Arsenal could still make one more major signing before the transfer deadline on September 1, with sporting director Andrea Berta potentially capable of reinforcing another key area depending on outgoings.
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Mikel Arteta led his Premier League title hopefuls to a solid 1-0 win away to Man United on Sunday, and despite not pulling up trees with their overall display, Arsenal withstood a barrage of pressure to come away with a clean sheet after robust defending.
There were positive takeaways from their first league outing of the campaign, namely how they put aside a determined United on away soil, who themselves are looking to rebuild under one of Europe’s most exciting young managers in Ruben Amorim.
Away from the pitch, Berta could still sign another left-winger, if Leandro Trossard leaves the Emirates Stadium.
Trossard, who’s entered the final 12 months of his deal, is apparently more likely than not to depart amid interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Brentford, with Berta looking to potentially sell now rather than lose the Belgian for nothing next year.
If Trossard does depart, it would free up space for Arsenal to move for that other wide player (Ben Jacobs), and reports suggest that they’re still firmly in the running for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.
The Brazil international is attracting serious interest from Man City as a replacement for Savinho, amid his talks to join Tottenham, but Arsenal are believed to maintain their own interest in Rodrygo amid his uncertain Bernabeu future.
According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, though, Real squad members have made their stance on him potentially joining Arteta’s side crystal clear behind-the-scenes.
Real Madrid players urge Rodrygo not to join Arsenal
As per their information, a number of Los Blancos stars, including the likes of Kylian Mbappé, have stepped in to urge Xabi Alonso and Real’s hierarchy not to green-light Rodrygo’s exit.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
However, unfortunately for them, the consensus as things stand is apparently that Rodrygo is heading towards the exit door, regardless of his teammates urging him not to join Arsenal.
The 24-year-old racked up 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, but Fabrizio Romano has suggested that Rodrygo will likely cost around £86 million, so it’ll perhaps take a few key sales before Arsenal muster up the cash for such a mega-money transfer.
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Konstas later brushed the incident aside, but Ricky Ponting said on commentary that Kohli “instigated that confrontation”
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Dec-2024
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas exchanged words•Getty Images
Virat Kohli has been fined 20% of his match fees and awarded one demerit point for his altercation with Australia’s 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas during the fourth Test at the MCG. The incident occurred after the tenth over of the morning session, when Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch between overs.Both players exchanged words after the contact before Konstas’ opening partner Usman Khawaja and umpire Michael Gough interrupted to cut the altercation short.Kohli was sanctioned for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct that relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match”. No formal hearing was required as Kohli accepted the sanctions.Replays that emerged later in the session showed Konstas had turned around from the crease after the last ball of the tenth over, and was walking towards the other end while looking at his gloves, whereas Kohli – while tossing the ball in his hand – was looking ahead and went from outside the pitch towards Konstas and bumped into him.”I think the emotions got to both of us,” Konstas later told in the second session. “I didn’t quite realise; I was doing my gloves, then [there was] a little shoulder charge. But it happens in cricket.”
“Have a look at where Virat walks,” former Australia captain Ricky Ponting observed on commentary for while watching the replay of the incident. “Virat’s walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind, whatsoever.”While talking to Star Sports at the end of the day, former India coach Ravi Shastri said what Kohli did was “unnecessary”.”When you see that, it’s not needed at that moment of time,” he said. “I think Virat will realise that later, with the stature he has in the game, he’s captained the side for many, many years. In heat of the moment, things do happen. But on reflection, I would say it was unnecessary. You don’t want to see such things. There’s a line, you don’t want to overstep that line.”Konstas made his Test debut with a stunning half-century off just 52 balls, by taking on Jasprit Bumrah, the best bowler of the series, who had dismissed Nathan McSweeney four times in six innings in the first three Tests. Konstas replaced McSweeney for this Test, and struggled to 5 off 21 after being beaten several times before moving to 27 off 38 at the time of the altercation with Kohli.By then, Konstas had reverse-scooped Bumrah for a six over the slips which had followed a more straightforward scoop that had fetched him four runs after moving across and flicking the ball over the wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.Konstas finished on 60 off 65 balls with six fours and two sixes, having scored 34 from 33 against Bumrah and 20 from 19 off Mohammed Siraj.Tests between India and Australia have been high-intensity, and known to throw up such altercations and controversies, especially involving Kohli. He had once collided – when he was captain – for an altercation with the opposite captain Tim Paine in 2018-19, and had a duel with Mitchell Johnson while scoring a stunning century in Adelaide in 2014.
