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Arne Slot has revealed Alexander Isak is fully fit again after his lack of pre-season, with the £125 million ($166.7m) striker now searching for his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. The Swedish striker might have forced his way out of Newcastle United in a messy transfer saga over the summer, but he is yet to shine since swapping St James' Park for Anfield.

• Isak's slow start at Liverpool

  Having refused to join Newcastle’s pre-season camp to push through his dream move, Isak arrived at Liverpool lacking match sharpness. Hence, it was no surprise when his first few weeks on Merseyside were something of a slow burn. His only goal so far came in their 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton, and as fans grew impatient to get a glimpse of the ruthless finisher who terrorised defences in black and white, pressure kept building on the forward. Slot claimed that the 26-year-old’s stop-start introduction was deliberate, designed to rebuild his conditioning and avoid any early muscle setbacks. But the wait is finally over, and the Dutch manager can't wait to unleash the beast version of Isak that went missing in the first few weeks.

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  Slot backs Isak to start firing

  Slot acknowledged that supporters and the media have been quick to question the Swede’s lack of goals, especially after he drew blanks in international defeats to Switzerland and Kosovo. But the Dutch coach urged patience, insisting that form will come once fitness meets confidence.

  "Now he has had his five, six weeks of pre-season which is normal for every player, especially if you have been out for three or four months," Slot said at a press conference on Friday.

  "Fitness-wise he is close to the level he should be and we can judge him in a fair way from now on. I know how this industry works, if he plays for Sweden twice and doesn’t score that’s not what you’re hoping for, of course.

  "You are hoping if they go to the national team they score goals like Cody (Gakpo) did, like Virgil (van Dijk) did, like Dominik (Szoboszlai) did, like (Alexis) MacAllister, did but he didn’t. His pre-season has finished now. He has played a few games, 70, 80, 90 minutes, so let’s see where he is in the upcoming weeks."

• Gravenberch & Konate fit again after injury scares

  As Liverpool prepare for Sunday’s mammoth Premier League showdown with Manchester United at Anfield, Slot received a welcome double boost. Both midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and defender Ibrahima Konate have been declared fit and available after minor injury scares. Gravenberch was withdrawn during the Netherlands’ win over Finland due to hamstring tightness, while Konate missed France’s fixtures with a slight quad strain picked up against Chelsea two weeks ago. Slot, though, was upbeat about their recoveries.

  "Ryan is completely fit, although we still have to train twice," Slot added. "We are in a good place with the Dutch national team if Ronald Koeman can make a decision either to play Tijjani Reijnders or Ryan Gravenberch, so he played them both 45 minutes. Ibou has come back to us, started the sessions again and is expected to train with us today."

  While Slot’s optimism is unwavering, not everyone shares his rosy outlook. reporter Lewis Steele, who covers Liverpool closely, warned that Isak’s path to full match sharpness may take longer than the club hopes.

  "The road to full fitness is a little bit longer than expected, and there’s a report from one of the Newcastle guys, saying they expect it to be three months until he’s fully fit," he said. "And that is probably about right. He’s been at Liverpool now for four or five weeks, so maybe we are now probably another three or four weeks away from seeing Isak at his best. There have been glimpses, lovely assist on Saturday and he got his goal against Southampton, to be fair he’s got to score that, but he had to be in the right place at the right time. But, the road to full fitness does seem a bit bumpier than me or Slot predicted."

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  A gruelling run awaits the Reds

  Liverpool have an unenviable calendar after the international break. Following the United clash, the Reds face a relentless stretch of fixtures including Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe, followed by Premier League meetings with Brentford, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and then a blockbuster Champions League tie against Real Madrid in early November. Slot knows the coming weeks will define Liverpool’s season, and it's no surprise that the manager wants Isak to be at his sharpest for it.

