Manchester United have been told that they could sign a long-term target for a much smaller fee than has been mooted ahead of the January transfer window. The Red Devils were able to sign coveted players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko this summer but their hunt for a central midfielder goes on. Now, one agent has claimed that a certain target could be available for no more than €40 million (£35m/$46m).
Man Utd eye midfield maestro
In 2025, United have been linked with Atalanta midfielder Ederson as they try and solve their problems in the centre of the park. The 26-year-old, who can play in defensive midfield, in the centre, and further forward, has been watched by a number of top teams, including Liverpool, but for now, he remains with the Serie A side. In the past, reports have suggested he could cost up to €80m (£70m), but that is said to have put off potential suitors. Now, however, Brazilian agent Andre Cury thinks he could be available for less than half of that.
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'A spectacular player'
Agent Cury, who represents Ederson and also Chelsea's Estevao, has suggested that the ex-Cruzeiro man will be available in 2026 for a cut-price fee as his contract expires the following year. He also said the Brazilian is a "spectacular" player.
He told Cadena SER: "Atalanta were asking for a lot of money, between €60m and €75m. He’s close to the end of his contract, they could even lower his price by half, to between €30m and €40m, but he’s a spectacular player with some of the best stats in Europe for his position."
Agent talks up Barcelona move
Ederson's representative appears to be drumming up interest for his player as he believes the midfielder would fit in nicely at Barcelona, a team the former Corinthians player has also been linked with.
Cury added: "A player I think could adapt very well to Barça’s system, contributing a lot of physicality and stamina, is Ederson, who plays for Atalanta. It’s an opportunity because his contract is expiring. Atalanta hasn’t wanted to sell him despite receiving very high offers. I think they’ll complete the transfer in this winter or summer window."
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What comes next for Ederson?
Going by his agent's comments, it seems that Ederson, who has played 151 times for the Italian top-flight team and scored 14 goals, could be on the move in 2026. But whether United, Liverpool, Barcelona, or anyone else signs him, remains to be seen. The player himself will have an eye on making Brazil's World Cup squad so his future may only be settled after that tournament finishes next summer.
Tottenham Hotspur are back in action in the Premier League this weekend as they prepare to welcome London rivals Fulham to North London on Saturday night.
Spurs are looking to bounce back from successive defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in their last two games, losing 5-3 to the French giants in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Lilywhites have not won in the Premier League since they beat Everton 3-0 at the end of October, with one win in six in all competitions since, which is why it is so important for Thomas Frank’s team to win this weekend.
They will have to get one over Fulham in order to do so, though, and it is a club that they have many connections to through players who have played for both.
Ranking Fulham players who have played for Spurs since 2010
Counting all players who played for Spurs since 2010, there have been ten players who either played for Fulham before or after their time in North London.
Perhaps most notably, given that Dimitar Berbatov left Tottenham in 2008, is central midfielder Mousa Dembele, who played 240 matches for Spurs between 2012 and 2018, after signing directly from the Cottagers.
1
Mousa Dembele
2
Scott Parker
3
Clint Dempsey
4
Joao Palhinha
5
Carlos Vinicius
6
Lewis Holtby
7
Paulo Gazzaniga
8
Manor Solomon
9
Josh Onomah
10
Ryan Fredericks
As you can see in the table above, academy players like Ryan Fredericks and Josh Onomah rank at the bottom, with several less notable Spurs players before the top four.
It is hard to say anyone other than Dembele should be at the top, given that the Belgian star, renowned for his ability on the ball, is the only player on the list to play more than 100 games for the club, with 240, per FBref.
He was once ‘irreplaceable’ for Spurs, as shown in the post above from 2018, and Frank can unearth his own version of the midfielder by playing Lucas Bergvall on Saturday night.
Why Lucas Bergvall could be Tottenham's next Mousa Dembele
One of Dembele’s most notable attributes during his time with Spurs was his dribbling. Speaking about his former international teammate, Youri Tielemans once said: “His dribbling was amazing, you just couldn’t take the ball off him.”
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He was brilliant at carrying the ball up the pitch from the middle of the park, and Bergvall is a central midfielder who can offer similar qualities for Spurs in the present day.
Per FBref, the Sweden international ranks within the top 9% of his positional peers in the Big 5 Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries per 90 (2.30) and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.55).
