Racing United defeated Cavalier 1-4 in Premier League. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 12 stage in the 2025 season. The match was played at Stadium East in Kingston. The full-time result capped a Cavalier vs Racing United meeting in Premier League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Cavalier and Racing United. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Premier LeagueRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Racing United defeated Cavalier 1-4 in Premier League. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 12 stage in the 2025 season. The match was played at Stadium East in Kingston. The full-time result capped a Cavalier vs Racing United meeting in Premier League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Cavalier and Racing United. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Premier LeagueRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
The Nottingham Forest owner on Monday lodged a claim for defamation against his club's Premier League rivals that dates back to the 1-1 draw between the clubs.
Aston Villa remain firmly interested in Nicolas Jackson as Unai Emery looks to reunite with the Chelsea striker before the summer transfer window closes. Jackson is back at Stamford Bridge following his season-long loan with Bayern Munich and has been involved during Chelsea’s pre-season programme under Xabi Alonso. However, his long-term future remains uncertain as […] The post Sources: Chelsea demand €60m for player as ‘direct talks’ continue with Premier League rivals appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Newcastle United’s search for a new midfield leader has suffered another setback, with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg turning down the chance to return to the Premier League at St James’ Park. The 31-year-old had emerged as one of Newcastle’s preferred options following an extraordinary summer of change. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source […] The post Newcastle United suffer major transfer blow as midfielder rejects Magpies move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Manchester United are interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Louis Page this summer. According to Danyal Khan from Sky Sports, the 17-year-old midfielder is keen on joining Manchester United this summer. We have previously covered reports claiming that Arsenal are interested in the talented young midfielder as well. The fact that he wants to join […] The post Manchester United target keen on Old Trafford move after fresh development appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Enzo Maresca is preparing for his first campaign as Manchester City boss (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca says Jeremy Monga made the right choice in turning down Arsenal and moving to the Etihad from Leicester City instead. The 17-year-old has already got 37 first team appearances to his name for the Foxes, seven of which came in the Premier League. The winger was being pursued by both Arsenal and Manchester City this summer and revealed that he was very close to choosing north London as his next home. Speaking of interest from the Gunners in him, Monga told the BBC: ‘It was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close.’ Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. On why he opted for Manchester City, he explained: ‘The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself. ‘They’ve been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call. It’s every child’s dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best. ‘Once I get the opportunity I just need to show myself, and once I do that, everything will take care of itself. I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue.’ Jeremy Monga had some very attractive options in front of him (Picture: REUTERS) City snapped up the teenager for £10m and he is hoping that the pathway is as clear as he believed it to be and he can make an impression on the first team this season. Monga has featured in pre-season, coming off the bench against a K-League XI last week, but was an unused substitute as City beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Sunday. Maresca feels the youngster made the right choice in choosing his summer move and feels Manchester City’s accumulation of silverware over the last 10 years makes them a more attractive prospect than their rivals. Monga appeared for Manchester City in Seoul last week (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Absolutely yes,’ he said of City being an extremely attractive proposition for young players. ‘What the club and this organisation has made in the last 10-15 years is unbelievable. ‘So it’s also for the young generation, for the young players, it’s a good reason why to join this club and I think Jeremy did the right choice.’ The new manager added of the teenager: ‘Jeremy is doing well. The important thing is they work without pressure. Just enjoy, work hard and then with spending days together, for sure they’re going to be better.’ England star Elliot Anderson has arrived at Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images) Monga will need some time to work his way into the first team, while another new signing, Elliot Anderson, is likely to go straight into the side after his big-money move from Nottingham Forest. Speaking of his new £116m midfielder, Maresca said: ‘When we make a decision it’s not just about how they are as a player – which is important – but we also look at the behaviour, the person, the human. ‘Elliot has all these kind of things. He’s a fantastic player, a very nice guy, humble, polite and it will be a pleasure for me to work with him.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Youri Tielemans has arrived at Manchester United from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) Harry Maguire has run the rule over Manchester United’s summer signings so far, tipping one in particular to be a ‘big player’ for the club this season. The Red Devils’ transfer business so far has seen Andrey Santos arrive from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Karl Darlow from Leeds United. There are likely to be more arrivals before the transfer window closes, but Manchester United go into their penultimate friendly of the season with just the three new first team signings. Maguire has seen Santos and Tielemans in action in training and friendlies already and has liked what he has seen. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. He reckons the 22-year-old Brazilian has already made progress since joining the club, while he thinks 29-year-old Tielemans is primed to make a big impact instantly at Old Trafford after his £35m move. The centre-back played alongside the Belgian before leaving Leicester in 2019 and saw his quality up close even back then. ‘Andrey has been here since minute one of pre-season and he’s been amazing. You can really feel the progress he’s making already,’ Maguire told Manchester United club media. Andrey Santos was signed from Chelsea for £48m (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Youri, I played with him at Leicester for a few months so I know the ability and talent that he has. ‘He’s at an age now where he’s going to come in, I’m sure he’s not going to need settling in, he’s going to come in and be a big player for this club. He’s a top player, I know that.’ The England international also had praise for the character of Darlow, who is unlikely to play much football for Manchester United, but has come in to support first choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Tielemans was a shock arrival from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) The Wales international is out injured, but Maguire feels his presence is a positive one for the squad. ‘Karl is out for a little bit at the moment, but I know Karl, I’ve played against him numerous times over the years,’ he said. ‘He’s a great lad to have around the place, around the dressing room. ‘He can bring great leadership and value to the team on the pitch but also off the pitch as well.’ Harry Maguire with captain Bruno Fernandes after the draw with PSG (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester United’s pre-season preparations continue on Wednesday in Dublin against Leeds United, before a final friendly against AC Milan in Poland. Their Premier League campaign begins on August 22 against one of Maguire’s former clubs, Hull City. The defender has talked up an improvement on last season’s results, despite them being encouraging since Michael Carrick took charge in January. ‘There will be new ideas and different ways of playing. Last season, we played very well in certain matches, but we could have done better in others. We know that,’ he said. ‘The results and points were there, but we could have delivered better performances. We worked on it during the pre-season, and I think we’ll see better performances.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
In a mailbag edition of his newsletter, Jonathan Wilson answers questions about Michael Carrick, VAR and the Premier League’s new teamsSign up for our free newsletter hereManchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Who will win the Carabao Cup this season? (Photo: Getty) Chelsea and Tottenham have both been drawn at home in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with their campaigns getting underway this month. The Carabao Cup kicked-off proper last weekend, with clubs up and down the EFL battling it out, all dreaming of reaching the final at Wembley in March. The second round of the competition is when things heat up as the 11 Premier League teams who did not qualify for Europe enter the draw. That means that, rather unusually, two of England’s biggest clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham are in the hat and will have to play an extra round compared to their typical rivals. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. By virtue of qualifying for the Champions League, holders Manchester City and last season’s finalists Arsenal will enter the cup in round three, as will Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool. The same applies for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Brighton, who are competing in the Europa League and Conference League this season. Carabao Cup round two draw Man City beat Arsenal in last season’s Carabao Cup final (Photo: Getty) Northern section draw Stoke City v Hull CityNewcastle v West Bromwich AlbionBlackburn v Sheffield UnitedNottingham Forest v LeedsDoncaster Rovers v MiddlesbroughBarnsley v CrewePreston v EvertonBlackpool v LincolnSheffield Wednesday v WolvesBradford v BurnleyFleetwood v Shrewsbury Xabi Alonso will get an early taste of Carabao as Chelsea boss (Picture: Getty Images) Southern section draw Walsall v Leyton OrientIpswich v LeicesterCardiff v NorwichStevenage v ReadingCambridge v MillwallBirmingham v BrentfordSouthampton v West HamWatford v PeterboroughFulham v AFC WimbledonPlymouth/Exeter v CoventryChelsea v LutonTottenham Hotspur v Charlton When is the Carabao Cup second round? All second round matches are due to be played during the week commencing Monday, August 24. The nine Premier League clubs in European competition join in round three, with those fixtures beginning in the week commencing September 7. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Ashley Young is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck didn’t rejoin Manchester United (Picture: Sky Sports) Ashley Young says he is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck made a transfer move to Chelsea rather than former club Manchester United this summer. Chelsea have moved away from their purely youth-led transfer policy to add some much-needed experience to their dressing room ahead of Xabi Alonso’s debut season at the helm. After beating Arsenal to a £117million deal for Morgan Rogers, the Blues turned their attentions to Welbeck, a move that took many fans by surprise given the forward is set to turn 36 in November. Welbeck would go on to leave Brighton for Chelsea for a fee in the region of £5million, with the veteran attacker putting pen to paper on a two-year deal in west London. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Just two days later, it was announced that 36-year-old Jordan Henderson had decided to terminate his contract at Brentford to follow Welbeck through the doors at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea supporters got a first glimpse of Welbeck in their colours last week as the ex-England international was given a 45-minute run-out in the side’s pre-season clash with Juventus. Young, who played alongside Welbeck for four years at Manchester United, has been impressed by Chelsea’s transfer business and is confident his old team-mate can make a big impact both on and off the pitch. Welbeck has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty) The veteran forward made his unofficial Chelsea debut against Juventus (Picture: Getty) ‘Chelsea have made some good signings and they need some experience in that squad,’ Young told talkSPORT. ‘He’s a really good friend of mine, Welbs is. ‘I’ve been speaking to him the last couple of weeks.’ Welbeck should have been in England’s World Cup squad, says Young (Picture: Getty) Asked if Welbeck is excited for the season ahead at Chelsea, Young replied: ‘Yeah, of course he is. He’s delighted to be signing for Chelsea, especially at this stage of his career. ‘He’s proved himself time and time again. ‘Could he have been on the plane going to the World Cup? For me, I’m probably being biased in saying he should have, but he wasn’t. ‘He’s been fantastic and I’m gutted he hasn’t gone back to United, to be honest.’ {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Xabi Alonso says Chelsea are 'thrilled' to have Mykhailo Mudryk back with the squad","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/04\/3201686063122201576\/480x270_MP4_3201686063122201576.mp4","description":"Chelsea's new head coach Xabi Alonso says he wants to 'fight for important things' this season. This comes as he spoke to the media ahead of a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong.","duration":"T4M44S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/04\/18\/110436895-0-image-m-12_1785863746233.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-04T18:15:03+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); Earlier this month, Old Trafford great Gary Neville – another of Welbeck’s former team-mates – criticised United for allowing the striker to leave for Arsenal back in 2014. According to Neville, the 2012/13 Premier Leag
