Ruben Dias has signed a new six-year contract with Manchester City, the club announced on Monday.

The centre-back enjoyed a fantastic first year in English football and has been rewarded with a new deal that will keep him with the Premier League champions until 2027.

Dias joined from Benfica for a reported £65million (€89m) in September 2020, with his previous deal having run though 2025-26.

Ruben Dias has signed a new six-year contract with Manchester City, the club announced on Monday.

The centre-back enjoyed a fantastic first year in English football and has been rewarded with a new deal that will keep him with the Premier League champions until 2027.

Dias joined from Benfica for a reported £65million (€89m) in September 2020, with his previous deal having run though 2025-26.

Chelsea have been linked with Sevilla's French defender Jules Kounde throughout the off-season.

The 22-year-old centre-back did not play for Sevilla at the weekend and reportedly wants to exit the club.

Kounde would be Chelsea's second major signing behind Romelu Lukaku, as the transfer window closure approaches.

 

TOP STORY – CHELSEA FACING MONDAY ULTIMATUM ON KOUNDE

Chelsea's drawn-out pursuit of Sevilla's Jules Kounde has hit another speed bump with the Spanish club issuing the Blues an ultimatum, according to AS.

Sevilla have told Chelsea if they do not submit a suitable offer on Monday, then they have to meet Kounde's €80 million (£68m) release clause.

Chelsea have not tabled a firm bid for Kounde beyond €50m, while the LaLiga outfit had reportedly previously wanted €60-70m.

ROUND-UP

- The Star reports that Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Manchester United will force Dan James out, with Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion, Leeds United and Crystal Palace all in the running for the Welsh winger.

- Manchester United are unlikely to move for Atletico Madrid full-back and long-term target Kieran Trippier reports the Manchester Evening News. United's capture of Ronaldo means their transfer business is over.

- Sport reports that Juventus are ready to make one final effort to sign Miralem Pjanic back from Barcelona. Juve are willing to take Pjanic on loan, with the midfielder out of favour at Barca.

- Aston Villa are set to table a £15m bid for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones according to the Express. The Villans are eager to strengthen having missed out on Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe.

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone declined to rule out Saul Niguez leaving the LaLiga champions before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Saul, who was a key part of Atletico's LaLiga-winning side last season, has been heavily linked with Champions League holders Chelsea and Premier League giants Manchester United.

Atletico midfielder Saul was a 70th-minute substitute in Sunday's last-gasp 2-2 draw at home to Villarreal and Simeone was asked about his future amid further speculation.

"He knows my view already," Simeone said. "We talked and I told him what I think and feel. There's not much else.

"Between now and Tuesday we'll see. We are open in the knowledge that anything can happen in football."

Saul had replaced Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, who Atletico revealed would undergo tests due to severe leg pain, having cancelled out Manu Trigueros' 52nd-minute opener.

Suarez is due to fly out to South America for Uruguay's 2022 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador over the next fortnight.

"Luis Suarez ended the game with severe pain in the back of his left leg," Atletico said post-game. "He will undergo tests in the coming hours to determine the extent of the discomfort."

Atletico needed a fortunate 95th-minute Aissa Mandi own goal to rescue a point, despite dominating proceedings with Villarreal scoring from their only two shots for the game.

Simeone's Atletico came from behind twice, with Suarez levelling up after Manu Trigueros' 52nd-minute opener, before Arnaut Danjuma restored Villarreal's lead with quarter of an hour to play.

Atletico have not lost any of their 17 La Liga games where Suarez scored (W14, D3).

"That's the joy of not losing a match that was heading in that direction," Simeone said. "It was an injustice, but this game can be like that. It was our best game so far."

Pep Guardiola does not believe Manchester City would have signed Cristiano Ronaldo had he not opted to re-join Manchester United as the Premier League-winning manager dismissed talk about the superstar forward.

United announced on Friday they had agreed a deal with Juventus, reportedly worth an initial £12.8million (€15m), to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford subject to personal terms, a visa and a medical.

Ronaldo had been tipped to complete a sensational switch to neighbours City before agreeing to return to the Theatre of Dreams for a second spell, having enjoyed a hugely successful first stint with the Red Devils between 2003 and 2009.

Asked if City – who have been linked with Tottenham's Harry Kane and Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland following Sergio Aguero's exit – would have signed Ronaldo had United not entered the race, Guardiola told reporters: "Umm, I don't think so."

