Everton’s €43m Bid for Abde Ezzalzouli Blocked by Betis Clause
Everton tried to crash the market late. Real Betis simply pointed to the contract.
According to reports in Spain, the La Liga side received a €43 million offer from Everton for Abde Ezzalzouli in the final stages of the summer window. The bid was structured at €35m guaranteed with a further €8m in bonuses. Betis didn’t blink. They made it clear they would only talk at €60m – the value of the winger’s release clause.
No discount. No negotiation. No deal.
United’s three-year blueprint to get back to the top
At Old Trafford, the rebuild is being drawn with a ruler rather than a crayon.
Manchester United’s hierarchy, reshaped under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have put in place a three-year plan aimed squarely at turning the club into Premier League champions by 2028, as reported by the Daily Telegraph. The strategy is tiered: attack, midfield, then defence.
The first step comes in 2025, when United intend to upgrade their forward line. This summer is earmarked for midfield surgery. Then, 12 months later, the spotlight shifts to the backline, with defensive reinforcements set to dominate the 2026 window.
It is a long game. But for the first time in years, United’s transfer policy is being framed as a sequence rather than a scramble.
Martinelli set for record-breaking Arsenal exit
In north London, a major chapter is closing.
Gabriel Martinelli is on the verge of completing his move from Arsenal to Al Hilal after flying into Riyadh earlier this week and passing his medical. The deal is worth €70 million and will rewrite Arsenal’s record books.
Once confirmed, Martinelli will become the club’s most expensive sale at around £60m, eclipsing the £35m Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017.
A fan favourite, a pressing machine, a symbol of Mikel Arteta’s early rebuild – now set to swap the Emirates for Saudi Arabia and leave Arsenal with a sizeable hole on the left and a hefty cheque to reshape the squad.
Enzo lands at City and leaves a parting shot for Chelsea
Enzo Fernandez didn’t just change clubs. He changed tone.
The Argentina midfielder completed a British record-equalling £125m move from Chelsea to Manchester City late on deadline day. Barely through the door, he made it clear how he views the step.
“I’m really happy to be here. I always dreamed of being at a club as big as City,” he said after signing. For Chelsea, those words will sting.
Fernandez called it “a very emotional moment” for him and his family, describing the transfer at 25 as the move he had always imagined in his career. He spoke of already feeling the scale of the club and promised City fans they would “enjoy ourselves and win lots of things together.”
Chelsea lose a marquee signing. City add another high-end midfielder to a squad already stacked with them.
United prospect Obi heads to Willem II
One of United’s brightest young forwards is heading out to play real minutes.
Chido Obi is set to join Eredivisie side Willem II on loan, subject to registration. The Denmark Under-21 international broke into the United first team under Ruben Amorim in the 2024–25 season, making eight senior appearances, but saw his path blocked last term and only made the bench once.
He responded by dominating at youth level instead. Obi featured regularly for United’s Under-21s, helped drive them to the FA Youth Cup final and scored 20 goals in 37 games across all competitions.
Now comes the test that really matters: can he turn that promise into production in a top-flight European league?
