Tag Futebol

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

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

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

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

Salah's return to Liverpool action

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

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

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

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

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

Liverpool’s Frontline in 2025/26

Player

Apps

Goals (assists)

Hugo Ekitike

23

10 (1)

Mohamed Salah

20

5 (4)

Cody Gakpo

21

5 (4)

Federico Chiesa

16

2 (3)

Alexander Isak

15

2 (1)

Florian Wirtz

21

0 (5)

Rio Ngumoha

8

1 (0)

Data via Transfermarkt

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

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

Liverpool's fringe forward must be pushing to leave

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posts ByAngus Sinclair 3 days ago

Rafael Devers is surely not having the start to the season he envisioned.

On opening weekend, Devers was brutal for the Boston Red Sox. In four games against the Texas Rangers, the three-time All-Star designated hitter provided virtually nothing to his team. He didn't improve things in the season's fifth game.

Entering Monday's matchup with the Baltimore Orioles, Devers had six at-bats this season and had registered no hits, one RBI, two walks, and an incredible 12 strikeouts. He also became the first player in MLB history to strike out 10 times in the first three games of a season.

During Monday's matchup, Devers was similarly inept. He opened the game 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, though he did manage a pair of walks. He's now up to 15 strikeouts in 19 at-bats on the season.

It's been brutal to watch. Devers has a lifetime slash line of .278/.344.508, and hit .272 with 28 home runs, 83 RBIs and an OPS of .871 in 2024, so this is a start no one saw coming.

Here's where I tell you that it's early and everyone slumps, but what Devers has done this season has been mind-boggling.

With an 8–5 loss to the Orioles on Monday, the Red Sox have fallen to 1–4 on the season.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualify for the Super Four from Group B

Madushka Balasuriya18-Sep-20252:22

Maharoof: Mendis a nightmare for spinners once he gets going

Kusal Mendis ensured Sri Lanka’s 100% record through the group stage as his unbeaten 74 off 52 trumped Mohammad Nabi’s outrageous 60 off 22 for a six-wicket win against Afghanistan. The result means Bangladesh also qualify with a second place in group B.Kusal was crucial to the chase with his ability to navigate Afghanistan’s variety of spinners – courtesy of well-executed sweeps and pulls – proving crucial in Sri Lanka running down a tricky target with eight deliveries to spare.Kusal was therefore the common denominator in a string of partnerships – 22, 25, 45, 27 and 52* – as Sri Lanka put aside a potentially momentum-shifting cameo from Nabi.Related

With goals reset, Kusal Mendis finally finds his niche

Nabi had earlier resurrected the Afghanistan innings, striking five sixes in the final over bowled by left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, who had been drafted in to this game ahead of Maheesh Theekshana. Prior to that, Dushmantha Chameera had been taken for 17 runs in the penultimate over of the innings, meaning Afghanistan struck 49 in the last two overs to give their total a monster boost.Up until that point, though, Sri Lanka had dominated proceedings, with Nuwan Thushara, in particular, shining with figures of 4 for 18. It was a performance worthy of a win, and so it proved in the end.Kusal special takes Sri Lanka homeLosing Pathum Nissanka early was not ideal, nor was Kamil Mishara falling in the powerplay. But Kusal ensured that he took on the scoring burden and kept Sri Lanka in the chase with timely boundaries through the middle overs.However, nerves still remained with Sri Lanka needing 48 off the last five overs. It was here that Kusal was joined by the other Mendis in the side – Kamindu – who once more showed off his capabilities as a finisher.Kamindu struck two pivotal sixes – one each off Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi – to take the pressure off his senior compatriot and finished unbeaten on 26 off 13. It meant Kusal rarely had to shift gears, even at the death, as Sri Lanka ran down the target with ease.Mohammad Nabi hit five sixes in the final over to give Afghanistan hope•AFP/Getty ImagesStars align for NabiStarting left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Wellalage over Theekshana was a call presumably predicated on the idea that Afghanistan had ten right-handers in their batting line-up, while also a move that simultaneously lengthened the batting and improved the fielding.As things transpired, though, Wellalage was not needed with the bat, while he dropped Nabi on 5. But more pertinently, so effective were Sri Lanka’s strike bowlers – particularly Thushara – that Charith Asalanka decided that it was worth the gamble to bowl his main bowlers out early in the hopes of picking up wickets sooner rather than later.And the plan worked – to an extent. Thushara bowled three overs in the powerplay, picked up three wickets in that period, before getting a fourth at the death. Chameera bowled well, but was unlucky to go for 50 runs in his four overs – the most expensive spell of his career. Dasun Shanaka, nominally the fifth bowler, got away with 29 runs in his four overs, while Hasaranga gave away just 18 in four wicketless overs.Even Wellalage had given away just 17 up until his last over. For Nabi, a fantastic hitter of spin, this was an ideal match-up and he took on Wellalage in epic fashion. Five sixes in the V saw 32 come off that final over – and with it gave Afghanistan hope.3:12

