Thursday's briefing: Man Utd target Benjamin Sesko as Luis Diaz leaves Liverpool
Manchester United are pursuing a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
United's misfiring frontline was a major issue last term and the club are looking to sign a striker this summer, and the PA news agency understands that Sesko is in their sights ahead of the new season.
The Slovenia international, 22, has long been on the club's radar and is also a target of Newcastle, who missed out on Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool and have an unsettled star in Alexander Isak.
United also like Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins but Sesko – who could reportedly be available for in the region of £70million – is understood to be their current priority.
Colombia forward Luis Diaz has left Liverpool for Bayern Munich.
Diaz signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga champions after a fee understood to be £65million was agreed between the two clubs.
'I'm very happy, it means a lot to me to be part of FC Bayern – it's one of the biggest clubs in the world,' Diaz told the German club's website.
Diaz scored 41 goals in 148 appearances during his three-and-a-half-year stay on Merseyside, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
Full-Time: Panathinaikos 1-1 Rangers (Agg 1-3)
💙 Djeidi Gassama's perfect strike sends us into the @ChampionsLeague Third Qualifying Round. pic.twitter.com/65jHeeR6Qt
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 30, 2025
Rangers drew 1-1 at Panathinaikos for a 3-1 aggregate success and progression to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Djeidi Gassama was the super-sub once again after coming off the bench on debut last week to score in a 2-0 Ibrox win.
Filip Djuricic opened the scoring with a header in the 53rd minute but, moments after climbing off the bench, Gassama levelled for Russell Martin's side with a stunning drive.
Rangers next play Viktoria Plzen, of the Czech Republic, who were 3-2 aggregate winners over Swiss side Servette.
A date has been set to decide Crystal Palace's European fate.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has announced that August 11 will be the day to determine whether Palace will play in the Europa League or the Conference League this season.
The Eagles were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League by European football's governing body UEFA after it determined that as of March 1, American businessman John Textor had control or influence at Palace and French club Lyon.
FA Cup winners Palace appealed against the decision to CAS and the court has now confirmed that a hearing will take place on August 8, followed by a verdict three days later.
Our Opponents 🇩🇰First Leg Performance 🙌Importance of Fans 💚
David Gray previews tomorrow night's Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland! 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/SRNpYJWdJV
— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) July 30, 2025
Hibernian welcome Midtjylland to Easter Road in the Europa League second qualifying round after last week's 1-1 draw in Denmark.
Dundee United defend a 1-0 Conference League lead against UNA Strassen in Luxembourg.
Northern Ireland trio Dungannon Swifts, Larne and Linfield are also in action, so too Irish pair Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic.
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RUSSELL MARTIN reckons Nico Raskin had his head turned by summer speculation over his future. And the Rangers boss insists the Belgian's top performances last season count for NOTHING now. 4 Nico Raskin delighted at full-time after first leg win over Plzen Credit: Willie Vass 4 Raskin has been benched in the last couple of games Credit: SNS 4 Martin says he doesn't want to sell the 24-year-old Credit: Getty Raskin has lost his starting role in the team to Joe Rothwell and has been benched for the last two games. Martin vows he does NOT want to sell the 24-year-old. But he reckons the midfielder has been affected by transfer links away from Ibrox. He said: 'What Nico did last season, rightly or wrongly, I can't have a feeling about. 'I can only judge on right now. 'He came out of the team for a reason that me and him spoke about. 'And his reaction has been top. Like, really, really brilliant. And I think that's all you can ever ask for. 'He has a brilliant chance of playing with Joe, without Joe, if he lives in that place all the time. 'There's a bit of uncertainty about him this summer, for sure. 'Not from people ringing us, but I think from people ringing him, definitely. Rangers boss Russell Martin admits there will be 'a bit of pain' as he reacts to Dundee draw at Ibrox 'I think that's affected his approach. 'Not in terms of professionalism and stuff, but he's a young man. 'I think there's been loads of stuff written in your back pages, about £20million, £15million, this club, that club. 'It's been the same with a lot of the guys. 'There's been a lot of uncertainty around a lot of players, But I think that's every summer when you play for a football club like this. 'So, people deal with it in many different ways and he's been fantastic in his reaction, which has been great. 'Of course, he's going to have an impact at some point. 'And then we had a discussion and since he came out of the team, he's been a different guy. Incredible. 'So, he needs to stay all the time. 'What anyone did last season - and it's difficult to say that because fans have watched him play really well for the team. 'But to judge someone on that is really hard because what we're going to ask him to do is so different. 'But he's a really fantastic player. And he's a young man that I'm getting to know all the time. 'And actually, I really like his character and personality. 'And I think I'm really clear with him on the demands of what playing in the position he really wants to play in is going to take. 'Then it'll be up to him because he'll have opportunities like he did on Saturday to play there. 'He made a big difference for us. He made the most difference. He made half of the tackles that we made the whole game. So, there's a big, big difference for us. 'It's my job to make sure, playing for this football club, whoever you are, that the demands are really clear and whatever position you play. And when he lives there, he's fantastic. 4 Have YOU got a point for Kris Boyd? SOMETHING you've just got to get off your chest from the weekend action? A burning Scottish football talking point you can't wait to bring up with Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah? SunSport's GoBallistic show wants to hear from you! So why not help set the Scottish football agenda for the week ahead! Have your say on the game's big topics by emailing us on: GoBallistic@ It's YOUR turn to Go Ballistic! Martin knows clubs are keeping tabs on Raskin's situation, but he added: 'Hopefully, he can get to the end of the window, he's played brilliantly, the window shuts and he's still here. 'And then we can keep improving and keep kicking on. 'He and Joe can definitely play in the same team at some point. It doesn't have to be one or the other. 'I don't think we're in a position where we have to sell anyone. 'I don't think we're in a position where we want to lose some of the best performers last season that we think can become really top performers for us this season and moving forward. 'That's the plan, unless someone comes in and blows our minds and everyone decides - the player, the club - everyone decides that it's the best for everyone and then we can make sure that the position to replace them with someone else 'It is the same for anyone. I think any club in world football now, I don't think there is a club that's immune to that, really.' Gers face Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday in their Champions League third round second-leg. Martin's men have a 3-0 lead as they aim to reach the £40million play-off against either Salzburg or Brugge. He added: 'They'll have, I guess, a nothing-to-lose approach. 'So, we have to be really ready for that." 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