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It’s been a confusing month or so for Chelsea fans.

One week, the Blues are beating Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur, and then the next, they’re losing to Sunderland or dropping points against Qarabağ.

However, while Enzo Maresca’s side are far from consistent at the moment, it is full of sensational talent.

In fact, there is at least one player who feels destined to become one of the best in the world, alongside Cole Palmer.

Chelsea's world-class stars

While it doesn’t feel like it at the moment, Chelsea are blessed with several players who could become some of the very best in the world in their position, if they aren’t already there.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

For example, while Moises Caicedo had a slow start to life in West London, he is now one of, if not the best six, in the Premier League.

The Ecuadorian is a monster when it comes to winning the ball back, has an underrated range of passing and can score his fair share of bangers.

Another star who is arguably the best in his position in the league is Reece James.

The Cobham gem is no longer suffering from injury after injury and, as a result, has been able to show the full extent of his exceptional ability on a consistent basis.

For example, in addition to being rock solid at the back, he is a genuine attacking threat due to both his impressive passing range and ball-striking ability.

Finally, while he’s out injured at the moment, Palmer is without doubt on his way to becoming one of the best players in the world.

He is the one who makes the Blues’ attack click, and in just 101 appearances for the club has already racked up a tally of 45 goals and 29 assists.

With all that said, there is another young Chelsea star who looks like he could be following in Palmer’s footsteps.

The Chelsea star on track to be one of the best in the world

While there are several exciting youngsters at Chelsea, like Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens, and even Alejandro Garnacho, the one who seems destined for the very top is, of course, Estevao.

The highly promising Brazilian gem was signed by Chelsea last year, but due to regulations surrounding players under 18, he was unable to join the club until this season.

However, it looks like that extra year in his homeland has done him the world of good, as so far this season, he has looked every bit the “future Ballon d’Or winner” respected analyst Ben Mattinson described him as.

Appearances

83

Minutes

5610′

Goals

27

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

133.57′

For example, he was arguably the Blues’ most exciting player in pre-season and injected some real life into the side when he came on in the season opener against Crystal Palace.

Then, when Palmer picked up an injury ahead of the West Ham game, Maresaca handed the youngster his first competitive start, and he looked incredible.

The Franca-born gem was running rings around the East Londoners and even picked up his first assist after a mazy run.

Amazingly, his first goal for the club came in that incredible 2-1 win over Liverpool last month.

He then quickly followed that up with a goal against Ajax in the Champions League and another against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup.

As if he hadn’t already made his mark on the team, he then scored his second UCL goal against Qarabağ.

In doing so, he became the first South American 18 or under to score in consecutive Champions League matches.

Ultimately, while it is still so early in his career, it certainly feels like Estevao is on the same trajectory as Palmer and will soon join him as one of the best players in the world.

Big-money Chelsea flop is fast becoming their new Danny Drinkwater

Chelsea have a new Danny Drinkwater on their books.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

After another bumper summer in the busy transfer window, Birmingham City might well have expected to take the Championship immediately by storm.

Indeed, the Blues welcomed in a whopping 14 new faces during the off-season, as the likes of Demarai Gray dramatically returned back to St. Andrew’s after a lengthy Premier League career, among other notable signings.

Unfortunately for Chris Davies and Co., Gray hasn’t quite sparked into life just yet during his homecoming, with the ex-Everton winger not alone in being a disappointment so far, as the Blues loiter in an underwhelming 15th spot in the second-tier standings at this moment in time.

Birmingham's disappointing summer recruitment

It’s not just all on the shoulders of the new recruits, however, as many of Birmingham’s dependable performers during their League One title heroics have also floundered under the pressure of now competing in the division above.

Keshi Anderson definitely falls into his category, with the Luton-born attacker still goalless in Championship action this season so far, despite firing home nine strikes in all competitions last campaign for Davies’ emphatic title-winners.

Thankfully, Jay Stansfield has remembered his shooting boots, with six goals already fired home.

But, to further pile on the misery, Marvin Ducksch – who cost around the £1.75m mark to pick up from Werder Bremen in the window – is also routinely firing blanks as another option up top.

Moreover, the aforementioned Gray doesn’t quite look the same electric, fresh-faced presence he once was at St. Andrew’s when he was a youngster trying to cut his teeth, with Birmingham’s 1-0 defeat to Bristol City last time out only seeing him amass a lacklustre 18 touches of the ball.

