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Manchester United fans came into this season with optimism that, after a summer of big signings and time dedicated to learning Ruben Amorim’s system, things at the club may improve. However, inconsistencies and poor performances here have continued this season, with the latest defeat coming at the hands of Brentford in the Premier League.

Following the defeat, Amorim was asked whether he is confident that he can turn things around.

“It’s like ups and downs. When you win, you feel that everything, the momentum is there.

“When you lose, you go back to the same place, and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum. Guys, I’m always doing my job. If I win, I’m in a different state of mind. That is normal. I’m always confident because I know what to do.”

Despite the manager’s refusal to admit defeat, Sir Jim Radcliffe and INEOS are not taking any chances and are already preparing alternatives in case Amorim can’t turn things around.

Parish keen to keep hold of Glasner

Reports are indicating that high on Manchester United’s list of potential replacements for Amorim is Crystal Palace’s manager, Oliver Glasner. In the summer, it was reported that tensions were high between Glasner and Club chairman Steve Parish following Liverpool’s approach for club captain Marc Guehi.

Despite Guehi remaining at the club following the closure of the transfer window, he still looks set to leave with less than a year left on his contract. Guehi would be the latest in a string of high-profile departures from Palace that included Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. United may exploit this tension to try to bring Glasner to Old Trafford if they decide to part ways with Amorim.

However, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed that Parish is still working hard to keep Glasner beyond the end of the season.

“Oliver Glasner is still Crystal Palace manager, he still has ambitions in South London – but ultimately the club need to match them. If Glasner is a top-four quality manager as he looks to be, can Palace keep him? Maybe, but it is going to be very difficult.

“Palace would love a new deal now, but it looks like that is a non-starter until the New Year. Palace know Man United are interested, they know others are looking, and that is a concern, but as they have seen with their players in recent years – when big clubs are circling, it is hard to fend them off. But Steve Parish has not given up on Glasner being Palace manager beyond this season.”

How Glasner could turn things around at United

Despite having the same controversial tactical set-up as Amorim, Glasner has already proved that he can win trophies at multiple clubs. His silverware includes the FA Cup, which he won with Crystal Palace and the Europa League, which he won with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Glasner has also proven himself a cut above Amorim in terms of managing Premier League clubs. Glasner has managed more games to a greater level of success than the Portuguese manager, with the Palace boss overseeing 71 games with an average points per game of 1.77 compared to Amorim, who has only managed 1.35 points per game in his 49 managerial outings.

One thing that might cause concern with appointing Glasner is that he favours a similar 3-4-2-1 formation to Amorim. While Glasner has found success with this at Palace, his squad seem more suited to it, and United have struggled to adapt to the system. This means that Glasner runs the risk of facing the same problems that Amorim has, and he may have to adapt his system.

Overall, it seems like Glasner is the better manager than Amorim, but his style of play doesn’t suit the United squad, and the club may find itself in the same situation if they appoint him.

Liverpool supporters have erupted online after Federico Chiesa was named the club’s Player of the Month for September, despite the Italian not starting a single Premier League game during that stretch. Chiesa’s recognition has reignited anger towards head coach Arne Slot, with fans questioning his team selections and labelling the forward "Liverpool’s best player" who continues to be unfairly benched.

• Chiesa voted Player of the Month by Liverpool fans

  Chiesa has been voted Liverpool’s Standard Chartered Men’s Player of the Month for September, securing 34% of fan votes in the official club poll. Alisson Becker and Ryan Gravenberch tied for second place with 18% each, but Chiesa’s impact in limited minutes proved decisive. Despite starting just one Carabao Cup fixture all month, the Italian’s three goal involvements across three appearances captured the admiration of supporters.

  Chiesa was at his creative best during the Reds’ 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round win over Southampton at Anfield, providing an assist for Alexander Isak while earning the Player of the Match award. Days later, he came off the bench to score in Liverpool’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace, though the result overshadowed his personal contribution. The 27-year-old’s spark and energy in cameo appearances have prompted many fans to demand he play a more central role in Slot’s plans.

  Collecting the award at the AXA Training Centre, Chiesa expressed his gratitude to supporters, saying: "Of course, I'm glad I won this prize. Thank you to the fans for the support and for voting for me. I would rather not get it in the future and win more games. But thank you again.

