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Mohamed Salah is getting old, but he’s still here and he’s still thriving for Liverpool.

The long-time talisman turned 33 this summer, and there’s a sense that the overload of attacking signings this summer were completed with an eye on the Egyptian stepping into the final stretch of his Premier League career.

Last season, Salah took it on himself to win the Premier League, making merry under Arne Slot’s wing in the first year since Jurgen Klopp stepped down and putting in an individual campaign for the ages, breaking any number of records and posting 34 goals and 23 assists across all competitions.

Now, things are a bit different, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz signed for British-record fees in what could shape the Reds’ frontline for many years to come.

Times are changing down Anfield Road, and though Salah continues to play a focal role in the project, having scored three goals and supplied three assists already this term, the weight of responsibility is no longer so heavy.

And this is without even acknowledging the emphatic early form of Hugo Ekitike, who is giving Salah and Isak a run for their money as the club’s main man up top.

Ekitike's start to life at Liverpool

Six games, four goals, one assist. Not a bad way to announce yourself to the England game. Ekitike left Eintracht Frankfurt and signed for Liverpool in a deal rising to £79m in July, and he’s been hailed for his “really clever” play by Wayne Rooney, who knows a thing or two about scoring in the Premier League.

Isak came off the bench for his league debut in a Liverpool shirt last time out, in the Merseyside derby, but Slot has quite the conundrum on his hands as the ostensibly second-fiddle star continues to go from strength to strength.

There are, for sure, worse problems to have as a manager.

Against the Toffees, Liverpool arguably played their finest football of the season in that eventful first half, with the 23-year-old demonstrating his natural ease in jinking through the lines to latch onto the ball and guide it into the net, past Jordan Pickford.

Threading through the assist for Ekitike’s latest goal was Ryan Gravenberch, and while the French forward has started the season in fine fettle, it is the man in the middle who has been the star of the show across the past five weeks.

Gravenberch is becoming Liverpool's best player

Martin Zubimendi is almost three months into his Arsenal career. The Spain international joined the Gunners for £60m in the summer and is regarded as a coup for Mikel Arteta’s side. He is one of the silkiest midfielders out there.

Gravenberch walked all over him at Anfield earlier this month, to use some sporting jargon, and it all might’ve been so different, had Zubimendi accepted Liverpool’s proposal to sign him in 2024.

He didn’t, opting to remain with Real Sociedad. It stang, let’s get that straight. However, Gravenberch rose from mediocrity to form the nucleus of newbie Slot’s engine room, having been utilised sporadically by Klopp beforehand.

Still only 23, the Dutchman was instrumental in winning the Premier League last season, and he’s only gotten better since the summer, it seems, with journalist Daniel Storey even remarking on the Totally Football Show that he’s been “the best player in the country” across these opening weeks, having scored, assisted and dominated against Everton on Saturday.

Gravenberch wasn’t at his crispest in possession, but that’s only because he took it upon himself to make things happen in the final third, winning seven duels and making five tackles too.

The campaign is young, but Gravenberch has started with staggering style, looking even more robust and complete than last year, when he stepped into the place meant for Zubimendi and made it his own, crowned the 2024/25 Hublot Young Player of the Season for his performances.

Much has remained the same for Gravenberch, but he’s now starting to be a bit more progressive on the ball, moving forward more frequently and being rewarded for his ambition with a sharp uptick in direct goal contributions.

Gravenberch is the life-force of this Liverpool team, the beating heart. Whether he manages to maintain this new level across the span of the season remains to be seen, but we wouldn’t bet against it.

Last year, this young, powerful and technically proficient midfielder proved he could raise his game, right? Now he’s merely doing it again, marking the latest development in a journey which has yet to reach the surface; it’s not even close.

Though Liverpool have left something to be desired across the opening weeks of the season, they have still won five games out of five in the Premier League and claimed three points in their Champions League opener too. There is a pervading sense across the country that the Reds are a shoo-in for a successful top-flight title defence, though it is far too early to declare such a thing with any real conviction.

If Liverpool do achieve their goals, Gravenberch will be at the heart of everything, with his continuing role in the middle of the park becoming something truly special. So many times in recent years have the club turned to Salah and the skipper, Virgil van Dijk, for inspiration. This is still true.

However, Gravenberch indeed stakes a compelling claim for the best player on Merseyside so far this term, becoming a talisman in a different fashion to Salah, who remains a focal point but with greater quality in the final third to ease him toward the autumn of his Liverpool career.

In any case, this is quite the team, and Liverpool are looking to make it a special year.

