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Manchester City have seen some big names make moves away from the Etihad Stadium in the past few years.

Figures such as Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero have waved goodbye to the club in recent memory after becoming such integral and successful club figures.

Another famous name that left the club after making a massive impact on not just City but on the Premier League is David Silva.

Signed from Valencia back in 2010 in a deal worth a reported fee of £24m, the midfielder went on to make a total of 436 appearances across all competitions.

In those appearances, the Spaniard scored 77 goals, delivered 140 assists, won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups.

Now that this current season has come to a close with City once again lifting the Premier League title, the upcoming summer transfer window may give the Citizens the chance to find what could be their next version of Silva.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Manchester club are keen on signing River Plate midfielder Enzo Fernandez this summer.

With ten goals scored and nine assists delivered in 45 senior appearances for the Argentina club, the 21-year-old certainly knows how to not only score but create goals for his side in a similar sort of way that Silva did during his decade in Manchester.

This makes it safe to assume that Guardiola would love to have another midfielder in his ranks that can be a useful attacking option as well.

Speaking about the young midfielder, Marcelo Gallardo had this to say about the young Argentinian.

“He is a player who at his young age has matured a lot. He is seen to be very confident, fearsome and a development in his game that is seen to be getting better and better, strengthening himself day by day.”

Having also been described as a player who “always gives solutions to his teammates” from midfield by Robert Pires, this would also make him a potential Silva 2.0, who was once dubbed “the best creative midfielder” the Premier League has ever seen by Thierry Henry.

Having already completed a deal with River Plate over the sale of Julian Alvarez, if City see an opportunity to negotiate with the Argentine club over Fernandez, they should definitely swoop in and sign him.

In other news: Pep can seal dream Sterling heir as MCFC eye “outrageously talented” £102m-rated star…

According to Italian source Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make a move to sign Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs want a left-sided CB

Reported back at the beginning of April, The Athletic claimed that Spurs will prioritise a left-sided centre-back in the summer transfer window.

With full-back Ben Davies playing a make-shift role, Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte has been keen on bringing in high-level competition to that position.

The Athletic further claimed that this has been a priority for Tottenham since last year, and Fabio Paratici even tried to sign Pau Torres from Villareal last summer, but the player rejected the move.

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The Latest: Bastoni up for sale, Spurs are ready

Italian media source Corriere dello Sport recently relayed the comments made by Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta, stating that the club may need to make ‘at least one important sacrifice’ in the transfer market due to financial reasons.

Translated by Sport Witness, Marotta admitted: “We want to be ambitious, but an eye to the balance must be given, as for all teams. I think we will be able to achieve both goals.

“A complicated transfer market awaits us.”

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Inter need to make around £51.4-59.9m in fees and also reduce their wages by 10 to 15 percent.

When it comes to making that ‘important sacrifice’, the report claims Bastoni’s name is in the ‘front row’, and Paratici, Daniel Levy and Tottenham are ‘ready for the assault’.

The Verdict: Would be a fantastic signing

With Conte’s attacking style of play, the addition of Bastoni would complement Spurs’ system well.

This is demonstrated by his underlying stats; according to FB Ref, the defender ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive passes received and in the 97th percentile for shot-creating actions when compared with positional peers across Europe.

With Inter potentially being forced into a sale to free up funds, this could be the prime opportunity for Paratici to swoop for the Italy international, dubbed ‘perfect’ for Conte’s three-man defence during their time together at Inter.

We believe this could prove to be a fantastic signing for Conte.

In other news: Tottenham’s first summer signing is imminent!

Celtic wrapped up their 2021/22 Premiership season with the league title secured, along with the best attacking and defensive record in the top flight.

Before the Hoops begin their next campaign to try and retain their title and potentially get their hands on ever more silverware, the upcoming summer transfer window will give Ange Postecoglou the chance to make whatever changes to his squad that he sees fit.

