Latest news with #Transfers
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Tranmere sign former Port Vale defender Smith
Tranmere Rovers have signed former Port Vale central defender Nathan Smith on a two-year 29-year-old was released by the Valiants earlier this month after making 428 appearances in all competitions for the club.A graduate from Vale's academy, Smith made his debut in August 2016 and went on to earn two promotions from League made 24 appearances in the league last season as he helped guide his side back to the third tier and reunites with former Vale boss Andy Crosby at Prenton Park."It feels really good. I've worked with the gaffer before, and loved every second of how he works," Smith told Tranmere's club website., external"I'm ready to put my body on the line for the cause at any point and do what it takes to win."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool Exit Raises Questions of Loyalty and Timing
Has Trent Turned His Back On The Club That Gave Him Everything? On Monday, May 5th, Trent Alexander-Arnold made it official: he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season and join Real Madrid on a free transfer. In doing so, the boy from West Derby, a Champions League winner, Premier League champion, and the most gifted right-back of his generation, has completed the final chapter of a plan that looks years in the making. I was on the fence as to whether he would stay or go, however, in hindsight that was pure delusion as the player was always desperate for that Galactico status. Advertisement Because let's be clear—this didn't happen overnight. This wasn't a last-minute change of heart or a sudden pull toward sunnier skies. This was orchestrated by a young man who wants personal floor and wealth ahead of all else. A contract was deliberately run down, negotiations continually declined and offers from Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards were brushed aside like speculative bids for a player already mentally elsewhere. Then there was the fact that his brother and agent seemed amused that Liverpool Football Club was losing matches. It's a story dressed in white. And not the kind of white that hangs in the Liverpool dressing room at Anfield. The Bellingham Factor and Madrid's Pull Real Madrid have been circling for some time for a successor to their legendary right back, Dani Carvajal, and they've finally got their man. Jude Bellingham's persuasive talents, both on and off the pitch, seem to have played a critical role in sealing the deal that has caused a major stir on Merseyside. Continuing England teammates, yes—but perhaps more importantly, new Galactico partners in a project far removed from Kirkby and its humble roots. Advertisement Trent, for all the affection and nostalgia wrapped around his Liverpool story, has made a decision based on legacy, lifestyle, and most obviously—finances. And why wouldn't he? There's a sprawling contract waiting in Madrid, tax-efficient sunshine, and a brand that offers more than just football. One suspects the Adidas boots he laces up in Spain will fit just that little bit better with a La Liga badge on his sleeve and an entourage managing global campaigns instead of ticket requests for the Anfield Main Stand. A Departure Without Drama, But Not Without Damage As dedicated Liverpool fans, let's not pretend this isn't a blow. Let's not sugar-coat the exit of one of the club's most iconic academy graduates, a player who redefined his position, and bent the rules of full-back play with a passing range normally reserved for elite playmakers. This isn't a 32-year-old winding down a career. This is a 26-year-old entering his prime, and Liverpool will receive nothing. Not a penny. Advertisement It's the modern game, we're told by pundits and commentators alike. Loyalty is outdated, sentimentality is for supporters, not for those managing wealth portfolios and personal brands. But even with all that said, there's a sour taste left by an orchestrated campaign to make oneself richer, at the expense of a hometown football club. Trent was the poster boy of the new Liverpool—local, loyal, and laser-guided in his ambition. He was the kid who walked the streets of Anfield dreaming of these celebrated nights, then captained the team on them. And now he walks away, not for reinvention or because he's surplus to requirements, but because he could and wanted it. No transfer saga, no summer drama. Just hidden rejection after hidden rejection of improved terms, all while speaking lovingly of the club in public. A clean, quiet break, handled professionally to try and engineer an early departure for participation in the upcoming Club World Cup. Liverpool's Reality Check Now the club is left to pick up the pieces, with Conor Bradley likely stepping into the void while the likes of Ola Aina are scouted to bolster depth. It's an evolution few expected so soon, especially given the quiet optimism that a new sporting structure, armed with Edwards and Hughes, could have convinced the prodigal son to stay. Advertisement But here we are. Trent's heading to Madrid, possibly for his unlikely Ballon d'Or campaign, his Netflix documentary, and a few more Champions League medals. And Liverpool? Well, they're once again reminded that no matter how much you give, it's never quite enough when Madrid comes calling. Thanks for everything, Trent. Hope the paella's worth it for you and Jude.
Telegraph
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Saudi club ready to tempt Bruno Fernandes with £1m-a-week offer
Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal are prepared to offer Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes more than £1 million a week. Al-Hilal are in the market for a marquee signing after Mohamed Salah opted to stay at Liverpool and have identified Fernandes as a leading target. The Riyadh-based club are thought to have held exploratory talks with Fernandes's camp and are believed to be ready to offer the United midfielder four to five times his existing £250,000-a-week salary at Old Trafford. Fernandes, 30, who has 19 goals and 18 assists in all competitions for United this season despite the team's woes, has been a player of interest to Saudi for the past 12 months at least. The Portugal international has revealed he had offers to leave United last summer, but decided to stay following talks with the club, and extended his deal until 2027, with the option of a 12-month extension. United maintain that Fernandes is not for sale this summer and remains a key part of Ruben Amorim's rebuilding plans. But if Al-Hilal were to be given some encouragement by Fernandes that he was open to a move, it remains to be seen whether United could resist a substantial offer for a player who is due to turn 31 in September, even one as influential and important as the Portuguese. Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, Fernandes's Portugal team-mates, currently play for Al-Hilal. Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap are among United's targets this summer as Amorim attempts to revamp the squad and the head coach will have to sell to raise funds to reinvest if he is to secure the players he wants. United's budget will depended on whether they win the Europa League and, with it, secure Champions League qualification and the valuable revenues that come with it. Amorim's side face Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of their semi-final at Old Traffordon Thursday.
