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With a deal already edging closer to signing Jorrel Hato from Ajax, Chelsea have also now reportedly made their first contact to sign a fresh attacking reinforcement.

Chelsea closing in on Hato

As ever, Chelsea have welcomed several fresh faces this summer. As Enzo Maresca gears up for his second season in charge, he now has the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens at his disposal in what remains a squad filled to the brim with quality in depth.

The Blues haven’t quite wrapped up their summer business just yet, however. After showing the door to Noni Madueke, who joined London rivals Arsenal, and Saudi-bound Joao Felix, those at Stamford Bridge still have money to spend and have turned towards Hato as a result.

The 19-year-old left-back now looks destined to become the latest young talent to arrive in West London, as Chelsea continue to build one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.

Hato’s tender age is unlikely to stand in the way of first-team opportunities, though. The Dutchman already has plenty of experience on that front and even graced the Europa League for Ajax last season.

One of many to have praised Hato, Statman Dave recently told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Big Transfer Talk: “When you look at his stats over the season, we are starting to see a player who is very composed and creative. He could potentially go on a similar path to Trent Alexander-Arnold – that is the player I would liken him to in Europe.”

Better signing than Simons: Chelsea poised to bid for "electric" £40m star

With Xavi Simons set to sign for Chelsea, are the Blues about to bring in an even better attacker from a PL rival described as “electric”?

By
Ben Gray

Jul 30, 2025

Alas, it’s not just their backline that Chelsea still want to improve. The Blues have also reportedly made their first move to sign a Serie A star.

Chelsea make first approach to sign Weah

According to SpazioJ, Chelsea have made their first approach to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus, only for the American to turn down a summer switch to Stamford Bridge.

It’s not the first time that the winger has turned down the chance to join a Premier League club, either. Earlier this summer, reports emerged that he had handed Nottingham Forest the same answer that he has now given Chelsea and Tottenham. Just where his future now lies as a result is the big question.

Juventus are still willing to sell Weah for around €20m (£17m) ahead of next season, but it remains to be seen whether the likes of Chelsea come calling with a second attempt to convince the 25-year-old.

After scoring six goals and providing five assists in all competitions last season, former Juventus boss Thiago Motta took the chance to praise Weah – telling reporters: “I see him very well, the first thing for a full-back is to defend, be aggressive, win duels, and he is winning a lot of them. He is aggressive, he can still improve, I am very happy with what I see, and on top of that, he also manages to score goals.”

Morgan Gibbs-White has been a player hugely linked with Tottenham Hotspur throughout this summer window, with Thomas Frank desperately wanting to land the Nottingham Forest star.

The 25-year-old, who registered 15 combined goals and assists in the Premier League last season, looked set to move to North London at one stage – but a deal fell through at the 11th hour.

Despite triggering the £60m release clause in his deal at the City Ground, it quickly emerged that the Reds were unhappy with the move, claiming the Lilywhites had made an illegal approach for his services.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis threatened legal action against Daniel Levy, which saw a deal evaporate, leading to the player signing a new three-year deal in the East Midlands.

Undoubtedly, missing out on the Englishman’s signature will be a bitter blow to the boss and the fans, but other targets have since been drawn up in an attempt to improve the current issue.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new talent this summer

Jack Grealish is a player who has been on Spurs’ radar over recent days, with talks even being held with Manchester City to land the 29-year-old on a temporary basis.

However, they could be set to miss out on the former Aston Villa star, with Everton seemingly taking the lead in the race for his signature before the September 1st deadline.

They haven’t had to look far for other targets, turning their attention towards Grealish’s teammate James McAtee, according to TBR Football’s latest update.

They claim that the Lilywhites have already held talks with Pep Guardiola’s side over a move for the 22-year-old, who’s said to be valued at £40m this summer.

However, it also states they aren’t alone in their hunt for the attacking midfielder, with Nottingham Forest also keen on adding the youngster to their ranks in the coming weeks.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be their answer to Gibbs-White

Current boss Frank has previously stated his admiration for Gibbs-White, which could make missing out on his signature a disappointment ahead of the new season.