Ronaldo joined Juve from LaLiga giants Real Madrid in 2018 and he remained an ultra-reliable frontman for the Italian powerhouse, scoring 81 goals in 98 Serie A games.

The 36-year-old scored 29 league goals last season and 36 across all competitions. In 2020-21, only four players across Europe's top five leagues scored more goals than his 36-goal haul.

Ronaldo is also contributing far less in other areas of the pitch than during his prime years. He won just six tackles last season, and only three in the league. Only five strikers with five goals or more in Serie A last season won fewer. In his 60-goal third season at Madrid, Ronaldo won 33 tackles.

The Portugal captain made 73 crosses in open play across all competitions, and 64 came in the league, the fifth-highest total of any five-goal-plus Serie A striker, but that number is far from what the former Sporting CP was producing at his career's peak. In his final season at United (2008-09) he put in 197 open-play crosses, and he topped 100 in each of his first three seasons at Madrid (2009-10 to 2011-12).

He continues to produce excellent figures, but he no longer vastly exceeds his expected goals (xG) totals and has instead almost exactly matched them in each season while at Juventus (2018-19: 28 goals from 28.3 xG; 2019-20: 37 goals from 35.84 xG; 2020-21: 36 goals from 35.34 xG).

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would not rule out Manchester United players leaving following the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Portugal star was "not signed to sit on the bench".

The Red Devils announced on Friday that they had agreed a deal with Juventus, reportedly worth an initial £12.8million (€15m), to bring the 36-year-old back to Old Trafford subject to personal terms, a visa and a medical.

The signing could not be completed in time for United's Premier League clash with Wolves on Sunday, which was settled by a Mason Greenwood strike in the 80th minute as Solskjaer's men set a new English league record of 28 away games unbeaten.

With an international break now coming up, Ronaldo's first chance to turn out for the club he left in 2009 is likely to be against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on September 11.

Solskjaer, who confirmed on Sky Sports that he intends to deploy Ronaldo more as a centre-forward than a wide player, hopes the new addition will be ready as soon as possible once the deal is concluded and he returns from Portugal duties.

"We need to get all the paperwork done. Hopefully we can get that sorted and announce it 100 per cent," Solskjaer said.

"He's away with Portugal, I think they've got three games, his last game is on the Tuesday, so get him back to Manchester with Bruno [Fernandes] and hopefully he'll be involved as soon as possible."

Ronaldo's comeback means United are stocked in attack and could look to offload some players before the transfer window closes.

Amad Diallo had been close to joining Feyenoord on loan, although an injury could reportedly scupper that move, while Jesse Lingard and Dan James have also been linked with departures.

"Of course, he [Ronaldo] was not signed to sit on the bench," said Solskjaer. "He's going to make us a better team, of course.

"There have been a couple of enquiries for some of our players and with the signing of Cristiano, we might give less playing time to a few.

"Dan is a Man United player at the moment."

United laboured for much of the first hour at Molineux and were indebted to a stunning double save from David de Gea to deny Romain Saiss shortly before Greenwood's winner.

"We got three points, get a clean sheet, on another day they might score one in the first half when Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] saves one off the line, or when David saves those two chances second half," Solskjaer said.

"With Mason, he's a special kid.  The boy is unique at hitting the target quickly: right foot, left foot, it doesn't matter to him.

"We've played better, definitely, but sometimes you've got to earn your luck and I thought we did."

Solskjaer was delighted with the performance of defender Raphael Varane, who was largely impeccable at the back and even earned an assist on his United debut.

"Top, top performance," Solskjaer said. "This was 'welcome to the Premier League': tempo, hustle-bustle, tackle, have to defend counter-attacks. He's good in the air, so composed on the ball and he's so experienced, nothing fazes him, and he was good in the dressing room before the game and at half-time.

"I'm delighted for him. I thought he showed his class."

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident "special" Mason Greenwood will go on to become a top player for club and country following his winning goal against Wolves.

Greenwood scored the only goal of Sunday's game in the 80th minute as United made it a record-breaking 28 successive unbeaten away matches in the English top flight.

In doing so, the 19-year-old became only the second teenager to find the net in the opening three matches of a Premier League season after Robbie Fowler for Liverpool in 1994-95.

Despite his promising start to the campaign, Greenwood was left out for the England squad ahead of the upcoming international break.

