West Ham United were planning to sign an “outrageous” player, before he ended up signing for Aston Villa in a deadline-busting move.
West Ham miss out on "outrageous" star to Aston Villa
Ultimately, West Ham did what they needed to do on deadline day, bringing in Igor Julio on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion to provide cover in defence, but there are question marks over whether it was a successful window on the whole.
Former player Dean Ashton has been left unconvinced by the recruitment team’s summer transfer strategy, saying: “The recruitment’s been so shoddy, especially when you change managers and style of football.
“You have to be so aligned at board level to make sure that recruitment is absolutely spot-on for the manager that you’ve got in place.”
Things picked up in the latter stages of the window, bringing in 21-year-old midfielder Soungouto Magassa from AS Monaco, while Mateus Fernandes also arrived from Southampton.
However, there are arguably some doubts over the signing of Fernandes, given that the attacking midfielder is yet to really prove himself at Premier League level, having been part of the Southampton side that picked up just 12 points last season.
Instead, West Ham may have been better off signing a more established Premier League midfielder, and that is exactly what they tried to do, having planned to push for the signing of Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott in August.
However, Elliott ultimately ended up completing a deadline-busting move to Aston Villa, with the 22-year-old joining on a loan deal for the remainder of the season, which includes an obligation to buy for £35m.
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It is perhaps unsurprising the Hammers missed out on the England U21 international, given that the option to join a club competing in the Europa League was on the table, but it is still disappointing they were unable to get a deal done.
The former Fulham man has been lauded as “outrageous” by scout Jacek Kulig in the past, and he is much more established than Fernandes at the top level, most notably scoring a late winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last season.
That’s not to say Fernandes isn’t a strong addition to Potter’s squad, however, with the Portuguese youngster impressing after being thrown straight in on the left-wing against Nottingham Forest last time out.
The starlet won six duels, the joint-second highest number of any West Ham player on the pitch, while he has also received high praise for his attitude from former Saints man Jo Tessem in the past, who said: “Every week he plays his heart out, he is by far the best player on the football pitch from a Saints perspective.”
O Botafogo contará com mais um patrocínio em sua camisa. Nesta sexta-feira (28), o clube selou acordo com a Universidade Iguaçu (UNIG). A informação foi divulgada pelo “ge” e posteriormente confirmada pelo Lance!.
A companhia estampará a parte traseira da camisa alvinegra até o final da temporada de 2023. Os valores não foram detalhados.
A marca será estampada a partir deste domingo (30), no confronto com o Coritiba, em jogo pela décima-sétima rodada do Brasileirão.
كشف مصطفى المنيري رئيس الجهاز الطبي بنادي بيراميدز، عن سبب خروج مصطفى فتحي، لاعب الفريق، في الشوط الأول من مباراة التأمين الإثيوبي، التي أقيمت بين الفريقين، اليوم الأحد.
ويلتقي بيراميدز مع التأمين الإثيوبي، في إطار مواجهة الذهاب لدور الـ32 من عمر منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
وخرج مصطفى فتحي مستبدلًا بعد دقائق من بداية المباراة، متأثرًا بإصابة جعلته غير قادر على استكمال اللقاء.
طالع.. فيديو | مايلي يسجل هدف بيراميدز الأول أمام التأمين الإثيوبي
وأوضح المنيري خلال تصريحات للمركز الإعلامي للنادي: “التشخيص المبدئي لإصابة مصطفى فتحي يؤكد معاناته على مستوى العضلة الخلفية وسيخضع لمزيد من الفحوصات والآشعة لتحديد مدى قوة الإصابة ومدة الغياب”.
وتعادل بيراميدز مع التأمين الإثيوبي، بنتيجة 1-1، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب الدفاع الجوي، ومن المقرر أن تلعب مباراة العودة على نفس الملعب في القاهرة يوم الخميس لحسم الفريق المتأهل إلى دور المجموعات من دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are now looking to sign an attacker who has scored 51 Premier League goals, in an out-of-window free transfer.
Wolves eyeing new addition after slow start
Vitor Pereira oversaw quite the turnaround at Molineux last season, leading his once relegation-threatened side to comfortable safety, but it would be fair to say the manager has made a disappointing start to the new campaign.
Indeed, Wolves are the only Premier League side yet to pick up a single point, most recently suffering a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Everton, which is arguably their most disappointing result up to this point.
