Panic over, England fans – your team will NOT have to qualify for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

England’s drop-off in 50-over cricket had seen them plummet down the rankings and leave them at risk of missing out on automatic entry into next autumn’s event in Africa.

However, the rot was stopped with successive come-from-behind series wins – over Sri Lanka earlier this year and then at home to India in July – leaving Harry Brook’s men inside the required top eight in the rankings ahead of the September 30 cut-off.

With South Africa, who are certain of a place as co-hosts, sitting fourth in the standings, ninth-placed Bangladesh also secure direct passage to the tournament proper.

Zimbabwe are in, too, as they are another of the competition’s co-hosts.

India, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan – who secured their place with victory over Ireland – are the other guaranteed entrants.

West Indies headed for qualifying tournament once more

That means two-time champions West Indies, ranked 10th, will have to take part in the qualifying event for the third successive 50-over World Cup.

West Indies – World Cup winners in 1975 and 1979 – successfully reached the 2019 edition in England but then lost in qualifying for the 2023 showpiece in India.

The Caribbean side still have two more ODIs, in India, before September 30 but even if they win those two matches, they cannot move into the top nine in the rankings.

West Indies are now headed for the qualifier in February and March, alongside Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, USA and five yet-to-be-determined teams.

Under ​a new format for 2027, the ​winner of the qualifier will advance directly ​to the second stage of the World ⁠Cup, while the teams placing second, third and fourth will feature in the first round known ⁠as the Super Series.

That late switch was criticised in a joint statement from the Scottish and Dutch cricket boards, who accused the ICC of “weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket.”

Sky Sports News has contacted the ICC for comment.

All eyes will be on Marcus Rashford this week.

He has not featured for Manchester United in the Premier League since December 2024 and has since had loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona.

Barcelona chose not to activate their £26m option to buy Rashford permanently this summer, meaning what seemed an unlikely reunion for the majority of last season has now become a reality.

With Rashford’s expected return, he does provide Michael Carrick with a much-needed option at left wing and an alternative through the middle. Benjamin Sesko has yet to feature in pre-season as he continues to recover from injury and questions remain over Patrick Dorgu’s best position.

United were potentially looking to add another forward option this summer, but with Rashford’s return Carrick has a player who has scored 87 Premier League goals in 287 appearances and a different, perhaps more direct profile of player compared to Matheus Cunha on the left flank.

Rashford’s return is one that Carrick is seemingly welcoming with open arms.

“We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together. Marcus is part of that,” Carrick confirmed.

Question marks will remain as to whether Rashford can regain the form he showed after the World Cup in 2022 after a barren spell before his loan at Aston Villa.

Rashford had fallen out of favour with the last two Manchester United head coaches in Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, however, there is hardly anyone better to understand and coach Rashford than Carrick.

The current United head coach was captain at Old Trafford in 2016 when an 18-year-old Rashford came off the bench to score a brace against FC Midtjylland, Carrick was also part of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff when the forward was a key part of the squad.

Rashford will be fully reintegrated into the United side as they continue their pre-season preparations in Dublin this week.

Wednesday’s game against Leeds is expected to come too early for him, but he could feature in the next friendly… A reunion against the boss who orchestrated his temporary exit.

United face Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland on Saturday.

Your views: Should Rashford be fully reintegrated?

Coximu7: Get rid he didn’t want us and now nobody wants him. He wants us! He is overpaid and has an attitude we don’t need! No room for him!

Saq: Bad attitude. Should never be integrated back into the team. If he really wanted a move away, he’d have taken a wage cut. Hey ho, he didn’t, so that tells you all you need to know. Sell him even if taking a major hit. He’s had his chances.

Alan Hepburn: Why are we taking Rashford back? He walks around the pitch and the lads we signed last year showed what it means to play for the club.

Mike: Rashford’s return could help United a lot whether he starts or comes on he can have an impact and that is the type of players Carrick likes ones that make an impact, but he could also get the best out of him attitude-wise too.

Luke1878: Rashford needed some time away. If he hits the ground running, all will be forgotten. The squad has more options to rotate now and not be reliant on him. I like the patience of United’s business this summer.

GangelOmes: Can’t wait to see Rashford back in a United shirt and hopefully playing to his strengths. We can sure that if he had left, no replacement we could have got would have been as good as Rashford is.

Jamie S: Welcome him back with open arms. He left on loan under very different circumstances, and there aren’t many better left sided options available at the moment. No brainer. Welcome home Marcus. Won’t take long for the Old Trafford crowd to be on board.

Lachania: How can Man Utd accept Rashford back after the way he disrespected the club and fans with his below par performances for two years. Sell him as soon as possible!

Welcome to the 11th summer 2026 window edition of The Transfer DealSheet.

Our team of dedicated writers will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on in what promises to be an extremely busy few months. This includes the players who could arrive and the ones on their way out across the Premier League.

The information in this article has been gathered in line with The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Unless stated, our reporters have spoken to more than one person briefed on each mooted deal before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment. Those responses, when they were given, have been included. Sources were granted anonymity to protect their positions.

