Ryan Gravenberch believes he has joined one of the biggest clubs in the world after sealing his £35million move to Liverpool.
The 21-year-old Netherlands midfielder has signed a long-term contract at Anfield after spending one season at Bayern Munich.
“I’m very happy. Very happy that the deal is done and I’m finally here,” Gravenberch told Liverpoolfc.com.
“If you see it from the outside, it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. Also the fans, the stadium, I think everything from the outside is top. So that’s why (it was the right club).”
Revealing that he spoke to fellow Dutch players Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo ahead of his switch to Merseyside, Gravenberch added: “Yeah before the move I spoke a lot with the guys and they said we have a good team and everything is top here.
“Actually my decision was quick. I left his office (Jurgen Klopp) with a great feeling and I can’t wait to start working with him on the pitch.
Klopp is enthusiastic about his reinvented midfield and believes the club have done good business this summer.
The Liverpool manager was always planning to revamp that department of his team this summer but even he did not expect to change the whole unit, only for the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia to force him into a radical overhaul.
Argentina’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and RB Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai were early arrivals as part of the planned revamp.
But the addition of Wataru Endo and Gravenberch, who was a long-term target but was considered unavailable, came much later than expected after Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia both turned down a move to Anfield in favour of Chelsea.
“We pretty much had to reinvent the team. The midfield is all ready and will be completely new,” he said.
“We had to do that in a season where we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, which has a massive impact.
“I know people expect it to be different but it is how it is. I really think we did good business, the players we brought in are really good, will help the team.
“We are less experienced but that is normal, but we are full of desire and I love this team.”
Mac Allister, who was initially asked to play an unfamiliar holding role, and Szoboszlai have both settled in quickly, which was to be expected as they had a full pre-season to adapt to Klopp’s methods.
The manager expects them to make bigger strikes, although he conceded Endo will take longer after only arriving from Stuttgart mid-August, but believes they have the capability to match the successes of the players they have replaced.
“The natural skill-set is obvious but we had to replace the most successful midfield in the young (recent) history of this club,” added Klopp ahead of Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa.
“Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Gini Wijnaldum a few years ago. All had big parts in the team. Naby (Keita), (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain, they all played big parts in that midfield.
“In our best periods I remember you asked me the question if we had enough of a goal threat from this midfield when we scored all the goals from the front line.
“I think we have much more goal threat in midfield now but the work-rate these guys put in, the stability they gave us was second-to-none and that is what we have to create as well.
“We will see how we do that because we can play different systems, we have to think about that during the season definitely.
“But I think it is clear the players we brought in have real quality, are young and in a super way really excited about the opportunity of being here, so that’s a cool mix.”
Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma saw West Ham continue their fine start to the season as they went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Luton.
The Hatters, who were hosting a top-flight clash for the first time since April 1992, tried to make a quick start as Ross Barkley dragged a volley wide from just outside the box.
West Ham offered little as an attacking force in the opening exchanges bar a Said Benrahma shot that flew wide, as Barkley had another chance for the hosts after 15 minutes, once more failing to test visiting goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from a decent position.
Bowen had been kept quiet until the 26th minute when he took Nayef Aguerd’s long ball on his chest and fired narrowly wide.
The visitors almost led after 36 minutes when Edson Alvarez fired goalwards, denied by a brave block from Mads Andersen, with Benrahma curling the loose ball wide.
They were in front just 60 seconds later as Lucas Paqueta was given time and space to pick out Bowen, whose close-range header had too much power for Thomas Kaminski.
Luton responded well to the goal as Elijah Adebayo fired a decent opportunity over the top and then Ryan Giles got away on the left, his cross nodded on to the roof of the net by Carlton Morris.
Town ended the half on the front foot with a corner causing trouble inside the area and Tahith Chong nudging the ball behind from a good position.
The Hammers thought they had doubled their lead five minutes after the break when Emerson blasted the ball into the net after some ponderous defending, only for the offside flag to be raised and the goal disallowed following a VAR check.
