Premier League news

With the halfway stage of the season upon us, the time has come to shine a spotlight on the players who have made the biggest impact across Europe's major leagues. But first, let's run through the lay of the land.

Ronaldo took his first tentative steps down that path while on the books of Manchester United, having joined the Red Devils from Sporting in 2003. He won the Premier League title at Old Trafford, along with the first of five Champions League crowns and a handful of Ballons d’Or.

Cole Palmer has been advised not to look too far ahead at Chelsea, with Blues legend Frank Leboeuf telling GOAL that the England international has only enjoyed a “two-year career”. It has been suggested that the talented playmaker could one day attract interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, but he has been told to focus on maximising the potential of both himself and his trophy-hungry colleagues at Stamford Bridge.

West Ham fanatic Danny Dyer is being backed to support son-in-law Jarrod Bowen with whatever career choice he makes in upcoming transfer windows. Former Hammers forward Marlon Harewood has been discussing some big decisions with GOAL as Bowen mulls over options that could see him push for a move that would make certain members of his family unhappy.

Former Manchester United winger Nani is adamant the disciplinary issues which current head coach Ruben Amorim is having to combat at the club would never have occurred under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot was able to maintain order in the Red Devils dressing room by famously using the ‘hairdryer treatment’ when he felt a certain player had stepped out of line back in the day.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has pinpointed why the Blues are unlikely to win the Premier League title this season, as he also reflected on his "worst 48 hours" remarks following the win over Everton on December 13. After the victory over the Toffees, the Italian manager stated he just endured the "worst 48 hours" since he moved to Stamford Bridge in 2024.

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has been charged by the Football Association (FA) following his red card in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool. The Argentina international received his marching orders after picking up a second caution for kicking out at Reds defender Ibrahima Konate in a Premier League match that was full of contentious moments.

Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli explained how he helped fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus during his ACL recovery period. The Brazilian striker spent almost a year on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in January this year. After recovering from the injury, Jesus returned to action in the Champions League earlier this month against Club Brugge.

Florian Wirtz would be receiving far more criticism if he was producing his current Liverpool form for Bayern Munich, according to Germany legend Thomas Muller. The Vancouver Whitecaps forward has weighed in on the performances of the Reds midfielder, who turned down interest from two European giants in favour of a big-money move to Anfield in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a major transfer boost in their pursuit of €50m-rated Brazilian wonderkid Rayan as the teenager has broken ties with his agent ahead of the January transfer window. Rayan has emerged as one of South America’s most coveted prospects this season, and interest from Europe’s elite is now beginning to crystallise into concrete plans.

Manchester United target Carlos Baleba has outlined his ambition to become the "best midfielder in the world" as he looks to lead Cameroon to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Brighton and Hove Albion ace has named several stars who he is studying closely in his attempts to be regarded as one of the greatest players in his position.

Ruben Amorim has reiterated Manchester United must avoid repeating past "mistakes" in the upcoming January transfer window by only signing players who they "know" want to play for the club. The Portuguese manager previously confirmed the Red Devils are prepared to enter the winter market if the "perfect" additions for the long term become available.

Chelsea have received a huge boost ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Aston Villa after manager Enzo Maresca confirmed Estevao and Liam Delap are both available for Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are looking to stretch their three-match unbeaten streak when they lock horns with Unai Emery’s visitors, who have won their last 10 fixtures in all competitions.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has issued fitness updates on midfield pair Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo ahead of their Boxing Day welcome of Newcastle. United kick off festivities on Friday night as they look to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon and get their top-four push back on track having claimed one from point from their last two games.

Once the undisputed No. 1 at Manchester United, Andre Onana now describes his life in Turkey as "perfect", a striking contrast to the turbulence that defined his final months at Old Trafford. He found himself surplus to requirements early in the campaign, first dropped in favour of the inconsistent Altay Bayındır before United moved again to recruit Senne Lammens. For a player regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world as recently as 2023, the writing was on the wall that a reset was no longer optional, but essential.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed the reason he wouldn't swap Cole Palmer for Morgan Rogers ahead of Aston Villa's Boxing Day clash at Stamford Bridge. Unai Emery's side make the trip to the capital in a bid to extend their winning run to eight matches following their 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Villa Park last weekend, a result that keeps the Villans in the title race.

The reasoning behind Manchester United's doomed pursuit of Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has been revealed. Semenyo is a man in demand ahead of the January transfer window with a number of Premier League heavyweights courting the Cherries forward. United were among those keen on the Ghana star, who has scored eight league goals and provided three assists so far this season.