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Leeds United now want to sign an “amazing” attacker who was once the top goalscorer in the Europa League, according to a new report.

Leeds chasing new attacking signings after Nmecha

The Whites have already added Lukas Nmecha as an attacking signing to their squad this summer, but it appears, given recent speculation, that Daniel Farke is keen to add more options to his forward line.

49ers now weighing up Leeds move to sign "electric" £20m+ Ligue 1 striker

Contact has already been made by the Whites.

2 ByBrett Worthington Jul 13, 2025

Lecce centre-forward Nikola Krstovic remains a mooted target for the Yorkshire side, and it has been claimed they could be ready to make a new offer for the striker. But the Championship title winners do face a problem, as Krstovic is reportedly keen on either staying in Italy or playing for a team competing in Europe.

Meanwhile, Graeme Bailey has revealed that Leeds are also eyeing a move to sign Josh Sargent from Norwich City. The USA international has worked with Farke before at Carrow Road, and the German is thought to be keen to reunite with the player once again, but they face stiff competition, as fellow Premier League rivals Burnley are also keen on striking a deal.

But the list of attacking options doesn’t stop there, as the Whites are even considering a move to sign Evann Guessand, who is expected to leave OGC Nice this summer. Leeds reportedly made contact with the player last month, but they face competition from fellow Premier League teams Sunderland and Brentford.

Leeds want to sign "amazing" attacker who was once Europa League top scorer

As well as a new striker, Farke is also looking at improving his attacking midfield options, and according to RMC Sport, relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds are interested in signing Yusuf Yazici from Greek side Olympiacos.

The attacking midfielder only joined the Greek giants in September last year, but given he only made one appearance before suffering an injury that has seen him on the sidelines for eight months, he could now be on his way out. Despite his injury, Yazici is attracting transfer interest, as the Whites and an unnamed French side are keen on signing the 28-year-old.

It is unclear how much Yazici could cost Leeds, but he is still under contract until 2027. The Turkey international is very versatile, as he can operate anywhere as an attacking midfielder, right-winger or centre-forward. In fact, despite his main position being an attacking midfielder, Yazici surprised many during the 2020/21 season, as he finished the Europa League campaign as the top goalscorer with seven goals for Lille.

Clubs

Apps

Goals

Assists

LOSC Lille

135

29

15

Trabzonspor

120

27

22

CSKA Moscow

12

8

2

Olympiacos

1

0

0

In the past, Yazici has also impressed many high-profile players, with former Real Madrid and Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil labelling Yazici as an “amazing” number 10. Ozil said: “Yusuf Yazici is an amazing No. 10. We have a lot of similarities his left foot, his position, his passing, and his calmness on the ball.”

As Great Britain is represented in the Olympics, Scotland and England players could join forces in Los Angeles

Matt Roller13-Aug-2024The ECB and Cricket Scotland have opened talks about plans to field men’s and women’s Team GB cricket teams at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.Cricket will return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900 after its inclusion was ratified late last year. Details are yet to be confirmed but the ICC has proposed six-team T20 tournaments for both the women’s and men’s competitions, which are both expected to last around a week and will likely be played consecutively rather than simultaneously.Related

