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Some fans want Johnny Evans back on a one-year deal as he joins Manchester United for pre-season

No, you haven't got back in time, Johnny Evans is back at United. Kind of...

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 20th July 2023

Many Manchester United fans might have thought they scrolled too far back when they saw former defender Johnny Evans’ name on the team sheet against Lyon on Wednesday, but after joining Erik ten Hag’s team for pre-season on a short-term contract, a fair few Reds want him to stick around.

Johnny Evans left Man United way back in 2015 after being sold by then manager Louis van Gaal and despite not having played in Red for the best of a decade, the manager and the club welcomed back the former cult favourite back to Carrington earlier this month.

With Evans now without a club after his contract at Leicester expired, bringing his five-year stay at the King Power to an end, he needed a place to work on his fitness as he prepares for the next move of his career and so ten Hag saw no problem with signing him on a short-term deal for pre-season.

In fact, it seems he is a pretty big fan of Evans and jumped at the chance to temporarily re-sign him, describing the defender as a “really experienced player but also a very good person, a big personality, and I think he has big authority as well.” It seems he’s not the only one thinking it either.

Another person tweeted: “I mean if I’m honest as long as the wages aren’t ridiculously high then I actually don’t see the harm in it. I’m not saying it’s what we need but I don’t think he’d be playing too much more a player-coach role perhaps. I’m not too fussed but whatever EtH wants I’ll back.

The Northern Irishman might be 35 now, but he has still managed to captain a decent top-flight side for several seasons, has won the Premier League three times and has a Champions League medal. You don’t find many players with that kind of experience just hanging around.

Many supporters were gutted to see Evans be let go by van Gaal to begin with and even Sir Alex Ferguson is reported as having said he “could not believe” the ex-United sold him in the first place.

Naturally, there are still plenty that are much more sceptical about the proposition and aren’t all that pleased to see him coming along for pre-season either, with many seeing it as “a lack of ambition” from the club in stark contrast to the likes of City who are bolstering their already solid backline.

Blues are certainly enjoying the difference in the two clubs’ transfer business.

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Whether or not Evans genuinely “impressed” ten Hag enough as reported to be considered as a potential backup remains to be seen, but with Harry Maguire supposedly on his way out, United could certainly do with another squad player in defence.

The England international was applauded for how he handled losing his captaincy earlier this month and looks like he still wants to fight for his place, but has already been linked with the likes of West Ham, Everton and even a return to Leicester himself.

Speaking of the Toffees, a recently deleted video on their social media might put any rumours of Johnny Evans extending his Man United return beyond pre-season to bed as a coach can seemingly be heard suggesting that he’s Merseyside-bound.

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Featured Image — Manchester United (via Twitter)

Sport

Manchester City set to re-sign former youth keeper James Trafford

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester City to re-sign former youth academy goalkeeper James Trafford

Manchester City look set to re-sign their former academy goalkeeper, James Trafford, just over two years after he left the club.

The Burnley shot-stopper was signed by the Lancashire side back in June 2023 after he impressed in two consecutive seasons on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

Now, just a few transfer windows later, it looks like Man City are set to fend off interest from other Premier League outfits for the chance to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium.

As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, an agreement is already in place for him to return to Manchester in the next few days.

According to Romano, the Cockermouth-born and Carlisle-blooded keeper, who joined the City youth setup at the age of 12, will be signed once again for a fee below the previously reported £40m price tag.

The Blues put a buy-back clause in the deal for his move to the Clarets when he was sold just a couple of summers ago.

Although the details of the contract are yet to be fully confirmed, it is said that City maintained the option to match the bid of any other team that came in within three days as part of the stipulation.

Backed up by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, it seems the club have done just that, entering a matched price of £27m (before add-ons) after an offer was made by Newcastle United.

Once again, the wages he will earn upon returning to the Etihad remain undisclosed, but you can assume they have promised a more attractive package than Newcastle; you would expect some assurances surrounding playing time, too.

