Sports
Transfer rumors, news: Al Ittihad line up bid for Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United‘s Bruno Fernandes is still attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League, while Tottenham Hotspur could turn their attention to Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
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TOP STORIES
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Al Ittihad are lining up a blockbuster move for Bruno Fernandes in the final days of the summer transfer window, The Sun reports. A meeting between the Saudi club and Bruno’s representatives is already said to have taken place, with the Portugal midfielder open to the idea of the switch if his financial demands are met. According to The Sun, Bruno has asked Al Ittihad for a £33 million annual salary, having revealed earlier this summer that he previously turned down a “very ambitious” offer from Al Ittihad’s SPL rivals Al Hilal. It remains to be seen whether United would sanction his exit so close to deadline day, as the club’s captain and most important player is under contract for another two years at Old Trafford.
– Monaco midfielder Maghnes Akliouche is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur as the club seeks out an alternative to Eberechi Eze, according to the Daily Mail. Eze opted to join Arsenal instead of Spurs this week, leaving Thomas Frank’s side short in attacking areas. Another potential target for the club is Leicester City youngster Bilal El Khannouss, who has been heavily linked with a move to Crystal Palace this summer. The Mail reports that Savinho remains their No. 1 target, but a deal for the Manchester City winger remains difficult.
– Manchester United have made progress in their pursuit of Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, according to Fabrizio Romano. Sources told ESPN on Saturday that talks had opened over a transfer, and now Romano reports that the 23-year-old has already agreed personal terms with United but a club-to-club agreement is still the subject of negotiations. Antwerp are holding out for a transfer fee of €25 million, while United are presently offering around €20 million with add-ons. Lammens was not included in Antwerp’s squad to play Mechelen on Sunday. The Premier League club’s desire to sign Lammens isn’t linked to the future of André Onana, however.
– Talks are advancing between Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea over the proposed transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka, talkSPORT reports. A permanent deal is now being negotiated, with the final fee expected to be in the region of £20 million, including add-ons. Chukwuemeka, 21, spent the second half of last season on loan at Dortmund, where he scored once in 10 Bundesliga matches. BVB are also expected to sign Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino on loan in the coming days.
– Bayer Leverkusen and several other Bundesliga clubs are keeping tabs on Newcastle United striker William Osula, Sky Germany reports. Indeed, it is possible that the 22-year-old will leave St James’ Park before the transfer window closes next week, with the Magpies still actively in the market for a dynamic forward. Bayer’s interest isn’t thought to be “advanced” at this stage.
CONFIRMED DEALS
– Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Renato Sanches has joined Greek club Panathinaikos on loan.
– England U21 international Jonathan Rowe has joined Bologna after he had a physical altercation with Marseille teammate Adrien Rabiot following a match last week.
EXPERT TAKE
1:22
Hislop urges Manchester City to stick by James Trafford
Shaka Hislop reacts to James Trafford’s goalkeeping error during Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Tottenham.
OTHER RUMORS
– Crystal Palace could end up signing Christos Tzolis and Yeremy Pino this summer. With the club’s hierarchy split over which winger to target, it has been suggested that Palace chairman Steve Parish may gamble and try to acquire both players. (The Sun)
– AS Roma have asked Chelsea for information about winger Tyrique George. The Serie A club are sounding out potential alternatives to Jadon Sancho, who continues to close the door to a move. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Rodrigo Mora is “not fully appreciated” at Al Ittihad despite reports of an imminent €70 million bid. Not everyone at the club is convinced by the idea of spending big money on an 18-year-old. (Footmercato)
– Nottingham Forest are rivalling Leeds United for the signature of Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa. The player’s future is expected to be clarified in the coming hours. (Sacha Tavolieri)
– Al Hilal are prioritizing a move for Rennes centre-back Jérémy Jacquet, who is also wanted by Arsenal and Real Madrid. (Sacha Tavolieri)
– AS Roma have opened talks with Liverpool over a potential loan deal for left-back Kostas Tsimikas. (Nicolo Schira)
– Fenerbahce are in talks to sign Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor after his proposed move to West Ham United collapsed. (Football Insider)
– Galatasaray have reached an agreement to sign Wilfried Singo from AS Monaco. (Ekrem Konur)
– Newcastle United are close to signing USWNT international and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Morgan Gautrat. (Sky Sports)
Sports
Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair talks fine for pro-Palestinian message on eye tape: ‘It’s bigger than me’
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Houston Texans pass rusher Azeez Al-Shaair spoke out about the fine he received for wearing a pro-Palestinian message across his eye tape during a playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Al-Shaair talked to reporters outside his locker in the wake of the Texans’ loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. He was hit with a fine of $11,593 for having “Stop the genocide” emblazoned across the tape, according to ESPN.
