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Glasgow Rangers will be looking to get back to winning ways this evening when they travel away from Ibrox to take on Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

The Light Blues dropped points for the first time under Danny Rohl in the league last weekend with a 0-0 draw against Falkirk, and there will be changes to the starting XI for tonight’s match.

Oliver Antman, as confirmed by the manager in the post above, will be unavailable to retain his place on the wing after suffering a muscle injury in recent days.

As well as the Finland international’s forced absence, Rohl should take attacking midfielder Thelo Aasgaard out of the team after his disappointing display against Falkirk.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Thelo Aasgaard

The Norway international was selected to play in the number ten position for the Light Blues at Ibrox on Sunday, but failed to deliver a quality performance for the side.

Aasgaard had no shots on target, missed one ‘big chance’, made one key pass, and failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 68 minutes on the pitch against Falkirk, per Sofascore.

That set of statistics paints a very clear picture. He was ineffective at the top end of the pitch for Rohl, in what was a drab goalless draw, and that has been the theme of his season.

Per Sofascore, the Liverpool-born midfielder has produced one goal and one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, playing 1179 minutes in that time.

His lack of impact on the pitch in the league and across all competitions is why Rohl should drop him from the side tonight to finally unleash the rarely-seen attacking midfielder Lyall Cameron against Dundee United.

Why Lyall Cameron should finally be unleashed

The summer signing from Dundee has only played 18 minutes under the German boss, per Sofascore, and has only played 361 minutes across eight appearances all season.

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He was an unused substitute in the goalless draw with Falkirk at Ibrox, as Rohl opted not to call on him, but he should now be given a chance to show what he can do in Aasgaard’s place as the number ten.

In his pre-match press conference, the Rangers manager said that Cameron has been “patient” and that the youngster needs to be ready to “seize” his chances when it comes, which will hopefully be this evening.

The Light Blues signed the 23-year-old star off the back of his impressive form for Dundee in the Scottish Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign, and that form suggests that he could come in as an even better option than Aasgaard.

Cameron racked up nine goals and five assists in 32 starts for his former club last season, per Sofascore, which shows that he does have the potential to deliver quality on a regular basis at Premiership level.

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish ace was one of the top-performing attacking midfielders in the division, with his ability to both score goals and create chances at an impressive rate.

Yet, Cameron has only played 191 minutes across five appearances in the Premiership for Russell Martin, Stevie Smith, and Rohl combined, per Sofascore, which shows that he has not had much of an opportunity to showcase the best version of himself.

Aasgaard, meanwhile, has been given over 1,000 minutes of game time without being able to deliver goals or assists on a consistent basis for the Light Blues in recent months, with as many goals (one) as red cards (one).

Therefore, Cameron should finally be unleashed this evening to see if he can offer more than the Norwegian flop by producing the kind of performances that he showed for Dundee throughout the 2024/25 season.

Danny Rohl sends 13-word warning to his Rangers players ahead of the transfer window

The manager has has sent a pretty clear message to his players…

By
Ben Goodwin

Dec 1, 2025

If Rohl does bring him into the starting XI tonight, the onus will be on the 23-year-old summer signing to make an instant impact to show the manager that he deserves more minutes moving forward this term.

The start of this season couldn’t have gone much better for Tottenham Hotspur, with convincing wins over Burnley and Manchester City.

However, in the months since, things have really gone off the rails for Thomas Frank and his side.

They currently sit 16th in the Champions League and, following their dismal defeat at the hands of Fulham on Saturday night, 11th in the Premier League.

Frank looked bereft of ideas against the West Londoners, and his team appeared all at sea, including one player who could be in danger of becoming their new Serge Aurier.

Spurs' worst players against Fulham

Aside from maybe Micky Van de Ven for his goalsaving tackle and Randal Kolo Muani for his general play, there were dismal displays across the entire Spurs starting lineup.

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The player who has received the most stick during and after the game is undoubtedly Guglielmo Vicario.

The Italian goalkeeper was the main culprit for the visitors’ second goal, with him rushing out to intercept a long ball, kicking it into danger and then being way out of the penalty area when Harry Wilson curled the ball into the net.

Such a costly blunder, and the fact that the team were 2-0 down in just the sixth minute, led to sections of the home support booing the former Emploi man at every touch.