However, it should be taken as a positive, with the hierarchy evidently wanting to back the new manager in his quest for success during his first year in charge.

Such funds could easily go towards other additions, desperately needing reinforcements in such an area after James Maddison suffered an ACL injury in the pre-season clash against Newcastle United.

It’s vital that the club get the right option to help push Frank’s side towards an upwards trajectory, needing to evaluate all the players currently on their radar.

However, McAtee should be a star at the top of the list, with the youngster already highlighting the talent he possesses despite his limited action and his tender age.

When comparing his stats to those of Gibbs-White, he’s managed to match or better him in numerous key areas from the 2024/25 campaign, potentially being the Lilywhites’ own version of the Forest talisman.

McAtee, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by boss Guardiola, posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate, along with a better goal and assist rate per 90, arguably being a more effective option in front of goal.

He also achieved a better pass completion rate, whilst making more carries into the final third, which could make him a bigger threat to the opposition with the ball at his feet – bolstering the quality Frank has at his disposal in attacking areas.

The City star’s dominance is further reflected in his higher tally of crosses completed per 90, and average touches in the opposition box – able to provide the goods for others, whilst getting on the end of players who set him up in front of goal.

£40m may appear to be a hefty sum for a player with just 15 league appearances last season, but he’s already showcased he’s better than Gibbs-White in various key areas.

If he can continue on the current track he’s on, he will develop into a much bigger star than the Forest number ten, with missing out on his signature potentially a blessing in disguise.

Frank's own Mbappe: Spurs to make huge £52m bid for "world-class" talent

Tottenham Hotspur have made their move to land a new elite-level forward for Thomas Frank.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 7, 2025

Erling Haaland is being backed to rise above Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League goal stakes, making more history in the process. The prolific Manchester City striker has become the fastest man to 50 efforts in elite European competition, with Pep Guardiola expecting the Norway international to go on and set a new all-time benchmark.

• Haaland fastest to 50 Champions League goals

  Haaland, who joined City in 2022, has reached a half-century of Champions League goals through just 49 appearances. He required 13 games fewer than ex-Manchester United frontman Ruud van Nistelrooy to hit that mark.

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• What is Ronaldo's Champions League record?

  At 25 years of age, Haaland is already level with Arsenal great Thierry Henry in ninth spot on the all-time Champions League chart. He is 79 efforts behind Barcelona icon Messi and 90 adrift of former United, Real Madrid and Juventus superstar Ronaldo.

• Chasing down GOATs: Haaland's challenge

  Guardiola expects two GOATs to be chased down, telling reporters when asked about Haaland’s bid to make more history: "In that rhythm, yeah [he can break the record]. He’s not injured, he could play for 10 or 12 more years, and he maintains this progression, absolutely.

  "What can I say? The numbers speak for themselves. We are lucky to have him. Just to congratulate him, because he’s alongside goalscorers like Van Nistelrooy, [Robert] Lewandowski, but especially the two monsters Cristiano and Messi for 20 years, for Erling to be there is unbelievable."

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  Haaland becomes a leader for Man City

  Haaland was on target in City’s 2-0 victory over 10-man Napoli in their first Champions League outing of 2025-26. He now forms part of the Blues’ leadership group, with Guardiola adding on handing more responsibility to his clinical No.9: "It’s a question of play a lot, experience, more important games and his mentality as well."

Mark Clattenburg has lifted the lid on a spat he had with Jurgen Klopp that led to the former Premier League referee telling the German to 'f*ck off'. Joining Adebayo Akinfenwa for episode seven of the Beast Mode On Podcast, Clattenburg explained how Klopp had sought to blame the match official for a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, leading to a fiery response from the referee.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Marcelo wanted a photo, Casemiro offered his shirt

  Looking back at the aftermath of that Champions League quarter-final first leg in 2014, that ended in a heavy defeat for Dortmund, the 50-year-old says: "I remember Marcelo, the full-back from Real Madrid, asked for a picture. I've had players giving me shirts when I didn't even ask, I've had players talking to me after games, but he just wanted a picture. This was a part of me being accepted by them (elite professional footballers). They felt comfortable with me. If they see my name, Mark Clattenburg, refereeing a Champions League game, I would hope the players think: 'Thank God for that, I like that. We know he's not going to cause any problems'. I like that. So players felt comfortable with me." 

