Named: Shock ex-MU striker who ETH wanted to revitalise attack before sacking

Sacked Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was reportedly keen to turn to an 'ex-United centre-forward' to boost his side's faltering frontline last season.The Dutchman was finally dismissed on Monday after months of speculation, during which time the Old Trafford outfit slumped to 14th in the Premier League. Sacked Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was reportedly keen to turn to an 'ex-United centre-forward' to boost his side's faltering frontline last season. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/AC/720x-/-/-/CgAGVmciEb2AZ_fGAAEh6S_dZ0I214.jpg The Dutchman was finally dismissed on Monday after months of speculation, during which time the Old Trafford outfit slumped to 14th in the Premier League. Things came to a head last week as United continued their woeful Europa League campaign with a chaotic 1-1 draw against Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce before succumbing to a last-minute defeat to West Ham on Sunday. The Red Devils' woes have been influenced significantly by their misfiring attack, with the side stuck on just eight goals from nine league matches, their lowest at this stage since their relegation season in 1973-74. This was not lost on the departing ten Hag who wanted to sign former United man Danny Welbeck from Brighton over the summer, The Athletic reports. The striker's contract was set to run out at the end of the 2023-24 season so he could have moved back to Old Trafford on a free transfer. But the uncertainty surrounding ten Hag's position, which later seemed to be settled as United handed him a two-year contract extension, put paid to his dreams of signing the 'excellent' 33-year-old. Dan Ashworth, current United sporting director, might have proved valuable in pushing the move through but was prevented from acting for the club until they had agreed compensation with his previous employers Newcastle. Welbeck was born in Longsight, Manchester, and joined the Red Devils at the age of 11 before playing 142 times for the club, twice winning the Premier League under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He then made the switch to Arsenal in 2014, where he scored 32 goals in 126 appearances, and ended up at Brighton in 2020, via a one-year stint at Watford. Ten Hag's first Premier League game in charge of United was a 2-1 defeat to the Seagulls where Welbeck impressed for Graham Potter's men. He has continued to turn up against his old side, scoring the opening goal in his team's 3-1 dismantling of the Red Devils in September 2023 before bagging another against them in a 2-1 win this camapaign. The outgoing Dutch manager rated Welbeck as a fine replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who was booted early in his reign, and France international Anthony Martial, who was allowed to leave last summer. Ten Hag is believed to have rated the former England international's experience and his physical shape but the striker ended up signing a new two-year contract with the south coast side in May. The lack of a free-scoring no9 has cost United this season with the team missing 22 of their 27 big chances this season, a figure matched only by Tottenham Hotspur. Ten Hag's marquee signings Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have netted just twice and once this campaign respectively as the youngsters attempt to find their feet in the Premier League. Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is being lined up as the next name in the Old Trafford hot seat after Ten Hag was fired earlier this week. The Portuguese side announced on Tuesday that United plan to pay the €10million (£8.5m) release clause to buy Amorim out of his contract.

Unilever snaps up eco-friendly deodorant brand as it seeks to boost beauty business

Unilever has officially announced its acquisition of refillable deodorant brand Wild, as part of its strategy to expand its footprint in the premium beauty and self-care market. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, but it is estimated that the deal values Wild at £230m, as reported by City AM. Wild was launched in 2019 by business partners Charlie Bowes-Lyon and Freddy Ward and experienced significant growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, achieving its first profitable year in 2023. "Joining Unilever marks an exciting new chapter for Wild," said co-founder Charlie Bowes-Lyon. He added: "Our mission to remove single-use plastic from the bathroom with desirable, innovative personal care products will be hugely strengthened by leveraging Unilever's expertise, scale and reach to further grow the brand and bring our vision to more consumers." Bowes-Lyon told The Times that he hopes Unilever can assist Wild in moving some production, particularly its aluminium casings, from China to Unilever-owned factories in America. The purchase of Wild aligns with Unilever's Growth Action Plan 2030, which aims to optimise its portfolio towards "premium and high growth spaces," according to the company. In March, new CEO Fernando Fernandez identified approximately €1bn (£840m) worth of brands in its Foods Europe division that "don't fit well" with the company's portfolio. "[Wild is] a perfect complement to our Personal Care portfolio," stated Fabian Garcia, president of Unilever Personal Care. Wild has primarily utilised digital advertising channels such as Instagram and TikTok to market its products. However, the news of Wild's acquisition has elicited mixed reactions from creators on these platforms. For instance, some Instagram creators have begun suggesting alternatives to Wild for consumers who prefer supporting smaller-scale brands. There are also apprehensions that Wild's environmental credentials may diminish, with many citing Unilever's history of plastic production. Dove, one of Unilever's brands, was criticised by Greenpeace last year for its use of plastic sachets, leading activists to blockade the entrance to Unilever's headquarters on 5th September.

