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The curious case of Manchester City. Last season, Pep Guardiola’s side were four-in-a-row Premier League champions, and they were just a year ahead of a stunning treble.

But things went wrong; Guardiola’s is a complex machine, and some of the cogs fell out of place after so many years at the top. In a way, that was to be expected. That Man City dominated as they did for as long as they did was miraculous in many ways.

Heading into the current campaign, there was much uncertainty about City’s pre-season preparations, but there have been promising signs, and their position is fifth after seven games. Arsenal, top of the table, hold a three-point lead.

Arsenal probably have the most complete squad in the Premier League, while Liverpool boast the most threatening frontline, having broken the British transfer record twice this summer with Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

When Man City missed out on Florian Wirtz

At the beginning of the summer, it looked as though the German was on his way to the Etihad. Reports indicated that he was ‘tempted’ to move to Manchester but the Citizens ultimately ended up pulling out of the deal.

Indeed, other claims at the time suggested that they had withdrawn their interest due to ‘the rising costs’ of the move. Quite. Liverpool ended up signing him for a whopping £116m.

That said, it’s unlikely they’ll be too upset. City have the unstoppable Erling Haaland leading the line while Wirtz continues to flounder, failing to score in Liverpool red just yet.

By Haaland’s standards, it’s been a slow start to the season. Nine goals from seven Premier League matches. How he must hang his head in shame.

25/26

9

1

24/25

10

0

23/24

8

1

22/23

11

1

Twice the Norwegian has posted more at this early stage, but we’re splitting hairs, and this really just underscores exactly how inimitable a goalscorer Haaland really is.

Aged 25, he’s now a robust and intelligent number nine, blending his physicality and innate shooting ability with movement and timing beyond all his positional peers.

If City reclaim their throne this term, there is no question that the unstoppable striker will be the main man.

Haaland is the most valuable player in the Premier League, according to CIES Football Observatory, but he’s not the only Citizen with a lofty price tag.

Indeed, Guardiola holds another in his ranks who actually eclipses the aforementioned Liverpool superstars, Isak and Wirtz.

Man City have struck gold with their "generational talent"

Manchester City might have emerged from a valley, but further back there have been plenty of peaks. And among the definitive stars of the Guardiola era is Phil Foden, who might just be hitting his stride once again.

Foden graduated from the City academy in 2016 and has made 197 appearances for City, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League among many further honours. The Independent’s Miguel Delaney hailed him as a “generational talent”.

Exceptionally talented on the ball and a predator in the final third, the versatile attacking midfielder dipped last season, no doubt, but he has been a talisman throughout an illustrious era for City, and ostensibly stands before his prime years.

CIES Football Observatory outlined only in January that the Three Lions star is among the most valuable in the world, with his £126m worth above Wirtz and marginally ahead of Isak.

Liverpool garnered plenty of praise for their summer spending spree, and indeed look a force to be reckoned with in the long run, but with Haaland and Foden combining in the final third under Pep’s wing, there’s every chance City will be the team to beat once again in a short time.

This emphasises the quality at Pep’s disposal, and if Foden can raise his game that bit more over the coming months, he might produce a campaign that sees Liverpool’s big hitters pale in comparison.

Whether Foden hits the same meteoric heights as previous campaigns remains to be seen, but he’s starting to click together once again and has the ‘generational’ quality to have every bit as big an impact as Haaland across the year.

The new Phillips: "Intelligent" Man City star is already on borrowed time

Kalvin Phillips’ £45m move to Manchester City has been a disaster for all involved, but could a current player follow in his footsteps?

Oct 10, 2025

There is plenty of doom and gloom to go around at West Ham United at the moment.

Understandably so, though, as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side were diabolically poor at home to Brentford on Monday night and are currently 19th in the Premier League.

However, all hope is not yet lost, as it is still early in the season, and while the performances have been poor, there are still some talented players in this squad, such as Jarrod Bowen and the exciting Crysencio Summerville.

Yet, to get the most out of the team and the Flying Dutchman, Nuno needs to make some quick changes.