Although following discussions with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, Solskjaer admitted the decision was the right one for the youngster's development.

"The boy is special. Mason's a player we [Southgate and himself] can both see being a top player for Manchester United and England," he told Sky Sports.

"Of course, he wants to play for his country but at the moment, I think the best for him is to just focus on his everyday football. 

"I'm sure he'll come good for England in the end."

Solskjaer also heaped praise on David de Gea, who made five saves at Molineux to keep the hosts at bay.

Among them was a superb double-save from close range to deny Romain Saiss the opening goal in the 69th minute.

"David's found his determination and desire. He's come back with loads of energy,” added Solskjaer, who was taking charge of his 100th league match for the Red Devils. 

"You can see that in the work he's doing every single day. 

"The second save from that corner is special. That's not just hit him; that's reaction and he's got a strong arm to it."

Ruben Neves was furious that a "clear foul" by Paul Pogba was not given in the build-up to Manchester United's winning goal at Wolves.

The Red Devils claimed a 1-0 Premier League victory at Molineux on Sunday courtesy of Mason Greenwood's strike with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

The result moved United to seven points from their first three games and stretched their unbeaten run away from home to 28 games, a record in English league football.

However, Wolves were incensed that the goal was allowed to stand, with Pogba having caught Neves low on the shin in a 50-50 challenge on the edge of the home side's penalty area shortly before debutant Raphael Varane teed up Greenwood.

Referee Mike Dean allowed play to continue, much as Craig Pawson did in United's previous game at Southampton when a robust challenge on Bruno Fernandes prior to Saints' opening goal went unpunished.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Neves said: "Everyone saw it, everyone saw my leg. We always do meetings and everything with referees about VAR. I don't know why.

"They said before the season started they will look for contact – if the contact is strong enough, they will give the foul. I showed them my leg.

"I think maybe because last game it was a foul before the Southampton goal, maybe now they did the opposite. I showed my leg to the ref, I showed [it] to the assistant ref, I cannot say anything more.

"After the game, he said 'you both go to the ball' and I said 'yes, we both go to win the ball but I was the one who touched the ball'. It's a foul, a clear foul."

Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane and Graeme Souness agreed, with the former Liverpool midfielder branding the challenge "a leg-breaker", but Pogba was adamant there was no reason to award a free-kick.

"My view is this is the Premier League, it's a 50-50. Every weekend, that is happening," he said.

"I need to see it again, but I didn't touch him. I won the ball and we scored. I need to see it again."

Manchester United broke the record for the longest unbeaten streak away from home in English football league history on Sunday.

The Red Devils made it 28 matches on the road without defeat as they won 1-0 at Wolves courtesy of Mason Greenwood's 80th-minute strike.

They had equalled Arsenal's 27-game run set in the 'Invincibles' season of 2003-04, with a 1-1 draw at Southampton last week.

United's last away defeat in the Premier League was against Liverpool at Anfield on January 19, 2020. They have won 18 and drawn 10 of games on their travels since then.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have scored 50 on the road in that time, conceding just 18. Their top scorer in that run was Bruno Fernandes with 15, more than twice as many as any other United player.

Solskjaer has now overseen 100 league matches in charge of United, becoming only the ninth manager in the club's history to reach the milestone. Only Ernest Mangnall (54) won more of his first 100 in charge than the Norwegian (53).

Mason Greenwood struck a late goal to give Manchester United a 1-0 Premier League win at Wolves on Sunday and ensure the Red Devils set a record for matches unbeaten away from home.

The teenager's right-foot finish settled a tight contest in which Wolves had looked the more dangerous for much of the first hour, David de Gea making one incredible save to keep the scores level in the second half.

United, who handed first starts to Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, grew into the game after toiling early on and eventually took maximum points while making English football league history with a 28th league game without defeat on their travels.

It capped a memorable week for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, who are set to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club from Juventus in the coming days.

Adama Traore, starting despite speculation linking him with Tottenham, set up Francisco Trincao for the best of the early chances only for De Gea to save well with his feet.

Wolves looked deadly on the break and only a superb goal-line block from Aaron Wan-Bissaka stopped Trincao from rolling in the opening goal, Fred having failed to halt his advances after blocking the ball into his path.

Bruno Fernandes fired the ball into the net from Paul Pogba's ball over the top but the offside flag was raised, as United ended the half without a shot on target.

