Carson was also at Liverpool when the Reds won the Champions League, FA Cup and Super Cup, while he made more than 100 appearances for Derby County and West Brom.
But it was at City where he enjoyed glittering success, including the Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 2023, after spending two seasons initially on loan from Derby in 2019.
Carson became a cult hero among fans, having played only 117 minutes in total as third-choice keeper behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega for much of his time at the club.
His last competitive appearance was as a late substitute in a Champions League last-16 second-leg draw with Sporting in March 2022.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, currently on loan at Inter Milan, called Carson an “absolute legend” in response to his announcement, while “The Goat” was how former team-mate Fernandinho reacted.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland was among the other City players – past and present – to comment, writing: “Miss you pal, all the best.”
Derby, where Carson spent six years, posted on Instagram: “Wishing all the best to Scott Carson. Congratulations on a magnificent career, Scott.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says goalkeeper Alisson will miss the game against Chelsea on Saturday after the Brazilian was injured against Galatasaray.
The 32-year-old had to be replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 56th minute of the 1-0 Champions League defeat in Istanbul.
Alisson limped off after saving from goalscorer Victor Osimhen, while striker Hugo Ekitike then pulled up after stretching for the ball and also had to be replaced.
Slot said the Brazil international had felt something when “sprinting back”.
“If my player is on the floor, nine out of 10 times I fear the worst and with the worst I mean that he cannot continue,” Slot said.
“It’s never positive if you go off like this. You can be sure he is not playing Saturday.”
Mamardashvili is in line for a Premier League debut at Stamford Bridge. The Georgian was signed from Valencia in the summer for £29m.
Alisson missed 10 Premier League games last season with a hamstring injury.
There is also a doubt over Ekitike, who limped off during the second half.
“I wasn’t really thinking that we had an injury, but Hugo felt something,” Slot added.
“He said he couldn’t continue, so we had to take him off. Let’s see how he is for the weekend.”
EFL fans have been left baffled over Portsmouth’s goalkeeper substitution.
Keeper Nicolas Schmid was forced off after suffering a first half injury.
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Portsmouth’s goalkeepers are the spitting image of one another
And he was replaced by deputy Ben Killip, with the pair sharing an embrace as they switched over.
It was an eye-cathcing sub as Schmid and Killip bore a striking similarity with one another.
They both have curly blond hair and beards, prompting confusion for viewers at home.
One reacted saying: “I swear Portsmouth just bought on a stunt double for their keeper. Absolute doppelganger.”
Another added: “Should have just swapped them at half time without anyone knowing.”
A third wrote: “Bit unfair cloning your starting GK, Pompey.”
And another commented: “Had me questioning my sanity.”
The incident took place during Portsmouth’s 0-0 draw with Southampton in the South Coast derby.
Shortly afterwards the match was interrupted by a pitch invader, who made it as far as the halfway line and appeared to gesture towards the away fans.
Saints also aimed a cheeky dig at their rivals by unveiling a provocative tifo before the match, showing James Beattie celebrating a goal against Pompey in 2003.
Southampton vs Portsmouth paused as pitch invader evades security before being dragged off by eight police and staff
PREMIER LEAGUE football is back after another dreary international break.
And the highlight of this weekend’s action is undoubtedly the mouthwatering Manchester derby on Sunday.
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Man Utd have a big decision to make over whether to give Senne Lammens a debut against Man CityCredit: Getty
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Gianluigi Donnarumma could line up for Pep Guardiola’s side after his deadline day moveCredit: AFP
City vs United is one of the top fixtures of the season.
But there could be some huge changes for both sides, with Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim each signing a new goalkeeper on deadline day.
Will Gianluigi Donnarumma and Senne Lammens get their first taste of English football action in one of world football’s biggest games?
SunSport’s tactical expert Dean Scoggins dives into another brilliant analysis…
NEW GOALKEEPER ‘TRAP’ BATTLE
I reckon both teams will be nervous about potential debuts for their goalies! But United fans should be the most nervous about what decision gets made.
City don’t cross it very much so that’s one thing in favour of sticking with Altay Bayindir over Senne Lammens.
