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Chelsea face a tall order to reach the Carabao Cup final after a shocking performance from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez handed Arsenal a 3-2 victory in the first leg of their semi-final. The Spaniard made two avoidable mistakes which allowed Ben White and Viktor Gyokeres to score, though Alejandro Garnacho bagged twice ether side of a Martin Zubimendi effort to ensure the Blues take some hope into the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea have reportedly made inquiries regarding a potential transfer move for Feyenoord star Anis Hadj Moussa. The 23-year-old made a big impression during Algeria's run to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, providing two assists during a 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea during the group stage, and has previously caught the eye with a goal against Manchester City in last season's Champions League.

EXCLUSIVE: Yan Diomande tells GOAL how his unlikely American journey - from UPSL fields to RB Leipzig - shaped one of Europe’s fastest-rising stars.

Noah Allen’s rapid rise at Inter Miami has not gone unnoticed. Still just 21, the versatile defender has become a regular in MLS, won the 2025 MLS Cup and established himself with Greece’s U-21s. He is reportedly now being monitored by European clubs such as Gent and Panathinaikos, according to The Athletic.

Antonio Conte has seemingly hit out at Ruben Amorim and Manchester United for their handling of striker Rasmus Hojlund, who is currently enjoying a loan spell with Serie A side Napoli. The Danish striker had a tough second season at Old Trafford and was sent to Italy as Amorim preferred summer signing Benjamin Sesko, who has scored five goals in 19 appearances for the Red Devils so far. Amorim has since been sacked and replaced by Michael Carrick, who will preside over the club for the remainder of the campaign.

Moises Caicedo was a notable absentee from Chelsea's squad for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Wednesday night. The Ecuador international is one of the Blues' most important players in central midfield but new boss Liam Rosenior was forced to deploy Andrey Santos alongside Enzo Fernandez against the Gunners because of his absence. Chelsea have struggled with suspensions so far this season, with five red cards forcing key players to miss out at various stages.

Despite San Diego FC’s sporting director and head coach stating that he no longer fits into the club’s plans - and reported interest from Cruz Azul - Hirving “Chucky” Lozano has no intention of leaving the MLS side. Backed by a long-term contract and a record salary, the Mexican winger reportedly wants to remain with the team and is confident he can earn his place, even as the door appears to be closed.

This is particularly a big blow to Mohamed Salah's individual ambition of winning the international trophy for his country, which has remained an elusive mission in his career so far. For Mane and his teammates, the dream of winning the second AFCON trophy remains very much alive after progressing to the ultimate stage. The win means Senegal have stamped their authority on this fixture, as they have a decent record against the Pharaohs, where they have now won four of their last six games. 

Arsenal are showing no willingness to loan out wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri in January, despite transfer interest from the likes of West Ham United. The 18-year-old attacker has made just four starts in all competitions this season, prompting speculation that the Gunners might consider letting him leave on a temporary basis in the winter window. However, the north Londoners are yet to entertain any enquiries for the highly-rated teenager.

GOAL breaks down the five big reasons the central defender was American soccer's standout in 2025.

Roy Keane has been tipped to make an extraordinary return to management by taking over at former club Manchester United. The tenacious Irishman has been a vocal critic of the Red Devils during their struggles in recent years, with the club lurching from manager to manager without success since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013. United have most recently sacked Ruben Amorim and placed Michael Carrick in charge for the rest of the 2025-26 season.

Chris Richards has been named U.S. Soccer's Male Player of the Year after a standout 2025 calendar year with both Crystal Palace and the U.S. Men's National Team. The central defender's award win comes in the first time he was nominated for the award, as he beat out Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Matt Freese, and Malik Tillman to this year's honors.

Manchester United have confirmed key attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have returned to training after the pair were eliminated from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Red Devils have been without the duo since a 4-4 draw with Bournemouth in mid-December, when previous manager Ruben Amorim was still in charge. United won only one of the six games where Mbeumo and Amad were absent after they went away with Cameroon and the Ivory Coast respectively, but both look to be in contention to play in the upcoming local derby with Manchester City.