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Após a derrota contra o Grêmio por 2 a 1 no último domingo (13), o Fluminense tem a semana livre para treinamentos e acelerar a recuperação de jogadores que estavam ou estão entregues ao Departamento Médico, do clube. É o caso do meio-campista a Alexsander e do lateral-esquerdo Jorge; ambos sofreram graves contusões, mas vivem momentos diferentes no processo de recuperação. Confira a situação do DM do Flu.

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ALEXSANDER
A espera pelo retorno de Alexsander está cada vez mais próxima do fim. A expectativa que o jogador de 19 anos, que sofreu uma lesão no joelho em maio no jogo contra o Cruzeiro no Mineirão, esteja presente no duelo de sábado (19) diante do América-MG no Maracanã. O camisa 5 vive um processo de transição e voltou aos treinamentos com bola no CT Carlos Castilho e a tendência é que esteja à disposição do técnico Fernando Diniz.

+ O que explica jejum do Fluminense fora de casa? Listamos cinco razões

O processo de recuperação do Moleque de Xerém traz ânimo para a torcida tricolor, visto que o desempenho do Fluminense caiu desde a lesão de Alexsander e a volta do jogador é fundamental para o duelo contra o Olimpia, pelas quartas de final da Copa Libertadores.

JORGE
A situação de Jorge, no entanto, é mais complicada. O lateral-esquerdo foi contratado por empréstimo junto ao Palmeiras no fim de 2022 e chegou para ser o titular da função. No entanto, o jogador de 27 anos, que disputou apenas quatro jogos pelo Fluminense, sofreu uma grave lesão no ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho direito e no menisco em fevereiro.

+ Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90

Duas semanas após a contusão, Jorge foi operado e, desde então, se recupera da cirurgia e realiza fisioterapia para acelerar o processo de volta aos gramados. Contudo, o atleta ficou sem espaço após as chegadas de Marcelo e Diogo Barbosa. O clube não divulgou um prazo estimado para o retorno de Jorge, mas a tendência é que o lateral não jogue mais em 2023.

Manchester United once had a Zinedine Zidane-esque midfielder, who legendary Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes compared to Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard.

Man Utd looking to sign new midfielder in January

After missing out on a new central midfielder during the 2025 summer transfer window, Man United have set their sights on signing one in January, and a number of potential targets have already been identified.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Carlos Baleba

Brighton

£115m

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace

£50m+

Conor Gallagher

Atletico Madrid

£45m

Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest

Unknown

There are clear indications that Ruben Amorim needs to bolster his options in the engine room, with Scholes suggesting Bruno Fernandes isn’t cut out to be a central midfielder, while also singling Casemiro out for criticism.

The 50-year-old said: “Fernandes [and Casemiro], they’re the two he’s [Amorim] going with, and Fernandes for me, he’s someone who fills in as a midfielder, he might get away with it for one, two or three games. He’s not got the discipline to be a central midfield player.”

“Bringing two No.10s (Cunha and Mbeumo) was that really necessary? You think you’ve got Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo can do that.”

Man Utd now eyeing January move for "unbelievable" £47m Baleba alternative

The Red Devils are looking to sign a central midfielder, who could be perfect for Ruben Amorim.

1 ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025

Having arguably gotten their priorities wrong in the summer, United look poised to make a move for a new central midfielder this winter, and they will be hoping the new signing can eclipse Paul Pogba’s achievements, with the Frenchman leaving on a free back in 2022.

Pogba’s career at United didn’t pan out the way anyone was hoping, but he received extremely high praise not long after returning to Old Trafford, with Gianluigi Buffon saying:

Scholes was also a keen admirer of the central midfielder, saying:

Pogba had the talent to be an all-time great

The 32-year-old’s time at Old Trafford was by no means a complete failure, having won two EFL Cups and the 2016-17 Europa League, but there is no doubt that the midfielder didn’t manage to hit the heights expected of him.

Given how highly the 91-time France international was rated by Scholes and Buffon, he had the ability to become an all-time great for Man United, but things didn’t work out that way, arguably due to his attitude, which Graeme Souness regularly criticised.