Buoyed by still being in the game, the Hatters looked to restore parity with Marvelous Nakamba’s inviting ball into the box not being read by Adebayo, who was unable to turn the ball in under pressure from Aguerd at the back post.
Bowen sensed a second just after the hour mark after being left unmarked once more but this time couldn’t beat Kamsinki.
Roared on by a vociferous home crowd, Luton tried their utmost to find a way back into the game and almost did so when the ball dropped to Morris eight yards from goal, but his shot appeared to take a nick off Aguerd and go over.
West Ham then made them pay with four minutes to go as James Ward-Prowse’s corner was met imperiously by Zouma and his downward header flew in.
Luton gave themselves hope in stoppage time with Morris’ header turned in by Andersen but the Hammers held on.
Goals from Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao helped AC Milan make it three consecutive wins with a 2-1 victory over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Goals at the start of either half by Giroud from the penalty spot and Leao’s spectacular overhead kick put Milan in prime position to make it three wins from a possible three.
Milan looked in cruise control but they were forced to play the last half an hour with 10 men after Fikayo Tomori was shown a red card.
However, Leonardo Spinazzola’s late consolation was not enough as Milan held on to go top of Seria A, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma remain winless.
Milan hit the front with nine minutes on the clock after Ruben Loftus-Cheek was brought down inside the area by Rui Patricio and Giroud stepped up to dispatch from 12 yards.
Milan could have made it two with 22 minutes on the clock but Christian Pulisic’s close-range volley was remarkably tipped over the bar thanks to Patricio’s sharp reflexes.
Roma had a chance just before half-time when Leandro Paredes was brought down outside the area – Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free kick was headed out to Stephan El Shaarawy who fired wide of the target just before the interval.
The visitors doubled their advantage three minutes after the break in outstanding fashion when Davide Calabria swung in a cross and Leao’s overhead kick arrowed straight into the bottom corner via the post to make it 2-0.
Roma were offered a lifeline on the hour mark after Tomori received a second yellow card for bringing Andrea Belotti down outside the area.
Roma went in search of a way back into the encounter and Romelu Lukaku was brought off the bench for his debut after signing on loan from Premier League club Chelsea.
The Belgium striker almost made an instant impact but his effort from outside the area sailed over the crossbar.
The hosts continued to knock on the door but failed to test Mike Maignan as Spinazzola’s audacious effort flew well over the bar.
Roma’s late pressure set up a grandstand finish when Spinazzola’s effort deflected past Maignan and into the net during stoppage time but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser.
Barcelona have signed Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid.
The Portugal forward has joined Barcelona until June 2024, with no option for a permanent transfer.
“The club wishes to thank the player publicly for the financial effort made and his desire to wear the Barca shirt,” read a Barcelona statement.
“Now, at just 23 years of age, and after expressing his long-held desire to be a blaugrana, Joao Felix has the chance to show the world his talent in a Barca shirt.”
Felix said of his move on the Barcelona Twitter feed: “It was always my dream since I was a kid.”
After breaking through at Benfica, Felix joined Atletico in the summer of 2019 and made more than 100 appearances in three-and-a-half seasons for them.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, scoring four goals in 20 appearances.
Barca later announced the arrival of Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo, also for the duration of the 2023-24 season.
The 29-year-old Portuguese, who has made 154 appearances for City, spent time with Bayern Munich last term.
Barcelona have signed Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid.
The Portugal forward has joined Barcelona until June 2024, with no option for a permanent transfer.
“The club wishes to thank the player publicly for the financial effort made and his desire to wear the Barca shirt,” read a Barcelona statement.
“Now, at just 23 years of age, and after expressing his long-held desire to be a blaugrana, Joao Felix has the chance to show the world his talent in a Barca shirt.”
Felix said of his move on the Barcelona Twitter feed: “It was always my dream since I was a kid.”
After breaking through at Benfica, Felix joined Atletico in the summer of 2019 and made more than 100 appearances in three-and-a-half seasons for them.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, scoring four goals in 20 appearances.