Barcelona’s wait to return to Camp Nou drags on, as it was confirmed their upcoming La Liga clash against Getafe will be played at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. While the club hope to secure the necessary license in time, focus is already shifting to the Champions League deadline, with UEFA demanding assurances before the crunch clash against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.
Barcelona forced into Johan Cruyff Stadium switch for Getafe clash
Barcelona will host Getafe at the Johan Cruyff Stadium as they have not been granted the First Occupancy License required to reopen the Camp Nou on time for the match. With only five days left until kick-off, hopes of a late approval have vanished. The club had briefly considered returning to Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, where they played all home games last season, but the pitch conditions there ruled it out completely. It means, just like against Valencia, the Blaugrana will once again play in front of just 6,000 spectators instead of the tens of thousands who would normally pack Camp Nou.
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Barcelona release statement on Camp Nou delay
"FC Barcelona announces that the match corresponding to matchday 5 of LaLiga, which has to take place on Sunday, September 21, at 21:00, against Getafe, will not be able to take place at the Spotify Camp Nou," a statement read.
"The Club continues to work intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the Spotify Camp Nou in the coming days. For this reason, the match will finally be held at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
"FC Barcelona thanks its members and fans for their understanding and support in such a complex and exciting process as the return to the new Spotify Camp Nou. The Club will provide further details soon regarding the organization of the match and ticketing procedures."
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Champions League pressure mounts as Camp Nou race continues
While missing one more La Liga home game may not be a catastrophe, Barcelona’s real challenge is the looming Champions League clash with PSG on October 1. UEFA require the stadium to host at least one domestic fixture beforehand, allowing inspectors to evaluate its condition during competitive use. Barca are hopeful the September 28 league fixture against Real Sociedad will provide that opportunity, but the clock is ticking and any further delays could push them into a logistical crisis.
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UEFA demands clash with Barca’s renovation timeline
Even if Camp Nou gets the green light, Barcelona must comply with UEFA’s strict rules. For the Real Sociedad match, reports only the main grandstand was scheduled to be open, accommodating around 27,000 fans. But UEFA regulations require both sides of the stadium to be operational, raising doubts about whether the Catalan giants can meet capacity demands in time for Europe’s biggest stage. If UEFA reject the proposal, the club may be forced to split their European and domestic fixtures across two stadiums, something that goes against current rules but could be argued under exceptional circumstances.
Ireland Women left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire has been reported for a suspect bowling action following the first ODI against India in Rajkot, where she picked up 3 for 57 from eight overs.As per the ICC regulations, Maguire, 18, needs to get her action tested at an ICC-accredited testing centre within 14 days of being reported. She can continue bowling until the results of the test are known.Last month, Maguire was named in Ireland’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. Since the assessment window falls in the middle of the tournament, she had to be withdrawn from it. Genevieve Morrissey has replaced her in the squad.*Graeme West, the director of high performance at Cricket Ireland, said, “The staff and players are rallying around Aimee, reassuring her that she will return with a stronger action and will continue to shine on the international stage for many years to come.”The experience and expertise that we possess within our High Performance Coaching and Support Services at Cricket Ireland will provide Aimee with the care, support and guidance to deliver the remedial programme which will begin following the team’s return from India.”Maguire made her international debut in 2023. So far, she has played 11 ODIs and nine T20Is, taking 25 wickets in all with a best of 5 for 19 against England in a one-dayer last year.Having lost the first ODI by six wickets, Ireland trail the three-match series 1-0. The remaining two ODIs are also to be played in Rajkot, on January 12 and 15.
أعرب وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، عن سعادته بعد الفوز على كهرباء الإسماعيلية ومواصلة الانتصارات في الدوري المصري.
