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Everton and Crystal Palace in talks over Brennan Johnson, Dwight McNeil transfers

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Everton are in talks to sign Brennan Johnson from Crystal Palace in a deal that could see Dwight McNeil move to Selhurst Park.

Johnson, 25, only joined Palace from Tottenham Hotspur in January, while McNeil, 26, has been at Everton since the summer of 2022. The latter was close to a move to Palace in the winter transfer window, before the transfer fell through due to the relevant paperwork not being completed on time.

However, talks between the two clubs are continuing over a move that would see the two wingers complete transfers.

McNeil has one year remaining on his Everton contract while Johnson has been a long-term target for the Merseyside club, dating back to his spell at Nottingham Forest which preceded his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

McNeil playing for Everton in October

McNeil was close to completing a loan move to Palace in January (George Wood via Getty Images)

Johnson joined Palace in a deal worth £35million (€40m; $47m), a then-club record transfer fee, from Spurs earlier this year.

However, the Wales international has failed to make a significant impact at the south London club. He has made 26 appearances, starting 16 games and providing two assists. He was an unused substitute in Palace’s UEFA Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano in May.

McNeil, meanwhile, has spent four seasons at Everton since moving from Burnley four years ago. The former England youth international, who previously spent time in Manchester United’s youth academy, has scored 15 goals and provided 19 assists in 128 games for the Merseyside club.

Last season, the versatile winger, who has also been deployed in attacking midfield roles, was deemed surplus to requirements at Everton. McNeil saw a deadline day loan-with-obligation move to Palace collapse late in the window. He had undergone a medical and a deal sheet had been filed, granting Palace a further two hours after the deadline to complete the move, but the final paperwork never arrived. The deadline passed without further communication from the south London club.

McNeil shared a lengthy Instagram post from his partner Megan Sharpley following the collapse of the deadline day deal. The post read: “(To have something) torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation.

“Going from everything — to radio silence, no phone call, no communication, and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion hurts more than I can say.”

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Seamus Coleman: Republic of Ireland defender training with Killybegs, but no GAA return for now

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For a few hours on Sunday, social media lit up with rumours and speculation that Seamus Coleman had found himself a new club.

Not on the football pitch but with his local Gaelic football side, Killybegs.

The 37-year-old left Everton at the end of the last season, bringing a 17-year tenure with the Premier League club to a close.

Republic of Ireland captain Coleman has been without a club since, despite featuring in June’s international friendlies, but it was rumoured he would make a sensational return to Gaelic football.

The Donegal Senior Football Championship started on Saturday, and Killybegs travelled to Four Masters in their opener on Sunday afternoon.

While Coleman did not line out for his hometown club – despite the rumours – it is understood he has been training with Killybegs GAC to keep his fitness up as he looks for a new football club.

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Bruno Guimaraes: Midfielder can help Arsenal reach next level, says Mikel Arteta

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Mikel Arteta said the signing of Bruno Guimaraes will help Arsenal go to the “next level” and hinted that the Gunners are not done with their summer transfer activity.

The signing of Guimaraes for £75m from Newcastle United was officially announced on Saturday and the 28-year-old midfielder was introduced to the fans inside Emirates Stadium before the match against Borussia Dortmund.

Guimaraes was not included in the matchday squad for the 3-2 loss to Dortmund but is likely to be involved in the game against Como on Wednesday.

Arteta was quick to explain why he was so keen to bring the Brazilian to north London.

“I’m delighted to have him,” he said. “We see very clearly – especially the energy that he brought immediately to the training ground – the hunger, the desire to come here and create a big history at the club.

“And that’s the ambition that we need.

“We want to go to the next level and are very, very much convinced that we’re going to need players with such a personality, desire and character to push everybody inside the organisation to go even higher.”

The signing of Guimaraes means Arteta now has plenty of choice in midfield with Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino all options in the middle of the pitch.

And Arteta went into detail about what he hopes Guimaraes can bring to the Arsenal side this season as they look to defend their Premier League title.

“On the pitch, versatility to play in two different positions in relation to what we want or the opponent does,” he said.

“A player which obviously has tremendous timing and intuition to win the ball back and progress play very, very fast.

“He’s a player that is very comfortable putting people through, moving between the lines, moving in behind.

“And then he’s a goal threat. He’s got a smell and a really good timing to get in the box. And he has the capacity to finish the actions.”

Arsenal have already completed the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge and brought in goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer.

The Gunners pursued Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr but the forward signed a new six-year deal to remain in Spain. Yet Arteta was clear Arsenal are going to continue to try to be ambitious in the transfer market

“Well, that’s what we’re trying to do. If we have the right player in the market to make us much better. We are very much looking forward to that.”

The Arsenal manager also gave an update on the fitness of Jurrien Timber, saying he is still “weeks away” from returning to fitness, while William Saliba is another long-term absentee as he recovers from a back injury.

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Sunrisers thump Welsh Fire to inch closer to knockouts

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Mitch Marsh makes 50 as Sunrisers Leeds post 201-4 at Headingley and beat Welsh Fire by 71 runs to move closer to a place in the knockouts of The Hundred men’s competition.

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