In this edition, we have The Athletic’s One To Watch and updates on Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

We aim to bring you analysis you can trust on what is happening at Europe’s leading clubs and the latest information we’re hearing from across the market.

This article is long but detailed, so enjoy it all — or search for the team or player you want to read about.

---

The Athletic’s One To Watch

Rodri’s situation appears to hold the key to movement in the midfield market. Were he to leave Manchester City, it could unlock a sequence of midfield moves across the Premier League this month and potentially even beyond.

First, the situation as we understand it with Rodri.

The Spanish midfielder is of interest to Barcelona and Real Madrid, with his preference — if he is to leave — being to join Barca. City have already rejected an offer from the Catalan club and, so far, Barcelona have not come close to matching City’s valuation of the player.

So, what are the options in response?

City like Ayyoub Bouaddi, who shone at this summer’s World Cup. The Moroccan midfielder is a target, but the club are yet to reach an agreement with Lille for the 18-year-old.

City might also be dealing with a second departure. Tijjani Reijnders is the subject of interest from clubs in the Premier League and clubs outside Europe.

Reijnders has interest from elsewhere (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

If Reijnders were to leave City, then Enzo Fernandez is a further candidate — although his current club, Chelsea, expect him to stay at Stamford Bridge.

The Argentinian midfielder enjoyed a strong relationship with Enzo Maresca when the now-City head coach was in charge at Chelsea, and that remains the case, but Chelsea’s position remains much as it was. Despite Fernandez’s discontent last season, which culminated in him being suspended for two games in April in response to public criticism made towards the club’s hierarchy, Chelsea insist that he remains part of their plans. They set a price for him, in May, of no less than £120m, but it is now closer to the start of the season.

There has been a lot of interest from different clubs in Fernandez this summer, but given the stage of the window, Chelsea expect Fernandez to stay — and that £120m valuation would not apply after a certain point. For example, they would not want to unsettle Xabi Alonso’s squad once the action has begun.

Despite the fact that Chelsea’s focus for the rest of the summer will be departures, especially following the signing of Morgan Rogers, there is a belief at Stamford Bridge that Fernandez is now more likely to stay than leave.

Another player not likely to move is Alexis Mac Allister, who has been linked with various clubs over the past week. Mac Allister joined Liverpool’s pre-season on Monday having had an extended post-World Cup break and is expected to be a key part of the squad this season.

With Curtis Jones’ future uncertain, it’s unlikely the club would listen to offers for a second senior midfielder so close to the new season, even with Mac Allister only having two years left on his contract.

Seb Stafford-Bloor, Pol Ballus, Mario Cortegana, Simon Johnson and Gregg Evans

---

Would signing Fernandez help City if they had to replace Rodri — and if they can get him?

City have already gone a long way to preparing for the possibility of life without Rodri with the signing of Elliot Anderson. While the 23-year-old would struggle to instantly replicate Rodri’s unparalleled influence when it comes to passing the ball into dangerous areas, his energy and ability to cover ground in midfield will help to ease City’s vulnerability to opposition counter-attacks when they lose the ball.

Their possible interest in Enzo Fernandez, who Chelsea expect will stay at Stamford Bridge, would suggest that they are looking for a midfield partner who can share some of the tempo-setting responsibilities at the base of midfield, but also time his forward runs into the box to get on the end of cut-backs and crosses. Both players would have the ability to rotate positions between the deeper No.6 and the more advanced role, much like Fernandez and Moises Caicedo complemented each other under Maresca at Chelsea.

As we can see from the pizza chart below, while Fernandez would bring that increased goal threat, Anderson covers Rodri’s crucial defensive work that would often quietly hold the team together.

The potential arrival of Ayoubb Bouaddi would only add more versatility and press-resistance in midfield, as City would try to put together the sum of Rodri in lavishly assembled parts.

Thom Harris

---

What Else We’re Hearing

• Aston Villa remain in talks to sign Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich. Villa have been in negotiations over a loan deal for the midfielder, 31, for nearly a month, having wanted to recruit in that position following the long-term injury to Amadou Onana. Bayern are currently asking for a fee of €30m, either to facilitate a permanent transfer or as part of an option at the end of the loan. Jacob Tanswell and Seb Stafford-Bloor
• Hamburg are confident of completing a deal for Leeds United’s Belgian defender Sebastiaan Bornauw this week. Bornauw moved to Leeds last summer, having previously spent six years in the Bundesliga with Koln and Wolfsburg. Seb Stafford-Bloor and Beren Cross
• Crystal Palace are in the process of finalising a deal to sign Anan Khalaili from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. Khalaili completed a medical on Sunday as Palace work to complete an agreement with RUSG for a fee of around £21million. Personal terms are in place on a five-year deal through to 2031, with the option of a further 12 months. Nottingham Forest and Inter Milan had been close to completing a deal for Khalaili this summer, but Palace are instead on course to seal the transfer. David Ornstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor
• Rangers are among the clubs interested in signing Aston Villa full-back Kosta Nedeljkovic. It remains a possibility that the 20-year-old could leave Villa this window, either on loan or permanently, with Rangers exploring a potential deal. Jacob Tanswell

---

Arsenal

What has happened this week?

