Football
Rasmus Hojlund responds to Inter offer after breakthrough talks to leave Man Utd
Inter Milan appear to have taken a significant step forward in their pursuit of Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund, with the Danish international open to making a return to Italy during the summer transfer window.
Hojlund, who was brought in from Atalanta for a hefty £72 million just two seasons ago, is now among several players Manchester United are willing to offload as they look to reshape their squad.
The 22-year-old had a solid debut season at Old Trafford, notching up 16 goals, but struggled to replicate that form in his second year. That downturn in performance has prompted the Premier League club to consider alternative options, with Hojlund now likely to move on.
Although Juventus and Napoli have both shown interest recently, Inter have positioned themselves as the leading contenders to secure his signature.
Reports from Italy suggest that Inter’s sporting director, Piero Ausilio, was in London this week where discussions took place not only concerning Hojlund but also with regard to the club’s managerial position, as they weigh up the possibility of replacing Simone Inzaghi with Cesc Fabregas.
The visit reportedly allowed Inter to make headway in their talks with Manchester United over the striker.
Manchester United are said to prefer a permanent sale, while Inter are prepared to table an initial loan offer with an option to buy set at €45 million. That clause could become an obligation if certain performance-related conditions are met during the course of the season.
Despite ongoing negotiations and no immediate expectation that a deal will be finalized in time for the Club World Cup, Inter remain confident of landing Hojlund.
The player himself is believed to be receptive to a return to Serie A, having enjoyed his previous spell with Atalanta.
Should the move go through, Manchester United would be left with relatively thin options up front, including Joshua Zirkzee, who scored just seven goals last term, and teenage prospect Chido Obi, aged just 17.
To bolster their attacking options, United have already completed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Cunha netted 15 goals in the Premier League last season.
In addition, the club has reportedly submitted an opening bid for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who contributed significantly to the top-flight goal tally last year with 20 goals. The combined total of 35 goals between the two highlights United’s intent to inject firepower into their squad.
With Hojlund’s exit looking increasingly likely, United continue to explore further reinforcements. Their shortlist for a new center forward remains active. Among the names considered is Liam Delap, who was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford before choosing to join Chelsea earlier this week.
Elsewhere, manager Ruben Amorim is said to favor a reunion with Viktor Gyokeres, although competition for the striker’s signature includes interest from both Arsenal and Chelsea.
There are also lingering connections to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who recently returned to the club after a loan spell at Galatasaray. Additionally, intermediaries have reportedly offered Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos to United as they assess potential additions to their attacking ranks.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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