Manchester United supporters have cast a clear verdict on new signing Andrey Santos after the defensive midfielder starred in the Red Devils’ 5-0 pre-season friendly win over Rosenborg on Friday evening.
United had shocked just about everyone when the deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta fell through earlier this summer, before they immediately turned their attention to the Chelsea youngster, completing a £48 million move that was signed, sealed, delivered before any media outlet had the chance to catch wind on anything.
At first, the signing was met with skepticism among the Old Trafford faithful, who know full well that Carrick’s recruitment team has a huge job on its hands this summer to replace Casemiro and bolster an engine room that was considerably weaker than the rest of the squad before he left anyway.
Man United Fans’ Feelings About Andrey Santos After Pre-Season Appearance
However, it seems like the opinion of the 22-year-old Brazilian has quickly changed. Following a 61-minute appearance alongside Mason Mount in the pivot, Santos has already earnt plenty of plaudits. As one X user remarked (watch his highlights below):
“This guy is going to prove so many people wrong. Andrey Santos will go down as one of the signings of the season.”
A second also wrote: “Composed on the ball, works hard off it, and reads the game well. Give him real minutes and he’s going to be a key player for us,” as a third commented:” We have our midfield engine in him, I already love him.”
Meanwhile, a fourth asked: “How did we sign this man for that amount?” a fifth added: “Andrey Santos is going to be a problem next season,” while a sixth concluded: “Whoever pushed for the Andrey Santos signing deserves a serious bonus. They did us unbelievably good, man.”
Mason Mount Also Heaps Praise on New Midfield Partner
It’s one thing to have good players in your midfield, but it’s a completely different thing to have them all on the same page. After last season’s woes, which saw Casemiro and Mason Mount have alternating good performances in an otherwise disjointed midfield, perhaps the best thing to come out of Santos’ performance this weekend is that he got along so well naturally with his partner.
“It’s been really good to play with him [Andrey Santos], to understand him a little bit more in training and then obviously in the games. Helping him grow and, and feel comfortable, as I said before, in the team.”
He continued: “He’s obviously a new player, but I think he’s integrated really well. He’s came in and been very, very comfortable from early on. He’s definitely got more to come, and then we’ll keep growing as a team. But yeah, it’s a really good moment at the moment.”
Celtic have agreed a club-record deal to sign Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh, according to the Daily Record.
The Glasgow giants have been desperate to bolster their squad in the transfer window after winning a fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title, with Martin O’Neill installed on a permanent contract with the task of rebuilding the side following a disappointing campaign.
And the club have now reached an agreement for their top target, months after failing to agree a deal for him in the January transfer window.
Celtic Agree Club-Record Kasper Hogh Deal
via Reuters
Hogh, who has been described as ‘exceptional’, was identified as Celtic’s top forward target for the transfer window, and a deal worth £11m plus add-ons has now been agreed.
The Danish forward will undergo a medical in the coming days, and barring any last-minute hitches in the deal, he is expected to put pen to paper on a long-term deal at Celtic Park with the Scottish champions.
The deal will eclipse the £11m Celtic splashed to sign Arne Engels two summers ago, breaking the club record and making the 25-year-old their most expensive signing ever.
The 6ft 1 striker was on the verge of a move in January before opting to stay put as Bodo/Glimt put together an impressive run in the Champions League knockout stages. He scored six goals in the tournament, including goals against Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester City.
The deal was agreed at the same time Celtic confirmed the departure of Daizen Maeda to Ipswich Town in a £10m deal, which has clearly helped to fund the club’s second signing of the summer.
Aston Villa have had a busy summer window so far, with several arrivals and several top players no longer available to Unai Emery.
The club lost Amadou Onana to a serious knee injury, meaning he will miss most of the season, while PSG and Man Utd triggered the release clauses of Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans within hours of each other in huge blows. Villa responded by signing Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes, before losing Morgan Rogers in a record-breaking £117m deal to Chelsea.
According to a report by Italian journalist Alessio Lento, Emi Martinez has agreed terms with Juventus over a move to the club in this transfer window.
The goalkeeper has been heavily linked with an exit from Villa Park for a number of summers now, but has continued to keep the net at Villa Park, and helped the team finish fourth in the Premier League and win the Europa League last season.
However, he is once again seemingly looking for a move away, and it’s reported that he has ‘locked in’ an agreement on personal terms with the Serie A side.
