Luís Castro fala sobre reforços no Botafogo e critica comportamento da imprensa: 'Nos tratam como incompetentes'

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O Botafogo é líder do Brasileirão e vive um momento especial na temporada, mas sempre existe espaço para melhorar e evoluir. Luís Castro está muito satisfeito com os jogadores alvinegros, mas acredita que é possível fazer um “upgrade” no elenco.

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– É sempre difícil fazer essas projeções. As lesões vão nos atingindo e as equipes são formadas por pequenas sociedades dentro de campo. Esse conjunto de sociedades às vezes se quebra com lesões ou suspensões. Estamos conseguindo manter essa sintonia. Mesmo que tecnicamente um jogador não esteja no mesmo nível do outro e nosso nível de entendimento do jogo não seja igual, nossa equipe está em um nível mental e físico muito bom. Há uma ou outra posição em que poderíamos fazer um upgrade e melhorá-la. Nós treinadores sempre queremos mais e mais, mas estou estou muito satisfeito com os jogadores que tenho, que são muito determinados e têm muita ambição – declarou Luís Castro ao programa “Baita Amigos”, da Bandsports.

+ Veja 30 jogadores que ainda não completaram sete jogos no Brasileirão e podem trocar de clube

+ Próximos jogos do Botafogo: veja calendário com datas, horários e onde assistir às partidas

Ao longo da entrevista, Luís Castro também fez uma crítica ao calendário do futebol brasileiro e relembrou das críticas que recebeu da imprensa no começo da temporada. O treinador esteve perto de sair do Botafogo ao longo do Campeonato Carioca, mas acabou sendo mantido no cargo e conseguiu dar a volta por cima.

– Claramente é um número exagerado de jogos. Não para nós treinadores, mas para quem está dentro do campo. As equipes em determinados momentos estão exaustas, com jogadores lesionados e suspensos. A forma como saem os amarelos do bolso dos árbitros é muito fácil. Muitas vezes não é pelo propósito de agressão, e sim pelo cansaço e descoordenação mental. Quando vim ao futebol brasileiro, sabia que ia apanhar por isso. É um dos campeonatos mais difíceis do mundo – afirmou Luís Castro.

– No final de um jogo do Estadual, todos achavam que eu deveria sair. Quase todos não entendiam como eu ainda podia continuar. Tive um conjunto de jogadores lesionados. Não houve um interesse de analisar de forma profunda, mas nada me surpreendeu nesse momento. Já sabia que era assim. Não estou dizendo que não fizemos um Estadual horrível. Fizemos. Deveríamos ter passado para as semifinais. Mas pedir pela saída de um treinador? Acho estranho como a imprensa se refere a nós treinadores de forma tão pouca correta e elegante, nos dando como incompetentes, que não viveram nada e não tiveram uma história. Estive quase à beira de uma Libertadores e depois de dois meses já era incompetente – completou.

He'll emulate Joao Pedro: Chelsea submit weekend bid to sign £34m star

Prior to Sunday’s hotly anticipated Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Arsenal, Chelsea were the early league leaders.

Fulham were on the receiving end of some controversial VAR decisions at Stamford Bridge, but it was their West London foes in Enzo Maresca’s Blues that would collect a 2-0 victory on Saturday, courtesy of an Enzo Fernandez penalty being tucked away, on top of Joao Pedro scoring yet another strike in his new location.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion hotshot now has five goals and two assists from six blistering appearances for Maresca’s men, with the Italian set to try and clinch a deal for another exciting attacker to help out the clinical Brazilian.

Chelsea's last-minute business

Expect Chelsea to be extremely busy as they head into Monday’s intense deadline day.

Indeed, there have been various twists and turns emerging from West London over the past few days, with it still unclear whether Nicolas Jackson will leave Chelsea behind for Bayern Munich or not.

An injury suffered by Liam Delap against the Cottagers might well make Chelsea feel less inclined to give up their hit-and-miss striker to the Bundesliga, with an enquiry also being lodged for the services of Sporting rising star Conrad Harder to boost the attacking ranks.

Moreover, away from a last-gasp switch to try and sign Harder, the early top-flight pace-setters also look set to go down to the wire to try and snap up Barcelona star Fermin Lopez.