As things stand, it seems as though a big update has emerged regarding one potential deal which could be set to take place at Celtic Park in the coming weeks.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Daily Record, Cameron Carter-Vickers has agreed personal terms with the Bhoys over a permanent transfer said to be worth £6m.

The report added that the defender ‘has his heart set on staying with the champions long term’.

Great news for Postecoglou

Celtic signed the centre-back, who is currently valued at £2.7m by Transfermarkt, on a season-long loan deal from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur last August.

During his season with the Bhoys, the 24-year-old quickly became a crucial figure for Postecoglou as he ended the campaign with 45 appearances across all competitions. In the league, only two other players racked up more minutes than the USA defender, highlighting just how important he was in Celtic’s title-winning campaign.

With 43 interceptions and 22 tackles to his name in the Premiership, the American also ended the season with the highest average of clearances per game (4.2) in Postecoglou’s squad.

Labelled an “outstanding” player by Greg Taylor, Carter-Vickers undeniably played a massive part in Celtic’s domestic success during his loan spell.

Taking all this into account, it’s easy to see why the Parkhead club are aiming to secure the defender on a permanent basis and keep him in their squad for the foreseeable future.

Now that it appears that he has agreed personal terms with the club and is keen to remain with the Hoops, this will surely be music to the ears of Postecoglou and many Celtic fans.

In other news: Ange can finally axe “unbelievable” £4.5m Celtic flop by signing 20 G/A “piledriver”

Highlights from the latest round where 15 out of the 19 matches produced outright results

Shashank Kishore31-Dec-2022The collapses
Vidarbha were cruising to their third straight win in the competition, but Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) had other ideas in Nagpur. Chasing 141, Vidarbha were in an excellent position at 97 for 3, before losing seven wickets for four runs in 28 deliveries. They eventually folded for 101. The wrecker-in-chief was left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, who finished with sensational figures of 8 for 18. The loss consigned Vidarbha to third place in Group D, while J&K lifted themselves off the bottom with their first win.Andhra’s collapse against Maharashtra wasn’t any less dramatic. At 100 for 4 in their chase of 240, they were faced with an uphill task. But the wicket of Hanuma Vihari, their captain, opened the floodgates. Andhra lost 6 for 8 to fold for 108, losing by 131 runs. Maharashtra are now joint toppers with Mumbai in Group B. Both teams have 13 points from three matches; the big difference is Maharashtra are unbeaten.Related

