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Manchester United have now submitted a £24m opening bid for a “powerful” midfielder, who has been compared to Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Man Utd stepping up new midfielder pursuit

Man United could smash their transfer record to get a new midfielder through the door, having set out to bolster their options in the engine room in 2026, and Wharton has been identified as one of their top targets, even though the Eagles are set to hold out for over £100m.

The Red Devils are confident they’ll be able to sign the Englishman, and it is little wonder they are so keen, given the level of some of his performances so far this season.

However, given that the move would be on the expensive side, it remains to be seen whether a deal will be possible, and some cheaper alternative targets have now been identified.

According to a report from Sport Time (via Sport Witness), Man United have now submitted an opening offer of €28m (£24m) for Olympiacos’ Christos Mouzakitis, who has started to attract interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid have also made a slightly higher bid, but the Greek club aren’t in a rush to sanction a departure, and they are hoping to receive €40m (£35m) for the midfielder’s services in the January transfer window.

Olympiacos aren’t even willing to listen to proposals of less than €30m (£26m), so if a January deal is going to transpire, Ruben Amorim’s side will have to increase their offer.

"Powerful" Mouzakitis could be low-cost Wharton alternative

The advantage of signing Wharton is that he is already proven in the Premier League, but over £100m is a huge amount to pay for any player, and the Olympiacos star could be an interesting alternative option.

In fact, the 18-year-old has been directly compared to the Crystal Palace star by scout Ben Mattinson, who said: “Mouzakitis is a highly technical #8. As a profile if I was to compare him to someone, I’d say Adam Wharton and Granit Xhaka.”

“He’s that type of left footed #8 who’s tenacious off the ball, incredibly crisp passing through the lines, powerful ball striker, good weight of pass…”

Man Utd submit £26m offer for former Premier League striker

United have tabled a bid for a new centre-forward, who has been in impressive form this season.

ByDominic Lund Dec 3, 2025

The starlet, who has made five Champions League appearances this season, also has a keen eye for creating chances, averaging 0.47 assists per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 99th percentile compared to other midfielders.

As such, the seven-time Greek international could be an exciting long-term addition to Amorim’s squad, but Man United should also bring in a midfielder who has more experience at the top level, with Mouzakitis yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.

Taylor Walls absolutely lost it on Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Rays shortstop was ejected in the ninth inning of his team's 1-0 loss to the Houston Astros after a back-and-forth with home plate umpire Nic Lentz.

Walls stepped to the plate to face Astros closer Josh Hader with one out in the top of the ninth and the first pitch he saw was an 84 mph slider that wound up low and away.

Lentz called it a strike. Walls couldn't believe it, and stepped out of the batters box and said something to the 35-year-old umpire. He wasn't satisfied with the response, so he then tapped his helmet, giving a mock request to challenge the call in the ABS system MLB has yet to implement. Lentz ejected him for it.

Walls went nuts after learning he was ejected and had to be held back by several coaches, before escaping and running back to get into Lentz's face.

Video is below.

That was a terrible call by Lentz, but Walls couldn't have been surprised by the ejection. Tapping his helmet was a clear joking request for a challenge, which could easily be seen as showing up the umpire.

Christopher Morel replaced Walls to finish the at bat and struck out. Hader then struck out Junior Caminero to end the game.

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has offered his advice to teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, as the 18-year-old continues to adapt to the demands of fame since his rapid rise to prominence with Barcelona. Nadal advised Yamal to surround himself with the right people who genuinely want the best for him, warning him that fame can "make you unhappy" if you do not take the right path.

Nadal warns Yamal against the dangers of fame and success

Nadal’s words of advice come amidst an ongoing shift where Yamal’s role for Barcelona and Spain is changing, from a storied teenage prodigy to a pair of young shoulders on which a lot of pressure is increasingly being placed.

Since turning 18 over the summer, a shift in Yamal’s public perception has begun to emerge, too – as speculation over lavish parties and public relationships with the likes of Argentine singer Nicki Nicole have begun to surface.

The fact that Yamal has spent a large portion of the 2025-26 season so far out with an injury in his groin area has not helped matters, but he has returned strongly from the set-back. His record of six goals and eight assists in just 12 matches in all competitions reflects the scary reality that he is only getting better. But, nevertheless, the impacts of fame must be managed, as Nadal has advised.

AdvertisementGetty Images Entertainment'It's important for him' – Nadal's words to Yamal

Nadal told : "He should surround himself with people who truly support him and who are smart enough to listen to what successful people prefer to ignore. He should surround himself with people who genuinely want his happiness, and he should know how to listen to them, which isn’t always easy when you are such a famous personality, in the spotlight. It’s important for him, given his young age.

