In 2021, a graphic designer working for Sky Sport Germany was going to change the footballing world forever. After Jadon Sancho went his first seven matches for Manchester United following his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund without a direct goal contribution, his face was edited onto a picture of James Bond, also known as '007'. In this instance, the two zeroes represented his goals and assists, with the seven the amount of matches he had played.
Manchester United academy chief Luke Fedorenko, who helped sign wonderkid JJ Gabriel, will reportedly leave Old Trafford despite the Red Devils’ attempts to keep him at the club. The 35-year-old talent guru has reportedly accepted an offer to join a major football agency, marking the end of an influential nine-year spell shaping the club's youth structure.
Harry Kane has reacted to speculation regarding transfers back to the Premier League or over to MLS, with the Bayern Munich striker prepared to have an “honest conversation” about his future in Germany. The England captain admits to being in no rush to leave his current surroundings, but has hinted at another new challenge being taken on at some point.
Gabriel Milito’s influence at Chivas was on full display as his team earned a third straight win, defeating Pumas 2-1 away on Matchday 12. The result pushed Chivas into ninth place with five matches left, reviving belief in Milito’s project even as their postseason hopes hang in the balance. Chivas currently sit ninth in Liga MX.
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi saw a proposed summer transfer to Liverpool fall through at the 11th hour last month. But rather than simply resurrect a deal that would see him switch to Anfield by next summer at the latest, the England international looks set to have a number of other high profile clubs to choose from – including Bayern Munich as they make their own move.
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has praised Senne Lammens for his composed debut in goal while taking a swipe at Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir for their numerous errors. The former shot-stopper welcomed the Belgian’s clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Sunderland but urged caution, insisting that true quality will only be revealed when the youngster faces adversity later in the season.
Ex-West Ham United centre-back Nayef Aguerd has spoken about the ordeal he was put through by what is thought to have been an overzealous fan. The defender was at the airport in Marseille, waiting to fly to Morocco to link up with his national team for upcoming games, when he was attacked out of nowhere.
Michael Owen has raised doubts over England’s ability to go all the way at the 2026 World Cup under Thomas Tuchel, warning that age, declining form, and testing conditions could hinder their chances. The former Liverpool striker expressed concern that several key players, including Harry Kane, may be past their best by next summer, while questioning whether the squad is improving.
Andre Onana has impressed just a few weeks into his Trabzonspor loan. The goalkeeper found himself surplus to requirements at Manchester United, dropped in favour of a patchy Altay Bayindir at the start of the season and then seeing Senne Lammens also recruited. But having been one of the world's best in his position as recently as 2023, a move was necessary to kickstart his career.
Nottingham Forest are reportedly considering a shock move for Fulham boss Marco Silva as pressure mounts on Ange Postecoglou just seven games into his tenure. Owner Evangelos Marinakis is set to hold crunch talks with the Australian during the international break after a dismal run of results left Forest hovering above the Premier League relegation zone.
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has directly addressed ongoing transfer speculation about star winger Michael Olise. It comes after fresh rumours that several of the Premier League's leading clubs are hoping to take him back to England and would potentially offer the Bundesliga champions as much as nine figures for the France international.
Brooklyn Earick has formally withdrawn his record-breaking £4.5 billion bid to buy Tottenham Hotspur after the Lewis family made it clear they will not sell the club “under any circumstances.” The American businessman’s 12-member consortium had been in advanced talks, but Spurs’ owners reiterated their firm long-term commitment to keeping control.
UEFA has approved requests to play two La Liga and Serie A matches overseas, on different continents, despite European football's governing body insisting it is against domestic fixtures being hosted abroad. Supporters infuriated by the news, that includes Barcelona playing an official competitive game in Miami, have now rounded on UEFA to make their feelings known.