ICC proposes six-team T20 events for both men and women at 2028 Olympics

MLC, Knight Riders team up for 10,000-seat stadium near Los Angeles

Qualification details are also yet to be confirmed but the ICC’s T20I rankings will be used in some capacity. Most countries will compete in their usual guise but if England qualify then they will play as Great Britain, in line with the rest of the Olympics. It opens up the possibility of some Scottish players competing, such as Brandon McMullen or Sarah and Kathryn Bryce.The ECB and Cricket Scotland have held preliminary discussions about working together on proposed Team GB cricket teams. Cricket Scotland are pushing for active involvement in their running and are keen to contribute players and staff, but the ECB will be the teams’ nominated governing body.”With the Los Angeles Olympics four years away, it’s very early stages, but we’re talking to Team GB and Cricket Scotland about the next steps we need to take,” an ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.”Once again Great Britain’s Olympians have captured the national imagination with their exploits in Paris this year, and we look forward to working together to compete when cricket returns to the Olympic stage in 2028.”Along with England and Wales hosting Women’s and Men’s [T20] World Cups in 2026 and 2030, it’s another great opportunity to grow the game and inspire more people to develop a love for cricket.”Andy Anson, the chief executive of the British Olympic Association, said on Monday: “We’ve got good experience in golf, in rugby and in women’s football, of how the Four Nations [England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland] can come together and nominate one country to be the main governing body and work with the other countries. So I think cricket will be the same.”Anson, who is also Lancashire’s chairman, added: “The ECB will be at the centre of that. They’ll have to work with Cricket Scotland to make sure that happens properly. We will help them sign agreements to come together and create a single national governing body, as we have done in those other sports. We are working very closely with the ECB to make them become the fully fledged National Olympic Committee member.”Team GB is officially the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, and athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to compete for either Team GB or Ireland. But since cricket is organised on an all-Ireland basis, leading Northern Irish cricketers such as Mark Adair and Paul Stirling are highly unlikely to nominate themselves for Team GB.The venue for the cricket events at the 2028 Olympics is yet to be confirmed. Los Angeles Knight Riders and Major League Cricket have plans to build a stadium in Great Park in Irvine, while the Oakland Coliseum has also been mooted as an option.West Indies’ potential involvement also raises some complications, though there is recent precedent from the 2022 Commonwealth Games. West Indies’ T20I ranking ensured they qualified for the women’s cricket event, and they were represented by Barbados as the winners of the most recent edition of the Women’s T20 Blaze.Involvement in the Olympics – which will take place in the second half of July – will add to an incredibly busy 2028 summer for England’s men, which is already due to feature six Tests and white-ball tours from Australia and India.

Manchester United have finally announced the signing of Bryan Mbeumo, with a £71m deal agreed, finally, on Friday.

Weeks of negotiating had cast a grey cloud over the exciting transfer, with doubts beginning to creep in as to whether the Cameroonian would actually be plying his trade as a Red Devil next season.

Mbeumo, 25, is one of the Premier League’s most talented and prolific forwards, posting 20 goals across 38 matches last season. The likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all registered their interest, but it was Old Trafford that Mbeumo’s heart was set on.

With Matheus Cunha on the opposite flank, the right-sided forward may well wreak havoc under Ruben Amorim’s wing next year, in a new-look United frontline tasked with leading the revival.

However, a new striker is still required.

Man United's need for a new a striker

Rasmus Hojlund appears committed to the United cause. Amorim needs, truly needs, to ensure that an upgrade is signed this summer, even if the 22-year-old remains in the first-team squad.

This wouldn’t actually be the worst thing in the world, for it would package some depth while easing Hojlund’s weight of responsibility, perhaps allowing him to work on his weaker points.

But United need a new centre-forward all the same.

According to Football Transfers, that man might be Nicolas Jackson, who is open to swapping Chelsea for United.

That follows positive talks between Jason Wilcox and the player’s representatives, with discussions still ongoing over personal terms for Jackson.

Chelsea have lowered their exorbitant £100m asking price to £70m; however it’s likely that United will still seek to whittle that figure down.

What Nicolas Jackson would bring to Man United

The duality of Jackson. At times, a rip-roaring, barnstorming menace of a striker; at other points, wasteful and lacking authority at number nine.

However, 24 goals and ten assists across two Premier League seasons is nothing to be sniffed at, especially when considering that only 59 of his 65 fixtures have come from the outset.

Jackson tapered off across the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, but he posted nine goals and three assists across his opening 15 league games, thus proving that with some more consistency, he could become one of the leading goalscorers competing in England.

24/25 – Chelsea

30 (28)

10

5

23/24 – Chelsea

35 (31)

14

5

22/23 – Villarreal

26 (16)

12

4

21/22 – Villarreal

9 (0)

1

0

And partnered with someone like Mbeumo in United’s frontline, he could finally reach the level that his natural talent suggests is attainable.

Mbeumo is chiefly a deadly goalscorer, but he’s also a robust athletic profile and a creative presence besides.

As per Sofascore, he created a whopping 17 big chances in the Premier League last season, averaging 1.8 key passes per game.

In this way, he could be perfect for Jackson, feeding the Senegalese star balls while maintaining his own top-class goalscoring threat.

And Jackson, who has been hailed in the past as a “special” striker by journalist Rahman Osman, is hardly one-note himself, ranked among the top 17% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for progressive carries and the top 22% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Ultimately, this would be a calculated risk from INEOS for a talented striker who has yet to bring it all together and sustain it in the English game.

But with Mbeumo partnering him up top (and Cunha too), Jackson might just prove to be an astute signing for a resurgent Man United side.

