Man Utd could move for a Brazilian defender who shut down Bukayo Saka, while Xabi Alonso rejecting Liverpool will help Arsenal with a €60m midfield signing and there are updates on the futures of Mason Greenwood and Raphinha – all in Monday’s Euro Paper Talk.

MAN UTD LEFT-BACK HUNT

The Red Devils could move for FC Porto left-back Wendell amid claims his stint in Portugal is coming to an end.
Many a position in Erik ten Hag’s squad will experience change this summer and according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, left-back is among them.
“Man Utd will sign a left-back because they know Tyrell Malacia is struggling, also the injuries of Luke Shaw this season. [They] will go for a young, talented and good, important left-back,” declared Romano one week ago.

“This is the idea of the club and also agreed with the manager.”
But with additions in other, arguably more pressing positions requiring big transfer fees, Man Utd may ultimately sanction a cheap and cheerful move at left-back.
Indeed, Jarrad Branthwaite – valued in the £70m-£80m bracket by Everton – is United’s No 1 centre-back target.
Michael Olise is wanted for the right flank and will cost around £60m through his release clause. Reporter Ben Jacobs recently touted a club record £100m-plus move for Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.
As such, there may only be a small sum left over for the left-back addition and according to transfer insider Dean Jones, Porto and new Brazil international Wendell could fill the void.
The 30-year-old recently made his senior debut for Brazil in their 1-0 friendly victory over England. Despite his advancing age, it appears Wendell is only now entering his prime years.
Related video: Why Everybody's Wrong About Arsenal (FourFourTwo)

Evidence of that certainly came in Porto’s recent two-legged Champions League tie with Arsenal. The tricky left-back was tasked with keeping Bukayo Saka quiet and did exactly that. Arsenal – who were overwhelming favourites in the tie – only managed to narrowly squeeze through on penalties.
Wendell’s current contract with Porto expires at the end of the 2024/25 campaign. According to Jones, Porto may seek to cash in this summer to avoid losing the defender for nothing a year later.
Jones also credited Arsenal as a side who could seek to sign Wendell. However, responding to those claims, Caught Offside rubbished that idea given the Gunners already have Oleksandr Zinchenko as well as Jakub Kiwior, Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu who can all deputise at left-back.
“Juventus have started looking at Wendell and if Porto start to show any openness to selling him then I wonder if he could come into view for the likes of Man Utd and maybe even Arsenal, who saw the job he did on Saka recently,” Jones told GiveMeSport.


“This is a player with really big experience, playing all over the world in huge competitions and at competitive teams.
“He would be pretty cheap and from conversations I have had around United and Arsenal the mindset and wisdom of new players is going to be key because both of those sides really want players that can help elevate their younger talent.
“Would you want him as a starter every single week? Maybe not, but his contract is up in 2025 and when you are looking for players in a squad he fits for me.”
While Jones did not list a figure, it was suggested a deal for Wendell could be done on the cheap thanks to his advancing age and contract situation.

XABI ALONSO DECISION HELPS ARSENAL

Arsenal have received a boost in their quest to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. The Spanish midfielder was being lined up by Bayern Munich if Xabi Alonso became their new manager, but with Alonso staying at Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern may no longer threaten Arsenal. Zubimendi can be signed via a €60m release clause. (Fabrizio Romano)

Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim is the new number one choice to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager. (Fabrizio Romano)
Amorim is willing to leave Sporting for Liverpool, though would ideally like to leave Lisbon after securing a league and cup double as his final act. (Correio da Manha)
Real Madrid bosses believe Xabi Alonso is the perfect candidate to succeed Carlo Ancelotti when his contract expires in 2026. (Football Espana)
Borussia Dortmund are close to wrapping up an agreement with Sven Mislintat who is expected to become their new sporting director. (Sky Germany)

MAN UTD V MAN CITY TRANSFER BATTLE

Man Utd and Man City are both circling over Bayer Leverkusen wing-back, Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutch international, 23, can be signed via a modest €40m/£34.1m release clause that becomes active this summer. (The Sun)
Bayern Munich director Max Eberl has denied reports former Man Utd manager, Ralf Rangnick, is the favourite to succeed Thomas Tuchel in Bavaria. (Max Eberl)

Juventus are in the mix for the signature of disgruntled Tottenham midfielder, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The Dane, 28, has tumbled down the pecking order since Ange Postecoglou took charge and Spurs will cash in for a ‘reasonable fee’. (Tuttosport)
Liverpool have joined Man Utd and Chelsea in the hunt for Benfica and Portugal midfielder, Joao Neves. (O Jogo)
Inter Milan have set their sights on signing Atletico Madrid defender, Mario Hermoso. Inter chiefs have decided to make their move after Hermoso impressed in Atletico’s two-legged Round of 16 clash with Inter in the Champions League. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
Turkish side Trabzonspor hope to sign Burnley striker Wout Weghorst this summer. The former Man Utd loanee is currently loaned to German side Hoffenheim. (Fanatic)