Transfer Focus

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

As per Fabrizio Romano, via X, the big-spending Blues have officially sent a written proposal to the Catalan giants about signing the explosive attacking midfielder for a fee around the £34m mark.

This development was then followed up by Romano clarifying that the La Liga giants do not want to sell the 22-year-old, with an exit only occurring if the Spaniard wanted to depart the Camp Nou at the last minute.

He could well be tempted by a move away, seeing how instantaneous Pedro has managed to light up Stamford Bridge, with Lopez perhaps entering and making instant waves, too, if a dramatic move is sealed.

Why Lopez could be as impactful as Pedro

When Chelsea snapped up the services of the ex-Seagulls striker this summer, fans of the Stamford Bridge outfit would have been excited by the £55m capture.

After all, heading into his Blues switch, the “exceptional” attacker, as he has been labelled recently by pundit Troy Deeney, had 30 goals and ten assists next to his name from 70 clashes on the South Coast, with Lopez also standing out for his top-drawer numbers in the final third for Hansi Flick’s giants.

Lopez in LaLiga

Stat

Lopez (23/24)

Lopez (24/25)

Games played

31

28

Games started

14

12

Minutes averaged

47

45

Goals

8

6

Assists

0

5

Stats by Sofascore

The 22-year-old has managed to seriously impress those watching on at the Camp Nou over his past few seasons despite regularly being utilised as an impact substitute, with a weighty 19-goal contributions in league action falling into his lap, despite only making 26 starts from 59 overall appearances.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has even dubbed Lopez as being “technically brilliant” with his added presence in Maresca’s camp gifting the Blues yet another standout attacking player to complement the likes of a red-hot Pedro and a skilful Cole Palmer. After all, he’s already a record-breaker at Barca, a fact illuminated below.

It remains to be seen whether the La Masia academy product would be tempted by a switch to West London away from the comforts of his home patch.

But, there could be a pull here for Lopez to test himself in a new environment, having viewed the instant leading man status handed to Pedro after exiting Brighton.

FC Barcelona'sFerminLopezin action with Athletic Bilbao's Mikel Jauregizar

The last few action-packed days of the window always throw up some tantalising rumours, with Chelsea landing Lopez a golden potential deal that could see them maintain their early grip on the top positions in the Premier League.

11 duels won: Chelsea sensation is becoming as undroppable as Enzo & Pedro

Chelsea maintained their unbeaten Premier League record against Fulham this afternoon.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 30, 2025

Sunrisers keep three-peat dream alive as Marco Jansen makes the difference again

Despite three losses in a row to launch competition, SEC are one match away from their third final

