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Manchester United hit their nadir last season, but Ruben Amorim is a stoic sort and has knuckled down and made tentative progress with the Premier League giants.

Maybe the Portuguese tactician was a little too frank during interviews, but at least he understands where the cracks lie for the Old Trafford side, who finished 15th in the league and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

There have been positives throughout the Premier League Summer Series in America, for sure, but the Red Devils still have improvements to be made, irrespective of who might be welcomed to the fold.

Saying that, the recent draw against Everton corroborated Amorim’s desire for a new midfielder, with Manuel Ugarte flattering to deceive.

Why Man Utd need to replace Manuel Ugarte

Ugarte, 24, joined Man United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a deal rising to £50.5m. Last season, he left much to be desired, but did feature 45 times across all competitions, scoring twice and laying on six assists.

Man United showed some promise against the Toffees, but Vitalii Mykolenko dispossessed Ugarte in in the build-up to Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half goal, leading Bruno Fernandes to claim that his team “looked a bit lazy” at times.

Much has been made of United’s need for a focal frontman, but with Casemiro getting on, a secure and confident midfield anchor is equally as crucial to the success of the project.

That’s why INEOS are weighing up a move for Atalanta’s Ederson. As per TEAMtalk, the Brazilian could be available for around £52m this summer, which makes him the most expensive man on United’s midfield shortlist.

But there’s a reason for that. Man United have a ‘long-standing interest’ in Ederson, and if it proves financially viable, he could complete a midfield that needs reinforcing.

Why Man Utd want to sign Ederson

Ederson is a 26-year-old midfielder who has established himself as one of the best in the business over in Italy. Across 139 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 13 goals and supplied four assists.

Hailed as a “machine” of a midfielder by reporter Carlo Garganese, this is exactly the kind of hardy, dynamic player that Amorim needs to welcome to his squad, should he wish to return to European competition and challenge for silverware at the Old Trafford helm.

Instrumental in winning the Europa League in 2023, Ederson has the strength, self-belief and roundedness to succeed under Amorim’s wing in the Premier League, with the right balance in his performances to nestle into the United centre, acting as a tough-tackling six but also a progressive force.

On the surface level, it doesn’t look like Ugarte did all that badly across his first Premier League campaign, but he’s susceptible to a poor error of lapse of focus, with one Man United content creator online even saying he “is frightened to death of passing forward.”

No such problem for Ederson, who ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Though Amorim and INEOS will continue to push ahead with a deal for a new number nine, this one could prove to be equally important.

Described by Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina to be “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world”, Man United might just hit the jackpot if they push ahead and complete their midfield with his many-faceted player.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has reportedly left his role at Salford City as he seeks a return to management. The Welshman has been the League Two team's director of football and also helped out with head coach Karl Robinson on matchdays. But it is understood that the ex-winger has parted company with a club that is co-owned by David Beckham and Gary Neville.

• Giggs leaves Salford

  According to The Sun, Giggs is no longer involved on a day-to-day basis with Salford and wants a return to first-team management. This came before Salford beat Swindon Town in a huge clash at the top of League Two on Saturday. 

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  Man Utd icon Giggs eyes management return

  Giggs' last role in management was the Wales national team job, with the 51-year-old leading his country to Euro 2020. He stood down from his post in late 2020 after being arrested on suspicion of assault, but a retrial came to nothing in mid-2023. Now, Giggs wants a new dugout post.   

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Giggs has made it clear for a while that he wants a new managerial role.

  In January, he said: "I had the stint as Wales manager and loved it. Eventually, I’d like to get back into management. On matchday, I still get as excited as ever, probably more than ever.”  

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It remains to be seen when Giggs will return to first-team football. Until then, Salford, who beat Swindon 3-2 to go second in League Two, are next in action on September 27 away to play-off chasing Bristol Rovers.   

Everton laboured their way to defeat on the opening day of the Premier League season, losing at Elland Road to newly-promoted Leeds United.

Contentious penalty or not, David Moyes will be frustrated with his outfit’s lack of coherence and bite in the final third, especially after a drab opening half.

Might a few more signings be in order? Perhaps so. But Everton are “on it”, as Moyes says himself, and further than a week of transfer window terrain stretches in front of the Hill Dickinson Stadium, which awaits further fresh faces.

