Guimaraes, currently part of the Brazil squad at the World Cup, has emerged as a new target with the Daily Mail reporting his representatives are ‘gauging the market’ for the 28-year-old.
With talks taking place between Arsenal officials and the player’s camp, Newcastle are bracing themselves for an approach from the league champions.
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Competition for the Italy international is intense however with Manchester City and Manchester United are also admirers. Tottenham have also emerged as an interested party over the last week, seeing an £75million offer for the Brazilian rejected.
Readers discuss Starmer’s ideology, if Andy Burnham is up for the job and post-Brexit political chaos (Picture: REUTERS)
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
Was Starmer 'too right wing' for Labour supporters?
There is a fallacy among the majority of left-wing Labour supporters that, once in power, Sir Keir Starmer dragged the party in such a right-wing direction that he lost their support (MetroTalk, Tue).
If only! Starmer’s token attempt to cut the benefits bill was swiftly withdrawn last summer and from then on he was a prisoner of his leftist parliamentary party.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood found that out when he disassociated himself from her modest attempts to reduce immigration.
The fact is, Starmer and Labour lost support when they failed to deliver on the nation’s priorities of removing illegal immigrants, reducing welfare state benefits, responding proactively to ‘low level’ crime and increasing defence spending. Otherwise, why has Reform held the lead in national polls for so long?
Does anyone think that Starmer’s likely replacement, Andy Burnham, is going to respond positively to this agenda?
Like Starmer, he is an instinctive anti-Thatcher, pro-welfare state and redistributionist politician who will not decisively shift the polls in Labour’s favour. Chris Shepherd, London
The heatwave isn’t the only thing reminscent of the ’70s…
Some are pointing out how the current heatwave is reminiscent of that of 1976. If Burnham becomes our next prime minister, we really will be back to the 70s – strikes, three-day weeks and power cuts will be back. Steve, Gateshead
‘Without support from your MPs, you were doomed’
Farewell, Sir Keir. You had a hard job and tried your best but without support from your MPs, you were doomed.
There wasn’t money in the Treasury. You tried to make savings but were forced into U-turns by MPs unwilling to face constituents affected by changes, for example about welfare reform.
Where else did your MPs expect money to come from? Essentially, your staff refused to do what you wanted and you backed down. You were the boss, you needed to be able to tell them to get on with it or face the consequences.
Burnham has done nothing so far but come out with crowd-pleasing soundbites, with no suggestion as to where the cuts to pay for them are coming from.
When he gets around to those little details, things will get interesting. Will he be brave enough to force through unpopular policies for the greater good and tell his MPs to just get on with their jobs? Because that is what a leader does. Steve Maloney, Merseyside
‘Nigel Farage is correct’
Nigel Farage is correct in saying there should be a general election anytime a PM steps down. Nobody should be in charge of a nation unless elected by its people. Simon, Haywards Heath
‘People considering voting Reform would do well to remember the claims made by the Leave EU team’
I don’t recall Farage calling for a by-election every time an MP quit the Tories to join Reform. He only wants a general election now because his party are riding high in the polls and he sees Burnham as a credible threat.
People considering voting Reform would do well to remember the claims made by the Leave EU team before the referendum ten years ago, about how much better off we’d be – and remember who one of the main protagonists on the Leave campaign was. Steven Collett, Birmingham
Did Starmer do his best to overturn a ‘democratic vote’?
Isn’t it poetic justice that Sir Keir resigned ten years on, almost to the day, from the democratic vote that he did his best to overturn? Will Podmore, London
Will bond markets ‘turn the screw on us’?
The national debt stands at £2.9trillion and we’ll soon be at the point where the bond markets turn the screw on us.
In this respect it’s worth pointing out that Starmer’s ‘achievements’ have been paid for by taxing the working man and increasing the national debt. John Daniels, Redhill
Reader is ‘tired of the media’s default strategy of attempting to tear down any and every change that is introduced’
Craig Munro (Metro, Tue) suggests the upheaval since Brexit ‘has given us all a taste for political chaos’. This may well be true for many commentators, for whom each lurch in policy is grist to the mill.
It is emphatically not the case for much of the country’s population, who are tired of the media’s default strategy of attempting to tear down any and every change that is introduced. David Michael, Twickenham
Are those who supported Starmer ‘deranged’?
I’ve just read my last MetroTalk page. It’s nothing but opinions from deranged lefties. On Tuesday, we have readers praising Sir Keir Starmer, the worst PM Britain has ever had and a man accused of prosecuting British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland. I really hope Metro ceases publication. Steve, London
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
Readers discuss Starmer’s exit, if the electroate are too quick to judge and whether the social media ban for under-16s is good news (Picture: EPA)
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
'If a problem isn’t solved faster than a cup of water heating in the microwave, we turn on them'
Regarding the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister (MetroTalk, Tue) after two years in power. He was the sixth PM we’ve had in ten years.
