Tag Futebol

While it wasn’t the perfect weekend for Manchester City, it wasn’t far off.

The Citizens claimed all three points in what was a relatively routine win over Everton, while Liverpool lost at home to Manchester United.

So, while they are still three points behind Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s side are now a point clear of the Reds in second place and look set to mount a proper challenge for the Premier League title.

Moreover, with Erling Haaland back to his very best, there is no reason they couldn’t overtake the Gunners, especially when another of Pep’s best signings is playing so well.

Pep's best Man City signings

On top of revolutionising the way the game is played in this country, Guardiola has also signed some of the very best players to grace the Premier League.

Chalkboard

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

For example, while he was already performing at a high level for Tottenham Hotspur, it would be hard to deny that Kyle Walker massively improved during his time in the North West.

During his time with the club, the Burnley ace made 319 appearances, during which he scored six goals, provided 23 assists, averaged 2.33 points per game and won everything there is to win in the club game, including a Champions League and six league titles.

Walker’s City record
Appearances	319
Starts	286
Minutes	25710′
Goals	6
Assists	23
Points per Game	2.33
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Another stalwart of Pep’s best sides has been Rodri, as before his injury problems last season, he was one of the very best players in the world.

After all, the Spaniard is the only defensive midfielder to ever win the Ballon d’Or.

Moving on from defensive players, it’s hard to look past Bernardo Silva when it comes to the iconic manager’s best City signings.

The former AS Monaco dynamo moved to Manchester in the summer of 2017 and has since made an astounding 417 appearances across all competitions, in which he has scored 72 goals, provided 74 assists and dazzled fans all over the country with his mercurial abilities on the ball.

Finally, it would be impossible to talk about some of Guardiola’s best signings and not bring up Haaland.

The former Borussia Dortmund star made his way to the Etihad in the summer of 2022, and to say he has been a successful signing would be a laughable understatement.

Haaland’s City record
Appearances	156
Starts	148
Minutes	12774′
Goals	138
Assists	22
Goal Involvements per Game	1.02
Minutes per Goal Involvement	79.83′
Points per Game	2.12
All Stats via Transfermarkt

At the time of writing, the Leeds-born force of nature has scored 138 goals and provided 22 assists in 156 games for the club, totalling 12774 minutes.

In other words, the 25-year-old monster has averaged 1.02 goal involvements per game, or one every 79.83 minutes since joining City.

In all, it would be fair to say that Guardiola has signed more than his fair share of stars over the years, and it looks like he might have just landed his best since Haaland.

Guardiola's best signing since Haaland

Fortunately, there are a few players who could claim this title, from Josko Gvardiol to Savinho, but in this instance, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to look past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Yes, the Italian international only joined City this summer, but he is already putting in brilliant performances for the club.

And while some may say he lacks the ball-playing ability of Ederson, he more than makes up for it with his shot-stopping, which is surely what matters most with a goalkeeper.

His game-saving abilities were on full show in the match away to Brentford, when he came out on top from a one-on-one situation with Igor Thiago.

Moreover, while it is still early on in his time at the Etihad, the numbers are already showing that he should be in the same conversations with the very best in the league.

For example, he has conceded just two goals, which works out to 0.40 per 90 and puts him just behind David Raya who many would consider to be a part of the best defensive unit in the league, if not the world.

Finally, on top of the promising start to his time in the North West, there are also plenty of examples of him putting in game-saving performances for Paris Saint-Germain and Italy over the years.

For example, in the Champions League semi-finals last season, he prevented 2.09 goals across both legs against Arsenal, which was enough to send the Parisians through and see Italy legend Alessandro Costacurta label him “the best in the world.”

Ultimately, so long as Donnarumma can keep up the form he is already showing this season, and replicate some of his incredible performances of seasons prior, then it might soon be a commonly held opinion that he’s City’s best signing since Haaland.

Man City eye South American star who may follow in Julian Alvarez's footsteps

The Citizens could follow a familiar trend in their latest pursuit.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Oct 19, 2025

Sunday's Major League Baseball action gets kicked off at 10:10 a.m. EST between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, and it concludes with two of the best teams in baseball — the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers — facing off on Sunday night.

With every team in the league in action, bettors can wager on 15 different games on Sunday.

Here's a moneyline pick for each of the, along with a short breakdown of each game:

New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies Prediction and Pick

We've got a pair of pitchers with over 5.00 ERAs squaring off in this game, although Jose Quintana has led the Mets to a win over the Phillies once this season.

