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Liverpool have turned a corner, now five matches unbeaten in all competitions and with two wins on the trot after dispatching Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s team have climbed up to sixth place in the Premier League, still a distance behind table-toppers Arsenal, who sit ten points ahead of the champions, whose brace of own goals against Wolves later in the day retightened their grip on top spot. .

Some would say that that is an unassailable lead over the Merseysiders, but Liverpool do have a squad capable of competing and beating Mikel Arteta’s side – again – with the trip to the Emirates in less than a month one to watch, for sure.

Of course, after such abject results and performances, Slot’s side have so much work still to do, and if Saturday’s win told us anything, it’s that they would be worse off if they were to lose Mohamed Salah after the African Cup of Nations.

Salah's return to Liverpool action

To say it’s been a turbulent week for Salah at Liverpool would be an understatement. Last weekend, the Egyptian’s inflammatory outburst at Elland Road cast his future at the club into doubt.

The 33-year-old had been dropped to the bench for three successive matches, and after being kept on the sidelines as Liverpool capitulated against Leeds United, he paused at the mixer and unleashed an incredible series of comments concerning a broken relationship with the head coach.

He was dropped from the squad that beat Inter Milan entirely, and he started from the bench once again at Anfield, coming into the fray before half an hour against the Seagulls and whipping in the corner that Hugo Ekitike headed home for his second brace in a row.

This has created an intense air of doubt over Salah’s future at the club, with suitors from the Saudi Pro League circling.

But Liverpool simply cannot let their talisman leave. Even though he’s been so far out of sorts, Salah has still maintained a degree of prolificness in the final third, only trumped by Ekitike.

Hugo Ekitike

23

10 (1)

Mohamed Salah

20

5 (4)

Cody Gakpo

21

5 (4)

Federico Chiesa

16

2 (3)

Alexander Isak

15

2 (1)

Florian Wirtz

21

0 (5)

Rio Ngumoha

8

1 (0)

That’s a marker of Liverpool’s woes, the lack of balance and fluency across Slot’s frontline, but it also shows how important it is that the legendary winger is not cast aside at the campaign’s midpoint.

However, whether that is the same for another attacker is another question.

Liverpool's fringe forward must be pushing to leave

barring Ekitike, Liverpool’s new forwards have struggled to gel together this season. Salah too. However, who can argue against Federico Chiesa’s impact and tenacity when brought off the bench throughout the campaign?

The 27-year-old forward has yet to start in the Premier League or the Champions League this season, but he scored the winner in his side’s season opener against Bournemouth and scoring and assisting again in defeats against Crystal Palace and Manchester United. In the Carabao Cup, he claimed two assists against Southampton in a Man of the Match display.

But the £150k-per-week star must be reaching the end of his tether, having been used sparingly right since joining the Anfield side from Juventus for a cut-price £12.5m deal in August 2024.

Like Salah, the Italy international may be looking for the exit door, and it would be hard to blame him if it were so. Though Salah’s own case – and confirmed absence over the next month due to AFCON – suggests Chiesa will earn further chances to showcase his skills, Jeremie Frimpong is soon to return from injury, Liverpool may well be active in the transfer market.

One side of the argument would draw attention to Salah’s potential departure in January, or maybe at the end of the season. Regardless, the £400k-per-week superstar is playing through his penultimate year on Merseyside at the latest.

However, FSG have a vested interest in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, and his arrival would only knock Chiesa further down the pecking order.

On one side of the fence, Chiesa’s mentality and attitude have been impeccable despite his limited match action this season, but Chiesa surely can’t brook many more oversights from Slot. He needs to play, and with the January transfer window right around the corner, the Italian might just look for an exit.

He'd revive Van Dijk: "World-class" talent wants to join Liverpool

Liverpool may need to make a winter signing or two as Arne Slot’s side struggle through the 2025/26 campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair 3 days ago

When Andrea Berta arrived at Arsenal towards the beginning of 2025, the transfer plan for the summer was abundantly clear.

The fact of the matter was that during his first window in charge, the squad needed more firepower and, chiefly, a striker was a necessity.

While there were links to the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, both of whom got big-money moves elsewhere in the Premier League, the Gunners concluded a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede had only spent two prolific seasons in Portugal with Sporting but he was already on the move and deservedly so.

Yet, while the centre forward has done a lot to improve the overall attack, there is a sense that they could do better in future windows.

