After coming up agonisingly short in last season's Champions League final, Arsenal begin what they hope will be a glorious European campaign at Napoli. The Gunners were beaten on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain in May, with Gabriel missing the decisive kick after a 1-1 draw. As for Napoli, their Champions League adventure was a big disappointment last term, as they finished in a lowly 30th place in the league phase.
Deadline day may have left Everton fans feeling disillusioned, but the side is four games into the season and remains unbeaten, nine goals scored, including two in added time to secure a point. After what was a chaotic close to the transfer window, even by the Toffees' own standards, the performance against Manchester United ironically saw the summer signings playing a key role in the fight. Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney came on from the bench to turn the game on its head, Tyrique George scored to equalise before the visitors went back in front, and it was Ainsley Maitland-Niles with a stunning strike to secure the draw in the final few seconds.
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty) Jaap Stam has urged Michael Carrick to get Joshua Zirkzee back in the Manchester United team after a summer move away from Old Trafford fell through. The Red Devils were open to offloading Zirkzee in the summer transfer window amid interest from multiple Italian clubs. Juventus and Napoli both expressed interest in the Netherlands international but favoured a loan deal whereas Manchester United wanted a standard sale. Zirzkee also attracted interest from Everton on transfer deadline day but at that point United had ruled out a deal given they were unable to sign a replacement. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. Manchester United had high hopes for Zirkzee following his £36.5m move from Bologna in 2024 but the 25-year-old has scored just five goals across the last two Premier League campaigns. Carrick appears to have reservations about Zirkzee and is yet to give the Dutchman any minutes from the bench this season. But Old Trafford legend Stam is confident his compatriot Zirkzee can ‘still do well’ for Manchester United and says he was one of the reasons Carrick ‘didn’t need to sign a striker this summer’. Manchester United outcast Joshua Zirkzee (Picture: Getty) ‘It looks as if Manchester United are dealing with transfer windows in stages,’ Stam told Betfred. ‘We had the attack last summer, midfield this summer and defence possibly next summer, but I believe you always have to look at the areas that need strengthening at the time. ‘I don’t think they needed a striker this summer because I believe in Sesko and I think [Joshua] Zirkzee can still do well for United. Old Trafford legend Jaap Stam (Picture: Getty) ‘I would have liked to have seen a new winger signed this summer because I think they’re crucial for the style of play that United have. ‘Marcus Rashford has stepped in and done really well, but can he keep that up? Bryan Mbeumo sometimes plays on the right, sometimes he plays down the middle, so I would have brought in a winger with a lot of pace that can create something. ‘Defensively, the players in that area have played together for years and years, so I think they needed to add something new and I would have done that straight away if the opportunity was there.’ Liverpool summer signing Bradley Barcola (Picture: Getty) Stam’s winger of choice for Manchester United would have been Bradley Barcola, who completed a stunning £123m move from PSG to Liverpool. Barcola helped the Ligue 1 giants win back-to-back Champions Leagues and was part of France’s star-studded World Cup squad over the summer. ‘Liverpool got Bradley Barcola from PSG and like I’ve said previously, I would have liked Man United to have signed a winger during the summer transfer window,’ Stam added. ‘He’s the type of player we could have done with because he’s got tremendous pace and he’s unpredictable in the way he plays. ‘But Manchester United have their own thoughts on how they want to approach the transfer window, so who am I to say who they should have signed and who they shouldn’t.’ Carrick’s United mark their return to the Champions League on Thursday night against Azerbaijani minnows Shabah. The Red Devils then return to Premier League action on Sunday with a Manchester derby against Enzo Maresca’s City. 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
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