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With Bryan Mbeumo now expected to undergo a medical next week, Manchester United have reportedly turned their focus towards another summer target.

Latest on Man Utd's goalkeeper search

The clock is ticking on Andre Onana’s place as Manchester United’s No.1 whether he likes it or not. The Red Devils instantly commenced their search for an upgrade this summer and whilst things haven’t moved as quickly as the likes of Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo, their pursuit remains ongoing.

Several names have emerged as candidates for the role with the most prominent being Emiliano Martinez and Diogo Costa. Both would be upgrades on the struggling Onana, but which direction United choose to head towards is the big question. If Statman Dave’s verdict is anything to go by, then it should be the latter rather than Aston Villa’s No.1.

Costa is certainly a realistic option too. The Porto goalkeeper has reportedly already given the green light to a move to Old Trafford this summer and INEOS must now turn to the negotiations table with the Portuguese club.

That said, Costa won’t come cheap and that may prove to be the ultimate stumbling block for the Red Devils. With a release clause reportedly worth as much as £64m, United would be forced to splash out a similar price for the goalkeeper that they’ve already spent on Cunha and Mbeumo.

Bellingham 2.0: Man Utd open talks for "one of the best CMs in the world"

Manchester United appear to be laying the foundations over a move for a sensational young talent.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 27, 2025

If that is the case then a cheaper option which they could find in the Serie A would certainly be ideal.

Man Utd ready to submit Carnesecchi offer

As reported by Football Italia, INEOS are now ready to submit a €40m (£34m) offer to sign Marco Carnesecchi from Atalanta in a bid which would include add-ons to close in on the Serie A club’s €50m (£43m) valuation.

Like Costa, Carnesecchi is just 24 years old and already showing plenty of signs that he’d be an instant upgrade on Onana if Manchester United complete their move this summer.

In several key areas, the Atalanta goalkeeper outperformed Onana last season. But what stands out most is his incredibly high save percentage and the best context to add to that would be the fact that Alisson Becker only managed 72% – that’s the level of player that United would be signing.

Dubbed “excellent” by Get Italian Football News, 6 foot 3 Carnesecchi was recently called up to Italy’s senior side after starring for the U21s, and although he was forced to sit on and watch from the bench, will have his eyes set on eventually dethroning Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Before that time comes, however, a move to Old Trafford could be calling his name. Whether the goalkeeper answers that call remains to be seen.

It’s fair to say Ruben Amorim’s reign at Manchester United to date has been a bumpy ride full of many ups and downs.

Amorim has collected 17 victories from the Old Trafford hot-seat, but that has been followed up by a worrying 17 losses being tallied up, which included a soul-crushing Europa League final defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

Even with the pain of this loss out in Bilbao still hurting – with no European football on the menu this coming season – the Red Devils have been able to flex their muscles in the transfer market, as seen in the notable £62.5m capture of Matheus Cunha.

But, what’s around the corner for the Red Devils?

Man Utd in surprise talks to sign £70m star

Well, Bryan Mbeumo is reportedly also edging closer to a switch to the red half of Manchester despite their aforementioned problems, with a hat-trick of standout purchases from within the Premier League perhaps on the cards if another deal is also secured.

As per a report by Football Insider, United have been in surprise talks recently over snapping up Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite.

It’s stated that a move was being explored after United had held talks with the 6 foot 5 man mountain’s agent, but it is looking more likely that Branthwaite will pen a contract extension at the Toffees, over moving to nearby Manchester.

Yet, as has been seen in the manic transfer window so far, many twists and turns can occur, with United known to be keen admirers of the £70m-rated centre-back for some time now, having been linked with the one-time England international last summer.

A move might well finally happen for Branthwaite and the Red Devils, with Amorim’s strugglers hopeful that the strong Everton number 32 can go on to be their modern-day iteration of Rio Ferdinand if a deal is finalised.

How Branthwaite can be Man Urd's next Ferdinand

It’s been nearly 23 years now since Ferdinand crossed enemy lines to leave Leeds United behind for the Theatre of Dreams for £30m.

But, even nearly two decades on, Ferdinand is still seen as the cream of the defensive crop from United’s recent and more success-laden years, with a mammoth 189 clean sheets coming his way from a stacked 504 Premier League outings, away from his ridiculous trophy collection boasting six top-flight title successes.

