Sunderland have been flexing their muscles all across the summer transfer window with some impressive purchases after promotion to the Premier League.

12 new faces have arrived at Regis Le Bris’ camp already to try and make immediate safety a reality, with plenty more signings expected to join the Stadium of Light ranks on a chaotic deadline day before the clock strikes 7pm.

The ambitious Black Cats are already edging ever closer to picking up their first standout buy of the day, as Le Bris dives back into the Bundesliga market to try and win himself a similar warrior figure to new captain Granit Xhaka.

Sunderland strike late agreement with £20m ace

Shut your eyes for just a split second, and you might miss the latest whirlwind transfer development on Wearside.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, as it’s been reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Sunderland have struck up a last-ditch agreement with RB Leipzig defender Letsharel Geertruida.

Fabrizio Romano has further followed up on the breaking news to clarify that a £20m buy option clause has been inserted into the initial loan deal, should the Black Cats want to make the signing a permanent one, with the deal close to being finalised.

The former Feyenoord defender could well go down as a superb late buy for the Premier League newcomers, as Le Bris and Co. pray that their next Xhaka has entered through the door to make survival an easier task to complete.

Why Geertruida can be Xhaka 2.0

While he is now being told he can leave Leipzig behind, Geertruida has shone in flashes in the demanding German top-flight, away from being remembered fondly in his native Netherlands.

A sturdy six clean sheets would come the 25-year-old’s way last season in the hustle and bustle of league action when competing with Xhaka’s Bayer Leverkusen, with a goal also heading his direction, away from just completing his defensive basics.

Xhaka is also well known for being both gritty and a creative force, too, with nine goal contributions next to his name last season for his own Bundesliga employers, on top of averaging 3.9 duels won per league contest, as per Sofascore.

The duo together could really offer Sunderland some steel and creativity; therefore, with Geertruida even being dubbed “monumental” for his forceful nature by scout Antonio Mango when consistently standing out in the Eredivisie.

Indeed, the Rotterdam-born defender would pick up a stunning 24 goals and 11 assists from a whopping 202 clashes for ex-side Feyenoord. To add context, Xhaka – when routinely strutting his stuff in the Premier League from the middle of the park – has his own impressive tally of 17 goals and 25 assists from 228 games, with an assist already notched up for Le Bris and Co.

Yet, his determination to always fight for the cause never wavered across that mammoth collection of matches, with his final full Eredivisie campaign seeing him collect a colossal 15 clean sheets.

RB

161

24 + 7

CB

115

15 + 2

DM

20

1 + 2

LB

7

0 + 1

RM

4

0 + 1

CM

2

0

Geertruida might even be lining up alongside Xhaka in the midfield areas shortly, when assessing the table above, with the Dutchman capable of playing in a whole host of different positions if needed, which makes him even more of an invaluable late buy.

Having starred briefly in the Bundesliga, and more consistently in the Dutch top division, it will be intriguing to see how the 25-year-old now fares in the bright lights of the Premier League.

If he is a rip-roaring success, it could well prove to be another coup from Germany, much like the fanfare that greeted Xhaka’s arrival from the BayArena.

Sunderland now "keen" to sign rapid £35m star similar to Vinicius Junior

The Black Cats are ready to make a late swoop…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 31, 2025

After finishing 15th last season, Manchester United required a major squad overhaul which they got, well in two specific areas of the team anyway.

On deadline day, the Red Devils signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for a reported fee of £22m including add-ons, certainly a big fee for a 23-year-old who has made just 64 senior appearances for the Belgian club.

Nevertheless, goalkeeper was certainly a position of need, given André Onana’s calamitous performance at Grimsby last Wednesday, as they were dumped out of the EFL Cup by fourth-tier opposition for the first time ever, while Altay Bayındır has not covered himself in glory during his three Premier League appearances either.

This late move aside, the only other new additions to Rúben Amorim’s squad have all been attackers, splurging a combined £207m to sign an entirely new-look front three.

However, could one of these forwards ultimately prove to be a bargain, especially when compared to the prime target Man United missed out on?

Manchester United's midfield situation

To the surprise of many, Manchester United have not signed a new midfielder this summer, leaving a situation that is a complete mess.