Bigger star than Mbeumo: Man Utd discussing £78m move to sign "new Haaland"

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim wants to sign an upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 21, 2025

Hosts prevail in thrilling finish despite Mady Villiers’ heroic final over

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2024Ireland 155 for 7 (Lewis 72) beat England 153 (Beaumont 52, A Maguire 5-19) by three wickets (DLS)Ireland’s women held their nerve in an exhilarating finish to their ODI series in Belfast, as Alana Dalzell overcame a team hat-trick in Mady Villiers’ final over to strike a last-ball four, and seal her team’s first victory over England since 2001.The winning moment was aided by a terrible misfield from Hollie Armitage at long-on, who ran past her attempted gather while looking into the sun, with nothing less than a boundary needed for victory.Up until that moment, Ireland’s cruise towards victory had seemingly been derailed by a collapse of five for 13 in 22 balls – including three in three, as Villiers bowled both Alice Tector and Jane Maguire for first-ball ducks after Una Raymond-Hoey had been run out coming for a second run.And yet, Ireland’s result was richly deserved, not least after the efforts of Aimee Maguire, who landed a five-wicket haul just two days after her 18th birthday, and Gaby Lewis, who top-scored with 72 from 56 balls, and whose dismissal at 137 for 3 was the cue for her team’s jitters.After a four-and-a-half-hour rain delay, the skies cleared sufficiently for a 25-over contest, which was then reduced to 22 a side after a further interruption early in England’s innings.As it transpired, Ireland needed only 20.5 overs to roll England aside for 153, with Maguire – the left-arm spinner – claiming career-best figures of 5 for 19 in 3.5 overs.England had won very comfortably in the opening two fixtures, with their senior pros, Kate Cross and Tammy Beaumont, the stand-out performers with 6 for 30 and 150 not out respectively.And though Beaumont was once again England’s stand-out batter, with 52 from 42 balls, the support proved to be lacking from the rest of the order, and Maguire was primed to take advantage.Emma Lamb was the first wicket to fall, brilliantly caught by Maguire’s sister, Jane, at cover, to end a disappointing series with scores of 4, 18 and now 11. Hollie Armitage then over-reached on a sweep to be caught behind for 15 (65 for 2), but England still seemed well placed when Beaumont reached her fifty from 39 balls, the fastest of her career.However, Jane Maguire made the key breakthrough three balls later, as Beaumont holed out to deep midwicket, before her sister launched her killer spell with the first-ball dismissal of Freya Kemp, who ran past a slog to be stumped for 3.Paige Scholfield had been badly dropped in the deep on 16, but Orla Prendergast’s error was not costly, as Aimee Maguire lured her into a big swipe across the line to be bowled for 21. Freya Sargent continued the spin dominance as Bess Heath top-edged to short fine leg, and the collapse had reached crisis proportions at 118 for 7 as Cross dragged on for 3 to give Aimee Maguire her third.Ryana Macdonald-Gay stopped the rot with a cameo of 17 from 13 before falling to Prendergast, whereupon Aimee Maguire picked off Mady Villiers and Lauren Filer in the space of five balls to complete her superb spell.In reply, Lewis set the tempo in emphatic fashion, dominating the powerplay with five early boundaries to set Ireland on their way. Aimee Hunter contributed a run-a-ball 18 before she was bowled by Kemp at 51 for 1 after 6.2 overs, and though Prendergast was kept to 11 from 14 before falling lbw to Villiers, Lewis’ 41-ball half-century had her side in total command going into the back-end of the innings.When she was caught behind off the extra pace of Filer, however, the rest of the chase didn’t prove quite so straightforward.

SA captain said his own country, where race-based segregation ended 30 years ago, can relate to those suffering from human-rights abuses

Firdose Moonda13-Sep-2024South Africa’s Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma has added his voice to the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA)’s calls for an end to the gender-based discrimination, which excludes women in Afghanistan from playing sport and in others areas of public life.Speaking ahead of South Africa’s departure to the UAE, where they will play Afghanistan in three ODIs next week, Bavuma said that South Africans, whose own system of legalised race-based segregation ended 30 years ago, are in a unique position to relate to those who are suffering human-rights abuses. Thus, Bavuma reiterated the call for women’s rights to be respected.”I look at it in my personal capacity. It’s obviously something that is quite strong within my own values,” he said. “I support the idea of inclusivity and caring for women. We want everyone to have a fair chance within society, and we know that that is something that is relevant to us as a country in South Africa. I’m fully behind the sentiments that are expressed by SACA.”Related