Jamaica’s senior Reggae Boyz Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson says his team will not only draw inspiration from senior Reggae Girlz Fifa Women’s World Cup exploits, but more importantly, build on the positives from their own Gold Cup campaign to achieve future success.
Hallgrimsson’s sentiments came as he named a 23-player squad for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League tournament, where they will be hunting qualification for next year’s 48th edition of the prestigious Copa America to be staged in the United States.
The Boyz, who will contest League A of the Nations League, are grouped with Suriname, Haiti, Honduras, Cuba and Grenada.
They are scheduled to open their account on home soil against Honduras on September 8, before tackling Caribbean rivals Haiti, four days later. Both games are scheduled for the National Stadium.
Following those games, Hallgrimsson’s side will play away to Grenada on October 12, before visiting Haiti on October 15.
To get to the Copa America, the Jamaicans are required to finish in the top six, as such, they will need to secure one of two spots from their group to progress to quarter-finals.
Should they do so and go on to win their quarter-finals fixture, the Boyz would automatically secure berth to Copa America, however, if not, then they would take the playoff route for a second shot at qualification.
With that in mind, Hallgrimsson, alluded to the Reggae Girlz, who became the first male or female team from the Caribbean to contest the knockout rounds at a World Cup since Cuba’s feat in 1938.
On the way to that accomplishment, the Girlz held top-ranked France and Brazil to goalless stalemates and also secured a first ever World Cup win with a 1-0 scoreline over Panama.
“A lot of positivity surrounds Jamaica’s football at the moment, the Girlz performance should give us energy for our games and we should try to use that to our benefit to go forward. But before I go forward, I want to look back at the Gold Cup, we were very satisfied with that tournament and we got even more positivity from analyzing those games,” Hallgrimsson said during a press conference on Friday.
“We feel that we are getting stronger as a unit and as a team. We had some good performances from players, some were new faces at the tournament with very little preparation period prior and we know those players will grow into the team and play an even bigger role than they did in the Gold Cup. So lot of positives, if we talk tactically, we know we can improve in areas like our attacking game, as well how we possess the ball,” he added.
On that note, Hallgrimsson only made four changes from that Gold Cup squad with Jonathan Russell, Kaheem Parris, Javain Brown and Kemar Lawrence being replaced by Tayvon Gray, Kasey Palmer, Greg Leigh and former Arnett Gardens standout Renaldo Cephas.
The American-born Gray, 21, who currently represents New York City FC, won the MLS Cup in 2021 and Campeones Cup in 2022. The right-back also represented the United States in multiple games at the youth level.
Aware that Jamaica contested the Copa America in 2015 and 2016, the Icelandic coach is hoping to also achieve the feat during his tenure, as he believes playing at that level will be integral to their preparations for a shot at making the 2026 World Cup.
“As I said we were very pleased with the Gold Cup so there are not much new faces for this camp. Time spent together is hugely important to us, so again qualifying for the Copa America will help us even more in preparation for the World Cup,” Hallgrimsson declared.
“Firstly, we want to win and be number one in Nations League. That is one thing, it is just an extra spice that doing well in this competition will give us a chance to play in the Copa America, an even bigger competition than the Gold Cup.
“In the process of growing as a unit, it is really important that we qualify for competitions like this to keep the growth going. So, we are just preparing ourselves playing in big tournaments like this,” he reasoned.
Moving up the Fifa rankings is another component of added significance for Hallgrimsson, who again made note of the Reggae Girlz rise from 43rd to 37th, as well as his team’s own move from 66th to 58th.
“Fifa ranking means a lot in national team football today. For example, in the Nations League the top four ranked teams United States, Canada, Mexico and Panama, don’t need to play in the group stage, they automatically qualify for the quarter-finals and that is a huge benefit for them.
“So we want to be in that position to not need to play a whole group stage to be able to play for top four. We want to be top four in the ranking and I would say if we get to 40, it would be a huge success for us,” Hallgrimsson noted.
