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Manchester United are set for a busy summer transfer window, as it has emerged that they want to sign three more players on top of Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, according to journalist David Ornstein.

Manchester United want Jarrad Branthwaite

Manchester United's 2024 summer transfer window looks to be in full swing following the news that the club were set to keep Erik ten Hag on as their manager heading into the 2024/25 campaign. The Dutchman was only able to guide the Red Devils to an 8th-place finish in the Premier League last season and will need to kick on this time around if he is to maintain his position in the Old Trafford dugout.

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One of Manchester United's main problem areas last season was their defence. The Red Devils let in 58 goals in 38 league matches across 2023/24. In comparison, Manchester City and Arsenal conceded 34 and 29 respectively. As a result, it is clear that United need to shore up their backline if they are to return to the top of the English game and end what will be a 12-year wait for another league title.

In a bid to solve their defensive woes, Manchester United are reportedly targeting Everton and England centre-back, Jarrad Branthwaite. Earlier this week, it was claimed that Man Utd have agreed personal terms with Branthwaite over an Old Trafford transfer, with a contract worth between £150-160k per week on the table. However, the transfer fee looks set to be an issue, with Everton having already knocked back a £45m bid as they hold out for around £65-70m to allow the 21-year-old to depart Goodison Park.

Manchester United want to sign 3 players alongside Jarrad Branthwaite

Despite potentially having to spend big money on Branthwaite this summer, United are seemingly looking to get a few more names through the door before the transfer window slams shut later this summer.

This news comes via reliable journalist David Ornstein, who told The Athletic FC podcast that the Premier League giants want a centre-back, a midfielder and a striker – while a move for a left-back could also transpire.

"They want a centre-back, they want a midfielder, they want a striker," Ornstein said, via Football365. "There may be a need for a left-back.

"So there’s work to be done, and now comes the moment where they need to crack on with that. We know they like Branthwaite. They wanted [Benjamin] Sesko, but, obviously, they were probably never at the front of the queue for him and he’s now staying at Leipzig, so they’ll have to look elsewhere."

Ornstein does not give too much away when it comes to specific targets, but Man Utd have already been linked with a number of names who fit the criteria. Hoffenheim striker Maximilian Beier, Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka and Lille centre-back Leny Yoro are all said to be of interest to the club.

Dean Jones was privately farewelled by his family with a lap of honour of an empty MCG on Saturday, as the ground’s public address system played tunes by Elton John and INXS, musicians the former Australian batsman had counted among his many friends.In a memorial service limited to just 10 attendees by Victoria’s ongoing coronavirus lockdown, Jones was remembered by those closest to him, before his coffin was conveyed around the venue where he played six of his 52 Test matches and countless state and club fixtures: Jones moved from his father Barney’s club Carlton to the Melbourne Cricket Club in the 1980s.While a public memorial service is planned for a time when more mourners will be permitted to attend, Jane Jones said that the family had been extremely moved by the way her husband’s life and cricket had been remembered and revered by so many.”We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love for Dean over the last week and can’t thank everyone enough for their support and for sharing their memories with us,” she said. “It has been an awful time to navigate as a family, but I could not have thought of a more fitting place to say goodbye to my husband than under the lights of his beloved MCG.”What better way to honour him than with the music of his friends Elton John and INXS echoing throughout the empty stadium. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Melbourne Cricket Club and the MCG for their willingness to create our personal tribute to Dean and for Cricket Australia’s support.”We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Department of Foreign Affairs for ensuring Dean was returned home to us as quickly as possible. We will forever miss Dean’s energy, his zest for life, passion for cricket and his love for us as a family.”

Kola Bokinni is raring to go amid talk of Ted Lasso returning for Season 4, with the AFC Richmond captain saying “whatever happens, I’ll be there”.

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Options taken up on three main starsCast members airing their excitementNo word on when production may startFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Apple TVWHAT HAPPENED?

