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Watch: Jude Bellingham appears to blame England teammate for Argentina goal

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By:Mark Brus

Jude Bellingham seemed to blame England teammate Jordan Pickford for the Enzo Fernandez goal for Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.

Chelsea midfielder Fernandez fired in a superb long-range strike for Argentina to make it 1-1, but it seems Bellingham feels the shot was actually quite central.

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Watch below as some fans seem to have been able to lip-read Bellingham’s reaction to the goal, with the Real Madrid ace complaining that it was in the middle of the goal…

Bellingham moaning about Pickford’s little arms. ‘It’s the middle of the goal’ ?? pic.twitter.com/eMqWz2FKg7

— Paul (@pclfc8) July 15, 2026

Make your own minds up, but that perhaps seems a bit harsh on England goalkeeper Pickford, who mostly had a really good game and another strong tournament overall.

Bellingham has been superb for England at this World Cup, but it’s moments like this that perhaps rub some fans up the wrong way, as he can be a little petulant when things aren’t going for him.

Who’s to blame for England’s World Cup exit?

England will likely need to do some soul-searching after this World Cup semi-final loss, as they were a goal up with just a few minutes left, but perhaps handed momentum back to Argentina by being overly defensive and cautious.

Perhaps Pickford could have done better too, but overall it seemed more like the wrong tactical approach from Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.

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Still, this was a good tournament for England and there’ll perhaps be some optimism about what they can build for the future, even if it feels painful now to have missed out on a place in the final.

England still haven’t won the World Cup since all the way back in 1966, and to many this felt like the best opportunity to finally do it again.

Argentina are a fantastic team, however, and are now looking to retain the trophy in what should be a mouth-watering encounter against Spain this Sunday.

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“No regrets” – Thomas Tuchel explains why he went so defensive in England defeat vs Argentina

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By:Mark Brus

England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his decision to adopt such a negative approach in the World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina.

Anthony Gordon scored to give England the lead, but they quickly went quite defensive as Tuchel made a few subs and altered his team’s shape even with quite a lot of time remaining.

As a result, Argentina eventually took control and came back to win 2-1 to book their place in this Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.

Tuchel has been widely criticised for his tactics, but when he spoke after the game he attempted to explain why he felt he had to try to close the game out this way.

Thomas Tuchel on England’s negative tactics

When asked about his decision, Tuchel insisted he had no regrets and that he did what he felt he had to do against Argentina as they kept finding too much space.

“I analysed the match and I did it a certain way so that’s my responsibility,” Tuchel said, as quoted by BBC Sport.

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“In the moment, no regrets. The team gave everything and we were very, very close. We deserved to be up 1-0.

“We played one of our better matches, maybe our best match in the circumstances. The team was top, we couldn’t get over the line but no regrets.

“I think we saw the mentality throughout the match and the strong group. We played the matches how they were, we played against strong teams in the group, travelled a lot of miles, played at altitude, we played with 10 men, we played in the heat and we overcame every obstacle.

“We were very close today. It’s not the moment to analyse the full tournament, we just went our because we lost a crucial match.”

Dan Burn responds to questions about England’s approach

England defender Dan Burn also spoke after the game about how Tuchel set the team up.

It seems the Newcastle man was sympathetic with the Three Lions boss, and admitted that it was also a response from the players to a certain extent, while for some time it also seemed like it was working.

“I thought we had the gameplan pretty well for the majority of it. But obviously, when we scored, we went a bit passive and dropped off and were ultimately punished for it,” Burn said.

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“We probably conceded too many chances and if you do that, they are going to get goals. Disappointing from us. We have defended games better and seen them out. When you get that close to the World Cup final, that hurts.”

He added: “It’s only human nature a little bit as well. You know how well we have defended leads in previous games. That tends to happen to majority of teams.”

Where do you stand on this? Should England have done better to control the game without just taking off attacking players and sitting back? Or was it the right idea and just a bit of bad luck against a quality side? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post “No regrets” – Thomas Tuchel explains why he went so defensive in England defeat vs Argentina appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“Pathetic” Thomas Tuchel tactics blamed as England approach “backfired terribly” in defeat to Argentina

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By:Mark Brus

The knives are really out for England manager Thomas Tuchel this evening as a host of journalists have taken to social media to slam his tactics against Argentina.

Tuchel has long been regarded as one of the top coaches in the game, but he went defensive far too early in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat on Wednesday night.

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Anthony Gordon had given the Three Lions a 1-0 lead, but Tuchel made a number of subs that saw them concede massive amounts of ground to Argentina, who eventually found their way to a 2-1 comeback.

While teams sometimes have to be a bit more cautious towards the end of close games, Tuchel just overdid it a bit tonight and also started that negative approach quite early.

Take a look at the screen grab below

Thomas Tuchel criticism on social media
Thomas Tuchel criticism on social media

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Thomas Tuchel’s defensive substitutes for England against Argentina

See below for the subs Tuchel made for England, and what minute they came in, and it certainly paints a picture…

Player subs Minute
Gordon off, Konsa on 72′
Rice off, O’Reilly on 82′
James off, Burn on 82′
Stones off, Toney on 96′
Spence off, Rashford on 96′

This will be an important lesson for England and for Tuchel, who surely had enough quality in the team to continue to take the game to Argentina.

No one is arguing that England should have continued to go all-out-attack, but it’s rare that a team can just defend their way to a win.

All this did was hand the momentum to Argentina, and when you allow the likes of Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez more and more opportunities to get into dangerous positions, you’re always going to get punished eventually.

The post “Pathetic” Thomas Tuchel tactics blamed as England approach “backfired terribly” in defeat to Argentina appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Argentina 2-1 England player ratings: Messi gets 9/10 with 2 assists while Chelsea & Spurs stars shine

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By:Mark Brus

Argentina have beaten England and made it to the World Cup final, with Lionel Messi and co. now preparing to take on Spain.

Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in Wednesday night’s semi-final, but Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scored twice late on to send the Three Lions out of the World Cup.

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For England, the 60 years of hurt goes on, and they’ll have to look back at what ended up being a pretty negative performance against Argentina.

Thomas Tuchel went far too defensive after England went ahead, so it’s not exactly the players’ fault, but here’s our look at how the players from both sides rated…

Argentina 2-1 England World Cup semi-final player ratings

Jordan Pickford – 6

Reece James – 7

Djed Spence – 7

Marc Guehi – 6

John Stones – 6

Declan Rice – 7.5

Elliot Anderson – 6

Jude Bellingham – 6.5

Morgan Rogers – 7

Anthony Gordon – 7.5

Harry Kane – 6

Not too many stand-out performers there from England, but Rogers and Gordon combined well for the goal, while Rice also played his part and generally worked hard in a difficult midfield battle. James and Spence were also in good form at both ends of the pitch, with the latter particularly impressive with one last-ditch challenge in the second half.

Emiliano Martinez – 6

Nahuel Molina – 6

Nicolas Tagliafico – 6

Cristian Romero – 8

Lisandro Martinez – 7

Leandro Paredes – 7

Alexis Mac Allister – 6.5

Enzo Fernandez – 8

Giulio Simeone – 6

Julian Alvarez – 7

Lionel Messi – 9

Argentina were not exactly spectacular, but Messi and Fernandez produced when it mattered and that will give them confidence against Spain in the final. A word too to Romero, who hasn’t always been at his best in a Tottenham shirt, but who looked like a real leader at the back tonight in an important game, keeping Kane quiet throughout.

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Who do you think will win this weekend’s final now? Give us your predictions in the comments!

