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Chelsea are one of the world’s most active clubs in the transfer market, and they could now be set to beat Liverpool and PSG to the signing of a proven Premier League star.

Chelsea left with problems to juggle amid hectic fixture schedule

Winning the Club World Cup was a momentous moment in recent Chelsea history, and particularly for the club’s finances.

BlueCo took home over £80 million worth of prize money after reigning victorious in the States, and this helped them end last summer’s window as one of England’s biggest spenders.

However, if recent developments are anything to go by, the physical output expended by players over what was a very long 2024/2025 season, with the CWC to blame for this, may have created some frustrating consequences for Enzo Maresca.

Cole Palmer is out for six weeks due to a groin problem, meaning the England international now joins Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill as long-term absentees from the line-up.

Offering his honest opinion, former Blues star Pat Nevin believes Chelsea’s pre-season has something to do with the recent absences they are experiencing.

Either way, there will be opportunities for other Chelsea players to stake their claim in light of Palmer’s absence, including Blues loanee Facundo Buonanotte.

Nevertheless, January will be very important, given it offers a chance for Chelsea to strengthen their lighter areas by recruiting top talent.

Chelsea now frontrunners to sign Morgan Rogers

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are now the frontrunners to sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, and could beat rivals Liverpool to capture the England international.

Starting off this term with two assists in his opening ten appearances across all competitions, the 23-year-old is valued at around £80 million, and he is also being closely tracked by Paris Saint-Germain.

Forget Rogers: Aston Villa's "explosive" star looks like another Grealish

One new signing is emerging as Aston Villa’s next Grealish-type creator under Unai Emery

By
Will Miller

Oct 17, 2025

Amid a return of 30 goal contributions in 2024/25, Chelsea have identified Rogers as a “key target” moving forward, and they believe internally that he is ‘well-suited to both the intensity of the Premier League and the competitive demands of European football’ present at Stamford Bridge.

Fotmob shows that the Halesowen-born playmaker, previously labelled “excellent” by Thomas Tuchel, has created seven chances and completed seven dribbles in the Premier League this campaign. He is beginning to motor after a slow start to life following a difficult summer where speculation over his future was rife.

Looking to steal a march on their rivals, Chelsea could now be set to tap into his long-term potential by offering a package that reflects his scope to develop into a world-class star.

Manchester United are in a tricky situation under Ruben Amorim, and a high-profile manager is now interested in taking over at Old Trafford.

Manchester United lacking focus amid Brentford defeat

Soon enough, the Red Devils’ defeat at Brentford will be cast to the back of collective minds at Old Trafford. However, their performance on the day epitomised the inconsistency in performances across the board at the Premier League giants.

Leaky at one end of the field and profligate at the other, Manchester United have fallen to 14th in the top-flight standings, something that has left Amorim under increasing pressure as he aims to turn the fortunes of his side around.

Matthijs De Ligt has admitted the Red Devils lacked concentration at key moments, something the Netherlands international and his teammates will be keen to sort out before the visit of Sunderland this weekend.

He told BBC Sport: “It’s always easy to look at the manager, but in the end the players on the pitch have to do it. The goals we conceded, the chances we conceded, are because of what? You guys (the media) always talk about the system, but it also has a lot to do with focus and concentration.

“If that’s lacking in key moments, it is going to make a difference. When you’re up against a Brentford team who play like they do, they will kill you.”

Wayne Rooney says "no faith" in Ruben Amorim at Man Utd and names his biggest problem

The Manchester United legend made the comments after the recent 3-1 defeat against Brentford.

ByDominic Lund Sep 29, 2025

Graham Potter has been earmarked as a surprise Manchester United candidate to succeed Amorim, as has Gareth Southgate, though there may be another high-profile name on the Old Trafford wishlist should they part ways with the Portuguese boss.

Romano: Xavi interested in Man Utd managerial job

Speaking on his YouTube channel, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has made it clear former Barcelona manager Xavi would go ‘immediately’ to Manchester United if INEOS follow through and make an approach.

