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And breathe. It’s finally happened. Manchester United have reached a breakthrough with Brentford for the transfer of Bryan Mbeumo, who will join Old Trafford in a deal worth up to £71m.

Of course, the Cameroon winger hasn’t signed yet, with his medical slated for this weekend. But this is a significant step forward, ending the interminable negotiating with Premier League rivals Brentford for their star man.

United have bagged Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5m; Ruben Amorim is redefining his frontline, but more is needed to spark a much-needed resurgence after finishing 15th in the top flight and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

In any case, the Red Devils have stepped in the right direction, but more is certainly needed.

The latest Man Utd transfer news

United have secured their offensive flanks, but they still need to sign a striker, with Rasmus Hojlund flattering to deceive last season, scoring just four times in the Premier League.

However, with Christian Eriksen having left at the end of his contract, United also need to improve their midfield, and while a wealth of names, such as Atalanta’s Ederson, have been bandied about, Amorim appears to have centred on a talent who could make a lasting impact.

As per Calcio Mercato Javier Guerra has reached a verbal agreement with Man United as he leans toward an exit from Valencia.

The clubs are still negotiating the details, but this is a promising update indeed.

Further outfits from Spain and England have made enquiries, while AC Milan failed with a move in June. The 22-year-old is valued at £26m, but could be a shrewd long-term investment.

What Javier Guerra would bring to Man Utd

Guerra is, thus far, a one-club man, having graduated from Valencia’s Mestalla reserve side to complete 89 senior appearances for the first team, scoring eight goals and providing four assists.

Regarded by talent scout Jacek Kulig to be a deep-lying playmaker with a tactical style akin to Xabi Alonso, Guerra would instil composure, ball-playing intelligence and clear vision to Amorim’s set-up, making it easier to put emphasis on transitional play and ferry the ball forward to the likes of Bruno Fernandes.

He would, in this way, prove a seamless replacement for Eriksen, all the while packaging the United system with his own brand, having actually been hailed as a “phenomenal young talent” by journalist Zach Lowy.

Indeed, Guerra ranked among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last term for shots taken, the top 17% for successful take-ons and the top 18% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

The Spaniard’s blooming roundedness even suggests that he could be the next version of his legendary countryman Rodri, only this time playing on Manchester’s red side.

To claim that Guerra would emulate his fellow Spaniard Rodri from the off in the Premier League would be a fool’s game, to be sure. Pep Guardiola’s Ballon d’Or winner joined Man City from Atletico Madrid in a club-record deal worth £63m back in July 2019, when he was 23 years old.

Rodri was further in his development than Guerra at that stage, but the similarities are there, even if the Valencia star is more of a pass-focused player than he is, with the City sensation encapsulating every facet of the midfield game to a preternatural level.

The 29-year-old has won the whole gamut with Pep Guardiola at Man City, and he won the 2024 European Championship with his nation too.

If United can forge their own version of the modern great in Guerra, Amorim’s vision truly could have lift-off in the coming months and years.

It would be redundant to contrast and compare Guerra with the current iteration of Rodri, who is both vastly superior and missed the majority of the 2024/25 campaign through injury.

So, instead, let’s have a look at Guerra’s La Liga statistics from the recent term against Rodri’s from his final year in his homeland. Though the latter maintained a higher level, there’s plenty of promise to be taken from the collation.

As you can see, Rodri was by far the more combative and commanding midfield general, with his energy and tenacity seen through his rate of defensive contributions and ball recoveries.

But Guerra has put in a terrific campaign on his own merits.

It’s also worth noting that Guerra has been competing in an imperilled Valencia side, who looked doomed and headed for the second tier across the opening half of the season before a resurgence after a wintry 7-1 defeat to Barcelona in January sparked new fluency and focus.

The victory that followed that hammering, by the by, was crafted by Guerra, who scored and assisted in a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.

Certainly, Guerra is showing himself at a younger age to have a bit more creative flair about him than Rodri, who marshalled so confidently an organised Atletico Madrid side.

