Continuing their search for a striker, Newcastle United could now reportedly jump ahead of Bayern Munich to sign a towering forward whose technique has been compared to Lionel Messi’s.
Isak agrees terms with Liverpool
Things could be about to get worse before they get better at St James’ Park this summer. Fresh reports have now revealed that star striker Alexander Isak has already agreed personal terms with Liverpool, who are now waiting for an opening to submit their first bid.
Liverpool’s interest follows the bombshell news that Isak is looking to leave Newcastle this summer and has reportedly gone AWOL in the hope of pushing through an unexpected departure.
Not for the first time this summer, Newcastle have been put in an unenviable position in the transfer market and must push to get their business done as the Premier League campaign draws near.
On that front, however, those at St James’ Park may need to prepare themselves for even more rejection amid reports that Benjamin Sesko favours a move to Old Trafford.
The RB Leipzig forward is the subject of a Premier League battle between Manchester United and Newcastle, but the Magpies already reportedly believe that he will choose the Red Devils this summer.
Newcastle now in talks to sign £65m+ ace once called 'better than Haaland'
The Magpies once again have a fight on their hands to sign a top target…
ByTom Cunningham Jul 31, 2025
As such, Newcastle must once again take a look down their long list of striker targets and go in pursuit of what could quickly turn into a replacement for Isak. And if it’s the towering Sesko profile that they’re after, then one particular option should be their top priority.
Newcastle eyeing Woltemade hijack
As reported by The Sun, Newcastle are now eyeing a deal to sign Nick Woltemade ahead of Bayern Munich, who have hesitated to complete their move after welcoming Luis Diaz from Liverpool.
The 6’6 VfB Stuttgart striker enjoyed an incredibly impressive season in Germany – scoring 17 goals in all competitions – and quickly followed that up with six goals in six games to win the Golden Boot at the U21 Euros.
The German has unsurprisingly received high praise from all those who have seen him at his best, including from Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor, who said: “Woltemade has Messi’s technique! I think I recognise a good footballer quickly and Nick caught my eye from the first week of training.
Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade
“The most important thing for us is to involve Woltemade enough in the game but he can do that as a deep-lying striker between the lines or as a true No.9 in the opponent’s box. Because we know what we have in Nick: he’s a two-metre-tall (Jamal) Musiala or Messi!”
SL scored 156 in rain-reduced game, with WI’s target revised to 195, and Sherfane Rutherford smashed 50* off 26 deliveries
Madushka Balasuriya26-Oct-2024(23 overs) After a series in which they consistently failed to get the rub of the green, the stars finally aligned for West Indies as they ended their tour of Sri Lanka with a morale-boosting win. Evin Lewis, playing his first ODI since 2021, struck an unbeaten 102 off 61 balls, as West Indies chased down a DLS-adjusted target of 195 in a rain-reduced game of 23 overs with eight wickets to spare. In fact, they got the required runs with an over to spare. It was their first ODI win in Sri Lanka following ten straight defeats, and their first win on this tour since the first T20I.Sri Lanka, for their part, had put up a valiant effort after their innings had been cut into less than half. The first 17.2 overs had come prior to the rain intervention, and upon resumption, they were given just a further 5.4 overs to set a competitive total.Enter Kusal Mendis, who bludgeoned an unbeaten 56 off 22 deliveries – he got the half-century off 19 balls – as Sri Lanka themselves struck 75 runs in those final 5.4 overs to end on 156 for 3, and gave themselves a fighting chance. In the end, though, a combination of a wet outfield, wet ball and a laser-focused Lewis proved too much to overcome.Brandon King (18 off 19 balls) and Shai Hope (22 off 27) had kept Lewis company for most of the chase, but it wasn’t until Sherfane Rutherford joined him in the middle that West Indies truly took control of proceedings.Rutherford’s brisk cameo saw him plunder 50 off just 26 deliveries, including four fours and three sixes, with his partnership with Lewis amounting to an unbeaten 88 from just 45 deliveries. It was a pivotal stand in the context of the game, as it came just as Sri Lanka might have been harbouring thoughts of a late heist.Kusal Mendis blasted a 19-ball fifty•AFP/Getty ImagesWith the required run rate at roughly 8.5 an over from the outset, West Indies had done well to just about keep up with it over the opening ten overs – there was at least one boundary in seven of the first 