• Ajinkya Rahane not giving up hope of an India comeback

• Shams Mulani aces the left-arm spinner vs left-hand batter challenge

• Delhi out of first-choice pace-bowling options as injury list grows

Saurashtra’s first
Over the years, Mumbai vs Saurashtra has been one-sided. The finals in 2012-13 and 2015-16 were both wrapped up by Mumbai inside three days. Several Saurashtra players admitted to having a mental block. But things have changed. Ever since Saurashtra lifted the Ranji Trophy in 2019-20 season, they have been a team on the upswing across formats.Earlier this year, both sides played out a thriller in Ahmedabad, with the last-wicket pair of Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya batting out 17.2 overs to secure a thrilling draw for Saurashtra. Eleven months later, a young team without their talismanic captain Unadkat and senior player Cheteshwar Pujara, turned the screws on Mumbai to clinch victory by 48 runs early on the fourth day. It was their first-ever win over Mumbai in Ranji history.Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, the left-arm spinning allrounder, first claimed a six-for to help Saurashtra pocket a crucial 59-run lead, before making 90 in the second innings to set Mumbai a target of 280. Mumbai were cruising at 111 for 1, with Prithvi Shaw making 68, before losing their way. They were bowled out for 231.Samarth’s golden run and Pandey’s special 100th
R Samarth, Karnataka’s 29-year-old opener, is in the form of his life. He’s hit three centuries in three matches so far this season to single-handedly steer his team’s batting. His latest hundred, a 238-ball 140 that also happens to be his 13th first-class century, laid the foundation for a mammoth first-innings total that helped Karnataka take first-innings honours against Goa.Samarth’s knock, however, was shaded by Manish Pandey’s blistering 186-ball 208 not out in his 100th first-class match. It was a timely return to form for Pandey, on whom considerable pressure had been building in recent times, especially after the selectors had seemingly put the non-performers on notice. Pandey’s first three knocks in the season were scores of 10, 23 and 45.After the knock, Pandey spoke of drawing inspiration from David Warner, who battled poor form and immense selection pressure before breaking the rut with a magnificent double-ton against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test.Karnataka may look back at the Goa game and wonder if they delayed their first-innings declaration by a bit. They are in a tight race with Kerala and Chhattisgarh for the top two qualifying spots from Group C. All three sides have 13 points in three matches, but Karnataka have just one outright vis-a-vis two by Kerala and Chhattisgarh.File photo: Priyank Panchal made an unbeaten 257 against Chandigarh•Manoj Bookanakere/KSCAThe Parag and Panchal show
Riyan Parag is proving to be quite a handy allrounder. That India don’t have top-order batters who can bowl lately has got him to focus more on his secondary skills with the ball, and the efforts are showing. He not only picked up eight wickets with his legbreaks and wrong’uns, but also made a bruising 28-ball 78 in the second innings – courtesy eight fours and six sixes – to help Assam swell their lead against Hyderabad. Then, defending 250, Hyderabad were on course at 171 for 4 when Parag made a splash with the ball. His three quick wickets detailed their chase, with Assam clinching a thriller by 18 runs for their first win this season which keeps them in the hunt for the top two in Group B.In Ahmedabad, Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal proved selection snubs can’t deter him from continuing his run-glut. Having been on the fringes of the national team as a reserve opener, Panchal has recently seen Bengal’s Abhimanyu Easwaran leapfrog him in the pecking order. Panchal, though, seems to have taken it in his stride. After scores of 111, 85, 52 and 0, he made a magnificent unbeaten 257 in the third round against Chandigarh to steer Gujarat to an innings win. With two wins in three matches, Gujarat are placed second in Group D at the moment.The Plate League
Meghalaya conceded a 97-run lead to Bihar but hit back sensationally to bowl their opponents out for 99 and knock off their 200-run target with four wickets in hand. This gave them a third straight win that has vaulted them to the top of the standings. Sikkim, who conceded an 87-run lead to Mizoram, are second after they pulled off a coup. Having shot Mizoram out for 156 in the second innings, Sikkim got to their target of 244 with four wickets in hand.
Leading run-getter after round three (Elite): Dhruv Shorey (Delhi): six innings, 579 runs, average 144.75, two hundreds, two fifties
Plate: Taruwar Kohli (Mizoram): five innings, 510 runs, average 102, two hundreds, two fifties
Leading wicket-taker (Elite): Jalaj Saxena (Kerala): 26 wickets in six innings, average 16.34, three five-fors
Leading wicket taker (Plate): Rajesh Bishnoi (Meghalaya): 26 wickets in six innings, average 9.57, three five-fors

ESPNcricinfo explains the nuts and bolts of the bidding process, which takes place on August 26

