Man Utd
Napoli Poised to Make Højlund Transfer Permanent After Supercoppa Win
Napoli to sign Hojlund permanently after Supercoppa win; sporting director calls move ‘a formality’.
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has told journalists that the club’s loan signing of Rasmus Højlund is expected to become permanent, describing the outcome as largely settled.
Højlund has scored nine times across all competitions for Antonio Conte’s side and collected the 2025–26 Supercoppa Italiana following the final victory over Bologona. After the game the striker posted a photo of himself with the trophy alongside the caption: “What a great decision looks like.”
When asked by Corriere dello Sport if the permanent transfer was a formality, Manna replied: “As of today, I think so.” He added: “There’s an option to buy and an obligation to buy if we qualify for the Champions League. The player considers himself a Napoli player, and the same goes for us. This is extremely important.”
The financial swing will be notable. United paid an initial fee of £64 million ($86 million) to sign Højlund from Atalanta in 2023, yet Napoli are expected to secure the forward for roughly £38 million. The deal will be viewed as another major blunder for the Red Devils during an era characterised by dismal recruitment at Old Trafford.
Højlund’s career at United drew intense scrutiny after two inconsistent seasons. He followed a 16-goal debut campaign with just 10 strikes last term and struggled under Ruben Amorim alongside Joshua Zirkzee, prompting questions about his form before the loan move to Napoli. The Denmark international has rejected the notion that he underperformed at Manchester United.
Hojlund revealed : “It was a lot of attention and a lot of pressure, obviously. But I feel like it was hard for me not to take that step as I was a United fan. And I feel like I did well.
“You could argue I probably needed a year [more at Atalanta] or whatever, but I feel like it was the right step for me,” he added. “And like I said, I think I did well in my first year, especially, where I became top scorer and in the team and had a good campaign in the Champions League and so on, and won a trophy with the guys.”
Barcelona
Marcus Rashford’s latest Manchester United outing and what followed
Rashford is back at United, and his last appearance came in December 2024 against Viktoria Plzeň.
Marcus Rashford is back on Manchester United’s books, and the timing has brought fresh focus on how long it has been since he last played for the club. Barcelona allowed both the purchase option and release clause in Rashford’s contract to expire, opting instead to move for Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi. United manager Michael Carrick has since confirmed that the winger will rejoin training with his boyhood club during the next part of the summer tour of northern Europe.
Carrick, speaking after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, said: “I’ve played with him. I played in the game he made his debut, so we have a history,” Carrick said after Saturday’s 1–1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain. “We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together.
“Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie [Mainoo] and Lisandro [Martínez]. We look forward to seeing them.”
For supporters, Rashford’s return may take some adjustment, because his final appearance for United came some time ago. His most recent outing arrived against Viktoria Plzeň on Dec. 12, 2024, in the Europa League at the Doosan Arena in Plzeň, Czechia. He started as a second striker, positioned just behind Joshua Zirkzee, but found it difficult to influence the contest.
Rashford was withdrawn in the 56th minute, eight minutes after Plzeň had gone in front through Matěj Vydra. United then recovered, with Rasmus Højlund emerging as the decisive figure. The Danish forward, who has since left United for Napoli, scored soon after his introduction and added a second in the 88th minute to complete the comeback.
After that defeat, Rashford’s United career effectively stalled under then-manager Ruben Amorim. He was omitted from the squad for the Manchester derby against Manchester City three days later, although Amorim insisted the decision was not disciplinary. Rashford then stated that he was “ready for a new challenge.”
His absence continued for weeks, with more than 10 games missed and only one unused place on the bench. Amorim later said he would not choose any player unless he felt they were giving maximum effort every day.
A loan move to Aston Villa followed in February, giving Rashford a chance to reset. He produced a strong spell there, finishing with four goals and six assists in 17 appearances.
Man Utd
Anthony Martial’s rise and decline: from United’s record gamble to free agency
Martial’s United rise, role changes, injuries and release left a career that never matched its early promise.
Anthony Martial’s Manchester United story began with promise and ended with a sharp fall. When he arrived from Monaco in the summer of 2015, he was a surprise headline signing and a forward few outside France knew well. Yet the club paid heavily for his potential, with one add-on even linked to a Ballon d’Or win.
His background suggested a player built for the highest level. Born in the suburbs of Paris, Martial started out at Les Ulis before moving to Lyon at 14. He made his senior debut shortly after turning 17, then joined Monaco seven months later. In the principality, he progressed from the B team to the first team and eventually delivered 12 goals in 48 appearances in his second season.
United’s faith looked justified almost immediately. Martial scored on his debut against Liverpool with a solo run from the left, then followed that with two goals against Southampton. He also struck a stoppage-time winner against Everton in the FA Cup semifinal, helping set up the club’s first major trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. That first campaign finished with 11 Premier League goals and 17 in all competitions.
But his role changed when new competition arrived. Zlatan Ibrahimović took his No. 9 shirt, and later Romelu Lukaku pushed him further from the centre of the attack. Martial had his moments, but his numbers fluctuated and his starts often gave way to substitute appearances.
There was a bright spell in 2019-20 under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Used centrally, Martial produced 23 goals in all competitions and looked as though he had finally found the right platform. Instead, that proved to be his peak. His output dropped sharply afterwards, with injuries, fitness problems and a red card interrupting his rhythm.
Martial’s final United years brought a loan spell at Sevilla, where he failed to score in nine La Liga appearances, before his contract ended in 2024. Across his best two seasons at the club, he scored 40 goals in 97 matches, but his last four years produced only 19 in 95. A free transfer to AEK Athens brought seven goals in 16 Super League Greece appearances, though the limited number of games underlined how far his career had drifted.
Fulham
Manchester United face fresh Lewis Hall setback as Newcastle dig in
United lose ground on Hall as Newcastle plan to keep the defender and strengthen their stance.
Manchester United’s hopes of landing Lewis Hall have taken another hit, with the Newcastle United left back now expected to stay at St James’ Park this summer.
Hall had been identified as a leading option to strengthen the left side of the pitch at Old Trafford, where work still remains if United are to mount a serious challenge for silverware next season. Michael Carrick is still searching for additions in midfield and at left back, but the England youth international appears set to remain out of reach for now.
“I do not expect Lewis Hall to be coming to Man United,” journalist David Ornstein revealed on The Athletic FC podcast. “Following the departure of Eddie Howe, Newcastle will be more determined to keep him, maybe even tie him down to a new contract.”
That stance is understandable. Hall is under contract until June 2029 and Newcastle are looking to preserve stability after a difficult period. The club has already seen Anthony Gordon move to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali join Tottenham Hotspur, while Bruno Guimarães is seemingly headed to Arsenal. Alexander Isak also departed last September, a loss that fed into Newcastle’s 12th-place finish in the Premier League in 2025-26. With Howe stepping down and Matthias Jaissle now in charge, there is little appetite for further disruption.
If United cannot get a deal done, they will have to look elsewhere. Luke Shaw, at 31 and carrying a difficult injury record, cannot be the only natural left back in the squad. Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martínez can all cover, but with Tyrell Malacia gone and Champions League soccer returning, the need for another senior left back is clear.
Antonee Robinson has already been mentioned as an alternative. The Fulham defender, 28, brings six seasons of Premier League experience and arrives off a strong World Cup campaign with the U.S. men’s national team. He would offer a short-term answer while United continue to pursue Hall, or another younger option, in the years ahead.