11 overs. But in such a short chase, even a couple of quiet overs can heighten the pressure – and so it proved to be.Between the 11th and 17th overs, Sri Lanka gave away just 40 runs as the required rate rose to above 11.50 runs an over. Skipper Charith Asalanka had done well in this period by shuffling his pack to sneak in some cheap overs from himself and Kamindu Mendis – both of whom made up the fifth-bowler quota after Wanindu Hasaranga had struggled with controlling a wet ball.Where Asalanka erred was in bowling himself for one over too many, which allowed Rutherford and Lewis to go after him. That 14-run over set the tone, after which the pair never looked back. The miserly Maheesh Theekshana was rinsed for 18 in the next over, while even the excellent Asitha Fernando was hounded for 26 off his final two. Dilshan Madushanka, playing his first ODI since March, went for 50 in five.Sri Lanka, though, will have positives to take away from this game, particularly in how aggressively they approached the post-rain period, knowing that they didn’t have much time to scrounge up a competitive total. The opening 17.2 overs had seen Sri Lanka stitch together a measured start, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando putting on 81.That, though, owed much to West Indies dropping three chances – two of Nissanka and one of Avishka – inside the opening ten overs. This poor catching did not get much better after the five-hour rain delay, with Kusal also dropped twice on the way to becoming the third-quickest Sri Lanka batter to 4000 ODI runs.Sherfane Rutherford hit four fours and three sixes•Associated PressIt all began with the four balls left in Roston Chase’s second over, as Kusal proceeded to clatter each of them for boundaries – two precise pulls, one stunning straight drive, and finally a fortunate inside edge down to fine leg. In all, Sri Lanka struck 12 boundaries in the final 34 deliveries they faced.The shortened game also had some knock-on effects on West Indies’ bowling plans, as the new provisos meant three bowlers were given a quota of five overs each, while two others were handed four apiece. Once Chase’s over, in which Kusal had struck four consecutive boundaries, was belatedly completed, and with Sri Lanka in raucous mood, West Indies were suddenly faced with the proposition of figuring out how Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, and Alzarri Joseph – who had bowled four, four and three overs, respectively – would split the remains.And with the economical Matthew Forde already having bowled five overs prior to the rain break, it meant only two more bowlers could bowl five; so they needed to find one more over from somewhere.With Chase having been dispatched upon the resumption of play, it was left to Rutherford to roll his arm over, and he was duly taken for 17 runs courtesy two fours and a six. And as Kusal’s carefree innings continued in earnest, Sri Lanka eventually managed to muster up a competitive total – though it proved to be just not good enough on the day.
Manchester United hit their nadir last season, but Ruben Amorim is a stoic sort and has knuckled down and made tentative progress with the Premier League giants.
Maybe the Portuguese tactician was a little too frank during interviews, but at least he understands where the cracks lie for the Old Trafford side, who finished 15th in the league and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
There have been positives throughout the Premier League Summer Series in America, for sure, but the Red Devils still have improvements to be made, irrespective of who might be welcomed to the fold.
Saying that, the recent draw against Everton corroborated Amorim’s desire for a new midfielder, with Manuel Ugarte flattering to deceive.
Why Man Utd need to replace Manuel Ugarte
Ugarte, 24, joined Man United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a deal rising to £50.5m. Last season, he left much to be desired, but did feature 45 times across all competitions, scoring twice and laying on six assists.
Man United showed some promise against the Toffees, but Vitalii Mykolenko dispossessed Ugarte in in the build-up to Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half goal, leading Bruno Fernandes to claim that his team “looked a bit lazy” at times.
Much has been made of United’s need for a focal frontman, but with Casemiro getting on, a secure and confident midfield anchor is equally as crucial to the success of the project.
That’s why INEOS are weighing up a move for Atalanta’s Ederson. As per TEAMtalk, the Brazilian could be available for around £52m this summer, which makes him the most expensive man on United’s midfield shortlist.
But there’s a reason for that. Man United have a ‘long-standing interest’ in Ederson, and if it proves financially viable, he could complete a midfield that needs reinforcing.
