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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have built a squad with "no idiots", as every player embraces life on the 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary series.

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• Hollywood co-owners at the helm
• Overseen shrewd recruitment
• Aim is to reach the Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  That is according to veteran goalkeeper Mark Howard, who is severing ties with the Red Dragons after three seasons at SToK Racecourse. The 38-year-old savoured promotion in each of those campaigns.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The record books have been rewritten in North Wales, as Phil Parkinson readies his team for life in the Championship, and there is the promise of more to come as their Hollywood co-owners prepare to fund exciting business in another transfer window.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Whoever Wrexham bring in, Howard believes they will instantly buy into the most exciting of sporting projects. There have been no bad eggs so far, due to shrewd recruitment, while cameras inside the dressing room are now considered to be the norm.

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  WHAT MARK HOWARD SAID

  Howard told of life inside the Wrexham camp: "To say that we've done three [promotions] in a row, and are the first team to ever do it, is just incredible.

  "It's not been easy, but it's been so much fun and I think that's one thing that all the players in our dressing room will tell you; everything that you see about the club is incredible, but it's so much fun to be part of.

  "There's no hindrance in the TV cameras being there and the publicity and the pressures that that entails, you just absolutely enjoy it.

  "We had a really galvanised dressing room that all fought together, we all got along really well, there was no idiots, everyone bought into what Wrexham really was and I think that's been the secret to the success."

Barcelona doesn't appear to be a viable destination for Manchester United to secure the permanent sale of Marcus Rashford.

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• Rashford sale made difficult
• Barcelona interested but delaying
• Desire is loan in late summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford's future remains up in the air after falling out of favour with Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford and spending the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa. Their £40 million ($54m) option has gone unused so far, with Rashford's preference widely reported to be Barcelona. But simply selling him to the still cash-strapped Catalans isnt a straightforward process.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to , Barcelona have decided they would only be interested in pursuing a loan deal – and that would be if Rashford is still available towards the end of the summer transfer window. Barcelona, who are more heavily linked with Liverpool's Luis Diaz, are thought to be interested in Rashford, but don't intend to rush into talks now. They are seemingly expecting that the player's desire to join them is so strong, that he would rebuff other opportunities to leave United to keep himself available..

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rashford still has another three years left on his Red Devils contract, and removing the salary of a player deemed surplus to requirements by Amorim is an important step in boosting the club's financial health.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The next few months could be a struggle for United. Although Matheus Cunha has already arrived for a sizeable fee and a Bryan Mbeumo bidding war has begun, selling Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony has been considered hugely significant to raise further funds for the necessary squad overhaul. But if the club most interested in Rashford, and the one he wants to join over any other, is digging heels in over the timeframe, the Red Devils may not be able to cash in as they wish.

Manchester United have a huge summer ahead of them under Ruben Amorim, with the manager having the opportunity to make his own mark on the first-team squad.

Since arriving in November last year, he’s only had one window to try and make the additions he wants, to help the side get out of their current slump in the Premier League.

However, it still remains unclear as to how much funds he will be given to spend, with the club’s current cost-cutting operation under Sir Jim Ratcliffe still in place.

One thing is for sure, an overhaul is desperately needed to prevent a repeat of this season, which has seen the Red Devils occupy a place in the bottom half of the table for the vast majority of the campaign.

The hierarchy have wasted no time in identifying targets to help bolster the first-team squad, with a move already being pursued for one of the biggest young talents around.

Man Utd working on deal for £20m wonderkid

According to CaughtOffside, United are already working on a deal to land Sunderland sensation Chris Rigg this summer, but aren’t alone in their pursuit of the teenager.

The 17-year-old also has admirers from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, which is no surprise given his rapid rise to stardom at the Stadium of Light.

Despite his tender age, he’s already made 61 senior appearances for the Black Cats’ first-team, becoming the second-youngest player in the Championship to feature in 50 matches.

The report claims that Rigg is the number one priority for the hierarchy, seeing the youngster as a “must-have”, with Spurs having already placed a £38m bid according to other reports.

