England's centre-back room looks almost unrecognisable this month to how it has for the majority of Sarina Wiegman's tenure. With Millie Bright having recently retired, Leah Williamson still injured, Alex Greenwood ruled out for a few weeks and Jess Carter granted a period of rest, Wiegman is set to name a starting defence without any of that quartet for just the second, and third, time in her four years in charge of the Lionesses when her side take on China and Ghana over the course of the next week.
It's no wonder Wiegman has described this camp as "an opportunity" for other centre-back options to "step up" then, and for no one does it feel like a greater opportunity than Maya Le Tissier. Fresh off the back of making her first England start in a central position last month, having won all nine of her previous caps for her country as a full-back, the 23-year-old feels well-placed to benefit from what is certainly an unfamiliar situation for the Lionesses.
The timing feels important, too. These are England's final friendly matches before qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup begins in the New Year and, with only the group winner to automatically book a spot at the tournament, and the Lionesses having been pooled with Spain, obtaining results is going to be the priority. As such, it's one of the last windows for a while in which Wiegman is going to experiment and hand out chances. Le Tissier will be out to take hers and show that she should be considered as a valuable option at centre-back, not just right-back, moving forward.
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Plenty of debate
Le Tissier has been a lightning rod for debate when it comes to the Lionesses in recent months. "I was expecting that," Wiegman laughed when asked about the Manchester United captain following her start as a centre-back against Australia in the last camp, having been bombarded with questions about her since re-emphasising that she saw Le Tissier as more of a right-back than a centre-back just a couple of weeks prior.
That stance sparked a frenzy on social media, particularly after United, somewhat incredibly, got involved. "Maya Le Tissier has started 104 games for United," a post on the club's official X account read. "103 of them have been at centre-back." Ian Wright, meanwhile, took to Instagram to state that he simply didn't "understand" Wiegman's point of view, calling Le Tissier "the most consistent" English centre-back in the Women's Super League.
"I think it's hard not to see it. It's everywhere," Le Tissier said of the public questioning of her role when talking to . "Obviously I play centre-half at club level every single week and every single day in training. So for me, I love playing centre-back, and full-back is a different challenge. I enjoy that as well, but I don't feel as kind of confident.
"It's hard when you go play a different position that you don't play at all. I just try and do whatever Sarina asks of me, just to get on the pitch, no matter if it's at full-back or centre-half or anywhere else where Sarina thinks I could play!"
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Softening stance
How Wiegman used Le Tissier during the October camp suggested something of a softening on what had, at times, previously felt like a very strong position. The defender started as a right-back in the first game of that international break, a defeat to Brazil, but ended it at centre-back. Then, three days later, she started at the heart of the defence as England bounced back with a victory over Australia.
"I think in both positions, she has done really well," Wiegman said after the latter outing. "I'll have a review on that. We'll discuss it over the next couple days, because I want to see this game back. But I think she did really well."
Those comments were the cherry on top of what felt like an incredibly positive camp for Le Tissier, in which she went about her business at full-back without any sense of complaint before showing what she could do when deployed in the position she knows best.
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Unfamiliar situation
This week is now a real opportunity to build on that. It's hard to overstate just how different Wiegman's centre-back options are this month when compared to what she has been used to during her four years in charge. In that time, Bright, Williamson, Greenwood and Carter have been mainstays, with at least one of them starting in the defensive line in all of her first 71 games as England manager. That run only came to an end in England's most recent outing, when Wiegman started Le Tissier alongside Esme Morgan for the visit of Australia, in her 72nd game in charge.
Indeed, that became only the 11th time in those 72 matches that the centre-back pairing or the back three – taking into account the period which saw the Lionesses regularly set-up in a 3-5-2 shape – was not exclusively made up of a combination of Bright, Williamson, Greenwood and Carter. However, none are available for this upcoming window, with Wiegman instead to have to pick from Le Tissier, Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Grace Fisk.
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Changing pecking order
Previously, it would've felt like an opportunity for Wubben-Moy, who was granted a start in four of those first seven occasions when Wiegman turned to a centre-back outside of her trusted quartet. It could well be this week, too, as after finding game time extremely hard to come by for most of the year, the Arsenal defender is starting regularly again, owing to a devastating ACL injury for rising star Katie Reid that saw the teenager join Williamson on the sidelines for the Gunners.
