Fred the Red: Manchester United´s five biggest signings

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho got his close-season spending underway with the acquisition of Brazil international Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Both clubs have confirmed an agreement has been reached for the 25-year-old, which is reported to be worth in the region of £52million.

It places the midfielder among the most expensive signings in United s illustrious history.

Here, we look at how those men have fared at Old Trafford.

   

— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng)

 

Paul Pogba £89.3m from Juventus in August 2016

The man who Fred s arrival may help to unleash, Pogba s return to United has been far from the resounding triumph anticipated when he completed a then world-record switch from Juventus. 

Tottenham Hotspur want Southampton striker Danny Ings

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Danny Ings from Premier League rivals Southampton in the summer of 2021, according to . It has been reported that Tottenham have been been closely monitoring the situation of the former Liverpool striker and are hopeful that they can do a deal to bring the England international striker to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Harry Kane is the main striker at Spurs at the moment, while Son Heung-min has played upfront. Carlos Vinicius is on loan from Benfica, and if Spurs decide not to make the deal permanent, then head coach Jose Mourinho will be in need of another striker.

Ings has made 22 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League for Southampton so far this season, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in the…

Chelsea send Bakayoko back to Monaco on loan

Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has rejoined Monaco on a season-long loan deal.

The 25-year-old returns to Ligue 1 just two years on from a reported £40million move from the Principality club.

Monaco have the option to sign Bakayoko on a permanent deal, with the prospective fee reportedly set at £38m (€42.5m).

I am very happy to come back to AS Monaco, a club with which I keep fantastic memories, he told Monaco s website.

Since 2017, I had the opportunity to have two very good experiences with Chelsea and [AC] Milan.

I hope to be able to integrate as quickly as possible in this collective, in an environment that I already know, and especially with the desire to bring to the group what I know how to make a good season.

Vice pre…

Senegal 3-1 Equatorial Guinea: Kouyate and Sarr send Cisse´s men into last four

Cheikhou Kouyate and Ismaila Sarr scored inside the final 25 minutes as Senegal overcame Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. 

Aliou Cisse s side were comfortably the better team in the first half and they deservedly went ahead in the 28th minute when Famara Diedhiou coolly slotted past Jesus Owono after being played in by Sadio Mane.

Equatorial Guinea thought they had been given the chance to draw level shortly after the interval when Iban Salvador clipped against Kalidou Koulibaly s hand in the penalty area, but referee Victor Gomes overturned his initial decision after being encouraged to review the incident by the VAR.

They were not to be denied in the 57th minute, though, Jannick Buyla controlling Pablo Ganet s pass and f…

The Premier League have to make a decision – Arteta confirms numerous COVID-19 cases at Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed there are several COVID-19 cases within the Gunners camp, as he called on the Premier League to make a decision on whether games continue.

The clubs are set to convene in the coming days to determine whether matches should go ahead amid rising coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom.

Arsenal s trip to Leeds United was the only fixture to go ahead on Saturday, with the other postponed. There are three matches set to be played on Sunday.

Albert Sambi Lokonga missed out at Elland Road after returning a positive test result and Arteta, who contracted the virus in March 2020, revealed there have been a number of cases detected within the club and the training ground will be closed.

There are a lot of games being su…

Simeone concedes ´it is not easy´ for Atletico to compete with Madrid

Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid have fallen short of their objectives this season, but conceded it is difficult to compete with the best team in the world in Real Madrid.

Although they are set for a fourth-place finish in LaLiga, Los Rojiblancos are 21 points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti s newly crowned champions.

Atleti fell to Borussia Dortmund following a 5-4 aggregate defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals, while they were soundly beaten by Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

And as a third successive trophyless season comes to pass at the Metropolitano Stadium, Simeone admits his side could have done better.

We have the responsibility to get into the Champions League every year. You can be left out, but you can also be champio…

Manchester City 2-3 Tottenham: Main Talking Points As Antonio Conte’s Men Spring A Real Etihad Upset

While Manchester City might have thought they had a golden chance to lay down another marker on Saturday evening, the Premier League leaders eventually suffered what was an action-packed 3-2 defeat at home against Tottenham.

Despite storming their way to a stunning Champions League romp out in Portugal a few days ago, the Sky Blues rather drastically failed to build off of that momentum as they eventually fell to their first domestic defeat since the end of October.

Watching their buffer at the top of the table get cut down to just six points, there is no doubt that Saturday s display at the Etihad has breathed life back into Tottenham s charge for a top-four finish this season.

With England skipper Harry Kane really breaking Manchester City s hearts after a rem…

Williams ready to speak to Napoli, says agent

Swansea City captain Ashley Williams is ready to talk if Napoli make an approach for his services, according to the player s agent.

Reports in Italy this week suggested that Napoli coach Rafael Benitez was preparing to make an offer after being impressed by the defender during the Italian club s UEFA Europa League meetings with Swansea.

Williams, who is out of contract at the end of the end of next season, has long been linked with a transfer to Arsenal, but a switch to Serie A could tempt him.

His agent, Peter Smith, however, insists that talk of a move to Italy is just speculation at present.

There has been talk of meetings with the club or with Rafa Benitez, but there s no truth in that at the moment, Smith told Napoli Calcio Live.

Clearly we are talking…

Germany boss Flick ´shocked´ by Wirtz injury but hopeful of full recovery

Germany head coach Hansi Flick is confident Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz can return just as strong after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The 18-year-old sustained the damage in Saturday s 1-0 Bundesliga loss to Cologne when twisting awkwardly on the turf 28 minutes into the contest.

Wirtz has earned four senior caps for Germany, having made his debut last September, but is now in a battle to be fit and ready for the World Cup in November.

The news is a big blow for Flick ahead of his first tournament in charge of Germany, but the ex-Bayern Munich boss has faith that Wirtz will make a full recovery.

He is one of the greatest talents that German football has produced in recent years, Flick told the DFB s official website. 

Real Madrid linked with Brighton and Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson

Real Madrid are interested in signing Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion, according to . The report has claimed that former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Madrid are looking for young talents, and that Ferguson is on their radar.

Ferguson is one of the best young strikers and has been very impressive in the Premier League with Brighton. The Republic of Ireland international striker has made 25 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. The 18-year-old has scored 10 goals and given two assists in those games.

Madrid are at the top of the La Liga table at the moment with 15 points from five matches. Meanwhile, Brighton currently find themselves fifth in the Premier League table with 12 points from five matches, just three points behind lea…