The post Argentina 2-1 England player ratings: Messi gets 9/10 with 2 assists while Chelsea & Spurs stars shine appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Video: Enzo Fernandez & Lautaro Martinez score quickfire double to break England hearts

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By:Mark Brus

Enzo Fernandez scored a stunning goal to level things up for Argentina against England in tonight’s World Cup semi-final clash.

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The Chelsea midfielder scored an absolutely sublime long-range effort after a short corner by Argentina, with Lionel Messi setting him up to hit it from outside the box.

Watch below as Fernandez finally beat Jordan Pickford, who had been superb for England to keep out Alexis Mac Allister on numerous occasions…

"Enzo Fernandez has simply been setting his sights!" ?

A rocket of a strike from the midfielder draws Argentina level. pic.twitter.com/f5kUPkaP0a

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026

We all know Fernandez has that in his locker, with the 25-year-old often scoring some real beauties for Chelsea.

Now he’s delivered on the big stage for his country as they look to be heading for a second consecutive World Cup final appearance.

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Argentina produce stunning comeback against England

Lautaro Martinez has just scored a second for the South American giants, who now lead 2-1 with just a few minutes of stoppage time remaining.

Watch below as Messi was again the creator with a lovely cross to set up Martinez for the header…

Argentina are ahead! ?

A relentless spell of pressure sees Alexis Mac Allister hit the post before ANOTHER Lionel Messi assist sets up Lautaro Martinez to make it 2-1. pic.twitter.com/kVoNouFgKZ

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026

Having won the World Cup in 2022, it looks like Argentina are heading back to the final as they look to retain their trophy, with Spain waiting for them this time.

For England, unless something dramatic happens in the next few moments, it’s more heartache at a World Cup, with 60 years of hurt set to continue for even longer.

The post Video: Enzo Fernandez & Lautaro Martinez score quickfire double to break England hearts appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Video: Anthony Gordon puts England 1-0 up against Argentina in World Cup semi-final

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By:Mark Brus

England have taken the lead against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon!

The former Newcastle United winger, who recently sealed a transfer to Barcelona, has his first goal of this summer’s World Cup, and he’s picked a hell of a moment to get it.

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Watch below as Gordon tapped in from close range after great play down England’s right-hand side from Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers…

ENGLAND HAVE THE OPENER! ?

Anthony Gordon puts the Three Lions ahead in the World Cup semi-final! pic.twitter.com/5fBlRcf1oI

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026

Gordon has often been quite prolific from out wide, so it’s no surprise to see him making that run from the left into the penalty area and finding the back of the net.

Still, he can’t have scored many bigger goals than this one, with England now closing in on a place in their first World Cup final in 60 years!

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Thomas Tuchel’s gamble on Morgan Rogers pays off

It was superb play by Morgan Rogers on the right flank, not normally his best position, to set Gordon up for the simple finish.

Rogers has often played out on the left or in a central attacking midfield role for Aston Villa and England, but he has had to adjust to a new position tonight.

Still, Thomas Tuchel’s gamble looks to have paid off, with Rogers performing well so far and doing brilliantly with his cross to pick out Gordon.

The right-hand side has been an issue for England so far at this tournament, with Bukayo Saka’s fitness issues meaning that Noni Madueke has played a lot of games.

While Madueke has his qualities, he hasn’t had enough of an impact so far, which led to Tuchel trying Rogers on the right this evening, and it looks like a tactical masterstroke.

Can England hold on or even add a second? Give us your thoughts in the comments!

The post Video: Anthony Gordon puts England 1-0 up against Argentina in World Cup semi-final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“Dirty team” – Outrage as ref accused of missing 5-6 Argentina yellow cards vs England

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By:Mark Brus

The referee in tonight’s World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina has come in for strong criticism for a lack of yellow cards.

More specifically, a number of high-profile media figures cheering on England are not happy at what they perceive as favourable treatment towards Argentina in this game.

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They may have a point, but these discussions often feel a little tedious in what has generally just been quite a close game without much else to talk about so far.

See below as former footballer Stan Collymore claims Argentina could easily have had two players sent off as both Enzo Fernandez and Giuliano Simeone have made the equivalent of three yellow card offences…

Simeone. 3 yellow challenges.
Fernandez. 3 yellow challenges.

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) July 15, 2026

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Meanwhile, Piers Morgan has also slammed the referee for missing about five yellow cards for Argentina so far…

What the f*ck is this referee doing? Argentina should have 5 bookings by now. Dirty team going woefully unpunished.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 15, 2026

Argentina have certainly been quite aggressive, and that’s always frustrating when you’re on the receiving end of it.

Still, it seems a tad over-the-top to be suggesting there’s any serious favouritism going on.

England looking to make first World Cup final since 1966

England have done well at this World Cup, and they’re taking the fight to current holders Argentina so far.

They can do better, though, and will likely have to in the second half if they are to have a serious chance of making it to the World Cup final for the first time since they won the competition all the way back in 1966.

Argentina, meanwhile, are looking to retain the trophy they won back in Qatar in 2022, and they’ll hope for more Lionel Messi magic tonight to continue the remarkable form he’s showed at this year’s tournament so far.

The post “Dirty team” – Outrage as ref accused of missing 5-6 Argentina yellow cards vs England appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Video: Declan Rice praises “incredible” Arsenal transfer target ahead of link-up

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has praised the “incredible” Morgan Rogers as they play together for England in tonight’s World Cup semi-final vs Argentina.

Rogers starts on the right-hand side for England, with Thomas Tuchel trying something a bit different in this big game after mostly using Noni Madueke in that position throughout this World Cup.

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With Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka not fully fit, another Gunners star Madueke has come in for the Three Lions, but he’s not been that convincing.

Rogers, meanwhile, has been linked with Arsenal very strongly this summer, and it seems Rice is clearly a big fan of the Aston Villa man as they prepare to link up this evening…

Declan Rice looking forward to playing with Morgan Rogers

Declan Rice is back to full fitness ?

And he's excited to see Morgan Rogers start ? pic.twitter.com/J5XzvBX2NT

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 15, 2026

On Rogers starting, Rice said: “Yeah I think the manager’s obviously made a decision there. Morgan’s an incredible player, obviously he’s going to be playing off the right.

“He’s direct, he’s fast, he’s strong, can come inside, so whoever starts, whoever comes off the bench as seen throughout this tournament has made a massive impact, so I don’t think it’s going to affect much, but it’s a player we’re all looking forward to playing with today.”

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Morgan Rogers on Arsenal’s agenda

Rogers has shown outstanding quality with Villa and England, and it seems inevitable that he’ll soon get himself a big move.

As has been widely reported, our understanding is that Arsenal are making Rogers a priority this summer, and the 23-year-old is also keen on the move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners would do well to bring Rogers in, though he doesn’t normally play on the right, so would likely be signed with the view of replacing the departing Leandro Trossard on the left-hand side, or to provide an alternative to the likes of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in the centre.

Either way, Arsenal fans will no doubt be excited that Rice is such a big fan of Rogers, and perhaps take it as a hint that there’s strong interest from everyone at the club in signing him this summer.

The post Video: Declan Rice praises “incredible” Arsenal transfer target ahead of link-up appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Manchester United transfer target could be allowed to leave current club

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By:Mark Brus

Eduardo Camavinga could reportedly be allowed to leave Real Madrid this summer amid transfer interest from Manchester United.

The Red Devils have been among the France international’s admirers in recent times, as we exclusively reported here recently.

There’s now confirmation in a report from the Daily Mail that Camavinga’s Madrid future is in some doubt under new manager Jose Mourinho.

It remains to be seen if Camavinga will definitely leave, as the Mail note that his personal preference would be to remain at the Bernabeu.

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Still, it’s suggested that there are some doubts about his long-term future with Real, and that could mean there’s an opportunity there for United to pounce.

