Manchester City are edging closer to a deal for Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles, according to reports. The 20-year-old has reportedly agreed personal terms with the club, and negotiations with the Owls are in their final stages.

The move comes as James Trafford's departure looks increasingly likely. The 23-year-old England international is attracting serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Leeds United, all keen to offer him the first-team minutes he craves.

Trafford has been stuck in an awkward spot for months. Too good to sit on the bench for another season, especially with Gianluigi Donnarumma firmly established as City's number one. Cashing in while the market is strong makes sense. But replacing him requires care.

That's where Charles comes in.

The Manchester-born goalkeeper came through City's academy before moving to Hillsborough in 2021. Despite Wednesday's relegation to League One, he emerged as one of their few bright spots. His short-passing metrics are said to fit Enzo Maresca's possession-based system, and he has already established himself as Northern Ireland's senior number one, with five clean sheets in 12 international caps.

It's a smart bit of squad building from Director of Football Hugo Viana. Rather than overpaying for an experienced backup who blocks the pathway for academy prospects, City are securing a homegrown asset before his value skyrockets.

That said, jumping from League One straight onto City's bench is no small step. A backup at this level needs to be ready for cup starts, late tactical adjustments, and Champions League travel where mistakes aren't tolerated. Reports suggest Maresca may still explore a short-term veteran option — Inter Milan's Yann Sommer has been mentioned — to provide cover while Charles continues to develop.

Manchester City have secured an agreement with Leicester City for teenage winger Jeremy Monga, in a deal that could reach £12.5 million. The 16-year-old arrives with a price tag that, if all add-ons are triggered, would make him the most expensive player of his age in Premier League history.

The package is worth up to £12.5 million, with a guaranteed £10 million up front and a further £2.5 million in performance-related bonuses. A sell-on clause has also been included.

Arsenal had been in advanced talks with Leicester but baulked at the asking price and pulled out. City manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with Monga during his time at the King Power Stadium, moved quickly to exploit the collapse and sell the youngster on the club's long-term plans.

Monga's rise through the professional ranks has marked him out as one of the most exciting attacking prospects in English football. He will initially join the youth setup to continue his development.

The size of the fee signals something broader than a single signing. City's hierarchy are clearly willing to invest heavily in teenage talent before market values climb further. Snatching a player Arsenal had pursued for weeks underlines that the club's long-term recruitment machine remains in working order.

Norway's story is even more remarkable. Back at the World Cup for the first time in almost three decades, Ståle Solbakken's side have already gone further than any previous Norwegian squad, banking their first-ever win in a World Cup knockout match courtesy of a dramatic late turnaround against Ivory Coast. Antonio Nusa's curling opener was cancelled out before Erling Haaland struck in the 86th minute to send Norway through to a last-16 meeting few would have predicted.

The Haaland–Gabriel subplot

Beyond the occasion itself, this tie carries a smaller, fiercer story: the ongoing feud between Erling Haaland and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes. The pair have clashed repeatedly since Haaland's move to City, with incidents ranging from a thrown ball to an unpunished head-butt colouring what has become one of the Premier League's most heated individual battles. Haaland has largely prevailed against Gabriel, whose antics have led to most City fans regarding him as a 'massive ****house'. Norway and Brazil now provide the stage for that rivalry to spill onto the international game.

Haaland has been in imperious form throughout the tournament, becoming the first Norwegian to score in three straight World Cup matches and reaching 60 international goals faster than any player in history. Yet he has been notably cautious about Norway's chances against Brazil, describing them publicly as slim. History offers a counterpoint: Norway have never lost to Brazil, with two wins and two draws from four previous meetings, including a famous 1998 group-stage victory.

For Brazil, the challenge is balancing considerable individual quality with a defensive record that has looked shaky at times. Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha said the squad had devoted significant preparation time to nullifying Norway's aerial and physical threat, while cautioning that the plan cannot begin and end with marking Haaland alone.

Neymar's involvement remains uncertain after a limited role at the tournament so far, while fitness levels across both squads are being managed carefully after a long, congested season for the majority of the Premier League contingent on show.

The likely shape of the game

Expect a cagey opening as both sides look to control tempo through midfield, where Brazil's technical edge via Guimarães and Paquetá will be tested against Norway's willingness to sit deep and break with pace. Ødegaard's service into Haaland is the single most dangerous route to goal for either side, and how Gabriel copes with that battle — physically and mentally — may prove decisive.

Norway have never been afraid of this fixture, and Solbakken, who played in Norway's last competitive win over Brazil, has stressed his side intend to compete for the result rather than simply enjoy the occasion. Brazil remain favourites on quality alone, but a knockout tie shaped by one outstanding individual duel has the makings of a genuine upset.

