Manchester United now face competition from Arsenal for £68 million Wembley hero

 Manchester United face competition from Arsenal for Eberechi Eze

The transfer window is beginning to heat up in England, and Manchester United are wasting no time under the direction of new head coach Rúben Amorim. With a renewed vision for the squad, the Red Devils are focusing on bolstering their attack, not just with marquee names, but with players who align with a high-intensity, tactically dynamic style of play.

One of the standout targets in this context is Eberechi Eze. The Crystal Palace midfielder has seen his stock rise sharply, attracting serious interest from top Premier League clubs. According to talkSPORT, Arsenal have now joined the race, with Mikel Arteta keen to secure Eze’s services. Tottenham are also firmly in the mix, making the competition fierce.

United’s pursuit of Eze makes sense. The 26-year-old was a standout performer last season, tallying 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. More than just stats, Eze was the creative heartbeat of Crystal Palace, culminating his season by netting the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. His flair, versatility, and game-changing ability make him an ideal candidate to elevate United’s attack in the coming campaign.

For Rúben Amorim, who prioritises attacking midfielders and inside forwards capable of linking play and unlocking rigid defensive lines, Eberechi Eze fits the bill perfectly. He is not just a creator; he is also a finisher. His versatility allows him to operate between the lines, drift wide, or attack the box with purpose, making him a valuable asset for any top-tier side.

However, prising him away from Crystal Palace will come at a cost. Eze’s release clause stands at approximately £68 million, and with Arsenal and Tottenham also circling, the competition will be intense. Mikel Arteta sees him as a flexible attacking solution, while Spurs view him as a potential marquee addition for Thomas Frank’s evolving system.

Eze’s game is built on pace, technical finesse, and intelligent movement. He is a dribbler with flair and an eye for goal, capable of shifting momentum in tight matches. His impact at Palace last season was no fluke, he consistently stepped up in crucial moments, often carrying the creative burden. For a Manchester United side lacking incision and dynamism from midfield, Eze could inject the creativity they’ve sorely missed.

But the move must also be read in strategic terms. The battle with Arsenal and Spurs is not only sporting, it also has symbolic implications. Keeping a talent like Eze would send a message: United want to be a major player again in the transfer market and on the pitch.

However, that ambition should not be blind. The club still need to strengthen other areas, such as the defensive midfield and right-back. While Eze fits the profile at United, he cannot be the only big move of the summer. In short, signing him would be a step in the right direction, provided that the rest of the pieces also fall into place. Because he has talent, and he has proven it time and time again. Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo might yet move to Tottenham over Manchester United.

Man Utd transfer news: Jadon Sancho talks held as Chelsea drop summer hint

 Manchester United are undergoing a major rebuild under Ruben Amorim this summer after enduring their worst ever Premier League campaign. United finished 15th last season and also failed to qualify for the Champions League after losing to Tottenham in the Europa League final.

The likes of Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof have all left the club on free transfers, while Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia are expected to be sold.

United have already forked out £62.5million to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves and they are also working on a deal for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, having lodged an improved bid worth more than £60m.

With all that in mind, Mirror Football has taken a look at some of the latest transfer news and rumours from Old Trafford...

Sancho talks

Manchester United have reportedly held talks with Juventus over a deal for Jadon Sancho, with Fenerbahce also interested in the winger.

According to reports from Italy, Juventus were keen to find out how feasible a move for Sancho is and club chiefs had a video call with United on Wednesday to discuss a deal. Juventus are keen to sign a new winger, with both Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula expected to leave.

However, reports from Turkey have claimed that Sancho has agreed personal terms with Fenerbahce. They are said to be willing to pay Sancho €10m (£8.5m) per year, while United have set a price tag of around €20m (£17m).

Nkunku hint

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has opened the door for Christopher Nkunku to leave the club this summer, with Manchester United said to be interested in the forward.

Nkunku has struggled for regular gametime since joining the Blues from RB Leipzig two years ago and when asked about the player's future, Maresca said: "If Christo is here with us, it is because we think he can help us and he can be with us even next season. But as you said, there are many speculations, not just about Christo, about many players.

"And then if something is going to happen, I don't know because we said many times when the transfer window is open, anything can happen in terms of players that can arrive or players that can leave."