وقال وليد صلاح الدين في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “الحمد لله، المكنة مطلعة قماش من أول يوم، الحمد لله”.
وواصل بخصوص وساطته لمصالحة ياسر إبراهيم مع ياسر عسكر، المسؤول الرياضي لشركة “نايل”: “هذا واجبنا وتلك أخلاق النادي الأهلي، وجعلت ياسر يتحدث مع أيمن يونس ومحمد فضل”.
وتابع: “ياسر لم يكن يعلم الجهة التي تختار رجل المباراة وهذا طبيعي فهو حماس ملعب، ولم يكن يعلم أن مروان عطية هو من فاز بالجائزة، لكنه عرف بعد هدوء الأمور وتلك أمور بسيطة”.
طالع.. عماد النحاس: لن نُعاقب لاعب الأهلي.. وهذا ما أخشاه في الفترة القادمة
وأكمل: “الرجل مشكور أنه تحمل الموقف، وقلت له المباراة المقبلة سيأتي للاعتذار لك، وياسر إبراهيم واحد من نجوم منتخب مصر، وإن شاء الله منتخب مصر يصل كأس العالم وياسر من الرجال الحقيقيين، ومن اللاعيبن الذي حملوا الفريق وواحد من القادة، ونحن الأهلي ليس أي شخص يدلي تصريحات”.
واستكمل: “عماد النحاس المدير الفني يحافظ على خصوصية الفريق ويركز بشكل كبير، وممنوع تصريحات اللاعبين لكن أحيانًا نسمع عن أمور مغلوطة، فبصفتي مدير الكرة أرد تفاديًا لأي مشاكل وغضب الجمهور”.
واسترسل: “هناك أمور كثيرة مثل تواجد زيزو في معسكر مباراة الزمالك وجلوسه مع عماد النحاس ووليد صلاح الدين، كلها شائعات تنتشر بسرعة، ومثل تلك الأمور إن لم نرد عليها تحدث بلبلة داخل الفريق”.
وأضاف: “لابد أن تعرف الجماهير أن اللاعبين ملتزمين من أول يوم، ويجب على جماهير الأهلي أن تعلم أن معنا لاعبين ملتزمين جدًا، وقلت لهم منذ أول يوم انتهت فكرة تجديد العقود، ولا أحد يتحدث في هذا الأمر”.
وقال: “في نفس الوقت ملف التجديد ما زال في بدايته، هناك أشهر أكتوبر ونوفمبر وديسمبر قبل يناير، بمعنى متبقي 3 أشهر، وفي نفس الوقت أعمل بطريقة مختلفة، فلابد أن أرى الأداء أولًا”.
وأردف: “في النهاية، نحن نعمل وفق نظام جديد وشرحناه للناس، أي هناك لجنة تخطيط، وهناك قيمة تُحدد لكل لاعب وفق معايير معينة لذلك، لا يزال الوقت مبكرًا، ولا تزال هناك بطولات، بما فيها السوبر، وفي الوقت نفسه يجب أن أتابع البدائل”.
وأشار: “هذه نقطة مهمة جدًا، يجب أن أؤمن نفسي بالبدائل، وسنناقش مع أنديتهم طلباتهم، هناك الكثير من الأمور، لأتمكن من وضع خطة كاملة أقدمها للكابتن الخطيب ولجنة التخطيط”.
وواصل: “سوف نقدم لكل لاعب عرضًا، سواء قبل اللاعب أو رفضه نحن نتمنى بالطبع أن يبقى جميع لاعبينا معنا، لكن إذا رفض أحدهم، سأكون قد حضرت البديل الكفء، وأعرف جميع المعايير التي تنطبق عليه، سواء العمر أو المهارة”.
وتابع: “وبالطبع، لدينا خبرات قوية جدًا، ولكن قدر الإمكان سيكون البديل قريبًا من اللاعب الذي يقدم له العرض، في نفس المركز، وقد يكون أصغر سنًا وهكذا”.