Bokinni plays skipper Isaac McAdoo in the award-winning Apple TV+ show, but appeared to have hung up his on-screen boots for the last time when series three came to a close and Lasso brought his coaching adventure in England to an end.

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There is talk of production starting up again, with Warner Bros taking up options on three key characters played by Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein and Jeremy Swift. Stars such as Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple and Lloyd Griffith have also spoken of their excitement at the Lasso franchise potentially being reborn.

GettyWHAT KOLA BOKINNI SAID

Bokinni is ready and waiting whenever the call comes, telling : “Whatever happens, I’ll be there for them, because they were there for me.”

He added on initially being hesitant to join a show that has “done amazing things” for his life: “I was like, it’s a show about this American guy who comes over and tells us how to play football? But I’ve been playing football my whole life.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR TED LASSO?

There has been no word in public from Jason Sudeikis – who plays Lasso and is one of the show’s writers – on when or if more episodes could drop. There are issues to be be ironed out behind the scenes before any work can begin in earnest, with some characters – such as Phil Dunster, who plays Jamie Tart – tied to contracts elsewhere.

Manchester City are reportedly willing to sell one high-profile player for a "big fee" in the summer transfer window, with Pep Guardiola not convinced about him.

Man City transfer news

City's 2023/24 season ended up being a positive one because of yet another Premier League title triumph, but given the incredible standards they set last time around, only one trophy still felt like a slight disappointment, especially following Saturday's FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

It gives Guardiola reason to chase new signings this summer, with the Spaniard someone who chases perfection season in, season out, and plenty of players have been backed to move to the Etihad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Midfield could be an area to look at, particularly if Bernardo Silva brings an end to his time at City, and Inter Mila star Nicolo Barella has been linked with a move. The Italian is admired by both Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, which speaks volumes, with the latter describing him as a "top-class" footballer.

Pedro Neto has matured into one of the best-attacking players outside of the big Premier League clubs, and he is another rumoured target for City. Newcastle City are believed to be looking to swoop, however, so there could be a battle to snap him up.

Pep willing to sell Man City star

On the flip side, the reigning league champions could lose players, and a new report from Football Insider claims that Manchester City could sell Jack Grealish this summer, as they look to receive a "big fee" for him.

It is claimed that Guardiola "is not completely convinced by the winger and he is considered dispensable as the club look to bring in some extra funds to continue improving their squad this summer."

There is arguably plenty of sense in selling Grealish in the summer window, with the 28-year-old enduring an instantly forgettable season on a personal level. Injuries haven't helped him, but when he has been available, his performances haven't caught the eye in the slightest, with only three goals and one assist coming his way in 20 Premier League appearances.

The £300,000-a-week England international no longer feels like a key man, especially with Jeremy Doku coming in and looking more of a threat on the left wing, and considering Grealish turns 30 next year, this summer could be the best time to cash in on him.

In fairness to Grealish, he has spent much of his time playing a more disciplined role than at Aston Villa, where he was far more of a maverick, but it's hard to shake the idea that he has rarely looked like a £100m player during his time at City, never coming close to having the same impact as the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Rodri and Bernardo, to name just a few.

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For that reason, losing him may not feel like a big blow, so Guardiola and those high up at the club should be listening to offers for him in the coming months.

Likely to meet with NSW’s Lee Germon this week to work through questions raised about last week’s offer