Why Man Utd want to sign Ederson
Ederson is a 26-year-old midfielder who has established himself as one of the best in the business over in Italy. Across 139 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 13 goals and supplied four assists.
Atalanta's Ederson in action
Hailed as a “machine” of a midfielder by reporter Carlo Garganese, this is exactly the kind of hardy, dynamic player that Amorim needs to welcome to his squad, should he wish to return to European competition and challenge for silverware at the Old Trafford helm.
Instrumental in winning the Europa League in 2023, Ederson has the strength, self-belief and roundedness to succeed under Amorim’s wing in the Premier League, with the right balance in his performances to nestle into the United centre, acting as a tough-tackling six but also a progressive force.
Matches (starts)
37 (32)
29 (22)
Goals
4
1
Assists
1
2
Touches*
65.9
43.2
Pass completion
87%
89%
Big chances created
6
3
Key passes*
1.1
0.3
Dribbles*
0.6
0.6
Ball recoveries*
5.0
4.2
Tackles + interceptions*
2.3
3.6
Duels won*
4.9 (56%)
5.0 (53%)
On the surface level, it doesn’t look like Ugarte did all that badly across his first Premier League campaign, but he’s susceptible to a poor error of lapse of focus, with one Man United content creator online even saying he “is frightened to death of passing forward.”
No such problem for Ederson, who ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Though Amorim and INEOS will continue to push ahead with a deal for a new number nine, this one could prove to be equally important.
Described by Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina to be “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world”, Man United might just hit the jackpot if they push ahead and complete their midfield with his many-faceted player.
There are a number of players within the Glasgow Rangers squad at Ibrox who are facing uncertain futures at the club during the summer transfer window.
The likes of Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, Hamza Igamane, and Cyriel Dessers have been linked with moves away from the club, as European sides are looking to snap them up.
However, at the time of writing, the Scottish Premiership giants have not accepted any bids from teams for any of their star performers this summer.
One player who does look set to be on his way out of Ibrox, though, is central defender Robin Propper, after FC Twente and Rangers agreed a fee for the defender, who is now negotiating an exit with the club.
There are also players in the squad who have not been linked with moves away, yet they may still be playing for their long-term future under Russell Martin during pre-season.
Oscar Cortes’ 18-month loan deal finally turned into a permanent transfer, for a reported fee of £4m, this summer, but it remains to be seen if he has a future at Ibrox.
Why Oscar Cortes may not have a future at Ibrox
The Colombian forward first arrived in Glasgow on loan from French side Lens in the January transfer window in 2024, and spent 18 months on loan at the club before his permanent transfer became official at the start of July.
However, injury issues have plagued his career in Scotland to date. Cortes has only played 16 times in competitive games for the Light Blues so far, including just 11 appearances in the entire 2024/25 campaign.
This means that Martin cannot rely on the winger to be available on a regular basis for the Gers moving forward, until the 21-year-old gem proves that he can avoid injuries for a prolonged period of time.
For now, there is no guarantee that he can be relied upon as a starter because he has only been available for 16 games in the last 18 months, which is simply not enough.
Appearances
10
Starts
4
Goals
0
Big chances created
0
Key passes per game
0.4
Assists
0
Dribbles completed per game
0.6
As concerning is the fact that his performances on the pitch have also left a lot to be desired, as you can see in the table above, as he did not deliver any goal contributions in the Premiership last season.
Cortes was given opportunities when fit and available, as shown by the fact that he started 40% of his appearances despite his injury issues, but did not repay the faith shown in him with quality performances.
Oscar Cortes
This is why the former Lens man, who can play on the left or the right flank, may not have a long-term future at Ibrox unless he can turn his career around by keeping fit and delivering quality displays on the pitch.
A fresh report linking Rangers with interest in another right-sided attacker does not spell good news for Cortes, though, as the club could land an upgrade on him.
Martin pushing Rangers to sign Premier League winger
According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers are interested in a potential swoop to bring Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to Ibrox from Crystal Palace this summer.
The report claims that Martin is the driving force behind the club’s eagerness to secure a deal with the Premier League side for the 22-year-old attacker, as he would like to work with the gem next season.