وتطرق إلى علاقته بمحمد يوسف المدير الرياضي وسيد عبد الحفيظ المرشح لعضوية مجلس الإدارة، قائلًا: “عبد الحفيظ حبيبي، هو أسطورة من أساطير الأهلي، أحد الذين لعبت معهم كثيرًا، وزاملتهم في الملعب، وهو أحد أكثر مديري الكرة خبرة في تاريخ النادي الأهلي مع الأساطير الكبيرة”.
وأكمل: “كل من يعمل في النادي الأهلي يعرف مهام عمله، أنا مدير الكرة، داخل غرفة الملابس ومع اللاعبين وجميع القرارات المتعلقة باللاعبين أو غرفة الملابس معي، والكابتن محمد يوسف، المدير الرياضي، لديه ملفات كثيرة، سواء قطاع الناشئين، الأكاديميات، الكرة النسائية، وملف الفريق الأول فيما يخص المدرب”.
واستمر: “سنجلس معًا في كل شيء وسيكون الكابتن سيد عضو مجلس إدارة، وقد حدث ذلك سابقًا مع الكابتن طارق سليم والكابتن الخطيب، ومع أساطير النادي، ووجود أحد أعضاء مجلس الإدارة كمشرف على ملف الكرة أمر مهم، إذا وضع الكابتن الخطيب التفاصيل سيُعلن ذلك للناس جميعًا”.
وذكر: “سيد عبد الحفيظ إضافة قوية جدًا جدًا، ونحن أيضًا على المستوى الشخصي متفاهمون بشكل غير عادي، تحديدًا أنا وسيد، لأننا عملنا معًا سابقًا، نحن تلميذان للكابتن محمد رمضان”.
وأوضح: “الكابتن محمد رمضان، أول من تولى إدارة أكاديميات النادي الأهلي، جلبني أنا وسيد عبد الحفيظ، وشرح لنا فكرة الإدارة وكل شخص يدير بشخصيته، تمامًا كما كان في الماضي عندما تولينا قيادة الأهلي، كنت أنا قائد الفريق رقم واحد، وخلفي هادي خشبة، وخلفه سيد عبد الحفيظ”.
واستمر: “كان قائد الفريق في الماضي يعنف اللاعبين ويصرخ بشدة، وتكون هناك طريقة محددة، لكن عندما جئنا، غيرنا هذا الشكل، وأصبح لدينا أسلوب مختلف قليلًا، قد يكون هادئًا ويحتوي على مزيد من الحب، وكسبنا جميع البطولات، بما فيها دوري أبطال أفريقيا”.
وأضاف: “بعد ذلك، استمر الجيل الكبير من تريكة وجمعة وعماد متعب على نفس الفكرة، هذه مدارس، كل شخص يدير حسب شخصيته، ولكن في النهاية كلنا أولاد الأهلي، ونخدم النادي في أي مكان، ولا أحد يتدخل ولا يتحدث في هذا الموضوع الآن، كل شيء مغلق منذ اللحظة الأولى، والله”.
وأتم عن إصابة حسين الشحات: “شعر بشد في الخلفية، سنقوم بعمل آشعة أولًا، ثم سنتأكد إن شاء الله ألا تكون الإصابة كبيرة”.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has finished ahead of big names such as Arsenal's Declan Rice, Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings. The Scotland international is ranked in 18th place after a stellar season that saw him score 12 Serie A goals and help deliver the Scudetto for Napoli.
Ballon d'Or rankings revealed
The 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings are being revealed ahead of Monday night's glitzy ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris where the winner of the Golden Ball will be announced. McTominay's stellar season with Napoli has been acknowledged as the former Manchester United star has finished inside the top 20 after a dream first year with Napoli in Italy.
AdvertisementAFPMcTominay ahead of Haaland & Bellingham
McTominay's 18th place finish puts him ahead of Rice (27th), Haaland (26th) and Bellingham (23rd). He is the first Scottish men’s player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or since Ally McCoist in 1987 and finishes just behind Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski in 17th and Vinicius Jr in 16th spot. Denis Law remains the only Scottish player to win the prestigious award.
