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O Flamengo anunciou a demissão de Jorge Sampaoli na quinta-feira (28) e colocou ponto final na desastrosa passagem do argentino pelo clube carioca. Sua trajetória na Gávea ficou marcada por resultados negativos, polêmicas extracampo e conflitos com a torcida.

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+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

Da queda nas oitavas de final da Libertadores ao soco do preparado físico Pablo Fernádez em Pedro, o Rubro-Negro nunca conseguiu atingir a tal estabilidade desejada após a saída de Vitor Pereira e viu sua última chance de conquistar um título na temporada ser barrada justamente por Dorival Júnior, que foi demitido do comando técnico do Fla depois de conquistar a Libertadores e a Copa do Brasil.

Porém, existem passagens tão decepcionantes quanto a de Sampaoli. Confira a lista dos dez treinadores que mais desapontaram à frente do comando técnico do Flamengo.

Mano Menezes

Chegou ao Flamengo em uma época em que, apesar do elenco modesto, já havia organização administrativa.
Mano foi contratado com grande expectativa e deixou o time de maneira absolutamente covarde após 22 jogos.

Edinho

A passagem de Edinho foi rápida e tão pouco prolífica quanto a média de sua carreira como treinador.
Assumiu o Flamengo em dois momentos conturbados em anos consecutivos. Com o mesmo número de jogos de Mano Menezes, Edinho não deixou qualquer saudade.

Celso Roth

Assumiu o comando do time do Flamengo em 2005 e com certeza teve uma das passagens mais constrangedoras de nossa história no comando do time. Com menos de 37% de aproveitamento e uma concepção de futebol muito distante de nossas raízes, foi demitido após 20 partidas.

Apolinho

A escolha de um radialista para treinador do Flamengo é um retrato claro das esquizofrenias que vivíamos no meio dos anos 90. Escolhido por Kleber Leite para comandar o time e tentar salvar o ano do centenário, Apolinho foi vice da Supercopa da Libertadores e fez uma campanha horrível no campeonato brasileiro.

Cristóvão Borges

Cristóvão chegou para substituir Luxemburgo à frente do comando técnico do Flamengo. Em 18 partidas, o treinador conseguiu acumular mais derrotas (nove) que vitórias (oito) e deixou a equipe carioca próxima da zona de rebaixamento do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Rogério Lourenço

Cria do Flamengo como jogador, Rogério Lourenço trabalhava como técnico das divisões de base e acabou se tornando um interino que foi efetivado. Resistiu durante 20 jogos, mas ficou marcado pela torcida como um técnico que não engrenou.

Silas

Silas veio após Rogério Lourenço. Apesar da curta carreira, já era apontado como um nome promissor. A vinda de Silas serviu para provar que, assim como em 2023, tem como se suceder um técnico ruim com outro pior.

Paulo Sousa

Contratado como grande solução para o ano de 2022, Paulo Sousa sofreu para fazer com que o time compreendesse sua forma de enxergar futebol. Ainda que o futebol não fluísse de maneira natural, o time conseguiu ser competitivo, mas não deu liga.

Vitor Pereira

Mais um português anunciado como Salvador da pátria, VP se envolveu em uma enorme polêmica em sua saída do Corinthians. No comando do Flamengo, colecionou vexames que foram do mundial de clubes ao campeonato Carioca. Um verdadeiro show de horrores.

Jorge Sampaoli

Apresentado como a esperança de retomada, Sampaoli conseguiu ser talvez o pior técnico do Flamengo desde sua reorganização. Se o trabalho com VP era ruim, com Sampaoli tudo foi muito pior. Sem futebol, sem sinergia com o time e com inúmeras polêmicas internas, Sampaoli deixou o Flamengo pela porta dos fundos.

Tottenham have been handed a major boost which could leave members of the Spurs squad thrilled, as detailed by reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Thomas Frank looking to extend excellent Spurs start against Aston Villa

Thomas Frank has lost just two out of his first 11 games in charge of the Lilywhites, including excellent wins away to Man City, West Ham and Leeds United.

Thomas Frank’s managerial record at Tottenham so far

Stats

Matches

11

Wins

5

Draws

3

Losses

2

Points

18

Points per game

1.91

While ex-chair Daniel Levy’s decision to part company with Ange Postecoglou — despite the Australian guiding Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years — was met with a very mixed response, the call has so far been vindicated.

