Everton’s €43m Bid for Ezzalzouli Rejected, United's 2028 Title Plans, Martinelli Nears Arsenal Exit

Everton tried to crash the final hours of the summer window with an audacious move for Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli – and were sent packing.

Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, report that Betis received a €43m proposal from the Premier League side, structured as €35m guaranteed with the rest in bonuses. It was serious money, late on.

Betis barely blinked.

The Spanish club pointed straight to Ezzalzouli’s €60m release clause and refused to budge. No clause, no deal. Everton’s push never got close enough to trigger real negotiations, and the Morocco international stayed put in Seville as the window shut.

Ratcliffe’s United Draw Up a Three-Year Blueprint

While Everton gambled late, Manchester United are planning long.

According to the Daily Telegraph, United’s new football hierarchy under Sir Jim Ratcliffe have mapped out a three-year strategy aimed squarely at one target: winning the Premier League by 2028. Not competing. Winning.

The plan is split into three phases. Attack in 2025. Midfield this summer. Defence next.

With this year’s business focused on reinforcing the middle of the pitch, United intend to turn fully to the backline in 12 months’ time. Centre-backs, full-backs, depth, profile – the defensive rebuild is being ring-fenced as the final major piece of the project.

It’s a long road from a whiteboard strategy to a title parade at Old Trafford, but the direction is clear: the next summer window is all about the back four.

Martinelli Set for Al Hilal Switch in Record Arsenal Sale

In North London, one of Arsenal’s most energetic forwards is heading for the exit.

Gabriel Martinelli is poised to complete his move to Al Hilal after undergoing a medical ahead of a €70m transfer. He arrived in Riyadh earlier this week to finalise the switch, and only the official announcement now stands between him and a new chapter in the Saudi Pro League.

For Arsenal, it will be a landmark departure.

The deal is set to become the club’s record sale at around £60m, eclipsing the £35m received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017. A homegrown success story in north London terms, turned into hard cash at his peak value – and a reminder of the financial muscle now routinely arriving from Saudi Arabia.

Enzo Fernandez Aims Dig at Chelsea After City Move

Enzo Fernandez has not tiptoed out of Stamford Bridge. He has slammed the door behind him.

The Argentina midfielder completed a British record-equalling £125m move from Chelsea to Manchester City late on deadline day and wasted no time in drawing a sharp contrast between his old and new employers.

“I’m really happy to be here. I always dreamed of being at a club as big as City,” he said.

He described the switch as “a very emotional moment” for himself and his family, stressing the significance of taking such a step at 25, right in the heart of his career.

“I’m so happy to be here, enjoying these first few hours I’ve had at the club. I can already see just how big it is and, we will enjoy ourselves and win lots of things together.”

The message was unmistakable. For Fernandez, City represent the stage he always imagined. For Chelsea, it’s another high-profile exit and another reminder of how far they have to climb to match the champions’ pull.

United Prospect Chido Obi Heads to Willem II

While United sketch out grand plans for 2028, one of their young forwards is heading out to grow elsewhere.

Striker Chido Obi is set to join Eredivisie side Willem II on loan, subject to registration. The Denmark Under-21 international broke into the senior side under Ruben Amorim during the 2024-25 campaign, making eight first-team appearances, but his momentum stalled last term. He did not feature and made the bench just once.

He responded the only way a young striker can – by scoring goals at youth level.

Obi became a regular for United’s Under-21s and helped drive them to the FA Youth Cup final. Across 37 appearances in all competitions, he hit 20 goals, underlining why the club still see a future for him.

Now comes the harder part: turning promise into senior end product in the Netherlands. If United’s long-term project is to work, players like Obi will need to return from these loans ready to carry their share of the load.