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Metro
a minute ago
- Metro
Manchester United make Joshua Zirkzee transfer decision amid Napoli interest
Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee is on Napoli's shopping list this month, but the Red Devils have already come to a decision on his future. The Serie A champions are in the market for a new striker after a frustrating injury to Romelu Lukaku in pre-season which is set to keep him sidelined for around three months. Zirkzee is one of a number of options they like the look of, with Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta being another. The Dutchman was used regularly by Ruben Amorim last season, making 49 appearances in all competitions, but he has fallen down the pecking order over the summer. Manchester United have completely revamped their forward line, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko coming in. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. That looks likely to become the first choice front three, with Zirkzee an option off the bench or in rotation for the number 10 or centre forward roles. However, despite being more of a squad player than a starter, Manchester United are keen to keep hold of him and do not intend to sell him this summer, reports transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Romano reports that Amorim and the Manchester United board came to the decision to keep hold of Zirkzee 'months ago' and no talks have been held over a move. The Netherlands international signed a five-year contract when he arrived at Old Trafford from Bologna in a £36.5m move last year. The former Bayern Munich man has made no suggestion that he would be interested in a move away himself, but may have been concerned on Sunday that he was left on the bench in the defeat to Arsenal. The Red Devils played well but lost 1-0 to the Gunners at Old Trafford, with Mason Mount starting in the front three with Cunha and Mbeumo. Sesko came off the bench to make his debut, but Zirkzee remained an unused substitute despite United chasing the game. More Trending Zirkzee may be down the pecking order, but he is not as far down as Rasmus Hojlund, who was not in the Manchester United squad at all on Sunday. Rasmus Hojlund Apps: 62 Goals: 14 Assists: 2 Joshua Zirkzee Apps: 32 Goals: 3 Assists: 1 The Denmark international now looks likely to leave the club this summer, with AC Milan interested in signing him. This would likely be a loan move with an option to buy the 22-year-old next summer, which Hojlund is reportedly now open to after initially being keen to stay and fight for his place. Manchester United are back in Premier League action on Sunday away to Fulham. MORE: Mikel Arteta told Arsenal should have signed £60m star instead of Noni Madueke from Chelsea MORE: Liverpool star linked with exit informs club of decision on his future MORE: 'So good' – Cole Palmer blown away by two Chelsea summer signings
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
How the expressive Ellie Kildunne emerged as the face of England's home World Cup
Growing up in the rural West Yorkshire village of Riddlesden, Ellie Kildunne had a Roald Dahl quote pinned on her wall. 'Lukewarm is no good,' it read, a maxim which Kildunne has carried with her to the top of her sport. These next few weeks in which she will be the postergirl of a home World Cup that England are overwhelming favourites to win could catapult the 25-year-old to superstardom; it is a good job, then, that Kildunne appears totally at ease with the fame for which she has long felt destined. 'She was playing against my daughter in an under-15 game and I'd never seen anything like it,' former England head coach Simon Middleton once recalled of the first time he had seen Kildunne play. 'Her team went 30 points down and she kept them in it, almost on her own, running in tries and kicking goals from the touchline. You don't see that from many 15-year-olds.' Prepare to see plenty more feats of daring and dynamism from a Red Rose in full bloom as the World Cup begins. With a great shock of curls decorating an upright yet deceptively powerful frame, Kildunne is a smooth mover, with trademark serpentine weaves in and out of contact employed to devastating effect since her introduction to international rugby as a teenager. Off the pitch, too, she will be tough to miss; brand deals with Asahi, LG, Canterbury and others befit her status as World Player of the Year. It would be easy to fatigue given the prominence afforded her even within a standard-setting side, but Kildunne's natural charisma and charm has been clear in every media engagement ahead of a tournament of which she may become the face. 