Chelsea are reportedly ready to dive back into the transfer market this January to secure a direct replacement for Enzo Fernandez. Following the Argentine's high-profile departure to Manchester City, manager Xabi Alonso has identified a Atletico Madrid star to restore balance to his midfield engine room.
Barcelona's pursuit of World Cup-winning defender Aymeric Laporte broke down after Athletic Club demanded a massive transfer fee. The Catalan giants hoped to secure the 32-year-old for under €15 million to solve their defensive problems. However, strained relations between the two Spanish clubs ultimately scuppered the late summer deal.
Gus Poyet has reacted to Chelsea’s £125 million ($169m) sale of Enzo Fernandez during an exclusive interview with GOAL. The Blues legend is concerned that a suitable replacement for the World Cup-winning Argentine was not acquired on transfer deadline day, with the Uruguayan asking - amid new roles for Reece James and Malo Gusto - whether “all right-backs” are now going to play “as centre midfielders”.
Rayan Cherki boasts the ability to become Manchester City’s new Kevin De Bruyne, but Bacary Sagna has explained to GOAL why his fellow countryman is more of a Santi Cazorla clone. Ex-France international defender Sagna worked alongside a Spanish schemer at Arsenal and with a Belgian magician during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Bosnia and Herzegovina legend Edin Dzeko has officially confirmed his intention to retire from international football, bringing the curtain down on a historic career. The Schalke forward, who has remained a talismanic figure for his country well into his veteran years, will bow out following a final appearance next month.
England has one of the best women's national teams in the world and perhaps the best women's league on the planet, too, but the lack of opportunities for young players domestically is a real concern
The modern takeover eras of Chelsea and Manchester City have reshaped English football, creating a direct transfer pipeline between two Premier League superpowers. Since Sheikh Mansour's arrival in 2008, direct deals between the clubs have generated over 350 million pounds in total player movement history.
Enzo Fernandez has completed a sensational move by joining Manchester City in a joint-British record £125 million deal, and he didn't waste any time before sending a pointed message back to Chelsea. The 2022 World Cup winner, who spent just two years at Stamford Bridge, appears to have suggested his former employers didn't quite match the stature he was looking for in a career-defining move.
Real Madrid may have enjoyed a productive summer transfer window, but the shadow of what could have been still looms over the Santiago Bernabeu. While Los Blancos have made a strong start to the season, reports have revealed that Jose Mourinho’s preferred target to strengthen the midfield was Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez who moved to Manchester City.
Iliman Ndiaye has detailed his reasons for choosing Manchester City after completing a £65 million deadline-day switch from Everton. Enzo Maresca's side dramatically hijacked Tottenham's pursuit of the Senegal international, leaving Spurs to scramble for late alternatives in the final hours of the transfer window.
The completion of big-money deals became a near-daily occurrence between June and September, but which of the continent's most powerful clubs spent most wisely?
Fresh from winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award, Manchester City breakout star Nico O'Reilly has reflected on his rapid rise to the top of English football. Speaking exclusively on the Beast Mode On Podcast, the versatile left-back shared the brutal but necessary advice he received from former manager Pep Guardiola, while also opening up about the personal sacrifices required to make the grade at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has backed former team-mate Gabriel Jesus to flourish at Barcelona following his €15 million switch from Arsenal. The Argentine believes the Brazilian forward will adapt seamlessly to Hansi Flick's system in Catalonia and easily hit double figures after calling time on his four-year stay in north London.
Manchester United have launched a stunning deadline day move to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from cross-town rivals Manchester City. The Algerian international has struggled for game time under Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium and could be offered a career lifeline at Old Trafford.
Dietmar Hamann has admitted to GOAL there is “always a chance” that Erling Haaland will leave Manchester City “when Barcelona or Real Madrid come calling”. Those approaches have not been made as yet, with the Norwegian striker tied to a contract through to 2034, but there will come a point when a fresh start away from the Etihad Stadium is considered.
With the transfer window now firmly shut until January, the more ambitious members of English football's middle class are counting the cost of the top-flight's new regulations
For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window once again proved to be exceptionally busy, with some huge names making big-money moves all the way up to Deadline Day on September 1.
Manchester City
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