There isn’t a job in football that comes under more scrutiny than that of a referee. Whether it’s jeers from the stands, managers from the dugout or players within touching distance, criticism is often everywhere to be seen no matter the reason for certain decisions. And that’s even been the case for some of the best referees to step foot in English football.
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Mark Clattenburg is considered one of those. The 50-year-old took charge of some of the biggest games that both English and European football has to offer during his 11-year spell in the centre circle, including the Champions League final in 2016.
Since then, he hasn’t been afraid to reveal all about the career of an experienced referee, telling stories about arguments with Jurgen Klopp and even taking aim at current PGMOL head chief Howard Webb.
Clattenburg also isn’t the first ex-Premier League referee to be so open about his career. Graham Scott recently appeared on talkSPORT to speak about the frustrations of VAR and why he felt sorry after ruling out Alexis Mac Allister’s wonder goal a few years ago.
He said: “Off the field you can’t control anything and the noise now is insane. It’s almost unbearable and it becomes an extremely challenging role. Then, layering on top of that being VAR, as I’ve tried to convey in my piece, being a VAR is utterly unenjoyable.”
Now, Clattenburg has explained a regret of his own and one that left Everton boss David Moyes fuming several years ago.
Clattenburg: I got Everton decision "completely wrong"
Speaking on the Daily Mail Sport’s Whistleblowers podcast, Clattenburg revealed he got one Everton decision “completely wrong” in the 2007 Merseyside derby. The referee sent off two Everton players that day, with one being Tony Hibbert and the other being Phil Neville, which sparked fury from Moyes.
Clattenburg also failed to award the Toffees a late penalty when Jamie Carragher hauled Joleon Lescott to the ground, which he has now admitted was the wrong decision as the Red went on to seal victory.
Moyes was left incredibly frustrated after the game and told reporters: “You wonder whether they allow themselves to be influenced by the top four. Didn’t Clattenburg go to Hong Kong with Liverpool for the Asia Cup this summer? Maybe he wants to be their friend.”
Chelsea are now ready to open agent talks to sign a “spectacular” forward, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Blues keen on new winger amid slow start for Gittens
Jamie Gittens arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £51.5m deal back in July, but it would be fair to say the winger has made a slow start to life in west London, having failed to record a goal or an assist in his opening four Premier League games.
After struggling against Brentford, touching the ball just 17 times, the 21-year-old has been rested for the last two matches, with Enzo Maresca opting not to call upon the left-winger at Old Trafford, despite the Blues trailing for most of the game.
Gittens still has plenty of time to prove himself ahead of the January transfer window, but the west Londoners have now set their sights on a new winger, who could push for a starting spot on the left-wing.
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That is according to a report from Bianconera News (via Sport Witness), which states Chelsea have ‘come knocking’ for Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, who is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal and Manchester United also keen.
Such is the Blues’ level of interest, they are now ready to open talks with his agents over a deal, but it could be difficult to prise Yildaz away from Juventus, given that the Italian club are reluctant to sanction a departure, and have started working on a new contract.
The report doesn’t state how much the Serie A side are looking to receive, but it may take a huge bid to get a deal over the line, with Maresca’s side having a £61m offer knocked back during the summer transfer window.
"Spectacular" Yildiz could be Gittens upgrade
The 20-year-old has made a flying start to the new Serie A campaign, picking up four goal contributions in his opening four games, while also finding the back of the net against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Scout Jacek Kulig has also lauded the youngster for his ability to make “spectacular solo runs”, and he has outperformed Gittens across a number of key attacking metrics over the past year.
Average per 90
Jamie Gittens
Kenan Yildiz
Assists
0.10
0.21
Progressive passes
4.36
3.47
Shot-creating actions
4.36
2.04
As such, Yildiz could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, but it may take a huge offer to get a deal done, given that a £61m bid was knocked back during the summer, and the Turk is yet to prove himself over a long enough time period to justify paying that sort of fee.
Tottenham Hotspur officially confirmed that Daniel Levy was stepping down from his role as the chairman of the club last week, after more than 24 years at the helm.
The English supremo had not long finished, what turned out to be, his final transfer window running the show in North London, months after the club lifted the Europa League trophy.
Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years by beating Manchester United in the final, but Levy still decided to move on from the manager because of the club’s poor form in the Premier League.
Thomas Frank was brought in from Brentford to replace the former Celtic boss. The Danish manager was then backed by Levy in the transfer market, with the signings of Mohammed Kudus, Randal Kolo Muani, and Xavi Simons, in particular.