Squad: Goalkeepers –Andre Blake, Jahmali Waite, Conniah Boyce-Clarke
Defenders –Damion Lowe, Tayvon Gray, Ethan Pinnock, Amari’i Bell, Di’Shon Bernard, Dexter Lembikisa, Adrian Mariappa, Greg Leigh
Midfielders –Kasey Palmer, Joel Latibeaudiere, Daniel Johnson, Kevon Lambert, Bobby Reid
Forwards –Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray, Dejuan Richards, Cory Burke, Shamar Nicholson, Renaldo Cephas
Inter Milan have announced the signing of midfielder Davy Klaassen from Ajax.
The 30-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Simone Inzaghi’s side which will take him to at least the summer of 2025.
Klaassen’s contract at Ajax was due to expire at the end of the season and he has been allowed to join the Italian side for free.
Klaassen has been capped 41 times by the Netherlands, scoring on 10 occasions and will now move to Italy for the first time in his career.
He becomes Inter’s sixth signing of the summer after Marcus Thuram, Francesco Acerbi, Yann Sommer, Benjamin Pavard and Alexis Sanchez all signed for the club earlier in the window.
Klaassen said on Inter’s twitter feed: “I think I’m an all round midfield player who can help the team in attack and defence and I want to win a lot of games and a lot of trophies with Inter.”
Inter Milan have announced the signing of midfielder Davy Klaassen from Ajax.
The 30-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Simone Inzaghi’s side which will take him to at least the summer of 2025.
Klaassen’s contract at Ajax was due to expire at the end of the season and he has been allowed to join the Italian side for free.
Klaassen has been capped 41 times by the Netherlands, scoring on 10 occasions and will now move to Italy for the first time in his career.
He becomes Inter’s sixth signing of the summer after Marcus Thuram, Francesco Acerbi, Yann Sommer, Benjamin Pavard and Alexis Sanchez all signed for the club earlier in the window.
Klaassen said on Inter’s twitter feed: “I think I’m an all round midfield player who can help the team in attack and defence and I want to win a lot of games and a lot of trophies with Inter.”
AC Milan have signed Serbia striker Luka Jovic from Fiorentina.
Jovic spent one season in Florence, scoring 13 goals in 50 appearances, after a three-year spell at Real Madrid.
“AC Milan is delighted to announce the signing of Luka Jovic on a permanent transfer,” read a statement from the Serie A club.
“The Serbian striker has signed a contract with the club until 30 June 2024.”
Jovic, 25, began his career at Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade before spells at Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and Real.
Forward Lorenzo Colombo, meanwhile, will spend the 2023/24 season on loan at Monza after extending his AC Milan contract until June 2028.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed Liel Abada’s contract extension after receiving “significant interest” in the Israel winger from elsewhere.
Abada has signed a new four-year deal after netting 29 goals in 105 appearances and winning five major trophies since joining the Hoops from Maccabi Petah Tikva in July 2021.
Rodgers told Celtic’s website he was delighted with the news, which follows extended deals for Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi earlier this summer.
“We know there was significant interest in Liel from other clubs so we’re delighted that he has committed his future to Celtic,” Rodgers said.
“Already he has made a great contribution to Celtic, delivering some great performances and making a real impact. His energy and ability are real assets to us and his delivery in terms of goals and assists from wide areas has been excellent.
“He is a fantastic young player and now we hope he can build on what he has achieved so far and develop even further.”
Abada added: “Every time I score for this club is really amazing. To score in Celtic Park is always special and the atmosphere is amazing.
“Hopefully I can show more this season for everyone and I will try and get better for the team.”
Rodgers has been keen to keep the core of his team together towards the end of the transfer window and earlier insisted Matt O’Riley was going nowhere after a reported £10million offer from Leeds.
Rodgers said at a media conference: “When you have good players, there’s always going to be interest but definitely Matt is a player that I want to have here and part of what I’m doing.
