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England superstars Harry Kane and Alessia Russo have teamed up on World Mental Health Day, with inspiring messages being passed out to those who are struggling. Kane and Russo have experienced tough times themselves on and off the pitch and want to use their voice, as prominent figures in society, to help spread the word of never being afraid to speak up and ask for help.

• Kane & Russo overcame difficulties to reach the top

  Kane and Russo have reached the very top of their chosen profession. The former is the all-time leading scorer for Tottenham and England’s men’s national team – while reaching 100 goals for current employers Bayern Munich – while the latter is a two-time European Championship winner with the Lionesses that also helped Arsenal to Champions League glory in 2024-25.

  Their respective rises have not been without their difficulties. Kane took in several loan spells before making his breakthrough at Spurs, leading to questions being asked of his ability to perform at a high level, while Russo has spoken out in the past about online trolls causing her body image and personal wellbeing issues.

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• Russo's advice to younger self in times of struggle

  The pair have now linked up on Mental Health Day 2025, with Kane asking Russo: "If you could go back and speak to your younger self during a particularly difficult setback, what is the most crucial piece of advice you would give?"

  Arsenal and England forward Russo replied with: "I would tell her to stay calm. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. You may not feel it in the moment, but the tough times don’t last and I think staying positive, working hard, tapping into the people around you, your friends, your family, your support staff, your team-mates. Everyone wants the best for you. They want you at the top of your game, they want you to feel your best and be your happiest.

  "It’s OK to reach out, it’s okay to ask for help. Just stay positive, don’t be too tough on yourself and enjoy the process. You’ll look back on it and have learnt so much and you’ll remember it in the highest of highs. I think it’s important to go through, learn about yourself and use it for the future when other things arise. You have the tools, you know how to deal with it, it always makes you stronger."

• The Harry Kane Foundation: Important work to be done

  The Harry Kane Foundation was launched on Mental Health Day 2022, with that project forming part of the Bayern striker’s past, present and future plans. He told in May 2025: "I think just normalising the conversation is huge. Mental health is something I’ve related to throughout my career – the ups and downs – and I think a lot of people can relate to that. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It can just be chatting with someone in a coffee shop. That’s how we start changing the narrative."

  Kane added on his foundation, which will eventually take up more of his time once he hangs up playing boots for the final time: "We’re on a journey. We’re learning about mental health, what younger people are going through. We’ll just continue to have those conversations.

  "Once I retire, I’ll probably be more involved with the Foundation. It’s good to get a head start now and really learn about it. I’m sure there’ll be other things we do in the future with other athletes or companies to see how much change we can make. But already, in the three years, I feel like we’ve come a long way and done some good stuff."

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  How Russo removed the source of her discomfort

  Russo said in June 2025 of removing the sources of her discomfort: "I think you have to remember that they are the people you need to lean on in tough times. As I’ve got older, I understand more what works for me. In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes.

  "Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me."

  That mindset is allowing Russo to thrive on the field, while Kane has mastered the art of turning a deaf ear and blind eye to any of his detractors. There is, however, still much work to be done when it comes to helping those struggling in everyday life deal with the problems that they are facing.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has criticised the performance of two Arsenal players after his side’s unconvincing 2-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday night.

England one step closer to World Cup qualification after Andorra triumph

England extended their perfect record in their World Cup qualification group with a comfortable, but not particularly flashy 2-0 win against Andorra on Saturday night, courtesy of an own goal in the first half, before Declan Rice sealed all three points in the 67th minute.

Speaking after the match, Tuchel insisted he was happy with his side’s performance, although Roy Keane was a little more sceptical about the display.

Keane said: “I still think England fell back into their old ways tonight, certainly in the second half. Sideways, backwards passes.

“We saw their two goals, particularly the second one, just from a cross. They’ve got to cross it a bit more, don’t complicate the game. And I still think they go backwards too many times.”

While Tuchel was pleased with his side’s overall performance, despite Keane’s criticism, the German also insisted there is work to be done, with two Arsenal players failing to make the desired impact on proceedings.

Speaking after the match, the Three Lions boss said: “We missed the little moments to accelerate the game. Maybe Ebs had not his best day in the No 10 position. He trained so well. In the decision-making, struggled a little bit.