What are the takeaways for Afghanistan from Asia Cup 2025?

Sri Lanka’s solid plans with the ballIt’s unfortunate that many will remember Wellalage for that final over, because up until then, he, along with the rest of the Sri Lanka bowlers, had kept Afghanistan quiet right through their innings.Thushara was the star, taking three in the powerplay with his outswingers to the right-handers, and one searing in swinger to left-hander Sediqullah Atal.Asalanka smartly got through his fifth bowler quota with Shanaka in the middle overs as Afghanistan sought to consolidate, though it was that extra over from Thushara in the powerplay that proved decisive in the end as it meant Wellalage wound up having to bowl to Nabi in the final over – a strategy rarely, if ever, employed by a Sri Lanka side in recent years.Fortunately for Wellalage and Sri Lanka, it mattered little once all the chips were counted.

Football fans far and wide, heading into the 2025/26 Premier League season, must have been expecting that Liverpool would continue their domestic dominance.

It started well for Arne Slot’s Reds, too, as they went about defending their status as reigning champions, with five straight wins picked up in league action in the early stages of the campaign.

However, since they got the better of Everton in the Merseyside Derby in mid-September, it has all gone rather pear-shaped for the Reds, with an alarming six defeats now collected in all competitions, pushing them down to a dire seventh position in the Premier League standings.

Things have to change, and quickly, with many of the players Slot and Co. purchased in the summer failing to live up to their grand expectations.

Liverpool's most underwhelming signings

Liverpool really didn’t hold back this summer when breaking the bank.

Indeed, a jaw-dropping £415m in total was spent on revamping the Reds, with the triumphant top-flight champions waving goodbye to the likes of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer for mega money.

Unfortunately, despite sitting at the top of this above list with their spending power, a lot of their high-profile signings have flopped so far at Anfield, with Florian Wirtz – who cost a whopping £116m just on his own – still yet to pick up a single goal or assist in league action, culminating in the German being labelled as “pretty average” by ex-Liverpool midfielder, and compatriot, Dietmar Hamann.

Milos Kerkez has also been subject to some scathing criticism, with the £40m recruit looking like a shadow of his expansive AFC Bournemouth best, particularly against Crystal Palace last time out in the EFL Cup, as Ismaila Sarr confidently collected two goals down his left flank.

Another former Liverpool favourite in Jason McAteer, has even suggested that the move to the Reds was “too big for him”, amid concerns he looks “lost” donning the number six jersey.

Thankfully, Hugo Ekitike has shone in spurts as another flashy new signing, but there is one dud that is extremely concerning now, as Slot potentially has to contend with his own Naby Keita-style blunder.

The £280k-per-week star who is Slot's own Keita

Glancing over Liverpool’s most expensive signings of all time is an intriguing read.

Of course, they struck gold when landing Virgil Van Dijk for £75m as he remains the club’s top leader to this day. But, when you

scroll down more, you’re then greeted by Keita’s name, who is still Liverpool’s eighth most expensive recruit at the £48m mark.

Keita did, of course, have a stunning goal up his sleeve at Liverpool – as evidenced in this glittering highlight package – but he didn’t consistently shine bright enough to justify his once club-record fee, with injuries galore often stopping him in his tracks.

Fast forward to the present, and an eerily similar tale could now be unfolding with Alexander Isak, with the ex-Newcastle United striker – who is prone to an injury niggle himself – yet to get up and running at Anfield, after breaking the Reds’ transfer record when joining in the summer for a ludicrous £125m.

Isak’s numbers this season

Stat

Isak

Games played

8

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Games missed through injury

5

Sourced by Transfermarkt

After all, Liverpool must have thought they’d sealed the signing of the window when landing the £280k-per-week hotshot, considering he was once branded as a “world-class” talent at Newcastle United by ex-boss Eddie Howe when burying a lethal 62 strikes from 109 games.

But, caution should have been exercised here in trying to temper expectations, considering Jurgen Klopp also hailed Keita as the “best player in the league” in the Bundesliga when sealing his services, only for everything to fall apart.

Indeed, as is the case looking at the table above, Isak has only one paltry goal next to his name so far in his uncomfortable new surroundings, with the extortionate number nine already falling foul of sitting out five games for club and country this season through injury issues.

The hope will be that it doesn’t get as bad as Keita’s injury situation got, with his penultimate season in England seeing him miss a staggering 40 games with recurring trips to the treatment room.

He looks set to miss Liverpool’s must-win clash with Aston Villa on the weekend, to add insult to injury.

Isak, additionally, has the pressure of being known as a lethal goalscorer weighing him down, as the burden of being Liverpool’s most expensive signing proves, yet again, to be a debilitating hindrance, rather than a badge of honour.

The Reds waited a year for Keita to arrive, after initially signing him in advance in 2017, only for the move to end in disappointment.

Having waded through a whole summer saga before landing Isak, it looks as if the Swede could be heading for similar frustration at Anfield.

Related "We never speak about this in here" – Slot stunned at Liverpool press conference

It took the Dutchman by surprise.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Oct 31, 2025

Manchester City suffered their first defeat in October last time out as the unusually wasteful Citizens came unstuck 1-0 away at Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s visitors would register 15 shots at the home side’s goal, but even the Erling Haaland-led visitors are prone to a frustrating afternoon here and there, as a fierce Matty Cash strike in the first half ended up being the match-winner on the day.

Heading into this contest, City had powered home seven strikes across the rest of the month, with a staggering six of those efforts that found the back of the net coming directly from the lethal Norwegian.

It really does highlight how dependent Guardiola’s men are on their clinical Scandinavian to bail them out of trouble, as one of his goal-shy attacking teammates in Savinho continued his poor season to date in the West Midlands.

Why Savinho is in danger of being dropped

Only Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Mateus Nunes have chipped in with Premier League goals this season for City, if you take Haaland out of the equation.

Savinho was very close to adding his name to that exclusive list against Unai Emery’s hosts, but the number 26’s two efforts in quick succession in the second half would fail to beat Emiliano Martinez, as Pau Torres also came to the rescue to deny the frustrated Brazilian with an important clearance.

It wasn’t just the 21-year-old’s lack of a clinical edge that would have frustrated Guardiola post-match, however, as the out-of-form winger also failed to register a single accurate cross, on top of only completing one dribble as he routinely struggled to catch Villa out.

City-based social media account City Talk would even state that Savinho offered “nothing” at Villa Park, and it’s a tale of his disappointing season so far, too, with just one meagre assist notched up from six Premier League outings.

Thankfully, Guardiola also has Jeremy Doku, who he can fall back on down the left flank, with the Belgian boasting a far superior tally of three Premier League assists this season so far.

But, he could think outside of the box shortly when searching for talents who can surpass Savinho, with this homegrown talent certainly one to keep an eye out for.

The "unbelievable" 17-year-old who can surpass Savinho

The ultra-successful Spaniard is also a manager who isn’t afraid to test out starlets if he deems they’re first-team ready, as seen in him handing Bury-born Rico Lewis 102 senior appearances to date, after first making a name for himself at the Etihad in the U18 and U21 ranks.

Reigan Heskey will hope he’s the next up-and-coming sensation that is gifted some opportunities in the senior picture, with the 17-year-old winger already being dubbed an “unbelievable” talent for the future by one of his coaches at City in Ben Wilkinson.

He could even be the perfect solution to City’s Savinho troubles, with the Liverpool-born attacker standing out as an extremely direct option down the South American’s left channel, when looking at his flashy highlight reel above.

Indeed, across 57 appearances in various youth set-ups in Manchester, Heskey has established himself as a tricky forward option who, most importantly, has the goals and assists in his locker to back up all his tricks and flicks, with a lethal 31 goals collected.

It is for that reason that he has been likened to another Manchester-born star in the form of ex-Manchester United hero Marcus Rashford, with analyst Ben Mattinson praising his “Rashford-like ability as an inside forward to stretch the defence”.

U18s

31

20 + 8

U21s

14

6 + 1

Youth League

12

5 + 0

Men’s team

1

0

The next major step Heskey will have to make is breaking into the first-team picture, with Guardiola actually handing him first first-ever senior opportunity just this season in the EFL Cup versus Huddersfield Town, with the young Englishman also coincidentally replacing the aforementioned Savinho for the final seven minutes.

Of course, Guardiola won’t just discard the 13-time Brazil international completely, considering he does have four goals and 15 assists next to his name in City Sky blue, away from his poor opening to this season.

But, he will surely be tempted to throw Heskey into the men’s side more regularly now to give the out-of-sorts attacker more competition, with the potential also very much there for the 17-year-old to surpass Savinho down the line, if his blistering academy numbers can be translated to the senior game.

Man City now open talks to sign "sensational" £168k-a-week Bayern Munich star

City have made a move for one of Bayern Munich’s key players, with the German club now “really worried” about his future.

ByDominic Lund Oct 28, 2025

Chelsea “love” an attacker with a “left foot made of gold” and “will push” to hijack Real Madrid’s move, it has been revealed.

Blues looking to sign new attacking midfielder

In Cole Palmer’s absence, the Blues struggled against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, succumbing to a 3-1 home defeat, with Andrey Santos failing to create any big chances prior to being replaced by Josh Acheampong after 54 minutes.

Enzo Fernandez, on the other hand, put in a more impressive performance, scoring his side’s only goal, but the Argentina international has been called into question for his creativity in the past.

With Palmer not fully-fit, Enzo Maresca’s side have put in some poor displays recently, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, following the England international being forced off with a groin injury just after the 20-minute mark.

Cole Palmer facing several weeks out as journalist details "new" Chelsea injury

The England star was hauled off early in to their defeat at Man United.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 23, 2025

As such, there is arguably a lack of depth in attacking midfield, which Maresca has now set out to rectify, with Chelsea joining the race for Real Madrid target Nico Paz, according to transfer journalist Mark Brus, in a report for Caught Offside.

Brus’ source said: “Chelsea love Nico, Chelsea will push for sure. Real Madrid are confident, but Como will try to negotiate a new contract for him to remove the buy-back clause. They believe they could then sell him for as much as €80m (£70m).”

Should Paz sign a new deal with Como, it could pave the way for a move to Stamford Bridge, but Real Madrid remain confident about re-signing the attacking midfielder, and they currently remain in control of his future.

Paz could take career to next level at Stamford Bridge

Real Madrid may be ruing the decision to let the Argentinian leave in the first place, given the impact he’s made at Como, chipping in with six goals and nine assists in his first Serie A campaign, and he has since made a flying start to the new season.

The Spain-born star has amassed six goal contributions in his opening five league games, showcasing that he could soon be ready to take his career to the next level by signing for one of Europe’s top clubs.

Lauded as having a “left foot made of gold” by football scout Jacek Kulig, the starlet also fits the bill age-wise, given that he is just 21-years-old, and the Blues are well-known to have a policy of signing young players.

Paz ticks every box for Chelsea, and with Maresca clearly in need of players to provide competition for Palmer’s starting spot, he could be the ideal addition to the squad.

Rajat Patidar would have missed a couple of IPL 2025 games had the league continued as scheduled

Shashank Kishore11-May-20253:10

Is it time to start dreaming for RCB fans?