While not responsible for conceding a goal, Richarlison was another Lilywhites ace who was practically useless on the night.

In his 60 minutes of action, he offered no threat at all, producing an expected goals figure of 0.00 and completing just six of his nine passes.

Moreover, while he took 21 touches, he ended up losing possession nine times, which helps to justify the 3/10 match rating he received from the Standard’s Matt Verri.

It was also a poor showing for Kevin Danso, who was second best to Raul Jimenez throughout the game, and it was his headed clearance that led to the opening goal.

Unfortunately for Frank and the fans, another starter put in a horror display against the Cottagers and could end up becoming the Spurs’ next Aurier if he’s not careful.

Spurs' new Serge Aurier

It was clear that Aurier was a talented player during his stint with Spurs, but what was also clear was that he was error-prone and became something of a scapegoat.

After all, he got sent off on his Premier League debut, and it was his foul that led to Manchester City’s winning free-kick in the 2021 League Cup final.

After that mistake, Jamie Carragher described him as “one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football.”

The Ivorian left the club that summer, and unfortunately, it feels like Pedro Porro could be becoming the new version of him.

Now, to be clear, the Spanish full-back, originally signed on loan by Antonio Conte, is a hugely talented footballer and someone who is capable of delivering a brilliant cross at times.

However, he has become a growing concern for North Londoners over the last season or so, both offensively and defensively, with the game against Fulham a perfect example.

In his 94 minutes on the pitch, he lost 100% of his aerial duels, lost five of eight ground duels, was dribbled past three times, was accurate in just three of 16 crosses, failed in 100% of his dribbles and completed only 62% of his long balls.

Minutes

94′

Ground Duels (Won)

8 (3)

Aerial Duels (Won)

3 (0)

Dribbled Past

3

Crosses (Accurate)

16 (3)

Dribbles (Successful)

2 (0)

Long Balls

8/13

In short, it was a poor attacking display and a truly horrendous defensive one, which more than justifies Verri’s match rating of 4/10 and description of him looking a ‘nervous wreck at the back.’

As if that wasn’t enough, he then proceeded to throw his shirt to the floor and storm off the pitch when the full-time whistle went, in what journalist Mitch Fretton described as “absolute embarrassment.”

It’s this combination of yet another poor performance and the petulance afterward that makes it hard not to think of the former Ivorian international.

Ultimately, Porro is still a talented player and could turn things around, but it’s been some time since fans have seen him at his best, and that display against Fulham was more than worrying.

New Soldado: Frank must bin Spurs flop who had fewer touches than Vicario

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank must drop this flop who is becoming the new Roberto Soldado.

ByDan Emery Nov 30, 2025

An EFL expert has been left “pretty surprised” at a Southampton manager claim he has heard from St Mary’s.

Southampton manager latest on Tonda Eckert

After parting ways with Will Still at the beginning of November, Sport Republic have been on the hunt for a new permanent Saints boss.

However, no manager has arrived in the two weeks since Still’s sacking, with interim boss Tonda Eckert recording successive Championship wins over QPR and Sheffield Wednesday.

Eckert has already come in for praise from Southampton star Finn Azaz, and as time has gone on, there has been more speculation over the 32-year-old landing the job on a full-time basis.

There have been claims that Eckert is set to be given the Southampton job permanently, whereas reports elsewhere have claimed he will get the next three Championship fixtures to increase his chances of landing the role.

Southampton’s next 3 Championship fixtures

Date

Charlton Athletic vs Southampton

22nd November

Southampton vs Leicester City

25th November

Millwall vs Southampton

29th November

Meanwhile, Southampton fan pundit Ray Hunt stated that supporters “want to see an experienced manager” come in.

“Sport Republic have appointed five permanent mangers in their three full seasons in charge. During that period, they have overseen two relegations from the Premier League, and one promotion with their only success, Russell Martin, but failed to give him the tools needed to succeed in the top flight.

“Moving forward, fans will want to see an experienced manager, who’s widely respected with a clear structure. We cannot repeat mistakes from the past. It is a huge task they simply have to get right. Take your time, give Tonda time in that interim, but ultimately make the right decision. The fans won’t tolerate another failure.”

Sport Republic appointing Eckert on a full-time basis would get pundits and fans talking, and it has already done just that.