Philly is top five in MLB in OPS this season, and it comes into this game on a four-game winning streak. I'll ride with the hot team at home as a slight favorite.

San Francisco Giants vs. Texas Rangers Prediction and Pick

The defending World Series champs should have an advantage on Sunday with Nathan Eovaldi (2.70 ERA) on the mound against Keaton Winn (3-6, 6.17 ERA).

The Giants are just 3-6 straight up in Winn's starts, and Eovaldi has been decent since returning from the IL, allowing just three runs across 8.2 innings of work. I lean with him to get the win on Sunday.

Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals Prediction and Pick

The Atlanta Braves are starting 2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep on Sunday — his MLB debut — against Washington's DJ Herz, who allowed four runs in four innings in his debut against the New York Mets.

Atlanta's offense, even without Ronald Acuna Jr., is better than this Washington group, and the Braves outrank the Nats in bullpen ERA. With both 'pens likely getting heavy usage in this one, I'll lay the juice with the Braves.

Minnesota Twins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Pick

Pirates starter Jared Jones has just one start all season where he's allowed over three earned runs, and he should have the edge against Minnesota's Bailey Ober (4.94 ERA).

Both of these teams are 5-7 in these starters respective outings, but Jones has beenb lights out at home, posting a 1.95 ERA in six starts. Trust him in this afternoon matchup.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction and Pick

Zack Littell led the Rays to a win over the Orioles in his last start, but it wasn't pretty. He gave up 11 hits across six innings (only three runs), pushing his WHIP up to 1.28 on the season.

He takes on Grayson Rodriguez (6-2, 3.28 ERA), who has led the O's to a 7-3 record in his 10 starts. Given the Rays struggles at home (17-20 straight up), I don't mind the Orioles (20-10 on the road) as slight favorites in this game.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Miami Marlins Prediction and Pick

There isn't much to love betwene Miami's Trevor Rogers (5.68 ERA) and Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco (5.66 ERA), but there is one stat that stands out to me.

Miami is just in Rogers' outings this season. I can't back this struggling Marlins team to get the win today.

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction and Pick

Cubs rookie Shota Imanaga appears to be coming back to earth, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) over his last two starts to shoot his ERA up to 1.88 on the season.

Meanwhile, Reds starter Frankie Montas is coming off his best outing of the season — seven innings of one-hit ball against the Colorado Rockies.

The Reds actually outrank the Cubs in OPS this season, so don't be shocked if they still one at home today.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Detroit Tigers Prediction and Pick

AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal has been money for the Tigers all season, posting a 1.97 ERA and leading the team to a 9-3 record across 12 starts.

He takes on Milwaukee's Bryse Wilson, who has pitched decently in 2024 but could be due for some regression due to his 4.77 expected ERA. I'll take Detroit here.

Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction and Pick

Kansas City Royals starter Cole Ragans has just two starts this season where he's allowed more than three earned runs, and I give him the slight edge over Mariners youngster George Kirby.

Seattle ranks just 24th in MLB in OPS, so I'm worried about it scoring enough against a Royals team that has thrived at home, going 24-10 straight up.

Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction and Pick

I can't bet on the awful Chicago White Sox, especially with Chris Flexen (5.19 ERA) on the moound. Chicago is just 2-11 straight up in his 13 starts this season.

Colorado Rockies vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction and Pick

I don't love either starter in this matchup, as Andre Pallante was rocked for St. Louis in his last outing, pushing his ERA over 6.00 on the season, and Ty Blach has been subpar (4.54 ERA) for Colorado.

These teams are both in last place with ugly run differentials, so why not take a shot on a road dog in this matchup?

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction and Pick

Justin Verlander hasn't been his best in 2024, but Houston is starting to play better, going 6-4 in its last 10 games to move just half a game back of second in the AL West.

The Angels (last in the AL West) are sending Patrick Sandoval (5.00 ERA) to the mound, and he may struggle against a Houston offense that ranks 10th in MLB in OPS against lefties.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland A's Prediction and Pick

Oakland has been decent at home (15-19 straight up) this season, and it may have the pitching advantage with Mitch Spence (3.86 ERA) taking on Bowden Francis (9.00 ERA) in a battle of young arms.

The Jays also rank 29th in MLB in bullpen ERA, so I don't have much faith in the arms after Francis being trustworthy enough to back the Jays as favorites.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres Prediction and Pick

The D-Backs are going with an opener in this game, which makes them an automatic fade in my eyes. Arizona will have to use a lot of its bullpen, which ranks 25th in MLB in ERA this season.

