'Endless competition' at Leinster driving McCarthy
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The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Man Utd fans vow to ‘call first born child INEOS' if Ruben Amorim completes incredible transfer for Brighton star
MANCHESTER UNITED fans have vowed to make some madcap life decisions if the club complete a stunning deal to sign Carlos Baleba. Reports suggest Red Devils transfer chiefs have made contact with Brighton over the possibility of signing the 21-year-old. 5 5 5 5 Baleba is seen as one of the brightest talents of his age group, and as reported by L'Equipe in France, United are currently in pole position to sign the midfielder amid a host of interested parties. In the CIES football observatory, Baleba is valued at up to £76million, though it is understood Brighton have no intention to sanction a sale for the rising star this summer, with Seagulls chief Paul Barber denying that an approach had been made at all. Barber said: "There is always going to be interest in our players. Manchester United have not been in touch with me, speculation is speculation. "Carlos is a fantastic talent and we hope he will be here for years to come. But it's subject to the dynamics of the football world, which is not always predictable." Baleba's contract at the Amex Stadium runs until 2028 - while there is also an option to extend for a further year. United are on the hunt for a dynamic midfielder to go in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 pivot after unconvincing displays by Manuel Ugarte in pre-season, with his display against Everton coming in fro particular scrutiny. Baleba was one of the Premier League's top ranked midfielders last season for tackles, blocks, interceptions and recoveries, while his progressive carries and forward passing numbers were also impressive. And such is the fervour for United to sign Baleba - who exclusively told SunSport about his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or - that the thought of getting the deal over the line has seen some of the Red Devils faithful make some stunning promises. One excited fan declared: "If we sign Baleba then I'm calling my first born child INEOS." A second said: "Throw the f***ing bank at him. Incur a lifetime transfer ban. Pull every credit facility necessary. "Include the new stadium naming rights in the deal. Do anything and everything in your power to sign Carlos Baleba." A third said: "I swear, if we sign Baleba after signing Sesko, Mbeumo, and Cunha, then I'm driving down to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's house and kissing his feet while apologising for all the bad things I've said about INEOS." Another said: "Get Baleba and it's the best window since 2007." A fifth said: "Bro what the f*** were we gonna do if we got UCL???????" A sixth said: "Nah the way United fans manifested this Baleba [move] through pure faith and blind optimism We are massive man." A seventh speculated: "[Kobbie] Mainoo-Baleba for the next decade genuinely sorts out the base of the team in every single facet in every single system/shape." These opinions come before a fan protest against Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, organised by The 1958, ahead of United's opening Premier League game against Arsenal on August 17. Baleba made his international debut for Cameroon last year and has played in seven games for the Indomitable Lions so far. And his high ambitions of winning football's ultimate individual prize is sure to go down well with Man Utd fans and transfer chiefs as they look to bring the club back to its former glory. He told SunSport in an exclusive interview: "Declan Rice, Matheus Cunha, Joelinton, they've all told me I've got it in me. I want to win the Ballon d'Or like Rodri. "I watched him during the Euros and before his injury I played against him and time I got the ball, he was right in front of me. 'It was my first game against Manchester City, and it was very difficult. He made it so hard to dribble or pass. That showed his class. 'His success has opened the door for midfielders like us to believe we can win the Ballon d'Or someday... I can get to the very top of world football. 'But I need to stay focused, stay calm, not rush, and not let what people write get in my head. If I keep working hard, I can be like Luka Modric or Toni Kroos, I just need to stay grounded." Baleba's journey to football stardom is nothing short of remarkable. He tragically lost his mother three years ago just as he got his breakthrough European move to French side Lille. But he explained the pain of his loss drives him forwards to be the best version of himself. Baleba continued: "It was very difficult for me because I didn't see my mum. I wanted her next to me, but when I signed for Brighton, she wasn't here. 'That's why the first season was really hard. I thought about her a lot. But I vowed that I would be the best version of myself and go as far as I can in my career." His English is still a work in progress, but he's proud of the steps he has taken to settle in, even if the British weather isn't always his cup of tea. He added: "I love it here, to be honest. My favourite English food is the English breakfast, if I'm allowed to say that! But the weather is the only issue, it changes all the time." 5
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Arteta hoping to have Havertz back before season opener
