Man United moved quickly for Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans following the conclusion of his World Cup campaign.

There are few real surprises in modern-day football. Take Manchester United’s move for Andrey Santos, for example. When he was announced as a United player on Monday afternoon, nobody was shocked to see him signing on the dotted line at Old Trafford. But just a couple of hours earlier, United fans had been left stunned.

It was revealed that United were in advanced talks to sign Youri Tielemans and that he was keen to move to Old Trafford. Just days after his World Cup campaign had ended, United were on the verge of adding the impressive midfielder to their ranks and confirmation of his move arrived on Tuesday evening.

Having starred for Leicester City and Villa in the Premier League, Tielemans’ abilities are well known. But he will bring far more to Old Trafford than his ability with the ball at his feet.

The midfielder was named Belgium’s captain by head coach Rudi Garcia in 2025. Being named captain of your country is, of course, a huge accomplishment, but it was made even more impressive given the competition Tielemans beat off to get the armband. “He has a good relationship with everyone in the group,” Garcia explained. “He enjoys unanimity within the group.

“Even though other guys remain important leaders, like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku… Youri gets the armband.” That show of confidence in Tielemans was rewarded at the World Cup. Against Senegal in the round of 32, Tielemans grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. He scuffled with Leandro Trossard as he demanded higher standards, before delivering two goals to help turn the game on its head.

It was a statement performance from Tielemans and one that earned him praise from teammate and former Manchester City star De Bruyne. “Youri has been a great servant to Belgium,” the midfielder said. “He is now leading the team as captain and is someone everyone can look to, both on and off the pitch.

“I think he’s a fantastic guy and, thankfully, his two goals made the difference in getting us through today.”

These glowing recommendations from the Belgium camp will be music to the ears of United.

Casemiro’s exit saw the departure of a real leader, and while there are still plenty of leaders in the United squad, losing a voice like that from the dressing room was always bound to be a blow, particularly to the younger players in the group.

It’s understood Kobbie Mainoo loved playing alongside Casemiro, and with players like Mateus Fernandes (22) and Elliot Anderson (23) being targeted to play alongside Mainoo, you started to wonder how the academy graduate might suffer without an experienced pro alongside him.

The addition of Tielemans should hopefully mean that is no longer an issue.

Carlos Alcaraz is finally beginning to see the finish line.

After spending nearly four months away from competition with a wrist injury, the Spanish star is closing in on a return, with the Cincinnati Masters firmly in his sights.

According to reports from Spain, Alcaraz’s latest medical review has gone well, and his right wrist has fully healed. If everything continues as planned, he could receive medical clearance this week before increasing the intensity of his training.

The world No. 2 has already hinted that his comeback is getting closer. Sharing clips of himself training at his academy in Murcia, Alcaraz posted a simple message:

“On the right track.”

Although his name does not appear on the entry list for the Canadian Open, the decision is made as part of his recovery plan.

Instead of rushing back, Alcaraz and his team have targeted Cincinnati, believing it offers the perfect opportunity to regain match fitness before the US Open.

The injury has forced the Spaniard to miss several of the biggest tournaments of the season, including Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s Club and Wimbledon. Throughout his recovery, the focus has remained the same: return only when the wrist is fully ready.

After months of waiting, the countdown to his return may finally be entering its final weeks

France captain Kylian Mbappe did not mince his words as Les Bleus were knocked out of the World Cup final race with a 0-2 defeat against Spain at the penultimate hurdle. Spain looked the better side right from the start of the game, producing the sort of technical football that nullified France’s biggest assets on the pitch and exposed their primary weaknesses. Mbappe, speaking to the media after the match, did not hesitate to admit that his teammates were not up to the task against the reigning European champions on the day.

“I don’t think we played the match we wanted to play — whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance level,” Mbappe said. “And when you don’t do what you are supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win.”

“Our goal was to press them high up the pitch to prevent them from settling into that slow, controlled rhythm — because when it comes to controlling the game, they are better than us. We failed to do that.”

Getting into the tactical details of the game, Mbappe said that France’s initial plan was to press high up the pitch, but Spain turned the tables by turning their press into a 3-on-2 situation in midfield. With the way France played, Mbappe had no qualms about admitting that the performance was not worthy of taking the team into the final.

“We kept finding ourselves outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield,” Mbappe said. “And against Spain, that’s a real problem. When you put it all together, the result is a defeat. Our touches and movement were not worthy of a World Cup semi-final.”

“It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country the chance to keep dreaming and to make history,” he added.