That puts the Padres and Adam Mazur (1.50 ERA), who is making his second career start, in a good spot to grab a win at home.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees Prediction and Pick

Los Angeles' Tyler Glasnow and New York's Luis Gil have been two of the best pitchers in baseball this season, but I think the Dodgers pull off the series sweep of the Yanks on Sunday.

New York's offense has sputtered without Juan Soto, and the Dodgers hung 11 runs on New York on Saturday. If we're trusting an offense to get to a bullpen, I think the Dodgers have the slight edge right now.

It's unlikely that Maya Le Tissier didn't see the discourse around her going into Manchester United's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. After Sarina Wiegman said she saw the Red Devils' captain as more of a right-back, rather than a centre-back, the conversation was unavoidable, with everyone from Ian Wright to the Man Utd social media admin getting involved to wonder just why the England boss doesn't see Le Tissier as a serious contender for a starting role in the heart of the Lionesses defence. Perhaps it even served as fuel for the player herself, because she was outstanding in the 1-0 win in Spain that maintained United's perfect start to their first ever UWCL campaign.

Le Tissier had to be brilliant, too, because her team were up against it for almost an hour after an incredibly controversial red card for Dominique Janssen. Until that point, United had enjoyed the better of a competitive game, taking the lead midway through the first half when Fridolina Rolfo thumped home a powerful volley for her first goal for the club. But everything changed once Janssen was sent off just before half time for a challenge that, while unfortunately causing a serious-looking injury to Gio Garbelini, did not look worthy of such a punishment.

It was all about the defensive effort in the second period for United then, who had to deploy Gabby George in the unnatural position of centre-back to make up for Janssen's absence. Fortunately, she had Le Tissier next to her and the captain led by example in an incredibly formidable display. There were plenty of other top performers too, be it goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who made a particularly brilliant save to deny the lively Luany; the midfield duo of Julia Zigiotti Olme and Hinata Miyazawa, whose covering in front of the defence was so often vital; or Leah Galton, whose wonderful energy from the bench would actually create a moment that evened the numbers back out 15 minutes from time, as she burst past Alexia Fernandez before being brought down by the already-booked defender.

Even without Janssen's dismissal, it could've been more comfortable for United. Melvine Malard had a huge chance just past the half hour mark that she stabbed wide and the Frenchwoman really should've put the result beyond doubt in the final few minutes, only to curl another effort off target. Fortunately, the Red Devils wouldn't rue those misses, hanging on to follow up their historic win over Valerenga last week with another in Madrid.

GOAL rates Manchester United's players from the Centro Deportivo Wanda Alcala de Henares…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (7/10):

Made some big saves to keep a match-winning clean sheet and commanded her area confidently.

Jayde Riviere (7/10):

Defended admirably, winning six of her seven tackles to preserve 

Maya Le Tissier (8/10):

Came up with so many crucial blocks and clearances as United held on with 10 players.

Dominique Janssen (5/10):

Desperately unlucky to be sent off in the first half. Had been solid in and out of possession until that point.

Anna Sandberg (6/10):

Did well in her ground duels with the lively Luany but switched off a little when the winger spun off her and was left scrambling to get back in position at times.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Julia Zigiotti Olme (8/10):

An all-round effective performance, showing quality in possession and her defensive work while also slotting in reliably at centre-back to help United see out the final few minutes of the first half.

Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):

Did a lot of really good defensive work, especially in the second half when United were under real pressure.

Ella Toone (6/10):

One of United's liveliest players before going off at the break as changes were made to make up for the red card.

Getty ImagesAttack

Melvine Malard (6/10):

Should've doubled United's lead both before and after Janssen's dismissal. Made up for that with a lot of important defensive work, though could've done more to hold the ball up and relieve the pressure on her back line at times.

Elisabeth Terland (6/10):

Worked hard and contributed well to the build-up play before going off at the break as Skinner was forced to reorganise his side.

Fridolina Rolfo (7/10):

Scored a terrific goal to break the deadlock and showed her nous as a left-back by doing a lot of good defensive work to help Sandberg out.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Gabby George (6/10):

Slotted into the slightly unfamiliar position of centre-back after Janssen was sent off. Looked a little rusty at times, given her lack of minutes since injury, but filled in well all things considered.

Lisa Naalsund (7/10):

Good in possession and offered a lot out of it, which is exactly what United needed.