Slot is brewing the new Gerrard & Torres in £130m-rated Liverpool duo

Arne Slot has unearthed two new potential heroes in this Liverpool duo.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 21, 2025

Nick Woltemade returned to Newcastle on a £75 flight after scoring on international duty with Germany. The striker went from national hero to EasyJet passenger in a matter of hours after scoring the decisive goal for Germany in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Northern Ireland. Talk about a humbling journey home.

• From Windsor Park to economy class

  As reported by the Magpies' £69 million ($92m) club-record signing, who has been setting the Premier League alight with his form, jetted back to Tyneside on a £75 flight from Belfast, sharing the same plane as none other than Sunderland defender Dan Ballard, whom he fought against on the pitch. The 6ft 6in German striker kept a low profile during the 45-minute journey, hiding under a cap and hoodie while sitting in the front row of the 10:40am flight from Belfast International to Newcastle.

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  German giant finally breaks his international duck

  After facing criticism back home for failing to find the net in his first five international appearances, Woltemade finally delivered when it mattered. His first goal for Germany sealed a vital victory in their World Cup qualification campaign and eased the growing pressure on the 23-year-old.

  "I'm really happy about it," Woltemade told BBC Sport NI after Germany's win. "The last game didn't go so well for me so I was really happy today that I score. Maybe it's because I'm in the West of Europe, I score there more often!"

  Woltemade had endured a frustrating outing against Luxembourg, managing just one attempt before being subbed off after an hour. But on Monday night, he answered his critics in emphatic fashion;  the goal machine was back in business. The strike against Northern Ireland means Woltemade has now hit four goals in his last five games for club and country combined. Since his big-money move from Stuttgart to Newcastle in August, he’s wasted no time justifying the price tag, already bagging four for the Magpies.

  "It was really important when you look at the table. We needed this win, it was a difficult away game, but an amazing atmosphere," he said. "It was a hard game. A lot of long balls. A lot of duals, it was not easy. It was really difficult. They shoot the ball and cross the ball from everywhere, so we always have to go on the dual, it was like 50/50 and the ball is dropping somewhere but I think we did really well. We knew this would be part of the game but I think we did quite good."

  Now that the goal drought is over, Woltemade is already hungry for more. With World Cup qualification within touching distance, the striker is targeting more goals next month against Luxembourg and Slovakia.

  He added: “We’ll continue to work to develop further, to push our game forward, and I’m looking forward to the next training camp.”

• German teammates rally behind Woltemade & Wirtz

  Not everyone had a night to remember in Belfast, though. Liverpool’s £100m ($133.5m) playmaker Florian Wirtz endured a frustrating evening, failing to make his mark. But teammate David Raum leapt to his defence while also hailing Woltemade’s resurgence.

  “They’re amazing players. They both have amazing abilities,"  he said. "Florian has not had the best start at Liverpool I know but he’s working hard at training and always stays long on the pitch. I’m sure he’s going to make his way at Liverpool and he’ll be an important player this season for me. Nick is already scoring for Newcastle and I’m happy to play with both of them. I’m very happy for Nick. He’ll keep going and scoring for Newcastle. He’ll grow there and I hope he’ll become an even better player there because we’ll need him.”

  While Newcastle fans are revelling in their new talisman, back in Germany, Stuttgart are still licking their wounds. Their manager, Sebastian Hoeness, hasn’t minced his words about how much the club misses Woltemade. The 48-year-old boss, who openly criticised the decision to sell the striker late in the transfer window, called it a “bitter loss” and admitted the Bundesliga club are struggling to fill the void.

  "It's not about whether my fears were confirmed. We all knew that we were taking a risk by selling Nick and the Hyeon Gyu Oh transfer not coming to fruition," Hoeness said in an interview with . "There was great hope that he would make it through the season, as has been the case in recent years. But injuries are unfortunately a part of competitive sport. [Demirovic] is the only true centre-forward in the squad. For us, this means that we as a coaching staff have to work with the players on solutions. We were already doing this before Medo's absence due to the large number of games, but now the task is obviously significantly more challenging."

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  From Easyjet to the Premier League fast lane

  Two months into Woltemade's Premier League adventure, it’s clear Newcastle have unearthed something special. The Toon faithful adore him and Monday night’s international breakthrough will only boost his confidence heading into the weekend’s clash with Brighton. A £69m man flying home on EasyJet, but on the pitch, Woltemade is soaring at 30,000 feet.

Chelsea and BlueCo are reportedly making some transfer plans ahead of 2026 already, but for Enzo Maresca, his focus is entirely on the pitch.

Bayern Munich deal Chelsea their first defeat of the season

The Blues’ 23-man Champions League squad — which now includes summer signing Facundo Buonanotte who’s replaced the injured Dario Essugo — travelled to Bavaria to take on Bayern Munich last night in their opening game of the league phase.