Marquee man Jack Grealish has been welcomed to the fold, with raw striker Thierno Barry, 22, also touted for big things.

But more is needed.

Everton's late-stage transfer targets

Everton desperately need a right-back, and a right-sided forward too. Lyon’s Malick Fofana, a versatile winger, has been touted as a player of interest.

However, Everton would be remiss not to consider other areas too, with depth, or a lack thereof, appearing a glaring concern at the moment.

That’s why one notable Everton insider has revealed that Everton are working on a deal to sign Manchester City’s Nathan Ake, perhaps in response to Jarrad Branthwaite’s recent hamstring injury.

Everton have a good relationship with the Etihad Stadium side and have already completed a loan deal for Grealish this summer. They must now use this line of communication to complete a shrewd swoop for the experienced Ake.

Why Everton want Nathan Ake

Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko missed the season opener with a fitness problem, heightening the need for reinforcements. Ake, who operates across the backline, would be a fantastic addition in this regard, covering and challenging the established starters.

A dynamic defender, Ake has been hailed for his “incredible” efforts in a City shirt by Pep Guardiola, having played 145 times for the club, scoring ten goals, since joining from Bournemouth five years ago in a £41m package.

However, his match action dried up last year, in part because of injuries, and with Guardiola’s recent comments regarding a desire for a slimmer squad, the Toffees must pounce on the 30-year-old Dutchman, in doing so, replicating what might turn out to be fantastic business for Grealish.

Grealish was in a similar boat as a Citizen, having been pushed toward the periphery over the past couple of years in Manchester, consequently missing out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, a decision that polarised England’s football community.

At Everton, he has the chance to shine once again, and showed flashes of his quality on a dour evening in Leeds on Monday night, taking some smooth touches and fizzing a dangerous delivery into the penalty area across his second-half cameo.

That crossing ability could play to Ake’s strengths. The Netherlands defender is renowned for his aerial ability and would add a dimension to Everton’s threat from set-pieces.

Moreover, he would add depth to Moyes’ build-up play, with a passing game fit for a transitional approach. Data from FBref reveals Ake ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 10% for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 10% for progressive carries per 90.

If Everton pull this off, they will be repeating a move for Grealish that holds so much promise. Adding such talents to his team, Moyes is demonstrating a tactical acuity that suggests he wants to widen the scope of Everton’s potential. He might just succeed by completing a deal for Ake.

Moyes' own Lukaku: Everton still chasing move for £51m "game changer"

Everton are still in the market for new players this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 21, 2025

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has asked a “what are you doing with this girl” question of the Gunners after seeing USWNT star Jenna Nighswonger exiled from Renee Slegers’ plans. The United States international moved to north London in January but has seen limited game time across her spell in England, with the 24-year-old defender failing to make WSL matchday squads.

• How much did Arsenal spend on Nighswonger?

  Nighswonger made just four appearances for Arsenal on the back of her reported $100,000 transfer from NJ/NY Gotham FC. She has slipped further out of favour in the 2025-26 campaign, with Slegers favouring alternative options.

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  Who is ahead of Nighswonger at Arsenal?

  Katie McCabe has been lining up at left-back, with Taylor Hinds seemingly the understudy for that role. That situation is leaving a frustrated Nighswonger watching on from afar, much to the surprise of a Gunners great.

• Wright's take on surprising situation

  Speaking on the podcast, Wright said: "I need some clarity on what's going on with Arsenal and Jenna. [She had] a good preseason, I'm hearing from people. [She's] more than capable of playing at this level — she's not even in the matchday squads.

  If she's not injured, why did they deny her a loan move? Why would they do that? So, Arsenal, answer that. What are you doing with this girl and her career? She's 24, so we're not talking about somebody who's got the time to come over here with that upheaval. She's not 19 where you think, OK, let's give her a couple seasons. She's 24, ready to go and an international. So, Arsenal, sort that out."

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  What Slegers said about Nighswonger

  Slegers has said of Nighswonger’s standing in Arsenal’s plans: “We have a very strong squad and I'm so happy with the squad and we need the squad because it's going to be a long season with a lot of games and four or five competitions to compete in so that's the starting point.

  “Then, me having to make decisions on selection and players who start and finish, that's something I have to carry and that's a burden for me. It's hard, it hurts but that's part of it. I think we need the squad and it was a decision for us to have the squad because we think we need the depth.”