Napoli star is Serie A's finest
McTominay's heroics last season saw him pick up Serie A's MVP award as well as the league title. It's perhaps no surprise therefore to see McTominay become the highest-ranking Serie A player at the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards. Inter star Denzel Dumfries ranked in 25th place and Lautaro Martinez in 20th.
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Getty Images SportMcTominay in action on Ballon d'Or night
The winners of the Ballon d'Or will be announced on Monday, but McTominay will not be at the ceremony as he will be in Serie A action for Napoli against Pisa.
Para quem buscou tentar buscar “passar pano” para a atuação do Palmeiras diante do Santos, no último sábado, basta acompanhar as entrevistas de Luan e João Martins após a partida. Ambos foram bastante incisivos ao analisarem o desempenho do Verdão no empate em 0 a 0, na Vila Belmiro. O resultado não somente exemplificou o que foi o desempenho palmeirense, mas também permite com que os rivais se aproximem na classificação do Brasileirão. Esses últimos tropeços devem fazer falta lá na frente.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasGómez passa por avaliação no hospital, mas retorna para São Paulo com o PalmeirasPalmeiras21/05/2023BrasileirãoVÍDEO: Assista aos melhores lances do empate em 0 a 0 de Santos e Palmeiras pelo BrasileirãoBrasileirão21/05/2023PalmeirasJoão Martins evita colocar atuação ruim do Palmeiras na conta do cansaço: ‘Não conseguimos nos adaptar ao contexto do jogo’Palmeiras21/05/2023
+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Tanto o zagueiro quanto o auxiliar de Abel Ferreira descartaram colocar a culpa do mau desempenho na conta de outros fatores que não fossem o próprio jogo. Luan não escondeu que não gostou do que o time fez. Ele bateu na tecla da lentidão nas saídas de bola e na falta de inspiração no ataque. Já João, que criticou o campo, descartou a questão do cansaço e falou abertamente da falta de capacidade da equipe em se adaptar ao que a partida pedia. Para ele, os jogadores não conseguiram perceber que não era ocasião para propor ou impor um padrão de jogo.
+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
O excesso de jogadas individuais e a insistência em carregar a bola foram fatores que também se juntaram a esses citados pelos personagens palmeirenses. Assim como o dia ruim de Dudu, que até tentou mais do que os outros, mas errou muito, ou como Raphael Veiga, que praticamente desapareceu no duelo e fez uma de suas piores atuações em muitos meses. Não é exagero dizer também que o Santos teve uma “pegada” maior. Quando um jogador do Palmeiras pegava na bola, pelo menos três santistas já estavam no lance para tentar recuperar a posse.
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A verdade é que os times poderiam jogar 500 minutos, que a bola não balançaria a rede, tamanha a falta de inspiração de ambos. Mas o resultado não era ruim para o Santos, foi ruim apenas para o Verdão, que briga pela liderança do Brasileirão. Seu adversário direto neste momento, o Botafogo, venceu o clássico contra o Fluminense e subiu para 18 pontos. Com a vitória, o Alviverde chegaria a 17, um a menos, porém ficaria próximo do líder. Com o empate, acabou ficando com apenas 15 pontos, três atrás do Fogão.
Não precisamos ir muito longe para buscar uma atuação ruim do Alviverde. No rodada anterior do campeonato, diante do Bragantino, o desempenho também foi ruim. Naquele dia, porém, o time de Abel Ferreira conseguiu abrir o placar com muito custo. O problema é que alguns minutos depois sofreu o empate e acabou saindo de campo com apenas um ponto no Allianz Parque. Ou melhor, com menos dois pontos.
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+ Luan analisa erros do Palmeiras no clássico e lamenta atuação ruim: ‘Queríamos os três pontos’
Aquele já era um jogo em que provavelmente a comissão técnica irá lamentar ter deixado de levar mais dois pontos. Em casa, em um gramado bom, diante da torcida, logo após uma grande atuação contra o Grêmio… Ou seja, vários elementos a favor de uma vitória. Sem contar os outros resultados da rodada, como a derrota do Botafogo, que permitiria ao Palmeiras alcançar a liderança do Brasileirão pela primeira vez em 2023.