Maresca could’ve hardly asked for a tougher first challenge of Chelsea’s European campaign, and Vincent Kompany’s side were on top form to deal the Blues’ their first defeat of 2025/2026.

A Trevoh Chalobah own goal and two strikes from Harry Kane — one from the penalty spot — cancelled out an excellent finish from Cole Palmer, who briefly grabbed one back from 2-0 down on the counterattack.

Palmer’s first full start after coming back from a groin injury was unfortunately marred by Chelsea’s loss at the Allianz Arena, with their return to the Champions League after a two-year absence ultimately spoiled.

That being said, the forward is adamant that Chelsea did enough to earn something from the 90.

Maresca was forced to start a centre-back pairing of Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo again, who were ultimately undone by the talismanic Kane, with Chelsea believed to be in the market for a star defender once the window reopens.

Chelsea eyeing new centre-back after summer transfer failure

It is believed that Chelsea wanted to sign a centre-back in the summer window, but ultimately couldn’t find the right profile (Simon Phillips).

Instead, BlueCo are expected to reserve that transfer plan for 2026, and the prospect of Chelsea bringing in a star man for the heart of their backline is very much alive for January.

Reports have suggested that Chelsea are admirers of ex-player Marc Guehi, even if his preferred destination is Liverpool (Simon Phillips), with reporter Graeme Bailey now claiming that they’re still expected to make him an offer.

Chelsea to make offer for Marc Guehi next summer

Speaking to the Chelsea Chronicle, Bailey says he is convinced that Chelsea will make an offer for Guehi, and believes that they can win the race for the ex-Cobham starlet, who left Stamford Bridge in 2021 after making two senior appearances.

In terms of potential centre-back targets, Guehi stands chief among the most appealing potential signings — both in terms of cost and quality.

The 25-year-old is now an established England international and Premier League stalwart, branded “sensational” by Palace chairman Steve Parish, and he’s likely to be one of the most in-demand free agents of 2026.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, the likes of Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also eyeing a move for Guehi (The Mirror), among others, so the battle for his signature will be intense.

Of all factors explaining the chasm between Manchester United and Liverpool right now, not one can compare with the differing approaches to appoint their latest managers. Liverpool were compelled to hire Arne Slot after consulting a highly sophisticated data model developed by a Harvard-educated physicist. United, meanwhile, recruited Ruben Amorim largely because of the vibes.

United love a good narrative, and the way that Amorim had revived Sporting CP's fortunes by delivering a first league title in 19 years was highly appealing to a club at a loss as to how to rise again after more than a decade of decline after Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. The club's main decision-makers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada, wanted a young charismatic coach on the rise and in Amorim they saw shades of Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola. 

Every time Ratcliffe has discussed Amorim, he has lauded his personality, describing the Portuguese as "intelligent" and "thoughtful" while speaking fondly of their chats over coffee at the Carrington training ground, where the co-owner tells the coach "where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*ck off." 

What was lacking in United's thought process when they hired Amorim, however, was a thorough analysis of the most intriguing thing about him: his loyalty to the 3-4-3 system. Liverpool, by contrast, saw Amorim's formation fixation as a massive red flag and turned away from him and towards Slot.

Slot might be enduring his most difficult period as Liverpool boss as his side prepare to welcome their arch rivals to Anfield on Sunday after three successive defeats, but overall he has proved to be a brilliant hire. Quite unlike Amorim, who has created an even bigger mess than the one he inherited when he took charge of the Red Devils 11 months ago.

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  Contrasting processes & results

  Amorim's favoured formation was questioned when he took the United job because United's squad had been built over the last few years with the idea of playing a back four. But according to Amorim, it was a short conversation. He explained in August: "They asked me before I arrived here: 'Can you play this system?' I said 'I will do my system no matter what'." And that, bizarrely, was enough to convince United he was the right man. They spoke to no other candidates before offering him the job.

  Liverpool had previously considered Amorim as Jurgen Klopp's successor, but they saw the coach's tactics as a real obstacle to him succeeding at Anfield, where the squad had also been constructed with a view to playing four defenders. To Liverpool's lead data scientist Will Spearman and sporting director Richard Hughes, hiring Amorim would have represented a massive change from what the club had been working towards for almost a decade under Klopp. Thus, instead of ripping up their plans, they sought a smooth transition and their data model told them that Slot's Feyenoord were the team that bore the closest resemblance to Klopp's Liverpool.

