Manchester United could sign a Premier League alternative to Mateus Fernandes after missing out on the Portuguese midfielder. The Red Devils are keen to find a replacement for Casemiro this summer, with two midfield signings desired in total, including the early-season signing of Ederson.
It has been a frustrating search from Michael Carrick and Co so far, with Tottenham beating them to West Ham star Fernandes, agreeing to pay £85million. United were said to be willing to pay a similar fee, but Spurs were willing to pay upfront and without any major add-ons, something the Red Devils were not willing to do.
That means the search goes on, and it appears United are not close to securing an alternative at this stage, even if there is a likely candidate.
According to the Daily Mail, United are not close to finding an alternative to Fernandes, now set to reassess their options after missing out. But it’s added the Red Devils are ‘known admirers’ of AFC Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and they could turn to the England international.
Scott was a vital part of Bournemouth’s superb season of last that saw them qualify for the Europa League, and he almost won a World Cup call-up, serving as the main back-up during the pre-tournament training camp.
Scott is a very different midfielder from Casemiro, and while he is more similar to Fernandes, he arguably has a more attacking frame of mind. From that perspective, it would be a little surprising the Red Devils to go in that route, but Scott is a hard-working midfielder who can also do the dirty work.
Still only 22 years of age, the Cherries are said to be demanding £80million to sell Scott this summer, so it wouldn’t be much of a cheaper compromise from Fernandes for United.
Scott was praised repeatedly last season, and Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards said: “I love him. He’s got everything that a midfielder should have playing in the Premier League. I love his game. He takes a good set-piece but it’s his calmness on the ball. He can pass well and receive the ball between the lines.
“A lot of midfielders hide and don’t want the ball but he’s brave on it. He keeps it moving. Every time I watch him, he’s so confident on the ball.”
Alan Shearer added: “He’s having a brilliant season and standing out in every game. Superb.”
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Manchester United are exploring alternative midfielders after failing with a deal to sign Mateus Fernandes.
Tottenham are being tipped to add depth on the right side of the field with the signing of a current Serie A star. It has been a busy summer for Spurs, who have put together a record spend to help Roberto De Zerbi hit the ground running in his first full season in charge of the club.
Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes are the last two to join, costing £185million collectively when add-ons are factored in, but having completely changed their recruitment strategy, Spurs will not end their summer investment there.
A winger and a striker are likely next on De Zerbi’s shopping list, while there could be further moves to fill out the squad.
One of the new names to be linked with a move to Tottenham is Atalanta winger Raoul Bellanova, who could be on the market this winter. Bellanova operated as a right wing-back for the Italian club last season, making 24 league appearances, but he can play on the right as an out-and-out winger.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Atalanta could be open to a sale this summer, and there is interest from Napoli, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Everton. All of those clubs are said to have reached out to ask about the conditions of a possible deal, and they have been informed that it will take €15-20million to do a deal, which is between £12.8million and £17.1million.
New Napoli boss Massimiliano Allegri is said to be ‘very keen’ on a deal, while it’s unclear where the player wants to play. But Tottenham’s Italian boss will surely give them an edge if he decides to leave Italy. But there may be less starting opportunities at Tottenham, with Pedro Porro hard to replace at right-back or right wing-back, while there are more productive options further ahead. What is clear is that Bellanova’s time with Atalanta is said to be over.
Bellanova has previously been described as a ‘buccaneering right-back’, owing to his ability to get forward. The same scouting report describes him as ‘confident on the ball’, adding that he ‘can make an impact offensively’.
Bellanova has typically played wing-back during his career, also playing there for Cagliari, despite coming through as a winger. What is worth keeping in mind is that experienced wing-backs who play the position regularly are hard to find, and the signing could be something De Zerbi wants for what he wants to play with three or five at the back.
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Pop superstar Taylor Swift married NFL superstar Travis Kelce at a highly-secretive celebration in New York on Friday night.
Both Swift and Kelce went to great lengths to try and maintain a sense of privacy around the occasion, with guests even required to sign non-disclosure agreements before any details of the day could be shared with them.
The couple even individually watermarked every invitation with the guest’s name, meaning that they would easily be able to identify who was at fault if a copy of the invite was to leak to the media.
The pair, who began dating in the summer of 2023, exchanged nuptials at the city’s iconic Madison Square Garden in front of a star-studded congregation of guests.
Among those who are believed to have attended the ceremony were Jay-Z, Steven Spielberg and Bradley Cooper. That trio joined confirmed guests such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Graham Norton and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
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According to a source for the Daily Mail, all of the above were left stunned when Swift’s close pal, Lena Dunham, took to the microphone and made a controversial joke about Kelce’s NFL career.
Three-time Superbowl winner Kelce has enjoyed a highly-successful run in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition to his Super Bowl triumphs, he is an 11-time Pro Bowler and a seven-time All-Pro. The 36-year-old is widely considered to be one of the best tight ends in the history of the game.
However, those accolades apparently didn’t impress Dunham all that much as she laid into the groom’s profession in savage fashion, declaring:
“American football is just straight guys reenacting gay porn.”
The comment reportedly ‘drew gasps’ from those in attendance, although Swift seemed to really enjoy the swipe. As Dunham left the stage, Taylor apparently hailed her pal as “a genius” following her speech.
Swift and Dunham have been friends for years, with Taylor even serving as a bridesmaid at the actress and director’s own wedding in 2021. No information has yet emerged on Travis’ reaction to the line.
Although Kelce is now entering the final stages of his NFL career, he re-signed with the Chiefs back in March, ultimately agreeing to a three-year deal worth a reported $54.7 million.
With Dunham’s NFL jibe becoming one of the few pieces of information to leak from the wedding, Kelce will likely be reminded of the comment on multiple occasions once the new season gets underway in September.
Arsenal have agreed a £17m deal with Besiktas to sell winger Leandro Trossard, according to The Athletic.
The Gunners claimed their first Premier League title in 22 years by finishing seven points above Manchester City, while they also reached the Carabao Cup and Champions League finals.
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