone knows, [Richard Hughes] brought me to Bournemouth and was [a] big part why I came to Bournemouth," he said. "Obviously also [important] is the gaffer – I also had talks with him. I really knew when I talked to him and Richard that this is it for me, so that was my decision.

“We [he and Slot] talked about the tactics and the plan and where he sees where I can improve and where I can help the team. Obviously when [the] coach comes also and talks to you, it’s a big thing, it’s a big sign of respect.

“For me, there were no second doubts then that I want to go somewhere else. It was always Liverpool.”

Loan deal confirmed

Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies has joined Crawley Town on a season-long loan. The shotstopper, 21, spent time on loan at Crewe Alexander in 2023/24 but has not yet made a senior appearance for the Reds.

Davies, who has been involved in 18 matchday sqauds, has been with the club since the under-9 level and signed a new deal before he joined up with the League Two side.

I am really happy to be here," Davies said, "I had some great conversations with people at the club and they made me feel wanted and welcomed me in.

"I had a really good chat with the manager who presented really well to me and said that he wanted me, so it made the decision very easy."

Isak conversation start

A £150m offer may be required to even get Newcastle United to engage in a conversation over Alexander Isak per the Athletic. Liverpool are said to hold an interest in the striker who has proven himself vital to the Magpies in recent seasons.

The Sweden international still has three years on his contract, though a new deal is expected to be on the horizon if Newcastle can prove persuasive. Isak's future would have been more uncertain if not for the club securing their place in the Champions League and earning silverware in the Carabao Cup.

The reports suggests Liverpool may attempt to sway player and club into a deal, but expressed caution over the possibility of success. Isak is a the centre of Newcastle's project under PIF's ownership.

‘I want to stay’: John Stones moves to shut down Manchester City exit talk

 John Stones has moved to shut down speculation about his future by saying he wants to remain at Manchester City, though serial injuries caused “dark days” that made him consider whether to play on.

The 31-year-old endured another injury-plagued season in 2024-25, managing only 1,134 minutes in all competitions and six Premier League starts. The defender, who joined City in the summer of 2016, has never made more starts for the club than the 23 he made in his opening campaign.

In the buildup to facing Al Ain in Sunday’s second Club World Cup group game in Atlanta, Pep Guardiola again said he does not want a “long” squad, meaning he wants to reduce its number. This has caused speculation that Stones, who is out of contract next summer, could leave because of his chequered injury record. But he said: “I’m here, I want to stay here, I love it. I’m here to help the team, and I don’t know if what’s been said or speculated, but I hope that kind of shuts it down.”

Stones admitted considering if he wanted to continue playing. “There’s been points where you think, you’ve been giving all this effort, you dedicate all your life, especially how I approach or go about my life, and football, I give everything, on and off the pitch to be here or be ready to play games and [there] are the dark days,” he said. “Everyone’s been through them and think: ‘Why is this happening?’

“You wish it would have gone a different path. All of us have been through different upbringings and challenges through life and what did we do within those situations, was it fight or was it give up? I was a fighter from a young age, in difficult moments, you have to look at the bigger picture and realise what are your morals, what you believe in, and fight to make it worthwhile.”

Stones is not yet match-fit to face Al Ain at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “I feel great and I’m excited to get going,” he said. “It’s difficult when you’re injured, you almost work longer and more, so from that aspect I know the guys mentally and physically have had such a long season, [but] I suppose mentally for me it’s been difficult dealing with the injuries and the process.

“Now I’ve put that behind me and will use this as a mini-introduction back before the new season and another trophy for us to hopefully win and get some game-time.”

Stones is unsure why there have been so many physical setbacks. “I don’t know what the reason is, and we’ve sat with the medical staff, sports science, to try and figure out why,” he said. “Some things can’t be explained. Which is even more testing mentally when there’s not really an answer.

“I’ve been unlucky with some of the injuries that I’ve had, they were very rare last season, after speaking to specialists. Sometimes I think, why has it happened to me? But I’ve got to deal with that and move forward and try to adapt with how my body’s adapting.

“I’ve been back in training a few weeks now, and that’s been going great, trying to do extra running if I need to, if I need to try and get those levels up. Just those little, really small details have made such a big difference.”

If City win they qualify for the last 16.

£40m Manchester United outcast to return to training after failed Barcelona move

 Manchester United star Marcus Rashford plans to return to training amid dwindling chances of joining Barcelona or any other club. The 27-year-old spent half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after manager Ruben Amorim joined the Red Devils.

Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag and made immediate changes, including the exit of underperforming players like Rashford from the club. The England international enjoyed a rejuvenating stint at Villa but remains available for sale at United under the Portuguese boss.

Amorim has decided to continue with a squad overhaul this summer and prioritised the signing of attacking players at United. The former Sporting CP has no intention to reintegrate Rashford or any surplus player into his plan for the club.

Rashford enjoyed only one prolific season under Ten Hag, which earned him a lucrative contract at the club. Both fans and the club believed that the inconsistencies that bothered Rashford in his early development were behind him.

However, the England international has continued to struggle with those inconsistencies, and depleting confidence with immense pressure only made things worse for him. At this point, it is mutually beneficial for both United and Rashford to part ways.

United have already signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are fighting Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. We recently covered that the Red Devils offered Rashford to Real Madrid after Barcelona decided to pursue attacker Nico Williams.

According to ESPN, Rashford plans to return to United and train next month amid low chances of joining Barcelona. The Englishman have other interested parties, including Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich, but the complete demand package remains complicated.

Manchester United offered Real Madrid a £40m “mutually beneficial” deal

The Red Devils are demanding around £40m for the 27-year-old, while meeting his massive £325,000kpw wages is another big task. Even though Rashford would take a significant pay cut to secure a move, the package as a whole remains big.

Trent Alexander-Arnold explains decision to change shirt name at Real Madrid

 Trent Alexander-Arnold has explained why he has opted to change the name on the back of his shirt following his Real Madrid arrival.

Alexander-Arnold, 26, was unveiled as a Galactico on Thursday afternoon, surprising fans as he gave his welcome speech in fluent Spanish.

It’s not the only surprise the ex-Liverpool right-back has dealt over the past couple days, with it yesterday being revealed that he would ditch his surname in favour of going by “Trent” on the back of his shirt, accompanied by the number 12.

Alexander-Arnold has revealed his thinking behind the name change, saying it was purely to avoid confusion rather than a personal rebrand.

“Quite an easy explanation,” he said at his press conference. “I’ve always found when I travel to Europe that the whole name situation confuses a lot of people, as there being three names and double-barreled.

“People call me Arnold, people call me Alexander, people call me Alex, people call me Trent, there’s a lot that goes on. So I thought let’s make it easy, Trent on the back, and be known as Trent. That’s my name so I guess that’s what people will call me.”

Alexander-Arnold added that his dilemma over his future was never a question of where to go, admitting he would only ever leave Liverpool for Real Madrid.

“I knew for a long time that I would only leave Liverpool for Real Madrid,” he said. “No one else. It was never a question of: where do I go? It was always: do I go to Madrid or not? Making that decision wasn’t easy.”

He also clarified that by saying he had waited a long time to complete a move away from Liverpool, he didn’t mean he’d been seeking a new club for “years”.

"To clear that up, by waiting a long time I mean a couple of weeks,” he added. “Not years.

"But I am very excited be here. Whether you support the club or not, you have to respect the trophies that the club win. No matter what, that has been always there for me. I have always admired players and clubs that win trophies."

The 26-year-old arrives after 20 years at boyhood club Liverpool, joining for a fee of £10m to ensure his participation at the Club World Cup.

The right-back was expected to sign for free at the end of June after opting not to extend his contract at Anfield, an announcement which was made at the beginning of May.

Alexander-Arnold was instrumental in Liverpool winning Europe’s most prestigious trophy that year, and later added two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups, an FA Cup and a Club World Cup to his accolade collection across 354 appearances.

The Liverpudlian left his home side on imperfect terms, with his first appearance after announcing his departure seeing him booed by the Anfield faithful. However, as he collected his Premier League winners medal on the final day of the season, a teary-eyed Alexander-Arnold was met with cheers in what was heart-warming send-off.

Premier League fixtures give Burnley the ultimate test in how to park a bus

 GREAT SCOTT!

It’s been 25 days since the last Premier League season ended. Hands up who’s missing it already? Anyone?! Ah. It was admittedly a long old slog of a campaign, with most of the drama resolved before the clocks went forward. Also, we haven’t really had a chance to miss the top flight’s biggest teams. If they’re not hiring and firing managers or splashing out on new players, they’re launching new kits or sweltering away at Copa Gianni. Still, the day that the giant super-computer at Premier League HQ (GSCAPLHQ) spits out reams of matchday fixtures is one to cherish, especially for the promoted sides.