Another thing in his favour is United have learned to play out with him, and Amorim may decide to leave Lammens out.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma, City don’t have to worry about mistakes, he will make stacks of saves, he’s absolutely class.
But what they should be nervous about is how they’re going to cope with playing out.
Pep’s hardly going to stop playing out from the back, but Donnarumma is perceived to not be great with his feet, which could give James Trafford a chance.
Andre Onana is mobbed and dances with Trabzonspor fans as Man Utd flop lands in Turkey to end Old Trafford nightmare
Tactically, United will play 3-4-3 and when they’re pressing from the front, they almost slot into a 4-4-2 diamond.
We’ll expect City to drop the centre-backs in and push the full-backs on. You’d then think the goalie plays over the top.
But United will put real pressure on then. The striker will drop on City’s No6 to stop him getting the ball.
They will then press either side with curved runs to block off Donnarumma’s channels.
United want to set a trap by leaving a City player free — they want Donnarumma to play to him.
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Altay Bayindir’s pass success means he could get the nod ahead of Lammens
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United will look to trap Donnarumma into making risky passes with a sneaky set-up
When he hits it, United are going to shuffle across. It’s a trigger for a press. And City fans will be very nervous in that playing-out scenario.
United should be willing to take that risk to make Donnarumma play those passes, and that could mean a lot of joy.
As for Lammens, he looks really confident on the ball. He puts his foot on the ball to bait people in.
But with City’s set-up, they leave United’s 8’s for a trap. That could see them take advantage of United playing out with a new inexperienced goalie.
I’m a bit nervous if Lammens goes straight in, it takes time on the training ground to prepare these things.
They’ve been very brave with Bayindir so far. Lammens is very confident on the ball but it takes time to get used to set-ups in the Premier League.
WHAT SYSTEM WILL PEP USE?
We’ve seen 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 so far. That’s with 11 injuries.
In attack they want to be in a 3-2-5 shape. But what they’ve done quite a lot this season, not successfully, is get into a 2-3-5 shape with a full-back moving in.
But up against Bryan Mbeumo, and with injuries, I’d be nervous about that shape.
Nathan Ake could come in for a back three, but I think Bernardo Silva will be the key man in this game with his interchanging.
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City will look to squeeze up with three at the back
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This could open the door for United to counter with four attackers
Tottenham and Brighton had loads of joy against City by leaving four up top.
I think City will use Matheus Nunes as a generic right-back with two in midfield like a 4-2-4 shape.
As for United, I think Amad Diallo will play on the left of attack, with Noussair Mazraoui at right wing-back.
There’s a question mark over midfield, is it two or one at the base? It depends on injuries.
HOW WILL MAN UTD ATTACK?
It’s a 3-5-2, but will Amorim start Sesko? United have been the most direct team in the league this season.
They’ve had the most direct chances but haven’t scored one yet.
Mbeumo’s gone close so that’s what they’re going to do.
I think Sesko has to play just for his physicality. Spurs used Richarlison to great effect against City.
If Cunha isn’t fit, you don’t want Mbeumo moved from the right. Don’t make two changes for the sake of one.
If Mount is out too, does Diallo go to the left? You’ve got other options at wing-back.
Diallo turned the game on its head last season and made a fool of Matheus Nunes so can do that job.
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Man Utd love having possession on the left… but they look to break on the right
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They are the most direct team in the Prem but are yet to score from an attack
United will form diamonds and triangles all over the pitch. It gives them options on either side.
But they’ve particularly liked overloading the left side this season.
That leaves Mbeumo to isolate his defender, with the ball going in behind for him to attack the space.
City have been susceptible to balls over the top and have conceded twice from them so far.
United are having more of the ball on the left, but attacking more on the right. That will be the move they want to get.
That’s something for United fans to lick their lips over in attack.
Long passes are back in fashion. City have been more direct and United are now doing it too.
I fancy United to get some joy in this.
DO RODRI AND NICO BOTH PLAY?
I think they should in this game. Reijnders was outstanding against Wolves but got overrun by Spurs physically and caught out against Brighton.