Rashford loan

According to the Guardian, Barcelona are interested in signing Marcus Rashford on loan this summer.

The forward is expected to leave Manchester United this summer and has publicly teased a move to Barcelona. The report states that United will want a fee-paying loan, but the Red Devils may have to take a hit on his wages.

Rashford is among their highest earners, taking home a reported £370,000-a-week, and it is claimed United 'may be forced to accept' a deal that involves Barcelona only paying a portion of his wages.

Chelsea star agrees with FIFA president Gianni Infantino over Club World Cup controversy

 Chelsea star Pedro Neto says he is "thankful" to be playing at the revamped Club World Cup instead of enjoying an extended break ahead of the new season. 32 teams are currently competing at the tournament, which has come in for huge criticism due to concerns over player burnout.

Manchester City star Rodri has warned that players could go on strike over the increasing demands when it comes to schedules, while England captain Harry Kane believes player concerns are being ignored by the football's authorities.

Players' union FIFPRO recently outlined a new 12-point plan that calls for major changes to protect footballers, including a minimum of four weeks' rest between seasons. In response to some of the criticism, FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted the players "love" the event.

"So, maybe some criticise it a little bit, but it's something new," Infantino said. "It's something special. It's a real World Cup with the best teams and the best players. It was about time that somebody invented a World Cup for club teams.

"Since 100 years, we know which is the best country in the world, but, until today, we do not really know which is the best team in the world. So, we thought it might not be a bad idea to create a World Cup for teams to decide.

"Well, I think the players who play, they are loving it. Harry Kane gave an interview saying, 'it's a fantastic competition. It's beautiful'. They (players) love it. Those who are not there, of course, they would love to be there."

And Neto seems to agree with Infantino, insisting that "a lot of players that would love to be in my place". When asked if he would rather be on the beach instead of at the Club World Cup, Neto replied: "We have to be thankful.

"We are here playing this tournament. I'm 100 percent sure. We have to enjoy it. There would be a lot of players that would love to be in my place, We are always confident. We are Chelsea, we play to win and we have an unbelievable team."

Neto was speaking after Chelsea lost 3-1 to Flamengo in their second group game on Friday and the former Wolves winger believes the Blues simply lacked the same "desire" as their Brazilian rivals.

"What went wrong was the second half, to be honest in the first half maybe they had more control of the ball but we could create the chances more than them," he added. "And when we went to the second half we tried to press a little bit higher.

"We started well in the second half but what made the difference was a little bit the desire and they had more desire than us to win the game. And after the red card as well the game was I think finished."

Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Man Utd mess as Liverpool show £186m ruthless stealth

 He's got a rat in his name - so he could be forgiven for wanting to desert the sinking ship he co-owns.

Because the longer Sir Jim Ratcliffe spends skippering the bad ship Manchester United, the deeper it plunges into troubled waters. A summer of discontent is unfolding at Old Trafford that is leaving manager Ruben Amorim hot under the collar.

But it's not surprising that Amorim's blood is starting to boil. Because the lack of incomings at United so far is comparable to the lack of outgoings. And the combination of the two is a stark reflection of just how dysfunctional this footballing institution has now become.

A club which has a (laughable) plan to win the title in 2028, but cannot sign the talent to help them do it. A club which has a player in Bryan Mbeumo, who is desperate to sign for them, but cannot get the deal over the line.

A club which has two players together earning more than £600,000-a-week, but spent most of last season kicking a ball about for someone else. And a club which has chosen to make staff redundant and hike ticket prices, to offset its own failings.

Which include shelling out an astonishing £114m in wages to injured stars since 2021, according to a new report.

Ratcliffe's decision to invest £1.25billion in a stake in United almost 18 months ago was supposed to see the oil tanker start turning in the right direction.

But the billionaire is now discovering to his cost how complex and catastrophic it can sometimes be owning a sporting giant like United.

It seems evident Ratcliffe is out of his depth. Because he is being schooled in the art of running a football club by the last people he wants to be.

Down the road in Liverpool, the newly crowned English champions have operated with ruthless stealth in the transfer market. It's difficult to see how a team which cruised to the league title last season can be improved.

But great sides continue to evolve, which is what Liverpool have done following the signings of Jeremie Frimpong for £30m, Florian Wirtz for a British record £116m fee and Milos Kerkez, who is poised to join as well, for around £40m.