Earlier in the window, it was reported that Manchester United had held initial talks with Brighton over the possibility of signing Carlos Baleba, but the Seagulls would only be willing to sell for around the £115m Chelsea paid to sign Moisés Caicedo two years ago, which quickly ended this as a possibility.

As the Cameroonian international did not arrive at Old Trafford, it would appear likely that Bruno Fernandes, alongside Casemiro will remain Amorim’s first-choice midfield combination, much to the chagrin of Kobbie Mainoo.

Having seen zero minutes during the first two Premier League fixtures, he was introduced at halftime against Burnley on Saturday, the England international submitted a loan request last week, but this was unequivocally rejected by the club.

Considering Man United’s next fixture is away at the Etihad, bringing Mainoo into the team appears to be a no-brainer, given that the 20-year-old has the capabilities to solve a lot of problems, as he did for England during their run to the Euros final.

So, perhaps the Red Devils didn’t need Baleba after all, not willing to smash their transfer record to secure his signature, but could one of their summer signings prove to be a bargain?

Manchester United's shrewd investment

At the start of the window, Old Trafford certainly did not appear to be Benjamin Šeško’s most likely destination.

After RB Leipzig finished seventh in last season’s Bundesliga, thereby failing to qualify for any European competition, it was clear that the Slovenian would depart Saxony.

Arsenal appeared to be the front-runners to secure his signature but, partially put off by Leipzig’s humongous asking price, elected to sign Viktor Gyökeres instead.

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Then, as the Alexander Isak saga escalated, Newcastle agreed a fee to sign Šeško before, after the Magpies had done all the legwork, Manchester United swooped in and convinced him to sign for them instead of moving to Tyneside.

Upon his arrival, Man United’s sporting director Jason Wilcox asserted that the striker “possesses a rare combination of electrifying pace and the ability to physically dominate defenders”, believing he will fulfil his “world-class potential” at the club.

The final fee paid for Šeško is £66.3m plus £7.4m in add-ons which, even if all met, is still below his estimated transfer value of £108m, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

Meantime, they also believe that Baleba is worth around £75m, supporting the decision Man United made in not progress any further with that deal, given Brighton’s sky-high demands.

So, even though Šeško is yet to get off the mark, time is on his side, considering he’s just 22 years old, while he has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer, bagging 39 across two seasons at Leipzig, on top of the 14 he’s netted for Slovenia.

Thus, while Manchester United have not been particularly smart in the transfer window for a decade and more, they might have just struck gold here, certainly improving their existing options.

Lost the ball 15x: Man Utd's 8/10 ace is already looking like another Bruno

Bruno Fernandes’ last-gasp penalty secured a valuable win for Manchester United at home to Burnley…

1 ByRobbie Walls Aug 30, 2025

Mark Robinson has left his role as Warwickshire’s first-team coach after the club conducted a restructure of coaching and support staff. He will be replaced in the role by former Warwickshire batter Ian Westwood.Robinson was appointed in early 2021 and went on to lead Warwickshire to the County Championship title in his first season. They finished eighth in 2022, avoiding relegation on the final day, and then seventh last year, winning just once in the Championship. They also lost at the quarter-final stage of the Blast four seasons running.Warwickshire’s chief executive, Stuart Cain, said there had been disappointment at the recent performance of the men’s teams but the club wanted to avoid “a kneejerk response” to last season. Following a high-performance review, a number of changes have been made to the coaching structure, in part to reflect the advent of a professional women’s team and the continued integration of Birmingham Phoenix.Related

• Warwickshire appoint Manchester City's James Thomas as performance director

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• Beau Webster to prepare for WTC final with Warwickshire stint

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• Vishwa Fernando signs for Warwickshire on short-term Championship deal