Russell Martin needed a significant police police presence to whisk him safely away from Falkirk’s ground after his Rangers team were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw, heaping more pressure on beleaguered boss. The Glasgow club have had a shocking start to the season and Martin has since been sacked, per new reporting.

• Martin sacked after dismal draw

  Rangers’ draw with Falkirk intensified pressure on Martin, and Sky Sports now report that the ex-Southampton boss has indeed been sacked. The result leaves Rangers languishing in eighth place in the table and a mammoth 11 points behind league leaders Hearts and nine points behind fierce rivals Celtic, having played seven matches. This draw follows a 2-1 defeat by Sturm Graz in the Europa League in midweek. Fans vented their anger by directing chants towards Martin during and after the match, clearly frustrated as Rangers have secured only five wins in his seventeen matches in charge. Martin has maintained that the team is improving, attributing the poor results to factors like difficult pitches and a young squad still developing. However, on Sunday evening, Sky reports that the axe has fallen, and Martin has been put out of his misery.

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• Rangers' statement

  Rangers said: "Rangers Football Club confirms that it has parted company with Head Coach, Russell Martin.

  "While all transition periods require some time, results have not met the club's expectations. Assistant Head Coach, Matt Gill, and First-Team Coach, Mike Williamson, will also be departing.

  "Russell and his staff have worked exceptionally hard throughout their time at the club. We thank them for their efforts and wish them well for the future. Further updates from the club will follow in due course."

• Quick escape to avoid the fans

  Martin required the escort after angry Rangers fans gathered outside Falkirk’s stadium after the match, blocking the team bus and expressing their dissatisfaction with Martin's performance as manager. The police intervened to disperse the crowd and ensure the safe departure of players and staff. Martin was escorted from a separate exit and left in a different vehicle. 

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• Martin knows performances must improve

  Following the match, the Rangers boss took time to reflect on his team's performance, he said: "The team, ultimately, is a reflection on me and it has to be better and do better so I need to take responsibility and look at that myself. You'd have to ask the people above me, I feel that the players and the staff are really behind me. I felt really supported by everyone else above me as well, and I can't dictate whether that changes or not. I have to just try to focus on winning football matches, because of what I see every day with the players, how invested they are in it, how hard they run. If I felt any differently, I would feel differently here. It probably wouldn't hurt as much, but I know they're really trying."

Even in defeat, Manchester United’s opening-day performance felt like progress, but Ruben Amorim’s side followed that one up with a draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, and it is clear there is still much work to do.

Whether the Red Devils succeed in welcoming further additions before the closure of the transfer market remains to be seen, but negotiations are ongoing with Belgian side Royal Antwerp for goalkeeper Senne Lammens, that pressure point of a position at Old Trafford, while Amorim has made it clear that he seeks a central midfielder too.

Man United have succeeded in refashioning their frontline, but with Mason Mount fit and catching the eye, Amorim has made the decision to drop Bruno Fernandes into a deeper midfield berth.

The skipper remains effective and influential, but it’s crucial that the right profile is partnered with him, lest tactical imbalances become more prominent.

With this in mind, it’s starting to look like Kobbie Mainoo’s time at the Theatre of Dreams could be drawing to a premature close.

The latest on Kobbie Mainoo's Man Utd future

Mainoo is a cherished part of his current Manchester United crop. He’s one of their own. However, Amorim clearly hasn’t warmed to him despite his impressive debut campaign in red.

Indeed, the England international’s reduced playing time under the Portuguese tactician’s wing has led him to consider his future at Old Trafford, and a potential departure before the deadline is now on the cards.

Already, the 20-year-old has played 72 times for Man United’s senior side, scoring as Erik ten Hag’s side defeated Manchester City to win the 2023/24 FA Cup final, but as Amorim alludes to, there is no room at the inn right now.

His departure this summer would be a contentious thing for those of a Man United persuasion, but there’s little doubt that, should he leave, United would act to bring in an exciting replacement.

Man Utd discuss move for new midfielder

According to GIVEMESPORT, Manchester United are interested in signing Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller before the transfer market slams shut, and are engaged in internal discussions over a formal offer.

However, there are some within the INEOS hierarchy with reservations over signing the German international, for he does not boast a similar profile to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, a top summer target whose route to Manchester has been closed off by his employers.