While across Manchester, the best and most successful side of the last decade have blown almost £200m on a quartet of signings, in the shape of Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, as Pep Guardiola rejuvenates his squad.

United, meanwhile, continue to resemble a club stumbling around in the dark blindfolded, despite the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m.

No matter how hard he tries, director of football Jason Wilcox just can't manage to pin the tail on the donkey.

And this is a club with a team in need of a seriously dramatic overhaul.

United lost a record number of Premier League games last season, finished 15th in the table and failed to secure European qualification, after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.

Yet just a matter of weeks before Amorim takes his squad to the United States for a pre-season tour, the Portuguese coach faces the depressing prospect of having to board the plane with the same players which failed him so badly last season.

Amorim must feel like he's been hit by a bus - being driven by a bloke called Ratcliffe who is heading down a dead end.

Man City name new captain with Pep Guardiola stepping in to overrule his players ahead of Club World Cup opener

 Bernardo Silva has been appointed Manchester City captain this season after rejecting a number of offers to bring an end to eight years at the club.

In a marked change in policy, Pep Guardiola stepped in to choose his own leadership group ahead of the Club World Cup starting against Wydad AC.

City’s players and staff usually take a vote but Guardiola has overruled to give the armband to Silva in what appears likely to be his final season at the Etihad Stadium.

Silva – who has fielded interest from Saudi Arabia, while Benfica would love to welcome their academy product back - is out of contract next summer.

While the 30-year-old has already decided his future, he opted not to definitively confirm what that looks like.

‘I know what I'm going to do but it's not the time to talk about that,’ Silva said. ‘I'm very focused on my season. I'm very focused on performing well for Man City.

‘When the time is due I will talk about it. I have one year on my contract so obviously I can leave next season. This season for sure will be at City, I’m going to stay.

‘I've had options in the past and this year, like last year, my option is to stay at Man City.’

Silva’s commitment this season has delighted Guardiola, who wants the Portugal international – one of the players he has always been able to trust through his tenure – to lead the team.

Silva follows Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan in being appointed captain, while Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland will act as his deputies.

‘Bernardo has been incredible,’ Guardiola said. ‘Eight years, no injuries. Always in the bad moments he makes a step up.

‘He’s an example on the pitch. And when he has to say something to me or to the players, he says it for the best for the club.’

Silva added: ‘We talked a lot last season as a group about what happened and we learned a lot of very important lessons.

‘Hopefully we're never going to forget them, especially this season. We're not going to forget what happened last season and try to make things right.’

Kevin De Bruyne's comments on Jack Grealish speak volumes as Napoli consider reunion

 Jack Grealish looks set to leave Manchester City this summer, having been left out their squad for the Club World Cup after a disappointing campaign saw him make just two goal contributions in 20 Premier League appearances.

Napoli have emerged as Grealish's most likely escape route, but the player's wages are proving to be an issue. Grealish reportedly earns around £300,000 per week and Napoli are said to be unwilling to match that.

As a result, City could be forced to foot some of the bill in order to secure Grealish's next and there have been suggestions they may let him go out on loan. If Grealish does end up joining the Serie A champions, it would see him reunite with former City teammate Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian joined Napoli on a free transfer earlier this month after City announced that they had no plans to offer him a contract extension. De Bruyne and Grealish spent four seasons together at the Etihad and have both spoken highly of each other in the past

Speaking after a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest back in December, De Bruyne said: "Jack is so good at controlling the tempo of the game, at holding the ball. You can't really get it off him, and then sliding through plays. That's his quality. Maybe with the type of guys we have on the flanks, he's very good at that.

"I think we needed a bit more control and he was able to do that with Bernardo, Gundo and myself in the middle, and Jeremy who is a different player and very electric. I think we performed well as a team but I think Jack did exceptional."

De Bruyne also highlighted Grealish's creativity after facing him in the Nations League before he joined City. "I rate him [Grealish] very highly," he said at the time. "He's somebody I mentioned before, talking to the team-mates at City, in a random conversation. In England, they talked about creative problems in midfield, but he brings that to a team."

And after it was announced that De Bruyne would be leaving City, Grealish said the playmaker was the "best" player he has ever played with and revealed that the chance to be his teammate was one of the reasons why he made the move to the Etihad in the first place.