He stated: “Xavi is studying the Premier League. Xavi is monitoring the Premier League, and Xavi would go immediately to Man United, even without European football – he would go immediately to the Premier League.”

Xavi won the La Liga title with Barcelona in 2023 alongside a Spanish Super Cup in the same year. His only other experience in management came at Al-Sadd, where he won the Qatar Stars League in 2021, the Qatar Cup twice, the Qatari Stars Cup, the Emir of Qatar Cup and the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 2019.

Favouring a 4-3-3 formation, the former La Liga legend enjoyed a magnificent career as a player, although he has been out of work since May 2024, having been replaced by Hansi Flick.

Clearly, the 45-year-old is someone who knows what it takes to win, though he did struggle towards the end of his Barcelona tenure and would be walking into an entirely different set of circumstances at Old Trafford.

Leeds United might well look back on this summer’s transfer window with plenty of regrets come the end of the long and hard Premier League season.

Indeed, no deadline day signings ended up being sealed by the Whites, with the forward areas – in particular – crying out for some fresh blood, considering Daniel Farke’s men have only netted once in league action so far, from three contests.

It wasn’t through a lack of trying, arguably, as Leeds did look set to bring in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Facundo Buonanotte to Elland Road as the days grew ever closer to the chaos of deadline day.

However, at the final hour, the Argentine playmaker chose Chelsea instead as his next onward destination on loan, leaving Leeds with the bitter feeling of what could have been if the South American had entered the building to save the day.

What Buonanotte would have offered Leeds

Unfortunately, the glitz and glamour of lining up for Enzo Maresca’s men swayed the 20-year-old creator to move to West London over West Yorkshire.

He already has an early bump to contend with, though, as he has been shockingly left out of the Italian’s Champions League squad, just a matter of days after penning a loan move.

Still, there will be plenty of opportunities presumably handed to him in the bread and butter of Premier League action, after a loan stint last season out to Leicester City saw him dazzle top-flight defences regularly, despite the Foxes succumbing to relegation.

From 35 appearances at the King Power Stadium, the up-and-coming 20-year-old would pick up an impressive six goals and three assists, with a further seven goal contributions also coming his way back at Brighton, before finding his first-team minutes had dried up.

Leeds would have loved to welcome Buonanotte in on a short-term basis, with plenty more goals and assists registered by the entertaining South American at Elland Road, potentially helping Farke and Co beat the drop.

Instead, the goal-shy Whites will have to make do with Brenden Aaronson as one of their only recognisable number ten options, with the arrival of the two-time Argentina international also allowing them to explore more formations, away from the combative 4-3-3 preferred by Farke currently.

Frustratingly, this selection dilemma could actually be solved right now if Leeds hadn’t discarded a Buonanotte-style ace for just £1m two years ago.

Leeds' original Buonanotte

Farke has gone about making his side far more militant in the midfield ranks, with faces such as Ilia Gruev and Sean Longstaff not the most creative presences imaginable.

This is where Mateusz Bogusz could have come to the rescue, with the Polish midfielder very much a forgotten relic of Leeds’ recent past.

Before going on to make a name for himself as an attacking menace at both LAFC and Cruz Azul, Bogusz was a rising star tipped for greatness in West Yorkshire, having once been dubbed as a “very talented” player by his ex-U23s coach at Leeds in Carlos Corberan.

While he was showered with praise behind the scenes, the now 24-year-old would never go on to make the grade at a senior level, with three unmemorable men’s games passing him by, before he was offloaded for a bargain £880k to the MLS.

Bogusz’s numbers since leaving
Stat	Bogusz
Games played	120
Goals scored	26
Assists	26
Trophies	2x
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Looking at the table above, this was an unwise decision to make with hindsight on side, with Bogusz now boasting a high 52 goal contributions post his frustrating Elland Road stay.

With an ability to fire home a fierce effort, on top of picking out a teammate with ease, the 25-year-old might well have gone on to be success in the long-term if given more chances to impress, with his “dangerous” style of play – as it was described by reporter Greg Beacham – in the here and now also making him an apt fall back option for Buonanotte’s move being dead in the water.

