Category Uncategorized

Manchester United are considering selling captain Bruno Fernandes amid interest from the Saudi Pro League with two major targets picked out to replace the club captain.

Man Utd identify two priority targets

Amorim stressed the importance of securing a much-needed Old Trafford win when Manchester United host “top team” Bournemouth on Monday, looking to continue a run of form which has seen United pick up seven points from three matches since the disappointment against Everton.

Captain Fernandes has been phenomenal in that run, scoring twice and providing three assists, but INEOS are now open to the Portugal star’s departure in order to fund new signings.

According to a recent report, Saudi Pro League clubs are set to offer Fernandes a way out of Old Trafford, with both Al Hilal and Al Ittihad considering a move in the region of £70m.

INEOS view the 31-year-old as the club’s most sellable asset and as someone worth cashing in on before his value decreases, with his contract set to expire in just over 18 months.

The Red Devils do hold an option to extend his stay by another year until June 2028, but they have identified two top targets which will require funds in Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson and Brighton and Hove Albion enforcer Carlos Baleba.

Both players could cost club record fees and INEOS are determined to make United financially secure while rebuilding Amorim’s squad.

Forest are set to demand ‘£100m-plus’ for Anderson while Baleba’s price is in the region of £74m.

Mainoo could be sold instead Man Utd gem could be "the world's best", but he's becoming the new Mainoo

Manchester United have one star in their ranks who could suffer the same fate as Kobbie Mainoo.

ByEthan Lamb 3 days ago

The other option on offer to INEOS is to cash in on their homegrown talent Kobbie Mainoo. While the 20 year-old’s value has suffered after falling out of favour this season, his status as an England international guarantees a good return which would go down as pure profit.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a move for the young midfielder while there is also interest from Napoli in Serie A, where fellow United academy product Scott McTominay has thrived since joining in 2024.

Speaking in September, Amorim defended his decision to continually leave Mainoo out of his team: “I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie… But that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn’t put Kobbie [in], so it’s my decision.”

The MLB season marches on today with teams across the country beginning their weekend series. For us bettors, there's no better way to start our weekend than by putting some extra money in our pocket by winning a few Friday bets.

I have three wagers locked in for Friday's slate, including a bet on the total between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. Let's dive into them.

Top MLB Picks Today

Rays -124 vs. BravesAngels +134 vs. AstrosCubs vs. Dodgers UNDER 8 (-112)Braves vs. Rays Prediction

The Braves' offense has started to turn things around, but they still enter the weekend batting just .218 on the season. I think there's still some meat on the bone in terms of fading them, especially tonight when they're playing on the road with Bryce Elder on the mound. Elder recorded a 6.52 ERA in 10 starts last season and allowed three earned runs in just 4.0 innings in his first start in 2025.

A combination of poor hitting and bad pitching by the Braves tonight puts the Rays in a favorable spot. I think -124 is more than a fair price for Tampa Bay.

Angels vs. Astros Prediction

I can't believe I'm typing this right now, but the Los Angeles Angels have been one of the best offensive teams in the Majors in the early part of the season while the Houston Astros have been one of the worst. The Angels are seventh in OPS at .767 while the Astros are 29th at .583. Additionally, Ronel Blanco is starting for the Astros, and there are signs we're going to see some significant regression from him this season. He has allowed seven earned runs in just 6.2 innings pitched across his first two starts.

If you're betting on the Astros as home favorites today, you're completely throwing out the results from the first two weeks of the season. Instead, I'm going to ride the momentum (or lack thereof) from both teams and take the Angels to win as significant underdogs in Houston.

Cubs vs. Dodgers Prediction

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already had one solid performance against the Cubs, keeping them to three hits and one earned run across 5.0 innings in the opening series of the season in Japan, so why not bet on another strong outing against Chicago tonight? Matthew Boyd is also coming into this game hot, having pitched 11.0 scoreless innings so far in 2025.

