Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Manchester United will play mid-season friendlies to raise extra revenue and gave his backing to the prospect of playing extra games abroad. The coach's admission has raised the likelihood of United facing Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in the near future. United have extra time to play the games due to missing out on European competition.

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  United seeking more revenue streams

  The Red Devils failed to qualify for any form of European football for the first time in 11 years after finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham and thus passing up a ticket back into the Champions League. Their failure to qualify for Europe's top competition has deprived the club of around £100m while the lack of games at Old Trafford also means they will not be receiving extra matchday revenue like last season, when they hosted seven Europa League games. 

  It had been reported earlier in the week that the club were mulling playing a match in Saudi Arabia and Amorim confirmed the as-yet-unconfirmed plans in his press conference on Friday.

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• Amorim: We want to be with our fans around the world

  Amorim said: "We have to do it. And you know, we knew that when we missed out on Europe, we have a lot of things to do. We have our fans, we have the budget, we have to to compensate for a lot of things. So we have to do it. We will do it. We want to be with our fans around the world. If you have to do it, you have to manage to find the space to do it."

• AFP
  

  United set for third foreign jaunt in a year

  If United go through with the plans to play friendlies abroad it will be their third continent-crossing excursion in 12 months. They went on a post-season tour of Asia in May, losing to ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia and then beating a Hong Kong XI. They then conducted their usual summer tour of the United States, facing West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton in the Premier League's Summer Series. Saudi Arabia has been mentioned as the most likely destination for United due to the financial benefits of playing in the gulf nation, which has gone all in on hosting sports events in the last few years, a move driven by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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• Ronaldo reunion on the cards

  The most enticing match from a marketing point of view would see United face Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. Ronaldo left United to join the Saudi giants in acrimonious circumstances in 2022 following his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, in which he slammed the way the club had been run and hit out at coaches Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick. 

  The prospect of Ronaldo facing his former club in Riyadh would be a huge draw for fans and broadcasters and would likely be supported by Bin Salman, who is keen to draw tourists to the Kingdom.

  While United have plenty of free weeks due to their lack of European football and being knocked out of the Carabao Cup, Al-Nassr have a busier schedule, competing in four separate competitions. 

Bukayo Saka has finally lifted the lid on the gruelling battle he endured during his longest spell on the sidelines, and the unlikely furry friend who helped him through it. The Arsenal and England sensation, who has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers in recent years, saw the 2024-25 season torn apart by recurring hamstring issues that left him sidelined for months.

Hamstring hell for Saka

Saka first limped off in Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of Crystal Palace in December 2024, a moment that sent alarm bells ringing across north London. It wasn’t his first setback either; Saka had already been forced to pull out of England duty in October, while another flare-up against Chelsea in November had ruled him out of the following international camp.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWorkload catches up with Saka

For years, Mikel Arteta has leaned heavily on his most trusted weapon. Saka had missed just seven league fixtures across three-and-a-half seasons, an astonishing level of durability in the modern game. But the relentless demand eventually came back to bite. Arteta himself admitted that the constant workload had taken a toll, with Saka breaking down three times in the space of one campaign. What followed was three long months out, a nightmare for a player who thrives on rhythm and consistency.

Enter the four-legged hero

But instead of wallowing in frustration, Saka found joy in an unlikely source: his new puppy. Speaking about his recovery, the winger revealed how becoming a first-time dog dad kept him grounded during one of the most challenging spells of his career.

Saka said: “I spent a lot of time with my family, with myself. I got a puppy as well, so he helped me keep my spirits high – he kept me busy as well. It was hard work at the start.”

That "hard work" turned out to be exactly what Saka needed. The endless walks, late-night attention and bursts of energy from his new companion gave him both structure and distraction away from the relentless frustration of injury rehab.

