Amidst Manchester United’s more high-profile arrivals of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James in the summer, the signing of Hannibal Mejbri went slightly under the radar at Old Trafford.
The 16-year-old signed for the Red Devils from French side AS Monaco, and he has predominantly featured for the club’s academy sides.
The teenage starlet has made five appearances in total in a United shirt – four of them coming in the U18 Premier League, and the other in Premier League 2 action. On Monday night, Mejbri delivered an impressive cameo as Neil Wood’s U23s side ran out 4-1 winners over Middlesbrough.
Brought on with just 15 minutes to go, the Frenchman caught the eye immediately, and provided one superb pass into teammate Tahith Chong.
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After watching his brief appearance, United fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on their summer signing.
Many supporters of the Manchester side hailed him as a special talent, and insisted he is one to keep a close eye on over the coming years.
Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:
After a campaign full of ups and downs last season, it appears as if Tottenham Hotspur fans are in for more of the same this year.
Ange Postecoglou's men have kicked off the Premier League in an unconvincing manner so far, dropping two points away to Leicester City and three to Newcastle United.
The North Londoners were able to utterly dominate Everton, but the Toffees have been exceedingly poor thus far, meaning they are hardly the barometer for measuring this Lilywhites side.
Granted, the club's £65m striker, Dominic Solanke, has missed the last two games, and the £60m Richarlison is also out injured. However, it seems unlikely that the Brazilian ever be the player fans were hoping he'd be in North London, especially when he's being outscored by a former Tottenham flop.
Richarlison's Spurs record
Just over two years ago, Spurs spent around £60m to get Richarlison out of Everton after he had scored 11 goals and provided five assists in just 33 games for the Toffees the season prior, and while he's shown glimpses of quality since then, it would be fair to say that they paid too much.
nile-john-richarlison-tottenham-opinion
For example, in his first campaign with the Lilywhites, the former Watford ace could only muster a return of three goals and four assists in 35 appearances, equating to a poor average of a goal involvement every five games.
To his credit, the Brazilian international did improve last season in Harry Kane's absence, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists in just 31 appearances. However, this clearly wasn't enough to convince the club that he could lead the line going forward, as they went out and signed Solanke last month.
Richarlison looks agonised for Tottenham
In all, Richarlison is a talented player, but he has not been able to establish himself as an essential player for Spurs, and considering he's being outscored by a former flop who left five years ago, it's not looking good for his long-term future in N17.
Georges-Kévin N'Koudou's recent form
The former Spurs flop in question is Cameroon international Georges-Kévin N'Koudou, who joined the club from Marseille in September 2016 for a fee of around £11m.
Kevin N'Koudou for Tottenham.
The left-winger made very little impact in N17 and was sold to Beskitas by Mauricio Pochettino for £4.5m just three years later. He left the Lilywhites with just 27 appearances, one goal, and two assists to his name.
After spending a few years in Turkey, the Versailles-born dynamo made the switch to Saudi Pro League side Damac FC last summer, where he has since been playing very well indeed.
In fact, the 29-year-old wideman outscored Richarlison last season, racking up a respectable tally of 15 goals and five assists in 33 matches, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 1.65 games for the Middle Eastern club.
Now the important caveat here is that the quality of opposition is obviously far lower in Saudi Arabia. However, we have seen big names make the move over there and struggle, so it's still impressive from the former Spurs flop.
Appearances
33
31
Goals
15
12
Assists
5
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.60
0.51
Ultimately, selling N'Koudou in 2019 was the right thing to do for all parties involved, but perhaps his successful departure from the club should give Richarlison some ideas, unless he can dramatically improve his form in the coming months.
Spurs "hero" left on a free, now he's outperforming Richarlison & Maddison
The talented star will always have a place in the club’s history.
Aston Villa have made contact with a club over the signing of a "world-class" player in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Gary Jacob.
Aston Villa transfer news
Unai Emery's side got their Premier League season off to a perfect start last weekend, picking up an impressive 2-1 win away to a West Ham side who have been tipped by many to do well this season. It has been an encouraging summer in the transfer market, with the likes of Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley coming in, among others, but there is still time for further new faces to arrive.
Lutsharel Geertruida has been linked with a late summer switch to Villa Park, following an impressive 2023/24 season for Feyenoord that saw him score eight goals and register five assists in the Eredivisie from his right wing-back role. He could be considered an alternative to Joe Gomez, with the Liverpool defender also emerging as a rumoured target.
Lutsharel Geertruida for the Netherlands.