MASON GREENWOOD, RAPHINHA UPDATES

Barcelona are willing to listen to offers for Raphinha this summer. The ex-Leeds winger has been linked with Tottenham and Newcastle. (Sport & various)
Getafe hope to re-sign Man Utd loanee Mason Greenwood to a second loan spell next season, though the Red Devils would prefer an outright sale. (Various)
Arsenal are keen on signing Man City full-back Joao Cancelo in the event he’s not brought back to Barcelona for a second spell next season. Barcelona’s financial situation means they can only offer Man City another loan with an option to buy. (Sport)
AC Milan have emerged as a genuine threat to beat Man Utd to the signature of Boca Juniors wonderkid, Aaron Anselmino. The 20-year-old Argentine’s current contract contains a €20m release clause. (Calciomercato)
AC Milan could torment Man Utd a second time by beating the Red Devils in the race to sign Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee. Milan have already set aside ‘€40-€50m’ for a summer bid. (Calciomercato)

Shearer names ‘favourites’ for PL title after Richards claims Liverpool are ‘not going to win the league’

Alan Shearer still thinks Man City will beat Liverpool and Arsenal to the Premier League title despite their draw against the Gunners on Easter Sunday.
Liverpool took top spot in the Premier League on Saturday when they beat Brighton before title rivals Man City and Arsenal played out a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Micah Richards: Liverpool are not going to win the league

Jurgen Klopp’s men are now two points ahead of second-placed Arsenal and a further one point clear of Man City with nine matches still to play.
Speaking before the weekend’s results, Micah Richards insisted that Liverpool can’t win the Premier League, he said on The Rest Is Football podcast: “No, they’re not going to win the league. I think it’s Manchester City or Arsenal… I think Manchester City will win the league.
“It depends what happens on Sunday. If Arsenal go to the Etihad and win…I think Arsenal have to win, I think they have to win. Manchester City’s record is incredible.
“Manchester City are without Stones and Kyle Walker, [Erling] Haaland has been up and down in the media and saying is he fit, is he not fit… Akanji, Ederson.
READ MORE: Liverpool are biggest mentality monsters since Solskjaer’s Man Utd
“I just feel with Arsenal… remember last season when they had that opportunity and they had a few wobbles around this time last season and they could go to Man City, win that game and put a cat amongst the pigeons. And Man City just walked over them.
Related video: 'Not in our hands': Guardiola post-Arsenal says Liverpool now favourites for title (Metro)

or was that one that you really needed to?

“This is a massive, massive day and if Arsenal can win, they can win the league.”

Alan Shearer: Man City are still favourites for the Premier League title

And despite admitting Liverpool currently have an “advantage” over their title rivals, former Newcastle United striker Shearer still thinks Man City are “favourites” to win the league.
Shearer wrote in his BBC Sport column: “At the moment it is advantage Liverpool, and Arsenal are not going away, but, with nine games to go, I still see Manchester City as favourites for the Premier League title.
“That feeling is not really based on how City are playing right now, though. Pep Guardiola’s side are on a long unbeaten run, stretching back 23 games in all competitions, but they have not hit top form and a few of their performances in that spell have not quite been at the level we have come to expect.
“Some of their results have been disappointing too, including Sunday’s 0-0 draw with the Gunners. It must be a concern for Guardiola that his side have not beaten another top-five team this season, in six attempts.


“City have a chance to change that when they play Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday – and they have to.
“They cannot afford to drop points in successive games, so it’s another huge night for them – against the last team to beat them, on 6 December.
“One of City’s biggest strengths, however, is that they have been here and done it so many times before. And, while their rivals might be in better form, City have the experience to know that the draw with Arsenal was not a disaster.”

MLS winners and losers as Hollywood grafters triumph and Messi-less Miami stumble

It was a good week for the grafters in MLS, but there were struggling superstars and the wrong kind of teenage kicks.
 

Winners
Hollywood’s mentality monsters

Since Major League Soccer’s inception almost three decades ago, no club has dealt as strongly in star power as Los Angeles Galaxy. From homegrown heroes such as Cobi Jones and Landon Donovan through to iconic imports like David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the game’s biggest names have flocked to ply their trade in the shadow of the Hollywood Hills.

And the current incarnation of the Galaxy are not short of name recognition; former Barcelona prodigy Riqui Puig has been one of the most entertaining and productive playmakers in MLS since his 2022 arrival, veteran former Southampton defender Maya Yoshida brings vast top-level experience, and Ghanaian winger Joseph Paintsil – a $9million signing from Genk – has hit the ground running in MLS.
But LA’s surge to the top of the Western Conference this season is not due to their appetite for glitz and glamour but a newfound embrace of grit and grind. Unbeaten through their first six MLS games of the season, Greg Vanney’s side are the frontrunners in the race for the Supporters’ Shield thanks to their ability to eke out results in tight matches.
This weekend’s 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders was the perfect example of the Galaxy’s resilience this season. Thrust into a fourth-minute lead when Brazilian forward Gabriel Pec finished a slick passing move with a powerful strike, LA found themselves outplayed and under pressure for much of the second half. But with Yoshida anchoring the backline, they prevailed. It was the Galaxy’s first clean sheet of the season and their first 1-0 win since the 2022 play-offs.
Related video: Messi & Suarez DESTROY Orlando, bad for MLS? (Homestand Sports)