SA reaffirms support for women's cricket ahead of Afghanistan series

ICC mulls setting aside slice of Afg revenue to fund women players

No bilateral cricket with Afg till there's 'a level of progress' – CA chief

On Thursday, SACA issued a statement which both recognised Cricket South Africa (CSA)’s right to seek out fixtures – such as these against Afghanistan – and also asked CSA to “utilise the leverage available to it through this series to highlight that these rights for Afghanistan’s women’s players must be protected and respected”.CSA have not commented on whether there are plans to make any statements or gestures in support of Afghan women, but continue to discuss the issue of women’s cricket in Afghanistan through the ICC. Both white-ball coach Rob Walter, who on Monday said he had no part in deciding whether to play Afghanistan or not, and Bavuma have opted to leave the issue of whether to engage Afghanistan on the field with CSA.”I think I’ve got to respect the fact that there are people in positions who have that responsibility to speak more eloquently and articulate a little bit more of it,” Bavuma said. “In my own personal capacity, I definitely support the stance and the sentiments expressed by SACA. And I can understand where Rob as well is coming from in that we are selected to do a job in the cricketing field. And I think a lot of our energy will generally be dedicated to that at least.”The Afghanistan Cricket Board contracted 25 female players in 2020 but the Taliban takeover a year later left women in the lurch•Afghanistan Cricket BoardSo far, the only board that has actively pulled out of competition against Afghanistan is Australia, while the ECB has also indicated it will not schedule series against Afghanistan. Both Australia and England continue to play Afghanistan at ICC tournaments. South Africa have never played against Afghanistan outside of a World Cup – in either ODIs or T20Is.With this being their first bilateral series, it is also the first time the South Africa team and CSA have had to consider the ethics of playing against Afghanistan, who have not had a women’s team since becoming Full Members in 2017, although they contracted 25 women players in 2020. Since then, with the Taliban takeover in 2021, all hopes of a women’s team have deteriorated as women have been eroded from society with little to no access to healthcare and education, among other things.Apart from South Africa’s shared history of legalised discrimination with Afghanistan, the country also has an epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV). This year, the World Population Review rated South Africa and Brazil as the two most dangerous countries for women. In response, there have been various initiatives against GBV, including in cricket. The national women’s team has an annual black day, where they swap their usual green-and-gold kit for black outfits, to raise awareness about the plight of GBV.Two weeks ago, national rugby captain, Siya Kolisi, had this to say after the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Johannesburg: “It’s 30 years of freedom; I want to say congratulations to South Africans. But we still know there are many people who are still not free. Hopefully, the next celebration we celebrate is the women who are free of gender-based violence.”

Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Newcastle United’s move for a “sensational” midfielder, as they are now keen on securing his signature, according to a report.

Spurs looking to bolster midfield options

One of the most talked-about summer transfer sagas up to this point has been Tottenham’s controversial pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White, with Nottingham Forest left unhappy by the approach, given that rival clubs shouldn’t have been aware of the £60m release clause.

However, Fabrizio Romano has revealed Spurs are hopeful of being able to get the deal over the line, with the transfer expert saying: “Now, Tottenham remain confident about their chances of signing the player. But, obviously, now this is a legal topic. They need to have discussions directly with Nottingham Forest to find the solution.

“Of course, it changes the timing of the deal. Tottenham’s perfect plan was probably to sign Kudus and Gibbs-White in 24 or 48 hours. It is now going to take a bit longer, but they remain intent on signing the player. That is still their plan.”

Tottenham "seriously" keen on signing "unstoppable" £50m Simons alternative

Spurs are looking to sign an attacking midfielder this summer.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 21, 2025

Gibbs-White has been earmarked as a major target in the attacking midfield area, but the Lilywhites are also keen to strengthen in a deeper midfield role, with Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha and Juventus’ Douglas Luiz among the potential targets.

In a recent report from The Boot Room, it has also been revealed that Tottenham are keen on signing Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, who could be set to leave the La Liga club this summer, given that regular game time may not be on offer next season.

Thomas Frank is said to be a fan of Gallagher, suggesting the manager could green-light a move, with Spurs looking to bring in a new number 6 this summer, but there could be competition for his signature.

Newcastle are currently leading the race for the midfielder, with Eddie Howe also believed to be a big fan, but the north Londoners’ interest suggests they may look to hijack their Premier League rivals.