Valued at €60m (around £51m), Stiller, 24, could become a more concrete target upon the possible departure of Mainoo, whose exit is indeed edging toward happening.

How Stiller compares to Mainoo

Stiller’s technical quality and completeness in the middle of the park make him an intriguing option for Amorim’s Manchester United side, who could do with some more fluency and quality when directing the flow of their attacking play from X to Y.

A product of Bayern Munich’s youth academy, Stiller has since left for Hoffenheim and then been rehoused once more at Stuttgart, where he played 83 times, scoring five goals and supplying 17 assists while protecting the backline from his anchoring berth.

Looking at how the deep-lying playmaker compares to Mainoo, you begin to see why Jason Wilcox and Amorim are eager to snap him up.

Mainoo was at his career best during that breakout season. The 2023/24 term put the then teenager’s name on the map, all right. However, Stiller’s roundedness suggests he could prove an upgrade on the Three Lions man.

Mainoo might have a bit more of a robust defensive profile, but Stiller’s press resistance and slick, smooth ball-playing game make him a more Amorim-shaped midfielder in any case. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte leave plenty to be desired, but the tough-tackling duo do provide the squad with more variation.

Remarked by his Stuttgart teammate Denis Undav to be “one of the best sixes” currently hailing from Germany, Stiller also ranks among the top 3% of positional peers across Europe for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes, the top 10% for assists and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, courtesy of information from FBref.

His creativity and maestro-like skills might appear to be more in line with the talents of Fernandes, and perhaps that is so, but with Mainoo so frustratingly on the periphery in Amorim’s system, does it not make sense for the outfit to target a replacement who differs and who aligns with the manager’s vision?

Given that Liverpool have also shown a vested interest in the German this year, it would appear that his is a profile which could have a positive effect on the development of Amorim’s project.

Mainoo only started 19 times in the Premier League last year, and his 45% success rate in the duel further underscored Amorim’s hesitance about unleashing him from the outset each week.

Praised by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley for his “special” skill set, Stiller’s signature could come with the promise of progression, and while many would rightly hope for Mainoo to stay put, his sale would demand a suitable replacement.

And, through the Stiller, initial frustration would be tempered and then some.

New Carrick: INEOS chasing move to bring £100m + English star to Man Utd

Manchester United could sign a big-money English star.

1

By
Will Miller

Aug 25, 2025

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are two of football’s heavyweights and they could now be about to go toe-to-toe for the signature of a talented winger ahead of the deadline, according to a report.

Gianluigi Donnarumma tops Manchester City wanted list

Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma is a wanted man and it is clear he will leave the Parc des Princes before the end of the window. However, he is still yet to sign a deal elsewhere and time is of the essence for Pep Guardiola to land his man.

As it stands, Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Donnarumma, though Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that there is still legwork to be done in negotiations, alongside the fact Ederson’s future need to be settled amid his potential move to Galatasaray.

Romano stated: “Gigio Donnarumma has agreed on personal terms with Manchester City, keen on joining Pep Guardiola. Negotiations are also underway between Man City & PSG, fee will be under initial €50m request. Deal still depends on Éderson exit this summer, with Galatasaray still keen.”

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo could be another statement signing for Manchester City, albeit he did start for the La Liga giants over the weekend and it remains to be seen whether Savinho will leave to clear room for his arrival.

The late drama doesn’t stop there as Guardiola wants to hijack Liverpool’s move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, provoking a scenario where an exciting end to the window could be in store at the Etihad Stadium.

So far, the new Premier League season has thrown up a collection of early runners and riders for the title, which is exactly where Manchester City want to be as they aim to knock their rivals off top spot, and they have a fighting chance of doing just that if they can land their latest target.

Man City and PSG fight it out to sign Yeremay Hernandez

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City and PSG are both willing to pay Yeremay Hernandez’s release clause of around £52 million as they battle it out for the Deportivo La Coruna winger before the close of play.

Last term, the 22-year-old registered 15 goals and five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions, which saw his Transfermarkt value rise from less than €1m this time last year to a career high €15m now.

Newcastle eyeing fresh transfer race with Man City to sign "superb" rival

The Magpies are eyeing a fresh target…

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 23, 2025

Manchester City scouts have been impressed by Yeremay’s exploits during visits to watch the attacker in action, and they aren’t the only ones who admire his talent.

