If we have learned one thing above anything else so far in the Premier League this season, it is to not turn off your television or leave your seat early. There was yet more late drama but this time champions Liverpool were the victims and not the beneficiaries of the added time as they were dealt a late sucker punch by Chelsea's Brazilian wonderkid Estevao.
Liverpool's dream start to the season has well and truly come to an end with three successive defeats in all competitions and Arsenal are now top of the league after a routine win over West Ham. The only downside for Mikel Arteta's side is their run of injuries and they will miss Martin Odegaard after he damaged knee ligaments, completing a dismal run of fitness issues for the Norwegian maestro.
injury is probably the only thing that could stop his compatriot Erling Haaland right now after Manchester City's hitman scored his 12th goal in nine matches to down Brentford and put Pep Guardiola's side just three points off the top spot. It was not a completely straightforward afternoon for City though as they were left sweating again on the fitness of Rodri.
Speaking of sweating, Antoine Semenyo is in red hot form for a Bournemouth side who had the lowest net spend in the league and yet look as strong as ever.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from matchday seven in the Premier League…
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WINNER: Jack Grealish
It was probably the scrappiest goal Jack Grealish has ever scored and he might have hoped for a better one on the eye as his first for Everton. But in terms of importance he could hardly have done better than ram in a 92nd-minute winner which saw the Toffees become the first side to beat Crystal Palace in six months and 12 Premier League games.
"Do you know what’s mad? The last games we’ve played here we’ve been drawing and I keep saying to myself in the 85th minute, 'Come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'," Grealish said. "I did it against Villa, I did it against West Ham and I didn’t score, so today I actually said the same thing again and I scored and I ran to where my mum and dad were."
Grealish had already won over Everton fans by notching four assists in his first two starts and his last-minute winner further cemented his status as the first idol of the club's shiny new Hill Dickinson stadium. The magnificent riverside arena is starting to feel like home now for David Moyes' side, who are unbeaten in their four games there and now have a last-gasp, smash-and-grab win to savour.
And Grealish, who regrets how he conducted himself at times during his disappointing stay at Manchester City, feels very much at home as Everton's maverick.
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LOSER: Rodri and Martin Odegaard
It was a difficult weekend for Manchester City and Arsenal's best midfielders. Both Odegaard and Rodri had injury concerns heading into their respective matches and things got even worse as they both came off in the first half and are now set for spells on the sidelines.
Odegaard had been battling a shoulder injury in the last two weeks but he had a brand new problem to worry about during Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham after banging his knee against Crysencio Summerville and doing damage to his medial collateral ligament.
The Gunners star made unwanted Premier League history as the first player to be substituted in the first half of three consecutive matches and will now miss Norway's crucial World Cup qualifier against Israel plus their friendly with New Zealand. Arsenal say Odegaard will work on returning to action as soon as possible but he will be a doubt for their games against Fulham and Atletico Madrid when club action resumes.
Rodri also had to withdraw from international duty with Spain after suffering a hamstring injury in the first half against Brentford, just days after Guardiola had warned the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was not ready to play three games in a week. He said the injury was "not that big" and will clearly be looking to get back as soon as possible. But with him suffering a few niggling injuries this season after missing almost the entirety of last term, City must already be concerned about his long-term durability.
AFP
WINNER: Antoine Semenyo & Bournemouth
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola lost three quarters of his back four in the summer as Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez all departed. And yet his team look even stronger after rising to fourth in the table on the back of their enthralling comeback win over Fulham. While the Cherries made a massive windfall of £144 million in transfers, their best bit of business was to sign Antoine Semenyo to a new contract.
The Ghana international's equaliser was a stunning piece of play, jinking past two defenders by the byline before slotting in from an almost impossible angle in a goal reminiscent of Nwankwo Kanu's legendary strike against Chelsea for Arsenal. And after Justin Kluivert's sizzling long range strike had put Bournemouth in front, Semenyo made sure of the points with a lung-bursting run up the pitch to thump home Ben Gannon-Doak's lay-off.
"He is incredible. He shows it every game now. He is just world class," said a gushing Kluivert. And Iraola underlined how important it was to keep him when he said: "Every season he has got better. I make him not look too much at the numbers. If we are playing well collectively, the numbers will arrive."
