Everton's €43m Bid for Abde Ezzalzouli Falls Short
Everton tried to crash the market late in the summer window with a bold move for Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli – but ran straight into a release clause wall.
According to reports in Spain, Betis received a €43m proposal from the Premier League side, built around €35m guaranteed and the rest in bonuses. Ambitious money for a player still shaping his top-level career.
Betis didn’t blink. Their stance was simple: pay the full €60m release clause or walk away. Everton walked.
It was a late, aggressive swing from a club still searching for cutting edge in the final third. In the end, the numbers never came close enough to crack Betis’ resolve.
United’s three-year blueprint targets defence next
At Manchester United, the rebuild has been given a timetable and a clear spine.
Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new football leadership, United have mapped out a three-year plan designed to drag the club back to the top of the Premier League by 2028. The structure is blunt: one summer for midfield, one for attack, one for defence.
Midfield has been addressed this year. The attack is pencilled in for 2025.
Then comes the final piece. Reports in England say United will turn fully to their backline in next summer’s window, with defensive reinforcements earmarked as the priority to complete the squad overhaul.
The message from the boardroom is unmistakable: this is no scattergun rebuild. It’s a staged operation, with the defence due under the microscope in 12 months’ time.
Martinelli set for record Arsenal exit to Al Hilal
Gabriel Martinelli is on the brink of closing his Arsenal chapter in historic fashion.
The Brazilian has completed his medical ahead of a €70m move to Al Hilal after flying into Riyadh earlier this week. Only the formal announcement is missing.
When that drops, the deal will smash Arsenal’s outgoing transfer record. The fee, understood to be around £60m, will eclipse the £35m Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017.
For Arsenal, it’s a landmark sale. For Martinelli, a dramatic shift from the Premier League spotlight to the Saudi Pro League’s growing constellation of stars.
Enzo aims dig at Chelsea as he lands his “dream” City move
Enzo Fernandez has barely walked through the door at Manchester City and he’s already lit the fuse under his Chelsea exit.
The Argentina midfielder completed a British record-equalling £125m switch from Stamford Bridge to the Etihad on deadline day. The size of the fee alone turned heads. His first words turned a few more.
“I’m really happy to be here. I always dreamed of being at a club as big as City,” he said, a line that will sting at Chelsea after their own heavy investment in him.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity. It’s a very emotional moment for me and my family, to take this step at 25 years old, in a football career that I always dreamed of.
“I’m so happy to be here, enjoying these first few hours I’ve had at the club. I can already see just how big it is and, we will enjoy ourselves and win lots of things together.”
Chelsea lose a marquee signing. City gain a midfielder who clearly believes he has just arrived at the pinnacle.
United prospect Obi heads to Willem II on loan
One of Manchester United’s most promising young forwards is heading to the Netherlands in search of minutes.
Chido Obi is set to join Eredivisie side Willem II on loan, subject to registration being completed. The Denmark Under-21 international broke into the senior picture under Ruben Amorim in the 2024-25 campaign, making eight first-team appearances, but saw his pathway blocked last season and made the bench only once.
He responded the right way – by scoring. Obi became a regular for United’s Under-21s, helping drive the club to the FA Youth Cup final and racking up 20 goals in 37 games across all competitions.
Now comes the next test: can he turn youth dominance into senior impact in Tilburg, and force his way back into United’s long-term plans?