In addition to Westwood overseeing the first team, Tony Frost has been appointed head of cricket operations after the retirement of Keith Cook, while Simon Kerrigan will become 2nd XI coach as well as offering spin bowling support. Stuart Barnes remains as bowling coach, with the club seeking a new batting coach.Laura Macleod will continue as head of high performance for Bears Women, working alongside Ali Maiden, recently appointed head coach of both Bears Women and Birmingham Phoenix.With Warwickshire retaining 51% majority ownership of Phoenix following the ECB’s Hundred equity sale, those teams will also be integrated into the new structure from 2026. Warwickshire are also in the process of appointing a new performance director after the departure of Gavin Larsen before Christmas.”It’s no secret we’ve been disappointed in our men’s performance in recent years,” Cain said. “We also wanted to proactively address the biggest changes the game has seen in a decade with the long-overdue formation of a professional Bears Women’s team and the integration of Birmingham Phoenix into our elite set-up.”It was important not to make a kneejerk response to last season. We allowed time for a thorough analysis of our high performance structure and worked with the club’s cricket audit committee and board to create a new approach that recognises the need for improvement and also addresses the challenges created by moving from managing one professional team to four, playing four different formats of cricket.”Robbo has worked hard for the Bears since joining in 2021 and we shouldn’t underestimate his achievement in winning the County Championship in his first season. He is a quality coach and will be an asset to any club.”However, considering recent performances and feedback from the review, we felt it was time for change. Ian Westwood is a Bear through-and-through. He understands our history, culture, and DNA. He is competitive, structured and a quality leader having previously been club captain and 2nd XI coach. He understands how to win red-ball matches as well as the demands of white ball, having most recently coached at Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20.”The new head of cricket operations role means we have somebody focused on running the machine, making sure everything from hotels and kit through to wickets and the indoor centre are set up to support the players and ensure there are no distractions or frustrations. Frosty will take over from the retiring Keith Cook who has given such incredible service to the club for more than 50 years.”We’re confident this new structure gives us the skills, resources and focus needed for the men’s and women’s teams to put themselves in a position to win domestic tournaments, as well as develop local talent from the many diverse communities that surround Edgbaston.”Robinson, who previously coached England Women and Sussex, pointed to the 2021 Championship success as well as the recent elevation of Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley to full England duty as highlights during his time in charge.He said: “There are many things we’ve celebrated during my time as a Bear, and things we know could have gone better. Winning the Championship was a huge highlight, as was overseeing our T20 team from one that was struggling to qualify to one that topped the group three years running.”Losing the quarter-final last year hurt badly but I’m sure it won’t be long before the boys take that next step to silverware.”Seeing two Academy boys, Bethell and Mousley, go from regular Bears players to making their England debuts made everyone, myself included, very proud.”Lastly, thank you to the supporters who are the most important part of the club for your support. I know it will only be a matter of time before you get the success you deserve.”

Edgbaston hotel plan approved

Warwickshire also confirmed on Thursday that they have received planning permission from Birmingham City Council for a £42 million redevelopment at Edgbaston that will include a new on-site hotel. Work is expected to begin in September and be completed ahead of the 2027 men’s Ashes Test.The proposals will see the existing Raglan and Priory Stands on the northwest side of the ground redesigned to include a 146-bed Radisson Red hotel with rooftop terrace, pitch-view rooms with balconies, and other rooms that can be converted into hospitality boxes during games. The new stand, which will see a slight increase in capacity, will also feature a concourse with enhanced food and drink options, and improved facilities for disabled spectators.Craig Flindall, Edgbaston’s strategy director, said: “We’re grateful to Birmingham City Council for approving the plans and for sharing our vision to bring increased economic and social benefits to the region through international sport.”Cricket will always stay at the heart of our thinking. But it’s important we develop a stadium that operates all year round, supporting new jobs in this part of the city and creates wider community opportunities.”We are creating a mixed-use destination that will combine elite sport, conferencing and events and residential and hotel accommodation with community facilities that will improve education, employment and social cohesion in the area.”

No Chelsea player had ever scored in the Blues' first four games of a Women's Super League campaign – until Aggie Beever-Jones did exactly that on Sunday to set the defending champions on their way to a dominant 4-0 win that was certainly eventful. With records broken, plenty of goals scored and a stunning red card for Ines Belloumou, for pulling the hair of United States star Alyssa Thompson, those in attendance certainly got their money's worth when it came to action – though it was the kind which only the away end could really enjoy.

It all started with just eight minutes on the clock, as Beever-Jones fired a quite brilliant free-kick into the top corner. Despite Chelsea being crowned WSL champions in each of the past six seasons, no one has ever started a campaign for the Blues in a manner as impressively consistent as the England star, as was confirmed with her record-breaking fourth in four in east London.

That set the tone for Chelsea, who were 2-0 up four minutes later when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd capitalised on some statuesque defending to tap in her first of the new season, and 3-0 up three minutes after that thanks to a powerful strike from Erin Cuthbert. Any hopes West Ham harboured of getting back into the game were then dashed by Belloumou's needless sending off, which came as the clock was just ticking past the halfway point of the first period.