Such a deal would be a bargain for the aforementioned fee, having the potential to cement his place in the side for years to come, while also becoming a bigger talent than another youngster already at Old Trafford.

Why Rigg could become a talent bigger than Mainoo for United

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo caught the eye last year after breaking into the United first-team, with his most notable moment undoubtedly coming in the FA Cup final, scoring the winner against local rivals Manchester City.

His time in the North West since Amorim’s has been nothing but plain sailing, with injuries derailing the progress he made at the Theatre of Dreams last campaign.

However, even when he has been fully fit, the 19-year-old has also struggled, even being utilised as a centre forward in the 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace – often having to rely on substitute appearances to make an impact in his preferred role.

Given his tender age, Mainoo still needs time before he reaches his full potential, with the boss needing to give him valuable minutes in his natural role upon his return from his latest injury setback.

However, should Rigg complete a move to United in the summer window, he could further restrict Mainoo’s minutes in the side, potentially continuing his own impressive form in the professional game despite being just 17.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the ongoing season, the Sunderland star has managed to match or better the Red Devils academy graduate in numerous key areas, showcasing the talent he possesses.

The Black Cats ace has registered more combined goals and assists in 2024/25, whilst also notching a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing the threat he possesses in the final third.

He’s also completed more progressive passes per 90, whilst winning more fouls per game, having the all-round quality to battle Mainoo for a starting role should he move to Old Trafford.

Given Rigg’s tender age, he has the potential to develop into one of the world’s leading talents, that is if he continues on his current trajectory that has seen him take England’s second division by storm.

He certainly has all of the attributes to be a top talent, with a move needing to be completed, handing Amorim the opportunity to transform the teenager and massively bolster his first-team side.

Man Utd have unearthed the new Bruno Fernandes who's a "10/10 every game"

Man Utd may well have signed their next Bruno Fernandes under the INEOS regime

By
Robbie Walls

Mar 27, 2025

Premier League new boys Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a triple transfer raid after closing in on their second summer signing.

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• Leeds sign Nmecha on free transfer
• Closing in on second summer signing
• Eye triple transfer raid on top of that

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After securing the free transfer of former Wolfsburg forward Lukas Nmecha, Fabrizio Romano states Leeds are on the cusp of signing Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol for €22 million (£18.8m). In addition to that, the Whites have been linked with Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz,Africa Foot says they are in for Rennes striker Wilson Samake, and Sky Italia claims they are tracking Lecce attacker Nikola Krstovic.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Championship winners Leeds face a huge task of securing Premier League survival next season. For two straight campaigns, the Championship's promoted sides have gone right back down, so it seems to be getting even harder to stay in the English top-flight. Leeds have to be spot on with transfer signings to stay out of the bottom three and if they land some of these targets, they may have a chance at staving off the drop.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Montenegro international Krstovic, 25, scored 12 goals and added five assists in 38 games for Lecce this season. The report adds that Leeds are jostling with Bournemouth for 21-year-old striker Samake and have already placed a €1m offer for his services.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It may just be a matter of time before Leeds sign Bijol to bolster their defence but it is far from certain if the other three will also head to Elland Road as they prepare for life in the Premier League after two years away.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is personally targeting a “world-class” player, and it is believed that the Gunners are in advanced talks to sign him ahead of the summer window.

Andrea Berta set for busy summer transfer window at Arsenal

New sporting director Andrea Berta will soon commence his official role as Arsenal’s head transfer chief, which has prompted much excitement ahead of what will be his first window at the club.

"Now" – BBC journalist shares Bukayo Saka return twist out of Arsenal

The England star has been out since before Christmas.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 28, 2025

The 53-year-old will touch down in the UK before the beginning of next week, according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, and is expected to be in attendance for Tuesday’s Premier League clash against Fulham.

Berta, who played a key role during his 12-year stay at Atlético Madrid – orchestrating deals for the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Rodri, Jan Oblak, Yannick Carrasco, Luis Suárez and Marcos Llorente – comes to N5 with a glowing reputation.