Leah Galton (8/10):

Continued her return from injury when she came on just past the hour. Her running with the ball was so often the reason for the United defence getting some respite and her work tracking back was exceptional.

Rachel Williams (N/A):

Brought strength and energy up top for the final few minutes.

Marc Skinner (7/10):

Was limited in what he could do with his starting XI given the injuries to Park and Bizet but used his bench brilliantly to cope with Janssen's dismissal.

Glasgow Rangers head into the first international break of the season after drawing all four of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership.

It has not been an ideal start for the Ibrox giants or Russell Martin, who will have to wait until the middle of September, at least, before grabbing his first win in charge of the club.

There were some positives for the Gers in their 0-0 draw with Celtic, including the debut of Bojan Miovski as discussed in the clip above and a clean sheet, but there were also some worrying performances.

Thelo Aasgaard was selected to play in the number ten role for the Gers behind the Macedonia international, and failed to impress in an attacking sense.

Thelo Aasgaard's performance in numbers

The Norway international, who signed from Luton Town on a permanent deal this summer, was unable to offer a threat at the top end of the pitch, as he ended the game with zero shots on target and zero key passes, per Sofascore.

Aasgaard was also unreliable in possession, completing just 57% of his attempted passes, and Martin may not have been happy with how sloppy he was on the ball.

The former Wigan Athletic star was, however, a physical outlet for Rangers. He won nine duels, including eight of his 12 on the ground, and won two tackles without being dribbled past a single time.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Aasgaard put himself about and was up for the scrap defensively, which helped Rangers to avoid losing too many 50/50s, and was far from the worst performer for the Gers.

Martin's possible tactical mistake for Rangers against Celtic

One player who was even worse than Aasgaard against Celtic was left-sided attacker Mikey Moore, who was unable to cause Anthony Ralston many problems.

Ahead of the match, Ralston appeared to be the weak link in the Hoops defence due to the injury to first-choice Alistair Johnston. Despite that, Martin opted to move Djeidi Gassama over to the right flank to accommodate Moore on the left.

Gassama has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine appearances as a left winger for Rangers this season, which is why it seemed like he would be the most obvious option to take the game to Ralston and expose him on that side.

Minutes

72

Pass accuracy

44%

Shots on target

0

Key passes

0

Dribbles completed

1/3

Crosses completed

0/1

Duels won

4/9

As you can see in the table above, Moore did not take the game to the Scotland international and put in a disappointing all-round performance on the left flank, failing with 66.6% of his dribbles and completing just 44% of his passes.

That tactical decision also put Gassama out on the right, on his right foot, and meant that he struggled to take Kieran Tierney on down the outside in tight spaces, leaving Rangers too one-dimensional going forward.

In the end, the poor decisions in the wide areas heavily contributed to the team’s failure to create a single ‘big chance’ in the game, which left Miovski starved of service.

This is why Martin’s call to put Moore, who had an underwhelming afternoon, in on the left ahead of the usually electric Gassama was one that cost Rangers the win, as they were unable to take advantage of Johnston’s injury at right-back.

Rangers tipped to hire Russell Martin replacement in "box-office" move

The tactician is already attracting huge criticism.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 30, 2025

Whilst it is not a guarantee that Gassama would have won the game for Rangers, his statistics as a left-winger suggest that there was a good chance that he would have made a big impact and could have sealed all three points with a moment of magic.

MatériaMais Notícias

A terça-feira de reapresentação foi agitada na Academia de Futebol após o Palmeiras dar folga ao elenco depois da derrota por 1 a 0 para o Botafogo, no último domingo, no Allianz Parque.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras perde titular por lesão no joelho, e Marcos Rocha inicia transiçãoPalmeiras27/06/2023PalmeirasGafe de Leila Pereira com camisa antiga do Palmeiras gera insatisfação na PumaPalmeiras27/06/2023ListasPalmeiras recebe avião comprado por Leila Pereira: veja fotos das partes internas e externas da aeronaveListas27/06/2023

O clube divulgou a lesão do volante Zé Rafael no joelho direito e assustou a torcida do Verdão que vê Abel Ferreira perder um dos pilares da equipe em um momento crucial da temporada.

