This past summer was in equal parts harrowing and exciting for Newcastle United fans, with the first phase of the Saudi Arabian-backed project coming to an abrupt end at St James’ Park.

Newcastle’s three most valuable assets - Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali - all departed for huge profits as the club embarked on a new trading model to help combat financial restrictions.

On top of that, former captain Kieran Trippier also exited, before the bombshell news at the end of July that manager Eddie Howe would be stepping away too. There were genuine questions about the direction of travel on Tyneside and supporters were understandably concerned.

'I knew I'd play here one day'

It all brought a much-needed reset, though, with a newer, younger squad assembled under exciting German coach Matthias Jaissle.

Keeping fullback Lewis Hall, who signed a new contract until 2031 last week before being recalled to the England squad having missed out on the World Cup, was critical for restoring faith. Manchester United made no secret of their desire to poach him.

Jaissle had warned of teething issues at the start of a transitional campaign and the Magpies hosted Hull City on Saturday looking to bounce back from a 4-1 humbling at Leeds United. Hall scored in a 2-1 victory, marking his big week in the perfect way.

After the game, the 22-year-old reaffirmed his pride at extending his stay at the club he supported as a boy through his father’s roots, despite being born in Slough.

“When I was younger, I had a stadium tour,” he explained. “Then when I was in the academy at Chelsea I would always look out for their results. I used to watch the games on TV.

“I genuinely thought I would play here one day. I didn’t necessarily think it would be so soon in my career but I’m here now and I’m buzzing.

“I’m always proud of every game I play, I never take it for granted. I’m really proud to represent this team and this city. When you win, the feeling around the city is so good and I’m really happy.”

Hall’s Premier League debut came at St James’ Park for Chelsea in 2022, and he admits he knew then where he wanted his future to lie.

“I wasn’t thinking about it much around the game because I caught up in the moment. When I got home, I thought how good it would be to play here. The atmosphere was incredible that day; I’m buzzing to be here for a lot more games.”

It was quite a shock that Hall didn’t make the World Cup squad, and he admits that loss took a toll on him initially. But with so many of his friends and team-mates involved, he managed to enjoy the experience like all England fans.

“I was gutted. In football, you never take anything for granted, but I'd say I wasn't necessarily expecting it, if I'm being completely honest. Obviously everyone has their own opinions and you've got to respect that.

“But as soon as the first couple of weeks were done, when I realised I wasn't going to be there, I just had to think to myself that if I wasn't a footballer, what would I be doing, and that's supporting England.

“So I was just with my mates watching the games together and just being a fan.

“I was obviously supporting Dan [Burn], Elliot [Anderson], Anthony [Gordon], and big Tino [Livramento].

“I was buzzing for them and wanted all of them to do so well. So, when I was watching them and they were all playing really well, it obviously made me proud as well.”

Hall wants to prove a point to Thomas Tuchel as he prepares to go up against Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly for the left back spot in England’s Nations League games against Spain, Croatia and Czech Republic home and away.

“You play enough games in a season anyways where they can see how you play, see what you're good at, can improve on and how you fit into the squad.

“It's always nice to go there and create a good impression. I'll be looking to do that. I'm just looking forward to meeting up with everyone again, because it's been a while.”

England will benefit from Hall’s quality over the next couple of weeks, but his new contract is symbolic for Newcastle. He may love the club deeper than most players, but crucially, he sees a bright future in turbulent times.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s commitment to the national team has been rewarded, with the Real Madrid man earning a recall to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.

His inclusion marks a turning point for the 27-year-old, who was left out of the Three Lions' squad for the recent 2026 World Cup in North America.

While some players might have considered stepping away from international duty following such an omission, the ex-Liverpool star has remained resolute in his desire to represent his country again.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in the England squad

His timely recall shines a new light on a public plea he made just weeks ago.

Speaking to the Mirror in August, as the dust settled on the summer's tournament, Alexander-Arnold made his position clear, that his international ambitions were far from over.

"Until I retire, I'm still an England player, whether I'm selected or not," he declared. "I'm always available if and when the manager needs me. There's no bigger honour."

That dedication appears to have resonated with Tuchel as the England manager freshens up the squad for the Nations League campaign.

Alexander-Arnold's passing range and versatility presents the German with a valuable asset. Whether deployed as an attacking full-back, wing-back in a back five, or in an inverted midfield role, his creative output is undeniable.

The upcoming Nations League matches will offer Alexander-Arnold the opportunity to cement his place in Tuchel’s long-term plans ahead of Euro 2028. Having been forced to watch the World Cup from afar this summer, his determination to prove his worth on the international scene should be greater than ever.

For England fans, his return injects additional creativity back into the setup. The likes of Cole Palmer, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Alex Scott, Jarrad Branthwaite and Rio Ngumoha have also been called up to Tuchel's group this time around.

While Ffion Morgan did not always understand why footballers would put their lives on social media, she is now one of the most-loved and recognised online personalities in women's football.

The Wales international has built her own platform, giving fans an insight into life as a professional footballer.

And for Morgan, it is about more than simply creating content - she hopes building her profile can help create more opportunities for herself and other female players who might not always have the spotlight.

Ffion Morgan: ‘I had to make my own luck’

For Morgan, building a profile away from the pitch has been about taking control of opportunities rather than waiting for them to arrive.

That realisation led her to social media, where the 26-year-old has built an audience by showing the reality of life as a professional footballer.

Speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo, she said: “For me, I don't necessarily have the opportunities that others do.

"Where I sit as a Welsh player, and not necessarily at one of the top clubs. So I had to make my own luck.

“Branding is a huge part of that. To grow my brand on social media, which inspires a generation and shows people what it's really like as a footballer. There's not many negatives in what I'm doing, which is fantastic.”

It was not something she immediately embraced. In fact, when her sister first suggested Morgan start putting herself out there online, she was far from convinced: "My sister encouraged me to do videos and at the time I was like, no, nobody does it, that's weird, I don't want to do it.

“But she said I could be one of the first and pave the way for more people to create opportunities for themselves. So I went for it. I put myself out there, and if people know my name, even if it's from social media, it might get them at a game, and then it'll get them supporting West Ham, and then it'll go on from there.”

‘It’s more than just football’

Morgan's content offers an unfiltered look at professional football, from matchdays and recovery to food, training and the reality of life away from the pitch.

“I just like showing all the game days, what our schedule's like, what recovery's like. So if you're a young footballer watching it, they're going to love that.

“I also want to use my content to show my lifestyle and what's important to me, which is family, friendship and relationships, because in football it can be quite lonely, so showing that is important as well.”

That openness has already had an impact, with Morgan regularly receiving messages from people who have been inspired by her content, especially young players.

“I get messages all the time,” she added. “Saying things like ‘I didn't want to play football anymore, but you've got me back into it.'

“I've met so many people through them liking my vlogs. I know that's so silly, but they've got group chats and they've met friends, which is just lovely. And that's what football is. It's a community and it's more than just football, especially in the women's game, it's fantastic.”

‘You’re hungry for more’

Morgan’s next big opportunity could come with Wales, who are targeting qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup after making history by reaching Euro 2025.

“After the Euros and our success in qualifying for that, we've always wanted more as players and wanted to show ourselves on the big stage.

“Now that we've done it once, you're hungry for more, which is a good thing, but also a bad thing.

“We're all so excited to get going and the playoffs are coming up quite soon. Hopefully everyone stays fit and healthy and then hopefully we'll smash that and Brazil would be fantastic.

“I think my parents would love me if we qualified because they definitely want a Brazil trip!”

It is standard fare for a recently appointed manager to praise their new club's supporters, but the detail in Pierre Sage’s answer suggested he really meant it.

“First of all, it’s about the league, to be really honest,” the Frenchman said last month when asked why he had chosen to join Crystal Palace. "And after that it is a special club. It is the only club [in the Premier League] with ultras, and as I said, I like to play for the fans.”

Unfortunately for Sage, he never got the chance to experience the atmosphere he signed up for. Palace’s ultras group, the Holmesdale Fanatics, disbanded on the eve of the new season. It has not taken long for their absence to be felt.

"The flat atmosphere was a topic of discussion after both matches"

The Fanatics were founded in 2005 by a group of Palace season-ticket holders in Block B of the Holmesdale Road stand. By the end of that decade they were earning widespread praise for the colour, creativity and vibrancy they brought to the then-Championship club’s support, with flares and flags at the forefront and a drum setting the tempo for their European-style songs.

The Fanatics went from strength to strength following Palace’s promotion to the Premier League in 2013. Their entirely fan-funded tifos graced not only Selhurst Park, but Wembley and Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena, too. In 2019 the group moved from Block B near the corner flag to Block E directly behind the goal in the Holmesdale Road end, establishing itself as a vocal hub at the heart of Palace’s home support.

The hole they have left has been conspicuous in the early weeks of this season. Palace have lost their first two Premier League home games, 4-1 to Manchester City and 3-2 to Ipswich Town. The flat atmosphere was a topic of discussion after both matches.

The group’s decision to cease operations came as a surprise, even though tensions with the club had been building over the previous few years. Long-standing proponents of a grassroots, bottom-up approach to football fandom, the Fanatics have grown frustrated by the club’s increasingly top-down approach, exemplified by pre-match light shows and music blasted at a deafening volume immediately after the final whistle.

That culture clash over how best to generate an atmosphere formed part of their decision to step away.

“We have repeatedly warned the club that likeminded fans cannot congregate at Palace in the numbers required to sustain a growing active supporter culture,” a statement released in August said.

“There needs to be a drastic shift at Palace towards younger fans and a move away from a culture in which people attend the ground expecting to be entertained, towards a culture of supporters turning up to play an active role in influencing the result."

The statement also aired the Fanatics’ grievances with the broader state of the sport in England.

“Increasingly driven out by sky-high ticket prices, needless restrictions that are designed to strip away the dignity of supporters, and relentless harassment and legal action, many young people are choosing to opt out of a game that seems determined to push them away.”

While many Palace fans have mourned their departure from the scene, others have been less sympathetic. The move from Block B to Block E displaced many long-standing season-ticket holders, fuelling resentment. Some supporters were displeased when the Fanatics appeared to have a section of away ends reserved for them in last year’s Conference League campaign amid suspicions they had not accrued enough loyalty points to qualify. Inevitably, their forthright political stances divided the fan base, delighting some and dismaying others.

Yet overall the Holmesdale Fanatics were a force for good at Palace, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks the atmosphere at Selhurst Park is better for their absence.

Despite Selhurst’s reputation for being a difficult place to go, Palace have had a curiously mediocre record in front of their own fans for much of their current 13-year spell in the top flight. In nine of those seasons, the Eagles have finished higher in the Premier League’s away table than the home equivalent.

The situation is unlikely to improve now Selhurst Park has lost its beating heart. Right now, home is where the hurt is for Crystal Palace.

Former Ballon d'Or winner Ruud Gullit has claimed Manchester United will not win major silverware this term, having 'missed the boat' years ago to be in Premier League title contention.

Michael Carrick’s men endured a potentially damaging derby loss at Old Trafford last weekend, to a 10-man Manchester City side that scored and kept a clean sheet after Phil Foden saw red.

Now, the Dutchman has stated that Manchester United are 'in a hole' and will not beat their competitors to the Premier League trophy, or any silverware for that matter.

Ruud Gullit slams Manchester United claiming Sir Alex Ferguson 'saw it coming'

Speaking with ComeOn, Gullit slammed the Red Devils’ lack of quality claiming that Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all possess better players.

The Dutchman then added that Manchester United “missed the boat” years ago, and that the club has fallen dramatically since their days of Premier League and Champions League success under Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Manchester United? They cannot compete this year,” Gullit claimed. “Not yet. I think they still lack a little bit of quality, as we can see they cannot control a game.

“That is not something that is going to be easy to fix. Because it does depend on a lot of individual quality, not just the team quality. If they want to achieve things again, it will take some time.

“The most important thing that Manchester United can show this season is patience. They don’t have the best players in the Premier League anymore. They are having to deal with the fact that the players they really need all play for the other clubs. They missed the boat about five or six years ago.

“It will take some time for them to get back to a level where they can [compete for] the Premier League title. There are too many stronger contenders with a lot more quality this season,” Gullit continued.

The Dutchman then suggested that Ferguson saw the club’s downfall coming, retiring 'just in time' during a period in which Manchester United’s rivals were going from strength-to-strength.

“Sir Alex Ferguson himself said it will take 10 years and that could be it. They are in a hole. They have been in a hole since Ferguson left and I think he knew what he was doing,” confessed Gullit.

“That’s why he retired at that time. He is clever. He saw this all coming and retired just in time. He knew at that moment that it was the end. Things were changing because more and more teams had money to spend.

“[Those teams] were bringing in these top coaches, and the top players only want to play for top coaches. That’s not Manchester United anymore. It will take them some time to come again,” the Dutchman concluded.

Arsenal are reportedly in talks with the camp of Real Madrid superstar Rodryo. The 25-year-old is back running after enduring an ACL tear in March.

Prior to his sidelining, the Brazilian was among the Gunners’ firmest targets for left-sided attackers. His return date has been tentatively pencilled in for January 2027.

Mikel Arteta’s side also entered talks with the 25-year-old’s fellow countryman and team-mate, Vinicius Junior, in the summer. Now, Arsenal appear to have been brought full-circle — back to Rodrygo.

Arsenal in talks with Rodrygo’s camp ahead of injury return and January window

If pursuing two of Real Madrid’s attacking Brazilians wasn’t enough, the Gunners also enquired previously about blossoming youngster Endrick. Now, it appears that only Rodrygo remains a realistic Arsenal target.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Gunners are in talks with the 25-year-old's camp ahead of his projected January 2027 return date; however, the Brazilian believes he can return sooner.

Real Madrid’s medical staff are behaving cautiously in their treatment of Rodrygo, with a ‘New Year’ return being targeted, but the 25-year-old is determined to beat that timeframe.

