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Manchester United can now concentrate fully on next season after Michael Carrick was confirmed as permanent manager. The former midfielder has been handed a two-year contract following his success in steering United to a respectable third-place finish and, crucially, a return to Champions League football.

Carrick faces quite a task this summer as he seeks to rebuild the squad in his own vision. Strengthening the team is essential if United are to mount a challenge against Arsenal and Manchester City next season, while departures will be required to generate funds.

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Midfield is an obvious area requiring reinforcement, particularly after Casemiro's departure from the club following Sunday's final-day victory at Brighton, while questions remain over Manuel Ugarte's Old Trafford future.

As the summer reconstruction begins, Express Sport brings you a round-up of the latest United news...

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'Agent Fernandes'

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A fascinating moment has surfaced, hinting at what might lie ahead. After the final whistle at Brighton, Bruno Fernandes was seen in a lengthy discussion with Carlos Baleba, a midfielder strongly linked with United.

Initially, Fernandes simply placed his arm around the Cameroonian and appeared ready to move on. However, he then returned for a more extended conversation with Baleba, sparking speculation amongst United supporters.

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Some suggested it appeared like "more than just a handshake," while others labelled him "Agent Fernandes." Baleba was eager to make the switch to Old Trafford last summer, but Brighton's £100million asking price dampened their enthusiasm.

Since then, Baleba has struggled to reach his previous heights, with Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledging that speculation linking him with a transfer to United had adversely affected him. He could now be obtained for a reduced sum.

The 22-year-old was also seen conversing with United players in the tunnel following the match, including Joshua Zirkzee, while he called out to Patrick Dorgu, who was conducting an interview.

At the end of Dorgu's discussion with journalists, he was questioned about Baleba calling his name and whether he would welcome the prospect of playing alongside him at United next term. He grinned and responded: "No comment!"

However, Tottenham may end up forcing United's hand as The Independent claim that they are keen to reunite Baleba with ex-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi this summer.

Ugarte addresses future

Baleba could feasibly replace Ugarte, who United are willing to offload this summer. The Uruguayan's transfer to Old Trafford hasn't proved successful and now would represent an ideal moment for United to minimise their losses.

Ugarte, by his own acknowledgement, has endured a frustrating campaign, telling reporters upon returning to his homeland ahead of the World Cup: "This year wasn't the best at Manchester United."

Regarding what lies ahead, the 25-year-old confessed he was "open to whatever comes." He added: "I'm not thinking about what will happen next because when you finish your career, the best thing is to play in a World Cup with your country. I want to enjoy it and push myself to the limit.

"Manchester United is one of the best clubs in the world. The World Cup is going to be crucial in determining everything. I'm open to whatever comes.

"This year wasn't great in every sense, but I learned a lot mentally. I was surrounded by good people, and I'm trying to take the positives from it. We'll see what happens at the World Cup. Whatever happens, I think it will be good."

Arsenal have secured the Premier League title and the Champions League could follow on Saturday. Following that, though, their focus will shift towards the summer transfer window. Even the greatest teams require refreshing from time to time. In the Gunners' case, there remains scope for enhancement after the attacking line was exposed at times during the run-in.

A pair of departures in other positions have already been confirmed, with Jakub Kiwior and Karl Hein exiting North London. There have been suggestions that further sales might be necessary to balance the books; however, this means senior stars could join the loanees in departing.

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What might this signify for Arsenal's attack, though? We have examined the potential comings and goings more closely.

There have been doubts over the No.9 position this season despite the title triumph. Viktor Gyokeres has been inconsistent since his arrival from Sporting CP last summer, while Kai Havertz's fitness has been a concern following injury problems.

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Julian Alvarez remains linked, though the Gunners may be priced out of a transfer for the Argentine. Atletico Madrid paid upwards of £80m to acquire him in 2024 and are expected to demand a nine-figure sum.

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The immediate priority could be to bring in a young and hungry frontman willing to share the workload and capable of operating in a deeper role as well as leading the attack, much as Havertz does.

Bournemouth sensation Eli Junior Kroupi appears to tick all the boxes but is unlikely to come at a lower price, with the Cherries reportedly seeking as much as £80million, this would still fall short of the fee for Alvarez.

A new striker could signal the departure of Gabriel Jesus, despite his goal at Crystal Palace on the final day of the season. Out on the left flank, meanwhile, doubts persist over the long-term prospects of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, with at least one of the pair expected to depart this summer.

With Paris Saint-Germain appearing reluctant to entertain approaches for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a pursuit of the Georgian's club colleague Bradley Barcola could be explored. Perhaps more likely, however, is a move for Newcastle and England star Anthony Gordon, available for approximately £75m but also attracting interest from Bayern Munich.

