James Trafford has faced some uncomfortable questions for the first time as a Leeds United player, on the back of his £40 million ($53m) transfer from Manchester City, but Matt Kilgallon has told GOAL why the England international can be likened to David Seaman and Jordan Pickford. The 24-year-old shot-stopper has become a record-shattering addition at Elland Road.
Florian Wirtz struggled again for Liverpool when in direct competition with Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki, while Bradley Barcola is still waiting on his first goal contribution for the Reds. Michael Owen has told GOAL that “Mo Salah numbers” will forever haunt big-money additions at Anfield, with transfers worth more than £100 million ($132m) piling on pressure.
Jesse Lingard has been warned by former Manchester United team-mate Anderson that passionate supporters in Brazil will either “love you or hate you”. The ex-England international is now on the books of Corinthians, with a one-time colleague at Old Trafford telling GOAL that fans in South America will go to extreme lengths if their patience is tested.
Serious questions are being asked of Michael Carrick’s future at Manchester United, as the shortest priced entry in Premier League sack race markets, but Michael Owen has explained to GOAL why the man calling shots at Old Trafford “deserves time”. The Red Devils only handed a permanent contract to their current head coach in May, but are said to be already regretting that decision.
Wayne Rooney has been told what he “should have” done to prevent managerial flops at Birmingham and Plymouth. The Manchester United legend has been out of coaching since leaving Home Park in late December 2024, with former Everton team-mate Alan Stubbs telling GOAL why the former England international is unlikely to head back into the dugout any time soon.
Bruno Guimaraes is a “wonderful player” and will soon be “starting every week” for Arsenal, Paul Dickov has told GOAL, with the Brazilian midfielder set to “take some of the pressure” off Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. The South American did just that in his latest Premier League appearance as he netted a stunning match-winning goal in a home date with Leeds.
Danny Mills has admitted to GOAL that a “slap on the wrist” for Manchester City at the end of their protracted Financial Fair Play (FFP) case would be “an absolute farce”. The Blues, who are appealing, have been found guilty of 114 regulation breaches. No punishments have been revealed as yet, with Mills explaining what he considers to be a “fitting” outcome.
Alexandre Pato has been making surprising headlines at Northampton, as part of a consortium that has acquired a 70 per cent stake in the club, but ex-Cobblers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told GOAL there is “no new Wrexham” to be found in the English Football League. Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have enjoyed considerable success in North Wales.
Manchester City remain wedged under the Financial Fair Play (FFP) microscope, but Danny Mills has told GOAL why - “with certain caveats” - billionaire owners in the Premier League should be allowed to “spend what they want”. The deepest of pockets can now be found in boardrooms across English football, so why are the super wealthy not able to splash the cash?
Former Celtic defender Alan Stubbs has explained to GOAL why Premier League transfer talk has faded away for Hoops and USMNT centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers. The Tottenham academy graduate was being heavily linked with a return to England at one stage, but plenty of difficult recruitment questions are now being asked at Parkhead.
Arsenal spent big on Viktor Gyokeres, and saw him register 21 goals last season, but continue to favour Kai Havertz as a false nine when it comes to leaders of their attacking line. Ex-Gunners striker Paul Dickov has explained to GOAL why that is the case, while also speculating on whether another proven goalscorer will be sought in upcoming transfer windows.
Barcelona star Raphinha has been surprisingly left off the 30-man list of contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, but Anderson has told GOAL that his fellow Brazilian would miss out on a “top three” finish regardless. The South American forward has been posting Ronaldo-esque goal numbers at the start of 2026-27, but does not find himself in the running for a prestigious Golden Ball.
Brazilian wonderkid Estevao has been advised to learn at Chelsea, rather than leave, with Carlton Cole telling GOAL why the 19-year-old still has areas of his game to work on. The South American forward, who generated plenty of excitement at Stamford Bridge last season, has found himself stuck on the bench of late - leading to inevitable transfer talk being sparked.
Danny Mills has explained to GOAL why stripping Manchester City of titles and taking away medals in their 115-charge Financial Fair Play (FFP) case would be “pointless”. The former Blues star believes that trophy-related punishments, as appeals are lodged against initial guilty verdicts, would be “irrelevant” as memories of league and cup triumphs have already been made.
Danny Mills has admitted to GOAL that if there are any “loopholes” in Manchester City’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) case, then the “best legal minds in the world” will find them. Questions are, however, being asked of why the Premier League giants - after being found guilty on 114 counts of wrongdoing - have not yet been made aware of what potential sanctions will be.