Com diversos confrontos difíceis e decisivos pelo Brasileirão e ainda os dois duelos diante do São Paulo pela Copa do Brasil, o técnico português terá que quebrar a cabeça para achar um substituto confiável e que entregue a mesma proteção que o ‘trem’ traz para o seu sistema defensivo.

continua após a publicidade

Enquanto Abel vê Zé parar por um tempo e Giovani se apresentar no Al Saad do Catar, a maior organiza do Verdão protestou contra a diretoria e cobrou por reforços em nota nas redes sociais na tarde desta terça-feira.

Segundo a Mancha-Alviverde, tem entrado muito dinheiro nos cofres do clube, mas a gestão só está preocupada em vender atletas.

O pedido de reforços por parte da organizada já vem desde o início do ano após a venda de Danilo e a saída de Scarpa, e se intensificou essa semana muito por conta das derrotas para Bahia e Botafogo.

continua após a publicidade

Lembrando que Artur e Richard Ríos foram contratados e agregaram muito ao elenco após a disputa do Estadual, mas o grupo volta a ficar curto com as perdas de Giovani e agora Zé Rafael.

Na minha opinião, o Palmeiras precisa buscar alguns reforços pontuais para fortalecer o seu elenco para as competições que vão afunilar ainda mais neste segundo semestre e a torcida está certa de reforçar que o clube é um instituição que visa títulos e não apenas o lucro financeiro.

Apesar do dia agitado, a manhã de treino no CT também trouxe boas notícias, como o retorno de Marcos Rocha e Gabriel Menino, que deve ser uma peça ainda mais importante no elenco depois da lesão de Zé Rafael.

Aston Villa’s transfer activity this summer has been a careful balancing act, reflecting both ambition and necessity.

After losing academy graduate Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle and contending with persistent Premier League profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), Unai Emery’s side have sought reinforcement across multiple positions.

The Midlands outfit have already added Evann Guessand from Nice, but there remains a pressing need to bolster creativity and experience in midfield, particularly in the event of Morgan Rogers’ departure.

The club’s early campaign has been patchy, with a draw against Newcastle followed by a 1-0 defeat away at Brentford.

Despite summer interest from Newcastle and Manchester United, Ollie Watkins continues to lead the line.

However, there is a growing recognition that midfield reinforcement is required to support their talismanic striker, which in turn will unlock the team’s full attacking potential.

Previously, Aston Villa have gambled on other technically gifted Brazilian midfielders, exemplified by Philippe Coutinho’s arrival after struggling for form at Barcelona.

Now, another South American talent is emerging on the radar, with the potential to recapture that same blend of flair and influence.

Villa enquire about potential Rogers replacement

According to journalist Santi Aouna, Aston Villa have opened discussions with West Ham regarding the possibility of signing Lucas Paquetá.

The 27-year-old Brazilian, who has amassed 55 caps and 11 goals for his national side, is considered one of several midfield options should Villa need to replace Morgan Rogers before the close of the transfer window.

West Ham are understood to be holding out for a fee in the region of £60m, with initial inquiries suggesting Villa would need to meet a minimum valuation of £40m before talks could commence.

Paquetá has undoubtedly experienced a turbulent period at the London Stadium, having faced betting allegations in August 2023.

Although he was cleared of all charges in 2025, the episode is reported to have affected him profoundly.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Nevertheless, he continues to be highly rated.

Former West Ham player Declan Rice praised the attacking midfielder’s abilities, describing him as “mind-boggling” in terms of quality and vision.

Clubs including Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and Tottenham have reportedly monitored the player, though news of Spurs’ recent acquisition of RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons will reduce the likelihood of any continued interest.

For Villa, Paquetá represents a chance to combine proven Premier League experience with the technical finesse necessary to complement both new arrivals and established stars such as Watkins.

Why Paquetá could be Villa’s next Coutinho

Tactically, Paquetá offers Aston Villa a multifaceted solution.

Primarily an attacking midfielder, the Brazilian excels in creating and progressing offensive sequences, with metrics that underline his all-around capability.

According to FBref, last season, he ranked in the 74th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.89) and the 79th percentile for progressive passes (6.16), demonstrating his ability to influence both goal-scoring opportunities and build-up play.

Additionally, he boasts the 84th percentile for touches in the opposition penalty area and the 75th percentile for tackles per 90, illustrating a willingness to contribute defensively – a balance Emery prizes in transitional play.

His aerial ability is also notable, with the 89th percentile for aerial duels won per 90, making him a threat in both open play and set-piece scenarios.

The comparison with Coutinho is plain to see.

Before arriving at Villa Park, the Brazilian struggled to live up to his colossal pricetag at Barcelona before briefly flourishing on loan at Bayern Munich.