Second-tier champions Leeds begin at home to Everton, while playoff drama kings Sunderland host West Ham – matches that fall into the ‘might be handy to win this, even if it’s literally the first game of the season’ category. As for Burnley, they go to Thomas Frank’s Tottenham in a fixture that feels particularly tough to envisage. Scott Parker’s transformation of the Clarets was one of last season’s most intriguing tales. Having gone down with 78 goals (2.05 per game) conceded under Vincent Kompany (who was rewarded with the Bayern Munich job) they turned to Parker, a manager not widely regarded as a catenaccio master. The Clarets were instantly transformed into one of Europe’s best defensive sides, letting in 16 goals in 46 games (0.35 per game). Even as you survey the growing chasm of resources and opportunity between England’s top two divisions, those are some spicy numbers.

Will Parker, beloved by Burnley and last seen rocking a retro top at the club’s end-of-season parade, maintain that level of parsimony in the Premier League? The departure of centre-back CJ Egan-Riley to Marseille hasn’t helped, and now Burnley have been dealt a rough hand by the GSCAPLHQ – which we’re reliably informed looks like the short-lived 80s TV machine Bertha, and is definitely not just a regular laptop from which the fixtures are emailed out. After early six-pointers at home to Sunderland and away to Manchester United, Burnley host Liverpool and Nottingham Forest before a visit to Manchester City. Burnley have lost on their last 10 trips to the Etihad, by an aggregate score of 35-3. Oh Scotty! Should we start drying our eyes already?

Burnley fans may bristle at being written off as relegation fodder in mid-June. If, by the time Parker takes his team to Villa Park in October, the Clarets are in the top six with only three goals conceded, we’ll gladly eat our words. The Premier League can be unpredictable – this time last year, absolutely nobody dared to suggest that the final table would look like this. Still, some things can still be relied upon. By opening up with Liverpool v Bournemouth at 8pm on a Friday, the first of 270 televised games next season, the suits at PLHQ have maintained their stoic indifference to away fans’ travel concerns. Said suits have also warned of “an increased likelihood of fixtures moving at relatively short notice” if teams are involved in European knockout games. Which, considering nine Premier League teams have qualified for Europe, could lead to absolute chaos. Will Parker still be in post to complain bitterly about fixture congestion in February? We would love to see it.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

Join Niall McVeigh at 5pm BST for Copa Gianni updates on Manchester City 5-0 Wydad, while Alex Abnos will be on deck at 8pm for Real Madrid 4-1 Al-Hilal.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

We’ve won a European trophy but it’s not enough. It’s what we haven’t done that’s more important. We need to win the league. We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the [Bigger Cup]. We want to win. I have very broad shoulders. Failure is not an option. The desire is to succeed … I told [Ange Postecoglou] that he’s always going to be part of our history. Himself and his family are always welcome back. It was a collective decision [to sack him]” – Spurs chief suit Daniel Levy on his new super-high standards and why Bigger Vase isn’t big enough.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Being somewhat of a Middlesbrough fan, the news of Salernitana’s squad being temporarily thinner than a cheap parmo (yesterday’s Football Daily) obviously brought back sad memories of 1996-97, when Middlesbrough’s memorable team, already knack-ravaged and with Emerson sneaking off home occasionally for weeks at a time, was hit with a devastating flu bug. With more than 20 first-team players MIA, Bryan Robson decided taking his first-team squad to Blackburn in a minicab wouldn’t be a good look. Incredibly the team were deducted three points. A few years ago I got slightly lost in the outskirts of Salerno at the height of summer, trying to accidentally get into an Italian military base (long story) and found myself walking past the impressive concrete ugliness of Salernitana’s stadium, sitting like a cubist dog delivery amid blighted car parks, supermarket storage yards and military something-or-others. The area wasn’t one to inspire joy or hope to be honest, so of course it reminded me of home. Since that time I’ve had a soft spot for the team. I also met a local fan who, on hearing my accent while I waited for a bus out of that place, delighted in telling me about Middlesbrough FC, which was bemusing. He didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak much Italian, which only added to the depth of his analysis. Anyway, I send my best wishes to Salernitana and her fans, especially that brightly positive chap I met at a bus stop outside a hospital in 2022 who looked like he’d discharged himself and impressed me by telling me which league my home team played in, I think” – Andrew Tate (not that one).

Seeing Phil Parkes in a cowboy hat with some ponies (Monday’s Memory Lane, full email edition) reminded me of the time he appeared in the football-themed photo story Thunderbolt & Smokey, in the relaunched Eagle comic that came out in the 80s. Phil, then of West Ham, was called upon to offer advice to Colin ‘Thunderbolt’ Dexter as the star outfield player for his school’s under-14s team had to deputise for the usual goalkeeper in an important upcoming match. What struck me about the photos at the time, and also now, upon finding some of the strip online, is that West Ham’s training ground looked like the kind of untended paddock that Phil’s ponies would appreciate” – Tim Grey.