Expert reacts to Southampton claim on appointing Eckert

Reacting to reports of Southampton looking set to give Eckert the permanent job, EFL expert George Elek admitted to the Not The Top 20 Podcast that he would be “pretty surprised” if that materialises.

Eckert, who plays a 3-4-2-1 system, is on course to be in the dugout at The Valley unless something drastic happens, and he’s already surpassed Still in winning back-to-back second tier games.

Their own Clement: Southampton could hire "world-class" Eckert replacement

A dominant 4-0 win for Stuttgart in the Europa League was overshadowed by controversy after Go Ahead Eagles forward Victor Edvardsen mocked Angelo Stiller with an offensive gesture, sparking backlash and a brief on-field scuffle. While Wesley Sneijder condemned the act as “absolutely unacceptable,” Stuttgart downplayed the incident and strengthened their push for a top-eight finish.

• Edvardsen mocks Stiller in Stuttgart's win over Eagles

  What should have been a routine European fixture turned volatile in the 73rd minute when Go Ahead Eagles substitute Edvardsen fouled Atakan Karazor before provoking Stiller with a mocking gesture, repeatedly pointing at his nose. The moment ignited chaos. Stuttgart players immediately confronted the Swede, a scuffle broke out, and referee Mohammed Al-Hakim struggled to restore order amid shoving, shouting and rising tempers.

  Stiller himself was visibly furious, arguing with Edvardsen and the referee before both players were cautioned. The tension briefly halted the flow of the game, but its emotional weight lingered. Former Dutch star Sneijder, working as an pundit for , condemned the act sharply: “I find it sad. Such things are absolutely unacceptable.” His words echoed the dominant sentiment across social media, where the clip spread rapidly.

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• AFP
  

  Stuttgart refuses to escalate matters amid Stiller incident

  Despite the incident’s intensity, Stuttgart chose restraint as their official stance. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth, speaking after the match, declined to fuel the controversy further.

  "I saw it, but from a distance it was still difficult for me to assess. It's about Europa League points for Deventer just as it is for us," he said. "So if emotions are running high and then quickly subside, and the referee takes the right measures, then it's not all that big of a deal. Therefore, everything's fine."

  Stuttgart’s intention was to move past the flashpoint quickly, focusing instead on their strong European campaign. Stiller, substituted in the 80th minute, received visible support from teammates, and the squad regained composure almost instantly.

  After five matches in the Europa League, the Bundesliga club stand 12th in the table with three wins and two defeats. However, the differences in points aren't much with top spot holder Lyon on 12 points while Stuttgart are on nine.

• Stuttgart demolish Go Ahead Eagles in important Europa clash

  The team delivered one of their most complete European performances of the season, dismantling the Go Ahead Eagles 4-0 at De Adelaarshorst. Jamie Leweling opened the scoring in the 20th minute after pouncing on a defensive error, then doubled the lead at the 35-minute mark with a composed finish. Bilal El Khannouss extended the advantage in the 59th minute, and Badredine Bouanani sealed the result deep into stoppage time.

  The win moved Stuttgart to nine points pushing them back into contention for a Europa League top-eight finish. Their broader season only strengthens the optimism: Stuttgart sit fifth in the Bundesliga with seven wins from 11 matches.

  The team also continue to rely heavily on Stiller, whose evolution into one of Europe’s most sought-after midfielders is becoming impossible to ignore. Even amid transfer speculation, Wohlgemuth maintains composure.

  “He has a contract with us. It’s far too early to speculate about that… Of course, one or two clubs will have had their eye on him. He's having an outstanding season. Maybe he'll even play in a World Cup, we'll see. We're happy he's with us."

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• AFP
  

  What comes next for Stuttgart?

  Stuttgart's form across competitions suggests a squad capable not only of competing but also of evolving into a consistent presence in major continental fixtures with clash against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on December 6.

  For Stiller, his storyline remains one of the season’s most intriguing subplots. Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, and Premier League clubs continue to monitor him closely. Yet Stuttgart insist they will handle the growing interest without distraction. Internally, they acknowledge the attention is natural given the midfielder’s exceptional season, but outwardly they maintain a steady, controlled approach.

While it’s not been smooth sailing this season, Chelsea are looking good at the moment.

