Erik ten Hag is said to have made a ‘personal request’ for Lautaro Martinez, while they face a battle with Arsenal for Benjamin Sesko and Matthijs de Ligt.
 TEN HAG WANTS ANOTHER MARTINEZ
He already has one Argentine Martinez with a curious haircut but Erik ten Hag wants another, with Fichajes saying that he has made a ‘personal request’ for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, who has scored 19 Serie A goals this season.

‘According to the latest information, the English team would seek to put on the table an offer powerful enough to acquire the services of the Albiceleste attacker,’ knowing full well that Inter might need to sell this summer to help balance the books.
 
PUBLIC BENJAMIN?
Remember when Manchester United were definitely going to sign Benjamin Sesko but, surprise surprise, he left Red Bull Salzburg and joined RB Leipzig in a shocking turn of events? He moved from sister to sister in a £21m move but has a release clause at double that amount that kicks in this summer.
Well, our friends at TEAMTalk claim that Sesko is a target once again for Manchester United but that they also face competition from Arsenal for the 20-year-old, who has scored in each of his last three Bundesliga appearances. They also mention Chelsea as possible suitors but that really may be purely because he is 20.

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TURN ON DE LIGT
On Monday the transfer gossip centred about Matthijs de Ligt and Manchester United, but FootballTransfers now claim that Arsenal are very interested in the Dutch defender, though United are said to be in ‘pole position’, presumably because of the Erik ten Hag connection.
De Ligt is clearly not happy at Bayern Munich, where he appears to be below even Eric Dier in the centre-half pecking order. No man should be expected to endure that fate. And he might now be ready to join the club he snubbed in 2019 to join the perennial German champions.
Arsenal have not yet spoken to either representatives of De Ligt or his club but are discussing him ‘internally’. They should probably have a word.
 
NETO SPEND
There has been a great deal of talk about Arsenal and Liverpool going head to head for various right wingers this summer and one of those wingers is Wolves man Pedro Neto, who has claimed eight Premier League assists this season.

And according to Football Insider, he could come relatively cheap for a 23-year-old with a long-term contract, with a price tag in the £50-60m bracket. Wolves need to sell this summer as they continue to walk a thin FFP line and Neto is absolutely ready for the step up to European football.
Arsenal desperately need back-up for the brilliant but over-worked Bukayo Saka and Liverpool need a long-term replacement for Mo Salah.

Ratcliffe selects ‘primary’ transfer target as Man Utd, Tottenham ‘push more than most’ to finalise deal

Manchester United have reportedly selected Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite as one of their ‘primary’ targets ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
Branthwaite has been one of the breakout stars in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign. After spending last term on loan in the Eredivisie with PSG Eindhoven, he has shone alongside James Tarkowski for Everton this season.


The centre-back’s form has not gone unnoticed as he is already being linked with several Premier League teams.
Everton are understood to have optimistically set their asking price at £100m but he – especially if they are relegated – is likely to be sold for about half that.
Ex-Everton and Man Utd striker Louis Saha recently explained why he would be happy if the Red Devils signed Branthwaite.
“He’s a talented defender that’s very aggressive and quick,” Saha told Betfred.
“I like his left foot and how he’s a tall player that can dominate in the air. I do believe his reading of the game needs improvement, but I do believe he can still improve and he has a lot of potential.
“I can understand why Manchester United are interested in signing him.
“There are other defenders at the club currently that can help Jarrad realise his potential and I do believe a move for him makes sense.”

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover of Man Utd was ratified by the Premier League on Tuesday afternoon and it’s been claimed that Branthwaite and Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise are among his preferred summer targets.
READ MORE: Five teams who nearly ruined their seasons with transfer plans, including Man Utd and ‘big value’ player
Now a report from The Daily Mail claims ‘Man Utd and Tottenham are pushing more than most ahead of a transfer scramble for Branthwaite this summer’. They explain.

‘While Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid have all enquired about the 21-year-old, Confidential understands that it is United and Spurs that are making the most concerted effort at this stage.
‘It is understood United are looking to bring in two young centre backs this summer as INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe get their first chance of improving Erik ten Hag’s side in the transfer market.
‘Homegrown players are going to be a key focus and Branthwaite appeals given he is a left-sided centre back, something Ten Hag is seeking in a bid to have better balance across the defence.
‘There is not tunnel vision on Branthwaite, though, with United keeping in contact over centre backs such as Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Jean-Clair Todibo at Nice, and Lille’s 18-year-old Leny Yoro, who has caught Real Madrid’s eye. But it is Branthwaite that stands as a primary target ahead of the summer.’

READ MORE: How Premier League teams qualify for Champions League and Europa competitions for 24/25
Earlier this season, Branthwaite indicated that he is keen to “repay” Everton manager Sean Dyche.
“Last season was massive for me, going out and developing, and I felt I had the belief coming back into the training ground that I was good enough to play,” Branthwaite said.

“It was about staying patient and I think I did that at the start of the season when I didn’t play but the manager has given me a chance which I’m grateful for and I hope I’m repaying him with the performances.”

Lionel Messi leads Champions League XI who ended English reign

The Champions League returns and Manchester City are favourites to win the tournament again following their victory over Inter Milan in June.
But no English side has successfully defended the trophy since Nottingham Forest in 1980. Here’s an XI made up from players who helped to knock out a reigning English champion.
 