This shows that he is one of the most productive dribblers among central midfielders in Europe, which is why he could develop into being Frank’s own version of Dembele in the middle of the park.
Bergvall, like the Belgian, does not carry a huge goal threat, having scored once in the Premier League this season, but he can get the team up the pitch with his ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet.
The Swedish star, who was dubbed a “generational talent” by the club’s head of scouting Rob Mackenzie, started as part of a box midfield against PSG earlier this week, but playing further up the pitch ahead of Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur restricted how much he could drive from deep.
Therefore, unleashing him in a midfield three against Fulham on Saturday could allow him to provide supporters of both teams with a reminder of a player who once starred for them.
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Bergvall only attempted one dribble, which he completed, against PSG, and playing him further back on the pitch to use as a threat in transition could help Spurs to win their first Premier League game of the month this weekend.
Ashes hopeful Marcus Harris was run out for 61 as Victoria reached 167 for 3 following South Australia’s 350 for 9 declared
AAP05-Oct-2025Marcus Harris looked set for a statement pre-Ashes innings before a sharp piece of fielding left the Victoria No.3 kicking himself at a missed opportunity on day two of the Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at Adelaide Oval.The match was evenly poised when bad light stopped play late on Sunday afternoon, with Victoria 167 for 3 after SA declared at 350 for 9.Harris had been patient, compiling 61 from 149 balls and hitting three fours as he tries to force his way back into the Australian Test team for the Ashes. Peter Handscomb then called for a quick single after pushing into the covers.Daniel Drew pounced and his excellent direct hit caught Harris centimeters short of his ground at the striker’s end after Harris slightly veered his run and failed to stretch or dive with both options likely to have saved him.Handscomb was looking set at stumps on 38 and Oliver Peake finished unbeaten on 11.SA made the perfect start with the ball when Wes Agar had promising opener Campbell Kellaway caught at first slip for a second-ball duck.But Harris and Blake Macdonald then settled in for a 93-run stand. Macdonald was dismissed when looking set, caught behind for 45 when he chased a wide Lloyd Pope delivery.Earlier, the home side resumed on Sunday morning at 270 for 3 and Test quick Scott Boland eventually broke up the partnership between Henry Hunt and Jake Lehmann that had dominated the opening day.They added another six runs for a stand of 218 before Boland had Hunt caught behind for 126 from 307 balls.Boland also claimed Lehmann as the sixth wicket for 113 off 188 deliveries with Handscomb taking a sharp chance at second slip.Mitchell Perry took another wicket on Sunday to finish with 4 for 75, while Boland and Doug Warren snared two wickets apiece.South Australia No.8 Hanno Jacobs scored 41 from 52 balls on his Shield debut for South Australia, which included two fours and a six.
Phillies fans weren't having it after watching their team get dominated by the Dodgers for two games of the National League Division Series.
On Monday night, Philadelphia fell to Los Angeles 4-3 after losing Game 1 by a score of 5-3 on Saturday. Things got so bad for the Philly faithful that they actually booed their own closer.
The Phillies trailed the Dodgers 4-1 entering the top of the ninth inning, and Jhoan Duran came out to his closer entrance, which features the stadium lights going off, flames, etc. It’s an entrance that exudes confidence and a sense of inevitability when Duran is entering a game with the lead and looking to close out a win. When his job is “keep the deficit to three runs,” the pyro is far less endearing.
The team's fans were not impressed or enthused, and booed as he entered the game.
Video is below.
That's rough.
Duran did his job. He allowed a double and a walk, but got out of the frame without allowing a run.
Philadelphia mounted a ninth-inning comeback, as Alec Bohm singled to lead off the inning, then J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos followed with doubles to cut L.A.'s lead to 4-3.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson then called for Bryson Stott to bunt Castellanos over, but the veteran outfielder was thrown out going to third. Harrison Bader followed with a single, but Max Kepler and Trea Turner authored back-to-back groundouts to end the game with the tying and go-ahead runs on base.
One of MLB's best home-field advantages has now been squandered. The Phillies were 55-26 at home this season, and they lost the first two NLDS games in their own park. Now they'll have to win each of the next three games to advance. That's a tall order when facing the defending World Series champs.