Changes Nuno needs to make

Unfortunately, there is quite a lot that needs to be done to make West Ham a seriously dangerous team again, but there are a few ways in which Nuno could stop the rot.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

One of the big ones is to reintroduce some pace and power back into the midfield, as it was practically non-existent against Brentford.

The best way to do this would be to bring Soungoutou Magassa back into the starting lineup, as while he is still quite raw, he is, in the words of respected analyst Ben Mattinson, blessed with “pure athleticism.”

Moreover, he’d be able to better cover the backline, as, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for blocks, the top 3% for tackles plus interceptions and the top 4% for recoveries, all per 90.

Another seemingly obvious action the manager could take for the Leeds game is to play Callum Wilson up top.

Yes, the former Newcastle United star is not the player he once was, nor a long-term solution, but he is an out-and-out number nine who would add a real focal point to the team.

Furthermore, he has already scored a goal for the club this season, and Lucas Paqueta looked utterly lost in the game on Monday.

With all that said, there is another change Nuno should be making for the game on Friday, one that could help get even more out of the dynamic Summerville.

The West Ham star who could supercharge Summerville

While the change up top and in the midfield should help Summerville in the game against his former side, unleashing El Hadji Malick Diouf at left-back would be far more consequential.

The former Slavia Prague gem was on the bench for the game against Brentford, and while the defensive side of his game certainly needs some work, the team missed his attacking qualities.

These qualities were last on show in the draw away to Everton, when he was hurtling up and down the touchline, sometimes beating his opposite number and often firing in brilliant crosses into the penalty area.

In fact, while he didn’t pick up an assist on Merseyside, it was a ball from him that led to Bowen’s equalising strike.

Fortunately, the 20-year-old monster is already doing rather well on the assists front this season, already providing three in eight league appearances, which lends some credence to Sky Sports’ Joe Thomlinson’s claim that he has been “one of the finds of the season.”

With that said, why would he be able to get more out of Summerville, then?

Well, one of the most important ways would be through the space he’d create.

For example, because he possesses such “explosive acceleration,” according to one analyst, opposition defenders wouldn’t be able to leave him alone and could end up being dragged all over the pitch.

Moreover, should the Dutchman run into the penalty area, he can rely on the Senegalese international to find him with a pinpoint accurate cross.

Ultimately, bringing Diouf back into the team would improve West Ham’s overall attack, but it could have an even greater impact on Summerville.

Nuno gets January promise from West Ham board as Sullivan eyes ambitious move

The east Londoners need reinforcements.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 22, 2025

Celtic are currently back in training and preparing to return to action in the Scottish Premiership with a trip to face Dundee away from home on Sunday.

The Hoops beat Motherwell 3-2 at Parkhead before the international break, thanks to a last-gasp winner from Daizen Maeda, and will be hoping to follow that up with another victory.

However, Brendan Rodgers may have some injury issues to contend with ahead of selecting his starting line-up to chase the three points against Dundee.

The latest Celtic team news before Dundee

Starting with the positive news, Alistair Johnston has returned to first-team training this week for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury in August.

He was initially ruled out until November, per the Daily Record, but the Canada international is now in line for an early return against Dundee on Sunday.

There was more positive news out of the camp earlier this week when Sebastian Tounekti played for Tunisia against Namibia, having missed his country’s first match through injury.

Whilst the Tunisian whiz, who scored his first goal for the club against Partick Thistle, may be available for selection, Celtic’s right-sided winger may not be.

Daizen Maeda had to withdraw from international duty with Japan due to a foot issue, not playing a single minute in either match, and his injury has left Rodgers concerned, per Football Insider, ahead of Sunday.

How Celtic could replace Daizen Maeda

Football FanCast recently suggested that unleashing 18-year-old winger Rhys Dargie could be one way for the Hoops to replace Maeda if he is unavailable for selection against Dundee, because the output from the manager’s other options has left a lot to be desired.

Daizen Maeda (first-team)

13

3 + 2

Michel-Ange Balikwisha (first-team)

6

0 + 2

Hyun-jun Yang (first-team)

8

1 + 0

James Forrest (first-team)

12

0 + 0

As you can see in the table above, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Hyun-jun Yang, and James Forrest have struggled to deliver consistent quality in the final third.