You may be surprised to find out the Dodgers, while showcasing some power, have been batting just .230 on the season.

With all of that in mind, I'll take the UNDER in this National League duel.

The San Diego Padres were able to hang on at home Tuesday night and win Game 3 of their NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-5, to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Padres scored all six of their runs in the second inning, with Fernando Tatis Jr. capping it off with a monster two-run home run to left field that gave them a 6-1 lead.

Later in the game one of the coolest moments of the MLB playoffs happened between innings when Blink 182's Tom DeLonge led the crowd at Petco Park in the singing of the band's legendary song "All The Small Things." DeLonge and the band have San Diego roots and he's a huge Padres fan.

Look at this scene:

Too good.

Game 4 is Wednesday night at 9:08 p.m. ET.

Stumps Harry Brook’s performative sprinting between overs could not mask the fact that this was a slow day, with neither team in the ascendancy. India fought hard after being inserted under gloomy Manchester skies, personified by B Sai Sudharsan’s dogged maiden Test half-century, but they never got away from England and lost Rishabh Pant to a serious-looking foot injury.This was not the day that Ben Stokes had in mind when he won his fourth consecutive toss and chose to bowl, with India’s openers batting through the morning session and only four wickets falling in 83 overs. But in conceding barely three runs per over, England’s bowlers kept them in the game, even if the sluggish tempo left Brook making his own fun at slip.Related

• Eight years, five PMs and one pandemic later, Dawson returns

• Sai Sudharsan brings calm to India's chaos at No. 3

• Pant retires hurt after inside-edging a reverse sweep onto his right foot

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 94 for the first wicket in 30 overs, but it was Sai Sudharsan, recalled in place of Karun Nair, who embodied India’s patient approach. His half-century was the first by an India No. 3 since the final Test of their home defeat to New Zealand last year, and anchored the innings through the afternoon and evening sessions.But he was dismissed shortly after Pant was forced to retire hurt, falling to Stokes for the third time in as many innings in his nascent Test career when cramped for room on the pull and picking out Brydon Carse at long leg. Jamie Smith, who had dropped a chance for a leg-side strangle when Sai Sudharsan had only 20, breathed a sigh of relief.Stokes’ decision at the toss demanded that his team must make history if they are to seal the series this week. No team has ever gone on to win a Test at Old Trafford after opting to bowl first, which left Shubman Gill to reflect on what he described as “a good toss to lose” in murky conditions.B Sai Sudharsan scored his maiden Test fifty•Getty Images

Rahul and Jaiswal underlined his point by batting through the morning session and looking largely untroubled, despite the occasional ball beating the outside edge. Rahul extended his fine overseas record, becoming the fifth India batter to score 1000 Test runs in England, and played the role of senior partner, soaking up 25 balls in Jofra Archer’s first five-over spell.The stands were only half-full at the start of play, and Lancashire issued an apology to the thousands of fans who were stuck in queues outside the ground. The club blamed long bag searches and their late arrivals, but those who were stuck outside missed a sleepy morning in which England’s seamers strayed too often from a good length.It was Chris Woakes, retained despite a tired performance in England’s tense win at Lord’s last week, who struck first. Rahul had spent the morning playing late and looking to score square of the wicket, but attempted to punch Woakes through mid-off as he approached his half-century and his outside edge flew to Zak Crawley at third slip.KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal saw out the first session•Getty Images

After two failures at Lord’s, Jaiswal played uncharacteristically watchfully in reaching a 96-ball half-century, his eighth 50-plus score in 16 innings against England. He punished width outside his off stump from England’s seamers – Carse in particular – but could not resist driving when spin came on, and edged Liam Dawson’s seventh ball of the day to Brook at first slip.Dawson wheeled away in celebration, marking his comeback with a significant wicket.England have picked 11 different spinners in the eight years between Dawson’s third and fourth caps, but he forced his way to the front of the queue to replace the injured Shoaib Bashir through performances for Hampshire and bowled with control and skill on this opening day.1:22