But it is still the case that Wubben-Moy has fallen down Wiegman's pecking order in recent times. In fact, she was not actually in England's final squad before the Euro 2025 announcement, not until Bright decided to take an extended period of rest that would eventually progress into her missing the tournament and, more recently, retiring.
Instead, Morgan's status in this team has increased steadily in the last couple of years and she has got the nod for those moments of change in the defence, as evidenced by her start in the Euros semi-final clash with Italy. With Fisk uncapped, and rarely called up under Wiegman, Morgan and Le Tissier do feel like the first-choice starting centre-back partnership for this week, with variations dependent on how much Wiegman wants to rotate a spine that is already missing starting goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
Legendary Italian coach Fabio Capello has praised Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini for his impact in guiding the Giallorossi to the top of the Serie A table. The former AC Milan and Roma coach drew comparisons between Gasperini’s current Roma and his own title-winning side of 2000-01, but stressed that the team still lacks a prolific goal scorer akin to Gabriel Batistuta.
Getty Images SportCapello's Scudetto winning Roma
Capello famously moved from a traditional 4-4-2 to a more dynamic 3-4-1-2 formation, maximising the potential of key signings like Walter Samuel and Batistuta to guide Roma to their third and latest Serie A title almost 25 years ago. Combined with the brilliance of Cafu, Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella, Roma finished two points clear of Juventus at the top of Serie A.
Gasperini’s Roma are drawing comparisons to that legendary side already this season. With 27 points following a convincing win over Cremonese, the capital club lead Serie A. Their defensive record is particularly impressive, having conceded only six goals – the best in the league. Like Capello’s squad, this Roma demonstrates tactical intelligence, defensive organisation, and the ability to capitalise on attacking moments. Capello himself has noted the familiar blend of discipline, resilience and strategic flexibility. If maintained, Gasperini’s side could etch their name in Roma’s rich history.
AdvertisementCapello's praise
In an interview with , Capello praised Gasperini for the confidence he has instilled in Roma and the way he has developed players like Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule, bringing out the best in them.
Capello said: “He has instilled strength, determination, character and, above all, consistency in this team. That's the hardest thing to do in Rome, an environment where people get carried away after victories and depressed after defeats. Maintaining focus is very complicated. Gasperini has been very good at instilling confidence in the players. He has had moments where he has tried to understand the characteristics of the players at his disposal, and I believe that he now knows everything they can give him. The players feel the confidence; they understand that the system of play is very demanding and they must always be alert and focused. He has developed players such as Dybala, but above all Soule. This means that the coach has got into the players' heads.”
He added: “He knows how to motivate, he knows how to command respect in the dressing room and within the club, he knows how to convince players to do something different from what they are used to doing.”
Capello also drew comparisons between Gasperini and himself during his title-winning Roma side of 2000–01, emphasizing the importance of a good goalscoring striker. He said, “Rome is a place that loves to enjoy itself, and for Gasperini, enjoyment means only winning: nothing else matters. He resembles me in this respect. The real enjoyment is winning, seeing the team do what they have prepared for, seeing the young players mature.”
“In my first year, I had a team under construction, like this one, while in my second year we were looking for something more, a centre forward: we signed Batistuta. He was crucial.”
Capello feels Milan have the upperhand
Roma’s struggles in attack remain a pressing concern. Of the top six teams, they have scored the fewest goals, underscoring the urgent need for a reliable number nine. The departures of Tammy Abraham to Besiktas and Eldor Shomurodov to Istanbul Basaksehir have left a significant gap in the frontline.
The club expressed interest in Rasmus Hojlund, but he chose to join Napoli instead. Their loan acquisition of Evan Ferguson from Brighton has so far failed to make an impact, with the forward contributing just one goal and one assist in eight appearances. Artem Dovbyk has also struggled, managing only two goals and one assist.
Capello was quick to warn that with Roma juggling multiple competitions such as the Europa League and Coppa Italia along with Serie A, players may not have enough time to recover between games, giving AC Milan an edge as they only have Serie A and Coppa Italia to focus on.
"[Gasperini is] similar to me in this respect: the real pleasure is winning, seeing the team do what they've prepared, seeing the young players mature. He'll be on the ball until the end: Roma will be competitive," he added. “Let's not forget that Roma are involved in cup competitions, which are costly and don't allow for recovery, so this will probably favour Milan.”
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Getty Images SportRoma's Europa league clash
Roma are set to face Midtjylland in the Europa League this week, aiming to replicate their strong league form on the European stage. So far, Roma have recorded two wins and two losses in four Europa League matches this season and will be looking to secure a positive result to boost their campaign.