Arsenal completed the £75million signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United. The Brazilian international has signed a four-year contract with an option for an extra year, and was unveiled at the Emirates Stadium before Sunday’s friendly against Dortmund.

Mikel Arteta got less positive news on the other Brazilian Arsenal were pursuing — Vinicius Junior has reached an agreement with Real Madrid to extend his contract. Arsenal felt they presented a credible, compelling offer to the winger, but ultimately he chose to stay with Madrid.

How should Vinicius Junior staying at Madrid impact Arsenal’s plans?

Arsenal must decide whether to pivot to an alternative attacking target, or persist with their current attacking options.

A refocused pursuit of a new left-winger could have implications for Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal are open to trading the 25-year-old if they can secure an appropriate replacement. Martinelli is under contract until 2027, with the club holding an option to extend until 2028.

Galatasaray have enquired after the Brazil international, but as yet there are no significant developments regarding his future.

What positions/players are they looking at?

As well as the front line, Arteta would like Arsenal to strengthen at the back. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are both currently injured, so Arsenal would like to supplement the right side of their defence.

Arsenal maintain an interest in Ezri Konsa, but there is a significant gap between Aston Villa’s £60million valuation and Arsenal’s, which is closer to £40million.

There is admiration at Arsenal for Cristian Romero, but Tottenham are unwilling to countenance a sale to their north London neighbours, and Atletico Madrid are currently the likelier destination for the Argentinian international. Jacobo Ramon, whose Como side visit the Emirates Stadium for a friendly this week, is another centre-half on Arsenal’s shortlist.

Away from first-team priorities, Arsenal continue their drive to recruit emerging talent. Arsenal are among the clubs interested in 18-year-old Leicester City midfielder Louis Page, but currently trail Manchester United in the race for his signature.

Forward Mylo Bernard, 16, has agreed to join Arsenal from Crystal Palace. His schoolboy registration contract at Palace has now expired, leaving him open to join Arsenal on a training compensation deal.

Which players could be leaving?

Arsenal and West Ham are in talks about a possible deal for Reiss Nelson. Discussions between the two clubs over the structure of a deal are ongoing, but Nelson, who was an unused substitute for Arsenal’s friendly defeat to Dortmund, must decide whether he is willing to drop down to the Championship.

The arrival of Illan Meslier on a free transfer means 20-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford is expected to leave on loan to further his development. Las Palmas are among the suitors, although a final decision is yet to be taken. England Under-21 international Setford has also attracted interest from England and elsewhere in Spain.

One player not moving for the time being is teenage defender Marli Salmon. Salmon will turn 17 in the final week of the window, at which point he would be eligible for a loan move. At present, Arsenal intend to keep him at London Colney until at least January.

In any transfer window, however, things can change quickly. Should Arsenal land the experienced defender Arteta is looking for, their stance on Salmon could shift.

James McNicholas

---

Chelsea

What has happened this week?

Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah completed his move to Serie A side Como on a permanent deal. The England international, who has signed a five-year deal, has joined for an initial £25million with a further £5m in potential add-ons.

The club are on the verge of announcing the signing of left back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano. The 28-year-old has already agreed personal terms.

Meanwhile, new manager Xabi Alonso confirmed he is happy with Robert Sanchez, Mike Penders and Teddy Sharman-Lowe being his three keepers for the campaign. As reported in the Transfer Dealsheet last week, Chelsea have no interest in Porto’s Diogo Costa. The Athletic also explained that Sharman-Lowe, as well as Gaga Slonina, are being assessed for the third-choice goalie role. Sharman-Lowe is expected to get the nod.

Chelsea have an agreement in place with LA Galaxy for 16-year-old midfielder Vicente Garcia worth an initial $3m. He will complete the switch when he turns 18.

Is it becoming clear which players Xabi Alonso won’t want in his squad?

This is not just an Alonso decision, as all choices regarding the squad are made on a collaborative basis with the sporting leadership team.

Players such as Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Marc Guiu have already been given the message they are not part of the plans after being left out of the pre-season tour to Australia and Asia.

The Transfer DealSheet has previously reported that strikers Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson are for sale. The duo did get to feature in the friendlies — Jackson arrived for the second week due to a post-World Cup holiday — but their game time was predominantly with other fringe players or the Under-21s on the trip.

Alonso has also made it clear that he wants to work with a maximum of four or five centre-backs. They currently have double that, so this means half need to go before the deadline.

What positions/players are they looking at?

With Chavarria about to become the ninth player to join this summer — this includes the Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha deals that were put in place last year — the focus is on exits right now. While Chelsea’s business is not officially over, any subsequent arrivals will depend on who goes.

For example, Chelsea have plenty of midfield options right now, and it is unlikely that they will make a signing in that position, especially as Reece James can play there too. As highlighted above, there is an increasing expectation that Fernandez will stay at the club despite interest from elsewhere. He is a part of their plans. A further indication of that is Fernandez paid his first visit to the training ground on Monday even though he was scheduled to have his first training session following his post-World Cup holiday on Wednesday.

Which players could be leaving?

