It looks like a decision on Alejandro Garnacho has now been made, as the latest transfer news is that he ‘will be leaving’ Manchester United this summer, with a number of clubs already in waiting.
The Garnacho situation is one that the Man United administration, manager Ruben Amorim and fans alike would have wanted to avoid if possible, but with the talented winger and his entourage making plenty of noise off the pitch, it seems that it was only ever going to end one way.
Now, just a few weeks on from that season-defining game, when there was already plenty of doubt around his future at Old Trafford, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that a decision has been reached between both Garnacho and the club, with the 20-year-old expected to leave this summer.
🚨🇦🇷 Alejandro Garnacho will leave Man United, decision confirmed on player and club side — set to part ways.
Understand staying in Premier League serious option with 3 clubs already very keen… after Bayer Leverkusen and Italian clubs calling.
Yes, Romano claims that the board have now bitten the bullet and a reconciliation between Garnacho and the United boss looks unlikely, with a decision now “confirmed.”
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Moreover, the Italian journalist goes on to add that there are at least three clubs who are “already very keen”, with even more expected to be monitoring the situation over the coming weeks and months.
The situation has shades of Erik ten Hag’s ousting of Jadon Sancho or even how Amorim approached the fallout with first-team star Marcus Rashford, whose future is still up in the air following his loan deal at Aston Villa expiring.
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Romano elaborated that while it looks like a “very difficult deal to do” financially for a number of those interested – Bayer Leverkusen, and Serie A sides like Napoli being some of those floated thus far, as well as plenty of Premier League teams.
In terms of domestically, Chelsea have been considered suitors of the number 17 for several months now, and have already begun their spending in this window by snapping up one of the Red Devils‘ supposed targets in Liam Delap.
You can see his full breakdown of the situation, among other transfer window updates, in more detail down below:
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The youngster and academy product had been considered one of the club’s brightest prospects and bargains in recent years when he was picked up at just 16 from Atlético Madrid – not to mention quickly becoming a fan favourite – but it seems, ability aside, his character simply doesn’t fit the dressing room.
Since both Sancho and Chelsea have been mentioned, it’s also worth touching on those somewhat controversial circumstances.
While you could argue Amorim isn’t really losing a winger since the 25-year-old is now set to return to Carrington for the time being (a player he hasn’t been able to get his hands on yet), with Chelsea opting to avoid their obligation to sign him permanently, it still looks likely he’ll leave Man United.
Nevertheless, were the Portuguese coach somehow able to get a tune out of the previously exiled loanee, it could be intriguing to see how this one develops.
Super League ‘Rivals Round’ fixtures confirmed, with two big North West clashes
Danny Jones
The Betfred Super League (BSL) ‘Rivals Round’ games for 2026 have been confirmed, with two big regional clashes coming in time for the spring.
Returning for 2026, the annual meeting of multiple teams coming up against their fiercest and most historic rivals will land on round seven of the calendar over the traditional Easter weekend.
Despite the competition having sadly lost Salford Red Devils following their forced relegation, local rugby fans will still be glad to see the borough of Wigan, as well as neighbouring Cheshire and nearby Merseyside clubs, coming up against each other in what is a highly anticipated fixture on the calendar.
Announcing the now fully confirmed matches this week, the total of seven matches are set to be played between Friday, 3 April and the following Sunday, 5 April.
In the Super League’s own words, there are few gameweeks more box office than the Rivals Round – “where the games mean more, hit harder and have the ability to divide towns and families.”
After the inaugural edition of the modern round in 2021, this year saw the division record a best-ever attendance of 86,080 across a six-match period, and with an extra game being played next season, we’re expecting more ground to be broken.
“The most intense and historic rivalries will go head-to-head with huge crowds anticipated, emotions running high and everyone expected to bring their A game”, say the BSL.
Huddersfield Giants v York Knights – Saturday, 4 April
Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Trinity – Sunday, 5 April
One of the most notable exclusions among the slate, of course, is that of Salford Red Devils, as various players and staff members continue to leave the club during this increasingly concerning and deep period of uncertainty.
Salford supporters have given a clear response following the decisive drop in IMG gradings:
Although they are now longer in rugby league’s premier domestic tier, Salford are still expected to take part in the Challenge Cup tournament, which begins in January.
Betfred and the RFL revealed the most recent ties on Monday, 24 November, with the Devils due to face either Royal Navy Rugby or Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the second round.
Meanwhile, with the new campaign kicking off in February, rugby fans will only have to wait a couple of months to witness the upcoming instalments in the various rivalries.
Safe to say it’s going to be a spicy Easter break.
Pep Guardiola admits heavily rotated squad was ‘too much’ after landmark home loss
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola has conceded that his heavily rotated side, which saw almost an entirely different team from the previous matchday squad, may have been “too many changes” as Manchester City suffered their first home loss in the Champions League group stages in more than seven years.
Man City suffered a 2-0 defeat whilst hosting Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium – a place that has been largely a fortress in European fixtures since the Catalan coach arrived – but the biggest headline on the night was the whopping 10 personnel changes Guardiola made to his starting XI.
It has been argued that Pep has become overly reliant on star striker Erling Haaland (who has already scored 19 goals in the Premier League and UCL combined this season), and the virtually ‘start-from-scratch’ outfit he fielded on Tuesday night definitely didn’t do him any favours.
Speaking to various media in post-match interviews and the press conference after the game, Pep admitted that his wholesale rotation gamble may have been “too much.”
"Maybe it was too much…"
Pep Guardiola reflected on Man City's home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen after making 10 changes 🔁 pic.twitter.com/WBZHwl3ZOb
Considering the only continuity between the batch that faced Leverkusen and the previous squad that narrowly lost to Newcastle United was the still relatively new CDM, Nico González, we think he might be on to something.
In fact, as if the conviction behind the decision wasn’t already questionable enough, Pep insisted before the game that he would have made more if he could, but with fellow central midfielder talisman Rodri still injured, the number 14 was the sole teammate who remained from the weekend.
There are always going to be lapses in sharpness and fluidity when a lineup is shuffled, but it’s fair to say that it’s almost guaranteed when you remove every individual bar one.
Perhaps this was a somewhat covert/loaded attempt to shine a light again on previously mentioned complaints regarding squad depth in relation to the increasingly congested fixture list, with both Guardiola and the aforementioned Euro 2020 winner having flagged their concerns about the calendar.
This is also the second time in just a matter of days that the 54-year-old has held his hands up and taken accountability for making “huge mistakes”.
Not only was it City’s first Champions League loss of the season, but as mentioned, the first and at home in the competition’s initial stages in more than half a decade.
It’s quite a record that Pep has clung onto, which should get plenty of recognition in its own right, but supporters will nevertheless be hoping to get back to winning ways soon and avoid stringing together any more consecutive losses.
Last November was the first time Guardiola had ever lost four matches in a row during his entire career, and with a trio of very winnable fixtures coming up in the league, we would bank on a big reaction in the next game against Leeds.
If you missed the game, you can watch the highlights from Man City vs Bayer Leverkusen down below.
Danny Jones -
8th June 2025 