Kick-off: Sunday, 5 July 2026, 21:00 BST — New York/New Jersey Stadium

Team news

Norway (4-3-3, projected): Nyland; Gregersen, Østigård, Hanche-Olsen, Meling; Berge, Ødegaard, Aursnes; Nusa, Haaland, Elyounoussi.

Brazil (4-2-3-1, projected): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Arana; Casemiro, Guimarães; Rodrygo, Paquetá, Vinícius Jr; Martinelli.

Manchester City have reached an agreement with Leicester City for the transfer of young winger Jeremy Monga.

The deal is structured around a £10 million base fee with a further £2.5 million in potential add-ons. A sell-on clause has also been included in the agreement, providing Leicester with a share of any future sale.

The move resolves what had been one of the more notable academy-level pursuits of the summer window. Monga had been linked with Arsenal for much of the early part of the transfer period, but City have moved to secure his signature.

The 31-year-old Dutch defender leaves with 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, a Champions League medal, two FA Cups and two Carabao Cups. Not a bad return for a player who never quite grabbed the headlines but quietly solved problems others couldn't.

His exit lands squarely in new manager Enzo Maresca's lap during what is already a busy summer of change at the club. The left side of City's defence now looks like something of an open audition.

A Low-Maintenance Option Gone

Ake's value was never about flash. As a natural left-footer, he could hold width as a conservative full-back, lock down channels, or act as a reliable safety net without needing a specialised system built around him. That flexibility will be missed.

The timing adds to the complication. City face a compressed pre-season schedule with extended World Cup workloads, an Asia tour, and new arrivals to integrate. Maresca doesn't have a long runway to teach complex defensive rotations from scratch.

“It's been a privilege to represent Manchester City over the past six years. I'm so grateful to have been part of a special team. I'll always cherish the memories, particularly of winning the Treble.”

The club's hierarchy wants greater athletic upside and younger defensive assets on the left flank. Whether the answer is already inside the building or requires Director of Football Hugo Viana to find a replacement is now Maresca's call before the window shuts.

City have navigated the departure of popular veterans before. But Ake leaves during an active rewrite of the club's philosophy, with the dressing-room hierarchy and defensive choreography shifting around him.

Phil Foden spent Saturday afternoon at Wimbledon, sitting in the Royal Box on day six of the Championships. The 26-year-old was photographed alongside Marco van Basten, with Sir Gareth Southgate, Sir Chris Hoy and several Lionesses also among the sporting guests.

The timing matters. Foden is not in North America for the 2026 World Cup after Thomas Tuchel left him out of England's final squad — a decision that stunned plenty during the pre-tournament build-up.

Missing a major tournament is a psychological blow for any player. But from Manchester City's perspective, it hands Enzo Maresca something unusual: a fully rested, motivated senior star available from the very start of his tenure.

Most clubs spend summer watching their squads fragment across international camps. City get Foden back fresh, before the bulk of their international players return later this summer.

Maresca's immediate task is not complicated. Foden's talent has never been in question. The opportunity is about giving him structure, consistent minutes, and tactical responsibility — having a clean window to adapt to the new manager's principles before the Premier League season begins.

The imagery from SW19 suggests Foden is making the most of his rare downtime. When pre-season training steps up next week, the expectation is that a refreshed, motivated player reports for duty at the Etihad Campus.

Manchester City have won the race for Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga, beating Arsenal to the 16-year-old winger's signature. The deal, confirmed by David Ornstein, is set to cost an initial £10m, with potential add-ons taking it to £12.5m.

That fee has already raised a few eyebrows. Journalist Eduardo Hagn described it as an “insane price” for a player whose experience is almost entirely limited to Championship football. Time will tell whether Monga develops into a talent to rival the likes of Arsenal's Max Dowman or Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha, but he's already cost considerably more than those two combined.

Arsenal were firmly in the race for Monga this summer, but it's not hugely surprising that City proved more willing to meet Leicester's demands. One prominent Gunners source has been critical of how the club handled the situation, with suggestions the youngster was keen on a move to the Emirates.

Maybe Arsenal will look back and wish they'd paid up for an exceptional talent. Equally, there's a case for not taking that risk on a 16-year-old. Plenty of wonderkids have faded away over the years, and the Gunners may prefer to spend on players who can make an immediate impact.

City, meanwhile, will be pleased to have secured one of the country's most highly-rated young players. For a club of their resources, it's not a considerable outlay — and it could end up looking like a bargain.