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Getty Images SportBig tests ahead of Saka

Arsenal’s schedule shows no sign of easing up. After clashing with West Ham on Saturday, Arteta’s men will pause for the international break, before diving into a punishing run that includes Fulham and a mouth-watering Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid. However, Saka will have little time to rest, as he has been called up by Thomas Tuchel for England's friendly against Wales at Wembley and a World Cup qualifier against Latvia on October 14.

Heading into the 2025 summer transfer window, Arsenal fans were expectant. They were promised an unprecedented summer and despite the slow pace with which a deal for Viktor Gyokeres was completed, the Gunners indeed had a crazy summer.

That striker deal was finally wrapped but Andrea Berta strengthened Mikel Arteta’s squad in every single position possible.

At the back, Kepa arrived from Chelsea in a £5m deal while Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, two of the most exciting young defensive talents in Europe, both signed.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi was the marquee addition but he was joined by former Brentford skipper, Christian Norgaard.

It was the forward line that was bolstered most, however. Gyokeres, of course, was the big addition but beside him came Noni Madueke – a signing that sparked controversy – and one that had the whole fanbase unified; Eberechi Eze.

What those signings have done is take this squad to the next level. It’s another phase and level of progression for Arteta’s side and even with a whole host of injuries – namely to William Saliba, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka – they swept aside Nottingham Forest with ease on Saturday.

It’s not the first time that Arteta has chosen to take the team in a new direction; Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are testament to that.

The Jesus and Zinchenko sagas at Arsenal

In the summer of 2022, Arteta knew he needed something to take his project to the next level.

In order to do that, he signed Jesus for £45m and Zinchenko for £30m from Manchester City within just a few weeks of each other.

Proven winners, players he knew from his days as assistant head coach to Pep Guardiola, this was a strong recipe tor success and indeed they changed the game when they first arrived.

Zinchenko allowed a huge level of tactical progression. The left-back is one of the finest inverted full-backs in European football which allowed Arsenal to gain more possession and control the tempo of a game more efficiently.

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How about Jesus? Well, he brought spice, he brought trickery and he brought goals. The Brazilian’s first few months at the Emirates Stadium were a sight to behold.

A proper Brazilian forward, Jesus was spellbinding. He beat players for fun and, importantly, he scored goals. In his first nine Premier League outings, he bagged five times and also registered four assists, proving to be a unique all-round threat.

Signed for

£30m

£45m

Games

91

96

Goals

3

26

Assists

5

20

Mins played

5,282

5,461

The trouble is, while Arsenal got better as a squad, the importance of Zinchenko and Jesus became less and less.

The Ukrainian, for all of the good he brought in possession, was a liability defensively and Jesus, well, he just can’t seem to stay off the treatment table.

We all got a reminder of just how good the 28-year-old is when he scored six goals in the space of five games over the 2024/25 festive period, including a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace.

Yet, his season was turned upside down when he ruptured his ACL in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Even before that, however, he was beginning to be phased out by Arteta. Kai Havertz was now the golden striker.

At left-back, meanwhile, Arteta upgraded on Zinchenko by adding Riccardo Calafiori to the fray. The emergence of Hale Ender, Myles Lewis-Skelly, also bumped him further down the pecking order.

Arsenal’s game-changers were no longer game-changers; they were merely spare parts in this squad.

The same is now happening for two of Arteta’s most trusted forward players at the Emirates. It would be a surprise if they started games regularly again.

£66m Arsenal duo are going to suffer this season

What a transfer window Arsenal had. Yet, unfortunately for two players in the forward line, they may well find themselves reduced to bit-part figures, just like Jesus and Zinchenko in the last few years.

The players here are Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, key components of the Gunners’ forward line for a number of seasons now.

Unfortunately for Martinelli, he doesn’t look as though he’ll ever live up to his sky-high potential. Once described as a “talent of the century” by Jurgen Klopp, it feels like a long time now since the Brazilian netted 15 Premier League goals in a single campaign.

It also feels like a long time since Trossard’s 17-goal haul in 2023/24. That season, only Bukayo Saka scored more goals for Arsenal.