R Ashwin is set to become the first capped male India player to play in the BBL with four clubs vying for his services to play in the latter stages of the upcoming season.It is understood that Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers are the four teams chasing Ashwin’s signature in what is set to be a major coup for the BBL. Thunder and Hurricanes appear to be the frontrunners for the India great with a deal likely to be finalised later this week.No internationally capped India male player has played in the BBL previously, but Ashwin’s retirement from the IPL earlier this year has opened the door for him to play franchise cricket overseas for the first time.Related
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Only retired Indian players are allowed by the BCCI to participate in overseas T20 leagues. Earlier this year, Dinesh Karthik played for Paarl Royals in the SA20. In 2023, Ambati Rayudu turned up to play for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL, and then in January 2024 with MI Emirates in the ILT20. Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan featured for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20. Two years ago, Suresh Raina was part of Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10.Ashwin has already committed to the first-ever ILT20 auction in the UAE, which will take place next Tuesday. If bought, he will play out the ILT20, which has changed dates for the upcoming season and will now run from December 2 until January 4.The BBL begins on December 14, and the home-and-away part of the season runs until January 18. The finals will be held between January 20 and 25. It means Ashwin will be available for three-four games at the end of the season for one of those teams, plus finals should the team he signs with qualify. ESPNcricinfo understands that his deal will also include the BBL for the 2026-27 season.BBL clubs can only play three overseas players in their XI. Each of the clubs has already locked three players in via the league’s pre-signing rules and the June overseas draft. Clubs can sign an additional four overseas replacement players, meaning they can have up to seven on their list, but only three can play at any one time. Also, if any of the teams release an international player for SA20, Ashwin could fit in as a replacement for him.The league rules state that replacement overseas players have to nominate themselves for the draft, which Ashwin did not as he had not retired from IPL cricket at the time. But there is an exemption for overseas players to be allowed to play in the BBL if their circumstances have changed. Former New Zealand batter Martin Guptill was previously signed by Melbourne Renegades in 2022-23 after retiring from international cricket despite missing the inaugural BBL overseas draft. England star Nat Sciver-Brunt was allowed to play for Perth Scorchers in the WBBL after being cleared by the ECB, having initially been ruled out of nominating for the draft due to injury.The club that signs Ashwin will still have to fit his salary inside their overall purse, much of which will already have been allocated for most squads, but there will likely be an additional marketing agreement with Cricket Australia that will not count towards the salary cap for the team that lands him.Teams can also go over the cap by 5% in a particular year with approval from the league’s technical committee, provided that it is offset over a three-year period.
Bayern Munich legend and former CEO Oliver Kahn has opined on Vincent Kompany's decision to field Manuel Neuer in their Bundesliga match against Union Berlin last week. This comes after the German goalkeeper's mistake cost the side their 16th straight win from the start of the campaign, forcing them to play out a 2-2 draw, their first of the season.
Neuer's howler almost cost Bayern the game
Bayern were handed a tough start against Union Berlin, partly due to Neuer's goalkeeping error in the 27th minute when a shot from Danilho Doekhi slipped through his arms to find its place in the back of the net. This goal had a psychological impact, perhaps, as Bayern, despite equalising through Luis Diaz in the first half, again went down in the 83rd minute, courtesy of another Doekhi goal. However, in the 90th minute, it was English striker Harry Kane who bailed them out of this situation and helped the team settle for a point in this away fixture.
After a tough game against Paris Saint-Germain, which Bayern won 2-1, Kahn felt that Kompany should have rested Neuer and fielded Jonas Urbig. The backup goalkeeper joined the Bavarians in January from Koln and is yet to establish himself as the first-choice custodian, with Kompany keeping his faith on the 39-year-old Neuer, who is approaching the twilight of his career. Kahn defended Neuer to but felt the ex-Germany international should have been rested, saying: "That's perfectly normal. It doesn't matter if you're world-class or not. These moments just happen. A game like that is quite a mental strain after the match in Paris. The goalkeeper has to constantly anticipate. A game like the one against Union would have been a good opportunity for recovery. So instead, they let Urbig play."
Kahn also provided references from his own playing career, where he rested himself in certain games to ensure a soothing recovery. He stated: "I actually did that quite often and would say that I needed a recovery break before the next game. It's different than when you're 25 or 35, 38 or 40. The recovery time is longer then."