Manchester City marked the first anniversary of Andree Jeglertz becoming Women’s head coach this week, and the timing is not just ceremonial. The club’s own feature on the Swede’s first year makes clear how quickly the standard has changed around the team.

Jeglertz was appointed on 3 July 2025 after a spell with Denmark. He inherited a side that had finished fourth in the WSL. Twelve months later, City have a league title and an FA Cup to show for it. The club also noted he became only the second head coach to win the WSL in a debut season.

The anniversary reframes what comes next. City are no longer trying to prove they can win. They are defending a new benchmark, with demand around the team rising accordingly.

That is the real takeaway for supporters. The double has changed expectation as much as mood. With Beth Mead already added to a title-winning squad, Jeglertz’s second season starts from a position of authority.

The pressure now is structural, not sentimental.

The 19-year-old becomes the latest young player to leave the club's youth setup this summer as City continue to manage pathways for emerging talent during the transfer window.

The move sees Smith swap the Etihad Campus for Oakwell in search of regular senior football — a logical next step for a player looking to establish himself in the professional game.

City's official academy channels confirmed the exit with a brief statement: “Isaac Smith has joined League One side Barnsley on a permanent deal. Wishing you all the best, Isaac.”

The warmth of the message is typical of how the club handles academy departures, reflecting a setup that tends to maintain decent relationships with those who move on in pursuit of first-team opportunities elsewhere.

Barnsley's decision to secure Smith on a permanent basis — rather than a loan — suggests the League One side see genuine potential in the youngster. It represents a firm commitment rather than the kind of temporary arrangement academy players often undertake earlier in their development.

Another pathway opens

For Smith, the switch offers the prospect of competitive senior football in the third tier — a proving ground that has served as a valuable stepping stone for many young players before him.

The permanent nature of the transfer marks a definitive step. Smith leaves behind the academy environment at City to pursue first-team football on a full-time basis at his new club.

Moves of this kind highlight the reality facing talented youngsters at a club of City's stature. The senior squad's exceptional strength means opportunities are inevitably limited, and a departure in search of consistent game time often represents the most sensible route to career progression.

Whether Smith establishes himself at Barnsley and builds a career in the professional game remains to be seen, but his permanent move to Oakwell gives him the platform to do exactly that.

Antoine Semenyo and Ghana are heading home from the World Cup after a last-32 defeat to Colombia in Kansas City.

Néstor Lorenzo's side controlled the game from start to finish, despite losing forward Jhon Córdoba to a groin strain inside the first eight minutes. Substitute Luis Suárez delivered a cross from the right in the 14th minute and Jhon Arias volleyed home at the back post to put Colombia ahead.

From there, Los Cafeteros dictated the tempo. They exposed Ghana's backline repeatedly while remaining untroubled at the other end. Luis Díaz had a second-half goal ruled out for offside, and Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi made several saves to keep the scoreline respectable, but the Black Stones never looked like mounting a comeback.

Ghana failed to register a single shot on target all evening. Colombia secured a 1-0 win and a Round of 16 date with Switzerland in Vancouver.

Semenyo's tournament ends without the fireworks some might have hoped for. The City forward managed 38 touches, 13 accurate passes, three touches in the opposition box and one chance created. He won six ground duels and completed two successful dribbles — the most of any Ghana player — but could not find a way through a disciplined Colombian defence.

He'll be back at the CFA shortly, ready for pre-season under Enzo Maresca.

The club announced the news on Thursday, with Sky Sports reporting the package is worth £116 million. That makes Anderson the most expensive British player in history and overtakes the £100 million City paid for Jack Grealish as the club's costliest signing.

Rebuild continues

This is not just another statement of intent from a club with deep pockets. City have been spending heavily across the last three years, and Sky's wider analysis puts the post-Anderson rebuild at around £824 million.

The tactical reasoning is straightforward enough. Anderson offers ball-carrying ability, duel strength and pressing range — exactly the kind of qualities City need after Bernardo Silva's departure accelerated the midfield reset.

The timing is notable too. Anderson is currently away with England at the 2026 World Cup, but City have pushed the deal through before the market could reopen and invite more competition.

The fee is enormous. The message is clear: Enzo Maresca's midfield rebuild is being conducted at full throttle.

Mateo Kovacic has been informed he is surplus to requirements at Manchester City and has been given permission to find a new club this summer, sources have confirmed.

The 32-year-old has just twelve months remaining on his current contract at the Etihad, and the club are willing to let him go as they reshape the midfield.

Kovacic's 2025-26 campaign was wrecked by an ankle injury that limited him to just nine appearances across all competitions — a far cry from the reliable option he had been in his first two seasons since arriving from Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth £25m.