It is now a matter of wait and see to judge whether or not the former Tottenham chairman’s final signings in charge of the club were a success.
On paper, though, Simons appears to be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad, as his form in Germany suggests that he could make a big impact in the Premier League.
Why Xavi Simons is an exciting signing for Spurs
The Lilywhites reportedly splashed out a fee worth up to £51m to sign the Netherlands international from RB Leipzig to bolster Frank’s attacking midfield options after James Maddison sustained an ACL injury.
Simons has yet to make his debut for the club, having signed shortly before the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth last time out, and could make his bow against West Ham United on Saturday.
The Dutch playmaker is an exciting signing for Spurs because his form for Leipzig suggests that he can add a lot of creativity to Frank’s midfield, as shown in the graphic below.
These statistics show that Simons is an attacking midfielder who is incredibly effective at breaking down opposition defences to create high-quality chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.
Naturally, there will be a comparison made to Maddison because the Dutch star is essentially coming in to take his role as creator-in-chief whilst the England international nurses his way back from an ACL injury.
24/25 League
Simons
Maddison
Appearances
25
31
xG
5.11
5.83
Goals
10
9
Big chances created
12
6
xA
5.98
5.91
Assists
7
7
Dribbles completed
1.3
1.1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Simons delivered more goals and created twice as many ‘big chances’ at league level in comparison to the former Leicester and Norwich star in the 2024/25 campaign.
These statistics suggest that the potential is there for him to be even more valuable to the team than Maddison if he can hit the ground running in England, but it is now down to him to adapt to the league and deliver on the pitch.
Whilst Simons, who has been signed for £51m, is a very exciting addition because of the attacking quality that he could provide, Levy may not want to be reminded that there is a player who left Spurs for nothing and is now worth even more than the Dutchman.
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Tottenham had Noni Madueke in their youth set-up and failed to keep hold of him as a teenager, which was a blunder that the now former-Spurs chief may regret.
Why Noni Madueke left Tottenham Hotspur
The left-footed forward joined the club’s academy from Crystal Palace in 2014, at the age of 12, and spent four years in the youth ranks before his exit on a free transfer in 2018.
Noni Madueke
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2023, Madueke explained: “Tottenham was a great academy and they’ve got a great development plan. I’d been offered a scholarship agreement at Tottenham but I’d seen a lot of the boys – that were good as well – just kind of get lost in the system and I just didn’t want that for me.”
This is only an inference from these quotes, but it seems like the winger did not see a clear enough pathway to the first-team, despite Harry Kane’s emergence a few years prior, and that is down to Levy and the first-team management team for not making that clear enough.
The club were unable to convince Madueke that there was a pathway for him, which led to the talented forward’s exit in 2018 on a free transfer, signing for PSV in the Netherlands to continue his development.
He scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists in 80 appearances in all competitions for PSV, per Transfermarkt, before his move to Chelsea in January 2023.
Madueke enjoyed similar success during his time at Stamford Bridge. The England international scored 20 goals and produced nine assists in 92 outings for the Blues, per Transfermarkt.
His form for Chelsea led to a move to Arsenal earlier this summer in a deal that could be worth up to £52m, £1m more than the deal that brought Simons to Spurs in the same transfer window.
Madueke’s soaring market value
Date
Market value/transfer fee
October 2019
£520k
April 2020
£3.9m
October 2020
£5.2m
October 2021
£15.6m
September 2022
£13m
January 2023
£29m move to Chelsea
June 2023
£26m
October 2024
£30m
December 2024
£34.7m
July 2025
£52m move to Arsenal
Market values via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star’s value has soared exponentially since his move to PSV from Spurs on a free transfer in 2018.
Spurs had a howler, therefore, when Levy and the first-team management staff, led by Mauricio Pochettino at the time, failed to offer a clear enough pathway to convince him to continue his development at the club.
Madueke, who was described as a “maverick” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has gone on to become an England international and Premier League star who is now valued at more than £50m and slightly more than Tottenham’s star summer signing Xavi Simons.
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Levy, when looking back at his long Spurs tenure, may regret that he was unable to convince, or unable to create an environment to convince, Madueke to stay at the club back in 2018, because of what he has gone on to achieve.
Alexander Isak will not play football for Newcastle United again, but after scoring on his debut for the Magpies, club-record signing Nick Woltemade looks like he has the potential to make that frontal spot his own.