Nagraj Gollapudi and Osman Samiuddin25-Aug-2022Why do I even need to know about ICC rights when all I care about is who my team plays next?
Because, ultimately, the money from these rights forms a chunk of the money that makes the rich (India, England and Australia) richer but keeps the game going in the smaller member countries. So, if you care about that, you probably better care about this too.Fine, so what’s being bid for?
A whole bunch of events from 2023-31: 16 men’s events (over eight years between 2023-31) and six women’s events (over four years – between 2023-27). World Cups, Champions Trophy, T20 World Cups, U19 World Cups, you name it, every ICC event – men and women – you watch until 2031 will be part of this deal.Brought to me by?
As ESPNcricinfo understands it, one or more of Disney Star*, Sony, Zee, Viacom and Amazon.And am I watching it on my phone, TV, tablet?
Either, both, all. For the first time, the ICC has unpacked its rights. No longer is it selling one set of TV rights to the highest bidder; it is now selling its rights as separate packages of TV only, digital only, and TV and digital combined. All three are for four or eight years. In case any of the packages are sold for only four years, the ICC will open another window to sell the rights for the second four-year period.That sounds like bidding could get complicated.
That’s exactly what four of the main broadcasters in the running thought, and several emails were sent to the ICC about the lack of transparency in the process. And as a symbolic protest, they didn’t initially attend some training sessions – or “mock auctions” as they called them – designed to familiarise them with the process.Expand.
Disney Star, Zee, Sony and Viacom expressed various concerns over the transparency of the bidding process. TL;DR: the broadcasters were unhappy with the fact that the bids were not going to be shared once opened, among those who bid; that there was no clarity about how close the highest bids needed to be to trigger a second round of bidding; and they wanted to know more about how the ICC would judge a bid for a four-year deal against a bid for an eight-year deal.What happened next?
The four broadcasters eventually did go ahead and put in bids, and according to some reports, the clarity they wanted has been given. For example, according to a report in the , broadcasters have been told that if a bid is within 10% of the highest bid/combination bid, it will trigger a second round of bidding – only this time through an e-auction (more on that shortly).There has also been some more information around a pre-determined multiplier, which will be used to judge an eight-year bid against a four-year one. The ICC will look at the best bids for both tenures and then look at the ratio between the two, compare that with the multiplier, believed to be set at 2.8. If the ratio for eight years exceeds the multiplier, then the ICC will pick the winner for the eight-year bid. If the ratio is less, then the highest bid for four years will be selected.I’m sorry, what?

Here’s an example. If the best four-year number is 100 and the best eight-year number is 270, the ratio is 2.7 (270/100). That is below the 2.8 multiplier set by the ICC. So in this case, the ICC will go with the highest bidder for four years. But if the best bid for four years is 100 and the highest bid for eight years is 300, then the ratio of 3 means the ICC will pick the highest bid for eight years.Does that mean there could be an e-auction, like the one at the IPL?
Only, as we say, if the second-best bid is within 10% of the best bid; the first round of bidding is the old-school, sealed-bid methodology, which the ICC says has worked best for years (some broadcasters wanted an e-auction from the start, after the success of the IPL). The ICC also argue that the unbundled nature of their rights offering means that it is too complex for a simple e-auction process. In fact, at first they had ruled out an e-auction but have since stepped back from that. The e-auction, if needed, will take place a few days later.Why have they gone to the Indian market first?
In short: money. It is cricket’s biggest market and as the IPL rights proved, there is massive appetite among the biggest broadcasters there for more cricket content. The ICC is banking on the belief that since two different broadcasters – Disney Star and Viacom – have won the TV and digital rights respectively for next five-year cycle of the IPL, both as well as other participants will bid aggressively to bag the second biggest rights in cricket, that of the ICC.Underpinning this is also simple maths: by unbundling its package of rights into men’s and women’s events, into digital and TV, by going into different territories, they stand to make much more money than they have in previous cycles.I’m not sure how it has taken this long to get to the crux of this: how much money are they expecting to make?
Nobody can be certain but here are some facts. In the last cycle, the ICC sold its rights for just over US$2 billion. But that was a different, linear world: that figure was for all rights on all platforms globally. For this cycle, the ICC is believed to have a benchmark figure in mind, an “asking price” of $1.44 billion for a four-year deal and $4 billion (1.44 multiplied by 2.8) for an eight-year deal. That is double the last deal for eight years, and it is only a benchmark figure – so the minimum they expect – and .Expectations have risen not just because of the way broadcasting and the digital landscape has changed since the last cycle, but because there is more content. There were six men’s events in the previous eight-year cycle, whereas there will be one annually in this next cycle. Six of the eight events fall in the Indian time zone; India play host to three men’s event; four of the eight events in the next cycle take place during the Diwali festive season when the Indian market is usually in spending mood.Separate women’s rights will help. An element of development still remains, in that the highest bid will not necessarily guarantee the winner. The ICC is keen to find the right broadcasting partner who can promote women’s cricket globally. The highest bidder(s) will make a presentation in front of the Media Rights Advisory Group (MRAG) – formed specifically to adjudicate the bidding – to showcase how they aim to help women’s cricket grow, and that will not just be limited to the global events but the overall game.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has now personally requested the board sign a “special” star, with a £105m opening offer now in the works.

