Napoli
Højlund’s Napoli Move Vindicated After Supercoppa Success
Højlund celebrates Supercoppa win at Napoli and defends his summer move with pointed Instagram post.
Rasmus Højlund has used a Supercoppa triumph to underline the decision that took him out of England and back to Italy. After posting a picture of himself holding the trophy, he wrote: “What a great decision looks like.” Many supporters read the message as a deliberate barb aimed at his former club.
The sequence that led here was public. Højlund had an encouraging debut season at Old Trafford, scoring 16 goals, but he struggled for form last term and saw his confidence ebb. United’s investment in Benjamin Šeško ended Højlund’s time there, despite his initial wish to stay.
Napoli paid the equivalent of €50 million for the 22-year-old, a figure below the €75 million plus add-ons United had paid to Atalanta in 2023. While that represents a loss on the original outlay, it still delivered a significant transfer fee and cleared the way for both player and club to move on.
On the pitch, Højlund has found a sharper rhythm in Serie A. He has scored four league goals in 11 appearances, matching his Premier League return from 2025–26 in 21 fewer games. Across all competitions he has seven in 19, including a goal in the Supercoppa semifinal against AC Milan. Napoli completed the competition by beating Bologna at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the trophy is the third of his career.
Observers argue Højlund looks better suited to Italian football and has often shown stronger returns in European competition than he did in the Premier League. Manchester United, meanwhile, have boosted their attacking output after bringing in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
At Napoli he has been reunited with former United teammate Scott McTominay, the reigning Serie A Footballer of the Year. Asked if leaving Old Trafford automatically improves a player, McTominay declined to denigrate his boyhood club. “It’s just too easy of an excuse,” he told CBS Sports last week. “In my last year [at United], I did well. I scored 10 goals and we won [the FA Cup].” On Marcus Rashford and last season he added, “With Marcus, there was different issues which might have transpired which we won’t go into. However, Marcus is a top player and has always been a top player, he’s one of the club legends, scored so many goals for Man Utd, did so many great things,”
Champions League
Garnacho’s Next Step: Three Realistic Routes Ranked
Chelsea have moved Alejandro Garnacho to ‘for sale’; here are three realistic destinations ranked .
Chelsea paid Manchester United £40 million ($53.4 million) for Alejandro Garnacho last summer, but his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge fell short of expectations. The 22-year-old returned just two goals across 33 Premier League and Champions League appearances, although he was prolific in the Carabao Cup.
The Athletic reports Chelsea have shifted Garnacho from ‘not for sale’ to ‘for sale’ and will listen to offers. There is said to be interest from two clubs that will play in the Champions League next season and Chelsea want a permanent transfer rather than a loan. Below are three destinations, ranked from least to most likely given the information available.
3) Türkish Super Lig (Galatasaray or Fenerbahçe)
A move to the Türkish Super Lig would satisfy Chelsea’s desire for a permanent sale and those clubs have the financial resources to consider such a signing. Galatasaray have dominated domestically but struggled against Europe’s elite in the Champions League; progression to the round of 16 last season represented progress, yet the heavy defeat at Anfield against Liverpool highlighted the gap. The Turkish champions have legitimate superstars on their books, including Victor Osimhen, and have emerged as an attractive destination for gifted players from Europe’s top-five leagues. There have been no direct links to Garnacho, but the scenario is plausible on paper.
2) Como
Como are moving for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and, under Cesc Fàbregas, secured a maiden European qualifying berth last season. They have kept playmaker Nico Paz for their first continental campaign. Como frequently operated without a touchline left-winger last season, with Martin Baturina occupying the left of a creative trio. Garnacho would offer a different profile down that flank: a willing runner who stretches defences and can open space for Paz, even if he struggles in the final third. Italian media links are described as tenuous.
1) Napoli
Napoli pursued Garnacho last summer before Chelsea won the race. He never really felt like an Antonio Conte player; Conte then left after the 2024–25 Scudetto winners relinquished the title to Inter and Massimiliano Allegri was appointed as Conte’s successor. According to some reports, Napoli remain intrigued. Their need will depend on Noa Lang’s future and the impact of January arrival Alisson Santos. Garnacho does not appear indispensable for Napoli, especially if Lang stays, but he could follow Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund as ex-Man Utd players who thrive in Campania.
AC Milan
Chiesa signals exit if playing time does not improve, Serie A frontrunners monitored
Chiesa says regular minutes are essential; Liverpool exit this summer could lead back to Serie A….
Federico Chiesa has admitted he needs more regular minutes and has left the door open to leaving Liverpool this summer. Across two campaigns he has made 50 appearances for Liverpool, contributing 10 goal involvements, but he has started only nine times. That lack of continuity is the central reason Chiesa is considering his future.
“I want to play and if I don’t find continuity in the Premier League I’ll need to find it elsewhere,” the 28-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport. “This season just gone, I got next to no minutes. I’ll go to the U.S. for preseason, then I’ll talk to the club and Iraola and we’ll see.”
Chiesa was frank about the period since the start of 2026 and his relationship with Liverpool. “I’ve honestly not played a lot since the start of 2026. I’ve got a great relationship with Liverpool. Back in January the club and Slot said I couldn’t leave. They needed me. It was about numbers. We were in crisis.
“I understood the situation and stayed, keeping a smile on my face. We’re still talking about Liverpool. Last year they allowed me to win the Premier League .”
Despite a reported good relationship with the club, the prevailing expectation is that Chiesa will move on and likely return to Serie A. Several Italian clubs are mentioned repeatedly as potential destinations. Napoli may be interested, particularly after recent success recruiting Premier League departures such as Scott McTominay, Rasmus Højlund and Romelu Lukaku. That pursuit may be tempered by managerial uncertainty in Naples after Antonio Conte’s exit and the speculation linking Massimiliano Allegri to the role, given Chiesa’s reported fallout with Allegri at Juventus.
Roma’s return to the 2026–27 Champions League after seven years away positions them to strengthen a squad described in the draft as relatively mediocre; Roma were linked with Chiesa previously, though Gian Piero Gasperini’s 3-4-2-1 system may not suit the winger. AC Milan are also mentioned as a remote option while they search for a successor to Massimiliano Allegri and look for a replacement for Rafael Leão, but their lack of Champions League football would limit their appeal. Any transfer involving Chiesa appears likely to hinge on managerial clarity and the promise of more minutes.
Man Utd
Højlund Signs Permanently for Napoli as United Hope Sale Will Help Fund Éderson Move
Højlund’s permanent move to Napoli for $58.1m could help Manchester United fund Éderson. Sale noted.
Rasmus Højlund has completed a permanent transfer to Napoli following a season-long loan with the Italian club. The total package, including the loan fee, is reported at $58.1 million (£43.2 million). United could not recuperate their initial fee, but ESPN reports the sale is expected to fund Atalanta midfielder Éderson’s transfer.
Under Antonio Conte, Højlund rebuilt his form in Naples, finishing the loan with 16 goals and eight assists in 44 appearances across all competitions. The numbers offered the striker a fresh start after two difficult seasons at Manchester United, where he had arrived amid a significant transfer outlay and struggled for consistency.
Højlund’s time in England included a debut campaign that produced 16 goals despite injury problems and a side that finished eighth in the Premier League. He required 15 league matches to open his account at the top level, but produced a strong start in the Champions League, scoring five times in his first four appearances. Overall for United he scored 26 goals in 95 appearances.
The 2024–25 season proved especially challenging. Minutes declined under Ruben Amorim and Højlund managed just four Premier League goals and six in the Europa League that campaign. The club’s acquisition of Benjamin Šeško last summer contributed to the decision to move the striker on in search of more playing time.
United underwent significant change while Højlund thrived in Italy. The club dismissed Amorim and appointed Michael Carrick as caretaker, who removed the previous back three and moved Bruno Fernandes back to the No. 10 role. Under Carrick the team lost only two matches, climbed the Premier League table, finished third and secured a return to the Champions League. Carrick was later made permanent manager and prioritised finding a successor to Casemiro as the club prepares for an expanded schedule next season.