'I haven't even scratched my potential yet,' Kildunne told The Independent, ominously, last year, clutching the individual award earned by a superlative 2024 that brought Six Nations and WXV success and a foray back to sevens at the Paris Olympics. If such bold declarations are typical of athletes with her sort of stratospheric ambition, it was nonetheless delivered with the conviction of a certain truth. For there is still a sense that Kildunne is still figuring out the game. Catapulted into an England environment at the age of 18, there was a sense that neither player nor individual quite knew what to do with the raw talent at their disposal. Deployed at full-back on a bit of a hunch – the teenage Kildunne was pretty unfamiliar with the position – flashes of supreme athletic talent were mixed with the growing pains of youth; while Abby Dow and Jess Breach, the other prongs in England's back three triumvirate who made their debut in the same game, soon established their place in the senior side, it took a couple of seasons on the sevens circuit for Kildunne to really make her name. Even by the time of the last World Cup, when her star was fully on the rise, she likely wouldn't have started the final if not for Helena Rowland's injury. "The disappointment and the heartbreak of the last World Cup reignited a flame inside me that I already thought was burning pretty bright," she said ahead of her second tournament. "We've learnt so much from that tournament and built so much in our culture that we're in a completely different space. It's something that you can rewrite and that's something that we're very much focused on. It's not a revenge story, we're just rewriting." But the heartbreak and hard lessons of a relatively tough first major tournament have driven Kildunne to new heights. Growing up, the youngster sported the Liverpool shirts of first sporting heroes like Fernando Torres; now it is her name emblazoned of the backs of a growing legion amidst the swelling army of Red Roses fans. Even among a squad of outstanding ambassadors and engaging personalities, the full-back stands out for her unique connection with her audience. Authentically herself, Kildunne has thrived under John Mitchell in an environment that has encouraged its players to show their personalities on and off the pitch. Her lasso celebration, born at WXV in 2023 with the forming of a 'Cowboys' group within the squad of which Meg Jones is the 'Sheriff', has begun to be imitated on the terraces; when 500 Red Roses cowboy hats were crafted ahead of the Women's Six Nations decider against France, supposedly at the personal request of RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, the accoutrements sold out almost two hours before kick off. Away from the pitch, Kildunne's expressive edge is clear. A keen photographer and fashion designer, she has worked with clothing brands and O2 to fight the gender awareness gap with a bespoke range of apparel; new boots will be sported during the World Cup featuring a design very much reflecting her character. But elite teams are not picked on popularity or personality alone, and Kildunne has had to work hard to really take command of her starting spot. A tendency to try to do too much herself from earlier in her career, often with success, has been eschewed by a maturing full-back increasingly getting the best out of others as well. Yet Kildunne knows that the intensity of the spotlight upon her will add scrutiny - but the bright lights have never really bothered her. "It will add that target on to my back; I see it as pressure but I don't think pressure is a bad thing," she stressed ahead of the tournament. "I see pressure as a privilege and I definitely think it's a good thing. I use the pressure to challenge myself to exceed people's expectations and to rewrite what people may think I can do and take it to the next level. "I'm feeling strong and confident - the most confident I've ever felt - so I'm ready and raring to go."
BBC News
a minute ago
- BBC News
'We have everything here'
Jackson Tchatchoua says he wants to "conquer this dream" after signing for Wolves from Serie A side Hellas 23-year-old defender has signed a five-year deal, with an option of a further year, for a fee of 12m euros (£10.4m).Tchatchoua spent two years in the Italian top flight and was a regular last season for both club and country, playing 43 times across all competitions as Verona retained their place in the league and Cameroon booked their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations.A pacy right wing-back, he produced the top speed in Serie A last term at 36.3km/h, and also notched up two goals and three assists."I feel good. I feel happy to be here and I'm excited. I spoke a little bit with the coach, but I'll speak more," Tchatchoua told the club website."The Premier League is one of my dreams and it's one step that I want to do in my life. Also, the history of the club, the stadium and the fans convinced me."I can play wing-back, I can play full-back. When the space is free, I really like it, and I can play both [positions]. I will play the position of the coach puts me on the pitch - for the team and for the coach."My first impressions [of the club] are that we have everything here. It's not too big, it's not too small. It's very good."I spoke with some people from the club and everyone enjoys it. I feel a good atmosphere in this club. I'm very excited to play. It's one of my dreams, and I want to conquer this dream."What do you make of this latest signing? Is it what the squad needs? And where else do Wolves need to strengthen this transfer window?Get in touch with your views here