Manjrekar: ‘Stokes knows how to play with the psyche of the opposition’

England’s close fielders raised the volume when Gill walked to the crease at No. 4 after his pre-match suggestions that they had breached the spirit of the game at Lord’s, and he did not last long. After one crisp on-drive for four off Dawson, Gill was trapped on the pad while shouldering arms to Stokes’ nip-backer for 12, trudging off after taking a review with him.His dismissal brought in Pant, who batted cautiously for most of his innings before occasional jolts of ultra-aggression, most notably a slog-swept four off Archer followed by a failed reverse-sweep. He added 72 with Sai Sudharsan, leading India’s rebuild after the tea interval under floodlights.When England reviewed for lbw after another attempted reverse-sweep off Woakes, it soon became apparent that he had not only under-edged the ball onto his foot, but done himself some serious damage in the process. A substantial bruise had developed by the time he left the field on the back of an ambulance cart, retiring hurt on 37.Sai Sudharsan reached his half-century soon after, driving Joe Root through the covers, but his dismissal to Stokes kept England fighting. Shardul Thakur walked out ahead of Washington Sundar to much surprise and kept Ravindra Jadeja company for 9.1 overs before England’s attempts to take the second new ball were thwarted by light, with the Test in the balance.

Everton appear to be moving in the right direction.

Last time out, the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium witnessed wild celebrations for the first time as the Toffees fought back from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the dying embers.

Iliman Ndiaye converted a penalty, before Jack Grealish rather tackled in the winner from close range deep into stoppage time.

This propelled David Moyes’ team up to eighth in the Premier League table and was a timely victory, considering the Blues’ next two matches are Manchester City (A) and then Tottenham (H) after this latest international break.

So, while Everton’s sole league defeat since the opening day came in the Merseyside derby at Anfield, one regular member of their team is on borrowed time, ahead of the return of, arguably, Everton’s best player.

The latest on Jarrad Branthwaite's fitness

What has made Everton’s decent start to the season all the more impressive is the fact that Jarrard Branthwaite is yet to play a single minute of it.

The England international suffered a hamstring injury during a pre-season friendly against Roma, so has not been seen in competitive action since the final game at Goodison back in May.

In the meantime though, he has signed a new five-year contract with the club, a serious statement of intent to secure the signature of a defender described as a “generational talent”.

Ahead of the recent 1-1 draw with West Ham, Moyes noted that Branthwaite was not yet “back with the group” but is expecting him to be available “soon”, so there is optimism that he’ll be ready to feature in the coming weeks.

Having been both the Toffees’ players’ and supporters’ player of the season in 2023/24, the 23-year-old’s imminent return will only elevate this team, but could certainly be bad news for his current deputy.

Everton star on borrowed time once Branthwaite is back

In Branthwaite’s continued absence, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane have started every Premier League match at centre-back so far this season, both ever-presents until the latter suffered a rib injury against Crystal Palace, replaced by Tim Iroegbunam mid-way through the second period.

Keane joined the Toffees from Burnley all the way back in 2017, accumulating 239 appearances for the club to date, playing under eight different permanent managers: Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benítez, Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche and now Moyes.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday night football, one of Keane’s former caretaker bosses, Duncan Ferguson exclaimed that he’s been blown away by the England international’s recent performances, particularly in light of his goal against West Ham.

“It’s incredible how he got the height. He jumped off his two feet when normally it would be off one. It was behind him. What a header.”

However, one would assume that, as soon as Branthwaite is back, the 32-year-old will find himself back on the bench, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Branthwaite 24/25 vs Keane 24/25 & 25/26

Stats per 90

Branthwaite

Keane

Aerial duel success %

59%

57%

Ground duel success %

69%

49%

Clearances

6.8

6.9

Interceptions

1

1.3

Blocks

0.9

0.7

Ball recoveries

3.4

2.6

Touches

56

50

Stats via Squawka

As the table documents, Branthwaite comes out on top for the vast majority of defensive metrics included.