Daniel Brettig21-Jul-2020Freed from uncertainty around the postponement of the T20 World Cup, Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley is confident of resolving the financial impasse with the governing body’s state association owners that ultimately played a large part in costing predecessor Kevin Roberts his job.While the dissenting associations of New South Wales and Queensland last week rejected CA’s new proposal for pre-emptive cuts to be replaced by quarterly reductions based on any actual revenue shortfalls this summer, Hockley and the CA chairman Earl Eddings have remained in open dialogue with the states, a process that now has more time to play out now the status of the ICC tournament has been made clear.Hockley is believed to be meeting with his NSW counterpart Lee Germon this week to work through the questions raised about last week’s CA offer. The major sticking point is likely to have been that while the replacing of distribution cuts based on forecasts with reductions taking into account actual revenue was welcome to the states, the proposal also raised the level of risk for the states to the same as that being accepted by CA itself – a 25% reduction in grants if CA revenues were 25% down.The previous proposal only saw the states part with 25% of their annual distribution if CA’s revenue as down by 50%. Nevertheless, Hockley said the model proposed last week had not been couched as a fait accompli, discussions had been productive and a “sensible way out” was likely for both parties. “We certainly sought feedback,” Hockley said. “We are having some really constructive discussions and it’s a very different approach.”Previously what was proposed was, if you like, pre-emptive reductions ahead of what had actually happened. Whereas the model we are looking at now is very, very different. It’s a completely transparent model based on what actually does transpire this summer. Whilst we have been lucky that the virus has hit in our off season, there are still a whole range of outcomes. It’s going to be really complicated. What the model we are discussing at the moment is based on actuals and not forecasts.”It’s a flexible model that varies depending on how revenues are actually impacted in the future. On that basis, it’s really the whole of Australian cricket all working together.”Getty Images

Dizzying circumstances for Hockley, in which he took over from Roberts in June and had to deal with the T20 World Cup, preparations for next summer and disputes with the states and the Australian Cricketers Association, provide some mitigating factors in terms of the level of detail he has quickly had to get his head around. “We’ve got a lot more recent financial information. We will take a call on that information. I think there’s some further discussions to be had,” he said.”Certainly there’s a lot of good support from the majority of states and territories. What we’re trying to do is collectively work through the situation in a very transparent manner based on what actually happens and work through it as a team. I don’t think you can compare the previous situation, which was all about crystal-balling with the new model, where we will only take a hit if Australian cricket takes a hit. If we don’t, then in many ways, we would be exceptionally fortunate with our friends in the northern hemisphere but also our friends in the winter codes.”Certainly, there is relief at CA that the T20 World Cup rescheduling means there is one large agenda item that has been dealt with, allowing for greater focus on the states and the coming season.”We were all searching for clarity. When I talk to the team, I do talk about clarity and getting certainty in this environment is not always possible, but certainly being clear about what is certain and what isn’t is very important,” Hockley said. “There’s no doubt as we are working through the plans this summer and the contingency planning, it’s just massively, massively complex. We have been watching closely how the ECB have delivered their international series against West Indies. Everything has evolved in ensuring biosecurity around that.”Equally we are looking at and working very closely with and getting great knowledge sharing with the Australian sports, be it AFL, rugby league, netball, who’ve just moved their competitions. The complexity is not lost on us. What is different for cricket is, whereas some of the winter codes you have a singular league, we’ve got between now and through the summer, an overseas international tour outbound potentially to England. We’re then bringing international teams in, both women’s and men’s, we’ve got two domestic leagues in the WBBL and the BBL.”And then we’ve got all of the additional cricket competitions. Whereas the other sports are focused on a singular league, we’ve got this sort of portfolio of cricket across the different formats. That brings with it its own massive set of complexities.”

Manchester United have opened talks with Chelsea over a deal for Raheem Sterling that could see Jadon Sancho head to Stamford Bridge.

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United offer Sterling escape routeChelsea keen on signing SanchoTalks held on Tuesday over swapWHAT HAPPENED?

United sporting director Dan Ashworth held talks with Chelsea on Tuesday over a blockbuster deal which would see the two out-of-favour stars swap clubs, according to the . Sterling has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge – even losing his shirt number – and the Red Devils are ready to offer him an escape route, while Chelsea want to increase Enzo Maresca's attacking options.

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With Chelsea expressing a clear intent to offload Sterling, United see an opportunity to sign the winger without paying a fee. Adding to the appeal from Old Trafford is that the Blues are expected to pay part of Sterling's wages, which exceed £300,000 per week, at his next club. Chelsea have admired Sancho for a long time and his inclusion could be enough to see a swap deal materialise.

