Man Utd wanted to make a few sales in the summer window, but they have only secured a decent fee for one departure.

Manchester United were hopeful of raising a decent sum through sales in the summer transfer window.

The potential sales of Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Andre Onana and Manuel Ugarte could have totted up to around £104million, but the window has been open for 42 days, and only Hojlund has been sold, bringing in £38m.

Napoli’s obligation to sign the Dane was triggered when they secured qualification for the Champions League, whereas Barcelona had an option to sign Rashford, which they declined in favour of signing Anthony Gordon.

United wanted Barcelona to sign Rashford for the agreed £26m option fee. The sale would have been pure profit, as Rashford is an academy graduate, and would have removed his £325,000-per-week salary from the wage bill.

The Reds had to sell Andre Onana for around £20m to avoid making a PSR loss. Trabzonspor’s president confirmed his club wanted to sign Onana again after his loan, but they did not have the funds to finance a deal.

The lack of interest in Onana forced United to settle for another loan deal to Trabzonspor, who have paid a small £1.3m loan fee. The Turkish club will also cover his wages for a second season.

There was a chance of selling Ugarte on a permanent transfer as well. It might have been tricky to offload him for £20m, but there was hope that a good showing at the World Cup from the midfielder would attract suitors.

Ugarte’s dream of playing at the World Cup turned into a nightmare when he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher during Uruguay’s clash with Spain. He looked distraught, pulling his shirt over his head as he left the pitch.

United did not confirm whether ⁠Ugarte injured his anterior cruciate or medial collateral ligament, but he described his injury as “the most serious injury a footballer can face” on social media, suggesting it was his ACL.

Ugarte underwent surgery earlier this month, meaning he will be out for most of the campaign. He needed a fresh start, a clean slate abroad after a difficult spell in England, but the injury has denied him the chance of a transfer.

There is now a black hole in the accounts, which obviously isn’t good news for further incomings. While United still have a lot of scope to spend in the remainder of the window, sales would have put the club in an even better position.

The Reds may have been willing to overpay for a dream target, like Aurelien Tchouameni, if they’d managed to bank another £66m with those three sales.

Tchouameni could still be a United player by the end of the transfer window, but speaking to a United source across the weekend in Trondheim, they were adamant that a deal for the Frenchman isn’t currently realistic due to the cost involved.

The 26-year-old is a dream signing for United, and they would make an offer if they received the right signals from Real Madrid on price, but how much they would want remains to be seen, as does whether they are willing to sell at all.

United need to improve their selling record to help buy the best players on the market. It’s an area in which the club has struggled over the last 10 years, rarely making a profit on players they sell.

Last summer’s transfers suggested the penny may have finally dropped when it comes to making signings. United conducted smart business, but the next challenge is to improve the club’s selling record.

United’s board has already taken the first steps toward doing so by refusing to be soft touches in the market, and no longer panic-buying. Although it will take time to change the perception of United, the process is under way.

It will take time to see the benefits from the change of tactic. But it’s better late than never.

Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus and Serbiaís Novak Djokovic play mixed-doubles together during a charity event on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on January 11, 2024 ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship starting on January 14. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

NEW YORK — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic headline the initial list of 16 teams entered into the US Open mixed doubles championship.

The tournament was overhauled last year, with a $1 million prize going to the winners, in an effort to get top singles players to compete. Many of those types of stars were listed among the teams announced Monday by the U.S. Tennis Association.

Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, the runners-up in 2025, are entered again, along with Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, the Japanese duo of Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori, and Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper.

READ: Alex Eala officially makes US Open entry list

Two multi-Grand Slam champions. One Mixed Doubles team.

Djokolenka. pic.twitter.com/Nn3BjYfnnd

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 27, 2026

The main draw will be played over two days on Aug. 25-26, with all the matches set to be held in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, the two biggest venues at the U.S. Open, and televised on ESPN’s properties.

Teams can enter up until Aug. 17, when the six duos with the best combined singles rankings at the time will be automatically entered into the main draw. That means Sabalenka, the two-time defending U.S. Open women’s champion, and Djokovic, still ranked No. 5 on the men’s tour at age 39, will be safely into the field.

Eight teams will be given wild cards by the USTA, and two other teams will play their way into the field through a qualifying tournament to be held Aug. 24.

The remainder of the teams that were entered as of Monday:

READ: Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner lead US Open fields

Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli, Diana Shnaider and Daniil Medvedev, Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien, Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime, Leylah Fernandez and Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Townsend and Alexander Zverev, Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Nuno Borges, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten, and siblings Peyton Stearns and Preston Stearns.