The only respite for the Old Gold came in the EFL Cup, with Jorgen Strand Larsen bagging a brace to help them progress past West Ham United, and there has since been encouraging news about the striker’s future, with it being revealed talks have been opened over a new deal.
However, the Norwegian may need some support in attack if the Wanderers are going to avoid relegation this season, and they have now joined the race for a new attacker.
That is according to a report from Spain, which states Wolves are now looking to sign Dele Alli, who is available on a free transfer after recently being released by Serie A side Como.
The Old Gold could sign Alli in an out-of-window move, given that he is out of contract, and it appears as though they want to get a deal done soon, with the report stating they are looking to strengthen their midfield at this ‘critical point in the season’.
However, Pereira’s side are not the only English club to have expressed an interest, with it being revealed that Ipswich Town are also in the race for his signature.
Signing Alli would be gamble for Wolves
It would not be a huge risk to sign the 29-year-old, given that Wolves would not be required to pay a transfer fee, but it would still have to be considered a gamble, considering the attacking midfielder has struggled ever since leaving Tottenham Hotspur.
During his time in north London, the former Spurs man established himself as a Premier League star, bagging 51 goals and 35 assists in 194 top-flight appearances, but he has since found it difficult to hit those heights.
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In his most recent stint in the Premier League, the ex-Everton man was unable to make an impact at Goodison Park, failing to provide a goal or an assist in 13 outings for the Toffees.
As such, it would perhaps be best to avoid a move for Alli, unless he is willing to join on a pay-as-you-play deal.
Surrey have signed Ireland wicketkeeper-batter Amy Hunter for seven games in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Hunter, 19, has played 36 ODIs and 43 T20Is for her country and was recently in action at the ICC World Cup Qualifier. In 2021, she became the youngest player to score an international century when she made 121 not out against Zimbabwe in Harare on her 16th birthday.”We’re looking forward to welcoming Amy into our environment,” Emma Calvert, Surrey director of women’s cricket, said. “She is a talented young cricketer who has been in impressive form for the Irish national team.”Amy adds depth to our squad in the wicketkeeping department, and I’m confident she will be a great signing for the team in the opening block of the season.”Hunter tallied 201 runs at 40.20 during the World Cup Qualifier, finishing as her team’s second-highest scorer – although it wasn’t enough for Ireland to secure a spot at the tournament in India later this year.Hunter said: “I can’t wait to join up with the Surrey squad and get a taste of English domestic cricket. It’s an exciting opportunity for me to share a dressing room with an incredibly experienced group that plays an expansive brand of cricket. I am hoping to contribute to the club’s success early in the season.”Surrey have signed Australia’s Grace Harris as their overseas player for the Vitality Blast.
Jose Mourinho has piled the pressure on Roberto Martinez as the Benfica boss insisted that Portugal must aim to win the World Cup next year. The Selecao boast one of the best squads in Europe with players like Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva in midfield and an attack spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal are also fresh from winning the Nations League this year.
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Mourinho demands World Cup Trophy from Martinez
Legendary manager Mourinho, who returned to his homeland after two decades and took charge of Benfica as head coach, wants Martinez to deliver the World Cup next year in North America. Speaking on the sidelines of the Portugal Football Globes, Mourinho said: "Looking at what is now most obvious, which is the composition of the National team, we are talking about players who play for the biggest Portuguese clubs and also in the best European leagues. The prestige is extremely high and accumulates. We can always talk about the pioneers, the first players and coaches to emerge, but so many years have passed that now it's a matter of accumulating talent. The FPF is creating all the conditions so that Portugal can have the conditions we have today. In a World Cup year, to say that we don't have the ambition to be world champions is almost heresy."
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Ronaldo aims to win World Cup 2026
Portugal icon Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down despite being at the tailend of his career at the age of 40. The Al-Nassr star has started the new season on a relentless note in Saudi Arabia and he looks determined to give his best at what will be his last World Cup appearance in North America next year.
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Mourinho wanted Portugal job
After returning to Benfica this summer, Mourinho had admitted that he always had plans to return to his homeland, but wanted to manage the Portugal national team. Speaking to , the 62-year-old had said: "I’m honest, I always thought I would be back to Portugal. But I always thought I would come back to the national team. I knew that the national team would come sooner or later. It has come before, I didn’t, I couldn’t accept. I was thinking one day it will happen. I think it is a natural consequence of my career. [But] it happened to be Benfica. A giant club."
