Manchester Utd Outcasts Could Return, Says Amorim

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said on Friday that a series of outcasts from his squad could be handed a “new life” at Old Trafford if they do not secure a move before the transfer window closes.

Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia have been made to train away from the United first-team squad.

Interest in the quartet has not progressed due to United’s valuations, and Amorim hinted they could feature in his future plans if they remain at the club beyond the September 1 transfer deadline.

Manchester United’s Argentinian midfielder #17 Alejandro Garnacho celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 10, 2024. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) /

Garnacho has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, while Real Betis are keen on bringing back Antony after his successful loan spell last season.

Interest in Sancho is complicated by the winger’s reported £350, 000-a-week ($470, 000) wages.

“I know that it’s not a good thing to have players in this situation, but it’s clear they want to play in a different club”, Amorim said on Friday.

“So, we try to arrange everything for both parts to be happy, I have to try to have the training with the guys that I think are going to be the future.

” Then the other guys are training and preparing for the next chapter.

“When the window is closed, it’s a different history. When the window is closed, we have to receive the players and then a new life. Anything can happen”.

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Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder #23 Mikel Merino (L) vies with Manchester United’s Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on August 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) /

Despite a positive performance, United’s Premier League season got off to a losing start in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was at fault for the only goal, scored by Riccardo Calafiori.

Amorim left out Andre Onana after a hamstring injury meant the Cameroonian missed the majority of pre-season.

Onana is expected to come back into the side for Sunday’s visit to Fulham, but Amorim refused to confirm that change.

“Onana is ready to play like last week, so we will see in the game who is going to be the goalkeeper”, added the Portuguese coach.

Eberechi Eze’s Move A Sign Of Arsenal’s ‘Ambition,’ Says Arteta

Arsenal’s move to win the race to sign Eberechi Eze is a sign of the Gunners ‘ ambition to end a 22-year wait to win the Premier League, said manager Mikel Arteta on Friday.

Eze appeared to be headed to the other side of north London and a move to Tottenham from Crystal Palace until Arsenal pounced to reportedly close in on a £60 million ($81 million) deal plus £7.5 million in add-ons.

The arrival of the England international would take Arsenal’s spending in the transfer window to around £260 million following the signings of Viktor Gyokeres, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke.

Arsenal have finished second in the Premier League for each of the past three seasons and last won a trophy five years ago.

“We are showing the ambition that we are here to win major trophies and to keep evolving and improving every single year and that comes with demands and those demands are clear”, said Arteta ahead of Leeds ‘ visit to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

“We want to be in front in the league, not just chasing or reacting or being behind, but in front of it and every decision that we make in every area of the club is to achieve that”.

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Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz (R) comes on for Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 18, 2025. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

The move for Eze came just hours after Arsenal learned that Kai Havertz faces a spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

However, Arteta denied the two were related.

“We are not reacting to anything”, added the Spaniard.

“We’ve been very prepared and understanding what we could do and we have decided this is the moment to do it”.

Eze was not in the Palace squad that beat Fredrikstad in the Eagles ‘ Conference League play-off on Thursday, but Arteta does not believe he will be registered in time to face Leeds.

The 27-year-old began his career at the Arsenal academy — he said he cried for a week when he was let go — and reportedly desperate to return to his boyhood club.

“The better the feeling, the stronger the feeling, I think the better”, said Arteta.

“It brings a different edge, a different will and emotion to what you do. I think that always brings something extra”.

Arsenal began their quest for the Premier League title by winning 1-0 away to Manchester United on the opening weekend of the campaign.

‘It’s Disheartening,’ Taribo West Decries Neglect Of Ex-Internationals At Rufai’s Burial

A former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, is unhappy over the treatment of ex-internationals by football authorities in the country and won’t advise his son to play for Nigeria. 

West spoke on Thursday in Lagos during the service of songs for former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai.

“What kind of nation is this? With the type of example that they have shown with Shofoluwe, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I’ll never advise my son to put his feet for this country,” the former AC Milan player, who was visibly angry, told reporters at the event in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos.