It must feel like an awfully long time ago now for Davies when he looks back on Birmingham’s jaw-dropping 111-point season in League One, with one new signing under so much scrutiny already, that he could be on borrowed time in the West Midlands only a matter of months into his EFL stint.

Why Birmingham's expensive gamble hasn't paid off

Thankfully, in recent years, whenever a big price tag has been attached to a player since Tom Wagner’s millions were added into the mix, they have often lived up to their hype.

Stansfield was boldly purchased for a whopping £15m, even as Birmingham found themselves marooned in League One, but he immediately backed up his lavish price tag when scoring the crucial goals – 19 league strikes to be exact – to clinch the Blues’ straightforward passage back up to the Championship.

Therefore, when the newly promoted Blues announced they’d acquired the services of former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi for an equally hefty £10m in July, the expectation would have been that he would go on to be another superb Stansfield-like purchase.

After all, Kyogo had been branded as a “superstar” in Scotland by ex-Hoops teammate Callum McGregor, off the back of the Japanese gem firing home a stunning 85 goals in total for the Glasgow giants.

Moreover, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman also boldly stated that he would be a “really exciting” signing in England, after the new number nine showed off some entertaining tricks and flicks during his early days at St. Andrew’s.

Games played

11

Games started

5

Minutes played per game

47

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Big chances missed

7

Kyogo’s tale hasn’t played out to the expected script, though, with the once confident and assured striker who pulled on Celtic green and white week in week out now nowhere to be seen in the Championship.

The 30-year-old, instead, has become a wasteful option up top for Davies, with seven big chances missed across 11 league games to date, meaning he is still chasing his first league goal in the West Midlands.

Even Lyndon Dykes has two league goals next to his name, despite averaging just 25 minutes of action himself.

EFL pundit Adrian Clarke has even gone out of his way to state that Kyogo is “struggling”, with patience surely already running thin at St. Andrew’s surrounding the quiet number nine, considering his excessive transfer fee.

There is still time on Kyogo’s side to turn around his shocking Blues start, but if the goals don’t come soon, he might just have to be written off as an expensive flop.

Birmingham sold a bigger talent than Jordan James in £3m "freak of nature"

Birmingham messed up when selling this exceptional star for just £3m.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 8, 2025

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is attracting serious interest from Real Madrid, with manager Xabi Alonso urging Los Blancos to strike a deal.

Real Madrid eye 2026 deal for Chelsea star Enzo Fernández

It’s approaching three years since Enzo Maresca’s side broke the British transfer record by signing Fernandez in a deal worth £107 million, and while Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool has since smashed that fee, the midfielder remains one of Chelsea’s most expensive ever buys.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Moises Caicedo

£115m

Brighton

2023

2

Enzo Fernández

£107m

Benfica

2023

3

Romelu Lukaku

£97.5m

Inter

2021

4=

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£71m

Athletic Club

2018

4=

Kai Havertz

£71m

Bayer Leverkusen

2020

The £180,000-per-week star endured a very difficult first year at Stamford Bridge, failing to justify his mammoth price tag whilst even getting involved in a racism scandal in 2024, but he’s since been rejuvenated by Maresca.

The Italian shocked on-lookers by naming Fernandez as a captain just one month after his racism debacle with the Argentina national team. However, the 24-year-old repaid Maresca’s faith by becoming one of the linchpins of his engine room.

Since Maresca’s appointment, Chelsea’s tactical setup has played to Fernandez’s strengths, allowing him more freedom to influence the game in a more advanced role while also allowing him to maintain some defensive responsibilities.

This new place in the team has elevated his performances, and amid Fernandez’s surge in form, reports are seriously linking Real with a keen interest in signing the ex-Benfica star.

Some sources have suggested that Chelsea could be open to a part-exchange deal involving Fernandez and Fede Valverde, but a new report from Spain has made the Blues’ demands crystal clear.

Chelsea set mammoth price tag for Enzo Fernández amid Real Madrid interest

It is now believed that Real’s interest has intensified, with Alonso personally telling the La Liga giants to pursue Fernandez in a bid to upgrade his midfield.

However, Chelsea have placed a £100 million price tag on Fernandez, so if Real want to open talks, they could have to make him the Londoners’ biggest-ever sale.