Arsenal looking to sign new striker

Gyokeres may well have signed but Arsenal still do require a little bit more in attack.

Gabriel Jesus is back in full training but it’s wild to expect him to be at a productive level for a good few months yet after recovering from an ACL injury. Even if he did recover, he’s been linked with the exit door as he approaches the final 18 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz has also been a long-term absentee which has left Arsenal with only one fit centre forward for much of 2025/26 to date.

So, while Arsenal’s options in several areas now are deep, another striker wouldn’t go amiss.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s where Borussia Dortmund frontman Serhou Guirassy comes into the equation.

According to reports in Spain, it suggests that Arteta and Co are vying with the likes of PSG for the striker’s services.

The report notes that Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a move but it’s likely they’ll have to pay around £44m in order to conclude a deal.

The Guinean has a release clause in his contract of that amount, meaning that like Gyokeres, he wouldn’t cost the earth to bring to England.

It’s said that Arsenal are thought to be willing to pay the required amount to get him out of Germany.

How Guirassy compares to Viktor Gyokeres

When Gyokeres signed for Arsenal while the club were on their pre-season Asia tour, there was much fanfare.

At last, Arteta had a proper goalscoring centre forward to add to his ranks. Last term, the former Coventry City star scored 54 goals in 52 games. It was a breathtaking campaign, one that saw him take home the Gerd Muller trophy for the best striker in the world during the last Ballon d’Or gala.

Yet, in Arsenal colours, Gyokeres has not had it all his own way. He’s been wasteful in front of goal and went on a barren run of seven games without scoring at one stage.

That said, he’s not been a complete flop. The Sweden international still has six goals to show for his efforts and has particularly pleased Arteta with what he’s offered to the team.

While he did not score during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League, Arteta summed up why he’s been so delighted with what the centre forward is offering. “I think he did the rest of the things you ask for from a striker. The way he’s linking with his teammates, the way he’s opening spaces, the way he’s threatening constantly the back line.”

However, while it does seem unlikely Arsenal will sign another striker, Guirassy could be an upgrade on what they already have.

Described as “one of the best centre-forwards in the world” by one notable football analyst on X, the 29-year-old has been in the form of his life over the last year. Crucially, he’s also demonstrated that form in a top-five European league, something Gyokeres had not done before touching down in London.

In 2024/25, Guirassy found the net on 38 occasions in 50 games, bagging a remarkable 13 goals in 14 Champions League matches. That included scoring five times across two outings with Barcelona.

But what separates him from Gyokeres? Well, a scorer of seven goals this term, the numbers showcase why.

Not only has Guirassy scored more goals per 90 minutes and offered a higher xG, but he excels in bringing others into the game too.

During the 2025/26 season to date, the Dortmund sensation has completed more accurate passes and more assists per 90. It might be Gyokeres who has played more key passes but clearly it’s the former who is more decisive with his final actions right now.

If that wasn’t enough, Guirassy is a better and less chaotic carrier of the ball. Gyokeres resembles something of a raging bull when he’s gallivanting forward but there’s more of a smoothness to Arsenal’s latest transfer target. The fact he averages more progressive carries substantiates that point.

To round things off, Guirassy is also far more likely to win his aerial duels, something that Arsenal have perhaps missed since Havertz’s injury.

To put Guirassy’s numbers into further context, he won more aerial duels (3.77) per 90 than the German did (3.03) in 2024/25.

So, while the Dortmund striker may only be one goal ahead of Gyokeres this term, he offers something of a hybrid situation between Arteta’s two leading marksman. That could well offer the Spanish manager a fabulous balance as Arsenal hunt down their first Premier League title in over two decades.

Marcus Stroman is shaping up to be the odd man out in the New York Yankees' 2025 rotation. Stroman signed a two-year deal with the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season and was decidedly mediocre, going 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA and didn't make an appearance during his team's run to the World Series. Now the outlook is grim for Stroman as a starter; the pinstripes appear to have five ready-made arms to make up the starting rotation for 2025 in Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Clark Schmidt, and free agent acquisition Max Fried.

One way to fix that particular problem for both Stroman and the Yankees would be to move the righty to the bullpen. Stroman, however, does not appear to be willing to do that at all. He gave a defiant refusal to reporters when asked about the idea after showing up at spring training a few days after pitchers and catchers reported.

"I'm a starter," Stroman insisted to assembled media. "I'm a starter. I don't pitch in the bullpen. I'm a starter."

