West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes continues to be pursued for a summer move to Manchester United, but Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the Portuguese star

Manchester United face fierce competition from Tottenham Hotspur for West Ham star Mateus Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder is understood to be open to a move to Old Trafford this summer.

But The Independent report that the Hammers are insistent on a significant proportion of any agreed price up front. It is also claimed that Spurs have offered a higher package overall.

Their wage proposal to Fernandes is said to be higher than United’s, and the 21-year-old is very keen on the move. It is therefore clear that the Reds will need to offer Fernandes higher wages, more money up front to West Ham, and a larger overall financial package to the Hammers too.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

West Ham have slapped an £85m price tag on Fernandes, but that will be a starting point in negotiations with a club that needs to raise cash to get back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The value of Manchester City’s £120m plus bid for Elliot Anderson shows that the midfielder market is inflated, though. Top midfielders are in high demand, and the clubs in possession of those players will hold out for as much cash as possible.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Anderson was viewed as a dream signing at Old Trafford, so it is no surprise United are also considering Fernandes. The Portuguese star could have more upside than the England international as he is two years younger, so should keep on improving.

Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have also been linked with Fernandes, so United may need to act quickly if they are to secure his signature.

Advertisement

And his former coach, Vasco Seabra, has told Radio Renascenca why Fernandes is so sought after by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

He said: “He has a huge range of abilities. I mean, he has technical quality and he’s a kid with a fantastic heart and mentality.

“We expected, and I particularly expected, that he could reach top teams very quickly, but it would be false of me to say I expected that, two years later, he could be in Real Madrid’s plans. He was really very young when he came through us.”

Seabra backed Fernandes to succeed in the Premier League. He added: “I expected he could reach Premier League level in a very short time. He really had a mentality and a daily commitment, both in training and matches, that made me believe he could reach a very high level.”

Midfield is the priority position United are seeking to strengthen and the Reds have already agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta. The Brazilian will join after a £35m initial fee, plus £3.8m in add-ons, was finalised between the two clubs.

The FIFA World Cup currently has much of the US enthralled, as cities welcome visitors from all over the globe. The tournament also has Americans, including RGIII (Robert Griffin III) himself, talking about one of the greatest rivalries in soccer. He weighed in on the historic rivalry between Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and his remark drew a lot of raised eyebrows.

“When you watch Argentina and Portugal, one thing is very clear. Lionel Messi’s teammates LOVE HIM. Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammates HATE HIM,” he tweeted.

Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo created history as he became the only player in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. Ronaldo achieved the feat with a goal in Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, June 23 (local time). Ronaldo had already scored in each of the previous five FIFA World Cup editions, and his goal against Uzbekistan made history, as he became the first footballer to score in six different World Cup tournaments.

He opened his World Cup goalscoring account in 2006, added another goal in 2010, scored once in 2014, netted four times in 2018, and found the back of the net again in 2022 before extending his remarkable record in the 2026 edition.

The Portuguese star’s record spans two decades, with his first World Cup goal coming at the age of 21 and his latest at 41.

It took him less than six minutes to send his team ahead in the Group K encounter at the Houston Stadium.

El mejor !!!! Aunque te cueste entenderlo joao neves nadie es y sera CR7

CRISTIANO RONALDO pic.twitter.com/32chVQZdaO

— dianita/didim de #MertYazıcıoğlu (@didiMcorona27) June 23, 2026

No player has scored more international goals than Cristiano Ronaldo (144); however, his failure to score in the 1-1 draw against DR Congo extended his goal drought to 10 matches since his last goal at a major tournament, which came in a 3-2 win over Ghana in Portugal’s opening game of the 2022 World Cup.

Portugal entered the match seeking their first win of the tournament after being held to a draw by DR Congo in their opener, while Uzbekistan were looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to the Colombian national football team.

Portugal have been boosted by the return of centre-back Ruben Dias, who missed the draw against DR Congo through injury. Dias comes straight back into the starting XI, replacing Tomas Araujo, who is sidelined with an injury of his own.

Winger Joao Felix also comes into the Portugal starting XI in place of Bernardo Silva

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season

The whispers out of Ibrox are getting louder, but the numbers simply do not add up. A recent social media report via Football Insider on X indicates that Rangers want a transfer fee exceeding £20 million for Nicolas Raskin this summer. It is a massive gamble. The Glasgow outfit face a steep uphill battle to achieve that hefty price tag because of his recent performance on the international stage.

