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Tottenham Hotspur have now made an approach to sign a “world-class” midfielder, who could be in line to join alongside Morgan Gibbs-White, according to a report.

Spurs' Gibbs-White pursuit takes twist

It appeared as though Tottenham were very close to getting a deal for Gibbs-White over the line, having triggered the £60m release clause in his contract, but the saga has recently taken a twist.

Nottingham Forest have now reported Spurs to the Premier League, with the Tricky Trees threatening legal action, as they believe an illegal approach was made for the midfielder, which means the deal has stalled.

However, Fabrizio Romano has since provided a positive update on the situation, with the transfer expert saying: “Tottenham maintain their position. They are convinced about their behaviour. They want to proceed with the deal, they want to sign the player. Nottingham Forest are prepared to fight. So, let’s see what’s going to happen there.

“But, for sure, the Gibbs-White deal now has an issue to be solved between the two clubs. That’s going to be one to watch in the coming days and hours, with Tottenham still hopeful and confident to get the player.”

Not only are the Lilywhites vying to sign a new attacking midfielder, but they are also keen on a more defensive option, and a report from GiveMeSport has revealed Spurs have also made an approach to sign Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha.

Tottenham have made initial contact over a deal for Palhinha, who joined the German club from Fulham in a deal worth around £47m last summer, and Daniel Levy is prepared to launch a bid if it becomes apparent the Portuguese midfielder is available.

It may take a sizeable bid to tempt Bayern into a sale, however, and the 30-year-old’s wage demands are likely to be high, considering he rakes in £200k-a-week at the Allianz Arena when bonuses are triggered.

"World-class" Palhinha could be ideal Spurs signing

Tottenham struggled defensively for large parts of the 2024-25 campaign, shipping 65 goals in the Premier League, and the Portugal international could provide some stability in midfield, given that he is exceptional at winning back possession.

Chief flies to London for transfer talks with £100k-per-week Tottenham star

He could leave Spurs this summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 13, 2025

During the 2023-24 Premier League season, no player won more tackles than the former Fulham man, and he has continued to catch the eye at times for Bayern over the past year.

Having already proven himself in the Premier League, during which time he was lauded as “world-class” by journalist Dom Smith, Palhinha could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham this summer, but it may be a slight concern that he is now in his thirties.

At their current pace, Sunderland could soon have a whole starting lineup of new players to call upon.

The Black Cats are picking up fresh signings at a breakneck speed, with a whopping £67m already dropped on the services of Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki.

Amazingly, another £19.5m could soon dent the weighty Sunderland back account, with Club Brugge winger Chemsdine Talbi the reported next big buy on Regis Le Bris and Co’s agenda.

Four signings are nearly through the door, but don’t expect the Wearside underdogs to stop here as they go about assembling a Premier League-capable squad, with plenty more standout purchases in the offing.

Sunderland set sights on new £13m star

After a jubilant promotion, Sunderland might as well give it their all on their return to the top-flight, instead of just being content with making up the numbers.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, reports are coming thick and fast as to who Le Bris wants to add next to his ever-growing camp, with a bid of around £26m having allegedly been submitted to sign rising Real Madrid star Gonzalo Garcia.

Another name floating about is that of Armand Lauriente’s, with a new development from French outlet L’Equipe stating that Sunderland have entered negotiations to sign the 26-year-old attacker from Sassuolo.

Having caused a lot of havoc in Serie B last season, the hope will be that Lauriente explodes into life even more as a dangerous face down the Black Cats’ left flank.

How Lauriente can be Le Bris' own Amad Diallo

If Le Bris can bring Lauriente to Wearside this summer then he could potentially sign his very own Amad Diallo in the process, considering the Ivorian was once a slick attacker himself in Italy.

Obviously, Amad is now more known for his exploits at Manchester United – with 26 goals and assists next to his name from 64 Old Trafford outings – but there was a time when he was considered an exciting winger ready for that next step on the books of Atalanta.

Whilst his Atalanta education ultimately won him that high-profile move to Manchester, Amad very much honed his craft at the Stadium of Light as a daring and entertaining option up top when he headed out on loan to the Mackems in 2022, leading to him strutting his stuff in style all across the 2022/23 season with 14 goals and four assists picked up from 42 clashes.