It's a bit of a change in tune from Stroman given he was willing to jump into bullpen work for the Chicago Cubs in 2023 as he worked his way back from an injury.

His stance and how strongly he sticks to it could complicate matters for the Yankees should they decide to trade Stroman instead of keeping his $18.3 million salary on the books as a sixth starter. A situation to watch as spring training gets underway.

Television ratings for Major League Baseball's postseason have been extremely good and could get even better if the New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Series matchup becomes a reality. How much that matters depends on who you ask. Obviously, it's great for the presenting networks and MLB can put some public wins on the board when it comes to the somewhat opaque goal of "growing the game" and combating tired narratives about baseball dying.

Not to suck all the life and fun out of things but broadly, baseball will be just fine even if ratings aren't great and a huge bump probably doesn't mean all that much for coming years as so much of this is matchup-dependent.

We'll all be back here in the same spot trying to make sense of a 15 percent gain or drop next year.

What is much clearer is that Shohei Ohtani is an international draw. Major League Baseball anounced on Thursday that Game 5 of the NLDS between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers was the most-watched MLB postseason game ever in Japan as nearly 13 million viewers tuned in. Add this to the U.S. viewership and there's a global number north of 20 million.

For context, the population of Japan was 123 million in 2023. Some rudimentary math reveals that more than 10 percent of the country's population was watching a game that aired at 9 a.m. local time on a Saturday.

It will be super interesting to see what the numbers from Japan look like as Ohtani and the Dodgers get closer to winning a World Series. There has to be some cap on viewership but 10 percent of the population watching a game suggests the sky might be the limit.

Bayern Munich are racing to extend Dayot Upamecano's contract, with sporting director Christoph Freund calling it the club's "main goal". The defender is in the final months of his deal, and reports claim Real Madrid have opened talks for a free transfer ahead of next season, which comes as no surprise to the German club's director.

• Freund confirms 'main goal' to extend Upamecano deal

  The 27-year-old defender's contract at the Allianz Arena is set to expire on 30 June. With the France international now in the final year of his deal, he will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in less than two months.

  This precarious situation has reportedly alerted Europe's elite, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, forcing Bayern to accelerate negotiations. The public confirmation from Freund comes after president Herbert Hainer recently emphasised the club's hope that Upamecano will sign a new deal.

  "It's no secret that our main goal is to extend Upamecano's contract," Freund said in a press conference. "It's also not surprising that many clubs, I don't know which ones, are interested in Upamecano because he's simply performing really, really well, is a great guy, and one of the best centre-backs in the world."

  Freund noted that the player's current form, which has seen him make 19 appearances across all competitions this season, is a sign of his contentment in Munich.

  The French international feels "very, very comfortable," Freund added, stating that is evident in "the energy he exudes" on the field.

  However, the sporting director conceded that an agreement is not imminent, stating: "We are in talks, but there is nothing new to report at the moment."

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• Getty Images
  

  Real Madrid 'open talks' for 2026 free transfer

  The pressure on Bayern is mounting, with reports claiming that Real Madrid have already opened discussions with Upamecano's representatives regarding a free transfer in the summer of 2026.

  Los Blancos have reportedly made defensive reinforcement a top priority. With uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, the club are seeking a new leader for their backline.

  Upamecano is seen as a perfect fit for this next-generation blueprint, possessing Champions League experience and familiarity with Real Madrid's strong French contingent, which includes Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. His commanding performance in Bayern's 2-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain is said to have solidified Madrid's interest.

• Kahn slams 'very weak' negotiating position

  The situation has drawn sharp criticism from Bayern legend Oliver Kahn, who blasted the club for allowing a key player to enter the final year of his contract.

  "The way he's playing now, at the very highest level, it's not just going to be expensive, not just very expensive, it's going to be very, very expensive for Bayern," Kahn told

  The former CEO questioned the club's foresight, placing the blame for their difficult negotiating stance squarely on the board.

  “The question that always arises is: why did you let Dayot Upamecano enter the final year of his contract in the first place?” Kahn said. “The only explanation is that Bayern weren't so happy with him a year or two ago. Now he's performing at the top of his game. When you're in the final year of a contract, you're in a very bad position as a club unless you pay a lot of money.”

  Reports suggest those demands are high, with the defender allegedly seeking a salary of around €15 million per year plus a significant signing bonus.