"Sensational" Gallagher could be solid signing for Spurs

The former Chelsea man has already proven himself in the Premier League, being lauded for his “sensational” attitude by reporter John Cross during his time with the Blues, where his attacking talents were regularly on display.

The £50m-rated maestro amassed five goals and seven assists in the Premier League during the 2023-24 campaign, and he has since gone on to impress Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone from a defensive point of view.

Simeone said: “It’s never easy for players coming from England to adapt to the Spanish championship, to the language … He has competed very well in different places and in positions where he doesn’t feel more comfortable.

“He will evolve, he has room for growth. He is very intense in offensive and defensive play, he brings a lot to us.”

As such, Gallagher could be a solid signing for Tottenham, but given that he is “very happy” at Atletico, it could be difficult to get a deal done.

Chamindu Wickramasinghe has retained his place in both ODI and T20I squads

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Nov-2024Kusal Perera has been included in Sri Lanka ODI squad to play New Zealand, as has seamer Mohamed Shiraz.Kusal Perera has not played an ODI in almost a year, but has made this squad on the strength of his 55 not out in a T20I against West Indies. Shiraz, 29, has been an excellent domestic performer, taking 84 wickets at 18.75 in List A cricket, but has so far bowled only four overs in internationals.On the T20I front, Sri Lanka have retained the exact squad they had had for the series against West Indies, which they won 2-1. Newcomer Chamindu Wickramasinghe – an allrounder – has kept his place in both squads.Dinesh Chandimal has also retained his place in the T20I squad. He hasn’t played any international white-ball cricket since 2022, but has been impressive in domestic competitions since.The core of Sri Lanka’s batting group remains unchanged, the likes of Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Asalanka himself likely to be part of the top five. In T20Is, Sri Lanka have a middle-order hitter in Bhanuka Rajapaksa. In ODIs, they have more of an accumulating batter in Janith Liyanage, who can also contribute with his seam bowling.The spin contingent also consist of the regulars, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, with Jeffrey Vandersay and Dunith Wellalage also making both squads.There are differences on the seam-bowling front, however. Slingers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara are only in the T20I squad, as is Binura Fernando. Left-armer Dilshan Madushanka and Shiraz are ODI bowlers who don’t make the T20 outfit. Asitha Fernando is in both.Four of the matches – three T20Is and one ODI – will be played in Dambulla. The other two ODIs will be in Pallekele. The series begins on November 9.T20I squad: Charith Asalanka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Asitha FernandoODI squad: Charith Asalanka (capt.), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz

Phil Parkinson has been warned that he is under pressure at Wrexham, despite guiding the club to three successive promotions. After a £33 million summer recruitment drive funded by co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, questions are being raised over whether the manager can guide the new-look team to success in the Championship.

Wrexham spent £33m on 13 summer signingsChris Wathan says Parkinson "probably" under pressureHollywood co-owners target Premier League by 2027Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Parkinson was handed significant backing in the summer market, with 13 players arriving to bolster the Red Dragons' squad. Among the standout signings were striker Kieffer Moore and midfielder Lewis O’Brien. Despite such investment, Wrexham have only managed one win and endured a slow start to the 2025-26 season, which has sparked speculation about Parkinson's position. BBC Sport's Chris Wathan believes that the 57-year-old is "probably" under pressure.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT WATHAN SAID

Speaking on BBC Sounds, Wathan explained: “Some of those players have really slotted in beautifully already. The new signings, we only have to look at Kieffer Moore’s goal return already, and how he is perfect for the big man role, the way that Wrexham play.

“Lewis O’Brien, many of us have seen play for Swansea, has been outstanding. I’ve missed Ollie Rathbone, don’t forget he’s to come back from injury. The midfield options are superb.

“Does it put pressure on Phil Parkinson? Probably, but pressure has never bothered him ever since he arrived at the club, has it?

“What he now has are options to change within games, and I think that is something that is a step up in the Championship compared to League One. It is something Phil Parkinson addressed in that really disappointing display play against Sheffield Wednesday when he said we didn’t have, he hinted at it, he didn’t have the fresh legs or the bodies on the bench to really impact that game and stop it getting away from Wrexham. They do now, barring injuries, of course, they very much do now.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Wrexham’s Hollywood co-owners have been clear with their vision: reach the Premier League by 2027. That gives Parkinson little margin for error; however, just staying in the Championship this season may be enough to satisfy Reynolds and McElhenney.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

For Parkinson, stabilising Wrexham in the Championship is the immediate task. The challenge now is translating Reynolds and McElhenney’s heavy investment into consistent performances in the second tier of English football, with a home fixture against QPR up next on September 13.

