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Paul Scholes is confident INEOS will be looking to strengthen one area of Ruben Amorim’s squad as soon as the window opens.
Manchester United fans are expecting a drastic overhaul ahead of what will be Amorim’s first full campaign in the dugout. Acquiring players who fit his system to a T is crucial if the team are to be among the European places next term, as well as in the mix for cup silverware.
In turn, it may be time to cut ties with some Reds prematurely. You’d struggle to find many supporters who’d bat an eye if all of Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund were sold and recuperated respectable fees – just two years on from United forking out over £160 million on the trio to fulfil Erik ten Hag’s demands.
Barring a drastic turnaround in form, Hojlund is one who could well be offloaded due to him having suitors monitoring his situation. If United concede that he is simply not cut out to lead the line in the Premier League, Fabrizio Romano has already confirmed Serie A clubs are waiting in the wings, ready to offer him a route back to Serie A – where he spent the 2022/2023 term with Atalanta.
Scholes: Garnacho and Hojlund are at risk of being replaced
Elsewhere, Alejandro Garnacho, another who’s seemingly regressed this season, remains of interest to Napoli after their £40m bid was rebuffed in January. Around the time the winter window closed, it was also reported that Chelsea believed they’d ‘laid the groundwork’ for a potential deal for the Argentine, having held talks with his representatives at the start of the year.
Alas, Scholes actually singled out the duo last night for their lacklustre performances in the first leg of United’s Europa League quarter-final, suggesting the two young forwards are poised to be replaced in the coming months.
“You look at the goal record from the last 25, 26 games. I think Garnacho scored one, and Rasmus Hojlund scored three in the Premier League this season. It’s not quite up to the level I think it is needed,” the ex-midfielder told the TNT Sports panel.
“So I think improvements are going to have to be made in that area of pitch [in the summer transfer window]. But I think improvements right through the team are going to be needed. We’ve all watched the Champions League games on Tuesday, Wednesday night. You watch the level of that game tonight, and it’s way below where you need to be.
“As we saw, especially in that first half, there was a time when the ball went up to Hojlund and into Garnacho. They’re so erratic and so poor in possession that there’s almost no belief in them either. There’s no conviction in what they’re trying to do. We all know goals are a big problem for this team, and quality is needed all around this team to make it anywhere near a Champions League team.”
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Why Antony Turned Down Saudi Millions and European Giant
Not every day do you see a footballer turn down money, prestige, and European giants just to return to a club where he simply felt… at home. That’s exactly what Antony is doing this summer. The Manchester United winger has reportedly rejected multiple offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Germany, making it crystal clear to the United board that he only wants Real Betis. No ifs, no buts. This isn’t some PR spin. Sources close to the situation have revealed that Antony has been in direct contact with Betis officials, and the feeling is mutual. They’ve told him to stay firm in his stance, promising they’ll try everything to bring him back to Seville before the window shuts. Why wouldn’t he want that? His loan spell at Betis last season reignited his career. He looked sharp, confident, and impactful, scoring nine goals in 26 appearances and helping the team reach the UEFA Conference League final. For a player who had lost his spark at Old Trafford, Betis became a lifeline, and clearly, a place that feels like home. Turning Down Saudi Millions and Top European Clubs The offers on the table haven’t been small. United have fielded inquiries from Saudi Arabian clubs, where players often triple their salaries, as well as serious interest from Italy and Germany. Antony hasn’t even blinked. No leveraging interest to get a better deal. He simply said no. How often do we see that in modern football? Most players would have at least entertained the Saudi route, but not Antony. For him, it’s not about the money or the flash. It’s about where he feels he can play his best football. The reality is, he’s made peace with the idea of waiting. He’s willing to hold out till the end of the transfer window if that’s what it takes to make the move happen. He doesn’t want to bounce around Europe anymore. He wants to go back to a place where he was trusted, and where he delivered. Betis Want Him, But the Finances Are Tricky Manchester United are open to letting him go but only for the right deal. They’d ideally want a €40 million permanent sale, or at least some kind of loan with an obligation to buy. Betis, on the other hand, are hoping to negotiate a simple loan deal with an obligation to buy. Antony, for his