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• Upamecano's resurgence under Kompany fuels interest

  Upamecano's exceptional form, which has triggered this contract race, is widely credited to new manager Vincent Kompany. After struggling for consistency under previous bosses Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel, the Frenchman has thrived under the former Manchester City captain.

  The defender, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021 for €42.5m, has publicly praised Kompany's influence.

  "We all watched him when we were young; he was a legend for Belgium and Manchester City," Upamecano said in a recent interview. "He was a very aggressive defender in duels, a leader on the pitch too, a good example for me. He helps me a lot; we do a lot of videos, he talks to me about my positioning. With him, it's always very intense.”

The last couple of weeks for Chelsea have been topsy-turvy to say the least, with the last couple of outings falling way below the standards of manager Enzo Maresca.

Expectations were heightened after the summer recruitment, which saw just shy of £300m of new talent making the move to Stamford Bridge during the off-season.

However, in the first six outings, the Blues have been victorious twice, with their last win coming way back at the end of August with a 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham.

The Italian will no doubt want to correct such a slump, which has seen his side lose both of their last two Premier League outings to both Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Such attempts haven’t been aided by the side’s disciplinary record in recent outings, with the side collecting two red cards in each of the last two matches in England’s top-flight.

Trevoh Chalobah's worrying start to 2025/26 for Chelsea

After Robert Sanchez’s dismissal against Manchester United last week, centre-back Trevoh Chalobah became the second Chelsea player in as many matches to be sent for an early bath.

The centre-back started his eighth consecutive game of the 2025/26 campaign, but once again failed to deliver – even before his straight red card against Fabian Hurzeler’s side.

The England international was adjudged to have slipped Diego Gomez whilst the attacker was through on goal, leading to a VAR intervention

and his subsequent dismissal.

However, up until he left the field after 53 minutes, he struggled to have the desired effect, failing to win any of the duels he entered whilst also failing to make a single tackle.

The 26-year-old certainly cost the side the three points in West London, with the Blues still struggling with finding their best partnership at the heart of the backline.

As a result, the club may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart – with the former first team member reaching the next level in his career after leaving the club.

The former Chelsea star who’s now better than Chalobah

Given the sheer volume of players turned over at Chelsea over the last couple of years, it’s no surprise that players who have been offloaded have managed to star elsewhere.

Since Todd Boehly arrived back in May 2022, the Blues have spent upwards of £1.4b on new additions to help them rise up the Premier League table in the near future.

However, in an attempt to strengthen, players have also had to make way to help balance the books and lessen the risk of being hit with any punishment for breaking PSR rules.

In the summer of 2024, numerous players were sacrificed by new boss Maresca, one of whom was centre-back Malang Sarr, who departed on a free transfer to join French side Lens.

He originally joined on a free transfer from Nice back in the summer of 2020, arriving with a lot of hype given his four-year stint in the first team in Ligue 1.

However, injuries and lack of faith from the manager saw him rapidly fall down the pecking order, subsequently making just 21 appearances for the Blues.

As a result, the 26-year-old would return to his homeland, with Sarr resurrecting his once promising career with Lens over the last couple of seasons.

He’s featured in every minute of the league campaign in 2025/26 to date, subsequently managing to outperform current first-team star Chalobah in the process.

Sarr, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, has won more tackles per 90, whilst also winning more aerial duels – offering a more dominant option to Maresca had he been kept on the books.

The Frenchman has also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, arguably offering a more rounded ball-playing option – something which is vital in the Italian’s current system.

To top off his dominance over the England international, he’s also made more clearances and interceptions per 90 – further showcasing his incredible talents out of possession.

Such numbers highlight the superb rise Sarr has endured over the last few years, with his move to Lens undoubtedly being a success after his failure at Stamford Bridge.

The decision to allow him to depart now appears to be a questionable one, with the Blues’ loss now the French side’s gain given his tremendous form over recent times.

As bad as Chalobah: 4/10 Chelsea gem showed he’s not ready for PL start yet

Chelsea suffered a 3-1 loss at home to Brighton and this player failed to step up.

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By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 27, 2025

GOAL looks at what's required from Reyna, Musah, Josh Sargent, Joe Scally and Damion Downs to secure USMNT roles

AUSTIN, Texas – Mauricio Pochettino made it abundantly clear when speaking to the media about his latest U.S. men's national team roster. He wasn't in the mood to offer explanations for those players not called in. They know, he said, what they need to do to make it back. The players that are on the squad, similarly, know what they did to get the call this time.