It’s safe to say that 2024/25 was not one full of too much success for either player. While Martinelli did score inside the Bernabeu, he and Trossard both ended the term with ten goals apiece from 51 and 56 games respectively.

It’s not an awful tally, but you need more, particularly when Arsenal were contending with injuries to the likes of Saka, Havertz and Jesus.

So, over the summer of 2025, Arsenal have undergone another level of progression, one that could spell the end for any thoughts both Martinelli and Trossard had of gaining regular starts.

Indeed, with Madueke and Eze having entered the fray, immediate upgrades have been sourced on the £270k-per-week duo. We saw that first-hand during Arsenal’s win over Forest at the weekend.

While Madueke didn’t leave the pitch with a goal or an assist, he was relentless down the right-hand side and showcased why he will be the most natural back-up and competition for Saka. He completed five key passes and also registered five successful dribbles.

As for Eze, he was a breath of fresh air on the left-hand side of the attack. Jinking past players for fun, he was the player who registered the assist for Gyokeres’ goal.

Running in behind, the Hale Ender was picked out by Calafiori. Eze did not need a touch to set himself, ultimately sliding the ball into the path of the big Swede who couldn’t miss from a matter of yards out.

It was a performance that evoked memories of the 2022/23 side, one that Jesus and Zinchenko were part of. The football was slick, it was sweeping and it got past the Forest defence with ease.

Unfortunately for the £66m-rated pair of Trossard and Martinelli, it’s not good news. Still, for fans of the club, it was incredibly refreshing to see a pair of wingers with the desire to beat their man.

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An Arsenal target now has his heart set on joining Manchester United, due to his deep respect for former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the club’s traditions.

Man Utd's standards have slipped since Ferguson's retirement

Man United are well-known for their rich history and traditions, which included wearing suits when arriving ahead of matches, but Wayne Rooney has revealed that standards started to slip after Ferguson’s retirement back in 2013.

Rooney said: “I remember we went to the League Cup final and players were wearing the suits with big, bright yellow trainers and stuff like that.

“I remember we went to the League Cup final and players were wearing the suits with big, bright yellow trainers and stuff like that. I went to Mourinho and said, ‘Listen, I’ve spoken to the players and you need to have a word here and to keep the standards. We can’t have that going to Wembley into a cup final.’

“He’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ll speak to them’. And then as we came down to leave, I’ve seen Jose there and he’s got a zip-up top with no tie on. I was thinking, “What’s the point?”

With Rooney going on to reveal that players are allowed to wear whatever they want nowadays, one of United’s traditions has arguably been eroded, but that hasn’t stopped an up-and-coming star setting his sights on a move to Old Trafford.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal target Kirill Glebov, who currently plays for CSKA Moscow, has his heart set on joining Man Utd and dreams of a transfer, citing the Old Trafford atmosphere, the club’s traditions, and his deep respect for Ferguson as the key reasons.

Glebov is currently valued at just €1.5m (£1.3m), but the winger’s price tag could rise considerably if he continues his current form, having started the season very well, which has attracted the attention of the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Brighton.

Glebov could be future star for Man Utd

At this stage, United don’t appear to have a great deal of interest in the Russian, but there are indications he has plenty of potential, having made a flying start to the 2025-26 campaign for CSKA Moscow.

The 19-year-old already has four goals and two assists to his name in all competitions, which recently earned the teenager a first call-up to the Russian national side, making his debut in the 0-0 draw against Jordan last week.

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That said, Glebov is still at a very early stage of his career, and having strengthened their attack considerably in the summer, signing Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, Man United should now focus on bringing in a new central midfielder instead.

There is certainly no shortage of options on the shortlist, with Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson all believed to be of interest.

Following Giovanni Leoni’s injury against Southampton, Liverpool are reportedly determined to sign a £40m+ La Liga defender ahead of rival interest from Real Madrid in 2026.