He has made 97 appearances in total for City.

World Cup reminder

Despite his domestic struggles, the Croatian midfielder has offered a timely reminder of his quality at the World Cup. After providing an assist against Ghana to help Croatia escape the group stage, Kovacic produced a determined display in the narrow defeat to Portugal.

With the scores level at 1-1, he drove past Joao Neves and saw a shot turned onto the post before Diogo Costa saved the rebound. He finished the game with three shots in a performance that underlined the ability that remains.

“A privilege to share the pitch and dressing room with these legends. Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, thank you for everything. We will miss you.”

Kovacic has not yet publicly stated his intentions for the summer, but with City expecting another midfielder to arrive following Elliot Anderson's £116m move from Nottingham Forest, space in the squad needs to be created.

Manchester City have been credited with strong interest in Porto captain and Portugal international Diogo Costa, according to reports in Portugal.

Costa has established himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in European football over the past two seasons. His performances for Porto and at international level have made him among the most coveted players in his position ahead of what could be a significant transfer window.

The 26-year-old has been one of the standout performers at the World Cup in North America, claiming the Player of the Match award in Portugal's group stage victory over Colombia. His reputation as a shot-stopper and his composure under penalty-shootout pressure have only added to expectations that this summer could deliver the move his career has long pointed toward.

City's interest is understood to be shaped in part by the uncertain future of James Trafford at the Etihad Stadium. The England international is set to hold discussions with new manager Enzo Maresca over his squad status before any final decision is made.

A departure for Trafford would leave director of football Hugo Viana with a clear requirement to recruit in the goalkeeping position. Costa's profile — proven at the highest level of club and international football and playing at a club whose financial position makes a sale achievable — fits closely with the type of signing Viana prioritises.

As reported by Correio da Manhã, relayed by Sport Witness, Costa could leave Porto after the World Cup following strong interest from both Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Porto reduced Costa's release clause to £51 million when the goalkeeper signed a new contract earlier this year. However, Portuguese reports have suggested the club would still expect offers comfortably above that figure before seriously entertaining a sale. Porto continue to insist publicly that they have no intention of losing their captain at this stage.

The report arrives in the context of sustained Portuguese media coverage of Costa's situation. Outlets including Record have repeatedly examined what a post-World Cup transfer could look like, discussing Porto's asking price, the financial logic of selling an academy graduate, and the possibility of his valuation rising as the tournament progresses.

Correio da Manhã describe Costa as Portugal's biggest weapon heading into their last-16 fixture against Croatia. Manager Roberto Martínez intensified penalty practice during training ahead of a potential shootout, with Costa's record from 12 yards making him a uniquely valuable asset should the match require that kind of resolution.

Costa famously became the first goalkeeper in European Championship history to save three penalties in a single shootout when Portugal eliminated Slovenia at the 2024 European Championship. Less than a year later, he produced another decisive penalty denial in the UEFA Nations League final, saving against Álvaro Morata before Portugal secured the trophy.

That reputation for composure in the sport's most pressurised individual moments is precisely the profile Maresca and Viana have identified as essential in the goalkeeping position as they look to assemble a squad capable of competing across multiple fronts in the 2026-27 season.

The Portuguese media's increasingly specific framing of a potential exit — focused on conditions of departure rather than the possibility of one — suggests Porto's public insistence on retaining Costa may not fully reflect the private reality of their position, particularly if offers arrive that significantly exceed his £51 million release clause.

Whether Manchester City are prepared to lead that pursuit in the weeks ahead, or whether the breadth of their summer rebuild requires them to prioritise other positions first, remains to be seen. But with Costa's World Cup form continuing to attract the attention of Europe's biggest clubs, the window available to City to act may prove shorter than the complexity of a deal involving Porto's captain might suggest.

Omar Marmoush's summer just got longer. Egypt's penalty shootout win over Australia in the World Cup knockout stages means the forward remains away from Manchester City's pre-season preparations, and Enzo Maresca now has a scheduling issue to manage.

City confirmed Marmoush started the match at Dallas Stadium. Reuters reported that Egypt secured their first ever World Cup knockout-stage win after a 1-1 draw and a 4-2 shootout victory. For the player, it means another high-pressure tournament appearance. For his new manager, it adds another layer to an already awkward pre-season.

Marmoush's run gives City evidence of competitive sharpness. It also keeps him away from a head coach who needs time on the training pitch before the Asia tour begins.

City are managing a staggered summer. Their World Cup tracker showed how many players remain involved deep into the tournament. Marmoush is among those still shaping the club's planning from abroad. This is not an isolated case. The squad is coming back in stages, with different workloads and recovery needs.

