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It may be a friendly on paper, but when Arsenal and Tottenham meet, there's rarely anything friendly about it. The North London rivals are set to face off in a high-stakes pre-season encounter this Thursday at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.

Arsenal head into the derby full of momentum, having won all three of their summer matches so far. Their latest victory was a thrilling 3-2 comeback against Newcastle United, a match that had just about everything.

Anthony Elanga gave the Magpies an early lead, but Mikel Merino equalised against his former club and an unfortunate own goal from Alex Murphy flipped the game in Arsenal’s favor. Jacob Murphy later leveled the score with a superb low drive, only for Arsenal to win it late from the penalty spot, calmly converted by captain Martin Ødegaard after 15-year-old Max Dowman earned the foul.

Dowman, who has impressed against the likes of AC Milan and Newcastle despite his young age, has become the name on every Arsenal fan’s lips. With new signings grabbing headlines, it's the teenager who has stolen much of the spotlight.

Adding in a behind-closed-doors win over Watford, the Gunners are now a perfect 3-0 this summer and will wrap up their Far East tour before hosting Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao at the Emirates.

Tottenham, on the other hand, have had a rockier road under new boss Thomas Frank. After starting strong with a 2-0 win over Reading, Spurs fielded two separate lineups in matches against Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town on July 26. Both games ended without a win, including a 2-2 draw in which Pape Sarr netted twice, followed by a goalless stalemate in front of 10,000 fans at Kenilworth Road.

Off the pitch, Spurs also took a hit with Morgan Gibbs-White committing his future to Nottingham Forest, dashing any transfer hopes. But with three more friendlies scheduled in three different countries, including a clash with Newcastle in South Korea and a much-anticipated meeting with Harry Kane and Bayern Munich in the Telekom Cup, there’s still time for Frank’s squad to build form and confidence.

For now, though, their focus is squarely on Arsenal. The Lilywhites haven't beaten their rivals in a competitive match since the 2021–22 Premier League season and are looking to end a three-match losing streak in head-to-head clashes. Whether it’s pre-season or not, pride is always on the line when these two sides meet.

Arsenal were soundly beaten

Manchester United are considering Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as potential striker signings, but any move for either player is expected to be complicated.

The club knows it needs to sell players before bringing in more reinforcements, and with the transfer window closing on 1 September, significant outgoings might not happen until the final days.

Sesko and Watkins are both highly rated, but neither would come cheap or easy.

Newcastle are also interested in Sesko, who scored 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga games last season and is seen as one of Europe’s top young strikers. With uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak’s future, Newcastle are watching the 22-year-old Slovenian closely.

As for Watkins, Villa have made it clear they don’t want to sell. United believe that stance could soften closer to the deadline, but the £60 million price tag being floated is seen as too steep for a 29-year-old whose contract runs until 2028.

For now, Rasmus Hojlund remains the first-choice striker under new manager Ruben Amorim. But the 21-year-old is still trying to prove himself after scoring just 10 goals in 52 games last season.

He showed some promise in United’s recent 2-1 win over West Ham in New Jersey, using his strength and speed to hit the post with a solo effort. Amorim praised the performance, but Hojlund has yet to score in pre-season, and one missed chance in the first half drew a frustrated reaction from his manager.

United have already spent close to £130 million this summer, bringing in attackers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, as well as young defender Diego Leon. While Cunha and Mbeumo can both play through the middle, Amorim sees them more as attacking midfielders in his system, which features two number 10 roles behind a central striker.

Amorim also recently said he prefers to sign players with Premier League experience, which makes Watkins an attractive option despite the high cost.

Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona, and several other players — including Antony, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrrell Malacia — were left out of the club’s tour of the United States. Amorim has made it clear United will not let them go cheaply, but if no deals are made, they could be welcomed back into the squad.

Compared to Hojlund, both Watkins and Sesko had better numbers last season. Watkins scored 16 goals in 38 Premier League games, while Sesko found the net 13 times in 33 appearances in Germany.

But it’s not just about goals. Watkins is known for his creativity and strong assist record. Sesko, on the other hand, is more of a traditional centre forward. At 6 foot 5, he offers physicality, pace and versatility. He can hold the ball up, run in behind, and score in a variety of ways.

In terms of style, Sesko may be a better fit for Amorim’s system if United want a more physical target man. Watkins is six inches shorter and plays with more movement, focusing on timing his runs into space.


RB Leipzig are believed to have set an £87 million asking price for Sesko, which combined with Newcastle’s interest, makes this a tough deal to pull off. But with United still weighing their options and the clock ticking toward deadline day, both players remain firmly on the radar.

With just a month left in the summer transfer window, Manchester United have reportedly put price tags on four players who are no longer in their long-term plans.

The Red Devils are set to open their 2025–26 Premier League season with a headline clash against Arsenal on August 17, a game that could shape the early narrative under new manager Ruben Amorim. But before fully shifting focus to matters on the pitch, the club is working to sort out their squad in the transfer market.

While United continue their search for a new striker and possibly a goalkeeper to compete with Andre Onana, they’re also looking to offload players who are out of favour. Jadon Sancho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia, and Alejandro Garnacho are all considered available for transfer, and the club is actively seeking buyers.

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, United are hoping to bring in a combined €110 million (around £93 million) from the sale of the four. Their individual valuations reportedly stand at €40.5 million (£34.2 million) for Antony, €35 million (£29.5 million) for Garnacho, €23 million (£19.4 million) for Sancho, and €11.5 million (£9.7 million) for Malacia.

Sancho has been in discussions with Juventus, but talks have reportedly stalled. Real Betis have shown interest in Antony, though his transfer fee and wages could complicate a deal. Garnacho is said to have received an approach from Chelsea, while Malacia currently has limited interest from other clubs.

United now face a challenging few weeks. The club understands that getting top dollar for all four may be unlikely, and their priority is shifting toward cutting the wage bill and keeping only those players who are fully committed to the project at Old Trafford.

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