If Rodgers does not want to bring in Dargie, as he has not featured in a matchday squad for the first team, he could solve his Maeda problem by unleashing Callum Osmand for the first time.

The summer signing from Fulham has made the bench for the senior side on two occasions, both against Kairat in the Champions League, which shows that he is in the manager’s thoughts.

Osmand is a centre-forward by trade, but he has played on the right wing before, per Transfermarkt, scoring two goals in one game. He was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, which suggests that he has the mobility and speed to play out wide.

24/25

22

11

4

23/24

29

21

6

22/23

21

11

2

21/22

1

0

0

Total

73

43

12

The 19-year-old attacker’s form for Fulham at youth level, as shown in the table above, shows that he has the potential to deliver quality in the final third, particularly as a goalscorer, which is what the Hoops are lacking.

Maeda is Celtic’s top scoring winger, with three goals, which is why it would be a blow to lose him for any number of games through injury, but Osmand is a young talent who could ease that blow.

The Wales U17 international has scored two goals in three Challenge Cup games for Celtic, per Transfermarkt, which also shows that he has carried his goalscoring form over to Scotland.

This Sunday could be the perfect opportunity to provide him with a chance to impress on the right wing, even if it is not his preferred position, with a first-team debut for the Hoops, if Maeda is unavailable.

Rodgers must sell Celtic flop who's now worth even less than Adam Idah

Celtic must sell this flop whose value has dropped millions and is now worth less than Adam Idah.

ByDan Emery Oct 14, 2025

Osmand may be a more viable short-term option for Rodgers than Dargie, who does look like an exciting prospect, because of his first-team involvement earlier this season.

Whether it is Dargie or Osmand, who could both be intriguing options to call upon on the right wing, Celtic may have to do something different on the right flank if Maeda is out, due to how underwhelming their senior alternatives have been.

England great claims two wickets on return to cement dominance over Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-May-2025

Anderson struck on his first-class return•Getty Images

James Anderson took two wickets in his first four-day game for nearly a year as Lancashire took control of the Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.The former England fast bowler finished with two for 24 from his five-over spell with the new ball but did not return to the attack on an evening when Lancashire’s spinners emphasised their team’s dominance.Replying to Lancashire’s 458, Derbyshire were 112 for four at the close with Brooke Guest on 14 and nightwatchman Jack Morley unbeaten on four after a day on which the home side had put their recent poor performances behind them.The morning’s play had set the tone for the day. Resuming on 250 for five, Lancashire’s sixth-wicket pair, George Balderson and George Bell, began brightly, taking five fours off the first six overs and scoring the 50 runs needed for a second bonus point in less than 12 overs.That early aggression set the tone for the morning. Balderson’s 11th four of the session took him to his half-century off 70 balls although 50 off those runs had been scored off 43 deliveries this morning.Seven overs later Bell reached his first half-century off 101 balls with six fours and the sixth-wicket partnership had added 133 runs when Balderson inside-edged a drive onto his stumps and was bowled by Jack Morley for 73 eight minutes before lunch. Despite that setback, Lancashire lunched on 380 for six, having added 130 runs in a 32-over session.Shortly after the resumption, Bell was caught at slip by Wayne Madsen off David Lloyd for 57 but Tom Hartley and Tom Bailey piled the pain on Derbyshire’s bowlers by adding 61 for the eighth wicket before both were dismissed in the space of three balls.Hartley was caught and bowled for 42 when he miscued a hook off Martin Andersson and Bailey was brilliantly caught for 29 by Caleb Jewell, who grabbed a one-handed catch at short extra-cover off Morley.Anderson Philip was then caught behind off Andersson for nought to end the home side’s innings on 458 and the crowd spent the tea interval anticipating the sight of one of the best fast-medium bowlers in the game’s history displaying his skills for Lancashire yet again. Aitchison was the most successful Derbyshire bowler with three for 87.The visitors’ reply began with a flurry of boundary fours but Anderson was not to be denied. He straightened the last ball of his third over to bowl Jewell for 16 and then extracted plenty of life from what had seemed a slow pitch to have Lloyd caught behind for 27 when he could not evade a short delivery and the catch looped up, probably off the glove, to Matty Hurst.Having taken two for 24 in five overs, Anderson was then removed from the attack but Lancashire’s other bowlers kept the pressure on Derbyshire’s batsmen. The visiting skipper, Wayne Madsen, was caught at the wicket for 14 when attempting to cut the left-arm spin of Hartley and the day ended with another success for the home side when Harry Came was deceived by Luke Wells’s googly and bowled for 31, playing no shot

For better or worse, Ruben Amorim remains wedded to his 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United, despite having seen his side plunge to new depths last season amid their dismal 15th-place Premier League finish.

