Glasner becomes Forest's fifth head coach in a year

Oliver Glasner won three trophies in just over two years with Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest have appointed former Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner as their fifth head coach in less than a year.

The Austrian arrives at the City Ground as a replacement for Vitor Pereira, who was sacked on Tuesday - two minutes before an exit clause in his contract was due to expire.

“Oliver is a winner,” said Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

“It was clear that we share the same vision, the same ambition and the same relentless desire to succeed.”

Contact with 51-year-old Glasner, who left Palace at the end of last season, was initiated earlier this summer.

Nuno Espirito Santo began last season as Forest manager, while Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Pereira have had a spell in charge since September.

Glasner became Palace boss in 2024 and led them to their first major honour in his first season - the FA Cup - before winning the Europa Conference League last season.

They won the Community Shield in August, beating Liverpool on penalties.

Glasner said in January he would leave Palace because he wanted a new challenge, despite being offered a new contract.

On joining Forest, Glasner said: “From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident to me that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff to build a strong future together over the long term.

“That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential that I see within the squad, were key factors for me and I am excited about what we can achieve together.”

Glasner is one of only three coaches to win the Europa League and Conference League, having led Eintracht Frankfurt to victory in the former in 2021-22.

Marinakis said: “He has consistently demonstrated throughout his career that he can build outstanding teams and deliver success against the strongest competition.

“He has earned success through his leadership, his personality and the style of football his teams play.

“It has always been our goal to establish Nottingham Forest once again among the leading clubs in England and Europe.

“Our ambition is not simply to compete - our ambition is to win, to challenge for major honours and to create a football club that our supporters can be proud of for many years to come.”

Pereira, who replaced Dyche in February, guided Forest to 16th in the Premier League - five points above the relegation zone - and the Europa League semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Aston Villa.

Glasner arrives at Forest with a winning pedigree, but is he putting his reputation on the line?

His decision to walk into the managerial graveyard that is the City Ground can be viewed as risky.

Having won two major trophies with Palace, Glasner’s stock is high, but, given the changes in the last year, how long will that give him if results and performances do not meet Marinakis’ expectations?

There is no European football at Forest next season so fewer distractions will enable Glasner to settle and mould the squad, but it does not mean there is no pressure.

Pereira lasted 133 days, Dyche was in charge for 114 and Postecoglou only 39.

Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed only three games into last season after falling out with the club’s hierarchy following a successful 21-month reign.

Nuno criticised the speed of their transfer business last summer, fell out with global sporting director Edu and revealed his relationship with Marinakis had deteriorated.

Glasner himself is no stranger to disagreements with ownership, saying he felt him and his squad were “abandoned completely” by Palace’s hierarchy in January, which came after he revealed he would leave Selhurst Park.

So this new relationship could also be combustible.

Marinakis will demand Glasner repeat his Palace success at Forest, but he also has to bring the stability which the club desperately need.

Santos latest midfielder considered by Man Utd

Chelsea’s Andrey Santos is the latest player Manchester United have taken an interest in as they look to address their problem midfield position.

With Casemiro leaving after his contract expired on 30 June and Manuel Ugarte expected to be sold, United went into the summer with England’s Kobbie Mainoo as their only recognised central midfielder and with the stated aim of addressing the situation as a matter of priority.

Since then, events have taken a turn.

Ugarte sustained what the 25-year-old described as “the most serious injury a footballer can face” on World Cup duty for Uruguay against Spain.

United are yet to confirm the extent of Ugarte’s knee ligament damage. However, it is thought Ugarte suffered cruciate damage that would sideline him for the rest of 2026 at least and rule out any chance of him being sold.

In the transfer market, United have encountered more issues.

On 25 June, Manchester City agreed a club record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England international Elliot Anderson. He had been United’s number one midfield target.

Then, on 2 July, Tottenham paid a club record £85m for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. United had pushed hard to sign the Portuguese and genuinely thought he was a player they could attain.

However, once Spurs made their interest in Fernandes known, West Ham, under new direction through co-chair Daniel Kretinsky, were able to stick to a valuation in excess of £80m.

United would have been willing to pay £85m - albeit including add-ons - but ultimately felt if they had offered that sum, Spurs would have immediately gone to £90m. It is this kind of situation they are keen to avoid.

United have agreed a £35m deal with Serie A outfit Atalanta for Ederson but his late call-up to the Brazil squad means his medical will not happen until Carlo Ancelotti’s side are out of the competition. As with all United’s World Cup players, he will then get a minimum of three weeks off.

It means, unless the position changes, the only midfielder among boss Michael Carrick’s senior group when they return for testing and the pre-season training on 9 July will be Mason Mount, who is viewed as more of an offensive player.

On 18 July, the day before the World Cup final, United play their first friendly fixture, against Wrexham in Helsinki.

Of the eight first-team midfielders listed on United’s website, in addition to Mount, Carrick’s options will be Toby Collyer - who is wanted by Hull - Dan Gore, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham, who were relegated from League One, and twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher. The rest are all still on World Cup duty. Tyler Fletcher was a surprise call-up to Scotland’s squad after impressing in the build-up, but did not play.

United’s Premier League 2 skipper Jacob Devaney impressed in a central midfield role for Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren in the second half of last season. Jack Moorhouse, who made 14 appearances on loan for Leyton Orient in the first half of the campaign, Jayce Fitzgerald, Sekou Kone and Jim Thwaites are other central midfielders in United’s academy.