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Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans during the national anthem before the wild-card playoff game against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
He told the media he was aware what he did would garner a fine.
“I knew that that was a fine. I understood what I was doing … I was told that if I wore that in the game, I would be pulled out the game,” he said, via ESPN. “I think that was the part that I was confused about because I understood that was a fine but I never seen Stef (Stefon Diggs) get pulled out of a game for having eye tape with writing on it.
“At the end of the day, it’s bigger than me, the things that are going on. If it makes people uncomfortable, imagine how those people feel. I think that’s the biggest thing. I have no affiliation, no connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being. If you have a heart and you’re a human being and you see what’s going on in the world, you check yourself real quick. Even when I’m walking off this field, that’s the type of stuff that goes on in my head. I check myself when I’m sitting here crying about football when there’s people who are dying every single day.”
The NFL rulebook states in Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 what players are allowed and not allowed to wear on game days. The rule states, “Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.
Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans exits the field during the playoff game against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, mouthpieces, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and non-controversial; must not be worn for more than one football season.”
Al-Shaair has supported Palestinians in the past, including wearing “Free Palestine” cleats for the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign during the 2024 season.
Al-Shaair had “Free” written on one side of his shoes in the colors of the Palestinian flag. On one shoe, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return,” was written. On the side of his other shoe, he included the number of Palestinians reportedly killed and wounded in their war with Israel.
The shoes were for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, which he also supported in 2023.
“I feel like it’s something that’s trying to be almost silenced,” Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time. “On either side, people losing their life is not right. In no way, shape, or form am I validating anything that happened, but to consistently say that because of [Oct. 7] innocent people [in Gaza] should now die, it’s crazy.
Azeez al-Shaair of the Houston Texans shakes hands with Aaron Rodgers of the Steelers after their playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
“[Other people] try to make a disconnect and dehumanize people over there. And it’s like, they’re human beings. Being a Muslim, we see everybody the same; Black, White, Spanish, whatever you are; you can be orange, like, we’re all human beings.”
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Al-Shaair was also part of the Athletes for Ceasefire organization.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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The 2024 class of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix have already led their teams to playoff success.
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Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has appeared to aim a dig at former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, suggesting arrogance from previous coaches has hindered Rasmus Højlund‘s development as a striker.
Højlund joined Conte’s Napoli on a season-long loan last summer in a move that the Serie A club are obligated to make permanent should they qualify for the Champions League.
The Dane joined United in a £64 million ($85.79m) deal from Atalanta in 2023, scoring 26 goals in 95 appearances. He was frequently overlooked by Amorim during his time in charge at Old Trafford and did not feature in any of the club’s four first four Premier League fixtures of the season.
Højlund started well at Napoli, scoring nine goals in his first 20 appearances but he has not found the back of the net since scoring a brace at Cremonese on Dec. 28.
“Some young coaches nowadays are arrogant and don’t want to adapt. They see a young striker struggling, and instead of training him, they blame him,” Conte told a news conference on Friday ahead of the weekend win over Sassuolo.
“They always complain and blame everyone but themselves, because everything is handed to them on a silver platter.”
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Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has said he considers Højlund’s permanent transfer from Manchester United a “formality.”
“We did everything we could to sign him,” Manna told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
“There were more storied clubs interested, but his will was crucial, and we are proud of it. There’s an option to buy and an obligation to buy if we qualify for the Champions League.
“The player considers himself a Napoli player, and the same goes for us. This is extremely important.”
Napoli are third in Serie A, six points behind league leaders Internazionale and face Juventus on Sunday.
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