Could Michael Carrick pull off a major transfer coup for Man Utd (Photo: Getty) Manchester United have been told to consider signing Real Madrid striker Endrick, with the Brazil wonderkid looking to join a Premier League club. Real paid Palmeiras £50million to sign Endrick when he was just 16 and since then, the hype around the young forward has been immeasurable. But while tipped to be the future talisman of both Los Blancos and the Brazil national team, the now 20-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Madrid, with Kylian Mbappe firmly ahead in the pecking order. Endrick spent the second-half of last season on loan at Lyon and it has been reported that the player will seek another temporary transfer if he is not guaranteed regular minutes by Jose Mourinho. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Spanish outlet AS has claimed that Roma and Aston Villa have expressed interest in signing the striker, with the latter looking to replace Morgan Rogers following his record £117m transfer to Chelsea. It would present a major coup for Unai Emery’s side, but MLS icon turned pundit Ale Moreno thinks that Endrick would be a great fit at Old Trafford. ‘I really do think that Real Madrid could use Endrick this season. So, if I were Endrick, I actually would consider staying at Real Madrid,’ the former Venezuela international told ESPN. Endrick has struggled for first-team football at Real Madrid (Photo: Getty) ‘But if the question is about where he would go, where he should go, where he may end up… we’ve talked a lot about Manchester United. The more you think about it, the more it makes sense to have a player with a profile of Endrick. ‘He is different than anything else they have in the attack in a central position. So, I’m thinking that perhaps that could be a place that could think about Enrick as a possibility. ‘I would stay at Real Madrid if I were him but I’m looking at it from the perspective as to what team near the top of the Premier League could use a player like Endrick.’ Endrick recorded 16 goal contributions in 21 games for Lyon last season (Photo: Getty) Aside from Benjamin Sesko, United don’t have another natural No.9 in their squad, though Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and the returning Marcus Rashford can all play centre-forward. It is said that Endrick’s preference is to play Champions League football, something United, Villa and Roma can offer, with Moreno adding: ‘It wouldn’t feel like such a demotion [joining United from Real] if you will. ‘And after the season he had last year being out on loan and how well he did he must be thinking, “Alright, let’s keep it going. Is that going to happen at Real Madrid? Well, probably not. Let me go somewhere else that I can do that”. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are interested in signing the Brazil wonderkid (Photo: Getty) ‘I don’t know where that place can be. I’m just thinking that Manchester United could use a player like Endrick.’ On the contrast, Steve Nicol believes Endrick, who recorded eight goals and eight assists in just 21 appearances for Lyon, must join a club where it is certain he will start week-in, week-out. ‘I was thinking more along the lines of a Fulham where he’s 100 per cent going to play,’ the former Liverpool defender said. ‘Fulham are going to play attacking football. They’re not going to win all the time [but] they’re going to win a fair share, they’re going to create chances. ‘Somebody like Endrick has to go somewhere where he’s going to play all the time, otherwise what’s the point of moving away from Real Madrid?’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says recruitment this summer preparing for a Europa League campaign is "much harder" than it was before last season's Premier League return. Defender Thomas Meunier is the only player to arrive on a permanent deal to the Black Cats so far this window, on a free transfer after his departure from Lille. The transfer window is still unpredictable but we are working behind the scenes to strengthen the squad.
Manchester City appear to be closing in on one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders, with Ayyoub Bouaddi now pushing to complete a move from Lille this summer rather than waiting another year. The 18-year-old’s reputation has risen sharply over the past two seasons, and his performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup only […] The post Just in: Midfielder agrees personal terms with Man City, wants immediate move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Michael Carrick during Manchester United’s pre-season camp (Picture: Getty) Manchester United have been told they have already secured one of the signings of the summer ahead of the new Premier League season. Michael Carrick has welcomed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Karl Darlow to his first-team squad at Old Trafford this summer. Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco have also arrived at Manchester United but will join the club’s academy. United made Brazilian midfielder Santos their first signing of the summer in a £48m move from big-spending Chelsea. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Red Devils raided another Premier League rival in Aston Villa to sign Belgium international Tielemans for £35m. Hundreds of millions has already been spent on midfield reinforcements this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes all sealing lucrative moves. John Obi Mikel rates Manchester United’s deal for Tielemans as the pick of the bunch, however, describing the signing as a ‘f****** steal’. Man Utd summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘For me, it’s Youri Tielemans,’ the Chelsea legend said on The Obi One podcast when asked for his take on the most impressive midfield signing of the summer. ‘Honestly, how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35m? That’s a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player. ‘Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a ten and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy. Tielemans during Man Utd pre-season (Picture: Getty) ‘He scores goals, he’s dangerous from set pieces, he’s brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he’s not the quickest, but he reads the game so well. ‘He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans.’ Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has also praised Manchester United’s move for Tielemans. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbdvh2TAoys/?hl=en ‘The problem with modern football is that sometimes we look too much at stats like assists and goals,’ he told Hajper. ‘Of course, Youri Tielemans creates assists and scores goals, and can shoot from outside the box and score free kicks, but he is so much more than that. ‘Tielemans is a link up player, and you have to watch him to understand why he is so important to his teams, not just look at his stats, because he is always trying to play the ball forward. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel (Picture: Getty) ‘You have some midfield players who have a pass success rate of 98% but they are always playing the ball backwards. Tielemans is a guy who turns, opens up and plays the ball between the lines, and that’s very important for a club like Manchester United who need to break other teams down. ‘Even when he’s playing in a deep role, he’s playing it in an attacking way. He’s thinking about going forwards, always. ‘Sometimes he will lose the ball but that’s what happens when you take some risks in games to make things happen, and I think that’s something United need, and he has the mentality to be brave and positive under the big pressure of the shirt. ‘He will put in ultra big effort and say to his team mates, give me the ball and let me change the game for you. He will take the responsibility to take Manchester United forward.’ Carrick is still interested in bringing a third new midfielder to Old Trafford this summer before the transfer window shuts. United drew 1-1 with European champions PSG in a pre-season friendly on Saturday night. Manchester United have two more tun
Nuno Espirito Santo is building a new team at West Ham (Picture: Getty Images) West Ham are are putting together their squad for the upcoming Championship season and are looking at some recognisable names. The Hammers were relegated from the top flight last season but have stuck with manager Nuno Espirito Santo, after finishing the campaign on 39 points. There have been some significant departures, with Mateus Fernandes going to Spurs for £85 million, Crysencio Summerville heading to Al Hilal for £55m and Freddie Potts joining Club Brugge in a £10.2m deal. Callum Wilson also departed on a free transfer and gets another crack at the Premier League by joining Brentford. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Experienced defender Joel Veltman has arrived from Brighton on a free transfer, while Venezuela international loan signing Keiber Lamadrid has made his move permanent. Espirito Santo will need more numbers, though, and West Ham are making moves for Troy Parrott and Reiss Nelson. Former Tottenham striker Parrott has been excelling at AZ since moving there permanently in 2024, scoring 30 goals in 59 Eredivisie games and 51 in 97 appearances across all competitions. Troy Parrott has been a big hit at AZ (Picture: Getty Images) He has been linked with a string of European clubs this summer, including Porto, but West Ham are hopeful of securing a deal and have made a bid of around £15m, according to the Daily Mail. The 24-year-old has hinted that he is in no rush to return to England, having enjoyed his time with AZ so far. ‘Before I went to the Netherlands, I was completely focused on England,’ he told De Telegraaf. ‘I dreamed of the Premier League. ‘But once in the Netherlands, I discovered that the football world is a lot bigger than England.’ Reiss Nelson has featured for Arsenal in pre-season (Picture: Getty Images) Nelson is also on the Hammers’ radar as he appears to be surplus to requirements at Arsenal. The 26-year-old came through the Gunners academy and has made 90 first team appearances, but has played just once for Arsenal in the last two seasons. He spent the majority of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Fulham and last season on loan at Brentford. The winger is back at his parent club and has featured in pre-season, but is unlikely to get much chance to shine in the first team in the coming campaign. West Ham are reportedly exploring a deal, but Fulham and Benfica are also credited with interest. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Dario Essugo captained Chelsea in Jakarta on Sunday (Picture: Getty Images) Chelsea youngster Dario Essugo admits it was a surprise to be handed the captain’s armband in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, but hopes it can inspire other young players at the club. The 21-year-old skippered a the Blues in their meeting with Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim, which ended 3-3. Chelsea beat AC Milan 3-0 in a friendly on Saturday, so manager Xabi Alonso completely changed the starting line-up, but there were still plenty of recognisable names in it. Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Estevao made up the front three, with the likes of Jamie Gittens, Tosin Adarabioyo and Geovany Quenda all starting as well. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. It was Essugo who got the nod as captain, having also worn the armband earlier in pre-season as well. The midfielder suggested his maturity has earned him the honour, hoping to show to other young players at the club that age is just a number. ‘For me it was a surprise but of course it’s a pleasure,’ the Portuguese prospect said. ‘I didn’t expect to be captain at this age and at this big club so for me it’s just a pleasure and I enjoyed it a lot. Essugo will be hoping for more first team opportunities this season (Picture: Getty Images) ‘For me it means everything because I didn’t expect it. It’s a message for me and for all the players that it’s not about the age, but maybe it’s about maturity. It’s learning and staying positive.’ On how he feels he is developing at Chelsea, he said: ‘[I’ve learned] a lot because here we have a lot of big players, so I try to learn from everyone. I think that’s it, learning from my teammates and enjoy.’ Essugo was signed from Sporting last year in a deal worth £18.5 million, but had little impact in his first season at Stamford Bridge. Essugo has a lot of competition in Chelsea’s midfield (Picture: REUTERS) The Portugal Under-21 international made just three Premier League appearances and five in total over the campaign. He will be hoping that the faith Alonso has shown in him over pre-season is a sign of more action to come when the new season gets underway later this month. Chelsea have one more summer friendly, against Real Sociedad on Saturday, before starting their Premier League campaign at Fulham on August 24. Alonso spoke after the 3-0 win over AC Milan of using multiple systems and attempting to be as unpredictable as possible. Xabi Alonso is already mixing things up at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images) The Spaniard has played a back three and back four over the summer so far. ‘We want to be versatile in our approach and system,’ he said. ‘I think we have the players to adapt to different ones because they understand how to support each other. ‘The principles are the same but the movements can change; we need to be unpredictable, we want to be flexible, and we want to have a threat. The system is just a picture; you need to move, rotate and create dynamics [in the team] and that is when the picture becomes a movie. ‘We are not just sticking to one idea and the more options that we have, the better team we will be.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
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The Nottingham Forest owner on Monday lodged a claim for defamation against his club's Premier League rivals that dates back to the 1-1 draw between the clubs.