So much to enjoy in the highlights of Team America v England (yesterday’s Memory Lane, full email edition). England rocking a full-on yellow Aertex kit, of the type usually worn by the second XI of a hard pressed comprehensive. The ‘not even a bit American’ ex-Sheffield United player Stewart Scullion scoring. Ray Clemence’s obvious fury at this being allowed to happen. Seeing the complex human being that was Giorgio Chinaglia play (tasty). But best of all, the American who belted the ball hard into Pelé’s groin at 2m30s. Pelé, being the best player in the world, with grace and style turned it into the move that made the goal and I can’t, from repeated watchings, work out which of the purported Americans it was. Perhaps one of the 1,057 pedants can help me, his epic achievement of punting a ball straight at the crotch of a world icon should not go unrecognised in these pages” – Jon Millard.

Controversial FIFA Club World Cup begins - as Messi left frustrated

 The new-look FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) has begun, kicking off with a goalless draw between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Egyptian club Al Ahly.

While many would have expected the Argentine legend to be named "man of the match", it was Miami's goalkeeper that took home the accolade - Oscar Ustari made eight saves, including one from the penalty spot.

Messi almost won the match late on with a long-range effort, only for Al Ahly keeper Mohamed El Shenawy to turn his effort on to the bar.

Also in attendance was the newly knighted David Beckham - or Sir David as he will soon be known - who is a co-owner of Inter Miami.

Before its revamp for the 2025 tournament, the Club World Cup took place every winter and was contested by the winners of continental club competitions around the world.

It will now take place every four years. FIFA has faced criticism around the 32-team tournament, with some players raising concerns about the relentless fixture schedule.

Europe has 12 clubs in the tournament, including Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester City. Their spaces were allocated based on performances in the Champions League over four seasons.

Chelsea and City have already played 57 matches this season - now up to seven more have been added. It is why - in plans first revealed by Sky News in 2023 - global players' union FIFPRO has launched a legal challenge claiming FIFA has abused a dominant position to risk the health of players.

A backdrop of unrest in America

The CWC begins against the backdrop of immigration raids and violent protests in Los Angeles with concerns fans could be targeted or denied entry to FIFA events.

It also the first time a major game has returned to the Hard Rock stadium in 11 months.

The last match, the Copa America final saw ticketless fans breaching security gates and jumping over railings to enter the stadium, delaying kick off for 80 minutes.

Sergio Aguero mocks Cristiano Ronaldo's Nations League triumph

 Former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero mocked Cristiano Ronaldo for not appearing at the Club World Cup.

Despite the tournament getting underway in the United States on Saturday with 32 teams taking part, Ronaldo will not feature.

Al-Nassr failed to earn a spot in the competition after falling short in the four-year cycle to determine which teams would take part.

It briefly appeared that the 40-year-old could still play a part however, with even FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggesting earlier this month that Ronaldo could join a participating team.

However, Ronaldo ultimately opted to remain at Al-Nassr, the club he has captained since his high-profile departure from Manchester United.

One person Ronaldo's absence at the competition clearly has not been lost on is former Argentina striker Aguero, who made a number of pointed remarks in a recent stream.

Aguero appeared in IShowSpeed's stream this weekend, as the American asked him to set up a meeting between him and Lionel Messi.

'You're a very big fan of Cristiano, no?' Aguero asked.

After Speed responded that he still wanted to meet Messi, Aguero continued: 'I respect it, it's OK. He's a good player. I prefer Messi, of course.'

He then sarcastically asked why Ronaldo wasn't featuring at the Club World Cup.

'Ronaldo is playing here now at the Club World Cup or no?' he quipped.

'Maybe he'll have to watch on TV.'

After Speed insisted that Ronaldo would lead his country to victory at next summer's World Cup, Aguero made a reference to Portugal's Nations League triumph.

'[Ronaldo] just won the [Euros] no? Ah the Nations League, congratulations.'

Cricket-Australia's Hazlewood returns for WTC final against S Africa

 Marnus Labuschagne will open the batting for Australia and Josh Hazlewood has been selected in the bowling line-up for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's, captain Pat Cummins said on the eve of the game on Tuesday.

Labuschagne has been moved up the order to accommodate the return of Cameron Green, who underwent back surgery in October and was ruled out of the home season, while Hazlewood is fit again after a calf injury to replace of Scott Boland.