"One of the reasons I joined Man City was to play alongside you brother! The BEST I've ever had the pleasure to play with, for sure. Legend!" he wrote in a post on Instagram.

Grealish joined City from Aston Villa for £100m back in 2021 and has made 40 goal contributions in 157 appearances across all competitions, helping them win three Premier League titles, a Champions League and an FA Cup.

Man Utd and Chelsea facing same brutal transfer reality as impact of PSR becomes clear

 Premier League clubs are facing the prospect of losing millions on big-money players they are struggling to sell as the ramifications of PSR start to bite.

Seasoned England internationals including Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are amongst those who have been told they are now surplus to requirements as teams look to raise transfer cash and save on superstar wages in a bid to keep the bean counters happy.

But with many clubs now taking care not to overcommit financially in order to stay within PSR parameters, an increasing number of sellers must decide whether to slash asking prices or offer pay-offs to compensate for any drop in salary. In some cases they may have to do both.

One top agent said: “This is the time of year when most transfer deals are done - and compromises are reached to help the market to move. We’ve already seen a number of big transfers take place at Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City - and they are likely to have a domino effect.

“But a number of clubs have also made no secret of the fact that they’re looking to move players out who have cost them a fortune in transfer fees and wages. That’s a buyer’s market. Some clubs will have to cut their losses at some point just to get those players out of the door.

“That means slashing valuations or subsidising salaries to move players out. Either way there’s going to be some pain. It’s not exactly a new scenario - but PSR has become an added complication. Clubs now count every pound. The wriggle room they once had is becoming tighter every year.”

United made it clear at the end of the season that they were prepared to listen to offers for any player - but the priority is to find clubs for a group of misfits who cost more than £310million in transfer fees and who take home wages totalling a staggering £1.4million every week.

That list includes Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, a quartet who were allowed to leave on loan last season, as well as Casemiro, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Hojlund. So far there have been no serious takers.

Chelsea are facing a similar dilemma. The London club want to recoup cash on the £184m they invested on Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and Djordje Petrovic after leaving all five out of their squad for the Club World Cup.

So far, the only concrete proposal has come for Felix from Benfica - but the Lisbon club want to hand Chelsea less than half of the £43m they paid Atletico Madrid last year and have indicated his £130,000-a-week wages are also excessive.

Sterling, a £45m buy from City, has returned from a loan spell at Arsenal, while Chilwell spent last season at Crystal Palace four years after Chelsea paid Leicester £45m for the full-back. They earn £350,000-a-week and £200,000-a-week respectively.

Pep Guardiola’s decision to leave Jack Grealish out of City’s squad for the CWC has confirmed that the £100m midfielder is now surplus to requirements at the Etihad. Everton would like to take Grealish on loan - if City subsidise his £300,000-a-week wages. The Blues also wouldn’t stand in the way of John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan, two players who take home more than £400,000-a-week between them in wages.

Liverpool are prepared to cash in on £85m Darwin Nunez if they can recoup £70m for the Uruguayan striker - but he has made it clear that he would prefer to remain in Europe for a campaign that ends in the World Cup rather than to take up an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal that would tick most of the financial boxes at Anfield.

Our source added: “Clubs from the Saudi Pro League could offer solutions but while the contracts on offer to players are fabulous, they are not always so generous when it comes to paying transfer fees. There is also the question of whether players want to play in Saudi when they’ve still got a lot to offer in the Premier League.”

Ruben Amorim 'given very short deadline' to turn things around at Man Utd or risk sacking

 Rio Ferdinand believes that Ruben Amorim has until Christmas to impress at Manchester United before the board assess his future. The Portuguese tactician has struggled since arriving at Old Trafford in November in the wake of Erik ten Hag's dismissal, failing to mould his inherited squad to suit his patented style of play.

As a result, the Red Devils finished 15th and failed to achieve any domestic or European silverware. Despite it coming as United's lowest-ever finish in the Premier League, it appears as though the board are willing to back the 40-year-old this summer and see how he performs with a full transfer window and pre-season to make adjustments.

But Ferdinand believes that Amorim has just half a season to start turning the tide and delivering results before his future is thrown into question. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football this week about why Amorim hasn't been successful just yet, Ferdinand said: "I think the recruitment, he needs that time.