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Martin tried and failed to sign him on loan from Palace during his time in charge of both Swansea and Southampton in the English Championship, which shows that Rak-Sakyi has been a long-term target for the former Norwich defender.
Football Insider adds that Rangers would like to bolster their options in the wide areas, particularly after Vaclav Cerny returned to Wolfsburg after his loan spell at the club, and that they are keen to bring the Eagles youngster, who is valued at up to £10m, in on loan for next season.
It now remains to be seen whether Martin will finally get his wish at the third time of asking, or if he will fail in his pursuit of a deal for Rak-Sakyi once again in his managerial career.
Why Rak-Sakyi would be an upgrade on Cortes
The 22-year-old English winger would arrive at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Cortes if the club can strike a deal with the Premier League side to sign him on loan.
Rak-Sakyi’s availability, first and foremost, would make him an upgrade on the Colombian. The former England U21 international played 36 times for Sheffield United in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he played 21 more games than the Rangers flop managed.
This suggests that the Palace attacker is far more likely to be available for Martin to select on a week-to-week basis next season, as he does not have as bad of a recent injury history as the ex-Lens flanker.
Rak-Sakyi, once dubbed “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, would also join Rangers as an upgrade on Cortes because of the quality that he can provide whilst playing on the right wing, cutting in on his left foot to provide a big threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side.
xG
0.32
Top 13%
Goals
0.36
Top 11%
xA
0.18
Top 22%
Assists
0.10
Bottom 46%
Chances created
1.51
Top 31%
Dribbles completed
2.44
Top 7%
Touches in the opposition box
7.69
Top 2%
As you can see in the table above, the £10m-rated star ranked incredibly highly in a host of key attacking metrics in the Championship last season, although he was unfortunate to rank lowly for assists given how many high-quality chances he created.
Rak-Sakyi scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 starts in the division for Sheffield United, which is nine more goal contributions than the zero Cortes produced for Rangers in his ten outings in the Premiership.
Therefore, Rangers could land a big upgrade on their £4m winger by signing the Palace winger this summer, both because of his potential to be available with greater regularity and because of the quality that he can offer at the top end of the pitch.
Raskin repeat: Rangers racing to sign £9m "set-piece specialist" at Ibrox
Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal for a star who could be their next Nicolas Raskin.
Brisbane Heat captain Jess Jonassen did her best to keep the chase alive after rain but there was too much to do
Alex Malcolm01-Dec-2024An all-round masterclass from Hayley Matthews helped Melbourne Renegades break their WBBL title-drought in a nail-biting rain-affected final against Brisbane Heat at the MCG.Matthews made 69 off 61, took 2 for 24 with the ball and claimed a critical catch to continue her extraordinary record in T20 finals and guide the struggling franchise claim their first championship just a season after finishing last. Heat’s finals heartbreak continued after losing last year’s decider by three runs at Adelaide Oval.A sloppy fielding effort saw Heat concede 141 for 9 when they could have reduced Renegades to 76 for 5 after 12 overs. A top-order collapse either side of a rain delay then saw them needing 61 from 30 with five wickets in hand. Jess Jonassen nearly pulled off the impossible, smashing 44 not out from 28 balls but Heat still fell short. Five of Renegades’ six bowlers chipped in with wickets while Wareham was the most economical, conceding just 12 runs from two overs.Renegades rocked by early rustAfter qualifying for the final, Renegades had to wait eight days between matches and the rust showed early. Courtney Webb