اعترف آشلي كول، أسطورة نادي آرسنال وتشيلسي، أنه كان قاب قوسين أو أدنى من التوقيع لصالح ريال مدريد، موضحًا أن هناك سببًا واحدًا منع إتمام الصفقة.
كول كان قد تألق وبشدة مع آرسنال في مسيرته وحقق معهم لقب الدوري الإنجليزي في مناسبتين، وذلك قبل الرحيل إلى تشيلسي مقابل 7 ملايين يورو.
وتعثرت مفاوضات تجديد عقد كول مع آرسنال، ليوقع الظهير الأيسر مع تشيلسي ويصنع التاريخ مع البلوز.
لكن كول اعترف في تصريحات نقلها ”triballfootball.com”، أن ظروف زواجه حالت دون انتقاله إلى ريال مدريد، موضحًا أن برشلونة رغب في ضمه.
اقرأ أيضًا.. “أصبحنا متحدين”.. رد قاطع من نجم ريال مدريد على شائعات الخلاف مع ألونسو
وقال كول: “شعرت بقليل من عدم الراحة بشأن تجديد عقدي مع آرسنال، لذلك كان هذا هو ما يشغل عقلي وقلبي، كنت أقول لنفسي لقد سلبتموني الأشياء التي أحبها ولم يكن الأمر يستحق ذلك”.
وأضاف: ”مما قيل لي وسمعته كنت سأنتقل إلى ريال مدريد، كنت أجري محادثات مع وكلاء أعمال لأنه في تلك المرحلة كان بإمكاني التوقيع مسبقًا لفريق خارج إنجلترا، لذا كان الخيار هو ريال مدريد وربما برشلونة، لا أعرف مدى عمق هذا الخيار لكن التطورات الشخصية غيرت أولوياتي”.
واختتم كول: “تغيرت الأمور، تزوجت وفي النهاية لم أرد مغادرة البلاد، ثم بعد حوالي عام ونصف، أتذكر أنني جلست في مكتبي مع وكيل أعمالي، ونادى علي قائلاً لن تصدق من هذا، إنه تشيلسي، فقلت حسنًا”.
Tottenham hero Cristian Romero revealed international team-mate Lionel Messi as the influence behind his "beautiful" last-gasp overhead kick goal against Newcastle. Spurs' trip to St James’ Park ended in a breathless finale, with the Argentine defender scoring an acrobatic equaliser deep into stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 draw.
Newcastle dominate early but made to settle for a point
For much of the evening, Newcastle appeared set for a victory that would have accurately reflected the flow of the contest. Eddie Howe’s side were sharp from the opening whistle, pinning Spurs back and dictating the first half with confidence. Yet, despite their control, the breakthrough refused to come until midway through the second period. It was the introduction of captain Bruno Guimaraes that changed the tempo. Howe, searching for inspiration, turned to his midfield leader, and within minutes the Brazilian had stamped his authority. Anthony Gordon whipped a teasing cross into the box, a flick redirected the ball into Guimaraes’ path, and he dispatched a precise finish into the corner.
Up to that point, Tottenham had offered little more than occasional flashes of counter-attacking intent. But Thomas Frank, confronted by another worrying result, responded boldly with a triple substitution. Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Xavi Simons were thrown into the fray. The impact was immediate. Mohammed Kudus swung a dangerous ball into the penalty area just seven minutes after Newcastle’s opener, and Romero, who was already leading by example at the back, launched himself into a diving header that skimmed off his forehead and drew Spurs level.
The drama only escalated as the final minutes ticked down. A Newcastle corner sparked a VAR review when Rodrigo Bentancur tangled awkwardly with Dan Burn at the back post. After a lengthy check, a penalty was awarded, and Gordon made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario the wrong way in the 86th minute. However, Spurs were unwilling to throw in the towel. When a Tottenham corner was punched weakly by Aaron Ramsdale, the ball travelled only as far as Romero. He showed great athleticism to produce a bicycle kick, and although his connection wasn't as clean as he would have liked, the ball skipped through the crowded box and rolled into the net to break Newcastle hearts.
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Romero name drops Messi
After the match, Romero admitted the audacity of the attempt came from studying Messi up close during Argentina training sessions.
"I train every day with Leo Messi in the national team and I watch him,” he said to Sky Sports. ”It's a beautiful goal."