  On being gifted Casemiro's shirt, Clattenburg adds: "I remember Casemiro, at Real Madrid, I refereed him in the U-20 World Cup in Colombia playing for Brazil. Didn't speak any English. And he signed for Real Madrid and I remember seeing his name on the team sheet and thinking: 'I know that name'. When I looked at him I said: 'I remember refereeing you in the semi-final in the U-20s'. Didn't speak any English and he just looked at me, came to shake my hand when he came off the bench and I'm thinking: 'This is bizarre'. After the game he's waiting for me outside my door and he's got his shirt and he's saying: 'Thank you, thank you', in broken English, and I'm thinking: 'That was nice, respect'."

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  Clattenburg tells Klopp to 'f*ck off' as pair clash in 2014

  Clattenburg also discussed a heated row he had with Klopp following that photo exchange with Marcelo, with the ex-Liverpool boss, who was Dortmund manager at the time, blaming the referee for the loss. He says: "It was the wrong time [for Marcelo to ask for a photo after the game]. Klopp's walked past, probably humped that he's got beat 3-0, but he shouldn't have the gripe about me. He should be having the gripe about his team performance, because I wasn't the architect of the defeat. 

  "As he's come past, he's said: 'That's why we got beat 3-0', and I thought: 'F*ck that, he's going to get Geordie banter back'. No, I'm not accepting that. I'm in the Bernabeu, I'm not stupid, I've got the protection of f*cking everybody around and he was on his own. I turned around and I said: 'You should be f*cking thankful you got beat 3-0, so f*ck off'. Everybody laughed. I was p*ssed off, that he had the f*cking… he thought I was the architect of him getting f*cking beat. There's right times and wrong times to speak… why did Klopp think it was f*cking acceptable to f*cking say that."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ecstatic Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed Clattenburg's face

  Clattenburg was chosen as the referee for the European Championship final back in 2016, a matter of weeks after he was the man in the middle for Real Madrid's Champions League final meeting with Atletico Madrid. Then-head coach Zinedine Zidane steered Real to a penalty shoot-out win over their city rivals that day, with Ronaldo scoring the winning spot-kick, and the Portuguese was also victorious at EURO 2016 – Eder's goal in extra-time sealing a 1-0 victory over France in the final.

  The former Premier League referee recalls the moment he went up to collect his medal after full-time in the Stade de France, with Clattenburg having to tell Ronaldo to remove his hands from his face as he celebrated Portugal's triumph. He said: "As I was walking through [the tunnel created by Portugal players] Ronaldo grabs my face, and tries to shake it as a way of congratulations. And I'm like: 'Ronaldo, get off my face I'm on live TV', and he just laughed. [In terms of] the respect back, [Lionel] Messi didn't speak much English so it was easier to communicate with Cristiano than it was Messi but I didn't referee Messi in major finals, so it was different. I never refereed Barcelona, for example, [in finals] only in semi-finals in the Champions League, which they were successful in. If they win, the pressure's different."

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• Watch the Beast Mode On Podcast episode with guest Mark Clattenburg

  Check out all seven episodes of the Beast Mode On Podcast via the official YouTube channel.

  You can also listen to full episodes via Spotify.

The Premier League is finally back, and Chelsea kick off their campaign tomorrow afternoon.

It’ll be a challenging game away to FA Cup and Community Shield winners Crystal Palace, but Enzo Maresca’s men look like they could do something really special this year.

They’ve been practically faultless in their short pre-season and the board have only made them stronger with the business they’ve conducted.

