Tag Futebol

Juventus have been warned by club legend Alessandro Del Piero that Igor Tudor's sacking will not solve the problems at the club. The former Italy international has explained that the issues inside the club are more complex than what the decision-makers believe and that it is not a coaching problem which has led to their dismal start to the campaign.

What led to Tudor's sacking?

A 1-0 loss to Lazio in Serie A on Sunday saw the Juventus board fire head coach Tudor. The Bianconeri have rarely produced magical moments and seldom showcased dominance in the league. The Serie A campaign kick-started on a bright note, as they defeated Parma, Genoa and heavyweights Inter. However, the game against Cristian Chivu's side was in fact the last fixture that saw them emerge triumphant. Since then, they have been held to five successive draws and three consecutive losses. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportClub legend Del Piero addresses Juventus' issue

After Tudor was relieved of his duties, former player and club legend Del Piero sneaked into the fray. He defended the Croatian and highlighted that coaching was not the root problem. Rather, the club has certain complex issues to address. He said: "I don't think the word confusion is the most appropriate for Igor. I know him well as a player and a boy, I even spoke to him in Madrid: it's not a question of confusion. Juve doesn't have a coaching problem but a more complex one, regarding how the team has come together in this start to the season and the results. The team has shown it is alive, it hasn't played poorly and perhaps the draw was fairer . They also did well in Madrid, the problem was in Como. I don't think this team could win the championship with another coach. It's a broader issue. They still don't have a starting eleven: not because Tudor doesn't want to have them or because he wants to make everyone lively, but because beyond 2-3 players like Yildiz and Thuram, the others have struggled to perform consistently. You can't always blame the coach alone. Looking at the strongest teams in Italy and Europe, more or less all of them have a starting eleven chosen."

Tudor was not concerned about getting sacked

The seven-game winless run ahead of the Lazio game might have created buzz in Italy about Tudor's position under scrutiny. However, the Croatian was never interested in such rumours and pressure. In fact, before the Lazio game, he made some bold comments when questioned about his future. He said: "Honestly, I don’t have this fear, not at all. I enjoy it, even in difficulties. I’m aware of what’s around me. It’s all clear to me. When you see things clearly, you have a strength that you wouldn’t have had in other moments. I think about how to motivate players, make them rest, and find solutions." 

The issue raised by Del Piero was touched upon by Tudor after the Lazio game. He said to the reporters: "I think we prepared for the match in the right way, but we’re still missing something. There’s no need to dramatise the situation, we’re all responsible for this difficult period."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

AFPWho are Juventus considering as Tudor's replacement?

This is the second time that Juventus have changed their head coach before November in a season. The last time it happened was way back in 1969, when the Bianconeri replaced Luis Carniglia with Ercole Rabitti. The Old Lady have fixtures in quick succession. On Wednesday, they will be up against Udinese at home, before taking on Cremonese in an away match on Saturday. However, they would need to finalise a new head coach soon. As per a report in Juventus are aiming to get former Italy national team manager Luciano Spalletti on board. Initial contact has been established between the parties, with the project and financial conditions being discussed. In case the deal doesn't see daylight, Juventus will be expected to turn to Roberto Mancini, who was once looked upon as a favourite to replace Thiago Motta last year. 

Watching Marcus Rashford score an emphatic brace for Barcelona in the Champions League would have been a bitter pill to swallow for many Manchester United fans.

On the one hand, the England international is a cherished, homegrown part of the club, still a member of the club, in fact, and only out on loan with La Blaugrana. On the other hand, his permanent departure at the end of the campaign feels rather likely.

The 27-year-old’s relationship with Ruben Amorim quickly disintegrated last season, and then he was shipped out to Premier League rivals Aston Villa for a short-term stint.

Having sold Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea too, the Red Devils perhaps have something of a shortage of widemen, even having completed impressive summer deals for Prem-proven duo Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

INEOS probably needed to ship out more stragglers than they did this summer, but they were faced with a huge task. And, in fairness, Mbeumo may well have the goalscoring ability to replace Rashford at the Theatre of Dreams.

Why Man United signed Bryan Mbeumo

Arsenal, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur. Just a few clubs who wanted to sign Brentford’s attacking talisman this summer. All failed, with Man United winning the race despite offering nothing on the European front.

One of the greatest clubs in England, if not the, United are still a dormant superpower and such signings are needed to bring them back to the fore.

Both Cunha and Mbeumo have entered the fray at a tumultuous period, but it is their quality which will help United steer through, having both been so potent in the Premier League last season.

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

38 (38)

Goals

15

20

Assists

6

7

Shots (on target)*

3.3 (1.3)

2.2 (1.1)

Big chances missed

2

9

Pass completion

79%

74%

Big chances created

13

17

Key passes*

1.8

1.8

Dribbles*

1.8

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.8

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.7

Duels won*

5.5

4.7

However, Man United didn’t get it all right during the summer window, and they still need to get rid of several stars who have run past their sell-by dates.

The player of significance here has been at Old Trafford for quite some time, but just as Mbeumo’s £150k-per-week salary reflects the new, streamlined wage structure INEOS are trying to implement, so too does this undeservedly matching pay packet underline the failings of the past decade.

INEOS must sell high-earning Man United flop

One of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s principal priorities upon assuming co-ownership at Manchester United was to rewrite the financial books and stop the rot that had led to incremental losses across an extended period.

The 33-year-old Casemiro, taking home £350k per week, is probably the most obvious member of the first team who needs to move on sooner rather than later, but the man in question here is Luke Shaw, whose £150k-per-week wage sits level with Mbeumo’s.

Had Shaw enjoyed a more fortuitous career on the fitness front, this likely wouldn’t be a conversation. When United signed the left-back from Southampton for £27m in 2014, making him the most expensive teenager of all time, it was widely recognised that the post-Fergie era would still see the development of some of the country’s finest prospects.

But Shaw’s has been a rocky road, and it may well be coming to an end, having been deployed by Amorim as the left prong of a three-part central defence, starting all four of United’s Premier League matches so far.

According to Sofascore, he has only won 44% of his ground duels, which hardly speaks of the defensive security the outfit needs to rise once again.

Moreover, given that Shaw’s incessant fitness issues have permitted more than 20 starting berths in any given top-flight season just twice across the span of his career, it’s hardly surprising that noise of a potential departure to welcome a new, hungry talent on a more affordable wage is rising.

Indeed, reports from the summer suggested that INEOS were open to the stalwart’s departure, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League interested, but nothing came to fruition. Still, it suggests that he could be shipped on for a modest fee next year, especially if he maintains a degree of fitness.

Content creator Dev Bajwa put it in no uncertain terms: “Luke Shaw should not have been playing at this football club for the past two seasons.”

He might be right. Aged 30, the England international has spent the lion’s share of his professional career in Manchester, playing 202 games for the club in total and notably winning silverware such as the Europa League and the League Cup (injuries prevented him from earning a medal when Erik ten Hag’s United won the FA Cup in 2024).

Shaw might have big ambitions, but sadly, he isn’t at the level required for a club who might demand a place challenging for the Premier League title, but presently face a battle to secure a place in any level of European competition next term.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of the Manchester derby last weekend, pundit Gary Neville conceded that his countryman was “nowhere near it”, and the question now lingers as to whether he is fit for purpose in Amorim’s three-man backline.

Having entered the penultimate year of his deal at the club, it seems unlikely that technical director Jason Wilcox would renew terms for a struggling star who has been around for an age but hardly produces the consistency of performance to warrant a salary in line with a new superstar such as Mbeumo.

Shaw can hold his head high, especially due to all the fitness troubles he has been plagued by, but it’s time for the Three Lions star to move on.

It's not Hojlund: Man Utd let "incredible" Sesko upgrade go for just £16m

Manchester United may now be regretting letting go of one former star who’s better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

What a start it has been for Everton in the 2025/26 Premier League season. David Moyes’ side has made several new additions and, so far, they’re proving to be successful. The Toffees are flying already this season, and sit fifth in the table.

The Merseysiders have already picked up six points and have scored five goals, having no issues in front of goal. Jack Grealish has started his career at the Hill Dickinson Stadium superbly, with four assists already, and Iliman Ndiaye has scored twice in the first three games.

Having a real focal point leading he line has been important, too. New signing Thierno Barry has started once, with Beto given the nod in the other two games. His early-season form has been strong.

Beto’s start to the season

It has been a fast start to the new campaign for Beto, who has now found the back of the net 17 times for Everton. As per Transfermarkt, most of those have come under Moyes, with the striker scoring nine times in 23 games under the legendary Scotsman.

So, it’s surely no surprise that the former Udinese star has already found the back of the net twice this season, in just four games. He’s only featured for 221 minutes, leaving him with an average of 2.4 full 90-minute games played and a goals-per-game average of almost 1.

One of the 27-year-old’s goals came in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield Town, and the other in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers. That game saw Beto play 76 minutes and open the scoring inside the first ten minutes, as Everton won 3-2.

It has certainly been a fast start to the season for Beto, who has previously struggled in a Toffees shirt. His value his shot up recently, coinciding with this good form, and he’s now worth as much as £19.1m, according to Transfermarkt.

Incidentally, there is a former Everton striker who is worth far more than Betom and has shown even better form than the 27-year-old.

The former Everton striker worth more than Beto

If Beto is doing this well under Moyes, you can only imagine the kind of form that Italian centre-forward Moise Kean would have shown. The 25-year-old was snapped up by the Toffees back in 2019 from Juventus for upwards of £27.1m.

However, after a few loan spells, he returned to the Old Lady four years on, with Farhad Moshiri and co ultimately deciding it was best to cut ties with the striker. In total, Kean played just 39 games for the club, scoring four goals, before ultimately returning to Serie A.

After a tough season in Turin following his permanent return, the striker moved to Fiorentina, where his career has taken a huge upward trajectory. His goal record in Florence has been exceptional, with former Juve teammate Weston McKennie describing him as a “beast”.

In 47 games for the Tuscany-based club, he’s found the back of the net 25 times, chipping in with five assists. Last season, Kean was second in the race for the Serie A Golden Boot, with 19 goals to his name.

He averaged 0.7 goals per game and had a conversion rate of 21.35% in the Italian top flight.

Shots on target

1.7

51

Goals

0.7

19

Conversion rate

21.35%

21.25%

Chances created

0.6

17

Take-ons completed

1.5

44

One of his best goals included this acrobatic effort against Genoa, showing just how deadly he can be in the penalty box. The form he has shown for Fiorentina means his value has shot up, with Transfermarkt valuing him at £43.4m, well over double what Beto is worth.

That is also the highest Kean has been worth in his career.

Kean’s form makes you wonder how good the 25-year-old could have been if he were still at Everton now. With the attacking talent the Toffees have, like Grealish and Ndiaye, plus the output Moyes has gotten from his team this season, he could have been flying in a blue shirt.

It is something that the Everton faithful can only imagine, amid the mess made of the situation by the likes of Moshiri. But if Moyes had been able to coach Kean, he could have been a key player at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and contributed to this excellent start to the season.

Silva sold "world-class" Everton star, now he's worth more than Grealish

Everton must rue letting this top star go, who is now worth more than new Toffees ace Jack Grealish.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 2, 2025

A 5-0 win and the announcement of Eberechi Eze. Weekends don’t get much better if you’re an Arsenal fan.

This has been a spectacular window and it was capped off by Eze’s arrival last week, signing for his boyhood club, returning to the team that rejected him at the age of 13.

It’s a dream fulfilled. The smile on his face over the last week has been joyous. Very rarely have we seen a player so delighted to sign for the Gunners.

Yet, Andrea Berta and Co aren’t done quite yet. Anyone fancy another left-sided defender? Mikel Arteta, of course you do. The window wouldn’t be complete without one arriving.

Arsenal's transfer plans after signing Eze

Surprising news emerged at the beginning of the week that with Jakub Kiwior set to depart the Emirates Stadium, another defender could arrive.

That player is Bayer Leverkusen star, Piero Hincapie. One of the most exciting defenders in the game, Hincapie has proven himself to be a rampant threat when playing as a left-back, but also a pillar of solidity when playing as a centre-back.

This move would be the icing on the cake as far as Arteta is concerned, but despite a near £300m summer spend, more forwards are still on Arsenal’s radar.

Indeed, according to Caught Offside, the Gunners and Chelsea are monitoring Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman.

Transfer Focus

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

It’s reported that Lookman’s future in Italy is hanging by a thread after falling out with key figures at the club, thus opening up the possibility of a transfer in the remaining week of the window.

Inter Milan have been the most serious suitors for much of the summer but with no move forthcoming yet, a number of clubs in England have weighed up swoops.

Arsenal are said to be considering an approach, while Chelsea and Aston Villa are also interested in the £45m forward.

The two London clubs may hold an advantage. It’s claimed that Lookman has moved back to the English capital this summer.

Why Lookman could be Eze 2.0 for Arsenal

It’s safe to say that Eze and Lookman have enjoyed/endured similar journeys on their rise to footballing stardom.

Born a matter of months apart, both in London, the two 27-year-olds grew up in the capital and began their careers in a similar fashion.

While Eze was rejected by Arsenal, eventually going onto play in the academies at Fulham and Millwall, before he got his big break at QPR, it was in the EFL and London where Lookman was also first spotted, playing for Charlton Athletic.

While they caught their eye with trickery, it’s not been until the last few years that they’ve become talents worthy of playing for one of the Premier League’s biggest and best clubs.

Indeed, over the last two campaigns, Eze has dazzled for Crystal Palace, scoring 25 goals and registering 17 assists in all competitions. He’s in his prime and the numbers showcase that.

Lookman is cut from a similar cloth. He’s a “superstar” in the words of 90min’s Sean Walsh and has really exploded over the last two years in Italy. Who can forget his famous hat-trick that won Atalanta the Europa League in 2023/24?

Those are just three of 37 goals he’s scored in the last two seasons, years where he also supplied 17 assists for good measure too, the same number as Eze.

While the Nigeria international has predominantly played as a centre-forward in Serie A, like Eze, he’s capable of playing on either flank or behind the striker.

They’re dazzling with the ball at their feet too, the former Palace star notably ranking inside the top 15% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90 minutes and Lookman sitting among the best 6% of positionally similar players for progressive carries.

London-born, the same age, similarly versatile, explosive and in their primes, there is a lot to compare between the two players. Arsenal could do far worse than Lookman if they are on the hunt for even more firepower before the window closes.

Perfect for Saka: Arsenal submit bid to sign "complete" star after Hincapie

Arsenal have made their move to land another star for Mikel Arteta this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 27, 2025

أعلن زين الدين زيدان الأسطورة الفرنسية، عن بشرى سارة لجماهيره بعد غيابه الطويل عن كرة القدم، منذ رحيله في عام 2021 عن تدريب ريال مدريد بعد موسم بلا ألقاب.

وارتبط اسم صاحب الـ52 عاماً، بعدد من الوظائف التدريبية الخالية خلال تلك الفترة، وقد ترددت تكهنات أنه رفض تدريب المنتخب الأمريكي أيضًا.

وكان زيدان مؤخرًا قد حضر إلى نيويورك مع شركة أديداس للمساعدة في إطلاق كرة كأس العالم الجديدة، استعدادًا لنهائيات كأس العالم 2026.

وكشف صحفي سكاي سبورت “فابريزيو رومانو”، عن الخطوة التالية القادمة للفائز بالكرة الذهبية، حيث يستعد للعودة إلى ملعب “أورانج فيلودروم” في مسقط رأسه مارسيليا مع يونيفرس فوتبول، فيما وصفه بـ”مشروع عائلي مميز”، وتهتم هذه الشركة بإقامة فعاليات رياضية وخيرية تجمع النجوم والمشاهير.

أقرا أيضاً.. تطورات جديدة بشأن موقف خوان جارسيا من اللحاق بـ الكلاسيكو

ولم يتم توفر كل التفاصيل حتى الآن بشأن خطوة زين الدين زيدان القادمة، لكن موقع ” يونيفرس فوتبول” أشار إلى أنه ستكون هناك مباراة أساطير حيث سيشارك بها زين الدين زيدان.

وقد أعلنت العلامة التجارية عن المزيد من الإعلانات في “نسخة ثالثة” وسيتم تنظيم حدث رياضي يجمع نجوم كرة القدم الكبار، بالإضافة لعدد كبير من المشاهير في ليلة استثنائية.

وتعيد عودة زيدان إلى ملعب فيلودروم تجربة مميزة وذكريات الطفولة بالنسبة له، ورغم أنه لم يلعب مع مارسيليا، لكنه ارتدى قميص بوردو في مسقط رأسه، قبل الانتقال ليوفنتوس وريال مدريد، وقد نشأ الأسطورة الفرنسية مشجعًا لمارسيليا الذي فاز بدوري أبطال أوروبا عام 1993.

Karim Adeyemi and Kenan Yildiz shared a light-hearted exchange in the pulsating 4-4 Champions League draw between Borussia Dortmund and Juventus. The pair, who once attended the same school in Germany, traded words after each scored spectacular goals. Both later clarified their comments, with Adeyemi jokingly telling Yildiz not to score again, while the Juve youngster recalled admiring his old friend as a role model.

Verbal skirmish between Adeyemi and Yildiz

A heated-looking moment between Adeyemi and Yildiz during Juve’s clash with Dortmund quickly became a talking point. The two were seen in a centre-circle exchange after scoring stunning goals, sparking speculation of tension. However, the 23-year-old Dortmund star dismissed any hostility, telling it was nothing more than banter between old acquaintances.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAdeyemi explains exchange with good friend Yildiz

“We know each other. I went to school with him. He was younger than me, a very, very good boy and a very good footballer,” the Dortmund winger said of the 20-year-old Turkey international. “I scored, he scored, and then we played a little joke. I told him not to score any more goals and not to run backwards. That’s football. I get along well with him.”

'He was a role model' – Yildiz on Adeyemi

Juve starlet Yildiz also downplayed the incident, revealing the exchange was partly in Turkish. 

“Those were a few jokes in Turkish. He knows a few words. I think he sometimes feels better than me,” he laughed.

“We went to the same school in Unterhaching. I was in fifth grade, he was in 10th. People looked up to him, he was a bit of a role model back then.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty ImagesEight-goal thriller lights up Turin

The friendly chat was just one subplot in a chaotic Champions League opener. Adeyemi’s strike put Dortmund ahead, before Yildiz’s long-range effort levelled things. Felix Nmecha and Dusan Vlahovic traded goals in a frantic four-minute spell, while Yan Couto and Ramy Bensebaini seemed to seal the win for the Germans after the 86th minute. However, late strikes from Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly rescued Juventus in stoppage time.

The 4-4 draw equalled the record for the highest-scoring Champions League draw and highlighted both sides’ attacking flair as well as their defensive fragility. Juve will next face Villarreal in their group campaign, while Borussia Dortmund meet Athletic Club on October 2. With Yildiz’s rise continuing and Adeyemi back in form, both clubs will hope to turn entertainment into consistent results.

Wolverhampton Wanderers may have lost Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha this summer, but Vitor Pereira has recruited wisely.

In come Jhon Arias and Fer Lopez, while Jorgen Strand Larsen has joined on a permanent deal following his season-long loan spell at Molineux, one that saw him end the campaign as one of the top scorers in the division.

The supporters will be keen on more moves to occur over the coming weeks, especially as the new Premier League season draws ever closer.

There are several positions that the Portuguese manager will be keen on bolstering and the latest news surrounds a Bayer Leverkusen winger.

Wolves’ search for a winger

Despite Arias and Lopez linking up with the squad, it is clear that Pereira is still looking to sign someone who could replace Cunha on the left flank.

According to German outlet BILD, Wolves are keen on landing Leverkusen winger Amine Adli this summer and he has already received a ‘concrete offer’ to move to the Midlands.

He is reportedly keen on having talks with the Old Gold, and it would take a bid of around €30m (£26m) to secure his signature.

The report goes on to mention that despite the player being attracted to the project at Molineux, it is unsure whether the club are willing to meet their demands for Adli.

If a move can be struck, Pereira would be signing an excellent player who was even compared to Bayern Munich sensation Jamal Musiala last season…

Why Wolves want to sign Amine Adli

During the 2024/25 Bundesliga season, Musiala was the ninth-most comparable player in the German top-flight to Adli, according to FBref.

Indeed, the duo also registered a host of similar statistics across a range of attacking metrics, including shots per 90 (2.35 vs 3.4), successful take-on percentage (46.9% vs 51.1%) and carries into the final third (25 vs 48) in the German top flight last season.

Furthermore, Musiala and Adli both have strengths, including key passes, through balls and even defensive contribution according to WhoScored.

Due to their attacking abilities and the fact that they like to dribble often, both wingers get fouled a lot, meaning their respective teams usually have free kicks in dangerous areas of the pitch.

While not having quite the level of talent as Musiala, for £26m, Wolves could be getting a bargain in Adli.

Goals

2

Assists

0

Big chances created

1

Key passes per game

0.6

Total duels won per game

3

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

Prior to his move to the Bundesliga in the summer of 2021, talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished plenty of praise on the youngster, stating that he had “electric pace & acceleration” along with having “superb dribbling skills” and these are abilities that the winger has developed over time.

It might take him time to settle into the Premier League, but if given the chance under Pereira, Adli could showcase his talents in the Midlands.

His comparisons to Musiala from a statistical point of view, suggest that the Old Gold could have an excellent attacking talent on their hands.

Wolves will be eyeing a place in the top half of the table this season amid a solid second half of 2024/25. Adli could certainly add something extra to the final third, that’s for sure.

Wolves in race to sign £17m+ striker who has been likened to Olivier Giroud

The teenager could be the next big thing…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 24, 2025

Tottenham have their eyes on other transfer targets, amid their ongoing legal dispute over Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.

Talks ongoing: Tottenham in contact to sign £70m Premier League "superstar"

Spurs are in talks to sign a forward, who is now keen to leave his current club this summer.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 21, 2025

According to Fabrizio Romano, a lot of Spurs’ focus right now is on finalising the deal for Gibbs-White, despite Forest placing many hurdles for chairman Daniel Levy to leapfrog in pursuit of his signature.

The Lilywhites and Gibbs-White’s agent have been threatened with action in a letter written by Forest (Sky Sports), as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are unhappy with the manner they obtained information about Gibbs-White’s £60 million release clause.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Forest also accused Tottenham of effectively ‘tapping up’ the 25-year-old (Ben Jacobs), and if they’re found guilty of these alleged offences, talkSPORT recently suggested that Spurs face a fine or even a transfer ban.

Forest even adopted a ‘not for sale’ stance recently, but despite all of this, Tottenham remain hopeful they can sign Gibbs-White and make the England international their fourth signing of the summer after Kota Takai, Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel.

Terms won’t be an issue, as the former Wolves star was even scheduled to have a medical at Hotspur Way on July 11 before Forest blocked the move.

It is simply a case of waiting for Forest to step aside before Tottenham can complete this move, but they could end up having to pay an even higher transfer fee above the original £60 million as compensation (Stefan Borson).

In the meantime, away from Gibbs-White, there are suggestions that Spurs want to sign another centre-back this summer, but it is unclear whether that ties into Cristian Romero’s uncertain long-term future (Matt Law).

Tottenham are also targeting a new number six, with Yves Bissouma’s exit rumoured as a likely possibility before deadline day.

Bayern Munich tell Joao Palhinha he can leave after Tottenham talks

GiveMeSport reported earlier this week that Tottenham recently held discussions with Bayern Munich over signing Joao Palhinha, where they were told he’ll be allowed to leave on a permanent deal.

TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey now have more information on the 30-year-old’s potential switch to N17.

It is believed that Bayern have made it “clear” to Palhinha he can leave this summer, having endured an unfortunate debut campaign at the Allianz Arena last season, and Vincent Kompany’s side want around £30 million to green-light his exit.

This comes after Tottenham also held talks with Palhinha via his representatives, which was relayed in this latest update from TBR Football, but Thomas Frank’s side are currently £10 million off their asking price.

Spurs want to get a deal for Palhinha done at £20 million, so there is still plenty of work to be done here, but the experienced ex-Premier League midfielder could be worth a solid effort.

“Joao is a tackling machine,” said former Fulham teammate Harrison Reed to Sky Sports.

“My job is to get pressure on the ball. It is about complementing his style and forcing the ball into areas where we can win it. My tackle numbers are not very high but in terms of pressuring the ball that is where I affect the game more.”

Bayern Munich have now made an approach over a potential deal for a Chelsea star who excelled at the Club World Cup, according to a report.

Blues crowned Club World Cup champions in New Jersey

Few would have predicted the Blues to cause an upset against European champions Paris Saint-Germain, but they put in a remarkable performance to secure a 3-0 victory, with all three goals coming in the first-half.

Cole Palmer is likely to get most of the headlines, with the England international bagging a brace, and the 23-year-old’s second goal was extremely well-taken, creating space with a shimmy that was impossible for Lucas Beraldo and Vitinha to predict.

However, Enzo Maresca has praised the entire team for the way in which they were able to implement his game plan, saying: “It went well, but I think we won the game in the first 10 minutes, when the team came out to demonstrate that we were here to try to win, respecting the rival, considering the rival the best team in the world at this time.

“But I think in the end, you can give the players a plan, but in the end it’s them who have to execute it, and they did it very well.”

Another player who caught the eye was Malo Gusto, with the right-back assisting Palmer’s opening goal vs PSG, while also being trusted by Maresca throughout the tournament, featuring in every single match.

Chelsea now in race to sign PSG's "sensational" £34m Ballon d'Or contender

The Blues are vying to sign one of the world’s best-performing players…

ByDominic Lund Jul 14, 2025

However, according to a report from France, Gusto is now attracting interest from across the continent, with Bayern Munich submitting an enquiry over a potential deal, given that Sacha Boey is expected to leave the German club this summer.

It is currently unclear whether the Blues would be willing to listen to offers for the Frenchman, who started against PSG, but they should be in a strong negotiating position, as he remains contracted until 2030.

Chelsea must reject Bayern's advances

Maresca could be brewing something special at Stamford Bridge, with the statement victory over PSG suggesting his side may be Premier League title contenders next season, and Chelsea must not put that at risk by selling one of their key players.

The France international made 32 appearances in the Premier League last season, indicating Maresca trusts the full-back, with the Italian also describing the 22-year-old as one of his “favourite” players.

As such, it seems unlikely that a departure will be on the cards this summer, especially in the wake of the Club World Cup final triumph, which may convince the defender to continue being a part of Maresca’s project.

That said, if Chelsea do decide to cash-in, they should hold out for far more than the £31m they forked out to sign him from Lyon back in January 2023.

With Chelsea having secured Champions League football at the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign, things looked more positive for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Since taking over last summer, he’s done an admirable job in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, notably winning the Conference League on the way to sealing that top-four place.

It’s rare you get the chance to win major silverware over the summer too, but Chelsea have been presented with that at this year’s revamped Club World Cup.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 13, 2025

However, in true Chelsea fashion, they’ve had a topsy-turvy time of it out in the United States.

They won their first game 2-0 against LAFC but were embarrassed by Brazilian opposition, Flamengo, 3-1 on Friday night.

“We know we could hurt them in some areas”, said former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho after the game. Having recently left Arsenal, the veteran rolled back the years against his ex-employers, notably winning possession more times (8) than Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo (7) put together.

Jorginho wasn’t the only one out there embarrassing Chelsea players, as Nicolas Jackson will testify.

Jackson’s moment of madness against Flamengo

Chelsea actually started their game against Flamengo in fantastic fashion.

Pedro Neto – who scored against LA a few days ago – was on hand once again to find the back of the net.

Sadly, it all went pear-shaped in the second half when goals from Wallace, Danilo and Bruno Henrique sealed all three points.

At 2-1 down, their cause certainly wasn’t helped by Jackson. Only a matter of months ago, the striker nearly ruined Chelsea’s top five hopes by getting sent off at Newcastle and he let his teammates down again on Friday.

Liam Delap – fresh off assisting Fernandez’s goal in their Club World Cup opener – started the game but didn’t enjoy as much success this time around, subbed off in the 64th minute for Jackson.

Well, just four minutes later, the Senegalese forward found himself back in the locker room after being sent for an early bath.

Jackson lunged in late with his studs and the referee saw no other option but to send him off. Celebrating his 24th birthday, it’s safe to say this wasn’t the happiest of occasions for the forward.

Chelsea have already been in the market for upgrades to their forward line this summer and in Delap, they have already signed a fine rival. Yet, amid links to players like Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, perhaps BlueCo just better cut their losses on the player now.

As bad as Jackson was, he wasn’t the only culprit in the defeat.

What else went wrong for Chelsea against Flamengo

Jackson will and should no doubt take much of the blame but Chelsea’s defence put in a rather shambolic performance at the back.

Starting with Flamengo’s equaliser, it was right-back Malo Gusto who failed to cover himself in much glory. He was caught out by a deep cross to the back post where Gonzalo Plata got free of every defender.

Poor positioning from Trevor Chalobah and Levi Colwill subsequently allowed Plata to head the ball back across goal where Henrique had a tap-in.

Gusto was once again caught out for the second when he was easily beaten to the ball by the aforementioned Henrique from a corner, with the ball then finding itself to Danilo who converted another tap-in for the Brazilians.

The third was largely down to Colwill, who failed to clear following a bit of pinball in the area. The result? A third and final goal for Flamengo, capping off a truly woeful day for Chelsea’s defence.

Now, while he was far from the worst defender on Friday, Chalobah certainly didn’t have a good night either. Colwill and Gusto made the big mistakes, but the central defender is only proving why Chelsea should be looking to get rid.

Chalobah came back to the club in January after half a season on loan at Crystal Palace and truth be told, that feels like his level.

The Express’ Sam Smith summed things up nicely post-game, handing the Englishman a 5/10 match rating.

He wrote that Chalobah will need “to produce better performances if he is to win admirers in the transfer market,” indicating that a “move for the defender seems likely” amid interest from Italian side Napoli.

Remarkably, Chalobah started ten league games after being recalled over the winter but following Chelsea’s nightmare at St James’ Park, he sat out the remaining games, wins over Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, where clean sheets were kept in both matches.

The defender also sat out of the 2-0 win against LA earlier this week, only further indicating that he should probably be on the bench.

Still, with interest from Naples brewing and the Blues looking at signing players such as Jorrel Hato, space must be opened up for upgrades.

If Maresca has any sense, this could well have been the last time we saw Chalobah in Chelsea colours. Like Jackson, a move elsewhere surely beckons.

FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Qualified teams, format, venues & how to watch

The FIFA Club World Cup takes place this summer, with plenty of teams set to head to the United States in July 2025.

By
Ross Kilvington

Oct 30, 2024