As it did at Elland Road over 20 years ago, Branthwaite’s exit would certainly upset the Everton masses if he were to shortly walk away from Merseyside, having showcased himself, just like Ferdinand, to be one of England’s finest young centre-halves.

Ferdinand did already have 54 Premier League clashes under his belt in West Yorkshire before sealing a major switch to link up with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, and now Branthwaite will surely fancy a similar big move to elevate his game to the next level.

After all, the now-retired United number 5 was only a year older than Branthwaite is now when he first made the leap to Old Trafford, with the 22-year-old also definitely capable of adjusting to the pressures of the Theatre of Dreams when glancing at his standout numbers from the table above.

Branthwaite would be able to chip in with goals and assists aplenty too, just like Ferdinand in his pomp, with his output during his breakout 2023/24 season seeing him fire home three strikes, away from further proving his imposing nature in the air by winning 3.9 duels per game throughout 2024/25.

Once lauded as a “colossal” presence by Statman Dave, on top of also being labelled as a “beast” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, this could be yet another signing that helps United push out of their current mire.

A positive new horizon could soon come Amorim and Co’s way as Branthwaite potentially goes down as a modern icon at the back, whilst Cunha and Mbeumo also aim to be heroes in their own right.

He'd be perfect for Mbeumo: Man Utd prepare bid for "exceptional" £28m ace

Manchester United appear to be making serious moves in the transfer market.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 28, 2025

Newcastle United are believed to be eyeing an impressive double swoop alongside their imminent move for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga this summer.

Newcastle closing in on Elanga signing

The Magpies continue to work hard on new signings, from James Trafford to Marc Guehi, but it looks as though the addition of Elanga from Forest is closer than ever to happening.

According to a new claim from Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Newcastle have agreed a £55m for the signing of the Swede, with a medical expected to take place imminently.

Elanga has the potential to be such an eye-catching signing for Eddie Howe, with his pace helping make them a huge threat on the counter-attack, as highlighted last season when he scored a stunning solo effort against former club Manchester United.

It’s now a case of ensuring that the Forest man becomes a Newcastle player and that there are no late obstacles to overcome, before turning their attention to further signings, with a striker believed to be a major focus for PIF this summer.

Newcastle eyeing double defensive swoop

According to L’Equipe [via Sport Witness], Newcastle remain keen on signing Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri, despite their strong interest in Trafford. He is considered a good alternative to the Englishman and may well head to the Premier League either way this summer, with Leeds United also in the mix.

Meanwhile, Give Me Sport claim that the Magpies are continuing to eye a summer move for Guehi from Crystal Palace, in a potential £70m deal. They are described as being “hopeful of winning the race” to sign the England international once they wrap up Elanga.

Perri stands out as an excellent alternative to Trafford, should Newcastle fail to sign the Burnley man, with Paulo Fonseca even calling him the “best in the world” in his position. At 27, the Brazilian is also a more proven player at the top level than Trafford, although at this point, it would still be a surprise if the Clarets goalkeeper wasn’t the man to come in this summer.

Meanwhile, Guehi arguably stands out as the strongest possible choice to come in and bolster Newcastle’s back-line, having now shown that he can excel for both club and country, standing out as England’s best defender at Euro 2024 last summer.

Now feels like the right time for him to enjoy a new challenge in his career, and he possesses the leadership, quality on the ball and reading of play to be a mainstay of the Magpies’ defence for many years.

He will love Elanga: Newcastle in advanced talks to sign a "top striker"

Eddie Howe could be close to signing a new striker for Newcastle.

2

By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 8, 2025

Granted, the £70m price tag is bloated, as is often the case with homegrown players, but he could prove to be worth every penny if he shines at the heart of the defence for the next decade.

Arsenal are currently working to tie up a few key summer deals for Mikel Arteta, as the Gunners also prepare to kick off their pre-season tour of Asia against AC Milan on Wednesday.

After announcing the signing of England international winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea for an initial £48.5 million, rising to £52 million with add-ons (Sky Sports), defender Cristhian Mosquera is poised to follow soon.

£50m "game-changer" would now love to join Chelsea despite Arsenal approach

The Blues have been handed a boost in their pursuit of an attacker.

