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There was more than just a hint of excitement in the air as the final stages of the match at Liberty Stadium approached in January 2013. The score was 0-0 between the home team Swansea City and Champions League holders Chelsea. But with the Swans having won the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, they were within touching distance of preparing for a final appearance at Wembley.

Juventus are interested in Al-Ahli midfielder Frank Kessie. The former AC Milan player's contract is set to expire in 2026 and Al-Ahli would rather sell the midfielder than lose him for free. Juventus, who were interested in the player in the summer, are set to launch a new bid in January with the Ivorian international interested in a return to Europe.

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.

Rangers’ bid to appoint a new manager as successor to Russell Martin is in danger of becoming slightly farcical, with another leading candidate reportedly withdrawing himself from the running. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is said to have performed a U-turn after holding initial talks, with former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl seemingly heading in the same direction.

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.

Following their relegation from the Bundesliga, Bochum are turning to artificial intelligence to rebuild their sporting structure, from signing players to selecting their next sporting director. With instability at the management level and a need to modernise recruitment, the club are reportedly in talks with AI platform Plaier to overhaul how they scout, evaluate and develop football talent.

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.

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.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has announced the sacking of former Barcelona legend Patrick Kluivert from his role as head coach. The decision follows Indonesia’s 1-0 loss to Iraq, which saw them finish bottom of their World Cup qualifying group and eliminated from contention for next year's competition. Kluivert stepped into the role in January, but has been sacked alongside the rest of his coaching staff.

Inigo Martinez has revealed that he "didn't even dare" tell his former coach Hansi Flick about his decision to leave Barcelona over the summer due to their "exceptional" relationship. After playing a major role in Barca's domestic dominance, the ex-Athletic Club centre-back left for the Saudi Pro League to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

Real Madrid are facing fresh injury concerns ahead of El Clasico as Dean Huijsen’s fitness remains in doubt. The 20-year-old centre-back, who suffered a micro-tear in his left soleus muscle against Villarreal, is racing against time to recover before the high-stakes clash with Barcelona. With key defenders like Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold also sidelined, Madrid’s backline faces a major test in the coming weeks.

Thibaut Courtois is of the opinion that his Real Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham has to play for England at the 2026 World Cup. A surprising debate has been sparked there, with the all-action midfielder being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest Three Lions squad. He is still recovering from injury, but questions have been asked of Bellingham’s character and how he fits into the puzzle being pieced together by a demanding German coach.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken has warned defender Nico Schlotterbeck that, while he respects the player’s decision to delay signing a new contract, the German side will not allow the situation to drag on indefinitely. The German international, who has attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, has a deal running until 2027.

Arda Guler was full of praise for Kylian Mbappe while describing his relationship with the Real Madrid talisman. The duo's chemistry on the pitch has led to comparisons with former Madrid stars Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Guler adding that Mbappe and him "understand each other perfectly." Real Madrid have won nine games out of 10 this season, thanks to the brilliance of Guler and Mbappe in attack.

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.

Italy national team coach Gennaro Gattuso has jokingly vowed to “flee the country” and live far away if his side fail to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time. Despite a 3-0 victory over Israel, Italy may still have to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup through the play-offs, as they currently sit second in their qualifying group.

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.

Elyaz Zidane, son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, is emerging as one of the brightest revelations of the U-20 World Cup in Chile. Playing at the heart of France’s defence, the 19-year-old has logged the most minutes in Bernard Diomede’s side, displaying composure and maturity that go beyond his age and the immense weight of his surname.

Ahead of Benfica's presidential election, candidate Joao Diogo Manteigas claims Jose Mourinho, the club’s current manager, “is not a coach with a future” at the Lisbon side and already has his eyes set on managing the Portuguese national team. While acknowledging Mourinho’s winning mentality, Manteigas believes the veteran tactician’s ambitions go beyond Benfica.

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.

The end of the October international window is upon us, club football fans. Get ready for four more weeks of Premier League fun before we're lulled back into the November break. Fortunately, there's non-stop action before then to look forward to, beginning with some mouth-watering fixtures this coming weekend, including Manchester United's trip to Liverpool.

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.

Trinity Rodman was injured during the Washington Spirit's CONCACAF W Champions Cup group stage win over Monterrey Wednesday night and had to be removed from the game. The USWNT star couldn't put any weight on her right leg as she departed. Rodman was in distress after attempting a tackle, and left the field on crutches at half time.

Former national team player Alexi Lalas raised concerns about USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino’s experimentation with the team's roster, acknowledging the coach’s right to try options, but saying he's surprised there is not yet a settled starting XI ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Pochettino's side drew Ecuador and beat Australia over the last week.

Former USMNT star Alexi Lalas praised Haji Wright following the striker's match-winning brace against Australia, calling it a defining performance that establishes the Coventry City forward in Mauricio Pochettino's plans for the 2026 World Cup. Wright scored both goals in the USMNT's 2-1 victory over Australia on Tuesday night.

Chelsea winger Estevao has been named among the list of nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy Award. The Brazil international will compete against the likes of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham and Real Madrid talent Franco Mastantuono for the trophy which was last won by Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, who is unable to defend his crown due to the competition’s rules.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he will speak to Jude Bellingham after overlooking the Real Madrid star for his latest Three Lions squad. Tuchel faced a lot of criticism last month when he announced his group for the October international break as big stars like Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were also missing. However, despite their absence, England confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup with relative ease.