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Liverpool exceeded expectations when they won the Premier League last season, but Darwin Nunez struggled to perform at the expected level throughout.

The 26-year-old striker is a maverick, for sure, but he’s also erratic and chaotic and often incapable of harnessing and channelling his skills into something coherent.

With Luis Diaz’s future looking more certain to exist outside of Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich both vying for his signature and receiving plenty of encouragement, Liverpool might not want to cash in on Nunez.

However, the Uruguay international is in talks to join Napoli, and selling him may well be for the best.

Why Liverpool should sell Darwin Nunez

When Liverpool signed Nunez, they purchased a young and exciting striker who had just come off the back of a 34-goal campaign with Portuguese giants Benfica, scoring twice against Liverpool on Europe’s elite stage.

Klopp, perhaps, had a glint in his eyes when watching the Uruguayan run rampant over many of Europe’s finest; maybe the savvy tactician saw the reincarnation of Luis Suarez in Benfica’s man.

Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nunez has flattered to deceive for much of his time on Merseyside, even if he’s shown flashes of the quality that convinced the German manager to fork out an initial £64m fee from FSG’s coffers.

He is expected to depart this summer, and while a popular figure, Nunez hasn’t succeeded in emulating his iconic countryman.

What Liverpool need is a striker who embodies some of Suarez’s qualities but also has experience competing consistently at the very highest level.

Liverpool eyeing Darwin Nunez upgrade

As per TEAMtalk, Slot’s dream signing for the rest of the summer is Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, even if a deal would be extremely difficult to complete.

After the Magpies sealed their place in next season’s Champions League, The Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed there was “no chance” he would leave St. James’ Park. This has since been corroborated by the news that he has been valued at an eye-watering £200m.

Recent events will rightly halt any immediate developments, but Liverpool may well make a concerted effort to challenge the Magpies for their star man later in the transfer window.

Why Alexander Isak can be the new Luis Suarez

Isak has played for Newcastle across three seasons, and he’s improved incrementally.

A shoddy fitness record has been left in the past, with the Sweden star’s athleticism and strength having come on leaps and bounds. His application even led Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to hail him as “the best striker in the Premier League” last season.

In the Premier League, Isak played a monumental part in guiding Eddie Howe’s side back into the Champions League, sealing their place on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign.

His goals counted for plenty, with the 23 strikes put away in the Premier League bettered only by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

However, Isak also ranked among the top 16% of positional peers competing across Europe’s top five leagues last term for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

His all-encompassing attacking game even suggests that he could become Slot’s own version of former Redmen superstar Suarez, who, incredibly, posted 82 goals and 32 assists across only 133 appearances.

Suarez might have reached his career zenith at Barcelona, but who can argue against him being in a different stratosphere to the rest of the Premier League when he plied his trade on Merseyside?

Suarez was a devastating finisher, to be sure, but he was so much more than a simple goalscorer. Steven Gerrard once said the marksman “had everything”, and named him the best forward he had ever played with.

The iconic Anfield skipper went into further detail about exactly what set Suarez apart from his positional peers: “He could embarrass you, even with stuff that I don’t think that he knew he was doing. He was a ricochet merchant, he would run over you, he’d dominate you and bully you.”

Given the stage-by-stage progress that Isak, still only 25, has enjoyed in England, there’s certainly a good chance that he could reach the level of Liverpool’s one-time South American talisman, bringing a “world-class” striking ability, as has been praised by pundit and Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer, to Slot’s squad.

But then, as the aforementioned FBref data suggests, Isak might also thrive in link-up situations, bouncing off the creativity of stars such as Salah and Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool in a deal rising to a British-record £116m.

After all, the £120k-per-week number nine created 11 big chances in the Premier League last season, as per Sofascore, emphasising just how creative and intelligent he is in his attacking play.

Suarez perhaps reached the highest level of any forward to have ever played in the Premier League when he was at his apex. Many would contest such conjecture but it’s an argument that would hold at any table.

In Isak, Liverpool might just find the perfect, belated successor, and Slot might secure his perfect new centre-forward.