The Brazilian aims to be back on the pitch before Christmas, with Arsenal retaining strong interest in the La Liga star for his quality and versatility.

Merely two seasons ago, the 25-year-old recorded 13 goals and nine assists in 50 appearances for the Spanish club. Two terms prior, he bagged 30 contributions in 51.

Rodrygo is under contract until 2028, however, should the Real Madrid man return from injury prior to Christmas, Arsenal are set to make a move for the Brazilian as early as January.

The Gunners reinforced their left flank this summer by securing Christos Tzolis’ services, who has since recorded four assists in seven Arsenal appearances.

Elsewhere, the club allowed Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli — both left-sided attacking options — to depart from London, for the Super Lig and Saudi Pro League respectively.

Only Tzolis and Eberechi Eze stand out as clear options for Arsenal on the flank, as Mikel Arteta’s men pursue an unprecedented Premier League title defence.

Should they move in January, which appears likely, Rodrygo stands tall on the list of transfer options. Arsenal return to English top-flight action against Brighton on Saturday.

Manchester United youngster Shea Lacey has taken to social media and posted what appears to be a jab at fellow wonderkid JJ Gabriel.

The 19-year-old uploaded an image to X (formerly Twitter) of him arriving with the squad at Old Trafford, in Manchester United attire.

The photo was accompanied by a heart emoji as its caption. It arrived shortly after news broke of Gabriel attempting to exit Manchester United.

Shea Lacey makes timely Manchester United social media post

Lacey’s post was immediately flooded with support from the Red Devils faithful, with many interpreting it as being in response to Gabriel’s attempted departure.

The image has amassed over 100,000 likes on X, with Manchester United fans describing Lacey as “the future” and a “proper Red” in the comments beneath.

Gabriel, who scored over 20 goals for Manchester United’s development squad last term, informed the club earlier this week of his intention to depart as a free agent. Due to his age, the actual request is for his schoolboy forms to be cancelled and allowed to leave as he cannot be signed to a professional contract until his 17th birthday.

Reports also circulated that portrayed Gabriel as being frustrated by Lacey and Harry Amass receiving Champions League appearances versus Sabah last Thursday, while he didn’t get the Michael Carrick nod.

The Red Devils won that clash 4-0, with both Lacey and Amass being substituted on for Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu respectively in the 72nd minute.

Gabriel, who received his unofficial senior debut during pre-season versus Atletico Madrid, was not part of the squad to face the Azeri champions.

For Gabriel’s youth player registration to be cancelled, the player, club and parent/carer must all agree on the departure. In the event of this failing to be reached, the Premier League are able to intervene.

‘Kid Messi’ is Gabriel’s unofficial nickname, and the Manchester United boss attested to his staggering quality back in August.

“JJ is one of the boys. He's obviously got a really big talent. He's trained with us quite a bit and is getting experience all the time. He's physically adapting to each step that he makes, and we're just continuing his development,” Carrick said.

Under-21s boss Adam Lawrence has also chimed in, stating that his primary goal was to “not ruin” the Manchester United youngster, who now appears set to leave.

“Well, I think the first thing in my job is not to ruin him. When you have a talented player like JJ and the other lads, of course, you obviously don't want to stifle their freedom and their creativity,” he said.

Gabriel is being courted by the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain according to reports.

Florian Wirtz is not actively being pursued by Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, however, Vincent Kompany’s men remain interested in the German, according to reports on the continent.

Wirtz has been decidedly average during his first 54 games for Liverpool, failing to live up to the expectations that arrived with his £116.5 million price tag.

Rumours recently circulated that Bayern Munich — who Liverpool pipped to his signature last summer — were preparing an offer for the German. While that is untrue, their interest in Wirtz is said to remain.

Bayern Munich retain interest in Liverpool's Wirtz

According to a report from Christian Falk and CF Bayern, Kompany is content with his current squad and the Bundesliga champions are not actively pursuing Wirtz.

However, if the German were to appear on the market, Bayern Munich would be 'the first team he’d talk to.'

Falk said: “Of course, if Florian Wirtz were, at some point in future, interested in making a return to the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich would be the first team he’d talk to.

“However, there is nothing planned. Bayern have a big squad and everyone’s feeling really confident. [Jamal] Musiala has a long contract, and don’t forget that Vincent Kompany is trying a new system.

“[That’s] with Michael Olise as the fulcrum in the centre – the same position he currently plays in for the French national team. So, Bayern have a lot of options.”

Falk then noted that Liverpool’s staggering investment in Wirtz makes it unlikely that he will appear on the market. “Don’t forget, either, that it was a lot of money Liverpool paid for Wirtz."

First and foremost, rumours of the German returning to the Bundesliga were always rendered unbelievable because of the Reds’ clear unwillingness to sell.

Should Liverpool deem it in their best interests for Wirtz to exit so soon into his Merseyside contract, the club would undoubtedly lose millions.

However, a return of just nine Premier League contributions in 38 games, for a £116 million attacking midfielder playing behind the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, and last term Mohamed Salah, will have surely caused worry.

FourFourTwo have previously written about Wirtz's difficulties in adapting to Premier League life early last term, and not much has changed since.

Regardless, it appears the German is set to remain, as has always been expected, but Bayern Munich will be the first in line should Liverpool look to sell — and they’d be the first club approached by Wirtz himself.

Liverpool secured a 3-1 Carabao Cup victory against Tottenham Hotspur yesterday evening, with an added-time Dominik Szoboszlai screamer securing victory amid late Spurs pressure.

Goals arrived through the Hungarian, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister — who scored in similar style to his thumper versus Atletico Madrid last week — as Andoni Iraola fielded a rotated side.

Four Liverpool youngsters in Rio Ngumoha, Lewis Koumas, James McConnell and Trey Nyoni took to the pitch; a particularly fine outing from the latter appears to have saved the Reds millions.

Trey Nyoni’s performance against Spurs could have saved Liverpool millions

Nyoni was in good form against Liverpool’s Carabao Cup opposition, boasting 95 per cent pass accuracy in his 65-minute appearance.

In the opponent’s half, Nyoni recorded 22 successful passes from 24 attempts — with 100 per cent long ball accuracy — won four duels, and recorded six defensive contributions.

In comparison, Mac Allister recorded 22 successful passes from 27 attempts in Spurs’ half — with 67% long ball accuracy — won five duels, and recorded five defensive contributions. The Argentine also played an additional half-hour.

While Nyoni lacked the goal-scoring output of his Anfield partner on Tuesday evening, he delivered an all-round display that could end up saving Liverpool millions.

The Reds' recent transfer activity saw their midfield personnel remain identical, except for the departures of Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic. And for Iraola, the faith he placed in Nyoni to spare the Reds’ blushes could hardly have been quicker repaid.

His start also served as a reminder to supporters that they never truly know the full story. Did Nyoni perform well enough at the AXA Training Centre this summer for Liverpool not to look elsewhere in the window?

Or was his performance the kind of lucky, perfectly-timed intervention that Iraola had merely prayed for? Whatever the answer, the showing was undeniable.

The 19-year-old appears set to be an unexpectedly critical player for the Basque boss this term, and serve as the midfield reinforcement Liverpool so desperately craved.

Nyoni being ‘like a new signing’ will provoke eye rolls from the Reds faithful — they’ve heard it one too many times before — but it is a possibility.

Whether Liverpool truly had it all planned out from the beginning is irrelevant. This young man will be watched closely, and he’ll have all of Anfield behind him.

Manchester United have been rocked by a major off-field setback after 15-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel submitted a formal request to leave the club, according to a report by the Telegraph.

Carrington’s standout academy talent has reportedly left the Old Trafford hierarchy in shock by seeking to cut short his development at one of English football's best youth setups.

The news follows a strong start to the 2026/27 campaign for Gabriel, who recently netted a debut hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League against Sabah FK's Under-19 side.

Manchester United set to lose star academy prospect

The teenage forward has built on an excellent season with Man United's U18s - in which he scored 28 goals in 35 matches - before making the transition to the U21s this term.

He has already pitched in with two goals and two assists in his first two outings in Premier League 2.

Gabriel's progress had put him on the cusp of first-team history, until this latest bombshell.

Having met Premier League age requirements by turning 15 prior to August 31, he is officially eligible for senior squad selection this season.

First-team manager Michael Carrick has routinely integrated him into senior training sessions, leading some fans to speculate on the possibility of a record-breaking senior bow before his 16th birthday in October.

However, that no longer looks as though it will be the case with Gabriel reportedly seeking an exit from the club.

The forward will not be short of suitors and there have in the past been rumours that Barcelona made overtures towards the player's family.

Under FA regulations, players cannot sign professional contracts until they turn 17, making Gabriel's connection to Manchester United one which is founded upon schoolboy academy registration terms.

Gabriel's camp has formally requested the cancellation of his registration, bypassing the usual procedures involved with football transfers.

It leaves Man United at risk of losing him for tribunal-set compensation rather than a lucrative fee.

Manchester United have been recruiting aggressively at youth level lately but what could be their next capture has a first-team feel to it.

The Red Devils are in initial talks for boyhood Man United supporter Louis Page, who currently represents Leicester City in League One, FourFourTwo understands.

Page, 18, has registered three assists in four league matches so far this term, including two in the Foxes' recent 4-3 win over Stockport County.

Man United eye Leicester wonderkid

The teenager has been one of the more redeemable aspects of Leicester's poor start to the 2026/27 campaign in the third tier, producing a series of standout performances for Russell Martin's ailing side.

Leicester climbed to 13th with victory at Edgeley Park last weekend but their record of two wins from six matches has them five points off the pace of league leaders Sheffield Wednesday.

Page is an England Under-19 international and has started four of Leicester's six league matches this term.

A creative, holding midfield player, Page signed a contract extension with the Foxes last September tying him to the club until June 2029, however, Leicester's financial situation may necessitate a sale in the near future, particularly if he continues his early season form.

It was rumoured that Page and family were guests of Manchester United for the recent 5-2 win over Ipswich Town, although that has not been confirmed by either club.

The left-footer has links to Manchester with father Don having spent much of his lower and non-league career representing clubs in the area.

Should Man United be successful with a formal approach in the coming months, it is likely Page will be loaned back to Leicester where he will continue his development in a familiar environment at the Foxes' state-of-the-art Seagrave training facility.

All is not well at Old Trafford following their Manchester derby defeat last weekend, but Michael Carrick still has the opportunity to turn things around. Brighton, meanwhile, travel north as one of the Premier League's form sides.

ITV are broadcasting this game on free-to-air television in the UK on Wednesday night and. Bringing you all the build-up, in-game analysis and post-game talking points is their broadcasting A team.

Here's a full breakdown of the ITV squad calling this midweek match-up.

Who are the pundits, commentators and presenters for Man United vs Brighton?

The Third Round clash is being broadcast on ITV1 at 8pm BST, with coverage beginning at 7:30pm BST.

The complete line-up of pundits, commentators and presenters for the match has been revealed, with the game taking place at Old Trafford.

Mark Pougatch leads the coverage, as he did throughout the World Cup for ITV.

Joining him as pundits are ex-Man United defender John O'Shea and former Brighton striker Glenn Murray, supported by Sam Matterface and Michael Brown on commentary duties.

Experienced journalist Gabriel Clarke is ITV's reporter for this one.

Liverpool and Tottenham have had tricky starts to the 2026/27 campaign but should both be eyeing silverware this season, and the Carabao Cup is a great opportunity to secure some.

ITV are showing this fixture in the UK and have rolled out their broadcasting A team to bring you all the build-up, in-game analysis and post-game talking points.

Here's a full breakdown of the ITV squad calling this midweek match-up.

Who are the pundits, commentators and presenters for Liverpool vs Spurs?

The Third Round clash is being broadcast on ITV4 at 8pm BST, with coverage beginning at 7:30pm BST.

The complete line-up of pundits, commentators and presenters for the event has been revealed, with the game taking place at Anfield.

Mark Pougatch leads the coverage, as he did throughout the World Cup for ITV.

Joining him as pundits at Anfield are Robbie Fowler and Les Ferdinand, supported by Sam Matterface and Lucy Ward on commentary duties.

Seasoned journalist Gabriel Clarke is ITV's reporter for this one.

Newcastle's 4-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday night has triggered something of a knock-on effect, leaving head coach Matthias Jaissle facing a selection crisis ahead of this weekend’s fixture against Hull City.

Aside from the pain of a comprehensive beating in West Yorkshire, Jaissle now has fewer options available to him than when the game began.

The Magpies lost key wing option Anthony Elanga before kick-off, while midfielder Jacob Ramsey remained an unused substitute on the night.

Newcastle facing injury crisis

Addressing the worsening injury situation post-match, Jaissle offered an unwelcome assessment of Elanga's condition.

"The injury doesn't look good. We need to investigate how serious it is. Elanga is struggling with injury but at the moment it does not look that good."

The manager was equally pessimistic about Ramsey, who was unable to take to the field despite being named among the substitutes.

"The simple way to explain that is he felt his thigh in the warm-up so he was not able to play tonight.

"That was the next challenge. Tonight the story was many things came together. It does not look good for the weekend at the moment."

The less-than-ideal injury scenario continued during the match itself when midfielder Nico Gonzalez was forced off in the first half following a blow to the head.

Jaissle emphasised that the club prioritised player welfare over match circumstances in enforcing mandatory concussion protocols: "With Nico, as a manager and we as a club, we have the responsibility if he has that knock out feeling as we all saw. We have to be responsible to take him off the pitch even though he looked fine then. But there are rules for that occasion. Independent of how important it is to win a match, we are all human beings, and we take that seriously to take him off the pitch."

The potential absence of Elanga, Ramsey, and Nico compounds an already busy medical room at St James' Park.