When at his best, Coutinho combined exceptional vision, dribbling, long-range shooting, and set-piece delivery, ultimately making him a dangerous attacking asset.

Paquetá, arriving at a stage in his career where his technical maturity and Premier League familiarity intersect, could offer a more immediate and sustained impact than his predecessor.

From a squad composition perspective, Paquetá could integrate seamlessly with Villa’s existing framework.

He would complement Watkins in attack, add creativity in the final third, and relieve pressure on newly-signed Guessand, allowing Emery greater flexibility in rotation and tactical setups.

The midfielder’s proficiency in linking play and breaking lines would enhance Villa’s transitional play, which has been a key focus under Emery’s management.

If the deal progresses, it would also signify Villa’s commitment to international-level talent capable of impacting the Premier League immediately.

After losing Ramsey, and with ongoing interest in Rogers from external clubs, adding a player of Paquetá’s calibre would send a clear message regarding the club’s ambitions.

Aston Villa are prepared to invest in both technical skill and experience to remain competitive domestically and in this year’s edition of the Europa League.

Ultimately, a successful move for Paquetá could mirror the allure of Coutinho’s signing while avoiding the pitfalls that hindered his predecessor.

Villa would acquire a player with vision, creativity, and finishing ability, tempered by Premier League experience and tactical maturity – qualities capable of elevating both the midfield and the team’s overall attacking profile.

For supporters, it represents an opportunity to witness Brazilian flair integrated into a system designed for consistency and results, potentially bridging the gap between raw talent and polished Premier League performance.

Emery's own Grealish: Aston Villa agree terms for "magical" late signing

Aston Villa are ready to welcome one or two late signings to their squad as the transfer window draws to a close.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 29, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed a deal to sign a £15m player compared to former Molineux ace Morgan Gibbs-White.

Wolves make left-back Moller Wolfe fourth summer signing

After losing both Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester United and Manchester City early in the transfer window, Wolves have slowly been splashing the cash in the transfer market.

The Old Gold have made four new permanent signings for manager Vitor Pereira, one of which being Jørgen Strand Larsen following his successful loan spell at Molineux last season.

The latest addition in the Midlands is David Moller Wolfe, with the left-back costing Wolves £10m from Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar. Talking after signing a five-year deal, Moller Wolfe said:

“I’m so, so happy and so proud to be a part of Wolves, so I’m over the moon right now. I felt incredibly wanted from the second I talked to Domenico [Teti, Wolves director of football] and the second I talked to the coach.

“Obviously, the Premier League is a big, big league, especially also in Norway. It’s the biggest league that people watch, so when a Premier League club came in, and Wolverhampton came in for me, I was extremely keen on joining.”

Incomings

From

Fee

Jorgen Strand Larsen

Celta Vigo

£23m

Fer Lopez

Celta Vigo

£19m

Jhon Arias

Fluminense

£15m

David Moller Wolfe

AZ Alkmaar

£10m

With a new left-back signed, attention is now turning to a right-back after Nelson Semedo departed the club upon the expiry of his contract.

Approach made: Wolves now make enquiry to sign "unbelievable" £15m striker

The Old Gold have made contact over a deal for a centre-forward, with Vitor Pereira looking to bolster his attacking options.

ByDominic Lund Jul 30, 2025

Sevilla’s Juanlu Sanchez has been the man heavily linked with replacing Semedo under Pereira, and a development has now emerged.

Wolves reach £14.8m agreement to sign Juanlu

According to reports in Spain, Wolves have actually reached an agreement to sign Juanlu from Sevilla. A fee is worth €17m (£14.8m), however, Wolves still have to convince the player of a move to the Premier League. The report adds that Juanlu actually wants to join Serie A giants Napoli and is waiting for them to swoop.

Therefore, despite shaking hands on a near £15m deal with Sevilla, a deal could still prove complicated for Wolves.

Primarily a right-back, Juanlu can actually play further forward when required as a winger or central midfielder.

Players similar to Juanlu

Club

John McGinn

Aston Villa

Adrien Truffert

Bournemouth

Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

Marcos Llorente

Atletico Madrid

Emerson Palmieri

West Ham

Interestingly, as per FBref, the Spaniard has even been compared to attacking midfielder Gibbs-White, who left Wolves for Nottingham Forest back in 2022.

Set to turn 22 later this month, Juanlu is capped at senior level by Spain and turned out in the Champions League with Sevilla last season.