Chelsea's relentlessness did desert them after that, giving the Hammers some welcome respite. However, that was only until the hour, when Sonia Bompastor turned to her bench for more ammunition. All of Catarina Macario, Sandy Baltimore, Guro Reiten, Sam Kerr and Maika Hamano would be introduced, and all of them helped pepper the home goal with crosses and shots. Were it not for the woodwork and some top saves from Kinga Szemik, the scoreline could've been much worse, though Wieke Kaptein was able to squeeze in just one more, thanks to a terrific cross from the lively Macario.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Victoria Road…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Hannah Hampton (7/10):

Had very little to do all game and yet, still came up with a fantastic save one-on-one in the latter stages.

Nathalie Bjorn (6/10):

Good on the ball, though struggled to win many duels.

Millie Bright (8/10):

Was in the right place at the right time on several occasions, able to step in and snuff out most West Ham attacks. Offered plenty with the ball at her feet, too, be it with line-breaking drives or sweeping long passes.

Veerle Buurman (7/10):

Another really promising performance from the talented teenager in which she came out on top so often in her individual battles.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (7/10):

Showed good goal-scoring instincts to be in the right place to tap in Chelsea's second. Was quiet after that, until finding something of a second wind just past the hour and turning into an electric threat again. 

Keira Walsh (7/10):

Almost perfect in possession, misplacing just one pass all afternoon. Recycled the ball well and provided astute defensive cover.

Oriane Jean-Francois (6/10):

Had some good moments in possession in a packed midfield but was a little sloppy at times, too.

Erin Cuthbert (8/10):

Ran the show in midfield with her accuracy in possession and great running, both on and off the ball. Was always willing to take advantage of the space afforded to her and get a shot off, an approach which gave her a great goal.

Alyssa Thompson (7/10):

A promising full debut, despite her playing in the unnatural role of a left wing-back. Showed lots of positivity going forward and did her defensive duties well.

Getty ImagesAttack

Wieke Kaptein (7/10):

Was a positive and energetic presence throughout and got a goal her effort deserved.

Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):

Led the line well, with plenty of energy, and scored a terrific goal to break the deadlock.

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Sandy Baltimore (6/10):

Gave Thompson some respite by slotting into the left wing-back role she's much more familiar with. Got up and down the flank well and fizzed in a couple of dangerous balls that only needed a touch to be turned into a goal.

Guro Reiten (6/10):

Another impactful sub who was so close to getting a goal not long after being introduced.

Catarina Macario (7/10):

Incredibly positive and direct from the second she entered the game, getting a well-deserved assist only a few minutes later. Could've had two goals, too, were it not for a top save and, later, the woodwork.

Sam Kerr (N/A):

Continued her return from a long injury lay-off with some more minutes in the tank in the closing stages.

Maika Hamano (N/A):

Another sub who helped keep the energy up and the pressure on.

Sonia Bompastor (7/10):

Set-up her team in an orthodox formation which packed the midfield and that helped Chelsea to completely overwhelm West Ham, especially in the early stages. Subs changed the game when things became stale, putting the Blues back on the front foot immediately.

Tottenham Hotspur are “pushing to sign” an “unbelievable finisher”, and an offer has now been made, reliable reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed.

Tottenham keen on new attacker despite dominant opening day victory

Tottenham kicked off their 2025-25 Premier League campaign in perfect fashion, securing a 3-0 victory at home against newly-promoted Burnley, and new signing Mohammed Kudus certainly caught the eye with his performance.

The Ghanaian winger chipped in with two assists on his league debut for Spurs, with Richarlison bagging a brace and Brennan Johnson also getting on the scoresheet, underlining the quality Thomas Frank has at his disposal in attacking areas.

However, given that Son Heung-min has now departed for LAFC, and James Maddison is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ACL injury, it will be important for Frank to bolster his options in attack further ahead of the September 1st deadline.

It has been clear that Tottenham have wanted an attacking midfielder for quite some time, having missed out on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this summer, but they now appear to be closing in on a deal to sign a different England international.

Indeed, according to an update from Jacobs on X, Tottenham have now made an offer in the region of £55m – £60m for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who could complete a move to north London as soon as next week.