He also acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, saying the Tottenham team had been deeply aware of their recent shortcomings.
Romero said: "It's very important. In the last three or four games, the team knows it's not been good enough. Today, the mentality to play like this altogether it's a difficult time, but especially in this game, I love the mentality.”
Thomas Frank praises captain’s leadership at both ends
Spurs manager Thomas Frank was effusive in his praise, describing Romero’s performance as “exceptional” and highlighting not just his goals but also his discipline and composure in defence.
"The perfect bicycle kick, hit the shin, aiming for the bottom corner," he said. "I think let's start praising Cuti, I think he deserved that for all of the top performance, defending, on the ball, coolness, calmness, duels. And then getting up there and scoring two goals. I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little bit more praise, but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers."
Frank emphasised that the team’s resilience was what pleased him most.
"The performance showed fantastic mentality and character," he added to Sky Sports. "Every team needs that. It is fair to say it has been a tough week, fourth game in 10 days, third away game. St James' Park is always a difficult place to come. Last 60 minutes I am very happy with that performance overall. The ability to react to setbacks was great. We suffered the first 25 minutes. Sometimes you need to suffer, after that we were very brave, calm on the ball going forward. There's a lot to love about the performance."
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What comes next?
The draw leaves Tottenham 11th in the Premier League table with 19 points from their opening 14 matches. The wider concern is their long winless run, which now extends to five matches in all competitions. Yet the manner of the comeback, and the grit shown in the final 30 minutes, injected a sliver of optimism into an atmosphere that has grown increasingly restless. Frank’s side will aim to turn resilience into wins when they return home to host Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
India will walk into this fixture with a sense of relief and renewed confidence. Having already secured a place in the semi-finals, the pressure has shifted from qualification to maintaining momentum. After three games where things seemed to go awry, they finally hit top gear against New Zealand, led by a commanding performance from their batters.It’s not just that. The match will be played in Navi Mumbai – the venue for both India’s semi-final and the final – a ground India know well and one where they appear to have found their ideal template. After several games of tinkering with combinations, they seemed to get it right against New Zealand, reverting to five-bowler setup, leaving allrounder Amanjot Kaur out. The move to promote the returning Jemimah Rodrigues to No. 3 also paid off, and that could open the door for further experimentation against Bangladesh.India’s bowlers backed the batters up with precision. The seamers struck early, and the rest of the attack ensured New Zealand never recovered, forcing errors and maintaining pressure throughout.Related
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The middle order was not tested but with knockout games approaching, time in the middle for those players could be invaluable. India have batted first in five matches so far and chased only once – losing that game to England by four runs – so they may also be tempted to test themselves in a chase, should they win the toss, to round out their preparation.For Bangladesh, this is a chance to upset one of the tournament favourites and prove they belong on this stage. They’ve run stronger sides close in at least three games and have relied on their disciplined bowling attack, their biggest strength all tournament. There have been flashes of resistance with the bat, and if they can sustain those longer, they have a chance of stretching India.
Form guide
India WLLLW Bangladesh LLLLL
In the spotlight – Renuka Singh and Bangladesh’s legspinners
India will look once again to Renuka Singh for early breakthroughs. Against New Zealand, she delivered exactly that. Having missed the matches against Australia and South Africa, and gone wicketless in her two previous outings, Renuka rediscovered her rhythm in Navi Mumbai. Exploiting the early movement on offer, she teamed up with Kranti Gaud to keep New Zealand in check, not conceding a single boundary in the first six overs. Her efforts were rewarded with the wickets of Georgia Plimmer and Sophie Devine, both undone by sharp in-duckers. She finished with figures of 2 for 25 from her six overs – a spell that set the tone for India’s dominance.Rabeya Khan and Shorna Akter will be key to Bangladesh’s hopes•BCB
Can Bangladesh’s legspinning duo of Rabeya Khan and Shorna Akter trouble India’s batters? The pair injected energy and control into their attack against Sri Lanka, bowling tirelessly in the Navi Mumbai heat. Their discipline through the middle overs stifled scoring opportunities and built pressure. Rabeya provided the key breakthrough, removing the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu and halting Sri Lanka’s momentum, while Shorna struck twice, dismissing Hasini Perera and Nilakshika Silva, to help restrict the opposition to just 202.
