Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has questioned the hype surrounding Cole Palmer after his breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge in 2023-24. The Frenchman believes expectations have risen too quickly and insists the Blues still have major issues, particularly in defence.
Chelsea icon Joe Cole has called on the club's hierarchy to abandon their current obsession with youth and pivot toward proven Premier League and European veterans. The former winger believes the squad lacks the leadership required to mentor emerging talents, leading to a disconnected dressing room and poor results on the pitch.
Manchester City defender John Stones has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on an iconic 10-year stint at the Etihad Stadium. The England international will depart as a free agent this summer following a decade that saw him redefine the role of a modern central defender under Pep Guardiola.
England's final two games on home soil before the 2026 World Cup were supposed to give Thomas Tuchel's men the perfect send-off for North America. However, instead of being waved off with flowers, the Three Lions left the Wembley pitch to the sound of boos following their 1-0 defeat to Japan on Tuesday, which followed their uninspiring draw against Uruguay four days earlier.
The 12 games of the Thomas Tuchel era have yielded mixed results and performances from England. They remain one of the best sides in international football, even if they haven't played particularly well for extended stretches since the Sir Gareth Southgate era. That said, they are among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup for several reasons.
John Stones is facing a fight to save his international career after former Premier League defender Anton Ferdinand sensationally called for the Manchester City man to be axed from England's World Cup squad. The treble-winner has endured a nightmare period with fitness, leading to questions over whether he can still be trusted on the biggest stage.
Raheem Sterling has been urged to consider a sensational move to Wrexham to rediscover his love for football, with former Manchester United defender Wes Brown claiming the Hollywood-backed project could be the perfect remedy for the winger's stalling career. The ambitious Welsh club have also been tipped to make an audacious approach for Sterling's former teammate John Stones, who Brown believes could emulate Granit Xhaka's impact by dropping down a level to dictate play.
A touching post-match moment inside the Wembley dressing room showed Manchester City star John Stones presenting team-mate Nico O’Reilly with his first England cap, delivering a heartfelt speech in the aftermath of the 20-year-old's dream debut. The exchange came after England’s 2-0 win over Serbia, with cameras capturing O’Reilly’s pride as team-mates applauded the milestone.
Manchester City star John Stones has revealed that he considered announcing his retirement from professional football last season amid his persistent injury problems. Stones appeared in just 11 Premier League matches for the Cityzens in 2024-25, having to remain sidelined for a long period with foot and hamstring problems. He played his last game of the 2024-25 season in February.
John Stones is ready to sign a new contract at Manchester City as Pep Guardiola's side attempt to extend the England international's stay. Stones' current deal expires in the summer but both parties are reported to be open to prolonging his time at the Etihad Stadium, as he continues to play a key role under Guardiola.
England have been dealt a blow ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers after Manchester City defender John Stones was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury. The 31-year-old, who was back in the national setup for the first time under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, will now miss both fixtures against Andorra and Serbia. His absence continues a difficult run of fitness concerns.
.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)