Sunderland’s new £13m-rated target will hope he finds his time at Le Bris’ men to be equally beneficial in advancing his game, with Lauriente having the useful advantage already of being proven at a top level when Sassuolo plied their trade in Serie A.

The blistering Frenchman is only two off Amad’s entire total for Man United when assessing his Italian top-flight numbers, with a mightily impressive 12 goals and 12 assists tallied up, but it’s his numbers last campaign for Sassuolo when they triumphantly moved back up to face the likes of Juventus and AC Milan again that will have really caught the eye of the Black Cats.

In total, the former Lorient forward would pick up a bumper 23 goals and assists from just 33 Serie B games last season, with Lauriente now potentially ready to cause ripples on Wearside by challenging the likes of Enzo Le Fee and Romaine Mundle down the left wing.

Much like Amad needed Tony Mowbray’s guidance to get the very best out of him, Lauriente might be able to perform at the peak of his jaw-dropping excellence knowing he has Le Bris by his side, with this audacious free-kick below – which was heralded as “amazing” at the time by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – coming when the pair were together at Lorient.

Whilst Le Fee, Diarra, Sadiki, and Talbi will steal plenty of headlines, securing Lauriente’s services could be the best buy of the bunch, particularly if he morphs into being a star like Amad to help Sunderland beat the drop.

Dream squad Sunderland could build: £112m spent on 7 signings after Talbi

Sunderland looks ready to take the Premier League by storm, with this being potentially what their dream squad could look like very soon.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 6, 2025

Manchester United could trigger the £45m release fee in the contract of a “phenomenal” striker on Tuesday evening as the clause runs out within a matter of hours.

Man Utd eyeing Gyokeres alternatives

With widespread reports suggesting that Viktor Gyokeres is closing in on a move to Arsenal, Man United have been forced to move on to alternative options, and contact has recently been made over both RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.

Despite a deal for Gyokeres now looking very unlikely, there are several options on the shortlist for Ruben Amorim, many of whom were prolific in front of goal during the 2024-25 campaign.

Last week, it was also revealed that United had made an offer for Fiorentina striker Moise Kean, off the back of an impressive campaign for the former Everton man in the Serie A, but it was seemingly not high enough to tempt the Italian club into a sale.

However, Fiorentina would be powerless to prevent Kean’s departure if the Red Devils were to trigger his release clause, and a report from Italy (via Sport Witness) has revealed they could do exactly that before it expires within the next 12 hours.

The new Rashford: Man Utd have now agreed deal to sign "unplayable" star

Man United are hoping to make a series of summer signings over the next few weeks.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 14, 2025

The report states: “At this point, the situation is tightening. Kean never accepted Al-Qadsiah’s offer, nor did he comment on Al-Hilal’s interest, which had contacted his entourage in recent days. Manchester United’s prospect should not be underestimated, as the Red Devils could make a move for the 2000-born player during the final hours of his release clause.”

The centre-forward’s release clause amounts to €52m (£45m), but it expires on Tuesday at midnight, meaning United will need to move swiftly if they are keen on a deal for the Fiorentina star.

"Phenomenal" Kean may deserve another chance in England

The striker’s time at Everton didn’t go exactly to plan, scoring just two goals in 29 Premier League games during the 2019-20 season, but his performances in Italy last season indicate he could deserve another chance in England.

The Italy international bagged 25 goals for Fiorentina in all competitions, while also earning himself high praise from Italy legend Christian Vieri, who said: “We do have Kean and Retegui. They are two very good strikers. If they play together they are very dangerous. Kean is a phenomenal striker, a phenomenal centre forward.”

Perhaps the 25-year-old’s most memorable strike was his opening goal in his side’s 2-1 victory over Genoa in February, beating the goalkeeper with a remarkable effort on the spin.

That said, given that Kean’s last spell in the Premier League was way below par, it would be a surprise if Man United were to trigger his release clause before it expires on Tuesday evening.

Hugo Ekitike has opened up on swiftly adapting to his new surroundings at Liverpool after matching Daniel Strurridge's 12-year-old record at Anfield. Ekitike has displayed fine form since moving to the Premier League from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, already scoring three goals and has established himself as a regular starter under Arne Slot.