Firdose Moonda05-Feb-2025Sunrisers Eastern Cape 184 for 6 (Markram 62*, Tahir 2-21) beat Joburg Super Kings 152 for 7 (Bairstow 37, Overton 2-20) by 32 runsSunrisers Eastern Cape remain on course for the SA20 three-peat after beating Joburg Super Kings in the Eliminator in Centurion, having recovered spectacularly from three defeats in their opening three games. They will play Paarl Royals in the second qualifier in less than 24 hours’ time to determine who will face MI Cape Town in Saturday’s final.SEC have the advantage of having the most recent experience of conditions up country while Paarl, who played in the first qualifier in Gqeberha, have had to travel. They’ve also lost their last three matches and their best batter, Joe Root, to national duty, so SEC can consider themselves favourites to reach a third final, if not the title itself.While they are a franchise that has often billed themselves as the epitome of an outfit that relies on team efforts, there was one individual who cannot be ignored: Marco Jansen.Even before the match, he was already the leading wicket-taker for this season, and in SA20’s history, and what we might call the only genuine allrounder in this tournament. None of the other bowlers who have taken 10 wickets or more have come close to scoring even 100 runs – Mujeeb Ur Rahman is closest with 55 – and, naturally, none of the batters who have scored 100 runs have taken 10 wickets.In the Eliminator, Jansen also became the joint-leading wicket-taker in the Powerplay, level with Paarl’s Bjorn Fortuin. He removed Devon Conway, the batter who had scored the most runs against him in T20s without being dismissed, in the fifth over when Conway played a leaden-footed tame drive to start JSK’s slide.Jansen did not find himself among the wickets again and the accolades from the Eliminator will go to others but his 12-ball 23, and his role in the 53-run sixth-wicket stand that ultimately proved match-winning with Aiden Markram, deserves special mention and got it from Markram. “It’s small chip-ins (with the bat) that help us a lot,” Markram said. “And then a guy like Marco comes in and whacks it.”Jansen was in in the 17th over, when Tristan Stubbs was bowled by Imran Tahir, and SEC were 131 for 5, with a target under 170 still within JSK’s grasp. They scored 15 runs off the next 11 balls and were 146 for 5 with two overs to go. Arguably, JSK made a tactical blunder by bringing back Lutho Sipamla, whose first three overs had cost 44 runs, but in the absence of many other options, they chose to back a player who has been good for them through the tournament.Jansen made sure he had an ending to forget. He picked his slower ball early and sent Sipamla’s first ball for six and then took 16 more runs off four balls he faced in that over, including ending it with another six. In total, 21 of Jansen’s 23 runs came off the five he faced from Sipamla and his contribution pushed SEC over 180.Markram said at the post-match press conference that he was “hoping for 195-plus”, but in the end 184 proved enough, despite JSK getting off to a good start. Conway and Faf du Plessis put on 40 inside five overs before Jansen dismissed Conway to open JSK up and set SEC on course for victory. According to his team-mates, that is ultimately the thing Jansen does best.”His attitude to win is unmatched,” David Bedingham told ESPNcricinfo before the Eliminator. “If you ask him if he went for 100 runs and took zero wickets in a Test match and scored a couple of ducks, I don’t think he’d care unless we won. His desire to win is why he is who he is. It also helps that he’s super talented. He’s seven foot tall, he bowls quick, he bats well so that also helps. But I think it’s his desire to win that makes him so special.”Markram echoed the idea that contributing to the team is the most important thing to Jansen. “He’s a very quick learner and he absolutely hates losing. He just gets fired up every time he plays and he’s marrying that fired up energy with better smarts,” Markram said.There’s also something else Jansen does before every game which may actually be the secret to his success. “He eats a triple-decker pizza before every game on the bus,” Markram said. “And a Coke. That’s not a joke.”Jansen’s dietary habits aside, if there is an individual who has played the biggest part in SEC’s success, it’s him – which means he is playing the game exactly as he wants to. JSK can only look on in envy, especially after their bowling resources were “decimated”, as coach Stephen Fleming put it.Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams were ruled out before the tournament began, Gerald Coetzee could only play one game and David Wiese four, while Beuran Hendricks withdrew after the tournament started and was replaced by Sipamla, who finished as their highest wicket-taker. On the eve of the Eliminator, they also lost spin-bowling allrounder Donovan Ferreira to a side strain and du Plessis joked that he was struggling to find 11 fit players to field. He did, but only just.Maintaining a tournament run that lasts for 13 games over four weeks with so many players missing cannot be easy but for JSK, it will also not be an excuse.”I hate looking for excuses, but the turnover was high,” Fleming said. “If you look at our squad, when we first put it all together, it was very strong with South African bowling and overseas batting but it’s not the only reason. You do have to adapt. It is part of franchise cricket. But we just weren’t able to settle enough. I take some responsibility with that as well as we’re trying to find the team that’s going to take us forward: the right batting order. So we were chopping and changing and the whole thing just felt a little bit confusing. We just weren’t good enough.”

Injured Fakhar Zaman ruled out of Champions Trophy; Pakistan call up Imam-ul-Haq

Pakistan’s hopes of defending their Champions Trophy title have taken a significant dent with opener Fakhar Zaman ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with an oblique injury. Imam-ul-Haq has been approved by the ICC as Fakhar’s replacement.Fakhar picked up the injury off just the second ball of the tournament, when he hared off in pursuit of a cover drive from Will Young off Shaheen Shah Afridi. When he collected the ball, he appeared to be in some discomfort. After treatment on the field, he was take off, and remained out for more than two hours.