Manchester United linked with Eduardo Camavinga as they chase third midfield signing

United have already had a busy summer, with deals for midfield duo Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos both officially announced in the last few days.

It could be, however, that MUFC will now pursue a third signing in that area of the pitch, with Camavinga one of the options on their radar.

Another one to watch could be Roma’s Manu Kone, with Fabrizio Romano posting on his YouTube channel that United have been in touch with the France international’s representatives.

Camavinga and Kone are similar profiles, so could be good signings for United, though it’s debatable if they really need yet another arrival in that part of their squad.

Where else could United strengthen?

Michael Carrick could do with more depth in attack and defence as well as in midfield, though in fairness he’s coping with the loss of both Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.

The latter of those is admittedly only out with an injury, though it looks like a serious and long-term one, but Casemiro left on a free transfer after his contract expired, and will be hard to replace.

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Over the course of a long season, United will need the option to rotate, and Camavinga would perhaps also be a good option for them due to his ability to fill in at left-back.

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“Great market opportunity” – Ornstein’s Man United transfer update on “excellent” World Cup star

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By:Mark Brus

David Ornstein says there could be a “great market opportunity” for Manchester United and other clubs to sign Roma midfielder Manu Kone this summer.

The France international has been in superb form in Serie A and also put in some “excellent” displays for Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup.

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Kone has been linked with a number of top clubs in recent times, and it seems Ornstein is aware of Man Utd’s interest in him, with the Athletic journalist describing him as a good cheap option on the market this summer…

A lot of reports suggest that Manchester United are looking at him, and I think that would be excellent.

“It's, from what we hear, a great market opportunity, the value that you could get him from Roma.”

France’s Manu Kone was one of the World Cup’s breakout stars – and… pic.twitter.com/xi1fA5gZJE

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 15, 2026

“It’s, from what we hear, a great market opportunity, the value that you could get him from Roma,” Ornstein said of Kone.

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Manu Kone transfer: What we know so far

Kone previously made a name for himself at Borussia Monchengladbach before moving to Roma in 2024, in an initial loan move that later became permanent.

The 25-year-old now clearly seems to be on United’s radar, following updates from both Ornstein in the video above, as well as a recent YouTube post from Fabrizio Romano.

MUFC have already confirmed the signings of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in midfield, but it seems they’re keen on a third new addition in that position.

Do Man United need Manu Kone?

Some fans might feel a third new midfielder is a bit excessive, but there could be a case for completely revamping that position.

Casemiro has just left Old Trafford after coming to the end of his contract, while Manuel Ugarte is out with a long-term injury and hadn’t particularly impressed enough to be a regular starter for the club anyway.

There’s also Kobbie Mainoo, but if Michael Carrick can rotate between him, Kone, Tielemans, and Santos, that should cover the team well for the season ahead, with the team now set to have more games due to being back in the Champions League.

The post “Great market opportunity” – Ornstein’s Man United transfer update on “excellent” World Cup star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Talks to begin for surprise club to sign Manchester United star

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By:Mark Brus

It seems that surprise talks could be about to begin for Fenerbahce to sign Manchester United misfit Marcus Rashford this summer.

The England international, currently at the World Cup 2026 and preparing for tonight’s semi-final clash against Argentina, has been left in limbo after his loan spell at Barcelona.

Rashford shone during his spell at the Nou Camp last season, but it seems that Barca will not be taking up the option to sign him permanently.

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According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, Fenerbahce are now targeting Rashford after already completing their deal to sign Mason Greenwood.

Marcus Rashford set to move to Turkey?

Rashford was once a star player for Man Utd and showed he’s still got what it takes to perform at the highest level with some fine performances for Barcelona in La Liga and the Champions League.

So, in many ways, it seems slightly surprising that Rashford might now be about to move to the Turkish league, which would represent a significant step down in terms of the competitiveness of the division.

Still, there are also a lot of good players at clubs like Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas, so perhaps Rashford can flourish there and make an impact in major competitions like the Champions League.

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It would also be interesting to see Rashford linking up with his former United teammate Greenwood again, with the pair often combining well together at Old Trafford.

MUFC will now have a decision to make, as some fans might even feel that Rashford’s fine form at Barcelona last season should mean he’s in contention for a first-team role again.

Perhaps that ship has now sailed and a fresh start would be the best for everyone, but much of that will now hinge on whether or not Rashford himself is open to joining Fenerbahce, or if he waits for other opportunities.

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Ornstein reveals England star “rewarded” with start in unfamiliar role vs Argentina tonight

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By:Mark Brus

England manager Thomas Tuchel is reportedly set to start Morgan Rogers on the right against Argentina in tonight’s World Cup semi-final.

The Aston Villa attacking midfielder usually plays on the left or centrally, so this is a slightly unfamiliar role for him, but he’s also someone who’s surely good enough to contribute in almost any attacking role.

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See below for David Ornstein’s update on England’s team selection for this evening’s big game, with the journalist posting on X that Tuchel is set to reward Rogers for his impact off the bench in the win over Norway in the last round…

? Morgan Rogers set to start on right for England in #FIFAWorldCup semi-final v #Argentina. Opportunity would see 23yo Aston Villa forward rewarded after impact off bench against Norway & form for #AVFC + #England across Thomas Tuchel reign @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/f3tAfwuZXu

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 15, 2026

“Morgan Rogers set to start on right for England in #FIFAWorldCup semi-final … Opportunity would see 23yo Aston Villa forward rewarded after impact off bench against Norway & form for #AVFC + across Thomas Tuchel reign,” Ornstein said.

In truth, something needed to change on that right-hand side as Noni Madueke hasn’t been particularly convincing at this tournament, though he’s started a lot of games because Bukayo Saka isn’t 100% fit.

Can England get past Argentina?

Tuchel will need to get his team selection right tonight for this huge game, which some people are calling their biggest since the World Cup final victory in 1966.

England haven’t been in a World Cup final since their only victory 60 years ago, so it would be a huge achievement to do it.

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Argentina are the current holders, so will probably be the favourites tonight, especially with Lionel Messi in such exceptional form at this year’s tournament so far.

For England, the key men will surely be Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have both been superb for the Three Lions, though a top young talent like Rogers could also cause Argentina some problems.

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Update: Contacts held as clubs queue up to sign Arsenal star, including Man Utd & Newcastle

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli is reportedly attracting transfer interest from as many as five clubs as he could be on the move this summer.

The Brazil international has perhaps not developed quite as well as many at Arsenal will have expected, scoring only one league goal for the entire 2025/26 campaign.

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Martinelli fared better in Europe, scoring six goals in 14 Champions League games as the Gunners reached the final of the competition.

According to Ekrem Konur, it now seems Martinelli could leave Arsenal, and he has interest from big clubs such as Manchester United, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Roma…

?#Arsenal Gabriel Martinelli could leave Arsenal this summer.

? Man United, Newcastle and Bayern Munich are interested.

? Roma and Juventus have also contacted Arsenal for the Brazilian winger. https://t.co/IQREY7Thwc pic.twitter.com/IMcERmFXhq

— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) July 15, 2026

Konur posted: “Gabriel Martinelli could leave Arsenal this summer. Man United, Newcastle and Bayern Munich are interested. Roma and Juventus have also contacted Arsenal for the Brazilian winger.”

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Arsenal need an upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli

It’s surely time for Arsenal to move on from Martinelli, who is just not consistent enough to start regularly for a club with the ambition to win major titles like the Premier League and the Champions League.

The 25-year-old has been at the Emirates Stadium since 2019 and perhaps he’d now benefit from a change of scene.

Arsenal could also do well to try something different on that side of their front three, and they’ve been strongly linked with Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis by Ben Jacobs and others.