In fact, Villa are believed to have spoken to the agents of Gomez, who may be weighing up his options if Arne Slot can't promise him regular starts. With Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah all ahead of him in the centre-back pecking order, and the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson first-choice at right-back and left-back respectively, it is hard to see him being a key man.
Meanwhile, Sporting CP star Pedro Goncalves is also thought to be an option for the Midlands giants, in what could be a potential club-record deal involving the 26-year-old. He has already scored three times and registered two assists in the opening couple of Primeira Liga games this season, highlighting his level of productivity in the final third.
Aston Villa make contact with "world-class" ace
According to The Times' Jacob, Aston Villa have now made contact and held talks with Chelsea over the signing of Raheem Sterling, with the 29-year-old surplus to requirements under Enzo Maresca.
The Englishman has been training alone, with it clear that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge, and the Villans are looking at possibly snapping him up in what would be an eye-catching piece of business.
There is an argument to say that Sterling's very best days are behind him, considering he turns 30 later this year and has lost his place in the England squad, but he could still be a strong option for Villa for a number of years.
The pedigree that the winger possesses is undeniable, having represented Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea down the years, not to mention registering 185 goal contributions (123 goals and 62 assists) in 379 Premier League appearances, while scoring 20 goals in 82 caps for England.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard has described Sterling as a "world-class player" in the past, and his ability to get into good areas and deliver end product could be a potent weapon for Emery.
Man City
339
131
73
Liverpool
129
23
18
Chelsea
81
19
12
Granted, his £325,000-a-week wage at Chelsea is vast, so he may have to take a pay cut – Boucacar Kamara, Emiliano Martinez and Youri Tielemans are the highest-earning current Villa players on £150,000 per week – but getting out of his Stamford Bridge nightmare to play regular football could be more important to him at this stage of his career.
Still looking to replace Max Kilman late on in the transfer window, Wolverhampton Wanderers have now reportedly held talks to sign a defensive reinforcement for Gary O'Neil.
Wolves transfer news
The Midlands club started their summer by losing Kilman to West Ham United in a deal reportedly worth £40m and have ended it by losing Pedro Neto to Chelsea for a reported £54m. Yet, even after such hefty sales, Wolves' transfer budget remains insignificant amid their pursuits of a defensive reinforcement and the loan arrival of Aaron Ramsdale.
In an attempt to offer Ramsdale a way out of what has become a nightmare spell at Arsenal, Wolves reportedly submitted a loan with an option to buy offer to the Gunners in a deal that would see those in the Midlands cover the majority of his wages. As things stand, however, it remains to be seen whether the north London club will accept their proposal.
The same can be said for another option, too. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Wolves have held talks with Sheffield United to sign Anel Ahmedhodzic alongside West Ham United, though it is Ipswich Town who reportedly lead the race for the centre-back's signature.
Talks held: Wolves could repeat Gomes masterclass with £30m "monster"
Man United are also interested in this talent…
ByAngus Sinclair Aug 23, 2024
It would add insult to injury if the Hammers were to beat Wolves to Ahmedhodzic, having already taken one of their star men – albeit for a decent chunk of money. They have also brought in Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice on a loan deal, so Wolves are certainly in most need of a new centre-back at present.
And despite Ipswich apparently leading the race, anything could still change late on in the window, with the 25-year-old certainly ticking plenty of boxes in Wolves' search to replace Kilman. Perhaps most importantly, the Sheffield United man has a release clause worth £17m, which fits into Wolves' reported £20m budget left to spend before deadline day in under a week's time.
"Dominant" Ahmedhodzic could replace Kilman
Having reportedly held talks, Wolves should do everything in their power to jump ahead of Ipswich in the race to sign Ahmedhodzic in the remaining days of the summer transfer window. Summing up his quality, analyst Ben Mattinson was recently full of praise for the central defender amid his links to the Tractor Boys, claiming that Ahmedhodzic would be a "dominant" dueller alongside Jacob Greaves.
With just days remaining in the transfer window, Wolves must ensure that they replace both Neto and Kilman before the likes of Ipswich use their recruitment to cause some upsets in the Premier League this season.
Sheffield United's Anel Ahmedhodzic
At 25 years old, Ahmedhodzic represents an option who is on course to get even better with a move back into the top flight, and those in the Midlands should be the ones benefiting given his valuation and ability to slot straight into O'Neil's backline.
West Ham United star Declan Rice's "preferred destination remains" Arsenal and he's "settled in London", according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
Will Arsenal still sign Declan Rice?