The Portuguese coach won two league titles while using this approach at Sporting CP, although his failure – or rather refusal – to adapt looks like it could be his undoing at Old Trafford, with the wisdom of such a set-up yet to be realised.

On current evidence, it also looks like it could be the undoing of young Kobbie Mainoo, with Amorim almost a year into his tenure and still no closer to finding a settled role for the 20-year-old sensation in his side.

With the manager’s own future perhaps still up for debate, the club wisely opted against loaning or selling Mainoo this summer, even amid his limited role, with the midfielder a player whom United simply can’t offload any time soon.

Once a central part of Erik ten Hag’s team, as well as in England’s Euro 2024 run, the academy graduate is arguably seeing his talents wasted at present. Can Amorim get him firing again?

Mainoo's record under Ten Hag vs Amorim

Mainoo must surely take his own accountability for his dip of late, while having also been struck down by injury in 2024/25, although right from the off, he doesn’t appear to have earned Amorim’s trust.

Indeed, the 40-year-old opted to unleash an ageing midfield pairing of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen for his first game away at Ipswich Town, with Mainoo instead watching on from the bench at Portman Road.

That set the tone for what has followed, with the Stockport native going on to make 30 appearances in all competitions under the new regime, with only 14 of those having come from the start.

Of those 30 outings, Mainoo has also been subbed off on nine occasions, while he has contributed just two goals and two assists thus far – half of which came during the Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen back in January.

That performance appeared to showcase what the youngster could do in a number ten role, yet he now appears resigned to fighting it out with ever-present skipper, Bruno Fernandes, in a deep-lying midfield berth.

No longer the golden boy, Mainoo appears a far cry from the player who dazzled under Ten Hag’s watch, having scored five goals and provided one assist in 44 games during the Dutchman’s time at the helm.

38 of those displays notably came from the start, with Ten Hag reaping the rewards of his faith in the then-teenage talent – the FA Cup final winner a case in point.

Mainoo isn’t alone in having suffered under the new regime, with Amorim also failing to get a tune out of a certain Rasmus Hojlund.

How Hojlund's value has fallen since Amorim's arrival

A frantic end to the window saw United finally move on their ‘unwanted’ stars, with Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho all departing from the so-called ‘bomb squad’.

That string of departures also included Hojlund’s own loan switch to Serie A champions Napoli, with that deal expected to become a £38m permanent move if certain conditions are met this season.

In an era of Alexander Isak’s and Yoane Wissa’s, Hojlund – to his credit – appeared desperate to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, even amid the signing of Benjamin Sesko, having reportedly been hesitant to commit to his Naples move initially.

Unfortunately for the boyhood United fan, Amorim and co had seemingly seen enough last season, with the young Dane ending 2024/25 with just ten goals to his name in all competitions – only four of which came in the Premier League.

While only Fernandes and Noussair Mazraoui have made more appearances for United since Amorim took charge back in November, with Hojlund lining up 40 times, the partnership simply hasn’t proved to be a fruitful one.

Who is to blame for those woes is up for debate, with the 22-year-old certainly showing promise under Ten Hag the year prior, having ended the season as United’s top scorer in all competitions with 18 goals. That said, he also ended the season on the bench, as the Dutchman favoured a makeshift duo of Scott McTominay and Fernandes in his place.

The hope was that having seen Viktor Gyokeres score 66 goals in just 68 games under his watch in Lisbon, Amorim’s appointment could take Hojlund to even greater heights.