Could Gabriel Martinelli still have a good Premier League career?

Martinelli has still shown enough during his time at AFC that could make him tempting to other English clubs, so the links with Man Utd and Newcastle aren’t too surprising.

We’ve previously been informed of Newcastle asking about Martinelli, though this has not yet progressed as far as we’re aware.

The Magpies could do well to land Martinelli as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, who left for Barcelona earlier this summer.

United, meanwhile, might do well to bring in Martinelli to give them more depth behind their first choice front three of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, as he can fill in on the left, right, or as a central striker.

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World Cup star wants Real Madrid transfer this summer, could be “record” deal

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By:Mark Brus

Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise is reportedly keen on a transfer to Real Madrid this summer, while the Spanish giants are eyeing a record move.

This is not the first time we’ve heard speculation about Olise’s future in recent months, with the France international in absolutely stunning form in 2025/26 with 29 goals and 32 assists.

Those numbers, via WhoScored, are for club and country, including last summer’s Club World Cup with Bayern, and this summer’s 2026 World Cup with the French national team.

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According to Santi Aouna, Olise is now eyeing Real Madrid as his preferred next move, and ideally wants it to happen this year, with Bayern already keeping an eye out on potential replacements…

?EXCL: ???? #Liga |

?? Michael Olise veut rejoindre le Real Madrid CET ÉTÉ.

? L'international français estime que c'est le club parfait pour continuer sa progression.

? Le Real Madrid souhaite réaliser un transfert record.

??Posture officielle du Bayern : Olise est… pic.twitter.com/kvy4PvBZu9

— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) July 15, 2026

“Michael Olise wants to join Real Madrid THIS SUMMER,” the journalist posted on X. “The French international believes it’s the perfect club to continue his progression.

“Real Madrid wants to pull off a record transfer. Bayern’s official stance: Olise is not for sale but the truth is more nuanced. The Bavarian club would like to extend his contract, but has also been in contact in parallel with players who could come in to replace him.

“Olise will discuss with his leaders after the World Cup.”

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Will Michael Olise be Real Madrid’s next Galactico signing?

Olise looks like he has it in him to get even better, and it would be exciting to see the 24-year-old at the Bernabeu alongside other world class talents like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Michael Olise TOTAL SCORE: 22/25
Transfer fee **
Performance *****
Achievements *****
Career phase *****
Squad need *****

Olise gets a near-perfect score with our Transfer Fit rating system – find out more about how it works here!

The former Crystal Palace man was not at his best in France’s defeat to Spain yesterday, but in general he has been really consistent on the biggest stage, winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern and helping them to the Champions League semi-finals.

Olise’s best position is coming off that right flank so he can cut onto his left foot, and that’s undoubtedly somewhere Real Madrid could do with strengthening.

Bayern don’t tend to sell their star names, but it seems this can’t be ruled out, with Olise keen on the move to Spain, as has been previously reported by TEAMtalk.

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Wayne Rooney singles out England star who can “destroy” key Argentina players tonight

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By:Mark Brus

England legend Wayne Rooney has backed Harry Kane to “destroy” Argentina’s centre-backs if he’s really on his game in tonight’s World Cup semi-final.

Spain beat France last night to book their place in the final, and now fans will be preparing to follow England vs Argentina in the second semi-final, with the Three Lions chasing a first appearance in a World Cup final since their famous victory of 1966.

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Speaking ahead of the big game, former England forward Rooney is backing Kane as the big difference-maker, as he could be too much for Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero if he plays at his best.

Wayne Rooney makes big Harry Kane claim

Watch below as Rooney explains how Kane could cause that duo a lot of trouble with his intelligent movement…

"If Harry Kane is on it, he'll destroy these two centre-backs" ??????? ?? pic.twitter.com/9vqdSouHMJ

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026

“If Harry Kane is on it, they won’t be able to deal with Harry Kane,” Rooney said. “Because Harry’s a nightmare for that type of defender.”

He added: “If Harry’s just dragging them into positions where they feel a bit exposed, which they will do … it’s just about the timing of the pass and the timing of the run in behind them.

“I think if Harry is on it he will absolutely destroy those two centre-backs.”

Is this going to turn into Lionel Messi vs Harry Kane?

Football is complex and unpredictable, so to say any game is a battle between any two individuals is far too simplistic.

However, we also know that there are certain talents who are a level above the rest, and that entire game plans can revolve around.

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Kane and Lionel Messi fall into that category, as, arguably, does Jude Bellingham after the form he’s shown at this World Cup so far.

If Rooney is right and Kane can unsettle that Argentina defence, then that could be the game plan that brings England victory.

However, as Thomas Tuchel has alluded to, there also needs to be a plan for Messi, who has been in superb form at this tournament even at the age of 39.

Who do you see having the bigger influence tonight? Give us your thoughts and pre-match predictions in the comments!

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“I’m not a fan of…” – Thomas Tuchel gives interesting response to Lionel Messi question

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By:Mark Brus

England manager Thomas Tuchel has dodged a question about whether he thinks Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time.

The German tactician is preparing to lead the Three Lions against Argentina in tonight’s World Cup semi-final clash, and stopping Messi will probably be the tactic he most needs to get right.

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Messi has never played against England before, so it will be interesting to see what he can do, but he goes into this game in superb form as he’s joint-top of the Golden Boot charts at the World Cup so far.

See below as Tuchel discusses Messi’s quality, but falls short of declaring him the best player ever, as he admits he’s not a fan of lists like that…

‘We’re NOT here to build him a throne’ ?

Thomas Tuchel on the challenge Lionel Messi and Argentina pose for England ?????????#ITVFootball | @England | @gabrielclarke05 pic.twitter.com/L5c9xfnERb

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 15, 2026

Tuchel also sent a clear message about not worshipping Messi too much, which seems like the right kind of mentality for England if they are to avoid being overawed by the 39-year-old.

How can England stop Lionel Messi?

Tuchel also spoke in another video clip about how he’s tempted to try an old-school man-marking system to keep Messi quiet.

See below as the England manager admitted to that kind of plan crossing his mind, though he obviously wouldn’t reveal one way or another if he’d definitely choose that particular option, as it might not be something that works on Messi anyway…

How Thomas Tuchel and England are planning on stopping Lionel Messi… ?? pic.twitter.com/iaF3mSpYUe

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 15, 2026

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Ultimately, it might just be best not to focus too much on Messi, as throughout his career he’s got the better of pretty much every top defence you can think of.

Player Goals Assists
Kylian Mbappe 8 3
Lionel Messi 8 1
Erling Haaland 7 0
Harry Kane 6 1
Jude Bellingham 6 1

It might work best for England if they just focus on their own game tonight, and do their best to keep the ball, create chances, and limit what Messi can do by simply being the better team.

That’s easier said than done, of course, but if they retreat and make everything about stopping Messi, chances are he’ll find at least one moment of immense quality to undo all that work anyway.

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New talks held: Man City communicate plans to £85m star, Arsenal also still firmly in race for transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester City have reportedly intensified talks over signing Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, while Arsenal are also still in the running.

The talented young Morocco international has shone in Ligue 1 and also impressed with his national team at the 2026 World Cup, though his tournament ended with the recent defeat to France.

A recent report from the Guardian claimed Man City were keen on a potential £85m deal for Bouaddi, and there’s now been a new update.

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According to TEAMtalk, City have communicated to Bouaddi’s representatives that they want the player to come in straight away and become part of Enzo Maresca’s first-team.

They add that Arsenal remain ‘firmly’ in contention for Bouaddi, even if City have clearly been advancing on this one.

Should Ayyoub Bouaddi choose Arsenal or Manchester City?