Suarez is amazing. Like, I think it's great to see

“When I looked at our schedule, to be honest with you, at the start of the season I thought, ‘S**t, this is going to be a really difficult start to the season,’” Vanney said. “In our own way, we’ve managed each of these [games] to get something out of them, which has been special.”
With cross-city rivals LAFC up next in the derby creatively dubbed ‘El Trafico’, the Galaxy will happily forgo the glamour to win ugly once more.
READ: Sweet dreams my LA ex: Forget Beckham and Zlatan, Carlos Vela is a real MLS legend
 

Unionisation

The notion of unionisation, collective bargaining and labour strikes are nothing new in US sport. Disagreements between players’ associations and club owners or league brass have seen play halted for months on end in American football, baseball and basketball.
But meaningful collective representation and the withdrawal of labour are seldom seen in a soccer context. So it was viewed by the rest of the watching world as something of a curious episode when the 2024 MLS season began without its professional referees, with games instead overseen by scab officials from lower-ranking leagues while the regular top-flight refs were locked in negotiations for better pay and working conditions.

The dispute was between the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), which is the referees’ union, and Professional Referee Organization (PRO), the MLS-funded administration body that governs refereeing in North America. The refs were arguing for a pay rise and for increased travel provisions. When the two sides were unable to come to an agreement before the new season began, the PRO prevented the referees from taking to the field.
The strike only served to prove the worth of the regular MLS referees. There was widespread criticism of the stand-in officials from coaches and fans alike, and in the early weeks of the season ESPN reported that instances of VAR intervention had doubled compared to the previous campaign.
Last week, the PSRA and the PRO finally ratified a new seven-year agreement and the referees returned to work. The new deal includes a significant pay rise and a minimum of 15 match fees a year to give the referees an assurance against games missed due to injury.

“Standing strong with each other, we have been buoyed by the support of players, fans, supporters’ clubs, and other unionised work groups during our employer-imposed lockout,” said a PSRA statement.
“Together, we have won much-needed improvements while demonstrating the value of having the best referees in Major League Soccer on the pitch.”
Join a union.
 

Losers
The Follies of Youth

Los Angeles FC’s David Martinez was headed firmly for the ‘winners’ category 76 minutes into his side’s trip to Colorado to take on the Rapids on Saturday. The Venezuelan winger, who turned 18 just last month, had come off the bench to fire LAFC into a 2-1 lead with his first goal for the club since joining from Monages in his homeland ahead of the 2024 season.

And it was a magnificent effort, too. Cutting in from the right flank, he swerved past two defenders before slotting a low, left-footed strike past former Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
Just two minutes later, Martinez mustered another first – this time his first booking in MLS. Flashing a petulant streak befitting a teenager, he was shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away when a minor midfield decision went against him.
Chalk that one up to inexperience, the exuberance of youth, an understandable instance of emotions overspilling after an adrenaline spike from his maiden MLS goal.
But then, seven minutes later, shortly after Djordje Mihailovic had bent a 20-yard free kick past Hugo Lloris to level the score, Martinez did it again. Another yellow card for kicking the ball away and another unwanted first – a first career red card.

Down to 10 men and under the cosh for the closing minutes, LAFC gave up a game-winner in the 89th minute when Mihailovic scored his second of the afternoon, brilliantly improvising to finish from close range with his knee. With that, the Rapids secured a first home win of the season and dealt Martinez a valuable – if painful – lesson in self-control.
 

Messi-less Miami

Although, technically speaking, they were not losers this weekend, Inter Miami’s failure to see off New York City FC – who had opened the 2024 campaign with five defeats from their previous six fixtures – was a worrying sign of their dependence on Lionel Messi.
It is not unreasonable for any team that counts arguably the greatest player of all time among their number to be diminished when he is not available. But for a Miami line-up that included Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to have been kept at arm’s length by the Eastern Conference’s second-from-bottom side evidenced a concerning lack of cohesion without their 36-year-old megastar.

It was the third MLS game in a row Messi had sat out with a hamstring injury. In the first of those fixtures, Suarez was required to come off the bench against DC United to turn a 1-1 scoreline into a 3-1 victory with a pair of goals in the final half-hour. A week later, with Suarez a starter, they were smashed 4-0 by the New York Red Bulls.
Against NYCFC, the former Liverpool striker was back among the goals, netting his seventh in nine appearances for the Herons. But a combination of uncharacteristically profligate finishing from the Uruguayan and a stellar performance from NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese meant more points dropped for Miami. The David Beckham-owned club were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Chase Stadium, despite racking up chances worth 2.48 expected goals to the visitors’ 1.19.
Messi is on course to return for Wednesday’s game against Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a tournament the Argentinian’s presence makes them favourites to win. But if Miami hope to compete for multiple trophies this season, they’ll need find a way to fare better when their ageing icon sits out.
READ: ‘I know’ – Lionel Messi drops retirement claim as Barcelona legend reflects on ‘difficult’ PSG spell