Leoni suffers ACL injury blow

On a night that Liverpool were forced to win late on once again, this time against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, Leoni’s injury stole a fair share of the headlines.

The young defender was stretchered off in the 81st minute courtesy of what appeared to be a knee injury and whilst Arne Slot admitted that a scan was needed to determine the extent of that injury, the worst-case scenario has now been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.

Slot had told reporters: “Normally these things don’t happen in five to 10 minutes, and you have to wait for tomorrow to see how he comes in and then maybe do an MRI scan to know more about how serious it is.

“Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot. I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears – Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV – and a day later it proved to be that it was right.”

Injury expert Physio Scout revealed in detail the likely recovery time for the different levels of knee injury, with the defender now unlikely to feature much this season.

With the young Italian seemingly out for the season, Liverpool are rumoured to be back in the transfer market in search of a swift replacement after failing to land Marc Guehi on deadline day.

Liverpool racing Real Madrid to sign Tarrega

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now determined to beat Real Madrid to Cesar Tarrega in 2026. The 23-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise at Valencia, who have set their price at €50m (£44m), and is reportedly seen as someone that could become a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk at Anfield.

Meanwhile, in the immediate future, the Valencia star would provide ample cover for the injured Leoni. If the Reds keep their foothold in all four competitions, then Slot will need an additional option at centre-back, especially given the added injury history of Joe Gomez.

League stats 24/25

Tarrega

Leoni

Minutes

3,026

1,199

Progressive Passes Per 90

3.35

1.58

Tackles Won Per 90

1.10

0.45

Ball Recoveries Per 90

3.10

2.56

Five years older than Leoni, Tarrega’s added experience was reflected in his numbers compared to the teenager last season. And it is that added experience which should make him a viable option for those at Anfield.

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The fact that they came within hours of signing Guehi in the summer shows that Liverpool are willing to sign another defender and if it’s not Guehi then it may well be Tarrega in 2026.

A collection of Glasgow Rangers supporters gathered outside Ibrox ahead of the League Cup clash with Hibernian to make their feelings clear about the state of play at the club.

The fans who attended the ‘protest’ were voicing their anger towards Russell Martin and Patrick Stewart, following the dismal start to the 2025/26 campaign.

Rangers are winless in five in the Scottish Premiership, their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years, and were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by losing 9-1 on aggregate to Club Brugge.

It is, therefore, easy to understand why some supporters have decided that enough is enough and want a change in the dugout at this early stage of the season.

However, the board have stuck by their man and they were rewarded with a positive result against Hibernian on Saturday, as the Gers won 2-0 at Ibrox in the League Cup quarter-final clash.

Nicolas Raskin scoring after being omitted from the last two squads was one headline, but Bojan Miovski getting the monkey off his back was possibly the biggest positive to take away from the match.

Why Rangers need to get Bojan Miovski firing

The Macedonia international scored the second goal of the game for the Light Blues by arriving in the six-yard box at the perfect time to slot the ball into the back of the net from close range.

As you can see in the highlights above, Mikey Moore did well to hook a cross-cum-shot towards goal that allowed the summer signing from Girona to pounce to make it 2-0.

That was potentially a big moment for Miovski because it could be the first of many goals in a Rangers shirt and takes a bit of the pressure off him, as he now has his first goal for the club.

As you can see in the graphic above, the left-footed forward knows how to score goals on a regular basis in Scottish football, having grabbed 32 in two seasons with Aberdeen, and has the quality to step up in the big games.

Seven goals against Celtic and Rangers show that Miovski can be a difference-maker against top-quality opposition, but it is down to Martin to get the best out of him at Ibrox.

Minutes

72

90

Shots

1

1

Goals

0

0

Passes

4

11

Key passes

0

0

Duels won

3/10

2/11

The statistics in the table above show that the Gers centre-forward struggled with the physicality of being a lone number nine in his first two appearances for the club, which both came in the Premiership.

