The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday’s newspapers…
THE GUARDIAN
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United’s ambition is to win the Premier League, claiming they have only been second best to rivals Manchester City since his arrival in 2022.
Mauricio Pochettino looks set to take over as the new manager of the US men’s team.
Howard Webb has said much of the criticism of VAR is because people don’t like the outcome of a decision, as the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) tries to rebuild trust in refereeing in the Premier League.
Everton plan to test Dele’s readiness for a Premier League return with several matches behind closed doors before deciding whether to offer the former England international a new contract.
Police in Catalonia have arrested four people after Mounir Nasraoui, the father of the Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal, was stabbed in a car park in Rocafonda, near Barcelona.
DAILY MAIL
Manchester United icon Jaap Stam insists Erik ten Hag needs to leave the club before delivering a damning verdict of the Dutchman’s style of football as Red Devils boss.
Liverpool have been brutally mocked by the Spanish press after Martin Zubimendi became the latest player to snub the Premier League side.
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The Good Morning Transfers panel discuss how Liverpool might cope this season after failing to bring in any new signings
Crystal Palace have rejected Newcastle’s third bid for Marc Guehi of £55m plus £5m in add-ons.
The body in charge of Premier League referees will make their referees appointment policy public for the first time in a move to protect football’s integrity.
West Ham have enquired about a move for Spain and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler.
Saudi Arabia have reportedly targeted a move for Real Madrid star Eder Militao.
FIFA has signed a major sponsorship deal with a USA firm for the first time since the Department of Justice gave world football’s governing body a clean bill of health.
THE SUN
Erik ten Hag says his team is not ready for the start of the new campaign after a busy pre-season.
Manchester City are expected to pull off a surprise move for club-less England U20 striker Divin Mubama, who recently left West Ham.
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Sky Sports News Melissa Reddy has the latest news from Manchester United’s training ground and provides updates on whether or not new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will start against Fulham
Jack Grealish’s image rights company has scored big – banking a £7m bonanza from sponsorship deals.
Nine Chelsea stars are set to be axed in order to balance the books at Stamford Bridge.
Sean Dyche revealed that every one of his players is still for sale at the right price with Everton stuck in takeover limbo.
THE TIMES
Referees and VARs will be prohibited from officiating in matches involving clubs they support, have a personal connection with or are in the same city in which they live, the policy of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) on conflicts of interest states.
INEOS is exploring the possibility of releasing a behind-the-scenes film on Manchester United as it documents its journey following the partial takeover.
THE INDEPENDENT
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says they “don’t want to normalise asterisks on the league table” as the competition faces up to a potentially critical season over its regulatory future.
Premier League ticket prices have risen by an average of 6.7 per cent, according to figures supplied to the Independent by the Football Supporters’ Association [FSA] and supplementary analysis, with Crystal Palace the only one of last season’s 17 surviving clubs to not raise their prices. Nottingham Forest have been responsible for the biggest increase.
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Michael Bridge and Mark McAdam go through the possible, pending and recently completed transfer business of all 20 Premier League clubs
DAILY MIRROR
Julen Lopetegui has vowed to ensure the West Ham captain’s armband does not weigh heavy upon Jarrod Bowen.
Joe Cole believes Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea frustrations were clear in the weeks before the manager left Stamford Bridge, despite overcoming a tough start to finish sixth in his one Premier League season.
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Sky Sports News’ Michael Bridge provides the latest update on Kalvin Phillips’ move to Ipswich Town
Roberto De Zerbi has claimed he left Brighton because he clashed with owner Tony Bloom and he could not accept “unfair things”.
DAILY STAR
Tony Pulis has praised Wrexham’s coaching staff and players for remaining focused on football amidst the ‘circus’ the Hollywood owners have created.
THE ATHLETIC
Southampton are working on a deal to sign Cameron Archer from Aston Villa.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is set to miss the start of the season through injury.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says new signing Joshua Zirkzee is “close” to being ready to start for the Premier League season opener against Fulham on Friday.
Joshua Zirkzee and Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag (credit: Manchester United)
Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is surplus to Enzo Maresca’s stylistic requirements only a year after joining from New England Revolution of MLS.
American businessman John Textor has entered a period of exclusivity to pursue the purchase of Farhad Moshiri’s majority stake in Everton.
Chelsea have made midfielder Cesare Casadei available for transfer.
Southampton are in advanced talks with Chelsea to sign Lesley Ugochukwu on a season-long loan.
Manchester United sponsor Qualcomm has triggered its two-year extension option on its front-of-shirt deal with the Premier League club.
Chelsea hope to sell striker David Datro Fofana this summer.
Vitor Roque, 19, is close to leaving Barcelona, despite only joining in January.
DAILY EXPRESS
Manchester United will make a renewed attempt to prise Frenkie de Jong away from Barcelona this summer, according to reports in Spain.
Crystal Palace have informed Jean-Philippe Mateta’s suitors that the in-form striker is not for sale this summer.
DAILY RECORD
Fears are growing that Rangers full-back Ridvan Yilmaz is set to be out of action for months after being carried off on a stretcher during a bruising Champions League defeat to Dynamo Kyiv.
Former Rangers star John Lundstram has been given pelters by Trabzonspor fans on social media after the Turkish Super Lig side were knocked out of qualifying for the Europa League.
Connor Barron will block out the noise from any Rangers fan protests on Saturday and insists the players are hurting just as badly after their Champions League exit.
SCOTTISH SUN
Rangers have sacked a new Celtic-supporting marketing guru after an offensive social media post was dug up by fans.
Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Rangers star Rabbi Matondo.
Adam Idah insists he is not returning to Celtic to be Kyogo Furuhashi’s back-up.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s new owners have stumped up £70,000 to have their kit released by suppliers Puma – after the old regime failed to pay the bill for last season’s strips.