The numbers have arrived: Semenyo has six goals and five assists from seven games, with only Erling Haaland scoring more or contributing a bigger percentage of goals to his team.
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AFP
LOSER: Arne Slot
Virgil van Dijk urged Liverpool fans not to panic after their second defeat in a row by Galatasaray, and then they went and lost for the third consecutive game. Liverpool made a habit of winning matches at the death at the start of the season but now the reverse is happening, with Estevao's 95th-minute sinker following Eddie Nketiah's 96th-minute goal at Crystal Palace.
The Reds are in their worst run of results since the spring of 2023 and Arne Slot has a lot to contemplate during the international break after seeing Arsenal take his side's place at the top of the Premier League table. His two most expensive signings, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, have disappointed so far, while last season's talisman Mohamed Salah can do nothing right. He missed a sitter in the second half at Stamford Bridge after being played in by Wirtz but otherwise he failed to create any danger at all.
Liverpool's defence should also concern Slot, who replaced three of his starting back four in the space of 10 minutes and had to ask Ryan Gravenberch to deputise at centre-back following the injury to Ibrahima Konate. The next fixture at home to Manchester United should see Liverpool return to normal but a draw or defeat to their dysfunctional arch rivals will be very difficult to explain.
Tottenham’s transfer business for 2025 has officially concluded following one of the most dramatic and memorable summer windows on-lookers have ever seen, with Spurs enjoying a solid one themselves.
Despite their failure to bring in a natural left-winger and centre-back for manager Thomas Frank, which were two key items on their to-do list (Sky Sports), a recruitment team stocked with Daniel Levy, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and unofficial advisor Fabio Paratici did work some magic.
Mohammed Kudus
£55 million
Kota Takai
£5 million
Mathys Tel
£30 million
Joao Palhinha
Loan
Kevin Danso
£21 million
Xavi Simons
£52 million
Randal Kolo Muani
Loan
Following their infamously botched deals for Morgan Gibbs-White -who reportedly phoned Frank to apologise for his U-turn over joining Spurs – and Eberechi Eze, Spurs finally managed to get a replacement for the injured James Maddison by signing Xavi Simons in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig.
It was all happening in N17 during the final days, with an ankle injury to striker Dominic Solanke also partly forcing Frank’s side into a late temporary deal for long-time target Randal Kolo Muani.
Juventus loanee Randal Kolo Muani celebrates.
Tottenham were actively pursuing the PSG-owned forward in January, only to back out and see Juventus win the race for his signature instead.
The France international really impressed for Juve, bagging 10 goals and three assists in all competitions, and while Igor Tudor wanted him back in Serie A, they couldn’t agree to re-sign him despite lengthy summer talks.
Instead, Spurs tempted Kolo Muani with a move to the Premier League, and Frank is set to benefit from the introduction of a centre-forward who can play in multiple areas with a proven scoring record. Interestingly, the 26-year-old was also a player who ex-manager Ange Postecoglou pushed for in the winter (Paul O’Keefe), and it’s not hard to see why.
His best-ever season to date in 2022/2023 saw the attacker rack up a brilliant 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt, with Kolo Muani also making his mark for France on the international stage.
Semi-final goals against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup and Spain in Euro 2024 showcase partly why Didier Deschamps has kept faith in Kolo Muani, even amidst a lack of game time at PSG, and Tottenham are in dire need of him now that reports suggest Solanke could be out for even longer than anticipated.
Kolo Muani’s arrival could end up being crucial with the influx of matches awaiting Spurs after this international break, leaving little wonder Levy and co were clamoring to get him through the door.
Tottenham agreed "un-Spurs like" Randal Kolo Muani deal condition
Giving his take on the deal, reliable correspondent Alasdair Gold says that Tottenham agreed an ‘un-Spurs like’ condition to sign Kolo Muani from PSG.
Namely, Gold states that the lack of any buy option in this move is something quite out of the ordinary for them, and some might suggest that it highlights their “desperation” to bring in another new attacker (football.london).
Without the inclusion of an obligation or option to buy, if Kolo Muani’s move proves a success, then Levy will need to return to the negotiating table with PSG – by which point they’d be able to command a loftier price tag.
They’ll also face competition from other elite sides on the look-out for a proven striker, so Tottenham face the prospect of this being Kolo Muani’s only season in north London, regardless of how well he performs.