Since the beginning of this summer's domestic window, which officially opened last week, reports surrounding the future of Rice have been ever-present.
It was long thought that Arsenal were in pole position for the England international ahead of other previously linked suitors, like Chelsea, but Man City recently entered the fray in their bid to source an Ilkay Gundogan replacement.
Pep Guardiola's involvement slightly complicates matters for Arsenal, who no longer have a clear-run at signing Rice. Some media sources, like Sky's Gianluca Di Marzio, have even claimed that City's talks for Rice are fairly advanced.
News from The Athletic's David Ornstein came in this morning, detailing that the Premier League champions lodged a formal offer for Rice last night, but their £80 million bid (plus £10 million in add-ons) has been rejected.
Arsenal apparently intend to bite back with an offer of their own, which would be their third after two previously rebuffed bids, so the race for Rice is certainly hotting up.
From the player's side, though, Sheth has some good news for Arsenal supporters which may help their side just edge City in the transfer battle.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the journalist claims that Rice's preferred destination remains north London, even if you can't rule out City entirely.
"One source has told us that Declan Rice's preferred destination remains Arsenal," said Sheth.
"Of course, we know in football that can change, if somebody like Manchester City or Pep Guardiola especially, go in for a player, how difficult would it be for someone like Declan Rice to turn down those advances.
"But then you've got to think of it from a human perspective as well, he's got a young family, he's settled in London, a move from West Ham United to Arsenal might be something that he's been thinking about and thinks 'this is where I want to be'.
"So, plenty to think about if you're Declan Rice."
What's been said about Declan Rice?
Called "world class" by sections of the press, West Ham's star 24-year-old showcased yet again why he is a man in demand this summer.
The Hammers captain marked himself out as their best-performing player by average match rating in the English top flight last season (WhoScored), with former England defender Matthew Upson calling him "very mature" for his age.
Manchester City are interested in the services of West Ham United captain Declan Rice, per reports.
Manchester City transfer news – What's the latest on Declan Rice?
According to Sky Sports Italy reporter and transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Rice is "getting closer to" signing for Manchester City, who now have "confidence to reach a final agreement with West Ham."
The update comes after David Ornstein broke the news yesterday morning that the Citizens were "expected to submit an offer" to "rival Arsenal" for the England international.
The Premier League champions entering the race for Rice's signature has been an unexpected development.
Declan Rice
Following David Sullivan's confirmation that his skipper would be leaving in the summer, it appeared that Mikel Arteta's side had been in the driving seat.
However, disagreements over fees and payment structure for the £120m-valued star seem to have left the door open for other teams to enter the race, and with the departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona this week, midfield reinforcements will be needed at the Etihad.
Could Declan Rice be the next Sergio Busquets under Pep Guardiola?
It's a massive question to ask of the 24-year-old.
Sergio Busquets is considered by many pundits and fans alike to be one of the best, if not the best defensive midfielder of the last two decades.
He was certainly a key figure under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola for four years, with the City boss being the man to unearth him from the famed La Masia academy back in 2008. Now, the Spaniard could find his next version of the colossal defensive midfielder in Rice, given the aforementioned reports.
With the massive potential West Ham's "monster" has, as once described by ESPN's David Cartlidge, Rice could certainly get close to emulating Busquets at the Etihad.
Former City legend Sergio Aguero believes the Hammers "destroyer" – who Paul Robinson previously hailed – is already at the level of the legendary Barcelona man.
Speaking to Stake (via football365), he said:
"For me, he is a great player and is at the same level as the best midfielders like Busquets, Rodri and Casemiro. But he has proven himself and I think he is one of the strengths of the England team at the World Cup."
His supporters also seem to think there is more than a passing similarity, dubbing him 'Basmati Busquets.'
The first comparison to make between the players is their physical characteristics.
West Ham United'sDeclanRicecelebrates with the trophy after winning the Europa Conference League
There is little between them in terms of height, with West Ham's gem coming in at 6 foot 1, whereas the Spanish icon is ever so slightly taller at 6 foot 2. However, when it comes to their weight, the Kingston upon Thames-born titan has a slight advantage, coming in at 80kg compared to between 76-78kg for Busquets.
That may not seem like a massive difference, but it certainly helps in the more physical Premier League.
There is little to separate their seasons last year, either.
According to WhoScored, the Sabadell-born midfielder averaged a rating of 6.99 across his 30 La Liga games, whereas Rice averaged 7.01 across his 37 games.