The rich got richer Tuesday morning when the Dodgers signed Edwin Díaz, the top reliever on the market, to a three-year, $69 million contract. Díaz had opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Mets last month, and though New York reportedly offered him a three-year, $66 million deal to retain his services, Díaz elected to join the two-time defending World Series champions.
Dodgers Swiping Edwin Díaz Fixes Their Biggest Issue
Tom Verducci: Money doesn’t buy championships, but it sure helps to get out from mistakes. After dropping $72 million on closer Tanner Scott in January, a move that has yet to pay dividends, the Dodgers pivoted to the best closer in baseball, Edwin Díaz, at $69 million. Scott, who signed for four years with deferred money, posted a 4.74 ERA and missed the final three postseason rounds on the IL.
Last offseason, the Dodgers dropped $107 million on free agents Scott, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates, but wound up scrambling to convert Roki Sasaki to closer for the postseason. The Dodgers clinched the past two World Series with a starter coming out of the bullpen: Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The addition of Díaz ends those days of scrambling to figure out an endgame.
Díaz opted out of two years and $38 million remaining on his five-year, $102-million record contract with the Mets. The Dodgers added one year and $31 million to what he had left on the table, setting a new standard for closers at $23 million per year.
Díaz turns 32 in March and is building a Hall of Fame résumé: 253 saves, three All-Star teams, a strikeout rate of 14.5 per nine innings and remarkable consistency.
Edwin Díaz’s Refusal of Mets’ Offer Should Sting New York
Will Laws: The Mets offered Edwin Díaz a three-year, $66 million contract, according to the ’s Joel Sherman. That’s just $1 million less per year than what the accomplished closer signed for with the Dodgers on Tuesday.
That information certainly paints the picture that Díaz was happy to leave New York for Los Angeles. Considering how early it is in the offseason and Mets owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, it’s hard to believe the Mets wouldn’t have matched the Dodgers’ offer.
Three years ago, Díaz re-signed with the Mets on a five-year, $102 million deal—then the richest-ever deal for a reliever. Since then, the Mets have missed the playoffs twice and lost in the NLCS to the Dodgers, who have won the last two World Series.
It’s hard not to take Díaz’s decision as a referendum on how he perceives them as contenders.
Dodgers Once Again Sign the Market’s Top Reliever
Nick Selbe: If at first you don't succeed, spend, spend again. That's apparently the strategy Andrew Friedman & Co. are adopting in addressing their glaring need in the bullpen, signing Díaz to a $69 million deal one winter after giving $72 million to Tanner Scott. Scott was a disappointment in his first year with Los Angeles, leading the league with 10 blown saves and failing to make a single postseason appearance.
The Dodgers will hope Díaz can do what Scott couldn't: make ninth-inning leads a foregone conclusion. The former Met can be erratic year-to-year—he's alternated between ERAs in sub-2.00 range to mid-3.00 or worse over the past eight seasons—but possesses elite swing-and-miss stuff every contender craves in high-leverage situations.
Not many teams would green light spending $141 million for two relief pitchers in consecutive years, but the back-to-back champs aren't like any other organization.
A derrota do Corinthians para o Botafogo na noite deste sábado (1º) por 1 a 0, na Neo Química Arena, pela sétima rodada do Brasileirão, jogou o Timão para a zona de rebaixamento. Torcedores se mostraram revoltados com o resultado da partida e também com o desempenho que o Timão tem no campeonato, e não pouparam críticas ao técnico António Oliveira. Confira algumas reações nas redes.
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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão
As melhores e mais variadas ofertas para o Brasileirão estão no Lance! Betting! Abra já a sua conta!
Hoje escancarou como um bom treinador consegue dar padrão pra um time !! Botafogo deu um baile no Corinthians simplesmente por ser bem treinado. Ter um time conectado, de pé em pé. Corinthians é só bola esticada, e perde todas, rezando pro Wesley fzr milagre. Time mal treinado👇
— Tb_9810 (@9810Tb) June 2, 2024
Perde = pior Corinthians da história Ganha = vira o real do Ancelotti, vcs tem que se decidir
— h4wk sccp 𝒐 𝒊𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒐 † (@ogh4wk) June 2, 2024
Esse time do Corinthians é um bagulho de fdp, como q ganha de 3×0 e depois perde um jogo fácil desses
— Eminem (@EMINEM1403) June 2, 2024
Perde a bola em 20 segundos e demora 3 minutos pra recuperar.
