Manchester United defeated Leeds United 2-0 in a preseason friendly on Wednesday evening.
After a £60 million move from Chelsea, Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag was able to give Mason Mount his debut.
United have been unable to sign some of their top targets in the summer market, according to sources, because they are short of finances due to the Glazer family’s planned sale of the club.
Ten Hag must be dissatisfied with the way the offseason has gone.
The former Ajax manager won the Carabao Cup, finished third in the Premier League, and barely lost the FA Cup final against Manchester City in his first season in England.
Ten Hag would have been keen to bolster his squad in order to take them to the next level next season.
But, after targeting Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, the Dutchman is now looking for Atalanta’s Ramus Hojlund.
Arsenal drew 1-1 with Nurnberg in Germany 24 hours after the Manchester United game.
It was their first official pre-season friendly in preparation for the 2023/2024 season. Prior to that, Mikel Arteta’s men were held to a 1-1 tie in a behind-closed-doors game by Watford.
The Gunners would have like to see Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber take the field against Nurnberg. Timber was only officially declared on Friday evening, so none of them wore the red and white.
Kai Havertz, on the other hand, made a quiet cameo in the second half.
Rice and Timber are expected to fly to America for the second leg of their preseason preparations, according to Arteta.
The Gunners reacted quickly in the summer transfer window, as the Spaniard promised, spending around £200 million on Havertz, Timber, and Rice.
Iniobong Monday, an Arsenal fan and podcaster with The Hindsight Podcast, has been impressed by the club’s rapid progress.
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“It’s been a huge success, almost overwhelming if you ask me. Declan Rice is one of the top players in his age group,” Monday told the DAILY POST.
“Also, Jurrien Timber, with his ability to play inverted roles as a right back or center back, can excel in a variety of positions.”
“I’m not sure Kai Havertz is the archetypal Arsenal signing.” I’m not sure how he fits with Arsenal’s aggressiveness and high-octane style from last season. However, you never know. Sometimes a manager signs a player and you have no idea what he intends to accomplish with him.”
Chelsea has yet to decide how their roster would look next season.
N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Eduoard Mendy, and Kai Havertz, on the other hand, have all left Stamford Bridge.
Todd Boehly, Blues co-owner, is actively attempting to get rid of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, and Hakim Ziyech.
However, Chelsea has already signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal, and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. Moises Caicedo, a Brighton midfielder, is undergoing contract talks in the background.
“I believe Chelsea is in a different situation than the other teams.” Their approach and outlook would always be unique.
“It’s certainly refreshing from a fan standpoint how they’ve been able to clear out big names on big wages.” From a business standpoint, it puts them in a good position in terms of wage bill.
“I believe other teams have done better in terms of bringing in real quality; a fan will be concerned in that regard.” Arsenal, barring the addition of Rice and Timber, would have done well in my opinion,” Olakunle Rufai, a podcaster and Classic FM radio broadcaster in Lagos, tells DAILY POST.
Pep Guardiola’s job at Manchester City would be to find ways to encourage a team that won the Treble last season.
A squad that has already lost captain Ilkay Gundogan, who knows how to get them through crucial matches at the end of a season.
There have been rumors that Saudi Arabian clubs are interested in Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez.
Guardiola will still have the unstoppable Erling Haaland, but his partner-in-crime Kevin De Bruyne will be out for the start of next season due to injury. And the Belgian appears to be in decline there.
City dropped out of the fight to sign Rice, allowing Arsenal to take the England midfielder, but are in talks with Leipzig to sign Gvardiol.
One has to question what Guardiola’s strategy is for his midfield. Perhaps he is waiting for exits before making his move, as Gundogan did.
Jurgen Klopp has gone about discreetly reconstructing his own midfield.
Naby Keita has left Liverpool. Captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho might both depart the Reds in the near future.
World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister and Hungarian playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai, on the other hand, have arrived.
“Liverpool on the face of it have done fantastic business as well, the whole world knew their midfield needed attention and that’s what they’ve done,” adds Rufai, a Chelsea fan. Cities are cities.
“United appear to be sorting themselves out nicely as well; the only problem is that they haven’t signed a really good striker.”
“I think it’s pale in comparison to these teams right now because I’d still like two solid midfielders and a goalkeeper to arrive, but looking inward, it’s been a really good window considering everything that’s been done overall.”