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On Thursday night the Twins played their first game at Target Field since the Pohlad family announced they would not be selling the team. Minnesota proceded to go out and lose to the Tigers in extra innings with manager Rocco Baldelli getting ejected following a colorful argument about whether or not a foul tip was caught or not.

The emotions from the loss, coupled with the recent news about the team's ownership situation, had the words "sell the team" fresh on everyone's mind and that became especially apparent during the team's postgame show where fans could be heard loudly chanting the request.

The Twins entered the season with a mid-range payroll, well above teams like the Marlins and Athletics, but far behind real contenders who are spending about twice as much each season in an attempt to put a competitive team on the field.

Two years removed from their last postseason appearance, Minnesota is currently 57-64, seven games out of the wild card.

It's a simple recipe for fan unrest.

Newcastle United made their biggest sale in the club’s history over the summer, in perhaps the biggest Premier League transfer saga of all time.

Liverpool signed Alexander Isak from the North Eastern side for a fee of £125m, which was a British record deal.

Controversy aside, that move represented the change Newcastle have undergone over the past few seasons, since their takeover.

The Magpies more than doubled their money on the Swedish striker, having paid £60m for him. The fact that they can sign expensive talent and flip them for profit shows the positive financial state of the club.

In fact, there are a couple of other Newcastle players who could be future £100m stars, including – but not exclusive to – Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

Why Tonali & Guimaraes already are £100m stars

There is no doubt that Tonali and Guimaraes form one of the Premier League’s best midfield pivots. The Brazilian said it himself earlier this year, describing his partnership with the former AC Milan star as “one of the best midfields in the league.”

Newcastle’s number 39, Guimaraes, has already been valued at £100m by the club, and has previously had a release clause of that value.

Given his importance to the club, it’s easy to see why. The Brazil star has 21 appearances across all competitions and has ten goal involvements this term.

As for Tonali, the Italian is of equal importance to Eddie Howe’s midfield. He’s played 20 times this season, sitting at the base of their midfield and controlling the game, with Guimaraes operating just ahead of him.

Whilst there has never been an official report valuing the midfielder at £100m, it is clear he is a player worth that much.

Paul Scholes even said he is “better than Declan Rice,” with Arsenal paying £105m for the England star back in 2023. It is safe to assume Tonali can hit those heights.

However, it is not just Newcastle’s dynamic pivot who are future £100m stars at St James’ Park.

Newcastle’s latest future £100m player

Newcastle fans certainly adore the midfield, which Guimares says is among the Premier League’s elite. Tonali was lauded by one notable supporter earlier in the season as the “best” player he’s ever seen play for the Magpies.

It isn’t just Tonali, though, whom he heaped praise on. The content creator said Malick Thiaw is “a very strong contender for the best defender” he’s seen pull on that famous Black and White shirt.

Indeed, the German could easily earn a £100m price tag one day. His performances have been exceptional, as already alluded to, with scout Antonio Mango suggesting he was “one of the best signings of the summer.”

It is another example of a great investment from the Magpies, with Thiaw costing only £34.6m.

He’s cemented himself as Howe’s first-choice centre-back, playing 19 times in all competitions this term and even offering a threat from set pieces. Thiaw bagged twice against Everton in a 4-1 win last month.

Indeed, his stats reflect just how good a centre-back he is.

The 24-year-old averages 4.53 progressive passes and 3.81 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 17% and 15% of Premier League centre-backs, respectively.

Long pass accuracy

67.2%

92nd

Progressive passes

4.53

83rd

Progressive carries

1

85th

Ball recoveries

4.08

78th

Aerial duels won

3.81

85th

There is perhaps a case to be made that Thiaw is just as important to Howe’s side this term as Tonali and Guimaraes. He’s certainly played a similar number of games, completing 90 minutes in the Premier League ten times in a row now.

If the midfield duo are worth £100m, it is easy to see how that can be the case for Thiaw in the future.

He has all the attributes to go to the very top, and is highly rated by Newcastle fans and How alike. The German has been exceptional this season and will be hoping this form continues.

He's the next Bruno Guimaraes: Newcastle to launch move for £30m "monster"

Newcastle United could win themselves a future Bruno Guimaraes by making a move for this £30m ace.