Pedro Neto is the subject of interest from four Premier League clubs. Just like Fernandez (£120m) and Malo Gusto (£75m) he was left off the ‘not for sale’ list going into the summer window but is still a highly regarded member of the squad. It will take a very large bid to prise the Portugal international away from Stamford Bridge.

Neto joined Chelsea for £51.4m in 2024. The 26-year-old has been a first-team regular ever since, making 103 appearances in his first two seasons.

Mykhailo Mudryk is the subject of loan enquiries. A decision is likely to be taken on what to do with the winger, who has just returned to full training after serving a doping ban since late 2004, closer to the end of the window.

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is on the verge of completing a loan move to Strasbourg. The Denmark international told Chelsea at the end of last season that he wanted to leave in order to get more first-team football. He was given permission to fly home from the pre-season tour early to find a new club.

Strikers Delap, Jackson and Guiu are all in contention to be sold. Chelsea want more than the £30m they paid Ipswich Town for Delap last year.

The asking price for Jackson is £65m, and Aston Villa are among the clubs who like him. Guiu is valued at £25m, but a transfer is not close yet. Emegha’s role has not been clarified yet.

Chelsea are demanding £25m for defender Axel Disasi. Benoit Badiashile has a £30m valuation, with interest from around Europe.

Mamadou Sarr has been earmarked for a loan and is attracting enquiries from abroad as well as in England. Aaron Anselmino is also in contention for a loan. The defender limped off in the club’s friendly against Johor Darul Ta’zim on Sunday but he was taken off as a precaution and there is hope it is not as bad as first feared.

Highly rated Under-21 winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is going to join Portsmouth on a season-long loan. The deal should be completed this week now that the 17-year-old has returned from being with Chelsea in Australia and Asia.

Midfielder Reggie Walsh is also going to head out on loan. Talks are ongoing with Wigan Athletic, and there is an expectation that an agreement will be reached.

David Datro Fofana (permanent), Caleb Wiley (loan), Deivid Washington (loan or permanent), Omari Kellyman (loan) and Shumaira Mheuka (loan) are also expected to leave before the deadline.

Simon Johnson

---

Liverpool

What has happened this week?

Liverpool have completed a deal to bring in Ronald Araujo on loan for the season in the first move of the summer to tighten up the defence.

The 27-year-old joins from Barcelona with an €55m option to buy next summer and provides experience and competition across the central and right side of defence.

Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola’s first game at Anfield ended in a defeat to Monaco, although there were welcomed returns for Alisson and Virgil van Dijk. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak connected well in attack, and Victor Munoz made his debut.

Discussions over bringing Bradley Barcola in from Paris Saint-Germain have continued, but Liverpool remain no closer to agreeing a fee, with the two clubs’ valuations still considerably apart.

Do Liverpool need to speed up their business?

If the preferred targets take a little longer to get over the line, then it may be worth being patient. Liverpool had to wait until the final day of trading last summer to secure the record signing of Alexander Isak, so if there’s a chance to land a game-changing recruit it can certainly hold until September 1.

That said, it’s getting towards the point where they may need to walk away from the Barcola pursuit if PSG do not lower their asking price of around £145million. Liverpool are not prepared to go that high and could end up focusing on other targets if the valuation is not reduced.

Of course, the sooner they top up the squad with at least one, but ideally two new attackers, the better. At least the arrival of Araujo will help plug the defensive gap that had started to become a concern.

What positions/players are they looking at?

As has been the case all summer, the wide positions remain a strong focus.

Barcola is not the only option under consideration. Liverpool like fellow PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye, and are weighing up the next steps as the 18-year-old continues to attract plenty of interest.

Other options are also under consideration as Liverpool look to replace Mohamed Salah, who left this summer and has since joined Trabzonspor. With Hugo Ekitike out for the opening months of the season, it would be useful to bring in another two attackers, even after the arrival of Munoz.

Which players could be leaving?

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over Curtis Jones, who remains a target for Inter Milan, and was left out of the squad at the weekend with a minor hip injury.

Inter remain unwilling to meet Liverpool’s €40m valuation for Jones, with his current club now awaiting the Italian side’s next move.

Tottenham are also interested in Cody Gakpo but are yet to submit an offer while Federico Chiesa continues to weigh up alternatives to staying at Anfield.

A number of youngsters will be loaned out but not all before the start of the season, as they may be needed as cover.

Calum Scalon has interest from both Cardiff City — where he spent the second half of last season on loan — and Sheffield Wednesday. He’s likely to be among the first on the move.

As previously reported, QPR are interested in Luke Chambers. James McConnell has a stack of clubs in the Championship showing admiration as well as Leicester City in League One.

Kieran Morrison’s performances on tour have opened up new loan opportunities, including a couple in the Netherlands.

Calvin Ramsay and Lewis Koumas are likely to stick around a little longer before decisions are made on their next steps, but Ifeanyi Ndukwe is expected to leave after the friendly with Como on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Austrian centre-back has impressed this summer and is weighing up strong offers from Portugal, Germany and Denmark while other clubs in Belgium, France and Spain remain interested.