The structure of the deal is still under discussion, but it is now looking increasingly likely Eze will move across the capital, given that Spurs are “pushing to sign” the Palace star, and he “wants to join”.

Eze is expected to start for Palace against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, though.

"Unbelievable" Eze could be statement signing for Spurs

Tottenham will have been very frustrated to have missed out on Gibbs-White earlier this summer, but the Palace star would arguably be an even better signing, having outperformed his England teammate in terms of attacking contributions last season.

Player

Appearances (all comps)

Combined G/A

Eberechi Eze

43

25

Morgan Gibbs-White

38

17

Oliver Glasner was also left impressed by his talisman’s performances in the 2024-25 campaign, saying: “He’s always dangerous because he has the quality and ability at 1-1, he’s such an unbelievable finisher, in some situations he can improve, he’s a guy who can always score and he’s someone who everyone likes.”

Frank identifies third £60m top Tottenham target with Eze and Savinho

The Spurs boss personally wants him.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 17, 2025

With Maddison set to miss the majority of the campaign due to injury, it is imperative that Tottenham bring in at least one more attacking midfielder this summer, and having already proven himself in the Premier League, Eze would be the ideal addition to Frank’s squad.

Federico Valverde has revealed Real Madrid held a series of "rare" crisis talks after their 5-2 derby humiliation against Atletico Madrid. The midfielder slammed his teammates' attitude as Xabi Alonso's men were overpowered in the second half of the encounter despite going in level at half-time with a 2-2 scoreline.

• Madrid look to rebound

  The match at the Metropolitano was a brutal reality check, ending Real Madrid’s perfect start to the new La Liga season. Despite dominating possession, Alonso’s side were defensively dismantled and clinically punished by their city rivals. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler turned out to be mere consolations in their first defeat of the campaign. The loss was doubly impactful, as it saw Madrid surrender the top spot in the table, falling one point behind league leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona.

  Speaking in a press conference ahead of their Champions League match against Kairat Almaty, Uruguayan midfielder Valverde gave a stark assessment of the mood inside the dressing room after their derby humiliation on Saturday.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Rare' crisis talks held after derby humbling

  "They were two very tough days, very upset by the defeat," he told reporters on Monday. "We talked a lot; since I've been at Madrid, that's rarely happened, so many conversations. We have to change as quickly as possible. We emphasized the attitude on the pitch. Also with the coach, there were many conversations. We have to change as quickly as possible. We emphasized the attitude on the pitch. Also with the coach, there were many conversations. [On Tuesday], the first game, to change all that."

• 'Attitude is non-negotiable' – Valverde's damning assessment

  The midfielder was particularly critical of the team's mentality at the Metropolitano, stating that a lack of application was unacceptable. "These are games where you don't even need to shout in the locker room to get motivated. These things can't happen, not at Madrid or anywhere else. You have to motivate yourself with any game, especially in a derby. We can fail in many ways, but attitude is non-negotiable. It's the first step to show that we want to win," Valverde insisted. 

  He specifically pointed to the start of the second half, adding: "We came out as if a draw would do the trick. We have to change that, starting with this game. As a key player for this team, we have to move on from that moment and take this game as an opportunity to grow."

  Manager Alonso sought to broaden the analysis, stating the defeat was not solely down to mentality. "It wasn't just attitude. It was also rhythm, tactical aspects, aspects of the game," the coach explained.

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• Valverde 'frustrated' with personal form

  On a personal level, Valverde admitted that he has not been at his best in recent games and is determined to improve. "I'm a little frustrated. I'm aware of how I'm playing; I'm the first to know when things aren't going my way," he said. "Now it's much harder for me to feel comfortable on the pitch. I'll keep working. As captain, I'll continue to lead the group and stand up for myself when I play."

As their poor start continues in the Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly opened talks to sign a midfield star who already has a big-money offer on the table.

Latest on Wolves' Arokodare pursuit

Things may not have been much better on the pitch this weekend, with Vitor Pereira’s side suffering a 3-2 defeat against Everton, but there is an improvement on the way thanks to Wolves’ dealings away from the action. According to Fabrizio Romano, Tolu Arokodare has arrived in England and is set to complete his move to the Midlands club before the deadline.

The forward will add plenty of firepower to Pereira’s side, who were without Jorgen Strand Larsen against Everton amid an untimely injury as speculation continues to surround his future.