The next Van Dijk: Liverpool plot talks for "immense" £40m Guehi upgrade

Liverpool are stepping up their search for a new centre-back…

By
Robbie Walls

Jul 2, 2025

Chelsea are expected to remain busy on transfers this summer after clinching the Club World Cup in New Jersey, with the Blues receiving an estimated £87.5 million worth of prize money as a result of their success in the tournament.

£22m player very keen to join Chelsea, talks once held, he's a top target

The west Londoners could still make more signings.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 17, 2025

Their statement 3-0 win over European champions PSG at the MetLife Stadium last Sunday, rounding off six wins from seven CWC matches across the pond, effectively paid for both Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens – who cost Chelsea a total of £85 million to sign earlier this window.

This, combined with the exits of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli and Djordje Petrovic, who left for an estimated £96 million, means Chelsea are actually making a profit so far this summer.

That isn’t even including the undisclosed fee they received for Mathis Amougou, who joined sister club Strasbourg in a permanent deal just months after arriving from Ligue 1 side St Etienne.

Chelsea do have more money to spend whilst comfortably keeping in line with PSR, even if they’re under pressure to sell more players by UEFA, or risk not being able to register new signings for their Champions League squad next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo are pondering unofficial swap deals as a solution to this – given it would allow them to both reinforce Enzo Maresca’s ranks and balance out the squad.

Nicolas Jackson is one of the men who could be used as a makeweight, given the uncertainty surrounding his future and interest from Premier League sides, including Aston Villa.

Writing via his Substack, Phillips reports that Villa’s interest in Jackson could open the door for Chelsea to ask about their star winger Morgan Rogers.

Morgan Rogers "very open" to joining Chelsea

It’s already been suggested by other sources that they hold a serious interest in the England international, and Phillips suggests that Rogers is “very open” to joining Chelsea, who’d absolutely “love” to sign him.

“Chelsea would love to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but they quoted north of £90m for him, so Chelsea haven’t taken it any further yet,” said the journalist.

“If Villa come knocking for Jackson as expected, then Chelsea will mention Rogers. It would have to be a deal that would suit both. Rogers is very open to moving to Chelsea but isn’t actively pursuing a move from Villa, who would also be open to selling Rogers but for the right price.

“They really like Jackson though, so it may well be something that could develop down the line if the deal fits all parties.”

The 22-year-old made a real name for himself at Villa Park last term, bagging 14 goals and 15 assists across 54 appearances in all competitions, including four goals and three assists in the Champions League.

He also fits Chelsea’s usual transfer profile as a young star with bags of potential and plenty of resale value, but Villa will be very wary of green-lighting his exit, considering just how imperative Rogers was for Unai Emery throughout 2024/2025.

Nicolas Jackson has sent a message to Chelsea for the first time since completing his loan move to Bayern Munich on deadline day. Bayern agreed a deal with the Blues for the Senegalese striker to join on an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy next summer for £56 million (€64.5m/$76m). Jackson was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after falling out of favour under Enzo Maresca.

• Jackson sent a message to Chelsea
• Completed deadline day loan move to Bayern
• Fell out of favour under Maresca

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jackson's move was initially in jeopardy after the Blues told Bayern they could not proceed with the transfer after Liam Delap suffered a hamstring injury in their 2-0 Premier League victory over Fulham on August 30. The striker and his agent, who had already reached Munich for a medical, were adamant about completing the switch. Chelsea eventually recalled Marc Guiu from his loan spell at Sunderland, which allowed the Senegal international to sign for the Bundesliga giants. 

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  WHAT JACKSON SAID

  Jackson has now spoken about his former club, as he told , "[There were] very strong emotions, but not for the reasons you might think. I was simply very happy to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the world, to discover another league and other great players.

  "At the same time, I was a little sad to leave Chelsea, my teammates, and the fans. I experienced so many strong emotions there: we won the Conference League and the Club World Cup. Now I’m 100 per cent focused on my new project and I can’t wait to experience the incredible atmosphere at the Allianz Arena."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 24-year-old further claimed that he does not hold any grudge against former boss Enzo Maresca, as he added: "Football is full of cycles. Sometimes things don’t go as they should, and that’s part of the game. I respect Maresca. I learned a lot from him. He has his own ideas and style. I just needed something different at this stage of my career. I have no regrets, just gratitude for my time at Chelsea."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JACKSON?