“The last pass from Noni was not clinical enough.”

Arsenal could have saved millions on Hincapie with "unique" £1m Hale Ender

Arsenal signed Piero Hincapié on deadline day, but this academy prospect could be the one that got away

By
Will Miller

Sep 6, 2025

Eze criticism warranted after disappointing performance

It is fair to say Eze didn’t exactly set the world alight against Andorra, touching the ball just 38 times throughout the match and failing to create any big chances. For context, Morgan Gibbs-White picked up 25 touches during his late cameo after replacing Eze in the 78th minute.

As such, criticism of the 27-year-old is perhaps warranted, but it is a little harsh to single out Madueke, given that the winger was one of England’s only bright sparks on the night, putting in the cross which led to Christian Garcia’s own goal in the first half.

Contrary to Eze, the Arsenal winger was also very much involved in the game, completing 46 of the 53 passes he attempted, while also completing two successful dribbles and winning five duels, although he did squander one big chance.

Mikel Arteta will need Madueke to continue his current performance levels for a little while longer too, given that Bukayo Saka is not expected to return until October, although it is feasible the 24-year-old could be available for selection later this month.

Liverpool have been warned they are in the midst of a "mini-crisis" and are "too open" following their 2-1 loss against Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. This was Arne Slot's side's third defeat on the trot across all competitions as the English champions have started to crumble after starting the 2025-26 campaign on a dream note.

• Liverpool's sudden dip in form

  Liverpool kicked off their title defence campaign by winning back-to-back five Premier League matches, one Champions League game and a Carabao Cup clash. However, since last weekend, everything has gone downhill for the champions. It all started with a loss against Crystal Palace, which was followed by a defeat at Galatasaray in the Champions League. Finally, on Saturday, they went down 2-1 against the Blues with Moises Caicedo and Estevao scoring for the hosts. Cody Gakpo was on target for the Reds. 

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  Liverpool facing a 'mini-crisis'

  Former Premier League star and Reds midfielder Jamie Redknapp dissected the team's performance as a pundit on , as he said: "You can't change too much and go away from what was so successful last year. When I looked at the balance in midfield, they are certainly losing control in important matches. I think about the first goal the way they dissect Liverpool's midfield. 

  "I get that at times you have to go man for man, but other times you have to mark space but they are too open all the time. That isn't what Liverpool were last season. Everyone right now is just a bit off it, confidence is low. I wouldn't write Liverpool off just yet but this is certainly a mini crisis because of the way they are playing. They haven't been at it all season but they will get better and they are still going to be in the equation."

• Wirtz started on the bench against Chelsea

  After a series of poor performances since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for a record transfer this summer, Wirtz got off to a slow start as he failed to live up to the hype. However, owing to his recent poor form, Wirtz was kept on the bench on the Reds' trip to Stamford Bridge and he came on as a substitute in the second half, replacing Conor Bradley. 

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  Liverpool drop to second position

  Before Liverpool's third consecutive loss in west London, Arsenal comfortably beat West Ham 2-0. Following the two results, Arsenal climbed up to the top of the table and are now one point clear of the Reds. Liverpool return to action after the international break against bitter rivals Manchester United.

Fabrizio Romano has shared some transfer news out of Tottenham in what is a big boost for Thomas Frank, with chairman Daniel Levy adding to their short list of summer signings ahead of an imminent deadline day.

Spurs have just four days to bolster Frank’s squad in the desired areas, as Levy attempts to back the Dane before a very long and arduous campaign where the Lilywhites will be competing on four fronts.

£69m attacker "really" wants to join Tottenham with Xavi Simons

Spurs is a desired landing spot ahead of the deadline.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 28, 2025

They’ve made an excellent start to the new Premier League season, rounding off impressive wins against newcomers Burnley and heavyweights Man City in the past fortnight, but injuries to key players have partly prompted a late scramble for new recruits.

James Maddison is set to miss a large portion of 2025/2026 after rupturing his ACL in pre-season, while Dejan Kulusevski could be out until much later in the year as he continues his recovery from a knee problem.

Radu Dragusin also suffered an ACL injury back in the winter, and the Romania international still isn’t ready for selection.

