Benjamin Sesko’s promising start at Manchester United hasn’t ruled the club out of pursuing a deal for one of the best strikers on the planet.

The Slovenian frontman joined United from RB Leipzig last summer in a £74 million deal and finished his debut season strongly. He found the back of the net 12 times in 32 games after putting a difficult first few months behind him.

Michael Carrick’s arrival in January helped Sesko turn a corner and live up to expectations. His manager insisted that he is a big part of his plans and, at just 23 years old, can be expected to lead the line for years to come.

Man Utd Ready To Swoop if Kane is Available

REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez

United finished third in the Premier League last season, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. There has been a shift in spending and in the profile of targeted players since INEOS took over the club’s sporting operations.

One superstar who remains on the Red Devils’ wishlist is Harry Kane. TEAMtalk reports that the club are prepared to finance a move for the England captain if the opportunity arises.

Kane has entered the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich but the Bundesliga giants are confident of agreeing a new deal. There is interest in the 32-year-old around the globe, with Barcelona having made enquiries and Real Madrid requesting to be kept informed of the situation.

A return to Tottenham Hotspur is another possibility amid the North Londoners’ ambitious summer transfer window. The report also notes that clubs in the Saudi Pro League are keen on him, but he isn’t interested in heading to the Middle East at this stage of his career.

An eventual MLS move is mentioned, but that is likely to be in the long term rather than something Kane considers now. If he is to leave Bayern, a move to a European club seems most likely.

Kane Nothing More Than a Dream For Man Utd

United’s interest in Kane is partly due to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s continued admiration for ‘the best footballer in the world.’ The British billionaire doesn’t often influence transfer decisions at Old Trafford but could step in if there is a chance to sign England’s all-time top scorer.

Kane would be an unbelievable signing for Carrick and a world-class striker who would help fire the Red Devils back into title contention. But it appears he’s loving life in Munich and will probably extend his stay with the Bavarians.

United ultimately missed their opportunity to land the Ballon d’Or contender back in 2023 when he left Spurs for Bayern. It would take a shocking turn of events for them to seal his signature this summer.

Legend of the 2000s, Andrea Pirlo was one of football’s finest midfielders. After lifting the World Cup with Italy in 2006, winning two Champions League trophies with AC Milan and collecting six Serie A titles, he cemented his reputation as one of the greatest modern midfielders.

Renowned for his calmness under pressure, Pirlo built his legacy through a cultured playing style and an exceptional passing range. Supporters in England may remember him most for his unforgettable Panenka at Euro 2012, which beat Joe Hart and helped eliminate the Three Lions.

Despite delivering one of England’s most painful tournament moments, Pirlo still had enormous admiration for several opponents. In fact, he once labelled one English star a ‘complete footballer’.

Andrea Pirlo Respected Man United Legend Wayne Rooney

As quoted by the Daily Mail in 2012, Pirlo was asked to name his ‘favourite English player’. His answer was straightforward:

The Manchester United great played all 120 minutes against Pirlo in the Euro 2012 quarter-final. Rooney also converted England’s second penalty to briefly give the Three Lions the advantage before Pirlo responded with his famous chipped effort.

The audacity of that Panenka appeared to swing the momentum, with Ashley Young and Ashley Cole both missing England’s next two penalties.

Although Rooney never progressed beyond the quarter-finals with England at a major tournament, he enjoyed an outstanding club career.

His greatest successes came at Manchester United, where he became the Red Devils’ all-time top goalscorer, while also winning the Champions League and five Premier League crowns. Combining goals, creativity, relentless work rate and vision, Rooney is widely regarded as one of the ‘most complete’ footballers the game has produced.

Pirlo Nearly Joined Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea

While Pirlo clearly admired Rooney, he almost found himself lining up for one of Manchester United’s fiercest rivals. The Italian came close to joining Chelsea in 2009 after former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti was appointed manager. Reflecting on the move in the same interview, Pirlo said:

“Actually, Milan wouldn’t let me go. I have a very strong connection with Ancelotti so I was in touch with him when he went to Chelsea and I’m still in touch with him now he’s at Paris Saint-Germain.

“Certainly it would have been a different experience that I’d have liked, especially when I was 30 years old. So why not? But unfortunately it didn’t happen.”

He added: “I really enjoy English football. There are many top-quality teams, and the intensity they play with makes it exciting to watch.

“I don’t think adapting to that style would have been difficult because throughout my career I’ve played alongside many different types of players.”

One can only imagine how impressive Pirlo would have been as a Premier League midfielder.

The 2026 World Cup has reached its business end, with the four remaining teams vying for glory.

The three co-hosts, the United States, Canada and Mexico, did well to reach the last 16 but each fell at the same hurdle as they lost to Belgium, Morocco and England respectively.

Of that winning trio, only the Three Lions survived the quarter-finals. Joining Thomas Tuchel’s resilient side in the last four of the competition are reigning champions Argentina, who continue to cause refereeing controversy en-route to a second final in a row, as well as France and Spain.

Ahead of the semi-finals, which begin on Tuesday evening when France take on Spain in an all-European showdown, GiveMeSport has asked GrokAI to predict the remainder of the tournament.

Semi-Finals

REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

If AI is correct in its semi-final predictions, France are set to make a final appearance for an astonishing third time in a row, having won in 2018, before then cruelly losing out to Messi and co. in 2022. Spain beat France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 before going on to lift the trophy. However, AI thinks Didier Deschamps’ side will get the better of Spain this time round.

On the game, it said: “France has been dominant and clinical; Spain plays attractive football but may struggle against France’s physicality and counter-attacking threat (Mbappe, etc.). France edges it in a high-quality “final before the final.”

In the other semi-final, AI has backed Argentina to beat England 2-1, writing: “Argentina (reigning champions with Messi still influential) has clutch quality. England has momentum and stars like Bellingham but often falters in big moments against top South American sides.”

Third-Place Match and Final

Kyle Ross (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

No side ever wants to contest the third-placed match. Players are often deflated after failing to reach the final and a drab affair ensues. That said, AI thinks it will be different in 2026 as Spain beat England 2-1 in a repeat of the Euro 2024 final. It predicts: “Losers of tight semis often rotate or show fatigue; Spain’s depth should prevail for bronze.”

If AI has got it right, France and Argentina will go head-to-head in a repeat of the 2022 final. Four years ago, the two nations played out one of the greatest matches in football history. After the two sides couldn’t be separated in extra-time, the match went all the way to penalties, with Argentina triumphing.

AI thinks France will get revenge and become world champions for the third time. It writes: “France beats Argentina 2-1 (or on penalties). A rematch of recent finals vibes – France’s balance, experience, and current favoritism make them likely champions. Argentina fights hard but falls just short of back-to-back titles.