Neuer reflects on his performance
A World Cup winner with the German national team and holder of multiple accolades for Bayern, Neuer is often regarded as one of the finest goalkeeper's in football. However, the veteran unhesitatingly accepted his fault for Bayern's share of points. He said: "I played a part in the first goal. My view wasn't perfect, and the distance wasn't ideal either. But I made the wrong decision. I made the wrong decision in the first goal, we lost the second ball in the second goal. It was tough today against this team, especially after Wednesday. But we believe we'll soon get back to winning ways. In the end I think it was a good point."
Kompany too, defended his No.1, saying: "What do you expect me to say? That I'll say something about my number one goalkeeper? Of course not. It's a collective game. When you concede a goal, there are many things and sequences that happen before. We look at those moments too."
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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Neuer?
Neuer, a former Germany international with 124 caps, will be beaming to return to action after the international break. The Bavarians have important fixtures against Freiburg and St. Pauli when domestic football resumes later in November. However, their main focus will be on the Champions League tie against Arsenal. The two teams are level on points at the top of the table A win will fuel Bayern's ambitions of finishing the round as league winners.
Jurgen Klopp, now serving as Red Bull’s global head of football, paid a visit to Paris FC this week, but it wasn’t his new role that caught fans’ attention. The former Liverpool boss shared a light-hearted post from the French capital, joking about his appearance in a viral Instagram caption that read: "Smart, successful, good looking… AND ME."
Klopp posts pictures from trip on social media
Klopp caused a social media stir during his recent trip to Paris FC as part of his duties with Red Bull’s football group. The 58-year-old, who oversees strategy across the brand’s global football network, met with the French club’s directors and later posted a photo alongside them on Instagram. His caption read: "Smart, successful, good looking… AND ME."
The self-deprecating joke quickly went viral, racking up thousands of likes from fans who have missed his humour and warmth since he stepped away from the touchline. It was classic, witty Klopp and served as a reminder of the personality that made him so beloved during his nine-year spell at Liverpool. His Paris FC appearance also marked one of his more public outings in his new Red Bull role, sparking discussion about how involved he might be with the Ligue 1 outfit moving forward.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesEx-Liverpool manager has no plans to return to touchline
Klopp’s trip to Paris is part of his broader remit within Red Bull’s global football structure, which includes clubs such as RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Bragantino and Paris FC. His responsibilities involve overseeing coaching methods, player pathways, and transfer strategies across the group, as he helps unify Red Bull’s footballing philosophy worldwide. The German’s hands-on visit to France underlined his growing influence within the organisation, even though he insists his time as a frontline coach is over.
Speaking to earlier this year, Klopp was clear about where he stands on returning to the dugout: "Not. At. All," he said when asked if he missed management. "I knew I would work again. But I also knew that I no longer wanted to work as a coach." It was a definitive answer from a man who once lived and breathed matchdays but now enjoys shaping the sport from a different angle. His new job lets him use his decades of experience to influence multiple teams without enduring the pressure cooker of the Premier League or Champions League again.
When questioned about whether his decision was full and final, the German said: "That’s what I think. But you don’t know. I’m 58. If I started again at 65, everybody will say, ‘You said you’ll never do it again!’ Er, sorry, I thought 100 per cent (when I said it)! That is what I think now. I don’t miss anything."
Klopp loving freedom since leaving coaching
Since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024, Klopp has embraced a new rhythm of life. Alongside his son Marc, he co-owns Padel FC, a Berlin-based company dedicated to promoting the fast-growing sport of padel. The pair are currently preparing to open a state-of-the-art facility in Liverpool’s Wavertree Sports Park, bringing Klopp back to the city in a different capacity. "In 25 years, I went to two weddings – including mine," he joked, reflecting on how much freer his schedule is now. "I have been more often to the cinema in the past eight weeks than during my entire coaching career."
Even as he enjoys his new ventures, Klopp remains one of football’s most respected figures, and talk of a potential return to Liverpool refuses to die down. In a conversation on the Diary of a CEO podcast, he teased fans by admitting, "I said I would never coach a different team in England. So that means if I did return to England, then it’s Liverpool. Yeah, theoretically it’s possible." However, he also stressed that he doesn’t miss the intensity of the job, saying: "I didn’t know when games started. I was just out. I played sports. We enjoyed life, spent time with the grandkids – completely normal stuff."
