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There was plenty to see at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, when K-pop star V, of BTS fame, was in the house to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

And among other notable moments from his appearance, which also included him bowing toward pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto ahead of his big throw, V was spotted linking up and sharing a brief hug with two-way Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in the dugout before later getting on the mound.

Very cool stuff; two sensations in their own right, teaming up for what would eventually be a blowout win over the Reds. L.A. crushed Cincinnati 7-0, and V was lucky enough to be featured on the ensuing social media graphic.

Watch that meet-up with Ohtani below:

The appearance comes as BTS works to re-enter the zeitgeist after breaking for mandatory military service in South Korea. The plan right now is to release a new album next spring … if V isn't first signed to the Dodgers, that is.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma has apologised after he was spotted using nitrous oxide for a second time during his spell with the north London club. The Mali international explained that he has been suffering mentally following a number of thefts at his home in which countless items were stolen, leaving him feeling broken, paranoid, and depressed.

• Bissouma in hot water

  Bissouma is yet to feature in a competitive fixture for Spurs this season, having been excluded due to repeated lateness and then suffering with injury for much of the campaign. The former Brighton star was filmed inhaling laughing gas for a second time in just over a year last month and is facing disciplinary action from the club following this latest behavioural breach.

  Following last year’s incident, Spurs handed the player a one-match ban, but there is little to suggest they will be as lenient a second time. It has been reported that the Malian has been transfer listed by the club who are determined to offload the 29-year-old after yet another off-field incident.

  Possession of nitrous oxide – a class C drug – for recreational use has been illegal in the UK since 2023 with criminal penalties potentially including up to a two-year prison sentence. On the second incident, Bissouma’s boss Thomas Frank said: "It's an internal matter we are dealing with at the moment, and when we have dealt with that, then I will comment on it.”

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  Bissouma apologises to fans

  Speaking to the , Bissouma has offered an apology to Spurs fans, insisting that it is "not who I am".

  The midfielder explained that he has been suffering from mental health difficulties following a series of burglaries at his home. Bissouma has had his house raided on three occasions, with masked thieves hammering down his front door on the most serious occasion. He adds that a friend of his also has taken £1million off him, a total he is still trying to recoup.

  "I am sorry. This incident broke something in me I didn’t even know I could break," he said. "I apologise to the fans. The trauma added to my life — fear, panic, depression and paranoia."

  Bissouma said that he is a strong person and, "I hate feeling like a victim, but what I lost wasn’t just material. It was what the trauma added to my life — fear, panic, depression, paranoia, sleepless nights, and a constant loss of trust."

• Trauma takes its toll on Bissouma

  In the same interview, Bissouma continued to share just how impacted he has been by these robberies. He said that his mental health is not an excuse for taking the nitrous oxide, but "I hope people can maybe understand me a bit more because of this."

  He shared that he was too scared to sleep at his own home in fear of being present amid another robbery and so would sometimes sleep at Spurs’ training ground.

  "For like three, four, sometimes five days, I was sleeping there because I did not want to be at home. Even talking about this is hard. All these things were going on in my head, worrying about my dad who is not well, and sometimes I think as a human, it’s a bit hard," Bissouma said.

  The midfielder spoke with a therapist as many as five times a week to help cope with the trauma and depression he was feeling. Bissouma has also not given up hope of playing for Spurs again. "I want to move on from my mistakes. I like playing for ­Tottenham. I’m just thinking about being fit again and ­trying to enjoy football," he added.

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  Spurs and Bissouma at crossroads

  It remains to be seen if Bissouma can regain the trust of Frank or whether his time in north London will come to a close in the next transfer window. Fenerbahce had been interested in signing the Spurs man in the summer, but pulled the plug late in the window. The Turkish giants had decided against signing Bissouma after he picked up an injury, but could return in January to take him to Istanbul.

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso was delighted with his team's performance against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, claiming that the sensations within the dressing room are positive after breaking their three-game winless run. Alonso had come under a lot of pressure following Madrid's dramatic drop in form, but the manager assured that he is "handling it much more calmly than you might expect".

• Madrid return to winning ways after Olympiacos scare

  Madrid ended their run of three games without a win following a nervy 4-3 win in the Champions League over Greek champions Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on Wednesday. 