Rajat Patidar, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, is currently recovering from a finger injury that would have ruled him out for at least two matches had IPL 2025 not been temporarily suspended due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.The tournament’s temporary pause has given him at least a week’s time to recover without missing matches.Patidar suffered the injury while fielding during RCB’s home game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3. He was advised to wear a splint to protect the finger and refrain from training for at least 10 days before the injury could be assessed.RCB is being cautious with Patidar’s recovery, keeping in mind his availability for the IPL playoffs and also his possible selection for the upcoming India A tour of England. The squad for the tour is expected to be announced in the coming days.Related

BCCI aiming to resume IPL 2025 in May following ceasefire

IPL 2025 suspended 'for one week' amid India-Pakistan tensions

On Saturday, Patidar returned to Bengaluru from Lucknow with the rest of the RCB squad. Despite the setback, he was optimistic about playing the remainder of the IPL season should it resume in the next week following the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan on Saturday evening.With Patidar injured, Jitesh Sharma was in line to lead RCB against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday before the BCCI suspended the IPL for a week on May 8.”I was very grateful for the opportunity given to me,” Jitesh said on RCB Bold Diaries. “They were giving me an opportunity to captain RCB and it’s a very big thing for me and my family. I was thinking of what the right combination would be because both Devdutt [Padikkal] and Rajat were not available, and it was a big responsibility to replace them.”And as per the position we were on the points table, we would have won this game. All of this was going on in my head and all the meetings with coaches and players in those two-three days, batting order, discussions with bowlers. I had good fun.”Patidar’s injury is one of several RCB have suffered before the IPL was suspended. Opening batter Phil Salt was down with illness and was replaced in the XI by Jacob Bethell; Padikkal was ruled out of the season with a hamstring injury and replaced in the squad by Mayank Agarwal; and Josh Hazlewood had suffered a shoulder injury.As of Sunday, all of RCB’s overseas players and coaching staff had left India but were asked to remain on standby to return should the tournament restart.RCB were second on the points table when the IPL was interrupted, with eight wins and three defeats from 11 games. Their remaining three fixtures are an away game against LSG, and home matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) but those venues could change depending on how the IPL rejigs the schedule for the rest of the season.

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.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  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.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  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."

It’s set to be a very busy end to the transfer window all across Europe, but perhaps no more so than at Chelsea.

Given their need to balance the books, and the fact they’re currently employing 42 senior players, the Blues are hoping for a mass exodus between now and Monday’s deadline.

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Nicolas Jackson, Axel Disasi, David Datro Fofana, Christopher Nkunku and others are all up for sale, so it’ll be interesting to see how many do indeed depart in the coming days.

Meantime, despite having made nine new signings this summer already, Chelsea are expected to make at least one more.

Chelsea's search for more signings

As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic on X, Chelsea are currently ‘evaluating the possibility’ of signing Fermín López from Barcelona.

Transfer Focus

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

Earlier this summer, it was reported that the Spain international was valued at £43m by Barça, who do not want to sell the 22-year-old, but are open to offers, given their ongoing financial problems.

Nevertheless, given how little time remains in the window, this appears a long shot, although you never know, but there is a highly-rated young talent that Chelsea are far more likely to get their hands on in the next few days.

That’s because, again, as reported by Ornstein in the Transfer DealSheet, Chelsea are ‘expected’ to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United, with the Argentine winger still ‘keen’ on a move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have already seen multiple bids rejected for Garnacho this summer, with Manchester United holding out for a fee close to £50m, despite the fact he clearly has no future at Old Trafford.

This one is likely to go right to the wire, so will the 21-year-old escape the infamous Carrington bomb squad and belatedly move to West London?

What Alejandro Garnacho will bring to Chelsea

Despite having only celebrated his 21st birthday as recently as last month, Garnacho has plenty of experience under his belt.

Already, he has amassed 144 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 26 goals, the unquestionable pick of the bunch being this jaw-dropping overhead kick against Everton at Goodison.

Last season, despite having now been cast aside by Rúben Amorim, Garnacho was a key figure as Manchester United endured their most miserable season since the mid-70s, as the table below documents.

As the table highlights, Garnacho ranked in the top three for every attacking statistic at Manchester United in the Premier League last season, only outscored by Bruno Fernandes and Amad, while he was clear in first place when it came to all dribbling-based metrics.