It’s certainly out of Tottenham’s character not to take the future into account, but Frank’s need for attacking reinforcements was pressing, and it perhaps indicates Levy’s increasing willingness to compete after the Lilywhites tasted Europa League glory in May.
حسم التعادل السلبي قمة يوفنتوس وميلان ببطولة الدوري الإيطالي، مساء اليوم الأحد، حيث التقى الفريقان بالجولة السادسة للمسابقة.
وحل ميلان ضيفًا على يوفنتوس ضمن مباريات الجولة السادسة لبطولة الدوري الإيطالي، على ملعب “آليانز ستاديوم”.
وبدأت المباراة بداية حذرة من لاعبي الفريقين، ثم محاولة للسيطرة على وسط الملعب، وخلال النصف ساعة الأولى حظى يوفنتوس بـ 5 محاولات على المرمى مقابل 2 لميلان.
وفي الدقيقة 52 احتسب الحكم ركلة جزاء لصالح ميلان بعد عرقلة لسانتياجو خيمينيز داخل منطقة الجزاء من لويد كيلي.
وتوجه كريستيان بوليسيتش للتسديد وأهدر ركلة الجزاء حيث سددها بعيدًا عن المرمى ليستمر التعادل السلبي. ركلة جزاء ميلان أمام يوفنتوس
وبعد دقائق حاول بوليسيتش تعويض ركلة الجزاء المهدرة وسدد تسديدة قوية على المرمى، لكن تصدى لها حارس مرمى يوفنتوس.
لم يتمكن أي من لاعبي الفريقين من هز الشباك، لتنتهي المباراة في النهاية بالتعادل السلبي، ويصبح رصيد ميلان 13 نقطة في المركز الثالث، ويوفنتوس يصبح لديه 12 نقطة في المركز الخامس.
وشهدت هذه الجولة من الدوري الإيطالي، فوزًا لإنتر ميلان على كريمونيسي برباعية لهدف، كما تغلب روما على فيورنتينا بهدفين لهدف، وبالنتيجة ذاتها حقق نابولي فوزًا على حساب جنوى.
The best players in EA Sports FC 26 have been revealed and there have been some changes at the very top of the standings.
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Cover featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic recreating a photo of his younger self You’ll get up to 6,000 FC Points over two months, a Season 1 Premium Pass and an additional Player Evolution slotUntradeable Icon Player item included
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Standard Edition + PO Bonus
Pre-order by 26 September for bonus inclusions Bonus will include Archetype Unlock Consumable, 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches and 3 ICON Career PlayersWill also include 5-Star Coach & 5-Star Youth Scout and Manager Live Challenge Content
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Buy Standard
Standard Edition
It's available across PC, PlayStation and XboxFeatures over 20,000 players, 750+ teams, over 120 stadiums, and 35+ leaguesExperience Manager Career like never before with all-new Manager Live Challenges
From
$69.99
BuyUltimate
Ultimate Edition
Cover featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic recreating a photo of his younger self You’ll get up to 6,000 FC Points over two months, a Season 1 Premium Pass and an additional Player Evolution slotUntradeable Icon Player item included
From
$89.99
Buy+ Pre Order Bonus
Standard Edition + PO Bonus
Pre-order by 26 September for bonus inclusions Bonus will include Archetype Unlock Consumable, 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches and 3 ICON Career PlayersWill also include 5-Star Coach & 5-Star Youth Scout and Manager Live Challenge Content
From
$59.99
Buy Standard
Standard Edition
It's available across PC, PlayStation and XboxFeatures over 20,000 players, 750+ teams, over 120 stadiums, and 35+ leaguesExperience Manager Career like never before with all-new Manager Live Challenges
From
$69.99
BuyUltimate
Ultimate Edition
Cover featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic recreating a photo of his younger self You’ll get up to 6,000 FC Points over two months, a Season 1 Premium Pass and an additional Player Evolution slotUntradeable Icon Player item included
From
$89.99
Buy+ Pre Order Bonus
Standard Edition + PO Bonus
Pre-order by 26 September for bonus inclusions Bonus will include Archetype Unlock Consumable, 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches and 3 ICON Career PlayersWill also include 5-Star Coach & 5-Star Youth Scout and Manager Live Challenge Content
From
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Buy EA Sports FC 26 ratings revealedMbappe and Salah lead the wayLamine Yamal into top 10 for first timeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱EA SportsSALAH & MBAPPE ON TOP IN FC 26
There's no sign of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the higher end of the ratings as the two superstars have not even made the top 26 in the latest edition of EA Sports FC. Mbappe and Salah top the list with each boasting an overall rating of 91, just ahead of Ousmane Dembele, Rodri, Virgil van Dijk, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland on 90. Elsewhere, new Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Liverpool star Alisson are the top stoppers with the pair each having a rating of 89.