We, the electorate, like to blame the politicians. It’s easy to do that. But is it their fault alone? I would contend that it’s us. We elect them. If a problem isn’t solved faster than a cup of water heating in the microwave, we turn on them.
Whatever happened to the idea of giving governments time? Governing is supposed to be about long-term thinking. So if Andy Burnham gets in, how long will it be before we turn every drama into a crisis and decide he has to go, too?
Our elected representatives are not disposable commodities. We put them in office for a fixed period to do a job, yet we rarely give them the time to do it. Then we blame them when things don’t improve quickly enough.
Democracy doesn’t just reflect the quality of our politicians – it reflects the quality of our choices and our willingness to live with them. Tony Howarth, London
‘Be careful who you wish for’
Before he was democratically elected, Starmer announced it would be a while before the state of the country will be improved. Obviously not in two years, however. Everyone wanted things done now and ministers resigned as they could not get their own way, throwing their toys out of the pram.
Maggie Thatcher’s mantra was ‘The lady’s not for turning’. This was aimed not only at us but her ministers. If they did not agree with her, she sacked them. The Labour Party should have a general election to see who is fit to be our next democratically elected PM. Be careful who you wish for. Lorraine, Barking
‘It is time for us to acknowledge President Trump’s business acumen now that he has done a deal with Iran’
It is time for us to acknowledge President Trump’s business acumen now that he has done a deal with Iran.
He has expended billions of dollars using armaments to destroy much of Iran – paid for by the American public. And now Iran is to get $300billion worth of reconstruction with presumably a very large potential for this to be done by US companies or their associates.
Readers discuss Starmer’s strengths, his resignation speech and what Burnham will bring (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing)
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
'Sir Keir's resignation speech moved me to tears'
Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party. He will remain as PM until Labour elects a new leader.
Sir Keir’s resignation speech moved me to tears.
He had stated he would stay put and yet when the pressure to step down from his own party was too great, he had the good grace to resign with dignity and humility.
It was the epitome of the British values aforementioned in his speech and for which our country is famous.
He put his pride aside and did the honourable thing – albeit because of much coercion from all sides.
I admire him all the more for this – and I am not a Labour supporter.
He is a decent family man with decent values and did his best. He was also a success on the world stage.
Sir Keir was hounded into resigning but I will wait to see if anyone can improve on his leadership and get this much-divided country back to some form of unity and normality. C Finn, Sunderland
‘Starmer, a man of integrity, honesty and compassion’
And so it begins – yet again another change of PM. This time it’s Starmer, a man of integrity, honesty and compassion. He has lowered NHS waiting lists, given tenants more rights, renationalised rail companies and expanded state-funded childcare.
What a sad day. Bobby Jones, Kidbrooke
‘He lost the support of his own MPs’
The reason Starmer is being forced out is because he has lost the support of his own MPs, plain and simple. The local election results were bad, yes, but that’s to be expected with a party in power – even William Hague beat Tony Blair in the 1999 EU elections.
The Mandelson scandal, and all the other scandals, wouldn’t have caused nearly as much damage to a stronger PM.
The fact of the matter is that the Labour Party hates Starmer because they see him as a sellout. He pretended to be on the party’s ‘soft left’ in order to win the party leadership, and then dragged the party so far to the right that it has completely lost its purpose. He copied Tory and even Reform policies on everything from the economy and welfare to immigration and the environment.
The party has simply turned itself into the Tories mk II. And for what? Starmer won less of the vote in 2024 than Corbyn did in 2019. Starmer didn’t make Labour electable. The Conservatives just became unelectable. People want genuine, far-reaching change.
In order to achieve that, the next PM needs to make Labour Labour again. They need to take the party back to its roots. The MPs will support them, and so the new leader will have the strength to make real change happen. JWA Caley, St Pancras
‘Sir Keir Starmer achieved a good part of what Tony Blair managed’
Sir Keir Starmer achieved a good part of what Tony Blair managed. Like Blair, he pulled Labour back from unelectability to gain power. He then set about a perfectly reasonable social democratic programme of national renewal.
This in an international context less propitious than Blair enjoyed. The world economy was in better shape. Vladimir Putin had not yet shown his true colours and things were quieter in the US. Unlike Blair, Sir Keir leaves without any great big blot on his copybook.
A lack of charisma is hardly the PM’s fault – no one has all of the talents. Andrew McLuskey, Middlesex
‘We’re being treated to the circus that accompanies the resignation of a UK prime minister’
For the sixth time in a decade we’re being treated to the circus that accompanies the resignation of a UK prime minister. Compare this with the dignified departure of Mark Rutte, Dutch PM for 14 years.