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

1

Eden Hazard

£89m

Real Madrid

2019

2

Kai Havertz

£65m

Arsenal

2023

3

Oscar

£60m

Shanghai SIPG

2017

4

Álvaro Morata

£58.3m

Atlético Madrid

2020

5

Diego Costa

£57m

Atlético Madrid

2017

Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards best summed up Fernandez’s newly-found importance to Chelsea, praising him as a “leader” in the squad who has a “little bit of everything” after yet another great performance against Liverpool just prior to the international break.

He would now be difficult to replace, and Chelsea will hope that Fernandez’s knee problem isn’t too serious after he was forced to withdraw from international duty.

On the latest edition of The Wayne Rooney Show, Wayne Rooney said, “I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion.”

Manchester United felt they had secured a coup when taking Ruben Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon midway through the 2024/25 campaign. The Portuguese tactician was flying high in his homeland and had been strongly linked with Liverpool before they appointed Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

But Amorim has floundered across his months in the Old Trafford hot seat, with United finding themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after six matches, having finished 15th last term after losing to Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Amorim has come under heavy flak for his rigid belief in his 3-4-3 formation, willing to die on that hill in spite of a general weariness over its ineffectiveness in the English game.

INEOS are hesitant to dismiss the 40-year-old from his duties and will hold out hope that United put in a big performance at home against Sunderland on Saturday, but if they fail to kick on, a tough decision will need to be made, with Sir Gareth Southgate emerging as a contender for the managerial spot at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man United consider appointing Southgate

One thing’s for certain, Man United’s potential appointment of Southgate would be met with more than a measure of doubt.

The former Three Lions boss might have achieved more success than any other England Men’s boss since the World Cup was lifted in 1966, but he’s also been out of club management since being relegated from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009.

But he’d come in cheap, and with a reputation for being a strong communicator and an “unbelievable” character, as was said by Jude Bellingham upon the manager’s resignation from his England post after the 2024 European Championship.

But concerns over his tactical grasp persisted throughout his tenure, and the current question mark over Amorim’s own system points toward a necessity for a clear, fluent brand of football going forward.

INEOS need to appoint a proven trophy-winning manager with a deep understanding of the game and a vision which suggests this viewpoint could be effectively applied in the Premier League.

As it happens, former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is on the market, and he’s even showing an interest in making the move to the Premier League and joining the Red Devils, should Amorim be dismissed.

Man United could strike gold with Xavi

Xavi has been out of work since the start of 2024, when he left Barcelona. The legendary footballing figure is, however, open to new work, and Fabrizio Romano believes he is interested in taking the Manchester United job, should a vacancy materialise.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Xavi is open to taking on the job at Old Trafford even without the allure of European football. It is worth noting the mentality on show here, with Amorim having wanted to remain with Sporting Lisbon for the duration of the 2024/25 campaign, instead of switching allegiances mid-season.

As a player, the iconic Spaniard was very much the definitive midfield maestro, and he has willed his managerial career into shape through the application of his own playing-day virtues.

His time as Barcelona manager was somewhat turbulent, but he did win the La Liga title in 2022/23, his first full season as boss, and played an important part in guiding the Spanish giants away from the pit they were sinking into. In February 2024, he left isolated and frustrated, but with his head held high.

If Man United can provide him with the assurances that he can have things his way, there is no reason why his erudite footballing brain. Already, the 45-year-old is enamoured by the idea, having said in the past that he “would love to work in the Premier League”.

Perhaps, then, the words from the horse’s mouth lend credence to Romano’s claim. With Amorim skating on thin ice, it feels like United could score themselves a significant upgrade, especially with Xavi employing a more conventional 4-3-3 formation.

That said, Xavi’s managerial outlook might be conventional at the surface level, but there is a depth and mastery of the technical side of the game that could be exactly what United need as they look to return to the top.

Barcelona are a team defined by their passing, and Xavi, as a player and as a manager, has been an embodiment of that style.

Barcelona

1st

64.3%

Real Madrid

2nd

60.9%

Villarreal

5th

56.9%

Real Sociedad

4th

54.6%

Sevilla

12th

52.6%

When La Blaugrana lifted the league title under their legendary figure’s wing in 2022/23, they played with a gusto and command that was so very ‘Barcelona’.

So impressive was he that, before the trophy had even been lifted and with everything in the balance, club president Joan Laporta had said, “We have the best manager in the world”.

Here is a tactician who knows his stuff, with credentials of the highest order and a hunger to join Man United and make things right.

