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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd discover hefty Hugo Ekitike price tag as Frankfurt make statement
Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike has emerged as a candidate for Manchester United as they aim to add to their attacking options but it could be a costly deal for the Red Devils to do Manchester United will have to pay £60m to sign Hugo Ekitike this summer. A striker is on the Red Devils' shopping list all summer following some serious goalscoring issues last term. A number of candidates have been mentioned as potential recruits but so far, United have been left frustrated in their attempts to sign a new forward. They were originally interested in a move for Liam Delap, only for Chelsea to steam in and seal a deal for £30m. Viktor Gyokeres also had admirers at Old Trafford but as it stands, the Sporting Lisbon star prefers a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal - although they might not prefer him, amid their interest in Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig. That has forced United to look elsewhere, and, as first reported by The Times, they are interested in a move for Frankfurt forward Ekitike and could compete with Liverpool for his signature. But a deal won't be cheap. The Bundesliga side have slapped a minimum £60m price tag on the Frenchman after his excellent breakthrough season. But given they are also under no pressure to sell having earned around £63million in January from Omar Marmoush's move to Manchester City and having done some outstanding business in recent windows - particularly when it comes to strikers - that figure may well rise as we move forwards through the summer window. Even then, paying big might not be enough. Because Frankfurt have already warned they may simply eschew options out there and decide to keep Ekitike and build around him next season. Frankfurt chief Markus Krosche has already made clear they will not undersell their star asset. He said: 'If the price isn't right, then he'll simply stay with us. We don't have to sell Hugo.' "He's one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that," added at the end of the season. "I'm glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that's our motto: If a player develops faster than us, we let him go." Ekitike, 22, joined Frankfurt permanently from Paris Saint-Germain last summer following a loan spell with the side. He scored 22 goals in all competitions last season. Ironically, the young forward has already dropped a hint over his future amid interest from Man United and Liverpool. He revealed that he was once a childhood Red Devils fan. Speaking in December last year, he said: 'My favourite club as a child was Manchester United. I've always admired them." Away from Ekitike, Man United are also chasing the signing of Bryan Mbeumo. The Brentford forward has already expressed his desire to move to Old Trafford this summer but a switch might not be straightforward. Tottenham are also keen, with ex-Brentford boss Thomas Frank targeting a reunion in North London.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Manchester United star aids Bryan Mbeumo chase as keeper targets move
Bryan Mbeumo is Manchester United's No 1 target in the summer transfer window but they face competition from Tottenham, who are strengthened by the arrival of the forward's ex-Brentford boss Thomas Frank Manchester United will have a fight on their hands to snap up the best talent this summer after missing out on Champions League football, with their bid to sign Bryan Mbeumo proving more difficult than first anticipated. The Red Devils looked like favourites to sign the Brentford forward before having a £60million bid rejected and then Tottenham entered the race - buoyed by the arrival of Mbeumo's ex-manager Thomas Frank. Spurs have since submitted a £70m offer. United remain confident they will secure the player's signature, having already sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves for around £62m. But Amorim has bigger problems on his hands trying to shift unwanted stars like Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony. Amorim will be eager to bolster his squad as much as possible after a dismal Premier League season saw them finish 15th in the table and he needs much better quality to boost the depth of his talent. Mirror Football has rounded up some of the biggest Manchester United transfer stories and rumours after the summer transfer window officially opened for Premier League clubs. Agent Onana aids Mbeumo chase United are already the frontrunners to sign Mbeumo after he impressed with 20 goals in the top flight last season, by far his best campaign for Brentford. Mbeumo is said to be "leaning towards" a move to Old Trafford, but the saga remains unclear after United's rejected bid. And Frank's move to Tottenham has complicated matters, with the player said to be "intrigued" by the north London switch now that Frank has arrived - a manager he admires so much. But United are doing their best to persuade Mbeumo his future lies in Manchester and now goalkeeper Andre Onana is reportedly on the case trying to convince his international team-mate. Onana and Mbeumo play together for the Cameroonian national team and are thought to be close friends, with the shot-stopper hoping he can work his magic given the nature of their relationship. United are in need of new forward players after some dismal performances from Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season. The duo managed only seven goals in the Premier League between them. Martinez targeting United move Speaking of Onana - while he appears to be the No 1 goalkeeper at United, that could change quickly if a decent alternative option appears in the transfer window. And while Amorim is understood happy to have Onana as his first-choice going into the new season, he might have his head turned after ESPN Argentina reported Emiliano Martinez is angling for a move to Old Trafford. The report also adds that United have already began negotiations with the Argentine World Cup winner to replace Onana. Martinez has a contract until 2029 at Aston Villa but is expected to leave the club this summer after appearing to give a tearful farewell following the team's last home game of the season. He has made 212 appearances for Villa since joining from Arsenal in 2020, while also picking up a total of 53 caps for his country. Garnacho wants Premier League stay Alejandro Garnacho is one of United's transfer misfits they are trying to shift this summer after falling out with Amorim. The winger gave an outspoken interview after being dropped for United's Europa League final defeat to Tottenham and declared the team's season as "s***" - and his agent brother Roberto added fuel to the fire by claiming he had been "thrown under the boss" by his manager. The Argentine has been strongly linked with Napoli in this window in a move that would unite him with ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte. Bayer Leverkusen were also said to be interested in the player, but Erik ten Hag's side were put off United's £70m valuation. However, despite the interest from abroad, Garnacho is prioritising a Premier League stay, according to the Daily Mail. It says Garnacho would have interest from Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham should he opt to continue playing in England's top flight.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd target Bryan Mbeumo makes Thomas Frank claim amid Spurs transfer battle
Manchester United target Bryan Mbeumo is also wanted by Tottenham now that Thomas Frank is in charge and the Cameroon star feels his ex-Brentford boss will thrive at his new club Bryan Mbeumo has tipped Thomas Frank to be a huge hit at Tottenham during an impromptu interview at the Canadian Grand Prix - but he did not discuss the battle for his signature between Spurs and Manchester United. The Cameroon star, 25, is wanted by both clubs with a summer exit from Brentford now likely. It's understood that United is Mbeumo's preferred destination with the Red Devils in desperate need of reinforcements after enduring their worst ever Premier League campaign. They have so far failed to meet Brentford's valuation of the player and the situation has been complicated by Frank's move to Spurs. Mirror Football revealed prior to the weekend that they have launched a £70million bid to try and make Mbeumo their marquee summer signing by gazumping their rivals. And while Mbeumo did not discuss interest from the two clubs in Montreal, he did endorse Frank to do a stellar job at his new club. "He's done so much for me," Mbeumo told Sky Sports when he was asked how influential Frank has been during his career. "He literally trusted me from the start [at Brentford] and he developed the team so well. He developed me as a human and a player so much as well. I can only wish him all the best and I'm sure he's going to do well." He added: "He knows everything; he's really smart and knows what he wants to bring the team, how he wants them to play. He's been fantastic for Brentford." Mbeumo is hot property after breaking the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League for the first time last season, helping Brentford to a 10th place finish. Crucially, the Bees are not expected to prevent their star man after his stellar campaign, though it remains unclear where he will end up with the summer transfer window set to reopen on Monday. The versatile forward feels he is currently at the peak of his powers, adding: "I think it's been my best season so far in the Premier League. Even collectively, I think we played very good and were unlucky [to not get] a European spot." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Metro
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Jamie Carragher reveals 'one of the best transfer decisions' Mikel Arteta made
Jamie Carragher has praised 'brave' Mikel Arteta over 'one of the best transfer decisions' he has made at Arsenal. Arteta has attracted criticism this season for his failure to bring a top goalscorer to the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal fell short in the Premier League title race for the third year in a row and it is widely accepted that the addition of an elite striker would have taken the Gunners to the next level. It has even been suggested that Arteta could be running out of time at Arsenal after the north London club went a fifth straight season without a trophy. But it is worth reminding the state Arsenal were in when Arteta was appointed and the changes he has made to turn the Gunners into consistent title challengers. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. The spine of Arsenal's team is one of the best in Europe and Carragher says Arteta's decision to replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya was 'one of the best' he has made during his tenure. Ramsdale recovered from a difficult start to his Arsenal career to establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and an England international. Given the goalkeeper's development, Arteta's decision to sign Raya to compete with Ramsdale initially raised eyebrows but soon looked like a shrewd call as the ex-Brentford star quickly took the No. 1 jersey. Raya won the Golden Glove award last season for keeping the most clean sheets in the Premier League and is level with Nottingham Forest's Mats Sels for the award this term. With Raya becoming one of the best shot-stoppers in the world at Arsenal, Ramsdale was forced to leave the club last summer, joining Southampton in a deal worth £25. Speaking on The Overlap podcast, ex-Liverpool and England defender Carragher said: 'I picked Alisson as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season but I was very close to picking David Raya. 