That meant he could not open the Pakistan batting, and when he did come in at No. 4, he was visibly discomfited. He received multiple visits from the team doctor and physio, and took painkillers on the field throughout his 41-ball stay at the crease. It was something of a tortured innings, with his movements restricted, and he didn’t look like he would have a serious impact on Pakistan’s pursuit of the 320 New Zealand had scored. He scored 24 before he was dismissed.Related

  • Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in Champions Trophy opener

  • Salman Agha laments Pakistan's poor start with the bat

The injury is especially unfortunate for Fakhar and Pakistan. He only returned to the side when Saim Ayub, Pakistan’s standout opener in their three away series wins at the tail-end of last year, was struck down in similar circumstances. He went in pursuit of a ball down to the boundary in the second Test against South Africa in January, only to twist his ankle, which was later confirmed to be a fractured. It has ruled him out until at least March.Fakhar’s most famous contribution to Pakistan cricket has come in this tournament. He was the star batter in the final of the last Champions Trophy, in 2017, where he scored 114 against India as Pakistan won the tournament.Imam, who comes into the side, does not have the same pedigree as Fakhar in terms of belligerence, and has not played international cricket since 2023. He does, however, have a stellar record as opener, averaging 48.27 with nine ODI centuries from 72 ODIs.Pakistan are on the ropes in their defence of the trophy already, having succumbed to a 60-run defeat in the tournament opener against New Zealand. Their next game is on February 23, against India in Dubai.

'If Harry Kane is there to score, that helps' – English striker aiding Bayern Munich wonderkid 'get into the game' as Vincent Kompany defends use of rising star Lennart Karl

Harry Kane’s hat-trick fired Bayern Munich to a record-breaking start in the Bundesliga, but Vincent Kompany was just as keen to highlight the "cautious" rise of teenage winger Lennart Karl. The 17-year-old became Bayern’s second-youngest Bundesliga starter and marked the occasion with an assist for Kane, as Kompany defended his gradual approach to nurturing academy talent.

  • Kane hat-trick powers Bayern past Hoffenheim

    Kane delivered another masterclass in his recent Bundesliga outing where Bayern beat Hoffenheim 4-1 to maintain their perfect start to the season. The England striker opened the scoring just before the break, doubled the lead from the penalty spot, and completed his hat-trick with another clinical finish in the second half. Serge Gnabry added a late fourth to cap Bayern’s dominance, with the champions now boasting seven wins from seven competitive fixtures.

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    Lennart Karl makes first Bundesliga start

    The match was a landmark for 17-year-old Lennart, who became Bayern’s second-youngest Bundesliga starter. The winger marked the occasion with a cleverly executed corner routine to set up Kane’s opener, impressing in his debut before being substituted just after the hour mark. His performance underlined Bayern’s trust in youth, with Karl also becoming the club’s youngest-ever provider of an assist in the Bundesliga.

  • Kompany praises Kane and defends academy approach

    However, Kompany has faced criticism in the German media for his alleged lack of faith in the younger players in the team, resulting in the Bundesliga giants losing highly-rated Paul Wanner to PSV and Adam Aznou to Everton in the summer.

    The Belgian defended his use of Karl, though, and urged caution with the teenager as he acknowledged having Kane there to bury the chances will help build his confidence. He said to : "Last season, he played for the U17 and U19 teams. That shows that we rely on our talented players and have confidence in them. For me, there's zero pressure on Lenny. He should enjoy it. He always has his moments, too; that's his quality.

    "If you put in a good cross at Bayern Munich, Harry Kane is there to shoot the ball in. That naturally helps the young players get into the game.

    He added: "If he fights and runs like he's doing now, even if he's scored 10 or 15 more goals, then that's good. But we still have to take cautious steps with our talented players during this development phase, also because we believe in them very much."

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    Record-breaking start strengthens bayern’s title push

    Bayern’s victory at Hoffenheim made it four Bundesliga wins out of four, adding to their midweek Champions League triumph over Chelsea. With Kane already on eight league goals, Kompany’s side look set for another dominant domestic campaign. The result also extended Bayern’s unbeaten run in competitive matches to 13, reinforcing their early status as heavy favourites to retain the title.

    Attention now turns to Bayern’s home clash with Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena on September 26. The Bavarians sit top of the Bundesliga with 12 points and an imposing goal difference, while Bremen are struggling near the bottom. For Kane, the target will be to continue his blistering form, while Karl’s development will be closely watched as Kompany weighs up how to integrate the teenager into Bayern’s long-term plans.