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IMAGO / ZUMA Press WireKey to Red Bull's football operations
Klopp’s work with Red Bull is expected to continue shaping the future of their football portfolio, including Paris FC’s development as they look to establish themselves in the upper half of Ligue 1. His main focus is to "oversee, advise, and draw a strategic vision" for Red Bull’s family of clubs – a role he has described as "a perfect balance between involvement and freedom."
كشف الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم والمعروف باسم يويفا، عن حكم مباراة نادي برشلونة مع نظيره كلوب بروج، والتي سوف تلعب يوم الأربعاء المقبل ضمن بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
برشلونة سوف يحل ضيفًا على كلوب بروج يوم الأربعاء المقبل، وذلك ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الانتصار على كلوب بروج، بعد التراجع الذي شهده مستوى الفريق الكتالوني على مدار الأسابيع الماضية بالفعل.
اقرأ أيضًا .. سبورت: مانشستر يونايتد يدرس التعاقد مع لاعب برشلونة السابق
ويتواجد برشلونة في المركز الثاني في ترتيب الدوري الإسباني خلف ريال مدريد المتصدر بفارق خمس نقاط كاملة، في حين حقق البرسا انتصارين في مرحلة الدوري من أصل ثلاثة في بطولة دوري الأبطال حتى الآن.
وأفاد يويفا، أن مباراة برشلونة وكلوب بروج سيديرها طاقم تحكيم إنجليزي بقيادة المخضرم أنتوني تايلور، والذي يعتبر من بين أفضل الحكام في الدوري الإنجليزي خلال السنوات الأخيرة.
وسوف يعاون تايلور كلًا من آدم نان، وكذلك جاري بيسويك كحكام مساعدين في لقاء برشلونة وكلوب بروج، بينما يتواجد كريس كافاناج كحكم رابع.
ويتواجد ستيف أتويل في لقاء برشلونة وكلوب بروج كالحكم المسؤول عن تقنية الفار، ويعاونه الأسكتلندي أندرو دالاس.
برشلونة استعاد توازنه بعض الشيء يوم أمس الأحد، بعدما حقق انتصارًا ثمينًا على حساب إلتشي بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد، ضمن بطولة الدوري الإسباني ليستعيد البلوجرانا الثقة بالفعل.
Newcastle United entered this season with big expectations following their Champions League qualification, and after summers of frustration in the market, the club finally spent heavily in the summer.
Competing on multiple fronts requires options, and this recruitment drive ensured Howe could rotate while maintaining quality.
The need was particularly pressing in attack, where Newcastle have struggled to click in the early stages of the season.
They currently rank among the bottom clubs in expected goals across the Premier League.
Yet, their 4-0 win over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League showed a glimpse of what this new-look attack could produce.
It was their first win of the European campaign and their biggest-ever victory in the competition, giving fans a reason to believe their forwards were beginning to gel – Anthony Elanga, in particular
Elanga's performance vs Saint-Gilloise
When Newcastle splashed £55 million on Elanga in the summer, eyebrows were raised.
The 23-year-old winger had been seen as a bright spark at Manchester United’s academy before joining Nottingham Forest in 2023.
Last season, he impressed with six goals and 11 assists across 38 appearances.
For all his promise, critics questioned whether he could justify his price tag at a club with Newcastle’s ambitions.
Howe, however, has been steadfast in his backing of Elanga, stressing that adaptation takes time.
That patience looked to pay off in the Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Elanga was electric down the flank, winning a penalty and constantly driving at defenders. His pace, directness, and ability to stretch the pitch gave Newcastle’s attack a dimension it had been lacking.
He was named man of the match, and while there remains plenty of room for improvement, his performance offered a glimpse into why Howe views him as central to Newcastle’s long-term project.
His stats underline his impact that night.
7.8km distance covered, 13 sprints, and 54 touches, as per Sofascore.
With 30 passes completed at 83% accuracy, he also created a big chance and won his team valuable territory with his relentless running.
These are numbers that show not just effort, but the effectiveness of a player starting to find his rhythm.
Newcastle’s attack may still be bedding in, but Elanga’s contribution suggests he is the man for the future.
The biggest loser from Elanga's rise at Newcastle
While Elanga’s arrival signals promise, it also leaves question marks for one of Newcastle’s longest-serving wingers.
Jacob Murphy, the 30-year-old boyhood Newcastle fan, has been with the club since 2017 after joining from Norwich City.