Manchester United could be set for a huge season under Ruben Amorim next season, that’s if the additions he’s made to the squad make the desired impact.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are two senior additions made to the Red Devils squad, costing a staggering £130m – showcasing the ambition from the hierarchy.

Benjamin Sesko could be the next player to move to Old Trafford, after the club made a £74m bid for the RB Leipzig forward, with the player himself wanting a move to join Amorim’s side over Newcastle United.

Such additions will likely provide a huge upgrade on the options who were at the club throughout 2024/25, potentially helping them return to their former glory in the Premier League.

Other areas of the pitch will also need strengthening if they are to be successful, with work already being done behind the scenes at the Theatre of Dreams.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Douglas Luiz has reappeared on United’s radar in recent weeks, after originally being touted with a move to join the club in the early stages of the summer window.

The Red Devils have already held talks with Juventus over a potential deal to sign the Brazilian international, but the Italian side are demanding a permanent move rather than a loan deal.

However, he’s not the only midfielder still on their radar, with Barcelona star Fermin Lopez a player who’s firmly in their sights, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that the United hierarchy have made the 22-year-old their top target after completing a deal for Sesko between now and the end of the window.

It also states that the hierarchy are willing to fork out a fee in the region of €70m (£60m) to land the Spaniard, who made 46 appearances across all competitions last campaign.

Why United’s latest target would be Amorim’s own Bellingham

Jude Bellingham has been one of Europe’s leading talents over recent years, making huge strides in his career as a professional despite still being just 22 years of age.

He started his career at Birmingham City before a move to Borussia Dortmund, which catapulted him to stardom, subsequently making a move to Real Madrid back in the summer of 2023.

However, his career could’ve been completely different, with the Red Devils previously interested in making a move for the Englishman during the early days of his rise.

The youngster even visited the Red Devils training ground ahead of a potential move, but Bellingham chose a move to Dortmund instead – leaving question marks as to what could’ve been for him in Manchester.

Despite missing out on his signature, the hierarchy have the chance to land their own version of the superstar this window, with current target Lopez labelled a similar player to the Englishman by FBref.

The Barça star has even managed to outperform the Madrid gem in numerous key areas in recent times, showcasing how much of an excellent addition he would be to United this summer.

Lopez, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, averaged a better goal and assist per 90 record, whilst achieving a higher shot on target accuracy rate – subsequently offering a bigger threat within the final.

Games played

28

31

Goals & assists

11

17

Goals & assists per 90

0.79

0.61

Shot-on-target accuracy

37%

36%

Key passes

2.1

1.5

Passes into opposition box

1.4

1.1

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

Carries into opposition box

0.9

0.5

Recoveries made

4.8

3.5

He’s also dominated Bellingham in possession, completing more key passes per 90, with more of which going into the final third, handing potential new signing Sesko with the tools he needs to thrive at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard’s talents are further reflected in his tally of take-ons completed and recoveries made, potentially being a perfect box-to-box option in Amorim’s current system.

£60m would be yet another massive statement of intent from the ownership group, as they look to avoid the travesty that occurred across all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign.

If he can move to Old Trafford and replicate his displays in LaLiga, he would be a huge coup and one that could transform into a potential world beater under Amorim’s guidance.

Perfect for Mbeumo & Cunha: Man Utd in talks for another deal after Sesko

Manchester United could be about to make another huge move before the end of the window.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 6, 2025

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Weston McKennie shining for Juventus

The USMNT forward pool is interesting, full of talent but perhaps lacking in a clear main man – especially with Folarin Balogun's long-standing fitness issues. Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent have been in the mix for some time now, but Haji Wright has quietly made his case for the last year or so.

And he was at it again this weekend, scoring a tidy stoppage time equalizer for Coventry and staying in the Championship Golden Boot race. His early form suggests that there might yet be a chance for him to break into the side when the games get bigger.

As for Gio Reyna, the midfielder admitted in an interview that he moved to Borussia Monchengladbach to increase his odds of playing for the USMNT in the World Cup. Can Reyna play at a higher level? Perhaps, but right now, he just needs to . And he showed that there is life in those (still young) boots yet, as he started and, crucially, stayed fit in 75 minutes for his new club on Sunday. 

