Thursday's briefing: Man Utd target Benjamin Sesko as Luis Diaz leaves Liverpool
United target striker Sesko
Manchester United target Benjamin Sesko (centre) battles for the ball against a potential future team-mate Bruno Fernandes (right) (Bradley Collyer/PA)
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.
Diaz signs out at Liverpool
Luis Diaz's three-and-a-half year spell at Liverpool has come to an end (Mike Egerton/PA)
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.
Rangers make Champions League progress
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.
Palace to learn European fate
Crystal Palace fans protest against their European competition demotion (Yui Mok/PA)
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.
What's on today?
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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