Ndukwe also has offers back in his homeland but is focused on a new challenge elsewhere in Europe.

Gregg Evans and James Pearce

---

Manchester City

What has happened this week?

Barcelona have made an offer of around £38million plus add-ons for Rodri, but City want in the region of €80m to sanction his exit.

City also concluded contract talks with Jeremy Doku, with official confirmation of a new deal expected to come ahead of the weekend.

How should City replace Rodri?

City are continuing to work on a move for Ayyoub Bouaddi at Lille and are also interested in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.

Enzo Maresca is a big admirer of his from their time together at Chelsea, and City had identified the Argentine as a good fit for the squad independently of Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola, but both club and manager are convinced that Fernandez could be a good addition under the right circumstances.

City were always targeting at least two top midfielders this summer; they have already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, but with Rodri likely to move on and Tijjani Reijnders also potentially leaving, after Bernardo Silva’s exit, they intend to replace like for like.

Interest in Fernandez has existed since the end of last season, though the signing is considered far from easy. City and Chelsea were engaged in prolonged talks to finalise Maresca’s arrival as manager at the Etihad Stadium. Chelsea want at least £120m for him, a figure that, as reported above, would also not apply after a certain point of the window. There is an expectation at Chelsea that he will stay there, and a lot would have to happen in the short amount of time before the window closes for that to change.

City say that there is no interest in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

What positions/players are they looking at?

City had been looking for a right-back, but a new arrival in that position now seems unlikely after being unable to identify a suitable option. Malo Gusto was a target, but Chelsea want £75million to sell him.

City are also looking for wingers, especially in case Savinho goes to Tottenham, but have also found that there are not many suitable options. They passed on a move for Yan Diomande earlier in the window due to his wage demands, and while they like Pedro Neto from Chelsea, City sources insist they have not made contact about a move.

With Rodri expected to leave and Reijnders also a potential exit, City will be making efforts to strengthen the midfield.

Which players could be leaving?

Maresca confirmed that Omar Marmoush could move on this summer after being unhappy with his playing time last season. Reijnders is in a similar situation, as is Rico Lewis.

Savinho continues to be of interest to Tottenham, and Jack Grealish will be moved on if a suitor can be found.

Sam Lee

---

Manchester United

What has happened this week?

Manchester United agreed a deal with Middlesbrough for the permanent transfer of goalkeeper Radek Vitek for an initial £7m, rising to a potential £14m depending on performances. United also retain a sell-on worth up to 35 per cent.

Celta Vigo sealed a season-long loan move for Altay Bayindir, United’s No 2 last term, which includes a buy option of almost €4m.

Bryan Mbeumo scored his third goal in two friendlies by equalising in United’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg.

United continued talks over bringing Louis Page, an 18-year-old midfielder with 22 first-team appearances for Leicester City, to the club.

United’s entire squad flew to Dublin for a week of training and a friendly against Leeds United. Marcus Rashford reported for duty at Carrington for the first time in a year. Rashford is said to be excited at working under Carrick.

Does it feel like Michael Carrick has the tools he needs at his disposal?

Youri Tielemans enjoyed an impressive non-competitive debut for United, coming on as a second-half substitute against PSG and slipping in seamlessly with a series of neat passes. Andrey Santos once again showed his potential in the No 6 position.

But starting the season with those two as United’s only senior outfield signings would feel insufficient for Carrick’s requirements in a campaign when his team are back in the Champions League.

United can map out a squad where every position has two players to select from, especially if Shea Lacey is included as a No 10, where he has been playing well in pre-season.

But there are questions about the athleticism in United’s midfield, and how United will replace the 10 goals and set-piece threat Casemiro provided last season.

Mason Mount going off midway through the first half against PSG, even as a precaution, as Carrick termed it, alerted again to the doubt around relying on him, however gifted, for an entire season.

Similar injury issues are a factor in the decision over Luke Shaw and the hunt for a left-back, with Patrick Dorgu viewed predominantly as a left winger by Carrick.

There is also an argument for a striker to share the load with Benjamin Sesko, who has yet to feature in pre-season due to his recovery from a shin problem.

What positions/players are they looking at?

After signing two midfielders, attention has turned to a new left-back, with Lewis Hall still liked by United despite Newcastle insisting he is not for sale. Newcastle have said the same about Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, and while it is acknowledged signing Hall would be very difficult in the circumstances, United’s interest has not gone away.

Other options are being considered, and one of those on a long list is Jorge Salinas, the 19-year-old at Racing Santander. Salinas, a Spanish youth international, has a €16m release clause in his contract.

Midfield remains an area of attention too, and United are making a move in that area of the pitch — by trying to sign Page, who is regarded as a No 8. Page has shown an ability to go box to box while playing for Leicester in the Championship, and United view him as an emerging talent in the same bracket as Ayden Heaven, who joined from Arsenal in January 2025, and Tynan Thompson, who signed from Tottenham last month.

Arsenal are also in the running for Page, but the player is said to favour a move to Old Trafford. It would require United to agree a fee with Leicester.

United are also looking at opportunities in the striker market.

Which players could be leaving?