A few years ago this would probably have been a no-brainer, with City the go-to destination for the world’s best players due to the chance to play under Pep Guardiola and get as good a guarantee as you can get of winning major trophies.

With Guardiola leaving this summer, though, there is no longer that guarantee, even if Maresca is also a good manager, and this remains a City squad full of world class players.

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Arsenal are reigning Premier League champions and possibly the favourites to retain their title in 2026/27, so Bouaddi could do well to choose the Emirates Stadium for the next step in his career.

It’s not an easy decision, though, with City probably likely to be able to offer more money, while there’s actually also a lot of competition in Arsenal’s midfield at the moment.

The Gunners already have Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Myles Lewis-Skelly in that area of their squad, so there’s no guarantee Bouaddi would get regular minutes.

City, by contrast, probably need to start thinking about rebuilding their midfield a little bit as Rodri is not getting any younger and has had some injury problems in the last couple of years, with Bouaddi looking like an ideal long-term successor in that role.

The post New talks held: Man City communicate plans to £85m star, Arsenal also still firmly in race for transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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2/10 – Liverpool transfer target slammed for nervy and error-prone performance for France vs Spain

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By:Mark Brus

Liverpool-linked winger Michael Olise has received criticism for a particularly poor game for France against Spain in Tuesday night’s World Cup semi-final.

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The Bayern Munich star was not his usual self at all, and it proved hugely detrimental to France as they lost 2-0 to Spain and exited the competition.

Given the presence of world class attacking players like Olise, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and Rayan Cherki, this France side were seen as one of the big favourites for this year’s World Cup.

However, Olise really let them down tonight, with Get French Football News giving him just a 2/10 rating and slamming him for making some sloppy mistakes in possession.

What next for Michael Olise this summer?

It will be interesting to see what happens next with Olise after so much speculation over his future in recent months.

Of course, France still have the third place play-off this weekend to think about, but their tournament is still essentially over, which might mean players switch their focus to potential transfers.

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Olise could be one to watch as TEAMtalk have linked him with Liverpool, while our colleague Christian Falk has written in his CF Bayern Insider column about the 24-year-old being unlikely to sign a new Bayern contract.

This could perhaps open the door for Liverpool, but it’s unlikely to be a deal that would come cheap.

Bayern are a huge club, so won’t want to sell a world class talent like Olise, even if he just had a pretty poor game for France.

An in-form Olise is one of the deadliest attacking players on the planet, and his playing style also makes him an ideal long-term Mohamed Salah replacement at Anfield.

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How much Manchester United have banked from Mason Greenwood’s latest transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United have reportedly made a total of €12.48m from Mason Greenwood’s transfer move from Marseille to Fenerbahce.

The former Red Devils forward shone during his time in Ligue 1 and this has seen Fenerbahce pay €39m for him in total.

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Due to a sell-on clause in his contract, this gives Man Utd a pretty decent fee, though some of that also goes to another of his former clubs Getafe, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

See below for the full details and breakdown of the money involved here…

Fenerbahce confirm Mason Greenwood has joined from Marseille on a four-year contract.

Fee is €39m paid in three equal installments over three years.

Manchester United receive €15.6m due to a sell-on clause on the full fee. Yet €3.12m goes on to Getafe. It leaves #MUFC with… pic.twitter.com/ZePxaoN0D4

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 14, 2026

Jacobs posted: “Fenerbahce confirm Mason Greenwood has joined from Marseille on a four-year contract. Fee is €39m paid in three equal installments (sic) over three years. Manchester United receive €15.6m due to a sell-on clause on the full fee. Yet €3.12m goes on to Getafe. It leaves #MUFC with €12.48m.”

Manchester United continue to benefit from Mason Greenwood sale

Greenwood looked like an outstanding young talent when he first came up from United’s academy into their first-team, but in the end the club didn’t really have any choice but to let him go.

The 24-year-old was notably arrested after very serious allegations were made against him, though these charges were later dropped. Still, this led to him being suspended by United and he never played for them again.

Since then, Greenwood has rebuilt his career well, though it seems unlikely he’ll ever come back to the Premier League.

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Overall, MUFC have profited well from selling an academy player who didn’t cost them money to sign in the first place.

When they first sold Greenwood to Marseille, they banked £26.6m from his sale, according to BBC Sport‘s report at the time.

Another €12.48m is roughly £10.6m, so that’s £37.2m in total.

Many fans would probably rather have had the player, but given his quite specific situation, the club have done quite well financially out of this.

The post How much Manchester United have banked from Mason Greenwood’s latest transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Video: Pedro Porro’s superb finish puts Spain 2-0 up vs France but PL defender completely falls asleep

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By:Mark Brus

Tottenham full-back Pedro Porro has scored for Spain to put them 2-0 up against France in tonight’s World Cup 2026 semi-final clash.

It was a lovely move and a superb finish by Porro, who fired past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan with all the quality and confidence of a centre-forward.

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However, watch the video clip below and you’ll see that Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne completely fell asleep to allow acres of space for Porro on that side…

INCREDIBLE ?

Spain one-two their way through the France defense and Pedro Porro doubles his country's lead… pic.twitter.com/DFGCLMzFUC

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 14, 2026

Porro made no mistake after being played in so well, but Digne made it that much easier for him by completely failing to spot or track his run.

Spain heading for impressive win over France

Spain will now be the big favourites to win this game, as it’s hard to see even this France team scoring three late goals at this stage.

Les Bleus have long looked like the favourites for this year’s World Cup, but it looks like their tournament may now be coming to an end.

In fairness, Spain have also looked like one of the big favourites to go all the way in this competition, having won Euro 2024 two years ago.

Spain last won this trophy back in 2010, which is also the only time they’ve ever won it in their history, but they’ll perhaps be the clear frontrunners now if they see this game through.

Knocking out this France team is some statement, with the Spain defence doing well to keep elite attacking talents like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise quiet.

In fairness, one big issue for France was the William Saliba injury in the first half, with the Arsenal defender one of the very best in the world in his position, and one of his country’s most important players.

The post Video: Pedro Porro’s superb finish puts Spain 2-0 up vs France but PL defender completely falls asleep appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Fabrizio Romano reveals Manchester United “made a call” to star’s agent over surprise transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United have reportedly had recent contact with the agents of Roma midfielder Manu Kone as they look for a third signing in that position this summer.

The Red Devils have already officially confirmed the arrivals of both Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in midfield, but it seems they’re surprisingly still looking for more in that area of their squad.

A replacement for the departing Casemiro was undoubtedly needed, while Manuel Ugarte is also injured after generally struggling for form, so two new signings looked sensible.

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A third perhaps looks like a bit too much, however, when other positions also surely need strengthening.

Still, Romano says United have had contact over Kone as they continue to look for new additions in that department.

Fabrizio Romano on Manchester United’s Manu Kone pursuit

Speaking in his latest post on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Manchester United are still looking at midfielders. (There are) many names among the defensive midfielders.

“Many of you asking me, can you give us some names? It’s still early to indicate who is going to be the wanted player for Manchester United. I will tell you in the next days was going to develop there.

“I can tell you, for example, that Manchester United made a call to the agents of Manu Kone from Roma – (he) is one of the players they appreciate. There was a call over the recent days. Let’s see if it’s going to develop.

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“They have more targets at defensive midfielders. But Man United are looking for that kind of player.”

MUFC are clearly determined to make sure they have plenty of quality and depth in midfield, and Kone looks like he could be a good option.

Still, it will be interesting to see what this means for Kobbie Mainoo’s playing time after such impressive form at Old Trafford last season.

