Carrick prioritised the midfield signings this summer, with Casemiro leaving the club to add to the need for midfield improvement, and while United may circle back for a third midfield signing, the two agreed deals will allow them to concentrate on other areas for now.
The defence could be addressed, with a left-back signing required, while the right could be added to, and there is some interesting news on the latter.
Neco Williams gives Man Utd green light
via Reuters
Nottingham Forest and Wales star Neco Williams is said to be interested in a move to Old Trafford this summer. According to TeamTalk, United, Newcastle and Tottenham are among the clubs considering the right-back, and it’s claimed WIlliams himself would prefer a move to Old Trafford.
No formal approaches have been made yet, according to the report, but interest is ramping up, and Forest are well aware of it, now reportedly offering the full-back a new contract. It’s claimed Forest have put significant money on the table in a bid to convince the Wales international to stick around and remain their starting right-back.
If Williams does leave, he is said to want to test himself at a higher level and, ideally, pay Champions League football. United are named as the preferred destination, which may come as a surprise given he came through the Liverpool academy.
Transfermarkt value Williams at £23.8million, but Forest, who are not interested in selling at this point, would demand significantly more. Williams won Forest’s Player of the Season in the season just gone.
Williams a reliable player
Williams was Forest’s most consistent player last season, and BBC Sport’s Forest fan pundit Pat Riddell said in the spring: “The Welshman has won the club’s player of the month award four times this season and, aside from a knee-jerk reaction handball which saw his dismissal against Crystal Palace in February, it’s hard to think of a game where he put a foot wrong.
“Committed, dependable, versatile, consistent… the 25-year-old is up and down the left flank for almost the entirety of every game – his ability to tackle and defend his goal, as well as shoot, score and assist, means he’s easily ranking among the Premier League’s top full-backs.”
Arsenal transfer target Bradley Barcola favours a move to London over Liverpool, who are currently deemed the favourites to sign the Paris Saint-Germain winger, according to journalist Konstantinos Lianos.
Barcola spent another season somewhat on the periphery of Luis Enrique’s team in 2025/26, behind the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele in the pecking order. Despite this, the Frenchman still managed to net 13 goals and provide eight assists across all competitions, and is now wanted by two of Europe’s top clubs.
The Merseysiders lead the race to land the player’s signature, but they may have some difficulty convincing him to swap Paris for the north-west of England.
Bradley Barcola Prefers Arsenal Move to Liverpool
via Reuters
Rogers is Arsenal’s primary target for the left wing this summer, although the Gunners have prepared a clear plan B if a move for the Aston Villa star fails. The Villans are said to be demanding around £130 million for the England international, and if they hold firm on this valuation, the North Londoners may turn to this plan B.
Barcola is the alternative, and Arsenal may actually be better placed to acquire the electric wide man than their Premier League counterparts Liverpool, who view him as a priority.
According to Greek reporter Lianos, Barcola would prefer to swap the French capital for the English capital, rather than trade his Parisian lifestyle with Merseyside. This gives Arsenal a significant advantage in the race to sign the former Lyon man, if they do indeed end up pursuing him over Rogers.
Lianos also reports, however, that PSG will discuss a new contract with Barcola after his participation at the World Cup comes to an end.
The winger is currently tied down at the Parc des Princes until 2028, but the Ligue 1 champions are keen to secure his future for the long-term to fend off interest from elsewhere.
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Arsenal Should be Able to Complete Barcola Transfer
Gonzalo Fuentes via Reuters
Based on Villa’s purported demands, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Arsenal swiftly pivot from Rogers to Barcola, and they shouldn’t have any issues pulling a deal for the France international off.
While PSG are intent on signing one of their prized assets to a new deal, he must be itching for a new challenge somewhere else. Yan Diomande is being heavily linked with the French giants, and if this transfer materialises, Barcola will be left surplus to requirements in Paris.
He’d then be behind five players in the pecking order in PSG’s frontline, and this should be enough to convince him to consider plying his trade elsewhere.
Arsenal can offer Barcola a prominent role in one of the best team’s in Europe, while his desire to live in London gives them significantly more swaying power than Liverpool.
Andrea Berta shouldn’t have a hard time enacting a deal for the talented attacker if it becomes clear he’s going to leave PSG.
England’s starting lineup to face Argentina in Wednesday night’s World Cup semi-final has been leaked, with the biggest news being that Bukayo Saka has been dropped for the mouth-watering tie.
The Three Lions are well-placed to reach a second successive major tournament final after their come-from-behind victory over Norway on the weekend. But they will will need to do so without a recognised right-winger, with Morgan Rogers given the nod to start there in Atlanta, Georgia.
Of course, Jude Bellingham – England’s hero on many occasions this summer – starts, as does all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane, with other nailed-down starters including Jordan Pickford and Marc Guehi.
England’s Starting Lineup vs Argentina ‘Leaked’
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Caean Couto
As per Sami Mokbel of the BBC, England will line up as follows (see below):
“Jordan Pickford; Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane.”
Arsenal are now said to be preparing a bid for a new winger as they look to tick off a key piece of business and beat Liverpool to a signing.
The Gunners are in need of a left-winger and a number 8 this summer, but they could yet add a top striker if the right circumstances play out, and there will be other holes to plug depending on exits.
Mikel Arteta is yet to make a true start to summer recruitment, putting aside the free signing of Illan Meslier and the effectively pre-agreed permanent signing of Piero Hincapie. But we are likely to see the Gunners ramp up their transfer efforts in the next couple of weeks, and the attacker spot is likely to be a priority, especially with Leandro Trossard’s departure likely meaning two players are needed on that side.
Arsenal preparing offer for World Cup star Nusa
According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are now preparing an offer for RB Leipzig and Norway winger Antonio Nusa, believing he could be a long-term solution to their issues on the left side. It’s claimed the Gunners will offer around €40m for the 21-year-old, but Leizpig will reportedly seek as much as €60million, keeping in mind Newcastle United, Juventus and others are also reportedly interested. That means Arsenal and Leipzig are a long way apart on their valuations, so a deal certainly isn’t close.
The Gunners were believed to want a standout, ready-to-start left-wing option, but if they can sign someone like Morgan Rogers or Julian Alvarez, who would be their preferred targets, it’s likely they will need to compromise on their left-wing spending, with both of those players usually operating centrally.
Club Brugge star Christos Tzolis has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, so it will be interesting to see if the Nusa deal is instead of or as well as the Tzolis interest. It’s likely the Norway World Cup star, described as ‘one of the best players of his generation’, is an alternative option to Tzolis at this stage.
liverpoo
Nusa a Neymar-like ‘special’ talent
Speaking to TalkSport, European football journalist Andy Brassell explained why Nusa is seen as such a ‘special’ talent. He said: “What is it that makes Nusa so special? Well, he’s a wide player who’s equally effective on both sides, and even some of the best wide players in the modern game are not that.
“So this is something that’s a huge advantage for Leipzig at the moment is they have him on one side and Yan Diomande, who has been closely linked to Liverpool, on the other side. Having them and their ability to swap, I think is really, really useful. We often see Diomande on the right coming onto his left foot and Nusa on the left going onto his right, which is why a few people have floated the rather crass nickname of the ‘Norwegian Neymar’.
“His close control is brilliant, so you can understand the comparison. He’s very, very quick-footed. He’s able to go inside or outside. He’s adding a few goals to his game as well.”