Amorim had a good thing going before taking the United job, to be sure, but it’s clear that he is a young coach whose experience was restricted to the Portuguese scene, and his stubbornness in keeping his same tactical outlook despite the glaring deficiencies had made for sustained grim viewing.

If the opportunity to appoint Xavi presents itself, United’s officials must pounce.

Ten Hag sold Man Utd talent for just £10m, now he's outperforming Bruno

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 29, 2025

أعلن ييس توروب المدير الفني لفريق الأهلي، عن قائمة لاعبيه لمباراة إيجل نوار البوروندي في إطار منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

ويلتقي الأهلي مع نظيره إيجل نوار، في تمام الساعة الثامنة من مساء غد السبت، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي، في إياب دور الـ32 من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع.. عقوبة قوية ضد الأهلي بسبب الزمالك في الدوري المصري

وكان الأهلي قد حقق الفوز في لقاء الذهاب أمام إيجل نوار، بهدف دون رد، يوم السبت الماضي.  قائمة الأهلي لمباراة إيجل نوار 

في حراسة المرمى: مصطفى شوبير، سيحا.

الدفاع: ياسين مرعي، عمر كمال عبد الواحد، أحمد رمضان بيكهام، ياسر إبراهيم، محمد شكري، مصطفى العش، كوكا، محمد هاني. 

الوسط: محمد علي بن رمضان، محمود تريزيجيه، أحمد عبد القادر، مروان عطية، أشرف بن شرقي، أفشة، أليو ديانج، زيزو، طاهر محمد طاهر. 

الهجوم: جراديشار. 

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will be hoping for more additions to the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window next week.

Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor have been added to the group to bolster his options in the final third, but the former Norwich City manager wants more.

Earlier this month, the boss said: “There is no doubt we need reinforcements, especially in the offence. Dominic can’t be the only step. We are on a good path, prepared for the first games and I hope when the transfer window is over we have a squad who is capable of fighting because we have one clear target – to stay in this league.”

It is hard to blame Farke for having that stance when you consider that the West Yorkshire outfit have only scored two goals in their first three competitive games: a penalty and a Jayden Bogle goal against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Another winger, on top of the signing of Okafor from AC Milan, is on the agenda and it will be interesting to see who they go for before next Monday’s deadline.

One player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road before the end of the window is Tottenham Hotspur forward Manor Solomon, who spent last season on loan in West Yorkshire.

Manor Solomon's impact at Leeds last season

The 26-year-old attacker spent the season on loan to help the Whites win the Championship and earn promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James were already in the building as wide options for Farke to call upon on the left and the right flanks, but he was able to break into the team and establish himself as a key player for the German boss.

Solomon went on to start 30 of his 39 appearances in the Championship, per Sofascore, on the club’s way to hitting a staggering 100 points in the second tier last term.

24/25 Championship	Manor Solomon	Percentile rank vs wingers
xG	8.14	Top 8%
Goals	10	Top 6%
Shots on target	25	Top 12%
xA	10.30	Top 1%
Chances created	67	Top 5%
Assists	12	Top 3%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Israel international made a huge impact in the final third in those 39 appearances, scoring or creating 22 goals in 30 starts.

These statistics show that he performed consistently in front of goal to win vital points for the Whites with goals and assists that changed and won games in the Championship.

Whilst the club may yet look to bring him back before the deadline, the Whites are reportedly looking at another player who could be the new Solomon at Elland Road.

Leeds eyeing move for Nottingham Forest winger

Former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers chief scout Mick Brown has revealed that the 49ers are eyeing a last-gasp move for Nottingham Forest forward Jota Silva.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown said: “I hear Leeds are interested in signing Jota Silva. They need new wingers, and he is one of the names on their list of targets.

Transfer Focus

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

“When he’s been involved for Forest, he looks busy and bright, always looking to make things happen and not afraid to get on the ball. He likes to get at people and he’s capable of producing in the final third as well.

“He’s a bit of a maverick, and those types of players are always welcome at Leeds. Forest have signed a number of wide players, and spent a significant amount of money on him, so I hear he is questioning where he fits in.”

It was reported by O’Jogo earlier this summer that Sporting were hoping to land him for a fee of around £10m including add-ons, and it remains to be seen if Leeds are prepared to pay that kind of money for his services.