Enzo Maresca’s side are third in the Premier League and, despite dealing with numerous injuries, are just six points behind first-place Arsenal.

Moreover, while some of the summer signings are still taking their time to bed in, the more established players have stepped up, with Moises Caicedo once again showing why he’s one of the best in the world.

So, fans should be delighted with reports linking them to another midfield monster who could be another Caicedo-type signing.

Chelsea target another Moises Caicedo

It’s no secret that Chelsea like to spend when it comes to transfers, and they’ve already been linked with a plethora of exciting talents ahead of the winter window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, stories touting Real Madrid’s Rodrygo for a move to Stamford Bridge have resurfaced recently.

Another player from Spain who is reportedly a target for the Blues is former Manchester City star Julian Alvarez, who has been exceptional for Atlético Madrid, but as a result, could cost an arm and a leg.

However, while both La Liga stars would improve Marsca’s side, neither one can be described as a Caicedo-type signing, unlike Adam Wharton.

Yes, according to recent reports from Spain, Chelsea have maintained their strong interest in the Crystal Palace star ahead of the winter window.

In fact, the report goes further, claiming that the West Londoners are now leading the race for his signature, a signature that could cost them as much as £100m per other reports from the summer.

It would be a lot to spend on someone so young, but Wharton’s ability alone means it would be worth it, especially as he would be a Cacideo-type signing.

Why Wharton would be another Caicedo

Now, while there are obviously differences between them, there are a few reasons why Wharton could be another Caicedo-esque signing for Chelsea, either in January or the summer.

The first is that, like with the Ecuadorian, it would be another example of the Blues going in and putting a big offer on the table for one of the best midfielders in the Premier League who isn’t at a ‘big six’ side.

That might sound hyperbolic, but since moving to Selhurst Park, the Englishman has been sensational, and his underlying numbers prove as much.

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.30

Top 1%

GCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.13

Top 2%

Key Passes

2.07

Top 4%

Through Balls

0.58

Top 5%

xA: Expected Assists

0.22

Top 6%

Inswinging Corner Kicks

1.29

Top 7%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.97

Top 7%

npxG + xAG

0.32

Top 10%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.75

Top 10%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.26

Top 13%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

2.52

Top 14%

SCA (Take-On)

0.13

Top 17%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.39

Top 17%

Crosses

2.78

Top 18%

For example, FBref rank the “generational” ace, as dubbed by Matthew Stanger, in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for expected assisted goals, the top 4% for key passes, the top 5% for through balls, the top10% for shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Moreover, he’s putting up numbers like that at just 21 years old in a team that’ll likely finish mid-table come May.

Therefore, were he to join Maresca’s side, then he could develop in a similar way to Caicedo and go from an exceptional talent to one of the very best players in the entire league.

Finally, just like Pensioner’s number 25, the former Blackburn Rovers gem is someone who can do the dirty work in defence, but is just as capable of running things in the middle of the park, whether through silky passes or ball-carrying.

Ultimately, it would not be cheap, but Chelsea should do what they can to sign Wharton as soon as possible, as he could be another Caicedo for them.

Forget Delap: Cobham star who "lives & breathes goals" is Chelsea's future #9

The incredible Cobham gem could be a star for Chelsea but a problem for Delap.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 13, 2025

New Zealand, who are playing a Test for the first time this year, are without Latham, Williamson, Phillips and Jamieson

Hemant Brar29-Jul-2025

Big picture: Zimbabwe eye first win against NZ

Welcome back to Test cricket, New Zealand. The last time they played a Test was in December 2024, against England in Hamilton. Given that this two-match series against Zimbabwe doesn’t count towards the World Test Championship, they can take their time to reacquaint themselves with the flow and rhythm of red-ball cricket.On the other hand, Zimbabwe have played seven Tests this year, the joint-most with Australia. But with six losses and just one win, they have the worst record for any team. Moreover, they are yet to beat New Zealand in Test cricket. Of the 17 Tests against New Zealand, they have lost 11 and drawn six.Having said that, this is a slightly weakened New Zealand side. They are without captain Tom Latham, former captain Kane Williamson and allrounders Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson. Williamson is unavailable for the series, having signed a deal with Middlesex, which includes playing for London Spirit in the Hundred; Jamieson is at home, awaiting the birth of his first child; Latham is yet to recover from a shoulder injury he picked up during the Vitality Blast; and Phillips is sidelined with a groin injury he picked up during the MLC.Related