  Liverpool racing to the title in Slot's first season to equal United's record of 20 English league triumphes vindicated their decision to hire the Dutchman over Amorim. In his first campaign, the Portuguese oversaw United's worst league finish, goal count and points total in 51 years, and failed to qualify the team for Europe for the first time in 11 years. In the early weeks of his second season, Amorim has lost three of his opening seven league games while the team were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town in United's first-ever defeat to a team from England's fourth division. 

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  Choosing charisma first

  There was reported to be one dissenting voice among United's top brass around Amorim's appointment: the newly-hired sporting director Dan Ashworth. According to , the man who had been headhunted from Newcastle envisaged 'mass disruption' in appointing Amorim and instead petitioned for the club to move for Brentford's Thomas Frank. But among other members of the United hierarchy there was 'a desperation for charisma, and the strong belief was that Amorim could be a tactician to define the next generation'.

  According to , Ashworth had also suggested the club copy Liverpool's analytical approach and sub-contract a data firm to compile the most suitable candidates to replace Erik ten Hag. Ratcliffe rejected that idea out of hand because he felt Ashworth should have already known who the best candidates were. He was also reluctant to spend more money at a time when he was slashing costs across the board.

  Little more than one month after United appointed Amorim, they sacked Ashworth, paying a total of £4.1 million in hiring and firing fees for him to work for the club for just five months. Strangely, having rebuffed Ashworth's push to use a data-led approach to hiring the new manager, Ratcliffe later decried the state of club's data department, telling : "We must have the best recruitment in the world. Data analysis comes alongside recruitment. It doesn’t really exist here. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here. There’s an immense amount of useful data that we can get from data analysis and we’re in the 'very poor' bracket with data analysis here."

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  Guided by the data

  Liverpool have long prided themselves on being at the cutting edge when it comes to data. The Reds begun taking data seriously in 2012, when they hired Ian Graham as director of research, and he helped the club develop an in-house analytics department. It led to, among other things, the creation of the 'possession value' model, which calculates how much each player improves their team's chances of scoring with each touch. The model led to Liverpool signing Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah while walking away from potential deals for Julian Brandt and Mario Gotze, whom Klopp had initially favoured.

  Data also led to Liverpool making their best-ever recruitment decision: hiring Klopp in 2015. The energetic German was one of the most admired coaches due to winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund and taking them to the Champions League final in 2013, but his last season with Dortmund damaged his reputation, as his team finished seventh while losing 14 of their 34 games. 

  Graham and his team could see, however, that Dortmund had been unlucky in many games and had just failed to take their chances. Graham explained this to Klopp when he met him and the coach was impressed that he had watched so many Dortmund games. Graham responded that he had not watched any of the matches, but had merely looked at the data. 

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  Enormous gap in goals

  Liverpool's data-driven approach has not led to a perfect transfer policy, and while Salah and Mane proved to be incredible buys, there have been some big disappointments, namely £64m ($85m) striker Darwin Nunez. But the Uruguayan, who scored 40 times in three seasons with the Reds, is the exception that proves the rule over the last few years.

  In the same era, United have an endless list of expensive attacking flops, from Antony to Jadon Sancho to Rasmus Hojlund. Liverpool's impressive list of forwards signed over the past decade, meanwhile puts United's inconsistent rabble of attackers to shame: Salah has scored 248 goals and provided 116 assists in 411 games; Mane contributed to 166 goals in 269 games; Roberto Firmino notched 187 combined goals and assists in eight seasons; the late Diogo Jota averaged a goal or an assist every two games; Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo played huge roles in last season's title win. 

  Liverpool's top five scorers over the past decade (Salah, Mane, Firmino, Jota and Diaz) found the net a combined 434 times in the Premier League. United's most prolific players in the same period (Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku) netted a combined 268 goals, a deficit of 166.

This season is going the way West Ham United fans hoped it would be in the summer.

Instead of leaving their lacklustre form behind last year and making strides in the Premier League, they look worse than they have in a long time.

Graham Potter oversaw five losses from six games before the club officially decided to part ways with the former Chelsea and Brighton head coach on Saturday morning.

So, it’s good news that the Hammers are being linked with a manager who could not only turn things around, but also get the likes of Jarrod Bowen firing.

West Ham's search to replace Graham Potter

West Ham have been linked with a host of potential Potter replacements in recent weeks, with one of the most consistent being Frank Lampard.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

The Englishman didn’t impress with Chelsea or Everton, but so far, he seems to be doing a good job with Coventry City in the Championship.

On the other hand, Slaven Bilic is currently out of work, but there remains a certain romanticism around the reports linking him with a return to the club.

However, there is another, far more impressive manager being linked with the Hammers, someone who could make Bowen even more unplayable.

At least that is according to a recent report from Claret & Hugh, which claims West Ham are still interested in Nuno Espírito Santo.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Portuguese coach is now the leading candidate to replace Potter.