Buried in Trump’s beautiful bill is a new $250 fee on travelers to the U.S. Estimates project it could cut the federal deficit by nearly $30 billion

David Smith 

A provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act statesall visitors who need nonimmigrant visas to enter the U.S.—tourists, business travelers and international students, to name a few—must pay a “visa integrity fee,” currently priced at $250. Travelers who comply with their visa conditions will be eligible for reimbursement. The provision is estimated to bring in $28.9 billion over the next decade.Visitors to the United States will need to pay a new fee to enter the country, according to the Trump administration’s recently enacted bill.Recommended VideoA provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act states all visitors who need nonimmigrant visas to enter the U.S.—tourists, business travelers and international students, to name a few—must pay a “visa integrity fee,” currently priced at $250. The fee cannot be waived or reduced, but travelers are able to get their fees reimbursed, the provision states.All told, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the new fee could cut the federal deficit by $28.9 billion over the next ten years. During the same period, the CBO expects the Department of the State to issue about 120 million nonimmigrant visas. In 2023 alone, more than 10.4 million nonimmigrants were issued visas, according to DOS data. CBO expects a “small number” of people will seek reimbursement, as many nonimmigrant visas are valid for several years. CBO also expects the Department of State would need several years to implement a process for providing reimbursements. Still, the fee could generate billions, the agency estimates.The fee is set at $250 during the U.S. fiscal year 2025, which ends Sept. 30, and must be paid when the visa is issued, according to the provision. The secretary of Homeland Security can set the current fee higher, the provision states. During each subsequent fiscal year, the fee will be adjusted for inflation.Those eligible for reimbursement are visa holders who comply with conditions of the visa, which include not accepting unauthorized employment or not overstaying their visa validity date by more than five days, according to the provision.Senior Equity Analyst at CFRA Research Ana Garcia toldFortunein an email she expects the “vast majority” of affected travelers to be eligible for reimbursement, as historical U.S. Congressional Research Service data indicates that only 1% to 2% of nonimmigrant visitors overstayed their visas between 2016 and 2022.“The fee’s design as a refundable security deposit, contingent upon visa compliance, should mitigate concerns among legitimate travelers.” Garcia wrote.Reimbursements will be made after the travel visa expires, the provision said. Any fees not reimbursed will be deposited into America’s Checkbook, or the General Fund of the Government.What’s unclear is the effective date of the “visa integrity fee.” Steven A. Brown, a partner at the Houston-based immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, wrote in a post on his firm’s website the fee’s “specific start dates have not yet been confirmed.”Brown points out that the fee is an add-on to others already required by U.S. travelers.“For example, an H-1B worker already paying a $205 application fee may now expect to pay a total of $455 once this fee is in place,” Brown wrote. Most travelers are also required to pay a fee that comes with submitting a Form 1-94 arrival and departure record. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act increased this charge from $6 to $24.CFRA’s Garcia expects demand to be unmoved by the fee, considering “higher-income” consumers comprise the majority of international leisure and business travelers to the U.S.“For affluent travelers, the additional $250 represents a manageable increment relative to overall trip costs,” Garcia wrote. “The fee structure appears strategically designed to enhance compliance rather than broadly restrict travel.”Fortune Brainstorm AIreturns to San Francisco Dec. 8–9 to convene the smartest people we know—technologists, entrepreneurs, Fortune Global 500 executives, investors, policymakers, and the brilliant minds in between—to explore and interrogate the most pressing questions about AI at another pivotal moment. Register here.

JD Sports faces share price downgrade amid Nike stock challenges

Ahead of JD Sports' full-year results next month, London broker Peel Hunt has revised its forecast for the company due to short-term industry challenges. Peel Hunt has reduced its projected pre-tax profit and earnings per share for JD Sports by three per cent for the 2026 financial year, as reported by City AM. The downgrade is attributed to an excess of Nike stock, which "is likely to persist deep into JD's [next financial year]." JD's American revenue heavily relies on Nike footwear, but demand for the brand has waned over the past year. Shares in Nike fell to a five-year low last week after it reported a larger-than-anticipated drop in fourth-quarter revenue – marking its fourth consecutive quarter of declining sales. Nike has been grappling with a post-pandemic shift away from athleisure, as well as competition from emerging trainer brands Hoka and On. This has resulted in a significant surplus of 'Classic' footwear franchises: Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1, and Dunk. "Simply put, there is an awful lot of stock left to shift, and consequently, the whole industry margin structure is impacted," said analysts at Peel Hunt. "JD will not participate in heavy discounting, so while its gross margin should be robust, it is likely its Nike sales will suffer," they added. Since last September, JD Sports' share price has been on a consistent decline. Its value has dropped 52 per cent since mid-September. Currently, it stands at 72.4p, giving the retailer a market cap of £4.1bn. JD Sports continues to be a leading choice in the sector, according to Peel Hunt. The firm also highlighted that the decline in Nike product sales is unlikely to be offset by other goods due to low consumer confidence and spending. This has led to a general retreat from retail stocks, with many major brands suffering this year. High street sales growth has been notably weak post-pandemic and has yet to recover, which is particularly challenging for JD as its stores usually outperform its online channel. Earlier this year, the Pentland-owned company warned that profits would be lower than anticipated due to a "challenging and volatile market." However, despite the near-term challenges, the broker stated that JD Sports remains one of the top players in the footwear market. "In our view, JD will come out of these difficult industry times in a stronger position. It remains the big brands' partner of choice and continues to innovate both in-store and online."