Labelled “excellent” by Ben Mattinson due to his vision, the Las Palmas-born man created 49 chances on league duty last term, illustrating why his creative qualities are worth investing in for top clubs around Europe.

Ultimately, the Citizens are short on wingers and Yeremay is someone who could help to fill the void, albeit it won’t be easy to see off the current Champions League holders to land his services.

The age-defying England captain is in the form of his life, and can achieve all his remaining career dreams in Germany

"He is one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on after watching Harry Kane score a brace in Bayern Munich's 3-1 Champions League win over Chelsea. "I think he is England's greatest ever goal scorer. He's done it in the Premier League with a team that aren't one of the top teams. He's gone abroad now with Bayern Munich. All eyes are on him and there's huge pressure. 

"You think of strikers England have had in the past and there have been some great ones, but he's scored more goals for England than Alan Shearer. If he'd have stayed in the Premier League, he'd have got that record too. His numbers are off the scale. He can come deep, he can get on the ball and he can play people in. He's the best striker England have ever had."

It's impossible to argue with Carragher's assessment. Kane is, after all, the record scorer for both England and Tottenham, and a man who has won a grand total of Golden Boots across Premier League, Bundesliga, World Cup and European Championship competition. As if all that wasn't enough, he also has a European Golden Shoe on his resume.

A lack of team silverware was the only stick critics had left to beat Kane with, but after firing Bayern to Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup success this year, his greatness is not up for debate anymore. There is only the question of how high he will rank in football's Hall of Fame when he eventually hangs up his boots.

Now, reports are swirling that Kane will aim to enhance his legacy by returning to England next summer and breaking Shearer's Premier League goals record, with only 48 strikes needed for him to reach the magic mark. But that would pale in comparison to what he could still achieve at Bayern. Footballing immortality is within Kane's grasp, and he would be mad to trade in that opportunity for a romantic homecoming that ultimately promises nothing but mediocrity.

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  Spurs return makes no sense

  Speculation over Kane's future has been raging since German outlet dropped the bombshell that the frontman has a £57m ($77m) release clause in his contract with Bayern that can be activated if he expresses a desire to leave by the end of the winter transfer window. Tottenham reportedly have a first refusal proviso on the 32-year-old, which means if Bayern accept a bid or his release clause is triggered, then the club have the option to match it.

  Current Spurs boss Thomas Frank has stirred the pot publicly, telling reporters: "There's a lot of Tottenham fans – including myself – who would like to see Kane back. He's a top player. If he wants to join us, he's more than welcome." It has been suggested that Kane has unfinished business in north London, and that any trophy win at Spurs would mean more than further domestic triumphs at Bayern.

  There may even have been a part of Kane that felt envious watching his old club lift the Europa League in May, just two years on from his departure. But when rational thinking takes over, that success can be viewed for what it really was: an anomaly. 

  Tottenham benefitted from a favourable draw, with Roma the only side in the near elite bracket that they conquered en route to the final, before overcoming a dismal Manchester United team by sitting deep and looking to counter. It ended their 17-year trophy drought, but wasn't enough to paper over the cracks of a shocking 17th-place finish in the Premier League, and Ange Postecoglou was rightly relieved of his managerial duties in the aftermath of the celebrations in Bilbao.

  Former Brentford boss Frank is a better coach than Postecoglou, and Spurs made a few decent summer signings, but they're still a long way off challenging for the biggest prizes year in, year out, as their inconsistent start to the new season shows. Surpassing Shearer would be the only realistic aim for Kane if he retraced his steps. It makes no sense for him to go back to being a nearly man after tasting the sweet nectar of football at the very highest level.

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  Nothing but misery at Man Utd

  According to , Kane's most likely next destination if he leaves Bayern is Old Trafford rather than the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. United decided to move for Rasmus Hojlund over Kane in 2023, prioritising youthful potential over proven pedigree, which came back to haunt them spectacularly.

  Despite their decline in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, United are still the biggest club in the world, aside perhaps from Real Madrid, and can thus still attract top talent. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko could all have joined more stable teams in the summer window, but they had tunnel vision once the Red Devils came calling.

  It would not be a surprise if Kane also succumbed to temptation. That being said, if his advisors are worth their salt, they will have already convinced him that a new chapter in Manchester has the potential to be a career ender. United are rotten, and Old Trafford has become a graveyard for world-class performers over the last 13 years.

