Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has expressed high regard for young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo but emphasized the need for the academy graduate to quicken his playing tempo to secure a regular spot in the first team. The recent signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo appear to affirm Mainoo’s role in central midfield, yet Amorim remains clear that consistent playing time hinges on further development.

Amorim stated, “His perfect position is more near the ball, always with the ball. He’s a big talent, and you guys know better than me that he is a big talent. He needs to increase the rhythm, the pace. I’m always on top of that with Kobbie because he is so good sometimes, but he can be better.”

This season’s demanding schedule, featuring just one game per week, means competition for places will be intense. “Everybody has to be prepared to play one game, or play all the games, that is a key point in our season,” Amorim added.

Earlier in the summer, after a goalless friendly at Leeds United, Amorim pinpointed a midfield “lack of pace” as an impediment to his team’s ability to progress the ball effectively.

The usage of a two-man midfield setup at Manchester United places great pressure on available slots. Established starters such as captain Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro compete alongside Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, and upcoming talent Toby Collyer.

Amid this competition, speculation around Mainoo’s future has grown, with interest reported from Chelsea and several other Premier League clubs. However, Mainoo appears keen to stay at Old Trafford, where he is contracted until 2027.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly encouraged Al Nassr to pursue Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella following their interest in João Félix. According to MARCA, the Saudi club plans to present Cucurella with a substantial offer this summer as part of their strategy to strengthen their squad amid competition with regional rivals Al Hilal and Al Ittihad.

Cucurella, who endured a challenging first season at Chelsea, has bounced back effectively and become a crucial element in manager Enzo Maresca’s tactical setup. While his attitude towards a move remains uncertain, the 27-year-old is believed to be settled and focused on remaining at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are currently negotiating to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, but he is not viewed as a direct replacement for Cucurella, who was the club’s primary natural left back last season. With a contract secured until 2028 and coming off one of his finest campaigns, Cucurella would command a high transfer fee should Chelsea decide to sanction his exit.

Al Nassr’s willingness to offer an “irresistible offer” to lure the defender shows their ambition, though Cucurella’s priority seems to be continuing his career in London for now. Ronaldo’s endorsement of Cucurella highlights the player’s rising profile and significance in the transfer market this summer.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has indicated that Viktor Gyokeres will be allowed to make his debut for the club as soon as he is fully fit. The 27-year-old forward joined Arsenal in a deal reportedly worth up to £63.8 million after protracted negotiations with Sporting CP. These talks were complicated by Sporting’s president allegedly reneging on a gentleman’s agreement to accept a reduced fee, which created tension in Gyokeres’ final weeks in Lisbon.

Amid this dispute, Gyokeres refused to participate in first-team training, impacting his financial and physical condition. Arteta commented on the situation: “I think he hasn’t had a single training session with the team since the last game with Sporting when they became champions. So we will assess him tomorrow, he’s done all the medicals, everything is looking good but to get him up to speed with the right levels of fitness I think is very important. So we’re not going to stop him, we want him with us as quick as possible but we’ll have to assess and the medical team will do that.”

Following Arsenal’s 3–2 victory against Newcastle United in Singapore, the team will face Tottenham Hotspur in the first-ever north London derby to be held outside England, scheduled in Hong Kong. Arsenal’s pre-season will conclude with two friendlies at the Emirates Stadium against Villarreal and Athletic Club before the Premier League campaign begins with a visit to Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

Gyokeres previously excelled at Sporting under manager Ruben Amorim, the current Manchester United boss. Although Manchester United reportedly showed late interest in signing the striker, Gyokeres ultimately chose Arsenal.