Aston Villa, who are in the midst of a mini-revival after a very poor start to 2025/2026, winning their last four games in all competitions, pose a tricky test for Frank’s side as former Arsenal boss Unai Emery looks to keep Villa’s good form going.

Much like the last international break in September, it’s been a very eventful last fortnight for Spurs in the build up to their Premier League return.

Last week, the club announced a £100 million capital injection from the Lewis family, which could partly be reinvested into Tottenham’s recruitment drive or bolstering their wage structure (Kaveh Solhekol).

Soon afterward, the North Londoners confirmed that Fabio Paratici has returned to the club in an official full-time capacity, after months of reports tipping the Italian to come back after his worldwide FIFA ban ended.

Paratici was managing director between 2021 and 2023 before he was forced to resign, and has regularly worked as an outside consultant for the club, including the most recent summer window.

Related Lange and Paratici prepared to pay £43m for defender with Tottenham approach expected

The co-sporting directors are already looking to solve Frank’s centre-back problem.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Oct 17, 2025

The 53-year-old advised Johan Lange — who he now works alongside in a co-sporting director role — CEO Vinai Venkatesham, and Frank on Tottenham’s transfer strategies, with Paratici now back at N17 as a proper employee.

Before his exit two years ago, the transfer chief played a key role in signing key first-team stars like Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr, with Paratici now tasked as Tottenham’s ‘dealmaker’ while Lange shoulders the responsibility of scouting and data-driven recruitment.

Romano shares why Paratici return is "really important news for Tottenham"

Speaking via his YouTube channel after the announcement of Paratici’s re-hire, famous reporter Romano shared exactly why it is “really important news” for Tottenham — suggesting that members of the squad will be thrilled as well.

Bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record in transfer dealings, Paratici is also known for his extensive contact network across Europe, with Michael Bridge jokingly reporting it’s as long as the Yellow Pages (Sky Sports).

Paratici’s reputation as a fierce negotiator is another significant asset. He’s renowned for his ability to navigate complex deals, and his savvy approach to negotiations ensures Tottenham can compete in the transfer market without overpaying, while still landing impactful players to strengthen the squad.

Beyond his contacts and negotiation skills, Paratici is also rumoured to possess a relentless work ethic. He is hands-on and detail-oriented, often working long hours to ensure all aspects of a deal are covered.

This dedication translates into a focused recruitment strategy that aligns with the club’s ambitions, with Paratici’s presence coming as a big boost for Frank.