“I have been really impressed with him. We look forward to continuing working with him.
“We are trying to put strength into the squad rather than deplete it.”
Former Dundee skipper Charlie Adam played a key role in their latest signing after informing Burnley winger Marcel Lewis he was on his way to Dens Park.
Boyhood Dundee fan Adam is Burnley’s loan manager and helped secure a deal for the 21-year-old former Chelsea youth player.
After his first training session, Lewis told Dundee’s website: “Charlie Adam at Burnley gave me a phone and said I was coming up to Dundee which I was over the moon about.
“Charlie told me that the club is a great place to be with great players and a really good set-up.
“I want to get as many games as I can and pitch in with goals and assists to help the team.”
Lewis moved from Chelsea to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and had a loan spell at Accrington before making a permanent switch to Burnley 12 months ago.
Manager Tony Docherty said: “He is a very productive attacking player who likes to drive at defenders.
“He is also a technically-gifted footballer, who has real ability on the ball and will help us be creative in that final third.
“He has been recommended by Jody Morris and Charlie Adam as an extremely-creative player and has been brought in to enhance an already-strong squad.
“Marcel gives us another young hungry player who wants to impress and prove himself in this league and I am delighted we have been able to bring him in.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has no doubts about his formula for success as he looks to put some teething problems behind him ahead of their first meeting of the season with Rangers.
The treble-winners go to Ibrox on Sunday on the back of a Viaplay Cup defeat by Kilmarnock and goalless home draw with St Johnstone.
It was the first time Celtic have failed to score in consecutive domestic games since May 2018, when they did so immediately after clinching the title for a second time under Rodgers.
Attacker Daizen Maeda last week admitted he was taking time to adjust to a new style of player after previous manager Ange Postecoglou’s tactics were instilled in him.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda during a training session at Lennoxtown )Andrew Milligan/PA)
Although Celtic embarked on a 69-game unbeaten run before Rodgers suffered the first defeat of his first reign, he feels the adjustment might take some time. But he is adamant his project will come good.
“I think it will do (take some time),” he said. “Listen, I’m not here to jeopardise the strategy of the team or lock the team and myself into anything that would fail or not work. It’s just time. It’s just time.
“I don’t really want to go on about injuries but there’s injuries to key players that can really make the system function.
“But I have absolutely no doubt… I know how to win. I know what it takes to win, and I will show the players how to win.
“It might not be in the first game of the season but over the course of the season and over the course of my time here I believe we will do that.
“But there’s just little details of what will improve with the players as we work forward.
“But my teams have always been based, and my body of work hopefully shows that, my teams have always been aggressive, on the front foot, attacking, creative and fast, powerful. And this team will be that over time as well.
“But in the meantime we need to continue to get results and look to improve.”
Rodgers feels the rivalry and pressure of Sunday’s occasion – in front of 50,000 home fans only – will ensure his side are up to speed.
“It’s an iconic game, a fantastic game to be involved in,” he said. “You certainly don’t need to motivate the players.
“Our opening three (league) games, we have won two and drawn one.
“More for me it’s the performance level. But when I analyse the game last weekend, we could have won the game four or five nil, if we get the early goal. The keeper makes a great save.
“But the performance level, I look at the speed of the game and the position of the game, it needs to improve, but I analyse the game and the fix of the things that we need to improve on, I have seen already over the course of the week. So I think we are only going to get better.
“You certainly don’t win a league in August. But it’s something we will improve on for sure.”
It has been another busy transfer deadline day as Premier League club’s work to get new signings in ahead of the 11pm deadline.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best deals done so far.
Nunes secures City switch
Premier League champions Manchester City were among the earlier movers, announcing a £53million move for midfielder Matheus Nunes from Wolves.
Nunes has signed a five-year deal at City, with the fee received a club-record sale for Wolves.
The Portugal international only joined Wolves from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
However, once a transfer to the Etihad Stadium looked in the pipeline, Nunes was determined to push the move through and did not train as talks continued.