slapped a pull shot straight to midwicket and Sophie Molineux sliced a cut shot to backward point. Deandra Dottin was run out in dozy circumstances, without facing a ball, to sum up Renegades’ sleepy start. Dottin was jogging through for a single to deep midwicket when she got her bat stuck in the turf on the popping crease as she slid it to make her ground and her foot did not touch down before Georgia Redmayne broke the stumps. It left Renegades 23 for 3 in the fifth over and in real danger of capitulating despite Heat’s bowling not looking overly threatening on a pretty good surface.Cool-headed Hayley holds firmMatthews remained unflustered. She was not striking the ball cleanly, struggling to 6 off 15 at one point. But two boundaries in the sixth over off the legspin of Grace Parsons helped her find some rhythm. Wareham was an important foil in a steadying 41-run stand. Wareham struck three boundaries in her run-a-ball 21 before holing out to long-on off Parsons. The legspinner should have had another straight away when Stalenberg skied her to deep midwicket, but Charli Knott dropped the chance diving forward. It proved a key moment.Instead of being 76 for 5 after 12 overs, Renegades took the power surge after just four-down. Matthews stepped up, thumping Shikha Pandey for three boundaries in the over. Jonassen then opted for spin in six of the last seven overs, with the exception of one from Lucy Hamilton. It worked to some degree, as Renegades scored just 50 from 42 balls, but it was odd to see Nicola Hancock bowl just one over in the final after being Heat’s star in last year’s decider with 3 for 23. Heat did take a wicket in each of the last five overs. Hamilton was the pick of the bowlers with 1 for 19 from her four including the dangerous Nicole Faltum. But Matthews was able to club three boundaries in the last three overs, all from the offspin of Knott.Jess Jonassen did her best to keep Brisbane Heat in the chase•Getty ImagesHorror Heat start compounded by rainGrace Harris held the key in the chase, and the decision to open with Charis Bekker’s left-arm orthodox proved a masterstroke for Renegades. Harris holed out trying to loft over mid-on for a second ball duck. Jemimah Rodrigues miscued Milly Illingworth to cover in the next over as Heat fell to 11 for 2 before a critical rain shower came after 3.2 overs. Rain had been forecast for some point in the afternoon and had been a factor in Heat’s decision to bowl first. But no one was sure how long the shower would last and how it would impact the chase.The rain lasted long enough to knock off eight overs but Heat’s poor start meant Duckworth-Lewis-Stern set them 98 to win off 12 overs with only eight wickets in hand and one power surge over to use. Renegades continued the trial by spin after the rain and Heat were doused. Molineux bagged the key wicket of Redmayne before Matthews added to her finals aura with two wickets in two balls, including Laura Harris for a first ball duck, to leave Heat 37 for 5 needing 61 from 30 balls.Jonassen almost pulls off a miracleHeat’s captain almost did it. Boundaries in each of the next two overs keep them within touching distance of the alarming required rate before she opted to take the surge with 43 needed from 18. Molineux opted to bowl just the second over of pace for the innings and Dottin got clobbered. Two length balls on the pads sailed to midwicket for six and four respectively. Jonassen lofted the next over cover for two more as Renegades fans started to get nervous.But a mistake from Lauren Winfield-Hill off the next delivery proved costly. Jonassen wanted a second run to deep midwicket to retain the strike, Winfield-Hill denied her. The English import miscued the next to Matthews at mid-off to fall for 3 off 5. Hancock then faced a dot and the equation was 30 off 12. Matthews bowled two long hops that were both smashed to the fence but was able to close out the over without any more damage. Molineux returned to bowl the last with Heat needing an unlikely 19. She gave up just 11 including a consolation six off the last ball, sealing Renegades’ first WBBL title.