Why Leeds should sign Jota Silva

Leeds should swoop to sign Jota Silva from the Tricky Trees because he could be a more affordable option on the flank, given that Solomon reportedly has a price tag of £20m over his head.

The Whites save £10m and land their next Solomon by signing the Portuguese star, as another winger who has become surplus to requirements at a Premier League side, just as was the case with the Israel international last summer.

Jota Silva only started five of his 31 appearances in the Premier League for Forest last season, per Sofascore, but showed glimpses of the kind of quality that he has the potential to provide on a regular basis at that level.

The 26-year-old ace scored three goals and created eight ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 891 minutes of action, which shows that he was an effective contributor in the final third despite limited minutes on the pitch.

Jota Silva’s form for Vitoria in Portugal in the 2023/24 campaign, before his move to England, shows that he can deliver consistent quality on the flank when starting regularly.

23/24 Liga Portugal	Jota Silva
Appearances	33
xG	7.99
Goals	11
Big chances created	8
Key passes per game	1.0
Assists	5
Dribbles completed per game	1.3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Portugal international caught the eye with 19 goals and ‘big chances’ created in the top division in his country.

These statistics show that he can be an efficient finisher who also looks to create chances for his teammates on a regular basis at the top level, when playing week-in-week-out, which is why he could be an exciting signing for Leeds.

The versatile forward, who can play on the right or the left as a winger, could be the new Solomon at Elland Road by arriving from a Premier League team to light up the flanks in West Yorkshire with his quality in the final third.

Given the difference in price between the two players, Jota Silva may even be a better option than signing Solomon permanently because he has shown that he can deliver in the English top-flight as recently as last season.

Better than El Khannouss: Leeds prepared to make move for magic £30m star

Leeds United are reportedly considering a move to sign a star who is even better than Bilal El Khannouss.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 27, 2025

Still seeking reinforcements as the Premier League campaign gets underway, West Ham United are now reportedly ready to step up their move to sign a Championship star.

Latest West Ham transfer news

It’s not been a summer full of headlines at the London Stadium, but the Hammers have still welcomed a number of solid additions. El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle-Walker Peters, Mads Hermansen and Callum Wilson have all arrived to hand Graham Potter a much-needed boost across the squad as he looks to turn what has been a difficult start at West Ham around.

With just two weeks left until the transfer window slams shut, though, there’s still work to be done. Potter’s side are arguably still short in a number of areas and, as such, targets like Aleix Garcia and Lorenzo Pellegrini could still arrive.

Garcia is a particularly interesting target. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder spent time at Manchester City in the early stages of his career, before eventually working his way back to the top level to join Leverkusen last summer. Now, just one year on from that move, the midfielder has done enough to attract the interest of West Ham.

Of course, however, he’s not the only one on the Hammers’ reported radar. Harvey Elliott has been linked with a move away from Liverpool all summer long, and he remains without a move. Among those interested in the England U21 international, West Ham could yet look to complete a late swoop.

The same can be said for another impressive talent, with those at the London Stadium now reportedly ready to increase their efforts in pursuit of his signature.

West Ham ready to step up El Khannouss move

According to GiveMeSport, West Ham are now ready to step up their move to sign Bilal El Khannouss this summer. The Leicester City star, who can leave for the value of his £22.5m release clause, has attracted interest from Leeds United, Crystal Palace and the Hammers in recent months, with the London club now seemingly prepared to battle their rivals for his signature.

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That said, it won’t be an easy deal to pull off. There are already reportedly concerns at West Ham that they won’t be in a strong enough position to turn El Khannouss’ head away from other clubs this month and there are reservations over their ability to even afford the deal.

Alas, what they should not be concerned about is the midfielder’s ability, given that Aaron Wan-Bissaka saw it first-hand when El-Khannouss scored and assisted in a 3-1 victory over West Ham last season. In a one-on-one battle against the Leicester man, Wan-Bissaka suffered a rare defeat.

Praised for that “great performance” by then-manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, El Khannouss left Wan-Bissaka guessing all game long in a decisive display which proved his Premier League quality.

There are plenty of reservations over their ability to get the deal done, but West Ham should push as far as they can to sign the Leicester star before the end of the month.

The United States, Mexico and Canada – the three 2026 World Cup hosts – had mixed fortunes in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, the first update since July. The USMNT slipped one spot to 16th following a loss to South Korea and a win over Japan. Mexico dropped to 14th, while Canada climbed to 26th after back-to-back victories.

