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Pep Guardiola has admitted he is in the dark over Manchester City’s summer transfer plans following their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

Saturday’s defeat at Wembley meant City fell short of becoming the first team in English football history to win back-to-back league and cup doubles.

After being pushed out on the final day of the Premier League season by Arsenal and falling in the Champions League quarter-finals to Real Madrid, the manager was asked if, after missing out on retaining two of the three trophies he won them in their time. historic triple season a year ago, there should be changes to the team.

Erik ten Hag was standing in the same spot he had been 15 months earlier when, at the height of his powers and popularity, he declared: “I love this club.” About 15 months later, he struck a defiant tone. “If they don’t want me anymore then I’ll go somewhere else to win trophies because that’s what I’ve done my whole career,” he said.

He was in the depths of Wembley after adding the 2024 FA Cup to the 2023 Carabao Cup. His first piece of silverware came when Manchester United had just beaten Barcelona when they looked to be in the title race. His second came after the combination of their worst ever Premier League finish and their worst ever Champions League campaign.

United decided they wanted Ten Hag. A kind of. And finally, after two and a half weeks in limbo, he was confirmed as their manager for next season; potentially longer, given that they are discussing a new contract. And yet, if there is a logic to doing an end-of-season review under the new owners as thoroughly as possible, if United were keen to avoid knee-jerk reactions, the process was hardly a vote of confidence in Ten Hag.

Erik Ten Hag wants Manchester United to take the “next step” in their pre-season tour after learning he will stay at the helm at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag’s position was under threat after a disappointing Premier League campaign in which his side finished eighth.

However, the 2023-24 season ended with a victory over rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final and following a review of the performance, it is understood the club decided to keep the Dutchman.

The 54-year-old’s next task will be to prepare for the club’s summer friendlies, the first of which is against Rosenborg in Norway on July 15.

Footballers’ unions have followed through on threats to take legal action against FIFA over the sport’s “unworkable” calendar.

Europe’s highest court will be asked to decide whether the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights – including Article 5 banning slavery and forced labor – was breached by football’s global governing body in its decision to introduce a Club World Cup with 32 teams.

Maheta Molango, chief executive of the English players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association, insists football cannot be “exempted” from workers’ rights rules.

Manchester United are looking to build a dynamic young squad, based primarily on under-24 signings, as they now review their recruitment after finally making a decision on Erik ten Hag’s future. The Dutch coach will have slightly altered influence amid contract extension talks, where he will not have the same responsibility for signings. The new Ineos hierarchy finally saw fit to give Ten Hag a chance to show what he can do within this new structure, which is closer to the Ajax system where he forged his reputation.

While the aim is to quickly restore United as a Champions League club, one of the significant points raised in the internal review – as reported The Independent two weeks ago – this is how Arsenal benefited from patience with Mikel Arteta. Ineos paid attention to how the London club endured a miserable 2020-21 as the Basque coach transformed the profile of the team into a much younger squad that was gradually integrated into his tactical ideal.

Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he is open to a big-money move to Saudi Arabia, saying as he nears the end of his career he could receive an offer that will pay him a life-changing salary.

The Manchester City vice-captain has a year left on his contract and has discussed a move abroad with his family, with his wife Michelle willing to consider it and his eldest child questioning how long he has left at the Etihad Stadium.

The German club are willing to spend big this summer as part of a much-needed overhaul of their squad. Former manager Thomas Tuchel specifically wanted a more defensive-minded central midfielder, and that’s a position Bayern are targeting.

Wharton has come out on top in many of their analyzes and Bayern are willing to pass on their previous interest in the youngster.

Chelsea have appointed Enzo Maresca as the club’s new coach.

The 44-year-old becomes the seventh Italian to manage the west London club after guiding Leicester to the Sky Bet Championship title.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how Maresca’s compatriots fared at Stamford Bridge:

The new Premier League season brings new storylines and new goals for teams to aim for.

Manchester City are aiming for a fifth consecutive title-winning campaign and will no doubt be hoping to repeat the feat of a few seasons ago and win another treble under Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal will be hoping to strengthen this summer and challenge City for the title again, while Liverpool move into a post-Jurgen Klopp era with Arne Slot taking charge for his first season in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag continues as Manchester United boss and will be hoping to add a third trophy to his cabinet in as many years, Sean Dyche will be looking to improve Everton amid takeover talks, while West Ham will hope that parting ways with David Moyes will bring a bigger one. exciting brand of football without sacrificing its strong results.

Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Brighton will all be pushing to finish in the European places again, while Chelsea face another rebuild, but this time under new boss Enzo Maresca.

Elsewhere, Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich will all be looking to stay in the top flight after winning promotion from the Championship, while Brentford, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Wolves, Fulham and Nottingham Forest are all targeting the top flight.

United moved quickly after the transfer window opened and want to make the England international their first signing of the Ineos era.

But there is a huge gap between the price Everton put on Branthwaite and the amount United are prepared to pay.