Moreover, it appears the club will only make more signings over the next two weeks, with Alejandro Garnacho set to be the next in line.

However, if reports are to be believed, the club is also targeting another international who’d be an even better pick-up.

Chelsea target better signing than Garnacho

Chelsea have been interested in Garancho for some time now, with stories first emerging on the topic back in the winter window.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the Blues have stepped up their pursuit of the Manchester United star in recent weeks, and while some fans are against the move, it now looks like he’ll be making his way to Stamford Bridge before September 1st.

However, the West Londoners don’t look like they’ll be calling it a day after that, as they’re now eyeing a move for another international, someone who’d be an even better signing than Garnacho.

At least that is according to a recent report from BolaVIP, which claims that Chelsea are very interested in Piero Hincapié.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Blues are now ready to pay around €60m for the centre-back, which is about £52m.

However, the same story also points out that while Bayer Leverkusen would be willing to let him leave, they want around €70m to do so, which is about £60m.

Even if Chelsea need to pay a little more than they’d like, they should, as Hincapié is a brilliant player and would be a better signing than Garnacho.

Why Hincapié would be a better signing than Garnacho

Now, the first thing to say is that, while some are opposed to the deal, we do not think that Garnacho to Chelsea is a bad transfer.

After all, even though he played for a truly terrible Manchester United side last season, the youngster was still able to score 11 goals and provide ten assists in 58 appearances, which is not a bad return at all.

However, there are still several reasons why Hincapié would be a better signing this summer, and the first relates to what the squad need.

As things stand, the Blues’ attack feels particularly stacked with quality across most positions, and with Xavi Simons still being linked with a move, it feels like adding even more attack-minded players isn’t a necessity.

On the other hand, the team’s defence has been made markedly weaker by Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, and while Jorrel Hato has joined the team, he’s still just 19 years old and has never played in a top-five league, so throwing him in right away feels like a recipe for disaster.

Therefore, bringing in the Leverkusen ace is a far more pressing concern, and Maresca told the press as much yesterday afternoon, when he openly admitted “we need a central defender.”

The second reason the Ecuadorian international would be the better signing relates to why he would have to start ahead of Hato: his experience.

For example, across his career to date, the “absolute beast,” as journalist Antonio Mango dubbed him, has made 115 appearances in the Bundesliga, 26 in the Europa League, 14 in the Champions League and eight in the DFB Pokal since moving to Europe.

He’s also no stranger to winning things, either, as he played a pivotal role in the German side’s undefeated league and cup double a couple of years ago.

Ultimately, Garnacho will likely be a good signing for Chelsea, but due to the need for a new centre-back and his immense experience, Hincapié would be a better one.

Chelsea plot Nkunku and Jackson sale before formalising deal for £50m star

The west Londoners are busy with both incomings and outgoings.

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 15, 2025

Leeds United still have a bit of time left to add more quality to their squad before the end of the summer transfer window at the start of September.

The Whites were reportedly leading the race to sign Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss earlier this month, but they now look set to miss out on the Morocco international.

Sky Sports reports that Crystal Palace are close to agreeing a deal with the Foxes to sign the 21-year-old playmaker in a deal that could be worth up to £32m.

Why missing out on Bilal El Khannouss is a blow

The Eagles swooping in to potentially sign El Khannouss ahead of Leeds is a blow for Daniel Farke because he is an impressive young talent who could have been an exciting addition to the squad at Elland Road.

In his first season in the Premier League, the Moroccan ranked within the top 25% of attacking midfielders for chances created (42) and the top 37% for xA (3.11), per FotMob.

Per Sofascore, El Khannouss created eight ‘big chances’ in 27 starts for Leicester, despite their relegation, and could have added an extra degree of creativity to the Leeds midfield.

The Whites could, however, forget all about the Foxes sensation by swooping to sign Gabriel Sara, who was linked with a £35m move from Galatasaray earlier this month.

