Southampton are taking significant steps in their search for a new manager after sacking Will Still last week.

The Saints, after an underwhelming start to the campaign, sit 19th in the Championship, just six points above the relegation zone, having won just three of their 14 league games so far.

Southampton’s turbulent season took another dramatic turn when the club parted ways with Still after just five months in charge. The 33-year-old’s brief tenure at St Mary’s came to an abrupt end following a 2-0 home defeat to Preston North End, their third consecutive loss and fifth straight game without a win at the time.

Still recorded a dismal average of just 0.92 points per game in the Championship, leaving Southampton chiefs with no choice but to pull the plug.

Will Still’s tenure at Southampton

Competition

Matches

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

Points per match

Championship

13

2

6

5

12

0.92

EFL Cup

3

2

0

1

6

2.00

Total

16

4

6

6

18

1.13

via Transfermarkt

It marked yet another chapter in Sport Republic’s chaotic ownership, with Still becoming the latest in a long line of coaches sacked during their regime.

Still arrived with growing pedigree after a few successful years in France and was once regularly linked with a Premier League move, but struggled to translate that success to English football.

The Belgian native was tasked with securing an immediate return to the Premier League following last season’s relegation, but instead left Southampton perilously close to a second consecutive drop that would represent an unthinkable disaster.

Now, the process to hire his successor has begun, and there are a few noteworthy candidates who are being mentioned by the media.

Under-21s boss Tonda Eckert has been appointed interim manager and immediately guided the team to a 2-1 victory at QPR, temporarily halting the rot. However, Southampton’s hierarchy are actively searching for a permanent replacement.

Reports suggest high-flying Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is an ambitious option for Southampton, with the Saints also weighing up a reunion for Russell Martin.

A number of other candidates are being assessed too, including Stoke City manager Mark Robins (talkSPORT), England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley, and Gary O’Neil.

In terms of the latter, Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath shared news earlier this week that O’Neil is a strong contender for the Southampton job, and there’s now been another update on the Englishman’s potential appointment.

Southampton 'looking to finalise' Gary O'Neil deal after making approach

As per TEAMtalk, O’Neil is emerging as the clear frontrunner to take charge.

The south coast club have now made an approach to O’Neil over their vacant position, with talks expected to intensify in the coming days as both parties “look to finalise an agreement”.

O’Neil is said to be in pole position to become Southampton’s new manager, with the club having admirers of his previous Premier League work.

Southampton’s search has apparently narrowed to three main candidates. Former Manchester United star Michael Carrick, who was most recently manager of Middlesbrough, remains in contention due to his strong reputation, while Martin is also still a candidate and would be open to discussions about returning to St Mary’s after his Rangers dismissal.

O’Neil is said to be “highly respected” in Premier League circles after his work at Bournemouth and Wolves (Miguel Delaney), even if his tenures did end in sour fashion, and he was briefly considered for the West Ham job recently.

The 42-year-old steered a hapless Bournemouth side clear of relegation in his first season with limited resources, and took charge of Wolves in very difficult circumstances after Julen Lopetegui’s sudden exit — briefly steadying the ship at Molineux.

His track record suggests that O’Neil could be an astute appointment by Sport Republic, and given his free agent status, Southampton won’t have to fork out a compensation fee.

O’Neil has also been called an “underrated” tactician.

MatériaMais Notícias

Foi com emoção, mas o Bahia se livrou do rebaixamento e está garantido na Série A. Pela última rodada do Brasileirão, o Tricolor de Aço venceu o Atlético-MG por 4 a 1, na Arena Fonte Nova, e não jogará a segunda divisão. Cauly abriu o placar, Paulinho deixou tudo igual e, nos acréscimos do primeiro tempo, Luciano Juba deixou novamente os nordestinos na frente. Na etapa final, Thaciano, que deu duas assistências, fez o terceiro gol, e nos minutos finais Ademir sacramentou a goleada.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Com o resultado, o Bahia termina com 44 pontos e iguala a pontuação do Santos. A equipe de Rogério Ceni garantiu a permanência na Série A do Brasileirão pela diferença no saldo de gols. O Galo não conseguiu confirmar o vice-campeonato, mas terminou a competição dentro do G4, ficando com vaga direta para a fase de grupos da Libertadores. 