"He's had one player, [Patrick] Dorgu, that he's been able to recruit. So, it looks like [Matheus] Cunha’s come, and I think there's hopefully going to be one or two more in this window.

"Then you can start judging him a little bit more. I don't think in his wildest dreams he thought he'd have finished 15th. None of us fans would have thought that either.

"So, that's been a huge disappointment in that sense. But I don't think you can fully judge everything he's done yet when he hasn't had a chance to bring in players. We're judging him based on someone else's players. And I think, yeah, get to Christmas and let's see how we're looking."

After Ten Hag spent big on the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro over the summer, Amorim had little room to work with in January. As a result United brought in just two players in the form of Dorgu from Lecce for £25.1million and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal in a deal reported to be worth a little more than £1m.

However, the Red Devils have hit the ground running in the early summer transfer window, signing Cunha from Wolves in a £62.5m deal as they look to bolster their strike force. They have also been linked with Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Bryan Mbeumo, although it is thought that the latter may follow Thomas Frank to Tottenham after his own departure from Brentford.

Numerous names have tried to replicate the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson at United since his retirement in 2013, including David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, only to come up short. And Ferdinand also noted that there could be numerous reasons as to why the club hasn't won a Premier League title in over a decade.

He explained: "If I had the answer to that question, I'd be at Man Utd now sorting things out. But I don't think it's ever one reason. I don't think when you have failures in anything, in any walk of life, it's down to one single thing.

"I think there's a number of different things that you could point to for the demise of Manchester United and sustained lack of success. I think one of them being the recruitment will be high on the list of most people, saying that the recruitment's been wrong.

"For whatever reason, for various different reasons, identifying the wrong players technically, tactically, physically, mentally at times, that's been an issue. Were the managers right for the club at the respective times that they came? Maybe not, some of them.

"And I think the actual infrastructure of the football club behind the scenes has been probably something that you looked at and gone, actually, that could have been better. And there was a big change.

"Not many clubs lose their manager, the most successful manager they've ever had, and the CEO in the same window. But Man Utd had done that, and they had two people that were pivotal to the success. One was a lot more public and was understood to be the driver of the whole machine, which he was to a certain point.

"But every great manager, every great individual, there's always a sidekick somewhere, and David Gill was that for Sir Alex Ferguson. So, to lose two of them when United did was definitely a hammer blow, but never recovered since."

It comes as Ferdinand launched his Career Transfer Hub with Talking Futures, in a bid to connect teenagers with their parents in making choices and planning their futures. On the campaign, he said: "I think it's about empowering kind of families to talk more about education, especially parents.

"I think we're comfortable talking about a lot of things, i.e. football, a lot of the time in and around the front room or across the table with your kids, but getting that kind of common ground when you're talking about education, sometimes it's quite difficult, even I've found it difficult at times.

"So something like this is definitely a good way in and a good avenue in to kind of having those conversations about what's next in your life, education wise, where do you see yourself going? What paths are you looking at?

"And this is a great, I think, avenue for parents to really kind of touch the paper and go, right, listen, here we go, and start walking their kids down the right path, giving them a little bit of autonomy over it, but also guide them a little bit at the same time. So I wish I'd had this when I was younger - although I had football, which I was quite fortunate with."

Roy Keane blasts 'lazy' England star in Senegal defeat

 Roy Keane branded Kyle Walker as ‘lazy’ during England’s 3-1 defeat to Senegal.

The Three Lions have suffered their first defeat of Thomas Tuchel’s reign after a dismal performance at The City Ground on Tuesday night.

Harry Kane put England in front with a tap-in from close range in the seventh minute but Senegal were level before the break as Ismaila Sarr got on the end of Nicolas Jackson’s cross to fire past Dean Henderson.

England failed to improve in the second half and Habib Diarra gave Senegal a deserved lead in the 62nd minute.

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made two fine saves to keep Senegal in front before England thought they had equalised through Jude Bellingham, however, referee Stephanie Frappart disallowed the goal with the help of VAR after the ball hit Levi Colwill’s arm in the build up.

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Senegal then wrapped up their win with a superb counter-attack in the 90th minute which was finished by Cheikh Sabaly.

Keane, meanwhile, was unhappy with Walker’s defending for Sarr’s goal.