Instead, there’s just more regrets piling up at Leeds on what could have been, as Farke now just has to make do with what he’s got until January rolls around.

Leeds can fix winger woes by unleashing 18-year-old who's "like Grealish"

Daniel Farke could solve some of his attacking woes by unleashing his own Jack Grealish at Leeds United.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 4, 2025

Nuno Espírito Santo’s spell at Tottenham Hotspur was certainly one to forget for the manager and the supporters after the dismal form endured during his tenure.

In the 17 matches he was in charge of the Lilywhites, the 51-year-old only won 52% of the matches he was in charge of – subsequently only being in the role for a total of four months.

Such an appointment raised eyebrows at the time, with the former Wolves boss tasked with the responsibility of taking the side to the next level after José Mourinho’s tenure.

The aforementioned period may not have been enough to make the desired changes, with Daniel Levy arguably making a harsh decision in cutting ties so early into his spell in North London.

The decision allowed the former Portuguese goalkeeper to make an impact elsewhere in the Premier League – subsequently making himself a success at Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s time under Nuno at Forest

Nuno joined Forest back in December 2023, leading the club back to European football for the first time in 30 years – but was handed his marching orders earlier this week after a fall-out with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

He was overseeing the progress of attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White at the City Ground, once again linking up with the Englishman after their previous spell together at Wolves.

The 25-year-old enjoyed an incredible campaign throughout 2024/25, subsequently registering his highest tally of combined goals and assists in the Premier League under Nuno’s guidance.

He ended the year with 15 goal contributions, a tally which saw the Lilywhites even make a £60m bid for his services during the recent summer transfer window.

Such a deal was agreed between all parties for Gibbs-White to join Thomas Frank’s side, but Marinakis voiced his displeasure at the transfer and publicly threatened legal action against the club.

As a result, a deal hit a stumbling block, leading to the Englishman penning a new three-year contract at the City Ground and putting a deal off until January at the earliest.

There’s no denying that the failure to secure his signature would’ve been a disappointment to the fanbase, but they needn’t worry, given the talent already on their books in North London.

The Spurs star who’s a bigger talent than Gibbs-White

Whilst Nuno was only in the role for a short period of time, he managed to have a positive impact that has been showcased in recent months – arguably laying some of the foundations for the recent Europa League triumph.

He oversaw the arrival of centre-back Cristian Romero, with the Argentine now a key member of the first-team squad four years on from his switch to England from Atalanta.

The 27-year-old has been named the club captain in recent months, highlighting the importance to the side, with Frank putting huge faith in the defender to lead the club forward.

However, he wasn’t the only first-team member brought in during Nuno’s tenure, with midfielder Pape Matar Sarr also making the move to North London in the summer of 2021.

Whilst he spent his first year back out on loan at Metz, the Senegalese international has established himself as a key member of the side over the last couple of months.

The 22-year-old has started all three of the Lilywhites’ Premier League outings this campaign, showcasing the backing he has from Frank to make an impact in their quest for added success.

Sarr’s importance is further highlighted by his tally of 55 appearances in all competitions last campaign, starting and playing the vast majority of the Europa League final in Bilbao.

Despite being a deeper-lying option than Gibbs-White, he’s also operated in a number ten role in recent months – even managing to outperform him in numerous areas, subsequently making him a bigger talent at present.

Sarr, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Umir Irfan, managed to post a higher shot on target accuracy rate (38%) than Gibbs-White in the Premier League last season.

Games played

36

34

Goals & assists

5

15

Shot on target accuracy

38%

34%

Pass accuracy

86%

78%

Passes into final third

4.2

4.1

Carries into final third

1.7

1.6

Tackles made

1.7

0.7

Aerials won

1.6

1.2

Such a tally showcases the threat the youngster possesses in attacking areas, arguably making him more of a goal threat when in possession of the ball in attacking areas.