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Portugal aim to maintain 100 per cent record in qualifiers
Portugal kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign in September with back-to-back wins over Hungary and Armenia. In October, they are scheduled to face Ireland and Hungary on October 11 and 14 respectively, in home fixtures and Martinez's side will aim to maintain their perfect record.
Liverpool won the Premier League last season and then underwent major surgery throughout the summer transfer window.
Perhaps you could frame the Reds as a team in transition. This could be asserted for the 2024/25 campaign, when Liverpool pranced their way through the term and, yes, won the league title in Arne Slot’s first year at the helm.
Maybe it could also be argued that this is a transitional year for Liverpool. After all, many ins and outs occurred down Anfield Road this summer.
Regardless of which side of the fence you stand on, none can argue that Slot’s Liverpool are not title contenders once again, having won all five of their opening Premier League fixtures to establish a five-point lead at the summit. It took them until November to achieve that last year.
It is early days, of course, but the Merseysiders are shaping into quite the force, having signed Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz and many more.
However, they are hardly impregnable, with Liverpool’s defensive issues made worse by the ACL injury sustained by Giovanni Leoni against Southampton on Tuesday evening in the Carabao Cup.
How Leoni's injury affects Liverpool
Leoni must be gutted. Impressive on his Liverpool debut after leaving Parma in the summer, the 18-year-old will now recover across his first campaign in England, unlikely to be match fit until the business end.
Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni
He had looked calm and assured and confident on the ball. Sadly, this is a significant setback for one so young. It’s about now that sporting director Richard Hughes might lament Crystal Palace’s failure to sign a Guehi replacement at the end of the transfer window, thus ending a move that looked all but complete and a summer in the making.
Such is football, but there’s no question the Premier League champions are now one Virgil van Dijk injury away from alarm bells to start ringing, with a four-front charge for silverware currently underway.
Guehi, too, may be frustrated at how things have panned out, with his chances of regular football at Liverpool almost certain had he indeed finalised that last-minute move.
Crystal Palace'sMarcGuehilooks dejected.
Hughes and Slot may also be tacitly frustrated that they sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m, with the hierarchy unable to promise the homegrown talent regularity of minutes for the club.
But then there will also be much confidence in Liverpool’s capacity to pull through. The backline has been refashioned over the past few months.
However, Quansah’s isn’t the only signature that may have left with an air of ruefulness. In fact, far more regret could be attributed to the mood when Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in June.
Alexander-Arnold's value after leaving
Liverpool were hamstrung. Noise coming from the concerning contract situations of Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Alexander-Arnold dominated the 2024/25 campaign, Slot’s first at the helm.
It’s small wonder that many felt the Reds would fall apart following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, with the ‘big three’ all slated to follow him out the gates.
That wasn’t the case. The skipper and the attacking talisman both renewed their Liverpool vows, but Alexander-Arnold, 26, left for pastures new and is now a member of Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid team.
Premier League
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18 (67)
Champions League
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2 (13)
FA Cup
13
1 (3)
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10
0 (6)
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5
0 (2)
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2
0 (1)
CL Qualifying
2
0 (1)
Community Shield
2
1 (0)
UEFA Super Cup
1
0 (0)
Hailed as a “generational” talent by content creator Asim Mahmood, Trent’s range of passing and his vision and inventions on the ball have
He might not be the answer to Liverpool’s central defensive issues right now, but it’s an underpinning of the upheaval that has beset Slot’s backline in recent months.
Having refused FSG’s offers, the England international was set to sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer before Florentino Perez decided to bring him over for the Club World Cup, paying the English outfit an £8m fee to release him from his contract several weeks early.
This is some distance below the figure Liverpool recouped from Quansah’s sale, and does at least highlight the club’s expertise at the negotiating table, spending heavily this summer but banking a pretty penny too.
Alas, what’s done is done, but Alexander-Arnold is one of the world’s best, even if he is struggling to click from the off with Los Blancos, in and out of the starting line-up before a cruel injury that has ruled him out of action for the foreseeable.
For Liverpool to have got anything from a player imminently out of contract is a testament to Hughes’ prowess behind the desk, but, as Transfermarkt record it, his market value has already shot back up to £66m, which stands taller than the £35m figure the Reds were willing to pay for Guehi.
