• West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes selects Manchester United ahead of Arsenal
• United captain Bruno Fernandes personally recommends compatriot to board
• Crystal Palace ready to meet £20m valuation for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney
• Manchester City enquire about Chelsea defender Malo Gusto
• Arsenal target Club Brugge forward Christos Tzolis as alternative option

Manchester United have taken the lead in the race to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United. The midfielder has informed the Hammers that he prefers a move to Old Trafford over Arsenal. This represents a significant blow to the Gunners’ transfer plans.

United captain Bruno Fernandes has personally recommended the deal to the club’s board. He has spoken highly of his fellow countryman. Technical director Jason Wilcox is also pushing hard for the transfer. He previously signed Fernandes during his time at Southampton.

Arsenal are now considering alternatives. The North London club are monitoring Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge. The Greek forward has impressed in Belgium.

Elsewhere, Manchester City have made enquiries about Chelsea defender Malo Gusto. The Premier League champions need cover at right-back. City are also tracking Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite alongside Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Crystal Palace are prepared to meet Middlesbrough’s £20 million valuation for Hayden Hackney. The Eagles face competition from Everton for the midfielder’s signature.

Nottingham Forest are monitoring Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi. The Italian appears set to leave the San Siro this summer. Newcastle United have submitted an official bid to Osasuna for winger Victor Munoz.

Barcelona continue to monitor Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez as they search for attacking options. However, defender Jules Kounde intends to remain at the Camp Nou. The French international is content with life in Spain.

Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid have opened talks regarding South Korean winger Lee Kang-In. Finally, Premier League referee Michael Oliver has withdrawn from the World Club Cup due to injury. He was scheduled to officiate the match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast.

• Roy Keane and Bruno Fernandes have settled their public disagreement
• The dispute began when Keane misquoted the Manchester United captain on a podcast
• Fernandes accused the former United midfielder of telling a “lie” about his words
• The pair held a private phone call to clear the air this week
• Keane described their conversation as “mature” and positive

Former Manchester United star Roy Keane has made peace with current club captain Bruno Fernandes following a war of words over a podcast interview. The Irish TV pundit revealed he held a private telephone conversation with the Portuguese midfielder after misquoting him earlier this year.

The trouble started when Keane spoke about Fernandes on The Overlap podcast in May. He claimed the United skipper cared more about personal records than team victories. This came after Fernandes set a new Premier League record with 21 assists during the 2025-26 season.

Keane told listeners that Fernandes had said “I probably should have shot but I made them passes” following a 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest. He called this behaviour part of a “circus act”. However, Fernandes denied making these comments and accused Keane of dishonesty.

The midfielder explained what he actually said to reporters. He admitted there were times he should have passed instead of shooting. But he stressed that winning the match and finishing the season strongly mattered most to him.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast on Wednesday, Keane confirmed the two men had talked. “We had a lovely chat,” he said. “It was a nice, mature conversation.” Keane accepted that words on podcasts sometimes do not come across as intended. He noted that while he prefers not to speak regularly with current players, he felt this discussion was important.

Keane added that he respects Fernandes for reaching out directly. He said they spoke about many topics and he felt much better afterwards. The former Republic of Ireland captain hopes the matter is now closed between himself and the United skipper.

• Bruno Fernandes tops the early betting markets for the 2026 World Cup assists leader.
• Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are joint third favourites according to bookmakers.
• The tournament will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico in summer 2026.
• European and South American playmakers dominate the predictions for the Golden Assist award.

Bookmakers have opened their markets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They are predicting which player will create the most goals during the tournament.

Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes is the current favourite. He has odds of +900. This means a $10 bet would return $100 if he provides the most assists.

France winger Michael Olise is second in the betting. The Bayern Munich star has odds of +1000.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi shares the next position with Spain teenager Lamine Yamal. Both players have odds of +1200. Many fans expect this to be Messi’s final World Cup appearance.

Other attacking stars appear further down the list. Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior is priced at +1400. France striker Kylian Mbappé and Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne both stand at +2000. Germany’s Florian Wirtz and Belgium winger Jérémy Doku share the same odds.

The award recognises the player who makes the final pass before a goal is scored. This is different from the Golden Boot, which goes to the top scorer. The tournament kicks off in June 2026 across three North American nations.

• Three Arsenal stars nominated after winning the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years
• Bruno Fernandes emerges as favourite following his Football Writers’ Association victory
• Erling Haaland included after claiming the Golden Boot with 27 goals
• Winners to be crowned at the 53rd annual ceremony in Manchester on 25 August

The Professional Footballers’ Association has revealed its shortlist for the men’s Player of the Year award, with Arsenal supplying half of the candidates. Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhães and David Raya each secured a place following their key roles in the Gunners’ championship success.

Bruno Fernandes joins the Arsenal contingent after a stellar campaign with Manchester United. The Portuguese captain recently lifted the Football Writers’ Association prize, establishing himself as the leading contender for this honour. He set a new Premier League record this season by providing 21 assists, helping his side secure third place.

Manchester City boast two nominees on the list. Erling Haaland earned his spot by finishing as the division’s top scorer with 27 goals. French midfielder Rayan Cherki also made the cut after an outstanding first year in English football.