Since former director Edu’s departure in November last year, Arsenal had been linked with PSG’s Luis Campos, among other high-profile officials, but Berta seems like a very good fit for Arsenal and Arteta.

There are already reports that Berta is set to splash the cash this summer, with GiveMeSport stating that Arsenal could spend up to £300 million on seven new signings under the Italian.

He is apparently set for a busy opening window as he looks to overhaul Arteta’s squad. Following Berta’s appointment, the Gunners are reportedly after a new back-up goalkeeper, full-back, defensive midfielder, left-winger, striker and, potentially, an alternative to Bukayo Saka out wide (GMS).

However, one of his key goals will be to win the race for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has already stated this week that Arsenal are “almost definitely” going to sign Zubimendi, but contrary reports state that Real Madrid are very much still in the mix.

The 26-year-old’s contract includes a £50 million release clause, which Arsenal are prepared to trigger (Fabrizio Romano). The main obstacle to this move is convincing Zubimendi to swap his boyhood club for the Premier League, which Liverpool failed to do last summer when the Spain international snubbed Arne Slot’s advances.

Mikel Arteta's stance on Martin Zubimendi with Arsenal in advanced talks

Now, a report by TEAMtalk has shared Arteta’s stance on Zubimendi, with Arsenal still in advanced talks to strike a pre-summer deal.

Arteta “certainly” wants Zubimendi at Arsenal, as per this report, and as previously reported, loose terms have already been agreed with the player. However, although negotiations are at an advanced stage, they’re apparently not finalised just yet.

This could hand Real Madrid some hope, but the good news for Arsenal is that Liverpool are apparently not planning to reignite their pursuit this year.

The Sociedad star has previously been called the “perfect” midfielder for Arteta, while Kieran Tierney has labelled him “world-class”. Given Thomas Partey and Jorginho are set to leave for nothing at the end of the season as things stand, it is imperative that Berta seals a move for Zubimendi to fill the void left in Arsenal’s engine room.

Cesc Fabregas' aims to strengthen the Como squad, opening talks to sign Malick Thiaw and Alvaro Morata while negotiations for Nicolas Kuhn have begun.

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• Como in talks with Milan for Morata and Thiaw
• In negotiations for Celtic's Kuhn
• Yet to agree personal terms with Thiaw

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Como have offered AC Milan a sum of €45 million (£38m/$52m) for Morata and Thiaw according to, . Simultaneously, they are also in talks for Celtic's Kuhn, as reported by Sky.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Morata is on loan at Galatasaray until December and need the club's approval to terminate his loan, Como are yet to agree terms with Thiaw. Fabregas' side are ready to offer €4 million (£3m/$4.6m) to the player in order to entice him.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Como's target Kuhn scored 21 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions for Celtic. Fabregas believes he will be a valuable addition to the squad.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR COMO ?

  After tying down Fabregas amid interest from Inter and Bayer Leverkusen, Como hope to get Thiaw's approval and resolve Morata's loan situation quickly so that they can provide the coach with the proper reinforcements to build on their 10th-place Serie A finish in the 2024-25 season.

With their summer spending set to exceed £200m, Chelsea are getting some smart business done before tackling a gruelling 2025-26 season

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For the last two decades, Chelsea have sought to dominate the transfer market one way or another. When Roman Abramovich rocked up at Stamford Bridge in 2003, he immediately dropped £120 million – roughly £220m in today's money with inflation taken into account – on new players, catapulting the Blues from mere top-four contenders into an elite class capable of winning the Premier League and Champions League. Even despite being banned from spending for two windows from 2019 to 2020, the west London club have still forked out upwards of £2bn since.

In the BlueCo era, Chelsea have continued to splash the cash, though on younger talent rather than proven superstars, ditching their Galactico-lite policy for one more resembling an expensive Brighton. After three years in the wilderness of transition, they have started to show signs of consistent improvement and re-established themselves as an exciting team with the potential to challenge for major honours.

After already acquiring Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr and Liam Delap in the first mini-window of June, Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and versatile Brighton attacker Joao Pedro are set to be next in through the Cobham doors. Again, Chelsea's prolific spending has been questioned, but there is a little more method behind their madness this time around.