Nuno would be an exciting appointment for West Ham, and based on his previous work, someone who could help make Bowen even better.

Why Nuno should replace Potter

Before getting into the other reasons Nuno would be an excellent hire for West Ham, why do we think he’d be able to get even more out of Bowen?

Simply put, on top of adding defensive solidity to Nottingham Forest, the Portuguese coach also helped make several of their attackers more dangerous.

For example, in the 22/23 season, when he spent time with Newcastle United and then Forest, Chris Wood scored just four goals in 29 games.

Then, the following season, in which Nuno joined halfway through, the tally increased to 15 goals and one assist in 35 games, which was then improved upon last year with a total of 23 goal involvements in 40 games.

There was also an improvement in Anthony Elanga’s numbers, with him producing 14 goal involvements in 39 games during the 2023/24 season and then 18 in 43 games the following year.

So, just imagine what the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss would be able to do with the West Ham star, who is a better player than both.

Finally, in addition to improving players, the “incredible” manager, as dubbed by Sky Sports’ Sam Obaseki, has a proven track record of taking clubs that people predict for relegation into European football.

So there is no reason he couldn’t do that for a third time with the East Londoners.

Ultimately, while some may have their doubts about Nuno, he’s a Premier League-proven manager and one that could help supercharge the Hammers’ best attackers after the club decided to part ways with Potter.

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been unable to accept a Lionesses send-off at Wembley next month after calling time on her international career in the weeks leading up to Euro 2025 in the summer. The Paris Saint-Germain stopper, who has become a superstar of the women's game in recent years and even transcends her sport, remains in talks about what a tribute might look like.

• Earps says no to tribute at Wembley

  The FA extended an invite for Earps to be honoured at the national stadium on November 29, when England are due to face China in a friendly match, the penultimate game of 2025 and the first at Wembley since before the European Championship – as it goes, Earps had announced her international retirement just three days before that game against Portugal.

  That invite came after she was "promised" a send-off to mark an era-defining England career when she called time. However, the date in question – which is England's only scheduled game at Wembley at the moment – doesn't work for Earps. Talks remain ongoing between the FA, Earps and her representatives as all parties strive to find a suitable date to honour her achievements as a Lioness.

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  Earps: A career to be remembered

  Earps was a veteran of the domestic women's game in England for years before establishing herself as an international starter. She had played her way into the Lionesses squad while at Reading in 2017, but went to the 2019 World Cup as third choice behind Karen Bardsley and Carly Telford after playing precious little football during a disappointing season at Wolfsburg.

  That coincided with falling out of England contention altogether. But a move to newly promoted Manchester United in 2019, working closely with influential coach and mentor Ian Willcock, saw Earps rise once more, completely dedicated to her craft and ultimately reaching new heights.

  Sarina Wiegman saw fit to name her No.1 upon taking charge in the autumn of 2021 and Earps repaid that faith with exceptional performances en-route to winning Euro 2022. Dancing on the desk in the press conference after that final endeared her to the masses suddenly discovering women’s football, followed by a Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award, her starring role as the Lionesses reached and narrowly lost the 2023 World Cup final, and a second FIFA gong.

  Earps, who retired with 53 caps to her name but was criticised for the timing of it after already losing her starting place to Hannah Hampton, also made a difference off the pitch, publicly fighting Nike in 2023 after replicas of her England goalkeeper jersey initially weren't made available for fans to buy.

• Surprise FIFPro World XI nomination

  Earps left Manchester United in the summer of 2024, running down her contract and suggesting that, beyond her 30th birthday, she didn't have time to wait for a squad rebuild to run its course if she was to realise ambitions of winning regular major silverware. A move to Paris Saint-Germain followed, but so too did swift Champions League elimination, and to a degree falling out of the English media's spotlight. Hampton's emergence as a very credible successor and Earps no longer performing at her 2022 and 2023 peak perhaps accelerated her decision to retire internationally.

  All of that made it surprising for fans to then see her name on the list of players nominated this week for 2025's FIFPro World XI, chosen by players from all over the world but questionably ahead of arguably more deserving but less high profile individuals like Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Cata Coll and Chiamka Nnadozie.

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  Earps' autobiography is released

  is the tagline that adorns the cover of Earps' imminent autobiography, titled set for release on Thursday, October 30.

  The latter part of the title is a reference to the moving acceptance speech she gave upon collecting her Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award in 2022. That use of the term 'unapologetically' has also previously influenced the design of a clothing line under her brand MAE27, and has become a kind of personal buzzword synonymous with Earps and her journey.