The main responsibility of a number ten is creativity, but Sarr managed to complete more passes into the final third per 90 (4.2), along with a higher tally of carries into the final third per 90 (1.7).

The aforementioned tallies once again highlight the quality the youngster possesses in dangerous areas – something which will develop further given his tender age.

Many supporters will have been bitterly disappointed by the failure to land Gibbs-White, but it’s clear they already have a top-level talent on the books with the Senegalese international.

Nuno’s time at the club may have been one to forget, but the fanbase certainly must be thankful for his dealings in the market, which have given the Lilywhites the chance to compete with Europe’s elite once again.

Worth more than Kudus: Spurs have hit the jackpot on Postecoglou signing

Tottenham Hotspur’s excellent work in the market has previously been evident during Ange Postecoglou’s reign.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

Ousmane Dembele was presented with the Ballon d'Or for 2025 at a typically lavish ceremony in Paris on Monday night, capping a remarkable redemption at Paris Saint-Germain for a player regarded by Barcelona fans as one of the worst signings in the club's history.

Dembele's triumph meant Lamine Yamal was forced to settle for second spot but it still feels like only a matter of time before the teenage sensation claims the ultimate individual honour in football.

Truth be told, it wouldn't come as a surprise to see the winger standing on stage with the Ballon d'Or in his hands in 12 months' time, particularly as Spain are one of the favourites to win next summer's World Cup in North America.

But who else is likely to be in the running for the 2026 Ballon d'Or? GOAL runs through all of the leading contenders below…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  10Cole Palmer

  Cole Palmer unquestionably has an issue with consistency – but the Chelsea ace is the definition of a big-game player. After going missing for the majority of the second half of last season, he returned to form in the Europa League Conference final win over Betis before playing a starring role in his club's surprise Club World Cup success in the United States.

  As a result, Palmer is a dark horse for next year's Ballon d'Or, given Chelsea are back in the Champions League and England are near-certainties to go deep at the World Cup – meaning the 23-year-old attacker is going to get even more opportunities to impress on the game's grandest stages in 2026. The big challenge for him, though, will be turning up week-in, week-out. If he can do that, he's got a shot.

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• AFP
  

  9Achraf Hakimi

  As arguably the most complete defender in the game today, Achraf Hakimi would have made a very worthy winner of this year's Ballon d'Or. The Moroccan may be a right-back but he's utterly integral to Paris Saint-Germain's game plan, as one of their best ball-winners and most creative attacking outlets.

  After finishing sixth this year, he obviously might never rank so highly again but it is worth noting that Morocco, who are on the verge of sealing their spot at the 2026 World Cup, are being heavily backed to win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in January. 

  Hakimi, then, could be right in contention for the 2026 Ballon d'Or before we even reach the business end of the European club season – even if the fact that he's a defender would likely count against him again. 

• Getty Images
  

  8Ousmane Dembele

  It feels unfair to be wondering if Dembele can win back-to-back Ballons d'Or the morning after claiming his first – but it genuinely will be fascinating to see if the notoriously inconsistent winger can actually maintain his fine form for more than six months.

  Remember, Dembele only really started delivering for PSG on a regular basis in 2025, after being moved into the middle of their three-pronged attack by Luis Enrique at the tail end of last year.

  The Frenchman certainly has the talent to repeat and it's hugely encouraging that he finally seems to have got his head together. The only major concern, then, is his ability to stay fit for a significant period of time, so it doesn't bode well that he's presently sidelined by injury, after playing 53 games at club level alone last season…

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  7Vitinha

  One could easily argue that Vitinha will never get a better chance to win the Ballon d'Or. He was sensational for both Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal last season, winning the treble with the former and the Nations League with the latter, but he had to settle forthird spot in this year's vote.

  However, there's no reason to think that the 25-year-old Vitinha is going to suddenly stop improving. He's been an upward curve since his frustrating loan spell at Wolves and is universally regarded as one of the best midfielders on the planet.

  Most importantly of all, PSG are very well-placed to retain their Champions League title, while Portugal are potential World Cup winners. In that context, it would be a surprise if Vitinha is in the Ballon d'Or conversation again in 12 months' time.