Man City looking to sign successor to Rodri

After spending the majority of the 2024-25 campaign sidelined due to an ACL injury, 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is starting to show signs he is getting back to his best, most notably impressing in the 2-0 Champions League victory over Napoli.

The Spaniard received an 8.3 SofaScore match rating against the Italian side, the second-highest of any City player, after making a number of key contributions and touching the ball 109 times, more than anyone else on the pitch.

Esteemed Kompany’s Steven McInerney also sung the central midfielder’s praises after his display against the Serie A champions, but it has since emerged that Guardiola is now running the rule over potential long-term successors.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Pep is keen on Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic as an heir to Rodri, and the manager has now set his sights on a different young midfielder.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Pep has personally requested the Man City board sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves, with the manager said to be a keen admirer of the midfielder.

Such is City’s level of interest, they are already preparing a massive initial offer of €120m (£105m) for Neves, but it could be difficult to tempt the French club into a sale.

Man City in race to sign "generational" £70m Man Utd star, Pep's a big fan

The City boss is an admirer of a Premier League player, with a shock move now on the cards.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 18, 2025

The 20-year-old is regarded as an essential part of PSG’s project, given that the youngster has already established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position, so his current employers are extremely hesitant to sanction a departure.

"Special" Neves would be statement signing for Man City

It seems like it will be very difficult to get a deal done, but the Portuguese maestro could be a statement signing for the Blues, with scout Ben Mattinson suggesting he is destined for the very top.

Much like Rodri, the PSG star is an incredibly well-rounded midfielder, placing in the 96th percentile for tackles per 90, the 97th percentile for pass-completion rate, and the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals over the past year, compared to other midfielders.

Despite his age, the starlet is already vastly experienced at the highest level, making 17 Champions League appearances en-route to PSG’s maiden triumph last season, which suggests he could be a top signing for Man City.

That said, given that Neves remains under contract until 2029, PSG should be in a strong negotiating position, and it remains to be seen whether he would even be willing to leave the reigning European champions.

Santos have reportedly paused contract renewal talks with Neymar amid growing concerns over his fitness and high wages. The 33-year-old forward has missed significant time through injury this year. Despite the excellent relationship between Neymar and the club, officials want to reassess the situation before committing to an extension as his current contract runs until December.

• Santos hit pause on Neymar's renewal

  Santos are delaying negotiations over a new deal for Neymar as they continue to fight against relegation in the Brazilian Serie A. ESPN reports that the club’s board is in no rush to finalise a renewal, with doubts emerging over the star’s physical condition and the financial burden of maintaining his high salary. Neymar’s current contract expires in December 2025, and talks are expected to resume only after a full internal review.

  The veteran forward’s return to Santos was initially seen as a fairytale homecoming when he rejoined from Al-Hilal in January. However, injuries have marred his comeback season, limiting him to just 21 appearances, in which he scored six goals and provided three assists. His latest setback, a rectus femoris muscle injury in his right thigh, has sidelined him since September 19.

  Santos officials insist that no rift exists between the parties, despite the pause in talks. They believe Neymar must first regain full fitness before discussions over a long-term extension can continue. Behind the scenes, expectations are that he could return to action in November, giving him a final chance to prove his value before the season ends.

