Thursday's briefing: Man Utd target Benjamin Sesko as Luis Diaz leaves Liverpool
Manchester United are pursuing a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
United's misfiring frontline was a major issue last term and the club are looking to sign a striker this summer, and the PA news agency understands that Sesko is in their sights ahead of the new season.
The Slovenia international, 22, has long been on the club's radar and is also a target of Newcastle, who missed out on Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool and have an unsettled star in Alexander Isak.
United also like Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins but Sesko – who could reportedly be available for in the region of £70million – is understood to be their current priority.
Colombia forward Luis Diaz has left Liverpool for Bayern Munich.
Diaz signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga champions after a fee understood to be £65million was agreed between the two clubs.
'I'm very happy, it means a lot to me to be part of FC Bayern – it's one of the biggest clubs in the world,' Diaz told the German club's website.
Diaz scored 41 goals in 148 appearances during his three-and-a-half-year stay on Merseyside, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
Full-Time: Panathinaikos 1-1 Rangers (Agg 1-3)
💙 Djeidi Gassama's perfect strike sends us into the @ChampionsLeague Third Qualifying Round. pic.twitter.com/65jHeeR6Qt
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 30, 2025
Rangers drew 1-1 at Panathinaikos for a 3-1 aggregate success and progression to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Djeidi Gassama was the super-sub once again after coming off the bench on debut last week to score in a 2-0 Ibrox win.
Filip Djuricic opened the scoring with a header in the 53rd minute but, moments after climbing off the bench, Gassama levelled for Russell Martin's side with a stunning drive.
Rangers next play Viktoria Plzen, of the Czech Republic, who were 3-2 aggregate winners over Swiss side Servette.
A date has been set to decide Crystal Palace's European fate.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has announced that August 11 will be the day to determine whether Palace will play in the Europa League or the Conference League this season.
The Eagles were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League by European football's governing body UEFA after it determined that as of March 1, American businessman John Textor had control or influence at Palace and French club Lyon.
FA Cup winners Palace appealed against the decision to CAS and the court has now confirmed that a hearing will take place on August 8, followed by a verdict three days later.
Our Opponents 🇩🇰First Leg Performance 🙌Importance of Fans 💚
David Gray previews tomorrow night's Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland! 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/SRNpYJWdJV
— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) July 30, 2025
Hibernian welcome Midtjylland to Easter Road in the Europa League second qualifying round after last week's 1-1 draw in Denmark.
Dundee United defend a 1-0 Conference League lead against UNA Strassen in Luxembourg.
Northern Ireland trio Dungannon Swifts, Larne and Linfield are also in action, so too Irish pair Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
14 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Kieran Bowie at the double as Hibernian add to Steven Pressley woes
The Scotland forward notched twice in the space of three minutes to give the Easter Road side the initiative. Dundee, bidding to ignite some positivity following a demoralising Premier Sports Cup group-stage exit that included defeats by lower-league sides Airdrie and Alloa, hit back swiftly through Finlay Robertson. But Hibs – who arrived on Tayside on the back of a gruelling 120-minute encounter with Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday – were able to see out the second half in relatively comfortable fashion. Pressley, whose appointment in June was widely deemed underwhelming among supporters even before their cup calamity, included four summer signings in his starting XI but talismanic captain Simon Murray missed out through injury. Hibs boss David Gray opted to make just one change to the side that started the agonising extra-time defeat by Midtjylland despite having another testing European fixture to come away to Partizan Belgrade in the Conference League this Thursday. The Easter Road side had the majority of the ball in the early exchanges and made the breakthrough from their first clear opportunity in the 28th minute. It came with an element of fortune as Dundee got themselves in a mess trying to deal with a Jordan Obita cross into the box and the ball broke kindly to Bowie, who drilled a low angled finish past Jon McCracken from 10 yards out. Three minutes later, Bowie struck again. Jack Iredale's ball over the top released Obita who drove into the box and saw his effort blocked by McCracken, only for Bowie to follow up and drive home the rebound from a similar position to his first goal. Dundee were gifted a way back into the game in the 36th minute when a slip from Iredale allowed Ashley Hay to dispossess him and cut the ball back for Robertson, who fired home from just outside the six-yard box. Dee defender Luke Graham just failed to connect with a tantalising inswinging delivery from the left in the 59th minute. It was Hibs, however, who looked the likelier side to add to their lead in the closing half-hour, with substitute Josh Campbell seeing a header brilliantly saved by McCracken before the midfielder threatened with another couple of attempts after being picked out by corners from fellow substitute Jamie McGrath.