Keane did score that aforementioned goal against West Ham at Bramley-Moore Dock last month, but his days not only in the Everton team but at the club at all could be numbered, considering he is out of contract next summer, having signed a one-year deal last July.

Branthwaite, on the other hand, is the future, currently contracted to remain on Merseyside until 2030, so they will want him back in the defence as soon as possible.

Thus, while Keane is a serviceable Premier League player, Everton’s new home signals that they have aspirations of grandeur, and Branthwaite’s return will be key in getting them back there.

Related Moyes can make Ndiaye unplayable by unleashing Everton ace in new position

Everton could make Iliman Ndiaye unplayable by unleashing this star in a new role.

Posts ByDan Emery Oct 13, 2025

Erling Haaland believes he is in the form of his life after extending his latest remarkable goalscoring streak for Manchester City.

The Norwegian has found the net in each of his last nine matches for club and country after hitting City’s winner in the 1-0 victory at Brentford.

Haaland reveals why Brentford star annoyed him into scoring

“You can say so, I’ve never felt better than I do now. So yeah, you can say so,” Haaland told City’s website.

His goal was a trademark strike, chasing a long ball over the top and bulldozing through Bees defenders Sepp van den Berg and Nathan Collins before firing home.

Haaland revealed Dutch centre-half Van den Berg had provoked him into scoring a “proper goal”.

“First five minutes he just kept on pushing me so I said ‘all right, let’s have it’. So then I started pushing him back,” he added.

“For me this is a proper goal. This goal for me is top. This is for me one of my better goals.

“I think it helps me because I was a bit tired before the game, going into the game I was thinking it’s going to be tough. Then after 10 seconds he started pushing me and it motivates me.

“All praise to him, honestly, he made me want to do that.”

For Brentford it was a first home defeat of the season and leaves them 16th, three points above the relegation zone.

“You never want to lose, especially at home as we want to make this place as tough as possible, so that’s really annoying,” said skipper Collins.

“The first half was probably too passive, we let them have too much space and didn’t get in their face enough. The goal is annoying, I thought we could have done better with that.

“In the second half, we tweaked a few things, pressed a bit higher and, overall, I thought we were better.

“We defended the box really well and made it hard for them, we created one or two chances and probably wish we created a bit more.”

Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe splashed the cash in the 2025 summer transfer window, but who are the club’s current most expensive signings of all time?

Here at Football FanCast, we’ve taken a look at Man Utd’s most expensive additions in their famous history, as per Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Here's a detailed look at Man Utd's 10 most expensive signings:

10

Angel Di Maria

£60m from Real Madrid

Back in 2014, Angel Di Maria put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Man Utd in what was at the time, a club and British transfer record.

The Argentine signed from Real Madrid under Louis van Gaal, but after just one season and 32 appearances, was sold to Paris Saint-Germain.

9

Matheus Cunha

£62.5m from Wolves

One of three big-money signings in 2025, Matheus Cunha was the first addition ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge at Old Trafford.

Man Utd triggered the £62.5m release clause in Cunha’s Wolves contract, with the Brazilian forward set to play in behind the striker.

8

Rasmus Hojlund

£64m from Atalanta

The Red Devils won the race to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta in 2023. The Denmark forward was just 20 years of age when he signed for the club and netted 10 Premier League goals during his debut campaign.

However, in 2025, Hojlund was allowed to join Napoli on loan with an obligtion to buy for £38m in 2026.

7

Benjamin Sesko

£66.4m from RB Leipzig

Benjamin Sesko was brought in before Hojlund’s exit as the new main centre-forward for the Red Devils.

The towering Slovenia striker starred for RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig before heading to Manchester in an initial deal worth more than £66m.

6

Bryan Mbeumo

£71m from Brentford

After starring in the Premier League with Brentford, Bryan Mbeumo swapped London for Manchester in a transfer worth £71m.