As a result, Tottenham have been in the market for a new centre-back, number 10 and winger over the past few weeks, with club legend Son Heung-min also waving an emotional goodbye to the club earlier this month before joining LAFC.

Spurs were in talks to sign Savinho from Man City, but Pep Guardiola’s side appear to have blocked the move despite the Brazil international’s extreme eagerness to move down south for more game time.

Their search for a playmaker hasn’t been plain sailing either, with Levy missing out on both Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White in spectacular, dramatic fashion this window alone.

However, according to reports, Tottenham’s mission to sign a new number 10 could now be coming to a close.

In the last 48 hours, Spurs began talks over hijacking Chelsea’s deal for RB Leipzig sensation Xavi Simons, who was a former member of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before switching to PSG’s youth ranks.

The 22-year-old has been dazzling in Germany with Leipzig for two years, making his move there permanent in January, but he’s now set to join the Lilywhites after successful talks.

Xavi Simons signs Tottenham contract after "overnight" agreement

According to Romano, following an “overnight” agreement, Tottenham are set to sign Simons in a deal worth £52 million, with his medical already completed and contracts now penned.

The Netherlands international, who can also play on the left, will provide Frank with versatility, attacking flair and proven quality in the final third.

Despite suffering an ankle ligament injury at the start of 24/25, Simons still managed 11 goals and eight assists over 33 appearances in all competitions, with Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard previously sharing exactly what Frank can expect from his newest arrival.

Cole Palmer reportedly missed Chelsea's latest training session amid concerns about a troublesome groin problem. The England international has had an injury-hit start to the season, with the 23-year-old missing games against West Ham and Fulham due to this issue. The England international limped off in the Blues' 2-1 loss to Manchester United and it seems a spell on the sidelines beckons.

• Palmer has injury-disrupted season for Chelsea

  The former Manchester City man only came back from this injury in the 2-2 draw at Brentford on September 13, but was forced off after 21 minutes in the defeat at United last weekend. He also sat out the Blues' 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Lincoln City in midweek, raising fears he could be unavailable for a while. And according to , Palmer missed Chelsea's open training session on Thursday.

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  Maresca calls on team to thrive without Palmer

  Former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino previously challenged his squad to prove they are not "Cole Palmer FC" ahead of a clash with Arsenal. They would lose that game 5-0, with Palmer missing out due to illness. The England ace has 58 goal contributions in 98 Premier League appearances and is vital to Chelsea's success.

  While head coach Maresca admits they are a better side with Palmer in it, they need to find solutions when he isn't around. 

  He toldlast week: "We need him, no doubt. With Cole we are a better team. But when Cole is not available we need to find solutions and ways to win games. We did it against West Ham and Fulham. We were close against Brentford."

• Chelsea need to 'protect' Palmer

  The former Leicester City manager stressed the importance of not rushing Palmer back before he is ready, particularly after a long summer that included the Club World Cup and a shortened pre-season.

  Maresca said, "We need to protect Cole for sure, 100%. Not only Cole, in my personal view, because as I said now, because of the Club World Cup or because we never stop, we need to manage and protect different players," Maresca explained, also referencing Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro."

  He added: "The solution with Cole, I don't know, now we have a meeting with the medical staff and we decide the best solution for him. But it's also a kind of injury that is not like black and white. It's an injury that someday you can be better. It's not that you have pain and tomorrow will disappear. Sometimes you can be better, sometimes you can be worse. That's why we need to manage day by day."

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  When will Palmer return for Chelsea?

  Maresca is yet to give any clear indication as to when Chelsea's attacking talisman will be fit and ready once again. The west London outfit face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday in a battle between sixth and 14th, respectively, before continuing their Champions League campaign at home to Benfica next Tuesday. Finally, the Blues have a crunch clash with defending champions and current unbeaten league leaders Liverpool on October 4, in what is their final game before the latest international break. It remains to be seen when Palmer will be available once more.

Tottenham have thrusted themselves back into the market for a new playmaker, aiming to put their Eberechi Eze disaster behind them.

Spurs’ transfer plans were dealt a brutal blow after losing out on Eze in midweek, with Arsenal swooping in to hijack their deal on Wednesday night.