James McAtee has looked like a man reborn in 2026-27, having been handed a more prominent role at Nottingham Forest, and Reds legend Des Walker has told GOAL that the Manchester City academy graduate could follow former team-mate Elliot Anderson into the senior England squad. International success has previously been enjoyed as a European Championship-winning captain of the Three Lions’ U21 side.
Given the direction in which transfer fees are heading, it feels like only a matter of time before someone breaks records by spending £100 million ($132m) on a goalkeeper. Shaka Hislop, who knows all about the importance of that position having filled it himself, has told GOAL that Manchester City - FFP sanctions permitting - and Chelsea are the clubs most likely to rewrite the history books.
Harrison Armstrong - who has been billed as ‘Everton’s Steven Gerrard’ - delivered a unique transfer quirk during the summer window of 2026, ex-Toffees star Alan Stubbs has admitted to GOAL. The 19-year-old midfielder appeared destined to leave the Hill Dickinson Stadium at one stage, as Nottingham Forest agreed a fee, but supporter backlash ensured that no deal went through.
Virgil van Dijk “can play wherever he wants for another three years”, ex-Netherlands international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told GOAL, with the legendary Dutch defender seeing his contract at Liverpool run down. If no fresh terms are thrashed out at Anfield, then the commanding 35-year-old centre-half will become a free agent in the summer of 2027.
Endrick is “too good” not to be playing regularly at Real Madrid, former Brazil international Anderson has told GOAL, with the 20-year-old forward being urged to consider a January move to the Premier League - with Newcastle and Tottenham being marked out as potential landing spots. The South American striker spent time in France with Lyon during the 2025-26 campaign.
“Nobody knows” whether the likes of Erling Haaland will be giving thought to a transfer away from Manchester City, Paul Dickov has admitted to GOAL, while Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez will have been given “guarantees”. The Premier League giants find themselves at the centre of a Financial Fair Play (FFP) storm that sees 115 charges hanging over the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City, despite having 115 Financial Fair Play (FFP) charges hanging over their head and a damning “sham” statement from the Premier League ringing in their ears, remain unwavering in their belief that no rules have been broken and their name will be cleared. Cult hero Paul Dickov has delivered his take on the long-running saga to GOAL, with there still the potential for game-changing “cards” to be pulled out of collective sleeves.
Manchester United continue to see questions asked of their defensive unit, so could that situation see their transfer radar turn back in the direction of USMNT and Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson? Ex-Cottagers striker Bobby Zamora has told GOAL why a deal could make sense, with the Red Devils forever in the market for players with proven Premier League pedigree.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been locked in a career-long rivalry, with GOAT status up for grabs, but do they keep an eye on what the other is doing? CR7’s former Manchester United team-mate Anderson has told GOAL that two global superstars do “care” about the record-shattering numbers that continue to be posted on opposing sides of a fierce divide.
Jose Mourinho will forever be the ‘Special One’, but does he still possess that unique brand of magic? Carlton Cole worked with the enigmatic Portuguese at Chelsea and has told GOAL why Real Madrid need a familiar face at Santiago Bernabeu to be more of a “father figure” to Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham than an outspoken and demanding leader.
Jack Grealish will become a free agent in the summer of 2027 when his contract at Manchester City expires. Having rejoined Everton on a second season-long loan, does his long-term future lie on Merseyside? Ex-Toffees star Alan Stubbs has sought to answer that question for GOAL, with the England international playmaker needing to shake a bit of ‘rust’ in the present.
Former MLS star Shaka Hislop has explained to GOAL why an ‘MSN’ reunion for Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami may not be beneficial to the North American game as a whole. There have been plenty of rumours to suggest that a Brazilian superstar could link up with a couple of former Barcelona team-mates in South Florida when becoming a free agent.
Moises Caicedo’s injury-enforced absence is akin to Chelsea “losing John Terry or Gianfranco Zola”, former Blues star Frank Leboeuf has told GOAL. The all-action Ecuadorian midfielder is considered to be crucial to the collective cause at Stamford Bridge, with only 14 minutes of game time being taken in at the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Bruno Fernandes has become a talismanic presence for Manchester United in the middle of the park, but can the Portuguese playmaker be likened to Red Devils legend Paul Scholes? Anderson, who once played alongside a superstar graduate from the Class of ‘92, has told GOAL why an 11-time Premier League title winner remains a “different level” to the current captain at Old Trafford.
England will require a suitable heir to Harry Kane’s goalscoring crown to step up at some point, so could Liam Delap be that man? Nottingham Forest legend Des Walker has told GOAL why a 10-goal debut campaign at the City Ground could help the burly frontman to stake his claim to a first senior call-up and put him next in line for the most iconic of No.9 shirts.