"He needs to surround himself with people who will be beneficial to him, whether it’s his family or a team. Everyone’s reality is different, and everyone has their own mindset and personality. There are many paths to success, but the way you handle it and live with it over the years can make you a balanced and happy person, or on the contrary, success can make you unhappy, because fame eventually ends up consuming you."

Getty Images SportFormer teenage prodigy Nadal advises Yamal on steps to take

Amidst the ongoing growth of Yamal’s profile both on and off the pitch, Nadal’s words of advice reflect the fact that he must continue to let his football do the talking and surround himself with the right influences in his life outside of the game.

Tennis great Nadal himself rose to sporting fame at a young age, having turned professional at 14, and won his first French Open just days after his 19th birthday to ascend to No.2 in the world.

His words therefore offer great weight to the situation in which Yamal finds himself, as the Barca star aims to reach the very top of the footballing world himself.

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Yamal's injury drama ahead of Chelsea clash

Barcelona visit Chelsea in a crunch Champions League clash on Tuesday night, and Yamal will hope to be fully fit to take part in the encounter.

Recent reports detailed an intense recovery plan by Barca to have him ready for the match, having missed the international break with Spain. But Yamal returned to action last time out and played a full 90 against Athletic Club in La Liga, bagging two assists for Ferran Torres in a 4-0 victory, and so he is expected to be fully fit to face the Blues.

But club-versus-country drama was created over the international break, as Spanish football authorities claimed they were kept in the dark about treatment which meant Yamal would need to pull out of international duty.

They said in a statement: "The medical services of the Royal Spanish Football Federation wish to express their surprise and concern upon learning, at 13:47 on Monday 10 November – the day the national team's official training camp began – that Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure earlier that same morning to treat discomfort in his pubic area.

"This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the national team's medical staff, who only became aware of the details through a report received at 22:40 last night, in which a medical recommendation of 7-10 days of rest was indicated.

"In light of this situation, and with the player's health, safety, and well-being as the top priority, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has decided to release the player from the current squad."

Sri Lanka will finish above Pakistan and Bangladesh with five points, regardless of results in the final set of games

Madushka Balasuriya24-Oct-2025No result Sri Lanka’s match with Pakistan in Colombo was called off at 8:06pm local time, with only 26 deliveries possible in the game. Play was called off prior to the scheduled cut-off, with the umpires deciding the outfield was too waterlogged for a timely restart.The result means Sri Lanka will finish above Pakistan and Bangladesh with five points, regardless of results in the final set of games. For Pakistan, they end the tournament winless with three of their seven matches washed out.On a day forecast to have rain throughout, it was little surprise that the toss was delayed by two hours and 45 minutes after an initial downpour that had begun minutes prior to the scheduled toss. When play eventually restarted, the match was reduced to 34 overs a side of which only 4.2 was possible before the rain brought an end to the game for good.During the little play that was possible, Pakistan, who had been sent into bat, managed a circumspect start, scoring 18 runs and a solitary boundary. Malki Madara found early movement through the air, and was tight in her lines and lengths. Sugandika Dasanayake, however, struggled to grip an increasingly wet ball.In terms of team news, Sri Lanka had made one change bringing in spin-bowling allrounder Dewmi Vihanga for seamer Udeshika Prabodani. Pakistan made two, with Sidra Nawaz and Diana Baig making way for Eyman Fatima and Syeda Aroob Shah.The result will be a downer for two sides who between them have had five games washed out this tournament, and who crave more regular international cricket.

Arsenal are preparing a £70m offer for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who is now unhappy with manager Xabi Alonso, and keen to play under Mikel Arteta.

There are arguably question marks over whether the Gunners need to bring in another forward, off the back of a fantastic attacking display in the 4-1 rout against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with Eberechi Eze bagging a hat-trick.

Such is the depth of the attacking options Arteta has at his disposal, Gabriel Martinelli was unable to get off the bench against Spurs, with Leandro Trossard bagging his fifth goal of the season in all competitions, while also setting up Eze’s third goal.

Arteta has also confirmed that Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres were close to being involved in the North London derby, and added: “Unfortunately, [Odegaard] wasn’t 100% to be involved in such a game, but Noni [Madueke] is back and Gabriel [Martinelli] being back is a boost for us.”

However, with the Gunners perhaps keen to seize the chance to finally win the Premier League title, they are now lining up a move for a new forward ahead of the January transfer window.