AdvertisementEA SPORTS FC 26 TOP RATINGS
Rank
Player
Position
Rating
1Mohamed SalahRM912Kylian MbappeST913Ousmane Dembele ST904RodriCDM905Virgil van DijkCB906Jude BellinghamCAM907Erling HaalandST908Raphinha LM899Lamine YamalRM8910Achraf Hakimi RB8911VitinhaCM8912Gianluigi DonnarummaGK8913Pedri CM8914Joshua KimmichCDM8915Alisson BeckerGK8916Harry KaneST8917Federico ValverdeMF8918Vinicius JrLW8919Florian Wirtz CAM8920Thibaut CourtoisGK8921Robert LewandowskiST8822Lautaro MartinezST8823Alexander IsakST8824Jamal MusialaCAM8825Gabriel MagalhaesCB8826Bukayo SakaRW88YAMAL BREAKS INTO TOP 10
One of the biggest movers is Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal who has broken into the top 10 for the first time. The talented teenager has seen his rating improve by eight points from last year's title, meaning he is now the ninth-highest rated superstar in the game. Other players to receive substantial upgrades are Yamal's Barcelona team-mate Raphinha (+5), who also makes the top 10, and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi (+5).
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EA SportsEA SPORTS FC 26 RELEASE DATE
The full EA SPORTS FC 26 ratings database contains over 20,0000 players from over 760 clubs and with more than 35 playable leagues. The full list will be revealed by Friday, September 13, while the game is due to be released worldwide on September 26th 2025.
USEFUL LINKSLatest EA Sports FC news & updatesFull list of stadiums in EA Sports FC 26Who are the new ICONS in EA Sports FC 26?EA Sports FC 26 pre-order benefits explainedComplete guide to EA Sports FC 26
Além da derrota por 1 a 0 para o Grêmio, na estreia pelo Brasileirão, o Santos teve outro problema: a expulsão do meia-atacante Soteldo aos 42 minutos do segundo tempo. Neste domingo (16), após a partida, o técnico Odair Hellmann revelou que a relação com a arbitragem está “um pouco difícil” e disse que orientou os jogadores para se concentrarem no jogo, não no juiz.
– Nós sempre conversamos e vamos conversar novamente com todos. Antes do jogo, eu falei sobre esquecer a arbitragem e fazer o nosso jogo. Tá um pouco difícil essa relação com a arbitragem, porque eles estão com uma imposição querendo acabar com aquele tipo de confronto, também levantando o tom um pouquinho – afirmou o treinador santista.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosOdair diz que Santos teve ‘o melhor desempenho até agora’ contra o Grêmio, mas cobra efetividadeSantos16/04/2023SantosFelipe Jonatan diz que Santos não merecia perder para o Grêmio: ‘Futebol não tem justiça’Santos16/04/2023BrasileirãoVÍDEO: calendário é criticado por Renato Gaúcho após vitória do Grêmio sobre o SantosBrasileirão16/04/2023
+ATUAÇÕES: Soteldo entra, mas é expulso e não consegue evitar derrota do Santos na estreia +James Rodríguez no radar de gigante carioca, Toni Kroos define seu futuro… O Fim de Semana do Mercado!
Soteldo recebeu cartão amarelo por reclamação e, em seguida, cometeu falta infantil no lateral Thomas Luciano. O árbitro Wilton Pereira Sampaio acabou expulsando o venezuelano de campo. Odair também ressaltou que, se o atleta continuasse em jogo, a probabilidade do Peixe conseguir um resultado melhor era ainda maior.
