All posts by n8rngtd.top

Max Eberl has confirmed Bayern Munich's interest in Nick Woltemade but has warned Stuttgart over inflated demands over a transfer fee.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Eberl confirms striker is on Bayern’s radar
• Verbal terms agreed, fee talks up next
• Club won’t entertain over-the-top valuations

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayern sporting director Eberl has confirmed for the first time that the club is "definitely" targeting Stuttgart striker Woltemade. Eberl acknowledged the club’s intent to begin shaping their squad for next season, and named the 23-year-old forward as part of that plan. Bayern have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the player on personal terms, offering him a long-term deal until 2030 which would mark a tremendous pay rise for him. All that remains is for the German champions to agree on a transfer fee with Stuttgart, though as of now, no written offer has been submitted.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Bundesliga champions are in pursuit of Woltemade signals a clear strategy to refresh their attacking line with promising domestic talent. The club are determined to secure the forward, who enjoyed a standout season at Stuttgart with 17 goals in 33 games, but are equally firm in their stance on not overpaying. Eberl stressed that an “unrealistic” price would not be entertained, suggesting that Bayern are willing to walk away from the deal if the terms do not align with their financial strategy.

• WHAT MAX EBERL SAID

  "We're playing in the Club World Cup, and yet the transfer window is approaching. We want to put together the squad for next season and the coming years. Nick Woltemade, with his development, is definitely a player we're thinking about. And we'll see what's possible," Eberl told .

  Eberl confirmed the club’s interest in Woltemade while warning against inflated transfer demands: "We've spoken out about it, and many people have spoken out about it. We'll continue with our transfers calmly, and if the prices are unrealistic, then we have to accept that and move on to another target player. That's perfectly normal in this business. There are no rejections. There's a plan, and we're trying to implement it with the resources we have. And if it doesn't work, then it doesn't work."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN & WOLTEMADE?

  With the European U21 Championship now concluded, the Bavarians are expected to move quickly to make their first official offer to Stuttgart. The fee could prove to be a sticking point, especially with Stuttgart hoping to trigger a bidding war. However, the mutual respect between Eberl and Stuttgart’s sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth may ease negotiations. If the deal goes through, it would give Bayern a youthful and dynamic forward option to compete with the likes of Harry Kane, aligning perfectly with the club's long-term squad vision.

Rafael Leao has declared AC Milan as his dream club, cooling Bayern Munich links and hinting at a key role under Massimiliano Allegri.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Leao calls Milan his dream destination
• Allegri plans key role for Portuguese star
• Bayern seeking more options after Sane exit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Leao appeared on a Q&A on TikTok, where he was asked which club he dreams of playing for. His answer: “I already play in one of my dream teams. Milano! Milano! Milan is one of my dream clubs,” served as a strong signal amid growing speculation about a transfer to Bayern or Arsenal.

  The Portuguese winger’s comments come at a key moment, with Milan’s pre-season beginning under new head coach Allegri and transfer rumours swirling. While Bayern were reportedly keen, with internal discussions about a potential move, Leao’s public stance has temporarily cooled the exit talk.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Leao’s declaration appears to align with Milan’s internal direction under Allegri, who has reportedly already spoken to the player and views him as a central figure in his tactical rebuild. Despite financial concerns at the club, Milan seem determined to hold onto their stars.

  The winger has long been a fan favourite and one of the club's top performers, and his bond with Milan could be vital in navigating a difficult season ahead. Market-wise, Milan are still open to offers, but only if they exceed €80m (£67m/$86.2m). Bayern, while still admirers, have now shifted their focus to Nico Williams and Bradley Barcola.

• WATCH THE CLIP

  "What's your dream team? Good question. I already play at one of my dream teams. Milan is a dream team," he said.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN & LEAO?

  Unless a huge bid materialises, Leao looks set to stay at San Siro to become a cornerstone of Allegri’s new Milan. The Portuguese international is expected to feature prominently in pre-season and could even take on a leadership role in a young, reshaped squad. Leao’s form and commitment in the opening months of the season will now be critical in silencing the remaining transfer noise, and in pushing Milan back toward the top of Serie A.