Because City get greedy with position, a midfielder move forward and the other has a lot of space to cover.
Rodri can’t cover that space, especially after his injury.
I think both Rodri and Nico Gonzalez should play as the two, with Bernardo Silva the key on the right as the most flexible player.
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City would be wise to start both Rodri and Nico Gonzalez
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They can’t afford to leave space in the middle of the park with their high line
He can come inside and bring Nunes forward, forcing Dorgu back.
In the direct way of playing and how open they’ve been, it should be a two.
Also, Pep Ljinders. City are pressing more with him as assistant.
It leaves space open for balls over the top, while City have also been playing a very high line.
It’s too much space so two are needed to make it solid. Trust your attackers to break down United.
If they are struggling, take over Nico and bring on a winger. But start with a solid base.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has agreed a loan move to Turkish side Trabzonspor.
The move has yet to be finalised but sources close to the player anticipate it being done in time for him to make his debut against Fenerbahce on Sunday 14 September.
Turkey’s transfer window is open until Friday, leaving time to get a deal completed for Onana, who is on international duty with Cameroon.
Onana had been linked with another Turkish club, Galatasaray, but they opted to sign Ugurcan Cakir.
Cakir, who started Turkey’s World Cup qualifying win over Georgia on Thursday, joined from Trabzonspor on 2 September in a deal that could eventually be worth 36m euros (£31.2m).
Trabzonspor have been assessing alternatives since that deal was completed and club sources believe Onana could have a major impact.
Although Old Trafford officials stressed the club were willing to have a senior squad including four goalkeepers, that was at odds with head coach Ruben Amorim’s stated desire to have a smaller squad in the absence of European football.
Tom Heaton is the fourth senior goalkeeper in the United ranks.
The discrepancy in his strong crosses-stopped numbers and what is seen when watching him at corners is made clearer knowing he conceded eight goals from 85 corners faced last season, according to Opta.
Conceding 9% of all corners faced, when compared to all Premier League keepers who faced more than 20 corners last season, places 15 keepers as having a better percentage and 12 as having worse.
Interestingly, Aston Villa’s Martinez ranked second best, only conceding two goals from corners having faced 60. Lammens’ 9%, however, is a big improvement on United’s first-choice keeper last season, Andre Onana, who conceded 17.2%.
It is key to note these numbers are influenced by the quality of the league, opposition faced, and the defending team’s ability to defend corners. United’s team-wide defending of corners has been questionable at times and the Premier League’s physicality, inventive corner routines and use of individuals to apply physical contact on keepers, may cause Lammens’ numbers to become slightly worse as he learns to adapt to the league.
His confidence, aggression and height do give him useful raw tools to improve in these situations if coached around when to come and how to position himself.
Antonio Campos carries the blood of his legendary father, former Galaxy and Mexican national team goalkeeper Jorge Campos. Perhaps more important, he carries his family’s resilience after they worked to recover from the loss of their home in the Palisades fire.
During Antonio Campos’ first season with the Cal State Fullerton soccer team, he seeks to write his own story and help his team win.
“Just being in college is a success. I feel blessed,” said Antonio, who is studying business while fighting for minutes as a Division I goalkeeper.
He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the Pacific Palisades area, the second son of Jorge Campos and Canadian Marcy Raston. His sisters chose to focus on volleyball: Andrea, the eldest, recently signed with a professional club in France after a successful college career. Antonio, on the other hand, was torn between basketball and soccer. At Loyola High, he played point guard, although his height, at 6 feet, limited his minutes.
Antonio Campos stands besides his parents, Marcy Raston and Jorge Campos, while wearing Cal State Fullerton gear.
(Courtesy of Campos family)
“Michael Jordan inspired me to play several sports,” said Antonio, who also played baseball and volleyball.
Training sessions with his father during the COVID-19 pandemic led Antonio to eventually focus on soccer and the goalkeeper position.
“With my dad, everything is intense. Lots of training on the beach, reflexes, technique, cutting crosses. Things he did better than anyone else,” said Antonio, who does not shy away from his surname but does not want it to define him.