"Cam Green has been coming back in great form in the last few weeks and we thought he deserved a spot in the batting lineup. We thought three probably suits him best," Cummins told a press conference.

"For Marnus moving one spot up, it's not too different to batting at three. He's done well here in England in the past."

Leaving out Boland, who had been one of the heroes of Australia’s 3-1 test series win over India this year, had been a difficult decision.

"There are some guys where you genuinely say, you've done nothing wrong, don't change a thing and that's Scotty. He is just really unfortunate to miss out.

"The message to Scotty is there's a lot of test cricket coming up in the next couple of years and just because your mid-30s doesn't mean that’s the end of your career.

"By having a squad of fast bowlers, hopefully we can extend all our care for an extra couple of years."

An element of selection criteria was to reward those who had contributed to defending champions Australia winning 13 of 19 tests in the two-year WTC cycle and reaching yet another final.

"I think our selectors have probably shown you that they're happy and they'd rather give someone an extra little run than pull the pin too early. I think it's partly rewarding those guys that got us here.”

Cummings said defending the title was high on the Australian priority list, even after all their success in the limited-overs formats.

"It's a trophy we've spoken a lot about over the last couple of years. "Test cricket is my favourite format. You've got to basically win in all different conditions to make it into this final. If we can retain that mace, that's a pretty awesome thing for this team."

Australia team: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Myanmar military junta fighter jet shot down near Mandalay, rebel group claims

 A military junta fighter jet crashed and burned in Myanmar on Tuesday in an area that has seen intense fighting during the civil war, with one rebel group claiming to have shot it down while state-run media said it had suffered a mechanical failure.

The aircraft went down in the Sagaing region, about 140 kilometres west of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, state-run television MRTV reported.

It did not identify the type of jet or mention casualties and said a search and recovery effort was underway in Pale township where it went down.

Local media reports identified the plane as the two-seater Chinese FTC-2000G, a fighter ground-attack jet and broadcast images of a crashed plane with body parts nearby.

Sagaing region is a stronghold of armed resistance to the ruling military junta, which seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Opposition to the takeover began peacefully, but escalated into a civil war as the authorities resorted increasingly to lethal force in a bid to quell dissent.

Ni Ni Kyaw, a spokesperson for a militia known as the People's Liberation Army (PLA), told The Associated Press its fighters had been involved in an assault on a police station in Pale township when they shot down the jet at 12:30 pm on Tuesday.

She said the military's jets had dropped hundreds of bombs in the area over the past week in support of ground troops fighting against the PLA and other resistance groups.

The PLA posted a video and pictures of the jet's smoking wreckage in a Pale township village.

The military has increasingly used air strikes to counter the widespread armed struggle against its rule, relying primarily on aircraft from Russia and China, which continue to supply government forces with high-tech weaponry.

The FTC-2000G was first delivered by China in 2022, after the military's seizure of power.

In May, a military air strike in Sagaing hit a school, killing as many as 20 students and two teachers, according to witnesses and independent media reports.

The military is believed to have lost at least five helicopters and four jet fighters, but claims from resistance groups to have shot them down have been impossible to verify due to the tight restrictions on the media and the remoteness of the areas where much of the combat takes place.

Amorim’s next Bruno: Man Utd to make approach for “world-class” talent

 Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign was certainly one to forget for the club and their supporters, falling way below the levels the side have set for themselves over recent years.

The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim unable to turn the club’s fortunes after taking the reins at Old Trafford back in late November.

He did lead the side to the Europa League final, but lost 1-0 to fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, restricting them to no European football for 2025/26.

It may prove to be a blessing in disguise for the manager as he attempts to build a squad capable of mounting a challenge for a spot in the top four next campaign.

The transfer window presents the 40-year-old with the perfect opportunity to improve his squad, adding needed quality and depth in numerous key areas of the side at the Theatre of Dreams.

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

After Matheus Cunha joined United last week, the club have continued to make moves in the transfer market, making an opening offer for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo in the last few days.

The Red Devils placed a £55m bid that was swiftly rejected, with the Bees demanding a fee in the region of £70m, with the winger wanting a switch to Old Trafford this summer.

However, the 25-year-old could be joined at the club by Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swede once again emerging on their radar, according to reports in Italy.

They claim that they’re set to enter talks with the talisman who’s registered 54 goals this campaign, potentially setting up a reunion with Amorim after plying his trade under him in Portugal.

It also states that he could be available for a fee in the region of £55m this summer, with fellow Premier League side Arsenal also firmly in the race for the 27-year-old’s signature.

Why United’s £55m target could be Amorim’s next Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has been the shining light in what’s been a dismal year for United, with it unthinkable to imagine where the club would be without his contributions.