  The ex-Chelsea star could make his debut for Bayern Munich on September 13 as the German champions take on Hamburger SV in a Bundesliga clash.

It has been a year of emotional homecomings at Celtic in 2025, with the Scottish champions having notably welcomed wing wizard, Jota, back into the fold in January, following a grim 18 months for the Portuguese sensation.

While the 26-year-old’s subsequent injury blow has somewhat overshadowed his £8m return, the hope will be that he can be revived under Brendan Rodgers next season, when he is fit and firing again.

The popular wideman has been a welcome addition back into Rodgers’ ranks, although it is Kieran Tierney’s Parkhead return that is arguably the greater story, with the Scotland star sealing a free transfer switch from Arsenal – six years on from his £25m exit from the Glasgow giants.

Although an injury-hit spell in north London has sparked doubts over whether the 27-year-old can flourish back at his boyhood club, his prior record for the Premiership outfit is more than enough reason for encouragement, having notably registered 37 assists in 170 games during his first spell on the books.

The sight of the rampaging full-back bombing up and down the left flank again in green and white will be a real delight, with Tierney seemingly desperate to be a success once again, having “sacrificed” financially in order to come back to Celtic, according to his manager.

A fit and in-form version of the Scotsman could then prove to be a significant acquisition for Rodgers and co this summer. That said, an even bigger coup could be on the cards…

Latest Celtic transfer news

With Nicolas Kuhn bringing an end to his year-and-a-half stint in Scottish football, in order to join Serie A side Como, the need for reinforcements in the forward ranks has only been heightened – not least with Kyogo Furuhashi having also departed in January.

With Swedish winger Benjamin Nygren already in the door, recent reports have suggested that the 23-year-old could be followed by Shin Yamada and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, albeit with other options still on the table.

Indeed, according to reports, Rodgers is keen on overseeing another high-profile reunion, this time with Tierney’s former teammate, Odsonne Edouard, with Celtic said to be ‘monitoring his situation closely’.

The Frenchman – who left Parkhead to join Crystal Palace on a £14m deal in 2021 – appears to be up for grabs this summer having been ‘put on the market’ by the Eagles, after spending the previous campaign on loan at Leicester City.

Transfer Focus

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

While that temporary stint proved desperately disappointing as the 27-year-old failed to score and made just six appearances for the Foxes, a move back to Glasgow might well be just the solution.

Why Celtic could seal a bigger coup than Tierney

Six months on from having allowed Kyogo to depart for Stade Rennais on a £10m deal, such a switch still has supporters scratching their heads, with the Japanese marksman having shunned the chance to enjoy Champions League knockout stage action, in favour of joining a struggling Ligue 1 side.

Now, the 30-year-old is in England’s second tier at Birmingham City.

As for Celtic, ample time has passed and a suitable replacement has still not been lined up, with Rodgers currently left with Adam Idah – who scored 20 goals last season – and Johnny Kenny as his only senior options through the middle.

It is for that reason that managing to bring Edouard back into the fold could be such an attractive prospect, with the Palace outcast having at one stage looked like the “best striker since Larsson” at Celtic Park, in the words of Martin O’Neill:

Also described as “magnificent” and an “unbelievable player” by former boss, Neil Lennon, Edouard dazzled following his switch from Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan deal in the summer of 2017, before signing permanently a year later for £9m.

Over the next few years, the 6 foot 2 marksman chalked up 87 goals in just 179 games in all competitions for the Hoops, alongside providing a further 37 assists. For comparison, Kyogo racked up 85 goals and just 19 assists in 165 games for the club.

Such a record emphasises why Edouard would be a worthy investment this summer, even amid his recent woes, having still registered a respectable, albeit unspectacular return of 21 goals in 103 games at Selhurst Park.

Like Tierney, a fresh start is needed for the striker, and if he can recapture the form he showcased during his first spell, then Rodgers would surely be on to a winner.