During his analysis for Senegal’s opening goal, Keane told ITV: ‘Do you know what, if this was a young right-back starting out in the game you’re thinking inexperience,

‘But do you know what I’m thinking? People maybe say a lack of concentration, I think he’s being lazy, I think he’s being lazy here.

‘He’s a vastly experienced player and he just can’t be bothered getting back in.

‘As you know, you tell defenders all the time, ‘get back in’. And if it comes in you’re ready for it, he’s just on his heels and he can’t be bothered getting back.

‘I know he’s had a difficult few months, but for a vastly experienced player you can’t be making mistakes like that.’

Ian Wright added: ‘The only thing with it is, even with Jackson’s cross, Jackson’s not looking for anyone, he’s putting it somewhere, so if Kyle gets in he probably clears that.’

Man United 'enquire about move for Gianluigi Donnarumma' as they continue to hunt for new goalkeeper

 Manchester United have enquired over a move for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as they continue to hunt for a new shot stopper, according to a report.

The Red Devils are on the search for a new No 1 this summer as uncertainty continues around the future of current goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Onana joined the club in a £47.1million deal two years ago, but has endured an indifferent time at Old Trafford and various reports have suggested the club are looking at replacing him this summer.

One of the goalkeepers who has been widely linked with a move to United is Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, who appeared to wave goodbye to the fans at Villa Park at the end of the season ahead of a potential move away.

Though no progress has been made on that deal, a number of moves have seemingly been made elsewhere, and one report suggests that Donnarumma is on United's shortlist.

According to ESPN, United officials would be keen to bring the Italian to the club, but face a major stumbling block.

That stumbling block is that, according to the report, Donnarumma, who was one of the heroes of PSG's Champions League success this season, doesn't want the move.

The 26-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, and pulled off a number of impressive saves - including against the likes of Arsenal - to help his side lift the Champions League for the first time.

England fans will also remember him from his Euro 2020 heroics, which saw him save three penalties as England lost to Italy in the final of the competition at Wembley.

The report states that United and Inter Milan - the team PSG beat in the final of Europe's premier competition, have enquired about a move for Donnarumma, contacting his agent, Enzo Raiola.

His current deal is up at the end of next season, meaning he could be available at a cut price if PSG and the player can't come to an agreement on a new deal.

Donnarumma, though, has made it clear he wants to stay on after the end of his current deal, telling Sky Italia while on international duty: 'My priority is to stay at PSG. I don't think there will be problems with the negotiations.'

PSG's sporting director Luis Campos is also understood to be keen on Donnarumma staying at the club, though has reportedly lined up Lucas Chevalier - France's No 2 - as a replacement.

PSG receive a major boost as €75 million target Saudi move set to collapse

 PSG's pursuit of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has received a positive update, with reports indicating that his potential move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal is close to falling through.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano stated on Thursday, "Understand Victor Osimhen's deal with Al Hilal is about to collapse as there's no agreement with the player. Galatasaray have entered strong in the race, trying to get the deal done."

While Galatasaray is in the mix, according to PSG TALK via Give Me Sport, the French champions are now leading the race for the 26-year-old forward, who has a €75 million [$85m] release clause in his Napoli contract.

It is reported that PSG is willing to meet both the release fee and Osimhen's terms.

These developments have complicated Manchester United's plans, as they had identified Osimhen as their top target to fill their need for a reliable striker. Now, PSG is seen as their main competition for Osimhen, according to the same report. Chelsea is also in the mix but is said to be behind in the race.

Premier League Clubs Still in the Hunt

While PSG lead, Premier League clubs are not backing down. TBR Football reports that Liverpool have already started working behind the scenes, identifying Osimhen as one of their two main targets this summer.

While Osimhen is believed to favor a Premier League move, Napoli are holding firm on their valuation and are refusing to offer any discounts.

Last summer, Sacha Tavolieri reported that PSG launched a €200 million [$228m] joint bid for Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Though Kvaratskhelia arrived in January for around €70 million [$79m], Osimhen's deal fell through due to internal doubts. Coach Luis Enrique reportedly preferred a more dynamic front line and had reservations about using a traditional No. 9.

But now, it seems, PSG are ready to splash money on one of the talented players in Europe.

Man United set to miss out on Victor Osimhen as in-demand striker 'accepts mammoth contract offer from Saudi giants'

 Victor Osimhen's transfer saga appears to be a step closer to its end, with the striker reportedly accepting a contract offer from the Saudi Pro League.