The Portuguese international registered 37 combined goals and assists despite the team’s failures, by far and away the most of any player in the squad - highlighting his importance to the side.

Such form didn’t go unnoticed, with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal willing to pay up to £100m for the 30-year-old star, which could prove to be the Red Devils’ last chance to cash in on his services.

However, he rejected the interest earlier this week, turning down a contract in the region of £700k-per-week, showcasing his loyalty to helping the side turn around their recent fortunes.

Fernandes joined the club from Sporting CP back in 2020, which Gyokeres having the opportunity to follow suit in the current window, potentially following in the midfielders' footsteps.

The £55m fee touted for his signature appears to be a potential bargain, especially when delving into his underlying figures from 2024/25, having the tools to offer the club a leading talisman.

Gyokeres, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered a staggering 2.6 shots on target per 90 - certainly aiding his goal tally, which saw him net a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

He’s also completed 1.9 successful dribbles per 90, along with 10.5 touches in the opposition box per 90, handing the club that fox-in-the-box type forward they’ve craved over recent months.

The Swede’s talents don’t end there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s entered, offering the club a focal point that can score and tee up other forwards within the final third.

It’s safe to say the attacking department is high up on Amorim’s demands this summer, looking to add key depth as seen by the moves for Gyokeres, Mbeumo and Cunha already this summer.

Should he complete a move to Old Trafford and get anywhere near the levels achieved by Fernandes in Manchester, it would be a superb addition and one that could play a huge role in their ambitions of rising up the table in 2025/26.

Crystal Palace are the scapegoats for Man City’s rule-bending

 The thing about football rulebooks is that they are not set in stone. They are living, breathing, amorphous things, open to interpretation, weak in some areas, strong in others. Usually, if you have the right lawyers, they can bend pretty far before breaking.

When Manchester City came along and, via the City Football Group (CFG), started buying up clubs and creating a giant, efficient, continent-spanning network, people started to take notice. 

Integrity questions were raised. At the very least, what they were doing didn’t seem in the spirit of football. Other big clubs, naturally, thought it was a great idea and followed suit.

So Uefa was forced to introduce multi-club ownership regulations, then when inevitable conflicts emerged, worked hard with sides who breached them to ensure they had not, in fact, breached them.

Lawyers and accountants got around tables and worked out ways they could tweak semantics, shift numbers on spreadsheets and move names around contracts to appease Uefa.

In years previously, owners of Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion reduced shares in other clubs to comply, as though numbers on documents are ever going to stop billionaires from having their say.

Last summer, when Manchester City and Manchester United were in breach, they hit upon the perfect solution: the blind trust.

Essentially, the owner’s shares are temporarily placed in the power of a separate entity over which the owner has no sway. City and United’s owners placed their respective Girona and Nice shares into a blind trust, and everyone was allowed to crack on.

To now make an example of Palace, to make this modest club punching upwards the first serious case of pushing back against the system, seems remarkably unfair. This is a club who qualified for the Europa League by winning the first FA Cup in their history. A club that has not played in Europe since they were beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Samsunspor in the Intertoto Cup in 1998

Palace sources I spoke to have always been adamant that the club are not in breach, fundamentally due to the complicated ownership structure. Palace owners, including John Textor, the focal point of the issue, Steve Parish, the longstanding figurehead, Josh Harris and David Blitzer have made their case to Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body.

Uefa officials are now deciding, with an outcome expected at the end of June.

Palace argue that while Textor may own 45 per cent of shares – and is the majority owner of Lyon, who also qualified for the Europa League – his influence is limited by decisions having to be voted on by all four other prominent shareholders.

Uefa’s investigators need only read several interviews with Textor over the last few years to learn how frustrating he finds this. He has tried to buy out the others, he is now open to selling his stake. Textor doesn’t want a piece of something – he wants to run it.

Palace do not, really, operate as part of a multi-club model. They happen to have a significant shareholder, with 25 per cent voting rights, who owns other clubs.

Yes, they have done a few deals between Palace, Lyon and RWD Molenbeek, one of Textor’s other teams. But they are not like City, who sit atop a mighty empire of teams that span the world, buying talent at one club, training it at another, before eventually selling onto City.

Savinho became the poster boy of multi-club possibilities when he was bought by CFG-owned Troyes, loaned to CFG-owned Girona, sold to CFG-owned City for £30.8m.

Palace do not share staff, databases or scouting networks with Textor’s clubs.