A combined bowling effort followed a powerful cameo of 35 off 17 from Shamim Hossain
Mohammad Isam18-Dec-2024
Taskin Ahmed returned 3 for 16•Cricket West Indies
Bangladesh defended their modest score of 129 to clinch the T20I series with a 2-0 lead, beating West Indies by 27 runs in the second game at the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent. It was Bangladesh’s lowest total winning a game while batting first against West Indies. It was a combined effort from their quicks and spinners who took advantage of a pitch that offered a lot to the bowlers throughout the game.Bangladesh were stretched to their total by Shamim Hossain’s late blast, hitting an unbeaten 35 off 17 balls. The bowlers responded superbly thereafter, with Taskin Ahmed taking three wickets while Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Tanzim Hasan all taking two each.Bangladesh’s only concern was Soumya Sarkar suffering a finger injury when he dropped a catch in the slips in the seventh over of the chase. Otherwise, Bangladesh were all over West Indies, having reduced them to 42 for 6 in the ninth over.Taskin, Mahedi make the early strikesTaskin Ahmed provided the first breakthrough in the third over when he had Brandon King caught behind for 8, with a beautiful delivery outside off. Four balls later, Taskin had Andre Fletcher caught behind too, for his second consecutive duck in the series. This one was wider but Fletcher got beaten by pace, under-edging to wicketkeeper Litton Das.Mahedi, who took career-best figures of 4 for 13 in the first T20I, then got into the act. He trapped Johnson Charles lbw in the fourth over, as the hosts slipped to 28 for 3. In his next over, Mahedi got Nicholas Pooran caught at slip where Soumya Sarkar didn’t have to move as Pooran’s probe at a length ball took the outer edge went to him softly.Chase holds fort after Powell but…Bangladesh might have felt Rovman Powell as a major threat after his exploits in the first match, nearly taking the hosts over the line. Powell, however, fell cheaply this time, when Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a diving catch in front of point, off Hasan Mamhud. When Tanzim Hasan had Romario Shepherd glove to slip off a short ball, West Indies were 42 for 6 and there was almost no coming back from there.Roston Chase was their only remaining specialist batter after that. He batted conservatively until the 16th over when he slammed Mahmud for consecutive sixes. Akeal Hosein gave Chase good support at the other end, also hitting Rishad for a straight six, but the asking rate was still nearly 12 an over in the death overs.The three sixes gave West Indies some hope but Rishad fought back in the same over to remove Chase, who missed a big slog. The young legspinner removed Gudakesh Motie next ball when the left-hand batter holed out to long-off. Alzarri Joseph then handed a return catch to Tanzim in the following over before Hosein clipped a slower delivery from Taskin straight to backward point as Bangladesh started their celebrations.West Indies boss the powerplayThe assistance for the spinners from the pitch was evident from the start. Hosein removed Litton again early in the Bangladesh innings, this time getting him stumped for 3. Litton’s dismal form continues, while Hosein continued his powerplay dominance. Chase followed up with Tanzid Hasan’s wicket, hitting his off stump with a ripper of a delivery.Mehidy and Soumya got Bangladesh out of that mire, batting sensibly till the ninth over. That’s when Soumya was run out when he responded to a Mehidy call for a single to short third. Mehidy fell in the next over, hitting Joseph to deep square leg, for 26, after striking three fours and a six in his 25-ball stay.Shamim’s flourish lifts BangladeshMotie then got into the Bangladesh middle order, cleaning up both Rishad and Mahedi by the 15th over. Jaker Ali tried to resurrect the innings somewhat, with his 20-ball 21, but when he fell in the 17th over with the score 88 for 7, there were chances that the visitors could be bowled out for under 100.Shamim, however, had the final say in the death overs, hitting a couple of sixes and as many fours. Both his sixes came off the local boy Obed McCoy, hitting him over fine leg and midwicket. He ensured Bangladesh finished on a score just above 120, which was considered to be par for the course given the type of pitch.
Mason Greenwood continued with his strong start to the new season in France as he scored and provided an assist in Marseille's 4-0 victory over 10-man Lorient on Friday. Greenwood opened the scoring for his club from the penalty spot after Lorient lost one of their players early in the match due to a straight red card. The former Manchester United star already has five goal contributions to his name.
Marseille dominate as Greenwood scores
Lorient were dealt a major blow early in the match when Darlin Yongwa was dismissed for his challenge on Michael Amir Murillo inside the box. Greenwood broke the deadlock from the resulting penalty to score his second league goal of the season. Marseille soon doubled the lead in the 20th minute when new signing Benjamin Pavard scored from Greenwood's assist.
AdvertisementAFPGreenwood continues strong start to new season
After a stellar debut campaign in France last season, where he ended up being the joint-highest goal-scorer in Ligue 1, alongside Ousmane Dembele, the former United player has started the new season on a strong note. He also scored and provided two assists in Marseille's second league game against Paris FC.
Marseille enter top four
With their second win in four matches, Robert De Zerbi's Marseille climbed up to fourth position in the league table with six points to their name. They have, however, already suffered two defeats already, most recently against Lyon.
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AFPWhen will Greenwood play for Marseille next?
Greenwood and Marseille will be back in action on September 16 as they kick off their Champions League journey against European giants Real Madrid, away from home. The attacker returns to Madrid, where he played for Getafe on loan.