Although Ederson is the first-choice goalkeeper on paper, he and backup keeper Stefan Ortega have been increasingly rotated across multiple competitions, and the 22-year-old said in an interview back in 2021 that he believes he has the potential and talent to become “Manchester City’s number one.”

Here are some of the highlights from the previous term.

Having impressed at youth level for England and most notably keeping 29 clean sheets – conceding just 16 goals in all 45 league fixtures in 24/25 – with Burnley securing automatic promotion as one of the best defences in the EFL, he’s not just a young prospect any more: he’s a sought-after shot-stopper.

It seems only a matter of time before his comeback is officially announced by the clubs, with Trafford preparing to sign a five-year contract with his old employers and where the bulk of his youth development took place.

The question is, Man City fans: can you see him pushing Ederson and Ortega, who have both been linked with moves away themselves, for the starting gloves?

Meanwhile, although Pep might be looking to phase in a new go-to between the sticks, another member of his senior squad who has struggled to nail down a consistent spot in the first XI could, conversely, be on his way out the exit door.

Jack Grealish linked with Serie A switch as Manchester City star reportedly wants a move away

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Featured Images — Burnley FC/Fozcast (screenshots via YouTube)

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Jack Grealish linked with Serie A switch as Manchester City star reportedly wants a move away

Danny Jones Danny Jones Jack Grealish leaving Man City this summer

Manchester City star and England international, Jack Grealish, has been linked with leaving for a possible Serie A switch as the midfielder is reportedly eyeing an exit from the Etihad Stadium.

The 29-year-old is already being monitored by a number of clubs here in England and in mainland Europe, but it appears that Italian champions Napoli have emerged as the latest and seemingly strongest suitors looking to add Jack Grealish to their growing roster.

A number of outlets are reporting interest from the ‘Gli Azzurri’, who have already signed former Man City talisman Kevin De Bruyne this summer, and look to be continuing with a productive period of recruitment ahead of defending their fourth league title – the second in the space of three seasons.

It wouldn’t be a change in colour or even in position, apparently, as they have identified him as a number of left-sided targets this summer, according to the likes of Corriere dello Sport.

It didn’t take long for the transfer rumour mill rumblings to get supporters hopping on the bandwagon either, as Grealish’s social media is now full of Napoli fans and others urging him to ‘come to Italy’.

The former Aston Villa favourite was left out of the FIFA Club World Cup after Pep Guardiola revealed the pair had shared “honest” discussions regarding his future in Manchester, but did reassure that it was the “best” decision for him and is not ruling out a resolution before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Telegraph‘s Matt Law states that Grealish has returned to City but only to train alone and will remain apart from the rest of the team until an outcome has been decided.

Other clubs that are said to be keen on tapping up the dynamic winger and attacking midfielder include Spurs, West Ham, Newcastle and even Everton are thought to be exploring a potential approach.

Guardiola‘s squad are expected to resume training on 28 July following a much-needed break post-tournament, which they crashed out of in the round of 16 following a shock defeat to Saudi side Al-Hilal.

Meanwhile, it is claimed that the England star has already flown to Naples.

As per Manchester Evening News (MEN), Grealish’s driver, Salvatore, told the ‘Radio Goal’ show on native station Kiss Kiss Napoli that the footballer is already training privately on the Amalfi Coast.

The outlet also recently wrote that the 29-year-old would be available if the right offer came in, with Man City supposedly wanting around £40 million for his prospective sale.

Jack Grealish is now considered well within his traditional ‘prime years’, and arguably soon to exit this crucial period for any athlete, so he will no doubt be pushing hard for a move this summer if his place with the sky blues is still undecided.

Despite being a well-regarded talent and regularly picked for his national team, the Brummy-born footballer has struggled to cement a spot in the starting XI under Pep, so perhaps leaving City might be the best for both Grealish and City, who are continuing to rebuild with new personnel.

He’s not the only Manchester-based star looking to the continent for a new lease on life.

Marcus Rashford officially unveiled as a Barcelona player after sealing blockbuster loan move

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Featured Images — Steffen Prößdorf (via Wikimedia Commons)/pantkiewicz (via Flickr)

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