The post Fabrizio Romano reveals Manchester United “made a call” to star’s agent over surprise transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“Both sides” expect Arsenal transfer deal for 22-goal star to “progress soon”

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By:Mark Brus

It seems everyone involved in the Christos Tzolis to Arsenal transfer deal expects this to happen soon, according to the reliable Hand of Arsenal account.

Tzolis, currently of Club Brugge, has shone during his time in Belgium, as well as with his performances for the Greek national team, and it could be that he’s about to earn himself a big move this summer.

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The 24-year-old scored 22 goals in total in the season just gone, so looks very much like the kind of prolific goal-scoring winger Arsenal will need to replace the departing Leandro Trossard.

See below for HoA’s latest update on all the major Arsenal transfer news, which features a line on Tzolis looking like happening soon…

Julian Alvarez

– From my last update, every single point still remains true
– Arteta sees Julian as a major marquee transformational signing
– There are direct fresh contacts between the ownership at Arsenal and Atleti regarding a possible transfer. There is still a gap in the…

— HandofArsenal (@HandofArsenal) July 14, 2026

“People around the Tzolis deal on both sides expect it to progress soon,” HoA said.

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Christos Tzolis looks like a smart signing for Arsenal

While there may be bigger names being linked with Arsenal at the moment, such as Julian Alvarez, Morgan Rogers, and Bruno Guimaraes, all mentioned in the post above, it looks like Tzolis could be a smart purchase.

The Greece international probably won’t be very expensive, and he arrives in fine form after performing so well with Brugge.

Given that he’d probably mostly be coming in to be a squad player, Tzolis looks pretty much the ideal profile, and there’s always the chance that he’ll improve further as he gains more experience.

In many ways, Tzolis looks like someone who could develop into the kind of player Trossard was for Arsenal, and that can only be a good thing.

Gooners will be keen to see more established world class stars arriving, but they’ll also know the value or having reliable squad players who know where the back of the net is.

The post “Both sides” expect Arsenal transfer deal for 22-goal star to “progress soon” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Major worry for Arsenal as important Gunners star goes off injured during France-Spain

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has gone off injured in the first half of tonight’s World Cup semi-final clash between France and Spain.

The Frenchman was unable to continue as he seemed to have a sudden problem with his back, and he’s been replaced by Maxence Lacroix.

It is not yet clear how serious this injury for Saliba will prove to be, but it’s perhaps not a great sign that he was taken off immediately despite suffering this problem when there wasn’t anyone around him.

Watch below for the moment Saliba simply had to stop playing as he fell to the ground…

i feel so bad for saliba 🙁 pic.twitter.com/E9n3oQCRDm

— ola ! (@bIuezoya) July 14, 2026

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Saliba was a star performer for Arsenal as they won the Premier League title in 2025/26, and he’s been key for France at this World Cup as well.

It remains to be seen if this will now be his final moment at this tournament, with France 1-0 down to Spain at the time of writing, while one imagines there could be doubts over his fitness for the start of the new club season as well.

William Saliba’s injury concerns going into this World Cup

This is not the first time we’ve heard about Saliba having a back problem, as it was reported as being an issue for him ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

The 25-year-old was reported as looking likely to miss the World Cup, as per ESPN, though in the end he was able to take part, at least until this evening’s flare-up.

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Meanwhile, L’Equipe also reported that Saliba may require surgery after the tournament, which could mean a delay to the start of the 2026/27 campaign with Arsenal.

After playing so much football for Arsenal as they won the title and reached two cup finals in the season just gone, it’s not too surprising that it’s all caught up with Saliba a little bit.

AFC supporters will just be hoping this doesn’t mean he’ll be out for a really lengthy period, or they’re surely going to find it very hard to replace him.

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“Fresh contacts” – Arsenal have directly approached Atletico Madrid over Julian Alvarez

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal have reportedly had fresh contacts over a potential transfer deal for Julian Alvarez, though there remains an issue with Atletico Madrid’s valuation.

The Gunners have been linked several times with the Argentina international, and it seems this story is not going away.

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According to Di Marzio journalist Luca Bendoni, Arsenal have had direct contact with Atletico over possibly signing Alvarez, while Barcelona are also still heavily involved in this transfer saga.

See below for details…

There are direct fresh contacts between the ownership at Arsenal and Atleti regarding a possible transfer. There is still a gap in the valuation of the Argentine. W/@HandofArsenal #AFC

Per @SkySportsLyall FC Barcelona are still heavily involved on the topic. pic.twitter.com/I9h0sL4RPM

— Luca Bendoni (@LucaBendoni) July 14, 2026

“There are direct fresh contacts between the ownership at Arsenal and Atleti regarding a possible transfer. There is still a gap in the valuation of the Argentine,” Bendoni posted on X.

This information was shared with the reliable Hand of Arsenal account, and there’s further information on Alvarez and other Arsenal targets there.

More on Julian Alvarez and other Arsenal transfer targets

According to HoA, AFC manager Mikel Arteta is really keen on Alvarez and views the 26-year-old as a potentially transformative signing for the north London giants.

Julian Alvarez

– From my last update, every single point still remains true
– Arteta sees Julian as a major marquee transformational signing
– There are direct fresh contacts between the ownership at Arsenal and Atleti regarding a possible transfer. There is still a gap in the…

— HandofArsenal (@HandofArsenal) July 14, 2026

It seems Atletico are also really not keen to sell Alvarez to rivals Barca, so that could end up benefiting Arsenal, as long as they’re prepared to pay up.

Alvarez scored 20 goals in 49 games in all competitions last season, which was actually less than Viktor Gyokeres scored for Arsenal.

Still, most fans would surely agree that Alvarez’s all-round qualities would likely make him a significant upgrade on Gyokeres and also on the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

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Alvarez is also Premier League-proven from his time at Manchester City, so this wouldn’t be too big a culture shock for him.

Whether or not that makes him worth paying such huge money for remains to be seen, especially when Arsenal also seem to have other big targets.

As HoA notes, the Premier League champions also want Morgan Rogers and Bruno Guimaraes, so unless they make several big sales this is all going to be very tricky to do in line with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

The post “Fresh contacts” – Arsenal have directly approached Atletico Madrid over Julian Alvarez appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Fabrizio Romano confirms Cristian Romero is leaving Tottenham, names two transfer suitors

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero is leaving the club this summer, with Inter Milan and Barcelona interested, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Argentina international has had a mixed spell at Spurs, while the club have also endured mixed fortunes in the last few years.

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Overall, it perhaps makes sense that Romero is keen on a new challenge, and that Tottenham might perhaps also be content to part ways with him.

See below for details as Romano has posted on X to confirm that the plan is for Romero to leave Spurs this summer…

??? EXCLUSIVE: Cuti Romero to leave Tottenham this summer, Inter held talks with Spurs over recent days.

Romero has been offered as option during talks for Djed Spence.

Inter keen but costs very high.

?? Barça also like Cuti Romero.

? https://t.co/kTNiTHRWTl pic.twitter.com/0jripDDK9R

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 14, 2026

“EXCLUSIVE: Cuti Romero to leave Tottenham this summer, Inter held talks with Spurs over recent days. Romero has been offered as option during talks for Djed Spence. Inter keen but costs very high. Barça also like Cuti Romero,” Romano posted.

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What next for Cristian Romero?

Romero could be a decent signing for someone like Barcelona, while Inter also makes sense for him, even if that currently looks complicated due to how expensive the deal would be.

For now, it seems there isn’t much possibility of Romero staying in the Premier League, and that makes sense given that he hasn’t always appeared that settled here.

Despite some moments of quality, Romero hasn’t always looked that well suited to the physical demands of English football.

Still, it’s easy to imagine the 28-year-old still having the quality to perform at a high level in a different league, and perhaps in a more settled environment than he’s had at Tottenham.