MatériaMais Notícias

Dorival Júnior está literalmente fazendo história no São Paulo nesta segunda passagem pelo clube. A sequência inicial de dez jogos invictos já garantiram ao treinador, mesmo que perca o duelo ante o Goiás, às 21h30 (de Brasília) deste sábado (27), no Morumbi, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o posto de um dos técnicos com melhor início de trabalho no Tricolor.

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Não é pouca coisa. Primeiro que Dorival é o único deste século a não saber o que é perder nos dez primeiros jogos sentado no banco de reservas.

+ ATUAÇÕES: Tropa do Supermouse! Wellington Rato se destaca com gol de falta e comanda vitória do São Paulo

Além do atual técnico são-paulino, somente outros cinco em toda a história alcançaram o feito: Ramón Platero (1930), Rubens Salles (1931), Eugênio Medgyessy (1932), Alfredo Ramos (1972), Pepe (1986) e Muricy Ramalho (1996).

Destes, somente dois conquistaram títulos oficiais pelo Tricolor: Salles (Paulista) e Pepe (Brasileiro). Isso apesar do recorde ser de Platero, que engatou 18 jogos iniciais sem derrota.

Dorival conquistou nesses dez jogos invictos um aproveitamento de 73,3%. Um dos maiores índices de um técnico são-paulino contando apenas a mesma série inicial de partidas (uma dezena).

O líder nesse quesito também é Pepe. O ex-ponta-esquerda histórico do Santos conseguiu 95% de aproveitamento em seus primeiros dez jogos na campanha do Brasileirão de 1986.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

OS MELHORES TÉCNICOS DO SÃO PAULO APÓS DEZ JOGOS:

Pepe (1986) – 95%*
Eugênio Medgyessy (1932)- 95%
Rubens Salles (1931)- 95%*
Ramón Platero (1930) – 90%
Conrado Ross (1942) – 85%
Cláudio Cardoso (1961) – 85%
Cuca (2004) – 83,3%
Muricy Ramalho (1996) – 83,3%
Oswaldo Brandão (1971) – 80%*
Joreca (1943)- 80%*
Leônidas da Silva (1954) – 80%
Darío Pereyra (1997) – 76,7%
José Poy (1982)- 75%
José Poy (1974) – 75%
Alfredo Ramos (1972) – 75%
Béla Guttman (1957) – 75%*
Armando Renganeschi (1958) – 75%
Muricy Ramalho (1997) – 73,3%
Dorival Júnior (2023) – 73,3%

*técnicos que acabaram campeões

+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Nottingham Forest have submitted a £10 million bid to sign a new 23-year-old ace, and they have already had a reply, according to a recent report.

Nottingham Forest face fierce competition to sign a new winger

The Reds have just seen Anthony Elanga swap the City Ground for St James’ Park, so for what remains of this transfer window, Forest and owner Evangelos Marinakis are going to be in the market for a new winger to replace the Sweden international.

Nottingham Forest among frontrunners for £20m+ Elanga replacement after talks

The Reds are progressing in talks to sign a player who will replace the departed Anthony Elanga.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 13, 2025

It was revealed over the weekend that Forest were progressing in talks to sign Johan Bakayoko from PSV Eindhoven and were even considered one of the frontrunners to sign the Belgian. The 22-year-old is out of contract next summer, and a deal of £22 million could be enough to bring him to England.

However, the Premier League side now face strong opposition in their pursuit of Bakayoko, as according to Florian Plettenberg, RB Leipzighave reached a verbal agreement with Bakayoko. The Bundesliga side are in talks with PSV over agreeing a fee, which could be less than the £22 million that was originally reported. The Belgian international has already agreed terms with Leverkusen on a five-year deal.

Fortunately for the Reds, he is not their only option when it comes to replacing Elanga, as Forest are ready to return with their pursuit of Yoane Wissa, but they do face competition from Tottenham Hotspur to secure his signature.