There is little need for any sweeping changes on the right, however. Bukayo Saka demonstrated in the final weeks of the campaign precisely why he remains so indispensable to the club, while Noni Madueke should continue to develop, having completed his first full season as a back-up option on either wing.

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Looking further ahead, Arsenal may need to raise transfer funds if they wish to revive their January interest in Sandro Tonali. However, potential sales of attacking players — with Ethan Nwaneri, Martinelli and Trossard all linked with departures — could free up funds for the boss to strengthen in deeper midfield positions.

Following the final match of the season, manager Mikel Arteta made clear he had no intention of stopping at just the one title. "What I said to the boys is that this shirt now represents something else," he said.

"We are the champions and that brings a lot of confidence and a different kind of presence and energy to it. But as well another kind of responsibility as well. My job now, and everybody at the club, is going to be to live those standards now and achieve more and more because I think we are capable of winning."

Tottenham have 'reactivated talks' to sign Savinho from Manchester City, it has been claimed. Spurs made an attempt to bring Savinho, 22, to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer, following a debut season at City in which he netted three goals and provided 13 assists in 48 appearances.

Despite coming close to striking an agreement, Savinho ultimately remained at the Etihad Stadium. Since then, the Brazilian, who joined City from Troyes for £30.8million in June 2024, has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth and has slipped further down the pecking order following Antoine Semenyo's arrival in January.

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Indeed, the former PSV and Girona man started just six Premier League matches throughout the 2025/26 season, one of which came in Sunday's dead-rubber defeat to Aston Villa. Semenyo has firmly established himself as City's first-choice right winger, with Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden among the other wide options at their disposal.

With Savinho's playing time at City reducing, Tottenham are anticipated to return for the forward. According to Fabrizio Romano, preliminary discussions between Spurs and City are 'back underway' and Savinho is 'open' to a switch to north London. It is also reported that Newcastle United are among the other clubs keeping a keen eye on him.

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He remains valued at around £60m and has five years remaining on his contract at City. Should Tottenham proceed with a move for Savinho, he would rank amongst the club's all-time record signings, alongside Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.

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Roberto De Zerbi's Spurs are set to be busy in the summer transfer window as they look to bounce back from a dismal 17th-place Premier League finish. Andy Robertson has reportedly given a verbal agreement to join Tottenham after bidding farewell to Liverpool on Sunday, bringing to a close a nine-year chapter at Anfield.

Robertson, 32, has spent the past nine years at Liverpool, racking up more than 350 appearances and claiming several major honours, among them two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

The Scotland international is expected to bring some much-needed experience and quality to Tottenham's backline, competing with Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence for the left-back berth.

However, Robertson may yet fail to put pen to paper at Spurs, with Juventus having entered the running for his signature. Should Tottenham succeed in securing the full-back, he would nonetheless represent an outstanding free transfer, with his Liverpool contract drawing to a close.

Another figure who could walk through the Tottenham doors in the coming weeks is Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi, who had been engaged in 'advanced talks' with Spurs, contingent on the club securing Premier League survival.

Much like Robertson, the 29 year old Argentine becomes a free agent this summer as his contract at the Cherries expires. Despite considerable interest from elsewhere, Tottenham remain the frontrunners to secure Senesi's services.

The former Feyenoord player has been with Bournemouth since 2022 and has racked up over 100 appearances during his spell on the south coast. This campaign, he has been a crucial component of the Bournemouth squad that claimed sixth place in the Premier League and qualified for Europa League football.

Norwich City are considering a permanent swoop for Leeds United forward Largie Ramazani, according to the Pink Un.

The winger spent the season on loan at Valencia, starting well but dropping off as the campaign progressed.

He is said to be admired by the Canaries, who are reportedly ready to commit a 'significant sum' to chasing his signature.

Arsenal are ready to enter the race to sign Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

Manchester United have already held talks over a potential move for the Italy international.

However, it's now said that Arsenal want to secure his signature for themselves.

Newcastle reportedly value Tonali at around £100m but it remains to be seen if they can be convinced to accept a lower fee.

Julian Alvarez would prefer a move to Barcelona over Arsenal this summer, according to Spanish outlet Marca.

It's claimed the former Manchester City striker has told Atletico Madrid that he wants to leave after turning down a new contract.

Arsenal have been linked with Alvarez ahead of next season but it seems he wants to join Barcelona instead.

He reportedly believes the Catalan giants will offer him a better chance of silverware, despite Arsenal having only just won the Premier League title.

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Liverpool have drawn up a list of three targets to replace Mohamed Salah next season.

RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande is reportedly viewed as the Egyptian's ideal successor.

He has an £86m release clause but Liverpool believe they can lower that price with a player-plus-cash deal, according to The Telegraph.