Cinco lances que marcaram a partida

> !BBPM! Aos dez minutos, Edenílson errou passe na defesa, Thaciano acionou Cauly na entrada da área, e o meia finalizou rasteiro, sem chances para Everson.

> !FLECHADA DE PAULINHO! Apesar das incostâncias, o Atlético-MG conseguiu o empate aos 36 minutos do segundo tempo. Igor Gomes fez bela jogada e deu lançamento açucarado para Paulinho. O camisa 10 do Galo chutou firme, deixando tudo igual.

> !JUBA DE AÇO! O Bahia não se abalou com o gol sofrido e continuou pressionando o Atlético. Nos acréscimos do primeiro tempo, Thaciano cruzou na área, Luciano Juba chegou com tudo e fuzilou o goleiro Everson, deixando o Bahia novamente em vantagem.

> !É O THACITANOS, NÃO TEM JEITO! O Bahia conseguiu manter o ímpeto ofensivo no segundo tempo e ampliou a vantagem com Thaciano. Livre dentro da área, o atacante aproveitou o rebote no chute de Rezende e

> !A REDENÇÃO DE ADEMIR! Após milagre de Marcos Felipe em cabeceio de Jemerson, Ademir foi acionado no contra-ataque, disparou pelo lado direito e finalizou com estilo, sacramentando a goleada e permanência do Tricolor de Aço na Série A.

Como foi o primeiro tempo?

O Bahia esboçou uma pressão inicial e dificultou a saída de bola do Atlético-MG nos minutos iniciais. A desatenção de Edenílson custou caro, e Cauly abriu o placar. O Tricolor de Aço empilhou chances, mas abaixo a intensidade na metade do primeiro tempo e sofreu o empate após boa trama de Igor Gomes com Paulinho. O Bahia não se abalou e, nos acréscimos, retomou a vantagem com belo gol de Luciano Juba.

E a etapa final?

O Bahia repetiu a estratégia após o intervalo e conseguiu inibir a circulação da bola no meio-campo atleticano. Espaçado na defesa, o Galo não conseguiu defender Thaciano, que aproveitou o rebote e ampliou a vantagem. Nos minutos finais, Rogério Ceni recuou a equipe para segurar o resultado, enquanto as alterações de Felipão não surtiram efeito. Sobrou tempo para Ademir, após milagre de Marcos Felipe, sacramentar a goleada.

+ Veja como ficou a tabela do Brasileirão após a última rodada

BAHIA 4 X 1 ATLÉTICO-MG
CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO – 38ª RODADA

Local: Arena Fonte Nova, em Salvador (BA)
Data e hora:  quarta-feira, 6 de dezembro de 2023, às 21h30 (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Ramon Abatti Abel (árbitro – FIFA)
Assistentes:  Nailton Júnior de Sousa Oliveira (FIFA) e Thiaggo Americano Labes
Árbitro de vídeo: Wagner Reway (VAR – FIFA)
Público e renda: Não informado

Cartões amarelos: Ademir (BAH); Rubens, Paulinho (ATL)
Cartões vermelhos: –

GOLS: Cauly (1-0, aos 10′ do 1ºT) Paulinho (1-1, aos 36′ do 1ºT) Luciano Juba (2-1, aos 51′ do 1ºT) Thaciano (3-1, aos 21′ do 2ºT) Ademir (4-1, aos 49′ do 2ºT)

BAHIA (Técnico: Rogério Ceni)
Marcos Felipe; Kanu, David Duarte e Vitor Hugo; Gilberto, Rezende, Acevedo (Mugni, aos 8′ do 1ºT) (Léo Cittadini, aos 35′ do 2ºT), Cauly, Biel (Ademir, aos 35′ do 2ºT) e Luciano Juba; Thaciano (Cicinho, aos 35′ do 2ºT)

ATLÉTICO-MG (Técnico: Felipão)
Everson; Mariano, Igor Rabello, Jemerson, Arana (Alisson, aos 35′ do 2ºT); Otávio, Edenílson, Pavón e Igor Gomes (Rubens, após o intervalo); Paulinho e Hulk.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shared an injury update on his squad, and they could be without one of their players until after the new year.

The Blues made light work of London rivals Tottenham in their last outing, cruising to a 1-0 win on enemy turf, and Thomas Frank’s side hardly laid a glove on them.