Harry Came fell nine runs short of a second century in the match as Derbyshire were forced to settle for a draw in an exciting finish to their Rothesay County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.The hosts declared their second innings at lunch, having progressed from an overnight 364 for three to 526 for six. Graeme van Buuren added 70 to his score before being dismissed for 175, while James Bracey hit a brisk 43.That set Derbyshire a victory target of 316 in a minimum of 67 overs. Came and Caleb Jewell put together an opening stand of 177 in just 31.3 overs before Jewell fell for 83, from 80 deliveries, with 12 fours, and Came for 91, off 118 balls, with 7 fours and 3 sixes.But Gloucestershire refused to buckle and left-arm spinner van Buuren claimed four for 64 to give his side a chance before Anuj Dal (36 not out) and Ben Aitchison batted out for a draw at 296 for eight. Derbyshire took 14 points and Gloucestershire 11.Cameron Bancroft began the day undefeated on 170 in Gloucestershire’s second innings. The captain could add only six before being bowled by Zak Chappell, but could still take immense pride in a match-turning innings spanning almost seven-and-three-quarter hours and 366 balls.Van Buuren was obliged to exercise initial caution as he and Bracey guarded against a collapse. But once the pair had brought up 400, they went on the attack. Bracey smacked a straight six off Alex Thomson to stretch the lead to 207 and followed up with two quick boundaries off Jack Morley.On 134, van Buuren edged Morley just short of Wayne Madsen at slip, but it was all the good fortune the South African needed to reach 150 off 261 balls, with 20 fours.A six over long-on off Thomson brought up the century stand with Bracey, who faced just 56 balls in an entertaining cameo before top-edging an attempted slog sweep off Thomson and presenting wicketkeeper Brooke Guest with a simple catch.It was 498 for six when van Buuren’s was caught at wide long-on off Thomson looking to accelerate towards the declaration. Zaman Akhter hit sixes off two of his first three balls, while Ben Charlesworth also cleared the ropes with a powerful reverse sweep off Morley on the stroke of lunch.Gloucestershire gave the new ball to debutant Todd Murphy when the afternoon session began, hoping the Australia Test off-spinner would make early inroads. With David Lloyd unable to open the batting having been off the field injured on day three, Came partnered Caleb Jewell and soon signalled his side’s intentions with a four and a six in Murphy’s second over.That set the tone for an exhilarating century stand, Came reaching a fluent half-century off 61 balls, with 5 fours and 2 sixes, and Jewell following him to the same landmark, having faced 52 deliveries and hit 7 fours.Came hit a straight six off van Buuren as Derbyshire progressed serenely to 169 without loss at tea, needing a further 147 to win. Came was 87 not out and Jewell unbeaten on 75.Jewell hit the first two balls of the final session from Ajeet Singh Dale for boundaries, but fell to the third, caught at mid-off by the diving Miles Hammond, who produced an even better effort to dismiss Came, one-handed at mid-wicket off Murphy to leave Derbyshire 189 for two.Madsen made 17 before edging an attempted pull shot off Akhter to wicketkeeper James Bracey and Martin Andersson registered a third-ball duck, lbw to Murphy with 104 runs still required. That target had been reduced to 81 when Guest was caught behind off van Buuren for 22.Derbyshire entered the final hour of the match on 249 for five, needing a further 67 from a minimum of 16 overs. Their task increased when Thomson, on 10, edged a sweep to Hammond at slip off van Buuren, who followed up by having Zak Chappell caught at mid-wicket. That finally brought in Lloyd to bat with a runner with 45 needed and Anuj Dal unbeaten on 27.Lloyd made only nine before falling lbw to the inspired van Buuren. But Dal stood firm and Aitchison helped clinch the draw as the game ended with Gloucestershire fielders crowded around the bat.

The last year or so has been pretty depressing for West Ham United, but the squad does have some real talent in it.

Summer signings Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa could develop into regular starters; Lucas Paqueta’s quality is undeniable, and El Hadji Malick Diouf looks like one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.

However, the crown jewel in Nuno Espírito Santo’s current side is undoubtedly Jarrod Bowen, who continues to be a difference-maker for the Hammers.

Yet, there is another player in the squad who could, under the new management, develop into a Bowen-style star for West Ham.

Bowen's West Ham rise

When West Ham signed Bowen from Hull City in January 2020, there was some excitement over the move, as there is for most attacking additions, but it didn’t feel like it was going to be a particularly important signing at the time.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

That opinion wasn’t really changed by the end of that season either, as while he didn’t do poorly, a return of one goal and four assists in 13 games wasn’t much to write home about.

Things started to pick up slightly the following season, as the promising winger produced 14 goal involvements in 40 games, but it was over the next two years that he began to establish himself as one of the best in the league.

For example, the 28-year-old ended the 21/22 season with a tally of 31 goal involvements and his first England cap, and then 22/23 delivered his defining moment as a Hammer.

That moment, of course, was the Conference League winning goal against Fiorentina, which not only brought the club their first European trophy but also cemented his legacy as a legend.

Since then, the former Hull gem has continued to perform and, as things stand, has made 246 appearances for the club, totalling 19611 minutes, in which he’s scored 77 goals and provided 52 assists.

That works out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.90 games, or every 152.02 minutes.

Appearances

246

Starts

221

Minutes

19611′

Goals

77

Assists

52

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

Minutes per Goal Involvement

152.02′

Points per Game

1.45

So, if Nuno can help develop another of West Ham’s attackers into a Bowen-type player this season, the club could end up having a memorable campaign.

The West Ham star who could become a Bowen-type player

Unfortunately, with West Ham’s attack not being particularly threatening at the moment, there is only really one player who could be developed into a Bowen-type star: Crysencio Summerville.

Now, the first thing to say is that no, the former Leeds United star is not as good a player as the Englishman, and is unlikely to become so in the next couple of seasons.