First-team stalwarts Joelinton and Dan Burn remain sidelined with ongoing injuries, while right-back Amar Dedic is seemingly not 100% after being withdrawn in the second half against Leeds, having entered the contest carrying a knock from last week's tie against Millwall. Furthermore, FourFourTwo understands Will Osula has been wearing a protective boot since sustaining a foot injury on the opening weekend against Liverpool. He is expected to be out of action until after the international break.

With half a dozen key first-team figures potentially unavailable, what should have been an opportunity to bounce back against newly-promoted Hull City has morphed into a tactical headache.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison could be handed a route back into first-team action this week, with the Carabao Cup offering the exiled forward his only realistic chance of playing competitive football before 2027.

The Brazilian international was excluded from manager Roberto De Zerbi’s official 25-man Premier League squad list following the conclusion of the summer transfer window.

Richarlison had previously informed the Italian head coach of his desire to seek a fresh challenge away from north London, but a suitable transfer failed to materialise before the deadline passed.

Richarlison could be brought in from the cold to alleviate Spurs' attacking woes

Consequently, the forward has found himself frozen out of matchday squads, failing to feature since August 26, when he was an unused substitute in Spurs' 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over Charlton Athletic.

However, as Tottenham prepare to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup this week, De Zerbi may be forced to turn to his forgotten man.

Unlike the Premier League, Carabao Cup regulations do not mandate that players must be registered within a 25-man league squad to be eligible for selection.

Any professional player legally contracted to the club is permitted to feature, handing Richarlison a loophole and a potential path back onto the pitch.

Tottenham have endured a difficult start to their 2026/27 campaign, failing to score a single goal in their opening four Premier League matches.

Despite a £350 million summer squad overhaul, Spurs have appeared toothless in attack, leaving De Zerbi under pressure following a frustrating goalless draw against Everton.

Richarlison finished as Tottenham’s top scorer last season, and with the transfer window firmly closed, both player and manager are well aware that the striker is staying put until at least January.

The midweek cup fixture represents an opportunity for both parties. Calling upon Richarlison offers a proven goalscoring option to help solve what is becoming an attacking crisis.

For Richarlison, the Carabao Cup is quite literally his sole avenue for first-team minutes, and to put himself in the shop window ahead of the New Year.

With Tottenham lacking European football this season, the FA Cup Third Round not commencing until January, and the Premier League door locked until the winter registration window opens, the striker faces a spell in isolation if omitted. It's up to De Zerbi whether he rolls the dice, though.

Over the past couple of years, Loris Karius has been engineering one of European football’s most satisfying career revivals.

Lately, the German goalkeeper has produced a string of spectacular performances for newly-promoted Bundesliga side Schalke 04.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper has earned Man of the Match accolades in recent weeks, establishing himself as Schalke's backstop in their first top-flight campaign since 2022/23.

Loris Karius is enjoying a career renaissance in Germany

Karius was reportedly excellent in a 3-1 victory against Union Berlin last weekend, racking up seven crucial saves - including a magnificent point-blank reaction stop in second-half stoppage time - to seal all three points.

That performance built on a heroic display against champions Bayern Munich, where Karius produced three fine stops to secure a 0-0 draw and a clean sheet.

It marks a triumphant return to the highest level for a player whose career seemed permanently shadowed by his exit from Liverpool.

Following two high-profile errors in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final against Real Madrid, which were later revealed to have occurred while Karius was suffering from a concussion, the German 'keeper faced intense media scrutiny.

Karius recently opened up about the mental health toll of that period, admitting he hit 'rock bottom' and considered walking away from the sport altogether.

"I thought about ending my career: I was only 25," Karius revealed in a candid interview. "I no longer wanted to train, no longer wanted to play."

After his departure from Anfield, loan stints at Besiktas and Union Berlin, and a peripheral period as a backup 'keeper at Newcastle United, Karius joined Schalke to fight his way back into regular action.

His perseverance is paying dividends, having gone from forgotten figure to one of Germany's most in-form shot-stoppers.

Karius’s form has even led to suggestions of a potential international call-up. With legend Manuel Neuer retired from international football and Germany facing a noticeable dearth of elite, in-form options, Karius playing his way back into national team contention is no longer beyond the realm of possibility.

If he maintains this trajectory at Schalke, one of football’s great redemption arcs could reach the international stage.

Last month’s publication of the 2025/26 PFA Team of the Year generated ample debate, but certain positions were beyond doubt. The likes of David Raya, Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes were shoo-ins in their respective roles, and so too was Jurrien Timber at right-back.

The Dutchman enjoyed a magnificent campaign last time out. He was a key part of the Arsenal rearguard that underpinned the club's first title triumph in 22 years. The good news for the Gunners is that Timber is nearing a return to first-team action following a groin injury. Having returned to full training, he could be in the matchday squad to face Brighton this weekend.

It’s hard to find any major weaknesses in Timber’s game. Quick, strong and athletic, he is also technically sound and positionally smart. Seldom beaten one-on-one by an opposition winger, Timber frequently locked down his flank last term. And although he is not the most buccaneering of full-backs, he contributes plenty in the final third too.

"A big example for the rest of his team-mates.”

“Extraordinary… for me, he’s been phenomenal in every department,” Mikel Arteta said of Timber last year. “I think he’s taken his level and the team’s level to a different dimension, against his opponents, the way he penetrates, the way he wins duels, the way he understands the game, the way he wants to make things happen. A big example for the rest of his team-mates.”

In short, Timber is the best player in the Premier League in his position - but he should not start for Arsenal right now.

Ben White has deputised for Timber in the opening weeks of the season, and he has done it well. There had been nothing wrong with his displays at right-back before Arsenal signed Timber in 2023, but White has had to play second fiddle to the former Ajax man over the last couple of campaigns.

Timber edges a head-to-head comparison between the pair, but football is more complicated than that. White is in form and in a confident mood. Timber is still working his way back up to full fitness having missed the World Cup with the groin issue that also kept him out of much of the run-in last term.

On top of that, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have both enjoyed fine starts to the season. White, Saka and Odegaard have long shared a special chemistry on the right, forming passing triangles in an area of the pitch where Arsenal have tended to concentrate their attacks during Arteta’s tenure.

White and Saka in particular seem to have an intuitive understanding. White overlaps more readily than Timber, opening up space inside for Saka to attack. The two England internationals have a canny ability to anticipate each other’s movement, linking up at high speed even when seemingly surrounded. When that wavelength is perfectly tuned, they are very difficult to stop.

Perhaps White’s presence in the XI has had little bearing on Saka and Odegaard’s recent output. Both players already showed signs of getting back to their best at the World Cup. Yet given how well they are playing together, Arteta should think twice before breaking up that trio. After three wins from three in the Premier League, there is no real need to rush Timber back into the team.

None of which is to say White should get the nod indefinitely. There will be a time when Timber’s superior defensive abilities will come in handy, particularly as Arsenal are attempting not only to retain the title but to win the Champions League too. The free-flowing football Arsenal have produced so far has been encouraging, yet it would be more of a surprise if Arteta did not batten down the hatches at some point this season than if he did.

Timber’s time will come. For now, the Arsenal right-back spot is White’s to lose.

Lewis Hall has signed a contract extension at Newcastle United, with the Englishman, who has made 107 appearances for the Magpies since arriving in 2023, tied down until 2031.

Manchester United attempted to secure the left-back’s services this summer, having achieved Champions League football under Michael Carrick, and looking to go from strength-to-strength.

But as Hall’s message to Newcastle supporters inferred: “There’s never been a moment where I doubted how much I love being here,” — the Red Devils never stood a chance.

Hall tied down to Newcastle until 2031, after summer Manchester United pursuit

The Magpies released a video to X (formerly Twitter) this morning, in which Hall described his connection to Newcastle. In doing so, his rejection of Manchester United’s pursuits revealed its motivation.

“So, my Dad was born up here,” began Hall. “It just sort of embedded it into - that’s who we supported. I didn’t have a choice, really.

“There’s never been a moment where I doubted how much I love being here, and how much I love playing for Newcastle,” the Englishman continued.

“It means so much to play at St. James [Park] every week, it’s obviously a massive thing for me. Every time I step on the pitch I want to do my best…. I never really take it for granted.

“I want to do well for the football club, for the city,” concluded the 22-year-old. In his own words, Hall is a born-and-bred Toon fan, albeit having grown up in the South, and his future with Newcastle was never in doubt.

Shortly after his opening performance of the Premier League season versus Liverpool, in which Hall delivered a typically strong performance but also gave away an added-time penalty to Dominik Szoboszlai, new boss Matthias Jaissle was quizzed about Manchester United’s pursuits.

Speaking to Viaplay after the match, Jaissle was fast and firm in his response. “No chance, no chance,” repeated the Newcastle boss.

Now, with Hall tied down until 2031, it appears clearer than ever, hearing his extension interview with the Magpies, why Manchester United never stood a chance in bagging their £35 million transfer target.

“I obviously have a family connection with the club… [and] one of the main reasons I play is to make my family proud. I know how much it means to them to watch me playing for Newcastle,” revealed Hall.

“The fanbase and the support… it’s the best in the league. To be able to bring joy to their faces, it’s a big thing for me.

“I think we can go on to achieve really big things,” concluded the Englishman. Newcastle are currently placed seventh in the Premier League table, four points above the Red Devils. And so, while Carrick’s men have failed to get their target, they’ve also failed to show him what he’s missing out on.

Turkish media are reporting that Super Lig side Trabzonspor have held talks with Pep Guardiola, as the club look to go from strength-to-strength after signing Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah.

The pair faced off for almost 10 years in the Premier League, with Salah taking the English top-flight title from Guardiola’s Manchester City twice in that period.

Now, it appears that the Egyptian and the Spaniard could join forces in the Super Lig, with Turkish media reporting that Guardiola has been offered a €13 million salary to manage Trabzonspor.

Pep Guardiola could join forces with Mohamed Salah in shock Super Lig move

Despite a productive start to the season from Salah — striking four goals, and claiming an assist, in three Super Lig starts — Trabzonspor endured a devastating Europa League crash-out.

That arrived through Ferencvaros, who decimated Salah’s side 5-0 (agg.) in their Europa League two-leg qualifier. In the aftermath, then-manager, and former Trabzonspor player, Faith Tekke resigned on the spot.

The board rejected Tekke’s resignation, who lost 2-1 in his following fixture versus newly-promoted side Amed, away from home. He was then allowed to leave; now, according to Turkish news bulletin Gusholder Haber Bulteni, the Super Lig side has held talks with Guardiola.

In Trabzonspor’s first match since Tekke’s departure, they dismantled Genclerbirligi in a 5-0 romp at Papara Park. Goals came through Paul Onuachu, Ernest Muci, Salah, and new signing Franculino Dju.

In their pursuit of the Super Lig trophy — which Trabzonspor have additional motivation to achieve this term, with Galatasaray gunning for an unprecedented fifth successive Turkish top-flight title — Salah’s men appear to have turned, stunningly, to Guardiola.

The report from Gusholder Haber Bulteni has since been relayed online by Trabzonspor media, and other Turkish outlets.

In FourFourTwo’s view, the Spaniard is exceedingly unlikely to make the Super Lig move; however, it could be one to keep an eye peeled for. Having won virtually everything there is to win, and Trabzonspor emerging as a serious economic power in Turkey that could, under the right guidance, dominate the Super Lig in coming years, their project might appeal to Guardiola.

In 2022, Trabzonspor won their first top-flight title since 1984. A total of 78 clubs have competed in the competition, with only six winning it, and Salah’s side have claimed the fourth-most, with seven.

Galatasaray have 26, Fenerbahce hold 19, and Besiktas have lifted 16 Super Lig trophies. If any club is capable of disturbing this Istanbul-based dominance, it is likely to be Trabzonspor, and they are currently well-positioned to do so.

With Guardiola having taken Manchester City from relative Premier League minnows, to winning the second-most titles in the competition’s history, he could be enticed by a similar story playing out in Turkey, under his leadership.

The salary offered could pose issues, with the Spaniard reportedly having earned over £20 million annually in England. In contrast, €13 million to manage in Turkey appears drastically less appealing.

While this remains a vastly distant possibility, who wouldn’t like to see Guardiola and Salah work together, if just for a season, with their footballing legacies already stamped?

The English top-flight has scheduled seven festive fixtures to be played on Boxing Day, the Premier League announced on Thursday.

Last term, the sole Boxing Day fixture played in the Premier League was between Manchester United and Newcastle, with the former prevailing 1-0; seven games were scheduled for December 27.

That appears to have flipped for the 2026-27 Premier League season, with Aston Villa versus Leeds, Hull hosting Liverpool, Newcastle against Manchester City, and more, having been scheduled for December 26.

Premier League release statement confirming seven Boxing Day events

The English top-flight have released the scheduling earlier than in previous terms, with the Premier League and its broadcasting partners having “agreed to bring the selection process [forward].”

A statement on the official League website read: “This fixture announcement gives supporters more than three months’ notice to plan and make travel arrangements for a particularly busy time of the year.

“It follows consultation with the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards… [and] after the League and our broadcast partners agreed to bring forward the selection process for live UK matches."

The English top-flight’s early scheduling agreement pertains to match-weeks 17 to 20, which run from 26 December to 7 January.

The Premier League confirmed that clubs will have at least a 60-hour break between fixtures held over the Christmas and New Year period, to address backlash from congested scheduling.

“This is in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address the congested festive schedule - in the context of an expanding European and international fixture calendar,” said the League.

Broadcast selections in November will be announced by week commencing September 21, and by w/c October 19 for December fixtures.

On Boxing Day, TNT Sports will host Aston Villa v Leeds for the 12:30pm BST kick-off, while Sky Sports have taken Hull vs Liverpool and Newcastle vs Manchester City in the evening.

On December 27, Sky Sports will broadcast all three of Coventry vs Chelsea, Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace vs Arsenal.