There were good things to be found in Serie A, too. The clash between Juventus and Inter was a chaotic thing, defined by its lack of clarity. USMNT's Weston McKennie was a source of some steadiness, a solid performer in an otherwise maddening game – that's alright, too. Christian Pulisic was quiet, and there were glimpses here and there. But on the whole, it was a steady week for those hoping to make it into Mauricio Pochettino's camp next month.

GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.

Getty Images SportWright outduels Sargent

Haji Wright was among the omissions  from the most recent U.S. national team, and he sent a message to Pochettino on Saturday. The striker delivered a stoppage-time equalizer for Coventry in a 1-1 draw against Norwich. 

Statistically speaking, Norwich had no business being in this contest as Coventry outshot the Canaries 28-4. Yet, they took an early lead thanks to Mathias Kvistgaarden. But in the dying seconds, Wright responded, pouncing on a opportunity in the box to bail out the home side. Wright was active throughout the match, creating chances and challenging the goalkeeper.

The same could not be said for Norwich's Josh Sargent. The USMNT striker only had one shot and made just five passes for his club. Some of that was due to Coventry having the lion's share of attacking opportunities, but it wouldn't be far-fetched to wonder if Sargent's struggles with the national team might have led to a quiet night for the forward, who recently won the Championship's Player of the Month for August. 

AdvertisementAFPMcKennie does his part in Derby d'Italia

The 2025-26 campaign hasn’t gone as planned for McKennie, who was left out of the USMNT’s September friendlies while the familiar question – will he play? resurfaced under Juventus manager Igor Tudor. Yet in the biggest game of the season so far for the Old Lady, McKennie got the call, and he delivered.

The 27-year-old was all over the pitch in a stunning 4-3 win over rivals Inter Milan. In 78 minutes, McKennie connected on 86.4 percent of his passes, a cross, and a long ball. He also had three tackles, two clearances, and two blocked shots defensively. It wasn't a perfect outing for the American, as he was part of the group that had no answers for Inter Milan as they seemingly rallied after every Juventus goal. 

Yet, in what was arguably the best game of the European season so far, McKennie got the start and was heavily-involved – a key sign of confidence from Tudor after some previous uncertainty. It's still early in the season, but the club has won all of its games on the campaign and sit second to Napoli due to goal differential. 

GettyGio Reyna can still play a bit

OK, so it wasn't pretty. Yes, Gio Reyna's Borussia Monchengladbach were battered at home by a team they are supposed to beat. Yes, they are still scoreless through three games, and in the relegation zone. But there are two good things to latch onto here, especially if you for American fans.

The first, and most basic, is that Reyna started, played 75 minutes, and didn't get injured. Fitness has been a massive issue for the attacking midfielder, but he managed to shake out the legs here. That's more than he could have said in most matches at Dortmund.

Second, Reyna looked quite good. He operated mostly in glimpses, neat touched here and there, as well as a few clever passes. Defensively, he wasn't full of legs, but still made some smart runs and closed down passing lanes. The Bundesliga tends to rely heavily on pressing, and Reyna did his part – even if he wasn't putting in 30 yard sprints all of the time.

Yes, it was a rough result. And yes, there is already talk that manager Gerardo Seoane is under pressure. But Reyna did all he could in his club debut. And for that he deserves plenty of credit. 

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Getty Images SportPatrick Agyemang returns

It's been a long time coming, but Patrick Agyemang made his long-awaited debut for Derby, having an immediate impact in the Rams' 1-0 win. The striker joined Derby in August, but was withheld from action while recovering from a hernia.

The former Charlotte FC star came on in the 69th minute, and less than 20 minutes later, found another substitute in Andreas Weimann for the 84th-minute winner. 

“Patrick today was great for that 20 minutes when he came on,” Derby County manager John Eustace said. “It’s been a tough six or seven weeks for him as well. So we’re getting minutes into the legs, we’re getting minutes into the squad.”

While Agyemang's move to Derby caused some friction at his former club and raised concerns considering what had essentially been guaranteed minutes for Charlotte FC, if this debut is anything to go by, it's a momentum-builder in a crowded competition for the striker spot with the U.S squad.

In limited action, Agyemang was effective in the air, winning a aerial duel and drawing two fouls. It will be interesting to see whether Pochettino calls on the 6-4 striker in October.