In an ideal world for Molineux chiefs, the Norwegian will be back fit and firing in a Wolves shirt after the international break and doing so next to new strike partner Arokodare.

League stats 24/25

Strand Larsen

Arokodare

Minutes

2,587

2,314

Goals

14

17

Assists

4

5

Expected Goals

10.3

22.7

If both players hit top form in the Premier League, then Wolves will have two strikers capable of hitting double figures for goals and that could be the difference between relegation and survival.

Meanwhile, Wolves’ business may not be done after Arokodare’s arrival. They’re still on the hunt for a midfielder and have reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, whilst also opening talks to land a bargain deal for another impressive option ahead of the deadline.

Wolves open talks to sign Brownhill

According to Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, Wolves have opened talks to sign Josh Brownhill, who is still a free agent after leaving Burnley at the end of last season. The midfielder already reportedly has an offer worth around £100,000-a-week from Saudi Pro Leagie side Al-Shabab and is considering the big-money move, but Wolves could yet persuade him to stay put in English football.

Related Done deal: Wolves reach agreement to sign "great" £20m+ star for Pereira

They’re set to complete a late swoop.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Aug 30, 2025

Given his free agent status, Wolves would be landing an excellent bargain. The 29-year-old was excellent for Burnley as they secured historic promotion last season and is more than talented enough to thrive in the Premier League.

Scott Parker didn’t shy away from recognising Brownhill’s influence last season, either. The Burnley boss told reporters: “There are not enough words to compliment Browny.

“He’s a driving force in this team, he’s got brilliant box habits and he’s always in and around the right areas. He’s got huge quality and he’s now got nine for the season, so he’s been fundamental for us.”

أكد عصام الطالبي المتحدث الرسمي لـ اتحاد طنجة المغربي، أن ناديه سيتقدم بشكوى ضد الزمالك بسبب تأخر دفع القسط الأول من قيمة انتقال عبد الحميد معالي إلى الأبيض.

وكان عبد الحمد معالي قد انتقل إلى صفوف الزمالك، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية من نادي اتحاد طنجة المغربي.

طالع.. خاص | اتحاد طنجة يهدد الزمالك: نحضر لشكوى أمام فيفا بسبب عبد الحميد معالي.. وستحرمون من القيد

وقال الطالبي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “نؤكد أننا في اتحاد طنجة نحترم الزمالك، والعلاقة بيننا ستبقى قائمة على التقدير والتعاون، ولكن ما يخص عبد الحميد معالي، إن العقد المبرم بين الناديين كان واضحًا جدًا، يتضمن تحويل القسط الأول في أغسطس، والقسط الثاني في أكتوبر”.

وأضاف: “علمنا بعد ذلك أن الزمالك يمر بأزمة مالية خانقة، ولم يصل اتحاد طنجة أي مبلغ رغم مراسلاتنا الرسمية للنادي، والسبب الأول للأزمة، إن آخر تواصل بيننا كان في أغسطس، وطلبوا منا مهلة 10 أيام ثم مر أكثر من شهر ولم نصل إلى نتيجة”.

وأتم: “نحن نتفهم الأزمة التي يمر بها الزمالك، لكن العقد شريعة المتعاقدين، وهناك حقوق، نحترم الزمالك النادي العريق، لكننا نسعى للحصول على حقوق نادينا، وتبقى علاقتنا قوية مع الأندية المصرية كلها، ونتقبل الحلول الودية، وفي المقابل نتمسك بحقوقنا، وسنسلك الطرق القانونية عبر فيفا إذا استمر الوضع”.

Being one of the biggest clubs in world football, Manchester United have completed some hugely exciting signings over the years.

While they don’t always work out, the Red Devils have signed more than their fair share of bona fide superstars over the years, like Paul Pogba and Ángel Di María, just to name a couple.

However, when it comes to the transfer that captured the most headlines and caused the most excitement among the fans, it’s hard to look past Cristiano Ronaldo’s return in 2021.

Interestingly, if reports are to be believed, United are looking to make another signing in that vein this summer.

United working on Ronaldo repeat

While last season was Manchester United’s worst in the Premier League era, the club have had an excellent summer when it comes to transfers.