He’s contributed to 14 goals in 74 first-team Sevilla appearances, and by the looks of things, a deal will be one to keep a close eye on following this development.

Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations with a fairly drab 0-0 draw against fellow Premier League side Leeds United on Saturday.

Ruben Amorim’s side featured two new signings in Diego Leon and Matheus Cunha, whilst the Red Devils are still finalising a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.

Whilst there will be a lot of focus on who Manchester United bring in to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window, the club also need to move on the players who are not going to be involved under Amorim next season.

One of those players, Marcus Rashford, appears to be on the verge of a move away from Old Trafford, as Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign the England international.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are set to sign the 27-year-old attacker on a season-long loan, with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.

David Ornstein has added that the Spanish giants are also set to pay 100% of the forward’s wages during that loan spell, in what will come as a welcome relief to Manchester United.

Why Rashford to Barcelona is a good move for all concerned

Rashford is reportedly on £300k-per-week at Old Trafford, as per Capology, and that equates to around £15.6m per year, which shows that the club are set to save a huge amount of money as part of this deal.

Whilst it is not set in stone that the winger will sign for Barcelona on a permanent transfer next summer, as it is only an option, United can be thankful that they are not paying his enormous wages next season, given that he was not a part of Amorim’s thinking.

It is money that could be allocated elsewhere, potentially to bring in further attacking reinforcements, as Rashford has not been consistent enough in the final third to prove that he is worth spending that kind of money on.

The England international was sent out on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that Amorim did not see a future for the academy graduate in his side.

24/25 (Man Utd & Villa)

11

£15.6m

£1.4m

23/24 (Man Utd)

8

£15.6m

£1.95m

22/23 (Man Utd)

30

£10.4m

£346k

21/22 (Man Utd)

5

£10.4m

£2.08m

As you can see in the table above, Rashford has failed to hit double figures for goals in two of the last four seasons in all competitions, and has only cost under £1.4m per goal scored in a season in one of the last four.

These statistics suggest that it is for the best that the English forward joins Barcelona on loan, with his wages paid in full, because United will be offloading a player, even if potentially just for next season, who has not justified his cost.

His exit will also create a space in the squad for United to bring in a replacement for him before the end of the summer transfer window, and the club are reportedly eyeing a star who could be an upgrade on him.

Man United make contact to sign Ligue 1 star

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s versatile attacker Randal Kolo Muani.

The reporter claims that the Red Devils have already made contact with the Ligue 1 champions, as they pursue a potential transfer for the France international.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Aouna adds, though, that Newcastle United have also made contact with PSG over a potential deal for the forward, which means that there could be stiff competition for his signature this summer.

The journalist’s article on Foot Mercato also reveals that Juventus are interested in a deal to bring him back to Turin, after he spent the second half of last season on loan with the Italian giants.

This latest report does not outline how much money it would take to strike a deal with PSG for Kolo Muani, but a price tag of £50m was mentioned earlier in the summer.

Why Man Utd should sign Randal Kolo Muani

The Red Devils should push to win the race for his signature in the coming weeks because he could arrive at Old Trafford as an upgrade on Marcus Rashford.

Like the soon-to-be Barcelona player, the French attacker is a versatile talent who can play out wide on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, which would provide Amorim with a plethora of ways in which to utilise his qualities.

In fact, France teammate Kylian Mbappe described Kolo Muani as being a “very complete” forward, and United could benefit from his brilliant all-round play as their new centre-forward, if they can secure a deal for him this summer.

The 26-year-old star scored eight goals and provided one assist in 16 matches in the Serie A during the second half of last term, whilst Rashford only scored six goals in 25 outings in the Premier League.

xG

0.36

Top 41%

Goals

0.62

Top 9%

Shots on target

1.08

Top 27%

Successful dribbles

1.39

Top 20%

Touches in opposition box

6.03

Top 20%

Interceptions

0.31

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, the Juventus loanee produced high quality in a host of key metrics, as he excelled as a dribbler and a goalscorer, whilst also putting in hard work to win the ball back for his side.

Whilst, with one assist, the creative side of his game was not on full display, Kolo Muani did assist 17 goals in 46 games for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2022/23 campaign, which shows that he can be a fantastic creative threat when at his best.

The £50m-rated star, who scored two goals in three games at the Club World Cup, has delivered at least ten goals in all competitions in each of the last five seasons, whilst Rashford, as aforementioned, has only managed that in two of the last four years.