Souness said: “Paul Pogba plays for himself, it’s all about how cool he looks, showing us how clever he is. I reckon Pogba’s only in the team to maintain his transfer value until United can sell him, because he doesn’t merit his place for any other reason.”

With Pogba’s doping ban over, the former United man arguably has one last chance to get his career back on track, having now signed for AS Monaco on a two-year deal.

Manchester United may have lost their opening Premier League game of the 2025/26 season, but there are certainly reasons to be positive for Ruben Amorim for the remainder of the campaign.

Matheus Cunha made his debut against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, producing an excellent performance which has given the fanbase a taste of what he can produce after his £62.5m transfer.

The Brazilian featured for the entirety of the contest, completing four dribbles – the most of any player on the pitch – just needing to add the clinical edge to build on his impressive start.

However, despite being one of three big-money additions within the final third, the hierarchy could be set to make further reinforcements across other areas of the squad.

The midfield department looks set to be the next area of improvement, but it appears that one of their targets won’t be making the move to Old Trafford before the September 1st deadline.

United’s pursuit of Carlos Baleba this summer

In an attempt to bolster the options for Amorim in the middle of the park, numerous options have appeared on their radar over the last couple of weeks.

The main target as of late has been Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba, with the Seagulls star appearing at the top of their shortlist in a quest to bolster the ranks.

Talks had previously been held with Fabian Hurzeler’s side over a move to land the 21-year-old midfielder, who made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season.

However, any deal would’ve been an expensive one, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with the Cameroonian international.

His current boss, Hurzeler, stated last week that he was confident the player would remain at the AMEX beyond the summer, forcing the Red Devils to pursue other options this window.

Man Utd targeting move for Baleba alternative

After leaving a deal to sign Baleba, Crystal Palace’s young star Adam Wharton has once again emerged as a potential summer option for United and Amorim.

However, like a deal for the Cameroonian, it would likely cost a fee in the region of £100m, a valuation that may be out of range given their £200m spending spree to date.

The Englishman isn’t the only player currently in their sights, with journalist Fabrizio Romano stating that Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand remains a key target before the end of the window.

He states that interest has previously been registered in the Danish international, who spent two years playing his trade under Amorim in the Liga Portugal.

Romano also claims that the player himself would be keen for a reunion with his former boss, with the Portuguese outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of €50m (£43m) for his services.

Why United’s £43m target would be their own Rodri

Rivals Manchester City have often been the side to dominate the Premier League in recent years, with Rodri often being the player who has helped them in their quest for success.

The Spaniard has cemented himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, as seen by his ability to win the Ballon d’Or for 2024 – beating Vinícius Júnior to the prestigious award.

Whilst the 29-year-old has been missing for nearly a year, many Red Devils supporters would be wishing they had their own version of the world-class operator.

However, if they were to land a player of his quality, it would be an expensive addition, but a deal for Hjulmand could prove to be a bargain – especially if he can live up to Rodri’s level.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref, managing to outperform him in numerous areas for the 2023/24 campaign – the last full-season he operated in before his ACL injury.

Hjulmand, who’s been labelled “complete” by analyst Ben Mattinson, dominated defensively, ranking in the 84th percentile for percentage of tackles won (58%).

Such a tally was higher than that of Rodri, who could only muster a tally of 10% less than the Dane, highlighting his ball-winning ability – something which the Red Devils desperately lack under Amorim.

How Hjulmand & Rodri compared throughout 2023/24

Statistics (per 90)

Hjulmand

Rodri

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

5

17

Tackles won

1.6

1.3

% of tackles won

58%

48%

Blocks made

1.2

0.9

Interceptions made

0.9

0.8

Take-ons completed

67%

65%

Recoveries made

7.3

7.2

Fouls drawn

1.3

1

Stats via FBref

His top-level ability out of possession is further reflected in his higher tallies of blocks and interceptions made per 90 – having the talent to finally end the club’s hunt for a new presence at the heart of the side.