• Ekitike has equalled Sturridge's record at Liverpool

  By scoring in each of his first three matches for Liverpool against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Newcastle, Ekitike became the first Reds player to achieve the feat since cult hero Sturridge in 2013. While he missed out on scoring against Arsenal last time out, the Frenchman did have a positive impact in his team's victory.

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  Ekitike opens up on swift Liverpool adaptation

  His stellar form for the Reds has also earned him his maiden national team call-up during the September international break. The Frenchman credited his team-mates and coach for helping him to adjust to his new home.

• What did Ekitike say on his swift adaptation at Anfield

  Speaking to Liverpool's official website, the striker said: "I think I adapted well. Obviously I still have things to improve, but I think it was a good [start]. I feel good with the guys, they helped me to adapt here so obviously they make my football easier. And when you play with good players like this, you can improve and you can have success like that. The most important [thing] is to continue to be consistent. 

  "It’s good to be compared to Sturridge, I know he has been a great, great player here at Liverpool, so it’s good and I want to do my best to do better than him."

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  When is Liverpool playing next?

  Arne Slot's side, who have maintained a 100 per cent win record in the Premier League this season, will next face Burnley in an away fixture on Sunday.

Following Alexander Isak’s bombshell that he wants to leave St James’ Park this summer, Newcastle United have now reportedly turned their attention towards a 6-foot-4 star who could replace the Swede, alongside Benjamin Sesko.

Newcastle preparing Benjamin Sesko move

Whilst they are still adamant that Isak is not for sale this summer, the Magpies are still on the look-out for heirs.

Alongside Yoane Wissa, who remains a target no matter where Isak is playing his football next season, those at St James’ Park have also set their sights on Sesko.

This was also the case with Hugo Ekitiké before Liverpool came swooping in. However, similarly to the Frenchman, Sesko will not come cheap this summer. Reports are suggesting that RB Leipzig are demanding as much as £60m to sell their talented forward ahead of next season.

Money would be no obstacle if Isak does leave this summer, but they’ll still want to ensure that they spend in the right way at such a key time for PIF’s project.

Eddie Howe, meanwhile, will be desperate to simply keep hold of Isak, recently telling reporters:

“We do share a good relationship. He has been magnificent for us since he joined.

PIF set sights on signing 13-goal star for Newcastle after Isak bombshell

The Magpies have instantly turned towards potential replacements.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 25, 2025

“He’s very popular in the dressing room. We would love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. Although, whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle.”

Given the forward has not travelled with Newcastle for their pre-season tour of Asia and has made it clear that he wants to leave, the Isak saga is only just getting started. The Magpies must prepare for the worst, and that could see them turn towards a Premier League rival in search of a potential successor.

Newcastle seriously interested in Strand Larsen

As reported by the Express and Star’s Liam Keen, Newcastle are now seriously interested in signing Jorgen Strand Larsen this summer. The 6’4 striker enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League, and whilst he remains happy at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Eddie Howe’s side are seemingly lurking.

As things stand, Wolves’ stance is that Strand Larsen is not for sale and his happiness at the club should help fend off any interest. But it should come as no surprise that a club in Newcastle’s position are keen.

Outperforming his expected total by four goals, Strand Larsen also outdid Sesko in terms of league goals scored and was more clinical than the Leipzig star overall, according to FBref.

Factor in that the Wolves man is now Premier League-proven, and he becomes an interesting option for Newcastle.

That said, Wolves boss Vitor Pereira will be keen to keep hold of his towering forward, having been full of praise for him last season – describing him as “fantastic” back in March.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. is having a major impact at newly-promoted Portuguese side Alverca, where he is a minority shareholder. Sporting director Pedro Alves has hailed the Brazilian's influence, which has brought global visibility to the club, including a surprise appearance at a recent league match against Benfica.

• Alves hails Vini

  Alves described Vinicius Jr's involvement with the club as a "privilege," highlighting the immense visibility the Real Madrid star provides to the newly-promoted Portuguese side. Vinicius holds a minority stake in the ownership group that acquired the club in early 2025, and his influence is already being felt both on and off the pitch.

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• AFP
  

  Vinicius Jr.'s surprise appearance and global reach

  The Brazilian's commitment was on full display recently when he made a surprise appearance at Alverca's Primeira Liga match against Benfica, less than 24 hours after scoring for Real Madrid against Mallorca. The visit caught many, including the club's sporting director, off guard.