With a match against Norwegian side Rosenborg to follow on 24 July, United’s younger players have a chance to impress Carrick.

But it is fair to assume once United hit a run of high-profile pre-season matches, starting with Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August, Carrick will expect to have had the midfield situation addressed.

Alex Scott (Bournemouth): The 22-year-old appears to be the current main target. However, Arsenal are also keen on an industrious young player who overcame a difficult first 18 months at the Vitality Stadium injury wise to play a leading role in England’s 2025 European Under-21 Championship triumph. He made 37 league appearances last term as the Cherries finished sixth, their highest ever league position, to claim a Europa League place. The issue is twofold. Premier League champions Arsenal will be formidable competition. And, more importantly, Bournemouth have made it clear Scott, who has two years left on his current contract, is not for sale and they want to tie him down to a long-term contract.

Tyler Adams (Bournemouth): Adams is one of those players who rarely grabs attention but is a key member of whichever team he plays for. Adams did miss games last season with knee and hamstring problems and, prior to the 2024-25 campaign he needed back surgery. However, he was an integral part of Andoni Iraola’s side last term and has featured for every minute of USA’s World Cup campaign, other than the defeat to Turkey, which was a dead rubber. Like Scott, his Bournemouth contract runs to 2028. Unlike Scott, Bournemouth might be willing to sell Adams for £40-50m.

Andrey Santos (Chelsea): Had Liam Rosenior remained as Chelsea manager, Santos might not have been for sale. The 22-year-old featured for Rosenior at Strasbourg and made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season. He fits the same kind of profile as Casemiro, albeit with vastly less experience. BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella reported on 3 July “a number of sides are understood to be interested in Santos” and that “those close to Santos seem open to the possibility of a move”. He too could be available for around £50m.

Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund): Nmecha’s is another name being floated around. A former academy player at Manchester City, who was part of the Germany team stunned by Paraguay at the World Cup, Nmecha is well known to United’s director of football Jason Wilcox, who was formerly head of City’s academy. Nmecha did sign a new contract at Borussia Dortmund in March and United sources say there is nothing proactive happening in terms of trying to sign him at this moment.

Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid): A key part of the France side many predict will win the World Cup this summer. In some senses, Tchouameni would be the most attractive potential signing. He would almost certainly be the most expensive wage-wise at a time when minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to stop paying huge salaries. New boss Jose Mourinho will clearly have a major say in whether Tchouameni stays at the Bernabeu. The current feeling at United is that he will.

Carlos Baleba (Brighton): The present indication is that there has been a cooling of Manchester United interest in Cameroon international Baleba. However, given he was the subject of concrete interest, which was rebuffed, last summer, presumably all the background work has been done, meaning he could emerge as a genuine target again at relatively short notice. The drawback is Brighton are not weak when it comes to negotiation and there has been no suggestion that despite a dip in form, the transfer fee needed has dropped below £100m.

Palmer joins Luton on permanent deal from Hull

Luton Town have signed midfielder Kasey Palmer on a permanent deal from Hull City for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old scored eight goals in 23 appearances for the Hatters while on loan from the Tigers in the second half of the 2025-26 season.

Palmer helped Jack Wilshire’s side lift the EFL Trophy at Wembley in April and finish seventh in League One.

“I’m so happy to be back, although as everyone has seen from my socials, I’ve never really been away,” he told the club’s website.

“I loved every minute of my time here last season. The manager, staff, players and fans were unbelievable with me and I felt so welcomed into the Luton Town family.”

The Jamaica international began his career at Chelsea and went on to have spells at Bristol City and Coventry City before joining Hull in August 2024.

Wigan sign Crystal Palace forward Mustapha on loan

Wigan Athletic have signed forward Hindolo Mustapha on a season-long loan from Crystal Palace.

The 19-year-old had loan spells with German side FC Nuremberg and West Bromwich Albion last season.

He has played three times for Sierra Leone, making his debut in 2024.

Mustapha told Wigan’s website: “I am more than happy - I am really excited to get going and show what I can do in a Wigan Athletic shirt.

“The gaffer [Gary Caldwell] seems very genuine, and his vision really excites me. I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Man City's Ake in talks over £7m Fenerbahce move

Nathan Ake made six Premier League starts for Manchester City last season

Fenerbahce are in talks with Manchester City over a £7m deal for Netherlands defender Nathan Ake.

The Turkish club say personal terms have been agreed with the 31-year-old but sources have told BBC Sport that details for the transfer are still being finalised.

Negotiations are expected to conclude shortly however, with the Dutchman set to move in a deal that could be worth up to £8.5m with add-ons.

He made three appearances for the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup before their elimination by Morocco in the last 32.

Fenerbahce presidential candidate Aziz Yildirim is keen to sign Ake, who joined City from Bournemouth in 2020 for £40m and has made 177 appearances for the club.

He was expected to be sold by City this summer, with one year remaining on his contract, having had limited game time in Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge.

He made just 17 starts across all competitions last season with six of them coming in the Premier League.

“The player, who wore the jersey in the 2026 Fifa World Cup, will join our team in the Austria camp following the permission process,” Fenerbahce said.

Ake has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League during his time at Etihad Stadium.