Rangers face Nicolas Raskin transfer dilemma after World Cup struggle

Representing Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the midfielder failed to impose his authority during a tense Group G fixture against Iran in Los Angeles. He looked lost. The Belgian coaching staff hooked the 25-year-old after just 58 minutes on the pitch due to his distinct lack of impact on the game.

Advertisement

This lacklustre showing has directly prompted questions regarding whether the Ibrox board should lower their financial expectations and cash in on the player for a smaller sum.

Market reality bites at Ibrox

FALKIRK, SCOTLAND – APRIL 12: Nicolas Raskin of Rangers celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the William Hill Premiership match between Falkirk and Rangers at Falkirk Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Falkirk, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

Holding out for £20 million represents absolute madness for the Ibrox leadership. Pure fantasy. European suitors like Atalanta monitor these international tournaments closely, so a tactical substitution before the hour mark against defensive opposition damages a player’s stock. It exposes flaws on the grandest stage.

Advertisement

Rangers originally paid around £1.5 million to sign him from Standard Liège three years ago. Banking a profit remains the priority, yet demanding Premier League money for an unproven asset in a top-five league will alienate buyers. The current squad requires a massive overhaul. Tying up vital trading plans while waiting for a mythical bid risks stalling the entire recruitment drive. It paralyses the club. Accepting a realistic offer closer to £12 million seems far more sensible.

The new manager, Derek McInnes, must rebuild this engine room with dynamic, committed players who match his specific tactical philosophy. Raskin has clearly communicated his desire to secure a transfer away from Scotland. Keeping a disgruntled footballer inside the dressing room creates unnecessary friction. It poisons the camp.

Capitalising on interest now injects immediate funds into the scouting department, allowing the recruitment staff to identify hungry replacements. Standing firm on an inflated valuation will simply block incoming transfers. Ibrox officials need to alter their stance immediately to facilitate a quick resolution.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered chaos, late goals, and drama, and teams are scrambling to stake their claim in the knockout rounds ahead of Matchday 3. Panama and Croatia will meet on Tuesday at BMO Field in Toronto in a Group L clash after both sides lost their opening-day matches. 

Panama are hopeful they can bounce back from a momentum breaker in their World Cup opener, after they lost in late stoppage time on a tap-in goal by Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi. The 1-0 defeat denied Los Canaleros a first-ever World Cup point and are now on a four-game losing streak, dating back to the 2022 World Cup. The squad is back to square one with key starter Adalberto Carrasquilla unavailable with a groin injury. He sustained a setback after the opening game against Ghana. 

The alarm bells are ringing for Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, especially after 41-year-old Luca Modric’s subpar performance in match one against England, where he conceded a penalty in the opening minutes of the game. Despite the low moments, Croatia are considered heavy favorites in this one after a 4-2 loss against England last week. If they want to ensure their golden generation can outrun the twilight of their careers and prove they aren’t a defensive liability in the back, then Matchday 2 against Panama is a must-win.

How to watch Croatia vs. Panama

Date: Tuesday, June 23 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: BMO Field – Toronto, Ontario
TV: Fox (Eng), Universo (Spa) | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
Odds: Panama +600 | Draw +320 | Croatia -210

Croatia vs. Panama predicted starting lineups

Croatia: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo, Duje Caleta-Car, Josko Gvardiol; Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Petar Sucic; Martin Baturina, Petar Musa, Ivan Perisic

Panama: Orlando Mosquera; Cesar Blackman, Jose Cordoba, Jiovany Ramos; Michael Amir Murillo, Carlos Harvey, Cristian Martinez, Andres Andrade; Yoel Barcenas, Cecilio Waterman, Jose Luis Rodriguez 

Keep up with the World Cup standings here!

Croatia vs. Panama pick, prediction

The individual quality on Croatia’s roster could be enough to grind out a result, but it won’t be easy with the high-stakes involved.  Panama’s compact organization could make things difficult, or mean goals come early, and then later in the game. Pick: Panama 1, Croatia 2

Check out our World Cup expert predictions.

Golazo 48 Nations: Follow the World Cup all summer long

Golazo 48 Nations is your all-access destination for the World Cup, with wall-to-wall coverage across the CBS Sports Golazo Network. From the first whistle to the final recap, the entire Golazo crew will guide fans through every moment of the tournament.

Each day begins with Morning Footy, setting the stage with the latest news, storylines, and previews ahead of kickoff. From there, Golazo Matchday and Golazo Matchnight deliver reaction and analysis as the action unfolds. Fans can also tune in for coverage of USMNT matches with the Call It What You Want team, as well as reaction to other marquee matchups.
The day wraps with Scoreline, a comprehensive nightly recap of every result, moment, and storyline from across the tournament. Altogether, the Golazo Network will deliver up to 12 hours of programming each matchday, available across the Golazo Network and its YouTube channel.