Marmoush stands out because his role at City still feels open. Erling Haaland remains the fixed point. Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and others offer different routes through the final third. Marmoush sits somewhere between them. He can run from the left, play through the middle, attack space, press aggressively and arrive in the box. That flexibility could make him useful under Maresca. It could also leave him exposed if the new manager quickly settles on specialists.

That is why Egypt's World Cup campaign has become an extended audition. City cannot recreate these conditions at the CFA: tense knockout football, broken rhythm, heavy pressure, and the emotional strain of playing for a country chasing history.

Against Australia, Marmoush's night was mixed rather than decisive. City noted that he had a major chance seconds after half-time. Reuters also described him as a threat during Egypt's attacking spells. For coaches, that kind of performance still has value. The question is not whether he dominated the match. It is whether he kept finding situations that could translate into Maresca's City.

City's summer schedule leaves little room for delay. Their Asia tour opens against Inter in Hong Kong on 1 August, followed by a K League All-Stars fixture on 5 August and Atletico Madrid on 9 August. The Community Shield against Arsenal then follows before the Premier League campaign begins.

Every extra Egypt match keeps Marmoush sharp and raises his profile. It also reduces the time Maresca has to work with him on pressing triggers, attacking rotations and relationships with the players likely to shape City's early season. City have already looked at how Erling Haaland's Brazil tie has created a similar workload problem. Marmoush now sits in the same wider conversation. City's best players are getting valuable minutes, but those minutes are not being spent under their new manager.

The old Guardiola team could absorb these issues more easily because so much of the structure was already built. Maresca inherits a squad used to dominating the ball, but not a squad already tuned to his voice, his details or his judgement. That first month matters. It is when a new manager sets standards, defines roles and shows senior players what will change.

Marmoush could help that process. His directness gives City a different attacking texture, especially when games become stretched or opponents leave space behind their defensive line. He is not simply another possession player. He gives City a way to attack before everything is perfectly set. That makes him harder to ignore. His World Cup run also makes him harder to coach straight away.

The most useful part of Marmoush's Australia performance may be that it was not polished. He showed flashes. He missed moments. Egypt still found a way through. CAF's match report framed the result as a historic step for Egypt after a tense 1-1 draw and shootout win. City do not need every attacker to look perfect for 90 minutes, especially under a new manager. They need players who can tilt games in bursts and make something happen when the structure is still settling around them.

Marmoush's direct running showed his value: pace, intent and the confidence to isolate defenders. His chance after half-time, when he shot wide with the goalkeeper beaten, was frustrating. It was also the kind of high-pressure opening Maresca will want City forwards to keep creating.

Maresca's City will not simply be Pep Guardiola's City with a different voice. His background points towards positional control, but control still needs runners who can punish disorganised moments. Marmoush can be that player if the role is made clear. He is not Haaland's clone and should not be judged like one. His best route into the side may come from changing the angle of attack: starting from the left, moving inside, pressing as a second forward or giving City fresh legs when opponents begin to tire.

City's attack is too crowded for vague usefulness. That is why Egypt's run is both a gift and a complication. Marmoush is building high-pressure evidence at the World Cup, but the players who return earlier may get more time to learn Maresca's system. Haaland will remain the centre of the attack. Cherki offers invention between the lines. Doku gives City width and one-v-one threat. Foden can influence games from several zones. A recent piece on Rayan Cherki's France frustration showed another side of the same issue. Maresca is not only managing minutes. He is managing status, rhythm and expectations across a forward line full of players who will believe they deserve early-season importance.

Marmoush has to make a different argument. His case is built on aggression, movement and usefulness when conditions are imperfect. Egypt's win over Australia helps him there. He is not building fitness in a friendly. He is living inside knockout football, carrying pressure and working through difficult game states.

The risk is workload. Tournament football can create a misleading picture. A player can look emotionally ready in July and physically flat by late August. City know how quickly major international summers can catch up with players once domestic football starts. Maresca's job is to avoid confusing match sharpness with full readiness.

This is the kind of problem elite clubs usually accept. Marmoush's extended Egypt run complicates City's pre-season, but it also gives Maresca a forward returning with edge, confidence and another reminder that he can affect tight matches.

If Egypt exit in the next round, City get back a player who has felt knockout pressure without losing too much more training time. If the run continues, Maresca gains an even more confident forward but loses another slice of his coaching window. Either way, Marmoush has moved from squad-depth discussion to live tactical question. That is why the shootout in Dallas carries weight at the Etihad.