Spurs have been poor in the last two seasons, finishing 17th in 2024/25 and 2025/26, so even if Romero could have done better at various points, he’s far from the only one under-performing, and the frequent managerial changes and poor decisions in the transfer market won’t have helped.

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Official: Man Utd announce Youri Tielemans signing, club chief names 3 things he’ll add to the squad

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United have officially announced the arrival of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, with club chief Jason Wilcox explaining why they signed him.

The Belgium international shone for Aston Villa, and was previously also a star performer at Leicester City, with Man Utd director Wilcox praising him.

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Tielemans had been linked strongly with the Red Devils in the last few days, and it’s now been officially announced on ManUtd.com.

Wilcox is clearly delighted to bring Tielemans in, explaining three qualities he feels the 29-year-old will add to this United squad – composure, creativity, and leadership.

Jason Wilcox on Youri Tielemans transfer

“Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years. He has all of the technical qualities, as well as the ambition and mentality, to thrive at Manchester United,” Wilcox said in a club statement.

“Youri’s consistency is exceptional, and he will add further composure, creativity and leadership to our squad. We are delighted to welcome a player of his influence and experience, both on the pitch and within the dressing room, as we continue to build a team ready to challenge for the biggest honours.

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Man United have added a top passer to their squad

Tielemans is not the youngest, and perhaps not always the most consistent performer, but there’s no doubt about the quality he brings when he’s really on form.

This is highlighted in United’s statement, which explains that the former Monaco youngster really excelled when it comes to line-breaking passes last season.

United stated: “Amongst attackers and midfielders, Tielemans broke the most defensive lines per 100 passes in the Premier League as well as making the second most line-breaking passes under pressure.”

While that might not sound like the most eye-catching kind of detail, it’s a stat that managers love, and it will surely help the rest of this United team to shine even brighter next season.

This is the kind of quality on the ball that MUFC arguably didn’t have last season, and it should help Michael Carrick improve this team after he already did such a good job as interim manager.

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“Looks absolutely fine” – positive update on England star’s availability for Argentina clash

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By:Mark Brus

Declan Rice is looking better after a recent battle with a sickness bug that left him bed-ridden for three days, according to Sky Sports.

Watch below for a video update from England’s training base earlier today as Rice could be seen taking part in a session ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final clash against Argentina.

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France take on Spain in today’s first semi-final, and by tomorrow night we’ll know whether or not it’s England joining one of those two in this year’s World Cup final.

Luckily for England manager Thomas Tuchel, it now looks like he should have Arsenal midfielder Rice fit and available and in good condition to take on Argentina…

England are training for the final time before their World Cup semi-final with Argentina ???????

Declan Rice is with the squad, who looks to have fully recovered from illness ? pic.twitter.com/MeaoKiOnnz

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 14, 2026

The report explains that everyone is in England training now, apart from Jordan Henderson, who injured his arm in that freak incident celebrating the Three Lions’ victory over Mexico.

That’s encouraging, as there have also been some fitness concerns for Reece James during this tournament, so perhaps there’s now hope of him starting tomorrow night as well.

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Can England beat World Cup holders Argentina?

England face old rivals Argentina tomorrow and it’s sure to be their toughest test of the World Cup so far.

Tuchel’s side have shown remarkable character and resilience at times in this year’s competition, but they’ll really need to up their game once again if they are to get past Lionel Messi and co.

Argentina are the reigning world champions and will no doubt be desperate to win the trophy again for what seems highly likely to be Messi’s last ever World Cup.

If England can get past Lionel Scaloni’s side, it’s a huge statement that they can go all the way and win this competition for the first time since 1966.

The post “Looks absolutely fine” – positive update on England star’s availability for Argentina clash appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Club director “stunned” by Manchester United transfer decision

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By:Mark Brus

Atalanta director Cristiano Giuntoli has admitted to being left “stunned” by Manchester United’s decision to pull the plug on the Ederson transfer.

The Red Devils had everything more or less done to sign Ederson from the Serie A club, before pulling out of the deal late on.

BBC Sport were among the outlets to report that this was due to an injury concern that came up during Ederson’s medical, though Atalanta have denied that there’s any problem with the player’s fitness.

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The Brazilian midfielder has been a star player for Atalanta, so they’ll surely be glad to keep him, with Giuntoli adding that they’re now working on tying him down to a new contract.

See below for Giuntoli’s response to Man Utd deciding against signing Ederson, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano on his X page…

??? Atalanta director Cristiano Giuntoli: “We were stunned [by Man United calling Ederson deall off]”.

“Now we are working on a new contract for him”. pic.twitter.com/mrTforgvsl

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 14, 2026

Romano posted: “Atalanta director Cristiano Giuntoli: “We were stunned [by Man United calling Ederson deall off]”. “Now we are working on a new contract for him”.”

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Will Manchester United live to regret Ederson transfer decision?

United clearly decided that signing Ederson wasn’t quite worth the gamble for one reason or another, and of course it would have been a big waste of money if they’d brought him in only to find that he wasn’t up to scratch fitness-wise, or ended up missing a lot of games through injury.

Still, Ederson looks like a top player and this surely won’t be the end of this summer’s saga, with other top clubs surely likely to also take a look at the 27-year-old.

MUFC, meanwhile, have turned to other options, so they’ll hope that new signing Andrey Santos can prove a success, while Youri Tielemans looks like being next, according to the Athletic and others.

Santos and Tielemans are both Premier League-proven, which is a nice bonus to have when signing a player, but Ederson would have arrived more at ‘peak age’ than either of those two, and might arguably have acted as more of a level-raiser for this team.

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£80m star “really wants Arsenal” transfer but Gunners “unsure” about one issue

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By:Mark Brus

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes really wants the transfer to Arsenal, but the Gunners are currently unsure about paying his asking price.

The Brazil international has shone during his time at St James’ Park and looks like he’s ready to go to the next level, with Newcastle currently unable to offer him Champions League football.

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It surely makes sense for Guimaraes to push now for a big move to Arsenal or it might be his last chance to take that kind of opportunity as he’ll turn 29 later this year.

See below for the latest on this deal as TEAMtalk’s Fraz Fletcher discusses Arsenal’s links with Guimaraes and a number of other players…

Arsenal's transfer window is kicking off ?@FrazFletcher ?? pic.twitter.com/5UgC9DeOHA

— TEAMtalk (@TEAMtalk) July 14, 2026

Fletcher says the Guimaraes story is still rolling on, with the player really keen on the move, but Arsenal unsure about paying so much for him.

This follows the Telegraph reporting that Newcastle could demand close to £100m for the former Lyon man, which might have been feasible a few years ago, but surely not when he’s at this stage of his career.

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Will Arsenal give in to the demands of this inflated market?

Unfortunately for Arsenal, who have never really been the biggest spenders, the market changes all the time and prices tend to just keep going up and up.

It’s easy to forget now, but eyebrows were raised when Liverpool paid £75m for Virgil van Dijk, which now arguably looks like a bargain.

Fees keep being inflated, and that means some slightly eye-watering fees for players like Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali.

It also surely means Guimaraes is going to cost slightly more than some fans expect, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t still be a worthwhile investment for Arsenal.

The Premier League champions could do with something different in the middle of the park, as well as more rotation options after Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi played so much football without rest last season.

The post £80m star “really wants Arsenal” transfer but Gunners “unsure” about one issue appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Fabrizio Romano drops “here we go” for long-term Arsenal transfer target

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal have reportedly missed out on the transfer of Real Madrid defender Victor Valdepenas, who is set to join Fiorentina instead.

The talented young Spaniard is closing in on an €8m move from Real Madrid to Fiorentina, according to Fabrizio Romano in a post on his official X page today.

