Latest Premier League News and Transfer Rumours
Here is our EPL transfers and news round-up from today’s papers.
Football Manager – Premier League Partnership
Sports Interactive, the company behind the popular Football Manager video game franchise, and the Premier League have announced a 4-year licensing partnership starting this season.
EPL clubs will be fully licensed in the game from the start of 2024/25, with official logos, kits and player photos.
Miles Jacobson, Sports Interactive Studio Director, said: “Since Football Manager’s inception, we have always wanted to work with the Premier League, and we’re delighted to announce that at last we are.
“The partnership isn’t just about the huge in-game benefits it’ll give our fans, but also the opportunities it provides us to help with the incredible things that the Premier League and their clubs do off the pitch. That includes community and charitable work, two things we’re enormously passionate about, as well as the ability to work with some of their existing partners.
“We are very grateful to the Premier League and their other partners in our space for allowing us to be an officially licensed product of the world’s most commercially successful football league.”
Ex-players Becoming Refs?
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have announced a new scheme to provide 10-12 former players with a route into refereeing, which could see them reach the Premier League in a shorter timeframe.
A new 3-year refereeing scholarship will provide opportunities for talented aspiring refs to climb the ladder more quickly. Participants will be offered the chance to “officiate games at a variety of levels in line with their performance, with possible refereeing opportunities across England’s professional leagues within or on successful completion of the three-year programme.”
Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb had the following to say: “We’ve made no secret that we are looking to broaden our pool of officials and entice people from other areas of the game and society into refereeing who may have historically not been well represented.
“It’s been fantastic to collaborate with the PFA on this programme and the level of interest from their members strongly indicates they feel this is an exciting opportunity to explore an avenue which could potentially lead them to the highest levels of our game — this time as a match official.”
Ten Hag’s Future
Sky Sports News reports that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has come back from his holiday, but it is unclear as of now if he will remain in charge of the club ahead of the new season.
As the post-season review is still ongoing, one thing that the source is clear about is that Thomas Tuchel is no longer being considered as an alternative by INEOS boss Jim Ratcliffe.
It has been reported by other media outlets that United have also been monitoring ex-Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Graham Potter.
EPL Transfers
After multiple reports about Atletico Madrid’s interest in Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez, now the president of the Spanish club has admitted that he doesn’t expect a summer switch for the Argentine. “Julian Alvarez is a Manchester City player, and I don’t think he’s going to move from there,” Enrique Cerezo told UnoTV.
BBC Sport is telling us that Manchester United have set a £40 million asking price for Jadon Sancho. Borussia Dortmund, where the player spent the second half of last season on loan, are keen on him, but might not be able to afford the fee.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Newcastle have completed a verbal agreement to sign Lloyd Kelly as free agent from Bournemouth, with a contract until 2028.
Manchester City have reportedly lost the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, as Real Madrid have become the favourites to land him in 2025 for £127 million. (Manchester Evening News)
Football Insider claims that Manchester United are preparing a move for Crystal Palace sensation Eberechi Eze. Tottenham are also understood to be keen on him. And it’s not just those two. According to TBR Football, Liverpool are also interested in Eze, whose release clause is rumoured to be £60 million.
From Turkish newspaper Milliyet we find out that Galatasaray is readying a £20 million bid for Manchester United duo Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Bayern Munich want a centre-back this summer, and their top target is Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah. However, if a deal for him proves to be too difficult, they will look to bring in Chelsea’s Levi Colwill instead. (Sky Sports Germany)
Speaking of the Blues, GIVEMESPORT claims that despite signing a new deal with Crystal Palace last year, Michael Olise has a verbal agreement with Chelsea, which is still valid.
Liverpool will wait until the end of the year to start talks with Virgil van Dijk about a new contract. His current agreement runs until next summer and new manager Arne Slot is keen on keeping him at the club. (Football Insider)
And one more from Fabrizio Romano: Manchester City are still very much interested in Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, but have no intention of paying the £100 million release clause in his contract.