To set the expectation that he would reach Rodri’s lofty level would be the instant undoing of this talented young midfielder. But can Amorim not fashion his own version, one not expected to reach his compatriots’ level, but instead offer his technical qualities to Man United and improve them?

Signing a rising star with a point to prove is exactly the kind of move Amorim needs to make, and it’s one which might establish foundations for a much-needed revival.

He's more important than Mbeumo: Man Utd to make bid for £30m "machine"

Manchester United’s dealings in the transfer window have shown no signs of slowing down in recent days.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 18, 2025

Nottingham Forest supporters will now be clamouring for the start of the Premier League season, safe in the knowledge that Morgan Gibbs-White will line up in the famous Garibaldi Red for the Tricky Trees’ opener against Brentford next month.

It really looked as if Gibbs-White would leave Nuno Espirito Santo’s side behind for a switch to Tottenham Hotspur, in a move that would have banked Forest £60m.

However, this controversial move would never get off the ground in the end, culminating in the 25-year-old penning a new, unexpected deal at the City Ground instead.

Forest will be on the hunt for some exciting signings now to further boost spirits in the Midlands, as a £30m attacker appears on the Premier League side’s shopping list, away from Nuno’s men also being close on a deal for Bologna forward Dan Ndoye.

Forest explore move for £30m attacker

Indeed, it looks as if Ndoye will be lining up next to the much-talked-about Gibbs-White very shortly.

According to Fabrizio Romano via X, the deal is done, as a £35m agreement has been reached between Bologna and Forest, following on from Evangelos Marinakis’ desire to land a standout replacement for Anthony Elanga.

Ndoye isn’t the only addition Forest might be anticipating in the forward areas, however, with a report by the Telegraph now revealing that the top-flight side have ‘discussed’ a potential move for Liverpool hotshot Ben Doak.

The up-and-coming Scotsman would dent the Marinakis bank account even more, with the Reds winger allegedly available for around the £30m mark.

However, this could be a price worth paying if he develops into even more of a blistering performer at the City Ground, with the potential here for Doak to become the club’s next iteration of Gibbs-White in the process.

How Doak can become Forest's next Gibbs-White

Gibbs-White is now a household name in the Premier League, having even been speculated to be on the radar of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this summer, away from Thomas Franks’ Spurs sniffing about.

However, the 25-year-old hasn’t always been viewed in this glowing light, having struggled to ever get going at former side Wolverhampton Wanderers before embarking on a transformative adventure with Forest.

When plying his trade at Molineux, Gibbs-White would only collect a paltry one goal and one assist in Premier League action. At Forest, though, he is a beast that cannot be tamed, as seen in his ever-growing tally of 45 goals and assists at the difficult level.

Doak will hope, if he leaves Anfield behind shortly, that he can also go on to be as key as the four-time England international is at the City Ground, having been utilised sparingly at Liverpool to date, but he has still managed to show off flashes of his immense quality.

Despite failing to break his goal or assist duck in the senior picture on Merseyside, Doak does have a healthy 11 goals and eight assists next to his name in the youth picture at Anfield. If given more minutes in Nottingham, he could go on to be a star in the first-team scene, away from settling for limited chances under Arne Slot’s wing.

After all, last season also saw the “special” forward – as he’s been glowingly labelled by Jurgen Klopp previously – set the EFL light on loan with Middlesbrough, as seen in his hefty ten goal contributions from 24 Boro clashes.

Coincidentally, before gaining more opportunities at Molineux, Gibbs-White was also viewed as a rising star out on loan with Sheffield United, with a mammoth ten goals and 12 assists coming his way at Bramall Lane.

At the time, he was even hailed as having “the world at his feet” by Blades teammate David McGoldrick, with similarly glowing praise heading Doak’s way too last season from Boro-based commentator Mark Drury, who stated that the Scotsman “looks like a natural” under pressure.