He handed over to his successor in 2024 and simply rode away from his office on a bicycle. Our politicians could learn a lot from our Dutch friends. Bob Readman, Sevenoaks
Many PMs linked to Brexit
Six prime ministers in ten years? It is very difficult not to link these with Brexit.
It is as though Brexit, though not directly the cause, was the ‘beginning of the end’. Pedro, Hammersmith
What will Burnham bring?
What is the change that Andy Burnham will bring to the big issues we face? More immigration, more state control of freedom of speech, more net-zero, more EU, more war. Is this anything to get excited about? Liam, Salford
Justice for Larry
Let’s make Larry the Downing Street cat our next PM! Samuel, Tooting
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
The La Liga champions are on the hunt for a top-class centre-forward following the departure of veteran Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona have seen an opening bid of €100million (£86.4m) rejected for Alvarez, with Atletico Madrid refusing to do business with their Spanish rivals.
While Alvarez is very much manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco’s first choice, a shortlist of alternative signings, who they feel match Lewandowski’s profile, has been drawn up.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, that list includes Borussia Dortmund star Serhou Guirassy, Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong and United No.9 Benjamin Sesko.
Benjamin Sesko scored 12 goals for Man Utd last season (Photo: Getty)
Sesko only moved to Old Trafford from RB Leipzig last summer, in a deal worth up to around £74m
After a sluggish start under Ruben Amorim, the 23-year-old burst into life under Michael Carrick, scoring 10 goals in 16 games since the turn of the year.
While he did struggle with injury issues toward the end of the season, and faces stiff competition in the team from Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, the young Slovenian is expected to go from strength-to-strength.
Barcelona have already had a €100m offer for Julian Alvarez rejected (Photo: Getty)
It would be a surprise to see United sanction his departure, especially with the Red Devils returning to the Champions League next season, unless an offer too good to refuse is made.
Barcelona have already declined the chance to sign one United forward this summer, opting not to trigger the buy option in Marcus Rashford’s contract despite a successful loan spell.
Instead, Flick has spent £69m to sign England rival Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, leaving Rashford in limbo, with his future in Manchester unclear.
United kick-off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Hull City on August 22.
Casualty star Aron Julius has confirmed that beloved character Dylan Keogh (William Beck) will relapse in upcoming episodes of the medical drama.
Dylan has battled with an addiction to alcohol for many years. As a result of a traumatic childhood and a number of difficult events in his adult life, the surgeon has often found solace in a bottle of booze.
His relationship with alcohol was revisited recently, as Dylan decided to become Ngozi Okoye’s (Adesuwa Oni) mentor. Because Dylan was in a position where he had been sober for quite a while, he was able to offer advice and guidance to Ngozi as she attempted to get control of her addiction.
The events that have taken place involving two people very close to Dylan are what push him to reach for alcohol very soon. Last week, he discoveredson Matty Linklater (Aron Julius) and close friend Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) had been sleeping together, and then proceeded to report Stevie to Flynn Byron (Olly Rix).
Dylan will seriously struggle to process this betrayal and in future scenes, he will turn to drink.
Discussing these scenes, and what exactly is going on in Matty’s mind when he sees Dylan taking that sip of alcohol, star Aron Julius said: ‘When you’ve grown up with someone being like, “oh you’re father’s this, and your father’s that”, I think Matty has built up a picture in his mind of what alcoholism is, or what his father is.
‘He said it to Dylan, before he knew that Dylan is his father, Matty said, “Mum binned off the sperm donor, he’s an alky”. I think when you’re faced with someone who is afflicted with those problems, you realise that alcoholism isn’t exclusive to people who are down and out. You can be at the top of your game, you can be the most impressive diagnostician in the hospital and still be afflicted with this.
‘I think Matty attaches Dylan’s alcoholism to his mum’s pain, and his mum not being able to achieve the things she wanted to achieve. I think at first there is a defensiveness to it, and there is a view of this is the problem, you’re the problem.
Matty was introduced at the start of the year as Dylan’s son (Picture: BBC)
He added: ‘It’s probably an avoidance from Matty to look at himself and look at the problems and the issues that he needs to face professionally and personally, but I think at first there is a definite connection to his mum. There is also an understanding that Matty goes on with Dylan to be able to bring these two things together.
Even though Matty doesn’t completely understand Dylan’s relationship with alcohol, Aron is hopeful that things will change: ‘I think it deepens Matty’s understanding of what it means to have that addiction’, he said.
‘At first it is a defensive thing of, “my Mum was right”, but I think as the story goes on, there is more of an understanding, and empathy, and a sympathy.’
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Aron Julius joined the cast of Casualty in January of this year as resident doctor Matty. The character is desperate to prove himself, which often impacts his relationships with his colleagues in the ED.
The sexual chemistry between Matty and Stevie began following the death of fellow resident doctor Kim Chang (Jasmine Bayes). The young woman, who secretly battled an eating disorder while working within the ED, died as a result of taking a lethal overdose of appetite suppressants and weight loss medication.
The tables turn (Picture: BBC)
Matty and Stevie started their fling as a grief-fuelled coping mechanism. It’s been quite clear that Stevie only viewed this as a distraction from her problems, but the same cannot be said for Matty.
‘I think Matty sees it as a great love story’, Aron explained.
‘I think Matty definitely has got strong feelings for it, and they’ve both come together at quite a difficult time. Matty started with Kim, and Kim going in the way she did, he’s quite isolated, I think he feels quite alone and is struggling to find his feet personally and professionally, and I think having Stevie there is almost like a crutch.
‘I think Matty sees it as the Disney big eyes, heart pumping out of his chest moment, whereas I think Aron probably sees it more as like a fling.’
During our chat, Aron spoke about how he’d like Matty to interact more with the likes of Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari) and Jodie Whyte (Anna Chell). The character is lacking a friendship group – and a romance that doesn’t have a whole load of drama!
Dyla was devastated to discover what had been going on between Matty and Stevie (Picture: BBC)
Teasing the possibility of Matty finding love with someone else, Aron said: ‘I’ll keep that one to myself, but what I will say is that, I think there are definitely plenty of people who Matty can poke at and tease, who tease him back and poke him back. I think there’s loads to explore with that.’
On the subject of Matty having more scenes with Rida, it got me thinking about the possibility of the character impacting the dynamic Rida has with close friend Rash Masum (Neet Mohan). Aron didn’t give anything in particular away, but did agree that his character ‘has a habit of wedging himself into dynamics that people love’.
Matty’s behaviour has changed Stevie and Dylan’s dynamic, is he about to do the same with Rida and Rash?
In this evening’s episode, now available on BBC iPlayer, Matty spends time supporting Stevie in the lead up to her appointment. In a pretty surprising twist though, the tables then turn, and Matty realises he’s got the power to end Stevie’s career.
‘I think there’s a few things’, Aron said, discussing why Matty’s view of Stevie suddenly changes.
‘I think there is an element of that very young, immature, emotionally immature, like I feel hurt, and you’ve hurt my feelings therefore, I’m going to use that to kind of poke you.
‘I think on a serious level, I think he thinks, you’ve played me a little bit, you’ve picked me up when you want to pick me up, and you’ve dropped me when you’ve wanted to drop me, and I think he’s noticed that for the first time, and he doesn’t like it.’
Passengers have been evacuated onto the tracks after two trains collided between Bedford and Luton.
Concern is growing over serious injuries or fatalities after the major crash on the railway line near Elstow, Bedford, this evening.
More than 30 emergency vehicles have been scrambled to the scene after reports of a collision involving two East Midlands Railway trains, with some carriages having been derailed.
British Transport Police said: ‘Two trains crash in Bedford with railway lines closed.’
Passengers were evacuated from the trains near Bedford today after the collision (Picture: X)
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A spokesperson for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said they are ‘deeply concerned’ by reports of the crash and ‘the serious injuries sustained by on-board train staff and passengers.’
Dr Pete Knapp, who was a passenger on the train, said on social media: ‘Train heading south from Bedford crashed at 17:12.
‘Front of train okay, third carriage off rails.
‘I’m okay with bloody legs and back impact. Others are not good.
The crash happened in Elstow between Bedford and Luton (Picture: X)
‘Sudden crash, no slowing down or horns. No warning.’
He said there was ‘no explosion,’ but the train just stopped ‘instantly.’
An air ambulance has been dispatched, and the East of England Ambulance service has sent ‘a number of resources.’
Police urged relatives and loved ones of people who may have been travelling on the train ‘not to travel to the scene and await further updates from emergency services’ after reports that commuters were being picked up from nearby roads.
It appears one of the trains crashed into the back of another East Midlands Railway service (Picture: X)
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: ‘I’m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.
‘I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected. We’re working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.’
Trains will be unable to run in or out of St Pancras for the rest of the evening and passengers are advised not to travel, National Rail said.
ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, said: ‘We are deeply concerned by reports of the collision of two trains near Bedford.
‘Our thoughts at this time are with all staff and passengers on board. Thank you to the emergency services for their ongoing work responding to the incident.’
Metro has contacted the emergency services for more information.
What train routes are affected?
Here is the affected route, where trains are currently unable to run:
East Midlands Railway between London St Pancras International and Corby / Leicester / Nottingham / Sheffield
Have you been affected? Please contact webnews@metro.co.uk
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