ByKelan Sarson 7 days ago

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

The Athletics are in their first season of playing all of their home games at a minor league stadium in Sacramento as they wait to make the move to Las Vegas in three years. They had their home opener on Monday night and it didn't take long for fans to rip the team and MLB over the lackluster setup.

Between innings Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki had to get to the clubhouse for something. While in every other MLB stadium that's a simple walk down a tunnel from the dugout, in Sacramento the clubhouse is behind the wall in left center which means if you need anything, inlcuding maybe even a bathroom break, you have to run through the field of play to get there.

Suzuki probably didn't enjoy this but his teammates sure did:

Fans were not impressed:

Arsenal have been handed another blow in their pursuit of the Premier League crown after star defender Gabriel hobbled off with an apparent groin issue for Brazil. The centre-back was playing on home soil at the Emirates, in an international friendly against Senegal. In the second half, he went down in some discomfort and was subsequently taken off, looking furious.

• Gabriel added to Arsenal injury list

  The Gunners already have a lengthy injury list, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli all missing in recent weeks. Riccardo Calafiori has reportedly returned to north London after picking up an injury while training with the Italian national team, he will miss their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Norway as a result. 

  Gabriel looks to be the latest player heading for the treatment table, which is terrible news for the north London club ahead of three crucial games after the international break.

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• Arsenal fans react to Gabriel injury

  The sight of their most valuable defender exiting the pitch during an international friendly in their ground inevitably drew fiery reactions from the Arsenal faithful son social media. 

  One non-plussed fan, Jadinho97, wrote on X: "Gabriel getting injured on international duty at the Emirates has sent my head to Mars."

  Edduizy posted: "Gabriel off injured for Brazil in yet another useless friendly." 

  Another X user, @sakamvent asked: "What is the point of international breaks?  Calafiori and Gabriel are now injured, just when we thought we would catch a bit of break with injuries they start to pile up again." 

  LongJeff called the incident, "horrific horrible news." 

  BiancaKG had a more selfish reaction when she posted: "Gabriel getting injured doesn't bode well for my FPL Team."

• Ever-present Gabriel the foundation of Arsenal's success

  The handwringing of angry Arsenal fans is understandable. Gabriel has played every minute of the Gunners' Premier League campaign so far this season, and has appeared in all four of their Champions League fixtures too. When Gabriel has featured this term, Arsenal have conceded just five times, while the Brazilian has also chipped in two goals of his own going forward.  

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• AFP
  

  Arsenal's upcoming fixtures — Gabriel out for north London derby?

  The suspected injury could not come at a worse time for Mikel Arteta's side. First up after the international break, the Gunners take on their north London rivals Tottenham on November 23. That hellacious affair is quickly followed by a marquee matchup against Harry Kane's Bayern Munich. The Bavarian giants are undefeated this term, winning sixteen straight games to kick off their 2025/26 term. A massive week for the title hopeful's season concludes with another London derby, this time against third-placed Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge. 

  With a lengthening injury list, no player will be more crucial to these tricky fixtures than the totemic Brazilian. Arsenal fans will be hoping against hope that Gabriel was taken off as a precaution, and that he can feature in this upcoming gauntlet of games. 

Manchester City are now rivalling Real Madrid for the signature of a “tremendous” South American defender, who just made his international debut.

Man City keen to strengthen at centre-back

Man City have started to find their form over the past few weeks, with the 2-0 victory against Everton on Saturday making it three wins on the spin in the Premier League, in what was an improved performance from a defensive point of view.

The Blues limited the visitors to an xG of just 0.81, with the Toffees only managing to create one big chance in the entire match, which meant goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was left with very little to do, being forced to make just one save.

Aside from Erling Haaland, who scored a brace to continue his fantastic start to the season, Nathan Ake was one of City’s best-performing players, receiving an 8.1 SofaScore match rating after winning all seven of the duels he contested, while also making one last-man tackle.

Pep Guardiola is blessed with options at centre-back, with the likes of Rúben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol also on the books, but there has now been a suggestion that the manager could look at bringing in another defender.

According to a report from Defensa Central, Man City are now rivalling Real Madrid for the signature of River Plate centre-back Lautaro Rivero, whose recent performances have started to attract the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs.