  "The support always has been amazing. I try to give my best on the pitch for the fans and for Liverpool. I love to see that the fans actually appreciate what I'm doing."

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• Supporters split on award

  On social media, Liverpool fan @luciruoc questioned: "Is this a joke! Fede is brilliant but how can you win PotM being a bench player than rarely gets more than 15 mins a match."

  @MartinEra_ joked: "Spent 500M and 13M Chiesa is your best player."

  @tsk58cc wrote: "Imagine – bench player winning it. Shows how poor the team has been and also strange that Fede doesn't get more starts."

  @eramiegbami said: "My kind of player. Head down. No complaints. Gets his chance and plays like it’s a Champions League final."

  @briggsisgreat added: "Man’s been running like he’s got rent due every week, give that guy two trophies — one for performance and one for pure chaos energy on the pitch."

  @Akmathurx concluded: "Player of the month from the bench. I can't believe he's still not starting any games. So happy for him, our most hardworking player."

• Chiesa barely getting a start under Slot

  Chiesa’s award comes amid growing tension within the fanbase over Slot’s squad management and player rotation choices. The former Juventus winger, who joined Liverpool last year, has often been seen as a game-changer from the bench yet continues to be overlooked for a regular starting berth. His performances this season have reignited calls for him to start ahead of several underperforming attackers, particularly with Liverpool struggling for consistency in the Premier League.

  His direct involvement in three of Liverpool’s goals this month despite limited game time underscores his effectiveness and sharpness in the final third. As frustration builds, many fans have taken to social media questioning whether Slot’s tactical setup is holding back one of Liverpool’s most dynamic attacking talents.

  Chiesa himself has maintained professionalism amid the debate, insisting that he remains focused on contributing whenever called upon. "Whatever the minutes are that I’m playing, I try to give my best, I try to help the team, stay positive and make an impact," he said. "That’s what I’m here for. I hope I keep on pushing and giving something back to the fans."

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  Could Chiesa become a Liverpool starter?

  Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures offer Chiesa another chance to stake his claim for a regular starting role, especially as they face a mini-injury crisis with five games staring them down in the next 15 days.

  With the Reds aiming to end a stuttering domestic run and maintain momentum in Europe, Slot will be under pressure to reassess his lineup and reward form over reputation. Chiesa’s creative influence and eye for goal have become too evident to ignore, and fan sentiment could soon make his inclusion a necessity rather than an option.

Celtic supporters have been lucky enough to enjoy plenty of top-quality centre-forwards in recent years.

Henrik Larsson will forever remain the gold standard, given that he scored 242 goals in 313 appearances for the club between 1997 and 2004, winning eight major honours, firing them to the UEFA Cup Final of 2003 and picking up the European Golden Shoe in 2001.

In more recent times, Odsonne Édouard, Moussa Dembélé and Kyōgo Furuhashi have all racked up plenty of goals and trophies as Celtic’s centre-forward.

Supporters may argue they do not have a striker of the requisite quality right now, although that opinion could soon be changing, while a player you’ve probably completely forgotten ever played for Celtic is tearing it up in one of the world’s strongest leagues.

Kelechi Iheanacho's start to life at Celtic

Fair to say, not a lot was expected of Kelechi Iheanacho when he arrived at Celtic, considering he joined after the transfer window had closed as an archetypal panic buy.

Well, so far, the Nigerian international is proving the doubters wrong, converting a stoppage time penalty to snatch victory at Kilmarnock on debut, before breaking the deadlock during Wednesday night’s Europa League draw with Crvena zvezda in Belgrade.

During his time at Leicester City, Iheanacho was known as a “deadly finisher”, his best campaign coming in 2020/21, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, four of which came in the FA Cup, a key figure as the Foxes won that competition for the first time ever.

Since then though, he’s not managed more than eight goals in a single campaign, scoring zero times in La Liga during his brief time at Sevilla, hence why los Nervionenses jumped at the chance to cut ties with him.

Nevertheless, reunited with Brendan Rodgers, his manager in the East Midlands of course, Iheanacho looks revitalised and reinvigorated, back to his clinical best in front of goal.

Nevertheless, there is a forward, who made almost no impact at all at Celtic, who actually has more goals to his name at this early stage of the season.