They finally tested Jose Sa just before the hour mark, Fred's volley kept out after Fernandes had just failed to tee up Greenwood.

United were all over the place when Greenwood lost the ball in attack, Traore rolled it to Trincao 12 yards out, but he miscued his finish and could not even find the target. The United forward then set himself up for a run into the Wolves box with a brilliant touch only for his control to let him down and let the hosts off the hook.

After Traore forced another Wolves corner, De Gea made a remarkable double save to keep out Romain Saiss' header and then stop the defender smashing home the rebound from point-blank range.

It proved a pivotal moment. With 10 minutes remaining, Ruben Neves gave the ball away near his own box and Mike Dean waved away free-kick appeals, Varane fed Greenwood, and the teenager's strike was too powerful for Sa to keep out.

 

What does it mean? Record for United but little to impress Ronaldo

Away fans held aloft a cardboard cut-out of Ronaldo in the first half. There was little to suggest the real-life United attackers on the pitch were posing any more of a goal threat early on.

Seven points from three games is a big improvement on the three they managed last season, but they were given serious tests by Southampton and Wolves and rarely looked in control of either match.

The pressure is on Ronaldo to make a real difference when he returns.

Traore torments United

Whether he will still be a Wolves player after the international break remains to be seen, but fans will certainly hope to see Traore in black and gold again.

He was a menace to United throughout, creating more chances (four) than any other player on the pitch and running the backline ragged.

Sorry Sancho

Sancho's full debut was far from the one he and United fans would have envisaged.

The England winger spent 72 minutes on the pitch, during which time he failed to have a shot or create a chance, while he also lost all six of his contested duels.

What's next?

Following the international break, United will hope to have Ronaldo available for the home game with Newcastle United on September 11. Wolves head to Watford on the same day.

Nuno Espirito Santo says being top of the Premier League "doesn't mean anything" after Tottenham maintained their perfect start with a 1-0 win over Watford.

Son Heung-min marked his 200th Premier League appearance by scoring with a free-kick that he surely intended as a cross in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

The South Korea forward's goal move Spurs to the summit and made Nuno just the second boss to win each of his first three league games in charge in the London club's history – Arthur Rowe being the first way back in 1949.

Tottenham have won their opening three matches in a league campaign without conceding a goal for the first time in their history, but Nuno – whose team have scored only three goals – is not getting carried away early in his reign.

Asked about being top heading into the international break, Nuno said: "That doesn't mean anything at all, that doesn't mean anything.

"I invite everybody, not only the players, but our fans to don't pay attention to that. Don't pay attention to that. Let's keep on working, we still have a long way and a lot of aspects to improve on."

Nuno was impressed with the way his side kept the Hornets at bay, but wants to see more ruthlessness up top – Spurs managing eight attempts on target in total.

He said: "What pleased me is when we could not kill the game, we had chances to do so, we didn't lose our minds, we stick together, and we were compact, we did not allow too many chances to Watford.

"That was good. The balance between these two aspects was good, and in the end, the way we managed the game.

"Something I didn’t like: we should be more clinical, I think we had enough quality and talent players to kill the game."

Nuno also suggested Argentine duo Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero would be travelling to South America for international duty, despite it meaning the duo would have to quarantine for 10 days on their return to the United Kingdom.

"We are trying to anticipate the damage, we are working on that," said Nuno.

Tottenham are top of the Premier League while Arsenal sit bottom for the first time in top-flight history.

Son Heung-min's free-kick sunk Watford 1-0 on Sunday and maintained Spurs' perfect record after three matches – the first time they have opened a campaign with three consecutive wins without conceding.

Son's strike on his 200th top-flight appearance also meant Nuno Espirito Santo's men became the second team in Premier League history to open a season with a trio of 1-0 wins.

Contrastingly, Arsenal are winless and goalless after three games for the first time ever, Manchester City crushing Mikel Arteta's side 5-0 on Saturday.

That loss extended the Gunners' top-flight losing run to nine against City, their outright longest-ever run of consecutive defeats against an opponent in their league history.

Indeed, Arsenal are just the second team after Wolves in 2003-04 to lose their first three games and have a goal difference of -9 – a season in which Wolves finished bottom of the table.