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon and PSG wide man Bradley Barcola are said to be the other names under consideration.

Tottenham have reopened talks over a potential move for Manchester City winger Savinho.

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who says that 'initial discussions' are underway.

Savinho was close to joing the north Londoners last summer until City decided not to sell and pulled the plug on the deal.

The report adds that Newcastle are also tracking the situation, but Spurs appear to be in the driving seat as things stand.

Andy Robertson's proposed move to Tottenham on a free transfer is under threat, according to Fabrizio Romano.

That's because Juventus have entered the race to sign the outgoing Liverpool defender.

It's claimed the Italian giants are trying to hijack the deal and it will be up to Robertson to decide where he wants to go.

Liverpool have held 'concrete talks' over a deal to sign Hertha Berlin youngster Kennet Eichhorn, according to Sky Germany.

The 16-year-old is thought to have a release clause in the region of £10m and is eager to leave his current club this summer.

Eichhorn who has also been linked with Manchester City, made 17 appearances in Germany's second tier last season, scoring once.

Manchester United are reportedly advancing in talks over a move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

It's been claimed that a verbal agreement has already been reached over personal terms, with a five-year contract on the table.

Discussions at club level over a £39m fee are thought to be progressing, too, according to the Daily Mail.

It comes after Atalanta boss Raffaele Palladino confirmed that Ederson was left out of their final game because he is being tracked 'by an important club'.

Tottenham have received a potential setback in their pursuit of Andy Robertson this summer, with Juventus reportedly entering the race for the left-back. Robertson played his last match for Liverpool on Sunday afternoon and is heading out the door on a free transfer.

It is understood that Spurs remain the frontrunners to land Robertson, who had been linked with a switch to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as far back as January. However, Juventus are said to have tabled an offer according to reports in Italy, throwing a late twist to the tale.

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Following a deeply disappointing campaign, Spurs will be keen to make the most of the transfer window to ensure history does not repeat itself. The north London club survived relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season, courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Everton.

Robertson brings with him a wealth of Premier League experience and invaluable knowledge of battling at the other end of the table. During his nine years at Liverpool, he was a key member of a squad that claimed two Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups and one FA Cup.

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The full-back will lead Scotland's squad for this summer's World Cup in North America, which could potentially postpone any decisions regarding his future.

The tournament kicks off on June 11, with Scotland playing their opening fixture three days later against Haiti (2am kick-off). They also face Morocco (June 19, 11pm) and Brazil (June 24, 11pm) in their other Group C fixtures.

Previously commenting on the potential January switch to Spurs, Robertson said: "There was obviously interest there - there were discussions had with both sets of clubs.

"But the decision was that I wanted to stay. We stayed at Liverpool and that was the decision made."

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Reflecting on his farewell appearance for Liverpool and the lead-up to it, he told Sky Sports: "Emotionally drained. It's been a busy week trying to keep your emotions in check and saying bye to those you need to say bye to.

"Pep Guardiola pushed us to new limits. We should have won more Premier Leagues if it wasn't for that man. Seamus Coleman is leaving Everton and he's been a fantastic servant for that football club.

"In years to come, then we know we're both welcome back to this football club. This is a big chapter in our book but it's not the end. First and foremost, we have to switch off and focus on the World Cup. I know this is our family and we'll be welcome back."

Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend has claimed that the club's medical department has 'not been good enough' for the past 15 years. His remarks follow James Maddison's call for a full investigation into Tottenham's alarming injury record.

The midfielder has been sidelined for the bulk of the campaign after sustaining an ACL injury during pre-season.

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He made his comeback as a substitute in the closing matches of the season as Spurs narrowly secured Premier League survival on the final day. A 1-0 victory over Everton saw them retain their top-flight status at West Ham's expense in a nerve-shredding finale.

Maddison was far from the only injury casualty throughout the campaign, with six key players absent from the squad for the match against the Toffees.

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"Our situation with the injuries has been worse than any other club," Maddison told reporters.

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"People try and say, 'Oh, but we've got this and that'. But ours is astronomical and we need to look at why that is."

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Speaking to BBC Radio 5Live, Townsend reflected on his own spell at Spurs, pulling no punches in sharing his views.

"I left Spurs in 2015 and that was the case 11 years ago as well. The medical department hasn't been good enough for the last decade and a half," he said.

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When pressed on whether it was the quality of care, expertise or staffing levels that fell short, Townsend responded with: "Everything you just mentioned."

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When asked by Joe Hart what makes a good medical department, he said: "Knowledge, protocols.

"Like you said, many players go outside for second opinions, and when the second opinion from the expert is completely different to what your medical department is saying, time and time again, on a consistent basis, then that raises questions about the quality you have at your own club."