part, is even open to taking a pay cut to smooth things over. That alone speaks volumes about how badly he wants this move. Not many players would be willing to give up a chunk of their wages to make a loan happen. Betis are playing the long game here. They’re not pushing just yet, they’re waiting for the final weeks of the window, hoping United’s stance softens, and it just might. The longer United wait, the more pressure they’re under to move players out and balance the books, especially after a summer of spending. Especially with a deal for Benjamin Seskon stalling. United’s Dilemma, Cut Losses or Hold Firm? On one hand, they know Antony isn’t part of manager Rúben Amorim’s long-term plans. The Portuguese coach has been shifting the team’s structure away from traditional wingers, and Antony hasn’t impressed since returning from his loan. On the other hand, letting him go on another loan, without any future obligation, means they’ll be writing off a player they spent nearly £85 million on. That’s not just bad business, it’s a PR nightmare. Antony’s current market value has taken a hit. No one’s paying £40 million for him now. United aren’t exactly flooded with other realistic buyers. So keeping him just to prove a point could backfire. If he stays and doesn’t play, his value sinks even further. It’s a tough spot. Let’s not forget, a World Cup is just around the corner. Antony needs game time. He knows he won’t get that at United. That’s another reason he’s pushing so hard for Betis. Final Thoughts Antony is standing firm. Betis are staying patient. United are holding out hope that someone comes in with a better offer. Here’s the most likely outcome, if no other club steps up, United might just give in and let him go back to Betis on another loan, just to move him off the wage bill and avoid dressing room frustration. Because the truth is, once a player makes it clear he doesn’t want to stay, keeping him around rarely ends well. For now, though, Antony is betting on Betis. He’s putting loyalty, comfort, and playing time above money and fame. Whether United see that as admirable or stubborn remains to be seen.
Celtics' moves suggest new guard will be traded — eventually
The Boston Celtics got under the second luxury-tax apron by trading Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz Tuesday. The move also gives them a huge incentive to deal their most expensive new player. The Celtics have dramatically reduced their payroll in the wake of Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury. With their superstar unlikely to play in 2025-26, the Celtics traded away starters Jrue Holiday ($94.4M for three years, plus a $37.2M player option in 2027-28) and Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7M next season). They also let Luke Kornet ($2.8M) leave as a free agent, and Al Horford ($9.5M) is almost certainly gone as well. They received Georges Niang ($8.2M) in the Porzingis deal, but traded him Tuesday for undrafted R.J. Luis Jr., a rookie on a two-way deal. That effectively takes Niang's full salary of their books and gets them under the second luxury-tax apron, freeing them from the penalties and restrictions that go along with second-apron status. According to cap expert Yossi Gozlan, the Celtics have saved a whopping $286M in salary and taxes with their moves. Still, the team can reap a larger long-term reward by dropping below the luxury tax entirely, which requires reducing their payroll by just over $12M more. The Celtics don't seem inclined to trade Jaylen Brown, Derrick White or Payton Pritchard, wanting to keep some core members of their 2024 title team together for Tatum's return. Sam Hauser is on an affordable four-year, $45M deal, but losing his $10M salary wouldn't get them under the tax line. That's why Anfernee Simons, acquired in the Holiday trade, is likely not long for Boston. The 26-year-old guard makes $27.7M in the last year of his contract, making him the perfect trade piece to get Boston under the luxury tax. Not only would getting under the tax line free the Celtics of their tax obligations and save them as much as $40M, but it would make them eligible to share in the money from tax-paying teams. The Celtics would also be able to avoid the dreaded repeater tax penalties, which make every dollar over the luxury-tax number progressively more expensive every year a team stays over the tax line. This doesn't mean Simons is going to be traded this summer. Boston has until the Feb. 5 trade deadline to move Simons, since luxury tax is calculated on the team's total payroll the last day of the season. But given the massive savings they'd get back from losing Simons' salary, it seems inevitable. The Celtics have lost a lot of talent this summer, but they've saved a tremendous amount of money in the process. They might have to attach draft capital to get off Simons' deal, but if he plays well in Boston, he might even bring back something in a trade next season. Tatum's injury threw a huge wrench in the Celtics' plans. If they can use this season to get under the luxury tax, they'll have the flexibility to reload and contend again when their star is back in a year.