“I don’t feel pressure. I prefer to teach the values my father instilled in me,” Antonio said.
Galaxy goalkeeper Jorge Campos celebrates during a 1996 game against the San Jose Clash at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
(Getty Images)
He is part of the first generation in his family to attend college in the U.S. and he knows that his path extends beyond soccer.
In Mexico, Antonio also didn’t feel he had much of a future, as his own father, Jorge, criticized goalkeeper trainers in that country last year.
“It’s incredible that after 30 years, 40 years, we don’t have a modern goalkeeper, of that style, like Manuel Neuer, Ter Stegen,” Jorge said in a recent interview with ESPN.
Antonio was drawn to Cal State Fullerton as more than just a place to improve his soccer skills. The team’s philosophy, focused on service, ambition and personal development, resonated with him and his family.
“We emphasize being good people. If you go far, you’ll be better socially and culturally,” explained George Kuntz, the Titans’ veteran coach.
Antonio had had doubts about playing college soccer.
“I didn’t want to play at the university level because first-year goalkeepers hardly ever play,” he said.
However, he was assured that everyone would have real opportunities if they earned them through training.
Between the posts, he will have to fight for minutes against quality teammates Eoin Kennedy, Asger Hemmer and Emanuel Padilla. Fullerton opens the regular season on Thursday at Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Okla.
“I want to play, yes, but I also want my teammates to improve. It’s not just about me,” Antonio said.
In 2024, the Titans stood out for their offensive prowess, but they also ranked among the worst teams in the country in goals conceded. That’s why Fullerton reinforced its defense with four goalkeepers on the roster. Antonio is emerging as one of the promising players, with an athletic profile and an ambitious personality that has impressed the coaching staff.
“He’s brave, has good technique and is improving tactically,” Kuntz said.
Earlier this year, Antonio’s focus was pulled away from soccer by a family emergency.
In January, the Campos family home was one of more than 6,800 destroyed by the Palisades fire.
“We lost everything. I couldn’t get anything out,” said Antonio, who still gets emotional while talking about his family’s loss.
That day, he thought about going home, but he decided to go to soccer training after receiving a message from a friend. The change of plans kept him safe.
Antonio was accustomed to evacuations and didn’t worry about the nearby fires. But after learning that his home had burned down, the loss was both material and emotional.
“My mom was devastated. It was her first home in this country,” said Antonio, who highlighted his father’s strength.
“What surprised me was seeing my dad laughing and joking the next day. I never saw him cry. He set an example for us.”
Among the lost items, Antonio regrets he could not save a necklace that his uncle gave him before he died.
“He supported me when I quit basketball. He told me I was going to be a professional. It hurt me to lose that,” Antonio said.
However, the fire also brought the family closer together.
“The most important thing for me was that my family was safe,” Antonio said.
Now, the Campos family lives a few miles from Antonio’s new university while Antonio works to create his own story on the pitch — one that he hopes, like his father’s, can inspire others.
MARTIN DUBRAVKA fell foul of the new rules over goalkeepers holding onto the ball too long.
The Burnley stopper was punished for taking an age to release it out of his hands inside four minutes against Spurs.
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Martin Dubravka was the first goalkeeper to fall foul of the new Premier League rules
New regulations cite that goalies cannot hold the ball for any longer than eight seconds.
Slovakian Dubravka, making his Clarets debut following his switch from Newcastle, was deemed to have taken longer than that and ref Michael Oliver intervened.
The whistler awarded a corner, as is the new rule, which Burnley managed to clear.
Spurs took the lead six minutes later, as Richarlison converted a cross from new signing Mohammed Kudus.
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West Ham have signed Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen for around £20m.
The Denmark international has agreed a five-year deal with the Hammers with a one-year option, after a fee was agreed on Thursday following several weeks of talks between the clubs.
The 25-year-old impressed for Leicester last season, despite their relegation from the Premier League.
West Ham were looking for a new goalkeeper after Poland’s Lukasz Fabianski left at the end of last season and Hermansen will compete with Alphonse Areola, 32, who played 26 times in the Premier League in 2024-25.