Doak might well finally get his big break in the Premier League with Forest, as excitement levels continue to grow and grow at the City Ground about what next season has in store.

As noted by Football scout Antonio Mango, he truly is a “menace” of a player…

Gibbs-White will love him: Nottingham Forest set to finalise "top signing"

Nottingham Forest are close to sealing a £35m deal for this exciting attacker.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 28, 2025

Javier Aguirre’s squad drew 0-0 against Japan in Oakland and salvaged a 2-2 result against South Korea on Tuesday

As Mexico manager Javier Aguirre continues shaping his roster for the 2026 World Cup, a handful of players already look like the backbone of El Tri: Luis Ángel Malagón, Johan Vásquez, Edson Álvarez, and Raúl Jiménez. Others are still fighting to prove they belong in the final 23. The results, draws against Japan and South Korea,  may not have met fans’ expectations, but Aguirre made clear that Mexico’s foundation is set.

“I can’t say whether we’re close or far from where we want to be for the World Cup, but after a year, we’ve established a base, we’re on the right track,” Aguirre said. “Good, bad, or average football – that’s for you to judge. My job is to train, to find players for the World Cup, and to give them a clear football identity. We’ve used around 35 players so far, and we’re still searching.”

Against Japan, Mexico lost Álvarez to injury, but his replacement, Erik Lira, impressed. Many observers even argued that looked sharper with the Cruz Azul midfielder pulling the strings than with the Fenerbahçe veteran in charge.

In Nashville, Jiménez ended his scoring drought with goal No. 43 for Mexico, moving into third on the country’s all-time scoring list and reminding everyone of his quality as a veteran striker. Fellow forward Santiago Giménez also eased the pressure on himself with a stunning stoppage-time strike to seal a 2-2 draw against South Korea.

Not everyone left camp on a high. San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano, in his first call-up in more than a year, failed to make an impact in either match. Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel also had little to show as South Korea’s attackers exposed him on both goals.

With FIFA windows still to come in October, November and March – just before World Cup call-ups begin – Mexico’s roster should soon look far more defined. By then, fans and observers will have a much clearer sense of what “Vasco” plans to field in the June 11 opener. Some players moved closer to securing their spots with these performances. Others will be left wondering if they did enough. So, who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

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  STOCK UP: Erik Lira

  There wasn’t much to celebrate for Mexico in their friendlies against Japan and South Korea as both opponents looked sharper and exposed several of weaknesses. Still, one bright spot was Lira. After Álvarez went down injured against Japan, the Cruz Azul midfielder stepped into the starting lineup and immediately made Mexico look more fluid in possession. Lira’s ability to progress the ball and stay composed under pressure stood out, an area where Álvarez often struggles. While it’s hard to imagine Álvarez being dropped from Aguirre’s starting XI, some experts argue his future with the national team may be as a center back rather than in midfield. Lira's rise could be a factor that sees that change push through. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  STOCK DOWN: Hirving Lozano

  The left winger displayed flashes of individual quality, winning duels and taking on defenders, but his passing accuracy left much to be desired. He failed to establish himself as the offensive leader down his flank in either match. Fans might be patient with "Chucky," one of Mexico’s recent icons thanks to his European career and World Cup performances, but in a position with heavy competition and limited standout talent, the San Diego FC star missed a key opportunity to shine.

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  STOCK UP: Santiago Gimenez

   Giménez has just six goals in 44 appearances for the Mexican national team. The AC Milan striker has suffered from bad luck at times and also a lack of finishing touch on the national team, but his quality is undeniable. He proved it with a stunning strike against South Korea to rescue a 2-2 draw, just when it looked like Aguirre’s side would finish the FIFA window with a draw and a defeat.

  The goal ended an eight-match scoring drought for Giménez, easing some of the pressure on him, as he is always under the spotlight. For now, Gimenez remains Raúl Jiménez’s backup, though Aguirre has consistently given him minutes. If he keeps finding the back of the net, he’ll be a serious contender for a spot in the starting XI.