The versatile forward signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford which, providing he stays until 2030, will see him earn £39m in wages during his time with the Red Devils.

5

Jadon Sancho

£73m from Borussia Dortmund

Jadon Sancho failed to make the desired impact at Old Trafford after being brought in by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021.

Sancho has also had a frosty relationship with Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman publicly saying the winger wasn’t being included in matchday squads due to his performances in training. In 2024/25, he headed on loan to Chelsea, and in 2025/26, joined Aston Villa for the season.

4

Romelu Lukaku

£75m from Everton

Another big-money signing that didn’t work out for Man Utd was Romelu Lukaku, who signed from Everton in 2017.

The Belgian arrived at Old Trafford shortly after Wayne Rooney went the other way, however, Lukaku was on the move again just two years later, joining Inter Milan.

3

Harry Maguire

£80m from Leicester City

Man Utd pipped Man City to the signing of Harry Maguire from Leicester City in 2019. The centre-back has since been a hot topic of conversation at Old Trafford but has remained a regular for the majority of the time.

He’s worked under a number of managers and even captained the Red Devils for a number of years before Erik ten Hag handed that responsibility to Fernandes in 2023.

2

Antony

£81.3m from Ajax

The club splashed the cash on winger Antony to quickly reunite him with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

The Brazilian starred under Ten Hag in the Netherlands, however, after moving to England, Antony struggled to make the same impact, not exactly living up to the huge fee, and signed for Real Betis for just over £20m in 2025.

1

Paul Pogba

£89m from Juventus

Top of the list is Paul Pogba, who actually came through the academy at Carrington. The French midfielder eventually left for Juventus in 2012, but four years later, returned to Old Trafford in a huge £89m deal.

Pogba’s second stint in Manchester had plenty of ups and downs, and in 2022, he left when his contract expired.

Newcastle United’s summer of transfer activity once again underlined the scale of ambition since the PIF takeover.

Deals for Jacob Ramsay, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale and Anthony Elanga have complemented headline-grabbing signings such as Nick Woltemade for £69m and Yoane Wissa for £55m.

Alexander Isak’s £125m move to Liverpool left a sour taste, but the overall picture was one of a club continuing to spend at the very top of the market.

That has not always been the case on Tyneside.

Before Saudi investment changed the landscape, Newcastle were known for trimming squads and selling talent to make a profit.

Promising youngsters would be moved on for financial reasons or simply slip through the cracks, only to thrive elsewhere.

This summer’s spending spree serves as a reminder of how much things have changed, but also how much has been lost.

The departure of Elliot Anderson last year remains a striking example.

Newcastle did not want to lose the academy graduate, but Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) forced their hand.

Nottingham Forest seized the opportunity, and now the Northeast club must watch a homegrown talent flourish elsewhere – much like another striker once forced to leave before truly being given a chance at St James’ Park.

Anderson's rise away from Tyneside

Anderson’s move to Forest in 2024, part of a deal that saw Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way, was emblematic of Newcastle’s recent financial gymnastics.

The midfielder represented pure profit under PSR calculations, a valuable asset when books needed balancing.

Jankuba Minteh was sold to Brighton in the same scramble, and even the sales of Isak and Anthony Gordon were considered.

At the time, it looked like a sacrifice of potential for compliance.

Yet Anderson has proven exactly why the club were so reluctant to lose him.

Last season, the 22-year-old made 37 league appearances for Forest, scoring twice and providing six assists. His form earned him a first senior England call-up, and he started against Andorra, winning the Player of the Match award.

The numbers underline his growing influence.

Last season, Anderson ranked in the 88th percentile for assists per 90 (0.19) and 77th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.07).

His ability to progress play was matched by tenacity in midfield.

He sat in the 88th percentile for tackles per 90 (3.07) and 87th percentile for clearances (2.40).

Analysts like Max Scott have even gone so far as to describe Anderson as having “a bit of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane” in his game.

It is difficult to see how he would have found the same opportunities had he remained at Newcastle.