The seven festive fixtures set to be played on Boxing Day are:

Aston Villa v Leeds (TNT Sports, 12:30pm BST)

Everton v Sunderland

Fulham v Brighton

Ipswich v Brentford

Spurs v AFC Bournemouth

Hull v Liverpool (Sky Sports, 5:30pm BST)

Newcastle v Man City (Sky Sports, 8pm BST)

In 2013, Tottenham Hotspur were targeting the joint-purchase of Croatian duo Alen Halilovic and Tin Jedvaj, negotiating with then-Dinamo Zagreb director Zdravko Mamic.

Daniel Levy and Mamic shared history — in 2008, they ironed out a joint-club record deal for eventual Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric — and their latest negotiations were set to cost Spurs €25 million.

Levy’s financial ruthlessness had previously emerged in negotiations for Modric, but Mamic confessed in a 2019 interview, exclusively with FourFourTwo, that their boardroom exchange was far testier for Halilovic and Jedvaj.

‘I told them go f*** yourself’

At the time, a teenage Halilovic was touted as the next Modric, while Jedvaj was believed to be a defensive game-changer.

The latter sealed a move to Roma in 2013, while Halilovic attracted Barcelona — although, after their transfers,neither enjoyed top-level careers in Europe — and Mamic confirmed how close Spurs came to bagging the duo.

The ex-Zagreb director revealed: "I negotiated with [Levy] over the transfers of Alen Halilovic and Tin Jedvaj to Tottenham. My son was their agent and translator, and I represented the interests of Dinamo.

Mamic then revealed how Spurs’ lowball offer provoked fury: “We sat in Levy’s office with the sporting director, Franco Baldini, and Levy offered us around €10m as his secretary served us tea. After hearing their offer, I told my son to thank Levy,” Mamic continued.

"[I also told him] to ask if ‘I should drink my tea, or just go straight home?’ My son did not want to translate that!

"Levy and Baldini realised that I had become a little more aggressive, then I told them ‘Idite vi svi u picku materinu’ [the Croatian equivalent of ‘go f*** yourself’].

"They stood up and asked me to stay, because €10m was not their final offer for the players. After that we continued the negotiations and agreed a fee of €25m,” Mamic told FFT.

On why the deal later collapsed, the ex-Zagreb director revealed that demands from one player’s side of the table scuppered the agreement.

“Unfortunately, the deal eventually fell through, partly because of crazy new demands from Halilovic’s side,” claimed Mamic. The midfielder would eventually play in England nearly a decade later — for Birmingham City, then Reading, in the Championship.

Jedvaj, whose top-flight career played out predominantly with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, is currently at Al-Shabab, while Halilovic, just 30-years-old, is club-less after leaving Fortuna Sittard.

Still, it appears that Mamic nearly manufactured the perfect heist in shipping them to Spurs, even with Levy’s testy boardroom antics… and he would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for that meddlin’ Halilovic.

The Homes Under the Hammer presenter, who since hanging up his boots has transitioned from Premier League goalscoring to real estate expertise and punditry, is using his industry knowledge to help fellow players secure their financial futures.

Speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo, Dublin disclosed how older players regularly approach him with substantial sums, relying on his team to locate and manage brick-and-mortar investments.

"Where there’s some bad, there’s also good too, but come and speak to Dion! I’ll hook you up," Dublin said.

Dion Dublin will 'hook you up' with a new-build in the Wrexham area, apparently

"I’m already doing it for some of the older players, without mentioning any names. They come straight to me and my estate agent. 'Dion, I’ve got a couple of hundred grand, can you do something for me?'"

Dublin has focused much of his property enterprise in North Wales, specifically around the Wrexham area, where attention surrounding the now-Championship level football club has fuelled a market boom.

"I’ve got a few of them houses in Wrexham now, which is a bit of a hot spot with all the attention around the football club. What we then do is manage and maintain the properties and [the players] get a bit of passive income."

Having spent years in the game, Dublin is familiar with traditional footballer enclaves like Knutsford, Wilmslow, and Alderley Edge, noting they are 'all beautiful areas to live in but very expensive.' However, he advises buyers to look at adjacent locations for better value.

"Cheshire can be expensive but if you look at places on the outskirts like Congleton and other places just off the M6 they can be incredible as well, so you don’t have to go for the top end."

Dublin's regular travels across the country to carry out television duties takes him to locations like Stoke, Walsall, Lincoln, and Grimsby, but all that has done is reinforced his belief that hidden gems exist everywhere.

"My advice is to try and find those places but most importantly find the place that works for you.

"I think if you're investing in property then you need to look anywhere north of London and Watford and you might have a chance to get a bit of value for your money.

"That said, if you've got a load of money, then you could afford to do it down in London. It's just very expensive. The south's very expensive. We know that. The further north you go, the more bargains you're going to get, but you won’t be living in London."

Dublin was speaking to FourFourTwo on behalf of Reviant.

Fifteen-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel arrived on the continental stage with a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah FK U19, who were beaten 5-0 at Leigh Sports Village.

The forward delivered a three-goal performance to spearhead Manchester United’s youth side to victory, underlining yet again why he is considered one of the brightest talents in Carrington's academy.

Gabriel’s ascent has fuelled speculation over whether he can feature for Manchester United’s senior squad in the Premier League this season.

JJ Gabriel hits Euro hat-trick for Manchester United

Top-flight regulations dictate that a player must turn 15 on or before August 31 of a given season to be eligible for league selection.

Having met the league's academic year age requirement prior to the start of the 2026/27 campaign, Gabriel is legally eligible to make his Premier League debut this term, which was not the case last season.

Should manager Michael Carrick hand him a senior bow before he turns 16 in October, Gabriel would become Manchester United’s youngest-ever first-team player.

Carrick has been keeping a close eye on the teenager, regularly drafting him into first-team training sessions. Addressing Gabriel’s trajectory, the Red Devils boss commented last season: "JJ is a big talent, it's pretty obvious to know that and he's had a really good season for the Under-18s.

"We obviously think an awful lot of him, but patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and working with him in development as we do with all the different younger players and picking the right moment to step up."

Gabriel’s latest goalscoring heroics build on exceptional numbers at youth level. The attacker bagged 28 goals across 35 appearances for Man United’s U18 side last season.

Moving up to the U21s in Premier League 2 this term, Gabriel hit the ground running with two goals and two assists in his first two outings before taking his goalscoring form into Europe.

Yes, you're reading that correctly.

Footballers are known for rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of the celebrity world, but these connections usually come about after they've made it big on the pitch.

In Dion Dublin's case, the former Aston Villa marksman has a Hollywood claim to fame from back when when he was merely a teenager and youth team player.

Dion Dublin reveals historic Jason Statham friendship

The 'Homes Under The Hammer' star tells FourFourTwo: "Jason Statham was best friends with my brother, who was a DJ in Great Yarmouth when I was a young player at Norwich City, so I lived with him. Jason played the drums. My brother played bass, too, so they played in a band together.

"I was a 17-year-old boy who would go and watch their band then I’d go watch my brother’s DJ sets with Jason, then me and J would go out after. It was good fun. Very chilled out."

Statham is, of course, known for his roles in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The Transporter and Mean Machine and has developed a reputation as an on-screen hard-man over the past 25 years.

But, Dublin says that wasn't always his old flatmate's persona.

"I’ve not spoken to him for years but the Jason I knew back then was a very nice, very fun guy. He used to be a high board diver for Great Britain, too, and there was a big leisure complex on the sea front at Great Yarmouth so J used to go down sometimes and do his practice on the high board in the pool down there.

"His dad was a singer too. His brother Lee used to work on the markets as well. Jason used to work on the markets with him too so he’s done everything. I think he's deserved everything he’s achieved."

While Dublin, two years Statham's junior, saw his career take him to Cambridge United in 1988 and then the Premier League with Manchester United a few years later, it was another 10 years before Statham's acting really took off, eventually taking him Stateside.

"Would I fancy moving to Hollywood to follow in Jason Statham’s footsteps?" Dublin says. "The property is too expensive!

"I’d love to go out there and give it a go though. Imagine that. Dion Dublin, action hero! I suppose I’ve tried everything else, haven't I? I’d throw my hat in the ring for that if they’d give us a job."

Dublin was speaking to FourFourTwo on behalf of Reviant.

Lionel Messi is set to expand his football ownership portfolio, with the 39-year-old having agreed to buy Spanish second-division side Eldense.

The Argentine also acquired fifth-division club UE Cornella shortly before the 2026 World Cup. Now, Messi is set to purchase a 100% stake in Eldense - which will see him clash with Cristiano Ronaldo.

There is not expected to be a conflict of interest between both Messi's teams, with Eldense and LaLiga2 separated from Cornella by three divisions. However, Eldense will face off against a Ronaldo-owned club.

Messi and Ronaldo-owned clubs to battle in LaLiga2

Messi’s Portuguese rival recently acquired a 25% stake in fellow Spanish second-division side Almeria - a Saudi-owned club that Ronaldo was able to partially opt into.

In early August, the 41-year-old watched as Almeria beat his current team Al-Nassr 2-0 in a pre-season friendly. Soon, he’ll watch them take on Eldense.

With the announcement of Almeria’s new ownership, Ronaldo said: "It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch.

"UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth,” he concluded. His side are currently placed 12th in the LaLiga2 table.

Eldense are in the drop zone, having taken just two points from their opening four matches. To begin the Spanish second-division season, Messi’s new club travelled to Almeria, and lost 3-0.

Should the Argentine successfully purchase Eldense, his side will face off against Ronaldo’s club in match-week 37 of the LaLiga2 season, on May 2, 2027.

That game will be played on Eldense’s turf, and could mark the first official face-off between Messi and Ronaldo-owned clubs.

The Argentine’s portfolio extends beyond Europe, having formed Deportivo LSM with former Barcelona and current Inter Milan team-mate Luis Suarez.

The club competes in Uruguay’s fourth-tier, and is currently third in the Serie B 2026 table, with 18 points from nine matches.

Should Ronaldo hang up his boots in 2027, his rivalry with Messi could still continue for many years.

The Champions League is now underway, with all 36 league-phase teams set to play in an exclusive European match-week.

Manchester United will host Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK in their Champions League debut on Thursday, with five other games set to be played, in the absence of Europa and Conference League football.

And for travelling supporters hoping to see their club appear in the 2027 Champions League final, the confirmed venue, in Spain, will surely be welcome news.

2027 Champions League final to be held at Estadio Metropolitano

Two teams will ultimately make it from the league phase to the 2027 Champions League Final, which will be held in Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano.

The sides will face off on June 5, 2027, with last season's finalists PSG and Arsenal both hoping to make it back.

Luis Enrique's men, who lifted the Champions League trophy for the second time in two years, are gunning for an historic European three-peat this time out.

And Arsenal, who lost on penalties to PSG after lifting the Premier League trophy weeks earlier, will hope to break their Champions League curse this term, having never won the competition.

That match took place in Hungary, at the Puskas Arena. The year prior, PSG travelled to Munich to lift their first-ever Champions League trophy, at the Allianz Arena.

Hungary also bid to host the 2027 Final, but were appointed to host the 2026 clash, instead.

Additionally, Italy were in the running for 2027 during the first bidding process, but the San Siro was later deemed unable to host the event due to refurbishment works in Milan.

During the second bidding process, Spain emerged as victor, but were rivalled by a potential host nation that European supporters would likely deem less accessible.

That was Azerbaijan, whose league champions will make their debut competition appearance this term, bidding to host at the Olympic Stadium in Baku.

Ultimately, the Estadio Metropolitano prevailed, with the final's Spanish venue confirmed in September 2025.

A pattern has developed during Michael Carrick's early tenure as permanent Manchester United boss, and he must address it.

Every time Bruno Fernandes shapes to send a curling delivery into the box from the half-space, and every time Bryan Mbeumo cuts inside to send a dangerous ball towards the back post, the pattern becomes impossible to ignore.

Man United are built to attack from wide areas, but lack the aerial profile inside the 18-yard box to capitalise on it.

Manchester United need to make tactical tweak three games into the season

Data gleaned from Gradient Sports paints an interesting picture of Man United’s opening games.

Carrick’s side currently rank first in the Premier League for total inswinging crosses attempted (39) - 10 more than the next-highest team - and second overall in total crosses (84). Individually, Bruno Fernandes leads the division for inswingers attempted, while summer addition Bryan Mbeumo ranks third.

The intent is clear: Man United are overloading the flanks and using their playmakers to deliver high-value, whipped service into the penalty area.

Despite dominating the delivery metrics, Man United rank only fifth for their cross completion rate. The quality of the service from Fernandes and Mbeumo is rarely the issue - rather, it is the lack of a complementary target profile inside the box when the ball arrives.

Matheus Cunha has spent much of the early campaign leading the line, but the Brazilian's natural game does not suit an aerial bombardment. Cunha is fundamentally a 'nine-and-a-half' - a fluid, technician who thrives when dropping deep to link play, driving at defenders from tight pockets, and unleashing shots from distance.

Asking him to engage in physical battles against Premier League centre-halves on whipped inswinging crosses doesn't quite get the best out of his strongest attributes.

When crosses flood the box, Cunha is occasionally out of position or outmatched in aerial duels, leaving the team's creative output feeling unrewarded.

The remedy for Carrick is sitting on the bench: Benjamin Sesko.

Unlike Cunha, Sesko provides the exact physical profile needed to transform Man United's crossing volume into goals. The Slovenian international offers physicality and height and box presence.

At 6ft 5in, Sesko gives Man United a genuine aerial presence capable of winning contested headers against deep defensive blocks. He is a player who will instinctively attack the landing zones of inswinging deliveries, too.

If Fernandes and Mbeumo continue to cross with such frequency, adding Sesko to the starting XI is a requirement.

Nineteen-year-old Kendry Paez is back in London after a loan period with River Plate, which the Argentinian club terminated.

Now, Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Paez will not play a role in Chelsea’s first-team plans this season, after the Blues failed to secure another loan in England for the Ecuadorian.

Paez played just 469 minutes for River Plate in 2026, recording two goal contributions. He last featured for the club in late May, in what was a 13-minute cameo.