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  Neymar's wages a burden for Santos

  The situation marks a stark contrast from earlier in the year when Santos proudly announced a short-term renewal with Neymar. Back in June, the 33-year-old was in better form, attracting interest from European clubs and bringing renewed optimism to Vila Belmiro. Now, persistent injuries and inconsistent displays have shifted the club’s priorities as they focus on survival rather than star power.

  Santos’ board must weigh the financial implications of keeping their marquee player while struggling in the league. Neymar’s salary is among the highest in South America, and his absences have amplified questions about whether he remains a sustainable investment for a club facing financial and sporting instability. With limited resources, Santos cannot afford to carry an injured talisman indefinitely.

  Still, Neymar’s return to his boyhood club has provided commercial benefits. Shirt sales, attendances, and global attention surged after his signing, reinforcing his off-field influence. Yet, those gains now appear insufficient to offset the uncertainty surrounding his fitness — an all-too-familiar theme throughout his post-Barcelona career.

• AFP
  

  Neymar's decline puts question marks on World Cup 2026 availability

  Neymar’s physical decline has been a major storyline in recent years. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 for Al-Hilal, the Brazilian suffered a devastating ACL injury that derailed his Saudi Pro League campaign, limiting him to just seven appearances. Since returning to Brazil, he has endured three more injuries, continuing a frustrating cycle that has haunted him since his European days.

  His struggles have also affected his international career. Neymar hasn’t featured for Brazil since October 2023, when he played in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay during World Cup qualifying. However, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the forward remains in contention for the 2026 tournament — provided he proves his fitness.

  “Neymar can play at his highest level in this team without any problems,” Ancelotti told reporters. “When he is in good physical condition, he has the quality to play not only in Brazil but in any team in the world because of his talent.” The Italian added that teamwork and movement off the ball will be crucial if Neymar is to adapt to Brazil’s evolving system.

  Competition for attacking places has intensified in Neymar’s absence. Ancelotti’s latest squad featured Richarlison, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Joao Pedro, Luiz Henrique, and Estevao — a youthful, dynamic group redefining Brazil’s frontline. If Neymar hopes to return to the national team setup, he must prove that his experience outweighs concerns about his durability.

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• Contract talks will be held in 2026

  For now, Santos’ focus remains squarely on avoiding relegation and managing Neymar’s recovery carefully. The forward is expected to resume training in November, though the club will monitor him closely before clearing him for full competition. Any decision on his future will hinge on whether he can demonstrate lasting fitness and consistent form before the end of the campaign.

  If his performances improve, Santos could reopen contract talks before the year concludes. However, if injuries persist, the club may choose to let his deal expire, allowing him to explore free transfers abroad. Reports suggest that European clubs such as Inter Milan and Napoli are keeping tabs but share similar reservations about his medical history.

Liverpool versus Everton is always a tasty affair at Anfield in the Premier League.

Today’s lunchtime Merseyside Derby was no different as Arne Slot’s Reds raced into a two-goal lead, before the Toffees fought back courtesy of an Idrissa Gueye screamer beating Alisson.

In the end, Everton just didn’t have enough to equalise in the 2-1 defeat, with Beto struggling severely in the first half, before David Moyes put him out of his misery at the half-time mark.

Beto's struggles at Anfield in numbers

Everton were always going to struggle to impose themselves on the contest, coming up against a hostile Anfield atmosphere.

Indeed, looking at the overall match numbers, Slot’s Reds would dominate the possession with 58% of the ball, as Beto ended up being very much of a bystander in a first half that saw Liverpool accelerate into a two-goal advantage.

While Hugo Ekitike was confidently adding to his early Premier League goal tally with this instinctive finish, Beto was attempting to scrap his way into the fierce contest, but the 27-year-old was ultimately far too passive.

Beto would only complete two accurate passes all match, as per Sofascore, while only successfully winning two aerial duels as an isolated figure in Moyes’ attack.