'Alisson had that performance against PSG and that was one of the best we've seen from a goalkeeper so maybe that stuck in my head. 'But Raya probably had five or six world-class saves this season. There was one against Aston Villa and Ollie Watkins but it was that long ago that it feels like last season. 'That was one of the best decisions Mikel Arteta made, it was brave because Aaron Ramsdale was a bit of a fans' favourite but Arsenal were never going to win anything big with him in goal. 'They haven't done that with Raya yet either by the way but it was a good decision.' Arsenal legend Ian Wright also heaped praise on Raya and said he has been arguably the club's best player this season. 'He looked a little bit shaky the other day [in the 1-0 win over Newcastle United] but then he made a couple of great saves,' Wright said. More Trending 'When you consider what Arsenal have done this season with so many draws, I don't know where we would be without him.' Asked whether Raya or Declan Rice was Arsenal's Player of the Season, Wright added: 'It's one of them two. It's tough to go against Declan but I can see it with Raya as well. 'Declan has done so much this season and been 8/10 almost every game but Raya not playing would have caused us a lot of problems.' With Champions League football already secured, Arsenal will look to clinch second-place in the Premier League and end the season on a high when they face relegated Southampton on Sunday. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Frank Leboeuf tells Chelsea to hijack Arsenal move for 'different class' transfer target MORE: Tottenham vs Man Utd: Win the Europa League final and Spurs have had a better season than Arsenal – trophies are the priority MORE: Darwin Nunez nears Liverpool exit after reaching agreement with new club
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Blackburn release TWENTY players after narrowly missing out on Championship play-offs under Valerien Ismael
Rovers act decisively but are also locked in talks with three first-teamers ROVER AND OUT Blackburn release TWENTY players after narrowly missing out on Championship play-offs under Valerien Ismael Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BLACKBURN have released 20 players and sprung a surprise over a midfielder. Rovers acted decisively after missing out on the Championship play-offs by one place and two points. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Adam Forshaw has been released - but there's a twist Credit: Alamy 3 Valerien Ismael has kept the core of a squad who finished seventh Credit: Rex Boss Valerien Ismael has kept his main men and reportedly wants around six key signings this summer. But Adam Forshaw's inclusion in a big batch of departures has raised eyebrows in some quarters. The former Middlesbrough and Leeds star, 33, has been praised by Ismael in recent months And Forshaw remained in Rovers' matchday squad until the end of the season as they finished seventh. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL ONE IN A MILL Millwall release eight stars including club legends Wallace and Hutchinson But although the ex-Brentford ace has been freed, Blackburn say they will "keep in close contract" with him over the summer. Rovers admit that means he is "entitled to explore other options". But it leaves the door open for an intriguing transfer saga to develop. Blackburn also revealed they are still in talks with three senior players, having offered all of them new contracts. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK They are Danny Batth and Tyrhys Dolan - who both started Rovers' season-ending 1-1 draw at Sheffield United - plus Andi Weimann. Rovers said in a statement over their released list: "Batth and Weimann both enjoyed magnificent maiden seasons at Ewood Park last term, bringing vast Championship experience, leadership qualities and high standards to the dressing room and out on the pitch." 3 Centre-back Danny Batth is in talks over extending his Blackburn stay Credit: Rex Meanwhile, Blackburn have activated a one-year option to keep Wales winger Ryan Hedges another year after his 42 league games in 2024-25. Under-21 players Harrison Wood, Zack Stritch and Adam Khan have also had the option of an extra 12 months triggered. Jake Batty and Felix Goddard, who were both loaned out last season, have been offered fresh Ewood Park deals. And teenage midfielder Lorenze Mullarkey-Matthews has been handed the chance to sign his first professional contract. On the way out are: Dilan Markanday, Jack Vale, Zak Gilsenan, Patrick Gamble, Tom Bloxham, Jordan Eastham, Rhys Doherty, Isaac Whitehall, Jalil Saadi, Alex Baker, Adam Caddick, Paul Murphy-Worrell, Lewis Bell, Bradley Taylor, Jackson Shorrocks, Nathan Willis, Stephen Edmondson and Teddy Ramwell. On top of this, Dan Shaw's registration has been cancelled by mutual consent. Five loanees have returned to their parent clubs - Owen Beck, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Dion Sanderson, Cauley Woodrow and Emmanuel Dennis. Blackburn said: "Rovers would like to place on record its sincere thanks to all the players who will be leaving the club for their contribution and commitment during their time at Ewood Park, and we wish them all well in their future careers."