Com isso, era importante que o jogo contra o Santos pudesse funcionar como uma forma de “recuperar” os pontos perdidos em casa. Isso, claro, sem menosprezar o adversário gigante em um clássico estadual. No entanto, diante do retrospecto recente com oito vitórias seguidas e longa invencibilidade, o natural seria pensar em um triunfo do Palmeiras, que obviamente é um time bastante superior neste momento.
+ João Martins evita colocar atuação ruim do Palmeiras na conta do cansaço: ‘Não conseguimos nos adaptar ao contexto do jogo’
A vitória não veio, como já dito acima, mas mais do que se preocupar com o distanciamento do Botafogo, o Palmeiras agora se preocupa com a chegada de rivais que virão forte para a disputa do título. Caso do Atlético-MG, que agora está a apenas dois pontos do Verdão (vantagem já foi de seis) e será o adversário da próxima rodada do Brasileirão. Ou podemos também citar o Flamengo, que pode atingir 12 pontos neste domingo e ficar a apenas três do Alviverde. Se não fossem esses tropeços, a situação poderia (e deveria) estar confortável, mas agora já é tarde e os resultados deixaram essa “tropa de choque” chegar para a briga. Time que briga por título não pode perder ponto “bobo” pelo caminho.
Manchester United’s midfield continues to dominate transfer headlines, with Ruben Amorim intent on reshaping the heart of his side before the transfer window closes.
The club have already committed over £200m this summer on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško, but despite this heavy spending there remains a glaring gap in midfield.
Amorim’s tactical blueprint demands an athletic, technically secure player to complement captain Bruno Fernandes.
So far, the Portuguese coach has opted for 33-year-old Casemiro, with mixed results.
United narrowly fell to defeat against Arsenal on the opening weekend before following up with a frustrating 1-1 draw at Fulham, leaving Amorim with just four Premier League wins since taking charge last November.
Midfielder pushing for Man Utd move
The club’s lack of European football this season adds further pressure to get domestic results right.
With last year’s disastrous 15th-place finish and Europa League final defeat to Spurs still fresh in the memory, United cannot afford another season of underachievement.
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Amorim knows the answer lies in midfield, and the search has become increasingly urgent.
According to reporter Ross Harwood, Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba is now waiting for a deal to be finalised, hopeful that his long-anticipated move to Old Trafford can be sealed before the September deadline.
The journalist noted: “Baleba is eager to get this move before the window closes – he feels now is the only chance.”
Brighton & Hove Albion's CarlosBalebain action with Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic
The 21-year-old, described as “colossal” by journalist Aden-Jay Wood, has emerged as United’s primary midfield target.
However, there is also interest in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Sevilla’s Lucien Agoumé.
Baleba was visibly distracted during Brighton’s 2-1 defeat to Everton at the weekend, withdrawn at half-time following conversations with manager Fabian Hürzeler.
Reports suggest the player is not in the right frame of mind, desperate for the switch to materialise as he feels this window could represent his best chance.
United’s pursuit, however, is complicated by Brighton’s valuation. The Seagulls are holding out for £100m, a figure comparable to Palace’s price tag for Wharton.
Why Baleba fits better than Mainoo
The deal, if completed, would cap off another transformative summer for United’s squad.
But it is also a gamble, one that comes amid a backdrop of criticism regarding the club’s recruitment, with some questioning whether such heavy investment is sustainable without the cushion of Champions League revenues.
To understand why Amorim is pushing so hard for Baleba, it is necessary to look at United’s current midfield balance – and in particular, the situation surrounding academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo.
The 20-year-old remains a fan favourite, scoring a famous goal in the FA Cup victory over Manchester City and earning a starting role for England in the Euro 2024 final.
Yet under Amorim, opportunities have been limited.
Mainoo has started just 15 of the manager’s 44 games in charge, and this season has been an unused substitute in both league fixtures so far.
The reason lies in Amorim’s system, something he outlined over the weekend.
Preferring to deploy an attacking-minded player alongside his defensive midfielder, Amorim has little room for another deep-lying option unless Fernandes shifts into one of the number ten roles currently occupied by Cunha and Mbeumo.