Metro
14 minutes ago
- Metro
Newcastle identify Champions League winner as Benjamin Sesko alternative
Newcastle are pursuing a deal for Benjamin Sesko, but have established a back-up plan if they cannot land the RB Leipzig striker. The future of Sesko has become one of the transfer sagas of the summer, with Arsenal interest in the forward now seeming like a dim and distant past. The Gunners snapped up Viktor Gyokeres instead and now it is a race between Newcastle and Manchester United for the Slovenian's signature. The Magpies have made a bid of a £69.8m for Sesko and seen it rejected by Leipzig as the German club sense a bidding war in the offing with the Red Devils. Manchester United are yet to make an official bid for the in-demand forward, and it seems that Sesko must make a decision on which Premier League club he wants to join and then a deal will be struck. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. If the 41-cap Slovenia international does fancy Old Trafford over St James' Park then the Magpies are considering other options and are eyeing up the Parc des Princes. The Daily Mail report that PSG striker Goncalo Ramos is on Newcastle's list of targets, should they fail in their attempts to sign Sesko. Still just 24 years old, the Portuguese forward joined PSG from Benfica in the summer of 2023 and has since scored 33 goals in 86 appearances across all competitions. The 16-cap Portugal international scored 19 goals in all competitions last season as PSG enjoyed a stunning treble-winning campaign. He featured regularly, but often as a substitute, starting just 12 Ligue 1 games last season and only one in the Champions League. The Mail's report states that PSG are open to letting Ramos leave this summer. An asking price has not been suggested, but it is very likely to be less than Leipzig's for Sesko. Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins is also believed to be on Newcastle's radar as they look to improve on a frustrating summer so far in the transfer market. This all comes as the future of Alexander Isak remains in the balance, with Liverpool still interested in a big-money move for the Magpies superstar. The 25-year-old Swede has had his head turned by the Premier League champions' interest this summer. Isak did not travel to Asia for Newcastle's pre-season tour due to what the club called a 'minor thigh injury', only for his interest in a move to emerge along with the fact he has been training at former club Real Sociedad. The Reds have seen a bid of £110m turned down by Newcastle, but may return with an improved offer. The Magpies reportedly want £150m for their star striker and Liverpool are unlikely to meet that demand, but they will hope to convince Newcastle to do business with Isak wanting to leave. Eddie Howe's team drew with Tottenham in a friendly on Sunday and the manager was asked whether Isak will return to training in the coming week. More Trending 'Of course I'd like him to be [back in Newcastle training]. Whether he will be, I don't know at this moment in time,' said the boss. On potential transfers he added: 'There's not much time, especially when you consider you've got to get whoever comes in, and I'm talking any position here, up to speed with how we paly, intricacies of what we do. It's not easy. 'We're still actively in the market. We're looking for players. 'Obviously we lost Callum Wilson who in himself is a massive loss and then you add that to Alex who's not been with us. We've certainly felt their absence.' MORE: RB Leipzig interested in signing Chelsea star in Xavi Simons transfer deal MORE: Antony rejects third transfer offer to leave Manchester United MORE: Enzo Maresca makes shock U-turn and tries to block Chelsea transfer
Scottish Sun
14 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea have spent eye-watering £360MILLION on defenders in three years – but how many of them were worth it?