It was a much-needed victory for Maresca’s men, who were dispatched by newly-promoted Sunderland in their previous Premier League clash the weekend prior.

The loss at home to Regis Le Bris’ side sparked major outrage after what was a very disappointing performance, with reports in the aftermath suggesting that Maresca’s long-term Chelsea future is far from certain amid interest from Juventus.

Luckily for the Italian, Chelsea have responded to that defeat in good fashion — knocking Wolves out of the Carabao Cup via a dramatic 4-3 win at Molineux to then claim the London derby spoils.

It has been a mixed start to 25/26 for Chelsea after what was a stellar summer, having won both the Conference League and Club World Cup earlier this year, but Maresca is believed to be dissatisfied with the squad at his disposal overall.

Chelsea ended the last summer transfer window as one of England’s most lavish spenders, investing nearly £300 million in new recruits, but the west Londoners failed to shore up their centre-back options or bring in a world-class goalkeeper.

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

20.

Bournemouth

£136.7m

£202.5m

+£65.8m

19.

Brighton

£67.7m

£127.5m

+£59.8m

18.

Brentford

£92.8m

£152m

+£59.2m

17.

Wolves

£105.6m

£126.5m

+£20.9m

16.

Chelsea

£296.5m

£314.4m

+£17.9m

BlueCo are reportedly ready to prioritise the signing of a centre-back for Chelsea in January, but Maresca hasn’t exactly been helped by injuries and suspensions either.

Summer signing Liam Delap was missing for weeks with a hamstring problem and couldn’t play against Tottenham last weekend after his red card at Wolves.

Malo Gusto was also suspended recently, with Trevoh Chalobah, Robert Sanchez, Joao Pedro and Delap all sent off in the last 44 days alone.

Chelsea’s current disciplinary issues are a real conundrum for Maresca to solve, and it’s the last thing he needs considering their troubles with fitness issues this campaign.

Right now, Pedro Neto, Benoit Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Dario Essugo are all unavailable through injury, and Maresca might not welcome back the latter until 2026.

Chelsea could be without Dario Essugo until January

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of their Champions League clash with Qarabag, Maresca suggests that Essugo could be out injured until January.

Essugo, who’s been called a ‘frightening’ player by members of the media like journalist Antonio Mango, hasn’t been able to showcase his best since joining Chelsea in the summer, and it’ll be a while before he gets to do so.

That being said, there is some good news.

Chelsea’s manager believes that star forward Palmer, who’s been battling a niggling groin problem since the start of the season, could return for their blockbuster European showdown against Barcelona.

Chelsea play their last game before the next international break against Wolves this weekend, and their Barça clash is scheduled to take place around three days after they return to action away to Burnley on November 22.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is continuing to build what he hopes will be a long-term dynasty at Anfield, though he may well need to plan for the future without Ryan Gravenberch.

The Reds are keen to push once again for the Premier League title. They will feel a renewed sense of optimism on that front with the international break to come, helped in no small part by Arsenal’s last-minute collapse at Sunderland on Saturday.

No matter what happens as the campaign continues to take shape, Liverpool know that their presence near the top of the pile has the potential to make other sides feel uneasy, even if a mixed start to the season has left supporters searching for more out of their side.

Florian Wirtz has failed to fully ignite at Anfield and there are still question marks over Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak’s form. Nevertheless, one man Slot has been able to hang his hat on over the course of his tenure is Ryan Gravenberch.

Strutting his stuff and getting on the scoresheet against Aston Villa last weekend, the Netherlands international followed that performance up with an excellent engine room display as the Reds edged past Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Enjoying life in midfield, Gravenberch has been in fine form since returning from an ankle injury sustained against Manchester United. Fundamentally, his availability is crucial to Liverpool’s title bid, and he is now firmly one of the first names on Slot’s teamsheet.

Either way, the Reds are constantly pitting themselves against the elite sides in world football, and they have witnessed first-hand that rival heavyweights aren’t daunted by the prospect of trying to steal players from under their nose.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is a key example of that practice. However, they could now face a battle on their hands to retain Gravenberch amid recent developments from Spain.

Barcelona want to seize opportunity to sign Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona want to capitalise on Ryan Gravenberch’s Liverpool situation and retain an element of confidence that they may be able to reach an agreement to sign the Netherlands international next summer.