Moreover, when Alexander-Arnold brings it all together in Spain – and he will – this value will only skyrocket further.
In spite of the signing of Frimpong, the continued development of Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai’s interesting rebrand into a right-back, when called upon, none of them is Trent.
Dominik Szoboszlai in action for Liverpool
He was truly one-of-a-kind, and the most painful part of all is that all of a red persuasion across Merseyside and beyond felt that he was on the pathway to immortality at Liverpool, sure to replace Van Dijk as club captain and then take his seat, one day, on a plinth beside Steven Gerrard.
“He’s been a superstar,” Alan Shearer said, acknowledging the Three Lions man at the end of his Premier League career.
Alexander-Arnold must always be treasured for his contribution toward a sustained period of success, but he sadly joins a different category now, and it’s one the fans will look back at regretfully for many years.
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Wayne Rooney has hit back at Steven Gerrard's claim that England's 'Golden Generation' were "egotistical losers". The Liverpool legend has attempted to explain why a star-studded group of players failed to savour international success. Manchester United icon Rooney also formed part of that squad for a while, and he is not convinced that fierce club divisions were to blame for the Three Lions struggling to roar when it mattered most.
Egotistical losers: What Gerrard said about Golden Generation
Ex-England captain Gerrard, who represented his country on 114 occasions between 2000 and 2014, has stated that the Three Lions “weren’t a team” during an era in which Sven-Goran Eriksson could call upon some of the finest talent in world football.
Gerrard told one of his former international team-mates on the podcast: "I think we were all egotistical losers. Why are we all mature enough now and at stages in our life where we’re closer and more connected? Why couldn’t we connect as England team-mates back then? I think it was down to the culture within England that we were all never connected. All in our rooms too much. We weren’t friendly or connected. We weren’t a team. We never at any stage became a real good strong team. It was like I didn’t feel part of a team. I didn’t feel connected with my team-mates with England. I just wanted the games and the training sessions and then to be away."
AdvertisementGettyRooney's response to Gerrard
Rooney, having burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old, joined the England fold in 2003. He remained part of the set-up until 2018, taking the captain’s armband and raising a bar on the all-time goal front to 53 through 120 appearances. He never reached a major international semi-final, with the Three Lions going on to make back-to-back European Championship finals since then under the guidance of Gareth Southgate.
Speaking on , another Three Lions great said in response to Gerrard: "Obviously, we didn't win anything. I wouldn't quite put it that way but I know what he's saying. There was a lot of big characters in the dressing room. I wouldn't say [England squads now have a] better attitude. That's disrespectful to us as players because we worked hard, we tried. We didn't quite manage to do it. Even when you look back with the players we had could we have done better? We could have but it wasn't to be."
He added: "What you have now is [rival teams'] players training [together] before they go back to pre-season together – Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford for instance. It's a different generation. The big thing is the media coverage of it is much better. The players get on better with the media. From the outside that gives a better feeling."
England divides: Man Utd vs Liverpool rivalry
Rooney went on to say of supposed divides in the England camp caused by rivalries that form at club level: "It [was] difficult to have that relationship with Liverpool and Man United players. It's easier now. I speak to Steven all the time [now]. You can have better relationships now because you can have a beer together and relax more.
"I was fine with everyone, I got on with everyone. I was aware Becks [David Beckham] and Gary Neville and Scholesy [Paul Scholes], you could see they weren't going to be close to the Liverpool players. But one thing for sure is everyone worked hard for each other. I don't think that was an issue. We just didn't manage to get over the line. I didn't see that at all."
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GettyCan England deliver? Trophy wait to hit 60-year mark
Rooney maintains that England always "believed we could win, for sure", with "100 per cent" being given at all times, with factors outside of their control – such as untimely injuries and red cards – often conspiring against them.
England’s wait for a first major international trophy in the men’s game since 1966 continues, with Thomas Tuchel charged with the task of bringing a 60-year wait for tangible success to a close as the Three Lions close in on qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur have reshaped their squad this summer, and with Thomas Frank now at the helm, it feels like the Londoners can challenge toward the top end of the Premier League once again.
It’s been a fruitful start for the Danish coach, taken from Brentford after the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou. Not without blots on the copybook, the Lilywhites have marched steadily through the early stages of the campaign, third in the league with ten points from five fixtures and having beaten Villarreal in their opening match back in the Champions League.