Former Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps has sent a message of support to England ahead of their crucial Euro 2025 match against the Netherlands.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Lionesses facing must-win fixture
• Lost first game against France
• Earps shows support for team

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sarina Wiegman's side face a must-win game at the European Championship after opening up with a disappointing defeat to France. The loss means the Lionesses can be eliminated from the tournament if they lose their next game to the Netherlands and France are not beaten by Wales in the group's other game.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  England's preparations for the tournament were rocked by Earps, Millie Bright and Fran Kirkby all retiring from international football shortly before the start of Euro 2025. The announcements took many by surprise, with Earps subsequently claiming she was "villainised" for her decision. Yet the PSG star is still thinking of her former team-mates and posted a message to the team ahead of the big match.

• WHAT EARPS SAID

  She posted on Instagram: "Go get it girls!"

  Mary Earps Instagram

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THE LIONESSES?

  England play the Netherlands on Wednesday and then complete their group campaign on Sunday against Wales.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has been warned returning to management will be "hard" after his new deal with BBC Match of the Day.

• Rooney to join MOTD
• Without a club since Plymouth exit
• Louis Saha expects him to stick to punditry

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rooney has agreed an £800,000 deal to become a new Match of the Day pundit as the show embarks on a new era without Gary Lineker as presenter. The former Manchester United and England striker has been without a coaching job since he left Plymouth in December 2024.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Now, Rooney's former United team-mate Louis Saha has claimed that he will find it difficult to return to the dugout, and has suggested that he could be set to follow the examples of Roy Keane and Gary Neville, who left management behind to pick up a microphone.

• WHAT SAHA SAID

  Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Champions League betting, Saha said: “Wayne Rooney has some great views to share to the public, I think previously his target has been to be on the bench coaching a good team which hasn’t really worked out.

  “I think he can do a great job but it will be hard to switch back, we saw that with Roy Keane and Gary Neville, they wanted to be managers but realised it’s not that easy.

  “Gary Neville found out that he was better as a pundit than a coach, so we will see.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Rooney will return to our screens when the new Premier League season begins, and will also be seen in a new Disney+ documentary alongside his family.

Marcus Rashford has been sent a warning by the last Englishman to play for Barcelona: Marcus McGuane.

• McGuane was on the books at Barca
• Sends advice to Rashford
• Has joined on loan from Man Utd

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford has completed his loan move to Barcelona from United and he has been sent a warning by McGuane, who was the last Englishman to feature on Barca's books. He now plays for Huddersfield Town, having joined the club from Bristol City in the summer, but he played for Barcelona's first-team in 2018, thus becoming the first Englishman to play for the club since Gary Lineker in 1989.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  McGuane moved to Barca from Arsenal's youth academy and while he accepts that the move came too soon for him, he has warned Rashford of the pitfalls he must avoid if he is to be a success at Camp Nou. Rashford made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Vissel Kobe on Sunday.

• WHAT MCGUANE SAID

  McGuane told : "On the field, I’m sure he’ll hit the ground running and give a good representation of himself. He is a top player with fantastic qualities with lots to give his team – so I’m sure he’ll thrive.

  "Off the field, I’d recommend he immerses himself in the local culture and dives into his new community. Family and friends will be crucial so he settles down and makes it feel like home as quickly as possible. Being in a different country, picking up a different language and adapting to a different culture, you’ll need a good support network."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Barca play FC Seoul on Thursday. Rashford will be out to make a serious impact ahead of his first season abroad.

Manchester United have been urged to continue their pursuit of Emiliano Martinez this summer as he can provide the "balance" that Andre Onana cannot.

• Martinez being chased by United
• Talks are not at an advanced stage
• Louis Saha urges club to get deal done

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former striker Louis Saha has claimed that United should continue their pursuit of Martinez throughout the summer window, as they need an upgrade on Onana, who has "made too many mistakes" during his time at the club. Reports, however, suggest that the Red Devils face competition to land the World Cup winner, amid rival interest from Saudi Arabia.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Martinez waved an emotional farewell to the Villa Park faithful at the end of the season but he has yet to confirm a transfer away. United's last move for the player saw them propose a loan deal, but Villa knocked back that proposal. Saha believes that they must find a way to make a more acceptable offer, as Onana has turned in a series of "unacceptable" performances, that are not up to the standards demanded by the club.

• WHAT SAHA SAID

  Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League odds, Saha said: “Emiliano Martinez is a winner, he's a leader, he's got character. He will definitely provide this kind of balance that sometimes Andre Onana didn’t show last season.

  “Yes, he's a confident goalkeeper, Onana, but he made too many mistakes. It doesn't mean that Emiliano is not going to make any mistakes because that position is very fragile.

  “Last year, I have never seen any goalkeeper go through that at Manchester United or at any of the big clubs, it was horrific to see and I'm sure that he understands what people were saying. I think the competition is going to be healthy. He needs to realise for his career that he needs to do better and that those types of performance are almost unacceptable.

  “We're all human, but some of those mistakes were just not up to his standard and obviously not up to the standard of United. A player who won the World Cup, who has been really an asset for Argentina and for Aston Villa the last three years, I think he's a great goalkeeper.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Martinez may not be United's only stopper target, as they have also been linked with Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who may well be viewed as a more accessible option than the Villa star.

Alvaro Morata is edging closer to Como switch with Galatasaray demanding a payout before they will release him from his loan deal.

• Como agree terms with Morata and Milan
• Galatasaray demand €6m to terminate loan
• Fabregas pushing hard to land ex-teammate

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Fabrizio Romano, Morata is on the verge of joining Como after a complicated saga involving three clubs. Como have already reached an agreement with Morata and parent club AC Milan, but Gala, where the striker is on loan until January 2026, are holding out for compensation to release the player early. After weeks of negotiations, Como are hopeful the deal will be finalised this week.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Como have shown their ambition in the transfer market, bringing in several new names after they finished 10th in Serie A last season. Morata, a seasoned international with spells at Real Madrid, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Juventus, would be a marquee signing. But Gala’s demand for a €6 million fee – plus €3m in salary costs, has delayed the transfer despite Morata's clear desire to leave.

• TELL ME MORE

  Morata, who did not report back to Gala after the summer break, is pushing for a fresh start. Como have made him a priority target, and the Rossoneri, who loaned him to the Turkish side in January, have accepted the offer. However, the Turkish club, yet to exercise their option to buy, insist on financial compensation before terminating the deal. According to several reports Gala and Milan are nearing a resolution, which would unlock the move. Morata previously played alongside Fabregas at Chelsea and Spain, adding weight to the Como manager’s pursuit.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR COMO??

  If the deal is finalised, Morata would become one of Como’s most high-profile signings ever. The move represents a chance to reboot his career after a difficult loan spell in Turkey, and once again thrive in a league he knows well.

Real Madrid have released a statement asking FIFA and UEFA not to allow Barcelona to face Villarreal in a La Liga fixture in the United States.

• Madrid oppose Barcelona vs Villarreal fixture
• Game proposed to take place in U.S.
• Claim clubs would benefit from 'sporting advantage'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona's La Liga fixture against Villarreal in December could take place in the US, with the Royal Spanish Football Federation already giving its initial approval. La Liga president Javier Tebas has been keen to take the national league worldwide to globalise the competition and bring in more revenue, but Madrid have now voiced their firm opposition to the idea.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  WHAT REAL MADRID SAID

  In a published statement, Madrid said: "Real Madrid CF wishes to express to its members, supporters, and football fans in general its firm rejection of the proposal to play the matchday 17 match of the National First Division League Championship between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona outside of Spain.

  "The measure, implemented without prior information or consultation with the clubs participating in the competition, violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity that governs double-round league competitions (one match at home and the other at the opposing team's home), altering the competitive balance and granting an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs. 

  "The integrity of the competition demands that all matches be played under the same conditions for all teams. Unilaterally modifying this regime violates the equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results, and sets an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting interests, clearly affecting sporting integrity and risking adulteration of the competition. If this proposal is implemented, its consequences would be so serious that they would mark a turning point for the world of football."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Madrid also confirmed it has asked FIFA not to authorise the match and urged UEFA to get the RFEF to deny the request. Los Blancos have also requested that the Higher Sports Council does not give the fixture the go-ahead without unanimous consent from other clubs.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  No European top-flight game has ever been hosted in the U.S., but leagues like La Liga and Serie A have tried to expand their footprint in recent years. The Supercopa de Espana and Supercoppa Italiana have been hosted in Saudi Arabia over the last couple of seasons, while AC Milan have also explored the idea of playing a match in Perth, Australia next February.

Leah Williamson will miss the start of Arsenal's new season after sustaining a knee injury in England's Euro 2025 triumph that required surgery.

• Williamson to miss start of season
• England captain picked up knee issue at Euro 2025
• Has had surgery and will be absent as WSL returns

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williamson limped off injured in extra time as England beat Sweden in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals and although she was able to play in the subsequent wins over both Italy and Spain as the Lionesses' retained their European title, she sustained an issue which will now see her miss the start of the new Women's Super League season.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Williamson returned from her post-Euros break last week with her knee still swollen. Following a scan, the decision was made to have clean-up surgery which was successful. The issue is in the same knee affected by the 28-year-old's devastating anterior cruciate ligament rupture in April 2023, which ruled her out of the World Cup and sidelined her for nine months. However, this problem is not believed to be linked to that.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While an exact timeline is not yet known, Arsenal expect Williamson to be missing for a few weeks rather than months. The Gunners don't have the blockbuster start to the WSL season that other rivals do, beginning at home to newly-promoted London City Lionesses on September 6 before taking on West Ham the following weekend. However, their third game of the season is a trip to Manchester United and their fifth is a return to the north west to face Manchester City. Arsenal's Champions League title defence will then begin a few days after the latter fixture.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMSON AND ARSENAL?

  Arsenal will hope Williamson can be back in action for some of those particularly big games, given her quality and importance to the back line. However, the Gunners are at least well-stocked at centre-back, with Lotte Wubben-Moy, Laia Codina, Steph Catley and the young Katie Reid all options while their star defender recovers.

Enzo Maresca has admitted that Cole Palmer has been carrying the injury that forced him out of Chelsea's thumping victory over West Ham for some time. In a dramatic pre-match twist, the England international was removed from the Blues' starting line-up just moments before kick-off. After the game, the head coach revealed that Palmer was dealing with a groin issue that had been bothering him in the lead up to the Premier League fixture.

• Maresca reveals Cole Palmer's injury status
• Pulled out just before Chelsea’s 5-1 win
• Forward to undergo tests for full evaluation

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  As the players prepared themselves at the London Stadium, Palmer experienced discomfort and was swiftly pulled from the XI. were quick to note Palmer's early departure from the pre-match warm-up, and it was subsequently confirmed that he would not feature in the starting team, with his place taken by eventual player of the match, Estevao.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT MARESCA SAID

  Speaking after the 5-1 victory, the Maresca revealed: "Groin. Palace game, he was not 100% but he tried to make a big effort for the club, the fans and the team. He tried tonight, but it was not very good. The last four or five days, he was not a hundred per cent. And tonight during the warm-up, he felt again something, so we preferred not to start with him and take any risks. We will see [how he is] in the next hours."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite Palmer’s last-minute omission, Chelsea demonstrated their strength in his absence. There were five different goal-scorers, and it was a performance that showed the Blues are certainly not 'Cole Palmer FC'.

  "You are there to say things, and people in general," Maresca snapped at the media. "The ones that say we are just 'Cole team'. Cole is our best player, we are a much, much better team. But we showed last season when Cole wasn't 100% and we achieved top four."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Chelsea's next match comes on August 30, when they host Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The club will be hoping that Palmer can recover in time to feature in that game. However, Maresca will not rush him into action, given that Chelsea have an international break following the west London derby, which will give them a two-week window to monitor Palmer’s recovery.