Daniel Levy earmarked the Crystal Palace star as their next marquee summer signing, a creative spark to soften the loss of Son Heung-min and cover for James Maddison’s devastating ACL injury. But just when it seemed they were in pole position, Arsenal made their move.

The Gunners opened talks with Palace and quickly accelerated negotiations. Eze, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, agreed to the switch despite also shaking hands on personal terms with Thomas Frank’s side.

For Tottenham, it’s a gut punch. The club had identified Eze as the player to carry the creative burden, particularly after Maddison’s long-term setback left a gaping hole in the number 10 role.

Losing out on him to their north London rivals only rubs more salt in the wound, especially after weeks of groundwork laid behind the scenes.

Spurs are now left scrambling for alternatives, but there’s no hiding the frustration. Eze ticked every box: proven Premier League quality, versatility across the front line, and the confidence to deliver in big moments. His numbers at Palace speak volumes, but it’s his ability to glide past defenders and unlock stubborn backlines that Frank will miss most.

Whoever comes in Eze’s stead will be crucial, and there is someone who the Tottenham recruitment team seriously want to sign.

Tottenham think Morgan Rogers is the "perfect" Eberechi Eze alternative

Speaking on his YouTube channel after Eze’s move to Arsenal broke, Fabrizio Romano shared that their dream number 10 alternative is Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

The England winger, valued at around £80 million, bagged a sensational 14 goals and 16 assists in all competitions last term as Unai Emery’s key attacking star, and he has real admirers inside Spurs.

Romano says Tottenham view Rogers as the “perfect” candidate for their attacking midfield role, but as things stand, it’s an almost impossible deal to pull off.

He mentions other candidates in his video, like Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, but the prospect of an ambitious late move for Rogers is very tantalising, albeit unlikely.

Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade has revealed a heated on-field exchange with Arsenal defender Gabriel after what he described as a high elbow to the face during their 2-1 defeat at St James' Park. Woltemade insists he is 'not the type of player to fall down' for fouls, highlighting frustration over dangerous challenges and sportsmanship in the Premier League.

• Gabriel and Woltemade's heated clash

  Woltemade opened the scoring for Newcastle in the first half by jumping over the Brazilian defender, only for Arsenal to mount a dramatic comeback with a 96th-minute winner from Gabriel. After the opener, Woltemade appeared to be elbowed in the face by Gabriel, but the challenge went unpunished. The incident sparked a tense confrontation between the two, which referee Jarred Gillett had to intervene in to calm down.

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  Woltemade opens up on feud with Gabriel

  Speaking to , Woltemade gave a detailed account of the incident: "After the goal, there was a situation where I felt his elbow in my face at two metres, so his arm had to be really high. I just said it to the referee that I felt something in the face, and I think it's not right to feel something in the face."

  He continued on the confrontation: "Following that, he said sorry after, so I think he knew he hit me in my face. I didn't solve the situation to be honest. I don't like this. If you do some things in-game and then a few seconds later you say sorry, that's not part of the game. I like the situation where you can have a good battle, but it always has to be fair. His elbow should not be in my face."

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  German striker not one to 'fall down' and engage in theatrics

  Woltemade made clear his commitment to fair play as he refused to go down after Gabriel's apparent elbow: "I'm not the type of player to fall down for this. It's hard because sometimes maybe you have to do this, but this is not my type of football."I just stand tall, try to play my game, and I don't exaggerate challenges. Sometimes these situations happen in football, but it should always be safe and fair. I can't control what happens, but I can control how I react, and I want to play proper football without resorting to theatrics."

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• Woltemade making a mark on struggling Newcastle

  Newcastle will look to recover quickly as they aim to close their growing gap with the top half in the Premier League standings. Woltemade is expected to maintain his spot when the Magpies face off with Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Summers like this are not the norm for Arsenal Football Club.

Aside from 2023, when Declan Rice joined the club, it’s hard to think of very many windows in which the Gunners went out with such conviction to secure their targets.

There are still just under two weeks until the window slams shut and Mikel Arteta has a new starting number nine, a new number six who was courted by some of the biggest clubs in the game, and four more signings to dramatically improve the bench.

Moreover, if that somehow wasn’t enough, the North Londoners are now closing in on Eberechi Eze and have been linked with another youngster who could have just as much potential.

Arsenal target youngster who could be as good as Eze

It’s been quite a dramatic summer of transfers so far this year, but we don’t think anything is going to quite top what happened on Wednesday night.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With the Arsenal fanbase still coming to terms with the news that Kai Havertz had suffered another injury, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Berta and Co had gone back in for Eze, despite Tottenham Hotspur agreeing personal terms.

Then, within just a couple of hours, the move was given the Fabrizio Romano ‘here we go’ treatment.

It’s the sort of transfer that could change the club’s season, and yet, it looks like the North Londoners want to make at least one more signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from French outlet L’Equipe, which has claimed Arsenal are interested in Malick Fofana.

The report has revealed that the Gunners are eyeing a move for the Ivorian international, and that while Lyon do not want to sell, they may have to due to their perilous financial position.

With the winger valued at €40m, which is about £35m, it wouldn’t be a cheap deal for Arsenal, but given Fofana’s ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could have as much potential as Eze once did.

Why Fofana could be as good as Eze

Now, we aren’t suggesting that Fofana is as good or as complete as Eze is at the moment, but there are more than a few indications that he could become as brilliant in the future.

The first is his output for Lyon last season.

In 41 appearances, totalling 2280 minutes, the “game-changing” prospect, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 11 goals and provided six assists.

That means that the 20-year-old was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 2.41 games, or every 134.11 minutes, which would be impressive for a seasoned veteran, let alone someone his age.

Moreover, he’s already picked up where he left off, as he provided the assist in Lyon’s one-nil win over RC Lens on the weekend.

The second reason we reckon the young Belgian could be an Eze-esque star in the making is the fact that his underlying numbers are nothing short of remarkable.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for percentage of shots on target and goals per shot, the top 3% for progressive carries, the top 6% for carries into the final third, the top 7% for crosses into the penlaty area and more, all per 90.

In other words, the dynamic winger is elite at bringing the ball up the pitch and into dangerous attacking areas, while also having a brilliant cross on him – sound like anyone else?

Finally, even though the Aalst-born gem is primarily a left-winger, he is more than comfortable playing off the right, or deeper, in wide midfield positions, which would give Arteta more tactical flexibility.

Ultimately, Fofana is already an excellent attacker, but with his output, underlying numbers and ability to play in more than one position, he could end up being as good as Eze one day.

Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to the Emirates before the window slams shut next month.

The new Havertz: Arsenal weighing up late move to sign £80m star after Eze

The big-money star could be just what Arsenal need following Kai Havertz’s injury.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 21, 2025

Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta, Georgia, at the weekend, as Ruben Amorim’s side won the Premier League Summer Series over in the United States.

Football is encapsulated by peaks and troughs, and so too was this closing pre-season fixture over the pond defined by some good and some bad for the Red Devils, who are desperate to find themselves once again after finishing 15th in last season’s Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Change was always going to be necessary, and INEOS have indeed acted with intent to reshape the frontline, signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from divisional rivals.

However, more is still needed. United require another central midfielder, and remain interested in replacing Andre Onana between the sticks.

But there’s no question that the most pressing, and most prominent, concern remains finding a new out-and-out central striker.

Man Utd's attacking transfer plans

Rasmus Hojlund, 22, has been vocal in his desire to stay at Manchester United next season and fight for his place at number nine, but the rumour mill suggests technical director Jason Wilcox has transfer-listed him for £30m.

The Danish striker flattered to deceive last season. Sure, he was let down by a dearth of creativity behind him, but lacked control and confidence, and scored only four times across 32 appearances in the Premier League.

And Amorim is focused on signing an upgrade, and the chosen target is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who has emerged at the centre of the transfer tussle also involving Newcastle United.

The Magpies made a £70m bid on Saturday, which was rejected. Man United haven’t, although INEOS know they can sign the Slovenian without having to sell first (whereas Newcastle must first cash in the Alexander Isak cheque).

But could the Old Trafford side yet have an even bigger deal in the pipeline?

Man Utd lining up British-record bid

According to Spanish sources, Manchester United are ready to shatter the transfer market by launching a bid for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

The 24-year-old is one of the best players in the world, and no mistake. However, he has been the subject of persistent transfer speculation concerning the Saudi Pro League in recent years, owing largely to a new Los Blancos contract that remains unpenned.