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  STOCK DOWN: Diego Lainez and Germán Berterame

  Both Diego Lainez (Tigres) and Germán Berterame (Monterrey) were called up for this FIFA window due to their strong club form. However, neither has shown they can compete with Raúl Jiménez, Santiago Giménez, Hirving Lozano, or Ángel Sepúlveda – the latter missing this call-up due to injury and still not guaranteed a spot for the World Cup, though he ranks ahead of Berterame.

  Lainez made his first appearance with El Tri since 2024, playing only 28 minutes – he stayed on the bench against Japan and was limited to a short spell against South Korea, where he couldn’t showcase much of his talent. He hasn’t scored for the national team since 2021. On the other end, Berterame – in four appearances for Mexico – has yet to score and has only recorded two shots on target in 180 minutes of play.

  It seems likely that these two players have had their last call-ups for the foreseeable future, as they are unlikely to feature in the squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Where will Newcastle United’s striker search take them next?

The Magpies were in the race to sign Benjamin Šeško, even agreeing a £70m fee with RB Leipzig, but the Slovenian chose to move to Manchester United instead, a transfer that was officially announced on Saturday morning.

So now, has Eddie Howe identified his latest top target?

Newcastle's striker search

It’s been a busy summer in terms of Newcastle United strikers, both in terms of players at the club, as well as ones they’d like to bring to Tyneside.

Callum Wilson was released earlier this summer, while Alexander Isak is yet to feature in pre-season, as he aims to force through a move to Liverpool although, as reported by Luke Edwards of the Telegraph, the Swede has been informed he ‘will not be allowed’ to move this summer, the latest twist to this saga that is drawing no closer to a conclusion.

Meantime, on top of Šeško, the Magpies have failed in their attempts to sign fellow strikers João Pedro, Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitiké and Matheus Cunha, all of whom have joined Premier League rivals, while they’ve also seen a £25m bid for Yoane Wissa rejected by Brentford.

Sam Tabuteau of the Evening Standard believes that the Magpies are ‘preparing a fresh bid’ for the DR Congo international, but should they go for a different striker from within the Premier League?

Well, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian, Newcastle currently lead the race to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, adding that the Senegalese striker has informed the Blues of his desire to leave, falling down the pecking order following the arrivals of the aforementioned Pedro and Delap.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Aarons adds that Jackson has ‘trained alone’ at Cobham, valued at around £80m by Chelsea, albeit the Blues are ready to ‘accept’ a fee closer to £65m.

So, could Jackson soon swap West London for the North East?

How Nicolas Jackson would improve Newcastle

Despite often being widely ridiculed, Jackson’s statistics since arriving at Chelsea two summers ago are largely impressive.

He scored 17 goals during his debut campaign in England, before adding a further 13 goals to his tally last time round, despite sitting out around three months of the campaign due to a hamstring injury.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him an “extraordinary” talent, while Moe Adikwu of Breaking the Lines praises his work rate and ‘ability to get into goal-scoring positions’, projecting he will become a ‘top striker’.

Liam Twomey and Mark Carey of the Athletic agree, outlining his ‘excellent’ pressing, with Ed Dove of ESPN documenting how Chelsea’s form nosedived during his injury last season, describing his ‘broader contribution… without the ball’ as invaluable.

So, would Jackson be a better signing than Newcastle’s other target, Wissa?

Let’s compare the pair to find out.

As the table documents, Jackson and Wissa are stylistically very similar players, emphasised by the fact they accumulate a very similar number of touches per-90, registering an identical percentage of these touches in the opposition’s penalty area.

Jackson’s most eye-catching statistic is the fast he has underperformed his expected goals by seven across the last two Premier League seasons, missing a whopping 43 Opta-defined big chances, which is significantly more than anybody else.

Flipping that into a positive, it proves that the Senegal international is getting into good positions but just not taking these chances, a skillset he could improve in the future.