Team news
Richa Ghosh copped a blow to her left hand while keeping against New Zealand and was off the field during much of their chase, with Uma Chetry taking the gloves. On the eve of the Bangladesh game, bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said Ghosh was “fine and the S&C team is taking care of it,” but India were “still discussing” her availability. India went back to their five-bowler strategy in the match against New Zealand, leaving allrounder Amanjot out, and they are likely to persist with that winning combination.India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Renuka Singh, 10 Kranti Gaud, 11 Shree Charani.Sharmin Akter walked off battling cramps during Bangladesh’s chase against Sri Lanka but came back to bat in the final over. There are no injury concerns in the side.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Fargana Hoque, 2 Rubya Haider, 3 Sharmin Akhter, 4 Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), 5 Sobhana Mostary, 6 Ritu Moni, 7 Shorna Akter, 8 Nahida Akter, 9 Rabeya Khan, 10 Nishita Akter, 11 Marufa Akter.
Pitch and conditions
The pitch remained covered on the eve of the game with rain in the air. There’s rain forecast for Sunday evening as well. The surface has generally aided batting, while fast bowlers have tended to get early movement.
Stats that matter
Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal have 1557 partnership runs between them across 20 innings in 2025, the second-most by any pair in ODIs in a calendar year. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are ahead, with 1635 runs in 29 innings in 1998.
Kranti Gaud has 22 wickets in 13 ODIs so far. These are the most by an India bowler in her debut year in Women’s ODIs and only three overall have taken more – Charmaine Mason (25 in 1997), Aimee Watkins (23 in 2002) and Lyn Fullston (23 in 1982).
Bangladesh’s bowlers have an economy rate of 4.54 in this World Cup, the same as England’s.
Jac Caglianone is getting the call to the big leagues and Patrick Mahomes is fired up.
The Kansas City Royals made the call on Sunday to bring up their top prospect for his first taste of major league action. Caglianone is a top 10 prospect in the big leagues and has been tearing up the minors this season. In 50 games over two levels in 2025, he's slashing .322/.389/.593 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs.
This weekend, Caglianone blasted a 442-foot home run for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.
The Royals selected Caglianone with the sixth pick in the 2024 MLB draft. During his time at the University of Florida, Caglianone broke the school record for home runs in a career and was a two-time All-American. He also pitched for the Gators, but has since moved away from the mound.
Caglianone can play first base and outfield, and it will be fascinating to see how Kansas City uses him and how his power translates to the big leagues.
One person who is incredibly fired up about the development is the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback. Mahomes became a Royals minority owner in 2020 and took to social media to celebrate the moment.
A lot of people in Kansas City probably feel the same way right now.
The Baltimore Orioles have fired manager Brandon Hyde, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan. The team confirmed the decision in a statement shortly after.
Hyde's firing in mid-May is a move that the franchise hopes can spark something in a team that has gotten off to a slow start in 2025. The Orioles are 15-28 entering Saturday, a full 10 and 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East.
The poor start to the season, which is increasing in sample size by the day, can be attributed to underwhelming performances across the board. The offense has been bad, the pitching has been bad, and the defense has been mediocre at best.
As a result, the 51-year-old Hyde, who was responsible for overseeing the rebuild of the franchise over the last six-plus seasons, has been shown the door. Baltimore won 101 games in 2023 and won 91 games last season. The Orioles were expected to once again contend in the AL East this season, but so far, has been one of the worst teams in the American League instead.
Hyde concludes his tenure with the Orioles with a 421-492 record and two postseason appearances in each of the last two seasons.
West Ham are closing in on a deal for one highly-rated Tottenham youngster after sporting director Mark Noble played a key role in the transfer, according to a new report.
West Ham take on Brighton after Man United draw
On the pitch, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side can take real encouragement from their 1-1 draw with Man United at Old Trafford.
West Ham demonstrated admirable resilience at Old Trafford, battling back from Diogo Dalot’s 58th minute opener to salvage a point through Soungoutou Magassa’s late equaliser.
The Malian midfielder opened his Premier League account with a composed finish seven minutes from time after substitute Andy Irving’s corner caused chaos in United’s penalty area, silencing the Theatre of Dreams.
While earning a point at United represents a creditable result, West Ham’s relegation concerns are still very much there.
The Hammers remain stranded in 18th with just 12 points from 14 games, with Nuno’s men having now conceded 28 goals this season, managing just three victories and failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 attempts across all competitions.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Man United 1-1 West Ham
Brighton now pose a tough test for them too.