Why Leeds should sign Gabriel Sara

Signing the Brazilian maestro would help everyone to forget about El Khannouss because he could be an even better signing for Leeds, particularly with the new 4-3-3 system that Farke deployed against Everton.

Lining up with three central midfielders instead of a double pivot and a number ten means that Sara could make more sense as a signing, as he is a creative central midfielder, rather than an out-and-out number ten like the Leicester starlet.

The left-footed star, who delivered 13 goals and 12 assists in his last season in England with Norwich, has been in fantastic form for Galatasaray as a creative whiz in the middle of the park over the past 12 months.

Sara has created a staggering 11 chances in two matches in the Super Liga this season, per Sofascore, which is roughly a quarter as many as El Khannouss created in the entire 2024/25 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Sara was directly involved in six more goals in two fewer appearances at league level in comparison to the £32m-rated man, and created one more chance per game on average.

The Brazilian star, who scored a sublime solo goal against Leeds two seasons ago – as shown in the highlights below, has been a consistently brilliant creator for both Galatasaray and Norwich in the last few years.

Sara, who was hailed as “outstanding” by former boss David Wagner, appears more likely to make an impact in the here and now in comparison to El Khannouss, who is younger and still developing.

The 26-year-old wizard is in the prime years of his career and could arrive at Elland Road to hit the ground running as a creative maestro in the middle of the park for Farke, given his prior experience in England and his form for the Turkish giants.

Instant Calvert-Lewin upgrade: Leeds lining up move for "special" £35m star

Leeds United are reportedly eyeing up a new striker who would be an instant upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 17, 2025

Therefore, Leeds should be pushing to secure a deal for Sara now that Palace are closing in on El Khannouss, because he has the experience, the quality, and the creativity to be an even better signing for the Whites in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Erling Haaland has been backed to break Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League record after the Norwegian goal machine made a bright start for Manchester City in the 2025-26 campaign. Haaland has scored in every match for Manchester City this season, barring the Spurs clash, and has already registered nine goals to his name in seven appearances across all competitions.

• Haaland bags brace in Man City's win over Burnley

  Haaland starred with a brace and an assist on Saturday as City thrashed Burnley 5-1 at home. The Norway international has displayed stellar form for Pep Guardiola's side in the current season, after he experienced an injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign, when City's performances also plummeted. 

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  "He could break all sorts of records"

  Speaking to , former Scotland international Ally McCoist said: "The fact that we are talking about Erling Haaland potentially beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s [Champions League] record is crazy, I could never have seen Ronaldo's record being beaten, ever. But you have to say, if he stays injury free, he could beat that and all sorts of records. I'm even thinking to myself, Alan Shearer, not only does Alan Shearer want Harry Kane to stay at Bayern Munich, he wants Erling Haaland to go to Barcelona or Real Madrid. I know Al well, and he's a great lad, and he'll be looking at that record going, Jesus, somebody's coming for it. Somebody's coming for it. If he can keep himself fit. 

  "I've been really impressed with Haaland this season. Not just with his goals, but actually, his all-round play. When I say his all-round play, he's never going to be Zinedine Zidane. He's never going to take it in half turn, beat somebody, come back on, beat two players. That's not his game. But where I've really enjoyed him, surprisingly, I've enjoyed watching him defend. He's got back and he's won so many headers in his own box, proper team player, which is great to see."

  Ronaldo is the current top scorer in the history of the Champions League after netting 140 goals in the competition during his career.

• Man City "lost the fear factor a little bit"

  McCoist added: "But I'm just looking at his team Manchester City. I think they had lost the fear factor a little bit. I think they've actually recovered well, couple of defeats. I know I was at the game against Tottenham. But the one thing about City, if they do lose the fear factor, I think clubs will maybe open up and have a go at them, which will suit Haaland. 

  "His goal at Arsenal was a perfect example of that counter-attack where he wins the ball and keeps the run going. The pass was perfect and once he gets that ball out of his feet, you know he's finishing. I'm just thinking teams might get lulled in a little bit to having a go at City more than they would in recent years and I think that will suit Haaland."

