Manchester United have seen a joint bid for Bayern Munich stars Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui rejected.
De Ligt has not travelled with the Bayern squad to South Korea for their pre-season games, as he eyes an exit.
Mazraoui, who also played under the Red Devils’ boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax, could come in to compete with Diogo Dalot for the right-back spot.
The Manchester giants hoped their joint bid would be enough to secure the targets but the offer was rejected by the Bundesliga giants, according to The Athletic.
It is not yet known how much was put on the table in order to snap up the pair, though United’s £30million bid for De Ligt was turned down last week.
Agent Rafaela Pimenta, who represents both players, was reportedly shocked that Bayern changed their stance especially after new manager Vincent Kompany informed the defenders they were surplus to requirements ahead of the coming window.
De Ligt and Mazraoui have reportedly agreed personal terms on five-year deals at Old Trafford.
Chelsea have brutally banished Conor Gallagher from the first team as Enzo Maresca attempts to force through a transfer to Atletico Madrid, according to reports.
The Cobham academy graduate has become the victim of dramatic measures to raise funds for further transfer activity, sparking uproar among fans.
Chelsea are thought to have accepted a bid worth £33million from Atletico Madrid for Gallagher, with Maresca deciding he doesn’t fit into his vision at Stamford Bridge.
But the 24-year-old midfielder hasn’t yet green-lit a switch to the La Liga giants and is holding out for improved terms after rejecting two new contract offers.
Gallagher reportedly wants to stay at Chelsea ahead of his current deal expiring next summer, but he wasn’t happy with being tabled just a two-year extension.
According to talkSPORT, Chelsea have informed the England international that he is no longer considered as part of the first team.
He has also learnt that he won’t be training with the group when they return from their pre-season tour of the United States.
Gallagher was spotted at Cobham on Friday and is expected to hold showdown talks with Chelsea, which should accelerate a resolution.
The report adds that there are concerns that handing Gallagher a long-term contract would be a financial mistake, considering he is set to be a squad player under Maresca.
The Italian coach wants to adopt a possession-based style of football in west London, fuelling his brutal stance on Chelsea’s No. 23.
But Gallagher appears determined to control his own future and will only accept a move to Atleti if the terms suit him.
Barcelona look to be trying their best to bring in Dani Olmo, with Nico Williams’ future seemingly lying in Bilbao this coming season.
The 26-year-old is willing to join the Catalan side, but they will not be allowed to sign him on their terms.
RB Leipzig Sporting Director Rouven Schroder has stated once that he was willing to hold onto Olmo if there were no satisfactory offers. Now, he has told BILD (via MD) that if Olmo is to leave, everyone will have to get what they want out of the deal.
“If we don’t reach an agreement with a club, then the player will stay with us. And if there is something suitable, we will weigh it up. But one thing is also clear: there cannot be one winner [from the deal].”
RB Leipzig are still not willing to accept the new offer from Barcelona for Dani Olmo. Leipzig are not happy with the new numbers presented. They demand at least €60m, fair to achieve + add-ons. Olmo wants to join Barcelona over all other options. @Plettigoal
Ugly scenes marred France and Argentina’s 2024 Olympics quarter-final match in Bordeaux on Friday night as players clashed on the pitch and in the tunnel at full-time.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early strike was enough to send Thierry Henry’s side into the semi-finals at the Matmut Atlantique before tensions flared after the full-time whistle.
It promised to be a spiky affair in the wake of Argentina’s players being filmed singing a racist and discriminatory chant about their French counterparts after winning the Copa America earlier this summer.
That incident intensified a rivalry already ignited by Argentina’s dramatic triumph in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, from which the vile chant surfaced.
The Argentinian national anthem was booed before kick-off, setting the tone for the grudge match that was about to take place in Bordeaux.
The quarter-final clash didn’t disappoint as both teams – brimming with talent – battled for the chance to at least compete for a medal.
Mateta was the difference, reconnecting a familiar link-up with Michael Olise as he headed home from his former Crystal Palace team-mate’s fifth-minute corner.
Olise thought he had doubled France’s lead in the 84th minute before VAR intervened by controversially adjudging Maghnes Akliouche to have committed a foul in the build-up.
Javier Mascherano’s side were left ruing two gilt-edged chances as the full-time whistle blew, setting up a semi-final meeting between the hosts and Egypt.
Following almost 12 minutes of stoppage time, France didn’t have a chance to celebrate their triumph before a scrap broke out on the pitch.
Henry looked visibly annoyed as players piled into each other, aggressively pushing and shoving while others attempted to restore order.
The wild scenes looked to continue down the tunnel before, shortly after, France’s players re-emerged onto the pitch to savour their hard-fought victory with their fans.
Later, Henry confirmed that, amongst the chaos, Enzo Millot, who started in midfield against Argentina, received a red card for his actions.
France’s opponents, Egypt, edged into the semi-finals by beating Paraguay 5-4 on penalties, while Morocco and Spain are set to clash in the other match.
Morocco romped to a 4-0 victory against the USA to start Friday’s action before Spain thumped Japan 3-0, and Egypt and France rounded out the final four.
Les Bleus are the strong favourites to reach the gold medal match, while Spain are slightly favoured to triumph over Morocco to set up a mouth-watering European showdown.
Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu is on the verge of completing a return to former side Girona.
The veteran is not expected to play a regular role for La Blaugrana in the coming months and Girona are looking to add experience to their ranks for a UEFA Champions League campaign.
Romeu has been linked with a move back to Girona since moving across Catalonia at the start of last season and signing a three year deal with Barcelona.
The club have confirmed a call has been made to allow Romeu to leave their training base in the USA to complete an exit.
A tour ahead of a loan return to Girona 🚨 https://t.co/pWMwitmgjK
— Football España (@footballespana_) August 2, 2024
As per reports from Mundo Deportivo, he will rejoin Girona on loan for the 2024/25 season, with Girona paying his full salary.
There is no confirmation over a purchase clause included in the agreement with both clubs keeping their options open on him.
Romeu’s exit frees up salary space at Barcelona, and brings them in line with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, ahead of the new campaign.