Lamine Yamal’s life off the pitch is often a topic of discussion and now his decision to refuse autograph signings has hit the headlines alongside the bizarre reason why.

Lamine Yamal's life off the pitch

Yamal has the world at his feet.

He is undeniably the next in line for the same throne that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo left vacated. But at just 18 years old, La Masia’s latest generational talent hasn’t always found himself in the headlines for the right reasons away from the pitch.

In July, the Spaniard was investigated after reports claimed that he hired people with dwarfism to perform at his 18th birthday party. The winger reportedly hosted a party at a rented property in Olivella with guests, YouTubers, influencers and Barcelona teammates.

Following the reports, the Directorate General for People with Disabilities told BBC Sport: “These actions violate not only current legislation but also the fundamental ethical values of a society that seeks to be egalitarian and respectful.

“The general law on the rights of persons with disabilities expressly prohibits the following practices: ‘Shows or recreational activities in which people with disabilities or other circumstances are used to provoke mockery, ridicule, or derision from the public in a manner contrary to the respect due to human dignity are prohibited’.”

Living the party life whilst balancing his place as one of the world’s best wingers has historically not been an easy task for many players, but it is worth remembering just how young Yamal still is.

When asked about his life away from the pitch, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick said: “For me, what counts is that when he’s here, he puts in the effort and commitment. And that’s what he does. He had a few days off after working hard, and I don’t interfere in his private life.”

Why Yamal is refusing to sign autographs

As reported by Mundo Deportivo in Spain, Yamal is now refusing to sign autographs amid reports that he’s preparing to sign a lucrative commercial deal that will see his signature sold exclusively by a specialised merchandise company.

It’s a similar deal to one that basketball legend LeBron James has and one that has forced Yamal to explain to fans why he can’t sign their merchandise when meeting him.

The agreement is reportedly yet to be signed, but both parties are eager to get things over the line in an attempt to ensure that the value of the winger’s signature rises significantly.

Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 6, 2025

In a modern game full of signs asking for shirts in the crowd and fans still clamoring for signatures, the move is almost certain to cause controversy.

For fans, it’s another reminder of the influence of money in the current state of European football, with fixtures heading abroad and now Yamal’s signature being locked behind a hefty deal.

Whether more will follow suit remains to be seen. For now, fans will simply have to settle for a photo with football’s best young player, rather than what is about to be an expensive signature.

Messi was controlled for most of game 2, and there is an ominous sense that the Herons can be easily beaten in one-off matches

It took 89 minutes for Lionel Messi to get half a look at goal. Nashville had marked him expertly throughout most of their first-round playoff fixture. They had, in fact, done all of the classics. There was the man-on-man defense. There was the carefully pieced together rotational fouling. They cut off passing lanes, nudged him here and there.

Some of the tackles were a little stronger than they needed to be. There is no playbook for stopping Messi – no one can. But for nearly the full game, Nashville came pretty close. Until they didn't.

All it took was one lapse. Messi was double-teamed at the top of the box. Nashville allowed him half a yard on left foot. Before the defenders could realize they were going the wrong way, the ball had been smashed into the back of the net. 

And in any other situation, that would have been the turning point. Except, rather than serving as the moment that got them sent home from the playoffs, this was a brief blemish on what was, otherwise, a remarkably efficient 90 minutes from B.J. Callaghan's side.

This is a better Miami than last year. They are more organized, more resolute defensively. But Nashville showed over the weekend that they can be beaten in much the same way. Miami might have retooled, re-worked their side, and made some smart signings, but they are still very much the same vulnerable team. 

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  The long ball

  There are some goals that coaches hate to concede.

  If your side is the victim of sparkling play, intricate move, or one virtuosic piece of skill, there is only so much that can be done. Messi dribbles five Madrid defenders and then slots home at the Santiago Bernabeu? Fine. Diego Maradona rounds the keeper and connects to beat England? Sure. A Cristiano Ronaldo bicycle kick sends you out of the Champions League? Unplayable. 

  But perhaps the one unforgivable goal – in any circumstance – is the long ball over the top. It is, in the modern constructs of soccer, so preventable. Put enough pressure on the passer and it shouldn't be on. Even if you don't, then the defensive line should be organized enough to spring an offside trap. And even if it comes down to that, the goalkeeper should be able to react quickly enough to clear his lines.

  So much for that. Miami went 0-for-3 against Nashville after just eight minutes Saturday night. Hany Mukhtar received the ball, had time to ponder space, angles, weight, flight, test the direction of the wind and inspect the state of the grass before he launched a ball over the top. The Miami defense stepped forward and then didn't.

