Soham Mukherjee

Manchester United’s transfer hopes have taken a brutal hit after Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler declared himself "very, very, very confident" that Carlos Baleba will remain at the Amex for the season. The 21-year-old midfield dynamo is a prime target for United, but their opening player-plus-cash proposal has already been thrown back in their face.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set their sights on Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, with Spurs ready to pounce should financial headaches force a sale in the West Midlands. The 23-year-old has become one of the most talked about young attackers in England.

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Europe's elite, but admits his reign will only be complete when the club clinches a major trophy. The Spaniard made a bold claim that his side have been "transformed" since he took charge, pointing to an incorrect record as the Premier League's most consistent points scorers over the past three seasons.

Arne Slot believes Chelsea will be a top contender who can challenge Liverpool in the Premier League title race. The Dutchman, who stunned England last term by strolling to the championship ahead of Arsenal, now insists the west London giants have the weapons to push his Reds all the way.

Bournemouth captain Adam Smith has responded to the alleged racist abuse aimed at his team-mate Antoine Semenyo during the 4-2 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. The game, which was marked by tributes to the late Diogo Jota, had to be stopped by referee Anthony Taylor in the 28th minute after Semenyo reported being abused.

Hugo Ekitike announced himself to the Premier League in spectacular fashion, becoming only the second player in Liverpool’s history to mark his league debut with both a goal and an assist. The summer arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt had already opened his Reds account in the Community Shield last week, but under the Anfield lights on Friday night, he proved he was ready to deliver on the biggest stage.

Jamie Carragher has made a surprising claim against Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, insisting the Spaniard "definitely stole" Martin Zubimendi away from Liverpool. The ex-Real Sociedad midfielder, who had been on the Reds’ radar for over a year, shocked many by snubbing Merseyside in favour of a blockbuster £51 million ($69m) switch to the Emirates this summer.

Barcelona fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief as both Marcus Rashford and Joan Garcia have been registered with La Liga. The England international, who arrived on loan from Manchester United earlier this summer, had been waiting anxiously as paperwork and financial adjustments dragged on. However, the authorities have now cleared him to participate in an official match.

Federico Chiesa claimed that he is happy at Liverpool after his goal scoring heroics against Bournemouth at Anfield. The Italian forward, once dismissed as a fading star, finally announced himself in England with a decisive strike in the Reds’ chaotic 4-2 victory over Bournemouth.

Enzo Maresca has slammed the door on Nicolas Jackson’s Chelsea future making it clear the Senegalese striker is expendable. While the forward is still technically training with the senior squad, the Italian tactician admitted he won’t feature anymore and is available for transfer.

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney touched down to witness Wrexham’s first home match in the Championship against West Brom in front of a packed-out SToK Cae Ras. The timing couldn’t be bigger. Just a week ago, Wrexham’s Championship debut ended in heartbreak at St Mary’s when Southampton stunned them with two stoppage-time goals to snatch a 2-1 comeback. Now, the club’s glamorous backers hope the team can bounce back with three points.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly going all in for Manchester City’s versatile young star Rico Lewis. Determined to pull off one of the summer’s most audacious moves, Forest have promised the 20-year-old both a guaranteed starting role and a salary package that would double his current wages, as revealed by talkSPORT. Lewis himself is open to the switch, with Forest pushing to seal an agreement with City before their European campaign kicks into gear.

Barcelona have slammed the door shut on Manchester City’s attempts to prise Jules Kounde away, with the Frenchman signing a mammoth new contract tying him to the Catalan giants until 2030. The defender’s previous deal was set to run until 2027, but months of negotiations finally ended with a fresh agreement that cements his future at the Camp Nou.

Newcastle United’s hunt for a new frontman has swung dramatically back to Paris-Saint Germain striker Goncalo Ramos, with reports revealing that the 24-year-old has resurfaced as a genuine option at St. James’ Park. Earlier this month, the Portugal international was brushed aside as an unlikely target after initial probes suggested PSG were unwilling to budge.

Casemiro has insisted that he is "very happy" at Manchester United, shutting down speculation over his future. The Brazilian midfield general, often painted as a fading star on the wrong side of 30, came out swinging after United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, insisting he remains fully committed to the club.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta reportedly met with Eberechi Eze a month before sensationally swooping to snatch the Crystal Palace ace right out of Tottenham’s grasp in a blockbuster £68 million ($91m) raid. The move, which comes just days after Kai Havertz was ruled out with a knee injury, has sent shockwaves through North London, leaving Spurs supporters fuming over another missed target.

Rasmus Hojlund’s anticipated loan switch to AC Milan is hanging by a thread, with the Italian giants reportedly closing in on Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface instead. The 22-year-old Danish striker had been poised for a season-long loan to the San Siro after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United following the club’s signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

Manchester United have been keeping tabs on Brighton’s midfield powerhouse Carlos Baleba all summer, but a reported sell-on clause in his contract is being viewed as a major stumbling block to thrash out a transfer deal. At just 21, the Cameroonian has already caught the eye with his fierce tackling, lung-busting runs, and fearless energy at the heart of the Seagulls’ engine room. But United’s admiration has quickly collided with harsh financial reality.