Intriguingly, the former Ajax man values the opportunity to fulfil a career dream by signing for a top-level side such as the La Liga giants, though La Blaugrana will need to balance their finances before making an official approach.

Ryan Gravenberch’s 2025/26 season – Premier League

Shots

12

Successful dribbles

7

Chances created

5

Pass accuracy

87.7%

Duels won

42

Despite no exact price being named by the outlet, Liverpool’s valuation of their star midfielder has soared due to his recent performance and role in last term’s Premier League title triumph, making Gravenberch a hard player to attain for any elite side.

Liverpool may have their next Gini Wijnaldum in midfield

Like any potential move, selling the project on offer in Catalonia will be key to initiating movement. In contrast, the Reds will hope their upward trajectory as a club will convince the 23-year-old to stay put on Merseyside.

The four week long period between this international break and the next, containing seven fixtures, could be season-defining for Celtic.

Having yielded just a solitary point from their first two Europa League outings, Brendan Rodgers’ team really need to get some points on the board against Sturm Graz at home and then Midtjylland in Herning, because the fixtures only get tougher after that.

Meantime, on the domestic front, the Hoops will visit current Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts the Sunday after next, an eagerly anticipated clash at Tynecastle, before the small matter of an Old Firm League Cup semi-final at Hampden a week later.

Given their underwhelming form so far, supporters are hoping to see players come to the fore and put their best foot forward, but which summer signing is showing early signs of a certain Tom Rogic?

Tom Rogic's Celtic career in numbers

Few players in modern Celtic history remain as beloved as Rogic.

After arriving from Central Coast Mariners in January 2013, the Australian made 272 appearances in hoops, scoring 46 goals and providing 51 assists.

He netted six times against Rangers, while also scoring, arguably, the most famous goal of the club’s recent history, firing home a stoppage-time winner in the 2017 Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen to secure the invincible treble that bookended Rodgers’ first season in charge.

Affectionately known as the Wizard of Oz, this nickname encapsulates Rogic’s style of play, possessing the clichéd ‘wand of a left foot’, while Rodgers similarly labelled him a “magician”.

Meantime, then teammate Josip Juranović asserted that the Australian “is little Messi”, adding “he’s one of the best players I have played with”.

When he departed at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, Rogic received an emotional standing ovation from the Celtic faithful as genuine and heartfelt recognition for all the magical moments he had provided.

He cited wanting the move closer to home as the reason for his departure and, technically, he did that by about 280 of the 10,550 miles, joining West Bromwich Albion as a free agent, albeit he made only 23 appearances for the Baggies before retiring at the age of 30.

When Rogic arrived as a 20-year-old from an A-League club very few in Glasgow would ever have heard of, surely no one could’ve foreseen just how impactful he would be at the club, so is a current squad member set for a similar trajectory?

Celtic's next Tom Rogic

Supporters remain generally furious with the board’s inactivity this summer, believing that transfer deals were completed too late, costing Celtic a place in the Champions League.

Well, considering Marcelo Saracchi, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho all arrived after the play-off defeat to Kairat, they may have a point.

One new recruit who did join all the way back in June, instantaneously establishing himself as a first-choice starter, is Benjamin Nygren, and what an absolute bargain he could prove to be.

Into the final few months of his contract with Nordsjælland, the Hoops managed to sign the Sweden international for a reported fee of £1.7m, while Football Transfers believe his current value to be around £6m, having already increased just 13 appearances into his Celtic career.

The table below emphasises his importance to the team so far this season.

Goals

4

1st

Assists

4

1st

Shots

23

1st

Shots on target

11

1st

Key passes

6

1st

Big chances created

6

1st

Shot-creating actions

6

1st

Successful dribbles per 90

0.7

2nd

Average rating

7.67

1st

As the table documents, Nygren ranks first for a wide variety of attacking metrics this season, thereby very much part of Rodgers’ first-choice midfield trio, despite the fact many forecast he was joining to replace Nicolas Kühn on the right-wing.

The Swede, who was an unused substitute for both of the Blågult’s World Cup qualifying defeats this week, scored his fourth goal for Celtic against Motherwell last time out, having opened his account for the club against Aberdeen in August.

