Manchester United’s midfield is still viewed as a potential weakness by club bosses (Picture: Getty)
Paul Merson says Manchester United should drop their interest in Elliot Anderson and place Adam Wharton at the top of their transfer wishlist for the summer.
United prioritised overhauling their misfiring attack last summer, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko arriving through the doors for a combined fee of around £200million.
The Red Devils had also been working to bring in a deep-lying midfielder to slot into Ruben Amorim’s much-maligned 3-4-3 system, identifying Anderson, Wharton and Carlos Baleba as potential targets.
Michael Carrick has worked wonders with United’s midfield since taking over the reins from Amorim, with Kobbie Mainoo restored to the side and firing on all cylinders again alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.
However, that area of the pitch is still deemed a weakness by Old Trafford bosses and the impending departure of Casemiro has only accentuated the need for greater options in the middle of the park after an inactive January.
Anderson is not the answer for United, says Merson (Picture: Getty)
Wharton has earned himself plenty of admirers with his range of passing (Picture: Getty)
But giving his thoughts on Sky Sports News, Merson said he was yet to be ‘wowed’ by Anderson, while picking out England team-mate Wharton as a better fit for United in the summer.
‘I like Elliot Anderson, but I’m not wow-factored over him,’ Merson explained.
‘I like Elliot Anderson, but they’re fourth bottom of the league, Forest, so they’re not dominating all midfields, are they?
‘And if you’re a midfield player, that’s where the engine is. Do you know what I mean?
Merson is yet to be ‘wowed’ by Anderson (Picture: Getty)
‘I don’t see him running the show in midfield at Nottingham Forest, and we’re talking about Manchester United.’
The former Arsenal and Aston Villa midfielder concluded: ‘I would go for Adam Wharton ahead of him.’
Reports heading into the January transfer window suggested it would likely take an eye-watering offer of between £100m and £120m for Forest to even consider going into business for Anderson.
England colleague Wharton, meanwhile, is believed to be valued at between £80m and 100m by Palace.
Anderson and Wharton are competing for minutes in England’s midfield in World Cup year (Picture: Getty)
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Speaking to Sky Sports in October, Wharton made no secret of his ambitions to one day play on the grandest stages in the Champions League.
Asked if he had set himself any individual goals, the ex-Blackburn midfielder replied: ‘I’d say just play as many games as I can in the Premier League and try and reach the highest level possible.
‘Obviously there’s a World Cup in the summer. Everyone wants to play at the World Cup. You’d be stupid if you didn’t.
‘Champions League, everyone, if you can play Champions League, you want to play Champions League.’
On the areas of his game he could work on, Wharton added: ‘I think I can improve at everything on the ball, off the ball, communication on the pitch, off the pitch.
‘So the list is endless for that.’
Wharton, who has also been linked with United’s bitter rivals Liverpool, is tied into a contract at Selhurst Park until June 2029.
You’ve sunbathed in Tenerife, partied in Ibiza and admired the breathtaking sunsets in Santorini.
And now, there’s another Mediterranean island to add to your holiday hit list.
Djerba, an island situated off the Tunisian coast, has been named in Easyjet’s Great British Holiday Audit 2026 as an up and coming spot for British holiday makers.
The low budget airline says that UK travellers are willing to travel further for their trips, with flights of five to six hours becoming the new norm.
It means that Djerba, with its blend of adventure and value, has seen a 12% increase in bookings over the past year.
Fancy a dip? (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The island, which Easyjet dub ‘lesser-known’ is the largest in North Africa, and was also named by Condé Nast Traveller in their list of the best 25 places to go to last year.
The publication calls the destination ‘delightfully unorthodox’, adding the Djerba is ‘complete with turquoise waters, flocks of flamingos, and well-dressed camels.’
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There’s something for everyone: traditional villages, pristine beaches and even a tourist attraction for Star Wars lovers.
Here’s everything you need to know.
How to get to Djerba
Djerba is a hidden gem with hardly any tourists (Picture: Getty Images)
Easyjet currently flies from directly from Manchester and Luton to Djerba-Zarzis International Airport.
The flight time is around three hours and 25 minutes, with tickets starting at £40 return in February 2026, according to Skyscanner.
Once you’re on the island, it’s easy to get around. While public transportation is limited, taxis are everywhere – and are reasonably priced.
Motorcycles and quad bikes are also available to hire on the island, for those looking for a quicker way to explore.
Nestled in the Gulf of Gabes, on the east coast, Djerba is the largest island in North Africa (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
What’s the weather like in Djerba?
Many find the best time to visit Djerba is during the spring (April to early June) when the weather is warm but comfortable.
Djerba enjoys a hot and dry Mediterranean climate, with over 300 days of sunshine and very little yearly rainfall. Even in February, the average temperature is around 18°C.
However, the summer months – particularly July and August –can be unbearably hot, with sizzling temperatures often exceeding 33°C.
October is the wettest season in Djerba, and visitors should be prepared for light or moderate showers throughout their visit.
Meanwhile, the winters offer milder weather, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 16°C, and fewer tourists for those who want to escape the crowds.
Djerba enjoys a hot and dry Mediterranean climate, with over 300 days of sunshine per year (Picture: Getty Images)
Things to do in Djerba
Djerba is perhaps best known for its stunning white-sand beaches and azure waters, and is often called the ‘island of a thousand palm trees’.
However, aside from its coastlines, Djerba boasts a rich cultural and art scene. One of its main attractions is ‘Djerbahood’, an open-air art museum in the village of Eriiadh.
In 2014, the neighbourhood saw 150 artists from 30 countries collaborate on a street art project, resulting in 250 coloured stencils, paintings and graffiti covering the walls and buildings of the traditional medina.
Although many of the works have faded over the years, the museum is still a popular spot for tourists to explore.
A Tripadvisor review of the area from 2024, written by Above the Clouds, read: ‘This is talent. The art was out of this world. Just outstanding.’
There’s plenty to explore in the market district (Picture: Getty Images)
Another, Abdel-Rahman Ghandour, described the area as a ‘delightful surprise’, adding: ‘What a delight to walk along the narrow alleys and discover great large drawings on walls at every turn.’
The island is a melting pot of culture where Judaism and Islam coexist, with over 350 mosques on the island, including the Jama Fadloud and Sidi Yati Mosque. Meanwhile, El Ghriba Synagogue, with it’s beautiful blue tiles, is a popular spot for visitors.
In the capital, Houmt Souk – which translates to ‘market district’ – there’s plenty for visitors to explore.
Its cobblestone streets are home to bustling markets, shops galore, and the imposing Aghlabid Fortress, which dates back to the 9th century.
Djerba might also be the perfect getaway for Star Wars fans. Located just outside Ajim in western Djerba is a historic mosque, which was used for the exterior shots of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s house in Star Wars: A New Hope.
Where to stay in Djerba
Although a relatively small island, Djerba packs a lot in, and visitors could spend days enjoying the island.
‘Djerba is the sort of place that can entrance you for many days, but if pressed, you could squeeze its highlights into just 24 hours,’ writes Lonely Planet.
Visitors could spend days exploring the island (Picture: Getty Images)
The majority of its hotels are concentrated along the northeastern coast, particularly around the Midoun and Sidi Mahrez Beach.
For those wanting a five-star experience, the Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso is located directly on the beach and offers a host of spa and massage treatments.
Those seeking a more authentic vibe could try the Hotel Djeba Authentique in Midoun, which has a traditional charm and luxurious amenities, at a lower price point.
Is it safe to travel to Tunisia right now?
The UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice to Tunisia in January. It currently warns against all travel to parts of Tunisia — but there are currently no warnings advising against travel to Djerba.
Areas where FCDO advises against travel:
Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border
FCDO advises against all travel to:
the Chaambi Mountains National Park
the designated military operations zones:
Mount Salloum
Mount Sammamma
Mount Mghila
This is due to cross-border terrorist activity and operations by the Tunisian security forces.
In addition, FCDO advises against all but essential travel to:
areas north and west of the town of Ghardimaou in Jendouba Governorate, including El Feidja National Park
within 30km of the Tunisia-Algeria border in El Kef and Jendouba governorates, south of the town of Jendouba, including the archaeological site of Chemtou
Kasserine Governorate, including the town of Sbeitla
within 10km of the rest of the Tunisia-Algeria border south of Kasserine Governorate
within 10km of Mount Mghila
Mount Orbata
Southern Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Libya border
FCDO advises against all travel to these areas:
the militarised zone south of the towns of El Borma and Dhehiba
within 20km of the rest of the Tunisia-Libya border area north of Dhehiba
the town of Ben Guerdane and immediate surrounding area
This is due to cross-border terrorist activity and fighting in Libya.
In addition, FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 75km of the Tunisia-Libya border, including Remada, El Borma and the town of Zarzis
Alan Davies, landlord of The Trumpet Inn near Ledbury (Picture: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
A pub owner has given customers who pay in cash a discount in an attempt to avoid rising card transaction fees.
Alan Davies, landlord of The Trumpet Inn near Ledbury, Herefordshire, has cut the cost of drinks by five per cent for anyone paying in cash, hoping to ease the financial pressure many UK pubs are currently facing.
The 53-year-old explained that card charges have become so steep that he felt compelled to take action, estimating he lost around £5 in fees for every £50 customers spend using cards.
Under the new system, a pint normally priced at £6 costs £5.70 when paid for with cash, and the same reduction applies to food orders.
Landlord Alan Davies said bank charges on card payments got so high, he could employ another member of staff for the same amount (Picture: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
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He said the savings from reduced bank fees could cover the wages of an extra employee.
Since launching the scheme, cash payments have increased by 45 per cent, with many regulars embracing the return to a more traditional way of paying.
Davies said: ‘We decided that paying for the bank charges, the credit charges for the machine, it equated to enough to pay another member of staff.
‘The banks aren’t doing anything for this money, it’s just pressing some buttons.
‘A lot of small businesses are struggling with the moment, so we’ve gone back to the old system like when I was young.’
The move follows after chancellor Ravel Reeves cut business rates for pubs (Picture: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
He said a few people have complained and suggested the incentive was a way to avoid paying tax.
He said: ‘You get a few people saying it’s for tax purposes, but how when it all goes through the tills the same.’
Regular customer Dave Holloway welcomed the initiative. He said: ‘Any discount in the current situation is a good idea.
‘It’s 30 pence a pint cheaper isn’t it? Anything you can save, is worth saving. It brings people into the pub.’
British pubs are at the heart of our communities.Today we’re backing them with a 15% cut to new business rates bills, a two-year freeze, and a new High Streets Strategy so retail, leisure and hospitality can thrive – restoring pride in every community.https://t.co/ZCiseIuEJ8pic.twitter.com/mLPd5ZiGYF
All pubs in England will get 15 per cent off their business rates this year after weeks of warnings the sector faces a massive spike in the tax.
Landlords argue that increasing costs including higher business rates, energy bills, beer duty and staffing expenses continue to place heavy strain on the sector.
The Night Time Industries Association CEO Michael Kill said: ‘While any recognition of the pressures facing pubs and music venues is welcome, this intervention amounts to little more than a drop in the ocean when set against the reality of the current tax system and the cumulative damage inflicted by the last two budgets.’
Sesko was named among Michael Carrick’s substitutes in Sunday’s Premier League contest but came on in place of Matheus Cunha in the 74th minute, with United leading 2-0 at Old Trafford.
The visitors fought back admirably and looked to have rescued a point after Raul Jimenez and January signing Kevin netting in the closing stages to silence the Theatre of Dreams.
But the Red Devils won it in Fergie time with Sir Alex looking on from the stands – and it was Sesko who found the decisive goal to make it three wins from three for interim manager Carrick.
Sesko’s exquisite swivel and finish was arguably the standout moment of quality in the contest and the sense of joy and relief was written all over the Slovenian’s face as the hosts held firm to secure maximum points.
‘That will do him no end of good,’ ex-United and England forward Owen said on Premier League Productions after Sesko’s late heroics.
‘It’s not easy when you come in, such a high price tag and everybody is looking at you, everybody knows that’s been a problem position for so long.
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Sesko’s strike helped United move up into the top four (Picture: Getty)
Carrick has picked up nine points from nine since taking over the reins (Picture: Getty)
‘It doesn’t start well, the team isn’t playing that well. How many times have we said that over the years? Manchester United’s number nine position has been a difficult position to fill.
‘Then he goes and does this! A lovely first touch, the defender just comes across and gives him a lovely little area to bend it around.
‘It’s a beautiful swivel and finish, great touch, bends, curls it into that far corner and the goalkeeper gets nowhere near it.’
The Red Devils return to action at home to Spurs next weekend (Picture: Getty)
Owen is hoping Sesko uses the dramatic stoppage-time goal to ‘kick-start’ his United career after what has been a mixed start to life in Manchester for the attacker.
‘You can’t help but feel really pleased for the lad. When you seen him struggling, it’s not a nice thing,’ Owen added.
‘I bet he’s been desperate for that moment and it’s come.
‘Hopefully that can really kick-start his Manchester United career.’
Sesko struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to win it for hosts United (Picture: Getty)
Facing the media shortly after the final whistle, Carrick applauded Sesko on his eye-catching cameo performance.
‘That’s the life of a striker, not that I know too much about it. You’ve got to be in there to take the chances,’ he told reporters.
‘Sometimes you miss the chances but he’s done a lot of great work in the past few weeks.
That’s what you get — you get your reward. And having the carrot to miss one, and to finish another. He’ll remember that for quite a long time.’
Asked what the win could mean for his side, Carrick replied: ‘This was a big game.
‘Fulham are a good team, just close behind us in the league. Every game is a big game and we have to treat it like that and we will do.
‘Today was a tough one, if not tougher because everyone expected that it would be different, but we didn’t and we got it in the end.’
The verdict’s in… and it’s not good news for Melania Trump (Picture: AP)
The Melania Trump movie is out… and it’s already managed to score itself one of the worst Rotten Tomatoes ratings of all time.
Simply titled Melania, the Brett Ratner-produced and directed documentary follows the First Lady in the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration in January 2025.
Melania was released on January 30, 2026, in the UK following a string of limp ticket sales across the globe.
Projections for the film have suggested that it could earn as little as $1million (£725,000) during its opening weekend – a potentially staggering loss for Amazon, which paid $40m (£29m) to license the film and produce a follow-up docuseries.
All in all, a poor showing for what has become the highest price ever paid for a documentary.
Poor ticket sales aren’t all the film has to contend with, either. Critical opinion has made it one of the most reviled films in recent history.
Melania is out in cinemas now (Picture: AP)
The film follows Melania in the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration (Picture: Getty Images)
Melania currently wallows in a miserable 7% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with critics describing it as ‘dull’ and ‘terrible.’
Variety called it ‘a shameless infomercial,’ while The Guardian described it as ‘pure, endless hell.’
Elsewhere, the Irish Times branded it a ‘triumph of the dull,’ as the Daily Express described its action as ‘mostly dull behind-the-scenes movements.’
‘And take it from someone who suffered through it – this film is bad,’ Bond penned.
‘Vacuous, empty, and devoid of any emotional heft,’ she continued, dubbing the film a ‘beige vanity exercise.’
As of January 2026, the film’s bottom-of-the-barrel-scraping score has it sharing space with the infamously offensive Music, which stars Kate Hudson and singer Sia.
This also lands Melania in even worse territory than hated comic book adaptations Catwoman (8%), Elektra (11%), and the Dumb and Dumber prequel When Harry Met Lloyd (10%).
Again, we say ouch.
Trump described the film as a ‘MUST WATCH’ in a Truth Social post (Picture: Getty Images)
Still, the sole positive commentary (excluding President Trump’s social post declaring it a ‘MUST WATCH’) from London Evening Standard found something good to say, describing the film as ‘rather fascinating’ in their otherwise lukewarm three-star review.
It also boasts an altogether more positive (if slightly suspect) Popcornmeter score from wider audiences, contributing to a near-perfect rating of 99%.
‘Our theatre was sold out and erupted in applause and cheers at the end of the show,’ wrote the user Jenn, while Monique described it as a form of ‘classical art.’
Melania held its premiere on January 28 (Picture: Getty Images)
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Helmed by X-Men: The Last Stand and Rush Hour 3 filmmaker Ratner, much of the film’s on-set controversy surrounded its director rather than its subject.
‘She was totally nice,’ one member of the crew told Rolling Stone of the eponymous Melania. ‘She was the opposite of Brett Ratner.’
The film was directed by Brett Ratner (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I feel a little bit uncomfortable with the propaganda element of this,’ said another production member. ‘But Brett Ratner was the worst part of working on this project.’
Criticism of the director included his alleged propensity for discarding rubbish all over the film’s set while acting rude and dismissive to crew members.
Said one staffer: ‘He did actually chew a piece of gum and throw it in a coffee cup on my cart, [but] didn’t acknowledge my existence for even one nanosecond.’
Another added: ‘Unfortunately, if it does flop, I would really feel great about it.’
Melania is out in UK cinemas now.
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That result marked Arsenal’s first defeat at home in all competitions this season, while also helping United leapfrog Liverpool and move into the top four.
Keen to continue their momentum, United now return to Old Trafford w,here they welcome the visit of Fulham, who themselves have also been on an impressive run of form as of late.
Marco Silva’s side sit seventh in the table and only four points off United, having lost just one of their last eight league matches.
Harry Wilson’s late free-kick saw Fulham record a 2-1 win over Brighton last time out, but Neville believes his former side will have enough to get past the west London outfit this weekend.
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‘Just because we’re at home, taking anything for granted is bang out of order, really. So it might be a case. It’s the same flow of the game as what we’ve had the last two weeks. No shame in that.
‘We’ll deal with the game, what’s in front of us, and do whatever it takes for us to be able to come out on top.’
‘We’re still working through how long that’s going to be. So we’ll have to see,’ Carrick confirmed.
‘He’s had such a big couple of weeks, Pat. So we weren’t sure whether it was a little bit of a cramp or was it something a little bit more serious.
‘At the moment, it looks a little bit more on the serious note. So it’ll be a few weeks for that, how many weeks we’ll have to wait and see.
‘So that’s disappointing for all of us, really, and for Pat. He’s in such a good place, but unfortunately, it is football and it’s something we’ve got to work through and get him back as soon as we can.’
The league leaders will look to get their title charge back on track following three disappointing performances when they travel to Elland Road on Saturday.
Manchester City dropped points in four successive games earlier this month but Arsenal failed to fully capitalise as they were held to draws by Liverpool and Nottingham Forest before losing to Manchester United.
Merson has urged the Arsenal squad to ‘step up’ ahead of a potentially tricky clash against Leeds, describing the game as their ‘biggest of the season’ so far.
Leeds endured a slow start to the season back in the Premier League but have only lost once in 11 games since December, beating Chelsea and drawing with Liverpool and Manchester United during that time.
Merson is confident Arsenal will get back to winning ways at Elland Road but believes Arteta should recall Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli after both were benched in favour of Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard against the resurgent Red Devils.
‘This is the game, isn’t it? Leeds away won’t be easy, no doubt it,’ former Gunners winger Merson told Sportskeeda.
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Arsenal travel to Leeds United on Saturday (Picture: Getty)
‘Playing first makes a huge difference this weekend. If Arsenal win, they go seven points clear at the top and Manchester City still have to go to Tottenham. That is not a bad state to be in.
‘There are still 14 games left after this clash against Leeds and I believe Arsenal are not feeling the nerves just yet. The equation changes if they lose, but I expect them to get a crucial win here.
‘Leeds were outstanding in the first half against Everton last weekend. I don’t think they will put 10 men behind the ball in this game. I fully expect Leeds to have a go at Arsenal.
Merson wants Viktor Gyokeres to start over Gabriel Jesus (Picture: Getty)
‘When Eberechi Eze came on against Manchester United last weekend, the Arsenal fans were going ballistic. I assume most of them felt he was being very casual on the ball.
‘But that’s just the way he plays and it’s not his fault! The thing with Eze is that he’s a special player. He is elegant when he gets on the ball and I think the fans need to give him time.
‘I mean no disrespect to Palace, but it’s not the same when you join Arsenal. The pressure is always on you and I believe Eze is still getting used to it. I hope they give him time.
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‘Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli should come into the starting line-up for this game. Leandro Trossard will give you a bit of guile, but I think Martinelli’s pace will be really useful against Leeds.
‘Everybody has to step up, even the defence let in three goals last time out. This is Arsenal’s biggest game of the season. If they lose and the lead comes down to a single point, I don’t think they win the league!
‘So this is a humungous game and I’m predicting a very crucial 2-0 win for the visitors.’