With Fernandes unlikely to be dropped, Mainoo finds himself caught in a tactical squeeze.
Baleba, by contrast, offers qualities that fit directly into the Portuguese coach’s demands.
Aged 21 and under contract at Brighton until 2028, the Cameroonian midfielder made 34 league appearances last season, contributing three goals and one assist.
His athleticism, work rate and progressive tendencies stand out when compared with Mainoo’s more measured style.
The numbers underline this difference.
Carlos Baleba 2024-25 stats (timeless)
According to FBref, Baleba made more tackles (2.67 to 2.51) and blocks (1.59 to 0.87), highlighting his greater presence without the ball.
In terms of possession, the pair are evenly matched. Mainoo averaged slightly more touches (58.0 per 90 compared to Baleba’s 57.3 but trailed in pass completion rate (86.5% against 87.4%).
The statistics suggest both are technically secure, but Baleba’s edge in carrying, passing progression and defensive activity point to a midfielder more suited to Amorim’s high-energy, dual-pivot approach.
Matches Played
25
34
Starts
19
31
Shot-Creating Actions
34
66
Progressive Carries
22
43
Progressive Passes
65
118
Mainoo’s situation is not necessarily terminal. His talent is undeniable, and he could still evolve into a central figure at Old Trafford.
But in the here and now, Amorim requires an engine capable of covering ground, breaking lines, and complementing Fernandes’ creativity. That profile aligns more closely with Baleba than with the academy product.
Brighton & Hove Albion's CarlosBalebain action with Newcastle United's Joe Willock
Of course, there are risks. A £100m outlay would demand consistent excellence from the Cameroonian, and Brighton are renowned for extracting maximum value from departing players.
There is also the question of squad balance – investing heavily in yet another attacking-minded player while defensive reinforcements remain limited could backfire.
Yet the logic behind the move is clear. If Manchester United are to restore control and consistency in midfield, they need a player capable of combining technical quality with physical dominance.
Baleba, by all accounts, is eager to be that player.
Whether United can meet Brighton’s demands before the window closes will determine whether Amorim gets the midfielder he craves.
Perfect for Cunha & Mbeumo: Man Utd lead race to sign £69m English star
Manchester United could be about to make a move for another big-money signing this summer.
The transfer window is finally at its end, and after the controversial few months Newcastle United have had, those at St James’ Park might be relieved to see it slam shut today.
Magpies fans might have noticed the breaking news in the early hours of Monday, with reports suggesting a deal has been agreed to sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £130m.
It means they are likely to be in the market for another striker after signing Nick Woltemade.
Newcastle striker latest
Eddie Howe’s side have been pushing for a couple of different centre-forwards all summer, so it is no surprise that talkSPORT reported that they are plotting one last attempt for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Transfer Focus
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They are said to ‘remain keen’ on the Norwegian striker, despite seeing two bids rejected already for the 25-year-old.
The Old Gold could ask for as much as £65m for their star striker before the window slams shut at 7pm.
Why Strand Larsen would be a good signing
Now into his second season of Premier League football, Strand Larsen has certainly impressed in his short time in England. His manager at Molineux, Vitor Pereira, described him as a “phenomenal” striker, and it is easy to see why.
Last term, he demonstrated great adaptability and was a threat in the Premier League from the outset, after moving to the West Midlands from Celta Vigo. In 35 games for the Old Gold, he found the back of the net 14 times and assisted four.
Already in 2025/26, Strand Larsen, who missed Wolves’ game this weekend in light of transfer speculation, is off the mark. He bagged twice against West Ham United in Wolves’ 3-2 Carabao Cup victory at home.
St James’ Park faithful could get used to seeing an unstoppable link-up between Strand Larsen and new signing Woltemade.
The German international joined from Stuttgart last week for a club-record fee of £69m, eclipsing the previous fee of £63m they paid for Isak.
Whilst it is a big fee for the 23-year-old, who stands at six foot six, he certainly comes with a great pedigree.
He scored 17 goals and assisted three in 33 games last season, as well as scoring and assisting nine goals in the under-21 European Championship over the summer.