– Claro que, com o Soteldo em campo nos últimos 10 minutos, com a possibilidade que a gente tava tendo no segundo tempo e o volume, a gente provavelmente continuaria com esse volume e as oportunidades poderiam ser até maiores. Mas mesmo com 10 (jogadores) a gente se impôs, buscou para pelo menos conseguir o empate. Claro, com 10 abre um pouquinho mais a possibilidade do contra-ataque para o Grêmio. A perda do Soteldo, para nós, foi ruim. Nos últimos minutos, com Soteldo, a gente poderia efetivar o que estávamos produzindo.
A próxima partida do Santos acontece na quinta-feira (20), diante do Audax Italiano-CHI, em jogo válido pela segunda rodada da Copa Sul-Americana, às 19h, na Vila Belmiro. O Peixe vem de vitória na competição, após derrotar o Blooming, fora de casa, por 1 a 0.
Sunderland fans who have headed out to watch their side play in Portugal during pre-season were treated to some new faces in action against Sevilla.
From the get-go against their Spanish opponents, Regis Le Bris handed Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra, and Noah Sadiki their Black Cats debuts, as the Wearside outfit put in a good account of themselves to walk away from the runout in the Algarve heat with a respectable 1-1 draw.
Yet, away from all the fanfare surrounding new signings, Enzo Le Fee also showed off his class once more with Sunderland’s only goal of the night when the silky Frenchman capitalised on a Sevilla error at the back.
Le Bris will be hopeful that a number of his fresh signings can go on to be as impactful as Le Fee after arriving from Europe, with another statement deal now potentially on the table.
Sunderland very interested in £26m star
Whilst Sunderland have bolstered their attack with some standout purchases, the time is now approaching when the Black Cats will have to improve their defensive personnel, too, with equally high-profile buys.
Indeed, recent reports have suggested that Le Bris and Co. are going after both Brighton and Hove Albion defender Igor Julio and ex-Aston Villa centre-back Diego Carlos to do just that, alongside also looking at the likes of both Bologna titan Jhon Lucumi and Lille ace Bafodé Diakité from further afield.
Jhon Lucumi slide tackles Tijjani Reijnders.
However, there is a name that hasn’t been mentioned much, but stands out, with the Black Cats reportedly very interested in a £26m deal for Sevilla star Loic Bade, according to a new report by El Chiringuito TV via X.
AFC Bournemouth is also noted as being another interested party, alongside Marseille, Tottenham, and Villarreal, who have allegedly lodged enquiries about the conditions involved in signing the one-time France international.
A separate report from French publication, Foot Mercato, suggests the Cherries and Sunderland are in pole position to sign the centre-back this summer.
This might well be a tough race for Sunderland to win, but the Black Cats should not be underestimated when assessing their whirlwind business so far this summer, on top of the fact that Le Fee decided to call the Stadium of Light his home in a similarly out-there deal last year.
How Bade can be Le Bris' next Le Fee
Before making the unexpected switch, the ex-Lorient midfielder was more used to the luxuries of the top French division than the hustle and bustle of the Championship, with nine Europa League appearances also next to his name.
Still, he managed to instantly settle in as an enigmatic presence from midfield, leading to Le Fee chipping in with two key assists during Sunderland’s playoff journey to help make their surreal promotion dreams a reality.
Bade will hope he can enter the building and be just as impactful, only this time around in the bright lights of the Premier League, having been a consistent battler for Sevilla over many a season now.
In total, the 6-foot-3 “warrior” – as he’s been glowingly labelled in the past by football analyst Ben Mattinson – has 79 La Liga appearances under his belt for Matías Almeyda’s men, with the same level of standout experience also on his side in European competitions, having lined up for three Champions League clashes across his varied career to date, away from also proudly lifting the Europa League in 2023.
Games played
32
Goals scored
1
Assists
1
Touches*
68.3
Accurate passes*
48.6 (86%)
Ball recoveries*
4.3
Clearances*
5.0
Total duels won*
4.3
Clean sheets
8
While he proudly demonstrates prowess in the air, winning 4.3 aerial duels per game last season in La Liga, which could come in handy for a relegation dog-fight, Bade also possesses a calmness with the ball at his feet that is similar to his compatriot in Le Fee, with a high 86% pass accuracy averaged per top-flight clash across the same period.