  "I didn't know he was coming, it was a pleasant surprise," Alves admitted to . "The impact of having such a high-profile figure associated with the club is not lost on the management. The visibility he brings to us as a club, as a country… it's a privilege to have Vini on board."

  This follows other promotional activities where the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and rapper Travis Scott were pictured in Alverca jerseys, giving the club what Alves described as "immense" visibility.

• The powerful agent behind the project

  Vinicius Jr.'s connection to Alverca comes via his agent, Thassilo Soares, known as 'Tata', who is the club's main investor. Tata, who also represents Premier League stars Lucas Paqueta and Gabriel Martinelli through Roc Nation Sports Brasil, has taken a hands-off approach to squad building, according to Alves. Despite his influence, the sporting director was keen to stress that the agent has not used the club to place his own clients.

  "Roc Nation Sports doesn't have a single player here, that is, Tata, the football agent, didn't put a single player here," Alves stated. "He had the legitimacy to do so… but in the end he didn't interfere in any of the sports planning."

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  What next for Alverca?

  As a newly-promoted team, Alverca's primary objective for the 2025-26 season is to maintain their status in the Primeira Liga. The club has already shown positive signs, putting in a competitive performance against giants Benfica. With the solid financial backing of their new ownership and the unparalleled global profile provided by their famous part-owner, the ambitious project is focused on establishing Alverca as a stable top-flight club in Portugal. On Saturday, they will take on Santa Clara in a league match.

Tottenham Hotspur have been left with a huge hole to fill in Thomas Frank’s first-team squad, after it was confirmed that James Maddison would be ruled out for the majority of the campaign.

The England international was stretchered off in the pre-season friendly with Newcastle United last weekend, suffering a knee injury which was feared to be serious.

However, in the last couple of days, the worst was confirmed, with the 28-year-old tearing his ACL, which requires surgery and could see him miss up to nine months.

Frank has been in the market to land a new attacking midfielder already this summer, potentially needing to delve into the window once again after the recent injury setback.

The hierarchy have already wasted no time in making a move to land a suitable replacement, with numerous players being considered ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Jack Grealish is a player who’s been on Spurs’ radar over the last couple of weeks, even making contact with Manchester City over a loan deal for the 29-year-old.

However, they may miss out on the Englishman’s signature, after Everton made their own move to complete a deal for the £100m talent over the last few days.

Another name that has been thrown into the mix is Jacob Ramsey, with the Aston Villa forward a player who could leave Unai Emery’s side this window, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that the Lilywhites hierarchy have already made contact with his current employers over a move for the 24-year-old who made 29 Premier League appearances last season.

It also states that West Ham United are also present in the race for the attacker’s signature, leading to a £40m transfer fee being mooted throughout this summer.

Why Spurs’ £40m target would be Gibbs-White 2.0

Morgan Gibbs-White looked set to be a Spurs player at one stage earlier this summer, but it turned out to be one of the strangest sagas to unfold throughout the off-season.

The Nottingham Forest star was set for a medical in North London, after Frank’s side triggered the £60m release clause within his contract – a deal that seemingly came out of nowhere.

However, despite a deal seemingly just needing the final touches before being completed, Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis intervened, complaining about an illegal approach from the Lilywhites.

It’s thought Forest never gave the player permission to enter talks with the North London outfit, which resulted in a stand-off, before Gibbs-White penned a new three-year deal at the City Ground last month.

However, after missing out on the 25-year-old’s signature, they could be about to land a star similar to the former target, with Ramsey potentially following an identical route of leaving his boyhood side to further his career.

When delving into the pair’s respective stats, the Villa talent has managed to outperform Gibbs-White in key areas, highlighting how much of a superb addition it would be for just £40m.

Ramsey, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, managed to complete more passes, whilst also registering more into the opposition box per 90 last season – arguably being a more creative option than the Forest captain.

He also achieved a higher tally of take-ons completed and carries into the opposition’s box per 90, handing Frank’s side the needed creativity that will be missing after Maddison’s latest injury.

A smaller fee for a player a year younger could actually be a superb piece of business for Spurs, with Ramsey’s potential move to North London allowing the fanbase to forget about the disappointment of missing out on Gibbs-White.

