Manchester United are looking to lay down an early marker in the transfer market, if recent reports are to be believed.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United are ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, although club chiefs still need to give the move the green light as they consider many new central midfielders this summer.

It has been suggested that should Manuel Ugarte join Casemiro through the Old Trafford exit door this summer, then Red Devils chiefs could look to bring in three new players in that position to compete for a spot in central midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo.

One report has claimed that United have allocated around £150m of their summer budget to strengthen their midfield, split up as an £80m player, £40m player and a low-cost £20m player.

Ederson would fit into the middle category with the expected fee for the Brazilian, who has a year left on his contract, worth just under £39m.

United also want to land a high-cost, top-class replacement for the outgoing Casemiro, who has been one of their most important players in the middle with Mainoo since Michael Carrick took charge at the beginning of 2026.

Romano: Man United Jet Out for Talks to Sign Sandro Tonali

According to Romano, United are currently killing more than two birds with one stone during their Italian talks to bring Ederson to Old Trafford.

As well as their transfer discussions for the Brazil international, Romano claims that the Red Devils are in talks over multiple other things, including for player exits and with the agents of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, who are based in Italy.

A separate report from Italy last week claimed that United were actually close to an agreement to sign the ‘elite’ Tonali, with another saying Carrick instructed club chiefs to sign the Italian international ahead of Ederson as part of their major midfield rebuild.

Tonali is Even Better Than Ederson and Fernandes

If United fans want a world-class midfielder to come in and replace Casemiro, there is no doubt that Tonali fits the bill more than Ederson.

The Italian has played at a higher level in the Premier League and Champions League during his career, with Red Devils icon Paul Scholes even claiming earlier this season that he’s ‘better than Declan Rice’.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League following his move to St James’ Park, but he won’t come cheap with Newcastle said to value him at around €100 (£86m).

Ederson and Tonali aren’t the only midfielders United are being heavily linked with at the moment, with interest increasing in West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes.

The Portugal international has been gaining admiring glances from the Red Devils for his performances in a claret and blue shirt this term, and there is now an opportunity to prise him away from the London Stadium after the club were relegated to the Championship.

The 21-year-old clearly has a big future ahead of him, but Tonali is currently a class above and entering the prime years of his career.

Tottenham are ready to make a move to hijack Newcastle United’s move to sign Abde Ezzalzouli this summer, according to Sport.

Spurs are looking to bolster their squad in the upcoming window having narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the season thanks to a 1-0 win over Everton, with Roberto De Zerbi’s arrivcal with seven games remaining sparking a decent spell of form.

But the Italian is now pushing to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season, and a new forward is understood to be among the priorities in the transfer window.

Ezzalzouli, who has been described as a ‘superstar’, has been strongly linked with a move to Newcastle United as the Magpies look to replace Anthony Gordon, who has joined Barcelona in a deal worth around £70m.

But it’s now understood that Tottenham Hotspur have also made contact with Real Betis about a move for the Morocco international, with the La Liga club needing to raise funds before June 30th despite reaching the Champions League.

Ezzalzouli is set to star for Morocco at the World Cup, and Betis are hopeful that could help to raise his value. But his release clause is currently set at €60m (£52m), and it’s understood that is appealing to several clubs.

The 24-year-old starred for Betis this season, registering 14 goals and nine assists in all competitions, and it’s reported that Spurs have initiated contact about a potential deal to bring him to north London, ahead of Newcastle, who have made him a top target to replace Anthony Gordon following his move to Barcelona.

Manuel Pellegrini is hopeful of keeping hold of the 24-year-old for next season, but with the club’s need to raise funds, an exit now looks inevitable.

Tottenham Ready to Go Big

Tottenham are well aware that they need to make big improvements to their squad this summer, and as a result, they know they need signings.

Roberto De Zerbi has already brought in Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to bolster his defence, but the attack grossly underperformed this season and new options are needed, which has led to interest in Ezzalzouli, who would be a major upgrade on current options.

He has the quality to add more dynamism to the squad, and has shown he has an eye for goals and assists, and under De Zerbi, he could potentially reach a new level, which makes him a very exciting signing.