Getty Images SportMarsch's impact continues

Canada’s climb to No. 26 – their highest spot in the FIFA rankings – reflects the immediate impact of Jesse Marsch since his appointment ac coach in May 2024. The Canadian men’s program has never experienced a surge like this, rising 23 places in just more than a year. Their all-time low was No. 122 in 2014.

Marsch’s system has delivered against European opposition, with recent wins over Romania and Wales signaling that Canada can compete beyond CONCACAF. If this momentum holds, Canada could enter the 2026 World Cup as the region’s dark horse – a position unthinkable just a decade ago.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesExplaining the declines

Mexico failed to secure a win in either of its September friendlies, drawing against Japan and South Korea. Still, remain the highest-ranked team in North America at 14th, though their inconsistency under Javier Aguirre underscores the challenges ahead.

The USMNT have friendlies scheduled in October against Ecuador (24th) and Australia (25th) and then matches in November against Paraguay (37th) and Uraguay (15th).

AFPThe full FIFA rankings

Spain reclaiming top spot for the first time since 2014 signals their resurgence after winning EURO 2024, while Argentina’s fall to third highlights just how thin the margins are at the very top. 

Here are the top 20 FIFA men's teams, according to their rankings: 

National team World ranking

Spain1France2Argentina3England4Portugal5Brazil6Netherlands7Belgium8Croatia9Italy10Morocco11Germany12Colombia13Mexico14Uruguay15USA16Switzerland17Senegal18Japan19Denmark20ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty Images SportRoad ahead

The October international window offers another chance for the North American hosts to refine their squads before the spotlight of 2026. For the U.S., consistency against top-20 opponents remains the measuring stick as Mauricio Pochettino works to translate individual talent into collective results.

Mexico will be under pressure to halt their recent slide and restore confidence against elite opposition. Canada’s focus will be on maintaining their upward trajectory without overextending key players in what is quickly becoming their strongest team yet.  All of that continues the build up to the 2026 World Cup.

Aaqib Javed will take over as interim coach for the two-match Test series against South Africa

Danyal Rasool12-Dec-2024Jason Gillespie has resigned as head coach of the Pakistan Test side, according to the PCB. This was officially confirmed after a few days of lingering uncertainty, culminating in Gillespie refusing to board his flight to join the Pakistan Test team in South Africa. Gillespie’s scheduled flight to South Africa was at 6AM Adelaide time on Friday, but he informed the PCB he had no intention of boarding it, deciding instead to walk away as relations between the coach and the board hit an all-time low. Aaqib Javed will take over as Test coach on an interim basis for the series in South Africa; he is currently the interim coach of both white-ball sides.ESPNcricinfo had first reported that Gillespie’s days as head coach of Pakistan were done last month, and that Aaqib would take over across formats. At the time, the PCB responded by refuting that story, insisting Gillespie would be coach for the two Tests against South Africa, while pointedly declining to commit to stating that he would see out his contract. However, the relationship between the board and the coach only went from bad to worse, and Gillespie would not take charge of another Test for Pakistan again.As ESPNcricinfo first reported, Gillespie was left particularly angered after the PCB decided against renewing high-performance red-ball coach Tim Nielsen’s contract, and had been left considering his options. Gillespie was offended he wasn’t consulted, or even told, before that decision was taken, and is understood to have left a lack of respect on part of the PCB. Nielsen told ESPNcricinfo he was happy to continue, and fully available for Pakistan’s Test series in South Africa and at home against the West Indies next month, but he was informed his services would no longer be required.Related

Gillespie: I was 'completely and utterly blindsided' by the PCB

Ramiz on Kirsten's departure: 'Not going to be easy for Pakistan to hire international talent'