Toby Collyer has interest from several Championship clubs. It remains to be seen if clubs offer the kind of figure United have in mind for a permanent move for the 22-year-old midfielder, or a loan is the chosen route.

Left-back Harry Amass, 19, has featured much more than Collyer in pre-season but his position is similar. United are open to a transfer should a club meet the £6m fee, but there is an argument to see how a loan move goes. Several clubs are looking at an approach. United may want Amass to agree a fresh contract should a loan be agreed, with his current terms running to 2027 with a plus-one option.

Juventus continue to keep dialogue open about a move for Joshua Zirkzee, on potential terms of a loan plus obligation to buy, with other clubs also interested.

Striker Ethan Wheatley, 20, is being looked at by suitors, including Everton.

Laurie Whitwell

---

Newcastle United

What has happened this week?

The changing of the guard at St James’ Park has continued and a new era — which David Hopkinson, the CEO, christened as “Newcastle United 2.0” during an exclusive interview with The Athletic — has begun, with Bruno Guimaraes leaving and a fresh coaching tenure commencing.

Matthias Jaissle was finally announced as Eddie Howe’s successor on Wednesday evening, though the 38-year-old German had been with the Newcastle squad overseeing training at their camp in La Manga, Spain, since the previous weekend. The former Al Ahli head coach has made a positive first impression, with the renewed “energy” he has brought being repeated by everyone within the camp.

Jaissle’s tenure started with a 2-1 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla, a match in which Anthony Elanga thankfully avoided serious injury following Jose Gaya’s dangerous challenge, with Newcastle fighting back from a goal behind to score twice in the second half, with the seemingly revitalised Yoane Wissa netting a brace.

That friendly took place on Saturday, hours after Guimaraes’ £75million ($101.3m) move to Arsenal was announced. The 28-year-old joined up with the Newcastle squad in La Manga, but reiterated his desire to leave and then the hierarchy begrudgingly accepted that, should Arsenal reach a certain figure, their captain would be permitted to depart.

Ross Wilson, Newcastle’s sporting director, defended the price tag by claiming it is a “world-record fee for a player of his age”, which is open to interpretation, while Hopkinson insisted Arsenal paid more than they “hoped”, even if he accepted “we would have liked an even higher number”. Wilson admitted the club did not “want” or “plan” to sell Guimaraes, but vowed they will “react” by bringing in further reinforcements.

Could there be a benefit to Guimaraes’ exit?

The obvious response to Guimaraes leaving is one of negativity, because Newcastle have only won two Premier League matches without the Brazilian since his first-team debut in March 2022. He was their on-field talisman, their spiritual and emotional leader, as well as their captain and most important player.

Having been so strong in their stance on Guimaraes not being for sale and suggesting it would take Sandro Tonali-like figures (Tottenham Hotspur paid up to £100m for the Italian) to extract the Brazilian from Tyneside, £75m was also seen as being underpriced in the current market by some supporters.

Yet, for Jaissle, Guimaraes going immediately provides a clean break. The German spoke with Guimaraes last week, but the decision to let him leave had already been made, meaning Jaissle has been able to envisage how his Newcastle side will look without ever taking the Brazilian into account. Unlike Howe, Jaissle has not had to rely on Guimaraes, so he is able to start afresh.

The hope is that Guimaraes’ exit will see some new leaders step forward — Malick Thiaw, the Germany defender, wore the armband against Valencia — and that other midfielders will grasp their opportunity. Big things are expected of Jacob Ramsey and Lewis Miley this season, while new signings Sean Steur, 18, and Aladji Bamba, 20, may get greater responsibility sooner than expected.

Regardless, Newcastle have experience and creativity deficits, both of which have been exacerbated by Guimaraes leaving. Whether Newcastle can compensate for both by making just one signing, or require multiple, remains to be seen.

Jaissle certainly wants to bring in a veteran or two, with Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, a 31-year-old Denmark international who has played more than 250 Premier League games for Southampton and Tottenham, and Joao Palhinha, the Bayern Munich player, among around half a dozen midfielders who are under consideration.

With Guimaraes intent on undertaking a “new challenge”, keeping around a disgruntled captain may have proven counterproductive, and at least Newcastle have sold the Brazilian with time to replace him, avoiding a repeat of the damaging Alexander Isak debacle from last summer.

What positions/players are they looking at?

A midfielder and at least one full-back are of the utmost priority, while further signings will be dependent on Jaissle’s feedback once he has finished assessing the squad he has inherited. The German said on Saturday that “our squad is not complete”, but repeated he is still uncertain about the full extent of what he requires in the market.

He does want to add know-how into his midfield, though, and Hojbjerg would be a good fit, given his leadership qualities and Premier League experience. The former Spurs and Fulham midfielder Palhinha, 31, has also featured during internal discussions.

Newcastle are still yet to sign a full-back this summer and, with Tino Livramento unlikely to be fit enough to start the season opener against Liverpool following calf surgery in June, Jaissle is short of options. Miodrag Pivas, a 21-year-old midfielder or centre-back who has never played competitively for the first team, filled in at left-back against Valencia.

