Chelsea are close to finalising the transfer of João Félix to Saudi club Al Nassr, a move that could see the Premier League side make a notable profit on the Portuguese forward. Despite ongoing speculation about a return to Benfica, Félix’s boyhood club, where he himself stated, “Benfica is my home. One day I will return,” recent developments point firmly towards a Saudi adventure.

Reports indicated that Benfica were negotiating to acquire 50% of Félix’s rights for approximately €25 million (£21.7 million, $29.3 million). However, the narrative shifted when Fabrizio Romano revealed that Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo also plays, were in the “final stages” of agreeing personal terms with Félix. Sky Sports News later confirmed that Chelsea and Al Nassr were close to agreeing on a transfer fee around £44 million ($59.1 million).

Félix joined Chelsea permanently from Atlético Madrid just a year ago for £45 million ($60.5 million). Factoring in the £5 million ($6.7 million) loan fee Chelsea received from AC Milan, who took Félix on loan for the latter half of the 2024–25 season, the club’s aggressive transfer strategy has yielded a rare positive outcome.

The departure of Félix is reported to expedite Chelsea’s pursuit of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, reflecting the club’s ongoing strategy in the transfer market.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has provided clarity on the gradual introduction of Bryan Mbeumo into the squad during their pre-season tour in the United States. Despite being part of the touring group—a notable distinction from several players not involved—Mbeumo is not expected to feature in the upcoming friendly matches, including the game against Bournemouth next week.

“Bryan is starting slowly,” Amorim explained in an interview with MUTV. “He is not going to play in the next one. We hope to have Bryan in the last game [in the U.S.]. He’s training now, so we’ll see.”

United’s American tour will conclude with a match against Everton at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, August 3, which could mark Mbeumo’s debut for the club. Following this, the Red Devils face another friendly against Fiorentina before commencing their Premier League campaign in a challenging fixture against Arsenal on August 17.

Looking beyond these immediate fixtures, Amorim emphasised the ongoing competition for starting roles within the squad. Reflecting on Saturday’s friendly, he stated, “It’s a strong team and we need to prepare all the players, and we don’t have a lot of weeks or a lot of games to prepare all the team. That can change, you saw in the second half, there are players who can play in the first game. It’s not a decision I made already.”

This cautious approach underlines the manager’s intent to carefully manage player readiness while maintaining healthy competition as the team aims to hit the ground running in the new season.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has openly addressed the absence of Luis Díaz from the recent friendly defeat against AC Milan, attributing it to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the player’s future. Díaz, whose contract situation is becoming urgent with just two years remaining, remains a key figure Liverpool wish to secure for the long term.

Díaz did not feature in the squad for the friendly held in Hong Kong, alongside Darwin Núñez, who is also expected by many to leave the club this summer especially after the arrival of Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite this, Liverpool stakeholders remain hopeful that Díaz will remain with the club.

When questioned about Díaz’s exclusion, Slot was candid: “due to speculation on his future.”

Díaz himself has been transparent about his position, acknowledging ongoing negotiations and the possibility of a transfer. He stated, “We are in the midst of negotiations, talking with Liverpool and everyone who is approaching us. I am very calm where I am and very happy. [But I will] make the best decision for me.” This openness underscores an important moment in Liverpool’s squad management as they navigate contract renewals and potential transfers ahead of the new season.