Competing with Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton for minutes, he might have stagnated.

Instead, Forest have given him the platform to grow, and Newcastle are left to reflect on a talent that got away, not for the first time either.

Newcastle's homegrown striker regret

Anderson’s story draws inevitable comparisons to Ivan Toney, another player who slipped through Newcastle’s net.

Signed from Northampton Town in 2015 for around half a million, Toney struggled for first-team opportunities and was farmed out on loan before leaving permanently for Peterborough United in 2018.

From there, his career trajectory exploded. Toney scored 72 goals and provided 23 assists in 141 appearances for Brentford, firing them to Premier League promotion with a goal in the 2021 play-off final.

His 20-goal return in the 2022/23 season made him one of the division’s most reliable strikers, hailed as such by Thomas Frank who described him as a “monster”.

Recognition followed on the international stage. Toney made his England debut in 2023 and was part of the Euro 2024 squad, holding his nerve to score in the penalty shoot-out against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

The numbers again tell the story of a rounded, top-level forward.

During the 2022/23 season, Toney ranked in the 72nd percentile among centre-forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals (0.43 per 90), 70th percentile for progressive passes (2.41), and was outstanding aerially, sitting in the 91st percentile for aerials won (3.32 per 90).

His defensive contribution was underrated too, with strong numbers for interceptions and clearances.

Matches Played

33

Goals

20

Assists

4

Progressive Carries

14

Progressive Passes

79

In 2024, Toney completed a £40m move to Al-Ahli, where he scored 23 goals and registered four assists in the Saudi Pro League last season.

At 29, he remains a high-level striker whose career arc must leave Newcastle wondering what might have been.

The parallels between Anderson and Toney are plain to see.

Both left St James’ Park for very different reasons, but both have gone on to prove themselves at a high level.

Each departure highlights the fine margins between financial management and footballing vision.

Newcastle’s current owners are now spending freely, with marquee signings transforming the squad.

Yet history shows that some of the biggest success stories can be those who slipped away. In Anderson, Newcastle may once again have let a future England regular leave too soon.

PIF have already signed Newcastle's new Elliot Anderson and he's "terrific"

Eddie Howe will hope he has his own Elliot Anderson now at Newcastle United in this terrific talent.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 8, 2025

Arsenal have boasted the best defensive record in the Premier League during each of the last two seasons, with Frenchman William Saliba playing a massive role in their success.

The centre-back joined the Gunners back in 2019, before multiple loan spells in his homeland, having to wait until the summer of 2022 to make his first appearance in English football.

He’s since gone on to make 134 appearances for the club, having bags of time to make himself a legend in North London, still being just 24 years of age.

His partnership at the heart of the backline with Gabriel has played a massive part in Mikel Arteta’s ability to come within touching distance of ending their two-decade drought without a league title.

However, with the summer window rapidly coming towards its end, numerous other players are being targeted to aid their defensive unit for the 2025/26 season.

Arsenal pursuing a move for a new defender

This summer window has been a big one for Arsenal, already adding another option to the defensive unit, in the form of Spaniard Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia.

The 21-year-old joined in a £13m deal, penning a five-year contract, but he could also be joined at the Emirates Stadium by another young prospect in the coming days.

Palmeiras’ 19-year-old centre-back, Luis Benedetti, could be the latest to move to North London, after Brazilian journalist Diego Firmino confirmed the club’s interest in his signature.

He claims that Arteta’s side have been monitoring him over recent weeks, potentially preparing an offer in the region of £8.5m for the youngster’s services.

Firmino also states that the player could be tempted by a move to the Premier League, with his current employers demanding add-ons and a sell-on fee in any transfer.

Why Arsenal’s latest target could be Arteta’s next Saliba

Arsenal’s recruitment has been excellent over the last couple of years, undoubtedly playing a huge role in their ability to challenge for England’s Premier League title.