This suggests that Martin needs to find a way to structure the team in a way that results in Miovski competing in fewer duels and focusing more on getting into the box to take shots at goal, after two shots in 162 Premiership minutes.

One way to free up the Macedonia international could be to bring summer signing Youssef Chermiti into the starting line-up to play with two strikers, or one striker and a shadow striker or number ten, depending on how you want to view it.

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Chermiti was signed from Everton in a deal worth up to £10m, the highest fee agreed for a signing since Tore Andre Flo in 2000, and that kind of outlay suggests that Martin needs to get him into the XI at some point.

Why Rangers should unleash Youssef Chermiti from the start

Thelo Aasgaard played as the number ten behind Miovski in the 2-0 win over Hibernian in the League Cup on Saturday, but failed to catch the eye with an impressive display.

The Norway international, who scored a hat-trick for his country against Moldova earlier this month, has not delivered a goal or an assist in seven appearances in all competitions so far for Rangers since his move from Luton in the summer.

His lack of impact at the top end of the pitch could open the door for Chermiti to come into the side as the player who plays closest to Miovski through the middle of the pitch.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the Portugal U21 international has the physical presence to occupy opposition defenders to free up the former Aberdeen man in the final third.

Chermiti has yet to prove himself to be a prolific scorer, with no competitive goals for Everton in his two years in the Premier League, but he could be a fantastic foil for Miovski to get the best out of the Macedonia international.

The 21-year-old star, who did show some promise as a scorer in pre-season last year, only made four appearances in the Premier League last term, but won 67% of his aerial duels, per Sofascore.

Chermiti’s physicality was really on show across his 18 appearances in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign, though, as the young marksman showed that he could compete with top-flight defenders on and off the ball.

Tackle success rate

66.7%

Top 24%

Duels won

11.54

Top 1%

Aerial duels won

6.92

Top 4%

Aerial duel success rate

44.1%

Top 22%

Ball recoveries

4.51

Top 11%

Possession won in the final third

1.85

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese striker was excellent from a physical perspective for the Toffees in that season, competing brilliantly on the deck and in the air.

These statistics suggest that the 6 foot 4 giant has the tools to compete with Premiership centre-backs to occupy them and cause issues in duels, which would free Miovski up to focus on getting into goalscoring positions.

Chermiti, who was described as “powerful” by writer Kai Watson, could prevent the former Girona striker from needing to constantly compete in duels and waste his energy on a part of the game that he does not excel in.

Therefore, Martin could keep Miovski firing after his first goal for the club on Saturday by unleashing the summer signing from Everton over Aasgaard moving forward.

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Leeds United youngster Harry Gray has attracted attention from supporters this season with his fantastic performances for the U21 side in recent weeks.

The 16-year-old fired in an impressive hat-trick against Scunthorpe earlier this month, which sparked some fans to call for him to get more game time in the first-team.

It is not as simple as that, according to Daniel Farke, though, as the Whites head coach explained why patience is needed with Archie Gray’s brother.

Why Harry Gray is not being fast tracked into the Leeds XI

Prior to the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, the German boss backed his own record with young players and claimed that the youngster needs to keep playing matches at U21 level.

Farke said: “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I gave Harry his debut in the crunch time. If I were to back a manager to be brave enough to play a young player, to know what a young player needs, I’d pick me. Harry needs to train with the first team, experience physicality of the Premier League.

“He needs game time with the U21s to stay in his rhythm and not to lose his striker instinct. He needs time and peace to develop. You will see him once he is prepared for Premier League games.”

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Gray is not the only player who is knocking on the door of the first-team, though, as Connor Douglas is also a U21 star who should be unleashed by the former Norwich City head coach when the time is right.

Why Connor Douglas should get a chance in the first-team

Whilst Gray has caught the eye with his goals, including the hat-trick against Scunthorpe, Douglas provided a reminder of his quality with an assist against Crystal Palace’s U21s on Monday night in a 3-2 defeat for the young Whites.