Errani and Vavassori are the two-time defending US Open champions. The Italians needed a wild card to get into last year’s event because their singles ranking was too low, and that will be the case again this year.

The US Open was initially criticized last year because the format of the event shut out doubles specialists such as Errani and Vavassori, but the tournament certainly seemed a success, helping draw 78,000 fans to the grounds and selling out Ashe both days.

READ: Big changes in US Open mixed doubles draw ire

“Any time you can bring women and men together on the same team, you showcase tennis at its best. This is exactly what the mixed doubles championship does,” USTA CEO Craig Tiley said in a statement.

“The mixed doubles championship is an innovation that will engage new audiences and give our fans another opportunity to see the biggest stars compete together.”

Errani and Vavassori were the only traditional doubles team in last year’s tournament. There is a chance for more this year — Siniakova and Patten are doubles specialists — with the addition of the eight-team qualifying tournament, which will include six direct entries and two wild cards.

The format will be best-of-three-set matches with sets to four games, tiebreakers at 4-all and a 10-point match tiebreak instead of a third set, through the semifinals. The final will be standard scoring with sets to six games and a tiebreaker at 6-all, and a 10-point match tiebreaker if necessary.

Owner Behdad Eghbali said Chelsea would “tweak” their model and add experience to what he still believes is a strong core of young players, including Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill.

Welbeck joining Chelsea would be another sign of a shift in strategy.

Their move for him follows attempts to sign 33-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, with the Black Cats refusing to sell the Switzerland captain.

Although the arrival of Rogers, 23, fits the club’s preferred policy of signing younger players, he brings significant Premier League experience.

The Blues are also expected to complete a £52m move for Lacroix, 26 – further Premier League-ready experience.

It is clear that Welbeck’s arrival would leave Chelsea with an abundance of attacking options for a season when they are not involved in European competition so do not necessarily need such resources.

At his age, Welbeck may be content to provide cover for Joao Pedro, but the move would represent bad news for several other forwards.

Nicolas Jackson is open to leaving, while Delap and Emmanuel Emegha had hoped to establish themselves under Alonso.

Nevertheless, the Chelsea manager is getting what he wants: experience and strong personalities to address shortcomings that contributed to the team’s 10th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Additional reporting by Matt Jones

Jack Draper has pulled out of this week’s Mubadala DC Open with an arm injury, tournament officials have announced.

It is the latest setback for the 24-year-old, who has been dogged by fitness issues throughout the year and missed the first three grand slam events.

The former world No 4, who has now fallen to a ranking of 147, had been due to play American Alex Michelsen in the first round.

A statement on X read: “Jack Draper has withdrawn from the tournament with a left arm injury. He will be replaced in the draw by lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald.”

It is understood that Draper has withdrawn to focus on next month’s ATP Tour events in Montreal and Cincinnati, although he would need a wild card in both, and the US Open, for which he would probably need to qualify.

Cameron Norrie, meanwhile, light work of American Aleksandar Kovacevic with a 6-4 6-1 win at the Miffel Tennis Open.

Fifth seed Norrie ended a six-match losing streak stretching back to April as he progressed to the last 16 in one hour and 22 minutes.

Playing in the Los Cabos event where he won his first ATP Tour title in 2021, Norrie lost on serve in the opening game of the match but immediately broke back and converted his second set point.

A one-sided second set lasted just 32 minutes as Kovacevic held serve only once, and that after saving two break points.

Norrie will face either Australian James Duckworth or American qualifier Aidan Mayo in the last 16.

In Washington, Katie Boulter failed to build on a promising start as she lost to Ashlyn Krueger.

The 29-year-old, who married Australian world No 5 Alex De Minaur earlier this month, dominated the first set and went a break up in the seventh game as Krueger sent a backhand long.

Boulter, making her first appearance since a first-round Wimbledon exit, broke again two games later to clinch the opening set.

American Krueger turned things around – having made 16 unforced errors in the first set, she made only 10 more as she completed a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory to set up a last-16 clash against Naomi Osaka.

PA

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer believes teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already done enough to earn an ODI call-up and wants the 15-year-old to open alongside Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Engineer feels India should reshuffle their batting order by moving Shubman Gill to No. 4, allowing Sooryavanshi to partner Rohit at the top while Virat Kohli slots in at No. 3.