Pedro Martinez Tells Yankees Players To ‘Strap It On’ Amid Skid
The Yankees’ freefall is the headline of baseball right now, so it is not afraid that it has caught the attention of Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. After New York’s fifth straight loss, a 2-0 defeat to the Rangers Tuesday night, Martinez took to Twitter with a message that felt like a challenge. “It’s hard to believe that the Yankees would be at this stage at this time in the season,” Martinez wrote. “I imagine how NY fans are feeling right now. Strap it on boys! #mlbontbs” The loss continued a brutal stretch for New York, now losers of 19 of its last 27 games. Their once-safe playoff position has become a daily fight. As of Tuesday night, they’re barely hanging on to the final American League Wild Card spot. They are just a half-game ahead of the surging Rangers, and now trailing the Red Sox in the standings. Martinez, once a Yankee nemesis during his Red Sox days, didn’t sound like he was taunting the Bronx crowd this time. It was more disbelief than delight. It was almost a bit of tough love from someone who knows what October baseball is supposed to look like. And he knows it doesn't look like this. Aaron Judge returned from the injured list on Tuesday, but his presence wasn’t enough to turn the tide. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, and afterward told teammates in no uncertain terms that this is on them. He said it was time to look in the mirror. Martinez’s “Strap it on, boys” had a similar tone. There’s still time for the Yankees to turn things around. But if they don’t, you can be sure the rest of baseball—including Pedro—is going to have something to say about it.
Celtics’ Georges Niang Trade Wasn’t Just About Salary Dump
The Boston Celtics have made yet another curious offseason move, trading 32-year-old 3-point specialist Georges Niang and two second-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for RJ Luis Jr., an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract. On the surface, this trade was more or less a salary dump. While a rebuilding team, the Jazz are expected to absorb Niang’s 2024-25 salary ($8.2 million) in the trade exception they generated from shipping John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers. This reduced Boston’s luxury tax by $50 million, according Third Apron salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan. For their efforts, the Jazz not only got a pair of second-rounders but a veteran that can teach their young players the nuances of professionalism. Celtics’ Georges Niang Trade Wasn’t Just About Salary Dump Though the Celtics obviously wanted to reduce their bill, the deal wasn’t just about that. Boston genuinely wanted Luis, per ZAGSBLOG draft expert Adam Zagoria. With that in mind, he entered the 2025 NBA Draft out of St. John’s, he played his freshman season at local UMass. That season, he averaged 11.5 points per game on 45.5 percent from the field. He also earned 10 starts, averaging 15.5 points per game in those contests. As a junior in 2024-25, Luis exploded for 18.2 points per game. His season ended on a low note. In a nine-point loss to Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32, he went just 3-17 from the field, scoring nine points. Nonetheless, his body of work shouldn’t be overshadowed by the last sentence. Nor should the pedigree he enters the NBA with. In 2024-25, he was a Consensus All-American. His father, Reggie Charles, was a professional basketball player who spent 15 seasons overseas. For the last two seasons of his college career, he was coached by Rick Pitino. The Celtics undoubtedly have a complex history with their former head coach but there’s no denying his greatness at the collegiate level. What Can RJ Luis Jr. Bring To The Celtics? Flawed though he may be, Luis is a good get for Boston, especially on a two-way contract. With Jayson Tatum likely to miss at least the first half of 2025-26 after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics have a lot of minutes to fill in at forward. As a result, players like 2023 No. 38 pick Jordan Walsh and 2025 No. 28 pick Hugo Gonzalez have a real chance of barging into the rotation. In a vacuum, they’re both rotation-caliber forwards but they’re raw, particularly offensively. That being said, if they’re trying to step into Tatum’s shoes, their limitations at that end are problematic. Tatum’s one of the most dangerous scorers in the league, averaging 27.5 points per game over the past five seasons. Luis probably won’t explode onto the season looking like a perennial All-Star. Still, he’s a more masterful scorer than either Walsh or Gonzalez right now. In the open court, he’s exciting, like many athletic wings with his length (6-foot-7). Yet, he’s not refined to impacting the game on the break. In the halfcourt, he’s able to use his handle and footwork to create space whether in the drive or in the post. Indeed, utilizing his instincts and body control, he’s actually pretty nifty with the ball in his hands. He even follows up his own shot, leading to frequent putbacks. Though he doesn’t have elite efficiency in any area, he’s a multifaceted offensive player who also has a knack for playmaking, particularly with regard to pocket passes. To improve his efficiency, he should cut down on his off-the-dribble attempts due to his tendency to take tough jumpers. All the same, while Boston waits for Tatum to return, the 22-year-old could play an important role.
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