Whilst Baleba may have been many of the supporters’ first choice for the midfield position, it’s vital the club spend the funds available wisely – especially considering the money already splashed in this window.

Hjulmand could provide an excellent alternative for the Red Devils, having bags of time to build on his impressive start to his career, given his tender age of just 24.

If he can continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason as to why he can’t reach the levels Rodri’s achieved in his career, potentially being the club’s answer to the Spaniard in the process.

Related It's not Baleba: INEOS begin move to sign £100m Ugarte upgrade for Man Utd

Manchester United Target Crystal Palace Star in Ambitious Midfield Upgrade

Posts 1 ByWill Miller Aug 18, 2025

Aston Villa are on the verge of signing their first major signing of the transfer window with OGC Nice’s Evann Guessand. The deal is expected to be worth around £26m, plus more than £4m in add-ons.

Guessand has been with Ligue 1 side Nice since 2014 and rose through their academy to become a first-team player and earn himself a place in the Ivorian national team. Manager Unai Emery will be hoping that the goals and assists Guessand brings to the team will ensure they don’t have an end-of-season drop-off this time around, after the sale of Jhon Duran depleted their depth in the number nine position last term.

It won’t take long from Guessand’s debut for his versatility to be on full display for Villa fans. Last season, under Franck Haise, Guessand was utilised both as a centre forward and a winger. This fluidity in attack is similar to what Emery implemented in the latter half of last season with loan players Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.

However, with the previously mentioned loanees returning to their respective parent clubs, Villa are still somewhat shorthanded up front. Due to this, Emery has identified a new striker target to help rectify the situation.

Emery "eager" to reunite with Jackson

Caught Offside have reported that Aston Villa have identified Chelsea and Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson as an ideal target. Jackson previously worked with the Villa boss while the pair were at Villarreal.

With the departure of Duran and an exit for Ollie Watkins still on the cards this window, Villa need to strengthen their attack, and Jackson is seen as a possible solution. Caught Offside’s source stated that “Villa are among the clubs most keen on Jackson. Unai Emery is eager to work with him again after their time together at Villarreal”.

Aston Villa don’t have a clear run at Jackson presently, with Newcastle United having held “informal talks” with Jackson’s representatives and Juventus monitoring the situation in the event they sell Dusan Vlahovic.

An even bigger hurdle for Villa will be finances, with owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens potentially needing to sell to buy, according to the same report. If Villa can navigate the PSR hurdles and retain Watkins however, they could have a very dangerous attack on their hands.

Emery’s Potential Striker Options
2024/25 Stats	Watkins	Jackson	Guessand
Games Played	38	30	33
Goals	16	10	12
Assists	8	5	8
Xg per 90	0.53	0.5	0.32
Goals Per 90	0.55	0.41	0.42
Stats via: FBREF

All three players are averaging close to a goal every other game. Watkins is the best in this regard, but he is the oldest and most developed player; there is still plenty of time for Jackson and Guessand to match him.

While it may look like Jackson is massively underperforming against his Xg compared to the others, there is an explanation for this. When evaluating Jackson as a Manchester United target, The Athletic’s JJ Bull explained how Jackson’s Xg underperformance has been misinterpreted as him missing a lot of goals he should score, when in reality it’s distorted by him taking a lot of shots he shouldn’t take and often shooting too early.

These three players, alongside the other attacking options they have in the squad, could see Villa push for Champions League football once again and help the club away from its financial issues.

Despite plenty of speculation over their futures at Ibrox, Nicolas Raskina and Mohamed Diomande both lined up for Glasgow Rangers in their first game of the season on Tuesday.

The duo both started and both registered assists in a 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Ibrox in the first leg of the club’s second round Champions League qualifier.