Posse de bola inútil. Ninguém dando a opção, ninguém se movimenta, só bola esticada. Coisa horrorosa.
Corinthians tá sem técnico e o Sampaoli tá sem clube.
— Tiago Sampaoli Sales (@salestiaguinho) June 2, 2024
Vamos cair com esse técnico, acordem ele é fraco não consegue dar padrão para o time , não sabe o que faz não tem um esquema de jogo , vamos cair se demorar pra trocar vai cair , quanto mais tempo ele tem pra treinar pior o time fica
— Marcio Rodrigo Ferreira 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 (@mrferreiratimao) June 2, 2024
o técnico é pior que time, faz parte do problema.
É o mais fácil de trocar, então deve-se TROCAR!
Do jeito que tá ai, não dá.
Qualquer time mais qualificado que encaixar a marcação nesse 4-3-3 desgraçado, ganhará do Corinthians.
They might not have won, but Chelsea put in an incredible performance against Arsenal on Sunday evening.
Enzo Maresca’s side were comfortably on top for most of the first half, and even when Moises Caicedo got himself sent off, they remained competitive.
Moreover, there were sensational displays from across the pitch for the hosts, including, of course, Reece James.
However, there was another starter, someone who was previously lambasted by Gary Neville, who was just as crucial to the result.
James' performance vs Arsenal
James has undoubtedly been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League for some time now, but Maresca has taken to playing him in midfield more often this season.
The Italian opted to start his captain there again on Sunday, and while there was plenty of talk around the battle between Declan Rice and Caicedo, it was the Cobham graduate who stole the show.
For example, while Trevoh Chalobah was the one who headed home the Blues’ goal, it was the versatile James who delivered it with pinpoint accuracy from the corner.
However, the academy graduate did far more than just provide an assist.
In his 94 minutes of action, he played two key passes, won 100% of his tackles, won 11 of 12 duels, didn’t get dribbled past at all, recovered the ball twice, completed three of his four crosses, took one shot and completed 100% of his dribbles.
James’ game v Arsenal
Minutes
94′
Assists
1
Big Chances Created
1
Key Passes
2
Crosses (Accurate)
4 (3)
Shots
1
Touches
50
Dribbles (Successful)
1 (1)
Fouls Won
4
Interception
1
Clearances
1
Recoveries
2
Ground Duels (Won)
6 (6)
Aerial Duels (Won)
6 (5)
All Stats via Sofascore
In addition to all the measurable metrics, the 25-year-old also showed his leadership skills, helping to marshal the team in the moments the Gunners exerted pressure of their own.
Described as “absolutely ridiculous” by one analyst and “gargantuan” by presenter Olivia Buzaglo, the Redbridge-born international was unsurprisingly, and deservedly, named as the man of the match.
Without him in the middle of the park, there is a good chance that Chelsea would not have won that game, which is what could be said about another starter who has been heavily criticised over the last few seasons.
The Chelsea star on a par with James
The excellent news for Maresca and the Stamford Bridge faithful is that there were more than a few starters who truly shone last night.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Be it Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernández or even Pedro Neto, who carried the ball up the pitch and into dangerous areas again and again.
However, when it comes to someone who was previously lambasted but exceptional against Arsenal, it’s impossible to look past Robert Sanchez.
Prior to this season, the Spanish goalkeeper was seen as something of a blunder waiting to happen between the sticks, and to some extent, that is what he’s been for much of his time in West London.
In fact, just last season, after a loss against Manchester City in which he was at fault for one of Erling Haaland’s goals, Gary Neville claimed “he’s not good enough.”
However, since the start of this season, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has been far more impressive, and on Sunday evening, he was as important as James for the Blues’ win.
On top of stopping a number of good efforts, like Gabriel Martinelli’s in the first half, the 28-year-old was effective in possession and confident in collecting crosses.
In fact, football.london’s Bobby Vincent awarded the keeper an 8/10 match rating at full time, writing that it was a ‘top performance.’
Sanchez’s game v Arsenal
Minutes
94′
Total Saves
3
Saves in the Box
2
Goals Prevented
1.18
High Claims
2
Key Passes
1
Touches
60
Recoveries
11
All Stats via Sofascore
Unsurprisingly, the statistics back up this appraisal: in his 94 minutes of action, the shot-stopper made three saves, two of which came inside the box, prevented 1.18 goals, made two high claims, played one key pass, took 60 touches and recovered the ball 11 times.