The ex-defender accused football authorities of doing little to support Rufai’s family following the death of the goalkeeper, who was Nigeria’s first choice at the 1994 World Cup.

“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family. I felt in my spirit that there is nothing to put your life on the line for. That’s why I say I have to shift back so that I will not implode. It’s grieving.

“My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears,” he said. “When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?”

READ ALSO: Tinubu Mourns Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper Peter Rufai

Rufai played for Nigeria at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. X@NG_Supereagles.

Describing Rufai, a former Sharks Football Club player, as a “football evangelist,” West accused the Lagos Football Association and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of not supporting the legend’s family.

“Do we have a Football Federation or do we have a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way, and his family.

“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness. Look, please let me go. I don’t want to pour my heart,” he said angrily before abandoning the interview.

Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana,” was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and the country’s debut at the FIFA World Cup the same year. The footballer died last month.

Crystal Palace’s Eze On Verge Of Arsenal Move As He Misses European Tie

Eberechi Eze, an English international, was left out of the Eagles’ team for their European match on Thursday, giving the impression that he was moving closer to an agreement with Arsenal worth a reported $ 60 million ($81 million).

Eze was not chosen by Palace manager Oliver Glasner to play in the Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad in either the starting eleven or the substitutes.

The 27-year-old attacking midfielder may now miss out on a grand swan salute to Selhurst Park fans, who have him as a hero for scoring the winning goal in Palace’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley for the first time the south London club had ever won a major trophy.

When the Premier League’s current summer transfer window opened, Tottenham Hotspur’s attempt to sign Eze appeared to be on hold, but Arsenal’s arch-rivals in north London have since abandoned that deal.

Eze would become Arsenal’s seventh signing of the transfer window if he were released at the age of 13, with both striker Viktor Gyokeres and midfielder Martin Zubimendi among the players who have already made a number of notable moves to the Emirates.

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Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz (R) replaces #07 Bukayo Saka (L) in the English Premier League game between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 18, 2025. (Glyn KIRK/AFP photo)

This week, Kai Havertz’ knee injury caused The Gunners’ interest in Eze to grow even more.

The German international completed Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in their opening Premier League game of the new season last week when he started as a substitute.

Havertz was not present at the club’s Wednesday open training session at the Emirates, though.

Havertz won’t be able to play on the sidelines for how long, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appears determined to strengthen his squad regardless as he fights to win their first Premier League title in 22 years. They finished last year as runners-up to Liverpool.

Spurs, in contrast, finished the campaign in 17th place despite claiming victory in the Europa League championship.

Arteta will speak to the media on Friday to discuss Arsenal’s league game against Leeds on Saturday.

Arsenal Agree Deal To Sign Eberechi Eze From Crystal Palace —Report

According to reports on Wednesday, Arsenal are close to acquiring Eberechi Eze from Tottenham Hotspur in what could be one of the most audacious moves of the Premier League’s summer transfer window.

The 27-year-old Crystal Palace attacking midfielder appeared to be heading for Spurs’ area of north London.

However, it is now speculated that Arsenal may scuttle the deal and sign England international Eze from the Emirates after Kai Havertz was injured in a knee injury.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal and Palace had reached a definitive agreement to sign Eze, which would have cost Arsenal around the $ 68 million ($91 million) release clause and be in line with the price that Spurs were willing to pay.

After Havertz suffered a broken leg, Arsenal’s interest increased.

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On January 12, 2025, Gabriel consoles Havertz following Arsenal’s and Manchester United’s third-round football game at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Glyn KIRK/AFP photo)

The German international completed the match in the second half of Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United, but he was unable to attend Arsenal’s Wednesday open training at the Emirates.

Spurs, who won the Europa League final, finished the campaign in a lowly 17th place, one place above the relegation zone, while Premier League champions Liverpool finished second last season and are expected to contend for the title once more.

Before Palace’s Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad at home to Chelsea, Eze trained on Wednesday and played 84 minutes of the weekend draw at Chelsea. Coach Oliver Glasner said he and Eagles captain Marc Guehi would both start the European tie.