  Sam Surridge, a direct No. 9 who is not known for his speed, scampered in behind. Inexperienced goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo hesitated. Surrdige rounded him. Rios Novo swept his legs. It was among the easier penalties the referee will ever give. Surridge converted, 1-0, and no one had really broken a sweat. 

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  A recognizable formula

  That would be annoying on the best of days for Javier Mascherano. It's a silly goal to concede. The issue is, Miami have been letting up some version of it for months now. In fact, it's how Atlanta United beat them a year ago. Miami have tried to change so many things since then – personnel, formation, the actual manager – but they are so simple to play through.

  Mascherano, in fairness, tried to counter that against Nashville. So he set up a little more defensively. Sergio Busquets, he realized, does not have the legs to cover ground in an open game. So he asked the defensive midfielder to play as a de-facto third center back, shifting Miami to more of a 5-3-2 than 4-4-2. In theory, that offers a bit more solidity.

  But there were two problems. The first is that Busquets, for all of his soccer smarts, is not a centerback. He doesn't understand the movements of a backline. He doesn't get how to spring an offside trap. When a large English forward makes a simple diagonal run over his left shoulder, he doesn't have the insticts to coordinate with his two fellow center backs to ensure he's offisde. 

  The second is far more basic. Miami decided, in an interesting stroke of defensive judgement, to not mark the opponent's best player. Mukhtar is a wonderful creative player in a league packed with them, and when he dropped deep to receive the ball, no one tracked him. Luis Suarez didn't get across. Tadeo Allende just watched.

  The Miami defense, in effect, admired as he played a truly lovely ball over the top. It was a lovely piece of work, but also such a preventable one – especially for a team with MLS Cup ambitions. 

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  'Balon a Messi'

  The second goal was even cheaper. Miami were working their way back into the game. They had a couple of half chances denied. But then, on a corner, lumbering right back Josh Bauer strolled into the box, got ahead of his man, fluffed his lines once, and then had time to recover, poke home, and make it 2-0.

  By then, Miami were in familiar territory. To be sure, it is a good thing to be able to rally from a deficit, and get back into a game. Comeback victories are noble, character-building and good fun. But there is also something to be said for not allowing yourself to get there in the first place. And Miami tend to be good at working their way into games.

  But this is the playoffs, and teams tend to not only be quite good but also more tactically drilled than they might otherwise be in the slog of the season. Miami's signature technique to get themselves out of a hole is a reliable one, tried and tested for nearly 20 years on a football pitch by now: get the ball to Lionel Messi. There is nothing wrong with that. In fairness, it's kind of what you have to do.

  Except Nashville knew this. In his younger years, Messi would be able to counter whatever defensive job was done on him. If he was marked close to goal, he would drop deep. If he was caught in tight spaces, another teammate would make a run to clear them up. There was also the stark reality that you could give a triple teamed Messi the ball and watch him dribble around everyone. 

  But this is Messi at 38, with older legs. He can't truly be stopped, but he can be controlled. And Nashville did just that. After going up 2-0, they were content to let Miami have the ball. The Herons worked all sorts of angles, but seldom got the ball to their main man in any sort of dangerous area. And when he did have it, he was crowded out.

  Messi doesn't win foot races these days. He also can't quite accelerate away from players like he used to. Nashville prepared for that. By the end of it all, Messi didn't complete a single dribble, and finished with just four touches in their box. 

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  Limited options elsewhere

  A year ago, this would all have been less of a concern. When Suarez first came to MLS, he looked a player reborn. The end of his La Liga tenure and the spell at Gremio had been tough on him. It was an easy assumption that he might retire. But he looked fresh in spring 2024, and made an immense impact in his debut season.

  There was a sense that, even when Messi wasn't quite firing, Suarez could help out. And indeed, when the Argentine missed more than a month of action with an ankle injury, Suarez provided. He was, back then, a clear second weapon – a guy you had to be equally aware of. 

  Now, though, that's not quite the case. Suarez is still a solid MLS striker, but his numbers have fallen off a cliff. It's not just the goals – he has an agreeable 10 – but the underlying stuff. He is underperforming his expected goals tally. His shots on target per 90 minutes has halved, while the volume has stayed more or less then same.

  Suarez has outperformed his statistical assumptions – the mark of a good striker – in six of his last seven seasons. This one, he is underperfoming them for the first time since 2018.  The result is that defenders can cheat a little. Suarez still needs marking, but you can afford to give him a little extra space.

  The ground can be covered to close him down. He certainly isn't running in behind anymore. His 10 assists certainly count for something, but Suarez, the goal threat, is no longer quite there. 

Napoli's head of scouting Maurizio Micheli is reportedly in advanced talks to move to Arsenal to take up a new role with the Premier League side. New sporting director Andrea Berta is continuing to make changes behind the scenes in north London and is keen to bring in the man who signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Napoli. The exciting winger has since been sold to Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £59 million.