He may not be the supporters’ first choice this window, but his underlying stats highlight the talent he possesses – whilst he’s only going to get better when operating with more top-level talent around him.

If he can build on his impressive start to his career at Villa with the Lilywhites, he could well prove to be the perfect player to fill the void whilst Maddison spends the next few months on the sidelines.

Frank's own Mbappe: Spurs to make huge £52m bid for "world-class" talent

Tottenham Hotspur have made their move to land a new elite-level forward for Thomas Frank.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 7, 2025

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has not been afraid to make it clear to the board that his squad needs fresh blood before the end of the summer transfer window.

The former Liverpool and Leicester boss is in the final year of his contract at Parkhead and has urged the club to back him with more recruits at the top end of the pitch.

Speaking about transfer plans recently, the Celtic manager claimed that they “need competition at the top end of the field” and said that it is “important” for the Hoops to get that before the end of the window.

The Scottish Premiership champions are set to be without Jota until next year, potentially, as he nurses an ACL injury, and sold Nicolas Kuhn to Como earlier this summer, which has left the squad very light in the wide areas.

At this moment in time, Rodgers only has three ‘natural’ senior wingers at his disposal in Hyun-jun Yang, Daizen Maeda, and 34-year-old veteran James Forrest.

It is, therefore, no surprise to hear that the manager wants the club to bring in attacking reinforcements, particularly as Yang has yet to prove that he can be a frontline option.

Why Celtic need to replace Yang

Kuhn’s departure earlier this summer opened the door for the South Korea international to start the opening game of the Premiership season against St Mirren earlier this month.

Unfortunately, the right-sided attacker did not win a duel, produce a shot on goal, or create a chance for any of his teammates in 59 minutes on the pitch, as per Sofascore, which shows that he was totally ineffective in and out of possession.

It was telling that Yang was then an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen last weekend, as Rodgers clearly felt that he did not offer enough in the win over St Mirren.

The 23-year-old forward’s initial struggles at the start of this campaign suggest that he may be best suited to going back to the role that he played last term, rather than being a frontline option as a regular starter.

As you can see in the table above, Yang provided a solid threat as a squad option for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, producing seven goals and assists in just nine starts.

That is a role that suits his ability, as he can come off the bench to make an impact and start the odd game when needed, but he does not have the game-changing quality to be a regular starter as a ‘replacement’ for Kuhn on the right flank.

Celtic eyeing deal for Danish forward

According to the Daily Record, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Go Ahead Eagles attacker Jakob Breum before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the 21-year-old talent is on the ‘agenda’ for the Scottish giants, as they note that Rodgers is keen for more attacking talent to be added to the squad.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that the versatile Danish star, who can play out wide or through the middle as an attacking midfielder, is high up on the club’s wishlist of possible signings.

Earlier this month it was reported that Go Ahead Eagles are looking for a fee in the region of £5m for Breum, and that the Hoops have already had an approach turned down for him.

It is now down to the board to go back in with another attempt to sign the Dane, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, before the deadline at the start of September, because he could come in as a big upgrade on Yang.

Why Celtic should sign Jakob Breum

The Hoops should swoop to sign Breum because he has played 27 games as a right-sided winger in his career, as well as 60 matches on the left flank, as per Transfermarkt, which suggests that he can fill the current gaps in the squad in the wide areas.

Celtic need to sign at least one winger, given Yang’s struggles and the fact that Maeda is the only left winger in the team, and the Go Ahead Eagles star could be the ideal addition due to the versatility that he would bring.

Whilst Yang, 23, has never scored more than eight league goals in a season in his career, and no more than five in a European league, Breum plundered ten goals in the Dutch top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign.

The 21-year-old star, who is two years younger than the South Korean flanker, put in some fantastic performances in the Eredivisie for his side last term, and his displays in the Netherlands suggest that he could come in as a big upgrade on the right wing for Celtic.

As you can see in the table above, Breum was far more impressive with his work at the top end of the pitch at league level in the 2024/25 campaign in comparison to Yang.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to offer more to the team as a scorer, a creator, and a dribbler in any of the positions across the front, whether that is on either flank or as an attacking midfielder.

If Breum is able to translate those performances and the output that he provided over to the Premiership, he would be a superior option for Rodgers to call upon in the final third.