Before Chelsea, I believe many of you were unaware Marc and Ebs had started and played almost the entire game, Glasner said in a press conference prior to the game on Wednesday.

“Due to all the rumors, the majority of you will be surprised that they will start again tomorrow. They are committed, though, once more.

The English FA Community Shield football match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London on August 10, 2025, sees Crystal Palace’s #06 Marc Guehi lift the trophy. (Glyn KIRK/AFP photo)

They are committed to the team, they have a contract here, they played a crucial role for us, and they will play a crucial role as long as they are here, according to Glasner, who also led Palace to Community Shield glory in a penalty shoot-out victory over Liverpool.

Because they are good, they are committed to the team, and they want to leave as Crystal Palace players who have always given 100% of their time, which I don’t know at the moment.

“We expect this from them until the end of their contract, whenever this is,” they said. “This is what they have done since they signed.

On May 17, 2025, Crystal Palace’s English defenders Marc Guehi (center) and Crystal Palace’s #02 Joel Ward (center) lift the trophy as they celebrate following the English FA Cup final football game between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London. (Photo by Glyn KIRK/AFP) &nbsp

Guehi, the captain of the palace, will remain in contract until 2027, while Eze’s contract expires in 2027.

This noise, these rumors, Glasner said, “It’s been written for weeks, not just for three days.”

Shearer Accuses Isak Of Pouring ‘Flames On Fire’ Of Newcastle Row

Alan Shearer, a legendary Newcastle player, has accused wantaway striker Alexander Isak of “igning the fire” of his row with the Magpies by claiming that the club has broken its terms.

The Sweden international, who scored the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season, did not feature in Newcastle’s opening game of the campaign, a goalless draw away at Aston Villa last Saturday.

According to reports, Liverpool rejected a £110 million ($149 million) bid for the 25-year-old, while Newcastle fought to secure a £100 million British transfer record fee.

Despite being chosen as the Premier League 2024/25 team of the year, Isak made a statement on Tuesday stating that he had decided not to attend the Professional Footballers’ Association awards ceremony.

The relationship can’t continue when promises are broken and trust is lost, according to Isak, who added that the club has known my position for a long time.

However, Shearer, the former Newcastle captain and manager, claimed Vlado Lemic’s agent had misled his client in an interview with Betfair.

Shearer said, “If I were him, I would immediately get his agent in a room and fire him immediately because he is supposed to be advising him on signing that six-year deal with no get out clause.”

It’s ridiculous, really. It’s absurd to say that someone said, “Oh, I’ll be able to get out at the end of the season,” to borrow someone else’s opinion of football. Really? Come on, please.

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‘Wrong way, ‘ 

On April 16, 2025, Newcastle United’s Swedish striker #14 Alexander Isak (2nd R) celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal in the English Premier League game between Newcastle United and Crystal Palace at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north of England. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP)

The former England striker continued, “I’ve always said there are two sides to every story, but my feelings are the same: he’s handled it the wrong way.”

Even making this statement last night seems like it didn’t help anyone, which he didn’t even need to do.

Isak had been promised an improved contract, but Newcastle decided to delay because they had been under pressure to adhere to financial sustainability regulations.

Newcastle said in a statement late on Tuesday that they could welcome Isak back into the squad despite his sadness over his comments.

A club official never made a statement stating that Alex could leave Newcastle United this summer.

Our best players are still a part of our family, and Alex will be welcomed back when he is ready to play alongside his teammates.

Since joining Real Sociedad in 2022, Isak has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances, including the winner against Liverpool in the League Cup final earlier this year, which put an end to Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a domestic trophy.

Liverpool have already overhauled their squad, which won the Premier League title last year, with a budget of around $300 million.

Following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and the departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, they have also recovered over $ 200 million in sales and are still interested in attacking options.

Before the two clubs’ next Premier League game on Monday at St James’ Park, any agreement is unlikely to be reached.