Yes, the signing of a cult hero like Tierney is a joyous sight, but it is the figures at the top end of the pitch who truly make the difference, with few having been quite so successful in a Celtic shirt in recent times as Edouard.

Wanyama 2.0: Celtic place "creative" £5m star at the top of their wishlist

Celtic could repeat their Victor Wanyama masterclass by signing this star from the Pro League.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 14, 2025

Liverpool were at the foot of an unscalable mountain when Jurgen Klopp up and left at the end of the 2023/24 season, but Arne Slot has since proved himself a more than worthy successor.

He won the Premier League in his first term at the helm, after all. And the Dutchman did it, having been rewarded with minimal spending in the transfer market, Federico Chiesa the only first-team addition, and starting just once in the top flight all year.

Now, though, Liverpool have built themselves up and are financially able to spend freely this summer, with the evidence lying with the acquisitions of recent months, including the British-record £116m signing of Florian Wirtz.

A move for Alexander Isak remains on the cards.

However, with Luis Diaz on the verge of finalising his move to Bayern Munich, a new left winger may be needed too.

Why Liverpool are selling Luis Diaz

Diaz has been one of the Premier League’s standout wingers over the past few years. His return of 25 goal contributions last year was a haul bettered only by that man, Mohamed Salah, as Liverpool steamrolled their way to the league title.

But the 28-year-old has also entered the penultimate year of his contract, and the relevant parties have been unable to find common ground when discussing the possibility of an extension.

The Colombian had also made it clear to the powers that be that he wanted to leave this summer. Such demands undoubtedly centred around financial desires, and justified ones at that, but the fact remains that Slot would not want an unhappy leading squad member to remain in the ranks.

Diaz is on the cusp of his big move, and though the thought of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is exciting, the Brazilian having been routinely linked with the Reds of late, the finances involved would be too much, especially with a deal for Isak in the works.

Instead, FSG might be convinced to head down a shrewder track.

Liverpool enter race for Rodrygo alternative

As per Spanish reports, Liverpool have entered the race for RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa, though the report claims that Rodrygo very much remains on FSG’s shortlist.

Nusa, 20, is early into his professional career but has earned acclaim for his performances, with previous reports this summer detailing Newcastle United’s interest, claiming he would be available for a €45m (£38m) fee.

Given how much cheaper this would be than signing Rodrygo, who is believed to have been priced at an initial £78m by Los Blancos, this might be a rumour FSG want to chase.

Why Liverpool should sign Antonio Nusa

Cody Gakpo will reprise his role as Liverpool’s chief left-sided forward next year, having matched Diaz’s 25 goal involvements last year. Pundit Peter Crouch remarked that he’d “gone up a level” since Slot arrived.

The Netherlands international’s abiding place in Slot’s plans means that Nusa will be able to jump right into the thick of things without being overburdened by responsibility.

Last season, Nusa scored five goals and provided seven assists across 36 matches for Leipzig, only starting 23 of those fixtures across all competitions.

The Norway international joined Leipzig from Club Brugge in Belgium after previously holding talks with both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, with Nusa’s 23/24 campaign underscoring his potential as a “future icon”, as he was described by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Though his fleet athleticism lends itself to success across a range of positions, it’s clear through the data so far that Nusa’s most productive role comes off the left flank.

Nusa isn’t just a balanced striker in the final third, but an athletic phenomenon with a vicious blend of speed and balance when dribbling. In this way, he has the blueprint to make Liverpool forget all about Rodrygo, with Slot instead fashioning a new elite winger.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has even waxed lyrical about his compatriot’s qualities, saying this: “He’s exceptional. We need to be careful not to put too much pressure on him, even though he’s incredibly talented. His continued development is what matters most.”

Moreover, he’s a hard-working defensive player, giving back to his manager’s faith by fighting for success across the different phases of play. In the Bundesliga last year, Nusa averaged 1.2 tackles and won 4.1 duels per game, as per Sofascore.

FBref underline these points. The data-driven site have revealed he ranked among the top 14% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe last season for successful take-ons and the top 19% for tackles per 90.