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  Haaland & Ronaldo's record broken by Kane

  England captain Harry Kane became the fastest player to reach 100 goals for a club in Europe's top five leagues after he bagged a brace for Bayern Munich against Werder Bremen on Friday in the Bundesliga.

Harry Kane opened up on his relationship with Nicolas Jackson after Bayern Munich's Champions League rout of Pafos. The Bavarians unleashed a merciless storm in Cyprus, tearing apart Pafos with a crushing 5-1 continental triumph. Kane bagged a brace, Raphael Guerreiro and Michael Olise also chipped in, and Jackson grabbed his first goal since arriving from Chelsea in the summer window.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bayern blitz leaves Pafos in ruins

  Bayern had the game in the bag by half-time, storming into a 4-0 lead. The demolition was historic too: the third time Bayern have rattled in four goals within the opening 35 minutes of a Champions League away clash. Roma in 2014, Viktoria Plzen in 2022, and now Pafos all know the feeling of being steamrolled by the German giants.

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  Kane gives credit to Jackson

  After the final whistle, Kane was quick to shine the spotlight on his new strike partner Jackson. The England captain also explained how the duo worked in tandem to wreak havoc, which could serve as a blueprint for the rest of the season.

  "Jackson played from the start today. At times, I dropped back a bit, more like a number 10; he came in, received balls," Kane explained. "I think it's important to keep surprising the defenders and not do the same thing the whole game. Nico was fantastic today: a goal, an assist, and almost another goal at the end. I'm very happy for him."

  Kane made it clear that Jackson isn’t just a stopgap loan signing, but a crucial weapon. 

  "We'll need him all season; he should stay fit and fresh," he added. "Today was a really good game from him. It might have looked easy, but that was due to how we played. With our pressing, the second balls, the way we played through the lines. We have this momentum and we're determined to maintain it."

• Jackson delighted to get off the mark

  For Jackson, the strike was more than just a number on the scoresheet; it was a release. After a rough few months, the forward admitted he’s still rebuilding his sharpness.

  “It wasn’t easy, but we played a very good game and worked hard,” Jackson said. “I’m very happy to score my first goal for the club. I’m still getting back to full fitness because I hadn’t played and trained alone for two months. I’m working hard every day.”

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• Nine wins, no slip-ups

  Bayern are looking unstoppable on all fronts so far this season. The thumping victory over Pafos extended their perfect start to nine wins from nine this season, leaving rivals across Europe on notice. Not a single point has been dropped, nor a single ounce of momentum wasted.

With Monday’s transfer deadline fast approaching, Aston Villa have reportedly launched a shock £47m offer to sign a late midfield reinforcement for Unai Emery.

Aston Villa's late transfer plan

The Villans are attempting to salvage their summer after battling with PSR constraints since the end of last season. So far, the current window has seen Evann Guessand, Yasin Ozcan and Marco Bizot all arrive, but after Emery revealed his desire to have two players in every position, the Midlands club may not be done with their incomings just yet.

The rumours have been coming thick and fast since those words and all eyes are now on Monchi as Aston Villa look to bolster their squad one final time this summer.

Of those mentioned, the biggest name has been Marco Asensio. It seemed as though Aston Villa were destined to miss out on the Spaniard after an excellent loan spell last season, but fresh reports have now indicated that they’ve made their move and he could be on the way.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger was a real difference-maker for the Villans last season and would no doubt add the further firepower that they’ve lacked in recent weeks.

The same, meanwhile, can be said for another Premier League rival that Aston Villa have already reportedly launched a shock bid to sign late on in the window.

Aston Villa launch shock Paqueta bid

According to Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa have launched a £47m bid to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United before the transfer window slams shut.

Those in the Midlands are reportedly pushing to secure his signature, but remain without the green light from the Hammers, who are keen to keep hold of the Brazilian.

Aston Villa eye shock hijack for star who's on the verge joining Man Utd

The Villans could deal the Red Devils a major blow.