Ultimately, while it will take some time to shift his old reputation, Sanchez is well on his way to doing so, and was as important as James in Chelsea’s draw on Sunday.
Chelsea star who saved Caicedo is their "most underappreciated player"
The underrated Chelsea ace made sure Caicedo’s red card didn’t cost Enzo Maresca’s men against Arsenal.
Three squad members released for day-night match in Canberra, but first XI head direct to Brisbane
Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Nov-20252:13
Stokes defends attacking approach after batting collapse
Just three of England’s men’s Ashes squad will join the Lions to play in the Prime Minster’s XI fixture in Canberra, with only Jacob Bethell, Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue dropping in for the two-day match which begins on Saturday.The trio were unused for the first Test in Perth, with Bethell and Potts playing for the Lions against a Cricket Australia XI, which ran parallel to the Ashes opener. Both matches started on Friday, but the match at Lilac Hill ended up running twice as long. However, it concluded on Monday with an identical result; a dominant eight-wicket win by the home team, led by a glitzy century from Josh Inglis, opening the batting in the Travis Head role.That England are not sending their ‘starters’ to Canberra will draw scorn, with many pundits already critical of their anticipated absence even before Monday’s confirmation.Related
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England need to shut out the noise and look in the mirror
As well as offering them more cricket after the opening Test lasted just two days, the day-night fixture would have given them invaluable experience ahead of the the pink-ball Test match at the Gabba, which begins on December 4. England do not have a great day-night record, losing five out of seven, including two on the previous Ashes tour. Australia, meanwhile, have won 13 out of 14 under lights.”It’s amateurish if they don’t go and play now,” Michael Vaughan, England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain, said. “What harm is playing two days of cricket with a pink ball under lights?”It’s not being old-school to suggest that a pink ball is different to a red ball. Playing under the lights is different. Australia have won pretty much every pink-ball game in Australia: they’ve lost once. I’m not too old-school to suggest that they should play in that game… I’d like to know why they wouldn’t.”Both Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum espoused the value of keeping the squad together after Saturday’s chastening conclusion to the first Test, both to isolate them from the outside noise and maintain spirits. That they are sticking to their guns is no surprise.The main squad will travel from Perth to Brisbane on Wednesday, and will begin training at the Gabba this weekend. The Lions, along with Bethell, Potts and Tongue, head to Canberra on Tuesday.
She picked up 3 for 23 and then hit a crucial 14 not out in a rain-curtailed chase to maintain Hurricanes’ clean slate
AAP20-Nov-2025
Heather Graham’s three wickets restricted Renegades•Getty Images
Heather Graham helped send Hobart Hurricanes two wins clear at the top of the WBBL table, leading them to a rain-marred six-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades.Initially set 156 by the second-placed Renegades, Hurricanes’ innings was delayed twice by rain and lightning before they reached an adjusted target of 106 with an over to spare.Graham was the star of the show, bagging 3 for 23 with the ball to halt Renegades’ momentum before striking a crucial unbeaten 14 in the chase at North Sydney Oval. Nicola Carey also struck 39 from 29 balls for Hurricanes, while Elyse Villani hit 12 runs from four balls to seal the match.One of only two clubs not to have lifted the WBBL, Hurricanes are now five-from-five to start the season with their batting firing.”We’ve got real clarity about us,” captain Villani said. “We have lots of options with bat and ball so we’re spoiled for choice. And I don’t think anyone feels like it is solely up to them, so it’s a real shared load.”Earlier a bizarre missed run-out had threatened to sink Hurricanes, after Georgia Wareham’s 41 from 26 balls rescued the defending-champions Renegades from 23 for 3.Wareham was initially given run-out for six, only for Hurricanes wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee to concede she had dropped the ball. Wareham then took control of the innings in a 56-run fourth-wicket stand with England’s Alice Capsey (37). The pair hit 39 in the two-over power surge, with Wareham cutting and pulling four boundaries and a six off the first five balls of a Hayley Silver-Holmes over.But when Wareham skied the last ball of Silver-Holmes’ over and was caught, Renegades failed to post the total they should have.