Following that victory at Pittodrie, Rodgers praised Nygren’s “excellent” performance, noting that “his intuition is to get in the box and score goals”, as Rogic often did, connecting with Kieran Tierney’s low cross to fire past Dimitar Mitov.

Meantime, following a 5-1 dismantling of Northern Ireland in March, international teammate Alexander Isak described Nygren as “fearless”, concluding that “playing with a winger like that who is able to provide good crosses can only be beneficial for someone like me”.

That is high praise from the most-expensive player in British football history, so the £1.7m Celtic paid to secure the 24-year-old’s signature looks like a genuine bargain.

Thus, supporters will hope he remains in Glasgow’s East End for nigh on a decade too, as Rogic did, the last player at the club who could boast possessing an equally majestic left foot.

Cost £0, now worth more than Tounekti: Celtic hit gold on "phenomenal" star

Sebastian Tounekti has made an impressive start to life at Celtic, but a “prolific” attacker who arrived for free has a higher estimated market value.

Oct 10, 2025

يلتقي منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا، مع نظيره سويسرا، اليوم الجمعة، في مباراة قوية ومنتظره، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين المقامة في دولة قطر.

ويلعب منتخب مصر ضد سويسرا، في إطار مواجهات دور الـ 32 من عمر مباريات بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا.

منتخب مصر استطاع التأهل إلى دور الـ 32 من منافسات كأس العالم، بعدما حل في المركز الثالث للمجموعة الخامسة برصيد 4 نقاط، ليضمن تواجده في الدور القادم كأفضل المنتخبات الـ 8 التي احتلت المركز الثالث للمجموعات الـ 12.

طالع | تشكيل منتخب مصر المتوقع أمام سويسرا في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

منتخب مصر كان قد فاز في لقاء الجولة الأولى أمام هايتي، بنتيجة 4-1، وتعادل مع فنزويلا في الجولة الثانية 1-1، وفي لقاء الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من دور المجموعات خسر أمام إنجلترا 3-0. موعد مباراة مصر وسويسرا اليوم في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

تقام مباراة مصر ضد سويسرا، اليوم الجمعة 14 نوفمبر، الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 4 عصرًا بتوقيت السعودية.

ومن المقرر أنه في حالة تخطي منتخب مصر، دور الـ 32 أمام سويسرا، سيواجه الفائز من مباراة إيرلندا وكندا في دور الـ 16.

18-year-old Alex Green takes third five-for in five games before final-over drama

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Aug-2025

Zak Chappell tries – and fails – to scamper through for the winning run•Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Leicestershire and Derbyshire shared a dramatic tie after a see-saw battle at Grace Road – although the result did neither side any favours as they tried to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the knock-out phase of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Rishi Patel and Lewis Hill shared a 166-run second-wicket partnership as the Foxes posted 312 for 5 from their 50 overs, bolstered by valuable contributions from Peter Handscomb (35 off 23) and Ben Cox (35 not out off 22) as the last 10 overs added 90 to their total.Alex Green, the Foxes’ 18-year-old fast-bowling prospect, had another memorable day, taking his third five-wicket haul of the competition, but it was not enough to see his side home. Zak Chappell (49 off 37) almost took the Falcons to victory, as Leicestershire’s Tom Scriven conceded 13 off the final over, but he was run out off the last ball.Earlier, Harry Came and Caleb Jewell had given the Falcons a flying start before Matt Montgomery and Anuj Dal took them close.The result leaves the Foxes on 10 points and Derbyshire on eight and while the Falcons have three matches left to Leicestershire’s two, the chances of either making a top-three finish look tenuous.Alex Green celebrates a breakthrough•Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Derbyshire soon removed Sol Budinger after opting to bowl on a damp, overcast morning, the left-hander caught at midwicket off Rory Haydon, the young fast bowler, who had dropped him off his own bowling the previous delivery. Haydon damaged his right hand attempting the catch and, though he completed the over, was off the field for the remainder of the innings.For the next couple of hours, Patel and Hill dominated. Hill completed a brisk half-century in 52 balls, timing his shots beautifully in gathering seven boundaries. A dab to third man from Patel took their stand into three figures in 18 overs. Patel, left out of the last two matches, completed his 50 off 79.Hill looked nailed on for his first List A century in four years when a lovely cut off Ben Aitchison took him into the 90s. Yet the next ball proved his undoing, pulled straight into the hands of Dal at midwicket.Patel hit four sixes, all over the legside boundary, three of Martin Andersson. Like Hill, though, he lost his wicket with the hard work done, hitting in the air as Andersson pitched wide of off stump and finding the fielder at mid-off.Shan Masood fell for 22 off 28 balls, but Handscomb and Cox ensured the Patel-Hill partnership was not wasted to set Derbyshire a challenging total.Falcons openers Came and Jewell made it look somewhat less daunting. Where the home side had been 39 for 1 from 10, Derbyshire put on 81 at more than six an over before Leicestershire could make a breakthrough in the 13th. Left-arm spinner Liam Trevaskis ended the partnership by bowling the left-handed Jewell through the gate.Ian Holland dealt the Falcons a setback when he had Came caught at mid-off but the Falcons were well placed at 148 for 2 from 25. Montgomery top-edged to backward point off Mike and another budding partnership was stymied when Green had Andersson leg before, after which the youngster had Brooke Guest caught at third man before taking a third wicket in as many overs as Ross Whiteley nicked behind.Dal, on his first outing of the season in this competition, had a life on 25 when Masood spilled an easy chance at mid-on, going on to share a 64-run stand with Chappell that swung the balance back to the Falcons.But then he was run out as the non-striker by some smart work by Holland before Green returned with a superb final over that cost just one run, having Aitchison and Jack Morley both caught at backward point, leaving Derbyshire needing 14 off the final over.Chappell plundered 12 from the first three deliveries off Scriven, who then bowled a wide to leave the scores level. Two dots followed before Chappell tried to scramble a leg bye off the last delivery but did not make it.