"Maybe sometimes you say, 'Why don't we give an explanation?' Pochettino said. "No, they don't need an explanation. It is about performing. Nothing is personal. If you are the best and you are performing in the best way possible for your club, we are going to call you."

It's seemingly that simple. Play well? You're in. Play poorly? You're out. That's the macro view. When breaking down the micro, there are specifics that certain players need to show if they're to rejoin the USMNT picture.

Some need to show fitness. Some need to add parts to their game. Some, in truth, may just need to cross their fingers and hope that things bounce their way or that Pochettino has a change of heart. It's the magic of roster selection: it's imperfect and subjective. And it can change in an instant.

GOAL looks at five notable omissions from Pochettino's latest squad, and what they can do to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Getty Images SportGio Reyna: Get meaningful minutes

There's no mystery with this one, largely because it's been the same answer for the past few years. If Reyna plays –  and we mean really plays – at a legitimate level on a consistent basis, he's too talented to keep out. The thing is, though, that he hasn't played enough – can he change that in time?

The optimist would say "yes." He's moved to Borussia Monchengladbach, a club that seems to value him. He's got a close friend, Joe Scally, alongside him. There's a sense of urgency and motivation, too, for a player who knows that, right now, he's probably on the outside looking in.

Reyna, more than anything, just needs consistency. He needs it from his club and, more importantly, he needs it from himself. There are reasons for pessimism, however. Just a few weeks into his Gladbach tenure, Reyna has already battled injury issues that have prevented him from potentially rejoining the USMNT.

Those issues, of course, were all too common at Dortmund, ultimately defining his last few years with the club. That cannot happen this season if he wants to be called in to the World Cup. Reyna needs to stay fit and, once that happens, then think about contributing.

The talent is there; it just needs a place where it can be displayed. If Reyna can do that, he could potentially play a part next summer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportYunus Musah: Specialize on a role

There has always been one big question around Musah, centered around "when." When would he add some attacking gusto to his game? When would he find the defensive chops he needs to play at a higher level? When, ultimately, would he take a leap as a player by building on the his foundational talent?

It hasn't quite happened yet. That's why Milan agreed to loan him to Atalanta, a Serie A rival. And it's why, at the moment, he's not quite at the USMNT level.

Musah still might be the most purely talented midfielder the U.S. has. His athleticism and dribbling ability are off the charts, which is why he was such a key player at the 2022 World Cup. There may not be a single other midfielder in the player pool that can do with Musah can do. He's totally unique in more ways than one.

Unique doesn't always translate, however. Pochettino and his staff have made it clear that they are looking for players who can fit into roles and, as of this moment, Musah remains something of a tweener. He doesn't offer enough going forward nor does he offer enough defensively.

He has previously played well at right-wingback but, with options such as Sergino Dest, Tim Weah and Alex Freeman ahead of him on the depth chart, there doesn't seem to be a role there for him either.

So how does he forge a path? Specialize. Either as an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder, Musah needs to show a new layer to his game if he wants to be a starter going forward.

IMAGNJosh Sargent: Take some chances

To put it lightly, Sargent hasn't seized his USMNT chances. He's had plenty over the last few years, but none have resulted in goals. It's no mystery why he isn't in this camp. This one is clear as day.

Sargent, admittedly, was put in a tough spot last camp. Facing off with South Korea, the USMNT were fairly overmatched and, when they did get forward, it wasn't in a way that suited Sargent's game. He was largely left chasing, giving him few opportunities that didn't involve him sprinting onto a long ball to nowhere.

Devoid of service, Sargent, once again, didn't score and then didn't feature in the vastly better win over Japan a few days later. Since, though, Sargent's gone cold. After lighting up the Championship prior to September camp, Sargent hasn't scored since, entering a period that, by his standards, is something of a drought.

Sargent is too good to be kept down for long, and his goals remain crucial to Norwich City's hopes going forward. It's a safe bet to say that he'll start scoring again soon. History has shown plenty of examples.

When and if that USMNT call does come again, though, Sargent has to push back on history – one that includes the fact he hasn't scored for the national team since 2019. When that call comes, he needs to take his chance, because there aren't many left.