The forward, who Mail Sport understands has previously been discussed by Manchester United and Chelsea, spent the last season at Galatasaray - on loan from Napoli.

Osimhen enjoyed a prolific season in the Super Lig in 2024-25, scoring 26 goals and providing five assists in 30 games for the Turkish giants. 

Before his move to the Istanbul-based club, the 26-year-old scored 31 goals in all competitions as he fired Napoli to a first Serie A title in 33 years in the 2022-23 season, and has since been rated as one of Europe's elite frontmen.

However, he was forced to desperately search for a new club in last summer's transfer window after Napoli boss Antonio Conte signed Romelu Lukaku and left Osimhen out of his squad.

And now, Osimhen has agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal, whose €70million (£59m) bid for the striker has been accepted by Napoli, according to Sky Sports Italy.

Last month, it was reported that Al-Hilal tabled a three-year contract offer which would see Osimhen earn close to £15m per season playing in the Gulf nation.

The Nigeria international would be joining multiple former stars of European football at Al-Hilal.

The 2024-25 Saudi Pro League runners-up boast the likes of Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in their ranks.

As for Man United, their attention will now likely turn solely to Bryan Mbuemo when it comes to attacking transfer targets.

Mail Sport understands the Red Devils are preparing a revised bid for the Brentford forward after their opening offer of £55m was rejected.

Brentford are pushing for north of £60m, while United's opening bid was £45m plus £10m in bonuses.

Mbeumo is seen as a key target for United, who are looking to improve their lacklustre squad after a dreadful 2024-25 campaign.

As well as recording their lowest ever finish in Premier League history (15th), Ruben Amorim's side logged their worst goalscoring tally in the re-branded top-flight (44 goals).

PFA chief Molango voices concern over effects of post-season tours on players

 Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, has voiced concern over post-season tours given the added workload they put on players immediately after a packed campaign. Manchester United’s controversy-ridden trip to Malaysia and Hong Kong is the latest example in a trend some fear is damaging athletes’ health.

“We’re all mindful and understand some of the financial dynamics the club goes through, but the reality is that quite a few players have expressed concern,” Molango said. “We have expressed concern about these post-season tours.”

United’s tour descended into farce when they were booed by the crowd after losing to an Asean All Stars side in Kuala Lumpur. The forward Amad Diallo drew icriticism for raising his middle finger to fans outside the team hotel after that embarrassment, explaining later that he was responding to insults aimed at his mother. United expect to generate around £10m from the excursion.

Molango also questioned pre-season tours that pit traditional rivals against one another when players are still building fitness. Arsenal and Tottenham will meet in Hong Kong next month, the first north London derby to take place outside the UK. “You cannot just turn up at the derby with flip-flops,” he said. “Sometimes there’s this misunderstanding that, yes, [pre-season] is about resting but then having a proper ability to build up to that level of intensity and that level of game.”

No solution to the discussion about fthe bloated schedule is in sight, although progress is being made with a formal complaint tabled by European Leagues, La Liga and the global players’ union, Fifpro, last October against Fifa’s imposition of the match calendar. While Fifa is understood to have begun engaging with the complainants, who have accused world football’s governing body of “abusive and anti-competitive” acts in imposing events like the expanded Club World Cup that starts on 15 June, there is scant prospect of a quick agreement.

There are clear concerns that domestic competitions rather than money-spinning international events will feel the pain if cuts are made to the calendar and Molango repeated previous assertions that any solution must be applied broadly. “I’m not just talking about Manchester United, I’m talking in general about the situation,” he said. “This once again confirms the need of taking a holistic approach to the problem because you aren’t going to solve it if you just attack one specific competition.”

Barcelona set one transfer condition to complete Marcus Rashford deal

 Hansi Flick is determined to bring a new attacker into Barcelona this summer.

Despite winning an incredible trophy treble in his debut campaign in Catalonia, the former Bayern Munich boss knows progress is needed, and key areas are to be bolstered.

Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha electrified defences across Europe in the 2024/25 season as Flick secured the La Liga title alongside the Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercup trophies.

However, with an eye on the future, Flick is looking for alternatives and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is on his radar.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has confirmed Rashford is on their transfer shortlist but an agreement will not be straightforward.