And Newcastle are up and running. The summer transfer window has been and gone, and nobody will be more delighted than Eddie Howe, whose side were rocked and rocked some more by the turbulence throughout, the Isak saga very much the crux of the issues that seeped into the opening games of the Premier League season.
But the Sweden striker has now gone, and for a British-record £125m fee at that.
However, in Woltemade and the proven goalscorer that is Yoane Wissa, unfortunately, injured for weeks with a knee injury before he could make his United debut on Saturday, Howe has restored the core of his formidable frontline.
Three points against Wolves gives Howe his first win of the campaign and a new platform from which to build on, putting behind him the frustrations of the summer transfer window.
Because the Tynesiders, for sure, have undergone some degree of change in the final third.
Newcastle's new-look frontline without Ekitike
Howe’s Newcastle system is greater than the sum of its parts. Isak was (is) a world-class striker, but he’s a Magpie no more, and Newcastle have responded by welcoming two new talents to the fold bearing skills enough to compensate for his sale.
Wissa’s debut will have to wait due to injury, but the former Brentford striker scored 19 Premier League goals last season, and he offers a proven touch that will likely retain, at least, the relative consistency of Isak’s presence in the final third.
But that’s not all. United needed a right winger in 2024 and had failed in a bid to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga on transfer deadline day.
One year on, they got their man, signing the 24-year-old in a £55m package. Elanga hasn’t taken off at St. James’ Park yet, but he brings energy and speed and electricity to the team.
Newcastle have responded well to summer setbacks, adding these forwards to the ranks after missing out on other targets like Hugo Ekitike, now at Liverpool alongside Isak.
There was a time when a deal for Ekitike, 23, looked on, but when Liverpool hijacked the Toon’s move and added him to their ranks, it perhaps left many feeling more confident about Isak staying put.
But it wasn’t to be, and Liverpool got both. While Newcastle have repieced their attack together, there’s no denying the blow, and a less-known fact is that Liverpool also pipped the Toon to another talent this summer, one who could yet flower into a superstar.
How Newcastle missed out to Liverpool again
In August, Liverpool announced the signing of Giovanni Leoni from Serie A side Parma for an initial £26m fee, rising to £30m with add-ons.
An 18-year-old centre-back, Leoni is one for the future and the future is now. He’s extremely talented and considered to fall into the same bracket as Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, another summer target for Newcastle, albeit at an earlier stage in his development.
Leoni hasn’t made his debut for Liverpool yet, and so we cannot draw with any real accuracy the player’s current capacity to thrive in England for a top club. But we do know there was something akin to a goulmouth scramble for his signature, and that Newcastle would have loved to land the shot.
Already blooded as a member of the Italian national set-up, the powerful and tall teenager has been described as “one of the most complete teenage centre-backs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also hailed him as “the future” of Italian football.
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Look, for example, how the youngster fared against Malick Thiaw in Serie A last year. Thiaw, 24, signed for Howe’s side in a £35m deal last month, fee including add-ons.
Matches (starts)
22 (19)
17 (14)
Goals
0
1
Assists
0
0
Touches*
66.1
46.9
Pass completion
94%
89%
Key passes*
0.2
0.1
Ball recoveries*
3.0
2.0
Tackles + interceptions*
1.8
1.7
Clearances*
3.5
3.6
Duels (won)*
3.7 (59%)
2.5 (61%)
Errors made
1
1
To have missed out on Ekitike was a blow, no doubt, but Newcastle responded by signing a similarly exciting up-and-comer in Woltemade for a similar price, and they’ve added Wissa besides.
Leoni, however, joins Liverpool for what could prove a shrewd fee indeed. But how firm was Newcastle’s interest?
Well, Parma CEO Federico Cherubini spoke after the transfer of rival intrigue in the defender, saying, “We rejected a higher offer from Newcastle for Leoni.” He then spoke of Leoni’s desire to push ahead with a move to Merseyside, insinuating a preference for Arne Slot’s project.
Newcastle have bounced back from their Ekitike rejection by signing two talented and contrasting strikers. Thiaw, too, has much to offer, but then he has also started no more than 19 league matches in any given season in Italy, routinely pegged back with injury issues.
Leoni, meanwhile, took to life on the senior stage with silky aplomb last season, and there’s a belief within inner FSG circles that Liverpool have signed one of the most exciting young defenders in the business, with TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton remarking that he’s “going to be a star”.
Though the past few months have been tumultuous for those of a Magpie persuasion, it’s commendable that Howe and his team have knuckled down and welcomed a host of exciting signings to join a title-winning squad.