Still only 24 years old, while Wissa’s 29th birthday is coming up next month, Jackson would represent the more shrewd investment from Newcastle, given that the pair are pretty similar in quality at this very moment, but the current Chelsea forward has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the Premier League in the longer terms.

Jackson upgrade: Newcastle line up "proper No.9" as £60m Samu alternative

Newcastle need to sign a centre-forward in the summer transfer market.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 8, 2025

Fermin Lopez left the field looking visibly distraught after Barcelona's league win against Getafe. The midfielder dropped to the pitch, holding his groin and the back of his leg, before leaving the field as coach Hansi Flick hugged him. The club have now received the test results, and the 20-year-old is slated to be sidelined for around three weeks.

• Fermin Lopez out for three weeks

  In the post-match press conference, coach Flick confirmed to the media that Lopez would be undergoing tests at the club's headquarters. The club have now released a statement confirming Lopez has an iliopsoas muscle injury in his left leg, which will keep him out of action for around three weeks. This comes as a big blow to the club, who are scheduled to face reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.

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• Getty Images
  

  Lopez was just finding his stride at Barcelona

  Lopez left the pitch crying last night as Flick consoled him. The player rejected Chelsea's offer this summer in a bid to fight for a starting place at Barca. Things were looking bright, and the youngster had even scored two goals this season before last night's injury. The midfielder also recently displayed an impressive performance against Newcastle in the midweek clash. A starting spot against PSG might have been on the cards, given the number of injuries at the club, but these recent developments will now keep him out of the game. His injury further adds to Barca's long-list of ongoing injury crisis.

• Barcelona's injury crisis

  With Barcelona facing a congested schedule, navigating the unavailability of multiple star players will be a major hurdle for Flick in the upcoming games. Lamine Yamal's return will depend on his day-to-day progress, while Frenkie de Jong recently returned to match action after his gluteal discomfort, starting in both the fixtures against Newcastle and Getafe. Gavi's return date is also unknown, with the club still working on his rehabilitation and treatment.

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  Testing times ahead for Barcelona

  Barcelona will be playing three matches in just over a week. Flick's men will face Real Oviedo and Real Sociedad in the league on September 25 and 28, before hosting PSG in their Champions League fixture. The Spanish champions have performed well under intense pressure recently, but with mounting pressure and a squad plagued by injuries, this period before the international break will be a testing one for the Spanish club.

Tottenham Hotspur have their eyes on two rising Welsh stars from the same club and could sign both of them this summer, according to a new report.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank is widely seen as a ‘project manager’ and famed for his expertise in developing younger players.

You could make a case that the Dane is literally perfect for chairman Daniel Levy, and the Lilywhites have already moved to ensure that Frank will have a wide range of promising young talents to nurture during his time in N17.

Outstanding young winger Mikey Moore, who impressed during Spurs’ Europa League campaign last season, was awarded a brand-new long-term contract earlier this week, following his season-long loan move to Rangers, with Alfie Devine also signing an extension last Friday.

The north Londoners are also always on the lookout for world football’s brightest gems, as evident by their transfer activity in recent years.

Highly-rated young Croatian defender, Luka Vuskovic, finally linked up with the squad this summer after Spurs agreed a deal for him in 2023, and he’s expected to potentially go out on loan to further his development.

Meanwhile, Tottenham also signed Japanese sensation Kota Takai earlier in the window for a J-League record £5 million, but unlike Vuskovic, the 20-year-old is poised to be in and around Frank’s first-team squad.

Tottenham open talks to sign "incredible" £45m star, Frank thinks he's ideal

Spurs have entered negotiations to sign a forward, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 12, 2025

Spurs believe South Korean starlet Yang Min-hyeok, who’s out on loan at Portsmouth following another temporary stint at QPR last term, is highly-rated behind-the-scenes at Hotspur Way and could also be one to watch out for in the coming years.