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak
After facing off in the 2019 final, another Liverpool and Spurs fixture was lined up for the following season’s quarters if both English sides made it through their last-16 ties. Jurgen Klopp’s men had to find a way past Atletico Madrid, a task made more difficult following a 1-0 loss in the first-leg, combined with the absence of Alisson through injury. Replacement Adrian had an evening to forget at Anfield as the holders crashed out, with the Spanish ‘keeper at fault for a Marcos Llorente strike.
Meanwhile, opposite number Jan Oblak put in a man-of-the-match performance at the other end as Liverpool laid siege to the Slovenian’s goal.
READ: Another memorable night at Anfield, but not for Liverpool
 
Centre-back: Colin Barrett
From Liverpool’s latest defence of the Champions League to their first.
The Reds’ maiden victory in the European Cup came in 1977 and as holders they didn’t have to enter the following season’s competition until the round of 16 stage. Victories over Dynamo Dresden, Benfica, Borussia Monchengladbach and Club Brugge in the final saw Bob Paisley’s men retain the trophy.

But their undefeated streak would come to an end a few months later as newly crowned First Division champions Nottingham Forest knocked Liverpool out in the first round of the 1978/79 tournament, with defender Colin Barrett scoring in a 2-0 win at the City Ground.
 
Centre-back: Luisao
Liverpool’s 2005 triumph saw the club return to the Champions League for the following campaign, despite finishing fifth in the Premier League. The holders had to start the tournament from the first qualifying round, with the defence of their crown starting just a month and a half after the miracle of Istanbul.
Rafa Benitez’s men ended up topping a group including Chelsea but went out in the round of 16 at the hands of Benfica, with Brazilian defender Luisao scoring in the first-leg.
 
Centre-back: Fernandinho
Benitez suffered more heartbreak in 2012, this time with holders Chelsea after the Spaniard replaced Champions League-winning boss Roberto di Matteo. The Blues put up a miserable defence of their title after exiting at the group stage, with Benitez coming in after a 3-0 defeat to Juventus.


But with the Italian side at the top, Chelsea’s competition for second place came in the form of Shakhtar Donetsk and a 2-1 defeat in Ukraine proved costly, with Fernandinho getting the winner. Stamford Bridge would on to host Europa League football that season, with Benitez leading the club to glory in the competition.
 
Right wing: Kurt Hamrin
Manchester United became the first English side to lift the European Cup in 1968, ten years after the tragic events of Munich. Bobby Charlton continued to carry the spirit of the Busby Babes and scored against AC Milan in the semi-finals as the Red Devils looked to retain the trophy.
But the damage had been done in the first leg at the San Siro, with Swedish superstar Kurt Hamrin finding the net in a 2-0 win. United went out 2-1 on aggregate, whilst Milan went on to thump Ajax 4-1 in the final.
 
Central midfield: Zbigniew Boniek

It certainly wasn’t to be the last time an Italian side put an English champion to the sword, with Aston Villa on the receiving end in 1983. The Villans reached the quarter-finals as they strived to hold on to the trophy Peter Withe had won them against Bayern Munich in the final of ’82.
A talented Juventus side stood in the way, with the likes of Zoff, Scirea, Platini and Rossi looking to win the Bianconeri their first European Cup. It was Polish star Zbigniew Boniek who stole the headlines after the first leg, scoring late to give Juventus a 2-1 at Villa Park.
 
Central midfield: Michel Platini
Boniek and co ended up losing the final to Hamburg in Athens but finally lifted the trophy two years later, albeit under tragic circumstances in the Heysel Stadium. Reigning champions Liverpool were the runners-up, with three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini scoring from the spot following a foul on Boniek.

 
Left wing: Tsvetan Yonchev
The subsequent continental ban in the wake of the Heysel disaster ensured an end to a dominant run of seven English wins from nine European Cups, with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest all lifting the trophy between ’77 and ’85. Forest were back to back champions under Brian Clough but lost out in the first round of the 1980/81 tournament, with Tsvetan Yonchev scoring in a famous 1-0 win for CSKA Sofia at the City Ground.
The Bulgarian side repeated the trick the following season, knocking out holders Liverpool in the quarters.
 
Forward: Lionel Messi
The 2009 semis saw three English sides in the last four as Manchester United produced a scintillating display to overcome Arsenal whilst Barcelona’s highly controversial victory over Chelsea in the other tie prevented a repeat of the previous year’s final, when the Red Devils’ lifted the trophy after a tense penalty-shootout.
Alex Ferguson’s side looked to become to first team to successfully defend the European Cup since AC Milan in 1990 but Lionel Messi had other ideas, with the Argentinean superstar scoring in a 2-0 win to complete a treble for Barcelona.
 
Forward: Raul
Manchester United’s own treble was of course memorably won in 1999, following an incredible late turnaround against Bayern Munich. The following season saw the Red Devils saunter to another Premier League win, finishing 18 points clear of Arsenal in second.
But holding onto the Champions League crown proved to be a tougher task. Despite an impressive 0-0 draw at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their quarter-final match against Real Madrid, a brace from Raul at Old Trafford in the return fixture sent the Spanish side into the semis with a 3-2 win.
 
Forward: Karim Benzema
Real Madrid went on to lift the trophy in 2000 and continue to be the scourge of English sides in the modern era. The 2021/22 tournament saw Los Blancos defeat Liverpool in the final, Manchester City in the semis and reigning champions Chelsea in the quarters. Karim Benzema’s superb hat-trick at Stamford Bridge resulted in a 3-1 win for the away side and despite the Blues fighting back in the second leg, the French forward proved to be the match-winner yet again with a header in extra-time to make it 5-4 on aggregate.
 
READ: Ten best players never to have won the Champions League