“The opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers ever, and alongside some of the best players in the world was something I couldn’t turn down,” Nunes said.
Seagulls swoop for Ansu
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Brighton pulled off something of a deadline day coup with the signing of Spain forward Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
The 20-year-old academy graduate made 36 LaLiga appearances last season for Barcelona as they went on to win the title.
“This is a great deal for all of us,” Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi said on the Premier League club’s website.
“I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back at the level he deserves to be.”
Palmer excited by Blues project
Chelsea continued their recruitment drive with the signing of forward Cole Palmer on a seven-year contract from Manchester City.
The PA news agency understands the London club will pay an initial £40m for the 21-year-old academy graduate, with an additional £2.5m in possible add-ons.
Palmer’s arrival the 12th new recruit at Stamford Bridge during the summer – has taken the club’s spending under Todd Boehly’s ownership group past £1billion in three transfer windows.
“I’ve joined Chelsea because the project here sounds good and because of the platform I will have to try to showcase my talents,” Palmer said.
“It is a young and hungry squad and, hopefully, we can do something special here.”
Lenglet’s back again
Aston Villa have moved for defensive cover with the signing of France centre-back Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona.
The 28-year-old is no stranger to the Premier League having spent last season at Tottenham.
Lenglet’s arrival provides some additional depth at the back, with Tyrone Mings set for an extended spell on the sidelines with a serious knee problem.
“Of course, after Tyrone’s injury we were analysing how we can face the season,” said Villa boss Unai Emery.
“It was a very good opportunity, he has experience at a high level and in Europe.”
Reguilon is a red
Having kicked things off on Friday morning by announcing the signing of Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce, Manchester United later confirmed a loan move for Spurs defender Sergio Reguilon.
The Spaniard had been been training with the Red Devils – and could even feature against Arsenal this weekend.
“In life you have to be ready for everything and the chance to represent this great club with such an illustrious history is one that I could not turn down,” Reguilon told United’s website.
Rasmus Hojlund is fit to make his debut this weekend and Erik ten Hag says Sergio Reguilon could feature at Arsenal after his deadline-day loan switch from Tottenham.
Denmark international Hojlund joined United at the start of August for a fee rising up to £74million from Atalanta, but the 20-year-old has yet to feature due to a back complaint.
However, Ten Hag says the striker is fit to face Arsenal on Sunday, when goalkeeper Altay Bayindir – signed from Fenerbahce on Friday morning – and fellow deadline day arrival Reguilon will also be available for selection.
“Yes (Hojlund will be available),” the United manager said. “He had a good training week so tomorrow we have the final training.
“But he is doing well, responding well, so, yeah, he will be available for Sunday’s game.
“(Bayindir) will be in the squad as well, Altay, so happy. Now we have the keeper group fully there. We covered every position so I think we have a very good keeper group with the arrival of Altay.”
Asked if Reguilon could be involved at the Emirates Stadium, the United boss said: “He is here, he trained. Yes (he will also be available for Sunday).”
Ten Hag confirmed Reguilon’s arrival before the announcement was made confirming his loan switch from Tottenham.
The 26-year-old has joined on a season-long loan to help deal with United’s issues at left-back after Luke Shaw’s muscle injury compounded the absence of Tyrell Malacia and recent exits.
“In life you have to be ready for everything and the chance to represent this great club with such an illustrious history is one that I could not turn down,” said Reguilon, who could return to Spurs in January due to an option in the deal.
“Having spoken to the manager, I know what he needs from me, and I am ready to play my part in helping the team to achieve success.”
“I know that I can contribute to Manchester United this season; I am ready to fight for this group and show everyone my qualities.”
Reguilon spent last season on loan at Atletico Madrid and three years ago was linked with a move to Old Trafford, where Ten Hag believes the Spain international will succeed.
“He’s a very experienced player, played for big clubs, played already a lot of games in LaLiga, Premier League, so, yes, I think very good background,” Ten Hag said.