The new recruits are blending in nicely, but not all are firing on all cylinders. Indeed, despite having spent the latter half of the 2024/25 term on loan at the club, Mathys Tel continues to leave plenty to be desired.
Mathys Tel's struggles at Spurs
It was not Frank’s decision to activate a £30m permanent option to reel Tel over to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for good, but Daniel Levy’s. Now, Levy has stepped down, and the original bid, led by Ange, has left Tel somewhat adrift, having lacked quality on the field.
Aged 20, it’s clear that confidence is a factor, having featured five times across all competitions, yet to score or assist, following an indifferent start to life in London last season, posting three goals and two assists across his five months on board.
His only starting berth in the Premier League so far came during the 3-0 romp over West Ham United, and Tel was handed a 5/10 match rating by football.london, who acknowledged his hard work but drew attention to the luckless performance at number nine.
No one can doubt the France U21 forward’s commitment, and having been hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as being the “long-term Heung-min Son replacement”.
That’s all well and good, but Spurs actually have another rising winger in Mikey Moore, and there may not be room for both in Frank’s system.
Mikey Moore's Spurs future
Moore left Tottenham this summer, relocating to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on a one-year loan deal.
Hailed as a “superstar” in the making by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Moore only turned 18 in August but has already featured 21 times for Tottenham’s senior side, bypassing the road into U21 territory after an incredible start to life with the U18s.
Tottenham U18
24
19 (13)
Tottenham
21
1 (2)
Rangers
7
0 (1)
Tottenham U21
5
2 (2)
Tottenham U19
5
0 (0)
His development was deemed to be best served away from the Premier League, gaining invaluable experience in a prominent role at Rangers.
Moore has endured a somewhat difficult start to his time in Scotland, but this is hardly his fault. Most of the blame can be apportioned to Russell Martin and the dysfunctional first-team system at Rangers, who have started the season wretchedly.
But the boy’s talent cannot be disputed, having gone from strength to strength among the Tottenham seniors last season before his 18th birthday.
Given that Moore tends to occupy that left-sided flank, he and Tel might come to blows in a tussle for the ascendancy down the line, and the teenager’s pace and power and potency will soon be translated to the senior stage, especially if Rangers manage to click into gear in the coming months.
Given that Moore is two years Tel’s junior and already looking every bit the same calibre of player, albeit raw and unpolished, it might just be that both prospects cannot cohabit in Frank’s set-up, not in the long run.
If push comes to shove, Moore might just emerge on top.
Worth even more than Kudus: Spurs have struck gold on "phenomenal" talent
Tottenham Hotspur have demonstrated their excellent work in the transfer market in recent years.
Mikel Arteta believes Eberechi Eze still has plenty more to bring to Arsenal’s attacking play after watching him score his first goal for the club in Wednesday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Port Vale.
Eze struck just eight minutes into the match at Vale Park but, despite that early strike, Arsenal struggled to create clear opportunities against their League One hosts, not killing the game off until substitute Leandro Trossard struck in the 86th minute.
Arteta expecting more from Arsenal signing Eze
But Eze’s goal – his first since he returned to the club in a £60million move from Crystal Palace – already looked like being enough for Arsenal on a night when the 27-year-old was the brightest of Arsenal’s attacking players.
Eze, on £9.3m a year at the Emirates, started on the left of Arsenal’s attack for this match but has already lined up in a number of different positions for Arteta in his five appearances to date.
Arsenal spent the summer looking to add greater depth to the squad as they aim to compete on multiple fronts this term and that showed on the team sheet here as Arteta made nine changes from Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City but still fielded a strong side.
Kepa Arrizabalaga made his debut in goal, Christian Norgaard got a first start in midfield and Bukayo Saka clocked up an hour as he returns from a hamstring injury, with Arteta saying he now had a number of decisions to make ahead of Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.
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“What we need to do… is generate the performances that we want with the players that haven’t really played together, with a completely different midfield than they’ve played together before, with a front line that is different as well,” he said.
“Max [Dowman] came in as well and connect(ed) immediately with the team. It’s a lot of positives to take from the game. That’s exactly what we want, that they’re giving us and me those headaches because that means that they are so connected with the team, that they really want to help the team. Everybody will play a lot of minutes.”