Saliba has been one example, arriving in North London as an unknown quantity to many, but it’s safe to say his tally of appearances to date highlights his importance to the Gunners.

At just 24, he has all the tools to continue his development under Arteta, hopefully able to add titles to his CV and become one of Europe’s leading talents in defensive areas.

However, if the club is to continue building and maintaining their efforts at the top of the table, they will need to carry on their impressive recruitment with a move for Benedetti.

At just 19, he has bags of time to continue his development, with a move to England helping him reach the next level and build on his impressive start to his career.

The Brazilian has made nine senior appearances for Palmeiras, but it’s been enough to demonstrate the talent he holds, leading to analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him as “aggressive”.

The teenager has managed to complete 93% of the passes he’s attempted in Brazil’s top-flight, able to offer a superb ball-playing option – just as Saliba has in recent years.

He’s also won 71% of the aerial battles he’s entered, subsequently allowing him to have an impact at both ends of the pitch – especially considering his 6”6 frame.

Whilst it’s still early days in his professional career, the signs are all positive for Benedetti, possessing two crucial components of being a centre-back in the modern-day.

£8.5m could prove to be an excellent piece of business by Arteta and the Gunners, potentially banking a small fortune should he continue on his current trajectory.

He could follow in Saliba’s footsteps in joining as an unknown quantity, the Brazilian would be able to learn from one of the best defenders in world football – arguably developing into another excellent piece of business by the hierarchy.

Arsenal could seal a better signing than Gyokeres & Eze in £100m sensation

Arsenal could land a better player than Eze & Gyokeres in sensational talent.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 16, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers heard the Parkhead board come under fire from Hoops supporters and has made a transfer demand ahead of the deadline.

Celtic draw 0-0 in Champions League qualifier

It was a frustrating evening for all associated with Celtic on Wednesday evening, with the Hoops’ goalless draw against Kairat Almaty leaving them with work to do to qualify for the Champions League.

Much of the frustration was around Celtic’s transfer activity this summer, with the club spending just under £4m on seven new signings.

Benjamin Nygren

FC Nordsjaelland

£2m

Shin Yamada

Kawasaki Frontale

£1.5m

Hayato Inamura

Albirex Niigata

£250,000

Kieran Tierney

Arsenal

Free

Ross Doohan

Aberdeen

Free

Callum Osmand

Fulham

Undisclosed

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

Man City

Loan

Talking after the game, Rodgers said: “I think it was pretty clear. You didn’t need to look into the future too far. You know these games are tough games and you want to have your best players in and have players in as quick as you can to tackle these sorts of situations.

“But listen, it is what it is and I just have to accept where it’s at and we’ll now get ready for Saturday and then the long haul on Sunday. “Then we’ll try and get through on Tuesday.”

As bad as Idah: Rodgers must now ruthlessly drop 5/10 Celtic man

This Celtic forward who was as bad as Adam Idah should be ruthlessly dropped to the bench.

ByDan Emery Aug 21, 2025 Rodgers responds to Celtic fans ‘sack the board’ chants and makes transfer demand

When asked about the fans reaction to the ‘sack the board’ chants, aimed at chief executive Michael Nicholson and chairman Peter Lawwell, Rodgers admitted that Celtic “need” signings before the deadline.

“I do know that, over many years, ‘sack the board’ normally means ‘sack the manager’. It’s normally the manager that goes when that starts to be sung. I can only really look at the players we have here, and the performance.

“We’ve known for a long time what we’ve needed as a squad, so I don’t want to go into that. Of course, at the end of the game, we’re having to shuffle things about to try and make it work.

“The players are out of position, but the players’ endeavour in the second half was really good. But at this level, it’s more than that. So hopefully we can show that.

“The boys are a great bunch of lads, they’re really honest. They’ve started the season well. Defensively, they’ve been strong. But tonight, offensively, we just couldn’t show those moments of quality to break through.

There have been reports that an agreement has been reached for Celtic to sign Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp, although there are still internal issues to resolve.