“The ideal situation is Shubman Gill and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Gill is a class player. Gill, I think, is the best batsman in the team now. So, Gill should come at four,” Engineer told PTI.

The former India star said the combination of a right-handed Rohit and left-handed Sooryavanshi would provide the ideal balance in ODI cricket.

“Gill is not a guy who lifts the ball. So, a left-right combination would be ideal in ODIs. So, if Rohit is playing, and I think he should be playing, let him open with Sooryavanshi.

“A batsman like him (Sooryavanshi) is much better at opening because he finds bigger gaps in the field. Virat Kohli can come third. Gill can come fourth and then we’ve got a solid batting line-up,” he said.

Engineer’s remarks come after Sooryavanshi enjoyed a breakthrough T20I series against Zimbabwe. The youngster finished as the leading run-scorer with 151 runs, including two half-centuries, and was named Player of the Series as India completed a 3-0 clean sweep.

According to Engineer, those performances are enough to fast-track the teenager into India’s 50-over plans.

“This is probably the right time to draft Sooryavanshi into India’s ODI side. I don’t know why people distinguish so much between ODI and T20 because for me, a half-volley is a half-volley. He’s been getting runs and he’s got the confidence to open the innings.

“He’ll win more matches for you than lose you. When he gives a start like that, the other players can have time to consolidate the innings and put on a big score,” Engineer noted.

While Sooryavanshi struggled during India’s T20I tour of England earlier this month, the Zimbabwe series showcased his ability to adapt. He produced a measured 81 off 49 balls in the final T20I on a slow Harare surface after blasting a rapid half-century in the series opener.

The teenager has also shown areas that still require improvement, including handling short-pitched bowling, adapting quickly to overseas conditions and refining his shot selection. However, Engineer urged India not to overburden the youngster with technical changes, insisting his natural game is what makes him special.

“Anything which is slightly short of length, in Sooryavanshi’s curve, is going to go for a six. He learned from his mistakes, he has learned to curb himself. But don’t try to over-coach him. He’s not from the MCC book of manual, which is completely out of date.

“He’s a genius. Nor was Viv Richards. Viv was the best batsman I’ve ever seen play. But persevere with Sooryavanshi. He’ll be a tremendous asset for India,” he said.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, Engineer believes Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach and match-winning ability make him a player India should invest in now rather than wait for the future.

India ended Day 4 of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with 10 medals — two gold, five silver and three bronze — to occupy eighth place in the standings. The contingent added six medals on Monday, July 27, led by Sharmila Dhankar’s historic para-athletics gold and Sarvesh Kushare’s landmark silver in the men’s high jump.

Australia remained well clear at the top with 59 medals, comprising 26 gold, 13 silver and 20 bronze. England were second with eight gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze for an overall tally of 32, while Canada occupied third place with seven gold, eight silver and six bronze, taking their total to 21.

India collected one gold, three silver and two bronze medals on Day 4. Sharmila became the country’s first Commonwealth Games para-athletics gold medallist, while Kushare became the first Indian to win silver in the men’s high jump.

Weightlifting again made the biggest contribution, with Valluri Ajaya Babu and Gyaneshwari Yadav winning silver medals and Bindyarani Devi claiming bronze. Shilpa Shyla added another bronze in the women’s shot put F57 after an official review upgraded her from fourth place.

  
Sharmila produced the standout performance of the day, winning the women’s shot put F57 title with a season-best throw of 9.81m. The 40-year-old became India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medallist in para athletics.

Her victory also ended India’s 20-year wait for a medal in the discipline. Ranjith Kumar Jayaseelan had won the country’s previous para-athletics medal in the men’s seated discus throw at the 2006 Games.

Sharmila, who contracted polio in her left leg at the age of two, had finished fourth at the 2022 Birmingham Games. She entered Glasgow after winning gold at the Fazza International Para Athletics Championships earlier this year.

India secured a second medal in the event when Shilpa Shyla was elevated to bronze following a protest and official review. Shilpa had registered a personal-best throw of 7.26m and was initially placed fourth.

Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi had originally been awarded bronze, but her only valid mark was subsequently ruled a foul. The decision promoted Shilpa to third place, although a counter-protest by Nigeria remained possible.

Kushare creates high jump history

National record holder Sarvesh Kushare became the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men’s high jump at the Commonwealth Games.

Kushare cleared 2.25m but narrowly missed gold to Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford on countback after both athletes failed at 2.28m. England’s Jack Kimani took bronze with an effort of 2.20m.