Isak might have gone, and Ekitike may play for Liverpool too, but Newcastle signed Woltemade and remain a force to be reckoned with.
That said, Leoni looks like a special talent indeed, and it’s a shame that he couldn’t be welcomed to St. James’ Park to help shape the future of this still-rising Newcastle side.
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Whilst Manchester United’s summer clear-out has taken time to get going, reports are now indicating that they’re finally set to sell one of their unwanted stars this month.
Latest Man Utd exit news
The Red Devils have enjoyed a solid summer on the incomings front, but the same can’t be said for their business going the other way. As things stand, they are yet to outright sell a single player despite all their efforts and despite coming off the back of their worst-ever Premier League season. Several players have found themselves on Ruben Amorim’s unwanted list, but INEOS have so far failed to shift all of those.
It’s a list that includes Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho, who desperately need moves this month. Whilst reports have remained positive regarding a deal for Chelsea to sign Garnacho, showing Sancho the door has proved to be a far more complicated task than expected.
Amorim has had his own say on Manchester United’s unwanted players, telling reporters: “I think again, I know that it is not a good thing to have players in this situation, but it’s clear they want to play in a different club, and that is clear.
“So we try to arrange everything for both parts to be happy, so I have to try to imagine to have the training with the guys that I think are going to be the future and the other guys are training and preparing for the next chapter.”
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With that said, although it remains to be seen whether Sancho lowers his demands to secure an AS Roma move, there is at least some positive news regarding another likely exit at Old Trafford.
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Despite reports suggesting that Hojlund wants to stay put at Manchester United, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko has ultimately cost him his place in Amorim’s side and a sale has, therefore, always seemed likely.
After arriving under Erik ten Hag for an eye-watering £72m in 2023, Hojlund will undoubtedly go down as an Old Trafford flop, with just 26 goals in 96 games very much highlighting his struggles.
Amir Jangoo’s unbeaten 104 and Keacy Carty’s 95 helped West Indies scale a 322-run chase against Bangladesh in St Kitts. They won the series 3-0 after Jangoo became the first West Indian in 46 years to score a century on ODI debut. He guided the side with two rapid partnerships. It is also the fourth time that West Indies successfully chased a 300-plus target in ODIs.Jangoo added 132 runs for the fifth wicket with Carty, and after West Indies lost two wickets in quick succession, he combined with Gudakesh Motie for an unbroken 91-run partnership for the seventh wicket to take them home. Motie remained unbeaten on 44 off 31 balls, hitting three sixes and as many fours. Jangoo’s innings was resplendent with six fours and four sixes.Related
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Bangladesh had posted 321 for 5 on the back of four fifties. Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali added 150 runs in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand, a Bangladesh record. Bangladesh also struck 12 sixes in the innings, their second most in ODIs.Brandon King picked up where he had left off in the second ODI, cracking two fours and a six off Nasum Ahmed in the second over of the chase. His innings, however, was cut short in the same over after a mix-up with his opening partner Alick Athanaze over a non-existent run. Athanaze himself did not last long, getting yorked by Nasum in his next over.Keacy Carty was instrumental in the chase•Randy Brooks
Hasan Mahmud then had Shai Hope caught at slip for three before Sherfane Rutherford and Carty stabilised the innings with a 55-run fourth-wicket stand. Taskin Ahmed dealt West Indies a further blow when he dismissed Rutherford for 30.Carty, though, was steady at the other end, already having struck two fours. Afif dropped him on 22 before Carty went after the Bangladesh spinners in the middle overs. He struck Rishad Hossain for consecutive fours in the 18th over, before hammering Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a six and a four in the 21st over. Jangoo hit Nasum for three fours in a short span before lofting Afif for his first six.It was in the 34th over that Bangladesh, perhaps, let the game slip. Jangoo had miscued one off Rishad, only to see substitute fielder Parvez Hossain Emon drop the chance while running back ffrom mid-off. Rishad did dismiss Carty next ball, with Soumya taking a low catch at point, but Jangoo’s miss came back to haunt them.Immediately after Roston Chase’s dismissal, Jangoo slogged Mehidy for his second six, before Motie and Jangoo struck Mahmud for a six each in the 43rd over. They struck one four each in the following over bowled by Taskin, before the pair completed the chase.Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Soumya Sarkar added 136 runs for the third wicket•Randy Brooks