  The visitors were caught by surprise early on, as Chiquinho fired a brilliant volley into the bottom-left corner in the eighth minute. However, Madrid provided an exquisite response, as Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick within the space of seven minutes put Olympiacos to the sword before the game hit the half-hour mark. 

  Jose Luis Mendilibar's men, however, were not in a mood to let Los Blancos have things go their way. Substitute Mehdi Taremi, who came on for the injured Chiquinho in the first half, pulled one back for the home side in the 52nd minute. Eight minutes later, though, Mbappe completed a poker by scoring his fourth of the night and ninth overall in the competition this season.

  Ayoub El Kaabi breathed life back into Olympiacos once again, rising in the 81st minute to power a header into the back of the net and reignite hopes of a comeback. After the third goal, Mendilibar's side tightened the screw and played with incredible intensity, even coming close to finding the equaliser on a couple of occasions. It wouldn't matter, however, as Alonso's troops held Olympiacos at bay in the final 15 minutes (including stoppage time) to end their winless streak.

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  Alonso reflects on the win and says he's 'novice'

  Following the win, Alonso spoke to reporters and reflected on his team's performance. He even addressed the mounting pressure him and his players. 

  When asked how the team were doing in the hours leading up to the game, Alonso responded: "They've been very positive, very productive. They've helped us to keep growing, to try and break the cycle, which we've managed to do. And to learn how to cope with difficult moments. Very positive. Like the things we've talked about, the unity the players have, their commitment… and this is the only way. Besides the three points, I'm left with positive things that have happened behind the scenes."

  He further added that he was more relaxed about Madrid's recent woes than one could have expected. 

  "No, no, no. I was handling it much more calmly than you might expect," he assured. "I'm no novice at this, and I know the road is long. And that it's not always a bed of roses. You have to know how to navigate difficult twists and turns without losing your mind. You have to be critical, demanding of yourself, and acknowledge your mistakes; but also know that there's always another game. And that you always have to look ahead."

• Vinicius' return to form a big positive for Madrid

  Over the past week, rumours have swirled about growing discontent within the Real Madrid dressing room over Alonso’s methods. At the centre of the speculation is Vinicius Jr., whose relationship with the 44-year-old has come under intense scrutiny. even described their dynamic as “strained.” Additional reports have gone further, suggesting the Brazilian star has informed the club’s hierarchy that he does not intend to renew his contract due to his fragile relationship with Alonso.

  However, Alonso was glowing in his praise for the 25-year-old winger. Vinicius was on song on Wednesday, delivering two fantastic assists to Mbappe and having a goal of his own disallowed. In the process, he moved to 27 assists in the Champions League, tying Madrid icon Karim Benzema as the club's second-highest assist provider in Europe, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo's 31. 

  "I'm really sorry about the disallowed goal, because it's a play we talked about yesterday, and it would have given him a good feeling, because it's a very typical goal of his," Alonso said. 

  "Cutting in from the outside, into the far corner. I'm really sorry it was ruled out. But then, apart from that, the combination and connection with Kylian, the two assists, the impact he's had… the thing is, overall, with the difficulties we had, because [Eduardo] Camavinga couldn't go on at halftime, [Raul] Asencio had some discomfort in his hamstring… today was a game of moments. We pulled it off, and with positive things: Kylian's goals, Vini's performance , and other players who also did well."

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  Can Olympiacos win spark a turnaround?

  The victory on Wednesday further strengthened Madrid's pursuit of a top-eight spot in the Champions League league phase. Plus, despite dropping points away at Rayo Vallecano and Elche in their previous two games, Madrid continue to be the La Liga leaders. 

  With a few more away fixtures on the way before Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabeu, Alonso was confident that his side will navigate through the tricky schedule without further setbacks. 

  "We'll see. Time will tell. We had a good feeling… and we shared some things. Regarding the match, we came here to do what we wanted, in a complicated context, with injuries and what happened during the game," he stated. 

  "And we'll take that away from it. This is football, and we have to think about the next one. Now we have a visit to Girona, then we go to Bilbao… the schedule, exceptionally, I don't know if we'll play five or six away games. It's something that doesn't happen very often. But we're going to face it."