The 25-year-old just about did enough at the back to ensure Sevilla beat the drop, as the Rojiblancos finished in a precarious 17th spot, with Bade now tasked with ensuring another lowly side can stave off relegation if he relocates to Sunderland.
Loic Bade for Sevilla.
Hailed as being a potential “great” signing by U23 scout Antonio Mango for a team in need of experience, this might well be a golden deal for Le Bris and Co. to sign off on, with the hope he can look a cut above, much like Le Fee did on his arrival.
Better than Lauriente: Sunderland make contact to sign "crazy" £34m star
Sunderland could seal a better signing than Armand Lauriente at the Stadium of Light.
Manchester United are now considering a move to sign an “incredible” Bayern Munich midfielder for just £25 million, according to a recent report.
Bruno Fernandes set to stay at Man Utd after Nations League triumph
International duty has taken centre stage in the last week or so, and like nearly every Premier League team, United have players all over the globe representing their countries.
Their best CF since Ronaldo: Man Utd eager to sign "fearless" £44m striker
Manchester United are eyeing up a move for a striker who would be their best forward since Cristiano Ronaldo.
ByDan Emery Jun 8, 2025
But not many will have had a better time with their country than Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, who were part of the Portugal squad that won the Nations League. Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties on Sunday following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
Fernandes played the entire 120 minutes and even netted in the penalty shootout win, while Dalot was an unused substitute, as he was in the semi-final win over Germany.
This is Fernandes’ second trophy with his country, and after the game, the Red Devils skipper revealed “winning with Portugal is different”.
“I’m going to celebrate with my teammates and my family. It’s a special moment for everyone. Winning for Portugal is different. It’s for our family, for our people, for the country, for our people.
Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action with Denmark's Christian Norgaard and Portugal's RafaelLeao
“Once again, the wave of red that I saw so much on social media was there and made us feel like we were playing at home. Thank you very much for all the support; it was excellent. We felt it, from start to finish, from the moment we got to the end.
“Everything we did during the game helped us win. We knew we were going up against a great team, and at the same time, we knew we were a team of the same level. We knew Spain’s qualities; we were very aggressive when losing the ball, which was very important.”
Man Utd considering move to sign "incredible" £25m Bayern Munich ace
As Fernandes continues celebrating, the Red Devils now have their eye on one of his international teammates. According to Mirror Football, relayed by Simply Utd on X, Man United are weighing up a move to sign Joao Palhinha.
Bayern Munich's JoaoPalhinhalooks dejected as he walks off after receiving a red card
The 29-year-old only joined Bayern Munich from Fulham last summer, but it was a very underwhelming first campaign for the Portuguese enforcer – he only played 17 games in the Bundesliga, as his season was hampered by injuries and competition in the midfield area.
It’s been reported that Palhinha, who has been dubbed “incredible” in the past, may leave Munich this summer, given his struggles, but it is unlikely they are going to get near the £44 million they paid Fulham in 2024. In fact, this report states that United could sign the midfielder for just £25 million.
Palhinha
Casemiro
Apps
17
24
Starts
6
18
Progressive passes
32
84
Progressive carries
3
4
Passes attempted
552
990
Passes completed
510
780
Tackles (won)
20 (14)
83 (50)
Interceptions
4
14
Blocks
13
39
Clearances
9
51
His arrival at Old Trafford could see him be the man to replace Casemiro, who, while he performed very well towards the end of the season, could be a player who is allowed to leave, given his hefty wages. Talk of an exit has gone quiet in recent months, but Amorim will want to trim his squad down given no European football, and given Casemiro’s age, he could be one that is on the chopping block.
We’re now just a week away from the start of Celtic’s pre-season fixtures.
Next Friday night, Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops will make the short three-mile journey to Glasgow’s south side to take on Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden, having demolished the Spiders 6-4 in a friendly almost exactly 12 months ago.
After that, Celtic to Cork, Lisbon, the north of England and then face Ajax and either Al-Ahli or the hosts at the Como Cup.
So, just how many new signings will the Parkhead masses have the opportunity to cast their gaze at during these fixtures?
Celtic's star attacker set to depart
Both returning hero Kieran Tierney and new third-choice goalkeeper Ross Doohan have already signed for Celtic this summer, with deals for Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren close to being finalised too.