Aaqib Javed set to replace Gillespie as Pakistan head coach

Kirsten resigns as Pakistan's white-ball coach

This appears to have been the final straw for Gillespie. ESPNcricinfo understands he communicated his intention not to travel under present circumstances to the board. Whether the PCB have made contact with him to persuade him to travel is unclear; a source close to Gillespie said the PCB had made no contact with him over the past day.Either way, a relationship which has continually fractured over the past few months reached breaking point. Gillespie was hired by the PCB to great fanfare alongside Gary Kirsten in April, with chairman Mohsin Naqvi saying his “stellar track record” preceded him. But since October, the board has cooled on the Australian, initially removing him from the selection panel for the Test side. It left him believing he was merely a “matchday analyst” pointing out it wasn’t what he signed up for. He is believed to have had negligible input on the selection of the Test squad for the tour of South Africa, and was out of the loop for the decision not to extend Nielsen’s contract.There was limited communication between Gillespie and the board since the end of Pakistan’s white-ball series in Australia, where he coached the side on an interim basis after Kirsten quit. The PCB did initially ask Gillespie to take up that position until the Champions Trophy, but without an accompanying financial offer to reflect the increased scope of his role. It was another factor that led to relations between the board and the head coach being strained.Gillespie’s anger is understood to partly stem from what he felt was a great rapport Nielsen had developed with the players, a point he had made more than once in public. It is believed both Gillespie and Nielsen consider the fact that Nielsen is not based in Pakistan as the reason his contract hasn’t been extended, though, as Nielsen confirmed, he would have been available for the upcoming two tours in their entirety.While it is understood the PCB has not yet made a decision on any potential replacement for Nielsen, the current administration has sought to replace overseas coaches it appointed earlier in the year with Pakistan-based ones. Aaqib, who took over the white-ball teams on an interim basis next month, now becomes the all-format coach, and is also on the selection panel.Gillespie resigning potentially spares the PCB from paying out the entirety of the remainder of his contract, as they would have needed to if they had decided to sack him. It was believed to be a consideration in Gillespie’s initial reluctance to quit, even as it became clear the PCB no longer wanted him there.Pakistan play the first Test in Centurion on December 26, with the second in Cape Town starting on January 3.

It’s all going on at Liverpool.

Though the Anfield side’s faithful all wait for the outcome of the Alexander Isak saga with bated breath, FSG are well aware that a new centre-back needs to be signed before the closure of the transfer window.

Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen was pursued in May, but the Spanish prodigy signed for Real Madrid in a £50m package. Nonetheless, an alternative is still needed, not least because Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for as much as £35m last month.

Liverpool lining up new centre-back

Marc Guehi is Liverpool’s first-choice option to bolster Arne Slot’s backline, and the Crystal Palace star wants the Reds too.

However, Newcastle United are also interested, and Liverpool aren’t willing to meet the Eagles’ £50m demands with just one year left on the player’s deal.

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have entered the race for Stade Rennais centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Jacquet, 20, has only just emerged onto the senior stage but has already established himself as one of French football’s most exciting talents.

Rennes know this, however, and rejected Arsenal’s approach. Thus, sporting director Richard Hughes has his work cut out if he’s to engineer a deal and complete Slot’s backline ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Why Liverpool want Jeremy Jacquet

Liverpool must sign a central defender this month. While there is tentative optimism among Liverpool circles that Slot will watch Ibrahima Konate pen a new deal at Anfield, Joe Gomez’s recent Achilles injury and, indeed, Quansah’s departure both suggest that more depth is paramount.

Virgil van Dijk and Konate will continue their peerless partnership protecting the sticks, but Jacquet would add the extra depth needed to compete across multiple fronts, with a fast-rising skill set that may yet reach elite status.

Described by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “Rolls-Royce” of a defender with the potential to become one of the centre-backs in the world, and with that in mind, Jacquet might even prove to be Liverpool’s own version of Huijsen.

League Stats 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Jeremy Jacquet

Stats (* per game)

Huijsen

Jacquet

Matches (starts)

32 (26)

11 (11)

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Touches*

63.9

59.6

Pass completion

84%

85%

Key passes*

0.5

0.4

Dribbles*

0.1

0.5

Ball recoveries*

3.3

3.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.7

4.9

Clearances*

6.1

3.9

Duels (won)*

3.6 (56%)

5.1 (61%)

Data via Sofascore

Despite having only played 12 times for Rennes after leaving Clermont Foot in the second tier of French football, Jacquet’s expansive qualities align with Huijsen’s, blending a burgeoning passing game with a steely defensive side, strong in the duel and proactive in the tackle.

Jacquet’s aggressive and technically astute playing style has even seen him draw comparisons to Arsenal’s William Saliba, so it’s no surprise the Gunners want to get a deal done. However, this also confirms that Liverpool must ensure they win the race.

If that wasn’t enough, Arsenal also had a vested interest in Huijsen before Los Blancos stole ahead and completed a stunning deal.

Only, this time, Liverpool could win the race if they push ahead now.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 5, 2025