Ideally, Newcastle would sign a defender who is comfortable playing on both sides, but they may end up bringing in more than one full-back.

A wide attacker may also be acquired, should Jacob Murphy depart, and possibly another midfielder beyond those discussed above.

Which players could be leaving?

Newcastle are adamant that Lewis Hall will not be leaving, despite interest from Manchester United. The 21-year-old left the Spain training camp early after picking up a knock, but that was fitness-related, the club insists, and has no relation to his future. Hall is pushing to be available for the friendly against Everton at Murrayfield, in Edinburgh, on Saturday.

Nick Pope was omitted from the squad at the Mestalla and Jaissle hinted that the goalkeeper is working towards an exit. “I had a talk with Nick,” Jaissle said after the game. “I really appreciate what he did in his career so far, and he knows exactly his situation right now, and we need to deal with it in the best possible way.” Newcastle would allow Pope to depart, though firm interest is yet to be registered.

Joe Willock, meanwhile, is likely to leave, with the 26-year-old into the final 11 months of his deal. Besiktas are among the clubs interested, and Newcastle anticipate sourcing a buyer.

Newcastle may listen to offers for Murphy, the 31-year-old winger whose deal also expires next June.

Alex Murphy, the 22-year-old defender, is on the cusp of a season-long loan move to 2.Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern.

Chris Waugh

---

Tottenham Hotspur

What has happened this week?

Spurs took a huge step forwards by securing the long-term future of one of their most important players. Nothing has been signed yet, but Micky van de Ven has agreed a new contract. After a dreadful couple of seasons where Spurs finished 17th back-to-back, it is encouraging that they are able to retain their best talents, as Pedro Porro and Antonin Kinsky have already signed new deals.

Roberto De Zerbi has played a significant role in convincing Van de Ven to stay. From the moment he was appointed in March, De Zerbi publicly praised the Netherlands international on multiple occasions and described him as the best left-sided centre-back in the Premier League. Marcos Senesi’s arrival from Bournemouth will give Van de Ven extra competition, but he is now in pole position to become the leader of this defence, and possibly, the entire team.

Spurs have trimmed their squad too. West Ham have signed Manor Solomon, after talks were briefly paused due to financial reasons, for £5m with £2m in potential add-ons. Ashley Phillips is set to follow Will Lankshear to Middlesbrough in a £7m deal which could rise to £20m. 18-year-old forward Mason Melia has joined Lincoln City on a season-long loan.

Is it time for Spurs to let Romero leave?

The Athletic reported at the beginning of the summer that there was a strong chance Romero would leave Spurs, but it has taken a long time for the situation to develop. Atletico Madrid have renewed their long-standing interest in Romero along with, surprisingly, Arsenal. The chances of the Argentina international joining the champions seem slim, with Spurs considering any deal with their fierce rivals to be a non-starter.

Inter have verbally agreed in principle a fee with Spurs for the 28-year-old centre-back of around €40m. However, personal terms have not been agreed.

Romero was appointed as Tottenham’s captain last summer by then head coach Thomas Frank. He popped up with some crucial goals but was sent off twice last season and publicly criticised the club’s senior figures via social media on multiple occasions. It makes sense for all parties to seek a fresh start.

What positions/players are they looking at?

The same position they have been scratching their heads over for the last month. Spurs moved quickly at the start of the window to sign six players to boost their defence and midfield. Finding quality attacking additions has proven to be much harder.

Spurs want Savinho from Manchester City and are confident of completing a deal for the Brazilian winger, but nothing has happened yet and the start of the season is approaching. Spurs have registered their interest with Cody Gakpo’s representatives but have yet to make contact with Liverpool or begin a formal negotiation.

At the moment, they will be lining up for their opening game of the season against Brentford with a front three of Mathys Tel, Dominic Solanke and Conor Gallagher, playing out of position at right wing due to Mohammed Kudus’ fitness concerns, which is far from ideal.

Which players could be leaving?

Apart from Romero, Guglielmo Vicario’s future is uncertain after Kinsky was promoted to first-choice goalkeeper.

De Zerbi has admitted that Richarlison “sometimes wants to leave” while Pape Matar Sarr’s prospects of more game time have not been helped by the record-breaking arrivals of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali in central midfield.

Mikey Moore is closing in on a loan move to Koln and other youngsters could be presented with development opportunities elsewhere.

There has been no further movement from any clubs on Lucas Bergvall. While he is keeping his options open, he understands he might still be at Spurs by the end of the window.

Jay Harris

---

Barcelona

What has happened this week?

This has been the busiest week of Barcelona’s transfer window. There has been movement on Ferran Torres, and Rodri emerged as a surprise target.

Barcelona sources say they have rejected a bid of €45million from Paris Saint-Germain for 26-year-old Torres, who scored Spain’s winning goal in the World Cup final. Speculation over the striker’s future has grown in recent days, following a series of interviews with U.S. media.

Torres’ contract at Barca expires at the end of this coming season, and The Athletic has previously reported that La Liga’s champions would have to pay his previous club Manchester City around €7million to €8million if he were to extend.