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 21, 2025

Arsenal reached an agreement with Valencia to sign the 21-year-old some time ago, and reports suggest he’s undergone a successful medical in north London (Tribuna Deportiva Valencia).

However, sources from both sides are refusing to disclose the reason for Mosquera’s announcement delay (Tribuna Deportiva Valencia), and they’ll likely delay unveiling his capture until after their tour of the Far East.

Arteta’s side are in the market for a central attacking midfielder too, with both Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and now RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons among Arsenal’s chiefs targets for the role.

Bolstering that area of the squad and bringing in someone to complement captain Martin Odegaard will immediately be prioritised once they finally seal a deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal reached an agreement in principle with Sporting over the signing of Gyokeres midway through July, for a total fee of around £64 million including add-ons (The Athletic), but it is taking some time to fully finalise his transfer to N5.

The final round of negotiations has reportedly centered around the conditions of those add-ons and bonuses involved, which could take the fee up to £69 million (The Guardian), with Gyokeres’ agent even agreeing to waive his fee to make this move happen.

Viktor Gyokeres has "chosen to go to Arsenal" with Man Utd rejected

The hold-up has prompted reports that Man United could mount a late hijack for the 27-year-old, and Fabrizio Romano even confirmed this morning that intermediaries have invited the Red Devils to make a bid of their own.

Now, journalist Duncan Castles has told The Transfers Podcast that Sporting are unhappy with Gyokeres’ conduct, informing the striker last week that he’s in breach of contract for refusing to train.

His lawyers defended against this by accusing Sporting of going back on their gentlemen’s agreement that Gyokeres could leave Sporting for a certain fee. So, there is a legal dispute apparently going on in the background, and the sense is now that Rui Borges’ side are attempting to make his exit as difficult as possible.

In some good news for Arteta, though, Gyokeres has “chosen to go to Arsenal” and will continue forcing through a move to north London, with United facing a brutal knockback if they decide to enter the race.

“There was a story in Portugal over the weekend that Manchester United had come in and gone over the top of Arsenal’s offer and that Sporting were very close to agreeing a transfer fee with Manchester United for Gyokeres,” said Castles.

“I’m told by sources at Manchester United that that’s not true, and also by people close to Gyokeres that it’s absolutely not true, and even if it were true, Gyokeres would not go to Manchester United. He has chosen to go to Arsenal, and he will continue to force that move.”

Gyokeres bagged 54 goals in all competitions for Sporting last season, leading the line in their charge for a first domestic double in around 20 years, but his memorable spell in Portugal isn’t about to end smoothly.

Despite plenty of speculation over their futures at Ibrox, Nicolas Raskina and Mohamed Diomande both lined up for Glasgow Rangers in their first game of the season on Tuesday.

The duo both started and both registered assists in a 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Ibrox in the first leg of the club’s second round Champions League qualifier.

It remains to be seen if Diomande, who assisted Djeidi Gassama’s goal, will still be in Glasgow at the end of the summer transfer window, though, amid interest from Besiktas.

The Turkish giants have already had one offer turned down for the central midfielder, and are reportedly expected to go back in with a second bid for the Ivorian star.

Why Mohamed Diomande is important to Rangers

Russell Martin may not want to lose the left-footed star, though, because he is an important player who provides quality in and out of possession in the middle of the park.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Diomande scored four goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and registered seven assists in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues, which shows that he offered a strong threat at the top end of the pitch.

The 23-year-old talent also showcased his defensive talent in the Europa League, making 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 54% of his duels overall.

These statistics show that Diomande is important to Rangers as a midfielder who can impact games at both ends of the pitch, but the Gers could forget all about him with a move for Salvatore Esposito.

Why Rangers should sign Salvatore Esposito

It was reported earlier this month that the Light Blues are one of the clubs in the race to sign the Spezia central midfielder, who is valued at around £5m by his club.

The 24-year-old midfield star is the kind of signing that could make supporters forget all about Diomande, if the Ivorian whiz moves on to Besiktas, or elsewhere, this summer.

That is not a disservice to Diomande, of course, who has been a fantastic player for Rangers, but it speaks to the kind of quality that the Italian ace could offer in the middle of the park.

As you can see in the table above, Esposito significantly outperformed the Rangers star at league level last season, offering more to his team in possession and defensively.