Mikel Arteta must take the Arsenal handbrake off and unleash Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka to silence critics, reignite the Gunners' stuttering title bid

There was an amusing moment at the end of Michael Arteta's pre-match press conference on Tuesday when a reporter asked if the 15-year-old Max Dowman had been included in the Arsenal squad for the Carabao Cup clash with Port Vale the following evening. "Yes," Arteta immediately responded, before then quipping, "Well, it depends, I might put the handbrake on!"

It's certainly a good sign that the under-fire Gunners boss can see the funny side of the intensifying criticism of his perceived overly cautious approach to big games – but it remains a serious cause for concern among a set of supporters desperate to see their club lift a major trophy this season.

Consequently, there will be intense interest in the team Arteta chooses to face Newcastle on Sunday. One could easily argue that it's already become a must-win game for the Gunners – but the big question is whether their manager will treat it as such…

Getty Images SportOne FA Cup in six years

Arteta has undeniably done an outstanding job re-establishing Arsenal as one of the top teams in England after taking over from interim boss Freddie Ljungberg in December 2019 following the dismissal of Unai Emery, the previous permanent manager, the month before.

He even won an FA Cup with what was essentially still Emery's side just nine months later – but that remains his last notable achievement. Arteta may count Community Shields as meaningful – but nobody else does.

For all the progress that Arsenal have made on the Spaniard's watch – three consecutive runners-up finishes in the Premier League and an appearance in the semi-finals of the Champions League – the fact of the matter is that his tenure cannot be considered an unmitigated success.

One FA Cup win is not an acceptable return on an investment of approximately £1 billion ($1.3bn) in players and while being twice denied the title by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City may have been forgivable, being left trailing in the wake of Liverpool in Arne Slot's first season in English football was anything but.

Worryingly, Arsenal are already playing catch-up in this season's title race and many pundits believe that Arteta's lack of bravery is the main reason why.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Liverpool have something that Arsenal do not'

Arsenal arrived at Anfield on August 31 without their best player, Bukayo Saka, while key creator Martin Odegaard had only just returned from injury.

Nonetheless, with Liverpool looking more than a little disjointed during the first two rounds of the season after a summer spending spree, the pre-match consensus was that the game was there for the taking for the visitors.

It was a feeling that had only intensified by the end of a first half in which the reigning English champions managed just two shots – neither of which were on target.

However, Slot was bold during their break, instructing his team to go man for man in their pressing, meaning that the complexion of the game had altered by the time Arteta brought on Eberechi Eze and Odegaard midway through the second half.

Arsenal had lost the initiative, so while Dominik Szoboszlai's fantastic free-kick may have been a moment of magic in an otherwise mundane match, it was impossible to avoid the conclusion that fortune had once again favoured the brave.

"Liverpool have got something that Arsenal and Arteta don't have right now," eight-time Premier League champion Gary Neville said on . "And it's that edge to go on and win those big matches.

"Liverpool believe they should be winning these matches. I'm not sure Arsenal do. They don't want to lose."

Getty'Now or never for Arteta'

Such an insipid defeat to a direct title rival ramped up the pressure on Arsenal going into last Sunday's meeting with Manchester City at the Emirates.

"I think it's now or never for Arteta being honest," former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney said on his podcast. "He has to win something major this season, in my opinion, because he has spent a lot of money, brought a lot of players in, and he's probably got the best squad in the league."

The question before the game, though, was the same as the question after it: Is Arteta really making the most of the talent at his disposal?

Arteta, midfielder Declan Rice and several other Arsenal players were adamant that Arsenal "dominated" City – and they certainly did in terms of possession (66.8%-33.2%).

But while they saw more of the ball than anyone else in a league game against a team managed by Guardiola – they did very little with it, which is why they ended up needing an injury-time equaliser from substitute Gabriel Martinelli to claim a 1-1 draw.

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Getty Images Sport'A waste of 45 minutes'

Much of the post-match discourse centered on Arteta's team selection. As at Anfield, he named a conservative-looking midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, meaning Eze once again began on the bench.