And, even if they did, the stipulations applied to each of the other clubs in breach of the rules feels a simple fix to stop the odd bit of trading between Textor-owned teams. In each of the cases, regardless of blind trusts or share dilution, the teams were banned from transferring players and sharing staff and resources.

Above all else, this just feels incredibly harsh on Palace.

Uefa set a deadline of 1 March for clubs to ensure houses were in order around multi-club regulations. On 1 March, Palace were playing Millwall in the fifth round of the FA Cup. They were 12th in the table.

There were slim enough odds of them qualifying for Europe via the league, let alone winning the FA Cup. Odds that only shortened fractionally as they beat Fulham in the quarter-finals, Aston Villa in the semi-finals, Manchester City in the final.

Why punish Palace fans because a billionaire can’t help sticking his fingers in too many pies?

Palace qualifying for Europe should be seen as a fairytale story, not evidence of a slick multi-billion-pound machine ruining football. To make them the scapegoats would be a travesty.

Tottenham chief steps down as Ange Postecoglou sends defiant message on Spurs future

 Tottenham have confirmed that Donna-Maria Cullen has stepped down from her role as a non-executive director. The news comes at the start of a week where the club are expected to make a decision on whether to sack Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs supremo Daniel Levy will make the final call on Postecoglou. Fans want the 59-year-old to stay after winning the club's first major trophy in 17 years in last month's Europa League final, but the former Celtic chief could yet pay the price for an abysmal Premier League campaign, with Spurs finishing 17th

An official announcement on Postecoglou's future is expected soon. But Cullen's departure was officially announced by the club on Monday morning.

She said in a statement: “This has been such a hard decision to make. The Club has been my life for the past three decades. I have had the privilege of working with Daniel, whose vision and energy has driven the Club forward, and so many talented and wonderful colleagues.

“It has been quite some journey, starting at White Hart Lane, with a brief stay at Wembley and finally our new home - amazing memories home and away. Ending this season with the Europa League Trophy was a dream come true.

“The time is now right for me to gather more time for myself and my family, whom I thank for all their support over the years. I shall spend the coming months ensuring there is a smooth handover with my staff. Thank you all. I wish everyone at the Club all the success in the world.”

Levy thanked Cullen for her "immense contribution" to Tottenham over such a significant period and paid tribute to the work she had done in terms of the environment and diversity.

He added: “Donna has pushed the conscience of the Club to be at the forefront of environmental and diversity initiatives. She also played a crucial role in supporting the amateur part-time Spurs Ladies, enabling the development of our professional women’s team.

“Her daily input will be greatly missed, however she fully deserves to take time for herself, and I know that we shall be able to call upon her advice when needed. We wish her well for the future.”

Tottenham fans are expecting to hear from Levy again shortly with some reports claiming that he has already made the decision to sack Postecoglou. Knowledge of contact with Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager, has already done the rounds over the weekend.

Postecoglou, though, stressed once again that he is planning for the future - and more success - with Spurs in a new documentary which hit the airwaves in Australia on Sunday.

“I didn't want us to just enjoy the moment,” he revealed to the Australian Story when he was asked about his tease over 'season three' at Spurs' Europa League victory parade.

“I also wanted us to think about what's next, you know - don't settle for this. We've got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club's got a taste for it. Well, let's make sure we're back here again

Real Madrid set bargain price for ‘wonderful’ Andre Onana replacement at Man Utd

 Manchester United could sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid for a modest fee in the summer transfer window, according to a report in Spain, as the Red Devils make their stance on Andre Onana clear.

Madrid and Man Utd are two of the biggest clubs in the world, but both have had disappointing campaigns. The Red Devils finished as low as 15th in the Premier League table, while Los Blancos failed to win LaLiga, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League.

There have already been changes at both Man Utd and Madrid, including the former signing Matheus Cunha from Wolves and the latter replacing Carlo Ancelotti with Xabi Alonso as the manager.

Man Utd are also on the hunt for a new goalkeeper, with Onana failing to impress under Erik ten Hag or Ruben Amorim.

According to Opta, Onana has the worst clean sheet percentage and the second-worst save percentage of any Man Utd goalkeeper to have played 900 or more minutes since the 2003/04 season.

Man Utd manager Amorim wants a new goalkeeper, with GiveMeSport reporting last week that Madrid star Andriy Lunin is among the potential replacements for Onana that the Premier League club are considering.

The Real Madrid-centric Spanish news outlet that Lunin’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is looking for a new club in Europe for the goalkeeper.