"Maybe it's just about relaxing and believing in myself a little bit more," he told GOAL last month. "It'll happen. I do believe. I know I can score goals and I know it'll happen. It's just a matter of time, so I'll just try not to put so much pressure on myself."

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Getty Images SportJoe Scally: Just keep grinding

Scally is in a challenging position. He doesn't seem to be a natural fit, and it's going to be very hard to change that perception. Over the last several months, Pochettino has shown a clear preference for attack-minded fullbacks. More specifically, he's shown a preference for fullbacks with the ability to attack.

They don't always have to, and they won't always be asked to. But Pochettino clearly wants versatility in that spot with a slight skew towards players that can add something further up the field. It's why Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten got so much run this summer, and it's why both are still in the team.

Scally doesn't offer that. To his credit, he is fresh off a two-assist game in the Bundesliga, but there's no mystery with regards to his strength. He is a very good defender, one who proved that, in particular, last summer against Brazil. He is not Cafu, though. He's more old-school.

So what does Scally do about that? Continue grinding. He's been playing as a right-wingback for Gladbach and has shown the ability to play as a centerback in a back three. With the USMNT playing in that system now, Scally can certainly play his way in. He'll just need to keep making his mark for Gladbach.

A “natural winner” could be in line to become the next Leeds United manager amid “reservations” over Daniel Farke, it has been claimed.

Farke and Leeds off to a solid start in the Premier League

There were suggestions that Leeds were looking to replace Farke in the summer, despite the German reaching the 100-point mark in the Championship last season, given that he hasn’t exactly been successful in the Premier League previously.

Both times the 48-year-old led Norwich City to promotion, his side ended up finishing 20th in the top flight, which doesn’t bode well for the Whites, but they have made a solid start to the campaign, picking up four points from their opening three games.

As such, the former Norwich boss appears to be safe for the time being, but there are still some doubts over whether he is capable of leading Leeds to safety, according to reporter Alex Crook.

Farke could make move for "relentless" £20m+ CF who's "perfect for Leeds"

The Whites launching a move for a striker is “one to keep an eye on”, with Daniel Farke personally keen.

ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025

Speaking on talkSPORT, Crook suggested that Jose Mourinho could be in line for a sensational return to the Premier League, having recently been sacked by Fenerbahçe, which could open the door for a move to West Ham United or Elland Road. Crook said:

"Natural winner" Mourinho may be past his best

Having been sacked by Fenerbahçe after failing to win a trophy, journalist Henry Winter has now suggested the Portgueuse manager’s best days may now be behind him, with his style-of-play behind the times.

The 62-year-old has been lauded as a “natural winner” by journalist Josh Bunting in the past, which is underlined by the fact he has enjoyed a remarkably successful career, winning three Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.

However, despite once being known as ‘The Special One’, the former Chelsea boss has been on the decline for some time, failing to win a trophy during his time with Tottenham Hotspur, before also being sacked by AS Roma.

As such, it may be wise for Leeds to avoid making a move, particularly considering there is no reason to part ways with Farke at the moment.

That is despite the fact Lee Sharpe believes Mourinho could be a perfect fit at Elland Road, saying: “Jose Mourinho at Leeds United would be absolutely classic because Leeds is a little bit of a rebel team when it comes to how they do things and Mourinho would love that.

“The fans would get onboard with him, and he would have an unbelievable relationship with the fans and would be a great club for him. It would be fantastic.”

Such is the toxicity of an online fanbase that very rarely do you get a signing that unifies a bunch of supporters, particularly Arsenal.

Their fans love a vent, they love sharing their frustration but there is also an incredible collective unity. That was seen when Eberechi Eze signed for the Gunners on Saturday.

While a deal was wrapped up by Wednesday evening, this move has been in the pipeline for a couple of weeks now with reports suggeting that they had initially agreed the framework of a move back on August 10th.

After that, Spurs stole in and it looked as though Andrea Berta and Co were set to ignore their summer-long interest.

Well, an injury to Kai Havertz turned the tide. Arsenal need another body and they brought one in swiftly, spending over £60m to bring the Crystal Palace star to the north of London.

If reports are to be believed, they might not be done just yet.

Another late signing for Arsenal on the cards

With the arrival of Eze it is highly likely that Arsenal are now done the in the transfer market when it comes to incomings.

That won’t faze many fans, for this has been a cracking window.

Yet, the one player that’s continued to elude the club despite several months worth of links is Real Madrid winger Rodrygo.