The 19-year-old star is a right-sided attacker and that position in the first-team is still up for grabs, as Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto, and Daniel James have combined for zero goals and zero assists in the Premier League this season.

Appearances

36

5

xG

3.86

0.19

Goals

1

0

xA

2.59

0.78

Assists

3

0

Dribbles completed per game

0.9

0.8

As you can see in the table above, Aaronson, who has started the last two games on the right flank, has struggled to make a consistent impact in the final third throughout his top-flight career at Elland Road.

These statistics suggest that the USA international is not the long-term answer to the club’s problem in the right wing position, because he has failed to prove himself to be a reliable option at that level. This opens the door for another player to step up.

Douglas, who was hailed as a “joy to watch” by PureFootball writer Trent Gaffney, has delivered two assists in four Premier League 2 matches so far this season, per Transfermarkt, and may be putting his case forward to make an emergence in the first-team.

The 19-year-old talent has scored five goals and provided six assists in 34 games for the U21s, after a return of six goals and three assists in 27 matches for the U18s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has consistently chipped in with goal contributions throughout his academy career.

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The next step for the teenage sensation is to make his first-team bow. His form at the start of this season should put him in contention to make the step up, alongside Gray, which is why Farke should look to unleash him on the right flank if his other options continue to underperform in front of goal.

Embattled Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was dealt a crushing insult by LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari on Tuesday, when he gleefully compared her tenure to that of Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. Badenoch and Amorim both took on their respective roles in November 2024, and have presided over some of the worst results in the history of two of the UK's most successful institutions.

• WATCH: Ferrari compares Badenoch to Amorim

  The Conservatives have lost swathes of their councillors and members to the surging far-right vehicle of Nigel Farage, Reform. Now polling as low as 17% with the general electorate according to the latest YouGov polling, calls for Badenoch to step down have accelerated.

  Badenoch was doing her media rounds on Tuesday morning, after she had addressed her members at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester the day before.

  Ferrari used the opportunity to direct the jibe at a slightly bemused Badenoch, comparing the politicians requests for more time to that of the Portuguese manager.

  "If this was like football Mrs Badenoch, you need to look across to Old Trafford, the manager of Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, who keeps saying ‘give me time’ and keeps losing matches," said Ferrari. "You’re losing councillors, you're losing support, you're losing members. You are the Ruben Amorim of politics Mrs Badenoch."

  Badenoch largely skirted around the comparison, instead focussing on her attempts to lead the party through its current predicament. 

  "Well, that is certainly not the case. What we are doing is shedding a lot of the baggage of the last 14 years. I remember last year, we had people defecting to Labour because Labour was doing well in the polls. Now we have people defecting to Reform, because Reform is doing well in the polls. We need people in the party who are here for the right reasons."

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• Badenoch and Amorim – two leaders destined for the chop?

  It's unclear who out of Badenoch or Amorim should be more insulted by Ferrari's jibe. A recent survey of Conservative Party members found that more than half think Badenoch should leave her role. While no such poll of Red Devils supporters exists, it's not hard to think that given the Portuguese's 17 losses in just 36 competitive games at United would likely return similar numbers.

• Man Utd legends continue to criticise Amorim

  Several of United's most decorated players have continued to question the manager's methods of late. Paul Scholes recently claimed the Portuguese is "getting too much time" considering the lack of success on the pitch. 

  On the latest episode of Scholes delivered a damning verdict on Amorim's reign. 

  He said: "I feel like with Ruben Amorim it’s got to the point where we don’t want to talk about sacking managers all the time and Manchester United do give managers enough time.

  "He’ll never get booed by the fans and it wasn’t until that Brentford game [where they lost 3-1] where I thought, ‘He’s getting a little bit too much time’ and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before things come to an end."