After becoming the second-youngest goalscorer in Champions League history two years ago, you might even say he has the potential to emulate someone like Rodrygo and become a superstar on Europe’s elite stage. He’s a ‘future icon’, is he not?

Sure, Rodrygo hit 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions last year, highlighting the fact that Nusa is not at his level yet. But the Norwegian remains a special talent with the ingredients for something spectacular.

Rodrygo is one of the world’s standout wide forwards, of that there is no doubt. But he left plenty to be desired last season, only scoring six league goals.

He’s an immense figure on the major stage, and playing at Liverpool would give him a new lease of life.

But for double the price that Nusa would cost? It doesn’t make sense, for the 20-year-old is destined for the top.

Shades of Coutinho: Liverpool make contact to sign "complete" £30m star

Liverpool are ready to sign a new defender after Joe Gomez’s injury.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 29, 2025

Chelsea have been charged with 74 breaches of rules relating to agents, intermediaries and third party investment. The alleged misdemeanours date back to Roman Abramovich’s time as owner. Various punishments are being speculated on, but the Blues may avoid being stung with the harshest of points deductions by the Football Association.

• What does Chelsea's case to relate to?

  The Blues reported themselves to the FA, Premier League and UEFA after discovering “incomplete financial information” had been submitted to the relevant authorities during the period of 2012 to 2019.

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  Why are Chelsea facing so many charges?

  The 74 charges being levelled against them by the FA relate to payments made to agents between 2009 and 2022, with most of the attention in that case being narrowed on the era of 2010-11 to 2015-16.

• How will Chelsea argue against punishments?

  Chelsea have changed hands since then, with the Todd Boehly-led Clearlake Capital regime taking charge at Stamford Bridge in 2022. That change of ownership could be considered mitigating circumstances on the Blues’ behalf, while full cooperation with the investigation and early admission of any wrongdoing would help to limit any sanctions that are eventually imposed.

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  Expert analysis from financial adviser

  Manchester City’s former financial adviser, Stefan Borson, has told : “The nub of it will be whether anybody can establish that the breaches created a sporting advantage. If you have a sporting advantage established, then it’s likely that you end up with a sporting penalty. Now, that can be mitigated by considerations like new ownership, early guilty plea, lots of cooperation. These are all things that Chelsea are pushing out into the media as being what they’ve done. That is mitigation. There’s no question. The question is what’s the starting point?

  “Is the starting point, well, this is very serious, and we think you’ve had a major sporting advantage? The starting point is a number of points, in which case you’re mitigating down percentage wise from that points deduction.

  “If you look at something like Nottingham Forest, they had a lot of cooperation commended by the commission. Now, that was a Premier League commission, but the law is basically the same and they’ll cross compare the cases. In that case, there was basically an argument where Nottingham Forest said, we should have a 50 per cent reduction on the penalty. The Premier League said, that feels a bit too much 50 per cent, maybe 30 per cent. The commission went in the end for 30 per cent. It was going to be six for Nottingham Forest and they got two knocked off for early admission and cooperation.

  “You would think that Chelsea would be able to get 30 per cent, maybe even a 40 per cent reduction for their mitigation, adding all the bits and pieces together if everything they’re saying is true about how they cooperated, admitted it, informed. So, they get very good mitigation.”

Crystal Palace now hold strong interest in signing a “gifted” defender, with a bid currently being planned, according to a report.

Palace looking to bolster defensive options ahead of European campaign

It is still unclear which European competition Palace will be taking part in next season, but they are planning to make one last-ditch attempt to secure a place in the Europa League, and former Everton chief Keith Wyness believes they have a fighting chance.

Wyness said: “The chances are less than 50%, but they’ve got a chance, and I really hope they win. I think they have a case and the Woody Johnson thing can’t have hurt. It does have a bearing on the case because they can say, look, we’ve cleaned up the whole mess with Textor, so please let us go now.”

Johnson, of course, recently bought John Textor’s shares in the club, which Steve Parish will be hoping is enough to win UEFA around, but the situation is complicated, given that the March 1st deadline to change the ownership structure was missed.