يستعد فريق برشلونة، بقيادة المدرب هانز فليك، لخوض مباراته في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم مساء السبت، ضد نظيره أتلتيك بلباو.

ويستضيف ملعب “كامب نو” مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيك بلباو، في خضم منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2025/26، في يوم العودة إلى معقل البلوجرانا.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري الإسباني برصيد 28 نقطة، في حين أن أتلتيك بلباو لديه 17 نقطة في المركز السابع.

ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الفوز في مباراة اليوم، ليس فقط من أجل مواصلة الضغط على ريال مدريد المتصدر في سباق المنافسة على اللقب، ولكن كذلك لتحية الجماهير المتواجدة في ملعب “كامب نو” في أولى مباريات العودة. موعد مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيك بلباو اليوم في الدوري الإسباني

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 5:15 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 6:15 بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة برشلونة وأتلتيك بلباو اليوم في الدوري الإسباني

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 1. معلق مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيك بلباو اليوم في الدوري الإسباني

سيعلق حسن العيدروس على أحداث مباراة اليوم.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

United States forward Trinity Rodman’s future with the Washington Spirit is reportedly uncertain as she weighs more lucrative offers from overseas. Saturday’s NWSL semifinal win over the Portland Thorns at Audi Field may have been her final home appearance, with her contract set to expire next month and extension talks stalling.

ImagnContract negotiations stall

Rodman, 23, widely regarded as one of the NWSL’s brightest stars and most recognizable American players, has attracted significant interest from European clubs since the summer. She has openly expressed her ambition to play abroad, telling ESPN’s Futbol W earlier this year that she “always thought about playing overseas at some point in my career,” adding that “it’s just a matter of when.”

However, efforts to retain Rodman within the Spirit or the NWSL have hit a roadblock due to the league’s salary cap restrictions. The NWSL currently enforces a $3.5 million salary cap per team for a roster of up to 26 players, limiting the financial flexibility of clubs to compete for top talent like Rodman. ESPN reported that Rodman’s agent has engaged directly with NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman to explore potential solutions, but no resolution has been reached.

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ESPN reported Rodman has received several serious offers from clubs abroad, particularly in England, where teams are not bound by salary caps and can offer substantially higher salaries. This financial freedom abroad presents an attractive alternative for Rodman, who is entering a pivotal stage in her career and seeking both competitive growth and financial security.

The lure of playing in Europe’s top leagues, combined with the opportunity to compete in prestigious tournaments such as the UEFA Women’s Champions League, adds to the appeal of a move overseas.

NWSL faces challenges retaining top talent

Rodman’s situation underscores broader challenges facing the NWSL as it seeks to retain elite American players amid increasing competition from European leagues. The league’s salary cap, designed to promote competitive balance and financial sustainability, has inadvertently constrained its ability to match offers from wealthier foreign clubs.

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Getty Images SportUncertain future as Rodman weighs options

As the clock ticks toward the expiration of her contract next month, Rodman’s next move remains uncertain. The semifinal win over Portland may serve as a poignant farewell to Spirit supporters if she opts to pursue her career abroad.

Draw still the favourite as visitors limp to close nine down in face of mammoth 820-9 dec