Hojlund’s PL record
Stat (*per game	23/24	24/25
Games (starts)	30 (25)	32 (23)
Goals	10	4
Mins per goal	217	506
Goal conversion	26%	13%
Big chances missed	13	6
Assists	2	0
Big chances created	0	4
Key passes*	0.9	0.5
Total duels won*	38%	29%
Stats via Sofascore

As it has transpired, the ex-Atalanta sensation was largely a bystander to proceedings in attack last term, with chances at a premium. As per Sofascore, he actually only missed six ‘big chances’ in the Premier League in 2024/25.

From 18 goals in 51 games under Ten Hag, to just eight in 40 under Amorim, Hojlund proved unable to generate chances himself, nor convince his teammates to create opportunities for him. A worrying cocktail.

While he at times looked like a “Ruud Van Nistelrooy-type” striker in his debut campaign, as per Cesc Fabregas, Amorim rarely saw the best of United’s £64m signing – nor, it must be said, did he get the best out of him.

That is reflected none more so than in his declining market value. As per Transfermarkt, Hojlund was worth a peak value of €60m (£52m) back in December 2024, just a month into the Portuguese’s tenure.

Fast forward to the present day, and his worth has sunk to just €35m (£31m), marking a rapid drop off since the change in the dugout at Old Trafford.

Whether the manager, the system or Hojlund himself is to blame, a record of 26 goals in 96 games simply isn’t good enough. Let’s hope Benjamin Sesko proves to be a far more prolific leading man.

Man Utd's most expensive signings of all time

A number of their additions haven’t lived up to expectations.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 5, 2025

Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz and Liverpool controlled the noise from the summer transfer window on Merseyside, but David Moyes’ Everton have quietly assembled a team more capable of competing on higher ground than in recent years.

Whether the Toffees will make it a successful one is, of course, anyone’s guess, but the signs certainly suggest that improvements have been made under Moyes’ wing.

But then, what to define as success? Everton sit sixth in the Premier League after four games, two wins tallied and three games unbeaten. The Farhad Moshiri era fizzled out rather quickly, and staving off the threat of relegation was the aim.

But now, Everton want more, and understandably so. There have been some good signings in recent years, but maybe this current crop feel a little different.

Everton's best signings of recent years

Everton’s men’s side bid farewell to Goodison Park at the end of the 2024/25 season, but the change afoot was to be more than just the scenery.

A host of first-teamers left at the end of their contracts, and many needed to be shipped out if Everton wished to segue into a new, finer form.

Abdoulaye Doucoure was among those to leave at the end of their contracts, but the Malian midfielder’s departure was a more poignant one than most. 32 years old, he was still an industrious and effective part of the team, but he was also the highest earner on the books, taking home £130k per week.

His departure was necessary, especially with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz added to the central midfield ranks, the latter permanently.

The three years after Doucoure’s £20m move from Watford to Everton in 2020 were sparse in regard to jackpot signings, although Dwight McNeil has been a fantastic player when fit, and Amadou Onana did well before being turned for a healthy profit when sold to Aston Villa for £50m in July 2024.

It was one year ago, though, that Everton signed Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille for £15m. The Senegalese winger is among the most electric to play in England, and he has been described as being capable of “magic” moments by Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson.

His ten-goal return in 2024/25 was eclipsed by no Toffees member, and he was the cream of the crop.

Perhaps he’s not anymore. At no disrespect to the fleet-footed winger, Jack Grealish has arrived at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and looks eager to step up as the club’s talisman this term.

Moyes has hit the jackpot on Jack Grealish

This summer, Everton handed Grealish a lifeline. The England international was a Three Lion no more, kept from duty for his country across Thomas Tuchel’s first three camps. Sir Gareth Southgate opted against picking the Manchester City man for the 2024 Euros.

In fairness, Grealish had fallen from grace under Pep Guardiola’s wing. Joining the Premier League giants for a British record £110m fee in 2021, Aston Villa’s beloved maverick never quite captured the same effortless flair that defined his time at Villa Park, even if he has decorated his cabinet with a wealth of silverware.

It was time for a change, and Moyes offered him a platform to reinvent himself this summer, signing the 30-year-old on loan in August.