• From net bowler to 'X factor' – Fisher on cusp of potential debut

• Bracewell replaces Phillips for the first Test

• Latham out of first Test, Santner to lead

In Latham’s absence, Mitchell Santner will lead the side. He has plenty of experience captaining New Zealand in ODIs and T20Is, but this will be a first for him in first-class cricket, let alone Test cricket.Recently, an understrength South Africa proved to be too good for Zimbabwe. But for this series, they are bolstered by the returns of allrounder Sikandar Raza and opener Ben Curran. Raza lends the much-needed balance and experience, and Curran should add the solidity at the top. Brendan Taylor’s ban has also ended but he has not been named in the squad yet.

Form guide

Zimbabwe LLLLW (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand WLLWW

In the spotlight: Williams and Henry

Sean Williams has been easily the best Zimbabwe batter this year. In seven Tests, he has scored 577 at an average of 52.45 and a strike rate of 76.83. Only Shubman Gill (755) and Rishabh Pant (580) have scored more Test runs than him in 2025. One thing he would like to improve, though, is his conversion rate. Of his five 50-plus scores this year, he converted only one into a hundred.Sean Williams averages 52.45 in Tests this year•Zimbabwe Cricket

Matt Henry’s overall Test record – 120 wickets at an average of 29.84 – does not scream elite. But scratch beneath that and you realise why Henry is rated so highly. When he opens the bowling, his record becomes 105 wickets at 24.11. Last year, he picked up 48 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 18.58 and a strike rate of 33.97. Among the top ten wicket-takers of 2024, only Jasprit Bumrah had a better average (14.92) and a strike rate (30.1). Don’t be surprised if Henry continues from where he left off.

Team news: Fisher might debut

Blessing Muzarabani is the only fast bowler in the Zimbabwe squad to have played at least ten Tests. He will be supported by Tanaka Chivanga, with Newman Nyamhuri likely to be the third seamer.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Ben Curran, 3 Nick Welch, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Craig Ervine (captain), 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Newman Nyamhuri, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Tanaka ChivangaWith Latham and Phillips out injured, Henry Nicholls and Michael Bracewell are expected to play. Matt Fisher, who can hit 140kph, could make his debut.New Zealand (probable): 1 Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Will O’Rourke, 11 Matt Fisher

Pitch and conditions

In the five Tests Bulawayo has hosted since December 2024, there have been three totals in excess of 580, including South Africa’s 625 for 6 declared that featured Wiaan Mulder’s unbeaten 367. Fast bowlers have done much better in those games, averaging 29.63 and striking every 50.5 balls, as compared to spinners, who average 38.62 with a strike rate of 62.9. The forecast is for cool and dry weather.

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand have won each of their last six Tests against Zimbabwe, four of them by an innings and another by 254 runs.
• Santner will become New Zealand’s 32nd Test captain.
• Three of Williams’ six Test hundreds have come at the Queens Sports Club.
• Williams is 125 away from 2000 Test runs, and Craig Ervine 159.
• Nicholls needs 27 runs to reach the 3000 mark in Test cricket.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly prepared to rival close friend Xabi Alonso as the Gunners eyes a move for Real Madrid target Rodrigo Mendoza. The Elche wonderkid, who has a €20 million release clause, has attracted widespread interest from across Europe following his eye-catching performances in La Liga. Premier League giants Manchester City are also keen on signing the youngster.

Mendoza impressing in La Liga

Mendoza graduated from Elche's youth system and made his professional debut for the club in 2022. Last season, the midfielder featured in 21 league matches as Elche finished second in the Segunda Division and earned promotion to La Liga.

In the current campaign, Mendoza has appeared in nine La Liga matches, scoring once. His impressive performances in the centre of the park for Elche have caught the eyes of several top European clubs. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAlonso ready to rival close friend Alonso

According to , Arsenal are closely monitoring the progress of Mendoza at Elche and are prepared to join the race to sign the 20-year-old. The Gunners' recruitment specialists have kept a close eye on the Spanish youth international, who could consider triggering his €20m (£17.5m) release clause.

The Gunners, however, will face intense competition from Premier League rivals Manchester City, while La Liga giants Real Madrid have also shown strong interest in signing the Spaniard, who has often been compared to Barcelona and Spain playmaker Pedri.

Arteta is a childhood friend of Madrid boss Alonso and the two Spaniards have a very similar outlook towards football. The duo also battled it out for Martin Zubimendi in the summer, and he ultimately chose Arsenal over Madrid. Arteta also signed Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen after talking to Alonso, who lured Granit Xhaka to Bay Arena from Arsenal in 2023. 

Now, it seems the two friends will once again compete in the transfer market to secure a move for Mendoza.

When can Mendoza leave Elche?

Elche recognised Mendoza's talent last summer when they reportedly rejected a few offers from the Saudi Pro League for his services. In August, the Spanish club moved to secure his long-term future by offering him an improved contract, extending his stay until 2028. This new deal included the €20m release clause, which, while substantial, is considered "negotiable" and "certainly affordable" for top European clubs. 

Despite Elche's efforts to tie him down, the report added that Mendoza is destined to leave the club next summer. He could also consider moving in January if any club triggers his release clause.

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Getty Images SportKane on Arsenal's mind ahead of key UCL fixture

For now, the Premier League leaders are focused on the current season and will be up against Harry Kane's Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. Ahead of facing one of Europe's best strikers, Gunners defender Jurrien Timber revealed Arteta's plan to stop the England captain as he said: "That is not going to be easy, of course. I think he is an amazing striker, everyone knows that. He has so many qualities. He has been doing it for such a long time already, and now at Bayern Munich he has been one of the best players in the world. So, it is going to be a nice challenge for us as a team, as defenders, to stop him tomorrow. I think when you face an opposition with Harry Kane as the striker, he is a topic and you discuss him as defenders, because he is one of the dangerous players. It is the same with any other game, we discuss their players and the way they play. For tomorrow, it is the same."

When Eddie Howe reflected on Newcastle United’s form at the start of the November international break, he would have felt the weight of back-to-back Premier League defeats against Brentford and West Ham United.

He also would have known the significance of a big performance against Manchester City at St. James’ Park when club football returned, and so it was momentous to have battled to victory against Manchester City on Saturday evening, recovering ground in the race for European football.

The season’s still young, and there is optimism regarding the Magpies’ hopes of finding success once again this year, but Howe and technical director Ross Wilson will already be looking toward the future, and they have earmarked Elliot Anderson as the perfect player to take this project to the next level.

The latest on Anderson to Newcastle

As far as Newcastle are concerned, the Anderson situation is twofold: they will absolutely be in the thick of any upcoming battles to bring their academy graduate back home, and they will surely need to make concessions of some description, given the Tricky Trees are set to demand in excess of £100m for their prized player, who is also being chased by Manchester United

Anderson, 23, was sold to Forest in 2024 for a fee in the region of £35m. This was signed off by PIF officials bearing gritted teeth, having felt forced into cashing in for the homegrown talent in order to balance the books and placate PSR.

Ruefulness has since shifted to regret. Anderson has been described as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has designated the star as a regular starter alongside Declan Rice as the 2026 World Cup looms large.

While Newcastle’s vested interest could lead to an exciting and concerted bid – Howe said at the start of October that he “would love him to” come back home – but it’s not as if the Toon engine room is lacking without him.

That said, Joelinton appears to be winding down after years of tireless and robust service. Anderson would surely dovetail into a trio with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

If Newcastle have to shuffle a few things, so be it, and there’s one rather brazen sale PIF could permit to ensure the club have the finances to pull a bid off next year.

The Newcastle superstar PIF could sell

It may well be a controversial move, but Newcastle have floated the possibility of selling Anthony Gordon about for some time, with Liverpool interest in their one-time academy talent in 2024, before United opted instead to cash in on Anderson.

Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for around £45m in January 2023 and, after a testing start to life on Tyneside, made significant progress across the 2023/24 campaign, winning the club’s Player of the Year after recording 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and serving as a talisman as Howe’s side battled through an injury-hit year.

But last season, as Newcastle went from strength to strength, returning to the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup, Gordon regressed, only scoring six Premier League goals all year.

Though his playing style has put him in a promising position to beat the likes of Marcus Rashford to a regular starting berth at next year’s World Cup, more is needed from a player of his calibre, whose once untouchable place on Howe’s left wing is looking far more apt for replacement at this stage, especially with injuries and suspensions contributing toward his poor form this year.

Then, of course, we have Harvey Barnes, whose brace against City underscored his worth in this system. That’s three goals in two Premier League matches for the former Leicester winger, whose incisiveness from the wing works well against Nick Woltemade’s unique striking game, willing to drop deep and influence play while also playing the part of a powerful target man.

Gordon’s blistering speed and ability to stick to the flank or weave inside to wreak chaos are two brilliant aspects of his game, but he needs to offer more, and his inability to do this could see Howe sell him to fund a move for Anderson, perhaps making a shrewd winger signing to complement Barnes besides.

Because frankly, Gordon’s form in front of goal hasn’t been good enough for a while. The Three Lions star was said to have entered “Gabriel Obertan territory” after the loss at West Ham, which, for one of the most prominent wingers in England, self-proclaimed as a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, is not good enough.

25/26

7

0 (0)

24/25

34

6 (6)

23/24

35

11 (10)

22/23

16

1 (0)

Should Gordon fail to establish prolific form before the end of the season, there will be more than just a few questions placed by his name. Given that Liverpool have expressed an interest over the past couple of years, not dissuaded by Newcastle’s £100m valuation, could there be regret that he was not sold sooner?

Barnes, after all, is beginning to find goalscoring form, and Gordon has failed with 60% of his dribbles in the top flight this term, also missing big chances while failing to break his duck.

Gordon at full speed and potency in the final third and up and down the touchline is a dangerous adversary for even the finest of defenders. But his declaration of a nightmarish playing style can only go so far if he is unable to produce clinical results at the end.

We need only look at the Alexander Isak saga and the potential that Woltemade offers in the box to understand that selling Gordon for the right price would not be detrimental for Howe’s longer-term plans.

And if those funds are used to bring Anderson back home, thus completing what may well become the best central midfield in the whole country, then it would surely be a worthwhile move.

Newcastle have already got a bigger talent than Barnes who's "like Mbappe"

Newcastle United have a bigger talent than Harvey Barnes in an 18-year-old who is similar to Kylian Mbappe.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 24, 2025

Chelsea are probing the market for potential reinforcements and may find themselves in luck as they plot to reinforce their full-back options.

Admittedly, Enzo Maresca and his men are still finding their feet in the Premier League this term, and it remains to be seen whether they can sustain their recent form. Still, being third in the top-flight while fans await the conclusion of the international break is not to be sniffed at.

Integrating young stars and mixing them with a blend of experienced players who have been over the course seems to be working at Stamford Bridge. Either way, they look to have already secured the next talent to join their conveyor belt of future first-team prospects.

Fabrizio Romano has provided an intriguing update despite the transfer window being closed, claiming that the Londoners have reached an agreement to sign Deinner Ordóñez from Independiente del Valle on a deal that will start in January 2028.

Maintaining an excellent relationship with Moises Caicedo’s former club, Chelsea’s method of locking down future stars on long-term contracts is something that is beginning to translate into consistency on the pitch, and there will be plenty more to come once the January window opens.

Making their presence known, the Club World Cup holders could hijack Lyon’s move for Real Madrid forward Endrick, and a loan deal with an option to buy could be an ideal solution for all parties.

Building for the challenges that lie ahead will be at the forefront of Maresca’s mind in the capital, and he may have stumbled across a transfer bargain that is simply too good to pass up.

Chelsea look to potential cut-price Daniel Munoz deal

According to Mark Brus in his Daily Briefing via CaughtOffside, Chelsea have made contact with the intermediaries of Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz and could look to size up a cut-price deal worth in the region of £26.4 million.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping close attention to his situation in South London after an excellent run of form that has seen him produce two goals and two assists in 19 matches this season.

Five similar players to Daniel Munoz (FBRef)

Josha Vagnoman

Stuttgart

Denzel Dumfries

Inter Milan

Robin Gosens

Fiorentina

Mitchell Weiser

Werder Bremen

Nico O’Reilly

Manchester City

Awareness of Reece James’s injury record has prompted Stamford Bridge chiefs to consider a bid for Munoz, who has been labelled an “animal” by Michel Ribeiro, something that may come as soon as January as they look to build momentum ahead of a possible challenge for the Premier League title.

The Colombia international is currently Palace’s second-best performer in the top flight behind Marc Guehi, who’s also been linked with a return to Chelsea in 2026, with the Blues potentially on for a Selhurst Park raid next year.

Undoubtedly, the Blues’ rivals will use the mid-season window to tool up ahead of an exciting climax to the season, and Chelsea look to be following the same trend and may strike if circumstances align.

Chelsea are also pushing to sign a Real Madrid attacking force

Bryan Mbeumo arrived at Manchester United with huge expectations from the fanbase, after the hierarchy forked out a whopping £71m, including add-ons for his signature.

The Cameroonian has already matched those expectations in the Premier League, as seen by his tally of five goals within his first nine encounters at Old Trafford.

His latest showing against Brighton and Hove Albion was arguably his best for the Red Devils, scoring twice and leading Ruben Amorim’s men to a third successive league victory.

The 26-year-old also created two chances and completed four dribbles – with both tallies the highest of any player on the pitch from both of the starting elevens.

There’s little debate that he’s taken the responsibility of being the club’s biggest offensive threat, surpassing the levels previously set by one other first-team member.

The change of Bruno’s role & lack of impact against Brighton

For large periods of the 2024/25 campaign, Bruno Fernandes was often United’s go-to man for goals and assists – undoubtedly saving the club from an unthinkable relegation battle.

The Portuguese international ended the year on a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions, a tally which was by far and away the highest of any player in the squad.

However, the attacking midfielder has been forced to drop into a slightly deeper number eight position to accommodate the likes of big-money addition, Mbeumo.

Such a decision has taken the responsibility off his shoulders, with a more all-round performances now expected from the Red Devils’ first-team captain.

His deeper position has seen a slight decline in his performance level, as seen by the latest display against Brighton at Old Trafford, with the 31-year-old enduring somewhat of a quiet afternoon.

Bruno only completed six passes into the final third against the Seagulls and only completed 50% of the dribbles he attempted – subsequently being unable to match the levels from 2024/25.

He was also dribbled past on three occasions, whilst also losing nine duels – the most of any player – showcasing the lack of positive impact he’s had in his new position.

As a result, one other player within the first-team squad has taken the responsibility of providing the goods alongside Mbeumo within the final third in recent weeks.

The United star who’s becoming Amorim’s next Bruno

Whilst it’s still early days in 2025/26, United look like a different team compared to last campaign, with Amorim deserving huge credit for the work done during the off-season.

After the first nine games of the new Premier League season, the Red Devils rank second for expected goals (xG), showcasing the threat the side now possesses in forward areas.

Amorim’s men have also registered the highest average of shots on target per 90, with such a record enabling the side to score 15 goals in the first nine matches of the new league campaign.

As previously mentioned, Mbeumo has played a key role in such success, as seen by his tally of five goals and one assist – working out at 40% of the side’s goals to date.

However, the Cameroonian international has been joined at Old Trafford by Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian joining the Red Devils in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He also arrived with huge expectations this summer, after he registered a total of 21 combined goals and assists in the Premier League whilst being involved in a relegation battle.

The 26-year-old has partnered Mbeumo in the number ten role behind the striker, which has subsequently resulted in Bruno dropping into his deeper role over the last couple of months.

However, Cunha has taken to such a task like a duck to water, arguably replacing the Portuguese international as one of the Red Devils’ leading talismen.

He netted his first goal for the club in the recent triumph over Brighton, with such an effort getting the ball rolling for Amorim’s third league victory in a row.

Cunha, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, also produced numerous impressive figures that showcase his class within the final third.

Along with his goal, the attacking midfielder completed 89% of the passes attempted and registered two chances created for his teammates – showcasing his ability to provide for those around him.

He also placed 100% of his shots on target, whilst also completing two of his three dribbles – highlighting his incredible all-round ability within the final third.

Whilst it may be early days in his career at Old Trafford, Cunha has already captured the hearts of the fanbase and cemented himself as a key player within Amorim’s ranks.

Should he continue in such vein, there’s no reason why he can’t soften the blow of Bruno’s drop in form and lead the side to new heights in the near future.

This season's Rashford: Man Utd talent looks "increasingly likely" to leave

Manchester United could be making a huge mistake in allowing one talented first-team member to leave.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 28, 2025