Well, football scout Antonio Mango seems to be a fan of the pairing, explaining that the two players “really complement each other” on X. German journalist Constantin Eckner said he “works best in two-striker set-ups or playing behind the striker”, with his silky link-up play in and around the box perfect alongside a finisher as clinical as Strand Larsen.
The stats back up that theory, too. Last season, the former Stuttgart star averaged 2.06 key passes per 90 minutes, more than the Wolves striker, who comes in at 0.73. Strand Larsen’s clinical nature in front of goal, with an average of 0.26 goals per shot, shows he is capable of putting those chances away, and ranks just higher than Woltemade’s 0.22 each game.
Strand Larsen & Woltemade key stats
Stat (per 90)
Strand Larsen
Woltemade
Goals and assists
0.63
0.73
Goals per shot
0.26
0.22
Shot on target %
61.1%
50%
Key passes
0.73
2.06
Shot-creating actions
1.46
4.38
Stats from FBref
It seems like Howe might want to implement a two-striker system at St James’ Park, based on Newcastle’s summer business. It could be perfect profiling from the Magpies boss, signing a silky link-up striker to go along with a penalty box presence in Strand Larsen.
With the Isak fund now available, it is easy to see why this £65m investment for the Norwegian star on deadline day could be a dream move for the Magpies.
Better deal than Woltemade: Newcastle join late race to sign £45m "machine"
Newcastle are hoping to sign a centre-midfielder before the transfer window slams shut.
O Palmeiras venceu o Barcelona-EQU, por 4 a 2, de virada, nesta quarta-feira (7), no Allianz Parque. Com o resultado, o Alviverde se classificou para as oitavas de final da Libertadores com uma rodada de antecedência. No entanto, o que chamou a atenção mesmo foi a reação do time para conseguir ficar à frente no placar. Para Abel Ferreira, foi uma noite mágica, que teve participação essencial do torcedor.
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+ Veja tabela e classificação da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui
Em entrevista coletiva após o duelo, o treinador do Verdão explicou o porquê de ter aplaudido as arquibancadas logo na sequência do apito final. Além disso, ele fez questão de dizer o quanto a música do “time da virada e do amor” o fez acreditar que o resultado não seria outro que não fosse a virada e a vitória alviverde.
– Foi a forma que eu tive de agradecer a energia que eles passaram para a nossa equipe. Eu sinto e meus jogadores também sentem. No primeiro minuto do segundo tempo não me passou outra coisa na cabeça, que não fosse virar o resultado. Sem a energia deles seria bem mais difícil.
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Ao ser perguntado se o time do Palmeiras é o time que traz mais magia ao futebol brasileiro por conta de atuações como desta quarta-feira, Abel Ferreira falou de outras coisas mágicas que acabam levando a equipe a esses resultados.
– Foi uma noite mágica dentro daquilo que vejo da minha vida, é resiliência, persistência, Uma vitória de uma equipe que jamais se rende. Magia do trabalho, de acreditar, da resiliência, do esforço, do jogo coletivo, jogue quem jogar, seja onde for. às vezes parece fácil, mas se olhar para a historia, você vê quanto é difícil manter uma invencibilidade (Palmeiras está quase um ano sem perder em casa) no futebol brasileiro. A forma com que trabalham, se dedicam, e a magia acontece, cada um tem a função de dar o seu melhor. Temos um clube que dá tudo. Uma equipe extremamente competitiva. Sempre faremos o máximo esforço para proporcionar alegrias ao nosso torcedor.
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+ ATUAÇÕES: Coletivo do Palmeiras funciona no segundo tempo e conquista grande virada na Libertadores
Com o resultado, o Palmeiras vai a 12 pontos e garante sua classificação no Grupo C da Libertadores. No entanto, ainda segue na segunda posição na tabela, deixando a definição do líder da chave para a última rodada, contra o Bolívar-BOL, no Allianz Parque, no dia 29 de junho, às 21h. Enquanto isso, o Verdão foca no Brasileirão, campeonato no qual enfrenta o São Paulo, neste domingo, às 16h, no Morumbi.