The day could have belonged to Bangladesh given how they batted. After a disastrous start, having lost both Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das in the third over to be reduced to 9 for 2, Soumya and Mehidy resurrected the innings with a 136-run stand for the third wicket. Alzarri Joseph hurried Tanzid with a bouncer with the left-hander top-edging a pull. Litton’s horror run in ODIs continued when he edged a wide one to King at first slip.Mehidy was positive from the outset, hitting five boundaries in the powerplay. Soumya, who was dropped on nought, opened up after the powerplay. He played the upper-cut against Romario Shepherd for a six, before pasting Chase and Motie for a six each in consecutive overs.Shortly after Soumya was dropped for a second time, on 45 by Jangoo, Mehidy struck debutant Jediah Blades for a four a six. Soumya added a four to take 16 runs off the over, before getting two more fours off his next. Soumya was on a roll when he struck Motie for his fourth six, but fell next ball when the left-arm spinner trapped him in front. Soumya’s 73 came at a run a ball, including six fours and four sixes.Six overs after Soumya’s dismissal, Rutherford’s accurate throw from point found Mehidy short at the striker’s end as he fell for 77 off 73 balls. Rutherford then had Afif Hossain caught at the midwicket boundary for 15, as Bangladesh again lost two wickets in quick succession.But Jaker and Mahmudullah dominated the end overs. After having added 96 in the first ODI, they bettered it this time. After Jaker struck his first two fours, Mahmudullah crashed Motie down the ground for his first six, before hitting Chase for his second, over long-off.Jaker joined the party when he slammed Shepherd over cover and then Mahmudullah dragged Rutherford from outside off over square-leg for six. Bangladesh scored 59 runs in the last four overs to push their total past 320, but it was not enough on the day.
India captain Rohit Sharma has admitted after a forgettable and India’s first ever 3-0 whitewash at home that he was “not at my best” as both captain and batter, and that his team “failed as a unit” because they made “lots of mistakes.”Chasing 147 to get any possible WTC points from a series already conceded, India crashed and burned to 121 all out against the spin of Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips.”Definitely, you know, something like this will be a very low point in my career, you know, having lost three games at home,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference. “And, yes, we, I fully take the responsibility for that as a captain and as a leader as well. I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series. And yeah, with the bat as well, I’ve not been good enough.”Related
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For a while, when Rishabh Pant was counterattacking with a 57-ball 64, there was hope for the hosts. But before that it was 29 for 5, and after Pant fell, to a contentious third-umpire’s decision, it all unravelled quite quickly. Rohit looked back on the series as a whole and felt let down by his own decision making.”Right from the start, I said it. You know, I made a decision about batting first on that Bangalore pitch, which was not right,” he said. “And certain tactical errors also, which didn’t go my way. You obviously take chances with those decisions. Sometimes it comes off. Sometimes it doesn’t. And this time around, it didn’t come off, the certain decisions that I took. So, yeah, I was not at my best of my leadership. And probably cost us the series as well.”Rohit’s poor series coincided with an excellent one for Tom Latham – who assumed full-time captaincy of the team just last month – and his men.”New Zealand played better than us throughout the series,” he said at the presentation. “There were lots of mistakes that we made throughout the series, and we have to accept it.Virat Kohli has also been going through a lull•AFP/Getty Images
“The first and the second Test, we didn’t put enough runs on the board in the first innings. And we were very much behind the game. This game, we got that 30 [28]-runs lead and we felt that we were a little bit ahead of the game. That target was chaseable. All we had to do was a little bit of application, which we failed to do as a unit.”Questions about Rohit’s own batting form have been cropping up this series. Apart from a 52 in the second innings of the first Test in Bengaluru, he has managed scores of 2, 0, 8, 18 and 11. On ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar also spoke about Rohit’s captaincy, and what he called T20 tactics in a Test match.In this chase in Mumbai, Rohit hit two fours in a run-a-ball 11, but fell when he couldn’t get his favourite shot – the pull – right against Matt Henry.”Look, when you’re chasing a target like that, you want runs on the board as well. And that is something that was there in my mind,” Rohit said. “It just didn’t come off. When it doesn’t come off, it doesn’t look that great. There are certain ideas, certain methods that I go into bat with. Sometimes it doesn’t come off, and this series it hasn’t come off, which I am very disappointed with.”The other senior batter in the side – Virat Kohli (93 runs in six innings) – has also been going through a lull, which has forced a need for serious introspection. India will be facing the reigning Test match champions Australia in just over two weeks’ time.”Obviously, it’s [his and Kohli’s lack of runs] a cause of concern without a doubt,” Rohit said. “If the batters are not performing, that is a cause of concern. But what’s done is done now. I think as a player, as a captain, as a team, we all have to look forward and see how we can correct what we didn’t manage to achieve here. There is a good opportunity for us to go and do something really, really special in Australia.”But right now, it’s just trying to understand what we didn’t do right [against New Zealand], what are the things that we need to do better as a team. We made a lot of mistakes, so I think those mistakes need to be addressed and something that we will talk about. And then moving forward, when you land in Australia, I think it’s important to just focus on that particular series, the first Test match. You know, it’s a five Test match series, so it’s important to break down those Test series, those Test matches and focus on one Test and then just take it from there.”As always, there were positives. In the batting department as well, where the younger players – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, and Washington Sundar showed, at various points, that runs could be scored on tough pitches.”Those guys showed how to bat on these surfaces,” Rohit said about the younger lot. “You have to be slightly ahead, and be proactive when you’re playing on a pitch like that. Which we all know. Which we have discussed many a time in the last three or four years. We are aware of what we need to do. It’s just that, this was an unfortunate series where it didn’t come off. We tried to do certain things, it didn’t come off. Which is why we lagged behind in the series.”