This would also allow Yang to go back to the role that he played last season for Celtic, coming off the bench more often than not to make an impact as a rotation player.

Edouard 2.0: "Seriously talented" £13m star has emerged on Celtic's radar

Celtic are interested in a deal to sign a star who could be an Odsonne Edouard repeat at Parkhead.

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By
Dan Emery

Aug 12, 2025

Therefore, the club’s interest in a potential deal to bring Breum to Parkhead before the end of the summer could make a lot of sense, both because of how it could improve the starting line-up and what it would do for Yang’s role.

Manchester United climbed to the top of the Women's Super League table with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. The Red Devils did all of the damage in what was a dominant first-half performance as a wonderful strike from Hinata Miyazawa and a cool finish from Ella Toone maintained their side’s unbeaten start to the new league season.

In Liverpool’s first home league match following the tragic death of former manager Matt Beard, United raced into an early lead thanks to Miyazawa’s fantastic strike. The Japan international could have had a second but she hit the post with another effort, before Toone coolly slotted past debutant goalkeeper Rafaela Borggrafe to double the visitors’ lead.

In the second half, Liverpool had a great chance to pull a goal back when United captain Maya Le Tissier didn’t get enough distance on her clearance, but Kirsty Maclean couldn’t keep her shot down. Cornelia Kapocs was then through on goal but she fired wide under pressure from Jayde Riviere. Kapocs asked for a penalty but her appeals were quickly waved away.

Liverpool continued to push for what would have been just their second WSL goal of the season as substitute Mia Enderby forced a good save from United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. But after a flurry of late substitutions, United were able to take the sting out of the match en route to recording just their second victory over Liverpool in their last five league meetings.

GOAL rates United's players from the Totally Wicked Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Phallon Tullis-Joyce (6/10):

  She made a good save to deny substitute Enderby late on.

  Jayde Riviere (6/10):

  The defender propelled United forward by moving the ball quickly. Liverpool wanted a penalty when she challenged Kapocs before being substituted.

  Maya Le Tissier (7/10):

  The skipper was relieved when her headed clearance fell straight to Maclean, who fired over from a good position. Otherwise she was brilliant.

  Dominique Janssen (7/10):

  Alongside Le Tissier she helped form a solid wall in front of her goal, while her passing was very good as well.

  Fridolina Rolfo (6/10):

  It was a fairly quiet afternoon for the Sweden star with United's best moments coming in other areas of the pitch.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Julia Zigiotti Olme (7/10):

  Perhaps she will be disappointed not to have done better with a header in the first half. She defended well, though.

  Hinata Miyazawa (8/10):

  Her amazing strike from distance set the tone for United. She was unlucky not to score another, with her effort striking the post.

  Ella Toone (8/10):

  She combined well with her team-mates all game, before scoring United's second with a calm finish.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Jess Park (7/10):

  She was superb down the right-hand side, causing all sorts of problems with her running power.

  Elisabeth Terland (7/10):

  She passed up one or two chances to score but she recorded a great assist for Toone's goal.

  Melvine Malard (6/10):

  Curled in a great cross for Julia Zigiotti Olme, who perhaps should have done better with her header.

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  Subs & Manager

  Gabby George (5/10):

  A second-half substitute, Liverpool's Enderby got in behind her and forced a good save from Tullis-Joyce.

  Celin Bizet (N/A):

  She was introduced late on and helped United to victory.

  Lisa Naalsund (N/A):

  Another late substitute, she didn't have enough time to make an impact.

  Rachel Williams (N/A):

  Emerging from the bench, she too was not on the pitch long enough to influence things.

  Marc Skinner (7/10):

  He got his pre-match team talk spot on as United were excellent in the first half.

Retiring a shirt number in football is relatively rare compared to other sports, but there have been instances where multiple clubs have dedicated specific numbers to players who have represented them in the past.

Liverpool have become the latest side to do just that, following the extremely sad news of Diogo Jota’s passing. The Portuguese forward wore the number 20 shirt at Anfield and will be the last to do so for the Reds after those at Anfield honoured him by retiring the jersey.

Other clubs have immortalised their former players by hanging up shirt numbers.