Arsenal preparing offer for Rodrygo

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now preparing a package worth a total of €80m (£70m) to sign Rodrygo, with the Brazilian now unhappy with Alonso and keen to leave Real Madrid before the 2026 World Cup.

The 24-year-old is eager to receive consistent game time ahead of hopefully heading out to North America with Brazil, and he is keen to play under Arteta, alongside the likes of Eze, Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

Having already tried to sign the Madrid forward in the past, Arteta remains in ongoing talks with his representatives, which means they could be the favourites in the race for his signature, ahead of Liverpool.

Although game time has been hard to come by this season, the Brazil international has certainly impressed in a Real Madrid shirt in the past, receiving particularly high praise from journalist Bence Bocsak back in July.

Since then, the versatile forward, who can play at striker and on both wings, has continued to impress in Europe’s elite competition, picking up two assists in three Champions League outings this season.

The report makes it clear that Rodrygo is being targeted amid Martinelli’s uncertain future, and it would certainly be worth pursuing the Real Madrid ace if his compatriot were to move on next year.

However, Arsenal are currently very well-stocked in attacking areas, and £70m would be a huge fee to pay for a player who may not be a necessary addition.

Rodrygo has been named as one of the best wingers in the world The Best 15 Wingers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best wide man in world football right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 28, 2025

Nottingham Forest are believed to have advanced interest in an “amazing” Premier League player this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Nottingham Forest preparing for Chelsea showdown

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side’s 2-1 win away to West Ham last weekend has set up one of the Reds’ biggest matches in years this weekend, as they prepare to host Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Forest’s final Premier League game of the season is their most important, with victory over the Blues still giving them a chance of making it into the Champions League against all odds. But Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes they may just miss out, saying on Monday Night Football:

“They [Nottingham Forest] will give Chelsea a tough day, 100%. I’m not sure Chelsea can go there and win, I’ll be really honest with you. I think if Aston Villa win, they’ll get into the Champions League because I think Forest will take points off Chelsea.”

Champions League qualification would be absolutely huge for Forest, especially in terms of the calibre of player they could entice to the City Ground this summer, and a top-level footballer has now been linked with a switch there, amid some heavyweight competition for his signature.

Nottingham Forest prepare bid to sig £70m Eze

That’s according to Caught Offside, who state that Nottingham Forest have “advanced” interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and are even preparing a bid.

Tottenham are also in the same boat, with the England international having a £70m release clause in his contract, while Liverpool are also “long-standing admirers” of him.

Eze could be an incredible signing for Forest this summer, although missing out on the Champions League is likely to give other possible suitors an advantage in the race to snap him up.

The England international is still flying after his season-defining FA Cup final goal against Manchester City, as he wrote his name into Palace history, sealing a first-ever triumph in the competition in the Eagles’ history.

Nottingham Forest could "soon" hijack Inter Milan deal for £25m Brazilian

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side want to build upon their overachieving season.

ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025

Oliver Glasner is under no illusions as to how good his star player is, saying of him after a memorable goal in the semi-final victory over Aston villa: “The goal against Latvia and his first for England means a lot for him him. He always has the confidence, we know he’s an amazing finisher to cut inside on his right foot with an amazing finish. We need this quality, he helped us today massively.”

Eze’s flair and confidence on the ball, as well as his unpredictability, could make him an immediate hit at Forest, and if they did strike a deal for him, it would be a major statement of interest ahead of next season.

The 26-year-old could feel that now is the time for a new challenge in his career, feeling he has come as far as he can in a Palace shirt, and he could dovetail superbly with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood.

Granted, £70m is a lot of money, which could be a potential stumbling block, but Champions League qualification this weekend could help hugely in that respect.

Sheffield Wednesday are looking to build the foundations for another tilt at the Championship playoffs next term, though they may now face a fight with Blackburn Rovers to sign a reported target.

Sheffield Wednesday remain in a state of limbo with Danny Rohl

Usually, stability at a football club starts from the manager and filters down to his players, but the future of Danny Rohl at Hillsborough appears anything but certain at this point.

With the 36-year-old’s work in South Yorkshire not going unnoticed, interest is starting to mount in his services as clubs around Europe enter a period of change in the off-season.

If he were to leave South Yorkshire, where could the Sheffield Wednesday boss end up? Glasgow could be a potential destination after Rangers identified Rohl as a prospective permanent successor to Philippe Clement.

Fulham are another side intrigued by his managerial style, though ties haven’t been formally severed, which has led to a state of limbo involving all parties.

