Manchester United have already missed out on a number of midfield transfer targets this summer and they could be about to lose out on another.
The Red Devils’ number one priority before the summer transfer window opened was Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, but the 23-year-old has made the move to the Etihad Stadium instead, signing for Manchester City.
United balked at the price tag for the England international, with City having to splash out £116million, with add-ons taking the deal to the £130million mark – a British transfer record.
Tottenham beat Man Utd to Fernandes signing
via Reuters
Manchester United turned their attentions to other targets and were heavily linked with a move for Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, following the Hammers’ relegation to the Championship.
They looked well set to complete a deal for the 21-year-old, but again questioned the £85million price tag with Tottenham swooping to get him.
Sandro Tonali was linked, but he is also joining Spurs in a £100million deal, leading United to turn to other targets.
Ederson will complete a move to Old Trafford after the World Cup is over, a £38million deal having been agreed with Atalanta for his signature.
But United were always clear they wanted two new central midfield signings, and they were even potentially looking at three were Manuel Ugarte to be sold this summer. His injury on World Cup duty with Uruguay will put paid to any chance of him leaving this summer, but it could also mean United do still make a third move, given his unavailability.
GIVEMESPORT understands United still have an agreement in place with Carlos Baleba from a year ago, but would need to go back to Brighton & Hove Albion to negotiate a fee.
You scored
out of 20
The “dream” signing, after the Anderson opportunity fell through, was seen to be Aurelien Tchouameni at Real Madrid.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano said: “Tchouameni is a dream signing for Man United. They love the player, but at the moment, the financials of the deal are considered still too high, because also the salary – it is not just about Real Madrid, it’s also about the salary. The salary of Aurelien Tchouameni is considered too high. So, the only way to open doors to Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United after missing out on Fernandes is to discuss a completely different salary, and at the moment, it is still not something happening.”
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand described Tchouameni as a “top-tier” talent suggesting United should be the first team knocking at the door to sign the “absolute powerhouse”.
No deal for Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni
via Reuters
But any knocks at the door appear like they will be unanswered.
According to Teamtalk, Tchouameni is now expected to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, with new boss Jose Mourinho offering him the chance to establish himself as one of his key midfielders. real had been linked with moves for Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez and Manchester City’s Rodri, but neither are seen as viable targets in this transfer window, leading to Tchouameni playing an important role under Mourinho.
Rangers have been handed an avenue to complete a deal for Lewis Ferguson after it emerged that Bologna want to sign an Ibrox star, according to the Daily Record.
The Light Blues have had a busy summer window already after finishing third in the Scottish Premiership, with Derek McInnes replacing Danny Rohl as manager and all of Lawrence Shankland, Ben Godfrey, Ivor Pandur, Ross McCrorie, and Dan Neil arriving as part of the squad for next season.
But the club are still keen to make even more additions before the start of the new campaign, with Scotland star Ferguson understood to be a top target. Now, they’ve been made aware of a potential path to get a deal done.
Rangers Star Connor Barron Eyed by Bologna
According to the Daily Record, Serie A giants are aware of interest in Ferguson and have once again added Rangers star Connor Barron to their wishlist of summer transfers.
Barron, who has been described as ‘brilliant’, joined Rangers on a free transfer in 2024, and had been targeted by the Italian outfit then, but opted to move to Ibrox instead. Bologna also tried to sign him last summer, but their enquiry was rejected by club chiefs in Glasgow.
Now they are looking at trying to bring him in once again, and Rangers could be open to a sale if it means they can sign the Bologna captain Ferguson as a result.
England have been dealt a major blow just hours ahead of their World Cup Last 16 clash with Mexico after a player was ruled out with injury.
The Three Lions are undefeated at the tournament having claimed wins over Croatia, Panama, and then DR Congo, while they drew with Ghana, but will take on co-hosts Mexico at the legendary Azteca Stadium in the early hours of Monday morning.
Thomas Tuchel has already admitted his team face a major disadvantage playing away from home in the altitude at such short notice, but they have now been handed another issue to deal with in the build-up to the huge clash.
The Tottenham Hotspur star has started two of England’s four games, playing at left-back against Ghana before starting at right-back against DR Congo. But with Reece James still unavailable due to a hamstring injury picked up against Ghana, and Jarrel Quansah nursing an injury of his own, the team now face a huge dilemma at right-back.
According to Dorsett, Quansah has been passed fit to play and is likely to start at right-back for the game, although there is also a chance that Arsenal star Declan Rice gets the nod following his performance in the latter stages against DR Congo in that position.
Tuchel has previously ruled out Rice playing there from the start at Mexico, but he may be left without any option if Quansah’s fitness means he is unable to play too.
Tuchel’s full-back options when he selected his squad were an immediate talking point, with many fans and media questioning his decisions.
Tino Livramento was sent home before the tournament with an injury, while James had barely featured in the second half of the season due to fitness problems, but was selected anyway. At left-back, Nico O’Reilly is naturally a midfielder, while Spence is naturally a right-back.
Now he has very limited choices to pick from, and Ezri Konsa or Trevoh Chalobah are likely to be called upon at some point to play out of position should England be able to progress past Mexico into the quarter-finals.
Tottenham will likely shift their transfer focus onto their forward line now, having completed a number of deals at the back and in midfield already in this summer transfer window.
Spurs have completed five new signings this summer, with a sixth done bar official confirmation in a real statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League.
Having finished in 17th place in each of the last two seasons, new head coach Roberto De Zerbi has got to work in transforming the squad he inherited and Spurs are now bucking their trend when it comes to both transfer fees and wages.
Spurs to break club record twice in a week
via Reuters
The Lilywhites broke their club transfer record this week by completing the £85million signing of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United. But that record will stand for only a matter of days. An agreement has been reached for the transfer of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United and when that is confirmed he will become the club’s new record signing at £92.5million, increasing to £100million in add-ons.
Those two midfield signings followed the defensive additions of Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, with Martin Dubravka also coming in as back-up goalkeeper.
Attacking changes are likely to be made, with question marks over the future of last season’s top scorer Richarlison and a number of players still missing through long-term injury.
Tottenham are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Bournemouth star Eli Junior Kroupi this summer after his breakout season in the Premier League.
The now 20-year-old broke the record for the most goals scored in a season by a teenager, beating the record which had been held by both Robbie Fowler and Robbie Keane.
Tottenham would face strong competition for his signature this summer, with a number of other Premier League clubs weighing up a move for the frontman, as well as Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain showing an interest.
football.london’s Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold delivered an update on his future on the Talking Tottenham podcast.
Tottenham interest in Junior Kroupi confirmed
AFC Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi celebratesvia Reuters
He said: “There’s interest, of course, but everyone’s interested, he’s one of the young stars of the Premier League, everyone wants him.
“This new version of Tottenham, they have certainly gone at deals this summer where there was opposition and they’ve come out of the other side.
“I’m hearing Bournemouth have got no intention of selling, but we’ll see if that’s tested as the summer goes on.
“I’m fascinated to see if Spurs are going after bigger targets, proper targets, not targets that might be good, but targets we know are already good, I’m fascinated to see how they approach that situation.
“You’re probably not taking on one or two clubs, you’re taking on half of Europe.”