The 31-year-old improved on Tejaswin Shankar’s bronze at the 2022 Birmingham Games, which had been India’s only previous medal in the event.

J Aadarsh Ram finished fifth after clearing 2.15m. Tejaswin retired after failing at 2.05m in his opening attempt, with the decision taken as a precaution before the men’s decathlon later in the week.

Kushare’s silver continued a strong season in which he became the first Indian high jumper to finish on a Diamond League podium. He had also set a national record of 2.31m at the National Inter-State Championships.

Ajaya Babu misses gold by one kilogram

Valluri Ajaya Babu won silver in the men’s 79kg weightlifting event after an absorbing contest with Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad.

The 21-year-old lifted 149kg in the snatch and 181kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 330kg. Hidayat secured gold with a Games-record total of 331kg, comprising 147kg in the snatch and 184kg in the clean and jerk.

Ajaya Babu led after the snatch section, recovering from a failed second attempt at 149kg to complete the lift on his final try and establish a Games record.

The records changed repeatedly during the clean and jerk. Hidayat first lifted 181kg before Ajaya Babu matched the weight to regain the overall lead. The Malaysian then completed 184kg with his final attempt to edge the Indian by one kilogram.

England’s Chris Murray won bronze with a total of 325kg.

Gyaneshwari and Bindyarani add medals

Gyaneshwari Yadav won silver in the women’s 53kg category after producing career-best efforts in both sections. She lifted 88kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 199kg.

Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih won gold with a combined lift of 206kg, setting Commonwealth and Commonwealth Games records.

Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam secured bronze in the women’s 58kg competition with a total of 199kg. She lifted 87kg in the snatch and 112kg in the clean and jerk.

Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal claimed gold with a record-breaking performance.

It’s time for my final NFC North position rankings for the 2026 season, and we finish with the safety position. To review the previous position rankings, click the following links: QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, iDL, EDGE, LB, and CB.

NFC North Safety Rankings for 2026

There has been some change in the NFC North at safety since I did my rankings last year. Some big names have left, new signings have been made, and some intriguing rookies have joined the division.

1. Green Bay Packers

Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo

Since switching the Big Apple for Wisconsin, Xavier McKinney has been very good. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in his first season in Green Bay and followed that up with second-team All-Pro last season. The switch from the Giants to the Packers has been a great success for both the player and the team and is the main reason Green Bay tops this list.

However, McKinney isn’t a one-man show and receives particularly good support from Evan Williams and Javon Bullard, while Kitan Oladapo rounds out the depth chart. Top-end talent and good depth is a recipe for first place in the rankings.

2. Detroit Lions

Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Christian Izien, Chuck Clark

Brian Branch has been an excellent addition to the Detroit Lions defense since he was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft. His hard-hitting tackling sets the tone in Detroit, where his run defense is elite and his coverage is pretty good, too.

Branch and fellow safety Kerby Joseph have started training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which is something to monitor as Branch recovers from an Achilles injury and Joseph a knee injury that occurred last season. It leaves veteran Chuck Clark and Christian Izien holding down the fort in Detroit for now. The return to health for Branch will be vital for the whole of the Lions defense.

3. Chicago Bears

Dillon Thieneman, Coby Bryant, Elijah Hicks, Cam Lewis

The Bears turned to safety with their first-round pick this year, so the success of Dillon Thieneman is going to be crucial. They need him to come on and be an immediate starter who can lead the unit with the backup coming in the form of Coby Bryant, Elijah Hicks, and Cam Lewis.

If the Thieneman pick doesn’t work, the Bears could have a problem. Although Bryant gives them a solid veteran presence, Hicks played very little on defense last season, and Lewis was a depth player in Buffalo before joining Chicago. There’s a lot of pressure on Thieneman to deliver early in his career.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, Jakobe Thomas

Often a position of strength during the long career of Harrison Smith, the Vikings come into the 2026 season with safety possibly the biggest area of concern on the roster.

Josh Metellus is a good player, but his best football has come playing a hybrid role in Brian Flores’ defense. Now he is the team’s standout safety and needs to perform as such. Theo Jackson gives the Vikings a solid veteran who has performed well as a depth player the last couple of seasons. Then there is Jay Ward, a fourth-round pick from 2023 who has done a good job as a depth player but might be required more this season.

Finally, the Vikings drafted Jakobe Thomas in the third round this year, and he could be the joker in the pack in Minnesota. There has already been talk of him being ready to start immediately.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.