Nottingham Forest submit £10m offer to sign new 23 y/o and have had a reply

As the Premier League side weigh up their attacking options, according to Turkish outlet Sporx, relayed by Sport Witness, Forest and Marinakis have placed a €12 million (£10 million) bid to sign defender Arseniy Batagov, which has been turned down by Trabzonspor.

The report states that while Batagov has impressed during his time with the Turkish outfit, and they would ideally like to keep hold of the player, they are looking to get around €17 million, which is roughly £15 million, instead of the £10 million Forest bid.

The Reds are not the only team chasing the 23-year-old, as Brighton & Hove Albion and Lazio are interested, with the Italian side said to have made an offer worth €10 million, which again was rejected.

Apps

18

Starts

18

Goals

1

Passing accuracy per game

54.8 (87%)

Big chances created

3

Clean sheets

8

Interceptions per game

1.5

Tackles per game

1.6

Clearances per game

5.4

Total duels won

3.8 (59%)

The Ukraine under-21 international, who is under contract at Trabzonspor until 2028 with the club having a one-year option, played 18 times in the Süper Lig last season, during which he grabbed one goal and recorded one assist.

Forest already have the likes of Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Willy Boly, and Morato, to name a few, in central defence, but Nuno Espirito Santo is obviously keen to strengthen his options further, and the fact that Batagov can play left-back and midfield as well as centre-back means he would bring versatility to the Reds.

Manchester United are now willing to pay whatever it takes to sign another striker, even alongside their move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, according to a report.

Man Utd closing in on deal for Sesko

Despite rival interest from Newcastle United, it now appears as though Man United are closing in on a deal to sign Sesko, and they are aiming to get it over the line as quickly as possible.

Alan Shearer has subsequently been left frustrated by Sesko’s decision to move to Old Trafford rather than St. James’ Park, saying: “It sounds as if Benjamin Sesko had two clubs to choose from in Newcastle and Man United. One that won a trophy last year and is now playing Champions League football this season – and one that didn’t win anything, finished 15th and had a dreadful season.”

However, it is a testament to the size of Manchester United that they have seemingly won the race for the Slovenian striker, but they may not be done there, with a report from Foot Africa revealing they are keen on signing another centre-forward.

Indeed, United are now prepared to pay whatever it takes to sign Fiorentina striker Bassidy Sanogo, who is attracting interest from a number of clubs, after impressing for the Serie A side at youth level.

Related It's not Sesko: "Unbelievable" £50m striker now really keen to join Man Utd

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Posts ByDominic Lund Aug 6, 2025

Stuttgart, Hoffenheim and Club Brugge are also named as potential suitors, but Fiorentina are determined to keep hold of the 17-year-old, which could make it difficult to get a deal over the line, although the Red Devils are willing to pay whatever it takes.

The teenager has been exhibiting promising signs for Fiorentina U18s, picking up six goals and two assists in 18 matches in the 2024-25 campaign, indicating that he could be an exciting long-term addition to Ruben Amorim’s squad.

However, it is far more important for Man United to bring in a ready-made striker, and Sesko could be the solution to their attacking woes, given that the 22-year-old now has two impressive Bundesliga seasons under his belt.

Lauded as “outstanding” by former United boss Ralf Rangnick, the Leipzig star has scored 27 goals across the previous two Bundesliga campaigns, while also finding the back of the net four times in the Champions League last season.

Not only that, but the Slovenia international also outperformed Rasmus Hojlund’s attacking numbers in the year before the Dane moved to Old Trafford, indicating Sesko could be a real upgrade on the former Atalanta man.

Manchester United are now preparing a £33m offer for a “world-class” star, who is very keen on moving to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd struggling to get signings through the door

Man United got off to a fast start in the summer transfer window, securing the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but they have since struggled to get deals for their priority targets over the line.

The Red Devils have been particularly keen to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, but they are yet to agree a fee with their Premier League rivals, with reporter Laurie Whitwell revealing the asking price may have now increased.

It cannot be understated how important it is to sign a new forward, with Rasmus Hojlund netting just four Premier League goals last season, but Ruben Amorim also has a real desire to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch.