Manchester United are now plotting a move for another “world-class” Arsenal target, having seemingly missed out on Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, according to a report.
Arsenal set to win race for Gyokeres
It was always going to be tough for Man United to win the race for Gyokeres, without Champions League football on offer next season, but they are believed to have made a late approach for the striker.
In fact, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano even revealed the Red Devils were given the opportunity to sign the centre-forward by intermediaries, although he always made it clear that Arsenal were his first choice.
Now, it appears as though the Gunners are closing in on the Sweden international, with a medical due in the next 24 hours, meaning United will be forced to move on to alternative striker options, and they are moving quickly to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
In the same report, it is revealed that Ruben Amorim also wants to bring in a new central midfielder this summer, and the recruitment team have now set their sights on a different Arsenal target in that area of the pitch.
That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Man United are now plotting a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha, who could be available for around £30m this summer, having failed to adapt to life in the Bundesliga.
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Given their financial issues, however, the Red Devils would rather sign Palhinha on loan, but Bayern are reluctant to agree to a deal of that nature, and would prefer to get the central midfielder off the books permanently.
It could also be difficult to tempt the Portuguese maestro into a move, as he does not want to leave the Champions League side and would rather fight for his place.
"World-class" Palhinha could be solid signing for Man Utd
The 30-year-old may have failed to make his mark in the Bundesliga, but he has already proven himself in the Premier League, making 152 tackles in the 2023-24 season, the highest number of any player.
During that campaign, reporter Dom Smith was left particularly impressed by the Portugal international’s performances, describing him as “world-class”.
Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha in action against Bayer Leverksen.
Marco Silva also praised the former Fulham man for the influence he had on his teammates, saying: “His attitude, his commitment, the way he leads the others around are things that are hard to find in football.”
Clearly, Palhinha has the qualities to be a success at Old Trafford, but United’s financial issues could make it difficult to get a deal over the line.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is a man on a mission this summer. While the Blues have reached the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, thoughts are still on improving the team ahead of next season.
Maresca has already signed Liam Delap and Mamadou Sarr this summer, but they won’t be the only arrivals at Stamford Bridge. That much is certain.
With the club set to compete in the Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 season, the former Leicester manager will be aiming to have a squad strong enough to mount a potential challenge.
As such, he is keeping an eye on developments regarding a few players. Lyon youngster Malick Fofana has been earmarked as a target. As to Xavi Simons, who is ready to make the step up from RB Leipzig this summer.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
Signing some of the best young talents on the continent appears to be the philosophy that Maresca is going for, although he will need some experience mixed in along with the youngsters.
One player whom Maresca is desperate to land is Borussia Dortmund talent Jamie Gittens, having tracked him for the previous few months.
Chelsea’s interest in Jamie Gittens
Despite having a wealth of options in the final third, Maresca is looking to make some big changes this summer.
Christopher Nkunku looks destined to leave the Blues after just two seasons, while Nicolas Jackson has attracted attention from elsewhere, notably Arsenal.
If both of these players depart, then the club will be keen on adding replacements to their squad.
Bolstering his wide options is another priority for Maresca, especially considering Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk is set to face a lengthy doping ban, meaning he won’t be able to play for the club.