Aston Villa remain firmly interested in Nicolas Jackson as Unai Emery looks to reunite with the Chelsea striker before the summer transfer window closes. Jackson is back at Stamford Bridge following his season-long loan with Bayern Munich and has been involved during Chelsea’s pre-season programme under Xabi Alonso. However, his long-term future remains uncertain as […] The post Sources: Chelsea demand €60m for player as ‘direct talks’ continue with Premier League rivals appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Newcastle United’s search for a new midfield leader has suffered another setback, with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg turning down the chance to return to the Premier League at St James’ Park. The 31-year-old had emerged as one of Newcastle’s preferred options following an extraordinary summer of change. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source […] The post Newcastle United suffer major transfer blow as midfielder rejects Magpies move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Manchester United are interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Louis Page this summer. According to Danyal Khan from Sky Sports, the 17-year-old midfielder is keen on joining Manchester United this summer. We have previously covered reports claiming that Arsenal are interested in the talented young midfielder as well. The fact that he wants to join […] The post Manchester United target keen on Old Trafford move after fresh development appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Enzo Maresca is preparing for his first campaign as Manchester City boss (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca says Jeremy Monga made the right choice in turning down Arsenal and moving to the Etihad from Leicester City instead. The 17-year-old has already got 37 first team appearances to his name for the Foxes, seven of which came in the Premier League. The winger was being pursued by both Arsenal and Manchester City this summer and revealed that he was very close to choosing north London as his next home. Speaking of interest from the Gunners in him, Monga told the BBC: ‘It was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close.’ Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. On why he opted for Manchester City, he explained: ‘The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself. ‘They’ve been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call. It’s every child’s dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best. ‘Once I get the opportunity I just need to show myself, and once I do that, everything will take care of itself. I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue.’ Jeremy Monga had some very attractive options in front of him (Picture: REUTERS) City snapped up the teenager for £10m and he is hoping that the pathway is as clear as he believed it to be and he can make an impression on the first team this season. Monga has featured in pre-season, coming off the bench against a K-League XI last week, but was an unused substitute as City beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Sunday. Maresca feels the youngster made the right choice in choosing his summer move and feels Manchester City’s accumulation of silverware over the last 10 years makes them a more attractive prospect than their rivals. Monga appeared for Manchester City in Seoul last week (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Absolutely yes,’ he said of City being an extremely attractive proposition for young players. ‘What the club and this organisation has made in the last 10-15 years is unbelievable. ‘So it’s also for the young generation, for the young players, it’s a good reason why to join this club and I think Jeremy did the right choice.’ The new manager added of the teenager: ‘Jeremy is doing well. The important thing is they work without pressure. Just enjoy, work hard and then with spending days together, for sure they’re going to be better.’ England star Elliot Anderson has arrived at Manchester City (Picture: Getty Images) Monga will need some time to work his way into the first team, while another new signing, Elliot Anderson, is likely to go straight into the side after his big-money move from Nottingham Forest. Speaking of his new £116m midfielder, Maresca said: ‘When we make a decision it’s not just about how they are as a player – which is important – but we also look at the behaviour, the person, the human. ‘Elliot has all these kind of things. He’s a fantastic player, a very nice guy, humble, polite and it will be a pleasure for me to work with him.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Youri Tielemans has arrived at Manchester United from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) Harry Maguire has run the rule over Manchester United’s summer signings so far, tipping one in particular to be a ‘big player’ for the club this season. The Red Devils’ transfer business so far has seen Andrey Santos arrive from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Karl Darlow from Leeds United. There are likely to be more arrivals before the transfer window closes, but Manchester United go into their penultimate friendly of the season with just the three new first team signings. Maguire has seen Santos and Tielemans in action in training and friendlies already and has liked what he has seen. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. He reckons the 22-year-old Brazilian has already made progress since joining the club, while he thinks 29-year-old Tielemans is primed to make a big impact instantly at Old Trafford after his £35m move. The centre-back played alongside the Belgian before leaving Leicester in 2019 and saw his quality up close even back then. ‘Andrey has been here since minute one of pre-season and he’s been amazing. You can really feel the progress he’s making already,’ Maguire told Manchester United club media. Andrey Santos was signed from Chelsea for £48m (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Youri, I played with him at Leicester for a few months so I know the ability and talent that he has. ‘He’s at an age now where he’s going to come in, I’m sure he’s not going to need settling in, he’s going to come in and be a big player for this club. He’s a top player, I know that.’ The England international also had praise for the character of Darlow, who is unlikely to play much football for Manchester United, but has come in to support first choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Tielemans was a shock arrival from Aston Villa this summer (Picture: Getty Images) The Wales international is out injured, but Maguire feels his presence is a positive one for the squad. ‘Karl is out for a little bit at the moment, but I know Karl, I’ve played against him numerous times over the years,’ he said. ‘He’s a great lad to have around the place, around the dressing room. ‘He can bring great leadership and value to the team on the pitch but also off the pitch as well.’ Harry Maguire with captain Bruno Fernandes after the draw with PSG (Picture: Getty Images) Manchester United’s pre-season preparations continue on Wednesday in Dublin against Leeds United, before a final friendly against AC Milan in Poland. Their Premier League campaign begins on August 22 against one of Maguire’s former clubs, Hull City. The defender has talked up an improvement on last season’s results, despite them being encouraging since Michael Carrick took charge in January. ‘There will be new ideas and different ways of playing. Last season, we played very well in certain matches, but we could have done better in others. We know that,’ he said. ‘The results and points were there, but we could have delivered better performances. We worked on it during the pre-season, and I think we’ll see better performances.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