Andre Onana has been subjected to heavy criticism throughout his time at Old Trafford, and Man United have now set their sights on a replacement, with an opening offer of around £33m in the works for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

That is according to a report from La Nacion (via Sport Witness), which states Martinez is very keen on leaving Villa for United, as he believes he would be taking a big step in his career, despite European football not being on offer next season.

Man Utd line up move for "talented" £25m+ PSG star who's been told to leave

United are now interested in signing a defender who is desperate for more playing time.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 17, 2025

However, the two clubs may be a little way apart in their valuation of the Argentinian as things stand, with Villa setting a £40m asking price.

"World-class" Martinez could be huge Onana upgrade

The 32-year-old has established himself as an elite goalkeeper during his time with Villa, most memorably impressing at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, and he has been lauded as “world-class” by United legend Gary Neville.

Not only that, but there are clear signs the Villa star could be a massive upgrade on Onana, given that he has outperformed the Cameroonian across a number of key goalkeeping metrics per 90 over the past year.

Statistic

Andre Onana

Emiliano Martinez

Goals against

1.32

1.20

Save percentage

68.9%

72.1%

Clean sheet percentage

23.4%

28.3%

The former Arsenal man also won the Premier League Save of the Season award for a remarkable stop against Nottingham Forest.

Martinez is clearly a top-level goalkeeper, but Man United should be cautious about paying £40m for a player who is set to turn 33 later this year.

Scotland opener finds the humour in run-rate rumpus ahead of Australia showdown

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2024

Michael Jones has been in good form at the top of Scotland’s order•Getty Images

Michael Jones has given an indication of Scotland’s relaxed state of mind as they prepare for their crucial Group B showdown in Antigua on Sunday, as he welcomed Josh Hazlewood’s suggestion that Australia might go easy on his team in a bid to engineer an early elimination for their arch-rivals England.Speaking after Australia’s emphatic victory over Namibia on Tuesday – a result that secured their progression to the Super Eights – Hazlewood had indicated that his team might be willing to “drag it out” if they got into a winning position against Scotland, in order to preserve their opponents’ net run-rate – albeit such a tactic could run the risk of a suspension for their captain, Mitchell Marsh, if Australia were deemed to have contravened Article 2.11 of the ICC’s code of conduct.Matthew Mott, England’s coach, subsequently dismissed Hazlewood’s suggestion as an example of his “very good sense of humour”, and Jones also saw the funny side of the remarks, as he joked he’d like to see David Warner open the bowling at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday.”I was watching it live actually, laughing to myself,” Jones told the Press Association, adding that he had also enjoyed the view of Tim Paine, Australia’s former Test captain, who told ESPNcricinfo’s Around The Wicket show that Australia’s players should “go on holiday … and England can pack their bags”.”I watched that interview and I watched Tim Paine when he was saying they should field half a side. I’m not particularly close to them, I don’t know any of the Australian players, but it would be good if we could have a little word and sort something out.”The rivalry between England and Australia is massive. If they want to play that way then happy days. We won’t be complaining. If they want to let David Warner open the bowling or something like that it would be pretty funny.”More realistically, however, Jones is braced for the full Australia experience when the two teams meet on Sunday, and after two impressive victories over Oman and Namibia, to go alongside a spirited display in the washout against England, he admitted he and his team-mates were relishing the prospect of testing themselves against one of the best sides in the tournament.Related

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“At the end of the day our team wants the best result we can get, but on a personal level you want to challenge yourself against the best,” he said.”To have the opportunity to bat against Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, then Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, that’s the best in the world. Those are the opportunities we crave as Scotland teams. You want to challenge yourself and see how far you go against those guys.”The Australians are renowned for being extremely diligent and extremely professional. I’m absolutely certain they will come out all guns blazing like they do for every game at every tournament.”I almost hope they do go full strength on Saturday and we can show the cricket world we’re up to the challenge. I’m absolutely certain they will come out all guns blazing like they do for every game at every tournament.”