Man United want to take advantage and remind the world that they are a superpower. A package worth €200m (£174m) is being put together, and that would make the Brazilian the most expensive player in British football history.

Why Man Utd want Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius Jr, 25, is one of football’s true superstars, having joined Real Madrid from Flamengo for a £39m fee as a teenager in 2018.

Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “He’s a player who is already considered one of the great hopes of Brazilian and world football.”

Though Sesko is a centre-forward, and Vinicius Jr is more of goalscoring winger, this would be an opportunity too good to pass up, and there’s no question that the South American is the target INEOS must prioritise.

Indeed, it’s not like he doesn’t have the skills to serve as a goalscoring sensation at the club. As per FBref, the Real gem ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goals scored, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

Perhaps he’s coming off the back of a campaign that left something to be desired, but the man still notched 22 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. In fact, he’s now surpassed 35 goal involvements for four seasons in succession.

Sesko, conversely, has yet to prove he has what it takes to take a seat at the elite table, having scored 13 goals from 33 Bundesliga fixtures in 2024/25.

The potential is there, and, of course, Sesko may well shape into one of the finest goalscorers in the business if he signs for Man United this summer, but in Vinicius Jr, Amorim would land a tailor-made figurehead with an absurd amount of technical quality. He’s the real deal.

Of course, the Brazil international is typically found coming off the left flank, and that’s an area that Cunha will be expected to play in, but the Madrid man’s compatriot started up front for Amorim’s team against Everton the other day, and Vinicius Jr, too, could be interchangeable positionally.

If the talk of his shooting ability wasn’t enough, the 25-year-old also averaged two key passes per game in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore, also averaging 2.7 dribbles and a whopping 5.8 duels per match. Earning £349k per week, you’d expect him to bring such a degree of completeness to the table.

Further, he’s one of the most recognisable faces currently competing in the Champions League, scoring in the 2018 final against Liverpool and the 2023 final versus Borussia Dortmund, triumphant on both occasions.

That’s the kind of pedigree Man United need if they are to restore themselves, rekindle that fire that once burned so bright at the height of the global game.

Described as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vinicius Jr has already left an indelible mark at Real Madrid, and could take his development to the next level by becoming a talisman at Old Trafford.

Sure, Sesko is a talented young striker with plenty of power and much determination besides, but we’re talking about a star on a different scale here, and if there truly is a chance to bring Vini over to the Premier League, the Red Devils must pounce as they march back to the top of the European scene.

Amorim's very own Ibrahimovic: Man Utd to make bid for "phenomenal" talent

Manchester United are making moves for a player who could replicate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 4, 2025

Alexa Melton has sent a "love you" birthday message to Christian Pulisic, with the USMNT star's golf pro girlfriend reflecting on "all our mems". AC Milan forward Pulisic, who welcomes his partner to Italy on a regular basis, has turned 27 and is hoping to enjoy a productive 12 months – in what is a World Cup year – before another personal celebration rolls around.

• When did Pulisic & Melton start dating?

  Pulisic and Melton have been an item for over 12 months now, having first generated romance rumours in the summer of 2024. United States international Pulisic was spotted getting friendly with his new beau at the US Women’s Open.

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  Holidays & trips to Europe: Quality time together

  The happy couple holidayed together before and after the 2024 Copa America, with windows in their respective professional schedules being found. The pair continue to meet up as often as possible.

  Melton has taken in regular trips to Europe, allowing her to watch Pulisic in action for Serie A giants AC Milan, with plenty of time being spent on the golf course – as Pulisic is also a big fan of the sport that earns his girlfriend a living.

• Different characters: Pair bounce off one another

  Melton figured on the ‘PULISIC’ documentary from Paramount+, with her energetic and carefree nature considered to be good for Pulisic as ‘Captain America’ endeavours to relax and unwind away from the stresses of his day job.

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• Happy birthday! Pulisic turns 27

  Pulisic has now been sent a "Happy birthday – love you n all our mems" message by Melton as she shared a collection of photos on Instagram – with many of those showcasing the happy times that the pair have enjoyed together.

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