GOAL continues its Meet the USMNT series by examining Folarin Balogun’s path to the USMNT and the expectations that follow him into a World Cup year.

Monaco's CEO has admitted his frustrations over Paul Pogba's injury setbacks since the 2018 World Cup winner signed for the Ligue 1 club in June last year. The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder penned a two-year contract after he completed an 18-month doping ban, but he has only managed to make three appearances for his new side due to a succession of fitness issues.

Tottenham have announced the signing of Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher, with the former Chelsea man signing a long-term contract with the club. Spurs saw off competition from Premier League rivals Aston Villa to secure the 25-year-old's signature, with his arrival a major boost for manager Thomas Frank especially after Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled out of action for three months through injury.

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has taken aim at Manuel Ugarte, insisting that he is simply not good enough to be playing for the club. Indeed, Butt believes that the former Paris Saint-Germain star is emblematic of a dismal transfer policy at Old Trafford.

From Alex Morgan to Tobin Heath, Sam Mewis to Christen Press and Tobin Heath to Carli Lloyd, GOAL judges the Americans to have played in England

Alvaro Arbeloa has made a bold statement in his first squad selection as Real Madrid manager, opting to leave superstars Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois at home for the Copa del Rey clash against Albacete. With Kylian Mbappe already ruled out through injury, the new boss has turned to La Fabrica to fill the void, calling up five academy starlets to plug the gaps in a depleted squad for the crucial round of 16 tie.

Evan Ferguson has been urged to consider a sensational switch to Wrexham to reignite his stalling career. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes the ambitious Welsh club could provide the perfect platform for the Roma striker to rediscover his goalscoring touch and fall back in love with the game after a difficult period in Italy.

United States Women's national team star Sam Coffey has completed a move from the Portland Thorns to Manchester City, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the current Women's Super League leaders.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has offered a sympathetic but guarded response to the dismissal of his Real Madrid counterpart Xabi Alonso, insisting that while he maintains a "very good relationship" with the Basque coach, the ruthless nature of the decision is simply "part of football." Alonso was sacked this week midway through his debut season in charge following the Spanish Super Cup defeat to Flick's team.

Virginia Fonseca, the girlfriend of Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, has angrily shut down rumours of an impending marriage to the Brazil international. The pair are reported to have been dating for around three months, and Fonseca insists there are no plans afoot for a wedding just yet.

Marcus Rashford has been brutally told that his Manchester United career is finished, with former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy insisting there is no way back for the forward at Old Trafford. Despite the sacking of Ruben Amorim and the arrival of Michael Carrick as interim boss, the 28-year-old has been warned that the bridge with his boyhood club is burned, even if his current loan spell at Barcelona does not result in a permanent transfer.

GOAL gives you the details to follow the Super Eagles' semi-final clash with the Atlas Lions at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah on Wednesday. The West Africans will be out to cause what might be the biggest upset of this tournament so far by eliminating the hosts. Both sides are just one game away from reaching the final and that makes Wednesday's game a high-stakes affair.

Manchester United have funds available to attack the January transfer market but are set to keep their powder dry under new interim boss Michael Carrick. Despite a willingness to trigger a £65 million release clause for Antoine Semenyo and a shortlist of midfield targets including Adam Wharton and Alex Scott, club chiefs are prioritising a major summer overhaul instead of panic buying this winter.

Roberto De Zerbi could yet become Manchester United manager this summer, with the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss having many "admirers" at Old Trafford, according to a new report. The club have hired Michael Carrick as their interim manager following the departure of Ruben Amorim, and plans are being drawn up for the hiring of his permanent successor this summer.

The explosive details behind Xabi Alonso’s shock departure from Real Madrid have been revealed, with the manager reportedly losing patience with his squad months before his sacking. In a moment of pure frustration during a training session, the Basque tactician screamed at his stars: "I didn’t know I was coming to coach a nursery," marking the point of no return for his tenure at the Bernabeu.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has blamed his father, Harry, for supplying him false information ahead of an on-air gaffe in which he claimed Antoine Semenyo could reject a move to Manchester City in favour of joining Liverpool. Redknapp Jr. has claimed that, briefly, he believed he'd "turned into Fabrizio Romano".