Whilst he is unproven in the Scottish Premiership, the Spezia star appears to have the potential to provide more quality, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, in the final third, whilst also being stronger and more efficient in his duels off the ball.

The Italy international was described as a “tenacious” midfield “controller” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and his statistics from the 2024/25 Serie B campaign back those comments up, as he excelled in duels and offered quality on the ball.

Esposito is the kind of box-to-box midfielder that Rangers will desperately need if they lose Diomande this summer, which is why this is a signing that could make a lot of sense for Martin in the coming weeks if it becomes clear that the Ivorian gem is going to be on his way out of Ibrox.

Dream Cerny replacement: Rangers make offer for a "truly special talent"

As the Russell Martin revolution continues at Rangers, are they about to sign a “special talent” for £10m to be their dream Václav Černý replacement?

By
Ben Gray

Jul 24, 2025

Whilst the Gers would like to keep their current number ten, the Spezia star is a player who has the quality and pedigree, as an Italian international, to make the Light Blues forget all about Diomande.

Ivan Toney is not ready to give up on his World Cup dream despite being left out of the latest England squad without any warning from Thomas Tuchel. Since swapping Brentford for Al-Ahli last summer, the striker has impressed in Saudi Arabia. Last season, he rattled in 23 league goals in 30 games, finishing just two shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally, while forming a deadly strike force alongside Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez.

• Toney vowed to fight on
• England snub sparks World Cup doubts
• Saudi success keeps striker’s hopes alive

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Toney’s contributions helped Al-Ahli lift the AFC Champions League and add the Saudi Super Cup at the start of this campaign. On the surface, it looks like a fairytale rise. But back home, the story is very different.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite his heroics in the Middle East, Toney has been frozen out of Tuchel’s England plans. Once considered a useful tool in the national setup, even featuring at Euro 2024, the 28-year-old has found himself increasingly overlooked. Since his move abroad, only one call-up has followed, and even that didn’t translate into significant game time. Toney was missing from the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. The snub has fuelled doubts about whether he will feature at the 2026 World Cup at all.

• WHAT TONEY SAID

  If Tuchel’s silence is meant to send a message, Toney isn’t listening. Speaking defiantly to , he insists he will keep chasing his dream: "I have to concentrate on myself and give myself the best chance possible, and who knows? If I am selected, I will do my best for my country but if not, I’ll be cheering the boys on.”

  Interestingly, the forward revealed he has had no communication with Tuchel since his omission. But he’s far from bitter: "I don’t expect to have a conversation with him. I am sure he has other things to be concentrating on. My job is to do well. It is what it is. If you are good enough, you are good enough; it doesn’t matter where you are playing in the world. As long as you are doing the right things and scoring goals, then you give yourself a chance.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TONEY?

  Critics might argue that the Saudi Pro League lacks the intensity of Europe’s elite competitions, but the striker’s numbers are impossible to ignore. Hence, Toney won’t dwell on the snub for long. His next test comes this Friday as Al-Ahli face Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.

Mason Greenwood’s stunning form at Marseille has convinced Roberto De Zerbi that the forward can become one of Europe’s very best. After a 21-goal debut Ligue 1 campaign, Greenwood has already added goals and assists this season, including an eye-catching display against Real Madrid. Now, all eyes turn to his test against Paris Saint-Germain.

• Greenwood’s explosion at Marseille

  Greenwood’s move to France has been nothing short of transformative. In his first Ligue 1 season, the English forward netted 21 goals and provided six assists, finishing as joint-top scorer alongside Ousmane Dembele. This season, he has already struck twice and registered four assists across competitions, including a decisive contribution against Madrid in the Champions League.

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  De Zerbi’s vision for a 'complete player'

  De Zerbi has been effusive in his praise of Greenwood, highlighting the Englishman’s potential to join Europe’s elite. The Marseille coach said: "I expect him to become a complete player, like the greatest players in Europe. Yesterday I saw a bit of Newcastle-Barcelona, I saw Raphinha pressing everyone in the last 20 minutes, with incredible determination."

  He added: "I also see Mbappe at Madrid, Dembele too. I would like to help him. I would like him to become a complete player, a team player. That's my job, it's not just individual work. You improve the collective by improving the individuals."

