Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand cannot understand the criticism Florian Wirtz is currently facing. Signed by Liverpool for the second-highest transfer fee in British football history over the summer, the German international has been below par in the first two months of his career at Anfield. Hjulmand, however, is confident that Wirtz will "prove to everyone" what he is really capable of.
Tottenham have announced the return of Italian transfer guru Fabio Paratici, who is set to form part of a new leadership group alongside Johan Lange. The pair will work together across the club's transfer strategy, with Paratici's 30-month ban coming to an end. They will both share the official title of sporting directors.
Nick Woltemade returned to Newcastle on a £75 flight after scoring on international duty with Germany. The striker went from national hero to EasyJet passenger in a matter of hours after scoring the decisive goal for Germany in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Northern Ireland. Talk about a humbling journey home.
Arsenal's director of football Andrea Berta has been labelled as a dishonest man by former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea midfielder Saul Niguez. The Spaniard has publicly criticised the Gunners' chief for the role he played in facilitating his exit from Atleti, claiming he could have found a solution to stay at the club had they had an honest conversation.
Premier League icon Emmanuel Petit has berated Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim for his response to criticism of his struggles at Old Trafford. The Portuguese head coach has blamed the media coverage of his stubborn tactics for the pressure around the club, an excuse the French legend refuses to accept.
Former Manchester United star Wes Brown picked a shock name as his hardest team-mate, and did not mention Roy Keane. Instead of the fiery former captain, Brown, who also played for the likes of Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers, instead chose Keane's midfield partner, who was more known for his tidy passing than his temper.
Manchester City have been advised to prepare for a decision to finally be made on their 115 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules imminently. The Cityzens were first hit with the charges back in February 2023 and a legal expert has now spoken about the eagerly-anticipated verdict and claimed there is "no real excuse for a further delay."
As a lifelong Everton supporter who associates watching the Blues with being stood for 90 minutes in a chilly Gwladys Street end, with only a big coat and chicken pie for warmth, I approached my first premium experience at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. This was only my third visit to Goodison Park's replacement after all, having attended the first test event back in February and the Premier League opener against Brighton.
Danny Dyer and daughter Dani have been chatting about Jarrod Bowen amid a tough time at West Ham. The Hammers sacked manager Graham Potter after just nine months in charge and have since appointed Nuno Espirito Santo as his replacement. Bowen clashed with angry fans at the start of the season after the team's Carabao Cup exit but swiftly apologised and has gone on to score three times in seven appearances in the Premier League for the Hammers.
Manchester City wonderkid Sverre Nypan has opened up on his journey in England as he revealed a culture shock following a loan move to Championship side Middlesbrough. The Cityzens beat Manchester United and other top European clubs to complete the signing of the 18-year-old Norwegian midfielder in the summer transfer window from Rosenborg, but he was immediately sent out on loan for more game time.
Casemiro faces a huge call on his £375,000-a-week Manchester United contract, according to reports. The Brazil international midfielder has been at Old Trafford since 2022, when he completed a stunning switch to England from La Liga giants Real Madrid. His current deal is running down, with interest from clubs in his homeland and the Saudi Pro League said to have been shown.
The Premier League is reportedly set to vote on proposals that could see a “salary cap” of sorts introduced at the top end of English football. An “anchoring” plan has been drawn up, which would limit spending for elite clubs, with shareholders expected to address that issue in November. Several teams, including Manchester rivals United and City, are said to oppose the concept.
Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make sweeping changes to the Old Trafford pitch layout following the heartbreaking death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar, who tragically passed away after suffering a fatal head injury during a non-league match. The 21-year-old forward, who came through Arsenal’s youth system before moving into non-league football, died last month after colliding with a concrete wall during a match for Chichester City at Wingate & Finchley FC’s Maurice Rebak Stadium.
Danny Murphy, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, has explained why any £57 million ($76m) transfer involving Harry Kane would be a “big risk” and a “downgrade” for the England captain if he were to head back to Tottenham. After lifting his trophy curse with Bayern Munich, the former Spurs striker is seeing a return to his homeland in the summer of 2026 speculated on.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has been urged to make a bold call by dropping Manchester City’s £60 million ($81m) midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from his national team setup. The 26-year-old has been one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants since arriving from AC Milan in the summer, shining as a deep-lying creative force in City’s engine room. But despite his fine start to life in England, not everyone back home believes he should keep his place in the Oranje midfield.
