Today’s rumours are just so not Rainbow Rhythms Let’s start with a disclaimer: today’s Rumour Mill may contain some Manchester United. Because, as has been the case for at least 11 years now, everyone knows United are just two or three signings away from being a real force – promise! Except, if Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to sanction any more incomings this summer, they will be very late additions, as shipping players out of Old Trafford is an urgent priority. Rasmus Højlund looks to be en route to Napoli where he will, no doubt, channel his inner Scott McTominay and emerge as Ballon d’Or-contending world-beater. RB Leipzig, Atalanta and Milan are also lurking with intent around the Dane, but Naples on a loan-with-option-to-buy style deal is the likeliest destination. We are all told Alejandro Garnacho will join Chelsea but time is running out for him to actually join Chelsea. Antony has long been expected to return to Real Betis, but apparently Bayern Munich are mulling over a shock swoop for the Brazilian. And Kobbie Mainoo is the latest of United’s hitherto hyped youngsters to be linked with the exit, with some reports claiming at least 10 clubs have been alerted to the midfielder’s situation. Mainoo has played zero minutes so far this season and is considering his next move. Continue reading...

The Bundesliga favourites thrash RB Leipzig 6-0, while Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund endure setbacks Remember when Harry Kane never scoring in August was a curio that felt like it needed an exorcism? Nobody in Germany remembers, and an era when Bayern Munich’s centre-forward seemed even vaguely stoppable seems like a very long time ago. The optics of his imperious second-half hat-trick in this opening game were very welcome, particularly in the light of the Bundesliga’s groundbreaking new TV deal which meant viewers in the England captain’s home country could see Kane do his thing on the BBC or on a choice of two different YouTube platforms. Yet the remarkable thing about Bayern’s first-night salvo is that they still would have destroyed RB Leipzig, one of their more challenging domestic hurdles of recent years, had Kane not showed up to the party. It was the dictionary definition of ruthlessness but Ole Werner, the new Leipzig coach, could have done nothing in his half-time team talk to change the course of events. By the interval, Michael Olise’s double and a brilliant Luis Díaz debut strike in between already had Bayern home and hosed. Kane’s contribution was merely extra cream and cherry if you were Bayern, or salt if you were Leipzig. Continue reading...

Manchester United are in discussions to sign Germany forward Giovanna Hoffmann from RB Leipzig.

Manchester City could rival Chelsea for RB Leipzig forward Xavi Simons, Brighton want more than £100m for Manchester United target Carlos Baleba, Roma are in talks to sign Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, plus more.