Kolo Muani could arrive as an upgrade on the England international because of his impressive form for Juventus in the second half of last season, as well as the almost guaranteed goals that his record suggests that he would provide in the final third.

Amorim's own Rodri: Man Utd agree personal terms to sign £26m sensation

Manchester United are starting to make things happen in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 19, 2025

Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign a “talented” defender, and the Premier League have now approved the transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd's transfer priority revealed

The Red Devils’ main priority this summer is to bring in a new striker, with Fiorentina’s Moise Kean being identified as a potential target, and it is clear to see why, with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund scoring just seven league goals between them last season.

However, Ruben Amorim is also keen to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, and the manager is now eyeing a reunion with Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio, with the manager selecting the Portuguese defender as his ideal target.

Former United defender Paul Parker has been left concerned by the lack of new arrivals up to this point, saying: “For Man United to just compete against anyone and not let themselves down, they need at least four more signings.

“They can’t carry on where they are at this moment in time because they’ll start next season and it will still be negative in the dressing room and with the fans. It became the Theatre of Nightmares towards the end of last season.”

According to a recent update from Romano on X, however, Man United have made another addition, with a deal for “talented” 15-year-old Southampton defender Harley Emsden-James now agreed and signed, having tracked him closely over the last 12 to 14 months.

He's a bigger talent than Mbeumo: Man Utd make contact to sign £55m star

Manchester United could forget about Bryan Mbeumo after the hierarchy made another move for an attacking star.

8 ByEthan Lamb Jul 10, 2025

The Premier League have now approved the transfer, which is exciting news for United, given that the youngster is viewed as a “major talent”, and they have beaten a number of rival clubs to his signature, including Manchester City and Chelsea.

Man Utd also need to bring in senior centre-back

It is promising news that United have been able to get a deal for Emsden-James over the line, given that he is highly rated by a number of the Premier League’s top clubs, but at 15-years-old, the teenager clearly won’t be in the first team in the near future.

As such, Amorim will need to bring in a senior centre-back this summer, with Lisandro Martínez still sidelined due to an ACL injury, while Harry Maguire has entered the last year of his contract at Old Trafford.

The aforementioned Inacio could be a solid option, having been described as “one of the best” centre-backs in the 2023-24 Europa League by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, given his defensive showings and keen eye for goal, which was on display again last season.

With United set to make a loan with an obligation to buy bid for Inacio, the deal could progress in the near future, and at 23-years-old, he would be able to make an instant impact at Old Trafford.

Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland CEO, said the appointment is a step towards Ireland becoming a “fit-for-purpose Full Member”

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2024Graeme West, the current Cricket West Indies (CWI) high-performance manager, is set to take over as director of high performance at Cricket Ireland (CI).In his stint with CWI that started in 2012, West worked closely with young talent from across the West Indies, and in 2016 was coach of the West Indies team that lifted the Under-19 World Cup. After working with the U-19 and ‘A’ teams, his current role as high-performance manager included the setting up of academy programmes and building a pool of coaches. He is expected to have a similar profile in Ireland, starting next month.Before joining CWI, West spent five years at the Middlesex academy. There, he worked with Ireland internationals Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, Andrew Poynter and Stuart Poynter. West has not played any top-flight cricket, but holds a Level 4 ECB coaching qualification.”I am delighted to be joining Cricket Ireland as the organisation continues to grow and strengthen,” West said in a statement. “The Strategic Plan for 2024-27 is incredibly exciting and I look forward to applying my experience and philosophy to the wealth of talent and expertise that has been assembled as we further establish Ireland as a major cricketing nation.”Warren Deutrom, the chief executive at CI, said the appointment was a step towards Ireland becoming a “fit-for-purpose Full Member”.”When we set out to create and recruit for the role, the profile, initiative and experience that Graeme possesses is exactly what we were looking for,” Deutrom said. “We knew that in order to be successful in this new role, the candidate required leadership experience, exceptional people skills and the ability to be a mentor as much as a manager. In Graeme, we believe we have found that candidate.”As an organisation, we are going through a process of reviewing and evolving our operations to ensure we are fit-for-purpose as a Full Member in a rapidly changing environment. One of the strategic decisions we made was to acknowledge the scale and scope of our work has outgrown our pre-Full Member structures.”The senior men’s team have a busy few weeks ahead, with a white-ball tour of the UAE to play South Africa later this month. The senior women’s team is set to host England for three ODIs and two ODIs starting Saturday.