DID YOU KNOW?

After appearing to make up with Erik ten Hag earlier in the summer, Sancho has been left out of United's squads at the start of the season. The 24-year-old could certainly benefit from a change of scenery after a hellish spell at Old Trafford. He's made just 83 appearances for the Red Devils since joining the club for £73 million in 2021, and, like Sterling, failed to make England's Euro 2024 squad.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

The two clubs have until 11pm UK time on Friday to finalise terms on a swap deal. In the meantime, United are closing in the signing of Manuel Ugarte from PSG, while Chelsea are lining up a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

Aston Villa have been named as one of the sides chasing a move for a rising star, with an unnamed team making a bid in recent days.

Villans remain on course for Champions League

It is looking set to be a memorable season for Unai Emery and Aston Villa. The Midlands outfit currently sit fourth in the Premier League, and despite a 4-1 loss at the hands of Manchester City in midweek, they didn't lose out too much with both sides below them in the top four race also dropping points.

As it stands, they have a two point lead over fifth placed Tottenham, though Ange Postecoglou's side have a game in hand on their counterparts. More importantly, both sides have a massive cushion to Manchester United, with the Red Devils 11 points behind Aston Villa and nine behind Tottenham.

Given that fifth place in the Premier League will result in Champions League football next season in all likelihood, Villa are set for a return to Europe's Premier competition barring a disastrous end to the campaign. They could yet end the season with silverware too, with a quarter-final against Lille awaiting them in the UEFA Conference League, and should they make it through that they will find themselves against either Olympiacos or Fenerbahce.

However, with nearly £120m of losses reported earlier in the campaign stirring financial fair play concerns, this summer may be a more frugal one than last year, unless they part ways with one of their stars. Instead, Villa may have to outsmart the market, and it appears that they could already be in the process of doing just that.

Villa tipped as side chasing Muci

That comes as a report from Turkey links them with a move for rising star Ernest Muci. The midfielder only made the switch to Besiktas from Legia Warsaw in January, but is rapidly becoming an increasingly talked about prospect.

The attacking midfielder has scored twice in seven outings for his new club, but Villa fans will remember him for the three goals he grabbed in two games against them earlier in the season.

Muci has already been the subject of interest from Europe since his arrival in Turkey. Besiktas president Hasam Arat has claimed that he has rejected one offer and is keen to keep the Albanian beyond this summer.

“A club from Europe made an offer of 20 million Euros for Ernest Muci. But I rejected the offer," Arat said. "He is a player with great potential and we want him to stay with us next season."

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Turkish outlet Fanatik claim that the outfit in question may be Villa, who are keen to strengthen their ranks in a bid to push on further next season. If it was Emery's side they will have to improve their offer though, with Muci's star continuing to rise.

As per Transfermarkt, his value has increased more than 6x in the last 12 months, and it promises to continue to do so if he can continue his good form in Turkey.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has warned that he will not be babysitting AC Milan's star players as the former striker opened up his new role at the club.

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• Ibrahimovic working as advisor at AC Milan
• Warned players he is not there to look after them
• Swedish icon rules out becoming head coach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After finishing his playing career with the Italian side, Ibrahimovic has been taken on as an advisor and operating partner to the company that owns the club. He was part of an advising group that convinced the club's majority shareholder to hire Paulo Fonseca as head coach this summer after Stefano Pioli departed.

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  Many members of the current squad were team-mates with Ibrahimovic before he hung up his boots and he has warned the likes of Rafael Leao and USMNT star Christian Pulisic that he is not at San Siro to take care of them.

• WHAT IBRAHIMOVIC SAID

  He told : "I’m not a babysitter. My players, they’re adults and they have to take responsibility. They have to do 200 per cent even when I’m not there."

  Ibrahimovic says he has no intention of taking on a coaching role, adding: "You see my grey hair? Fully grey hair is after one week as a coach. A coach’s life is up to 12 hours per day. You absolutely don’t have free time. My role is connect everything; to be a leader from above and make sure the structure and organisation works. To keep everybody on their toes."