In a mailbag edition of his newsletter, Jonathan Wilson answers questions about Michael Carrick, VAR and the Premier League’s new teamsSign up for our free newsletter hereManchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Who will win the Carabao Cup this season? (Photo: Getty) Chelsea and Tottenham have both been drawn at home in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with their campaigns getting underway this month. The Carabao Cup kicked-off proper last weekend, with clubs up and down the EFL battling it out, all dreaming of reaching the final at Wembley in March. The second round of the competition is when things heat up as the 11 Premier League teams who did not qualify for Europe enter the draw. That means that, rather unusually, two of England’s biggest clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham are in the hat and will have to play an extra round compared to their typical rivals. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. By virtue of qualifying for the Champions League, holders Manchester City and last season’s finalists Arsenal will enter the cup in round three, as will Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool. The same applies for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Brighton, who are competing in the Europa League and Conference League this season. Carabao Cup round two draw Man City beat Arsenal in last season’s Carabao Cup final (Photo: Getty) Northern section draw Stoke City v Hull CityNewcastle v West Bromwich AlbionBlackburn v Sheffield UnitedNottingham Forest v LeedsDoncaster Rovers v MiddlesbroughBarnsley v CrewePreston v EvertonBlackpool v LincolnSheffield Wednesday v WolvesBradford v BurnleyFleetwood v Shrewsbury Xabi Alonso will get an early taste of Carabao as Chelsea boss (Picture: Getty Images) Southern section draw Walsall v Leyton OrientIpswich v LeicesterCardiff v NorwichStevenage v ReadingCambridge v MillwallBirmingham v BrentfordSouthampton v West HamWatford v PeterboroughFulham v AFC WimbledonPlymouth/Exeter v CoventryChelsea v LutonTottenham Hotspur v Charlton When is the Carabao Cup second round? All second round matches are due to be played during the week commencing Monday, August 24. The nine Premier League clubs in European competition join in round three, with those fixtures beginning in the week commencing September 7. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Ashley Young is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck didn’t rejoin Manchester United (Picture: Sky Sports) Ashley Young says he is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck made a transfer move to Chelsea rather than former club Manchester United this summer. Chelsea have moved away from their purely youth-led transfer policy to add some much-needed experience to their dressing room ahead of Xabi Alonso’s debut season at the helm. After beating Arsenal to a £117million deal for Morgan Rogers, the Blues turned their attentions to Welbeck, a move that took many fans by surprise given the forward is set to turn 36 in November. Welbeck would go on to leave Brighton for Chelsea for a fee in the region of £5million, with the veteran attacker putting pen to paper on a two-year deal in west London. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Just two days later, it was announced that 36-year-old Jordan Henderson had decided to terminate his contract at Brentford to follow Welbeck through the doors at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea supporters got a first glimpse of Welbeck in their colours last week as the ex-England international was given a 45-minute run-out in the side’s pre-season clash with Juventus. Young, who played alongside Welbeck for four years at Manchester United, has been impressed by Chelsea’s transfer business and is confident his old team-mate can make a big impact both on and off the pitch. Welbeck has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty) The veteran forward made his unofficial Chelsea debut against Juventus (Picture: Getty) ‘Chelsea have made some good signings and they need some experience in that squad,’ Young told talkSPORT. ‘He’s a really good friend of mine, Welbs is. ‘I’ve been speaking to him the last couple of weeks.’ Welbeck should have been in England’s World Cup squad, says Young (Picture: Getty) Asked if Welbeck is excited for the season ahead at Chelsea, Young replied: ‘Yeah, of course he is. He’s delighted to be signing for Chelsea, especially at this stage of his career. ‘He’s proved himself time and time again. ‘Could he have been on the plane going to the World Cup? For me, I’m probably being biased in saying he should have, but he wasn’t. ‘He’s been fantastic and I’m gutted he hasn’t gone back to United, to be honest.’ {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Xabi Alonso says Chelsea are 'thrilled' to have Mykhailo Mudryk back with the squad","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/04\/3201686063122201576\/480x270_MP4_3201686063122201576.mp4","description":"Chelsea's new head coach Xabi Alonso says he wants to 'fight for important things' this season. This comes as he spoke to the media ahead of a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong.","duration":"T4M44S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/04\/18\/110436895-0-image-m-12_1785863746233.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-04T18:15:03+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); Earlier this month, Old Trafford great Gary Neville – another of Welbeck’s former team-mates – criticised United for allowing the striker to leave for Arsenal back in 2014. According to Neville, the 2012/13 Premier Leag