  As deadly and technically brilliant as Kane is, he would not be able to drag the current team up from the bottom half of the Premier League back to past glories. He might well do better than the likes of Angel Di Maria, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, but no one player can fix United's malaise.

  Does he really want to be shouted at every game by Bruno Fernandes for misplacing the odd pass? Or to be forced into deeper areas out of sheer panic because he can see opposing teams cutting through the midfield at will? Or to make countless intelligent runs in behind that are wasted because so few of his team-mates have the vision or ability to find him? There is nothing on offer but misery at United.

  It could be a long time before that changes, too, because the INEOS leadership group has yet to come up with a cohesive plan for improvement. Kane is too good for United, plain and simple.

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  'Next steps'

  Kane was quizzed about Shearer's Premier League record after scoring another two goals in Bayern's 4-0 thumping of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga last Friday, and replied: "When I left England, I thought maybe I'd come back to achieve that. But since I've been here, I've really enjoyed playing at this level."

  He also opened the door to extending his contract at Allianz Arena, with his current deal due to expire in 2027. "I think they are happy with me, and I’m happy with them," Kane said. "My family has settled down. My kids are loving it here in school, so yes, this is my life here for the foreseeable future."

  Those words would have been music to the ears of the Bayern board, who have since come out to confirm that renewal talks are imminent. "Harry is a leading player for us, he wanted to come to Bayern because he really likes to play here and win trophies. He wants to continue for a long time so we're going to talk about the next steps," Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said this week. "The mixture in the squad is important. If you have that mix then you can keep older players with high quality for longer in your squad and Harry seems not to be old at all. He has that quality on the pitch."

  Unless something goes very wrong over the next seven months, Kane will still be a Bayern player next season, and potentially for many more years to come. As Eberl alluded to, he seems to be getting better with age, and for the first time in his career, is playing for a team that can match his ambition. It's a happy marriage that has legs.

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  Hitting Messi & Ronaldo levels

  "I'm not afraid to say, 'I want to be the best'. I want to try and get on the level [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi got to," Kane said on back in 2021. "That's my ultimate goal – to be winning trophies season in, season out, scoring 50, 60, 70 goals season in, season out. The pressure from myself is always bigger than anything anyone else can put on me."

  Kane is now well on his way to fulfilling that aim at Bayern. Indeed, he has become the quickest player to ever reach 100 goals playing for a club in one of Europe's top five leagues, hitting the mark in just 104 games, one less than Ronaldo and Erling Haaland managed at Real Madrid and Manchester City, respectively. He has also scored a staggering 17 goals in his first nine appearances this season.

  Haaland is the only man who has ever matched Kane's prolific start to a campaign, but he did so in the far less prestigious surroundings of Red Bull Salzburg in 2019-20. Ronaldo scored 13 times for Real in his first nine outings of the 2014-15 season, while Messi's best haul for Barca was 12 in both 2011-12 and 2017-18. What Kane is doing is unprecedented.

  Bayern's talismanic centre-forward is also second in the Champions League scoring charts on four goals, just one behind Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, with his latest double coming in a 5-1 thrashing of Cypriot outfit Pafos. That was Kane's 21st appearance on Europe's biggest stage and his 26th goal, equalling his total for Tottenham in the competition in 11 fewer games.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre made it clear that only players with mental toughness will make his roster for the World Cup, saying his project with El Tri isn’t for those who “can’t handle the heat.” Aguirre also addressed the goalkeeping situation, casting doubt on Luis Ángel Malagón’s status as the starter and saying the position is still up for grabs.

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  A chance for redemption against Ecuador

  Mexico return to action Tuesday night to face Ecuador at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, just days after a humiliating 4-0 loss to Colombia in Arlington. Texas. El Tri will take the field determined to bounce back, regain confidence, and restore the positive atmosphere that surrounded the team before facing the Cafeteros.

  The setback against the South Americans raised doubts about Aguirre’s project. While the coach’s job is not under immediate threat, the loss left the door open for potential change – with some players who once seemed guaranteed a spot now facing uncertainty about their place in the squad.

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  Players who can handle pressure

  Aguirre made it clear that mental toughness will be a key factor in determining who earns a place on his World Cup roster.