Santiago Giménez has yet to score in Serie A after six appearances for AC Milan, with his lone goal coming in the Coppa Italia. Still, manager Massimiliano Allegri insists the Mexico striker has his full trust, praising Giménez’s importance to Milan’s structure and work rate after Sunday’s goalless draw with Juventus.
Wales boss Craig Bellamy has admitted that the Dragons face a huge challenge when they take on England at Wembley, comparing the matchup to an unfair boxing fight. The former Premier League star hailed Thomas Tuchel’s “ridiculous” squad depth and insisted his side must be at “full gas” to compete against their star-studded neighbours in Thursday’s friendly.
Rasmus Hojlund has lauded the impact Antonio Conte is having on him now that he is playing for Napoli. The Dane has a new lease of life back in Italy, having previously played in Serie A for Atalanta, and netted in his team's 2-1 win over Genoa at the weekend. Ex-Manchester United teammate Scott McTominay has been a similar beneficiary of the much-travelled coach.
As Liverpool lost a third successive game across all competitions, Premier League legend Wayne Rooney accused Reds talisman Mohamed Salah of "watching" Conor Bradley get torn apart by Chelsea behind him and doing very little to help. Last season, Salah openly praised Liverpool boss Arne Slot for taking away the defensive responsibility that Jurgen Klopp had previously insisted on.
Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has praised Wrexham’s steady improvement under Phil Parkinson as they adapt to life in the Championship — but warned Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac that the division can “chew you up and spit you out” if complacency sets in. The newly-promoted Red Dragons currently sit 18th after a string of battling draws.
Georgina Rodriguez is expanding her global presence by taking to YouTube, launching a brand new channel that promises to give an up close look at her glamorous life. It comes just over a year after fiance Cristiano Ronaldo started his own hugely successful and record-breaking channel on the 20-year-old video platform that has revolutionised the way people consume media.
Chelsea have ended speculation surrounding Sjoeke Nusken’s future by confirming the Germany international has signed a new contract until 2027. The 24-year-old midfielder, who impressed in her debut season with 12 goals in all competitions, has committed her future to the Blues despite previous hints that she could look to explore options elsewhere.
Former Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has suggested that Mikel Arteta's record of achievement since being appointed by Arsenal in 2019 will give him his pick of jobs whenever he decides the time is right to leave the Emirates Stadium. One of those could be at Barcelona in the future, where Arteta made key strides in his formative years as a footballer.
Liverpool’s stuttering form has drawn sharp criticism from Daniel Sturridge, who believes the Reds are paying the price for selling Luis Diaz this summer. The former striker claimed Arne Slot’s side are missing the Colombian’s intensity and balance in attack, while suggesting the new boss made a mistake by not starting Florian Wirtz in the defeat to Chelsea.
Once hailed as Lionel Messi's heir, Ansu Fati's promising career was derailed by injury setbacks and uncertain loan spells, but the Spanish prodigy has finally found his fire again at Monaco. His electrifying resurgence is cemented by breaking a decades-old Ligue 1 scoring record, as he became the fastest player to reach five goals.
Adam Wharton revealed Thomas Tuchel's explanation for his latest England snub as the Crystal Palace star was left out of the upcoming Wales and Latvia clashes. After being recalled for the World Cup qualifiers last month, Wharton was forced to pull out due to an adductor injury. Following his recovery and strong performances at Palace, many expected the midfielder to be reinstated for the October internationals. However, Tuchel, had other plans.
MLS has been told that it needs to change its recruitment strategy when it comes to bringing overseas stars to the United States, with Gus Poyet telling GOAL of how that process could be tweaked to the benefit of everybody. Efforts to expand the domestic game Stateside have tended to focus on the acquisition of household names on the field, but could that process be expanded to include bigger names in the dugout?
Vitinha's growing influence at Paris Saint-Germain has been formally recognised by his teammates, who have chosen him to be the deputy to captain Marquinhos. The appointment comes just after Vitinha made his 100th Ligue 1 appearance, cementing his status as a key figure for Luis Enrique's side.