“If Yang Min-hyuk can be described in two words, it’s power and pace. Add adaptability, and he becomes a versatile asset for Tottenham’s attacking football,” said Korean football expert, Joel Kim, last year.

“Yang brings incredible speed to the attack, running with youthful vigour. His surprising physical strength allows him to dominate veteran defenders in the K-League 1, Asia’s most physical league.

“His greatest asset might be his adaptability; like Son Heung-min, Yang is two-footed and can play on either the left or right wing. Comparisons to Anthony Gordon and Federico Chiesa highlight his potential.”

The future appears bright at Tottenham, but Levy and technical director Johan Lange have their eyes on “two rising Swansea stars”.

Tottenham serious contenders to sign Harlan Perry and Brogan Popham

That is according to TEAMtalk, with Swansea duo Harlan Perry and Brogan Popham attracting real attention from N17.

They’re seen as “two of the most sought-after teenagers in British football”, according to this report, and they’ve apparently blown scouts away across the UK.

Man United and Man City have both held preliminary talks with their representatives, but it is now believed that Tottenham have emerged as the ‘most serious contenders’ to sign Popham and Perry alongside Watford.

Perry, a dynamic midfielder, and Popham, a towering centre-back, haven’t committed to professional deals at Swansea, so Alan Sheehan’s side are apparently very exposed to losing both of their biggest talents.

The 17-year-olds, who’ve both represented Wales at youth international level, appear more than likely to leave the Swansea.com Stadium – and they could well be off to Tottenham.

Jose Mourinho has already been warned of the sack threat he faces at Benfica, with the Portuguese a matter of hours into the two-year contract that he has signed at Estadio da Luz. The enigmatic former Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter boss is aware that he needs to deliver positive results in order to see out a deal through to the summer of 2027.

• Full circle: Mourinho back where it all began

  Having been relieved of his duties at Turkish side Fenerbahce on the back of suffering a Champions League qualification defeat to Benfica, Mourinho finds himself back his homeland and where it all began for him in a managerial capacity in 2000.

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• Special One: Portuguese boasts glittering CV

  The ‘Special One’ is now 62 years of age, but he remains as competitive as ever. He is eager to deliver tangible success at Benfica – having made a habit of collecting major silverware over the course of his glittering coaching career – but knows that events on and off the field could impact his short and long-term future in Lisbon.

• Presidential elections lined up by Benfica

  With presidential elections set to take place at Benfica in October, Rui Costa – who currently fills that role – told reporters when asked if Mourinho is an "electoral asset" for him: "I'm here as president of Benfica, I'm choosing a coach for Benfica. It confuses me that these terms are used. Our obligation is the future of the club, and not thinking about elections would mean leaving the club without a coach until the elections.

  "Mourinho is Benfica's coach because we believe he has all the credentials to lead a club like ours. We felt we had to change the coaching staff, and he needed a coach capable of managing a club of this size."

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  Mourinho's contract: Terms of Benfica deal

  On the terms of Mourinho’s contract, Costa added: "There's a clause at the end of the season that leaves the club the option of continuing with the coach or not. We're hiring a coach for Benfica who's not indifferent at the global level; he's one of the most highly regarded names in the world. We're securing Benfica's future with an excellent coach."

Derby County have been preparing for a tough season by bringing in a number of different-style players. The Rams narrowly survived Championship relegation last season thanks to the February arrival of John Eustace.

After settling the ship at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers and turning them into play-off contenders, Eustace made the switch to Derby to help guide them to safety. In order to build on last season’s finish, Eustace has signed a mix of experienced players and up-and-coming talents.

Three young players have come in on loan from teams that will feature in the European competitions this season. Bobby Clark from RB Salzburg, Owen Beck from Liverpool and David Ozoh from Crystal Palace have all arrived at Derby with heaps of potential and even more to prove to their parent clubs.