Manchester City have shockingly been branded an “amateur team” by Premier League cult hero Paolo di Canio. The ex-West Ham star believes that another of his former clubs, Serie A title holders Napoli, are capable of claiming a notable scalp when heading to the Etihad Stadium for an intriguing opening clash in their 2025-26 Champions League campaign.
Flying start: Napoli burst out of the blocks
Napoli, who are working under the guidance of former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, have taken maximum points from three domestic fixtures this season. They have conceded just one goal in the process.
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Derby boost for Guardiola & Man City
City, in contrast, have looked a little shaky at times. Pep Guardiola’s side were more defensively solid when claiming a 3-0 derby victory over arch-rivals Manchester United last time out – with Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma making his debut as their new first-choice goalkeeper.
Why Man City have looked vulnerable
Di Canio is still convinced that Napoli can get at City, telling : "This is a great opportunity and we need to seize it immediately. From what we’ve seen in the first few games, they’re in disarray at the back. They’ve brought in a lot of new players, and when they lose the ball, they’re almost an amateur team. Before, anyone who went to play against City respected them, but now, even if City are up 3-0, everyone knows they can recover."
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Are Napoli Champions League contenders?
Di Canio believes that Conte’s side can progress through the league phase and extend their continental adventure this season, adding: “I’d say Napoli doesn’t have the calibre to contend for the Champions League, but the path they’re on can certainly help. The single group stage is absolutely within the Azzurri’s reach, and they have to get through it.”
If Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Milan on Saturday afternoon showcased anything, it’s that the recruitment team are in dire need of signing a central defender.
The reasoning is less about the scoreline but more about the situation Arne Slot’s men find themselves in.
Joe Gomez has flown home from Singapore owing to an injury, which has left Ibou Konate and Virgil Van Dijk as the only fit central defenders.
Liverpool legends Alan Hansen and Virgil van Dijk
In fact, Ryan Gravenberch even had to play at centre half on Tuesday.
The obvious incoming would be Marc Guehi. Liverpool have been religiously linked with the Crystal Palace captain right throughout the summer window. A £45m deal could be on the table if Richard Hughes and Steve Parish get talking.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
Yet, that’s not where all the excitement is right now. The suspense lies in Alexander Isak’s and Liverpool’s forward line.
What's next for Liverpool in the transfer market
The Reds may have welcomed Hugo Ekitike to Anfield last week, but that hasn’t cooled their interest in Isak.
The Merseysiders are believed to be the frontrunners for the Swede’s signature but would have to make a bid of around £150m before Newcastle United even consider selling their prized asset.
That sort of money could be funded by selling Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and if they both did depart, another forward feels like they may well be needed.
Real Madrid winger Rodrygo has been linked but that’s not Hughes’ top target according to ESPN.
Indeed, as per Julien Laurens, it’s reported that the club’s sporting director is a huge fan of PSG winger Bradley Barcola.
Paris St Germain's BradleyBarcolareacts
Unfortunately for Liverpool, it’s unlikely the Champions League winners would be open to selling. That said, just like Isak, every player has their price.
Why Bradley Barcola would be such an exciting signing
Landing Isak this summer would be a remarkable piece of business, something that eclipses the £116m deal to bring Florian Wirtz to England.
Wirtz has become the most expensive player in Premier League history and before too long, Isak looks set to surpass that number.
Many view him as the best striker in the world right now and his haul of 27 goals last term certainly puts him in that bracket.
He’s an electrifying player, someone cut from the same cloth as Thierry Henry, in the words of Eddie Howe.
This isn’t a player Liverpool necessarily need after Ekitike’s arrival but signing someone this good cannot be passed up on. Only Mo Salah scored more than the Newcastle forward last term in the English top-flight.
So, it would take quite the player to be as exciting as Isak but that’s the category Barcola falls into.
The Frenchman proved himself to be “one of the best left wingers in Europe” in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, certainly last season, and he’s only gone from strength to strength since switching Lyon for Paris.
For Luis Enrique’s men in 2024/25, the Frenchman scored 21 goals and also supplied 21 assists for his teammates.