Lucas Paqueta has returned following a one-match suspension for his red card against Liverpool, offering Nuno crucial midfield reinforcement. However, his Brazilian compatriot Igor Julio cannot feature against his parent club, while Crysencio Summerville remains doubtful with a persistent knock.
Lukasz Fabianski and Oliver Scarles are confirmed absentees.
Brighton present formidable opposition despite their own recent setback. Fabian Hurzeler’s side suffered a dramatic 4-3 home defeat against Aston Villa on Wednesday, surrendering a two-goal advantage as Unai Emery’s men scored four unanswered goals before Jan Paul van Hecke’s late consolation.
The Seagulls sit seventh, just two adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, and maintain an exceptional home scoring record with at least two goals netted in each of their last six Amex Stadium fixtures.
Veteran striker Danny Welbeck should return after missing the Villa defeat, having scored six Premier League goals against West Ham throughout his career.
Away from the field, West Ham are believed to be eyeing a new striker in January, with Noble now also bolstering the club’s youth ranks with a rival sensation.
West Ham 'set to sign' Tottenham sensation Frankie Day
That is according to very reliable club insider ExWHUemployee, who has told his Patreon that West Ham are now ‘set to sign’ Tottenham starlet Frankie Day.
The 16-year-old, who plays as a striker, is said to be ‘prolific’ in his age group and Noble has personally been very involved in making the transfer happen.
Day is now poised to swap Tottenham for West Ham, with the deal seen as a ‘bit of a coup’ factoring in his potential.
As West Ham wait for the formalities to be completed, it will be very interesting to see what the future holds for Day in east London.
The Irons have been more focused on youthful recruitment these past few seasons, as evident by their recent signings of Mohamadou Kante, Mateus Fernandes and Magassa.
Their academy sides have shown great promise as well, with West Ham’s Under-23s completing a league and cup double in 2023 whilst finishing that campaign with 26 wins out of a possible 30 in all competitions.
Day could be at the perfect place to further his development, and there’s no doubt Noble will have emphasised that in talks with the teenager.
With just one win picked up across their last five Premier League games, Manchester United now look short on confidence again heading into a bumper December.
Everything looked to be smooth again with three victories secured on the bounce in October, but the boos would ring out at the full-time whistle when the tired Red Devils could only muster up a 1-1 draw versus relegation-threatened West Ham United last time out.
It will be very interesting to see where United sit in the ever-changing league standings when the hustle and bustle of the Christmas period is over, with the up-and-down outfit still only three points off fourth position, despite their recent stumbles.
Whatever does play out, United will surely use the January transfer window to their advantage, as several standout signings are tipped to move to the Theatre of Dreams, despite their hot-and-cold nature.
Man Utd's number one January target
Amorim will just have to hope he is still in the United dug-out by the time January window rolls around, with ESPN reporter Rob Dawson stating that he needs “time and patience” amid shouts he should be given the axe.
Even with this uncertainty in the air, plenty of transfer rumours are circulating, with the likes of Adam Wharton alleged to be on the Premier League outfit’s radar, as they try and win themselves some fresh blood in the middle of the park.
Of course, there is also one incessant piece of gossip that Elliot Anderson could swap Nottingham Forest for the Red Devils, with a statement double deal now even in the works involving Anderson, according to Football Insider.
As per Mick Brown, via Football Insider, United are chasing after the signatures of both the England international and AFC Bournemouth ace Antoine Semenyo, with the duo named as top targets in a combined £170m deal.
£65m of that alone could be spent on securing Semenyo, as is the Cherries attacker’s previously mentioned release clause, with Amorim loving the idea, surely, of the Ghananian forward moving to Old Trafford, especially with Bryan Mbeumo off to the African Cup of Nations shortly.
Brown said: “Semenyo is the one they’ve been looking at. United need to spend in January to improve the squad, and he’s somebody they wanted to bring in during the summer before he signed that contract. If the opportunity comes up when the window opens, it would make a lot of sense because he would also be able to plug that hole left by Mbeumo.
“You’re looking at people like Semenyo and Elliot Anderson to come in, they’re the top targets for Amorim because both of them would be real improvements in key areas of the squad.”
While United are desperately searching for some fresh blood centrally, Semenyo might well go down as an even better signing than Anderson, particularly as Amorim is no doubt cursing his side’s ineffectiveness in front of goal as of late.