• Why Greenwood matters to Marseille’s project

  The former Mnachester United player has flourished under De Zerbi’s system, where he is used both as a wide forward cutting inside and as a central striker when required. His versatility and finishing power have made him indispensable, while also easing Les Olympiens' transition into a more dynamic attacking side capable of competing with France’s heavyweights.

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  Big test against PSG awaits

  After a good performance against Los Blancos, Greenwood is set for another major challenge when Marseille meet PSG this weekend. The clash against the defending European champions offers him the perfect stage to reinforce De Zerbi’s belief that he is on the path to greatness.

In the recent past, Nottingham Forest have prioritised quantity in the transfer market, even breaking the English record for new faces in a single transfer window in 2022, but this summer they have focused on quality.

Forest scouts were clearly impressed by Botafogo’s Club World Cup campaign that saw their side survive a group that contained both PSG and Atlético Madrid. Off the back of that campaign, Nuno Espirito Santo brought in Botafogo duo Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha, with defensive midfielder Danilo going the other way. The pair will reinforce either end of the pitch with Jesus playing as a striker and Cunha as a centre-back.

Their other major signing is Dan Ndoye – the versatile Swiss winger has become one of Forest’s most expensive signings ever. Forest signing Ndoye was something of a coup as he was a Manchester United target and spent the first four years of his career at clubs connected to United’s new minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

While they’ve made two major attacking signings in Ndoye and Jesus, it doesn’t look like they are done there. The club lost Anthony Elanga to Newcastle earlier in the window and missed out on Champions League qualification when Chris Wood’s goals dried up at the end of the season, so another attacker may be needed to ensure a strong finish to this year’s campaign.

Forest pushing for Hutchinson

David Ornstien of The Athletic has revealed that Forest have tried to deepen their attacking numbers even further by adding Omari Hutchinson to their ranks. Hutchinson was relegated from the Premier League last season and has been receiving interest from several top-flight clubs.

Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, placed a bid of £35 million, which was rejected by Ipswich. It now seems likely that if Forest want to secure Hutchinson’s signature, they may have to make him a club record signing.

The Reds aren’t the first Premier League side to have shown an interest in Hutchinson this summer, as Brentford also made an approach earlier in the window.

At the start of last season, Hutchinson was only on £6,000 a week, making him not only one of the lowest-paid players in the Ipswich squad but in the entire league. This is less than any of the main Nottingham Forest squad were on at the same point last season, meaning it’s almost certain that a move for Hutchinson will see the England Under-21 star receive a huge pay rise.

Why Hutchinson is a "special talent"

Hutchinson first hit a lot of football fans’ radar when he was at the Chelsea academy, where he was being viewed as a “special talent”.

When compared to players of a similar profile, what makes Hutchinson so special is his success rate despite limited chances in a poor Ipswich side.

Given that Hutchinson played in a lower-quality side that got relegated, and Rayan Cherki and Alejandro Garnacho played for teams that reached the latter stages of the Europa League, Hutchinson’s stats look even more impressive. Additionally, although Cherki narrowly surpasses Hutchinson in some fields, the standard of Ligue 1 is lower than that of the Premier League.

Hutchinson’s pass completion in short to medium range (where he predominantly operates as an attacking midfielder) shows a calmness under pressure that ensures he retains the ball. When comparing his shots to Garnacho, it shows that Hutchinson is more considerate of the ball, showing the maturity to know when to shoot and when to pass.

Hutchinson’s collectiveness on the ball will be a boost to his attacking teammates and should lead to them receiving better quality passes and avoiding unnecessary turnovers. With all of these skills at only 21 years old, it is clear why Nuno and Marinakis are pushing for this deal.

A week on from the start of the new Premier League season and Arsenal finally look ready for the challenge ahead.

It had been a slow pre-season for the Gunners but a 3-0 win over Bilbao has calmed the nerves, particularly after Viktor Gyokeres opened his account in the red and white.

A series of matches both on foreign soil and at the Emirates Stadium had left supporters feeling frustrated at a lack of change, but they got change on Saturday where the forward line certainly looked more potent.

Kai Havertz even got on the scoresheet, presenting Mikel Arteta with a dilemma over who to pick at centre forward next weekend when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Before then, Arteta and Andrea Berta may hope to get another signing across the line.