As such, targeting a move for another winger or two is in the club’s best interests, hence the approach for Gittens.
The Blues had a bid of £42m rejected by Dortmund at the start of June for the Englishman, as they value him at around €65m (£55.5m), which Chelsea have yet to meet.
Positive talks have been held between player and club, but until that asking price is met in the coming weeks, Gittens won’t be making the move to England.
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in action
Last season, he registered 17 goal involvements – 12 goals and five assists – across 42 games for the German side, despite falling out of favour slightly during the second half of the season under new coach Niko Kovač.
Indeed, the youngster doesn’t quite fit into the Croatian’s style of football, hence why it looks as though they are willing to let him leave this summer. Of course, this depends on whether Chelsea can meet the asking price.
Still aged only 20, Gittens has plenty of room to develop and challenging for trophies while competing in the Champions League next season will certainly aid him.
Should the Blues secure a deal for the player, he could work wonders alongside another potential signing…
Chelsea discussing move for Premier League forward
Delap won’t be the only forward to make the move to Chelsea this summer. Hugo Ekitiké has been one of the club’s main transfer targets to add depth to this position, while West Ham United player Mohammed Kudus has also been linked with a move.
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Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are discussing a potential swoop for Brighton and Hove Albion star Joao Pedro.
“Let’s not forget the interest from Chelsea in Joao Pedro,” said Romano when talking on his official YouTube channel.
“He remains a player of interest, and they are having conversations because they like him and are following closely.”
Joao Pedro celebrates for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Brighton are looking for a fee of around £60m in order to sanction the sale of the Brazilian.
Gittens remains a priority, but if Maresca is able to sign both the Englishman and Pedro this summer, they could make for a fantastic duo next season.
Why Joao Pedro would be unplayable with Jamie Gittens
When he is compared to his fellow peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the previous 365 days, Gittens has shone in several metrics.
His penchant for beating his marker is evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90 (3.57), while the winger also ranks in the top 9% for progressive carries (5.53) and in the top 7% for carries into the penalty area (3.06).
Not only does this show he is a handful for defenders, but it allows him space to get into the best positions in the final third.
As such, he would be excellent at providing Pedro with chances aplenty in the Premier League and Champions League next term, no doubt about that.
The Brazilian netted ten goals in the top flight last term, grabbing six assists in the process.
Centre-forward
119
34
18
Left winger
40
14
0
Attacking midfield
27
11
1
Right winger
5
0
0
What was most impressive is that the 23-year-old scored once every 195 minutes for Brighton while finishing the season with a goal conversion percentage of 21%.
He only missed seven big chances, too, suggesting the Brighton star is extremely clinical in the penalty area.
Combining this with Gittens’ desire to get the ball into the box as often as possible, means the pair could shine together next season.
Once hailed as “magical” by commentator Kevin Hatchard for his ability on the ball, Pedro could be the ideal replacement for the likes of Nkunku and Joao Felix, who are both expected to leave.
His Premier League experience means the striker should be ready to slot into the starting XI without the need to settle in.
A fee of £60m sounds extravagant on the surface, but with the club needing players of Pedro’s quality for their Champions League campaign, that is the price Maresca must be willing to pay.
Brighton striker Joao Pedro
For now, the focus is on going as far as possible in the Club World Cup, especially with $125m on offer for the winner.
The Italian is still looking to bolster his team, though, and he could make a bold statement by capturing Pedro and Gittens.
