Transfer news LIVE: Ronaldo ‘has options’, Man Utd could lose Mainoo and Arsenal want Williams

Paul Scholes says Sir Jim Ratcliffe has done “nothing positive” during his first year at Manchester United.

Despite suffering one of the worst seasons in their recent history, United made the mid-season decision to raise matchday ticket prices to £66 per game in the Premier League, with no concessions for children or pensioners, a move which enraged some fans.

The club insist the hike would only affect a small number of fans as 97 per cent of tickets have already been sold but the remainder and resold tickets will be subject to the increase.

Manchester United need a sale in order to meet Paris Saint-Germain’s €60m valuation of Nuno Mendes, with Ruben Amorim and the new INEOS leadership keen to start a badly-desired overhaul.

The 22-year-old left-back has been targeted as a key first signing to give balance to the team, but the Old Trafford hierarchy are currently short on the salary offer as well as the transfer fee.

The situation reflects how difficult this crucial first window is for Amorim, with many at United openly talking about how much business needs to be done but how little money there is to spend amid Profit and Sustainability Rule restrictions.

Newcastle boosted their hopes of ending a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy when they took a firm grip on their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

The Magpies emerged from their first-leg trip to the Emirates Stadium – where they had won only once in 19 previous visits – with a precious 2-0 lead to take into next month’s return at St James’ Park and their dream of ending a drought, which stretches back to the 1955 FA Cup final, very much alive.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk does not believe Real Madrid’s interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold has impacted the full-back’s performance.

The England international was at fault for Manchester United’s opener in the 2-2 draw at Anfield and was generally poor throughout, falling well below the high standards he has set himself.

At the start of the week Real, with whom Alexander-Arnold has been strongly linked with his contract expiring in the summer, made an approach about the possibility of signing the 26-year-old in the current transfer window.

The best league position Nottingham Forest had achieved in 28 years came last season. There was one objective and only one: avoid relegation. That they did, finishing 16th, a best return in the pyramid since ninth in 1995/96.

Forest’s top-flight record until then in the Premier League era read four seasons, two relegations – and one third-place finish, improbably.

After surviving their fifth year in the division, with off-pitch headlines making more waves than anything they did on-pitch, few would have expected much other than more of the same from the Reds in 2024/25.

Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia was a target for Arsenal over the summer and the Gunners even saw a bid rejected for the 23-year-old.

But Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza has since stated that the club could sell the goalkeeper in the future and reports from Spain, per Sport Witness, suggest the Gunners are still interested.

Arsenal had a €20m (£16.6m) bid rejected but a second bid could be successful for a player who has a €30m (£25.4m) release clause.

Chelsea are at the top of the list of clubs who want to sign Kobbie Mainoo should he depart Manchester United.

The Daily Mail are reporting that there is a stalemate in negotiations over a new deal between the midfielder and the Old Trafford hierarchy despite Mainoo having two-and-a-half years left on his current contract.

If United do sell the player it would be financially beneficial given any proceeds from a sale would go down as pure profit on the accounts.

The fans would not be pleased as Mainoo is a homegrown talent that broke into the first team under Erik ten Hag and has continued to impress.

Football Insider are saying that Liverpool are willing to sell Darwin Nunez if their valuation for the Uruguayan is met.

The club apparantly want between £50m-£60m for the striker in order to green light any potential move.

Nunez has been linked with a switch to Newcastle in recent weeks but that figure would seemingly be a high one for the Magpies who are wary of breaching PSR.

Olympiacos are monitoring the situation for Manchester United’s Antony.

The Sun suggest the Europa Conference League holders have tabled a €2m (£1.7m) loan fee for a six-month deal. That deal includes an €18m (£15m) option to buy.

The winger joined Man Utd two years ago following an £86m deal with Ajax.

Bayern Munich want to sign Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres according to The Star. The Swedish striker is one of is in high demand with Man Utd boss, Ruben Amorim, tipped to make a move for his former frontman this summer.

Bayern want to ensure they are also in the race to sign Gyokeres and may have a better chance of securing their man with United close to the threshold of PSR.