Why Semenyo could be a better signing than Anderson
Immediately after the poor 1-1 draw versus the Hammers, Sky Sports’ Roy Keane would heavily criticise the disappointing United attackers, stating that they’re not “nasty enough” or “clinical” enough to kill off a game.
With Mbeumo set to link up with Cameroon soon at the AFCON, Amorim’s options in attack could soon become even weaker, with the former Brentford striker way out ahead as United’s strongest attacker of the season so far, having powered home five Premier League goals.
In stark contrast, both Joshua Zirkzee and Matheus Cunha only have two league strikes between them this season, while Benjamin Sesko has just two goals, himself, when fit, with Semenyo’s arrival on the scene finally gifting United that deadly, rampaging attacker that Keane, and presumably Amorim, is crying out for.
Indeed, just in the Premier League alone this season, the blistering attacker has managed to conjure up a devastating nine-goal contributions, with Pep Guardiola even going out of his way to herald Semenyo as an “extraordinary” talent who can change games, which is what United are in dire need of, to avoid any more underwhelming draws.
Semenyo’s PL numbers by season
Season
Games
Goals + Assists
25/26
14
6 + 3
24/25
37
11 + 6
23/24
33
8 + 3
22/23
11
1 + 0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Of course, against West Ham, the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro weren’t at their best, but they are still some of the more consistent performers in the United ranks through the middle, with the ex-Real Madrid man managing to win a high 11 duels to keep up his United resurgence.
Moreover, with two goals and five assists next to his name this season, Fernandes will feel he’s done enough to be kept in the United starting XI for the foreseeable future, away from Amorim and Co splurging out £100m on Anderson.
Whereas, if the Red Devils were to splash out a more reasonable £65m on Semenyo, their attack could be taken to that next level, with Chris Waddle even hailing the vibrant number 24 as “the best winger in the country”, as he now sits on a mighty 26 goals and 12 assists from 95 Premier League outings.
Anderson’s arrival could well gift United a fantastic, well-rounded midfield presence for the long run, but in the immediate, with Amorim and Co fluffing their lines consistently up top, Semenyo feels like the more pressing purchase, especially if they’re left short during the AFCON.
INEOS have signed a "destroyer" who could be another Amad at Man Utd
Manchester United have another top-level talent who could replicate Amad at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are now accelerating their move to sign a Premier League star, who’s already been contacted about a move to Chelsea, according to reports.
Man Utd debt breaks $1bn after summer window
It’s not getting any easier for INEOS and Manchester United. After they splashed out over £150m in the summer transfer window, the club’s net debt has reportedly broken the $1bn barrier for the first time. This is despite INEOS taking several controversial cost-cutting measures and highlights just how important it is that United get back into the Champions League this season.
In the club’s first-quarter accounts, which were released on Thursday, their noncurrent borrowings were reported at £481 million ($644m). Add in the £105m from their revolving credit facility, however, and that takes their total borrowings to £268m and their total net debt has grown to £749m ($1.002bn).
Yet, the transfer rumours ahead of 2026 continue to arrive. Reports earlier this week even claimed that Man United have made contact in the race to sign Arda Guler from Real Madrid. The Turkish superstar is reportedly worth £88m, however, and would once again add to the club’s growing debt.
INEOS also continue to remain patient with Ruben Amorim, insisting that he’s the man to take the Red Devils back to Europe’s top table. It’s a delicate balance. United need reinforcements, Amorim needs to get the best out of his current squad, and debt must not reach new records.
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With that said, rather than a move for such expensive targets, United are reportedly looking to sign Sunderland star Noah Sadiki ahead of Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Man Utd accelerating move to sign Sadiki
According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Man United are now accelerating their move to sign Sadiki after the Sunderland star received contact from Chelsea back in October.
The central midfielder also received contact from United at the beginning of the season in an attempt to get ahead of the chasing pack. As of right now, though, those at Old Trafford find themselves head-to-head against Chelsea in the race to secure the 20-year-old, who joined Sunderland for around £15m in the summer.
It’s easy to see why Sadiki has attracted such interest so soon after arriving in the Premier League. He’s played a pivotal part in Sunderland’s incredible start to the season and it’s the type of rise that their sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman saw coming in the summer.
He told the club’s website after signing the midfielder: “Noah’s enjoyed a great level of experience at a relatively young age, and alongside his drive to improve, this makes him an exciting addition to our squad.