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  Two gaps to fill

  The eye-rolls which come with every transfer rumour involving Chelsea are, in fairness, warranted. Despite their evolution in three seasons of BlueCo's ownership, there has been a staggering amount of action and turnover in each window since their takeover in 2022. Premier League finishes of 12th, sixth and fourth represents the club's worst three-year stretch since the pre-Abramovich days.

  There is, however, necessity for Chelsea to bring in more options in attack. Delap already represents at the very least an equal to Nicolas Jackson, if not an upgrade and potential long-term lock up front, while the Blues allowed Jadon Sancho to return to Manchester United after an underwhelming loan and have lost Mykhailo Mudryk indefinitely after he was charged with doping offences. It is also incredibly likely that they will move on Christopher Nkunku too, despite his heroics at the Club World Cup.

  After Mudryk's suspension was extended just under a fortnight ago, head coach Enzo Maresca insisted he would have wanted another touchline winger, in this case Gittens, through the door regardless. "I think even here you see we have [Noni] Madueke and [Pedro] Neto as proper wingers. And then we try to adapt Tyrique [George], the other day he was inside for some minutes. And we try to adapt different players during the season. Christo [Nkunku] or Kieran [Dewsbury-Hall], but for sure it's something quite clear that it's a position that we need to improve."

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  New dimension

  There was a roughness around the edges to Mudryk's game that could never quite be smoothed out following his mega-money move from Shakhtar Donetsk two-and-a-half years ago. What he did bring, however, was unpredictability and capability to stretch defences the way none of his team-mates could.

  The lack of a transition-enacting, pace-setting winger was one of a few reasons why Maresca's Chelsea became easier to nullify in the second half of 2024-25. When a game slowed down, there was no immediate way to speed it back up again. Even if Mudryk had been available, his volatility and inconsistencies as a player meant he was not a reliable option anyway.

  Sancho, meanwhile, came in for criticism for his lack of cutting edge, ranking among the bottom five percentile for wingers for shots taken per 90 minutes at just 1.22, while he ranked in the bottom nine percentile for open-play expected goals (via FBRef). He ended the Premier League campaign with three goals and five assists as six of his team-mates, including defender Marc Cucurella, outscored him.

  The addition of Gittens, who is able to play quickly into space, slow play down with one-on-one dribbling and gets shots away – he came in the top 18 percentile among wide-men for shots at 2.58 per 90 minutes – should give Chelsea the best of both worlds they had with Mudryk and Sancho.

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  Young but experienced

  The previous criticisms of Chelsea's lavish recruitment were that their purchases felt too haphazard and without strategy, while there was also concerns over the age profiles of most of their signings and whether they had overpaid for them. In addition to Delap at £30m ($41m), Pedro at slightly north of £50m ($69m) represents better value for money. Gittens at £55m ($76m) is a bit more of a risk, but still a lot more of a calculated one than some of their previous buys.

  Crucially, they head to west London with plenty of minutes under their respective belts already. Pedro already has 216 senior games and three Brazil caps to his name, with Gittens at 107 but having played three seasons of Champions League football already at 20 years of age. Arriving at the club prior to pre-season, and in Pedro's case without having played at the Club World Cup, will also allow them more time for integration prior to the start of 2025-26.

  In theory, these two buys should blow hot-and-cold a lot less than some of Chelsea's other new players of old. By the time the schedule becomes packed again, they should be up to speed and ready to meaningfully contribute.

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  Destination for top talent

  Amid the chaos of the last few years, Chelsea have maintained their standing as a club with an enormous amount of pull. Of course, part of that is down to their vast resources to pay wages comparable to the top teams in Europe, but there are also other key signs to suggest the owners' aim to make Stamford Bridge an attractive home for the most promising of young talent is on track.

  Chelsea, to this point, have not been backed into a corner and forced to sell a key player they didn't want to. Their best assets have not even been reliably linked with exits. A squad harmony and unity have replaced the overcrowded and disinterested feel of BlueCo's first season at the wheel.