However, due to Celtic’s position in the global football food chain, they’re always in danger of losing a star player, and this summer is no different.
As has been widely reported by Josh McCafferty of the National and elsewhere, RB Leipzig have ‘intensified their interest’ in Nicolas Kühn, who is supposedly available for around £15m.
Well, now, according to Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Como have ‘made an approach’ as they target a move for Kühn.
I Lariani finished tenth in Serie A last season under Cesc Fàbregas, their first top-flight campaign since 2002/03, but are not your ordinary newly-promoted club, given that they are owned by the Djarum Group, making them the wealthiest club in Italy, as noted by James Horncastle of the Athletic.
So, potentially creating a bidding war could be good news for Celtic, as they seek to drive up the price for, what is set to be, one of their biggest sales of all-time.
Regardless, it appears very likely that Kühn will be sold in the coming weeks, so has Rodgers identified a potential replacement?
Who Celtic should sign to replace Kühn
As reported by Glasgow World, Aston Villa are open to selling youngster Louie Barry, to ease their ongoing concerns about breaching the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules.
Thus, they add that Celtic are ‘weighing up a potential offer’ for the 22-year-old, given their long-standing interest in Barry, who they have been ‘keeping close tabs on’. Previous reports have suggested he could be available in and around the £12m mark.
Barry first made headlines by joining Barcelona’s fabled la Masia academy in 2019, before returning to England a year later, signing for Aston Villa for a reported £880,000.
He’s since been loaned out no less than seven times, making the biggest impression at Stockport County, scoring 24 goals in 43 league appearances for the club, with Sam Byrne of the Manchester Evening News describing his performances for the Hatters as “absolutely electric”, adding he “captured the imagination” of all supporters.
So, let’s assess his senior career statistics so far.
Louie Barry season-by-season statistics
Season
Tier
Games
Goals
Assists
2024/25*
Championship
4
0
0
2024/25*
League One
24
16
3
2023/24
League Two
22
9
4
2022/23**
League Two
21
2
1
2022/23**
League One
32
1
3
2021/22
League Two
16
6
1
*moved to Hull City in January 2025.
**moved to Salford City in January 2023.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table outlines, Barry very much burst onto the scene at Stockport this season, scoring 16 goals in just half a campaign, before moving to Hull in the EFL Championship, featuring just four times for the Tigers before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘highly-rated prospect’, while Mick Brown of Football Insider believes that Barry is ready to take the next step in his career and make a permanent move away from Villa.
Barry can be deployed centrally or on either flank, a position that Celtic might have vacancy to fill in the coming weeks, thus making him an ideal replacement for Kuhn.
The young attacker is certainly an extremely talented player, so the Hoops should do all they can to secure his signature, especially if they can do so at a reduced rate, with Villa needing to raise funds and fast.
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Chelsea chiefs have opened club-to-club talks with officials over signing a “fantastic” player, following a transfer decision from Arsenal which will have an impact on the race for his signature.
Chelsea transfer plans amid tight Champions League race
The race for a place in the top five is set to go down to the Premier League final day, making Chelsea’s crunch clash with rivals Nottingham Forest their most important game of the season.
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Five teams – namely Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Man City and Forest – are involved in the airtight battle to confirm a place in next season’s Champions League draw, with the result of this intense race also set to have a crucial impact on BlueCo’s transfer plans for next season.
Enzo Maresca recently admitted in a press conference that qualification for Europe’s most prestigious competition will have a knock-on effect when it comes to their recruitment plans, and Chelsea wish to be ambitious in the market yet again.
As per journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea have some “big plans” they’re already working on and wish to bring in a number of new players. The plan within Stamford Bridge is to ideally seal a couple of their most desired signings before the Club World Cup begins, and they’ll have a short window to do so.
A special edition window will be open from June 1 to June 10, allowing Chelsea to register new arrivals before the CWC takes place, leaving little wonder we’re seeing reports of the Blues getting busy early doors.
Chelsea reportedly made Dean Huijsen an offer to join them from Bournemouth, but with the 20-year-old now off to Real Madrid, attention now turns to alternative defensive targets. One of them, according to multiple sources, is Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato.
Chelsea open talks with Ajax over signing Jorrel Hato
The Netherlands international has featured at left-back throughout the 2024/2025 campaign for Ajax. However, before Francesco Farioli utilised him in a different position, the highly-rated teenager was predominantly a centre-back.
Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match
Todd Boehly is allegedly keen on Chelsea signing versatile players who can cover multiple areas (Simon Phillips), so Hato would fit the bill in that respect, and come in as a significant central defensive upgrade as well as an alternative to Marc Cucurella.
A deal for him would apparently cost somewhere in the region of £46 million, so in terms of cost, the defender could be an astute option.
That is according to CaughtOffside, who also boldly state that Chelsea have opened talks with Ajax officials over signing Hato.
Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.
While Hato is on Liverpool’s list of targets as well, they’re currently prioritising a deal for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, and Arsenal have decided to cool their interest in the player after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s excellent breakthrough campaign.
This call from the Gunners, not to mention Liverpool’s chase for Kerkez, could free up a Chelsea run at signing Hato, with CaughtOffside describing Maresca’s side as the favourites to strike a deal.
Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal
Hato is held in very high esteem by those within the beautiful game, with Jordan Henderson lavishing praise on the Dutchman as a tireless worker.
“It’s crazy how young he is, but obviously how mature he looks when he’s on the pitch and also off the pitch,” Henderson said.
“He’s a very mature person, works hard, fantastic player, and yeah, he has a bright future ahead of him, I’m sure. I think he just needs to continue to do what he’s he’s been doing.”
Glasgow Rangers extended their winless run to six matches in all competitions after they held their Glasgow rivals to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Barry Ferguson has failed to lead the team to a win since the dramatic 4-3 victory over Dundee away from home at the end of March, and has not done his chances of landing the job on a permanent basis many favours.
The Light Blues decided to move on from Philippe Clement earlier this year and will have to source a long-term replacement for him this summer, with a familiar name leading the list of candidates.
The latest on the Rangers managerial chase
Football Insider recently reported that former Rangers head coach Steven Gerrard is the leading candidate to secure the job on a full-time basis ahead of next season.
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The outlet claimed that the English manager is the favourite for the role, ahead of Marco Rose, and that he is at the top of the club’s shortlist of options.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
The 44-year-old boss usually deployed a 4-3-3 system during his first spell at Ibrox, which yielded an incredible, unbeaten, league title success in the 2020/21 campaign, and that could mean that the Gers need to recruit in a certain way to suit that system this summer.
It could also mean that there are some players currently in the Rangers squad who could move on from Glasgow because they do not fit what Gerrard would want in that position, and Danilo is a player who could fall into that category.
Why Danilo may not suit Gerrard
The Brazilian forward, who joined from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023, may not be ideally suited to Gerrard’s set-up because he has not shown himself to be suited to playing as a lone centre-forward.
Danilo has been used as a second-striker, or attacking midfielder, or as a centre-forward as part of a front two, either alongside Cyriel Dessers or Hamza Igamane, rather than being relied upon to play on his own.
That may be because the 5 foot 9 forward lacks the physicality to play as a sole number nine. He has lost 63% of his ground duels and 75% of his aerial battles in the Premiership so far this season, which shows that opposition defenders find it too easy to get the better of him.
The 26-year-old dud is reportedly on a wage of £26k-per-week, which is more than Mohammed Diomande (£12k-per-week), who provided the assist for Dessers on Sunday, and Nicolas Raskin (£19k-per-week), despite the duo being regular starters in midfield with 55 league starts between them this season.
Meanwhile, Danilo, who was described as being “sloppy” on the ball by pundit Steven Thompson, has started seven league matches this term and has struggled with multiple injuries during his two seasons at Ibrox so far.
Danilo’s Rangers injury history
Injury
Time out
Days out
Games missed
Knee injury
September 2024 – November 2024
65
12
Knee injury
December 2023 – May 2024
171
32
Broken cheekbone
September 2023 – October 2023
43
9
Via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the former Feyenoord marksman has missed 53 games through injury for Rangers since his move to the club in 2023, which shows that he is not reliable in terms of his availability.
Therefore, Rangers should ruthlessly cash in on Danilo in the summer transfer window because he does not have the physicality to suit playing on his own up front in a Gerrard system and does not have the availability to make him a worthwhile squad member, particularly with a wage that is higher than club Player of the Year Raskin and Diomande’s.
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