Grealish has been in fine fettle since joining, posting four assists from as many games and winning the Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

Grealish – PL stats

Stats (* per game)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

20 (7)

4 (3)

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

4

Touches*

28.5

48.3

Accurate passes*

18.8 (91%)

24.8 (88%)

Big chances created

2

3

Key passes*

1.2

2.8

Dribbles*

0.7

2.0

Ball recoveries*

1.3

4.5

Tackles*

0.5

1.8

Duels (won)*

2.4 (55%)

6.8 (54%)

Data via Sofascore

While the data pool is shallow at this stage of the season, Grealish is already demonstrating an ability beyond what was seen across his last two years at the Etihad Stadium, more confident and creative.

He’s already shaping into the Merseysiders’ attacking talisman, especially given the profligacy of the centre-forwards, and with that in mind, maybe Grealish could prove to be Everton’s own version of the aforementioned Isak, who joined Liverpool in a British record £125m move on transfer deadline day.

Isak, 25, has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world over his three terms on Tyneside, with pundit Alan Shearer even hailing him as “world-class” last season, scoring against Liverpool at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup, and hurling constant daggers into the net to propel Newcastle back into the Champions League.

There’s no question that he was the attacking leader for the Toon, and he will be for Liverpool too, especially as the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah approaches the autumn of his career in England.

Grealish is not a striker, and he’s never been a particularly reliable goalscorer, but he could be Everton’s new hero in a different way, inspiring and galvanising and making things happen in a way that none of his peers, even Ndiaye, can match.

Both Ndiaye and Grealish are players who stand out as among Everton’s finest signings in many years. It’s not a particularly high bar, but there are many teams across the Premier League and across Europe who would jump at the chance to welcome such stars to their ranks.

Who knows if Everton will turn Grealish’s loan spell into a permanent deal? The opening weeks of the campaign suggest that it should be so. Last term, Theo Walcott remarked that he is a player of “incredible talent”, but that his spark had been “coached out of him”. Moyes is instilling that joy and wonder once more.

The playmaker’s wage demands would need redress: the attacking midfielder cannot take permanent residence in Moyes’ squad without agreeing to a pay cut.

But if some agreement could be engineered, Everton would land themselves one of the most talented players in the Premier League, a player who has already shown himself capable of standing out in a rising team and with a smile on his face too.

Just like Isak over at Anfield, Grealish has the chance to be a superstar in a new setting, and TFG must ensure they get his signature scribbled in permanent ink.

Related Big Beto upgrade: Everton have already sold "the new Lukaku"

This centre-forward would thrive at the front of David Moyes’ Everton system.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 16, 2025

Lamine Yamal will not be available for the Champions League opener against Newcastle on Thursday, much to the dismay of head coach Hansi Flick. A war of words broke out between the German and the Spanish FA after he criticised the Spanish national team for not looking after Yamal. However, on the bright side, Frenkie de Jong has been named in the matchday squad.

No Yamal, more problems for Barca

Barcelona announced their squad list for the Champions League opener against Newcastle on Thursday. One glaring absence from the squad was Yamal, who has been sidelined due to an injury to his pubic bone which he suffered on international duty with Spain.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick blasts Spanish FA

Ahead of last weekend's La Liga encounter against Valencia, head coach Flick couldn't control his emotions and accused the Spanish national team of not being cautious with Yamal. "Lamine Yamal will not be available. He went with the national team in pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers to play," Flick said. "They had at least a three-goal lead in every match, and he played 73 minutes and 79, and between matches he couldn't train. That is not taking care of the player. I am very sad about this."

However, Flick's words were met with a firm response from the Spanish football federation (RFEF), who reportedly claimed that they had received no information regarding a potential injury from the Catalans.

On Tuesday, reports from Spain indicated that Yamal received a spinal injection to numb the pain experienced by the youngster in the sacroiliac area. Yamal has effectively been ruled out for the rest of September, with reporting that Barca are hoping for the 18-year-old to return for the mega clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on October 1.

Boost for Barca upon De Jong's return

De Jong suffered an injury while on international duty with Netherlands and was subsequently sidelined with gluteal discomfort, forcing him to miss the game against Valencia. After a couple of training sessions away from the team, it appears that De Jong is fit enough to contribute in some capacity against the Magpies on Thursday, if not start the match.