Although the priority for the Ukraine international is to stay at Madrid, the 26-year-old’s camp is not ruling out a potential departure from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Lunin’s agents ‘have warned Real Madrid’s directors that there are teams from Italy and England interested in the player, and they want to know how much money Real Madrid is asking for in a possible sale’.

Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly told Lunin’s entourage that he will sell the goalkeeper for €25-30million (£21m/$28.6m – £25.3m, $34.3m).

Described as “a wonderful goalkeeper” by his Madrid team-mate Thibaut Courtois in October 2024, Lunin has been on the books of the Spanish giants since 2018 and has won LaLiga and the Champions League twice each.

Man Utd want Andre Onana gone – sources

TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, reported on May 20 that Man Utd are actively trying to sell Onana in the summer transfer window.

Sources have told TEAMtalk that Man Utd have reached out to clubs in Saudi Arabia, including Neom SC, to offload the goalkeeper.

However, the problem is that Onana is on a weekly salary of £200,000 and is under contract at Man Utd until 2028.

The goalkeeper himself is happy at Man Utd and is not actively looking to leave Old Trafford.

With Man Utd having PSR issues, until and unless they are able to get Onana off their books, signing a replacement goalkeeper would be tough.

Moreover, having two goalkeepers fighting to be the number one could give Amorim a headache in terms of keeping both of them happy.

Russia slams Serbia for supplying arms to Ukraine

 Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service is displeased that Serbian defense enterprises, despite Belgrade's declared neutrality, continue to supply ammunition to Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports.

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service claims that Serbian companies are selling ammunition through a scheme involving fake end-user certificates and intermediary countries.

NATO countries, primarily Czechia, Poland, and Bulgaria, are most frequently named as intermediaries, along with several African nations.

According to Russian intelligence, Serbian companies have supplied hundreds of thousands of artillery shells for multiple launch rocket systems and howitzers, as well as around a million rounds of small arms ammunition.

They also assert that the scheme involves major Serbian defense industry players, including Yugoimport SDPR, Zenitprom, Krusik, Sofag, Reyer DTI, Sloboda, Prvi Partizan, and others.

Serbia supplies ammunition to Ukraine

Back in 2023, after leaked Pentagon documents suggested possible Serbian ammunition deliveries to Ukraine, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić denied the claims. He also stated that Serbian export contracts prohibit re-export to Ukraine.

According to estimates by the Financial Times, the Ukrainian army may have received Serbian-made ammunition worth around €800 million through intermediaries. The outlet reports that President Vučić agrees with the financial assessment, though he insists that Serbia is not involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Later, Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević defended Belgrade's right to sell ammunition to Western buyers, who may then supply it to Ukraine.

Liverpool FC parade collision: man charged with grievous bodily harm

 A man has been charged with multiple offences after a car ploughed into a crowd at the end of Liverpool football club’s Premier League victory parade.

Paul Doyle, 53, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, was charged with dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding with intent to cause GBH, and attempting to cause GBH with intent after the incident on Water Street in the city centre.

Doyle was remanded in custody and will appear at Liverpool magistrates court on Friday. His LinkedIn profile says he is a former Royal Marine commando who has since enjoyed a successful career in IT and cybersecurity.

The charges he faces relate to six victims, and two of the charges – wounding with intent and attempted grievous bodily harm – relate to a child.

Thousands of people had gathered in the city to watch the title winners display the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus when the incident took place at about 6pm on bank holiday Monday.

At least 79 people were injured. The North West ambulance service said 27 people were taken to hospital, with two of the injured, including one child, having sustained serious injuries.

Four children were injured in total, the youngest aged nine, and 20 people were treated at the scene, the ambulance service said.

In a press conference at Merseyside police headquarters on Thursday, a senior officer said seven people remained in hospital being treated for their injuries.

The assistant chief constable Jenny Sims, of Merseyside police, said the force was “determined to gather as much evidence as possible” and that detectives were analysing volumes of CCTV footage, dashcam material and police body-worn video.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges against Doyle, a father of three, would remain under review as the investigation progresses.

Sims said: “I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.

“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, She added: “We know Monday’s shocking scenes reverberated around the city of Liverpool, and the entire country, on what should have been a day of celebration for hundreds of thousands of Liverpool FC supporters. Our thoughts remain with all those affected.”

Merseyside police later said 50 people were treated at the region’s hospitals. The oldest person injured was 78, the force said on Thursday.

Det Supt Rachel Wilson, of Merseyside police, said: “An extensive investigation into the precise circumstances of the incident is ongoing and we continue to ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident and refrain from sharing distressing content online.”

The cordon on Water Street, where the incident took place, was lifted by Wednesday morning and the road reopened to traffic.