Casper Ankergren, who worked with Hermansen at Brondby, is West Ham’s goalkeeping coach under manager Graham Potter.
Hermansen made 72 appearances for Leicester, winning the Championship title in 2024.
He follows Wilfred Ndidi in leaving the Foxes after the midfielder joined Turkish side Besiktas on Friday having spent eight-and-a-half years at the King Power Stadium.
FORMER MANCHESTER CITY goalkeeper Eike Immel has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison in relation to 107 cases of fraud.
According to reports from Bild, the majority of the cases centred around the 64-year-old borrowing money and not returning it.
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Eike Immel has been sentenced to over two years in prison in relation to over 100 cases of fraudCredit: Getty
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Immel played 43 times for Manchester City following long spells with Stuttgart and Borussia DortmundCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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The total value of the money in question is reported to be £29,775.
Immel also sold tickets to a European Championship game, keeping the money but failing to deliver the tickets.
The German was found guilty in all cases before being sentenced by the district court in Marburg on Thursday.
The former Euros-winning goalkeeper’s defence brought up his financial issues as a reason for his failure to repay the money.
Bild report that a statement given by Immel’s defence attorney read: “Mr. Immel is deeply ashamed of what is being discussed here in the courtroom today.
“He lives hand to mouth. This fact has been publicly known for years.
“[He is] not a professional fraudster, but a failed former footballer.”
Immel declared bankruptcy in 2008, and has since spoken to the media about his money troubles, last year claiming to be living off of benefits.
According to reports,, external his dispute with Barcelona arises from his unwillingness to allow them to share his medical data with La Liga, which could allow the club to register new players depending on his length of absence.
Ter Stegen recently published a post on social media, external saying he would be out for three months whereas La Liga rules require a player to remain sidelined for at least four months to be considered a long-term absentee.
The La Liga champions’ summer signings have included the arrival of keeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol and England striker Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.
In a statement, Barcelona said, external that, “following the disciplinary proceedings opened against player Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and until this matter is definitively resolved, the club, by mutual agreement with the sporting direction and the coaching staff, has decided to temporarily withdraw his role as first-team captain”.
They added: “During this period, the duties of first captain will be assumed by the current vice-captain, Ronald Araujo.”
Ter Stegen has made more than 400 appearances for Barcelona since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014 and his honours include winning the Champions League and six La Liga titles with the club.
THE last thing we want to do is cause a panic among Dream Team managers before a ball has been kicked.
But it’s our duty to highlight any discrepancies worthy of discussion as the Gameweek 1 deadline draws near and so we feel compelled to discuss Caoimhin Kelleher (£3m).
As it stands, the Republic or Ireland international is set to start the 2025/26 season as the most popular goalkeeper in Dream Team.
MOST POPULAR GOALKEEPERS IN DREAM TEAM AHEAD OF GAMEWEEK 1 (% OWNERSHIP)
11.6% Caoimhin Kelleher
9.7% Robert Sanchez
9.2% Matz Sels
9% David Raya
8.7% Alisson
Before we get cynical, let’s be clear that Kelleher is a very fine keeper.
Last season, he performed superbly for Liverpool while Alisson was sidelined with injury for a sustained period from mid-October until Christmas.
Most notably, he saved two penalties in the space of four days against Southampton and Real Madrid to grab the headlines.
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Kelleher denied Kylian Mbappe in the Champions LeagueCredit: PA
During this time, Kelleher was something of a Dream Team cheat code as he was a cheap starter for the best team in the country and gaffers who took advantage of this situation were rewarded with plentiful points.
In fact, his average of 5.3 points-per-game was among the highest in his position for 2024/25.
This summer, the 26-year-old has transferred from Liverpool to Brentford in a move that will make him No1 for the first time in his career.
Kelleher’s historical record and the promise of increased minutes are the reasons he’s a popular choice among Dream Team bosses, not to mention his affordable price.
However, at the risk of coming across all doom and gloom, there are some issues to be addressed.
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Thomas Frank did a great job at Brentford but is now at SpursCredit: PA
Firstly, a simple truth must be stated: Brentford are not Liverpool.