Regardless, Sheffield Wednesday need to start building for the new season. Some clarity over the direction of their squad has been found in Thursday’s retained list amid a lack of communication on matters at managerial level.

Sheffield Wednesday ready to make five new signings including Leeds 17 y/o

The Owls could welcome as many as five future stars.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 15, 2025

Barry Bannan, Akin Famewo and Callum Paterson are in talks to stay, while Anthony Musaba, Michael Smith and Josh Windass have been tied to new deals following the club’s decision to trigger their options. Stuart Armstrong, Mallik Wilks and Marvin Johnson are among notable departures, paving the way for eventual reinforcements to take their place.

Undoubtedly, a feeling of anxiety exists over Rohl’s future, but forward planning is underway regarding their pursuit of a highly-rated defensive target.

Sheffield Wednesday make enquiry to sign Aston Villa youngster Rowe

According to Football Insider, Sheffield Wednesday are pursuing Aston Villa youngster Triston Rowe on a loan basis amid competition from Blackburn Rovers for his signature and have made a move by launching an initial enquiry.

The Villans have seen enough in the England Under-19 international’s development to decide on farming him out to the EFL Championship for further experience after his role in their Under-18 side’s treble victory.

Triston Rowe in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

35

Goals

1

Assists

1

Primarily a right-back, Rowe can also deputise in central defence or further up the flank if needed and was previously called up to Aston Villa’s matchday squad in their 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Wycombe Wanderers last year.

Nevertheless, he isn’t yet viewed as a viable competitor to Matty Cash, so a loan move would allow him to continue developing without the spotlight of being thrust into a high-stakes top-flight environment.

Former Scotland international Liam Palmer isn’t getting any younger, which may have prompted Sheffield Wednesday to assess their own pecking order on the right-hand side of defence.

Now, their challenge will be to convince the youngster that Hillsborough is the correct environment to thrive while growing into the senior game next campaign.

A former Premier League manager is interested in taking over at Rangers, and is now just awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about a move to Ibrox, according to a new report.

Rangers slip up again as Celtic claim Scottish Premiership title

It was a weekend to forget for Rangers fans as rivals Celtic clinched their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title — and a 13th in 14 seasons — while the Gers slipped to another draw.

Celtic cruised to a 5-0 victory over Dundee United to seal the title, while Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling St. Mirren — results that highlight the contrasting fortunes of the two sides this season.

After the draw with St. Mirren, Rangers caretaker boss Barry Ferguson described his team’s performance as “not good enough.”

“I know it’s a difficult place to come, but when you take the lead twice, you need to maintain that lead,” he told BBC Scotland. “That’s been a problem all season, and that’s the reason we have not been challenging. You can do all the work on the training ground and say all the right things in meetings, but when you cross that white line, you have to deal with it yourself.”

On Celtic’s title triumph, he added: “It’ll be painful for my staff, it’ll be painful for the supporters. And I want it to be painful for my players. Because you’re at Rangers, and we need to start challenging, properly challenging, for trophies.”

Martin "interested" in Rangers move

Though Ferguson has undoubtedly been an improvement on former boss Philippe Clement, he may not stay in charge beyond the end of the season — meaning the Gers and the 49ers will need to find a new man to take the reins at Ibrox.

According to The Scottish Sun, that man could be former Southampton boss Russell Martin. Martin was sacked by the Saints earlier this season after a disastrous Premier League campaign that ultimately ended in relegation. However, he is a target to take over from Ferguson at Rangers.

The Sun reports that Martin is very interested in the job and is simply awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about filling the position.

Despite his poor record with Southampton, Martin received heavy praise from one of the game’s greatest managers — Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Speaking after City’s 1-0 win over Southampton back in October, Guardiola said of the former MK Dons boss: “It’s a good game to learn as a manager. I am going to learn a lot with Russell because they did really well.”

On how Martin set Southampton up that day, Guardiola added: “They are really good. I’m a spectator. I prefer the players to get the ball to feet, not the teeth.

“When I see the opponent do the things I like to do with my team and they do it really well, I make a compliment. I’m sure I will learn; there were some movements, the reasons why they do things, the movements they make to link to the striker. It’s not easy.”

With the 49ers set to complete a takeover of Rangers, Ibrox legend Ally McCoist has had his say on what they must change when they officially arrive amid rumours of a £25m transfer kitty.

McCoist tells new Rangers owners to hire sporting director

Following a disastrous campaign in the Scottish Premiership, in which they sit a world away from runaway leaders Celtic, Rangers must get things right on all fronts as the 49ers arrive for their first summer in charge. The new owners will be desperate to translate the Gers’ impressive European form into domestic victories next season in an attempt to bridge a growing gap on their Old Firm rivals.