Matt Jansen, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, has explained why Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac would continue to make ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ in the Premier League. Said documentary has opened up a window to the world for the Red Dragons, with a record-breaking run of three successive promotions being caught on camera. Just one more step up the ladder is required in order to reach the big time.
Manchester United legend Wes Brown gave his verdict on whether Rio Ferdinand was better than Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk ahead of the huge clash between the two rivals this weekend. As anticipation builds for Sunday’s heavyweight showdown at Anfield, the former Red Devils star reignited one of football’s most heated debates by picking a side between two of the greatest Premier League defenders.
Manchester United are reportedly confident that deals can be done that will allow them to press ahead with plans to construct a new 100,000-seater stadium. The Red Devils are intending to move out of their current Old Trafford base, but remain on an iconic site as a lavish new ground is built. There are a number of hurdles to clear before that dream becomes a reality.
Brazil international Paulo Henrique joked that he is trying to help Vasco da Gama lure Tottenham and Newcastle stars to the Serie A from the Premier League. The 29-year-old winger made the light-hearted confession after Brazil’s embarrassing 3-2 defeat to Japan in Tokyo, a friendly that went from cruise control to complete calamity in the second half.
Manchester City are eyeing a move to sign a certain "Brazilian Erling Haaland" with a £87 million ($117m) release clause as Pep Guardiola's side look to the future. His name is Wendeson Wanderley Santos de Melo, better known simply as Dell. Just 17, the striker from Bahia is already being whispered about as Brazil’s next superstar, but he has plenty of time to reach his potential.
Jamie Vardy will star in a new TV documentary, Danny Simpson has confirmed to GOAL during an exclusive interview, with the Leicester City legend embracing a new professional challenge in Italy. After linking up with Cremonese, a “great character” is being backed to entertain audiences alongside wife Rebekah - with Vardy’s remarkable career following a Hollywood script.
Sergio Aguero is not convinced that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland missed his big Ballon d’Or opportunity when losing out to Lionel Messi in 2023. The prolific Norwegian frontman enjoyed a memorable debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium, becoming a Treble winner, but still saw Argentine GOAT Messi walk off with the most prestigious of individual accolades.
Ryan Babel has finally closed the chapter on his first Liverpool home, a property that witnessed footballing dreams, life lessons, and unforgettable chaos. In a recent social media post, Babel shared one of the wildest moments the house had witnessed, when Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe built a nightclub inside and forgot to pay rent during his spell at Everton.
Manchester City are still awaiting the findings of their 115-charge FFP case. City were accused of 115 financial breaches in February 2023 while hearings, which lasted 10 weeks, took place last September. An outcome is said to be imminent and the most likely punishments if they are found guilty have been revealed by a financial expert as the club wait with bated breath on the decision.
Thibaut Courtois has offered an unusual piece of advice to Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens ahead of his daunting Anfield test against Premier League champions Liverpool. With Anfield remaining one of the most intimidating venues in world football, the 23-year-old faces a true baptism of fire as Ruben Amorim's struggling side face Arne Slot's free-scoring Reds.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been hailed as the ultimate professional by his former Manchester United teammate Ben Foster — who revealed the Portuguese icon was 'definitely the teacher’s pet' under Sir Alex Ferguson. The former goalkeeper lifted the lid on the five-time Ballon d'Or winner’s legendary work ethic, discipline, and drive that set him apart from everyone else at Old Trafford.
Diego Costa proved he’s lost none of his trademark aggression after bulldozing Chelsea Women’s legend Gemma Davison during a training session for a recent charity match. The former Blues striker sent Davison flying in a heavy challenge, with John Terry summing it up perfectly afterwards. The former captain admitted: “That’s Diego in a nutshell. He just doesn’t give a s***.”
Maya Jama unveiled a new tattoo celebrating her mixed heritage as she shared a series of intimate snaps with Manchester City star Ruben Dias. The 31-year-old TV presenter proudly displayed her fresh inking — a trio of connected countries symbolising her Scottish, Swedish, and Somalian roots — while cuddling up with her footballer boyfriend in a heartwarming post.
Four key Man Utd stars sat out training just days ahead of the crunch derby clash with Liverpool as boss Ruben Amorim continues the struggle to turn his side’s season around. Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo and Casemiro were all absent following their involvement in international fixtures in the past fortnight.
Ilkay Gundogan, who starred for both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, has delivered his final verdict on the two legendary managers. Despite describing his bond with the ex-Liverpool manager as like "father and son," the German midfielder explained in an "honest" answer why Guardiola's tactical clarity and possession game ultimately aligns more with his own view of football.
.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