Clean sheets are the primary currency for keepers in Dream Team but it generally takes a team effort to repel the opposition.
You could have Lev Yashin, Gigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer all between the sticks at once but if they aren’t given suitable protection then it is inevitable they will concede goals.
Last season, Brentford conceded 57 league goals, 16 more than champions Liverpool.
But even that doesn’t tell the full story of the disparity between Kelleher’s old club and his new employers.
The Bees conceded a whopping 646 shots in total, only Southampton gave up more opportunities.
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Flekken made the most saves in Dream Team last seasonCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
The xG stats are kinder to the West London outfit, suggesting that six teams defended worse, but Dream Team managers should realise that clean sheets will be much harder for Kelleher to come by at the Gtech.
His predecessor, Mark Flekken, made more saves (159) than any other Dream Team goalkeeper last season, another indication of Brentford’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Of course, racking up lots of saves is another way to earn points – perhaps Kelleher’s best avenue going forward – but it’s difficult to make waves without clean sheets and let’s not forget that conceding goals can lead to minus points.
Another big concern is that Brentford might find life harder in the top flight this campaign.
They have lost Thomas Frank, Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo, with Yoane Wissa also linked to other clubs.
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Mbeumo was Brentford’s best player last seasonCredit: Getty
Keith Andrews has been appointed head coach and has a huge task ahead of him.
Pre-season predictions are often foolish in hindsight but many pundits are envisaging a taxing season for the Bees.
We’re not saying that Kelleher is a horrible selection but, given all the factors, it seems unusual that he’s more popular than all his rivals.
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England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale says the prospect of playing under manager Eddie Howe again was an influential factor in his decision to join Newcastle.
The 27-year-old completed a season-long loan move to the Magpies from Southampton on Saturday.
Howe signed Ramsdale from Sheffield United in 2017 for around £800,000 when he was manager at Bournemouth.
“Working with the manager and his coaching staff again was a big draw for me,” said Ramsdale.
“They’ve already had a great influence on my career and the gaffer turned me from a man into a professional footballer at Bournemouth.
“He really showed me the ropes so the manager and his coaching staff were a huge selling point for me to come here.”
Newcastle switched their attention to Ramsdale after Manchester City signed their previous target James Trafford from Burnley.
The goalkeeper is the Magpies’ third signing of the summer, following the acquisitions of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest and Antonio Cordero from Malaga.
The club rejected a bid of around £110m from Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak on Friday.
Newcastle, who are keen to keep the Swede, value the forward at around £150m.
Bournemouth have completed the £25m signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
The Serb, who joined Chelsea from New England Revolution in a £14m deal in 2023, spent last season on loan at French club Strasbourg.
The 25-year-old was named player of the season as Strasbourg secured a Europa Conference League spot by finishing seventh in Ligue 1.
Petrovic is Bournemouth’s third signing of the summer and joins on a five-year contract.
“I came to Bournemouth because I want to grow and I want to play at the best level,” said Petrovic.
“Together with this club, with these facilities, I think we can achieve it. I want to help the team get the results, improve every day and be a better player.”
Petrovic, who has seven Serbia caps, made 23 Premier League appearances for Chelsea across two seasons.
He is likely to become Bournemouth’s first-choice goalkeeper after Kepa Arrizabalaga returned to Chelsea.
The Spaniard spent last season on loan with the Cherries, before joining Arsenal in a £5m deal this month.
Like all young players thrust into the limelight, White admitted Hampton was a “little immature” when they first played together at Birmingham.
“Her emotions would take hold of her a lot, which they would do for any 16-year-old, and it was about dealing with the ups and downs.
“You won’t save a goal every time. Managing her emotions needed time, experience and understanding.
“I tried to take her under my wing a little bit and give her that guidance. I felt at that time she would be a very good goalkeeper but she needed some help.”
Hampton rose through England’s ranks, making her senior debut against future world champions Spain in 2022.
She made the squad for Euro 2022 but months after celebrating victory – often seen dancing with White during laps of honour – her career hit a stumbling block.