Those at Ibrox have enjoyed contrasting form in the Europa League and enjoyed yet another moment to remember against Athletic Bilbao when Liam Kelly saved substitute Alex Berenguer’s penalty to help the 10-men of Rangers hold into a draw after Robin Propper’s early red card.

Before Rangers can enjoy such nights again in the Scottish Premiership, however, McCoist believes that the 49ers need to make one crucial change when they arrive.

Asked by Football FanCast how 49ers Enterpises can close the gap to Celtic after rumours of a £25m summer war-chest, McCoist said: “The first thing they have to do is clearly appoint somebody that they’re going to trust with potential finances. I would rather see them take their time if I’m to be brutally honest. I’d rather see hopefully new owners come in with a business plan, because it’s not gonna be an overnight fix. There’s no chance.”

As bad as Propper: Ferguson must axe Rangers dud who made just 4 passes

Having battled to a goalless draw at Ibrox, Rangers manager Barry Ferguson must axe his “frustrating” star at San Mamés in next Thursday’s second leg.

ByBen Gray Apr 11, 2025

The Rangers legend went on to say: “Although changes are needed at Rangers, and some big ones, I don’t see them making them all at once. I see them coming in, taking their time, having a business plan, appointing someone and moving the club forward gradually.

“I think that’s a far better idea than just going out and spending money willy-nilly on four or five players. I think there has to be a business plan, you’ve gotta build and take it from there – a steady improvement all of the time.”

49ers must nail double appointment this summer

The frustration around Rangers is certainly justified and McCoist has been among those disappointed by just how far the Gers have fallen this season, from Philippe Clement’s reign to Barry Ferguson’s spell as interim manager.

Expressing that disappointment, McCoist said: “The disappointing thing for me has been the dramatic decline since they were a penalty kick away from winning the Europa League. It’s just went south very very quickly for whatever reasons. But I don’t think it’s gonna be an overnight fix. I just hope that the new owners can come in.”

Whilst their European exploits have remained, Rangers desperately need a long-term vision if they are to dethrone Celtic once again in the Scottish Premiership, and that all starts with getting the right men in the sporting director seat and in the dugout this summer.

Manchester United have now identified a new top target to replace Andre Onana this summer, amid concerns over the goalkeeper’s performances this season, according to a report.

Man Utd star dropped after Lyon disaster

Onana had a point to prove heading into Man United’s Europa League clash against Lyon, having received heavy criticism from Nemanja Matic before the match, but the Cameroonian put in a very disappointing performance.

After making a major blunder, which allowed Rayan Cherki to bag a late equaliser, the goalkeeper received a 5.9 SofaScore match rating, the lowest of any player on the pitch, and he was subsequently dropped for the 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United.

Given that Altay Bayindir also failed to impress at St. James’ Park, Ruben Amorim has a selection dilemma heading into the second leg against Lyon on Thursday night, which is perhaps his side’s most crucial game of the season so far.

New target: Man Utd eyeing move to sign "excellent" £15m Onana replacement

The Red Devils have joined the race for a goalkeeper, amid concerns over Andre Onana’s form.

ByDominic Lund Apr 15, 2025

However, Amorim’s lack of faith in his goalkeepers means it is now looking increasingly likely a new option will be brought in between the sticks this summer, and a new top target has now been identified.

According to a report from Spain, FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa is the leading candidate to replace Onana, with Old Trafford chiefs now ramping up their pursuit of a new goalkeeper.

Costa’s impressive performances for club and country mean he has now been pinpointed as the Red Devils’ number one choice, most notably putting in some top displays for national side Portugal at Euro 2024.

The Portugal international is protected by a €75m (£64m) release clause, and Porto are unwilling to sanction his departure for a lower fee, so United will need to spend big to get a deal over the line this summer.

"Superman" Costa could be upgrade on Onana

The Porto shot-stopper put in some top displays at Euro 2024, while he has also impressed in a Porto shirt for quite some time, having been lauded as a “superman” by scout/writer Jacek Kulig after catching the eye in the Champions League.

Perhaps crucially, the 25-year-old appears to be competent in possession of the ball, given that he ranks in the 93rd percentile for touches per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Not only that, but the Porto academy graduate is particularly adept at saving penalties, recently denying Christian Eriksen from the spot in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League clash against Denmark.

At 25-years-old, Costa may be about to enter his prime years, and his performances for both club and country indicate he could be a real upgrade on Onana, who is running out of time to save his Man United career.