Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro is in no doubt: Florian Wirtz "definitely" would have joined Real Madrid rather than Liverpool during the summer had he been offered the chance to follow Xabi Alonso to Santiago Bernabeu. "But Xabi has less say at Madrid than he did with us," Carro pointed out in an interview with Sport1. "One of Alonso's greatest strengths was his ability to work with our scouting department to define who needed to be in our team, but Florentino Perez decides the transfers at Madrid - not Xabi Alonso."
Roy Keane has claimed that his infamous leg-breaker on Erling Haaland's dad, Alfie, was not an unfair challenge. To get a bigger picture and understand the magnitude of Keane’s fury, you have to rewind to September 1997, when Manchester United faced Leeds United at Elland Road.
Chris Richards was one of the notable absences from the USMNT roster announced Thursday, and Charlie Davies says tensions between Crystal Palace and U.S. Soccer might have been a factor. Palace manager Oliver Glasner publicly criticized the U.S. for playing the centerback in both October friendlies when he was supposedly dealing with an injury.
West Ham are reportedly ready to offer Kobbie Mainoo an escape route from Manchester United in January, as the England star is desperate to rescue his 2026 World Cup chances. The 20-year-old England international once stormed onto the Premier League stage with poise and maturity. But he now finds himself watching from the sidelines, and could seek an exit in the winter transfer window.
Tottenham's marquee summer signing Xavi Simons has admitted his start to life in north London has fallen shy of the high expectations which followed him when he joined from RB Leipzig for £60.5m ($82m). Simons has struggled to impose himself on matches and was ignominiously substituted off after being brought on as a replacement for the injured Lucas Bergvall in the recent 1-0 defeat by London rivals Chelsea.
Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard has reportedly set his sights on negotiating another new contract, barely months after securing improved terms at the Emirates. The Belgian international joined Arsenal from Brighton in January 2021 for £21 million. He was handed a pay rise during the summer, but without any extension to his current deal.
Wolves have reportedly approached Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards after cutting ties with Vitor Pereira, whose nightmare reign ended with a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Fulham last weekend. The Portuguese manager produced no wins during this current Premier League campaign and was sacked less than 24 hours after the final whistle at Craven Cottage, which left them at rock bottom of the table.
Liverpool star Mo Salah risks causing huge anger in his native Egypt as he prepares for showdown talks with national boss Hossam Hassan to discuss missing a key warm-up match ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs have a friendly with Nigeria planned in early December, but lands in the same week as key matches for the Reds setting up a potential club-v-country row, which Salah hopes to avoid.
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed the life-changing impact Diogo Jota’s tragic death has had on him following the devastating car crash in the Zamora region of Spain which took the life of the Liverpool star and his brother Andre Silva. Ronaldo has also spoken about the personal reasons behind why he decided against attending the funeral of his Portugal team-mate.
Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson admitted to being left "exhausted" as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s side continue to chase their Premier League dream. The man tasked with turning the wild English top-flight ambition into reality has lifted the lid on the relentless pressure of managing one of the world’s most-watched football clubs.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has fired back at Cristiano Ronaldo and urged the club to look to the future, rather than focus on the mistakes made under his regime and those made by previous managers. The United manager has also highlighted the key problem "he cannot allow" to continue holding his team back this season.
Sandro Tonali has sparked uncertainty over his long-term future at Newcastle United after admitting he is taking things “year by year” amid ongoing rumours of a potential return to Serie A. The Italian midfielder, who recently signed a secret contract extension until 2029, insists he is “happy” on Tyneside but refused to rule out the possibility of one day leaving the club.
Real Madrid “did a great job by not signing Erling Haaland”, according to former Blancos star Wesley Sneijder, with the Norwegian striker considered to be the wrong fit for a team that now has Kylian Mbappe leading the line. Sneijder, who is a big fan of Haaland, has also picked out the obvious heirs to crowns that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have worn with such distinction for so long.
Lamine Yamal “wouldn’t suit” Manchester United, according to former Red Devils coach Rene Meulensteen, with Xavi Simons and Florian Wirtz being used as warnings to the Barcelona wonderkid if thoughts of a Premier League transfer cross his mind. The talented teenager has been told that Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City could be suitable landing spots.
Liverpool and Tottenham have set their sights on 21-year-old Wolfsburg centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis, who is rapidly emerging as one of the Bundesliga’s standout young defenders. With Liverpool planning for a future beyond Ibrahima Konate and Spurs seeking depth on the left side of defence, both clubs are preparing potential moves as interest across Europe continues to grow.