Rashford enjoyed a positive loan spell at Aston Villa in the second half of the 2024/25 season but Unai Emery is not expected to make a move to sign him permanently in the weeks ahead.

Barcelona told Marcus Rashford asking price

Multiple reports from the UK and Spain indicate United will demand £40m [$54m] for Rashford this summer.

His current contract - which includes a rumoured £315,000 [$425,000] weekly wage - runs until 2028, and United are determined to offload him, as part of a wider cost-cutting drive at Old Trafford.

No European qualification will impact Ruben Amorim's spending power and he is also ready to sell Antony and Jadon Sancho following their own loan returns.

Barcelona will look to bring that fee down and Rashford will need to take a serious salary cut to facilitate a potential move to Catalonia.

However, as per reports from Mundo Deportivo, the main block to a Barcelona offer for Rashford is their desire to sign Liverpool star Luis Diaz.

Colombia international Diaz has been linked with a move away from Anfield, as Arne Slot chases Florian Wirtz, and Barcelona have been touted as a possible destination.

Liverpool are open to extending Diaz's contract beyond 2027, but they want an answer this summer, as Barcelona await updates.

Barcelona will only move for Rashford if Liverpool block Diaz's departure with the latter valued at

Man Utd in talks to sign Victor Osimhen as Napoli demand player plus £33m

 Manchester United have begun talks with Napoli over a deal for Victor Osimhen for the summer transfer window, according to reports in Italy.

United are in the running to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, who is available due to the £30 million relegation release clause in his contract.

However, it’s now understood that the 22-year-old’s preference is to join Chelsea this summer.

United are exploring alternative options with Ruben Amorim remaining a huge admirer of Viktor Gyokeres after managing him at Sporting CP, however, they face strong competition from Arsenal and the Portuguese club value the striker at €80m (£67m).

Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli report that United have stepped up negotiations to sign Osimhen as Matt Hargreaves, the club’s director of football negotiations, has travelled to Italy for talks with Napoli owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, and the Italian side’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna.

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It’s claimed that Hargreaves was in Naples last weekend to discuss a potential deal for Osimhen, while the newly crowned Serie A champions want Hojlund plus an additional €40m (£33.6m) from United.

Osimhen also has a €75m (£63m) release clause in his contract with Napoli which is only valid for teams outside of Italy. 

Napoli already have a strong relationship with United following their £21m deal to sign Scott McTominay last year.

Osimhen, meanwhile, has just spent the season on loan at Galatasaray where he scored 36 goals in 40 appearances to help the Turkish club win the league and cup double.

The 26-year-old came close to joining Chelsea last summer and John Obi Mikel, the club’s former midfielder who was part of negotiations, claims the Nigeria international remains keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Saudi Pro League have also retained their interest in Osimhen after failing with a move last year and reports in Saudi Arabia last week claimed that the striker had agreed a three-year contract to join Al-Hilal, who are due to play at the Club World Cup this summer.

Bruno Fernandes' agent holds talks with Al-Hilal as Man United

 Bruno Fernandes' agent held face-to-face talks with Al-Hilal at a hotel in Riyadh on Thursday night over a mega-money deal for the Manchester United captain.

It emerged on Monday that the Saudi Pro League club had given Fernandes a final ‘take it or leave it’ offer and told the Portugal star he had 72 hours to decide if he wants to join them.

It’s unclear how the 30-year-old has responded, but the fact that his representative Miguel Pinho has travelled to Riyadh is an intriguing twist. Talks at the Four Seasons hotel are believed to have continued late into the night.

Pinho has been in discussions with the Saudi club for some time over Fernandes, who is currently leading United on their post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Al-Hilal are prepared to effectively quadruple Fernandes’ salary of £280,000-a-week by increasing it to £700,000 tax-free as part of a package worth up to £200million over three years including bonuses.

If he agrees, the club are ready to issue the paperwork on a contract worth around £65m-a-season and make a formal approach to United with a bid in the region of £100m.

United sources have re-iterated that they do not want to sell their best player, but the club are under even greater financial pressure after defeat to Tottenham in Wednesday’s Europa League final cost them £100m in Champions League revenue.

Fernandes admitted after the game that he could be sold to balance the books, saying: ‘If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in, it is what it is.’