• Arsenal set to land key Napoli scout

  Berta has identified Micheli as a "key appointment" for his team and talks are continuing over a move, as reported by BBC Sport. Micheli is in his second stint with Napoli and is credited with bringing players such as Kvaratskhelia, Marek Hamsik and Kim Min-jae to the club. He has also worked in Serie A with Hellas Verona and Udinese and is widely regarded as one of the best talent spotters in Italy, having also discovered Ghana internationals Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan.

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  Berta getting busy at Arsenal

  Berta arrived at Arsenal after over a decade in La Liga with Atletico Madrid, taking over from Edu at Emirates Stadium. The Italian helped bring the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Jan Oblak, Rodri and Joao Felix to the club and was part of an Atletico set-up that won two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey and the Europa League.

  Arsenal's new man has just overseen his first transfer window at Arsenal which saw the Gunners spend over £255 million ($345.7m) to refresh the squad. Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard all arrived as the north London side splashed the cash.

  Mikel Arteta's side have gone on to enjoy a strong start to the Premier League season. The Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League table, four points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City, and are also in top spot in the Champions League standings.

• Arsenal told Micheli is a 'human algorithm'

  Micheli has been praised for his work in Serie A by former Stefano Caira. He has told fans what to expect from the scout: "I bow to the analysis of Maurizio Micheli, who, for me, is a guru in selecting and knowing players. There isn’t a single player Maurizio signs whose parents, boyfriends, and so on he doesn’t know. He’s a human algorithm, capable of implementing this strategy for years now."

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  Crunch fixtures up next for Arsenal

  Arsenal face a real test of their title credentials when domestic action resume after the international break. Arteta's team return against north London rivals Tottenham and then face Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The game pits the only two teams in the competition still with a 100 per cent record up against each other at the Emirates.

  Arteta's side then face Enzo Maresca's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on November 30th, and the results of those games may well offer an indicator of just how far the Gunners can go this season at home and abroad.

  The Arsenal boss is expected to welcome several injured players back for those games, and he admits the break comes at a good time for his team.

  “Now we reset with the international break, get the [international] players back nice and healthy, the ones that are not healthy make sure that they get healthy, and we go again,” he told reporters after seeing his team held to a draw by Sunderland last time out.

  “We’ll look back at what we’ve done, take all of the positive things that we do, the things that we have the opportunity to improve as well and start to plan what is coming because it’s going to be very demanding.”

Southampton are now eyeing Russell Martin as a replacement for Will Still, who was dismissed on Sunday night, but there could be competition for his signature from their Championship rivals.

After being relegated from the Premier League last season, the Saints were expected to mount a promotion push, but it has been nothing short of a terrible start to the campaign, having taken just 12 points from their opening 13 matches.

The 2-0 defeat at home to Preston North End was the final straw for Sport Republic, who relieved Still of his duties on Saturday, and Under-21s head coach Tonda Eckert has now emerged as a contender for the first-team manager’s job.

It would be a gamble to appoint Eckert, however, given that he is just 32-years-old and yet to prove himself at senior level, and an external appointment is also being considered…

Southampton eyeing Russell Martin to replace Will Still

According to journalist Alan Nixon (via GiveMeSport) Southampton are now eyeing former manager Martin as a replacement for Still, with the 39-year-old on standby for a swift return to management, having recently been dismissed by Scottish giants Rangers.

The Saints are not the only Championship club that hold an interest, however, with it being revealed that Norwich City are also considering the Englishman, given that there are doubts over Liam Manning’s future.

The Brighton-born manager is available without any compensation, which means he is an appealing option for the two Championship clubs, who could do battle for his services.

In truth, the former Rangers manager’s spell at Ibrox was a complete disaster, being sacked after just 17 games in charge, making him the shortest-serving permanent boss in the Scottish side’s history.

That said, the “exciting” manager, as hailed by analyst John Walker, could still be a good appointment for Southampton, considering the work he did at St. Mary’s previously, guiding them to promotion in the play-off final in the 2023-24 campaign.

The ex-Swansea City boss, who prefers to implement a 4-3-3 system, is also very experienced at Championship level, having taken charge of 138 second tier matches.

That said, it would arguably be a backwards step to appoint Martin, given that he was sacked by the Saints less than one year ago, after being unable to make the step-up to the Premier League, with his side losing 13 of their opening 16 Premier League games.

Southampton plotting move for James Ward-Prowse in January

He's been told to leave: Southampton now plotting move to sign £30m PL star

The Saints could pull off an impressive move.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 2, 2025