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Jul-2025

Durham 343 for 9 (Lees 125, Robinson 79, Worrall 4-49) trail Surrey 820 for 9 dec by 477 runsA brilliant three-wicket burst with the second new ball by Dan Worrall resurrected Surrey’s victory ambitions just when it looked as if Alex Lees and Ollie Robinson’s 152-run stand had raised Durham hopes of being able to force a draw at the Kia Oval.Lees scored a superb 125 and Robinson a 105-ball 79 as Durham eventually reached 343 for 9 by stumps on day three, but earlier both fell to paceman Worrall, as did New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham, in a slide from 266 for 3 to 284 for 7.When Matt Fisher removed George Drissell with the last ball before tea, Durham had lost four wickets for 29 runs in 12 overs immediately before the interval. Afterwards, though, Graham Clark and Matthew Potts added 46 for the eighth wicket in 25 overs to hold up Surrey again as the Kookaburra ball lost its shine and hardness.Potts resisted 79 balls for his 23, until Dan Lawrence spun an offbreak to pin him leg-before on the back foot, and then Worrall returned to hit Clark’s middle stump with his fifth ball back to end a defiant 30.A hobbling Ben Raine, injured when bowling on day one, bravely emerged at No. 11 to keep Daniel Hogg company until the end of play, with Hogg even taking two fours off Fisher in the closing overs.Overall, however, bat has overwhelmingly dominated ball on an essentially flat pitch in a Rothesay County Championship match on which the draw still seems the likeliest outcome despite Durham, in reply to Surrey’s mammoth 820 for 9 declared, still being 477 runs adrift going into the final day.Opener Lees showed immense stamina, as well as notable skill and determination, to frustrate Surrey’s attack for almost six hours in all. The Durham captain began day three on 33, with his side 59 for 1, and forged a fine partnership with Robinson after seeing both Will Rhodes and Colin Ackermann depart before lunch.Rhodes edged the impressive Fisher to keeper Josh Blake to go for 26 in the morning’s eighth over, and Ackermann’s 24 was ended by an excellent piece of bowling from Sam Curran. Angling one across the right-hander, left-armer Curran saw Will Jacks cling on to a sharp catch at first slip.Robinson was fortunate to nick Curran between first and second slips for four, a technical but low chance, before he had reached double-figures and, after lunch, Curran had an impassioned appeal for lbw against Lees, on 64, turned down – much to the allrounder’s dismay.Otherwise, however, the fourth-wicket pair progressed serenely and successive fours off Fisher took Lees to 80 while Robinson went to a 76-ball half-century in style by pulling Jordan Clark powerfully off the front foot for six over midwicket.The 32-year-old Lees, capped 10 times in Tests by England, went to his 31st first-class hundred in the 74th over of Durham’s innings and – having been on the field in sweltering 90-degree temperatures for almost eight sessions – he was finally forced to leave it at 3.41pm on day three.Robinson had just been bowled by a full inswinger from Worrall, and the leader of Surrey’s attack made it three strikes overall in his second, third and fourth overs with the second new ball – taken with Durham on 255 for 3 – when he quickly added the scalps of Lees and Neesham.Lees, who faced 240 balls and hit 18 fours, nibbled fatally at a fine ball that lifted and left him and Neesham’s thicker edge to a similar delivery flew to Jacks at first slip.Clark survived a big lbw appeal from Fisher on 4 and then a mishit pull at Worrall on 5 dropped inches short of Curran, diving forward from the squarer of two midwickets, but Drissell top-edged a pull at Fisher to mid-on as Durham’s sudden decline continued apace.Durham’s innings was steadied, however, by Clark and Potts who made sure of a second batting bonus point while also denying Surrey a third bowling point. As batting conditions eased at the end of another long, hot day, it was noticeable that Worrall and Fisher were given only another five overs between them just before the close.Worrall has figures of 4 for 49 from 23 overs and, if anyone is searching for even one positive from the widely-condemned decision to deploy the lower-seamed Kookaburra (widely-used in Tests overseas) in four prime mid-summer Championship fixtures, it is that the newly England-qualified Australian displayed once again the skill and know-how with it that makes him an intriguing possible selection for this winter’s Ashes series Down Under.

Monday brings a shorter slate in Major League Baseball with just nine games, but that’s not going to stop yours truly from finding some player props to consider. 

One of the props I’m looking at is something that I’ve bet and written about often in this column – San Francisco Giants starter Jordan Hicks’ outs recorded prop. 

Usually, I focus strictly on pitcher props, but there is a hitter that I believe has a favorable matchup as well on Monday. 

Let’s kick the week off with some winners! 

Best MLB Prop Bets for Monday, June 17Jordan Hicks UNDER 15.5 Outs Recorded (-155)Sonny Gray UNDER 4.5 Hits Allowed (-105)Marcus Semien OVER 1.5 Total Bases (+110)

Jordan Hicks UNDER 15.5 Outs Recorded (-155)

Jordan Hicks has not pitched poorly in the 2024 season – his first as a true starter – postinga 4-3 record and 3.01 ERA in 14 outings. 