READ | 34 Touches, 0 Shots On Target: Mbappe’s Horror Numbers As France Exit WC

The 27-year-old, who has scored 8 goals in this tournament, said that he now plans to go on holiday with his head held high before the club season with Real Madrid begins.

“Now, it is something we have to face with our heads held high. I believe that when you win, you win with your head held high; so when you lose, you have to lose with your head held high, too.”

“But right now, there is immense disappointment. I find it hard to put into words just how disappointed the squad and I are.”

“Yet even if it might seem a bit robotic at times, we have to pick ourselves up, go on holiday, and move on to the next chapter. Because football waits for no one. We have to start over, put this failure behind us, and learn from it.”

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Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward once had high praise for a welterweight star that he spent a number of years working with.

The 147lb division has produced a number of elite fighters throughout history, including the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Sugar Ray Leonard.

It is a former rival of Leonard that Steward viewed as the best ever fighter he trained, after he heaped praise on boxing legend Thomas Hearns.

Speaking to East End Boxing, Steward explained what separated Hearns from some of the other world champions he coached, such as Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.

“Not only was Tommy the best fighter I ever worked with, he was also the most exciting. For me, climbing in the ring whenever Tommy fought, it was just so exciting. Tommy was very special.

“He was probably the closest reflection to my own style of fighting. With Tommy, he had so many outstanding qualities it’s hard to list just one – but he was so dedicated.

“Tommy worked so hard in the gym. If I told him, ‘Tommy, today you spar 20 rounds.’ He’d say ‘Okay.’ That’s just the way he was – dedicated.”

Hearns became world champion at welterweight back in August 1980, and would go on to claim world honours in a further four divisions, making him the first fighter in history to become a five-weight world champion.

‘The Hitman’ was part of the prestigious ‘Four Kings’ along with Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran, leading to a number of famous battles between the quartet, notably his legendary three-round shootout with Hagler which took place in April 1985.

Tuchel could become only the fourth manager to reach a World Cup final with a team other than their home nation – and first since Austrian Ernst Happel with the Netherlands in 1978.

But his England side will have their work cut out against Argentina, who are in the World Cup’s last four for the third time in the past four editions.

When asked by BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel if the rivalry between the two sides would provide extra motivation on Wednesday, Tuchel said: “We don’t use it as fuel. We know why we’re here – we know what we want.

“We were never shy of expecting that from us, of saying it, of dreaming it. We’re in the semi-final – we arrive very hungry and want the next win.”

Political tensions, especially around the Falklands War in the 1980s, have dominated the relationship between the two nations.

After Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16, their players were filmed singing a chant referencing the islands.

But Tuchel said: “We respect our opponent, but we don’t dip into historic events. We don’t make it bigger than it is.

“It is a big football match and a big occasion. We are very excited and grateful, but very hungry and ready to go.

“It’s a big rivalry and it’s two big football nations who love football.”

The semi-final will also be the first time England will face Argentina great Lionel Messi on the international stage.

“How he carries the team is absolutely incredible – there are no words,” said Tuchel when asked about the Argentina captain.

“In this tournament he is just the leader, and the key player in any team he plays.

“When Messi has the ball, the movement starts. The technical delivery of Messi is on the highest level. There is a lot to take care of, but we are here to play our way in the semi-final. We are here to impose our style, our strengths.

“A lot of coaches have tried [to stop Messi]. He seems to always have another gear and another solution. He’s unique. We know his quality.

“We know how big the obstacle is. We know how big the ask is.”

Tuchel also spoke about how he likes to try to unwind during what has been a long summer camp.

“Sometimes you just go on a bike, and you need a big parking lot and an ice cream in your hand,” he said.

“For 15 minutes, you feel like 15 years old. 15 not 50! You enjoy your evening in a warm summer for 15 minutes with an ice cream, and you reconnect to that beauty of that feeling which we all have inside of us.”

LSU is the latest SEC program to come out publicly against the ‘Protect College Sports Act’ in its current form.

Is Greg Sankey trying to align the stars to get his desired outcome?

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin predicts how James Franklin’s first season with Virginia Tech is likely to go.

Will the Hokies just be battling to make a bowl game?

UCLA Football has some optimism with Bob Chesney at the helm for the first time in several years.

Will their first season see a return to postseason play with Nico Iamaleava at the helm?

00:00 SEC and college sports politics
03:12 Debate over college sports bill
06:21 Opposing a sports legislation bill
12:20 Talking about Ethan Grunkemeyer
16:53 Virginia Tech football predictions
22:01 Discussing UCLA and Penn State Football
22:47 UCLA-Cal football payment and betting
25:59 Speculating on 2027 transfer portal

/ @lockedoncollegefootball