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AFPYamal and Barca extra cautious with recovery

Yamal will not be available for this weekend's La Liga encounter against Getafe and next week's visit to newly-promoted Real Oviedo. It is also likely that he will miss next Sunday's clash against Real Sociedad. In the meantime, Yamal is currently receiving daily physiotherapy sessions, alongside personalised strengthening exercises and targeted treatments aimed at accelerating his recovery. 

However, Barcelona remain firm in their stance: no risks will be taken. On the other hand, the club is working to mend its relationship with the RFEF. Sporting director Deco is scheduled to meet with RFEF technical director Aitor Karanka to discuss and clarify communication protocols regarding player fitness.

Whilst also chasing deals to sign both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyler Dibling, Everton have now reportedly submitted an offer to sign an in-demand midfielder who’s worth around £17m.

Update on Everton's moves for Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling

After a fairly quiet few weeks, Everton have finally come to life in the transfer market. Just under two weeks until the Premier League campaign gets underway, the Toffees have reportedly set their sights on both Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling.

The Friedkin Group are wasting no time with negotiations, either. According to Fabrizio Romano, Everton have submitted an opening bid to sign Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea with the Blues open to his exit this month.

Meanwhile, despite already seeing two bids rejected for Dibling, with their second offer reportedly worth around £35m, those at the Hill Dickinson stadium intend to land both of their attacking targets before the window slams shut.

Securing those two additions would suddenly turn Everton’s summer around. Suddenly, their list of incomings would begin to look impressive, having already signed Adam Aznou, Thierno Barry, Carlos Alcaraz and Mark Travers.

Dibling and Dewsbury-Hall would also please David Moyes, who cut a frustrated figure when questioned about incomings during Everton’s pre-season tour of America.

The veteran manager told reporters: “The truth is we’re not getting them over the line at the moment – that’s a fact. We’re not getting a lot of the deals done which we’re hoping to do, so we’re continually reassessing and moving on, while maybe things are not coming to fruition.”

After Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling, however, Everton may not be done there in the market. Reports are now suggesting that they’ve submitted an offer to sign a £17m target.

Everton submit opening Lopy offer

As reported by Spanish newspaper MARCA and relayed by Sport Witness, Everton submitted an opening offer to sign Dion Lopy from UD Almeria, but that offer failed to reach the Spanish club’s €20m (£17m) valuation.

Linked with Barcelona, Almeria’s £17m demand should come as no surprise, but even as Everton aim to replace Abdoulaye Doucoure, splashing out such a price to welcome a LaLiga2 midfielder would represent a risky decision.

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If they can get that price down, then Lopy, a Senegal international, could prove to be a shrewd acquisition. As things stand, though, Friedkin may well be better off turning to alternative options.

Of course, if they push on despite Almeria’s £17m demand, then Everton should at least hold an advantage in personal talks with the defensive midfielder this summer.

The 23-year-old is represented by the same agency as long-term Everton star Jordan Pickford – handing the Toffees a relationship to instantly put to good use in negotiations.

As the final month of the transfer window continues, whether it’s Lopy, Dewsbury-Hall or Dibling, it looks destined to be a busy couple of weeks in Merseyside.

Following their dominant start to the Scottish Premiership season, one Celtic target now reportedly wants to complete a move to the Bhoys this summer with negotiations already taking place.

Celtic ease to victory in Scottish League Cup

Of course, it’s not just the Scottish Premiership that Celtic are looking to retain this season. Brendan Rodgers’ side also won the Scottish League Cup last time out and have already taken their first positive step towards winning the trophy once again – defeating Falkirk 4-1 on Friday evening.

Goals from Daizen Maeda, Dane Murray, Alistair Johnston and an own goal from Keelan Adams saw Celtic ease past Falkirk and stretch their unbeaten start to the season in all competitions to three games.

Rogers was left pleased with the way in which his Celtic side secured their place in the next round, telling reporters: “I thought the performance was very, very good from the first whistle,” he said. “You’ve seen the hunger in the team and the intensity in the team.