Cristiano Ronaldo has entered the chat. In the week Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland raced off in pursuit of the World Cup’s Golden Boot, the player to have scored more goals than anyone alive finally turned up in North America. This game felt less about football and more about one man’s quest to justify his existence. Ronaldo scored two goals and his sheer aura created another as – sidenote – Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 to assert themselves in Group K.

The power of Ronaldo’s celebrity showed itself before the game had even begun. As the crowd counted down the seconds to kick-off inside this hulking metallic stadium in Houston, Uzbekistan’s Aziz Ganiev took his chance, leaning over the halfway line to lay hands on the great man, who responded with a hug.

There were moments in this match when Ronaldo’s presence was enough. Portugal were awarded a first-half free-kick on the edge of the box and the crowd thought they knew what was coming. Ronaldo lined up behind the ball, legs splayed, shorts hiked, loaded like some ancient cannon, Portugal’s buffalo gun. A thousand camera phones rose up behind the goal like offerings to a god. Goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov wiped his brow. And while Houston watched Ronaldo, Nuno Mendes swept the ball into Nematov’s net.

Football, Diego Maradona said, is a game of deception.

Ronaldo had already opened the scoring by that point, darting to the near post to steer in Joao Cancelo’s bouncing cross from four yards. It was the sort of goal he scored plenty of in qualifying, and through last summer’s Nations League triumph, sensing the place to be before firing a first-time finish. In doing so he made history, becoming the first player to score at six World Cups. For all Ronaldo’s limitations at 41 years old, he remains an elite poacher inside the six-yard box.

The relief was palpable. Ronaldo rushed over to the Portugal bench where he was embraced by substitute Diogo Dalot, one of his most loyal and loving supporters. There was also a tangible sense of appreciation from his teammates in those moments of celebration, each taking their turn to hug their maligned talisman, whose circus act must get on their nerves at times. Ronaldo made sure not to forget his customary “Siuuu” move, the absurd piece of theatre his crowd had come to see.

Almost every Portugal fan streaming in before kick-off bore the No 7. In some ways Ronaldo is at odds with the Houston Stadium, a lumpen pile of concrete and metal that doesn’t care what anyone thinks, in a city that doesn’t have much time for idols. But under the roof, in an air-conditioned space with hydration breaks at the ready, it seemed like the perfect setting for an old man on a mission.

The endless comparisons with Messi are increasingly unflattering, and perhaps unnecessary. But they are also hard to resist, not only because of their parallel careers and the epic rivalry they shared, but because there is no one else like Ronaldo and Messi at this World Cup. They are the only strikers who run less than 9km per game, the only ones whose average speed at this tournament, according to Fifa, is below 5km/hr. That’s slower than you and I walk down the street.

What Messi proved over the past two weeks is that Argentina still need him, that they still rely on his supernatural talents. Whereas Ronaldo appeared impotent in Portugal’s goalless draw with DR Congo, at times actively hindering his teammates, at other times detached from the game, their stranded king.

Not here. Uzbekistan were generous opponents, just as Ganiev’s pre-match reverence hinted they might be. But Ronaldo showed why Roberto Martinez unwaveringly persists with his captain when other managers might have cast him aside by now. His second goal was excellent, racing past defenders to receive Bruno Fernandes’ perfectly weighted throughball and slide a one-touch finish past Nematov, for 3-0 at half-time.

Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov scored an unfortunate own goal before Rafael Leao came off the bench to add a fifth, and to underline the depth of quality in this Portuguese squad. Try as he might, Ronaldo’s hat-trick moment never came.

But the wider context is that Portugal are contenders at this World Cup. In Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes they have the best midfield at the tournament. They have the best left-back in the world. They have a testing match with Colombia still to come, and topping the group may yet prove important in a World Cup when most of the heavyweights look set to win theirs.

And they have a natural goalscorer in a tournament where it would seem every strong side needs one. Ronaldo is not essential to Portugal in the way Messi is to Argentina. But in a team of abundant talent he can still be a sharp tool, an effective weapon. Even just by standing still.

Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics for the moment with a first-half brace during Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan during Tuesday’s World Cup action.

There was talk following Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo that perhaps manager Roberto Martínez should bench Ronaldo. That talk was quickly put to bed when the 41-year-old made history after opening the scoring in the sixth minute to become the first man to score in six World Cups.