Could Michael Carrick pull off a major transfer coup for Man Utd (Photo: Getty) Manchester United have been told to consider signing Real Madrid striker Endrick, with the Brazil wonderkid looking to join a Premier League club. Real paid Palmeiras £50million to sign Endrick when he was just 16 and since then, the hype around the young forward has been immeasurable. But while tipped to be the future talisman of both Los Blancos and the Brazil national team, the now 20-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Madrid, with Kylian Mbappe firmly ahead in the pecking order. Endrick spent the second-half of last season on loan at Lyon and it has been reported that the player will seek another temporary transfer if he is not guaranteed regular minutes by Jose Mourinho. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Spanish outlet AS has claimed that Roma and Aston Villa have expressed interest in signing the striker, with the latter looking to replace Morgan Rogers following his record £117m transfer to Chelsea. It would present a major coup for Unai Emery’s side, but MLS icon turned pundit Ale Moreno thinks that Endrick would be a great fit at Old Trafford. ‘I really do think that Real Madrid could use Endrick this season. So, if I were Endrick, I actually would consider staying at Real Madrid,’ the former Venezuela international told ESPN. Endrick has struggled for first-team football at Real Madrid (Photo: Getty) ‘But if the question is about where he would go, where he should go, where he may end up… we’ve talked a lot about Manchester United. The more you think about it, the more it makes sense to have a player with a profile of Endrick. ‘He is different than anything else they have in the attack in a central position. So, I’m thinking that perhaps that could be a place that could think about Enrick as a possibility. ‘I would stay at Real Madrid if I were him but I’m looking at it from the perspective as to what team near the top of the Premier League could use a player like Endrick.’ Endrick recorded 16 goal contributions in 21 games for Lyon last season (Photo: Getty) Aside from Benjamin Sesko, United don’t have another natural No.9 in their squad, though Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and the returning Marcus Rashford can all play centre-forward. It is said that Endrick’s preference is to play Champions League football, something United, Villa and Roma can offer, with Moreno adding: ‘It wouldn’t feel like such a demotion [joining United from Real] if you will. ‘And after the season he had last year being out on loan and how well he did he must be thinking, “Alright, let’s keep it going. Is that going to happen at Real Madrid? Well, probably not. Let me go somewhere else that I can do that”. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are interested in signing the Brazil wonderkid (Photo: Getty) ‘I don’t know where that place can be. I’m just thinking that Manchester United could use a player like Endrick.’ On the contrast, Steve Nicol believes Endrick, who recorded eight goals and eight assists in just 21 appearances for Lyon, must join a club where it is certain he will start week-in, week-out. ‘I was thinking more along the lines of a Fulham where he’s 100 per cent going to play,’ the former Liverpool defender said. ‘Fulham are going to play attacking football. They’re not going to win all the time [but] they’re going to win a fair share, they’re going to create chances. ‘Somebody like Endrick has to go somewhere where he’s going to play all the time, otherwise what’s the point of moving away from Real Madrid?’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says recruitment this summer preparing for a Europa League campaign is "much harder" than it was before last season's Premier League return. Defender Thomas Meunier is the only player to arrive on a permanent deal to the Black Cats so far this window, on a free transfer after his departure from Lille. The transfer window is still unpredictable but we are working behind the scenes to strengthen the squad.
Manchester City appear to be closing in on one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders, with Ayyoub Bouaddi now pushing to complete a move from Lille this summer rather than waiting another year. The 18-year-old’s reputation has risen sharply over the past two seasons, and his performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup only […] The post Just in: Midfielder agrees personal terms with Man City, wants immediate move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Michael Carrick during Manchester United’s pre-season camp (Picture: Getty) Manchester United have been told they have already secured one of the signings of the summer ahead of the new Premier League season. Michael Carrick has welcomed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Karl Darlow to his first-team squad at Old Trafford this summer. Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco have also arrived at Manchester United but will join the club’s academy. United made Brazilian midfielder Santos their first signing of the summer in a £48m move from big-spending Chelsea. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Red Devils raided another Premier League rival in Aston Villa to sign Belgium international Tielemans for £35m. Hundreds of millions has already been spent on midfield reinforcements this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes all sealing lucrative moves. John Obi Mikel rates Manchester United’s deal for Tielemans as the pick of the bunch, however, describing the signing as a ‘f****** steal’. Man Utd summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘For me, it’s Youri Tielemans,’ the Chelsea legend said on The Obi One podcast when asked for his take on the most impressive midfield signing of the summer. ‘Honestly, how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35m? That’s a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player. ‘Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a ten and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy. Tielemans during Man Utd pre-season (Picture: Getty) ‘He scores goals, he’s dangerous from set pieces, he’s brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he’s not the quickest, but he reads the game so well. ‘He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans.’ Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has also praised Manchester United’s move for Tielemans. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbdvh2TAoys/?hl=en ‘The problem with modern football is that sometimes we look too much at stats like assists and goals,’ he told Hajper. ‘Of course, Youri Tielemans creates assists and scores goals, and can shoot from outside the box and score free kicks, but he is so much more than that. ‘Tielemans is a link up player, and you have to watch him to understand why he is so important to his teams, not just look at his stats, because he is always trying to play the ball forward. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel (Picture: Getty) ‘You have some midfield players who have a pass success rate of 98% but they are always playing the ball backwards. Tielemans is a guy who turns, opens up and plays the ball between the lines, and that’s very important for a club like Manchester United who need to break other teams down. ‘Even when he’s playing in a deep role, he’s playing it in an attacking way. He’s thinking about going forwards, always. ‘Sometimes he will lose the ball but that’s what happens when you take some risks in games to make things happen, and I think that’s something United need, and he has the mentality to be brave and positive under the big pressure of the shirt. ‘He will put in ultra big effort and say to his team mates, give me the ball and let me change the game for you. He will take the responsibility to take Manchester United forward.’ Carrick is still interested in bringing a third new midfielder to Old Trafford this summer before the transfer window shuts. United drew 1-1 with European champions PSG in a pre-season friendly on Saturday night. Manchester United have two more tun
Nuno Espirito Santo is building a new team at West Ham (Picture: Getty Images) West Ham are are putting together their squad for the upcoming Championship season and are looking at some recognisable names. The Hammers were relegated from the top flight last season but have stuck with manager Nuno Espirito Santo, after finishing the campaign on 39 points. There have been some significant departures, with Mateus Fernandes going to Spurs for £85 million, Crysencio Summerville heading to Al Hilal for £55m and Freddie Potts joining Club Brugge in a £10.2m deal. Callum Wilson also departed on a free transfer and gets another crack at the Premier League by joining Brentford. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Experienced defender Joel Veltman has arrived from Brighton on a free transfer, while Venezuela international loan signing Keiber Lamadrid has made his move permanent. Espirito Santo will need more numbers, though, and West Ham are making moves for Troy Parrott and Reiss Nelson. Former Tottenham striker Parrott has been excelling at AZ since moving there permanently in 2024, scoring 30 goals in 59 Eredivisie games and 51 in 97 appearances across all competitions. Troy Parrott has been a big hit at AZ (Picture: Getty Images) He has been linked with a string of European clubs this summer, including Porto, but West Ham are hopeful of securing a deal and have made a bid of around £15m, according to the Daily Mail. The 24-year-old has hinted that he is in no rush to return to England, having enjoyed his time with AZ so far. ‘Before I went to the Netherlands, I was completely focused on England,’ he told De Telegraaf. ‘I dreamed of the Premier League. ‘But once in the Netherlands, I discovered that the football world is a lot bigger than England.’ Reiss Nelson has featured for Arsenal in pre-season (Picture: Getty Images) Nelson is also on the Hammers’ radar as he appears to be surplus to requirements at Arsenal. The 26-year-old came through the Gunners academy and has made 90 first team appearances, but has played just once for Arsenal in the last two seasons. He spent the majority of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Fulham and last season on loan at Brentford. The winger is back at his parent club and has featured in pre-season, but is unlikely to get much chance to shine in the first team in the coming campaign. West Ham are reportedly exploring a deal, but Fulham and Benfica are also credited with interest. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Dario Essugo captained Chelsea in Jakarta on Sunday (Picture: Getty Images) Chelsea youngster Dario Essugo admits it was a surprise to be handed the captain’s armband in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, but hopes it can inspire other young players at the club. The 21-year-old skippered a the Blues in their meeting with Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim, which ended 3-3. Chelsea beat AC Milan 3-0 in a friendly on Saturday, so manager Xabi Alonso completely changed the starting line-up, but there were still plenty of recognisable names in it. Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Estevao made up the front three, with the likes of Jamie Gittens, Tosin Adarabioyo and Geovany Quenda all starting as well. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. It was Essugo who got the nod as captain, having also worn the armband earlier in pre-season as well. The midfielder suggested his maturity has earned him the honour, hoping to show to other young players at the club that age is just a number. ‘For me it was a surprise but of course it’s a pleasure,’ the Portuguese prospect said. ‘I didn’t expect to be captain at this age and at this big club so for me it’s just a pleasure and I enjoyed it a lot. Essugo will be hoping for more first team opportunities this season (Picture: Getty Images) ‘For me it means everything because I didn’t expect it. It’s a message for me and for all the players that it’s not about the age, but maybe it’s about maturity. It’s learning and staying positive.’ On how he feels he is developing at Chelsea, he said: ‘[I’ve learned] a lot because here we have a lot of big players, so I try to learn from everyone. I think that’s it, learning from my teammates and enjoy.’ Essugo was signed from Sporting last year in a deal worth £18.5 million, but had little impact in his first season at Stamford Bridge. Essugo has a lot of competition in Chelsea’s midfield (Picture: REUTERS) The Portugal Under-21 international made just three Premier League appearances and five in total over the campaign. He will be hoping that the faith Alonso has shown in him over pre-season is a sign of more action to come when the new season gets underway later this month. Chelsea have one more summer friendly, against Real Sociedad on Saturday, before starting their Premier League campaign at Fulham on August 24. Alonso spoke after the 3-0 win over AC Milan of using multiple systems and attempting to be as unpredictable as possible. Xabi Alonso is already mixing things up at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images) The Spaniard has played a back three and back four over the summer so far. ‘We want to be versatile in our approach and system,’ he said. ‘I think we have the players to adapt to different ones because they understand how to support each other. ‘The principles are the same but the movements can change; we need to be unpredictable, we want to be flexible, and we want to have a threat. The system is just a picture; you need to move, rotate and create dynamics [in the team] and that is when the picture becomes a movie. ‘We are not just sticking to one idea and the more options that we have, the better team we will be.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
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