In matches to come, Moyes could potentially have a rethink as to who he starts as the leading man in the Toffees attack, with Thierno Barry also fading in and out of the hotly-contested affair when coming on for the Portuguese striker.

It wasn’t just the attack that would receive pelters at the final whistle, though, with an experienced Everton defender now looking to be on borrowed time under the Scotman after suffering a 2-1 loss to their arch rivals.

The 6/10 star on borrowed time under Moyes

Everton were dealt a two-goal sucker punch in the first half as Liverpool’s fast-paced play on the ball constantly caught out a slow Toffees defence.

Michael Keane definitely struggled in this regard throughout, with the former Burnley man failing to keep tight to Ekitike before he sealed the win for the Reds deep into the first half.

As noted above, Keane would only win 50% of his six duels during the hotly contested clash, with the experienced centre-back also only winning two tackles to try and keep a free-flowing Liverpool attack at bay.

It does only feel like a matter of time before the 6-foot-3 stalwart is out of Moyes’ starting XIs for good, with Jarrad Branthwaite nearly back up to full fitness, further troubling the 32-year-old’s long-term minutes in the main lineup.

After all, Moyes will see that he’s upgraded and progressed his side in the forward department, with faces such as Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall undoubtedly offering up plenty of quality, even if Beto disappeared at Anfield.

Moreover, it appears that the Toffees already have an experienced head in the heart of defence that still has the legs to perform at the highest level in James Tarkowski, with the Everton captain winning eight duels when giving his all, despite the devastating final outcome.

While Keane would be gifted a 6/10 post-match rating by Liverpool World’s Will Rooney, it is now nine seasons and down for the 32-year-old in an Everton shirt, with a permanent change in defence perhaps now needed.

After failing to close down some seriously threatening Liverpool attackers and be authorative in the Merseyside Derby, his long-term minutes in the Toffees main XI week in week out must soon be up, especially when Branthwaite returns.

Moyes' own Richarlison: Everton are brewing a "menacing" new forward

Everton are redefining their attacking quality with David Moyes back at the helm.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 19, 2025

Romelu Lukaku’s agent has revealed that Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti once considered signing the Belgian striker before the club turned their focus to Kylian Mbappe. The Napoli forward was seen as a short-term option, but Madrid opted to wait – a decision that eventually brought the French superstar to the Bernabeu on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

• The untold story behind Real Madrid’s striker search

  In an interview with , renowned agent Federico Pastorello lifted the lid on a surprising twist in recent transfer history – Lukaku’s brief link with Madrid. The Belgian striker, now at Napoli, was apparently on Ancelotti’s radar in 2023 when Los Blancos were evaluating options to strengthen their forward line.

  At that point, Madrid were still waiting for their long-term target, Mbappe. According to Pastorello, the club were unwilling to commit funds for a loan move while anticipating the Frenchman’s arrival. Madrid then made the pragmatic choice of bringing back academy product Joselu, a move that ultimately paid off. The Spaniard proved instrumental in helping them win both La Liga and the Champions League, turning a low-cost gamble into a success story.

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  Agent reveals Ancelotti’s admiration for Lukaku

  "Well, don't let any club get mad at me, but I think Real Madrid is the best club in the world for many reasons," he said. "I must be honest and say there was an opportunity, at a time when it wasn't clear where Romelu was going and with Ancelotti as coach."

  The agent admitted that Lukaku’s move to Spain never go through due to Madrid’s long-term vision: "They were thinking of reinforcing the forward line, but they were already focused on the big signing of Mbappe for the following year and didn't want to spend money on a loan. So let's say there was an opportunity because Ancelotti would have liked it; he always held Lukaku in high regard, but unfortunately it didn't materialise."

  The revelation adds another layer to the story of Madrid’s patient pursuit of Mbappe, a saga that dominated European football for years. While Lukaku’s name was quietly floated around in the background, the club stayed loyal to their dream of bringing the French superstar to the Bernabeu, a decision that would later reshape their attacking future.