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he is hoping to have Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard available for the pre-season match with Athletic Club on was not named in the squad for Wednesday's 3-2 defeat by Villarreal but Arteta is hopeful it is a minor issue."Yesterday in training he felt something and this morning he wasn't quite right, so we decided to rest him," he said."I think it's going to be a matter of a couple of days, hopefully the weekend, if everything goes to plan, I think he will be fit."Trossard, Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes all picked up knocks on tour but Gabriel was fit enough to be introduced as a second-half substitute."Yes, the three that we lost during the tour, it was big Gabi, Leo and Ricky, and for Saturday I think both of them have a chance if everything in the next few days evolves in the way it has been evolving in the last few days," added Arteta.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Benjamin Sesko boasts Cristiano Ronaldo-esque leap set to strike fear in Premier League defenders upon Man Utd move
BENJAMIN SESKO is finally making the leap into the Premier League. After choosing Manchester United ahead of Newcastle, the RB Leipzig striker will be delighted if he can make half the impact of another forward known for gravity-defying jumps at Old Trafford, namely Cristiano Ronaldo. 9 9 9 Eight years ago, when still in his native Slovenia, Sesko posted an incredible video of him flying so high he could kick out at a basketball hoop — the global standard height is TEN FEET or just over three metres. In slow motion, the footage shows him jumping towards the backboard and dislodging a ball from the rim with his foot. This video eventually came to the attention of the recruitment department at Red Bull Salzburg and they started tracking this freak of nature. Aged 16, Sesko would eventually head to Austria. He spent four years there then moved to Red Bull stablemates Leipzig to become one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Sesko now stands at 6ft 5in and can jump not far off a further four feet, which is extraordinary. He is literally head and shoulders above his peers. United boss Ruben Amorim will utilise Sesko's super-human strength this season to finally help the Red Devils restore their bite in front of goal. Sesko's aerial ability, speed and power make him a real threat. He will certainly give defences food for thought — fuelled by plenty of protein. His breakfast consists of FOUR fried eggs, yoghurt with berries, muesli and freshly-squeezed fruit juice. For lunch, Sesko has chicken, rice, carrots and broccoli, with two slices of bread, followed by a fruit salad featuring mango, watermelon and pineapple. Bruno Fernandes branded 'proper captain' for his miserable trophy 'celebration' after Man Utd win Prem Summer Series Dinner is salmon with potato and a tomato and cucumber salad, before finishing the day with yet more muesli, this time livened up with some Quark cheese, cashew nuts, kiwi fruit and blueberries. His approach is bearing fruit, and although Sesko's shot accuracy and conversion rate need to improve with experience, he could be a huge success for the Red Devils over the next few years. It is turning into a nightmare for Newcastle, especially with star striker Alexander Isak looking to leave with Liverpool heavily linked. Meanwhile, the Old Trafford side will get a player who at Salzburg was known as the 'new Erling Haaland', with Manchester City's Norwegian star having made his mark at the club before leaving for Borussia Dortmund. 9 9 9 9 Sesko's leap only became famous a few years ago and until he began to flourish in Salzburg, was largely unknown. Yet as he found his feet in Austria, he moved to Leipzig and then started to terrorise Bundesliga defences. Sesko has remained a shy person and rarely gives an insight into his private life on Instagram unlike other players. Right now, you could argue, Sesko's possible future brother-in-law is actually more famous across the UK than him. His girlfriend, Anita, is the sister of Boris who has recently starred on Love Island. Sesko will form part of a new, three-pronged attacking dream team with £62.5million Matheus Cunha and £65m Bryan Mbuemo. The three scored 48 league goals between them last season, which is more than the entire United team managed in the Prem (44). Amorim opting for this line-up would mean skipper Bruno Fernandes dropping back into a deeper midfield role instead of occupying a No 10 spot himself. 9 9 Since August 2023, striker Sesko has been the top-scoring player in Europe aged under 23. He has struck 39 times, one ahead of midfield pair Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid and five more than Liverpool new boy Florian Wirtz. After Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich (33) is Rasmus Hojlund with 26 goals. Yet United have been willing to listen to offers for Hojlund, and are ready to accept as little as £30m for the player they paid £64m for in 2023, although the Dane still wants to fight for his place in Manchester. Born just a few months before Sesko in 2003, Hojlund still has work to do but it might not be the worst thing for United — if they can afford to keep him — to allow him to grow alongside Sesko. You could see why joining Newcastle would have been a good option for Sesko. A side featuring in the Champions League this season and one where he could become a hero. Yet United are the biggest club in England and while they are not in European competition this term, their time will come again. With his three-pronged strikeforce and the genius of Fernandes pulling the strings behind them, Amorim's men could be a force in the Premier League this season.