What about their underlying numbers? Can we differentiate them that way?
Well, according to FBref, despite the La Masia graduate carrying the ball 52.6 times per 90 to Rice's 35, it's the Englishman who consistently moves the ball further into the oppositions half, averaging a progressive distance of 112.7 yards per 90 compared to Busquets 97.6.
It highlights one of the differences between the players, a contrast dictated by the system in which they have played most of their football.
Barcelona have always been more expressive, more about passing and moving, hypnotising the opponent with a dizzying array of passes, whereas, under David Moyes, the more rigid east London outfit have been far more direct, even counter-attacking at times, which Rice to be less expressive with his passing and instead focus more on driving at opponents to unsettle them.
That's not to say he couldn't work in a quick passing system as also, per FBref, he sits at a pass completion rate of 86.9%, just slightly behind Busquets on 89.3%.
The dynamic midfielder has also made no secret of his admiration for the World Cup winner, saying:
"Busquets is the one I've watched since I was a kid. He doesn't move from the centre circle. He plays with 360 vision."
Whether Rice comes to emulate Busquets completely or not, under Guardiola, he would certainly become a scary proposition for opponents.
An update has emerged on Chelsea and their plans to improve the quality of their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…
What's the latest on Kylian Mbappe to Chelsea?
According to The Times, the Blues are ready to register their interest in signing Paris St-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe if he becomes available in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the French international has told his current club that he will not be extending his current contract beyond 2024, which means that the dazzling attacker is set to be a free agent at the end of next season.
PSG are unwilling to lose him for nothing next year and will, therefore, be open to cashing in on the former Monaco starlet if there is no chance of the 24-year-old putting pen to paper on an extension, which could open the door for Mauricio Pochettino to swoop in.
How would Kylian Mbappe fit in at Chelsea?
The Chelsea boss could finally replace Eden Hazard for the club by snapping up the speedy Frenchman, who is valued at €136m (£116m) by FootballTransfers, as he could slot in on the left side of the manager's attack.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
Since the Belgian international left Stamford Bridge, no winger has scored (15) or assisted (16) as many goals as he did in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign. Mason Mount's tally of 11 goals and ten assists in 2021/22 is the closest any midfielder has come to replicating those numbers.
Hazard, who plundered 110 goals and 92 assists in 352 outings for the Blues, was a mercurial talent on the left wing, one that was able to cut inside onto his favoured right foot with devastating effect over the course of several years.
Mbappe, who was described as an "alien" by Poland international Piotr Zielinski, is a player with the quality to have a similar, and potentially greater, impact in the Premier League for Chelsea.
The PSG no.7 struck 29 times and created 17 'big chances' for his teammates in Ligue 1 in 32 outings during the 2022/23 campaign. This came after the "electric" whiz – as he was dubbed by journalist Matt Lawton – racked up 28 goals and 17 assists in the French top-flight a season earlier.
These statistics suggest that the 2018 World Cup winner, who can play off the left and through the middle, has the ability, both in terms of scoring and creating goals, to be a Hazard-like figure for Pochettino at Chelsea.
Therefore, Mbappe could be a sensational addition to the squad and one that could elevate the club's attack next season in a way that has not been seen since the Belgian magician completed his move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019.
Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter could still be in contention to become Leeds United's next manager, according to a key update from journalist Ben Jacobs.
Who's likely to take charge of Leeds?
There is a constant search going on to find the Whites' new boss this summer, as they prepare for life back in the Championship after three years away.
A host of different names have been thrown into the hat over the past couple of weeks, whether it be Steven Gerrard, Carlos Corberan or Scott Parker, among others, and Rodgers and Potter have also been named as potential candidates to come in.
The pair were sacked by Leicester City and Chelsea earlier in the season, respectively, and will no doubt be champing at the bit to get back into management.
While it has appeared unlikely that Leeds would be able to entice either of them to Elland Road, given the Whites' relegation, a new update does give them some fresh hope.
Graham Potter
Are Rodgers and Potter in the mix?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said that both Rodgers and Potter are still in the conversation to take charge of Leeds, even though their preference is to remain in the Premier League:
"There are obviously a few candidates that Leeds are looking at at the moment. We're hearing growing talk of names like Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter.
"I think both of those would see themselves as Premier League managers, but Leeds are a big club and in a year might be in the Premier League again, which is why Leeds may feel that they have that opportunity."
To get either Rodgers or Potter would be a major coup for Leeds, considering they are arguably seen as two of the best British managers around, even if things didn't end well for them at Leicester and Chelsea.