Former referees have given their verdict on several flash points in the Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG, as match official Daniel Siebert was kept on his toes in a tense encounter in Budapest.

Arsenal took the lead early on in the game when Kai Havertz went through on goal, smashing an effort from close-range into the back of the PSG net.

The Ligue 1 outfit dominated possession and eventually made it count in the second half, when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was fouled in the box by Cristhian Mosquera, as the referee Daniel Siebert pointed to the spot.

Ousmane Dembele converted the penalty, and with just under 30 minutes to go in regulation time, there were opportunities for both teams to take the win.

Neither team did find that goal before the full-time whistle went, however, sending the match to extra time for the first time in the Champions League final since 2014.

There were controversial decisions made in that additional 30 minutes, but the game stayed at a stalemate until penalties were needed to separate the two teams, with PSG emerging victorious.

After such a tense match that went all the way, former referees have given their thoughts on the key moments of the match.

Ex-Referees On Noni Madueke Penalty

Perhaps the most controversial call from the match referee came in extra time, when Noni Madueke got in a tangle with PSG defender Nuno Mendes.

The winger managed to get in behind the backline, and while the pair grappled, the Arsenal man went to ground, creating some almighty appeals from the Gunners.

Declan Rice was booked for his protests, along with manager Mikel Arteta, but both the referee and the VAR waved away the claims for a spot kick.

While those in the TNT commentary team believe it to be enough for a penalty, former referees are not quite as sure, with Graham Scott among those to back Siebert’s call.

He told The Athletic: “There will be plenty of comments along the line of ‘I’ve seen them given’, and I doubt a VAR would have seen enough to overturn a penalty had one been awarded.

“But ultimately I would rather defend the referee for keeping out of this one than try to build a defence had he succumbed to pressure and pointed to the spot.”

Another former Premier League referee, Mark Halsey, believes that there wasn’t enough for the VAR to overturn the decision when speaking to The Sun.

“Arsenal had a big shout for a penalty in the first half of extra time where Madueke’s gone down under a challenge from PSG’s Mendes,” he said.

“Now, in real time, I thought it was absolutely narrowed on penalty, but when you see the replay, you can see Madueke is holding Mendes’ arm.

“So, not sure how the referee’s seen that, but is it a clearing office error for VAR to get involved? Not in my opinion. The same as had the referee given it, VAR still wouldn’t have got involved because of the clear and obvious error.

“So, it’s one of those, some will say yes, some will say no, so it’s subjective. So that’s why VAR didn’t get involved.”

In the end, the decision didn’t go in Arsenal’s favour, but it wasn’t the only one that Siebert had to make some huge calls on in the Champions League final.

Mark Clattenberg On Arsenal Decisions

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has also given his thoughts on some crucial decisions made in the match between Arsenal and PSG.

The first of which was a potential handball shout against Bukayo Saka, as the ball ricocheted from his left hand to his right in the box during the first half.

The match officials and VAR decided against giving a penalty, a decision Clattenburg agrees with, as he told Arsenal Insider: “The ball does touch the arm of Bukayo Saka inside his own penalty area, but it would have been extremely harsh if this was awarded as he tries to play the ball with his leg before touching his chest and then onto his arm, which was close to the body.

“We have seen so many controversial handballs given in this season’s competition, and this always creates doubt when the ball touches the arm or hand.

“I am pleased this one was not awarded, especially when a player is trying to play the ball with his body.”

The second big call then came in the second half around the hour mark, when Mosquera fouled Kvaratskhelia, prompting the match referee to point to the spot.

While there was debate over whether it was a spot kick, there were also questions over whether the Arsenal defender should’ve received a second yellow card.

“The penalty kick awarded to PSG for a challenge by Christhian Mosquera on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was a correct one by referee Daniel Siebert,” Clattenburg added.

“Any contact on the ball by the defender was after catching the leg of the attacker from behind so the referee was right to award.

“Some will argue that Mosquera should have been issued a second yellow card but not every foul is a yellow card and as the challenge was a careless one, the law states that a yellow card should not be issued for a careless foul.”

In the end, it seems as though Siebert may have got all the big calls right.