Arteta remains in search of a much-needed first win after the international break against Norwich City, while Spurs travel to Crystal Palace as they look to maintain their perfect start.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the return of Cristiano Ronaldo will provide everybody around the club with a timely boost.

United announced on Friday that a deal had been agreed to bring the Portugal captain back to the club for a second spell.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo will reportedly move from Juventus in a deal worth £12.8m (€15m) plus £6.9m (€8m) in add-ons.

The 36-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful first stint with the Red Devils between 2003 and 2009.

The forward scored 118 goals in 292 appearances while winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup before his world-record transfer to Real Madrid.

And Solskjaer is excited by the potential impact of his former team-mate, who is said to have undergone a medical in Lisbon this weekend.

"The fans have been excited for the last couple of days, we all are of course," he told MUTV.

"He has had such a great career and he has been here before. 

"Hopefully, we can just finalise the paperwork and announce it. 

"I played with him, he's a great player, he is a top human being, he is a top professional, so he will give everybody in the squad and everybody around the club a buzz."

Meanwhile, Luke Shaw says he and his team-mates cannot wait to line up alongside Ronaldo and tap into his vast experience at the highest level.

"I feel like it's given the club a massive lift, not just inside but also outside," the defender told Sky Sports.

"Obviously, it's a big positive. He's been one of the best players in the world for a number of years now. 

"Everyone is excited for him to come in and not just learn from him but to be able to play with him too."

Raphael Varane was handed his Manchester United debut in Sunday's Premier League clash with Wolves, while Jadon Sancho was included in the starting line-up for the first time.

United officially completed the signing of Varane from Real Madrid two weeks ago and the centre-back was an unused substitute in last week's 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Sancho had made two substitute appearances since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, playing a combined 46 minutes in the Red Devils' opening two league games.

Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial dropped out of the side from the draw at St Mary's to make way for Varane and Sancho respectively.

The omission of Daniel James was the third change made by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Nemanja Matic coming into the side for the showdown at Molineux.

Paul Pogba once again started and was looking to build on an impressive start to 2021-22 that included five assists in his first two outings – the most by a Premier League player at this stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo will have to wait to make the first appearance of his second spell for United as his high-profile switch from Juventus has yet to officially go through.

Edinson Cavani was in contention to feature for the first time this season at Molineux as a substitute after being given an extended break following his Copa America exertions with Uruguay.

Wolves boss Bruno Lange named the same starting line-up that fell to a 1-0 loss to Tottenham last week, meanwhile, but Willy Boly and Daniel Podence were back among the substitutes.

United had lost just one of their last eight Premier League meetings with Wolves heading into Sunday's contest, going down 2-1 at Molineux in April 2019.

Son Heung-min marked his 200th Premier League appearance with a goal as Tottenham beat Watford 1-0 to go top of the fledgling table.

South Korea forward Son was on target in the first half with a free-kick that he surely intended to be a cross at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Son's goal in his landmark top-flight game was enough for Spurs to go into the international break at the summit, with the only 100 per cent record after three matches.

Tottenham, who had Harry Kane in the starting line-up for the first time domestically this season after he opted to stay at the club, have not conceded a top-flight goal in 2021-22 amid a promising start to Nuno Espirito Santo's reign.

Watford fashioned a good chance to take an early lead in an entertaining start, but Eric Dier got his head in the way of a shot from Juraj Kucka after he was set up by former Spurs midfielder Moussa Sissoko, who was making his debut for the Hornets.

Daniel Bachmann kept out a shot from Japhet Tanganga following a Spurs corner before a combination of Dier and Sergio Reguilon thwarted Joshua King at the other end.

Tottenham were not posing much of a threat until Son whipped in a free-kick from the left that evaded everybody and found the far corner of the net.

Watford lost captain Craig Cathcart to injury early in the second half, but they had opportunities to equalise when an unmarked Kucka fired off target before Ismaila Sarr's shot from close range was blocked by Davinson Sanchez.

Spurs came close to doubling their lead with a rapid counterattack, Son surging forward and laying the ball off to Kane, whose inviting pass was drilled wide by Dele Alli.

Sissoko was given a great ovation from the Tottenham fans when he was substituted just a couple of days after leaving the club, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's deflected free-kick was palmed wide by Bachmann a few minutes later.

Brilliant defending from William Troost-Ekong denied Kane a tap-in and Bachmann kept the England captain at bay, but Son's goal was enough to put Nuno's side top.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.