Morten Hjulmand’s stock continues to rise after a standout Champions League display against Juventus, but Sporting CP have warned that even an €80 million bid won’t be enough to buy him in January. With his release clause currently deactivated, clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus will have to wait until summer to make a move for the Danish midfielder.

Sporting shut door on January sale

According to a report by Sporting have firmly ruled out a January sale for their captain Hjulmand despite growing interest from Europe’s elite. The Danish midfielder, whose leadership and all-action performances have made him one of the standout players in Portugal, remains untouchable mid-season due to a unique clause in his contract.

His current deal with Sporting runs until 2028 and includes an €80m (£71m/$93m) release clause, but crucially, that clause is deactivated outside the summer window, giving Sporting full control of his transfer value. The Lisbon club can therefore demand any price they wish during winter negotiations, effectively blocking approaches from suitors like United, City, and Juve.

While Juventus’ interest reportedly reignited after Hjulmand’s impressive display in their 1-1 Champions League draw in Turin, where he dominated midfield battles. Yet, the Italian giants have to wait as the January move is “out of the question,” both because the player isn’t pushing for an exit and also Sporting are unwilling to negotiate until June.

AdvertisementGettyJuventus plan summer move but face financial hurdles

Juventus, now led by new CEO Damien Comolli, already have a plan to bring Hjulmand to Turin, but only in the summer. The Bianconeri’s financial situation also makes an early move impossible. The club, still recovering from the fallout of tax and legal troubles that drained their coffers, must first offload players or restructure contracts before making a serious bid.

Reports in Portugal suggest Juve will have to sell one or two key players and possibly resolve the situation surrounding Dusan Vlahovic, their highest-paid earner and in the final year of his contract. The Serbian striker could either leave to free up space on the wage bill or agree to a reduced salary to enable new signings.

Additionally, Juve are hoping that Douglas Luiz’s €30m (£26m/$35m) clause in his Nottingham Forest loan deal will be activated, providing crucial funds for a summer transfer push. Juventus previously offered between €30m and €40m for Hjulmand, a figure Sporting immediately rejected, but Comolli is expected to return with an improved bid once the window opens.

Leoes are prepared to open talks next summer but only on their terms. Between June 1 and June 15, Hjulmand’s €80m release clause becomes active, but the club is reportedly open to negotiating for a figure closer to €50m.

The 26-year-old’s value has soared since joining Sporting from Lecce, thanks to his strong performances in the Liga Portugal and Europe. This season alone, he has contributed two goals and one assist in 11 league appearances, with his commanding presence and leadership earning praises from teammates and coaches alike.