Given the former Crystal Palace ace came on and the set up the equaliser, the obvious argument was that Eze should have started against a tired City side but Arteta insisted: "It's too easy to say that. I think it's very clear what we wanted to do. And we started the game very well.

"After City scored (through Erling Haaland nine minutes in) – doing absolutely nothing before that – we were a bit shaky for five or seven minutes and after that we still gripped the game again and started to dominate it."

Again, though, the reality was at odds with Arteta's perception, as Arsenal didn't manage a shot on target until stoppage time at the end of the first half – which is why Jamie Carragher labelled it "a waste of 45 minutes" from the home side.

"The reason I am saying that is because I played for managers like that at Liverpool and we were really close and a very top team, but we never won a Premier League," the former England international said on . "I always felt at times under Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, maybe we had the handbrake on in certain games and that is what Arteta is doing.

"Liverpool were there for the taking in that second half at Anfield, Man City were there for the taking at the start of this game and he has allowed them to come into the game.

"It is just a recurring pattern season after season and if you are Arteta and an Arsenal supporter, you just have to hope that it does not cost you at the end of the season as they are a brilliant team with a fantastic squad, but the margins are so small."

Tottenham hold talks over bid for £192k-a-week playmaker likened to Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur are running out of time to bring a new playmaker to N17, with the transfer cut off fast approaching in just four days’ time.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank, at one stage, appeared set to head into 2025/2026 boasting both James Maddison and Morgan Gibbs-White as his number 10 options.

However, a disastrous chain of events, including an ACL rupture for Maddison, resulted in the Dane having neither England international to choose from.

Gibbs-White’s blocked move to north London, with the 25-year-old eventually signing a new deal instead, was made all the more embarrassing for Daniel Levy when Arsenal hijacked their once very advanced deal for alternative Eberechi Eze.

Following two public transfer humiliations, Levy and Frank are back to the drawing board, searching for another ideal signing to bolster that area of the squad.

A lot of noise in the last 48 hours has surrounded a potential swoop for West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta as one intriguing option, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that contact has been made.

Another name gaining traction is that of RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, who was thought to be on the verge of joining Chelsea.

The Dutchman has already agreed terms over a move to Stamford Bridge, according to reliable media sources, but both Leipzig and Chelsea are still yet to reach a full agreement.

The west Londoners are also looking to offload both Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku first, due to a complex settlement with UEFA that demands they sell certain players to balance out the squad.

Tottenham hold talks over bid for Xavi Simons

According to The Telegraph, Tottenham are holding talks over a bid for Simons as they look to potentially hijack Chelsea’s deal for the 22-year-old.

Valued at around £60 million – a similar fee to what Spurs were prepared to pay for both Gibbs-White and Eze – this deal appears like a feasible one to do. Leipzig have also confirmed to German news outlet BILD that Simons has been allowed to discuss a transfer away, opening the door for Frank’s side to rival Chelsea.

Matt Law of The Telegraph also reports that, despite the attacker’s fondness for Chelsea, there is optimism that he’d be open to joining Tottenham as well.

Leipzig made Simons their highest-ever paid player on a contract worth £192,000-per-week earlier this year, showing just how highly-rated he is, with Football Transfers also calling him a ‘similar’ player to Maddison.

Last season, the former PSG sensation bagged 11 goals and eight assists over 33 appearances in all competitons, and the Netherlands international is only likely to get even better as he matures.

Liverpool battling Man Utd and Man City to sign towering Dutch defender

Liverpool are one of several top Premier League clubs who are interested in signing a “quality” young Dutch defender from one of Europe’s greatest football institutions.

Ekitike excited to link-up with Isak at Liverpool

The Reds return from the international break this weekend, making the trip to newly-promoted Burnley and looking to keep up their 100% winning start to the season.

Alexander Isak could potentially make his Liverpool debut, following his record-breaking move from Newcastle United, and while the Swede could push Hugo Ekitike down the pecking order, the Frenchman cannot wait to play alongside his new teammate.

“It’s fun. When you play for the best teams, you expect to be competing with the best players. Isak is a player I’ve watched too, so seeing him arrive is a pleasure. It’s going to be tough competition, but I’m going to focus on performing well so that it’s a problem for the manager.