It remains to be seen if Diomande, who assisted Djeidi Gassama’s goal, will still be in Glasgow at the end of the summer transfer window, though, amid interest from Besiktas.

The Turkish giants have already had one offer turned down for the central midfielder, and are reportedly expected to go back in with a second bid for the Ivorian star.

Why Mohamed Diomande is important to Rangers

Russell Martin may not want to lose the left-footed star, though, because he is an important player who provides quality in and out of possession in the middle of the park.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Diomande scored four goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and registered seven assists in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues, which shows that he offered a strong threat at the top end of the pitch.

The 23-year-old talent also showcased his defensive talent in the Europa League, making 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 54% of his duels overall.

These statistics show that Diomande is important to Rangers as a midfielder who can impact games at both ends of the pitch, but the Gers could forget all about him with a move for Salvatore Esposito.

Why Rangers should sign Salvatore Esposito

It was reported earlier this month that the Light Blues are one of the clubs in the race to sign the Spezia central midfielder, who is valued at around £5m by his club.

The 24-year-old midfield star is the kind of signing that could make supporters forget all about Diomande, if the Ivorian whiz moves on to Besiktas, or elsewhere, this summer.

That is not a disservice to Diomande, of course, who has been a fantastic player for Rangers, but it speaks to the kind of quality that the Italian ace could offer in the middle of the park.

Appearances

36

34

Goals

4

7

Big chances created

11

18

Assists

7

9

Duels won per game

4.4

7.3

Ground duel success rate

57%

68%

Aerial duel success rate

48%

51%

As you can see in the table above, Esposito significantly outperformed the Rangers star at league level last season, offering more to his team in possession and defensively.

Whilst he is unproven in the Scottish Premiership, the Spezia star appears to have the potential to provide more quality, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, in the final third, whilst also being stronger and more efficient in his duels off the ball.

The Italy international was described as a “tenacious” midfield “controller” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and his statistics from the 2024/25 Serie B campaign back those comments up, as he excelled in duels and offered quality on the ball.

Esposito is the kind of box-to-box midfielder that Rangers will desperately need if they lose Diomande this summer, which is why this is a signing that could make a lot of sense for Martin in the coming weeks if it becomes clear that the Ivorian gem is going to be on his way out of Ibrox.

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As the Russell Martin revolution continues at Rangers, are they about to sign a “special talent” for £10m to be their dream Václav Černý replacement?

Jul 24, 2025

Whilst the Gers would like to keep their current number ten, the Spezia star is a player who has the quality and pedigree, as an Italian international, to make the Light Blues forget all about Diomande.

A superb bowling display by left-arm spinners Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal combined with a collective batting display helped Pakistan win the second T20I against South Africa and level the series in Multan.Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon put up an unbroken 80-run stand off 42 balls – the highest for a fifth-wicket stand for South Africa women in T20Is – but could not get their side over the line.After being put in, Pakistan lost opener Gull Feroza in the fourth over. But her partner Muneeba Ali gave Pakistan a solid start, helping them post 45 in the powerplay. She stitched a 49-run stand with Sidra Amin, hitting six fours and two sixes in her 45 off 34 balls. Amin and Muneeba went after Seshnie Naidu, hitting her for a combined four fours and a six. Muneeba was eventually dismissed by Annerie Dercksen in the 11th over.After Amin’s dismissal in the 13th over, Nida Dar and captain Fatima Sana came together for a 60-run stand, pushing Pakistan’s total past 150. Aliya Riyaz provided the finishing touches, taking Ayanda Hlubi for 6, 4, 4 in the last three balls of the innings to lift Pakistan to 181.Iqbal then struck early to remove Tazmin Britz but captain Laura Wolvaardt got a solid start, combining with Anneke Bosch for a 50-run partnership. With South Africa needing nearly 11 an over, Sandhu broke through, removing Wolvaardt for 36. Iqbal and Sandhu then took wickets in back-to-back overs, dismissing Anneke Bosch and Nadine de Klerk. Sandhu finished with figures of 2 for 20, while Iqbal bagged 2 for 27.Luus and Tryon then came together with South Africa needing 94 off 42 balls. They hit boundaries regularly but could not finish it off for their side. Luus hit 53 off 29 while Tryon scored a 16-ball 30 as Pakistan achieved parity.