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that he “misses” the Premier League and hopes to return to club football after leading the United States Men's National Team at the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine is preparing to guide the USMNT through their home tournament, but confessed that the intensity and competition of England’s top flight remain unmatched, and he’s eager for another crack at it.
Romeo Lavia’s luckless spell at Chelsea took another cruel twist as the midfielder limped off just eight minutes into their 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag. Manager Enzo Maresca admitted he and the club “feel very ashamed” over the Belgian’s relentless injury troubles, which have restricted him to only 30 appearances since his £58 million move from Southampton in 2023.
Marc Guehi’s dreams of a move to Real Madrid look dead in the water after the Crystal Palace captain’s wage and signing-on demands reportedly forced Los Blancos to walk away. The England international, who is out of contract in 2026 and refusing to extend, is now expected to stay in England, with Liverpool leading the race for his signature next summer, while Bayern Munich remain interested.
Manchester City proved far too strong for Borussia Dortmund in a commanding 4-1 Champions League win at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland once again scoring against his former club. Phil Foden’s brace drove Pep Guardiola’s side to a dominant victory, forcing Dortmund coach Niko Kovac and key players to acknowledge they are "not yet at that level".
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing to hand Micky van de Ven a lucrative new contract following his stunning goal against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. The Dutch defender, already one of Spurs’ most influential players, has earned plaudits for his rapid rise since joining from Wolfsburg, and Spurs are keen to reward him with improved terms that reflect his status.
Within the last week, Amad Diallo has pulled off the rather impressive feat of being seen as one of Manchester United's greatest weapons and yet also one of their most obvious weak points. The Ivory Coast international's incredible volley at Nottingham Forest last Saturday grabbed his side a point, while he was a few inches away from snatching the winner in added time. Yet while he was rightly hailed as a difference-maker in United's attack, a lot of the post-match analysis focused on his defensive shortcomings.
Wayne Rooney’s son Kai is nearing a return to action after suffering a “life can’t get any worse” injury blow. The talented youngster, who continues to catch the eye in the Red Devils’ academy system, has been nursing a foot problem since September. His recovery is almost complete, with Rooney junior back in boots and stepping out onto the training field.
Crystal Palace have received a massive fine after being charged by the FA for an offensive banner aimed towards Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. Forest capitalised upon Palace's demotion to the UEFA Conference League due to breaches surrounding multi-club ownership. The Reds took the Eagles' place in the Europa League with Eagles fans blaming Marinakis for the demotion.
Arsenal and Crystal Palace have both made requests to the Premier League regarding fixture congestion after the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw caused a headache. The festive season is supposed to be the highlight of the English football calendar, with packed stadiums and Boxing Day drama. But this December, fixture scheduling has been a sticking point for the league authorities as teams complain of a lack of breathing space.
Manchester United are reportedly staring at a major financial headache ahead of next summer, with the club set to miss out on around £10 million ($13m) due to the scheduling of the 2026 World Cup in North America. The global showpiece event, kicking off on June 11, 2026, just 18 days after the Premier League season concludes, has thrown United's pre-season blueprint into disarray.
France legend Emmanuel Petit has suggested that Benfica boss Jose Mourinho should take up the challenge of trying to keep Wolves in the Premier League. The ex-Chelsea boss only joined the Portuguese team in September but Petit thinks an English top-flight return would be too good to refuse, particularly as he has not had the "best of starts" at Benfica.
Arsene Wenger has proclaimed that Florian Wirtz has "destroyed" Liverpool's title-winning midfield, with the Arsenal legend putting the blame on the £116 million ($154m) man for the Reds' struggles in this campaign. The former manager suggested that the club bent over backwards to accommodate his transfer demands and have paid the price for it ever since.
Manchester United star Bryan Mbeumo has revealed the inspiration behind his new goal celebration that pays tribute to legendary cartoon character Homer Simpson. In the immediate aftermath of his goals against Brighton last month, the Cameroon international teamed up with team-mate Amad Diallo for a special celebration. Now, the winger has explained why they are channelling the character from The Simpsons.
Manchester United have adopted a new transfer approach as they are now only looking for players who would "die for the badge". The club is determined to restore its former identity and bring back the glory days at Old Trafford, and have launched a bold new recruitment philosophy, one that rewards hunger, humility, and heart over hype.
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