Last term’s recipient was Mohamed Salah, who found the net 29 times to steer Liverpool to the crown. This year’s winner will be celebrated at the 53rd annual PFA Awards Ceremony in Manchester on Tuesday, 25 August.

• Michael Carrick wants five new players at Manchester United this summer
• The Red Devils have paused contract talks with captain Bruno Fernandes
• Arsenal are confident of signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa
• Marcus Rashford could move to Barcelona before next season
• Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City after the World Cup

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick is planning a major rebuild of his squad. He wants to sign five new players during the summer transfer window.

The club hopes to complete a deal for Ederson first. Carrick also needs three centre midfielders, one left-back and a striker to strengthen his defence and attack.

United have stopped negotiations over a new contract with club captain Bruno Fernandes. Despite this pause, officials at Old Trafford remain calm about his long-term future at the club.

Meanwhile, Arsenal believe they are leading the race to sign Morgan Rogers. The Aston Villa forward is a top target for the North London club if Villa decide to sell.

Nottingham Forest have rejected an opening bid from Manchester City for Elliot Anderson. The midfielder is likely to stay with Forest for now.

Fulham are searching for a new manager to replace Marco Silva. Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has shown interest in the job. Former Brentford manager Thomas Frank is also a candidate.

At Old Trafford, goalkeeper Tom Heaton has agreed a new one-year contract. He will remain with the club until 2026.

Hull City want to sign Yacine Titraoui from Charleroi. The Algerian midfielder currently plays in Belgium.

Liverpool have secured the future of young defender Josh Abe. The England youth international turned down offers from several Premier League rivals.

Marcus Rashford could leave United for Barcelona this summer. The club are willing to accept an offer that suits the Spanish side.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has confirmed he will leave the club. He will make a final decision about his next team after the World Cup.

Arsenal are also close to signing Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt. The defender prefers a move to North London over Bayern Munich.

• Manchester United believe their captain Bruno Fernandes will reject any offers to leave the club this summer.
• Chelsea have placed a £120 million valuation on midfielder Enzo Fernández amid interest from Real Madrid.
• West Ham United will ask for £80 million if they are to sell midfielder Matheus Fernandes to rival clubs.
• Arsenal are preparing to make an enquiry about Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez.
• Aston Villa are determined to keep hold of forward Morgan Rogers despite attention from Arsenal and Chelsea.

Manchester United remain confident that their Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes will commit his future to the club. The captain has attracted interest from other teams, but sources at Old Trafford suggest he is happy to stay. This news comes as a boost to the new management team ahead of the summer window.

Across the Premier League, Chelsea have made it clear that Enzo Fernández will not leave cheaply. The London club want £120 million for the Argentine World Cup winner. Spanish giants Real Madrid are considering a move. They might offer players in exchange. One name mentioned is defender Dean Huijsen, who could reunite with his former manager Xabi Alonso.

Meanwhile, West Ham United have set a high asking price for their Brazilian midfielder Matheus Fernandes. The Hammers want £80 million. Both Manchester United and Arsenal are watching the situation closely. However, the East London club are under no pressure to sell their key man.

Arsenal are also looking at options abroad. The North London side plan to ask Atlético Madrid about Julián Álvarez. The Argentine striker has settled well in Spain since leaving Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side admire his qualities.

The Gunners have other names on their list too. They are tracking Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi, and Ajax talent Mika Godts.

Aston Villa face a battle to keep Morgan Rogers. The forward has impressed this season. Both Arsenal and Chelsea are keen to sign him. However, Villa hope to resist any bids and keep the player at Villa Park.

There is also news from the goalkeeping department at Old Trafford. André Onana has returned to training with Manchester United. However, the club have told him he can find a new team. This suggests the Cameroonian will leave this summer.

In Germany, Karim Adeyemi is open to leaving Borussia Dortmund. Aston Villa are monitoring this situation. The winger wants a new challenge.

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown is another target for Arsenal. Bayern Munich are also interested in the full-back. Chelsea, meanwhile, have turned down several offers for young defender Josh Acheampong.

Finally, scouts from Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid are all watching Club Brugge forward Nicolo Tresoldi.

• Bruno Fernandes tops the betting at +900 to finish as the tournament’s leading creator
• Michael Olise ranks second at +1000, closely followed by Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal at +1200
• Premier League stars dominate the upper markets alongside La Liga attackers
• Vinícius Júnior sits at +1400, with Mbappé and De Bruyne further back at +2000

Bookmakers have opened the markets for the 2026 World Cup assists leader. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes heads the betting. The Portugal international stands at +900. A stake of $10 would return $100 total if he tops the charts.

Michael Olise occupies second position. The Bayern Munich winger, who recently left Crystal Palace, is priced at +1000. This offers a potential return of $110 from a $10 bet.

Argentine legend Lionel Messi shares third spot with Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal. Both players carry odds of +1200. Backers would collect $130 from a $10 wager on either star.

Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior appears next in the list at +1400. Several elite names cluster together at +2000. This group includes France captain Kylian Mbappé, Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku and Germany’s Florian Wirtz.