These loan-signings are a part of Derby’s cost-conscious transfer plans that have also seen four more experienced players, including Rhian Brewster, arrive on free transfers. This frugal business has allowed for bigger spending with the likes of Patrick Agyemang for £5.8 million and another potential new arrival who has worked with Eustace in the past.

Eustace wants Travis reunion with Derby bid submitted

Tuesday afternoon saw Derby make their next move in the transfer market as they submitted an ambitious bid of £1.5 million for Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis. Eustace previously managed Travis during his tenure as Blackburn boss and regularly relied upon him when fit.

Eustace was often full of praise for Travis, and in a game where the midfielder had gotten himself suspended, Eustace still described his performance as “sensational” and praised him as a “real leader”.

Unfortunately, this reunion may have to wait a while longer as the Lancashire Times’ Elliot Jackson has reported that the £1.5 million bid has been rejected as it falls short of Blackburn’s evaluation of Travis. The phrasing of this report does indicate that Blackburn may be open to selling their skipper if Derby are able to offer a price that they deem fair.

Travis is a seasoned player and has survived relegation battles before. He fits the model of player that Eustace seems to want to bring in this summer, but, at only 27 years old, Travis may be the best transfer of the bunch.

Eustace backs experience at Derby

The young loanees have their own merits, but they do lack the experience of regular EFL game time and the stress of a relegation battle. Due to this, Eustace has balanced the squad with a number of experienced players who can lead the team to safety.

If Travis arrives, these five players will have played a monumental 1,883 EFL games between them. Last season, Derby had the oldest average squad age in the Championship with 27.6 years, which has now increased to 28.1 years, just behind newly promoted Wrexham.

Eustace must view the experienced players as instrumental to the club’s survival last season, and so is doubling down on including this profile of player in the squad.

Furthermore, Danny Batth, Andi Weimann, and loanee Owen Beck have all played under Eustace before, so it’s clear that he isn’t taking risks and wants either experienced players or those he knows he can trust. Given this and his past comments about Travis, it’s no wonder that Derby are trying to sign him.

Travis may have the fewest appearances of these five players, but he is the youngest by two years. With almost 250 EFL games under his belt, and potentially another five to ten years of football left in him, Travis is the perfect blend of experience and potential longevity that, if signed, won’t only help Derby this season but in the future.

Harry Kane is "being taken for granted", according to former England international Joleon Lescott, with the Bayern Munich striker only managing a 13th-place finish at the 2025 Ballon d'Or. The Three Lions captain finished outside of the top 10, as Ousmane Dembele was named the best player on the planet, despite netting 41 goals last season and breaking his trophy duck with a Bundesliga title triumph.

• Getty
  

  Historic goal hauls for Kane

  Kane, who walked away from Tottenham in 2023 as the club’s all-time leading scorer, has maintained remarkable individual standards in Germany. He is a back-to-back Golden Boot winner in the German top-flight, with his overall record for Bayern standing at 98 goals through 103 appearances in all competitions. He has already found the target on 13 occasions this term – including two hat-tricks – through seven fixtures.

  His historic haul of goals for England has been taken to 74 from 104 caps, with a reputation as one of the finest No.9s to ever play the game being enhanced. His exploits do not, however, always receive the recognition they deserve. That was the case again when another Golden Ball was handed out in Paris.

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• Does Kane get recognition he deserves?

  Reacting to Kane’s 13th-place ranking – with the 32-year-old having hit 70 Bundesliga goals through 67 appearances in the German top-flight – two-time Premier League title winner Lescott told podcast from Sky Bet: "I don’t want to sound disrespectful, but people don't necessarily tune in to watch Harry Kane. There’s the talent, but the fundamentals of his game are ridiculously high, a lot like [Bukayo] Saka, but if its people basing it on who they want to see, it’s not Kane. What he's done and what he has achieved is definitely taken for granted. Since he’s been at Bayern Munich, he’s scored more goals than games."