In many ways, it could be a major show of their own self-confidence if they decide to take charge of the Whites, in terms of backing themselves to get back into the Premier League straight away, and accept that they will spend one season managing in the second tier of English football.
It does still feel likely that Rodgers and Potter will be more unattainable than others, though – Gerrard will be desperate to test himself again and Corberan is still young, for example – but it is encouraging to see their names in the mix still, highlighting how big a club Leeds are.
Leeds United are unlikely to bring in either Brendan Rodgers or Graham Potter as their new manager this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Who has been linked with Leeds job?
The Whites ended up getting through three managers during the 2022/23 season, with Jesse Marsch eventually replaced by Javi Gracia, as his reign got progressively worse.
The Spaniard fared no better, however, and with Leeds spinning towards the Championship under him, Sam Allardyce was brought in to mastermind a recovery act. He didn't have long enough to make his presence felt, however, and he left the club last week after the Whites were relegated from the Premier League.
Those high up at Elland Road are now looking to nail the next managerial appointment this summer, with a number of individuals already linked with the vacant job.
Two of those are Rodgers and Potter, both of whom were sacked by Leicester City and Chelsea respectively earlier in the campaign, but are still considered good British coaches.
Graham Potter
Are Rodgers and Potter unlikely to join?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs admitted that Rodgers and Potter are unlikely to want to head into the Championship, given their current respective statuses in the game:
"We're going to see other candidates linked, like Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers, but I sense these are names that were being discussed when Leeds were still in the Premier League with a chance of safety.
"I think the likes of Rodgers and Potter can get quite big Premier League jobs still. Leeds are a big club, so if they were in the Premier League, maybe in the off-season and with new owners that would have been of appeal. But I would be surprised if Potter or Rodgers personally considered dropping down into the Championship."
In truth, this was always going to be a potential issue for Leeds when it came to finding a top-class new manager, with the Premier League seen as the holy grail, and dropping down to the second tier an understandable backward step in their career.
For that reason, both Rodgers and Potter have always felt a little pie in the sky, and it could be that someone like Steven Gerrard is the best option, with the Liverpool legend having something to prove after an underwhelming spell at Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, former Leeds Under-21s boss Carlos Corberan could also be a strong choice, with the 40-year-old already thriving in the Championship with West Brom, and possibly seeing a return to Elland Road as an exciting avenue to go down.
Jurgen Klopp was left angered at one incident involving Roberto Firmino in Liverpool's 4-4 draw away to Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
How did Liverpool fare at Southampton?
The Reds faced their final game of a hugely disappointing season, making the trip to an already-threatened Saints side who have also struggled in their own right. Fifth place was the best that Klopp's side could hope for going into the match, and it proved to be a crazy game at St Mary's, with neither side having much to play for.
Diogo Jota capitalised on a dreadful misplaced pass by rumoured Liverpool transfer target Romeo Lavia to give the visitors the lead, before Firmino made it 2-0 in his last-ever match in a Reds shirt.
Southampton fought back impressively, however, with James Ward-Prowse reducing the arrears with a well-taken effort, before Kamaldeen Sulemana equalised with a shot that Caoimhin Kelleher failed to keep out.
Early in the second half, he then put the hosts with a curled finish from the edge of the penalty area, as the Reds fell to pieces on the south coast, with some of the defending on show summing up their struggles in that area throughout the season.
Substitute Adam Armstrong made it 4-2 just after coming in to seemingly compound Liverpool's misery, but Cody Gakpo and Jota scored in the space of a few minutes to make it 4-4.
What did Firmino do wrong v Saints?
Taking to Twitter, Ian Doyle spotted Klopp's anger at one moment involving Firmino during the first half, in which he failed to make life easy for teammate Curtis Jones:
"Klopp not happy with Firmino after one very strongly hit pass gave Jones not much chance to control."
In truth, this wasn't a day to be too bothered about Firmino's negative involvement against Saints, instead focusing on a legendary career from the Brazilian.
The £180,000-a-week attacker has been a true modern-day great at Anfield, scoring 111 goals and registering 79 assists, with his selfless style the perfect foil for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at his peak.
He should be remembered as one of the most influential figures of the Klopp era, arriving in 2015 and spending eight iconic years on Merseyside, winning the Champions League and Premier League, among numerous other trophies. It is great to see him bow out with a goal in both his final home game and last-ever match for Liverpool, too, and the hope is that he continues to enjoy the rest of his career, wherever he ends up.