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See below as Romano claims Valdepenas will have a 50% sell-on clause and some form of first refusal option with his new club, putting Real Madrid in control over his long-term future…

?? Fiorentina reach verbal agreement to sign Víctor Valdepeñas from Real Madrid, here we go! ??

€8m transfer fee, contract until June 2031, Real Madrid mantain 50% sell-on clause and future control in case of any bids.

Clubs started exchanging documents today. pic.twitter.com/1HrErsjgM6

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 14, 2026

“Fiorentina reach verbal agreement to sign Víctor Valdepeñas from Real Madrid, here we go!” Romano posted. “€8m transfer fee, contract until June 2031, Real Madrid mantain (sic) 50% sell-on clause and future control in case of any bids. Clubs started exchanging documents today.”

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How Arsenal missed out on Victor Valdepenas transfer

Arsenal have a long-standing interest in Valdepenas, so there’ll likely be some disappointment that they missed out on the 19-year-old.

However, when you look at the terms of this deal with Fiorentina, they’re very favourable towards Los Blancos, and it’s hard to imagine Arsenal would’ve agreed to anything like that.

In truth, this looks like a sale that is very much set up for Valdepenas to come back to Madrid at some point in the future.

Otherwise, even if he leaves Fiorentina for big money, that should be profitable for Real, whereas a club like Arsenal would not generally be in the business of selling star names in that way.

What it could mean, however, is that the Gunners can come back in for Valdepenas in the future if he impresses at Fiorentina, and whatever fee they pay would be split evenly between La Viola and Los Merengues.

Either that, or it could force Real into re-signing Valdepenas themselves.

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World Cup star “high” on Liverpool’s list, current club “realistic” on transfer situation – Ornstein

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By:Mark Brus

Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is reportedly high on Liverpool’s list of transfer targets for this summer, according to David Ornstein.

The France international, currently at the World Cup 2026 with his national side, is an exciting talent, and looks like someone who could improve this Liverpool side after they were dealt the blow of losing Mohamed Salah this summer.

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Ornstein, speaking in the video below, says that PSG ideally don’t want to sell Barcola, but are “realistic” about his situation as he hasn’t been a regular starter at the Parc des Princes.

This could surely help Liverpool if they do decide to pursue a deal, with the 23-year-old also likely to be attracted to becoming a key player for such a big name in English and European football.

David Ornstein on Bradley Barcola to Liverpool

“Liverpool really like Bradley Barcola. PSG would like to keep him, but they are realistic. He has only two years left on his contract. He’s not a regular starter, and he wants to be, so I suspect he would be open to a move if the right opportunity arose,” Ornstein said.

“Liverpool have him high in their thinking, and I imagine Barcola himself would be attracted to clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal, and so on.

“The price would be very high. Of course, we’ve got to keep a close eye on Barcola and Liverpool, but at this moment I’m not sure it’s at an advanced stage. France are still in the tournament. PSG, I’m told, don’t want to trouble him or take his focus away from the World Cup.

“So, like with many situations, I would imagine this one starts to develop, in whatever shape or form, if that means staying, going, Liverpool or elsewhere, post-tournament.”

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Where next for Bradley Barcola?

Ornstein’s latest information on Barcola seems to point more towards Liverpool than anyone else, but he has also been linked with Arsenal.

With the Gunners having just won the Premier League title, perhaps that could be seen as the more tempting destination for Barcola, but LFC will likely be in next season’s title race, even if they dipped significantly in 2025/26.

Barcola would likely be a major upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli, and in many ways he perhaps addresses a more obvious need in this Arsenal squad.

Liverpool, by contrast, probably need a left-footer to come in on the right-hand side if they really want to fill the void left by Salah.

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Arsenal now expected to intensify pursuit of two transfer targets after player’s message to the club

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal are reportedly now expected to step up their transfer pursuit of Morgan Rogers and Christos Tzolis after the sale of Leandro Trossard.

The Gunners are reigning Premier League champions but will want to build on that success and try to improve even further after notably reaching the Champions League final but losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

It looks like the major changes could take place in attack, with Trossard confirming to Arsenal that he plans to accept an offer to join Besiktas, according to TEAMtalk.

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This is then expected to kickstart Arsenal’s spending, with Aston Villa star Rogers one of their key targets, along with Greek winger Tzolis of Club Brugge.

Arsenal to revamp their attack with new signings and sales

The report also adds that Gabriel Martinelli could leave the Emirates Stadium this summer, though Arsenal can also spend significant money on Rogers and Tzolis even if Trossard is the only one departing.

It’s important in modern football to be careful with squad planning due to Financial Fair Play laws, but it seems Arsenal are confident they could invest in signings even without selling Martinelli on top of Trossard.

The north London giants spent big last summer and it helped them take that crucial step forward to land their first title in 22 years, so if they show similar ambition this year they’ll surely feel they can keep improving and perhaps finally land that elusive Champions League title.

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How to improve this Arsenal team

Even if AFC were fully deserving champions in the end, and unlucky to lose on penalties after a 1-1 draw with PSG, there is clearly room for improvement in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Some fans will feel the title could have been wrapped up even earlier with a bit more spark and flair in the front three, and that’s where someone like Rogers could have a major influence.

And in that final against PSG, Arteta’s side struggled to keep the ball and create enough, even if they were defensively solid, so in future we could perhaps see a more even game with the presence of players like Rogers and Tzolis who can give them more initiative and forward momentum.

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Ornstein: Man United “to proceed” on surprise £35m transfer of “outstanding” World Cup star

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are proceeding with the transfer of Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to a surprise exclusive dropped today by David Ornstein.

The Athletic journalist has posted on X about Man Utd being in advanced talks to sign Tielemans, who has been a star performer for Villa, and who also shone for the Belgian national team at this summer’s World Cup.

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Praised by his national team manager Rudi Garcia as “outstanding” (via Flashscore), Tielemans now looks set to earn himself a big move, which has some somewhat out of the blue.

See below for details as Ornstein says United are set to go ahead with triggering Tielemans’ £35m release clause, leaving Villa powerless to prevent the deal even though they didn’t want to sell the 29-year-old…

? Youri Tielemans move from Aston Villa to Manchester United through £35m release clause in midfielder’s contract. #AVFC had no wish to sell + offered new deal but left with little choice due to mechanism & #MUFC set to proceed on transfer @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/KbWwD1jxov

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 13, 2026

“Youri Tielemans move from Aston Villa to Manchester United through £35m release clause in midfielder’s contract. #AVFC had no wish to sell + offered new deal but left with little choice due to mechanism & #MUFC set to proceed on transfer,” Ornstein said.

Youri Tielemans transfer comes after Ederson blow

United need to strengthen in midfield this summer after losing Casemiro at the end of his contract, while Manuel Ugarte has been mostly underwhelming during his time at Old Trafford, and is now injured.

Ederson looked to be on his way to MUFC, but Ornstein has confirmed that the deal is off for now, even if it’s one they could potentially look to revisit later in the summer.

? EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United in advanced talks to sign Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. All parties in contact as #MUFC try to finalise – 29yo midfielder keen on move. Ederson deal off for now; #MUFC may look to revisit later this summer @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/KbWwD1jxov

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 13, 2026

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Youri Tielemans finally gets a big move

Tielemans was a top performer for Leicester City back in the day, and at that time it was perhaps a bit surprising that he didn’t end up earning himself a move to a big six club.

The Belgium international has continued to perform at a high level for Villa, though, and it now looks like he’s finally going to get the chance to shine at the very highest level.

It will be intriguing to see how Tielemans gets on at United, but he looks like just the kind of Premier League-proven player this squad needs.

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