However, since the start of May, Hicks has pitched five innings or less in seven of eight starts, only throwing 5.1 innings in the one start where he cleared this prop. 

The righty has only thrown over 100 pitches one time all season (the game he pitched 5.1 against the New York Yankees), and the Giants have seen him fail to get through five innings in each of his last two starts. 

Overall, the UNDER has hit on this number in 10 of Hicks’ 14 starts, and I’m not going to shy away from betting that again on the road against the Chicago Cubs. 

Hicks has also struggled a bit over his last three starts, giving up 18 hits and 10 runs in 13.2 innings (5.93 ERA) in those games. 

Sonny Gray UNDER 4.5 Hits Allowed (-105)

St. Louis Cardinals ace Sonny Gray has a 3.01 ERA and 2.55 Fielding Independent Pitching coming into Monday’s start against the Miami Marlins and their struggling offense.

The Marlins rank dead last on Major League Baseball in OPS this season, and they’re just 25th in batting average and 22nd in hits recorded. 

That sets up Gray in a good spot, as he’s allowed four or fewer hits in four of his last five starts, posting a .153 opponent batting average against across that stretch. 

Overall, Gray has a 1.03 WHIP, and he’s not exactly going to throw deep into this game, as the Cardinals have kept him under 90 pitches in seven consecutive starts. I think that bodes well for his chances against a weak offense tonight. 

Marcus Semien OVER 1.5 Total Bases (+110)

Texas Rangers infielder Marcus Semien has dominated left-handed pitching this season, slashing .341/.398/.577 with four homers in 85 at bats. 

Now, he gets a shot at New York Mets lefty David Peterson, who comes into Monday’s start with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in three starts. 

Peterson has allowed at least five hits in each of his outings, which is a great sign for Semien and the Rangers’ offense. 

While the former All-Star hasn’t been automatic when it comes to clearing this prop, he did have a three-hit game on Saturday. In a favorable matchup, I don’t mind taking him at plus money to pick up two more total bases. 

Nottingham Forest have confirmed Sean Dyche as their third manager of the 2025-26 season after brutally sacking Ange Postecoglou. The Australian was shown the door just minutes after a 3–0 thumping at the hands of Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. Postecoglou's brief and bruising 39-day tenure produced no wins in eight games across all competitions. It was a miserable run that left Forest languishing in the relegation zone and their supporters furious.

Forest opt for Dyche over Mancini & Silva

Forest’s board wasted no time in finding a replacement and have handed former Everton and Burnley boss Dyche, who had been without a job since his dismissal at Goodison Park in January, a contract running until 2027. The Tricky Trees reportedly held discussions with several candidates, including Fulham’s Marco Silva and former Manchester City and Italy manager Roberto Mancini, but ultimately opted for Dyche. Silva’s £8 million release clause priced him out of contention. 

The club have said in an official statement: "Nottingham Forest is delighted to confirm the appointment of Sean Dyche as the Club’s new Head Coach, following a thorough recruitment process led by Global Head of Football, Edu Gaspar, and Global Technical Director, George Syrianos. The former Forest youth player joins the Club on a contract running until the summer of 2027 and will take charge of his first match on Thursday night as The Reds take on FC Porto in the Europa League.

"A respected and experienced Premier League manager, Dyche brings the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement to guide the Club through its next chapter. Having managed more than 330 Premier League matches in his career to date, Dyche has built teams defined by defensive organisation, resilience, and strength from set pieces, qualities that align closely with the current squad’s attributes and the Club’s footballing identity. As a former Forest youth player who lives locally, Dyche also has a deep understanding of the values and pride of Forest and its supporters. With his character, tactical acumen and man-management skills, his appointment represents the best opportunity for a successful and competitive season across both domestic and European competitions."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFamiliar face returns: Dyche’s emotional Forest connection

For Dyche, this is more than just another managerial job as it’s a homecoming of sorts. The manager began his football journey in Forest’s youth academy in the late 1980s, training under the legendary Brian Clough before moving on without making a senior appearance.