Forgotten Celtic flop on fire in the Bundesliga

We all have that one player who, when they first burst onto the scene, you are certain they’re going to be a future Ballon d’Or winner one day.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Well, for many in Scotland, that player was Oliver Burke.

Back in 2016, having made just 31 appearances for Nottingham Forest, Burke was sold to recently promoted RB Leipzig for £13m, a then-record for a Scottish player, but fair to say he never lived up to this hype.

The table below documents the still only 28-year-old’s manic career so far.

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As the table outlines, Burke has played for 12 different clubs in four different countries, yet to score double figures in terms of goals for any of them, which is honestly mind-blowing, with the four he managed during a six-month loan spell at Celtic Park from West Brom in 2019 among his higher tallies.

In hoops, he bagged a brace during his Premiership debut against St Mirren, before also netting during home wins over Hibernian and Motherwell, often deployed as a centre-forward by Neil Lennon, who succeeded Rodgers during this period.

This summer, having previously played for RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen, Burke returned to Germany, joining Union Berlin, and perhaps he could finally fulfil his potential at Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

On Sunday, during die Eisernen’s crazy 4-3 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at Waldstadion, Burke scored a 24-minute hat-trick, becoming the first Scotsman to ever bag a treble in the Bundesliga – and bettering Iheanacho’s own 2025/26 tally in the process.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Andy Brassell labelled them “ice-cold finishes”, noting that Union Berlin are playing to Burke’s strengths, which is utilising his pace in-behind, given that he has always been lightning quick.

Burke has remained such an enigma throughout his career; his raw and physical attributes are seemingly what ensures that clubs keep signing him, but as far back as his Leipzig days there were concerns over his tactical awareness, with then manager Ralph Hasenhüttl comparing him to an “empty hard drive” who had a lot to learn.

The most recent of Burke’s 13 Scotland caps came against Israel in Netanya back in November 2020 but, if he continues to score Bundesliga hat-tricks, Steve Clarke will have to pay attention.

Who knows, he could have been an even better emergency centre-forward option for Celtic than Iheanacho will prove to be.

100% dribbles: "Fearless" Celtic star was even better than Iheanacho

Celtic drew 1-1 with Crvena zvezda in the Europa League, Kelechi Iheanacho scoring in Belgrade, but a “fearless” attacker was even more impressive.

By
Ben Gray

Sep 25, 2025

Former Mexico international and ex-PSV and Real Betis player Andrés Guardado expressed concern about the current state of El Tri following their 4-0 loss to Colombia over the weekend. The retired midfielder believes Javier Aguirre’s side could face a tough World Cup campaign, insisting that “you can’t cover the sun with one finger.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Guardado concerned about process

  Mexico’s recent 4-0 loss to Colombia deepened the worries surrounding Javier Aguirre’s project, drawing concern not just from fans but also from former national team icons such as Andrés Guardado.

  In an interview with TUDN, the former captain of El Tri didn’t hide his unease about the team’s performance and trajectory heading toward the 2026 World Cup.

  “Now that I’m on the outside, as just another fan, it’s clear we can’t cover the sun with one finger,” Guardado admitted. “The process is complicated. We’re struggling to find a way to make people believe again ahead of the World Cup, but I trust that Aguirre will find the answers to make this team competitive.”

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  Defends El Tri players

  Guardado also defended the current generation of players from accusations of lacking effort.

  “The word ‘attitude’ can be misleading,” he said. “I don’t think any player goes onto the pitch without trying to win. I was a player myself, and I know that’s not the case. Sometimes, you just face a better opponent.

  "Colombia played well-Luis Díaz found plenty of space, and James Rodríguez had time to make decisions between the lines. People who don’t analyze the tactical side might say it’s about attitude, but it’s not that simple.”

• AFP
  

  What happened to Guardado?

  Guardado played in five World Cups with the Mexican national team. After the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he announced his retirement from El Tri. Earlier this year, he officially hung up his boots, with Club León being his last professional team. He is now studying to become a coach in Europe.

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  What comes next?

  Javier Aguirre’s side will face Ecuador Tuesday night at the Arkon Stadium in Guadalajara, looking to redeem themselves after Saturday’s poor performance at AT&T Stadium.