  Wayne Rooney similarly questioned Amorim's performance on a episode of his podcast: "I just don't know what's going on. I have tried my hand in management and it didn't work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I'm sure he still has a massive future, but what's going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around and he does. But if you're saying to me, 'do you believe he will?', then, after everything I've seen, honestly, I've got no faith in it."

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  Man United prepare for Liverpool clash

  Unlike Badenoch, Amorim has a massive chance to quiet his detractors in the coming weeks. After the international break, United will square off against their fiercest rivals Liverpool in a Premier League clash that could have profound impact on both club's respective seasons. 

The mood around West Ham United today could not be more different to the one around the club last week.

There are still plenty of issues that need to be addressed, but a thumping 3-0 Premier League win away to Nottingham Forest, combined with some brilliant signings, has given fans plenty to be optimistic about.

It’s been a pretty good summer for the Hammers so far, with the likes of Mateus Fernandes, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Soungoutou Magassa and Kyle Walker-Peters all quality additions.

Moreover, with the window closing at 7pm tonight, West Ham could be closing in on another top signing, someone who could be their own Marc Guehi.

West Ham target their own Guehi

According to a recent report from Jacob Steinberg, West Ham are interested in Axel Disasi.

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More than that, Steinberg has revealed that the Hammers have already contacted the Blues over a potential loan move for the player.

However, the journalist has also stated that it “remains to be seen” whether the two sides can come to an agreement on the finances of a deal for the £80k-per-week titan.

It might not be the most exciting signing the Irons could make this summer, but Disasi could be an excellent addition to Graham Potter’s defence, and their own Guehi.

Why Disasi could be West Ham's Guehi

So, given the reputation that Disasi has cultivated in recent seasons, the comparison to Guehi might sound absurd to some of you.

However, we aren’t really claiming that the Chelsea ace is on the same level as the soon-to-be Liverpool star, but there are some similarities between the pair, and who knows, with the proper coaching and mentoring, West Ham could be getting their hands on a gem of a player.

With that said, what are some of these similarities?

Well, first and foremost, the French defender is actually far more accomplished with the ball at his feet than people tend to give him credit for.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 5% of centre-backs across Europe’s top-five leagues for pass completion, the top 7% for successful take-on percentage, the top 10% for total carrying distance and the top 15% for live passes, all per 90.

Disasi’s Scout Report
Statistics	Per 90	Percentile
Goals/Shot	0.20	Top 4%
Touches (Def 3rd)	24.70	Top 4%
Goals/Shot on Target	1.00	Top 5%
Pass Completion %	87.9%	Top 5%
% of Aerials Won	65.4%	Top 5%
Non-Penalty Goals – npxG	+0.06	Top 7%
Pass Completion % (Medium)	89.8%	Top 7%
SCA (Defensive Action)	0.09	Top 7%
Successful Take-On %	57.9%	Top 7%
Pass Completion % (Short)	93.5%	Top 8%
Touches (Mid 3rd)	35.91	Top 9%
Total Carrying Distance	219.12	Top 10%
Aerials Won	1.56	Top 11%
Passes Blocked	0.83	Top 12%
Carries	40.96	Top 13%
Progressive Carrying Distance	111.12	Top 13%
Live-ball Passes	53.27	Top 15%
All Stats via FBref

In other words, while he might not show it as much as the Palace star, the 27-year-old is more than capable of playing out from the back, baiting the press and starting attacks.

Another key similarity he shares with the Englishman is his physicality.

At 6 foot 3, the Gonesse-born “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Rahman Osman, is not someone who is easily bullied off the ball, and he puts that height to good use in the air as well, with FBref ranking him in the top 5% of centre-backs for percentage of aerial duels won, per 90.

Finally, like the Abidjan-born star, should this deal go through, the former AS Monaco gem would be another centre-back discarded by Chelsea, which could be the perfect thing for his career at this point.

Ultimately, while Disasi is not on the same level as Guehi at the moment, there are some key similarities between the two, and on loan, there isn’t much risk in West Ham bringing him to the London Stadium.