Over his eight years at St James’ Park, he has made 224 appearances, scored 21 goals, and provided 36 assists.
Murphy’s best campaign came last season, where he registered 12 assists, many of them coming from his productive link-up with Alexander Isak.
Throughout the season, he received much acclaim — including from Craig Bellamy, who said he was an “outstanding professional.”
Jacob Murphy – 2024/25
Matches
35
Goals
8
Assists
12
Progressive Carries
79
Progressive Passes
83
Source: FBref
His ability to deliver crosses into dangerous areas was a huge part of Newcastle’s attacking arsenal, particularly in transition.
He ranked in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 (0.50) and the 84th percentile for crosses per 90 (4.99).
Isak’s struggles to adapt to life at Liverpool only reiterate how important Murphy was for both him and the side as a whole.
But football moves fast, and with Newcastle targeting Champions League success and looking to the future, Murphy’s role has already started to diminish.
Elanga has shown flashes of why Howe is building around him, and with competition for wide positions fiercer than ever, Murphy risks finding himself limited to a rotational role.
While his work rate and loyalty are beyond question, the brutal reality is that Howe is assembling a squad to challenge on multiple fronts, and sentimental ties are unlikely to outweigh tactical needs.
Murphy remains an experienced option from the bench, but the trajectory suggests that Elanga’s emergence will increasingly push him out of the starting XI.
For a boyhood fan who has lived the highs and lows of Newcastle’s resurgence, it’s a tough reality.
Yet his journey highlights the cutthroat nature of football where loyalty and service are often overshadowed by the relentless pursuit of progress.
Not Bruno & Tonali: Newcastle "monster" looks like one of PIFs best signings
Newcastle have been wise in the transfer market since their momentous club takeover in 2021.
Newcastle United fans would surely have been glad to see 7pm on Monday, 1st of September roll around. It signalled the end of what was a torrid transfer window for the Magpies, despite late additions. Not only did they miss out on several key signings, including Hugo Ekitike and Bryan Mbuemo, but they also lost a key player.
That player, of course, was Alexander Isak. His transfer saga was the talk of the summer, and things went right until the final day of the window, when his drawn-out departure to Liverpool was finally confirmed.
Over the past couple of years, the Magpies have had to sell players to keep up with PSR regulations, meaning they have got rid of some important figures.
Newcastle’s most recent big sales
There is no doubt that losing Isak this summer will be tough for Newcastle to recover from on the pitch. He is now the player who holds the British transfer record of £125m after his deadline day move to Anfield.
For the Magpies, replacing his record of 62 goals and 11 assists in 109 appearances at St James’ Park will not be easy. In his last two seasons at the club, he’s bagged over 20 goals, with last season’s tally of 23 his best.
However, it is not just Isak who has been a major sale over the years. Losing Allan-Saint Maximin to Al-Ahli back in 2023 saw them lose attacking flair on the wing. He made 124 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals and assisting a further 21.
Another player who recently left the club under the PIF regime, who could have become an important part of Eddie Howe’s squad, was Yankuba Minteh.
Since leaving the North East for the South Coast and Brighton, he has seven goals and five assists in 40 games.
There is one sale that really sticks out in recent seasons, however, who has gone on to do great things since leaving St James’ Park.
Elliot Anderson is Newcastle’s most frustrating sale
The summer of 2024 was one of the key time periods during which Newcastle had to make sales to comply with PSR. That was the summer Minteh departed, although looking back, he was not the most frustrating sale.
Instead, most Newcastle fans would surely agree that Whitley Bay-born midfielder Elliot Anderson was the one who got away that summer. He joined Nottingham Forest for a fee of £35m, which represented pure profit as he is an academy graduate.
The boyhood Newcastle fan made 55 appearances at St James’ Park before his departure to the East Midlands. He has gone from strength to strength across his 45 appearances in Garibaldi Red, scoring twice and assisting seven goals.
That was summed up with a sensational player of the match performance on England debut last week at Villa Park. He ran the show for Thomas Tuchel’s side, and talkSPORT pundit Max Scott later said that he plays like he’s “Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane” combined.
Based on his statistics from the last couple of seasons at Forest, it is easy to see where the praise has come from.
For example, last term, he averaged 1.2 key passes and 4 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, and in three Premier League games in 2025/26, he has already averaged 1.7 key passes and 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game.