During the most recent international break, Rivero received his first call-up to the Argentina national side, making his debut in a 6-0 victory against Puerto Rico, having caught manager Lionel Scaloni’s eye after emerging as one of River Plate’s most exciting players.

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BySean Markus Clifford Oct 19, 2025

Alongside City and Madrid, RB Leipzig and Juventus have also sent scouts to watch the youngster in action, so Guardiola’s side may need to fend off interest from a number of Europe’s biggest clubs.

"Tremendous" Rivero could become future star

Having now made his debut for Argentina, the young centre-back will be hoping to kick on, and there are indications he could become a top centre-back, having put in some solid performances from a defensive point of view over the past year, while also proving himself as a regular goal threat.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Tackles

2.39 (95th percentile)

Blocks

1.46 (81st percentile)

Non-penalty goals

0.07 (79th percentile)

Journalist Juan Patricio Balbi has also been left impressed by the one-time Argentina international’s performances at club level, lauding him for his “tremendous” performances at the end of last month.

Rivero is showing signs he could become a future star, so it is promising news that Man City have now joined the race for his signature, but it could be very difficult to compete with 15-time European champions Real Madrid.

Liverpool’s emphatic win over Eintracht Frankfurt was a false dawn. On Saturday evening, the Reds slumped to a fourth successive Premier League defeat against Brentford.

It’s a sad thing to suggest, but it very much seems like Liverpool are struggling to do the basics. This is a side whose cool and calculated football allowed Arne Slot to romp to the league title last season. This group couldn’t be further away from that indomitable outfit.

Who does that boil down to? The manager? The upheaval? The tactical imbalances sparked by a combination of facets? It’s all so difficult to define, and Slot is the only one who can conjure up the answers to placate the masses.

However, we must start with the backline. So much isn’t right, but Liverpool’s defence is painfully poor. Despite their world-renowned reputations, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have flattered to deceive.

Liverpool's defensive struggles continue

Liverpool are in a crisis. It is a saving grace that the season is young enough for a four-game losing streak to not be detrimental, but this does not sugarcoat the severity of the Reds’ woes.

At the epicentre is the skipper Van Dijk, and Konate besides. The centre-backs lack any morsel of their typical security and confidence in the backline, between them winning 20 duels at the Gtech but still failing to keep a clean sheet or produce the kind of convincing display needed to stem the flow.

Defensively, the Reds are a mess. But the problems run far deeper. Van Dijk lacks his typical grace and brilliance; Konate has been below par all year.

The plain truth is the excuses are running out, and while he’s among the most talented footballers in the world, Florian Wirtz continues to be a disappointment in a Liverpool shirt, and he must be dropped from the line-up once again.

Slot must drop Florian Wirtz

When Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool this summer in a record-breaking £116m deal, most anticipated the Reds would add one of the most devastating playmakers in the world to their ranks.

And they did, but Liverpool are a team in disrepair right now, and Wirtz has failed to acclimatise to life in Slot’s squad. And against Andrews’ Bees, the fleet-footed star’s struggles continued.

He racked up two assists against Frankfurt in midweek, but the 22-year-old flattered to deceive against Brentford, with the Liverpool Echo even seeing it fit to brand him with a 4/10 match rating after an inconsequential display in red.

Perhaps most concerning is the fact that the German faded without having taken his foot off the pedal from a work-rate standpoint. To put that another way, the quality on the evening simply wasn’t there.

Minutes played

83′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

54

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

Accurate passes

33/43 (77%)

Chances created

1

Dribbles

1/2

Recoveries

4

Tackles

1/1

Duels won

2/5

While the fact remains that he is among the most talented players in the Premier League, there is a bluntness about his output in Slot’s Liverpool side. The solution comes down to Slot, and Slot does not have the answer. For now, Liverpool and Wirtz’s wait for success rages on.

Indeed, Wirtz is one of the best footballers in the world, but he’s not performing, and Liverpool have got to reach beyond the box and search for left-field solutions to their current problems.

Because Slot’s solutions are falling short, so frustratingly short.

Where now? Liverpool host Aston Villa next week in the Premier League, and then they travel to Manchester City. There is much to ponder, and on the basis of the evidence, it’s unlikely that keeping an under-performing player like Wirtz in the line-up would prove the solution.