Arsenal's transfer plans before September 1st

With Noni Madueke and Gyokeres signed, Arsenal have ticked off two of their biggest priorities this summer: sign some backup and competition for Bukayo Saka, and sign a new striker.

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However, there’s a lingering feeling that the Gunners need more in their forward line.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard went goalless through pre-season and question marks are being raised again about the quality of the options on the left-hand side of Arsenal’s attack.

As a result, Eberechi Eze’s name is once again doing the rounds and according to one report, a deal now looks closer than ever.

That’s according to Football Transfers who report this weekend that Eze is ‘closing in’ on a move to the Emirates.

Financial terms have already been agreed between Arsenal and Palace with Arteta’s side set to pay a total fee of £55m to Palace for the England star, with £30m set to come upfront. That’s lower than Eze’s reported £68m release clause.

Talks over the structure of the remainder of the instalments are ongoing but it’s not thought as though that will be a major sticking point.

Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Emile Smith Rowe

Let’s cast our minds back to the early years of Arteta’s reign in London. The years are 2021 and 2022 and it’s safe to say that it’s not entirely rose for the Spaniard.

However, Saka and Smith Rowe (you know how the song goes) came along and acted as the club’s saviours.

The latter may have only scored four senior goals in 2020/21 but came alive in 2021/22, scoring ten times in 33 league outings for the club.

A product of Hale End, he was adored by Arsenal fans and his crafty, clever skills won hearts from all corners of the Emirates.

We all know how it ended for the England international with his injury woes ultimately seeing him join Fulham last summer, but he certainly has similar attributes to Eze.

Not only can both players feature from the left wing, but they’re also excellent attacking midfielders who are capable of scoring goals. In 2024/25, Eze netted 14 in all competitions, with eight goals coming from 34 Premier League appearances.

To really rubberstamp the similarities, we’ve compared how Eze performed last season with Smith Rowe’s best term at Arsenal.

As far as the numbers are concerned, there are some notable differences during their peak seasons so far in English football.

Smith Rowe looked like the more prolific goalscorer while Eze, who is a “magician” in the words of Micah Richards, was more creative.

Ultimately, though, they share the same sort of style. They like to carry possession, beat their marker and influence play from similar zones in the final third of the pitch.

Smith Rowe captivated Arsenal fans with his running style and ability to glide past players. Eze shares that trait and would no doubt become a quick fan favourite if he traded Selhurst Park for the Emirates.

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Arteta's next Rice: Arsenal hoping to sign "phenomenal" £104m talent

Arsenal may yet add another central midfielder to their ranks.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 9, 2025

A Champions League thriller at Anfield between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday was overshadowed by ugly touchline scenes involving Diego Simeone and his staff. Fan footage circulating online appears to show an Atletico backroom member spitting towards supporters after the Argentine coach was sent off late on. Calls are now growing for UEFA to step in and hand down a serious punishment.

• Atletico staff member spits at Liverpool fans?

  Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 in a dramatic opening-night Champions League clash on Wednesday night, with Virgil van Dijk scoring yet another stoppage-time winner for the Reds. Tempers flared after the goal, with Simeone and his staff being confronted near the main stand following taunts from fans. During the commotion, one Atletico staff member appeared to spit at supporters in videos shared by Liverpool fans.

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• Liverpool fans call for immediate ban

  Clips shared on social media show the spitting incident occurring just seconds after Simeone was dismissed from the dugout. Stewards were forced to restrain Atletico staff as tensions spilled over in front of the away bench. The video has since gone viral, with supporters across the football community labelling the act “disgusting” and urging UEFA to set an example with their ruling.

• Spitting a bannable offence as per UEFA regulation

  Spitting is classified as a severe violation under UEFA’s disciplinary regulations and is usually met with strict bans for players. Fans believe that, in this case, an even harsher penalty may be needed given the nature of the act and the potential damage to the game’s image.

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  UEFA likely to launch investigation

  UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will be under pressure to investigate the incident and determine an appropriate punishment. Based on past cases, suspensions for spitting generally range from two to four games, though the fact it involved a staff member may complicate matters. For now, Atletico await news on whether further sanctions will be imposed beyond Simeone’s red card.