Hjulmand has publicly expressed no desire to leave mid-season and remains committed to Sporting’s title challenge. But his future beyond 2025 appears increasingly uncertain, as Europe’s elite prepare for a fierce bidding war.

Premier League rivals in the race for Hjulmand

The Danish international’s consistency has caught the eye of both United and City, who are monitoring his development closely. Hjulmand’s familiarity with Premier League-linked figures could play a decisive role, United’s current manager Ruben Amorim and City’s sporting director Hugo Viana both worked at Sporting and were instrumental in the midfielder’s arrival from Lecce in 2023.

United view Hjulmand as a potential replacement in a midfield overhaul, especially with Casemiro’s future uncertain. Reports suggest the club are optimistic about landing him for around £50m (€56/$66m), though Sporting’s firm stance means they will have to wait until at least June. Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola has also reportedly requested scouting updates on Hjulmand, viewing him as a tactical fit for his rotational midfield system.

Both English clubs are expected to pursue him again in the summer, setting up a potential three-way battle as of now with Juventus for one of Europe’s most complete midfielders.

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GettyWhat next for Hjulmand and Sporting?

Sporting will now focus on their domestic and European campaigns, with Hjulmand central to the Portuguese club’s tactical setup. The club face a critical run of fixtures in both the league and continental competitions, and holding onto their captain until summer is viewed as essential for stability, for no they are up against Marinhense in their next domestic game, before they play Club Brugge in their Champions League fixture.

For all three clubs eyeing the Danish hero, are expected to revisit the deal in June with patience being there only option for now, when the release clause activates and negotiations can officially begin. Until then, Hjulmand’s performances will continue to dictate just how high his price tag might climb, and whether anyone will meet Sporting’s valuation.

After another successful weekend of Premier League action, Arsenal will have shifted their focus to the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been faultless in the competition so far this season, beating Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos and Atlético Madrid by an aggregate score of 8-0.

The North Londoners will be faced with a fresh challenge on Tuesday night, though, as they take on the fiery Slavia Prague away from home, likely without Viktor Gyokeres.

However, while the Swedish international will be a miss, Arteta could replace him with a youngster who has won some flattering comparisons to Liverpool’s star strikers.

Gyokeres' start to life at Arsenal

To say that there was a lot of pressure on Gyokeres to hit the ground running at Arsenal would be an understatement.

Yes, he didn’t cost anywhere near as much as some other strikers, but he was incredibly prolific for Sporting CP, and the narrative around the Gunners last year was that they were a forward short of winning the Premier League.

So there was a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and while he has had some underwhelming performances and looked a little clunky here and there, it would be fair to say he’s had a reasonable start to life in North London.

For example, while he has not been as lethal as some hoped he would, the Stockholm-born ace has now got six goals to his name, two of which came against a top team in Atlético last time out in the Champions League.

Moreover, against Burnley on Saturday afternoon, the 27-year-old put in what many have described as his best performance in an Arsenal shirt.

Not only did he open the scoring in the 14th minute, but he also helped create the second goal and could have had two assists if Bukayo Saka had his shooting boots on.

Unfortunately, he did come off at halftime, with Arteta later claiming he had a muscular problem.

Since then, Arsenal writer Charles Watts has confirmed that he did not participate in the last training session, and therefore, it appears he won’t be available to play against Slavia.

While this is far from ideal, Arteta does have a solution available to him, and no, it’s not Mikel Merino.

The Arsenal player Arteta should start instead of Gyokeres

With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus still out injured, Merino feels like the obvious solution to Gyokeres’ absence.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, Arteta turned to the Spaniard on Saturday, and the team suddenly became a lot less threatening and fluid.

Therefore, he should be brave and hand yet another start to one of Hale End’s most exciting stars: Andre Harriman-Annous.

It would be a bold move, but the 17-year-old looked lively against Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup, and while he didn’t score a goal against the Seagulls, Saka’s goal came from his saved effort.

Moreover, while Merino has more experience, the youngster is far more mobile, and as one analyst points out, “has shades of Isak and Ekitiké” in his game, particularly in the way he can float out wide and come back in.

Another reason he should be given this chance is that he has already proven he can score at the junior level.