As a result, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him a “diamond”, while Statman Dave asserts that he is one of the best two young wingers on the planet, alongside Lamine Yamal, which is certainly high praise.

So, why would he have a bigger impact at Stamford Bridge than Fermín?

Well, the young Spaniard, while obviously highly rated, is significantly less experienced, starting only 39 times for Barcelona to date, with his breakthrough only coming last season, but even then he saw just 12 La Liga starts.

Also, central midfield is certainly the strongest section of Chelsea’s team, with Moisés Caicedo alongside Enzo Fernández, arguably, the best pairing in the division, while Enzo Maresca has also deployed Reece James in that position, with Roméo Lavia and Andrey Santos very viable alternatives too.

This is not to say Chelsea are not overflowing with wingers, but Garnacho appears better equipped to come in and make an impact straight away.

Thus, while of course prioritising sales, the Blues should focus on finalising the deal to bring Garnacho to Stamford Bridge, rather than being distracted by Fermín.

Better than Simons: Chelsea tempted to make late move to sign £80m star

Chelsea could secure a statement deal by landing this £80m Xavi Simons alternative.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 24, 2025

سيحصل محمد صلاح على فرصة المشاركة في نهائيات كأس العالم للمرة الثانية، الصيف المقبل، بعد أن حسم منتخب مصر تأهله لكأس العالم 2026 في أمريكا الشمالية.

ووفقًا لشبكة “empireofthekop” الإنجليزية، فإن نجم ليفربول لم يظهر مستواه التهديفي المعتاد في بداية هذا الموسم، حيث سجل ثلاث أهداف خلال عشر مباريات.

وكان واين روني المهاجم الإنجليزي الدولي السابق قد شكك في جدارة محمد صلاح بعد الهزيمة أمام تشيلسي نهاية الأسبوع الماضي، بسبب هذا المعدل التهديفي غير المعتاد على النجم المصري.

ومع ذلك فقد كان اللاعب صاحب الـ33 عامًا هو الحدث الرئيسي لمنتخب مصر في فوزه أمام جيبوتي بثلاثية نظيفة، وقد ضمنت هذه النتيجة تأهل للفراعنة لكأس العالم قبل مباراة واحدة من نهاية التصفيات.

ويختتم منتخب مصر مشواره في تصفيات كأس العالم على ملعبه أمام غينيا بيساو، يوم الأحد المقبل.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفربول يوجه رسالة لـ محمد صلاح بعد قيادة منتخب مصر للتأهل إلى كأس العالم

وسجل محمد صلاح هدفين في مرمى متذيل المجموعة الأولى بتصفيات كأس العالم، وجاء الهدف الثاني بتسديدة يسارية متقنة، ثم تسديدة رائعة على الطائر في الدقائق الأخيرة.

وسيبلغ نجم ليفربول 34 عاماً خلال نهائيات كأس العالم الصيف المقبل، والتي ستكون على الأرجح آخر فرصة له للمشاركة في البطولة، وسيكون سعيدًا للغاية بالحصول على الفرصة بعد خيبة الأمل التي تعرض لها في عام 2018.

وكان محمد صلاح صاحب القميص رقم 11 مع ليفربول قد قضى أفضل حالاته قبل كأس العالم 2018 وسجل 44 هدفًا في اول موسم له على ملعب أنفيلد، لكن تجربته في روسيا كانت كئيبة له ولبلاده، وفقًا للشبكة الإنجليزية.

وذكرت، أن صلاح تعرض لتدخل عنيف من سيرجيو راموس في نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا في كييف، ولم يكن في كامل لياقته البدنية ورغم تعافيه ليسجل هدفين في البطولة، إلا أن مصر قد خسرت مبارياتها الثلاثة في دور المجموعات ولم يظهر كفاءته على الساحة العالمية.

ولحسن الحظ، ستتاح الفرصة مرة أخرى لمحمد صلاح، لتجاوز ما حدث في 2018 العام المقبل، ولن يكون من المبالغة القول إنه يستحق فرصة أخرى لإلهام بلاده إلى ما هو غير مسبوق في أكبر حدث كروي على الإطلاق.