Alonso on plans for Paez at Chelsea

When questioned whether Paez would play a role in Chelsea’s first-team before January, the Spaniard quickly rejected the idea.

Alonso said: “No, no. He is not part of the plans. At the moment, he is not part of the first team squad,” according to a report from The Athletic.

The 19-year-old was expected to depart on loan again for the 2026/27 season, but Chelsea were unable to finalise a deal prior to the British transfer window closing.

Judging by Alonso’s comments, it appears that Paez will be prioritised for a loan move, but one that sees him remain in England, in January.

The Ecuadorian has not played for the club since the Blues signed him in July 2025, in a deal worth over £17 million.

Since then, he has played for both River Plate and Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan. With the latter club, he appeared 20 times, for a combined 711 minutes, scoring one goal.

Recently, the 19-year-old received minutes in Ecuador’s Round of 32 loss versus Mexico at the 2026 World Cup. He did not feature during all three group stage matches.

Alonso’s intention to keep Paez separate from the Blues’ first-team has arrived at a time when both Moises Caicedo and Premier League veteran Jordan Henderson are out injured.

The Spaniard refuses to rush Paez’s fellow Ecuadorian back into action, despite having resumed training with Chelsea, while Henderson remains sidelined with an injury he sustained in North America.

Alonso’s men return to action in the Carabao Cup, as they take on Leeds United this evening at 8pm BST.

The Den is a magnificent place to watch football. I imagine it’s a great venue to play at, too.

It’s a Guy Ritchie-directed, late ‘90s, flat-roof pub football club, soundtracked by Ocean Colour Scene’s ‘The Riverboat Song’.

Nowhere else in English football are you likely to hear, “Lino, you’re a c***” sung in unison during the first half…from the ‘Family Stand’.

Millwall is one of the last truly great places to watch proper football

At very few grounds in English football do you walk through the crowds before kick-off and wonder, “Is everyone here in the same WhatsApp group called ‘What we’re wearing to the game’?”

The chant of ‘MILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL’, if you can call it a chant or better still, a rebel yell, is an assault on the eardrums, despite there being less than 20,000 in the building.

There’s an old-style, decommissioned London bus painted royal blue that stands outside. It serves Spitfire ale. They have a centre-half of six feet six who plays exactly as you’d imagine. Even the commercial partners are proper working man’s sponsors: Selhurst Timber and Builder’s Merchants, Masons Scaffolding - corrr, I've got splinters just thinking about them. Canary Wharf is visible above the Dockers Stand, and they f***ing love a tackle.

I’m not at The Den every week, but I’ll bet the bloke who sits adjacent to the press box and shouts, “They are f***ing pony”, with the same frequency as the London Bridge to South Bermondsey service, is a regular, and local.

Plenty of teams - Leeds, Everton and Newcastle among them - might claim they run Millwall close in their Millwall-ness, but it’s exactly what the Premier League is missing, to its detriment.

I know what you’re thinking, 'Surely the EFL Family Club of the Year 2017 is a touch more welcoming than it was back in the old days?' Of course, that would be the correct assumption. Nothing is like the old days, but unlike other grounds, and some of Millwall’s closest rivals, ahem, they at least retain some of the horribleness.

In an age where football has become increasingly polished and corporate-ified, it’s redeeming to visit a stadium where it all feels authentic. Going in a box at The Den would feel wrong, and a waste of money. Paying more to miss out on the full experience? No, thanks.

Even the press room, with its low ceiling, a discarded mannequin torso and worn Wetherspoons-like carpet, stippled with 'MFC' worked into the fabric, is like something out of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s ‘The Office’.

The Lions came close to promotion last season, defeated in the Championship play-offs by eventual winners Hull City. They’ve lost star man Femi Azeez and were soundly beaten 5-1 by Southampton earlier this season, so this term might not go as well as last.

However, with six teams now making up the play-offs, and Millwall giving a near full-strength Newcastle side a good go in the Carabao Cup, there’s every chance.

The 60-year-old offered his verdict on Manchester United’s £70 million man, surmising that Baleba will require a lengthy adjustment period under Michael Carrick.

Sheringham stated that the Cameroonian will have to reckon with a newfound pressure at Manchester United, having never played previously for a club of the Red Devils’ stature.

The 22-year-old arrived from Brighton as a replacement for the club’s recently departed veteran midfielder Casemiro, and is anticipated to make his Manchester United debut in the coming weeks.

‘I’m not sold on Carlos Baleba, we’ve not seen him play at a club with the pressure of Manchester United’

Carrick revealed last week that Baleba’s debut is anticipated within 10-14 days — making his first match for the Red Devils likely to be either a Premier League or Carabao Cup fixture.

His last competitive game came against Manchester United in matchweek 38 of the Premier League season, in which Brighton lost 3-0. Last term, he made 31 top-flight appearances for the Seagulls.

Sheringham expects Baleba’s settling-in period to be the inverse of that experienced by another midfield signing for the Red Devils — Youri Tielemans.

The ex-Aston Villa man has started all three of Manchester United’s fixtures to open the season, with his stand-out performance arriving versus Ipswich in the club’s 5-2 home win.

Sheringham confessed: “I’m not sold on Carlos Baleba — we’ve not seen him play at a club with the pressure of Man Utd yet, so it’ll take six months or so before we can get a real idea.

“When you bring in two or three signings, they’re expected to be playing. With someone like Tielemans, everyone talks highly of him and you expect him to go straight into the side, which has been the case.”

Sheringham introduced England international Kobbie Mainoo into the discussion, as a possible foil for the Cameroonian.

Despite the former Brighton man’s considerable price tag, Sheringham believes that he could “have to bide his time” until an opportunity arrives, with Mainoo likely to serve as a roadblock in Baleba’s attempts to break into the side.

“Someone like Baleba, with Kobbie Mainoo playing, [he] might have to bide his time. When that chance does come, they’ve got to grab it with both hands,” he said.

Sheringham also discussed the ‘huge’ pressure faced by former player, now permanent manager, Carrick in the coming seasons at Manchester United.

The Red Devils return to Premier League action — after their Thursday showdown in the Champions League versus Sabah FK — in the Manchester derby on Sunday, at Old Trafford.

This interview was conducted by BetVictor Online Casino.

How much credit does the new head coach deserve? Some, that much is clear, but Newcastle have rode their luck at times on this admittedly brief unbeaten run.

The Toon Army are by no means the finished article under their newly-installed German head coach, but are at least playing with personality in fits and starts, and getting results, both of which had eluded them long before the 2025/26 season came to a crescendo.

Perhaps it is this summer’s injection of young blood that has fans eyeing an extension of that undefeated streak next Monday. Or, perhaps it is the absence of key figures who once set the standard but had, for want of a better phrase, checked out towards the end of last season no longer poisoning the well.

Newcastle progress to Fourth Round of Carabao Cup with Millwall victory

Whatever the reason, Newcastle - and Jaissle - have benefited. With matches against newly-promoted duo Hull City and Coventry City in their next three, only after a difficult trip to face Leeds United at Elland Road, supporters could be forgiven for pondering when this side might next taste defeat.

It must be said, Newcastle have not steamrollered teams since the 2026/27 campaign began only three weeks ago. Liverpool arrived at St. James’ Park on the opening weekend, and despite looking a shadow of their usual selves, left with a point. AFC Bournemouth also made their way out of Tyneside with a share of the spoils, albeit having led 2-0.

The Newcastle rearguard is anything but watertight, conceding twice against the Reds, Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion in the previous round of the Carabao Cup.

In a move that reflected an encouraging start to the season and possibly his growing importance in the dressing room, Yoane Wissa was handed the captain’s armband at The Den as Newcastle met Millwall in the Third Round.

Jaissle boldly selected the DR Congo striker as the man to lead his team ahead of veterans Fabian Schar and Jacob Murphy, who have been with the club eight and nine years, respectively. A small decision, given the relative importance of the match, but a significant one indicative of the club’s transitional period all the same.

Eight minutes into the game, it was the skipper sprinting back as Millwall smelled a counter-attacking opportunity, with Wissa eventually winning a free-kick and possession of the ball. It is an altogether different version of the £55 million player Newcastle signed merely 372 days ago, alert, engaged and dialled in, but he was largely ineffectual and spared further exertion with his substitution on 62 minutes.

Joe Willock could’ve departed late in the window, much like £70m Nick Woltemade, but now finds himself playing in a front two of sorts, alongside Wissa, in lieu of the German forward. While it's difficult ascertaining anything of note about new-look Newcastle at this early stage, Jaissle at least knows how he wants to play and the personnel it requires.

In each of Newcastle’s three league matches so far this term, the Magpies have created fewer chances and shooting opportunities than their opponents. Only against Championship side West Brom, whom they conceded 1.46 to in Expected Goals (xG) and two actual goals, did Newcastle have the lion’s share of the game.

It was a similar story to the previous round at The Den with the Magpies deserved winners, but their second tier hosts were not roundly beaten.

Much like Newcastle’s summer business, there’s still plenty to come out in the wash.

Teams in transition usually don’t play with the consistency of a settled side and despite Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the season, they are functioning exactly like that. Swaggering one minute, unconvincing the next. Maybe this is all symptomatic of a team searching for an identity, and leaders, and star quality, all of which departed over the summer.

Deep into the second half, Newcastle had goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek’s upright to thank, after Tairyk Arconte came within a whisker of opening the scoring, and then Willock. The Londoner swept in Lewis Hall's cross for his second of the season following what was Newcastle’s only well-worked move since the break down the left.

With a goal cushion, Jaissle’s men played with confidence again, almost as if they had rediscovered it instantaneously, finding an energy reserve of pure adrenaline within them.

Newcastle made it out of the Lions’ Den without too many scrapes. They were not put through the ringer or kicked from pillar to post. They will go to Leeds and face a sterner test next Monday but remain five unbeaten, which they could not say at any stage last season.

Only after 87 minutes did Jaissle’s terrace chant to the tune of Baccara’s ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ receive its first airing of the night. It rang out until the referee’s whistle seven minutes later. And then some more.

If nothing else of real substance could be gleaned from this game, nowhere in English football this week, or perhaps this season, will the contrast in dugout dress code be as juxtaposed as Jaissle and his opposite number Alex Neil.

This new version of Newcastle United is everything and nothing all at once, but you can’t argue with an unbeaten start. Carrying that momentum for as long as they can will be crucial, for as long as they’re finding out who and what they are.

The Champions League kicks off this evening, in an exclusive match-week that will also see games played on Thursday.

Players making their debut appearance in the competition, including substitutes, will wear a one-off patch given to them by UEFA.

The ‘debut patch’ is valid only for each player’s first-ever Champions League appearance. As to where the patches go post-game, it appears that football has been taking notes from the NBA.

‘Debut patches’ in the Champions League to be turned into trading cards

After each patch-wearing player’s debut, it will be retrieved and turned into a unique trading card. These items are anticipated to sell for staggering sums of money.

The move is akin to NBA debut patches and rookie trading cards being sold for exorbitant fees, in the event of players becoming sporting legends.

Cooper Flagg, who delivered a Rookie of the Year-worthy NBA season in his breakout campaign for the Dallas Mavericks, recently saw his debut patch go to auction. It is anticipated to sell for over $1 million.

One of LeBron James’ rookie trading cards, signed by the NBA legend, is believed to be worth around $10 million, with the now-Philadelphia 76er becoming, arguably, the sport’s all-time greatest.

In the Champions League, plenty of high-profile players are expected to make their competition debuts, and will wear the tournament’s debut patches.

At Manchester United, both Bryan Mbeumo, expected to appear in the Red Devils’ opening match versus Sabah FK on Thursday, and Carlos Baleba will make their Champions League debuts.

For the latter, Michael Carrick revealed last week that his debut is set to arrive in 10-14 days. He is due to appear initially in either a Premier League or Carabao Cup clash, then a Champions League game later in the league phase.

The move also follows patches being introduced at the 2026 World Cup, as part of a licensing deal with trading card and stickers company Fanatics.

Global stars such as Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal (and Dan Burn) wore debut patches that were later turned into high-value collectables.

Previous edition Golden Boot, Glove and Ball winners were also given special patches in North America.

No European fixtures beyond those played in the Champions League are scheduled for this match-week, and games will feature a minute’s silence prior to kick-off.

As relayed by Henry Winter, the silence, in remembrance of the lives lost after a series of devastating flash floods in Nepal will be accompanied by banners reading: "You are not alone, Nepal."

On September 7, Nepal held a national day of mourning for those who had died in the floods. It is estimated that at least 1355 people were killed, with more than 5000 still missing.

Champions League to feature minute’s silence for Nepal

Candlelit vigils were held on Monday evening, as rescue teams continued in their efforts to locate survivors.

The floods are believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse. It has now been two weeks since the disaster, with Monday marking the final day of the traditional 13-day Hindu mourning period.

The news arrives after Premier League and EFL fixtures this weekend were confirmed to not feature a minute’s silence for the victims of 9/11.

67 British people died as a result of the terror attacks on the United States of America, back on September 11, 2001.

Conversely, the Champions League matches this week will commemorate those that lost their lives across the Nepal-Tibet border region.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed: "The entire European football family will stand together before this week's matches to express our deepest condolences and our support to the people of Nepal.

“We wish them strength and resilience as they continue to recover from this tragedy and its aftermath,” he concluded.

The minute’s silences and raised banners are intended to help sustain international awareness for Nepal, aiding in the location of missing flood survivors.

Last Saturday, a 64-year-old Nepali woman was recovered alive by rescuers from her buried house in the Nuwakot district, more than 10 days after it had been submerged.

In Nepal, at least 5000 missing are people, while over 500 are unaccounted for in Tibet. All 36 teams, in 18 Champions League matches, will play this week, with a minute’s silence observed in each clash.

Manchester United appear keen to boast the country's best youth talent once again, with the Red Devils on the brink of completing a triple signing from their two biggest rivals.