Maresca is now pushing Chelsea to sign £150k-per-week World Cup winner
Home spinners claim seven of nine wickets to fall as part of World Cup preparations
Valkerie Baynes06-Jul-2024
Danni Wyatt made 76 from 51 balls•Getty Images
Danni Wyatt’s rapid half-century set England up for a commanding victory in the first of five T20Is with New Zealand in Southampton.Wyatt faced just 51 balls for her 76, which included 11 fours and a six, to lead England to an imposing total of 197 for 3 after the White Ferns had won the toss. She was well supported by a powerful 47 in 23 balls from Nat Sciver-Brunt and opening partner Maia Bouchier, who added 32 off 26. It was a class batting performance by England who manipulated the crease beautifully to time the ball and find gaps throughout their innings, producing their best T20I score against New Zealand and second-highest in the format on home soil.England experimented with four spinners and, between them, they took seven of the nine wickets to fall. The move worked not only from a result point of view as England wrapped up a 59-run win, but with their football side kicking off in a Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland at 5pm local time, they had only missed 26 minutes by the finish, with the score still 0-0. Legspinner Sarah Glenn finished with 3 for 16 and offspinner Charlie Dean took 2 for 28. Left-arm seamer Freya Kemp took a wicket with the last ball of the match in her return to bowling after battling a recurrence of a back injury.Wyatt, Bouchier look nailed onCaptain Heather Knight said on match eve that England were keen to test potential T20 World Cup combinations and tactics during this series and they understandably stuck with an in-form Bouchier as opener alongside Wyatt. Bouchier enjoyed a breakout tour of New Zealand earlier this year and was Player of the Series in the home sweep of three ODIs.Wyatt crunched the first ball of the match, a short, wide one from Fran Jonas, through backward point for four and Bouchier chimed in three balls later with a sublime cut which rocketed through point. Wyatt struck two fours in three Sophie Devine deliveries to move England 52 without loss after six overs with both batters having already racked up five boundaries each. Bouchier threw her head back in frustration after she sidestepped to latch onto a Lea Tahuhu short ball but ended up picking out Georgia Plimmer at deep midwicket. But her efforts had helped England off to an excellent start in a 61-run opening stand with Wyatt, who forged on, hammering the first six of the day advancing to Eden Carson and sending the ball way over the rope at deep midwicket.England get a little funkyIf Wyatt and Bouchier looked nailed on at the top of the order, England played around with the middle order. Nat Sciver-Brunt, at No. 3, carried on the form she showed with an unbeaten 76 in the third and final ODI in Bristol on Wednesday. Sciver-Brunt struck back-to-back fours off Jess Kerr, pulled to the leg side and driven over extra cover, and three more in succession off Carson to take the partnership with Wyatt past 50, then 60 and keep England on track for a big total. Wyatt brought up her fifty off 36 balls with a single off Brooke Halliday. Carson couldn’t cling onto what would have been an outstanding catch at backward point when Wyatt was on 54, then Sciver-Brunt holed out to Amelia Kerr at midwicket off Carson.Freya Kemp, back in the side as an allrounder after playing as a batter only during a lengthy return from a back stress fracture, came in at No. 4 and made a valuable 26 from 17 balls. It wasn’t until Wyatt lofted Tahuhu’s slower ball high into the air and into the hands of Maddy Green just inside the boundary at deep square leg that Knight came to the crease. By that stage, Kemp was finding a nice rhythm and Knight simply played a supporting role as Kemp steered Amelia Kerr to the deep third boundary before lofting the same bowler effortlessly down the ground for a towering six, then drove Devine with authority through backward point.NZ recover from shaky startNew Zealand were off to a disappointing start when Georgia Plimmer was run out for a third time on this tour, thanks to a pinpoint direct hit from Sciver-Brunt. Continuing their commitment to giving things a go with one eye on the World Cup, Linsey Smith, one of four specialist spinners in the England line-up, entered the attack in the third over. Despite being behind England at the end of the powerplay on 45 for 1, New Zealand held firm via Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr. They brought up their fifty partnership for the second wicket via a Kemp misfield at midwicket which went for four followed by a single from Bates, which Kemp stopped. But, no sooner had they done so than Amelia Kerr picked out Bouchier at long-on to give Dean her first wicket.Spinners come to playBates fell three balls later attempting a reverse sweep off Glenn and dragging the ball directly onto her stumps. Glenn was on a hat-trick after bowling Green first ball, a straight one that went through the gate and crashed in to middle stump. Halliday survived the hat-trick ball but Devine started walking before the ball even started to drop into the hands of Bouchier at long-on to give Glenn a triple-wicket over in the 10th with New Zealand floundering at 64 for 5. Having been rested for the third ODI, spin attack leader Sophie Ecclestone had Izzy Gaze stumped first ball as New Zealand lost five wickets for four runs in the space of 14 balls.It could have been worse had Glenn held a sharp return catch off Jess Kerr in the next over. Glenn, who had bowled with excellent control, saw another catch go down at short cover, where Dean dived and thrust out her left hand but couldn’t cling on.Sciver-Brunt spilled a return catch off Halliday, on 12, but Dean bowled Halliday in the next over for 17, ending a 43-run stand. Jess Kerr played defiantly for 38 off 26 balls, her highest score at international level, to be New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer. Three more chances went begging in the penultimate over, bowled by Smith, the last quite blameless as Kemp did her best stumbling over the boundary rope but couldn’t parry it back to herself as she jumped back in. Smith finally had Jess Kerr out with her last delivery, caught by Sciver-Brunt at long-off.