Newcastle United have yet to make a signing so far this summer and it’s fair to say a large section of the fanbase are getting edgy.

Eddie Howe must bolster several areas of his squad ahead of next season, especially with Champions League football returning to St James’ Park once again.

There hasn’t been a shortage of names linked. From Joao Pedro to Harvey Elliott, Howe is keen on strengthening his attacking options.

It is the defence which perhaps needs the most work, however. Could a deal for Marc Guehi be completed before the end of the window?

Newcastle's pursuit of Marc Guehi

The Magpies have been tracking Guehi for quite some time now, and it remains to be seen whether Howe will be able to make a concrete move to sign him.

Last season, the English centre-back ranked highly across a range of metrics when compared to his peers. Indeed, he ranked in the top 21% for ball recoveries (4.3) per 90 and in the top 20% for blocks (1.62) and in the top 22% for dribblers tackled (0.91) per 90.

He also won an impressive 63% of his ground duels per game in the Premier League last term, suggesting that the defender would make for an excellent signing.

Accurate passes

43.1

Tackles

1.8

Interceptions

0.8

Total duels won

4.9

Possession lost

9.7

Ball recoveries

4.3

Yet, with Liverpool now in talks to land the Englishman, reportedly even closing in on a move, the Toon will have to turn to alternative options.

Newcastle's dream Guehi alternative

According to reports in Italy (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are locked in talks to sign Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini this summer.

The report states that Atalanta don’t want to sell the 21-year-old, but if an offer of around €40-50m (£34m – £43m) arrives, they might have to reconsider.

It won’t be cheap bringing the player to Newcastle, but he could be a dream Guehi alternative, that’s for sure.

The youngster only played six league games last term, but he still won 57% of his total duels per game, as well as averaging 1.3 tackles per game and succeeding with 85% of his passes.

Hailed as a “top talent” by none other than Fabrizio Romano back in 2022, Scalvini could come of age should he make a move to St James’ Park this summer.

While he didn’t play often last term, when compared to his peers during Atalanta’s victorious Europa League campaign in 2023/24, he sparkled across several metrics.

Not only did he rank in the top 2% for tackles per 90 (3.94), but he also ranked in the top 21% for progressive carries (1.31) and in the top 7% for ball recoveries (7.69) per 90.

Pitting those numbers against Guehi last term, Guehi only made 1.79 tackles, 0.65 progressive carries and 4.30 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

Against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final that season, the Italian notably managed to keep the likes of Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface quiet, winning three of his four duels and losing possession just once.

Should he make the move to Newcastle and replicate that performance on a consistent basis, Scalvini could perhaps be an even better signing than Guehi. That’s for sure.

The next Gordon: Newcastle have made contact to sign "special" £40m star

Newcastle are seeking to bolster their ranks ahead of their return to Champions League football

2 ByRobbie Walls Jun 29, 2025

Seamer will bolster T20 squad after departures of Xavier Bartlett and Wes Agar

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2024

Tom Rogers has spent the last two BBL season with Melbourne Renegades•Getty Images

Kent have signed Melbourne Renegades seamer Tom Rogers for the second block of Vitality T20 Blast group games.Rogers, 30, has several years’ experience in the Big Bash League with Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes but this will be his first stint in county cricket. In all T20 cricket, Rogers has taken 60 wickets at 24.78 with an economy of 8.38.”We’re pleased to have got Tom on board to sure-up our bowling options going into the ‘business end’ of this South Group stage,” Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said. “He has a lot of experience and has skills that will be useful to us with both the ball and the bat, too.”Rogers will reinforce Kent’s bowling in the Blast, with Xavier Bartlett having only been made available for the first eight group games and Wes Agar returning to Australia early due to a shoulder injury.Kent are currently second from bottom in the South Group, having won two games, but could still fight their way into contention for a top-four spot.”I’m grateful for the opportunity to play in the Vitality Blast and I’m excited to be joining Kent,” Rogers said. “We know that every game is vital for us now, and I want to do my part in getting results as a Spitfire in the near future.”

Premier League football has very much taken a backseat at Manchester United with the upcoming Europa League final a huge match for everyone associated with the Red Devils.

Of course, the season wouldn’t be seen as an overwhelming success story even if Ruben Amorim’s men do lift the trophy over Tottenham Hotspur, considering his side sit in a depressingly poor 16th spot in the top-flight, but a memorable win out in Bilbao would be a much-needed ray of sunshine nonetheless.

Alongside restoring some pride, adding the Europa League into the decorated Old Trafford trophy room would also see Champions League football return to the Theatre of Dreams.

Off the back of that potentially occurring, United could be able to lure some top talents to England, with a whole host of interesting names already being linked with a summer switch to the red half of Manchester.

Man United preparing whopping £113m transfer

On top of the added bonus of being potentially back in the illustrious Champions League, the Red Devils are an attractive club to come to based on past prestige alone.

That’s a possible explanation as to why Matheus Cunha reportedly remains keen on a move to United over sticking it out with Wolverhampton Wanderers, alongside Sporting goal machine Viktor Gyokeres being linked with an Amorim reunion.

But, there is another blockbuster move reportedly in the works that could trump both of these statement deals, with reports from Spain now suggesting that United have lodged a mammoth bid of £113m to try and land RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

Amorim’s bruised giants would really show they mean business after such a turbulent campaign if they were to land the services of the dynamic Dutchman and it’s stated that they are ‘desperate’ bring him to Old Trafford.

How Simons could be Fernandes 2.0

There is a hope that Simons could come into the English game and be as dazzling as Bruno Fernandes has been in the attacking midfield positions since leaving Portugal behind.

Whilst Simons will be expected to achieve big things on his arrival – especially at that steep £113m price-tag – it’s unlikely he will come into the building aiming to directly surpass Fernandes during his Old Trafford stay.

After all, Fernandes is now up to a mighty 184 goal contributions across 288 games donning United red, with a very impressive 38 of those being notched up just this season, even as Amorim’s side sink to grim new lows.

But, Simons will still strive to be the club’s next version of Fernandes in time, with the Leipzig number 20 equally as skilful and goal-and-assist heavy as his experienced Red Devils counterpart when at the peak of his powers.

Indeed, just this campaign alone, the £113m-rated attacker has managed to pick up a blistering 11 goals and eight assists from 33 appearances, meaning he could slot in as another bright spark from the midfield areas like the Portuguese ace.

24/25

Leipzig

33

11

8

23/24

Leipzig

43

10

15

22/23

PSV

48

22

11

The pair could even link up alongside each other in Amorim’s system – with Simons also capable of playing down either the left or right wing.

Yet, it’s obvious when looking at the numbers above that the 22-year-old could go on to reach Fernandes’ lofty heights regardless of what the future United XI looks like, with a crazy 77 goals and assists amassed by Simons over the last three seasons.

After all, the modern-day United great was once just an electric performer out in Europe himself with Sporting, before going on to be given an opportunity in the Premier League to expand his game even more.

Once branded as “exceptional” by Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund for his excellent exploits in Bundesliga, it could now be time for Simons to make that same leap to England, with United needing to splash the big bucks to begin their major summer overhaul.

Man Utd's own Frimpong: INEOS plotting move to sign "phenomenal" £30m star

Manchester United could be about to land a star who could nail down one key position in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

ByEthan Lamb May 16, 2025