In a past interview with Dyche said: "There was a big group of us. We used to run around Nottingham now and again, have a couple of beers, like you do after a game. They were good times, without a doubt. They were important years for me. Everyone knew the way the team played. Everyone knew the expectation of how to play. It was kind of ingrained in the whole club. That's a valuable thing to have if you can build it. But of course, nowadays, people want to change a lot. So it takes some doing when you've got to build a whole club."

He also reminisced about training alongside Tony Loughlan and Gary Charles, with whom he still keeps in touch. "We have a bit of a laugh at old times and life back then," he added. 

Dyche's trusted lieutenants, Ian Woan and Steve Stone, will join him in the tactical room at Forest. Both men are revered figures at the City Ground, with a combined 400 appearances for Forest between them during the 1990s.

Postecoglou’s short, sour spell ends in humiliation

Postecoglou’s dismissal brought a swift and miserable end to what was meant to be a new era at Forest. Hailed as a bold appointment in August, after they parted ways with Nuno Espirito Santo, the Australian never managed to stamp his authority or ignite any spark in his players. His record read bleakly: six defeats, two draws, and not a single victory. Losses came against Arsenal, Swansea, Sunderland, Midtjylland, Newcastle, and finally Chelsea, while the only points came via frustrating draws against Burnley and Real Betis. By the time Forest were beaten 3–2 by Midtjylland in the Europa League, fans had already turned and their chants for his dismissal grew louder each week. Ironically, just months after celebrating European qualification under Nuno, Forest now find themselves staring down the barrel of another relegation scrap. Sitting in the bottom three after eight Premier League matches, they look a shadow of the resilient, high-pressing side that thrilled supporters last season.

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Getty Images SportA trial by fire for Dyche

Dyche’s baptism of fire begins with a Europa League showdown against Porto at the City Ground on Thursday, followed by a crucial Premier League clash at Bournemouth on Sunday. Then come daunting tests against Manchester United and Leeds, games that could define the club’s survival hopes before the festive month.

Newcastle United’s summer transfer window revolved around one question: who would replace Alexander Isak?

The Swedish striker’s inevitable move to Liverpool would leave a gaping hole in Eddie Howe’s attack, and the club spent the entire summer working to secure a replacement.

Newcastle chased Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, João Pedro and Benjamin Šeško, but all proved out of reach.

Longstanding interest in Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa also seemed destined to fail as neither club was willing to negotiate.

But in the final days of the window, Newcastle pulled off two significant deals.

They signed Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade for a club-record £69m before finally landing Wissa for £55m after the player drove through the night to push the transfer over the line.

Those two arrivals may yet define the Magpies’ summer.

With Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, and Anthony Elanga also joining, Newcastle have strengthened in multiple areas.

But the focus will be firmly on how the new strike force adapts to life after Isak.

What Woltemade and Wissa will bring to Newcastle

At 23 years old and standing 1.98m tall, Woltemade represents the future.

He arrives from Stuttgart on the back of a breakthrough Bundesliga campaign, scoring 12 goals in 28 appearances and earning three senior caps for Germany.

His performances at the U21 European Championships underlined his potential – strong in the air, technically assured, and capable of linking play as well as finishing chances.

Wissa, meanwhile, brings Premier League pedigree. He scored 19 goals and registered five assists in 35 appearances for Brentford last season, cementing himself as one of the division’s most underrated forwards.

Across his Premier League career, he has 45 goals in 137 appearances – a proven track record Newcastle badly need.

Statistically, the pair offer different strengths. As per FBref, Woltemade’s 50% shot-on-target rate last season was higher than Wissa’s 45.6%, but Wissa contributed more goal involvements overall (23 compared to 14).

Wissa also presses with intensity, recording more tackles per 90 than his new teammate, while Woltemade excels at progressing the ball, registering 4.38 shot-creating actions per 90 compared to Wissa’s 2.13.

Both will be expected to share the goalscoring burden left behind by Isak.

Wissa’s immediate impact will be crucial – especially with Anthony Gordon suspended – while Woltemade may be bedded in gradually as he adjusts to the Premier League.

One issue looms: Wissa could miss a significant stretch of the season in early 2026 due to the Africa Cup of Nations. That makes Woltemade’s development even more important.