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 31, 2025

It seems like West Ham are in no mood to compromise, either. TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook has been quick to burst Villa’s bubble, reporting that a move, at this stage, is unlikely for Paqueta with West Ham unwilling to agree a loan deal that includes an obligation to buy. As such, Villa are not in a position to afford the midfield star.

Things can quickly change in a transfer window, however, and Paqueta remains one to watch. Dubbed “incredible” by David Moyes during his time at West Ham, the South American is certainly one worth fighting for.

In what was a year to forget for Manchester United football club, captain Bruno Fernandes endured a season to remember on a personal level – producing numerous moments of magic despite the team’s failures.

The Portuguese international racked up a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions – by far and away the highest tally of any member of the first-team squad.

However, he was unable to catapult Ruben Amorim’s side to any form of success, as the Red Devils ended the 2024/25 Premier League campaign in a measly 15th place.

The first team desperately needed reinforcements over the summer, something which the board provided with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.

Despite the additions in forward areas, a new midfielder was desperately needed, subsequently adding further quality to the side – but also pushing another talent down the pecking order.

Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Manchester United

During the 2023/24 campaign, academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo was a breath of fresh air to the United side – popping up in key moments during his breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old scored multiple times that year, including a last-minute winner against Wolves – before netting the crucial effort in the FA Cup final triumph against rivals Manchester City.

However, in recent times, the Englishman has struggled for consistent action, starting just 19 times last season, with minutes even harder to come by this campaign.

Mainoo hasn’t started a single league game in 2025/26, with his only starting outing coming in the embarrassing Carabao Cup second round defeat to Grimsby Town.

He’s spoken about wanting to leave his boyhood club on loan in recent times to gain valuable game time elsewhere – but his request was denied, subsequently needing to fight for his place in the side.

Such a situation has been a disappointing one for both the player and the club, with a resolution needed, but they may have made a mistake in allowing one former youngster to depart.

The former United star who was the original Mainoo

United’s hunt for a new midfielder was evident during the summer transfer window, targeting numerous talents throughout Europe to offer further quality in the middle of the park.

Bruno, who’s primarily an attacking midfielder, has been forced to operate in a deeper role this campaign – especially after the arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo in the number ten positions.

Hopefully, such a decision doesn’t take away from the numbers he produced last season, already getting off the mark with his last-minute penalty against Burnley last weekend.

However, a new partner alongside him has been desperately needed in recent times, potentially making a mistake in allowing former youngster James Garner to depart the club.

The Portuguese international has previously praised the Englishman, labelling him a “good player” after the Red Devils’ pre-season tour back in 2021.

He rose through the youth levels at Old Trafford, just like Mainoo, but would only make seven first-team appearances – with his spells away from the club catapulting him to stardom.

Garner would spend 18 months on loan at Nottingham Forest, catching the eye with his box-to-box displays, registering eight goals and 10 assists over his two separate loan spells at the City Ground.

He subsequently helped the Reds secure promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, in a spell that would catch the eye of a side already plying their trade in England’s top-flight.

The 24-year-old joined Everton on a permanent basis for an initial £9m in the summer of 2022, with Erik ten Hag not seeing the player in his plans – with the Toffees getting themselves a bargain given his form on Merseyside over the last couple of seasons.

Garner has since made 88 appearances for the Toffees, showcasing his versatility, operating in the middle of the park, as well as right-back, but still thriving despite the unnatural role.

He scored his first goal of the new season in recent weeks, with his beautiful strike from outside the box securing the Toffees a victory in their first outing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The £9m fee now appears to be way too cheap, given his recent success away from Old Trafford, potentially being able to cement his place in Amorim’s side had he stayed at the club.

There’s no denying he was the original Mainoo, rising through the club’s youth levels, but ultimately, their loss is Everton’s gain – with Bruno missing out on starring alongside the Englishman.

Sold for £5m: Man Utd must rue selling £43m star who'd get Sesko firing

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford in recent times.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 5, 2025