Bradley Barcola's stats pre-Club World Cup.
For context, that’s two fewer assists than Salah managed across the same campaign, a statistic that illuminates the pairing’s ability to create and score on a regular basis.
Like Salah, Barcola is a duel threat from outside and his dazzling ability to beat players in 1 v 1 situations makes him one of the most exciting players on the continent.
Compared to positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year, the 22-year-old ranks among the very best for a whole host of metrics.
Barcola vs Diaz in 24/25 (league only)
Stat (per 90 mins)
Barcola
Diaz
Goals
0.58
0.49
Assists
0.41
0.19
Shots
3.06
2.66
Key passes
2.07
2.10
Progressive passes
3.97
4.12
Successful take-ons
1.40
1.99
Carries
35.3
29.2
Progressive carries
5.66
4.04
Stats via FBRef.
One of the most creative and progressive wide players around, Barcola would fit seamlessly into this Liverpool team, notably ranking in the top 8% of wingers in Europe for assists, the top 9% for progressive carries and the best 2% for expected goals.
In short, he’s a demon with the ball at his feet and regularly crests goalscoring opportunities not just for teammates but himself.
He also ranks favourably compared to Diaz, the man he’d likely replace, notably in the creative department. While Diaz scored 19 times in all competitions, he only registered eight assists.
Losing the Colombian to Bayern Munich would be a blow, but Barcola is a clear upgrade. Like Wirtz & Isak, he’d be a transformational arrival to Slot’s forward line.
Ekitike will love him: Liverpool begin talks to sign £51m Diaz replacement
Liverpool have found an exciting replacement for Luis Diaz, who could leave Anfield this summer.
O futebol brasileiro está vivendo uma nova era com a proliferação das SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol), principalmente em clubes gigantes como Vasco, Botafogo e Cruzeiro, que adotaram o modelo recentemente. Nem todos os grandes, porém, acreditam que esse é o melhor caminho para a gestão, como é o caso do Palmeiras, cuja presidente Leila Pereira deixou claro que não há o interesse na mudança. Mas será que há quem apoie essa ideia nas “alamedas” do antigo Palestra?
> Veja tabela e classificação da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui
Pensando nisso, o LANCE! buscou informações com as correntes que vivem o clube diariamente. Embora as diferenças sejam grandes em outros assuntos, a questão da SAF parece ser uma ideia em comum, pois não existem conversas relevantes no sentido de transformar o clube em uma empresa. A ideia é que pela grandeza da instituição, pela capacidade de arrecadação e com uma administração correta, não há motivos para pensar nesse tipo de mudança no futuro próximo.
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Isso não significa, porém, que o clube não observe o que tem dado certo e o que tem dado errado nas outras instituições que optaram por adotar o modelo. Quem cuida da gestão palmeirense, entende que se trata de uma situação nova no Brasil e é preciso entender seu funcionamento, bem como saber se ele irá funcionar de fato. Além disso, os clubes que viraram SAF tomaram esse caminho por conta das dificuldades financeiras. Clubes estruturados ainda não tiveram esse rumo.
A apuração da reportagem ouviu depoimentos bem próximos do que a própria presidente Leila Pereira já havia adiantado em entrevista para a Rádio 365, no último domingo. Segundo ela, basta ter uma administração profissional, não é necessário virar empresa, pois ela também quebra.
>Palmeiras x Cerro Porteño: mais de 33 mil ingressos vendidos para o duelo
-O Palmeiras é administrado de forma profissional, por isso sou contra a transformação do Palmeiras em empresa. Você não precisa transformar em empresa, é só administrar de forma profissional. As pessoas acham que transformar o clube em empresa é a solução de todos os problemas, mas as empresas também quebram, e como quebram – afirmou a mandatária alviverde.
Em resumo, neste momento não há um debate sobre SAF dentro do Palmeiras. O máximo que se conversa é a observação dos outros clubes e como eles estão lidando com o novo momento. De resto, não se trata de um tema que tenha gás na situação, nem na oposição. A crença é de que, apesar de discordâncias em relação a uma questão ou outra de gestão, o clube está consolidado no caminho da administração profissional e de conquistar patamares financeiros ainda maiores.