West Ham in talks to hijack Crystal Palace for £15m "animal" to replace Aguerd

The Hammers are “exploring a move” for a new centre-back.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 1, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

São Paulo e Lucas Moura se acertaram: o atacante, revelado pelo próprio clube e idolatrado pela torcida, quer voltar a atuar no time do Morumbi por pelo menos até o final do ano, como o Lance! revelou. O problema é que a negociação ganhou um novo elemento. Um time não revelado da MLS, liga dos EUA, que quer contar com o jogador e inclusive já teria oferecido o sonhado ‘último contrato lucrativo’ com o qual ele tanto sonha. Mas uma ‘engenharia’ mantém viva o sonho de todas as partes em ter um final feliz já neste sábado (29).

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Na verdade, a ideia da diretoria encabeçada por Julio Casares e que foi aceita por Lucas Mouras não tem nada de novo. Já foi usada pelo Tricolor em 2014 com outro ídolo revelado no clube: Kaká.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Tricolor com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Na ocasião, o então meia deixou deixou o Milan, da Itália, e acertou um contrato com o Orlando City. Entretanto, como as regras de transferências e limite de estrangeiros não permitiram a chegada imediata do pentacampeão mundial à franquia da MLS, ele acabou emprestado ao São Paulo para atuar no Morumbi no segundo semestre daquela temporada.

Segundo o Lance! apurou com fontes ligadas à cúpula são-paulina, é exatamente o que São Paulo e Lucas Moura tentam acertar agora.
Isso porque entre a tarde e noite de sexta-feira (28), após o contato do Tricolor e o não acerto com o Monterrey, do México, o atacante recebeu duas sondagens fortes: dos EUA e do futebol árabe. Após consultar sua família e estafe, Lucas decidiu-se pela terra do Tio Sam.

E aí está a oportunidade do clube do Morumbi, já que ele não poderia se transferir de imediato justamente pelas mesmas questões de Kaká em 2014. A promessa dos estadunidenses é de abrir a vaga de estrangeiro até dezembro. E aí, para não ficar parado, o São Paulo seria a melhor das opções.

Valores de quanto Lucas Moura receberá nesta segunda passagem pelo Morumbi não são revelados. A reportagem estimou com conselheiros que os salários serão pouca coisa a mais que o teto estabeelcido pelo clube, que corresponde aos vencimentos do atacante Calleri.

O Tricolor monitora desde o início do ano a situação de Lucas. Conversou com seu estafe e com ele várias vezes e, sem fazer proposta, deixou as portas abertas para o retorno do atacante, vendido em 2012 ao PSG, da França, após ajudar na conquista da Copa Sul-Americana.

Por estar sem clube desde junho, quando se encerrou seu contrato com o Tottenham, da Inglaterra, Lucas Moura poderia ser registrado no BID (Boletim Informativo Diário) da CBF mesmo após o fechamento da janela de transferências, na próxima quinta-feira (3/8).

Os prazos para inscrição nas competição são os mesmos de James: até segunda-feira (31) para as oitavas de final da Copa Sul-Americana ante o San Lorenzo, da Argentina, até dia 8 de agosto para o jogo de volta da semifinal da Copa do Brasil contra o rival Corinthians. E dia 26 de agosto para o restante do Campeonato Brasileiro.

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

PRÓXIMOS JOGOS DO SÃO PAULO

30/7 (domingo) – Bahia – 11h* – Morumbi – Brasileirão
3/8 (quinta) – San Lorenzo – 19h* – Nuevo Gasómetro – oitavas -0 Sul-Americana
6/8 (domingo) – Atlético-MG – 16h* – Morumbi – Brasileirão
10/8 (quinta) – San Lorenzo – 19h* – Morumbi – oitavas – Sul-Americana
13/8 (domingo) – Flamengo – 18h30 – Maracanã – Brasileirão

*horários de Brasília (DF)