  In Cole Palmer, who has exploded into one of the faces of the Premier League, the Blues have a shining example to sell to targets of the future. The year-on-year progress is also a major plus, even more so when contrasted against the scepticism around the club's strategy.

Fenerbahce have contacted Paris Saint-Germain to understand their asking price for midfielder Marco Asensio.

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• Fenerbahce interested in Asensio
• Verbal request to understand PSG's demands
• Mourinho has already met the player

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mourinho has met with Asensio, while Fenerbahce has made a verbal request to find out PSG's asking price, according to reports. They are also taking stock of the players' salary demands through his entourage.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Asensio spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Aston Villa, where he scored eight goals and provided one assist in 21 games in all competitions. The player's contract with PSG is set to expire in 2026.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Asensio isn't the only ex-Madrid player Fenerbahce are interested in, as they are also linked to Lucas Vazquez who is out of contract with Madrid at the end of the Club World Cup.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FENERBAHCE ?

  Mourinho will hope that Fenerbahce will complete the signing of Asensio as they will look to title challenge over rivals Galatasaray who have completed the signing of German winger Leroy Sane.

Luka Modric has landed in Italy and his choice of shirt number at AC Milan has sparked talk of a subtle tribute to former boss Carlo Ancelotti.

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• Modric arrives at AC Milan, signs deal until 2026
• Picks number 14 shirt previously worn by Ancelotti
• Will start training with Milan under Allegri

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report from , Modric has officially arrived in Milan to undergo medicals and finalise his free transfer to the Italian club after ending his 12-year spell at Real Madrid. The Croatian midfielder has opted to wear the No. 14 shirt for the 2025-26 season, which was occasionally worn by former Milan player and manager Ancelotti during his playing days at the club.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Modric, 39, has signed a deal with Milan until June 2026, with an option to extend for a further year. The move reunites the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner with Serie A, where he is expected to play a pivotal role under head coach Massimiliano Allegri. His arrival follows the departure of Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City, leaving a gap in midfield leadership that Modric is set to fill. Reijnders wore the No. 14 shirt last season.

  He spoke to the media briefly on Monday after arriving in Milan, saying: "I'm very happy to be here, great challenges await me, I will have time to talk about all this."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Modric featured in 63 matches for Real Madrid in the 2024-25 season, recording four goals and nine assists across all competitions. Despite his age, he logged 2,984 minutes of action.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN?

  After taking a massive pay cut, Modric is scheduled to begin training with AC Milan on August 4 at Milanello. The club’s pre-season continues with upcoming friendlies before their Serie A opener later in August. Allegri is expected to deploy Modric in a central role to anchor a midfield including Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, and Fofana, as Milan push to reclaim the Scudetto.

Wolves have edged past AC Milan in the race to sign Almeria and former Spain Under-21 right-back Marc Pubill.

• Wolves lead the race for Pubill's signature
• Milan in contact with player's agent
• Almeria open to sell Pubill, but with inflated price tag

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report by TEAMtalk, Almeria are open to selling Pubill; however, they have attached an asking price of €19m (£16.5m/$22.1m) with a 20% sell-on clause, which has to be paid to his former club Levante. Milan are after his signature, as they deem him to be a perfect fit under manager Massimiliano Allegri; however, their 'would be' formal offer of €15m (£13m/$17.4m) is falling short of Almeria's demands. Now, Wolves have emerged as favourites to sign him.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wolves are short in defence as Nelson Semedo left the club after his contract expired this summer. Now, they have identified Pubill, 22, as the perfect replacement. The defender featured 36 times in the Spanish second-tier last season and seems ready for a higher level. The two-way fight between Milan and Wolves might end soon if the latter succeeds in convincing Almeria.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The right-back, who has an existing contract at Almeria until 2029, was a Spain Under-21 international and scored a goal against Slovakia in the Under-21 Euros last June.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PUBILL?

  One-time capped Catalonia player Pubill, who spent some time in Espanyol's academy before joining Levante in 2021, will now weigh up these offers and settle for the most convenient one in the coming weeks.