"Excellent" £20m forward now open to joining Crystal Palace with talks held

There has been a development in Palace’s pursuit of an attacker…

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 7, 2025

Regardless of which European competition the Eagles take part in next season, they may need to deepen their squad this summer to cope with the increase in matches, and they have now set their sights on a new target.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Crystal Palace now hold strong interest in signing Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sanchez, but there could be competition for his signature, with a number of other Premier League clubs also in the picture.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have already agreed a deal with Sevilla, while Everton are also named as potential suitors for Juanlu, who is thought to be valued at a fee close to €20m (£17m).

The full-back is expected to make the move to England very soon, and Palace will be hoping he is tempted by a move to Selhurst Park, with an opening bid currently being prepared.

"Gifted" Juanlu could be excellent signing for Palace

Oliver Glasner already has one talented right-back at his disposal in the form of Daniel Munoz, with the 29-year-old putting in some very impressive performances in the Premier League last season, collecting ten goal contributions in 37 outings.

However, there are signs the Sevilla defender could be able to push for a starting spot at Palace, given that he is also a real threat on the front foot, amassing four goals and four assists in La Liga in the 2024-25 campaign.

The 21-year-old, who has been described as “gifted” by reporter Jose Manuel Rodriguez, has also impressed across a number of key metrics over the past year, when compared to other full-backs.

While it is unclear which competition Palace will be playing in next season, they will be hoping that European football of some description being on offer will give them the edge over the likes of Everton and Wolves in the race for Juanlu’s signature.

A massive storm flooded Estadio Akron and postponed the Chivas-Tigres clash for several hours, with the pitch left visibly underwater. Yet the drainage system worked flawlessly, restoring the field as if nothing had happened. The match ended scoreless, but the stadium’s response impressed FIFA as it readies to host four World Cup games next year.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  "The pitch was ready in record time"

  The venue’s state-of-the-art drainage system quickly cleared the water, leaving the pitch in optimal condition for play. The game eventually resumed and finished in a 0-0 draw, but the real victory belonged to the stadium’s maintenance and engineering teams.

  Chivas’ Director of Stadium Operations Ainara Zatarain shared her satisfaction afterward, revealing that FIFA inspectors were impressed with how the facility handled the extreme weather.

  “FIFA is happy with us. They were able to witness firsthand how the stadium responded to a very strong storm. The drainage worked perfectly, and the pitch was ready for play in record time," she said. 

  With four World Cup matches scheduled to be played at Estadio Akron next summer, Wednesday’s successful test under adverse conditions provided valuable reassurance for both local organizers and FIFA officials that the venue can withstand even the harshest weather challenges.

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  Months in the making

  Sebastián Muñoz, Turf Manager at Estadio Akron, explained that the newly installed and highly advanced drainage system – along with months of specialized technical work – was key to keeping the surface at FIFA World Cup standards.

  “The result speaks for itself. The system extracted approximately 390 liters of water, the equivalent of four centimeters drained in a short period of time, which allowed us to keep the surface stable and playable," he said. "The soil remained very firm and the ball rolled perfectly, thanks to the materials used both in the base and on the surface, as well as the choice of Bermuda grass, a species that grows laterally and provides great firmness.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Working towards the World Cup

  Zatarain added that Wednesday’s storm served as the ultimate proof of the stadium’s readiness.

  “Wednesday put everything we’ve implemented at the stadium to the test, and it passed with flying colors," she said. "We drained all the water on the field in 35 minutes. FIFA was happy with us and confirmed that everything we installed is working perfectly and on schedule. They told us we’re practically ready to host the World Cup and the four world-class matches scheduled for our stadium.”

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  Chivas' home ground…

  With the World Cup less than 10 months away, the Estadio Akron will be primarily used for Chivas' home matches. The club's next home match is this Saturday, when they host defending Liga MX champions Toluca. 

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank is now planning a key role for one previously unfancied member of the Spurs squad, according to a new report.

As the Lilywhites’ talks for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze ramp up behind-the-scenes, alongside their separate attempt to land Man City winger Savinho, Frank has also now had a very close look at his current options.

It’s been two months since Daniel Levy appointed the Dane as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement, with Frank since overseeing a dramatic pre-season and watching on as his side capitulated against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup.

Despite surrendering a two-goal lead in the dying minutes on Wednesday night, Luis Enrique himself admitted that Spurs were the better side and perhaps deserved something from what was a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero handed the north Londoners a shock but well-earned 2-0 advantage, and it took very late heroics from Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos to even rescue a penalty shootout for the Champions League winners.

This is despite Frank just losing club legend Son Heung-min to LAFC and chief creator James Maddison to an ACL rupture, with star winger Dejan Kulusevski also still on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury.

This weakened Spurs side giving PSG a serious run for their money is an undoubtedly an encouraging sign for Tottenham’s new manager as he begins his first full season in charge.

“Very, very proud of the players, the team, the club, the fans,” said Frank in his post-match press conference.

“I think the players gave everything, playing against one of the best team in the world, maybe the best, at the moment, and I think we were 75, 80 minutes perfect, almost giving nothing away against, they had four players with unbelievable individual quality on the pitch. So very, very proud of them.

“It’s down to the smallest of margins in the penalty shootout. It’s like the flip of a coin. First I’d like to thank all the players that stood up and were brave and took responsibility to take a penalty.”

Thomas Frank plots "major role" for Tottenham defender Djed Spence

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, some Spurs players have already left a glowing impression on Frank behind-the-scenes, and one of them is defender Djed Spence.

The Englishman was previously an outcast under Antonio Conte and Postecoglou for a time, before Spence rose to prominence during Tottenham’s injury crisis midway through last season and battled his way into the first-team squad.

Reliable reports now claim the ex-Middlesbrough man has signed a new long-term deal, just under a year after his last extension, as a result of his amazing comeback.

Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, says Frank has been “really impressed” with Spence, who could now be set for a “major role” in the Tottenham first-team.

“Spurs are really happy with Spence and Thomas Frank has been really impressed since arriving. I am told he is one of the players who has shone since Frank’s arrival.

“I get the idea that Spence has a major, major role to play for Spurs heading into the new season.”

The 25-year-old was once heavily linked with a permanent exit after spending time out on loan at various clubs – including Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa – but he’s now poised to continue being a significant member of the Spurs squad after a stellar 2025.

Karim Benzema and coach Laurent Blanc admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr were just too "strong" for Al-Ittihad. Saudi football’s early-season blockbuster lived up to the hype, but it ended in utter domination from the Riyadh giants as Ronaldo and Sadio Mane got on the scoresheet to beat the reigning champions in their own backyard.

• Al-Nassr consolidate at the top

  Ronaldo reached his fourth league goal of the season, while Mane opened the scoring and provided the assist for the Portuguese legend. With this victory, Al-Nassr remain unbeaten and sit top of the table with a perfect 12 points from four matches. After the final whistle, the message was clear: at the moment, no one in Saudi Arabia can match their firepower.

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  Blanc & Benzema admit Al-Nassr were better

  Al-Ittihad’s camp was blunt in their post-match analysis as Blanc and Benzema conceded that Al-Nassr were simply on another level.

  Blanc didn’t sugarcoat it: “Al-Nassr is much stronger than Al-Ittihad. This is the truth you don’t want to hear.”

  Benzema echoed his manager’s sentiment, adding, “We faced a stronger team than Al-Ittihad. That’s the truth.”

• Al-Ittihad look to regroup after Saudi Pro League loss

  With Ronaldo in top form and Mane driving the attack, the Riyadh outfit look unstoppable. Blanc and Benzema will hope to regroup quickly to prevent the early-season momentum of their rivals from spiralling out of control. However, they have a tough task ahead. The loss exposed weaknesses that will need addressing before their upcoming AFC Champions League Elite clash against UAE side Shabab Al Ahli Dubai.

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  AFC Champions League up next for Ronaldo & Co

  For Al-Nassr, the victory isn’t just about domestic dominance; it’s also a springboard for their continental ambitions. The squad now turns their focus to the AFC Champions League Two, where they will face Iraqi giants Al Zawraa in a key early test of their continental credentials.