The club is reportedly putting the finishing touches on an agreement for Liverpool's 16-year-old attacker Isaac Konde, in addition to signing Manchester City pair David Eze and Karim Cassim, according to the BBC.

Konde, 16, made six appearances for Liverpool’s Under-18 squad last term and is said to be known for his speed and ball control. It is expected he will be integrated into Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 setup upon arrival.

Man United poach three players from Liverpool and Manchester City

Across town, Man United's pursuit of City duo Eze and Cassim is reportedly close to reaching a conclusion.

Both 16-year-olds are nominally central midfielders and have been on their soon-to-be employer's radar for some time, as per the BBC's Simon Stone.

The club are clearly making a concerted effort to steal away top-rated talent from Premier League rivals having previously secured striker Chido Obi and defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.

In both cases, the ex-Gunners quickly made their first-team debuts with Heaven now considered a senior option under Michael Carrick.

Man United have historically been regarded as a club with rich academy history and a consistent pathway to first-team opportunities.

The revered 'Class of 92' are the preeminent example of this with several members of that FA Youth Cup-winning side going on to play central roles under Sir Alex Ferguson in the decades that followed.

Manchester United retain one of the most remarkable records in world sport, having had at least one homegrown academy graduate included in every single first-team matchday squad for over 88 years.

Everton were in turmoil before Ainsley Maitland-Niles' 96th-minute equaliser against Manchester United last weekend. And to some extent, they still are - but all is not lost.

The Toffees are unbeaten in their opening three matches of the new Premier League season, with five points on the board, so the players are holding up their side of the bargain. At board level, though, it has been well-documented over the past couple of weeks that all is not well. Defeat at home to Man United would've seen a return of the phenomenon widely regarded as the 'Goodison boo' upon the final whistle.

A week prior, supporters had protested against the potential sale of academy graduate Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest which prompted a £40 million U-turn by the club's decision-makers. Then, fans could only watch as Everton jettisoned £100m worth of attacking talent on transfer deadline day, replacing them with nothing.

Silver lining to Everton's disastrous deadline day

It's understandable, then, that Evertonians are keen to hang their hats on Armstrong and his potential. And while many may assume he is the young player with the highest ceiling at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this season, FourFourTwo beg to differ.

Everton's signing of Chelsea academy star Tyrique George could prove to be some of the best business the club have done in recent years, because the 20-year-old has hit the ground running this season, despite the external noise surrounding the club's failings off the pitch.

The left-sided winger impressed against Man United, finding the net with a great effort to level the scoreline late in the game. It was his first Premier League goal for the club.

But it is not George's goalscoring that will, in our opinion, make him a dark horse for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Courtesy of Gradient Sports data, George is the Premier League's best ball-carrier so far this season. Admittedly, the campaign is merely three weeks old but the signs are promising.

George is performing well above average in various areas, including passing, shooting and winning duels, but it is his ball-carrying which really lights up the database.

So far this season, George has completed seven of his nine attempted dribbles, beating his man with regularity during the early knockings of the campaign. This aspect of his game is especially reminiscent of an Everton teammate's breakthrough at Aston Villa: Jack Grealish.

Grealish was - and to some extent, still is - an elite level ball-carrier. Both are capable of transporting play upfield, tens of yards at a time with the ball at their feet. For clubs who are likely to find themselves in mid-table and below, alleviating opposition pressure by taking the ball far away from their own goal is a useful skill to have, not to mention leveraging it to good effect in an attacking sense in the final third.

George is going to be tasked with doing the former an awful lot this season, not least because Everton's first-team squad only has 18 senior members. Opportunities are going to be forthcoming for the ex-Chelsea youngster and on early season evidence, he's ready to grasp them with both hands.

Everton have left themselves with one recognised striker in David Moyes' group, Thierno Barry, who is the type of striker who requires service from out wide, and runners. As he has shown in recent weeks, George can offer the latter from the left-hand side, and Brennan Johnson is more than capable of doing that on the opposite flank. It relies on all three remaining fit, but gives things a decidedly rosier outlook than when the window slammed shut last week.

Chances for George to break through at Chelsea were always going to be few and far between, despite the cameo role he played at Stamford Bridge before joining the Toffees. The Blues will be looking to challenge for the Premier League title this season, albeit as an outside bet, and the £116m signing of Morgan Rogers guarantees Chelsea a greater likelihood of success than if they were to give George equal importance in the squad.

If George can add tangible end product as well, as he demonstrated against Man United, then there is every chance due to the level of exposure, working alongside Grealish and the style Everton are likely to play, that George will be someone we're all talking about very highly come the end of the season.

On Thursday night, six Champions League matches will be played, on an evening traditionally known for hosting Europa League action.

On their return to Europe, Manchester United welcome Sabah FK — the champions of Azerbaijan, making their Champions League debut — this Thursday.

The Red Devils, accustomed in recent years to hearing the Europa League anthem on Thursday, will instead hear the Champions League composition, but why?

Why are Champions League sides playing on a Thursday?

The tournament is not hosting matches on Thursday to accommodate scheduling issues for league phases teams. Simply, the Champions League has been given its own week to shine.

With the Europa and Conference League tournaments yet to commence, the Champions League has been cleared to set up showdowns on Thursday.

This is a one-off, exclusive week - going forward, the Champions League will only schedule games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

These exclusive weeks, in which one of the European competitions is freed from the shackles of its tournament peers’ scheduling, have been implemented since 2024/25.

Each year since, the Champions, Europa and Conference League competitions have received a single week that allows their tournament to take centre stage.

Last term, it was also staged for the Champions League during the tournament’s opening match-week. Dates for the Europa and Conference League competitions’ exclusive weeks have not yet been revealed.

Outside of Old Trafford, five additional games will be played this Thursday. Last year's semi-finalists Bayern Munich host Bodo/Glimt, while Como welcome RB Leipzig.

Eredivisie champions PSV take on Shakhtar Donetsk, Slavia Prague face Lens, and Super Lig contenders Fenerbahce - who knocked out Lyon during qualification, and caused a chain of events leading to Malick Fofana’s Premier League transfer - play Roma.

League phase teams stand to benefit from a lengthy list of incentives that increases the higher they finish in the Champions League table, with the tournament getting underway this Tuesday evening.

The Champions League returns this week, with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa all playing in their opening tournament fixtures on Tuesday evening.

Across each team’s next eight matches in the tournament, they will fight for a position in the Top 8, and Top 24, of the league phase table; 12 teams of the 36 are guaranteed to exit the competition.

Positions one to eight are guaranteed progression to the Champions League Round of 16, while positions nine to 24 enter the play-off round, but what additional incentives are there?

Why should Champions League sides play for higher league phase finishes, not just knock-out qualification?

Teams finishing in the Top 8 will enjoy two fewer games of football than sides in positions nine to 24 — guaranteed Round of 16 qualification bypasses the play-off round, rewarding the league phase’s strongest-performing clubs with an additional period of rest.

All 36 clubs will earn a guaranteed participation fee of around €18.5 million: this is the lowest sum of money that any Champions League club present in the league phase can earn.

That total is subject to rise dramatically, depending on the results achieved by those competing. Every win in the league phase earns clubs an estimated €2 million, while a draw gives back €750,000.

Therefore, a league phase team that takes eight wins from eight in the Champions League will receive an additional €16 million, bringing their total, before bonuses, up to €34.5 million.

As the first of two bonuses, clubs positioned between first and eighth will receive a further €2 million for their league phase finish, while teams placed ninth to 16th will earn €1 million.

There is also a ranking bonus pool of around €183 million, which is split into 666 shares. The highest-placed league phase club receives 36 shares, which totals nearly €10 million.

These shares decrease by one for each descending position: the side in second receives 35 shares, the team in third, 34, etc.

Should a side manage to take eight victories from eight in the league phase, and finish first in the table, they would stand to earn an estimated €46.5 million.

Additionally, those figures were collected using financial data from the 2025-26 Champions League tournament — rewards stand to rise, as they have done every season, this time out.

Each club’s position in the table also determines the ‘quality’ of their knock-out opposition, and gives the highest-ranked teams home advantage in later rounds.

In places nine to 24, each side faces the table’s inversely-positioned club. Ninth will face 24th in the play-off round, 10th will face 23rd, 11th will face 22nd, etc.

The Champions League’s finest, those placed first to fourth, are rewarded with slightly easier knock-out routes, by carrying home advantages.

Teams in first and second will play their home leg first in every knock-out round until the final, while teams in third and fourth will receive home advantage for their Round of 16 and quarter-final ties.

Clubs competing in this season’s Champions League, which gets underway tonight, stand to benefit from all of the above benefits, should they rank highest among their international peers.

Reports in Germany indicate Michael Olise is set to sign a massive new contract at Bayern Munich that will completely price Liverpool out of a move.

After breaking through the youth ranks and making his professional debut at Reading in the Championship, Olise earned himself a move to Crystal Palace. At Selhurst Park, his performances and creative output in the Premier League caught the attention of Europe’s elite.

Since arriving in Germany, Olise has taken his game to another level, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous attackers in world football, reportedly drawing the gaze of Liverpool's recruitment department.

Liverpool to look elsewhere after Michael Olise development

However, a return to English football now looks increasingly unlikely.

According to recent reports, Bayern are preparing to hand Olise a lucrative contract extension, one that includes an eye-watering release clause designed to deter potential suitors.

Historically, the Bavarian giants prided themselves on a refusal to include release clauses in player contracts, ensuring they held all the cards over any potential departures.

However, the shifting landscape of modern football has forced a change at boardroom level. Much like the agreement recently struck for Jamal Musiala, buyout clauses are becoming the new normal in Munich.

For Olise, Bayern are reportedly planning to insert an exit clause ranging anywhere from €150 million to €250 million (£126m–£211m), according to journalist Christian Falk.

Such an astronomical figure represents an insurmountable hurdle, even for a team like Liverpool. Under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club operates with a strict financial model.

While they are certainly capable of making statement signings - evidenced by their recent captures of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola, all for in excees of £100m - obliterating their transfer record for Olise doesn't align with their financial reality.

Liverpool’s financial situation in the wake of recent arrivals dictates that they must be efficient with their remaining budget, finding value in the market rather than triggering world-record release clauses.

For many fans, the ex-Palace man would have been the dream acquisition but with Barcola now in the building, the requirement for a player of Olise's calibre has somewhat lessened.

Furthermore, the numbers required to pry him away from Germany are no longer viable given the Frenchman looks set to commit his prime years to Bayern, too.

Carlos Baleba's Manchester United debut date has been revealed by Michael Carrick, ahead of his side's trip to Everton this weekend.

Manchester United have won one, and lost one in their two opening Premier League games this term, defeating Ipswich Town 5-2 last Sunday.

Prior to that, another newly-promoted side in Hull City served the Red Devils a 2-0 opening day defeat at the MKM Stadium

Michael Carrick reveals Carlos Baleba's Manchester United debut date

Manchester United signed Baleba in late August, in a deal worth £70 million, from their Premier League peer Brighton.

The Red Devils lost veteran midfielder Casemiro in the summer, and shelled out an initial £65 million, with a further five in add-ons, to secure the services of the Cameroonian as a replacement.

Baleba made 31 English top-flight appearances last season, playing almost 1700 minutes.

He recovered the ball just over three times per game, while winning an average of six duels; Baleba also made one interception and one tackle per match for the Seagulls.

Before revealing the his likely debut date, Carrick provided updates on the injury status of Mason Mount and Luke Shaw.

The former seems to have had a positive week on the training pitches, as relayed by Ben Dinnery, while the latter was pictured alongside club captain Bruno Fernandes in training on Thursday.

Baleba is now 10-14 days out from making his debut appearance for the Red Devils, as Carrick's men prepare to play Champions League football in the coming weeks.

In relation to Manchester United's schedule, the Cameroonian will likely make his first appearance in red versus Fulham at Craven Cottage.

That match will be played in the Premier League on September 20, however, if Baleba becomes available at the mid point of the range provided, he could face off against his former team in the Carabao Cup, on September 16.

If that is to be the case, bizarrely, Baleba's previous and last game would be against Manchester United, then Brighton respectively.

The 22-year-old last featured in a football match versus the Red Devils during a 3-0 loss with Brighton, in the final game of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Ex-Chelsea and West Ham manager Graham Potter has branded an unnamed former club of his "dysfunctional" in the comments of an Instagram post.

The current head coach of the Sweden national team is rebuilding his managerial career after disappointing spells at both Chelsea and West Ham United.

Potter posted an image of himself doing pilates to Instagram yesterday, and dug out one of his former clubs in reply to a fan.

Graham Potter digs out 'dysfunctional' club in Instagram post

The Englishman made a name for himself as boss at Brighton, where he lasted three years in the job and led the Seagulls to their highest-ever top-flight finish in 2022.

He made the move to Chelsea, where, after losing 11 games in his 31 at the helm, he was sacked inside eight months.

After almost two years away from management, Potter returned to the Premier League to coach West Ham.

In London once more, he lasted even less time, managing the Hammers from January to September of 2025.

The Englishman's side finished 14th in the 2024/25 Premier League standings, but was sacked after leading the club to a 19th-placed position after the next term's first five games.

Now manager of the Sweden national team, Potter led his side out of the groups in North America this summer, before exiting in a 3-0 defeat to previous tournament edition finalists France.

The 51-year-old posted an image of him in a pilates pose to Instagram on Thursday afternoon, which prompted one fan to jokingly respond: "Hopefully you are better at Pilates then you were a football manager."

Potter replied: "I'll try not to do Pilates in a dysfunctional place and I will be ok," with a flexed bicep emoji.

It is unclear which club the Englishman was referring to, however, the Hammers were relegated in the same season that Potter left them, while the Blues finished just 13 points clear of the drop zone in 10th last term.

Since Potter joined, Chelsea have now resorted to their eighth manager in three years, with Xabi Alonso at the helm.