For example, in 35 appearances across the u18s and U21s last year, the 17-year-old racked up an impressive tally of 15 goals and three assists.

Harriman-Annous 24/25
Appearances	35
Minutes	2559′
Goals	15
Assists	3
Goal Involvements per Match	0.51
Minutes per Goal Involvement	142.16′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Finally, while it would perhaps be foolish of Arteta to start the Hale Ender in the league due to the level of competition, handing him this opportunity in a relatively low-stakes European game against weaker opposition could be the perfect chance to get him more experience.

It would also stop him from risking the only other senior back-up he currently has for Gyokeres.

Ultimately, starting Harriman-Annous would be a gamble, but based on his performances in the academy and last week, it’s one Arteta should take in light of Gyokeres’ injury.

Better than Rice: Arsenal "colossus" is having a Ballon d'Or level season

Just like Declan Rice, the incredible Arsenal star is having an unreal season under Mikel Arteta.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 3, 2025

Former Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has heaped praise on Bayern Munich, heralding the Bavarian giants' first-half performance in their 2-1 away win over PSG as "some of the best football" he has seen in years. Vincent Kompany's side are in imperious form to start the season, winning a record-breaking 16 straight games to open the 2025/26 season.

• BVB stalwart Watzke praises rivals Bayern

  Watzke's comments are not to be ignored. He is the only executive who has managed to offer any real or sustained challenge to Bayern's dominance over German football over the past two decades. Originally appointed BVB's CEO in 2005, he turned around a perilous financial situation for the Black and Yellow before hiring the relatively untested Jurgen Klopp in 2008, leading to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final berth. Watzke stepped away from his role with Dortmund earlier this year and is now a director of the DFB.  

  For the 66-year-old to speak so glowingly of the club he chased for so long is a testament to how well Bayern are playing. Kompany's side established themselves as a true threat to this season's Champions League when they blew the reigning champions off the pitch at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Luis Diaz's brace and eventual dismissal headlined a frenetic first-half performance that saw the 34-time German champions dominate a PSG team that is widely regarded as the best in the world. 

  Parking any lingering professional enmity for Bayern, Watzke believes Bayern's scorching hot run of form is a boon for the Bundesliga on the world stage. Although he would still like to see greater competition domestically.

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  Watzke: Bayern played 'truly great football'

  In an exclusive interview with Watzke said his reaction to the game was: "A mixture of admiration and excitement. The first half was some of the best football I've seen in years. Of course, you can take yourself out of the game with a single mistake. In the end, it got a bit close.  

  "Winning in Paris, we managed that two years ago with Dortmund. But to win the game like that, so convincingly, especially with that statement in the first half – that was truly great football from Bayern Munich.

  "We should be pleased internationally when a club like Bayern Munich represents the Bundesliga so brilliantly. Domestically, it would be nice if we could inject a bit more excitement into the game. But against this Bayern team, the way they're playing right now, that's difficult."

• Bayern's dominance in numbers

  Bayern's dominance has seen them sweep past all comers. Their 16 win streak to start a season is a record across all of Europe's top five leagues.  

  In their nine Bundesliga games, they have conceded just four goals, while scoring 33. Their goal difference of +29 is a record for any Bundesliga side through the first nine games of a new season. They are only the second side to win their first nine games of the season; the Bavarian giants also achieved the feat under Pep Guardiola in the 2015/16 season. 

  Their dominance has carried over to continental competition. Their 14 goals in the Champions League lead the competition after four game weeks. Across all competitions, they have generated 46.3xG. 

  Harry Kane has been central to their success. England's captain has bagged 22 goals and has featured in all 16 of Bayern's competitive fixtures this term. 

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  Can Bayern add a European crown to their domestic dominance?

  The relative weakness of Bayern's domestic rivals, including Watzke's former employers BVB, has left many commentators in Germany resigned to the Bundesliga crown returning to the Bavarian capital come season's end.   

  Kane and co.'s season will be appraised by their performance in the Champions League. Bayern's next fixture in the competition comes against the Premier League leaders, and fellow European front runners Arsenal. It promises to be a titanic matchup between the continent's two form sides to open the 2025/26 season.  

  Before that tie, Bayern travel to the German capital to take on a plucky Union Berlin side, before hosting perennial overachievers SC Freiburg in Munich after the international break.