Darlow has since moved to City’s Yorkshire rivals Leeds United and was involved for the Whites on Sunday in their friendly with Scottish Premiership side Hearts at Tynecastle.
Kovar is rated highly at Old Trafford having helped Sparta Prague win the Czech league last season and returned to Manchester to play the first two pre-season friendlies for United, including a 1-0 win over French giants Lyon.
The young stopper was then left out of United’s trip to the USA by Erik Ten Hag and instead continued to train with Sparta, who had hoped to make him a permanent offer but are said to have been frightened off by the 7m euro price tag, subsequently looking elsewhere.
touring squad, with clubs in Germany eyeing a potential move for the 23-year-old, though reports in his native Czech Republic say the Red Devils would consider a permanent exit.
Premier League outfit Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the youngster who kept an impressive 11 clean sheets in 32 games and won the league’s best goalkeeper award for his displays en route to Sparta’s title win.
Czech outlet Idnes.CZ claim City are one of the clubs keeping tabs on Kovar’s situation, with it looking increasingly likely that he’ll be leaving Old Trafford this summer.
home and it will always remain in my heart. Although this story ends, the memories will remain forever.
“Lastly, I would like to thank you fans. I will always remember the support I felt from the first match until today. It was a ride none of us will ever forget.
Even though I say goodbye to you today, I am extremely proud that I could consider myself one of you and help bring Sparta back to where it belongs. Thanks for everything Sparta I will never forget.
real more:
“This day marks the end of my time in Sparta. I am very happy that I could be a part of the biggest club in the Czech Republic and help the team to win the title after a long wait,” he wrote in an emotional message on Instagram confirming his departure.
“I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of such a great team and club. With this message I would like to thank everyone at the club. From the club management to the players themselves, coaches and all Sparta employees
Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior has explained why the club have swooped to bring back Aaron Connolly to the MKM Stadium on a permanent deal from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Connolly spent the second half of last season on loan at City and started brightly, scoring a brace against QPR before suffering a freak injury at Stoke City which brought a frustrating – and premature – end to his campaign.
Initially, City made it clear they wanted to pursue a deal for Connolly, but Rosenior explained how he had opted to go in a different direction earlier in the summer.
It was then revealed during the club’s trip to Turkiye at the beginning of July that talks had reopened, and now, Connolly will become the fourth signing of the transfer window so far having been at the MKM Stadium on Saturday to see City held by French Ligue 1 side Nantes in their final friendly.
Initially, City made it clear they wanted to pursue a deal for Connolly, but Rosenior explained how he had opted to go in a different direction earlier in the summer.
It was then revealed during the club’s trip to Turkiye at the beginning of July that talks had reopened, and now, Connolly will become the fourth signing of the transfer window so far having been at the MKM Stadium on Saturday to see City held by French Ligue 1 side Nantes in their final friendly.
READ MORE: The one glaring absence as Hull City complete pre-season programme with Nantes draw
“Without going into too much detail, and I’m not being disingenuous or lying but Aaron was always in my thoughts,” Rosenior said when asked what had promoted the change of course. “It’s about timing. I don’t want a big squad, Benjamin Tetteh leaving enables us to have Oscar, Aaron and Liam as our strikers.
“I know a lot of people want us to make signings, but I’m so confident with those three as my strikers. All different types of strikers, all with different qualities but all outstanding at this level.
“I’m really happy with this squad, I’ve maintained with the chairman (Acun Ilicali), Tan (Kesler), we just need to add in the right areas and that’s a great place to be=
Tetteh’s departure for Metz in France came at the request of the Ghanian but Rosenior admits he’s unlikely to dip back into the transfer market to bring in a fourth frontman, admitting he’s content with the options at his disposal going into the new season, and urged for calm from those supporters craving an endless stream of signings.
“For me, having Aaron – Benji’s left, no problem – we’ve still got Oscar and Liam Delap as our strikers. Ozan Tufan’s playing as a false nine, Adama Traore played 20 minutes as a false nine, I’ve got loads of options there, top-quality options.
“We all have to take a little bit of a breather, we’re all excited for the season, we all want to be successful but it shows that I’m really really calm and confident in this group