• Madrid’s patience and Mbappe’s arrival

  Madrid’s strategy paid off handsomely. After years of pursuit and multiple rejections, Florentino Perez finally landed Mbappe on a free transfer, one of the most dramatic moments in modern football history. The move underscored the club's financial discipline and long-term planning, avoiding costly short-term fixes while waiting for their marquee signing.

  The 26-year-old's debut season brought promise despite falling short of major trophies. He still netted 44 goals across competitions, proving why Madrid were right to wait. Under new boss Xabi Alonso, the Frenchman has been unstoppable, scoring 14 goals in 10 matches this season before suffering a minor injury while on international duty with France.

  Meanwhile, Lukaku’s journey took him to Italy, where he played a key role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign last season, contributing 14 goals and 10 assists. However, a thigh injury has sidelined him until early 2026, halting his momentum just as he appeared to rediscover his best form.

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  What’s next for Mbappe, Lukaku, and Real Madrid

  Los Blancos' upcoming fixtures will test both Mbappe’s recovery and Alonso’s tactical setup. The Spanish giants face Getafe on October 19, followed by a Champions League clash with Juventus three days later, before locking horns with Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season on October 26. Mbappe’s fitness remains a key storyline as fans eagerly await his return to full strength. His form could define Madrid’s ambitions this season, especially in Europe, where expectations are sky-high.

  As for Lukaku, his focus remains on rehabilitation and returning to action for Napoli in 2026. Off the pitch, he continues to mourn the loss of his father, Roger, who passed away last month at 58, a tragedy that led the Belgian striker to remove all his social media posts except one heartfelt tribute.

Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s opening Champions League game of the season against Villarreal later this month, Spurs boss Thomas Frank has now decided his A-list squad for the league phase, and it includes some notable absentees.

After clinching their first major trophy in 17 years by winning the Europa League in May, Spurs secured themselves passage to Europe’s most prestigious competition, and Frank’s side have a solid chance of battling their way to the knockouts.

The league phase draw was favourable indeed, barring current European champions PSG, who the Lilywhites already know all too well from their unlucky UEFA Super Cup final loss on penalties.

Tottenham are set for a reunion with Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt, months after beating them in the Europa League semi-finals, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt, who they also knocked out of Europe en route to their historic night in Bilbao.

In preparation for their first campaign back in the Champions League since Antonio Conte’s era in charge, Frank has been forced to make a few key decisions over who makes their A-list side for the league phase encounters.

Over the summer window, Tottenham had a complication over a lack of players to fill their ‘locally trained’ quota, which presented the threat of having to register a lesser number of players overall and even prompted Spurs to consider re-signing Kyle Walker-Peters at one stage (Alasdair Gold).

Despite some reports suggesting Tottenham were favourites for Walker-Peters as a viable candidate to be one of their locally trained options in Europe, the right-back ended up joining West Ham on a free transfer instead.

UEFA rules state: “If a club has fewer than eight locally trained players on its List A, the maximum number of players that can be registered on this list is reduced accordingly.”

Their lack of locally trained assets means that Frank was forced to omit a noteworthy number of players, including some big names.

Tottenham omit Takai, Tel and Bissouma from Champions League squad

Tottenham’s squad for the Champions League is now in and confirmed, with Frank deciding to snub two summer signings and exit-linked midfielder Yves Bissouma, with the Mali international tipped to leave for Saudi Arabia or Turkey in the coming days (GiveMeSport).

Indeed, Kota Takai joined Spurs for a J-League record £5 million during the window, but he misses out, as does Mathys Tel, who signed for the north Londoners in a cut-price £30 million move from Bayern Munich.

Injured trio James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin, who are all a long time away from the grass as they recover from their respective problems, were also left out by Frank.

Here is the squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin.

Defenders: Kevin Danso, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven.

Midfielders: Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur.

Strikers: Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani.