Tag: Football

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Cole Palmer has been in incredible form since joining Chelsea from Manchester City last summer.

The attacking midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge for £39.8 million (€47 million) after having graduated from the City academy in 2021.

After joining the senior City squad, Palmer made 41 appearances across all competitions, grabbing six goals and two assists across two years. However, in one season at Chelsea, the 22-year-old got 25 goals and 15 assists in 45 games, showing the incredible ability he possess. This was further recognised by him being awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and being called up in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 England squad, where he scored in the final against Spain.

Today, Chelsea took on and demolished Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-2 with Palmer setting up each one of Noni Madueke’s hattrick of goals, as well as grabbing one himself set up by Nicolas Jackson.

Now, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has spoken out about Palmer’s future at Chelsea.

Cole Palmer could leave Chelsea

Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher praised Palmer, discussing his decision of Player of the Season between Palmer and Manchester City player Phil Foden, claiming that he actually feels Palmer is more influential out of the pair.

The former defender is concerned around how Palmer’s development could be affected by the new manager, Enzo Maresca. Carragher commented on how good Mauricio Pochettino at developing young player, both at Tottenham and at Chelsea, giving Palmer his big break.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes agreed with this, saying he was “far and away Chelsea’s best player.”

However, the instability at Chelsea could be a massive issue with Palmer’s progress, which could see him wanting a move elsewhere. This was something that suddenly dawned on Carragher during The Overlap, when he remembered that Paler was a Manchester United fan as a child.

Speaking about the links with United and their struggles on the right wing, Carragher said: “Something’s just come to me here. If Chelsea have another poor season, we were talking earlier about Manchester United having a real problem on that right wing.

He continued: “He [Palmer] is a big Man United fan isn’t he? Would that not be something that United should visit maybe in 12 months if it doesn’t go well? You know what, I think that could happen. Yeah, Cole Palmer to Man United.”

Whilst Palmer is on a £130,000 a week contract which keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2033, it’s not impossible that Palmer wouldn’t follow in former Chelsea star, Mason Mount’s footsteps and join the Red Devils.

However, the sticking point to that is that United came further down the league table than Chelsea last year. but, if United start getting results under the new set of directors and coaches, being a part of the rebuild project to restore his boyhood club to their winning ways could be a sweet enough temptation to lure him to Old Trafford.

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In a mad twist of events, Chelsea are now entering the transfer race for Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho in a very aggressive way.

The Blues are now launching an attack with a player swap deal for the United winger, offering not one, but two players for his services.

It’s widely known that Chelsea have players to spare this season with 10 signing this summer and only selling five players so far, giving them a current squad of 39 players. To put it into perspective, the average in the Premier League is 29, with Chelsea having the most out of any Premier League team, with Brighton in second having 36.

Whilst new manager Enzo Maresca has said he’s not training with all 39, only the players he is focussing on in the first team, this is still an incredible amount of players for one team.

Reports from Italian sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio have claimed that Chelsea are looking at using Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling in the deal to convince United to agree the move.

Whilst Sterling doesn’t offer much excitement with Alejandro Garnacho thriving in the left-wing position, the prospect of Ben Chilwell could be tempting.

United have struggled with issues at left-back throughout last season with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both side-lined for considerable sections of the season through injury.

Whilst the Red Devils have looked at other left-backs to cover the position this summer, with regular interest in Ferdi Kadioglu who’s just move to Brighton, no signings have been made in this position.

Funnily enough, United were actually linked with a move for Chilwell earlier this summer.

At this time it’s not known how the Red Devils feel about this offer, but the front runners for Sancho are understood to still be Juventus who are awaiting the sale of Frederico Chiesa to complete a deal.

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Talk of Jadon Sancho leaving Old Trafford has been circling since January after the winger was banished to Borussia Dortmund for a public falling out with Erik ten Hag.

Whilst the pair have seemingly agreed to put the incident behind them, Sancho has still been a player that the club have been looking to offload this summer.

The main club at the centre of the interest in the England international has been Paris Saint-Germain.

The French champions held meetings with United in order to discuss a deal, however they didn’t appear to materialise with anything.

The main issue in the signing of Sancho lies with his excessive wage demands of £275,000 per week. This appears to be the reason why Borussia Dortmund haven’t progressed their interest in the star, with Juventus also declaring interest in the winger previously.

However, Juve are reportedly still interested in the star, hoping to seal a loan to buy offer. The only sticking point is the wages. United don’t want to contribute to the wages which cost £14,300,000 per year.

Reports from Italian publication Calcio Mercato claim that Juventus’ move for Sancho entirely hinge on the ability to sell Federico Chiesa.

Chiesa is out of favour at The Old Lady, and is pushing for a move to Barcelona. However the Spanish side are struggling to register Dani Olmo due to their financial issues, meaning another purchase this late in the transfer window is extremely unlikely unless they can make more sales.

Ultimately, it looks as though Sancho will be remaining at Old Trafford a while longer, with the winger having to fight for his position in the team.

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David Ornstein has now confirmed the day is upon us, the rollercoaster ride that has been Scott McTominay’s transfer interest is nearly over.

The Athletic reported has confirmed that a deal has been reached between Napoli and Manchester United for £25.4 million (€30 million), including a sell-on clause for an unknown percentage.

With McTominay being a graduate of the United academy, his sale represents ‘pure profit’ under the Premier League and UEFA’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, helping United’s compliance with the legislation.

It’s understood that McTominay has already agreed personal terms with Napoli for a four year contract, with the Serie A side being his preferred move this summer.

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Manchester United have had a somewhat questionable start to the season, with a a 1-0 win over Fulham then a 2-1 loss to Brighton.

As expected with any team though at the start of a new season, the Red Devils are just finding their feet and have a lot to improve upon.

However, with United basically having an entirely new set of coaching staff as well as four new first team players, there’s a lot of people finding their feet at the club.

One man who is really rising to his new role though is United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who’s been brought in as assistant manager.

The ex-Premier League striker is working hard to remove United’s wastefulness from the game, with this being a key issue with both of their performances so far. Previous prolific goal scorers like Marcus Rashford are failing to register a single shot on goal.

Now though, the former Dutch international is really stepping up to fill the expectations of him that have come from signing a former club legend.

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The injection of van Nistelrooy’s abilities though are coming at the perfect time for United who have a group of young attackers still developing, so are at their most impressionable to learn.

As a result, players like Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo are going from strength to strength wanting to make their mark on the pitch.

Ruud van Nistelrooy takes on a personal project at United

However, The Sun have now reported that van Nistelrooy’s key personal project is in fact Marcus Rashford. The report explained that the new coach is focusing on the England international, prioritising two key areas of his game.

The one-on-one sessions with van Nistelrooy are reported to be focusing on work on back post awareness and runs across the box. These two parts of the attacker’s game are areas that can lead to “simpler” goals which are vital in becoming a clinical forward.

Rashford is reportedly loving the extra work, determined to get back to his career best of 30 goals and ten assists which he registered in ten Hag’s debut season as United manager.

Unfortunately for Rashford, his consistency appears to be a key issue. Despite being with United for ten years now, there’s only been two seasons where he’s stood out as truly incredible.

There have been reports claiming that this is a make or break season for Rashford, to prove his potential of what he’s capable for United.

However, despite the extra work and his improved good positioning and his hard work, we’re still yet to see some shots from the 26-year-old.

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Manchester United are looking to build on their positive start to the 2024/25 Premier League season as they prepare to face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

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Erik ten Hag faces a fresh injury setback, however, that should not impact his plans for the upcoming fixture.

Team News

Victor Lindelof is the latest player to be sidelined, having sustained a toe injury.

The Swedish defender joins a growing list of absentees, including Leny Yoro (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (calf), and Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring).

On a positive note, Jadon Sancho is back in contention after missing the season opener against Fulham due to an ear infection.

Despite his return to fitness, it remains uncertain whether Sancho will feature in the squad, with rumors swirling about a potential departure from the club. Reports suggest Juventus have initiated talks with the winger.

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Additionally, there is uncertainty surrounding Amad Diallo’s availability following a recent family bereavement. Erik ten Hag refrained from commenting on Diallo’s situation during his pre-match press conference, instead focusing on Lindelof’s injury.

Discussing Lindelof’s absence, the Manchester United manager stated, “There is no confusion [about Lindelof], he has an issue on his toe.

“So hopefully he can return quickly, but he is not available for the weekend.

“Whereas also we have some more [issues], Tyrell Malacia, Rasmus Hojlund. They are not available as well. Luke Shaw, of course.”

Predicted Starting XI

With both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia unavailable, the full-back positions are expected to be filled by Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui.

The pair will probably line up alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez. Andre Onana will retain his place in goal (of course).

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In midfield, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo are poised to start, with Casemiro anchoring the double pivot. Despite United’s ongoing negotiations for Manuel Ugarte, the Brazilian has shown encouraging signs early in the season, making him an automatic selection.

Bruno Fernandes is expected to continue in the no. 10 role, having operated in a more advanced position against Fulham.

The wide positions are likely to be occupied by Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

Up front, Joshua Zirkzee is set to lead the line in what will be his first start for Manchester United.

Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee

As Manchester United head into this crucial fixture, they will be hoping their momentum is not hindered as they aim to secure another victory and maintain their perfect start to the season.

The match against Brighton & Hove Albion will provide a stern test, but Ten Hag’s side will be eager to prove their resilience in the face of adversity.

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Last night saw Napoli put in their first official bid for highly rated midfielder, Scott McTominay.

The Scotland international has been at the centre of transfer interest for some time now with Fulham and Napoli being the key players for some time.

With Fulham abandoning he deal in favour of Burnley’s Sander Berge, Napoli were left in the driving seat of the transfer race, with the pressure taken off of them a little.

It’s understood that initially Napoli were looking for a loan deal, which was dismissed by the Red Devils. In turn, the Serie A side submitted an official offer of £21 million, falling short of United’s valuation of £25 million.

Now, The Daily Mail have reported that United have rejected this offer, holding their ground on the asking price.

United are keen to offload the 2-year-old with his contract running out next season, however, if the club don’t part ways with the star, Erik ten Hag is bound to be able to utilise him after his career best ten goals last season. Ten Hag is a fan of McTominay, especially after his performances last season, at Euro 2024 and in this year’s pre-season, showing his ability at the top level of football.

Ultimately this regard held by ten Hag for the Scotland international means the only way United will part ways with McTominay is if the asking price is met.

It’s understood that a meeting took place between Napoli and United last night to try and move things along, so presumably the £21 million is a good starting place to bridge the gap from over the next few days.

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Manchester United U18 kickstarted their 2024/25 English U-18 Premier League campaign with a dominant display against last year’s runners-up to clinch their first victory of the season.

The young Red Devils enjoyed a memorable season in the previous campaign, where they were crowned champions after winning 20 matches, drawing and losing two, accumulating 62 points while scoring 78 goals.

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It was the club’s first league title since the 2017/18 season, with a squad featuring Teden Mengi, Brandon Williams, Matej Kovar, Ethan Laird, Ethan Galbraith, Dylan Levitt, James Garner, Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood.

Overall, Adam Lawrence’s Manchester United U18 were crowned under-18 Premier League Cup champions, under-18 Premier League North champions and under-18 Premier League champions, completing a trophy-laden 2023/24 season.

This clean sweep of trophies provided a pathway into the first-team for some youngsters such as Toby Collyer and Harry Amass who are both part of Erik ten Hag’s squad this season, continuing the United heritage of trusting in the academy.

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The reigning champions picked up where they left off, brushing aside rivals Manchester City with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Gabriele Biancheri and Bendito Mantato, who were both on the end of well worked team moves.

Head coach, Lawrence handed new signing Dante Plunkett, who was previously in the books of Aston Villa his official debut for the United under-18 in the second half with victory all but secured.

This positive start brings a lot of optimism for the remainder of the season, with other highly rated youngsters such as Samuel Lusale and Chido-Obi Martin set to join this already well-oiled machine.

United currently sit in 5th place in the premier league north with a game in hand after playing one match, and host arch rivals Liverpool in their next league encounter on Saturday as they have a premier league cup meeting with Leicester City on Tuesday.

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Erik ten Hag has disclosed that Mason Mount was substituted during their 2-1 Premier League loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday due to an injury.

Mount, who joined United from Chelsea, was making his second consecutive Premier League start for the Red Devils at the Amex Stadium. He had previously played 61 minutes in their opening victory over Fulham.

The 25-year-old midfielder has had a challenging start to his debut season at Old Trafford, with fitness issues hindering his ability to make a significant impact.

On Saturday, Mount was deployed in the number 10 role, playing behind Bruno Fernandes, and he managed to influence the game during the first half.

However, Mount’s involvement in the match came to an abrupt end at halftime. He was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee, a decision that surprised many, given Mount’s solid performance in the opening 45 minutes.

Following the match, Ten Hag addressed the media and confirmed that Mount’s substitution was not due to tactical reasons.

Ten Hag confirms injury to Mason Mount

The Dutchman revealed that the playmaker had sustained another unspecified issue during the first half, which forced the change.

Ten Hag refrained from providing further details about Mount’s injury and expressed uncertainty about the severity of the issue.

He stated, “It was forced. He had an issue, he mentioned an issue and I didn’t want to take a risk. I don’t know how much of a worry it is in this moment. But we have a good bench.

“If you can bring Zirkzee and don’t hesitate, bring him off and you bring a player who has an impact and we see Josh had a great game.”

Ten Hag speaks on importance of squad depth

The United manager also emphasized the importance of squad depth, highlighting the contributions of other substitutes in the match.

“We have a squad, from the squad we will pick the best team. We have the starters, the finishers.

“Also today, the finishers had a good impact: when Garna [Garnacho] scores this (disallowed) goal, Scott doing well, Zirkzee had an impact, Matthijs de Ligt. They all did good but we need more than 11 players to be successful.”

Before Mount’s forced withdrawal, Manchester United found themselves trailing at the Amex, as former player Danny Welbeck capitalized on defensive lapses to score his 100th career goal.

United managed to equalize on the hour mark, with Amad Diallo’s shot deflecting off Jan Paul van Hecke and wrong-footing Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele. However, their celebrations were cut short.

Alejandro Garnacho thought he had given United the lead, but his goal was disallowed after Zirkzee was deemed offside when the ball deflected off his knee and into the net.

The match took another turn when Brighton secured the victory in injury time, with Joao Pedro heading home unchallenged to seal the win for the Seagulls.

Manchester United will look to bounce back when they host Liverpool at Old Trafford in a high-stakes clash next Sunday.

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Manchester United’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte continues to hang in the balance as the summer transfer window approaches its final days.

Following United’s disappointing loss to Brighton, manager Erik ten Hag was quizzed by TNT Sports about the possibility of securing Ugarte before the window slams shut.

The Red Devils have been closely monitoring Ugarte throughout the summer, aiming to bolster their midfield options.

In recent developments, reports indicate that a deal with Paris Saint-Germain for the 22-year-old Uruguayan midfielder is nearly finalized, following prolonged negotiations where the two clubs initially struggled to reach a compromise.

Ugarte himself is believed to have agreed on personal terms as far back as July, further fueling speculation about his future.

Reports also suggest that Manuel Ugarte is on standby, awaiting the green light to travel to Manchester, where he is expected to undergo his medical and finalize the contract.

With only six days remaining in the transfer window, Manchester United’s chances of enhancing their midfield for the 2024-25 season hinge on the swift resolution of the Ugarte discussions.

The urgency is clear, as United’s current squad depth in midfield has raised concerns among fans and pundits alike, especially in light of their recent performances.

Ten Hag responds to Manuel Ugarte question

When asked specifically about Ugarte, Ten Hag remained tight-lipped, stating, “I don’t have any update on anything regarding transfers. We always look for better.

“When we have news we will report it and in this moment I have not heard anything, so I don’t think there is anything to tell.”

His response highlighted the Dutchman’s reluctance to delve into the specifics of ongoing transfer negotiations, despite the pressing nature of the situation.

Similarly, Ten Hag provided little insight when questioned about potential outgoing transfers, reiterating, “As I said, when we have news, we will report it and now we don’t have news.”

Despite his efforts to maintain a poker face, it’s clear that Ten Hag is keen on improving the squad, though he chose not to elaborate on any particular deals.

With the clock ticking down, United supporters will be anxiously waiting for any updates on Ugarte’s potential arrival at Old Trafford, hoping that their midfield will see the reinforcements it needs to compete at the highest level this season.

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