“Obviously my life has changed. It’s a big move and I’m watched a thousand times more but I’m taking it positively, it’s really good. It’s the position I wanted to be in. When you have this kind of standard, you have to show that you belong here and you have to continue to perform. But it’s a position that I like and that I want to keep.”

Liverpool have broken their transfer record twice this summer, making huge statements by signing Isak and Florian Wirtz, but now a huge young talent is being linked with a move to Anfield.

Liverpool keen on signing "quality" young star ahead of Man Utd and Man City

According to a fresh update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are among the clubs showing “intense interest” in signing towering 6ft2in Ajax teenager Aaron Bouwman.

The 18-year-old centre-back is considered a player with a bright future in the game and called a ‘towering defender’, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Manchester City also “circling” for his signature.

Bouwman wouldn’t be joining Liverpool as an immediate starter if they did get their man, but like new signing Giovanni Leoni, he would be considered a massive part of the club’s future.

At just 18 years of age, the Dutchman has already made his debut for Ajax, and featured in three separate youth age groups for the Netherlands, and scout Elijah Michiels has hailed him as a “quality” player.

Bouwman also couldn’t ask to have a better centre-back to learn alongside than compatriot Virgil van Dijk if he does join, given the Liverpool captain’s status as one of the greatest defenders of his and any generation.

Signed for £5m, sold for 450% more: Liverpool hit gold with the original Wirtz

Liverpool’s original version of Wirtz was sold for a healthy profit.

ByWill Miller Sep 9, 2025

The level of competition for the teenager’s signature shows just how highly he is thought of, but the Reds should be seen as an exciting proposition as anyone currently, excelling both on and off the pitch over the past decade or so.

بشرى سارة في تدريبات برشلونة قبل مواجهة ريال مدريد

تلقى نادي برشلونة بشرى سارة في تدريبات الفريق الأخيرة، قبل الكلاسيكو المرتقب أمام ريال مدريد الأسبوع المقبل، في قمة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

ريال مدريد يستضيف نظيره برشلونة على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو يوم الأحد المقبل، في إطار قمة منافسات الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الفوز على ريال مدريد، وذلك من أجل انتزاع صدارة الدوري الإسباني التي يتربع على عرشها الفريق الملكي.

ونجح برشلونة في استعادة الثقة بعض الشيء، عقب انتصاره العريض على نظيره أولمبياكوس بستة أهداف مقابل هدف، أمس الثلاثاء، في الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تيباس ينفجر بعد إلغاء مباراة برشلونة في أمريكا: “يتحدثون عن النزاهة وهم يضغطون الحكام”

وأكد الصحفي الإسباني براديو كاتالونيا، خافي ميجيل، أن نجم نادي برشلونة، رافينها دياز، قد عاد من جديد إلى تدريبات البلوجرانا الجماعية، بعدما تعافى بشكل كامل من إصابته.

رافينها أصيب قبل بداية فترة التوقف الدولي الأخير، ولم يلعب مع برشلونة في مباراتي جيرونا وأولمبياكوس، مما جعل المدرب هانز فليك يعول على ماركوس راشفورد بشكل أساسي في مركز الجناح الأيسر.

والتقطت عدسات الكاميرا بالفعل رافينها وهو يشارك في تدريبات برشلونة الجماعية بشكل طبيعي، مما يعني جاهزية الدولي البرازيلي بشكل كامل للعب لقاء الكلاسيكو.

ومن المرجح أن يدفع فليك برافينها في مركز الجناح الأيسر بشكل أساسي ضد ريال مدريد مع التعويل على راشفورد كمهاجم، أو تواجد الدولي البرازيلي كبديل والاعتماد عليه في الشوط الثاني.

Better move than Grealish: Everton open talks to land Premier League star

Everton’s summer transfer window has been defined by a need to strengthen both in attack and defence.

After the addition of Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City, attention has now turned to shoring up the back line.

The Toffees were caught short in their opening Premier League defeat away at Leeds, with James Garner deputising at left-back in Vitaliy Mykolenko’s absence.

Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury further compounds the situation, leaving manager David Moyes eager to explore options that could reinforce the defensive spine of his team.

To complement a backline that conceded only 44 times last season, the joint fourth-best defensive record in the league, Everton must identify players capable of adding both experience and quality at the back.