Further down the odds board, Barcelona’s Raphinha sits alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams. All three share odds of +2500.

The early markets suggest Premier League experience carries weight. Fernandes and De Bruyne have built reputations as consistent chance creators. Messi remains a threat despite his age. Young talents like Yamal and Olise represent the next wave of creative stars aiming for the global stage.

• Bruno Fernandes rejects claims he prioritised personal records over team success
• United captain accuses Roy Keane of putting false “words in my mouth”
• Portugal midfielder broke the Premier League assist record with 21 passes
• Fernandes seeks Keane’s contact details via Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
• Incident follows earlier tension between Lisandro Martinez and Paul Scholes

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has strongly defended his reputation against stinging criticism from club legend Roy Keane. The Portugal international insists the former skipper told a “lie” about his pursuit of the Premier League assists record.

The disagreement started following United’s 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest. Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Keane described Fernandes as the centre of a “circus act”. The ex-United and Republic of Ireland midfielder suggested the captain cared more about individual glory than the team’s interests.

Keane claimed Fernandes admitted choosing to pass rather than shoot in order to chase the single-season record. “How can your mindset be about an individual record?” Keane questioned. “He will not win trophies with that attitude.”

However, Fernandes revealed his actual words were the opposite. After the Forest match, he stated: “There were probably moments when I should have passed instead of shot. I am happy for the assist, but happier for the win.” This suggests Keane misheard or misunderstood the interview.

Fernandes equalled the existing record with his 20th assist against Forest. He then surpassed both Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne on the final day at Brighton, finishing with 21 assists. He also scored nine goals and helped United secure third place and a return to the Champions League.

The midfielder recently collected both the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season awards. Despite these honours, he remains upset about Keane’s remarks.

Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Fernandes explained his position clearly. “I do not mind criticism. Everyone has opinions,” he said. “But I do not like when people lie about things I said. Luckily for me, everything is on record.”

The captain revealed he asked former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Keane’s phone number. He wishes to speak directly with the Irishman to clear the air. “I respect everything Keane did for this club,” Fernandes added. “I just do not like when people invent words I never spoke.”

This is not the first time current United players have argued with former stars. Earlier this season, defender Lisandro Martinez clashed with Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt over comments about his height.

Fernandes maintains he always puts the team first. “I understand this club is about winning trophies. That never leaves my mind,” he stated. “I would prefer Keane praised my achievements sometimes, but I accept criticism when it is fair and true.”

• Manchester United will secure Champions League qualification if they avoid defeat against Liverpool at Old Trafford
• Liverpool sit three points behind their rivals and can leapfrog them into third place with a victory
• Kenyan supporters can watch the 5:30pm East Africa Time kick-off live on SuperSport or stream via DStv Now

Manchester United host Liverpool in a massive Premier League derby this Sunday. The clash takes place at Old Trafford with a 5:30pm East Africa Time kick-off.

Both teams are battling to secure spots in next season’s Champions League. United currently occupy third position in the table with 61 points. Michael Carrick’s men need just one point from this fixture to guarantee their place in Europe’s elite competition.

Liverpool are fourth in the standings, trailing United by three points. A win for Arne Slot’s team would see them climb above their hosts. The Merseyside club enters the match in strong form, having won their previous three league outings.

The two sides met earlier this season at Anfield. On that occasion, United secured a 2-1 victory away from home. They will now aim to complete a league double over their fierce rivals.

Kenyan fans can follow all the action live on SuperSport Premier League. Television coverage begins at 4:30pm EAT. Viewers can also stream the game through the DStv Now application or Showmax Pro.

United midfielder Bruno Fernandes could play a decisive role. The Portuguese star has recorded 19 assists in the Premier League this term. He sits just one assist shy of the all-time single-season record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. His creative form makes him a crucial figure for the home side.

• Bruno Fernandes rejected a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia last summer to remain at Old Trafford
• The Portuguese midfielder says winning trophies with Manchester United would give him a unique feeling no other club could offer
• Fernandes aims to win the Premier League and Champions League before his contract ends

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has spoken about his future. He explained why he stayed at Old Trafford last summer. He rejected a move to Saudi Arabia.

The 31-year-old gave an interview to Gary Neville. Neville is a former United player and now works as a TV expert.

Fernandes said success at United means more to him than at other clubs. He could have left two years ago. He could also have left last season. But he chose to stay.

“It is not about loyalty,” Fernandes said. “I really enjoy being here. I believe winning trophies here would feel different. I would not get this feeling at any other club in the world.”

United had a bad season last year. They finished 15th in the Premier League. This was their lowest position ever. They also lost the Europa League final. Because of this, they will not play in Europe this season.

Fernandes has won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup with United. But he wants bigger trophies. He wants to win the Premier League and the Champions League.

“I have not achieved my dreams here yet,” he said. “It will be difficult. Other clubs have been winning for many years. But I will keep trying until my contract ends.”

The Portuguese star also spoke about the fans. He said he knows how much they want success. He wants to help the club move forward.

United will play against Liverpool on Sunday. The match starts at 3:30 PM.