Reports earlier in the window suggested that talks had been held but interest has never been followed up. Well, according to reports in Spain, a bid was actually made for the Brazilian.

Transfer Focus

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

Reportedly, Arsenal have actually submitted an offer worth £67m for the player. However, amid interest from Manchester City, Madrid are not prepared to sanction a sale unless their asking price of around £78m is met.

As a consequence, this is probably one deal too many for Berta this summer.

Why Rodrygo is as exciting as Eze

Wow, just wow. What a deal this is. The moment that Arsenal were able to steal Eze away from their biggest rivals is an event that fans won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

Eze certainly feels like the missing piece of the puzzle. Capable of playing from the left wing or behind the striker as more of a number 10, he’s a maverick, he’s a dribbler, he’s a goalscorer, he’s a creator. He’s got everything in his locker to be a success at Arsenal.

What fans have perhaps bemoaned the most over the last year is the predictability of the club’s tactics but Eze will certainly help give this attack some unpredictability.

Rodrygo would help do the same and one might still argue that, despite added depth on the left wing now, they don’t have an elite option.

We’re clutching at straws here, but Noni Madueke’s favoured position is on the right and Eze’s preferred role would be more central.

Thus, signing Rodrygo, whether it be now or in the future would be the final piece of the puzzle on the left of Arteta’s forward line.

While he did go 17 games without scoring at one stage last term, the 24-year-old still netted 14 goals and supplied 11 assists. Remarkably, that is the exact same haul as Eze registered for Crystal Palace across all competitions in 2024/25.

In the words of former teammate Luka Modric, he’s a “superstar” talent. He’s also a maverick, just as Eze is, ranking among the top 20% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90 minutes and among the best 13% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

In the shadow of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr at Madrid, since new boss Xabi Alonso came to the club he’s not received much game time and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Rodrygo grows frustrated and forces a move away from the Spanish capital.

This is a deal that will likely go into 2026 but there’s no doubt that he’s a fabulous player, someone boasting the same level of unpredictability and excitement in attack as Mr Eze.

He'd get Gyokeres firing: Arsenal in talks for "world-class" star after Eze

Arsenal could be about to land another top-level star after agreeing a move for Eberechi Eze.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 23, 2025

Crystal Palace are in the market for attackers this summer and have now received a reply to a bid for a freescoring star who could add another layer across the front four positions, according to reports.

Crystal Palace move on after stalemate with Chelsea

Despite the odds being stacked in Chelsea’s favour, Crystal Palace emerged with a deserved goalless draw at Stamford Bridge over the weekend and will feel a little unfortunate not to have claimed all three points amid Eberechi Eze’s disallowed free-kick.

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Nevertheless, getting off the mark in the Premier League standings will come as a relief to Oliver Glasner, who delivered praise to his side and their core members despite speculation over the future of several first-team stars.

He told Sky Sports: “The 15, 16 players who had the most minutes last year are still here. There are a lot of rumours about Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi but they were 100 per cent with this group in Crystal Palace and they have proved that in a big way.”

Without doubt, transfer activity will be what fans want to see at Selhurst Park. Contact has been initiated to sign Arsenal academy graduate Dan Casey, albeit he is unlikely to be an immediate fixture for the Eagles’ if he does cross the London divide.

In a separate sequence of potential events, Jakub Kiwior could join Crystal Palace if Eze moves to Arsenal, though a swap deal scenario would have to occur in order for both players to head in separate directions.

Glasner has somewhat shot down Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the England international, and the Eagles boss could now be about to open his own transfer chequebook as the FA Cup holders make inroads on the market.

Crystal Palace could return for Christos Tzolis after bid rejected

According to reports in Belgium via Sport Witness, Crystal Palace have seen a £27.6 million bid turned down for Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis as they look to beef up their forward line.

Regardless, the Eagles could return with another offer, albeit the Belgian giants have no intention of selling the Greece international as they are in a comfortable position to retain his services.

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Labelled “excellent” by Stephen Kountourou, the 23-year-old delivered 21 goals and 16 assists across all competitions inside 56 appearances last term.

Continuing that theme, he has put up five goal contributions in seven 2025/26 matches and continues to be a major attacking threat off the left flank for club and country.

Crucially, Tzolis isn’t opposed to a move to the Premier League and if he decides to agitate for a move, Club Brugge may be forced into action, leaving Crystal Palace in a position to try and zone in to land their man.