“The first half we were good with the ball but not so good without it. It gave Falkirk a couple of wee opportunities to break through. We weren’t aggressive enough and tight enough. When we corrected that at half-time, we really dominated the second half.

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“The goals were excellent and I thought we played really, really well. Overall really pleased. A lot of the players who hadn’t played came in and gave great value to the team. We had good variety in attack tonight. We were precise around the box when we needed to be.”

It’s the type of dominance that is likely to attract several targets, and that includes one long-term candidate who now reportedly wants to complete a move to the Scottish champions this summer.

Balikwisha now wants Celtic move

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Michel-Ange Balikwisha now wants to complete a move to Celtic this summer after Parkhead chiefs commenced “negotiations” to sign the talented winger earlier on in the window.

A long-term target, the Belgian would likely be a Celtic player already if it wasn’t for his untimely injury last summer. It was undoubtedly a cruel twist that took place 12 months ago, but whether the Bhoys make up for it and finally get their man remains to be seen.

Dubbed “direct” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Celtic have just a couple of weeks left to get their deal to sign Balikwisha sealed and delivered at long last.

As Thomas Frank prepares for his first season as Tottenham Hotspur manager this campaign, he will want to make an immediate impact and adhere himself to the fanbase.

The Dane has the responsibility of leading the club towards the top end of the Premier League after struggling to impress throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

He will also lead the Lilywhites into the Champions League, needing to have key depth across the squad if they are to be competitive in various competitions.

However, after taking the reins, Frank will unsurprisingly be wanting to make his own impression on the side, needing to make signings who will improve the options at his disposal.

Alongside incomings, outgoings are also needed to allow players not at the level required to move on, handing the manager the funds he needs to sustain their recent European success.

The latest on Spurs’ transfer activity this window

Centre-back Cristian Romero has been a name constantly mentioned with a move away from Spurs this summer, with Atlético and Real Madrid both interested in the Argentine.

It’s been reported over recent days that a £60m fee could be enough to prise him away from North London, potentially leaving a huge hole within the side’s backline.

However, the supporters shouldn’t worry, with moves already being made to land other defenders, leading to Castello Lukeba emerging on their shortlist, according to Foot Mercato.

The report claims that Frank’s side have been keen on a move to land the French youngster, who made 31 appearances for RB Leipzig across all competitions in 2024/25.

It also states that the 22-year-old currently has a €90m (£77m) release clause in his contract, but he could be allowed to depart for a lower fee should a deal be negotiated.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be the perfect Romero replacement

Whilst Romero has been a player who has divided opinion during his spell at Spurs, his showing in the Europa League final is evidence of the talent he possesses.

The 27-year-old was handed the Man of the Match award during the historical triumph, and understandably so when delving into his stats from such a performance.

He made 10 clearances, five of which were with his head, along with six duels won, helping the Lilywhites keep a clean sheet and end their near two-decade wait for a piece of silverware.

Losing the Argentine would be a huge blow, leaving Frank with a massive task to replace the star who’s showcased his talent over the last couple of months in North London.

However, a deal for Lukeba would be a superb one, having all the tools to move the club in the right direction and fill the void left should the centre-back depart this window.

When comparing their respective stats from the most recent season, the Frenchman has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing why he could be the perfect replacement.

Lukeba, who’s been labelled “one of the best centre-backs” by one writer at The Athletic, has registered more progressive passes and carries per 90 in 2024/25, highlighting the ability he possesses to play out from the back.

Games played

23

18

Minutes played

1577

1416

Progressive passes

4.6

4.5

Progressive carries

1.1

0.7

% of tackles won

71%

70%

Clearances made

4.2

3.6

Blocks made

1.7

1.1

Aerials won

67%

60%

Without the ball, he’s been just as dominant, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst also making more blocks, subsequently handing Frank the defensive quality he needs.

The Leipzig talent has also won more aerial duels and made more clearances per 90, with his tallies nothing short of sensational given his tender age – having the chance to improve further in the years ahead.

Whilst losing Romero would be something no Spurs fan would want this summer, Lukeba is evidence that there are better options out there within the transfer market.

It’s unclear how much the Bundesliga side could command for his services, but if the Argentine does depart North London this summer, a move for the Frenchman must be the priority.

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