Reports suggested she was dropped from the England squad because of her behaviour and she had to wait until March 2023 for a recall, when manager Sarina Wiegman said Hampton had “sorted out personal issues”.
Speaking about that time, Hampton said the stories were “hurtful” and she revealed on the Fozcast podcast, external recently that she had considered quitting football.
“I was a very young girl when all the stories came out and you’re not really prepared for that. You don’t expect it,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
“There have been moments when everyone [in the squad] has probably thought they were in a tough position, but you get each other out of it.
“You can’t let all the media scrutiny win. If you do that it just adds fuel to the fire and I wasn’t willing to accept that.
“I wanted to show who I am as a person and show that wasn’t always true. I thought ‘just dig in’. I think I can say that I’ve proven people wrong.”
Ward managed Hampton at Aston Villa at the time, having brought her with her from Birmingham.
She fielded questions about Hampton’s situation in news conferences and left the goalkeeper out of the squad against Chelsea for the “best interests” of the team.
“We had an aligned agreement between Sarina, myself and Hannah on how we would help her with it,” said Ward, reflecting on the time.
“It was a difficult time for Hannah but it was probably a moment that really helped her. It was the moment she realised she had good support around her.
“She was a young kid that just really needed support.”
White, who captained England for Hampton’s debut, retired from international football just before she was dropped from the squad.
But White believed Hampton “just needed time” to mature and felt she did that under former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes when she joined them in 2023.
Having “an arm around her shoulders” helped, said White, as well as the drive to become Chelsea’s number one and get another shot on the international stage.
“It’s obviously not ideal not being selected for England. A lot of things transpired. Fair play to her because she did just get her head down and work hard,” said White.
“She just had to rebuild some of those relationships and gain them back in the England squad. I feel like she let her football do the talking.
“Everyone goes through ups and downs, rollercoaster emotions and going in and out of the squads. I am really proud of her. I’m excited to see her at the Euros.”
Ederson is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has been integral to City’s success in recent years – winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League and two FA Cups.
“My head is here,” said Ederson. “It stays with the city. It gives me everything to go back to the Premier League again and try to win the Champions League as well.
“My mind is staying in the club.”
Meanwhile, Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa has been linked with a move to City and reports say, external the Portugal goalkeeper has a £64m release clause in his contract.
Asked about Ederson’s future, boss Pep Guardiola said: “I don’t know.
“I am so pleased what I am seeing in the training sessions and he is with us. He has had a spectacular decade with us and his contribution has been massive in many aspects.”
Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga this week.
The 30-year-old has a £5m release clause after adding an extra year to his contract last summer before a successful loan spell at Bournemouth.
The former Spain international will soon join Arsenal to compete with compatriot David Raya for the starting spot.
Arsenal needed a new number two goalkeeper after opting against signing Neto, who spent last season on loan at Emirates Stadium from Bournemouth, on a permanent basis.
Kepa remains the world’s most expensive goalkeeper since joining Chelsea in 2018 for £72m from boyhood club Athletic Bilbao.
He played 163 times for Chelsea, winning four major honours during a mixed seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
He also spent a season on loan at Real Madrid and won La Liga and the Champions League during the 2023-24 season.
Chelsea are in talks with AC Milan over signing France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The Italian club value Maignan at about £25m but the Blues do not want to meet that price and are in talks about a lower fee.
The 29-year-old has been a regular for Milan since joining on a five-year contract from Lille in 2021.
He has also been first choice for France since Hugo Lloris retired from international football in January 2023, and has won 30 caps since his debut in 2020.
Sources have told BBC Sport that Maignan would be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have struggled to find a long-term option in goal since buying Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018 for £71m, which remains the world-record fee for a goalkeeper.
Two years later they signed Edouard Mendy, who left for Al-Ahli in 2023, while Kepa has spent the past two seasons on loan at Real Madrid and then Bournemouth.
In the past two years Chelsea have also signed Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic and Filip Jorgensen but the club appear unconvinced by all three.
Petrovic spent last season on loan at Strasbourg while Sanchez and Jorgensen had spells in the Chelsea first team.