10

Jude Bellingham

Birmingham City – shirt number 22

Birmingham City knew they had a talent on their hands when they decided to retire Jude Bellingham’s number 22 shirt when he left St Andrew’s in 2020.

Now known as one of the best midfielders in the world for Real Madrid, Bellingham was just 17 years of age when he swapped Birmingham for Borussia Dortmund.

Some saw it as an interesting decision by the Blues, but as time goes on, you can see why they decided to do just that.

9

Bobby Moore

West Ham – shirt number 6

The only Englishman to lift the World Cup, Bobby Moore is a Three Lions legend and at club level, is immortalised by West Ham.

The centre-back made more than 600 appearances for the Hammers over a 16-year period, helping the Irons win the FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Moore was only 51 years of age when he passed away in 1993, and 15 years later, West Ham decided to retire his number 6 shirt in honour of their greatest ever defender.

8

Dylan Tombides

West Ham – shirt number 38

Alongside retiring the number 6 shirt for Moore, West Ham also took the decision to hang up the number 38 shirt in memory of Dylan Tombides.

The Australian forward progressed through the Hammers’ academy and made one senior appearance for the Irons in 2012 after overcoming testicular cancer a few months before. However, tragically, Tombides’ cancer returned and metastasised to his liver, with the youngster passing away in April 2014.

7

Marc-Vivien Foe

Manchester City – shirt number 23

During the 2002/03 season, Marc-Vivien Foe impressed on loan at Manchester City from Lyon and was subsequently selected to play for Cameroon in the Confederations Cup.

The midfielder helped his nation to the semi-finals but collapsed against Colombia in the second half and was rushed to hospital. Foe would pass away shortly after reaching hospital, with an autopsy showing a heart-related issue for his death.

City, who were managed by Kevin Keegan at the time, quickly acted and announced they would retire Foe’s number 23 shirt in his memory.

6

Matija Sarkic

Millwall – shirt number 20

In the summer of 2024 at the age of just 26, Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic suddenly passed away from heart failure.

A Montenegro international, Sarkic made the permanent move to The Den in 2023 from Wolves after loan spells at Shrewsbury Town, Birmingham City and Stoke City.

He made a big impact in a short space of time with Millwall, who retired his number 20 and also introduced the “Matija Sarkic Award” for the season’s best save.

5

Joe Thompson

Rochdale – shirt number 15

Joe Thompson has rightly been recognised as a Rochdale legend, after making more than 200 appearances for the club across three spells.

The midfielder scored an iconic goal in 2018 which meant Dale avoided relegation from League One and retired a year later. Thompson was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in 2024 and died a year later at the age of just 36.

Rochdale were quick to retire their number 15 shirt in honour of their former star, calling him “an incredible person who had a positive impact on everyone”.

4

Billy Kee

Accrington Stanley – shirt number 29

Billy Kee represented numerous Football League clubs during his career, but it was with Accrington Stanley where he is best known after scoring 83 goals in more than 200 appearances.

However, at the beginning of 2020 at the age of 30, Kee decided to retire from football after seeking treatment for depression, anxiety and bulimia.

Accrington Stanley and Kee agreed to terminate his contract, with the club dedicating the number 29 to their former forward.

3

Ray Jones

QPR – shirt number 31

Queens Park Rangers retired their number 31 shirt in 2007 following the passing of highly-rated teenager Ray Jones, who died in a car crash.

Jones, who was just 18, had already made more than 30 Championship appearances for the R’s and had a promising career ahead of him before the tragic incident.

2

Jack Lester

Chesterfield – shirt number 14

Jack Lester was scoring as frequently as Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres in his first season as a Chesterfield player, and he has rightly gone down as a club legend after six free-scoring years with the club.

The forward helped the Spireites win League Two and the Football League Trophy during his time at the SMH Group Stadium, resulting in the club retiring the number 14 shirt in 2013 in his honour. Lester couldn’t stay away, though, and returned as manager four years later.

1

Diogo Jota

Liverpool – shirt number 20

Most recently, Diogo Jota’s passing in the summer of 2025 stunned the footballing world. Just a week after getting married, Jota and his brother Andre Silva were involved in a fatal car crash during the off-season.

The Portugal forward helped the Reds win the Premier League title just months before his death, with the Reds dedicating the number 20 shirt to Jota forever.