Sure, he’s got a show-stopping ability, but this hasn’t been channelled. All told, Liverpool need to make some big changes, perhaps even reverting to type. If that is the case, Wirtz does not feature in Slot’s best 11.

Liverpool have signed a Salah-type player who's got the "pace of Torres"

Liverpool are watching before their eyes the birth of a superstar.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 24, 2025

Real Madrid have announced plans to seek “substantial damages” from UEFA after Spain’s regional court dismissed appeals by UEFA, La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over the Super League case. The ruling marks another legal victory for Florentino Perez’s club, confirming UEFA breached European Union competition law by abusing its dominant position.

• Real Madrid secure major legal win in Super League saga

  Los Blancos have confirmed their intention to seek financial compensation from UEFA after a key legal ruling went in their favour. The Provincial Court of Madrid dismissed appeals lodged by UEFA, La Liga, and the RFEF, upholding an earlier judgment that found UEFA guilty of breaching EU competition law during the Super League controversy.

  The club issued a detailed statement shortly after the verdict, declaring: “Real Madrid C.F. welcomes the decision of the Audiencia Provincial dismissing the appeals formulated by UEFA, the RFEF and LaLiga. The ruling confirms UEFA seriously breached European Union competition law in the Super League case, in line with the ruling of the CJEU, by abusing their dominant position.”

  The decision aligns with a 2023 ruling by the European Court of Justice (CJEU), which determined that UEFA and FIFA acted unlawfully by blocking the creation of the Super League in 2021. Real Madrid, who remain one of only two clubs still backing the rebranded “Unify League” project alongside Barcelona, view the latest ruling as confirmation of UEFA’s monopoly in European football governance.

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• ‘UEFA seriously breached EU competition law’ – Real Madrid

  In their official release, Madrid celebrated the decision as a “landmark moment” that validated their stance throughout the long-running legal dispute. The club added that the judgment “paves the way for substantial claims to compensate for the damages suffered by the club.”

  Madrid also revealed that throughout 2025, they held multiple rounds of discussions with UEFA officials to seek reforms across European football. The club claimed these talks were meant to ensure “transparent governance, financial sustainability, protection of players’ health, and improvements to the fan experience,” including the possibility of “free and globally accessible viewing options such as those used for the FIFA Club World Cup.”

  However, according to the statement, “no agreement has been reached,” prompting the club to pursue damages while reaffirming its mission to “continue working for the good of global football and fans.”

  This latest development highlights Real Madrid’s determination to reshape football’s power dynamics, positioning themselves as advocates for structural reform in European governance and greater transparency within UEFA’s operations.

• ‘This ruling doesn’t validate the Super League’ – UEFA responds

  UEFA swiftly issued a response after Madrid’s statement, seeking to downplay the significance of the verdict. In its own release, the European body said: “UEFA takes note of today’s judgment by the Madrid Court of Appeal concerning the so-called 'Super League'. This ruling does not validate the abandoned project announced in 2021, nor does it undermine UEFA's current authorisation rules, adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024, which remain fully in force.”

  UEFA further insisted that its revised framework “ensures any cross-border competitions are assessed on objective, transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate criteria.” The organisation also pointed out that the European Parliament recently reiterated its opposition to breakaway tournaments, stating that such models “endanger the overall sporting ecosystem.”

  Despite the setback, UEFA confirmed it will “carefully review the judgment before deciding on any further steps” and reaffirmed its commitment to “the European sports model built on sporting merit, open access, solidarity and the protection of the football pyramid.”

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• From 2021 Super League chaos to 2025 court victory

  The roots of this legal battle trace back to April 2021, when Real Madrid, Barcelona, and 10 other European powerhouses announced plans for a breakaway European Super League. The competition, spearheaded by Perez, aimed to rival the UEFA Champions League. However, fan protests and political backlash led to the rapid withdrawal of most clubs within days.

  In response, UEFA moved to sanction the remaining members, prompting Real Madrid and its allies to launch legal proceedings in Spanish courts. The case escalated to the CJEU, which ruled in 2023 that UEFA and FIFA had abused their dominant position by blocking alternative competitions.

  While many of the original founding clubs have distanced themselves from the project, Real Madrid have remained steadfast, arguing the Super League represents a fairer and more financially sustainable model for European football.