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• PATRICK T. FALLON
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  After finishing a distant second to Inter in Serie A last season, Ibrahimovic will hope Milan put together a genuine race for the Scudetto in the coming season. Their league campaign kicks off with a game against Torino on August 17.

Lucas Paqueta is set to be available to play for most of next season for West Ham, despite the spot-fixing charges hanging over him.

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• Paqueta being investigated
• Brazil international facing lengthy ban
• 26-year-old faces wait to discover punishment

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per , Paqueta will be available for most of West Ham's upcoming season. The Brazil international is facing charges of spot-fixing, and could be banned for 10 years if found guilty. It is alleged that he deliberately got himself booked during as many as four Premier League games last season.

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  However, despite the charges hanging over him, the FA will allow Paqueta to play while the investigation is conducted. The outcome is not expected until close to the end of the season and may even go beyond that, due to the complexity of the case. His defence lawyers believe it will take months to secure the evidence they require to respond to the charges.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Paqueta has been linked with a loan move to Flamengo but it remains to be seen if West Ham would be willing to sanction such a move, given that he will be available to play for Julen Lopetegui. He had also been touted for a move to Manchester City before the charges were revealed.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Paqueta will continue his preparations for the new season with the Irons. They play Dagenham & Redbridge in a friendly this weekend.

Newcastle United may have just been dealt a boost on the transfer front ahead of the summer window opening, it has emerged.

Magpies dreading summer window

It is fair to say that few Newcastle fans are looking forward to the summer window as much as they have been in recent years. After a disappointing Premier League campaign, they have seen Everton and Nottingham Forest fall foul of financial fair play regulations and be docked points as a consequence, with both sides in danger of relegation from the top flight.

Summer reinforcements Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali and Lewis Hall have hardly featured through a combination of form, injuries and suspensions, while injuries have rocked Eddie Howe's squad from the first week of the season until now.

Newcastle's summer signings

Player

Cost

Minutes played (PL)

Sandro Tonali

£55m

440

Lewis Hall

Loan

104

Tino Livramento

£32m

965

Harvey Barnes

£38m

355

Though they are owned by the richest owners in club football, there has been significant speculation that one of their stars will have to depart this summer to balance the books. This idea was only fueled by Darren Eales, the club's CEO.

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It would be a tough decision for the club.

ByBen Browning Mar 19, 2024

Speaking in January, he explained: "It's just the nature of the beast. If you trade players on it creates more headroom. You have to keep growing that headroom, increasing commercial revenue and player trading.

"It's difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we're going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players."

That has led to speculation around fan favourite Bruno Guimaraes, while Alexander Isak is another that could be shipped off in order to balance the books. Sven Botman could have been another candidate but a knee injury is likely to prevent that, with the Dutchman sidelined for the next nine months. But amid the gloom, there is good news for the Magpies.

Newcastle summer transfer news

That comes courtesy of Chronicle Live's Lee Ryder, who insists that the picture isn't as gloomy as it seems. Chiefly, he shares that there is plenty of money to spend this summer.

"United are set to have money to spend this summer despite FFP rules again set to be a big factor", he claims, albeit adding that departures are expected too.

It comes with Newcastle scout Steve Nickson enjoying a busy international break, in which he is suspected to have been keeping tabs on both Bayer Leverkusen left-back Alex Grimaldo and Barcelona winger Raphinha, both of whom Newcastle have a long term interest in.

Certainly, scouting players of that calibre suggests that there will be plenty to spend on Tyneside this summer, though quite how much may ultimately depend on whether or not Howe's side can make a late push for one of the European qualification places in the final ten games of the campaign.

As it stands, they are marooned in 10th place and an outside bet for even Conference League football next season, in what has been a difficult campaign. However, Newcastle fans will take solace from the fact that the transfer well is far from dry on Tyneside.