Weekly Highlights No. 3

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#1: Aston Villa Advised to Sell Women's Team to Fund Rashford Transfer

On June 15, financial expert Dan Plumley suggested that Aston Villa sell their women's team to facilitate the purchase of Marcus Rashford. This move could help the club address two major issues: compliance with the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) and improving their budget for signing players for the men's team.

Aston Villa can take inspiration from Chelsea, which sold its women's team to BlueCo, led by owner Todd Boehly, for $269 million in 2024. This sale helped Chelsea turn a loss of $122 million in the 2022-2023 season into a profit of $173 million in the following year.

Aston Villa is currently struggling to meet PSR requirements after finishing sixth in the Premier League, missing out on the Champions League, and losing approximately $130 million in revenue. Financial pressures are also affecting their transfer activities, as they need funds to secure Rashford from Manchester United and retain players like Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans.

Rashford, who impressed during his loan at Aston Villa, is valued at around $50 million by Manchester United. Although Villa faces competition from Barcelona, the Spanish club's focus on other targets may increase Villa's chances of securing Rashford's services.

#2: Mourinho Wants to 'Rescue' Sancho

Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, has reached out to Manchester United regarding the potential signing of Jadon Sancho. According to the Telegraph, discussions will determine whether this will be a loan or a permanent transfer.

Manchester United is expected to cover part of Sancho's weekly salary of nearly $300,000 if he is loaned to Fenerbahce. However, the club reportedly prefers to sell the English midfielder outright to boost their transfer budget. Fenerbahce is willing to offer $21 million for Sancho, proposing a three-year contract with an option for a one-year extension and an annual salary of $14 million.

Juventus and Napoli are also interested in Sancho but have proposed significantly lower salaries. Sancho previously made a strong impression at Dortmund, scoring 50 goals and providing 65 assists, prompting Manchester United to pay $107 million for him in the summer of 2021. Unfortunately, he has underperformed at Old Trafford, netting only 9 goals and 6 assists in 58 Premier League matches.

After a fallout with Erik ten Hag, Sancho was loaned back to Dortmund for the latter half of the 2023-2024 season. United is currently busy in the transfer market, seeking exits for Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Antony, while also exploring goalkeeper Andre Onana’s future. Meanwhile, they have signed Matheus Cunha for $85 million and are pursuing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for over $80 million.

#3: Messi Named in Best XI of Round Two at FIFA Club World Cup

The best XI of the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 features stars like Angel Di Maria, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi. Messi was named the player of the match in Inter Miami's comeback victory over Porto, scoring a stunning free-kick to secure a 2-1 win. This marks his first inclusion in the best XI after missing out in the first round.

This victory is historic, as it is the first time a U.S. club has won a match in the Club World Cup, and the first North American club to defeat a European team in an official match. Coach Javier Mascherano revealed that Messi played through pain to complete the game against Porto.

No player has appeared in both best XI selections released by FIFA. In round two, notable forwards include Kane, who scored to help Bayern Munich defeat Boca Juniors, and Jhon Arias, who opened the scoring for Fluminense against Ulsan Hyundai.

After two rounds, four teams have advanced: Flamengo, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Juventus. Seven teams have been eliminated, including Auckland City and Urawa Red Diamonds. The final round of group matches will take place on June 24, with knockout rounds scheduled from June 28 to July 14.

#4: Pep Guardiola Set to Overhaul Manchester City Squad

Pep Guardiola has indicated that he will need to "cleanse" the Manchester City squad following the arrival of new signings. Notably, English players Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Kalvin Phillips have been left out of the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S.

Ilkay Gundogan is the latest player rumored to be leaving Etihad Stadium amid interest from Galatasaray. Guardiola expressed a preference for working with a smaller group of players, stating, "With Ilkay, there’s no good news. I don’t know anything because I haven’t had time to talk to him."

Currently, Manchester City has a large squad, with over 30 players, making it difficult for everyone to get playing time. As a result, some players may be loaned out or sold before the summer transfer window closes in early September.

Young midfielder James McAtee is seeking a new club after opting to participate in the U21 European Championship instead of the FIFA Club World Cup. Mateo Kovacic's future remains uncertain, and John Stones might return to Everton after a disappointing season. Additionally, Grealish has attracted interest from Napoli, but no official offers have been made to Manchester City yet.

#5: Lamine Yamal Challenges Ronaldo Ahead of Nations League Final

Young star Lamine Yamal has sent a challenge to Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the UEFA Nations League final. A year after EURO 2024, Yamal returned to Germany and once again triumphed over France in the semifinals of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25, contributing two goals in a stunning 5-4 victory for Spain. Alongside Yamal, Nico Williams, Mikel Merino, and Pedri scored the remaining goals, while France's Kylian Mbappe, Rayan Cherki, Kolo Muani, and a Vivian own goal accounted for their scores.

Yamal's impressive performance made him the youngest player in history to score a brace for Spain. Reflecting on the match, he acknowledged France's strength but expressed joy in their victory. Spain will face Portugal in the final at the Allianz Arena on Sunday, marking a showdown between the rising star Yamal and football icon Ronaldo.

When asked about facing Ronaldo, Yamal expressed respect for the legend but emphasized his intent to win. He aims to cap off a remarkable season by winning the final and improving his chances for the Ballon d'Or. Yamal's recent performances have put him in the spotlight as a leading contender for this prestigious award, alongside Ousmane Dembele. He was named Man of the Match in the semifinal, reinforcing his rising status in football.