Real Madrid had been working on a deal to sign Rodri, and Barca did not seem to be planning to add another midfielder, but they see the Spain captain’s availability as a market opportunity. Barca’s first offer worth €45million plus add-ons was rejected.

Things have been lively on the departures front, too. Ronald Araujo joined Liverpool in a swiftly-concluded loan deal that includes an option to buy at around €55million.

Last week, Hansi Flick told the centre-back he would not be a key player this term. The Uruguay international, 27, made it clear he wanted to play wherever he could.

Meanwhile, 34-year-old goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s season-long loan to Ajax was also made official.

How much would Rodri add to Barcelona’s squad?

Under Xavi, Barcelona at first struggled to replace Sergio Busquets when he left Barcelona at the end of 2022-23. Since Flick came in as manager in June 2024, he has managed to get the best out of Frenkie de Jong. Along with Marc Bernal’s emergence (and Marc Casado’s early positive displays in the position), the problem seemed to have been solved.

But De Jong is injured (club sources say he could be out for four months), Casado is expected to leave and Bernal cannot be expected to shoulder total responsibility in such an important role at 19. Although Bernal is expected to become Barcelona’s starting defensive midfielder of the future, he is still developing. Flick wants more experience in his squad.

Rodri, 30, was named by sporting director Deco as the perfect player to replace Busquets in an interview with TV3 in February 2024 (back when Barca were still struggling to replace him). He fits Barcelona’s style perfectly and knows many of the team’s players from the Spain setup, including midfielders Dani Olmo and Pedri.

Rodri is arguably the best holding midfielder in the world. He was named player of the tournament as Spain won the World Cup in July and he won the Ballon d’Or in 2024. With his arrival, Barcelona would essentially have the midfield of a World Cup-winning team. Not bad.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Barcelona’s priority remains a new centre-forward. They were already short in the position after Robert Lewandowski left following the expiry of his contract. It could become an even bigger problem if Torres also leaves.

Barca have only expressed interest in one player: Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. There have been no concrete updates on that front. And Atletico have already made it clear they do not want to sell, despite Alvarez saying during the World Cup that he wanted to leave the club in an interview with ESPN. On Monday, the 26-year-old forward returned to Atletico for pre-season preparations.

There has been growing pessimism within Barca over the prospect of a deal being reached — but they are keenly awaiting developments.

Which players could be leaving?

Marc Casado remains on the likely exit list. The 22-year-old midfielder wants to stay, but he already knows he will not play a major role under Flick this season. He did not travel to Italy for Saturday’s triangular tournament with Udinese and Nottingham Forest, and is now waiting for a move.

Roony Bardghji was another player expected to leave, on loan, due to a lack of expected playing time following the arrivals of Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon. He did not travel to Udine either. However, a suspected knee injury may well end up changing his situation.

Laia Cervello

---

Real Madrid

What has happened this week?

After several weeks of relative quiet following the World Cup, Madrid moved again in the market — completing the signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to €140million. The 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger is their sixth addition this summer.

They also ended the long-running Vinicius Junior renewal saga, with the Brazilian 26-year-old agreeing a new contract until 2032, despite interest from Arsenal.

But there was a setback. Spain World Cup winner Rodri is now leaning towards joining Barcelona, despite Madrid having also explored a move for him.

How can Madrid pivot if Rodri joins Barcelona?

There are not many alternatives with Rodri’s combination of experience and quality.

Jose Mourinho addressed the situation after Saturday’s 2-1 friendly win over Hungarian side Ferencvaros in Budapest. Bernardo Silva — the club’s only midfield signing this summer — was central to his comments.

“We want a short squad,” Mourinho told Real Madrid TV. “I would say 20 positions, plus the unfortunate ones like Rodrygo, (Eder) Militao and Ferland (Mendy), injured players I do not expect will recover in the next few weeks.

“In a short squad of 20 players, we need a player who can do what Bernardo does, who can play in different positions.”

Despite Mourinho’s comments, club sources indicate that Madrid are not currently planning another midfield signing.

Thiago Pitarch, the 19-year-old academy graduate who impressed last term, is described as an internal solution by the same sources.

Although it is not decided, sources close to the player say Madrid intend to rely on him. However, his immediate priority is recovering from his left knee injury, with a return expected towards the end of September.

What positions/players are they looking at?

Sources close to Mourinho have said for several weeks that the manager would like another left-footed centre-back and a midfielder.

Mourinho has been heavily involved in this summer’s recruitment and has had more influence over the market than previous Madrid managers.

Senior sources at Madrid indicate that the club’s priority now is to generate departures rather than add to the squad. They say the club would only consider another signing if an exceptional opportunity arose — one they felt was impossible to turn down.

Which players could be leaving?

Potential arrivals have also been linked to departures. Madrid previously considered selling 23-year-old centre-back Raul Asencio, who suffered a thigh injury in late July. Sources close to the situation say the player doesn’t want to leave, even if a move was explored some weeks ago.

Madrid have also explored the possibility of selling Eduardo Camavinga, but indications from the player are that he wants to stay.

There are still expected to be departures among Madrid’s youth players, including 22-year-old midfielder Manuel Angel.

Guillermo Rai