He later added: "I've had many conversations with medical staff in and out of football, it's not their fault. The budget, they're not allocated a budget to build a first class medical department.

"You're signing players for £50, £60, £70-odd million and then you're not giving the budget to the people tasked with taking care of those players.

"So then you're spending all of that money, Dominic Solanke, for example, Spurs spent £60 odd million on him, he spent most of the season injured, because you're not spending the money, some of the budget on the medical team to be able to facilitate someone like Dominic Solanke, and I think that's the biggest problem.

"Everywhere I've been it's been the biggest problem that the clubs are not giving the budgets to the medical departments to equal the value of the player they're signing."

Manchester United target Jarrod Bowen has indicated he intends to remain at West Ham following the club's relegation to the Championship. The Hammers required a win against Leeds and for Tottenham to suffer defeat at home to Everton to preserve their top-flight status and relegate Spurs instead.

And while Nuno Espirito Santo's side fulfilled their obligations with second-half strikes from Taty Castellanos, Bowen and Callum Wilson, Spurs, who had failed to secure a home league victory all year, defeated Everton 1-0 to guarantee their Premier League survival.

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United are among several Premier League clubs linked with a potential swoop for Bowen. The Guardian recently reported that the Reds were evaluating the England international as a possibility on the left flank.

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Chelsea and Liverpool have also been mentioned, but Bowen emphasised after the match at the London Stadium that he has no intention of departing the Hammers this summer.

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"Ultimately, this season we haven't been good enough and we've paid the price," he told Sky Sports.

"I'm under contract here. I've been here six and a half years. I've had some really high moments and this is a low moment that will outweigh everything.

"There's going to be rumours, there's going to be talk. Ultimately, what I see is getting this club back in the Premier League because that is where it deserves to be.

"This is a really, really low moment, but we have to bounce back because there's no other way. This is a really difficult moment.

"You never know what the future holds. For me, I want to get this club back in the Premier League. Right now our vision is to do that."

Before he continued: "We have to go away now, not enjoy our time off because you're never going to enjoy your time off with the season we've had, but stay with your family and loved ones, recover well and prepare well for when we come back in and get promoted."

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He then concluded: "Not really [a consolation that West Ham did what they needed to] because we never wanted to be in this situation."

"Coming into the game, we had to take care of ourselves and hold onto that bit of hope that we had. That's all we could do. We were relying on another result. Ultimately, it's not enough.

"[I just feel] hurt. I've been here six and a half years now. Had a lot of good moments and this outweighs all of it. Getting this club relegated... it hurts.

"We shouldn't be in the position we're in but we've found ourselves in it and we've not done enough to stay up. Hurt is the only thing."

James Maddison has urged Tottenham Hotspur to investigate the potential causes behind the club's alarming injury record this season.

Spurs narrowly avoided the drop on Sunday, securing a 1-0 victory over Everton in their final fixture of the campaign to preserve their Premier League status.

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Roberto De Zerbi was brought in by Tottenham in March and successfully steered the north London club to safety, finishing in 17th place and just two points above the relegation zone, as West Ham dropped to the Championship.

Maddison came off the bench against the Toffees, marking his third substitute appearance since returning from a serious knee injury sustained during pre-season last summer.

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Spurs have been forced to deal with many injury problems throughout the campaign, with Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert and Ben Davies all absent from the squad that defeated Everton.

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Maddison was restricted to only the final three matches of the season, while Rodrigo Bentancur, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin and Lucas Bergvall also spent considerable time on the treatment table this term.

The midfielder has outlined why he believes Tottenham have suffered more than any other Premier League club when it comes to injuries this season, and has called on Spurs to get to the bottom of the issue.

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"Our situation with the injuries has been worse than any other club," Maddison told reporters after Tottenham’s win over Everton.

"People try and say, 'Oh, but we've got this and that'. But ours is astronomical and we need to look at why that is.

"Sometimes it can just be unlucky, sometimes it can be a coincidence, like me doing my ACL or Kulusevski getting a horrendous knock off [Marc] Guehi. That's not the medical team, that's not the pitch or all the theories that you see, sometimes that’s rubbish.

"We've been a bit unlucky. But like I said, the big names that we've missed, it does affect you and you can't just deny that.

"If we had had myself, Kulusevski and Kudus, and Bentancur missed three months and whatnot. If you had had them for the whole season, we wouldn't have been in this situation, I strongly believe.

"That's just not me being naive, that's just a fact. But it is the situation we find ourselves in, and I am just proud of the lads to dig deep today."

Jamie Redknapp insists Tottenham investigation needs to happen tomorrow  Daily Express

Gary Neville demands 'disgraceful' Tottenham stars issue apology after staying up  Daily Express