Transfer Focus

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

While it looked like they’d struggle to bring in their targets at one point, the Red Devils have now overhauled their entire frontline with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Yet, instead of sitting back and being pleased with their efforts, the club look intent on making more signings, and are now looking at a deal which would be very reminiscent of Ronaldo’s in 2021.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Sun, which claims United are interested in David de Gea.

In fact, the report has revealed that INEOS and Co have been making ‘discreet calls’ behind the scenes and have been tipped off that a clause in their former player’s current contract with Fiorentina could see him ‘leave for a relatively small sum.’

It’s unclear what that fee would be, but given Andre Onana’s struggles last year, United should pay it and bring the Spaniard back, just like they did with Ronaldo.

Why De Gea would be Ronaldo 2.0

While there are probably other signings you could compare it to, especially when it comes to the position, there are a few reasons why bringing De Gea in this summer would feel a lot like Ronaldo’s move in 2021.

The first is obviously the fact that it would be United resigning an old player, although more than that, it would be the club bringing back someone who had been one of their very best players for years.

During his time in the North West, the “phenomenal” Spaniard, as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand, made an astounding 545 appearances for the Red Devils, in which he kept 190 clean sheets, averaged 1.84 points per game and won more than his fair share of major honours, including one Premier League title, an FA Cup and the Europa League.

Moreover, like the former Real Madrid star, the shot-stopper would be making his way back to Old Trafford from Serie A, and he would also almost certainly do so under the promise he’d get plenty of first-team football this season.

After all, one of the primary reasons this deal even seems plausible is the fact that Andre Onana has been an issue for the club, and they need someone more reliable between the sticks as soon as possible.

We can see that the former United star would be able to fulfil that role by looking at both players’ underlying numbers from last season, as in almost every relevant metric from saves per game to save percentage and even passing accuracy, he comes out on top.

Ultimately, while some might argue United shouldn’t go back for a player they sold in the past, it’s clear they need a more reliable goalkeeper this season, and from everything we’ve seen over the last year or two, it’s clear that De Gea is precisely that.

Therefore, just as they did with Ronaldo four years ago, the Red Devils should bring the Spaniard back to Old Trafford.

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Afghanistan allrounder had said in November last year that he would not play ODIs after the Champions Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2025

Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi may not retire from ODIs after the upcoming Champions Trophy as previously planned and harbours hopes of playing international cricket along with his son Hassan Eisakhil.In November last year Nabi, 40, said he would quit ODIs at the end of the Champions Trophy but is now “still thinking” about his future.”These might not be my last ODIs, I will probably play less ODIs and give chances to the youngsters to build experience,” Nabi told the ICC. “I’ve discussed with the senior players and in the high-level games, maybe or maybe not, we’ll see. It will depend on my fitness.”Nabi’s 18-year old son, Eisakhil, is a batter who represented Afghanistan at the Under-19 World Cup in 2024 and his father hopes they will play together for the country soon. “It’s my dream. Hopefully we can do it. He is doing very well … he is a hard worker and I’m also pushing him to do work.”I want him to make his own goals, if you want to get to be a high-level cricketer, you have to work hard. It’s not enough to make 50 or 60, you have to score 100-plus. He’s listening and pushing all the time. When he can talk to me, I try to give him advice to give him confidence for the game.”Related

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Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi to retire from ODIs after Champions Trophy 2025

Giant-slayers Afghanistan are serious contenders for semi-finals

Afghanistan are in Group B in the Champions Trophy along with England, Australia and South Africa. It is their first appearance in the tournament after finishing among the top-eight teams (sixth place) at the 2023 ODI World Cup. They were semi-finalists at the 2024 T20 World Cup too.”The preparations for the Champions Trophy have been good,” Nabi said. “I’ve been busy playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, was a champion over there. I did three sessions with the national team in Abu Dhabi so I’m in good shape.”Winning the BPL gave me more confidence, from a tough position in the final. In the whole tournament, we did really well and my performances were good as well, bowling and also batting, I helped finish the job in four or five matches.”Afghanistan had to make one change to their 15-man squad for the tournament, replacing the injured AM Ghazanfar with left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote. “He’s a youngster, who has been doing really well over the last two years,” Nabi said. “He’s a very good spinner but he’s a good fielder as well. He bowled really well against South Africa and Ireland in Sharjah.”Afghanistan begin their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa in Karachi on February 21 before travelling to Lahore to play England and Australia on February 26 and 28.