“During his time at USG, he’s played in domestic and European competitions regularly, and the Premier League is a natural next step in his promising career.”
Upgrade on Sesko: Man Utd pursuing "one of Europe's most in-form STs"
Liverpool have now reportedly joined the race to sign a rising star who could replace Ibrahima Konate, having already sent their scouts to watch the defender in action.
What next after Salah's explosive rant?
Just when they thought it couldn’t get any worse, Mohamed Salah found himself strolling through the mixed zone towards the first microphone available. And this was no friendly catch-up. The Egyptian unleashed a sensational rant, accusing Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” and claiming that there is no longer a relationship with manager Arne Slot.
So, where do Liverpool and Salah go next? The Egyptian has trained today and a decision is yet to be made as to whether he travels to face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, some teammates were expecting his rant and those higher up at Anfield knew it was only inevitable that the chances increased that he’d speak out with every passing week on the bench.
Slot maintains the backing of Anfield chiefs, however, who view his decision to drop Salah as a selection choice which was unlikely to be long-term.
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What’s more, as reported by the BBC’s Sami Mokbel, the relationship between Slot and Salah is genuinely broken at present and the Egyptian simply does not see a future at Liverpool whilst the Dutchman is in charge.
It’s the lowest moment of Liverpool’s season so far and one that they could certainly do without as the fixtures come thick and fast. Alas, business goes on for FSG, who have reportedly joined the race to solve another one of Slot’s glaring problems at Liverpool.
Liverpool join race to sign Jeremy Jacquet
According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Jeremy Jacquet, who has impressed their scouts at Stade Rennais.
The Reds have already made checks on the 20-year-old defender and could welcome his arrival to replace Konate in 2026. The Frenchman is in the worst form of his Liverpool career and has already played himself out of a potential move to Real Madrid. Now, with his contract still on course to expire in the summer, he could still leave as a free agent.
Dubbed “physically imposing” by Como scout Ben Mattinson back in May and as “an insane centre-back in the making” by Jacek Kulig, Jacquet has only come on leaps and bounds ever since. At 20 years old, he’s someone that should be on the radar of several top clubs.
For Liverpool, that physicality would be key. The Reds have been bullied far too often this season with Konate at the scene of the crime all too often.
Salah replacement: Liverpool keen to sign "one of the best wingers in Europe"
Bayern Munich are now in contact with the representatives of a Manchester United star, who has been told to leave the club by Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes.
Man Utd targeting midfield addition in 2026
The January transfer window is now less than a month away and Man United could once again be active on the hunt for reinforcements. In the summer, it was their frontline that took the focus as they welcomed Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha. Now, however, INEOS are looking to add to Ruben Amorim’s midfield.
It’s not a major surprise that the Red Devils are after a midfielder. Casemiro is an ageing option, Manuel Ugarte has proved to be an unreliable option and Mason Mount’s injury history speaks for itself. As such, a move for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton would make perfect sense.
According to The Mirror, the England international sits at the very top of United’s wishlist even though he wants the guarantee of Champions League football next season.
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For those at Old Trafford, it could be a case of one in one out if they sign Wharton but allow Kobbie Mainoo to leave in 2026. The Carrington graduate has been left aside by Amorim this season, despite the fact that the manager blocked his attempts to leave in the summer and told him to fight for his place.
The midfielder could now follow the path of Scott McTominay and others by thriving away from Old Trafford, especially if it is Bayern Munich who secure his signature.
Bayern Munich make contact with Mainoo
According to TeamTalk, Bayern Munich have now made contact with Mainoo over a 2026 move away from Man United. The German giants have joined the likes of Napoli in the race to sign the 20-year-old, who is increasingly desperate to leave his boyhood club when the chance arrives.
Mainoo isn’t the only one frustrated by his current situation, either. Man United legend took the Instagram after the midfielder was an unused substitute against West Ham United to say: “Bulls**t. The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it’s probably best for him now. Enough is enough.”
At his best, meanwhile, the academy graduate has earned high praise from teammate Bruno Fernandes, who described him as “great” after he first burst onto the scene while journalist Alex Turk has even described him as a “future £100m+ footballer.”
Praise from his captain isn’t enough for Amorim, however, who has not given Mainoo a fair chance since blocking his late loan move away from the club in the summer.
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