However, it’s also stated that there is a ‘significant’ gap between the clubs when it comes to Martinez’s valuation at this stage, and that needs to be bridged before any deal can be made formal.
As it stands, Juventus have not abandoned hope of getting a deal done, but there is a lot of ground to cover. Meanwhile, Aston Villa CEO has stated that a final decision has been made on Martinez’s future for this summer, and there are zero plans to let him leave.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Martinez is Irreplaceable for Villa
While Martinez is far from the perfect goalkeeper, there is no doubting that he is absolutely crucial to the way they play, and is probably the very best goalkeeper that Villa could have between the sticks.
The World Cup winner has a huge presence and is a leader, and with Villa undergoing a major summer of change, keeping his voice and standards will be vital to the team maintaining their success.
Replacing him would cost far more than any fee they would be able to bring in, and it still wouldn’t be a guaranteed hit, so keeping him is undoubtedly the best option for the club considering the current circumstances.
NBA superstar LeBron James turned down four other teams before opting to join the Philadelphia 76ers for a record-extending 24th career season in the league – and the ‘real reason’ behind his decision has emerged.
From the moment the news broke on Friday, James made one thing abundantly clear in the fourth move of his NBA career. His switch to the 76ers was not about securing one final lucrative payday.
This was proven when details of his new salary were confirmed, with the 41-year-old set to earn far less than he did last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Four Teams LeBron Rejected Before Signing With the 76ers
The 76ers beat out competition from the Miami Heat to land James, with many viewing a return to the franchise where he won his first two championships as a fairytale ending. Potential switches to the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and a third spell with the Cleveland Cavaliers were also firmly on the table.
Despite these four sides emerging as genuine contenders for James’ signature, Philadelphia’s new-found championship credentials ultimately proved impossible to ignore for LBJ. The four-time NBA champion is prioritising one thing above all else: placing himself in the strongest possible position to compete for his fifth chip.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, that mindset ultimately separated the 76ers from a host of rival suitors. Speaking on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Charania explained James’ pursuit of another ring and why it came before any financial consideration.
“LeBron James put his money where his mouth is because, from the outset of this process, he felt like he wanted happiness,” Charania said.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea via Imagn Images
“So what did happiness justify for him? It meant going out somewhere where he can compete for a championship, be a part of a culture and an environment where he feels like he can stay competitive.”
Charania added that after weighing up his options, Philadelphia offered the strongest championship chances.
“He felt out of the Cavs, the Heat, the Warriors, the Sixers had the best roster to win a championship, his potential fit championship,” Charania said.
Why the 76ers Won the LeBron James Lottery
LeBron James via REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
“I still want to sacrifice,” James said as he broke the news on his X account. “I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.”
Several key moments over the past few weeks ultimately led James to swap the Lakers for the 76ers.
The first came away from the court. 76ers president Mike Gansey played a pivotal role in negotiations. Gansey has known the 41-year-old since his high school days, giving Philadelphia an invaluable connection.
Both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey also spoke to James during his free agency, playing agent for their side.
And Nick Nurse was the only head coach James held discussions with during his free agency, further underlining Philadelphia as his ideal destination.
“The only coach that LeBron James spoke to during this process over the last three and a half weeks, that’s Nick Nurse with the Sixers,” Charania said.
Yet despite all these factors, Jaylen Brown’s trade to the 76ers proved the most decisive of them all.
His blockbuster move from rivals Boston Celtics, in what has become one of the most controversial trades of the 21st century, has transformed the 76ers from a seventh-seeded side into a genuine NBA Championship contender heading into the 2026/27 season.
James’ arrival has only strengthened those credentials, with Philadelphia now boasting one of the most star-studded rosters in the NBA.
“The moment he got traded to the Sixers from Boston, a couple days into free agency, the Sixers came onto LeBron James’ radar, came on the map,” Charania said.
Brown’s arrival in Philadelphia has made the 76ers one of the teams with the strongest cores in the league.
Faced with the choice of returning to Cleveland, reuniting with Miami alongside Giannis, linking up with Stephen Curry in Golden State or joining Anthony Edwards in Minnesota, James’ decision may have come from left field, but it could also provide him with the strongest opportunity to end his career on the highest possible note by winning a fifth NBA championship.