Former Magpie is now outscoring them all

While Newcastle reshape their frontline, one former striker of the turbulent Mike Ashley is quietly enjoying a renaissance.

Ayoze Pérez, who joined the Magpies on a £1.5m deal from Tenerife in 2014, made 195 appearances for the club, scoring 48 goals and registering 17 assists.

He was one of the few bright sparks during the disastrous 2015/16 relegation campaign, then played a key role in Rafa Benítez’s promotion-winning side and their re-establishment in the Premier League.

His performances even “impressed” Alan Shearer, who praised the Spaniard’s impact in his debut season when he scored seven league goals.

Pérez eventually left Newcastle for Leicester City in 2019, with Ashley and co raking in a £30m fee, and later moved to Real Betis in 2022.

But it was his switch to Villarreal in 2024 that reignited his career.

Last season, he scored 19 goals and added two assists in 30 La Liga matches, earning a surprise call-up to the Spanish national team where he made his debut in a 5-0 win against Andorra.

In all competitions, he scored 22 times in 2024/25, eclipsing the totals that both Wissa (20) and Woltemade (17) achieved across all fronts for their respective former clubs.

That is what makes his story particularly interesting for Newcastle fans – how his output compares with their new arrivals.

Statistically, he remains effective: Pérez averaged 3.33 progressive passes per 90 and 3.26 shot-creating actions per 90 – more than both Wissa and Woltemade.

He also recorded more progressive carries per 90 (2.69) and showed his defensive contribution with 1.23 tackles per 90.

Matches Played

30

35

28

Goals

19

19

12

Assists

2

4

2

Progressive Carries

59

60

31

Progressive Passes

73

67

52

In many ways, Pérez’s revival mirrors Joselu’s late-career success in Spain after his underwhelming Newcastle stint.

Both strikers have shown that Tyneside was just one chapter in their stories, not the defining one.

Where Are They Now

For Newcastle, the challenge now lies in ensuring that Woltemade and Wissa not only carry the weight of Isak’s departure but also measure up to the legacy of strikers of the past.

Newcastle sold a homegrown Isak for just £500k, now he's a £50m "monster"

Newcastle have had to accept the sale of talisman Alexander Isak in a record-breaking D-day move.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 4, 2025

Pochettino's message to this squad was clear – every player must look in the mirror and ask 'What is expected of me?'

A new term was coined towards the end of Mauricio Pochettino's news conference on Thursday – "Pochismo." It was used to express how the U.S. men's national team coach has his own way of making decisions and, for the purposes of meeting with the media, his own way of explaining them. 

"It's a good thing that Pochismo is positive," Pochettino said with a laugh. "It's good that it's used in a positive way."

In the year since taking over as USMNT boss, Pochettino has had his own way of explaining his decisions. There have been times where he's been willing to go in depth. At other times, he's asked for trust. Those decisions, ultimately, rest with Pochettino and his staff, and them alone. Part of Pochismo, then, is understanding that fact and accepting the answer, even if disagreeing.

Pochettino's most recent decisions were announced on Thursday. He had selected a 26-man squad for the upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. There were a number of talented players named to the squad. There were a few that weren't. Those decisions, Pochettino reminded reporters, were his, and the asked-for explanations, in truth, didn't matter. What matters now is getting the 26-player group together and going from there.

In general, Pochettino's message was clear. He wants every player in the pool to look in the mirror and ask themselves two questions: what is expected of me and what am I going to do to meet those expectations?

"It's difficult to explain, because I think we'd need to spend over an hour doing it," Pochettino said, "but I think in the way that they grow, in the way that I see things, how I feel soccer, for me, it's completely different. I think that is why players need to perform, need to think and need to try to convince us. The players need to think a little bit about what we expect from them. 

"That is a different question: what we expect… If players not in the squad call us and say, 'What do you expect from us coach?' that is a different question. I can speak for over an hour, two hours, and we can have videos and everything. But that's different from 'Why am I not here?' That is a different question."

GOAL looks at key takeaways from Pochettino's roster release.

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  Adams' absence explained

  Many of the absences could be explained. Injuries and form, by and large, cover most of it. Not Tyler Adams, though. He's been in great form with Bournemouth, has been vital for the USMNT and might very well be the captain next summer.

  His excusal, though, makes sense.

  "He's expecting his wife to have a baby in the next few days," Pochettino said. "That is why he's not here because of that reason. It's a positive reason! It's a good reason, and we hope it's going well. That's why he's not in this in this camp."

  All good things then and, in truth, the USMNT will be just fine this time without him. If anything, it's a chance for Pochettino to get a look at other deeper-lying midfielders that could serve as Adams' backup or, perhaps, partner. 

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  Those not in the squad

  Pochettino was asked to explain several notable omissions. He was happy to discuss Adams. The others? Less so. Those players aren't on the squad for soccer reasons. He knows why they weren't called in and, in his opinion, they do too -and he says that's all that matters.

  "They are called in because they perform," Pochettino said, "but after, they need to come here to perform, to follow the rules, and to behave in the way that we want that they behave, with all the respect, and try to not only win games, to think and to build something important… It's unbelievable to see how the players behave differently when they know that they are going to play versus when they are not going to play.

  "That is the most difficult thing you need to understand: when you maybe want to play, but it's not right. You have to behave in a different way, process that inside yourself and deal with that pain inside. You then need to provide your best and support your teammates, the staff and the national team."

  Pochettino was clear that he wasn't shutting the door on anyone. No one's spot is guaranteed – and none are lost, either. 

  "There aren't too many players in the world [that are guaranteed]," he said. "You can ask me why Messi is not in the roster. This type of player: Maradona, Pele, I don't know, different names. I think we need to respect the players that are here. We never give an explanation [on the omissions] because we respect the players that are here. I talk to the players that are in this roster. But knowing the players that are not with us, what I want to tell you is we are very focused and working so hard to try to build the best roster. 

  "These names, of course, it's an open system that maybe today they are not here, but maybe they are here in the next month. We always try to bring a combination and create a roster with good balance or with players that I think deserve to be here."

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  Robinson's status

  There were plenty of new "old" faces named to the team. In total, 15 of the 26 players Pochettino called in were not a part of the September camp. Few, though, are as interesting as Robinson, who rejoins the USMNT for the first time in 2025.

  The 2024 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, Robinson has recently returned for Fulham, playing his first 90-minute game of the season last week against Cambridge. Fulham have, generally, been patient with Robinson, who dealt with injury issued down the stretch last season. Pochettino will be too, even as he turns to him for a vital camp appearance.

  "It's a long time that we haven't seen him for different reasons," Pochettino said. "Today, we know that he's an important player for us and it's a moment to bring him in. Of course, we have been talking with his club. We are going to try to manage him in the best way here, but it's important that he can be with us, with the group, and with his teammates. I think you always have to manage this situation.. We are thinking about that in all aspects."

  Robinson, of course, has backup. Max Arfsten, who has deputized for him for much of the year, is also in camp and could play minutes on that left-hand side. It remains to be seen how much we'll see of Robinson then, but Pochettino is glad to have him back.

  "Antonee is not playing too much, but I think the challenge is to help him to evolve and to start to feel the confidence again and to come back and to play in a regular way with his team," he said. "This is going to be great for us."

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  Pulisic's form

  The world doesn't need Pochettino to say it, but he will anyway. If you weren't aware, Christian Pulisic is in ridiculous form.

  With four goals and two asissts in five Serie A matches to go with two additional goals in the Coppa Italia, Pulisic is Italy's most in-form player. There's an argument to be made that he's performing as well as any player in the world right now. That, of course, brings a smile to Pochettino's face. He has one hell of a weapon as his disposal.

  "Christian is a great player," Pochettino said. "He's a player that has continuity and I think we can say he is the most important player now for the national team that is performing and playing under big pressure. He needs to perform every single week and every single game in a place like Milan and he's doing well.

  "We are so happy when he's scoring goals, giving assists and performing. That is what we want, and now is to help him arrive at the World Cup in the best place."

  Pulisic, having put the Gold Cup controversy to rest, was fantastic against Japan last month, running the show in that game. Now, he'll be expected to do the same in these two matches as he looks to continue to bridge that good form across the Atlantic.