Leeds United’s struggling attack is very much a work in progress currently.

While the defence has been largely solid since making the nervy step-up back to the Premier League, with another clean sheet nearly collected away at Fulham, the forward areas have looked consistently below-par, scoring just once from their opening four clashes.

Daniel Farke will be ripping his hair out at the moment, trying to work out a successful attacking formula, having masterminded an incredible promotion just last season that saw 95 goals fired home.

The German does have some promising new attackers at his disposal, but it looks as if it will take time to get them to their best, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in particular, enduring a tough start to life in West Yorkshire.

Calvert-Lewin's tough start at Leeds

Plenty of eyebrows were raised when Calvert-Lewin entered the building late in the busy summer transfer window as Leeds’ standout striker signing.

After all, the injury-prone former Everton marksman would join on a free transfer, with alternative faces in attack such as Noah Okafor arriving with plenty more positive fanfare, having cost a whopping £18m to obtain.

Still, irrespective of the costs involved in their respective deals, both players visibly struggled at Craven Cottage, with a calamitous own-goal ultimately the difference-maker.

Indeed, Okafor would fail to impress on his first Premier League start, failing to complete an accurate cross for the lofty Calvert-Lewin to try and connect with. On top of that, the quiet Swiss also failed to hit a single shot on target at Bernd Leno’s goal.

The numbers aren’t any prettier when assessing the Sheffield-born striker, either, with the low-on-confidence number nine only managing a meagre 15 touches of the ball as an isolated figure in Farke’s forward line.

The manager will just be praying that the 28-year-old gets the service he needs shortly to break out of his poor start, with the former England international boasting 71 goals in the top-flight when brimming with confidence.

Wolverhampton Wanderers up next might well be the occasion where Calvert-Lewin finally shows up.

Yet, in an alternate reality, the ex-Toffees centre-forward would already be up and running in Leeds white.

Leeds have sold a player who's perfect for Calvert-Lewin

Away from Okafor, Farke does have a lot of options up his sleeve down the wings, with Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto, and Jack Harrison all being thrown into the action late on at Craven Cottage.

The last of those listed does feel as if he is on borrowed time at Leeds, though, with the hit-and-miss Englishman only averaging 21 minutes of action this season in the league when used sparingly.

Even more worryingly, Harrison finds himself without a goal or assist in Premier League action since scoring last March for Calvert-Lewin’s ex-employers, with Leeds now wishing they had Jack Clarke back at their disposal in a dream reality to help the below-par attackers out.

When Clarke’s name springs to mind, he is certainly more synonymous for his blistering exploits with Sunderland than with Leeds, with 28 goals and 23 assists coming his way for the Black Cats after struggling to ever settle at Tottenham Hotspur immediately after ditching Elland Road.

Thankfully, the right-footed forward did show off his explosiveness in the Premier League last season with Ipswich Town.

An “unplayable” star in the words of Tony Mowbray, the attacker may well have been worried that he’d just be pigeonholed in the Championship.

However, he did show flashes of his excellence in Suffolk last campaign to suggest he could be a Premier League-level talent moving forward, with four assists coming his way from just 12 starts under Kieran McKenna. One of those assists also saw him compared to a £100m player, with Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith suggesting he “has a bit of Grealish about him.”

This split-second ability to be able to fashion a chance for a teammate would be music to the ears of an isolated Calvert-Lewin, with the hot-and-cold Englishman content with minimal touches of the ball before being unleashed in front of goal.

At his peak in 2020/21, he averaged just 34.7 touches per league match, which still ended up with him picking up an impressive 16 strikes.

Clarke succeeding as an impact substitute option also suggests he would be an upgrade on a forgettable Harrison if he were back at Elland Road.

Away from all these theoretical conversations, though, the ex-Norwich City boss will just have to make do with what he’s got until January at the very earliest, with the attack hopefully having clicked by that vital mid-point.

Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues

A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

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By
Dan Emery

Sep 15, 2025

Inigo Martinez has revealed that he "didn't even dare" tell his former coach Hansi Flick about his decision to leave Barcelona over the summer due to their "exceptional" relationship. After playing a major role in Barca's domestic dominance, the ex-Athletic Club centre-back left for the Saudi Pro League to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

• Inigo Martinez begins new chapter at Al-Nassr

  In a shock transfer during the summer transfer window, Martinez left Barcelona to sign a lucrative deal with the Riyadh giants. The centre-back moved to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he has joined Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo. His exit came after he played an extremely important role in helping Barca win La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de Espana in addition to a semi-final run in the Champions League last season. 

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  Martinez reveals how he shared the news of his Barca exit with Flick

  In an interview with , Martinez said: "It's true that Hansi Flick had a lot of affection for me, but he also knew exactly what I brought to the team, not just on the field, but also off it. He saw me as a key piece, a pivotal element in his plans, so when a part of that puzzle fell apart at the last moment, suddenly and unexpectedly, it was natural for him to feel some doubt or confusion in that situation.

  "He considered me a constant in the team, so any change surprised him a bit, which is normal – that's football. I think the surprise came from the fact that he found out while I was on the plane, more than anything else."

  "Honestly, I didn't dare tell him right away. There were moments when I told myself: 'Tomorrow, I'll tell him tomorrow.' Then tomorrow came, and I'd say: 'Later, not now'. It was a long journey after the last match: several hours on the bus, a few stops at gas stations, then to the airport, and there, on the way, I spoke to his assistant, Marcus Sorg, and told him I wanted to talk to the coach because I had something on my mind that I needed to tell him."

  "Finally, I decided to talk to him on the plane. And indeed, the news caught him completely off guard – a surprise, of course, for him."

• Barca showing signs of faltering, but Martinez remains confident

  The Catalans headed into the recently-concluded international break on the back of consecutive losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla, with critics emphasising on Flick's "suicidal" high-line tactics. Martinez, however, believes his old club will "fight and win titles."

  “Being Bara's manager is complicated," he added. "Flick is clear, demanding, and has been the first to punish those who arrive late. But this year, he may notice that something isn't working as well and is nervous about the pressure, like any Barca fan. Even so, I have no doubt that Barca will fight and win titles.”

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  Injuries threaten Barca's chance ahead of El Clasico

  The Catalans find themselves in a miserable spot owing to their mounting injury crisis. The likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, Joan Garcia and Dani Olmo are certain to miss the clash against Real Madrid on October 26, while doubts remain over the participations of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez. 

After scoring just 44 times in the Premier League last season, Manchester United desperately needed attacking reinforcements during the summer window, with the hierarchy splashing upwards of £200m on new additions.

Benjamin Sesko was one of the players brought in with such funds, costing a staggering £74m from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig after scoring 21 times in all competitions last campaign.

However, he’s only made one start for Ruben Amorim, unable to nail down a starting role as of yet after his big-money transfer in the latter stages of the window.

The Slovenian international only registered a total of 19 touches in his 80-minute showing at the Etihad last weekend, failing to hold up the play and only registering a 54% pass completion rate.

There’s no denying that the 22-year-old will need time to settle into the role, but one player he’s come in to replace has already hit the ground running after being moved on by the board.

Why United may regret selling Hojlund

Two years ago, United fans found themselves in a similar position, after the hierarchy completed a £72m deal to land Rasmus Hojlund from Italian outfit, Atalanta.

The Dane’s arrival generated huge excitement within the fanbase, with the youngster seen as an immediate and long-term fix for the centre-forward position.

After scoring 16 times in his debut campaign, the signs looked positive for the 22-year-old, but 2024/25 was a year to forget for the player in his quest for success.

He only netted four league goals last campaign, even going 21 games without a goal at one stage, subsequently being loaned out to Napoli for the 2025/26 season.

His temporary deal has an obligation to buy next summer if Antonio Conte’s side qualify for the Champions League at the end of the current campaign – something which should happen given their title triumph in May.

Hojlund has only featured for 73 minutes since making the move to Naples, but has already hit the ground running – scoring on his debut in the 3-1 victory over Fiorentina.

However, despite his immediate impact away from Old Trafford, one other former player has also thrived since departing – with the decision to offload him now looking as though it was a questionable one.

The former United striker who’s an upgrade on Sesko

United’s lack of a clinical goalscorer over the last couple of seasons has massively held them back from matching the expectations placed upon them by the fanbase.

The Red Devils didn’t have a single player who reached double figures in league goals last campaign – highlighting the need to add reinforcements during the off-season.

Sesko was the man they chose to lead the line, but given his lack of immediate impact, it has led to questions being asked by the fanbase about his big-money arrival.

He will need time to settle into English football, but Amorim may not have such luxuries, with the 40-year-old under huge pressure after only winning one of their first four league outings in 2025/26.

An experienced option could well have handed the manager just that, with former Red Devil star Danny Welbeck arguably being able to provide just that, given his form away from Old Trafford in recent times.

The 34-year-old spent seven years at the Theatre of Dreams between 2007 and 2014, racking up 142 appearances for the first-team and finding the back of the net on 29 occasions.

The 2011/12 campaign was his best for the club, scoring 12 times across all competitions, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep hold of his first-team squad – subsequently leaving for Arsenal in a £16m deal two years later.

Fast-forward to the present day, and Welbeck is now plying his trade for Brighton & Hove Albion, racking up over 150 appearances for the Seagulls over a five-year period on the coast.

Last campaign was his best-ever in the Premier League, netting ten goals and reaching double figures for the first time as Fabian Hurzeler’s side ended the year in 8th place.

His underlying stats were also just as impressive, massively outperforming new big-money addition, Sesko, in countless key areas – highlighting why he’d be a better option at present.

Welbeck, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Ryan Adsett, posted a better goal per shot on target rate (0.4), showcasing that he possesses a clinical edge over Sesko in the final third.

However, alongside his impressive shooting stats, the Englishman also achieved a better pass completion rate (85%), whilst registering more key passes per 90 – offering a better hold-up option, something which the new addition has struggled with to date.

He also drew more fouls from the opposition, whilst creating more shot-creating actions (2.3), undoubtedly being a better all-round option than the £74m summer addition.

Whilst he may be a 34-year-old, Welbeck has the tools to make an immediate impact back at his boyhood club, given their recent struggles within the final third.

Amorim can save his Man Utd job by using "£100m + footballer" in a 4-3-3

Ruben Amorim may need to drastically change things up at Manchester United to save his job.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 17, 2025

There’s no question Sesko could be a superb talent in the years ahead, but given their current situation, an immediate solution is needed to avoid further failures on the pitch.

It was yet another busy summer for Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca making a number of new additions to his squad, but Jamie Carragher has been left unconvinced by one new signing.

Carragher "not a fan" of major Chelsea signing

Carragher has been at odds with Chelsea supporters for a while now, having suggested they don’t have what it takes to compete for the Premier League title, while also criticising BlueCo’s recruitment policy.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “I don’t speak negatively about Chelsea, I give my honest opinion which hasn’t changed in the last 12 months. My comments about players not signing for them is to do with the revolving door at the club, were they just swap players with the same ability, it’s the same this summer.

“I don’t think they are closer to the title because you can’t win the title with the goalkeeper you have or CB’s, plus you will play CL & won’t be able to rotate the team like you did last season in conference cup.”

Chelsea agree record deadline day exit via award-winning agent Ali Barat

The west Londoners have sealed yet another departure.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 1, 2025

In fairness, it is understandable the former Liverpool man is sceptical about a new goalkeeper not being brought in, given the doubts over Robert Sanchez, with the Spaniard being dropped in favour of Filip Jorgensen at times last season.

However, some of the criticism aimed at one of the Blues’ major summer signings may be regarded as a little more harsh, especially considering his own former club’s spending, after Liverpool broke the British transfer record twice in the space of a few months to land Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

Alas, when asked whether Alejandro Garnacho would prove to be a hit or miss at Stamford Bridge, as Carragher and Roy Keane rated the summer’s top signings, the Sky Sports pundit revealed he is not impressed.

The 47-year-old also went on to criticise the new signing for being on his phone while watching Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Fulham.

Roy Keane, on the other hand, claimed it was too early to tell whether Garnacho would be a good signing, although the Irishman is also “not convinced”.

Garnacho capable of reigniting career at Chelsea

It was clear the 21-year-old needed to leave Manchester United this summer, as his relationship with the fans was perhaps beyond repair, having infamously been pictured wearing a Marcus Rashford Aston Villa shirt.

As such, a new environment may be ideal for the youngster, who is clearly a talented player, having already made 144 senior appearances for United, during which time he has picked up 26 goals and 22 assists.

That said, it is clear to see why Carragher has some doubts, given that there are question marks over the youngster, with former teammate Bruno Fernandes even saying he “didn’t have the best attitude” at times.

Garnacho’s first chance to prove the doubters wrong will come after the international break, with the Blues set to travel to Brentford on September 13th.

Kylian Mbappe, who needs just six goals to become his country's all-time top scorer, believes he "can score against anyone" ahead of France's World Cup qualifying clash against Azerbaijan on Friday. His participation in the game, however, remains uncertain, with the Frenchman picking up a minor ankle sprain in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga last weekend.

• Mbappe eyeing Giroud's throne as France's all-time top scorer

  Giroud retired from international football in 2024 after making 137 appearances and a record 57 goals for Les Bleus. Mbappe currently sits in second position, having scored 52 goals in 92 games. The Frenchman, who has been in breathtaking form at the start of the season, will be aiming to eclipse Giroud in France's next two games – two relatively easy fixtures against Azerbaijan on Friday and Iceland next Monday.

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  Giroud record not on Mbappe's mind at the moment

  Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the France captain said: "I'm not breaking any taboos when I say I can score goals against anyone. Every match has its own reality. [Azerbaijan] is a team that held Ukraine to a draw, where we didn't have it easy. The stakes are higher than just scoring goals, even if we're not going to deprive ourselves of that.

  "I think I'll beat [Giroud], but when, I don't know. Maybe tomorrow, who knows? Maybe later. It's something that will come naturally and I'll move on from there."

• Mbappe finally the player Real Madrid thought they signed in 2024

  A record-breaking individual season was overshadowed by Real Madrid's failure to secure major silverware. The Frenchman often struggled, especially during the first half of the 2024-25 season, before finding his feet and finishing the season with the Pichichi and European Golden Shoe awards. 

  This season, though, Mbappe has been in transcendental form, scoring 14 goals in 10 games for Los Blancos and finally giving the impression that the version of Mbappe Madrid thought they signed in the summer of 2024 has arrived.

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  Will Mbappe feature for France on Friday?

  In Madrid's most recent outing, a 3-1 win over Villarreal last weekend, Mbappe came off in the 82nd minute, just moments after he scored a goal. After the game, head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that the 26-year-old had only suffered a minor ankle sprain. 

  Regardless, he was called up by France boss Didier Deschamps in hopes that he would recover from his knock in time for Friday's clash against Azerbaijan. The former Paris Saint-Germain player missed team training this week, but Mbappe confirmed he would participate in training with the rest of his squad on Thursday.

  "I want to play, the coach wants me to play, I don't think there will be any problems," Mbappe said. "I feel good, we're talking to the coach. I'm going to train today, it's the last test but I'm not particularly worried."

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is set to tie down star midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur to a new deal. The Uruguay international's current contract expires in the summer of 2026 and Spurs are not willing to let him leave for free next season. Bentancur has made a bright start to the season under new boss Frank and has started in four out of their first six Premier League matches.

• Spurs don't want to lose Bentancur for free

  Bentancur, who joined the north London club in 2022, has entered the final year of his Spurs contract and is yet to sign a new deal. Tottenham are desperate to hold on to the Uruguayan star and are considering offering him a new contract as they don't want to lose the midfielder for free next summer, according to .

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  Frank hails Bentancur as 'top professional'

  Speaking about Bentancur's future at the club, Spurs boss Thomas Frank said: "I think, first and foremost, I’m very happy with Rodri. He’s been a very good player for us, a top professional in every aspect. I’m happy with him, he’s happy with being here. I know that for a fact. Let’s see what’s going to happen in the future."

• Bentancur's extension priority after Romero's new deal

  Frank has made it his priority to tie down Bentancur to a new deal after Cristian Romero agreed to sign a new contract earlier this season, after he was made the captain of the club. The Argentine received the armband following the departure of club legend Son Heung-min.

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  Two more Spurs stars' contracts due to expires next season

  If Bentacur agrees to sign a new deal, then only Yves Bissouma and Ben Davies would be left in the first-team squad with contracts due to expire next summer. Frank's side next face Bodo Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday.