All posts by z3u9t.icu

Lewis Hamilton has now decided between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with the Formula 1 legend insisting he is a “big” fan of one of the players in the ‘GOAT’ debate.

Hamilton chooses between Ronaldo and Messi

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is now on the horizon, with the eighth edition set to take place in Baku from September 19th to 21st, in what is round 17 of the Formula 1 season, and McLaren head into the race in a strong position to win back-to-back constructors’ championships.

McLaren are currently 337 points clear of second-placed Ferrari, courtesy of finishing second and third at Monza, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collecting 617 points between them up to this stage.

Hamilton, on the other hand, hasn’t won in Azerbaijan since 2018, and Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has admitted the 40-year-old has struggled after making his big move to the Scuderia.

Carlos Alcaraz says England star may be "the best player in the world"

The 2025 US Open winner has suggested an England international is among the best footballers on the planet.

ByDominic Lund Sep 9, 2025

Vasseur said: “I don’t know if we underestimated the importance of the change. Probably, because he spent 10 years at McLaren, then 12 with Mercedes, but it was a kind of continuity – two teams based in the UK with the same engine, same environment.

“[Joining Ferrari] is a complete change for him, in his life, the culture of the team and everything. To do it in three test days in the winter period is quite difficult – and I think also the expectation was huge.”

The Briton will be looking to get back on track in Baku, after a mixed year so far, but there are no doubts over the fact he is one of the best F1 drivers of all time, having won a joint-record seven World Drivers’ Championships.

Alongside his clear love of F1, the Ferrari driver is also-well known to be a big football fan, having been a supporter of Arsenal growing up.

Hamilton has also decided between Ronaldo and Messi, claiming he is a fan of both players, saying:

Messi signs off in emphatic fashion in Argentina

The 38-year-old may no longer be playing in Europe, but he is still performing at the top-level, scoring a brace against Venezuela in his final home game for Argentina in the most recent international break.

Having racked up a remarkable 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 appearances during his time with Barcelona, while also winning eight Ballon d’Ors and the 2022 World Cup, it is difficult to argue with Hamilton’s assessment of the Rosario-born star being the greatest of all time.

Winning a second World Cup in 2026 could arguably end the debate, and Argentina have now sealed their place at the competition, which is due to take place across North America from next June until July.

Newcastle United might not be able to count on Alexander Isak for much longer as the player seeks a move away from St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe will now need to sign a striker or two in order to have his squad ready for the Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

Benjamin Sesko is a reported target for the club, and Newcastle would be willing to break their club-record transfer fee to sign him.

Could Howe perhaps chase another young striker instead, however? One who is even more prolific than Sesko…

Newcastle’s search for a striker

The likes of Julian Alvarez and Yoane Wissa have been earmarked as targets by Howe to bolster the club’s attacking options of late.

Both would be excellent signings, but Howe could go down a different route by making a move for Porto starlet Samu Aghehowa this summer.

That is according to the Guardian, who relay information that Newcastle might see Aghehowa as a potential alternative to Sesko.

One sticking point may be the price, as he has a release clause of €100m (£87m), although it remains to be seen whether Howe can negotiate a potential deal.

Aged just 21, he could be an ideal long-term Isak heir and, dare I say it, even better than Sesko.

Why Newcastle want to sign Samu Aghehowa

Across his senior career thus far, Sesko has scored 90 goals across 210 games, which works out as a goal every 2.3 matches.

In comparison, Aghehowa has netted 54 goals in 117 matches during his embryonic senior career thus far, averaging a goal every 2.1 matches.

On this basis, the young Spaniard is even more prolific than Sesko, and there is no doubt that he will get even better over the next few years.

He burst into life during his maiden season with Porto. Aside from registering 30 goal contributions in all competitions, Aghehowa also finished the season with a 23% goal conversion percentage, created five big chances and scored every 119 minutes in the Portuguese top flight.

Matches (starts)

30 (23)

Goals

19

Assists

3

Shots (on target)*

2.7 (1.1)

Big chances missed

18

Pass completion

79%

Big chances created

5

Key passes*

0.6

Dribbles*

0.4

Duels won*

3.3

It was no wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the youngster as a “monster in the making” and for having “such a complete profile” after just a few months at Porto.

His debut campaign was a successful one indeed from a personal point of view, and it is no surprise he is being linked with moves to the Premier League.

When compared to his peers across men’s next 14 competitions, the 21-year-old ranks in the top 4% for goals (0.76) per 90.

Furthermore, the striker ranks in the top 14% for touches in the opposition penalty area (5.45) per 90 and in the top 16% for total shots per 90 (3.1).

These statistics show just how prolific the player is in front of goal, and if Howe was serious about making a move for the youngster, Aghehowa could be a wonderful signing.

Much will depend on how far they are willing to take their interest in Sesko. But if the Magpies are looking for someone even more prolific, Aghehowa should be at the top of their list.

PIF set sights on signing 13-goal star for Newcastle after Isak bombshell

The Magpies have instantly turned towards potential replacements.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 25, 2025

You can understand a few disgruntled and impatient Arsenal fans right now, even if Andrea Berta has concluded some fabulous deals in the transfer window to date.

While Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke have all arrived, the Gunners boarded their flight on Saturday for their pre-season Asia tour without a new striker.

Some supporters may deem that a failure but Berta and Co are making progress. Viktor Gyokeres is poised to arrive at the Emirates Stadium, provided there are no late hiccups.

Arsenal have long needed a striker and you sense that the fanbase will not be content with how this summer has played out until one signs on the dotted line.

Still, there could yet be a late twist in the tale.

Arsenal looking at Gyokeres alternative

Last weekend, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Arsenal had made a breakthrough in their negotiations with Sporting regarding Gyokeres.

He revealed that Arsenal were ‘in the process of completing a move’ for the Swede and were taking the final steps in negotiations with the Lisbon club. It’s widely thought that the remaining hold up on the deal concerns the add-ons attached to the move. Frederico Varandas, the club’s president, is said to be hankering over how realistic those add-ons are.

Still, according to The Express’ Ryan Taylor, the Gunners remain ‘relaxed’ about the situation.

Before their pursuit of Gyokeres ramped up, the dream target for Arsenal and indeed for many other clubs was Alexander Isak.

Transfer Focus

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

Gyokeres’ international colleague has been the subject of interest from the north Londoners for some time now but amid recent interest from Liverpool, who are reportedly willing to slap £120m on the table, a new update has emerged concerning Arsenal.

Indeed, according to the club insider AFC Camden, ‘Isak’s representatives made contact with Arsenal in recent weeks’.

While this doesn’t mean a deal is necessarily on the table, particularly as it’s well documented Newcastle don’t want to sell, it’s interesting to see that the Gunners have been in talks as recently as this summer.

Last summer, the same source suggested that Mikel Arteta had told Martin Zubimendi to wait for Arsenal’s advances and lo and behold, the deal has now come to fruition. Perhaps this one might have legs too.

How Gyokeres compares to Alexander Isak

It’s safe to say that Arsenal need to score more goals next season. For the first time since the 1923/24 campaign, no player in the famous red and white scored double figures in a league campaign.

Yes, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz endured multiple months out with injury, but it rubberstamps Mikel Arteta’s biggest problem heading into 2025/26.

If it’s goals you’re after, then few do it better than Gyokeres. No player in Europe’s biggest leagues last season scored more goals than Gyokeres’ 54. He netted those in 52 outings, underlining exactly why Arsenal are after him.

It’s not as though he hasn’t done it in England, either. At Coventry City he led an ultimately failed promotion charge, scoring 22 goals in 2022/23 for the Sky Blues.

Yet, Isak has a special set of qualities that illuminate exactly why so many, including analyst Raj Chohan, have decided that he is “the best striker in the world.”

The Newcastle attacker may not have enjoyed a 50-goal season but he was still spectacular last term, bagging 27 in all competitions and finding the net on 23 occasions in the Premier League. Only Mohammed Salah scored more than the Swede in the English top-flight.

But it’s not just his goalscoring ability that makes him such a joy to watch. As some have already made reference to, he’s a bit like Thierry Henry. They’ve got that flair and exuberance, that willingness to run and dart down the channels, cutting inside in a similar fashion before unleashing hell on a goalkeeper.

“How many times did you see Thierry go through on goal and panic? It’s the same with Isak, if he goes through on a one-on-one you’re just always confident he’ll score,” Peter Crouch once said.

“Alexander Isak is giving me little vibes of Thierry Henry, to be honest. He’s looking so sharp right now. Those two finishes for those two goals [vs Southampton] make it seem like the easiest thing in the world,” said Nedum Onuoha on BBC Sport’s Final Score.

For those of an Arsenal persuasion, nothing brings more excitement than a player who plays in a similar manner to their all-time top goalscorer.

2022/23

27

10

3

2023/24

40

25

2

2024/25

42

27

6

It’s for that reason, and indeed Isak’s success in the Premier League already, that many would view him as the biggest superstar out of the two. He’s been doing it at the elite level for a number of years now, and he’s used to dominating the best defenders in the game.

After the Toon defeated Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, a game in which the Swede shone, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville noted that Isak had “Gabriel and Saliba on toast”. Considering the Gunners duo are two of the best centre-halves in the league, it was special praise indeed.

So, while a move to bring Isak to the Emirates is incredibly unlikely, there’s no doubting just how good a signing it would be.

More exciting signing than Eze: Arsenal preparing bid for £87m "superstar"

The incredible international would change the game for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 18, 2025

Yet again in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Manchester United are in the midst of a pivotal, ‘transitional’ summer under a new manager, with Ruben Amorim needing to oversee a sizeable rebuild at Old Trafford.

Fresh from the disappointment of a 15th-place Premier League finish and a limp Europa League final defeat, a fresh start is needed in Manchester. What better way to kickstart a new era than with new signings.

£62.5m has already been spent on Wolverhampton Wanderers star, Matheus Cunha, while the Red Devils are also confirming the £7m capture of Paraguayan teenager, Diego Leon, having struck a deal with Cerro Porteno in January.

If improvements are to be made on a dismal few years at Old Trafford, those deals must surely mark the beginning, rather than the end of the club’s dealings this summer, not least with a gruelling set of fixtures to kick things off.

When Arsenal come to town on 17 August, Amorim could do with having everything settled and sorted, avoiding the typical deadline day drama and desperation. If everything does go to plan, here’s how Man United’s dream squad could look for 2025/26…

The goalkeepers Onana & Bayindir ruthlessly replaced

It might not be the priority, but if funds are available, there should well be a drastic overhaul in United’s goalkeeping department, with both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir in need of a fresh start elsewhere.

In the case of Onana, the former Ajax and Inter man has been tipped for a move to Saudi Arabia after enduring a miserable two seasons in English football, having made five errors leading to a goal across the Premier League and Europa League last term.

Bayindir fared little better, shipping four against both Brentford and Newcastle United at the tail-end of last term, having got away with one against Aston Villa on the final day.

With veteran Englishman Tom Heaton set to stay, and promising academy star Radek Vitek returning from a loan spell at Austrian side BW Linz, two solid backups are already at Amorim’s disposal.

As for a new number one, a £50m move for Lille’s Lucas Chevalier has been touted, with the Frenchman regarded as “one of the most talented young goalkeepers in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Full list of goalkeepers – Lucas Chevalier, Radek Vitek, Tom Heaton

The defence Strength in depth despite limited recruitment

With so much work to be done at either end of the pitch, it could be argued that the defensive unit is of least concern heading into the new season, with Amorim blessed with strength in depth – provided everyone is fit and available.

The signings in attack could see Amad slip back into a right wing-back role, with the Ivorian memorably providing the assist for the first goal of the Amorim regime from that starting berth against Ipswich Town.

Lining up at right centre-back, exciting teenager Leny Yoro emerged as a real shining light in the back end of last term, with the experience of Harry Maguire – described as “perfect” for this system by his manager – likely to be invaluable next to him.

While long-term target Jarrad Branthwaite has signed a new deal at Everton, United already boast a handful of options at left centre-back, with both Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw set to be in the frame, fitness permitting, while young Ayden Heaven will also be pushing for a more prominent role.

Amorim could also have three options to rotate at left wing-back, with January signing Patrick Dorgu likely to compete with the teenage duo of Harry Amass and recent arrival, Leon – the latter of whom has been described as like a “stream train” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Full list of right wing-backs – Amad, Diogo Dalot

Full list of centre-backs – RCB (Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui); CB (Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt); LCB (Lisandro Martinez, Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw)

Full list of left wing-backs – Patrick Dorgu, Harry Amass, Diego Leon

The midfielders One key signing could make all the difference

With Cunha likely to be Amorim’s first-choice pick as a number ten, that acquisition may have sealed Bruno Fernandes’ fate, with the United skipper seemingly destined for a long-term role in one of the two midfield berths.

Again the chief creator in the division last term, the talismanic playmaker has shunned Saudi interest to remain in Manchester. Now all that is needed is a suitable partner.

Bruno Fernandes

91

Cole Palmer

89

Mohamed Salah

89

Enzo Fernandez

79

Bryan Mbeumo

70

Dejan Kulusevski

65

Martin Odegaard

63

Mikel Damsgaard

63

Leif Davis

61

Yourie Tielemans

61

Manuel Ugarte has prior experience working under Amorim, although his lack of involvement in the Bilbao showpiece outlined his initial struggles. Casemiro, meanwhile, could be kept on for his experience and leadership, but at 33, he should no longer be a regular starter at Premier League level.

Thankfully, the academy has produced the likes of Toby Collyer and teenage sensation, Jack Fletcher, for Amorim to lean more heavily on next term, although Fernandes’ first-choice partner could arrive in the form of Douglas Luiz, with talks reportedly being held with Juventus over a potential deal.

The Brazilian only left Aston Villa for £42m last summer, yet amid a testing time in Turin, a return to the Premier League could be on the cards. As United legend Roy Keane previously stated, he is a “quality” talent and has already proved himself in England. Box ticked.

Full list of central midfielders – Bruno Fernandes, Douglas Luiz, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Toby Collyer, (Jack Fletcher)

The forwards Major moves made to upgrade limp forward line

They say goals win games, but defence wins titles – well, right now, United are more concerned with the former, rather than the latter, having been so desperately poor last term.

It’s time for out with the old and in with the new, with Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony all in need of a fresh start, alongside Inter Milan target, Rasmus Hojlund.

If everything goes to plan, the Red Devils could be strengthened by three players who netted 51 Premier League goals between them last term, in the form of Cunha (15), Bryan Mbeumo (20) and Ollie Watkins (16).

A deal for the £70m-rated Mbeumo continues to rumble on, while reports have outlined that an approach has been made for Villa’s Watkins, with Viktor Gyokeres looking destined to end up at Arsenal. Watkins, it has been said, could fetch around £60m this summer.

While it is Brentford’s “mini-Salah” – as hailed by talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy – who enjoyed the more fruitful 2024/25, his former Bees teammate has been Mr Consistent in the top-flight for half a decade now, after reaching double figures for league goals in each of his five seasons at Villa.

A new look triumvirate could then lead the line under Amorim next term, and with the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo in reserve, the Old Trafford faithful could finally have something to shout about.

Full list of number tens – Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo

Full list of strikers – Ollie Watkins, Joshua Zirkzee, Chido Obi

£185m signings with Cunha: AI predicts Man Utd's 2025/26 starting line-up

Four new faces could be in the side against Arsenal in August.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 22, 2025

Chelsea chiefs are prepared to ship off a fair few players this summer after already spending around £140 million on new signings, with BlueCo intent on balancing the books to ensure they’re in line with FFP regulations.

In talks: Chelsea identify "next top target" in £60m star, he's keen to join

The Blues could yet another new attacker to their ranks.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2025

Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro are both poised to join Enzo Maresca’s side, with the latter having his medical in the US before his £55 million switch from Brighton, which has now been officially confirmed. Chelsea also agreed a deal for Gittens at that same price.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

This follows their £30 million move for Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, and it is believed that Chelsea are in talks over a move for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus as their next top attacking target (Simon Phillips).

If they do land Kudus next, the west Londoners will need to start selling players for significant fees, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga coming as their only senior exit so far.

Kepa joined Arsenal for around £5 million, which was announced earlier this week, and Chelsea are fully expected to orchestrate a few more high-profile exits.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi could all leave Stamford Bridge this summer, according to The Athletic, alongside more first-team regulars.

Christopher Nkunku is allegedly pushing to leave, while the likes of Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson are attracting reported interest from London rivals Arsenal.

Maresca’s backlog of surplus wingers will need some trimming, and that includes England international Raheem Sterling, who’s now back after a lacklustre loan spell at the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea ready to sell Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke

Journalist Pete O’Rourke, sharing an update for Football Insider, says that Chelsea are ready to accept offers for both Sterling and Madueke.

The latter, who cost around £30 million to sign from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, has played a key role under Maresca in recent months – earning praise from England boss Thomas Tuchel for his performances at international level too.

However, Madueke will be allowed to leave for the right price, and it could very well be for Arsenal, given the serious links and their extremely productive business relationship over the last few transfer windows.

Chelsea are very unlikely to receive a bid close to Sterling’s original £50 million deal from Man City, but it will be a boost for BlueCo to get the 30-year-old’s seismic £325,000-per-week wages off the books.

Reports in Spain last week suggested that Besiktas were in talks to sign Sterling, so there could be an avenue to explore in the Turkish Süper Lig, or perhaps in Saudi Arabia, where sides stand the best chance of getting anywhere near his sky-high salary in terms of a contract offer.

Chelsea have started their Club World Cup campaign with a relatively straightforward 2-0 victory over LAFC in the searing heat of Atlanta.

Enzo Maresca’s side were always expected to win, and it gave the Blues a solid start to the tournament. Next up is Brazilian side Flamengo this evening, and another win would seal a place in the knockout rounds.

The aim is to go as far as possible in the United States, especially with prize money for the winners of the competition set to reach $125m this summer.

Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández on Monday were enough to seal the win over the MLS side, but it was the debut of Liam Dealp that was one of the most positive aspects of the win.

The striker arrived for a reported fee of £30m from Ipswich Town a few weeks ago, and on the surface, this move could turn into a bargain for the Stamford Bridge side. Indeed, just how well did the Englishman perform during his cameo against LAFC a few days ago?

Liam Delap’s game in numbers vs LAFC

Maresca went with Nicolas Jackson as his lone centre-forward against the American side, and he performed fairly well, grabbing the assist for Neto’s opener.

After 65 minutes, the Senegal international was subbed off in place of Delap, who was given just over half an hour to demonstrate his talents.

During this time, Delap made two key passes, succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, and created one big chance against LAFC.

It was his assist that showed exactly what the striker can do. He delivered a fine cross from the right flank straight into the path of Fernandez, who finished easily to seal all three points.

While Delap may have been signed to provide competition for Jackson in leading the line, his cameo proves the youngster can drop deeper and generate chances for his teammates.

It will be interesting to see whether Maresca deploys him from the start against Flamengo this evening or if he will remain on the bench.

With the transfer market now in full swing, the manager appears to be keen on signing another winger or two to add something different to his squad.

Jamie Gittens has been earmarked as the main transfer target, and it remains to be seen whether the Blues will secure a deal to sign the Borussia Dortmund winger over the next few weeks. There are plenty of alternatives, however, especially those who have plenty of Premier League experience…

Chelsea’s search for a new winger

According to the Guardian, Chelsea have made Gittens a priority this summer in a bid to bolster their attacking options.

Dortmund rejected a bid of around £42m for the young English talent, and it remains to be seen just how much Maresca will have to pay to secure his signature.

The report goes on to state that the Blues have also made contact with West Ham United to sign Mohammed Kudus this summer.

West Ham rejected an initial approach from the Stamford Bridge side regarding a swoop for the former Ajax man, who has also been targeted by Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The Irons would prefer a straight sale amid Maresca’s attempts at offering players in any prospective deal, and the Ghanaian sensation has a release clause worth £85m, which is valid for Premier League sides throughout the first ten days of July.

It remains to be seen if he will cost more than a potential deal for Gittens, though. Given his Premier League credentials and ability to develop further, might he not only be a better signing, but also could Kudus work well with Delap?

Why Chelsea must sign Mohammed Kudus

Kudus was excellent during his spell with Ajax. A total of 39 goal contributions across 87 games saw West Ham pay £38m to bring the winger to the Premier League.

Across his two seasons so far with the Irons, Kudus has scored 14 and five goals respectively, attracting attention from the likes of Chelsea and Man United.

Metric

Kudus

Neto

Madueke

Goals

5

4

7

Assists

4

6

3

Successful dribbles per game

2.9

1

1.4

Shots per game

2.3

1.7

2.5

Big chances created

3

11

6

Total duels won per game

6.4

2.9

3.3

The Ghanaian international has been hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Gary Al-Smith when he is at his free-flowing best.

While he shone throughout his debut campaign, the 2024/25 season saw his goal output drop rather sharply.

While this may be a worry, Kudus still shone across a range of attacking metrics. Indeed, when compared with his positional peers in the top flight, the 24-year-old ranked in the top 17% for crosses into the opposition penalty area (0.52) per 90, while also ranking in the top 2% for take-ons attempted (7.23) and in the top 3% for successful take-ons (3.2) per 90 last season.

These attributes regularly see the winger beat his man to deliver balls into the box. Given Delap scored 11 of his 12 goals from inside the penalty area, he will usually be well-placed to tuck away chances created by Kudus.

Despite a fairly underwhelming season last term, throughout 2023/24, Kudus not only managed to create five big chances for West Ham in the Premier League, but also succeeded with an impressive 3.2 dribbles per game – a success rate of 62% – and averaged 0.8 key passes per match.

A move to Chelsea may reinvigorate the former Ajax starlet, especially as he will return to the Champions League, a competition he has previously starred in.

Indeed, the winger scored four goals and grabbed two assists in just six matches for the Dutch giants. With the Blues returning to Europe’s premier club competition next term, having someone like Kudus at his disposal could make Maresca’s job much easier.

Much will depend on the fee that can be agreed between the two clubs, but a potential deal for the 24-year-old could be a shrewd one for the club.

There is plenty of time left in the window, but with other clubs circling, Maresca may need to act swiftly.

A better move than Gittens: Chelsea make contact to sign "insane" £70m ace

Chelsea are searching for Jamie Gittens alternatives in the transfer window.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 20, 2025

Talks are now underway as Aston Villa look to complete the signing of a “world-class” player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Asensio happy to stay at Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s side ultimately missed out on Champions League qualification this season, but it was still another productive campaign overall, with loanees Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio making a good impression.

The 29-year-old Spaniard added proven quality and end product to Villa’s attack, scoring three goals in the Premier League and Champions League, and he spoke of his admiration for Emery.

“Unai is a coach that I’ve known for a while. He’s had a great career, he’s a top coach, he’s been key in me being able to come here because of his idea of how he wants to play football. I love it, it suits me perfectly and he’s a really important person as to why I’m here right now.”

Thankfully, Asensio is reportedly open to staying put at Villa and signing for good this summer, which will go down well with many supporters, considering the impact former Real Madrid man has made at times. Now, a new update has provided further news on the situation.

New Asensio to Aston Villa update emerges

According to Birmingham World, Aston Villa have held talks with PSG over the permanent signing of Asensio this summer, in a positive update. The Villans are “eager” to snap him up as soon as possible, no doubt to ensure that another team doesn’t get there first, and it is even claimed that Emery is “obsessed with the idea” of retaining his services.

Villa signing Asensio permanently is a no-brainer, with the Spain international still very much in his peak years, and capable of being a talismanic attacking player moving forward.

The £6m-a-year attacker is a match-winning footballer with a winning mentality, having scored in the 2017 Champions League final and won the competition three times during his Madrid days, and Matthew Upson has heaped praise on him.

“Marco Asensio is clever in where he positions himself. It’s a nightmare really. He comes on the pitch, and he has the knack to pick up the right areas. You need to get yourself in a mentality that, when it’s your turn to play your part, you’re at your best, and you’re delivering. That’s what world-class players do. He’s in that bracket. He’s a great signing for Villa, and he’s going to play a big part in the exciting finish to the season they have ahead.”

Martinez upgrade: Aston Villa eyeing "one of the best young GKs in Europe"

With Emi Martínez potentially poised to leave Aston Villa this summer, could they replace him with one of Europe’s “most talented young goalkeepers”?

Jun 2, 2025

Signing Asensio would feel like a statement of intent by Villa, showing that they are capable of tying down world-renowned players on a permanent basis, even without Champions League football.

Hopefully, he can play a huge part in the next three or four years, potentially even becoming one of the Villans’ best attacking players of the Premier League era.

Although their focus has been on finding a new manager, Rangers are now reportedly seriously interested in signing a European talent who they’ve already scouted ahead of the summer transfer window.

Rangers' manager shortlist

Before anything, the Gers must finally find a permanent replacement for Philippe Clement, having decided against handing Barry Ferguson the job following a brief interim spell at the end of the season. To that end, a number of candidates have unsurprisingly already emerged in the race to land the vaccant position at Ibrox.

Names such as Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti have stolen the most headlines, but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Russell Martin from receiving links to the job in recent weeks. The former Southampton manager has been out of a job since being shown the door at St Mary’s and is now an outside candidate to arrive in Scotland as well as being linked with the Leicester City job.

Plenty have had their say on just who should arrive, including Rangers legend Ally McCoist. He told reporters when quizzed on Gerrard’s next move: “It’s absolutely vital that his next job is the right one, It didn’t quite work out at Villa or in Saudi Arabia. It’s similar to Frank Lampard—his move to Coventry has been crucial in getting his managerial career back on track. Steven’s in that same position. His next step needs to be spot on.”

Whether a return to Rangers is a move that would be “spot on” for Gerrard is a question that those in Scotland may just get an answer to in the coming weeks, as the 49ers ramp up their managerial hunt.

Same agent as Gerrard: Rangers want cheap deal to sign £1m int'l defender

He could arrive with the potential new manager.

ByTom Cunningham May 28, 2025

As soon as they find their next manager, of course, Rangers must turn their attention towards the summer transfer market and that’s when they could make their move to sign an attacking addition who they’ve already scouted.

Rangers seriously interested in Djurgarden winger Fallenius

According to Fotboll Direkt in Sweden, the 49ers are now seriously interested in signing Oskar Fallenius after Rangers completed their scouting mission on the 23-year-old Djurgarden winger. The Swede could be part of a much-needed list of arrivals as those at Ibrox look to turn their side back into true title contenders and bridge the gap on Celtic in the process.

A player who has featured on the European stage and scored in the Europa Conference League, Fallenius has seemingly done enough to earn the attention of Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window.

If the 49ers are looking to improve the Gers whilst maintaining their budget, then the arrival of a player who could be on the verge of bursting into his best form should be the way forward. And Fallenius would fall into that category.

The Scottish giants arguably got it all wrong last summer, but with new owners on the way they have the chance to start fresh and close the gap on Celtic for the first time since 2021. Whether that results in Fallenius’ arrival will certainly be interesting to see.

Being kicked out of a major tournament isn’t something that happens very often in football. In fact, it’s an incredibly rare event, but it has happened.

From match fixing scandals, to financial foolishness, to plain stupidity, here are 10 times clubs were kicked out of various competitions.

1 Club Leon (2025) Denied place in expanded Club World Cup

FIFA expanded their Club World Cup to include 32 teams from 2025, but Mexican side Club Leon were booted out of the competition after falling foul of the rules regarding multi-club ownership.

They had qualified via winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023, with rivals Pachuca – who are also owned by Grupo Pachuca – winning the tournament a year later.

With these clubs unable to participate in the same competition, Leon were eventually booted out. FIFA created a play-off match between MLS outfit LAFC and Mexican side Club America to decide which team will take their place.

2 Juventus (2006) Relegated to Serie B

The Calcipoli scandal shook Italian football, but no club was more affected by the consequences than Juventus. Uncovered in May 2006, it was a major sports controversy in Italy’s Serie A and Serie B football leagues. It involved several clubs, executives and football bodies, including Juventus, Fiorentina, Lazio, Milan and Reggina.

The scandal was revealed through telephone tappings, exposing relations between club executives and referee organisations during the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons, with accusations of referee selection to favour specific clubs.

Juventus, the league champions, were severely penalised, being stripped of the 2004/05 Serie A title, relegated to Serie B, and downgraded to last place in the 2005/06 season.

While popularly known as a match-fixing scandal, no match-fixing violations were found for Juventus in intercepted calls. The club was absolved of wrongdoing, but sporting executives Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo received lifetime bans.

A subsequent investigation implicated other clubs, though they weren’t put on trial due to the statute of limitations.

Legal battles ensued, with damage claims and appeals, leading to controversy and ongoing debates. Juventus returned to Serie A, eventually dominating with a record nine consecutive league titles.

3 Marseille (1994) Relegated to Ligue 2

After winning the Champions League the season before, Marseille were kicked out of Ligue 1 in 1994 after a bribery scandal that changed French football forever. The French football bribery scandal, known as Affaire VA-OM, unfolded during the 1992/93 French Ligue 1 season in a match between Valenciennes and Olympique de Marseille.

Marseille president Bernard Tapie and general manager Jean-Pierre Bernès sought to influence the game by bribing Valenciennes players, including Jorge Burruchaga, Jacques Glassmann and Christophe Robert.

The aim was to ensure Marseille’s players remained fresh for the upcoming UEFA Champions League final against Milan. Glassmann refused the bribe, exposing the scandal. Despite winning the match and the league title, Marseille faced severe consequences.

The scandal led to Marseille being stripped of the title, but runners-up Paris Saint-Germain declined to be named champions, resulting in no official winner for the 1992/93 season. Tapie, Bernès, Burruchaga, Jean-Jacques Eydelie and Robert were convicted of corruption in subsequent trials.

Tapie and Eydelie served jail terms, while Bernès, Burruchaga, and Robert received suspended sentences. The aftermath included Marseille’s relegation to Division 2 for the 1994/95 season due to financial difficulties. Glassmann, who refused the bribe, was honoured with the 1995 FIFA Fair Play Award.

4 Ismaily (2019) Kicked out of CAF Champions League

In 2019, Egyptian club Ismaily were disqualified from the competition following the disruption of their fixture against Club Africain.

The disqualification stemmed from Ismaily fans hurling stones and water bottles at match officials and players from the visiting Tunisian club, leading referee Neant Alioum to call for the teams to retreat to the changing rooms during stoppage time, with Club Africain leading 2-1.

CAF’s decision to expel Ismaily from the competition parallels a previous disqualification of Algerian side Entente Sportive de Setif in 2016 after a similar episode against Mamelodi Sundowns. As a result of Ismaily’s expulsion, their results in Group C were nullified.

The club was eventually reinstated after CAF overturned the decision, stating there was no evidence of an invasion or targeted aggression towards the visiting team.

5 Fenerbahce & Besiktas (2013) Banned from European football

Turkish football clubs Fenerbahce and Besiktas faced UEFA sanctions following a domestic match-fixing scandal from 2011. UEFA banned Fenerbahce from European football for two seasons and imposed a suspended third-season ban.

Besiktas received a one-season ban from UEFA competitions. Both clubs were implicated in a 2011 Turkish league scandal, leading to convictions for 93 individuals, including Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim. Yildirim received over six years in prison but was released pending an appeal.

The UEFA disciplinary panel considered evidence over several months and ruled that Fenerbahce would miss the upcoming Champions League and any subsequent European competitions. Besiktas, implicated in the 2011 Turkish Cup final, were excluded from the next Europa League.

The Turkish Football Federation had previously imposed bans on players and officials but took no action against clubs involved in the scandal.

6 Lazio & Milan (1980) Relegated to Serie B

After a match-fixing scandal, Milan and Lazio were relegated to Serie B, while three Serie A and two Serie B clubs faced five-point deductions. The Italian Football Federation banned 20 players, half of whom had represented the Italian national team.

Notably, Paolo Rossi, a key figure in the Azzurri team that won the 1982 World Cup, received a reduced two-year sentence. Milan’s president, Felice Colombo, was initially banned for life but later received a six-year suspension.

The scandal originated in the state-run Totocalcio competition era, leading a struggling merchant, Massimo Cruciani, to approach a restaurant owner, Alvaro Trinca, with a match-fixing scheme. The Totonero black market in football betting facilitated their plan.

Despite facing heavy losses, Cruciani and Trinca filed a complaint, leading to arrests and subsequent sanctions by the Italian Football Federation, casting a dark shadow over Italian football.

7 Real Madrid (2015) Disqualified from Copa del Rey

Real Madrid were disqualified from the Copa del Rey in 2015 for fielding an ineligible player, Denis Cheryshev, during the round-of-32 match against Cadiz on December 2. Cheryshev scored the opening goal in a 3-1 victory, but it was later revealed that he should have been serving a one-match suspension.

Despite Real Madrid’s appeals, the Spanish Football Federation maintained its decision. The competition judge acknowledged that Cheryshev was not personally notified about his ban, a crucial requirement for the suspension to take effect.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted that the club received no communication from the federation regarding Cheryshev’s suspension and vowed to take the matter to appeals and the arbitration court. Cheryshev had incurred a one-game ban after receiving his third yellow card in the 2014/15 Copa del Rey campaign while on loan at Villarreal.

8 5 Armenian football clubs (2023) Massive Armenian match-fixing scandal

This match-fixing scandal was so audacious, we can’t help but wonder how these clubs thought they would get away with it. The Armenian Football Federation (FFA) has just suspended the country’s second tier and disqualified five teams due to evidence of their involvement in match-fixing.

Around 45 individuals, including club owners, players, and coaches, have received life bans, with an additional 13 individuals banned for varying periods for their roles in match manipulation. The FFA cited “undeniable evidence” from international organisations and law enforcement agencies for its decision.

Club owners with Russian passports, Russian players and coaches, as well as Ukrainian, Latvian and Belarusian footballers, were reportedly among those banned. Teams such as Lokomotiv Yerevan, Aragats, Torpedo Yerevan and Masis were disqualified from the championship following suspicious results, including scorelines like 12-0, 0-12, 1-8, 9-2, 0-7, 0-8, and 8-2.

FC Yerevan, which had withdrawn from the 2019/20 Premier League due to financial and technical problems, were also disqualified for match-fixing.

9 Parma (2015) Relegated to Serie D

Parma used to be a real force in Italian football. Players like Hernan Crespo, Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon were just a few of the greats to wear their beautiful kits. Unfortunately, in 2015, it all came crumbling down for the old giants.

The two-time UEFA Cup winners were relegated to the fourth tier of Italian football due to their inability to secure a new owner. The club declared bankruptcy and had been seeking a buyer to address their financial troubles.

Parma’s relegation followed a series of financial challenges, including a late tax payment that led to their exclusion from the Europa League during the 2014/15 season.

10 Rangers Relegated to Scottish Third Division

In 2012, Rangers as we knew it ceased to exist. They had to start anew from the fourth tier after a financial crisis led to their expulsion from the Scottish Premier League.

The decision by Scottish Football League clubs marked a significant downturn for the Gers, who faced administration before a takeover led by Charles Green.

Rangers had initially wanted to join the second tier, but 25 out of 30 clubs voted for them to begin at the bottom of the footballing hierarchy in Scotland. This move contrasted sharply with Rangers’ historical prominence and average attendance of over 45,000 at their Ibrox stadium.

The club have since made their way back to the top of Scottish football, winning their first title since their relegation under Steven Gerrard in 2020/21.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira is looking to significantly strengthen his squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

One player who is on the club’s radar is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who could be set to leave Chelsea this summer after just one season at Stamford Bridge.

The Old Gold have been linked with a move for the midfielder, who would fit the profile of what the manager is looking for in his midfield.

He won’t be the only name to be linked with a move to Molineux in the coming weeks, especially as they need some added firepower up front.

The latest Wolves transfer news

Matheus Cunha looks destined to leave the Midlands this summer. Manchester United look to be the club that are set to trigger his £62.5m release clause when the window opens.

This means Pereira will need to look for another forward or two, especially if he looks to take Wolves into the top half of the Premier League table next season.

According to reports in Italy, the club are preparing to line up a move for Lazio striker Valentin Castellanos. They aren’t the only English side to be monitoring his performances, however, as Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also set to battle it out.

A price tag of £29m has been placed on the striker’s head, and much will depend on how much money the manager has to spend this summer.

If he could secure moves for him and Dewsbury-Hall, the pair could form a dream partnership, that’s for sure.

Why Wolves must sign Valentin Castellanos

Dewsbury-Hall may not have enjoyed the finest of seasons at Chelsea, yet he has still registered seven goal contributions.

It was his spell in the Championship for Leicester City during 2023/24 that saw him secure the move to London. Across 44 Championship games, he created 20 big chances and averaged 2.5 key passes per game.

If this sort of form was on show at Molineux, he and Castellanos would be perfect together.

The Argentinian striker rose to prominence during a spell with New York City, scoring 59 goals in 134 appearances for the MLS side.

His four-goal haul against Real Madrid, however, during the 2022/23 season saw him secure a move to Lazio, where he has shone this term.

A tally of 14 goals and eight assists in 38 matches has put several teams on high alert this summer, and he could be set to leave Serie A, amid interest from Wilshere.

Goals

10

Assists

3

Shots per game

3.6

Goal conversion percentage

10%

Goal frequency (minutes)

222

Big chances created

6

Lauded as “extraordinary” by Lazio manager Marco Baroni in October, the 26-year-old looks as though he is entering the peak years of his career.

This suggests he would be an excellent signing for Pereira next season. With Dewsbury-Hall playing just behind him, creating chances and openings in the attacking penalty area, the pair could sparkle.

It could be a massive coup to sign both players this summer, but if the club are serious about working their way into the top half of the table, then money will have to be spent on stars of their calibre to take the team to the next level.

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