  “You either handle the pressure, or you don’t belong here,” the Mexican coach said. "The ones who can’t take the heat don’t have the strength to play in a World Cup. A World Cup in Mexico is the best thing that could happen to them. I don’t use social media, but these guys do – they see the criticism, and if they can’t block out the noise, they can’t be here.

  "They’re the protagonists, they’re the ones getting paid to perform, and they have to prove why they deserve to wear this jersey."

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  How the loss affected the locker room

  Aguirre said the team held a serious self-assessment to understand what went wrong in the loss.

  “I was surprised by how tough they were on themselves. You’d be amazed by their desire to improve and to be at the World Cup. There’s a real sense of self-criticism within the group,” said the coach, who is managing Mexico at a World Cup for the third time. “They come to the national team with pride – because it should be a privilege, not a burden. But if someone says, ‘I’m afraid of what the media might say,’ then that player is not for me. I need players who truly want to be here."

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  Goalkeeper position still uncertain

  The Mexican coach also confirmed that there will be changes for Tuesday’s friendly and admitted that the goalkeeper position remains undecided.

  “It’s complicated – except for the goalkeeper, who’s a specialist, the rest can adapt," he said. "You can play with three or four midfielders, five defenders, or two strikers… but there’s only one spot for the keeper. We’ve rotated that position a lot. We’ve tested six or seven goalkeepers, and honestly, I still haven’t made up my mind."

Other Premier League sides did more business, but Chelsea still had a busy end to the summer transfer window.

The club finally got their hands on Alejandro Garnacho, opted against signing Fermin Lopez, and made a surprise move to bring in Facundo Buonanotte on a season-long loan – without an option or obligation to buy.

Additionally, the Blues decided to cancel Marc Guiu’s loan to Sunderland following the recent injury to Liam Delap.

However, that’s a decision they might not have needed to make, as they’ve already got an incredibly talented youngster who could’ve filled in.

Chelsea's striker situation

There is plenty of optimism around Chelsea and what they could achieve this season, and rightly so, but things are currently far from ideal in the striker department.

In the win over Fulham on Saturday, Liam Delap started up top, and while he looked lively in the opening exchanges, he had to come off in just the 14th minute with a hamstring injury, which will keep him out of the action for eight to ten weeks.

The sudden setback for the Englishman caused the club to momentarily stop Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich, only for the Senegalese striker to make it quite clear he wanted to go.

Now, Maresca does still have a fit Joao Pedro to call on, but until Cole Palmer is fit enough to come back into the side, the Brazilian is likely to continue as the team’s ten or second striker.

So, with there being minimal options on the market, the West Londoners decided that the best route to take was to cancel Guiu’s loan to Sunderland.

After all, the young Spaniard did score six goals in 16 appearances for the side last season, and had already bagged one in three games for the Black Cats.

However, while that might serve Maresca in the short term, it could limit the 19-year-old’s long-term development, and it might not have even been necessary, as there is a youngster in the academy who deserves a chance to fill in.

The Chelsea youngster who should be in the squad

Few, if any, top academies can match Cobham for the sheer number of quality players it produces, and it looks like the next success of the production line could be Shumaira Mheuka.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

It’s almost certain that fans outside of Chelsea have little to no idea who the 17-year-old gem is, but fans of the club would have seen him make several first-team appearances last season.

Maresca trusted the Birmingham-born gem to come off the bench four times in the Conference League and even once in the Premier League, at home to Southampton.

He might not have got onto the scoresheet in any of those cameos, but do not get it twisted, the youngster looks to be a lean, mean goalscoring machine.

For example, in 53 appearances for the West Londoners’ youth sides, the young ace, whom one analyst has dubbed one of the “brightest young strikers in England,” has scored 26 goals and provided six assists.

That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games, which is a more than encouraging rate of return.

It’s also better than Guiu managed in his youth team days, as in 25 games for Barcelona’s junior sides, he scored eight goals and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.08 games.

Now, it would be absurd to expect the youngster to come into the side and make loads of appearances, but he could certainly fulfil the role as a backup and someone who plays in the less important games.

After all, how is he going to take the next step unless he is exposed to more senior football, and with respected talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing him “the future of Chelsea and English football,” Maresca might want to get him in the squad as soon as possible, in case another team comes along and offers him just that.

Ultimately, while it would have been something of a risk, the Blues should have let Guiu remain out on loan for his own development, and used Mheuka as the backup option – he deserves a shot.

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