“We have seen he can play very intense football, so we are happy while we had a problem with Luke Shaw injured, Tyrell Malacia injured, therefore long-term out. So I think we responded very well on that emergency situation.”
On top of deadline-day moves for Bayindir and Reguilon, progress has been made in United’s move for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat.
A loan deal has been struck for the 27-year-old midfielder, who starred at the World Cup for Morocco and previously played under Ten Hag at Utrecht.
“There are so many rumours, but it’s nice, eh?,” the United boss said when asked about Amrabat.
“I think we have done good business, we constructed a strong squad and we are ready to go in to the fight.”
Pushed again on Amrabat, he said: “I can’t tell (you much) because I don’t know if he can sign, so if we have news, we will report it immediately.”
The PA news agency understands academy product Jonny Evans could also sign a deal for the rest of the season.
The Northern Ireland centre-back, 35, joined on a short-term contract in pre-season and has impressed Ten Hag.
There could be outgoings as well as incomings before the day is out, with multiple clubs looking at Eric Bailly, Donny Van De Beek and Mason Greenwood.
United announced last week that the latter would not recommence his career at the club, with teams in Germany, Spain, Italy and Turkey among those to express interest.
Marc Jurado joined Espanyol on a permanent deal on Friday and Alvaro Fernandez could return to Spain, but Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay look set to stay having been subject of interest this summer.
“If you see the schedule, it’s tough, it’s really condensed,” United boss Ten Hag said.
“When you see last season the World Cup, crazy season, the season takes longer, two weeks longer. We played (the) FA Cup final one week longer.
“We had a short break, we had a really condensed pre-season again, so we need numbers. But also we need not only numbers, the numbers have to be quality.
“I think, yeah, with this squad we have depth and we have quality players and we can be in a variety of systems and we are happy with it.
“We are ready to go into the fight.”
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is “excited” to get back in front of the home fans as his side look to make it four consecutive wins when Getafe visit the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Ancelotti’s side have picked up maximum points from their opening three matches, which have all been away from home while renovations were carried out at the Bernabeu.
Madrid are the only team in LaLiga to have picked up three wins from three but will face a challenge from Getafe, who have already taken a point off Barcelona this season.
Ancelotti told a press conference: “We’re really excited to be back at the Bernabeu, it looks quite different now.
“It’s important to get back to our stadium in front of our fans after some good performances in the opening three games. We can’t wait to return and pick up the three points.”
“I’m not in the mind of the fans. I am very excited about the season.
“Every single one of us, when the season starts, we are hungry to have an incredible campaign.
“It’s happened many times in the past and could very well happen again this year.”
Madrid will be without their playmaker Vinicius Jr for the clash after he was brought off in the 18th minute of their 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo with a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old is likely to be missing for several weeks and Ancelotti understands he will be a big miss.
He continued: “Being without Vini Jr means we lose a hugely decisive player for the next few games.
“Our approach won’t change but we’ll replace him with a player who has different attributes, so we’ll try to adapt our attacking movement.”
“We can replace Vinicius with Joselu and Brahim (Diaz). We don’t have to play with three forwards but I might well play with someone coming inside.
Despite losing Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad and Marco Asensio to PSG, Real have reinforced their squad with other options, including Jude Bellingham, who has made a fast start to life in Spain.
The 20-year-old has scored four goals in his opening three matches, becoming the first person to do that in Real Madrid colours since Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Ancelotti thinks the fans will be happy to see Bellingham play in front of the home crowd for the first time.
He added: “The fans will be delighted to see Bellingham play live at our ground. He’s got such a strong personality, he’ll love playing at the Bernabeu.
“I’m very happy with the squad. As I said before, we did all the work we had to do early on and when the season got underway, we were all sorted.
“It’s a competitive squad because we have a mix of quality, strength, energy and experience.
“We’re in good shape, despite having some real problems, which is always the way over the course of the season.
“It’s a good squad and we can replace our injured guys without many issues.”
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