Sports

Man Utd’s pursuit of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba as a ‘third midfielder’

Published

1 day ago

August 19, 2026

The Baleba situation also highlights a strategic change.

In the past, United have almost trailed the players they want to sign, then spent ages trying to complete a deal – or not.

Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong was a case in point in 2022. Erik ten Hag felt certain he could do the deal even though United’s recruitment staff were being told it was impossible.

It was well into August before the club admitted defeat; with defeats by Brighton and Brentford triggering the £70m deal for Casemiro.

This summer, there has been stealth behind their work. It suited them for talk around England’s Elliot Anderson to obscure what they were thinking around initial midfield targets as they knew the Nottingham Forest man would be financially beyond their reach.

The Santos deal was wrapped up within a week. The Tielemans one was less than that.

There has been consideration given to Mount being the ‘third midfielder’ because of his exceptional form in the early part of pre-season.

However, although his early exit in the encounter with Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg on 8 August was described as ‘precautionary’, Mount has still to return from the foot injury, which would only have heightened concerns around his injury record.

Baleba was supposedly off the radar as a third midfielder. Tchouameni, Scott, Kone, Berge and Adams were the ones being monitored. Now United have made their move, it would be a surprise if the transfer was not concluded swiftly.

Evidently, Old Trafford’s recruitment plans are now being controlled to a far tighter degree than was previously the case.

Sports

James Harden to re-sign with Cavaliers for 3 years, $97 million: Sources

Published

17 seconds ago

August 20, 2026

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James Harden has agreed to a new deal with the Cavaliers after Peyton Watson arrived. Sarah Stier / Getty Images

James Harden has agreed to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers for 3 years and $97 million, including a player option for the third season, according to league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not finalized.

The 36-year-old, 11-time NBA All-Star guard declined his $42.3 million option for next season in late June and was waiting to sign his new deal to give the Cavaliers more salary-cap flexibility to make a move such as signing LeBron James, according to a league source who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations. While James ultimately signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cavaliers used the extra flexibility to acquire former Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade.

Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists in 26 games for the Cavs after arriving in a February trade for Darius Garland. They reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018 and since 1993 without James on the roster, and the Cavs strongly believe Harden’s veteran presence, size and physical toughness were major reasons why. He averaged 19.2 points and 5.5 assists in the playoffs but shot under 30 percent from 3-point range and averaged 3.2 turnovers.

“I think we found something,” Harden said after the Cavs were swept out of the conference finals by the eventual-champion New York Knicks. His point was that the Cavs only had a few months to jell with him on the roster, and the team should be even better with more time.

Cleveland lost key pieces from its rotation to free agency, as defensive stopper and big man Dean Wade signed with the 76ers before James did. Keon Ellis and Larry Nance Jr. also exited Cleveland as free agents, while Dennis Schröder and Max Strus were traded to create more cap flexibility to sign Watson. The Cavs also brought former lottery pick Mario Hezonja, 31, who is returning to the NBA after six seasons in Europe.

In June, Harden was arrested in Houston and charged with unlawfully carrying a gun in his car— a misdemeanor. He has an arraignment hearing scheduled for Aug. 3 in Harris County, Texas, where he keeps an offseason home.

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Aug 20, 2026

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Sports

Arthur Okonkwo: Charlton Athletic sign Wrexham goalkeeper on loan

Published

7 minutes ago

August 20, 2026

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Charlton Athletic have signed goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on a season-long loan from Wrexham.

Okonkwo has kept 46 clean sheets in 121 games for Wrexham, having joined the team initially in 2023 on loan before making the move permanent a year later.

The 24-year-old played 39 Championship games for the club last season but did not feature in the match-day squad for their opening league game against Cardiff City.

The Nigerian international becomes Charlton’s eighth signing of the summer so far.

“Arthur is a further reflection of the calibre of player we’re attracting during our second season back in the Championship,” Charlton managing director James Rodwell told the club website, external.

“He’s an outstanding goalkeeper with proven ability, and we’re excited to see the impact he can make for the club over the course of the campaign.”

Sports

Liverpool interested in Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh

Published

13 minutes ago

August 20, 2026

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Liverpool have made an approach to Brighton to sign winger Yankuba Minteh.

The 22-year-old Gambia international has scored 10 goals and provided nine assists in 73 appearances for the Seagulls.

Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle for £30m in 2024, plays primarily on the right wing and is currently recovering from a leg injury sustained in a friendly against Roma earlier this month.

The priority for Reds boss Andoni Iraola for the remainder of the transfer window is to strengthen his wide attacking options after the departure of Mohamed Salah, and Liverpool will continue to look at a number of possibilities to test the market.

They signed Victor Munoz, who can play as a winger or through the middle, from Osasuna for £34m earlier this summer.

Paris St-Germain’s Bradley Barcola remains a priority for Liverpool but as it stands the sides are too far apart on their valuation of the 23-year-old France winger, who is open to moving to Anfield.

PSG are holding out for a fee in the region of £145m but Liverpool would be more willing to strike a deal closer to the £100m mark.