Another fan commented in response: "Didn't mind the money though, did you?" to which Potter replied "absolutely not."

And when a West Ham fan wrote: "You got us relegated, you mug," the Englishman replied with two laughing emojis.

Liverpool target Yankuba Minteh could make the move to Anfield in January, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has revealed.

The Reds saw deadline day to its conclusion without securing the replacement for recently-departed Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah.

Andoni Iraola's men saw Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola join in the attack; however, neither are natural right-wingers. Now, the Brighton manager has revealed that Minteh may secure his move in the next transfer window, should he and the team be successful.

"Maybe he can fulfil his dream in the next transfer window," reveals Hurzeler

Liverpool were also in the market for Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, however, that deal never materialised either, leaving him requiring time to recover emotionally.

Veteran attacker Cody Gakpo was linked closely to Manchester City in the window's final days, but the Reds opted to keep the winger to provide additional right flank coverage.

In a pre-match match press conference ahead of Brighton's clash this weekend versus Leeds United, Hurzeler revealed that Minteh may get his move in January.

"[Minteh] wears the Brighton colours, he wears the Brighton badge - he's been here for two years now," the German told reporters.

"We've achieved great things together. Therefore, it's also about him now to commit.

"In the end, we always say we want to be successful as a club, but then you can [also] shine as individuals. If we achieve things together, then attention will come to those players.

"This will be the case this season; if the whole team is successful, then Yankuba will maybe fulfil his dream in the next transfer window," Hurzeler concluded.

Replacing Salah was always going to be a tall order for Liverpool, but Minteh's Premier League-proven ability was clearly appealing to Iraola's side this window.

The Brighton attacker bagged seven goal involvements in 34 English top-flight games last season, and 10 in 32 the season prior.

Richarlison's future at Tottenham Hotspur is hanging in the balance, as the 29-year-old's transfer to Super Lig side Trabzonspor edges nearer.

The Brazilian previously rejected an Everton homecoming earlier this week, taking to social media to reveal that negotiations had broken down with the Toffees.

Now, Richarlison could join forces with Liverpool royalty in Mohamed Salah, as time ticks down on Super Lig deadline day.

Richarlison on verge of move to Trabzonspor, reveals Turkish transfer expert

The Brazilian was recently axed from Spurs's 25-man squad list, with boss Roberto De Zerbi confirming Richarlison had "said too many times that he wants to leave."

Earlier this week, it was reported by Turkish transfer expert Yagiz Sabuncuoglu that Richarlison had verbally agreed to move to Trabzonspor, and the deal has since progressed further.

September 4 is the Super Lig's deadline day, with hours remaining for the Turkish top-flight side to secure the Brazilian's services.

Sabuncuoglu provided an update via X (formerly Twitter) yesterday evening that clarified how close Trabzonspor are to pulling off the move.

"Trabzonspor will finalise the Richarlison transfer if they can send one foreign player from their squad before the transfer window closes," he wrote.

"Otherwise, the transfer will be cancelled," Sabuncuoglu concluded. The Super Lig's deadline day ends this evening at 11:59pm BST.

Trabzonspor recently signed another striker in their efforts to prevent Galatasaray from securing an unprecedented fifth-consecutive Turkish top-flight title.

That player is Franculino Dju, who moved from Danish Superliga club Midtjylland in a deal worth almost £15 million.

Trabzonspor appear to quietly be assembling a solid attack, led by Liverpool legend Salah who has scored three-in-three for the club domestically this term.

According to ESPN Brazil, the Egyptian even called Richarlison to convince him to join the Turkish top-flight side.

In that report, it is stated that Spurs have rejected a €20 million offer for their Brazilian forward, meaning that it is possible a fee has not been agreed upon, as of yet.

Richarlison, who is currently training with Tottenham Hotspur's Under-21s side, is pushing hard for the move.

The Athletic reported yesterday that Spurs had rejected a bid from Trabzonspor, claiming there was no guarantee that the Turkish club would try their luck again.

According to Sabuncuoglu, it appears that the deal has progressed since, as the hours tick down on Super Lig deadline day.

Richarlison has been dumped by Tottenham Hotspur, failing to appear in their submitted 25-man Premier League squad list.

The news arrives days after Richarlison was reportedly asking the club to allow him to leave, with Super Lig side Trabzonspor entering the equation and gunning for his signature.

The Brazilian was also close to an Everton homecoming, however, he ultimately turned the Toffees down after unsuccessful negotiations.

Richarlison dumped by Tottenham Hotspur

Richarlison was a foundational player in Spurs' relegation survival last term, bagging 11 goals, and recording four assists, in 32 Premier League appearances.

His sole appearance so far this campaign came from the start versus Brentford, where he played 61 minutes in a 3-0 loss.

Last Saturday, before Spurs were beaten for a second successive game, losing 2-0 at home to Newcastle United, De Zerbi was brief and blunt in his assessment of the Brazilian's future.

"Richarlison has said too many times that he wants to leave," the Italian revealed.

"I love these players, and these are great guys - but if they want to leave, they have to bring the economic solution to the club.

"Then they can go, and we'll find other players [to replace them]," concluded De Zerbi.

Days later, Richarlison's name was omitted from Spurs' 25-man squad list, amid rumours of the Brazilian making the move to the Super Lig.

The 29-year-old was linked by two Turkish transfer experts to the current club of Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah: Trabzonspor.

That news arrived days after Richarlison took to Instagram to reveal a breakdown in negotiations between himself and former club Everton.

“My intention was to go back to the place where I was very happy, yes," wrote the 29-year-old. "“But the negotiations happened only in the way certain people wanted.

"It will no longer be like that. I am under contract at Spurs and will remain at the club’s disposal," he concluded, before links to the Turkish top-flight emerged.

If it wasn't enough for Manchester City to break the British transfer record on ex-Chelsea man Enzo Fernandez, willingly handing him Kevin De Bruyne's shirt number rather than retiring it, even just temporarily, tells you everything you need to know.

Premier League fans have had it easy when it comes to making that claim, yet the Cityzens keep giving them ammunition.

If being the defining figure across six English top-flight title wins isn't enough for a statue, a temporarily-retired shirt number, or a dedicated wing at the training ground, what is?

Enzo taking De Bruyne's shirt number so soon is wrong

There will be a section of angry Man City fans that will argue De Bruyne's legacy is not being tarred, and that he will forever be respected, regardless of whether his shirt number is in another player's possession.

But it's the principle: if you secure two PFA Players' Player of the Year awards, six Premier League titles, four Playmaker Awards, all as the cornerstone of City's golden era, that number belongs to you.

Whether De Bruyne himself minds or not, it's a show of respect that any serious clubs should offer to the legends that define them.

And before the question is raised: yes, Manchester City are different to other clubs that didn't retire the shirt numbers of other defining legends, such as Wayne Rooney's '10', or Steven Gerrard's '8'.

That is because, in the grand scheme of history, De Bruyne is more akin to icons at Liverpool and Manchester United in the 20th Century. Besides, '17' is far easier to retire as a number than the aforementioned pair.

The club does not possess the same history as its closest rivals, and it is De Bruyne who will go down as one of the first-ever Manchester City legends that raised the club to its ever-growing present.

But to give his number away within two years, to the first player that asked for it? Not even a buffer period, or to a player who has earned the right to 'stand where he stood'?

Nobody is asking for the Belgian's '17' to be withheld indefinitely — although, it's not the worst idea — but to give it to Enzo?

The same Enzo disciplined for singing homophobic and racist chants with his national team, who wielded an anti-Falklands banner in the summer after beating England, and got himself sent off by turning Pau Cubarsi into Simone Biles in the World Cup final?

The same Enzo who practically begged for a Real Madrid move while at Chelsea, and was removed from the squad ahead of an FA Cup quarter-final?

What has always held Manchester City back from being taken as seriously as their Premier League peers, is the idea that players who arrive there do so for money, not for the badge.

It's the idea that Manchester City, more so than their rivals, pay to see success, rather than breed it by creating a culture and environment that superstars would virtually pay to join.

And it's why the Manchester club time and time again are branded by opposition fans as soulless.

But one thing is for certain, the Cityzens have failed to honour one of the few players that nobody doubts adored their club.

If the Belgian's statue is being constructed behind the scenes, they better start carving the stone quicker.

The Premier League is king. It's where players want to play and it's what broadcasters want to show. You'll find some, not all, fans of lower league clubs who claim to support Liverpool or Manchester United, too, or Scottish football supporters who also 'have a Premier League team'.

And with the ever-increasing sums of money changing hands, moving from one top flight team's accounts to another, the division is the closest thing to football's own private members' club.

So, why are we still pretending that the feared 'Super League' hasn't already arrived in a different guise? Here, we've compiled 15 examples, just from this summer's transfer window, that prove a 'Super League' already exists.

Hull City signed 18 players, eight were over the £10m mark

The Tigers were not good in the Championship last season, but my word did they get the job done when it mattered, crawling - or mauling - their way over the line in the play-off final.

In order to compete in 2026/27, the choice was an obvious one: buy an entirely new team or suffer the consequences. They've done exactly that, bringing in 18 new faces, many of whom for significant fees.

Prior to this summer, Hull had paid £10 million or more for just two players in their entire history: Ryan Mason and Abel Hernandez. This year, they've done it eight times, backed by the revenue they will make simply for participating in the richest league in the world.

£3.5bn was spent

Three-and-a-half billion big ones. Billions. Yes, most of it will have been funded by private equity, sovereign states and borrowing - not the kind you get at your high street bank, either - but it's £3.5 billion all the same.

Per club, it works out at an average spend of £175m, which is obviously a ridiculous amount of money to spend on blokes kicking a bag of air around.

In Italy, Serie A clubs spent £940m, the 18 German Bundesliga teams collectively paid £673m on new signings, Spain's LaLiga contingent forked out £650m and France's Ligue 1 lot splurged £523m. That means the Premier League spent £720m more than the other four top five leagues combined.

Four players moved for over £100m

Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson, Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers were the four players who cost in excess of £100m this summer.

That's the same number of transfers exceeding £100m as there has been in the past Premier League three seasons.

33 of the 50 most expensive summer transfers were signings made by Premier League clubs

While there were five in Serie A, four in LaLiga, three in the Saudi Pro League and three in Ligue 1, the Premier League dominated the list of the most expensive transfers this summer.

Two-thirds of the top 50 big money movers were signed by Premier League clubs.

Bournemouth to Benfica...actually, the other way round

Bournemouth signed one of Portuguese football's best up-and-coming defenders from Benfica when they landed Antonio Silva. And they managed to get him relatively cheaply as well, for around £20m.

In years gone by, the only way a Benfica player would have joined Bournemouth would have been if it were on Championship Manager. This is no slight towards the Cherries, who are well-run, upwardly mobile, have earned their place in the top flight and been through dark times, but nowadays playing for a mid-table Premier League club with a comparably minuscule fanbase is more lucrative than for a team of Benfica's history and heritage.

Coventry City broke their transfer record three times in the space of a month

Loum Tchaouna became the Sky Blues' record signing on July 11, then Carl Rushworth on August 4. Three days later, Caleb Yirenkyi trumped them both.

To compete in this league, teams must pay the price, do financially uncomfortable things and, in Coventry's case, enter uncharted territory.

Fulham signed three Real Madrid players

Alvaro Arbeloa's managerial CV reads: Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid, Fulham. Is it any wonder, then, that he's snapped up a bunch of Madrid graduates to puppeteer in the Premier League? Probably not.

Still, the sight of one-time Galacticos at Craven Cottage is the stuff of Championship Manager again. Let's hope for Arbeloa's sake, they're signings that hit the ground running, because they didn't do a great deal else in the window.

Hull signed players from Rayo Vallecano (Madrid), Sporting CP (Lisbon), Olympiacos x2 (Athens), Genoa, Nice and Union Berlin

Humberside, the East Yorkshire Riviera, or the UK City of Culture 2017, whichever you'd like to call it. It must have been some brochure Acun Ilicali and Hull City pitched to their transfer targets this summer.

More cynical observers might assume the club's golden handshakes were the primary motivation for their new recruits. Not me, though. Have you been to The Deep? Glorious.

Ipswich Town spent £189m - and still might be relegated

It's a tough gig when you spend almost £200m and are still bookmakers' second-favourite to go down.

In no other league in the world would that be the case. Go on, find one. You can't.

The fifth-most expensive goalkeeper in history joined a team that finished 14th last season

James Trafford to Leeds for £40m is, by Premier League standards, actually a really good deal. He solves a problem position for the club and gets regular first-team football which he was lacking at Manchester City.

In Premier League terms, £40m isn't that significant of an outlay on a single transfer these days, either.

It's a transfer that also makes him the fifth-most expensive goalkeeper in history. Read that again.

Liverpool spent £28m on an 18-year-old goalkeeper with 15 senior career appearances - then loaned him out

Lucca Brughmans, ever heard of him? Didn't think so. Well, he's Liverpool's new goalkeeper from Genk in Belgium.

And they've sent him back to Genk for the season. How many teams outside the Premier League would drop £28m on a goalkeeper and not use him? They've already got five, too. Although, you'd imagine Brughmans will supersede Freddie Woodman, Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies when he returns to Anfield.

Manchester City have spent £236m on one position

Three players, three great signings, £236m spent. Man City's midfield is stacked following the signings of Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez.

This has been a summer of transition for the club, and when teams go through such periods, the received wisdom is that it takes a few transfer windows to iron out the creases in the squad. Nope, not when you're at the top of the Premier League food chain.

Newcastle spent £30m on a player with 12 career starts

And they convinced a player in Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who would have had a Champions League platform with Lille this season, to join them despite the fact European football might not return to Tyneside for some time.

As for the player with 12 career starts, that's former Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba. He must be good, but the sample size is sparse.