CASE FOR THE DEFENCE Chelsea have spent eye-watering £360MILLION on defenders in three years – but how many of them were worth it? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE arrival of £37million Jorrel Hato takes Chelsea's spending on defenders under their new owners past a record-shattering £360m. Yet the Blues back four which lines up against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the new season may well include just one player who cost a fee. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Chelsea have completed a deal for Jorrel Hato Credit: Getty Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! Marc Cucurella, who came in from Brighton three years ago in a deal worth up to £62m, is the biggest success of Chelsea's hit-and-miss defensive recruitment. The signing of Hato is a major coup for the Blues, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the other major clubs who wanted the talented and versatile teenager. The young Dutchman is the 12th defender brought in since the consortium led by Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly took over the club in May 2022. But Cucurella, a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, is the only member of the current Chelsea back four that you would describe as world class. READ MORE ON CHELSEA LEIP OF FAITH Chelsea stumbling block in Simons chase as Leipzig not interested in stars And if Chelsea are to win domestic and European titles, they will need more defenders to reach that level. To be fair, Enzo Maresca's side can already claim to be world champions. To beat a flair-filled Paris Saint-Germain side 3-0, just weeks after they had spanked Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final, was an impressive achievement. The back four which started the Club World Cup final was left back Cucurella, homegrown centre backs Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah, and right back Malo Gusto. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK The Frenchman, now 22, could end up costing Chelsea £30.7m after signing from Lyon in January 2023 and spending the rest of that season on loan back at the French club. Gusto has done a decent, sometimes very good, job at right back. He covered for the long injury-related absences of Reece James over the last two seasons and kept his place when James was employed in midfield - as he was against PSG. How Nicolas Jackson could make £80m Newcastle switch | Transfers Exposed 8 Marc Cucurella has been the club's best-performing defender since joining Credit: Alamy 8 Malo Gusto has also impressed at times Credit: Getty But if you believe Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will start the biggest games in front of the defence, and James will mostly play as an inverted right back when he is fit, then Gusto will not be in Enzo Maresca's strongest 11. Chalobah did well after returning from half a season on loan at Crystal Palace, but could yet find himself being sold this summer. As a product of the Chelsea Academy, he would generate pure profit for financial rules purposes and there could be clubs willing to pay £40m for him. If Chalobah left, his replacement as right-sided centre back at the start of the season would almost certainly be Tosin Adarabioyo. The free transfer from Fulham last summer has carved a niche for himself off the pitch as well as on it. At just 27 he is one of the senior members of the squad, and plays an 'Uncle Tosin' role to the youngsters, enjoying a particularly close relationship with fellow Mancunian Cole Palmer. But no-one, not even Tosin himself, would claim that he is one of Europe's best defenders. If Wesley Fofana is able to put his injury hell behind him and rediscover his previous form, he could yet meet those standards and become a Chelsea stalwart for years to come. Fofana, still just 24, has made only 34 appearances for the Blues since arriving from Leicester in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth up to £75m. He is the most expensive of all Chelsea's defensive signings and that means, through no fault of his own, he has also been the biggest let down. But only just. 8 The Blues really have had trouble finding a settled and satisfactory centre back pairing. Within weeks of the 2022 takeover, Kalidou Koulibaly became the new regime's first defensive signing. The Napoli star's £35m fee felt a little steep for a player about to turn 31, but the Senegal international was highly-rated and on the radar of other big clubs. Koulibaly failed to live up to his billing, although he could point to the chaos of playing under three different managers and a hamstring injury as decent explanations. He was offloaded after just one season to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal - and played for them in this year's Club World Cup. When Chelsea set a new record for winter window spending in early 2023, Benoit Badiashile's £35m arrival from Monaco went a little under the radar in the wake of massive deals for Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk. The Frenchman did fine in a struggling team in the remainder of the 22/23 season, but not well enough to seal his spot. And when injury kept Badiashile out of the start of the following campaign, Colwill took his chance after returning from loan at Brighton. 8 Wesley Fofana has been unlucky with injuries Credit: Getty 8 Kalidou Koulibaly left after just one year Credit: Getty 8 Tosin Adarabioyo has impressed since joining Chelsea on a free transfer Credit: Getty Meanwhile the unfortunate Fofana had suffered the second major knee injury of his short Chelsea career in the summer of 2023. Within weeks, the Blues had gone back to Monaco to bring in Axel Disasi for another £38m. The France international was a first choice under Mauricio Pochettino for much of the 2023/4 season. But new boss Maresca did not fancy Disasi, and he was sent on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of last season. The signing of Hato, 19, fits Chelsea's current transfer philosophy of signing the best young players and trying to turn them into superstars. If they fail, they can usually be sold on for a profit, as is likely to be the case with Renato Veiga. The versatile Portuguese was signed only last summer, did well enough to earn a loan to Juventus for the second half of the season and could find himself joining Atletico Madrid for a chunky fee. In addition to Veiga, Chelsea signed two teenage defenders last summer in centre back Aaron Anselmino and left back Caleb Wiley. The latter has now returned to Watford for a second season on loan, while Anselmino may well also leave on a temporary deal after recovering from injury. Mamadou Sarr, 19, is likely to be loaned back to Strasbourg after the Blues paid £12m to their sister club. Hato is also 19 but at a fee of £37m, he will surely need to deliver for Chelsea this season. The Blues will probably ease him in, perhaps initially as cover for left back Cucurella. In the longer term, Hato should end up challenging Colwill for that left-sided centre back slot or forming a partnership with the England international. And finally, after spending more on defenders than any club, Chelsea could end up with a world-class back four to show for it. 8 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