Anderson – PL stats for Forest
Stat (per 90)
2024/25
2025/26
Key passes
1.2
1.7
Dribbles completed
1.2
1
Pass accuracy
82.3%
89.1%
Tackles and interceptions
4
4.3
Aerial duels won
1.9
2.3
Stats from Sofascore
Newcastle fans must surely look at their academy star as one that got away. A midfield of Anderson, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali would have been a sight to behold at St James’ Park.
Even though Anderson was sold to help boost PSR, this is surely a move that PIF and Howe regret, considering how well he is performing for club and country.
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O Paulista de Jundiaí, 18 anos após faturar o título da Copa do Brasil (2005), está rebaixado para a quinta divisão do Campeonato paulista. O Galo do Japi foi derrotado neste sábado (24) em casa, por 2 a 0, pelo União Barbarense, e sofreu seu oitavo rebaixamento nas últimas 16 temporadas.
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Para evitar a queda, o time do técnico Roberval Davino precisava vencer a sua partida e contar com uma combinação de resultados. Porém, nem a sua parte a equipe de Jundiaí fez.
+ Veja os valores dos lotes arrematados no leilão do Instituto Neymar
MOMENTOS DE GLÓRIA
A equipe do interior paulista ficou famosa no cenário nacional em 2005, quando venceu o Fluminense na final da Copa do Brasil pelo placar agregado de 2 a 0. No caminho, o Galo do Japi eliminou equipes tradicionais, como Botafogo, Cruzeiro e Internacional.
Em 2006, pela Libertadores, o clube venceu o River Plate-ARG, por 2 a 1, no estádio Jayme Cintra. Esta foi a única vitória da equipe na competição, que era comandada na época por Vagner Mancini, hoje treinador do América-MG.
ENTENDA A NOVA 5ª DIVISÃO DO PAULISTÃO
Em fevereiro deste ano, a Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) anunciou a criação de uma quinta divisão do Paulistão, fazendo com que a atual Série B do estadual se torne Série A4.
A partir de 2024, a nova Série B será formada pelos 12 times não classificados para a segunda fase da Série A3 deste ano – caso do Mogi Mirim – além de oito equipes desclassificadas na segunda fase, totalizando 20 times rebaixados para a nova quinta divisão.
Crystal Palace have now entered the race to hijack a move for a “fabulous” midfielder, who appeared to be set to join another Premier League club.
Glasner insists his players need to "stay humble"
Ahead of this evening’s trip to Fredrikstad in the second leg of Palace’s Europa Conference League play-off match, Oliver Glasner has been keen to make sure his side do not get too carried away.
Glasner said: “It would be arrogant to think when you play a competition for the first time to talk about winning it. It’s the first time Palace plays outside England a competitive game, so it’s important to stay humble and this is what we are doing as a team. We are going step by step.”
Should the Eagles secure qualification against the Norwegian side, Selhurst Park should remain an attractive destination for new signings in the final days of the summer transfer window, with a deal for Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino seemingly edging towards completion.
Pino is said to have been targeted as a direct replacement for Eberechi Eze, but another versatile attacker could join alongside the Spaniard, with Crystal Palace one of the clubs to “enter the scene” to sign Getafe’s Christantus Uche.
That is according to reporter Eduardo Burgos on X, who states Uche’s move to Wolverhampton Wanderers has now “stalled”, which could allow Palace to swoop in, although there is set to be competition for his signature.
AC Milan, OGC Nice and Leeds United are all “evaluating the situation”, with the Nigerian’s agents currently “blocking the move” to Molineux.
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The Getafe star has gotten off to a fantastic start to the new La Liga campaign, picking up two goal contributions in his first two games, and he was almost as prolific as Pino during the 2024-25 season.
Target
Yeremy Pino
Christantus Uche
Appearances
34
33
Goals
4
4
Assists
8
6
Not only that, but there are signs the Nigeria international could be more of a like-for-like replacement for Eze, having often featured in the number 10 role throughout his career to date, although he is also capable of playing at striker and in a more defensive role.
Christantus Uche.
Manager Jose Bordalas clearly holds the 22-year-old in high regard too, with the Spaniard also suggesting he could develop even further, saying: “He’s a fabulous kid, a boy who has a huge commitment. We have great affection for him.”
“I have a special affection for him. He was a risky bet, and we’re very happy. We think he has room for improvement; he’s very young.”
As such, Uche could be an exciting addition to Glasner’s squad, and a deal would not break the bank at around £17m.