Nottingham Forest broke their transfer record for a striker who scored three goals in 49 apps last season

Disclaimer: With the right support around him, adequate starts and minutes, Liam Delap could hit 20 goals a season. The problem is, he didn't get that at Chelsea because very few strikers do, given the wealth of attacking options and culture of impatience.

Still, smashing your transfer record for a striker with 13 career Premier League goals, only one of which came last season, is symptomatic of a league that has more money than sense, as the saying goes.

Spurs spent £85m on a midfielder with five international minutes, relegated in each of the past two seasons

There's no denying Mateus Fernandes is a very good footballer, but is he worth £85m? Various clubs were in for him but West Ham had been relegated, their negotiating position weakened, and from the outside looking in, it appeared as though Spurs simply paid the Hammers' asking price...at the first time of asking.

The ability to spend £85m with the stroke of a pen is reserved almost exclusively for Premier League teams.

Pierre Sage has revealed that Ismaila Sarr will need time to recover from his failed transfer to Liverpool, and addressed whether the Senegalese forward will move to Anfield in January.

The Reds approached Sarr in an effort to locate their Mohamed Salah replacement, with Brighton's Yankuba Minteh also considered.

Neither forward was signed by Liverpool, and Cody Gakpo, who was on the verge of transferring to Manchester City, has stayed on Merseyside to provide additional right wing coverage.

Ismaila Sarr must recover emotionally and Palace have no intention to sell in January, reveals Sage

The Reds oversaw a mixed transfer window, completing the signings of La Liga youngster Victor Munoz and PSG superstar Bradley Barcola.

Neither of these signings were deemed adequate to cover the gaping hole left by Salah on the right flank, leading the club to enter the market in late plunges for Sarr and Minteh.

Ultimately, both deals failed, and Liverpool will likely play until January without a natural right winger of the quality they need.

Crystal Palace boss Sage has revealed that the Senegalese forward will need time to recover from the transfer falling through, and clarified that the club have no intention to sell Sarr in January.

"He has to digest for sure because it's a dream for a lot of players to play with this kind of club," confessed Sage.

"He had a good opportunity but in the end it didn't work. If he wants to continue, you have to have a good season with us as he did last year.

"We know he needs time. Like every bad situation, time does the job and we need time for that," he concluded.

On whether the Senegalese attacker will make an Anfield move in January, Sage quickly dispelled the thought.

I don’t think [he will leave]," confessed the Palace boss. "I don’t think so, because all the clubs are in their season.

"We have a decision to take about the European list. It's difficult to move the team when you are in this competition," he concluded.

Arsenal are protecting their long-term interests in teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri.

The Gunners have reportedly inserted a recall option into Nwaneri's season-long loan move to Borussia Dortmund.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, writing for CaughtOffside, the Gunners have the right to break the loan agreement early and bring the 19-year-old back to North London during the January transfer window should they choose to exercise it.

Clarity on Ethan Nwaneri's Arsenal future

The deal is also structured as a straight loan with no option or obligation for the Bundesliga club to buy.

Consequently, Dortmund will not likely have the resource, or opportunity, to sign Nwaneri on a permanent basis at the end of the season, in contrast to other loan agreements that feature purchase clauses.

The inclusion of the January recall clause is another clear indication that Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy still see a future for Nwaneri at the Emirates Stadium.

However, both the manager and the board acknowledge that the player was unlikely to receive the regular minutes required to further his development at his parent club during the 2026/27 campaign.

To avoid a scenario where the midfielder's progress stalls on the bench, Arsenal have opted to sanction a temporary departure to Germany. And having seen previous young loanees suffer from a lack of minutes, the Gunners wanted to ensure they retained full control of the arrangement, allowing them to step in if Nwaneri's game time in Germany does not meet expectations.

A serious knee injury to Dortmund's new, creative midfielder Giannis Konstantelias on his debut motivated the Bundesliga club's late-in-the-window pursuit of Nwaneri.

The Arsenal hierarchy's hope is for Nwaneri to perform at a high level in the Bundesliga, using the experience to prove he can handle first-team demands in the Premier League. If all goes according to plan, the England youth international will return to the Emirates next summer to stake a claim for a far more involved role in Arteta's first-team squad.

There is an argument that Chelsea are better at conducting transfers than they are at winning football matches. This summer's window has done nothing to redress that balance.

While rival fans mock and scoff at the volume of transfer activity at Stamford Bridge, the reality is they're quite good at it. Xabi Alonso’s side have emerged from the 2026 summer window stronger, more balanced, and the undisputed kings of the transfer market.

The marquee acquisition of Morgan Rogers is excellent business, even at a premium price. Signing Rogers gives Chelsea what could be the most lethal front three in the Premier League alongside Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, supported by enviable depth in reserve.

Chelsea's transfer window mastery

Equal significance lies at the opposite end of the pitch, where landing 2022 World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez provides an immediate upgrade on Robert Sanchez, and solves a problem position that has plagued the club for several seasons.

Chelsea finished the window £35 million in the black, despite signing £349m worth of players. The club recouped a staggering £384m in player sales, extracting significant fees for the likes of Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, and joint-British record man Enzo Fernandez.

Even in Alonso's brief tenure to date, Chelsea's recruitment has evolved, perhaps due to the Spaniard's influence, moving away from the rigid, youth-exclusive early iterations of the BlueCo transfer model.

Recognising that raw potential requires established leadership to properly flourish, the ex-Real Madrid manager sanctioned the arrivals of Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, and the aforementioned Martinez. Inserting three seasoned campaigners into the dressing room provides the maturity, leadership, and also winning pedigree necessary to give the squad a more balanced feel.

But the youthful talent pipeline remains as vibrant as ever, too. The additions of Marco Palestra, Valentin Barco, and Geovany Quenda inject energy and genuine competition for places across the pitch. Paired with veteran guidance, Chelsea’s squad profile looks healthier than at any point in recent memory.

Perhaps most impressive was Chelsea’s execution in clearing out the periphery of their squad.

Unused players who faced exclusion from the Premier League’s 25-man squad list - including Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, and Mykhailo Mudryk - were successfully moved on, most for modest transfer fees.

Despite rival clubs knowing Chelsea needed to trim the edges of their first-team group, the Blues negotiated well. In doing so, they generated vital capital given their underlying financial situation, while avoiding contravention of FIFA and FIFPRO’s new anti-’bomb squad’ regulations, which grants powers to isolated players to demand free transfers.

Naturally, no transfer window is completely flawless and Chelsea's is no different. Missing out on deadline day midfield targets Lamine Camara and Manu Kone leaves Alonso slightly lighter in central areas than ideal following Fernandez’s departure to Manchester City.

Looking at the window from a big picture perspective, Chelsea have, somehow, pulled it off, again. Generating £384m in sales while leaving the squad demonstrably stronger, balanced, and stacked with depth is an achievement, make no mistake. With no European football to distract from domestic ambitions, Stamford Bridge is primed for a serious campaign.

AS Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro has revealed the extraordinary sequence of events behind Folarin Balogun’s deadline day transfer collapse to Everton.

Speaking to Get French Football News (GFFN), Scuro detailed how medical doubts raised by the Premier League club ultimately provoked the striker to reject the move at the final minute.

Scuro explained that Monaco had established a clear financial strategy entering deadline day, combining player sales with wage relief.

'I don't want to sign after the way they treated me'

"During the day, we had a clear agreement for Balogun to go to Everton," Scuro said. "Balogun flew yesterday morning to go for medicals and sign a contract.

"Balogun, besides the salary, was also an important source of income for the club, which would help us also to balance the season."

Folarin Balogun medical dispute

While Monaco held firm against Chelsea's late-in-the-window advances for Lamine Camara, Balogun arrived in Liverpool for tests. Four hours before the deadline, Everton’s medical staff raised concerns that Scuro and the player's own medical team strongly rejected.

"At 4pm, Balogun was in Liverpool undergoing his medical. Everything was going pretty well. Around 7pm, we were contacted by Everton, raising questions about Balogun’s medical, which, for our medical staff, as well as for the player’s personal medical staff, made no sense at all.

"The explanations were not enough to justify or to bring concerns regarding the future of the player, which there aren’t. This discussion started between medical departments from here and there. It took Everton around two-to-three hours to go deep into the assessment and check with other doctors. This is a normal situation when the doctor of the club raises concerns. It’s quite normal that clubs will look for other specialists, share the images and discuss the case. This was ongoing."

Reports that Balogun had failed his medical surfaced in the media while consultations continued.

"I would say around half an hour after we were contacted. It was already in the media that Balogun has failed his medical.

"What happened was that around 10pm (9pm BST), in our time here, maybe a bit earlier, Everton realised that, OK, there is no problem. We are ready to do it. Let’s sign the contract."

"Five minutes to close the transfer window there, I signed the contract, Everton signed the contract. At the last moment, the player decided not to sign. And basically, Balogun’s allegation is that I’m not feeling well because of the way the club treated me. 'I’m not feeling well because Everton’s medical department raised doubts about my future or my health. I have nothing [wrong with me], so I’m not comfortable signing a long contract here.' And that’s the way we finish our transfer window.

"On Everton, I was not there. We have to respect [Balogun's] decision. We tried to do the work on the club side. We found solutions.

"The reality is that when 'Balo' mentioned to us this feeling that he was not comfortable, he didn’t want to sign, we didn’t see ourselves in a position to push him. We had to respect."

The Belgian attacker will call the Stadium of Light home this season, but life at Lyon wasn’t always so certain to end for Fofana. When his former side strove for qualification to the Champions League last season, the French top-flight side finished in fourth, narrowly outside of the automatic ascension spots.

Less than a week ago, the club’s second leg play-off match ended 1-2 to Super Lig side Fenerbahce, and 2-3 on aggregate. Despite Fofana converting what could have been a crucial strike in the 61st-minute, their competition crash-out was confirmed courtesy of Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown.

In turn, as L’Equipe’s Hugo Guillemet wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “In the current context at Lyon, the bankers’ opinion carries more weight than that of the coach.” And so ended three-and-a-half years in France for the attacker — but how exactly did Fofana end up at Sunderland, with half of the Premier League knocking at his doorstep?

Lyon forced to sell, Arsenal low-balling, Palace hijacking, Roc Nation prowling — Fofana is a Black Cat

Yesterday morning, Fofana’s path to Sunderland appeared clear, despite perceived holes in Mikel Arteta's left flank. A statement cameo from Eberechi Eze in Arsenal’s 1-0 away victory versus Aston Villa made their offer for the Belgian, a London low-ball, make sense.

In 2025, before Lyon were forced to sell Fofana following their failure to achieve Champions League football, two other Premier League giants in Chelsea and Liverpool were floating on the periphery. Neither deal was made, with a valuation of €50 million placed upon the then 20-year-old’s head.

This summer, a similar saga played out initially. Lyon requested close to €40 million, but the Gunners were ultimately unwilling to part with their cash, despite seeing off Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi in late August. The breakdown of that deal allowed Sunderland to swoop in and, for a brief time, they appeared to be in pole position to make the Ligue 1 ace a Black Cat. Enter Crystal Palace.

The Eagles had previously contacted Lyon in an effort to sign the winger, after the flame of Fofana’s prospective transfer to Arsenal was snuffed out. Strangely, it was then reported that the 21-year-old was unwilling to join Crystal Palace, which made their later attempted hijacking of Sunderland’s proposed deal an even juicier development.

Ten hours remaining on deadline day: Fofana was now, somehow, tentatively pencilled in for a medical examination with the Eagles, with L’Equipe reporting that Palace was his preferred destination.

An hour before this? Fofana had been given the green light to travel to Sunderland for another medical, as revealed by transfer expert David Ornstein, in a deal worth around €35 million.

Less than 24 hours before that? With Arsenal travelling to Villa Park, L’Equipe reported that it was actually the Gunners who stood tallest in the Premier League race to secure Fofana’s services.

At 1:45pm BST on Tuesday afternoon, the 21-year-old was revealed to have spoken to Pierre Sage in the late morning, and been convinced by the Eagles boss to join Crystal Palace on a five-year deal. The transfer fee was quoted at €39 million, including bonuses, with both Sunderland and Arsenal retaining interest in the Belgian.

But Sunderland, who would later prevail in the heat of deadline day battle, flipped the script on Lyon, offering the player’s agents larger commission payments, and matching Palace’s slightly higher transfer fee, as reported shortly after 4pm BST.

Fofana decided to cease all contact with the Eagles despite, supposedly, being en-route to London for a medical examination. Moments later, news broke that the Belgian was waiting to board his plane, in the middle of a tug-of-war with two brawling English clubs determined to upstage the other.

So what did Palace do? They followed the playbook: offer the young talent’s agents higher payments. Perhaps the Eagles’ sporting director chucked a Jay-Z song on his Instagram burner’s story, we’ll never know — but Fofana’s agency is Roc Nation, and money is The Blueprint.

Finally, in a late twist that feels hilariously divorced from transfer saga reality, even in the Ramy Abbas Issa era, Fofana actually ended up completing a medical examination at Lyon… without knowing which club it was for.

At this point, it was reported that the 21-year-old could not settle on which Premier League destination was preferable — despite many assuming Sage to have a late-stage advantage, amid similar terms being offered, after managing Fofana previously at Lyon from 2023 to 2025.

In the end, it was the Belgian’s uncle, who works for Roc Nation, that stepped in and aided the player in his decision. Romain Molina reported, during the dying embers of deadline day, that an Uncle “Bouba” stood to benefit financially from his nephew’s choice, and directed him to pick Sunderland.

And so concluded one of the craziest deadline day sagas in Premier League history, with the Black Cats emerging victorious in a deal worth over €35 million, including add-ons. Fofana's contract is set to expire in 2031, with plenty of Premier League-playing days ahead.

His family and agents, who seemingly offered the Belgian greater direction in this decision than he offered himself, will enjoy a staggering payday.

And Jay-Z, whose agency appeared strapped for cash throughout this all, finally has the funds he needed to afford studio time, so we'll be seeing another album soon... right, Mr. Carter? What a day.