Against this backdrop, Everton have begun exploring defensive reinforcements who could address immediate gaps while providing long-term stability.

Everton hold talks over Manchester City defender

According to TEAMtalk, Everton have entered exploratory talks regarding a move for Manchester City defender, Nathan Ake.

Described as an “exceptional guy” by Pep Guardiola, the 30-year-old is being considered as a potential addition to help strengthen a defence that Moyes is keen to build on.

Manchester City's Nathan Ake

Manchester City are reportedly open to selling the player, largely because of the depth of their squad and recent acquisitions in defence, including Rayan Ait Nouri.

Guardiola’s known preference for a smaller squad makes a move more feasible, though any transfer is likely to require a substantial fee, with City valuing the player in the £30-35m range.

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While a loan deal with an obligation-to-buy clause could be considered, Everton cannot pursue that route due to rules that prevent them from taking two players on loan from the same club in one window, as they have already signed Grealish.

The defender is reportedly eager for consistent first-team football and is understood to prefer a club competing in European competitions, which could complicate negotiations, especially considering Newcastle hold an interest.

However, Everton are determined to find a solution before the window closes.

What Nathan Ake can bring to Everton

Ake offers versatility because he is capable of playing at both centre-back and left-back and brings extensive Premier League experience.

Since joining City from Bournemouth for £41m in 2020, he has been a reliable squad player, regularly competing with the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol for minutes.

Last season, he featured 29 times in the league, showcasing his composure on the ball and technical reliability.

According to FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion rate at 94.4% and the 95th percentile for progressive passes per 90 minutes, with 6.17 per match.

His progressive carries per 90 also place him in the 90th percentile, highlighting an ability to advance the ball effectively from deep positions.

Despite these attributes, the player is less remarkable in traditional defensive metrics, ranking in the bottom 20 percentiles for tackles, blocks, interceptions, and dribblers tackled.

However, at City, his role has often been more focused on ball progression and positional play than on direct defensive duels, suggesting that under Moyes, who may deploy him with different responsibilities, he could adapt and improve in these areas.

Everton’s acquisition of Grealish on loan from Manchester City has added creativity to the squad, but the limitations of the forward are clear.

At 29, he has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, missing 17 games over the past two campaigns.

In 2023/24, Grealish played just 721 minutes, starting only seven matches and making 13 substitute appearances, per Transfermarkt.

His output last season was modest, with a single goal and one assist, though his quality on the ball and ability to create chances has never been in doubt.

Thomas Tuchel has emphasised that consistent first-team football is vital for Grealish if he has plans to play at the World Cup next year.

By contrast, Ake could provide a more immediate and reliable impact in a key area of need. The contrast between these two summer moves underlines Everton’s evolving priorities.

With the squad already strengthened in attack by the likes of Grealish and Thierno Barry, the remaining requirement is to ensure defensive stability.

Injuries to Branthwaite and Mykolenko have exposed the need for experienced and adaptable players who can seamlessly slot into multiple positions. The City defender’s Premier League experience, technical quality, and leadership make him a more impactful addition relative to the immediate threat posed by injuries.

His presence could allow Moyes to maintain balance across the pitch, protect the defensive line, and build a platform from which the team can attack more confidently.

While City value him at £30-35m, the investment is aligned with the type of secure, experienced reinforcement that Everton require.

In comparison, Grealish’s loan structure provides creative options but comes with limitations on continuity and availability, particularly if injuries recur.

For a manager focused on building a resilient and balanced squad capable of competing across a demanding Premier League season, the addition of a versatile centre-back offers more tangible returns than an attacking loan.

Everton’s interest in the Manchester City defender reflects a pragmatic approach to squad building.

By prioritising defensive reinforcement over additional offensive firepower, Moyes is targeting the most pressing weakness in his side.

The player’s Premier League experience, positional versatility, and technical skill offer a solution that addresses immediate needs while providing scope for adaptation and growth.

Romano: Everton leading race to sign £40m star with same agent as Barry

He has been one of Everton’s top targets all summer.

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 21, 2025

While Grealish brings flair and creativity, it is the defender’s ability to strengthen Everton’s spine that could have the most decisive impact on the club’s 2025/26 campaign.

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