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  Dembele & Gravenberch earn high praise

  While being of the opinion that Kane should have finished higher in the Ballon d’Or vote, Lescott has no complaints with the overall winner. Dembele – who has joined an exclusive club of Golden Ball, Champions League and World Cup winners – fended off competition from Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal to land the most prestigious of awards.

  Lescott said of the France international forward, who helped Paris Saint-Germain to three trophies in 2024-25, being given that nod: “Ousmane Dembele’s record from the turn of the year is insane. He's found the perfect coach for him. You have to respect the manager for [his work out of possession] because that is not something you teach. Something has to convince you that is what is needed.”

  Another player that former Everton and Manchester City defender Lescott has been impressed with is current Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch. The Netherlands international struggled to make the expected impact at Bayern Munich, but the ex-Ajax star is thriving at Anfield.

  Lescott said of the 23-year-old, who has made the No.6 spot his own in Arne Slot’s title-winning squad on Merseyside: "There's an argument for [Gravenberch being the best number six in the world right now] because of his contribution, goals and assists and he's been in a title winning team. He was arguably their best player last year, so he definitely should be considered. If you're one of the best in any position in the Premier League, you are going to be considered the best or one of best in the world.

  "I like [Moises] Caicedo – he’s top, but Gravenberch controls the game, he's able to control how they attack, sustain attacks where Caicedo doesn't have that ability in my opinion, just yet."

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• What next for Kane, Gravenberch & Dembele?

  Gravenberch has helped Liverpool to make a faultless start to their 2025-26 campaigns in the Premier League and Champions League. They already hold a five-point lead at the top of the English top-flight table.

  Dembele is nursing an injury that he picked up on international duty, ruling him out of PSG’s immediate plans, while Kane remains in red-hot form for Bayern and will be looking to enhance his goal tally when Vincent Kompany’s side play host to Werder Bremen on Friday.

Crystal Palace are making progress in the transfer market and have now put forward an approach to a two-time Premier League winner in the final days of the window, according to reports.

Crystal Palace look to retain Marc Guehi amid potential incomings

Marc Guehi is the man in focus at Selhurst Park after Eberechi Eze’s exit, and it remains to be seen if the England international will stay or join his compatriot by completing a move away before the window closes.

With his contract expiring next year, Liverpool are in the frame to land Guehi and Manchester City are also reportedly eyeing a late swoop to tempt the former Chelsea man north amid a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding his future.

Nevertheless, there is some positive news for Crystal Palace fans to sink their teeth into, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed on X that the Eagles are closing in on Villarreal star Yeremy Pino for a club record fee.

He stated on X: “Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign Yeremy Pino from Villarreal, exclusive story from last week confirmed. Negotiations underway between clubs to get the deal done asap, #CPFC pushing. Fee could be close to €50m.”

Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss has been a long-term Eagles target, but it remains to be seen if Oliver Glasner decides to bite before the close of play in the market, where more players will begin to become available over the coming days.

Crystal Palace want to complete £40m double deal to replace Eberechi Eze

The Eagles are ready to plough their summer budget into attacking reinforcements.

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Aug 25, 2025

Either way, there is an inevitability that supporters will see incomings at Selhurst Park, and recent developments indicate that Crystal Palace have got the ball rolling over a late swoop for a defender who has led a distinguished career path.

Crystal Palace make approach for Manchester City's Manuel Akanji

Per Sky Sports News on X, Crystal Palace have made an approach to land Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, who they believe could be an ideal replacement if Guehi were to move on this summer.

Defensive reinforcements will be paramount should that sequence of events occur, and the Switzerland international could be available for a cut-price fee due to his contract at the Etihad Stadium being set to expire in 2027.

Labelled “perfect” by Pep Guardiola, Akanji made 40 appearances last campaign for the Citizens, registering two assists, though he is yet to feature under the Catalan boss this term and has fallen down the pecking order.

The 30-year-old may now be set for a new challenge after three years in Manchester and Crystal Palace could be the ideal environment for regular minutes in the prime of his career, especially if Guehi is to depart by next Monday.