However, that does not mean he cannot become a player in his mould, or in other words, a winger who can provide a genuine threat from out wide, be that through goals, assists or their overall play.

Fortunately, the Dutchman is already starting to show positive signs this season, so getting that bit more out of him, like he did with his wingers at Nottingham Forest, shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for Nuno.

For example, while the 23-year-old was fairly anonymous away to Arsenal last weekend, he was brilliant away to Everton the week before.

In fact, the “unstoppable” Rotterdam-born dynamo, as dubbed by Statman Dave, was so good that he was named the Man of the Match, despite not scoring the equalising goal.

In his 77 minutes of action, he completed three of his five dribbles, more than anyone else on the night, won five of eight ground duels, amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.67, took 55 touches, played one key pass and won two fouls.

Finally, while the right-footed game-changer hasn’t been much of a goal threat in East London, he has it in his locker, as in his final campaign with Leeds, he racked up a tally of 21 goals and ten assists in 41 games.

Ultimately, Summerville is obviously not as good a player as Bowen and likely won’t be, but with more coaching, he could easily become someone West Ham can rely on in a similar way.

West Ham ace who's "pure joy to watch" could become Nuno's new Gibbs-White

The international star could be the secret to helping Nuno get more out of West Ham this season.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

Barcelona are preparing meticulously for El Clasico against Real Madrid, with defender Pau Cubarsi revealing they are changing four key defensive elements to counter the threat of Kylian Mbappe. The 18-year-old prodigy is gearing up for a tough test against the French forward and Vinicius Junior when the injury-ravaged teams go head-to-head in Sunday's headline clash.

• Barcelona’s fragile defence and tactical overhaul

  As the Clasico countdown intensifies, Barcelona’s defensive line faces its toughest test of the season. La Blaugrana arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu amid an uncertain run that saw them lose to Paris Saint-Germain and suffer a 4-1 defeat to Sevilla, exposing Hansi Flick’s high defensive line and a lack of sharpness when pressed by top opponents. With key players like Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christensen, Gavi and Joan Garcia out injured, Barca's preparation for the clash has been far from easy.

  To prepare, Cubarsi says Barcelona have “tweaked four things” with the aim of cutting off Madrid’s attacks and silencing Mbappe. Flick’s system has shifted slightly from a wide build-up to a narrower defensive structure, ensuring faster recovery runs and tighter marking on Madrid’s forwards.

  In contrast, Los Blancos though also struggling with injuries to David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal, the club have leaned heavily on the brilliance of Mbappe, who leads La Liga with 10 goals, and Vinicius, whose pace and dribbling remain game-changing. The French forward's explosiveness has turned him into Madrid’s focal point, while the Brazilian desire to regain his elite status adds edge to his game.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Cubarsi reveals Barcelona's defensive 'tweaks'

  Wins against Girona and Olympiacos in the past week have lifted Barca's spirits, but defender Cubarsi says a lot more work has been going on in the background to ensure they are ready for the upcoming test, focusing on Mbappe and Vinicius in particular.

  “Everyone knows who Mbappe is. We have to keep an eye on him and all of Madrid's world-class players," Cubarsi told reporters. “We've tweaked four things and it has to go well for us. We'll have to stop him in the best way possible, but especially focus on ourselves. We have to continue with our philosophy. Last year went well. Now the teams have evolved, but if we tweak a few things, we can improve."

  Asked about Vinicius, he added: "He's an agile and quick striker who moves into space. We have to be very alert at the back to stop him."

  The Barca centre-back further emphasised the importance of Flick, despite the fact that he is very likely to miss the bench against Madrid after being sent off against Girona. "He's important inside and outside. What we want is for him to help us from within; and if not, from outside," Cubarsi said.

• Barca must be extra cautious with Madrid's leading men

  Madrid’s forward line is the most lethal in Europe this season, powered by a reinvigorated Mbappe and a determined Vinicius. Mbappe’s 10 goals and two assists in just nine La Liga appearances have redefined Madrid’s attacking identity. His leadership and relentless drive have filled the void left by Karim Benzema, while his chemistry with Arda Guler has become Madrid’s main creative weapon.

  Vinicius, however, enters the Clasico with something to prove. Once the unstoppable left-wing force, he has struggled for rhythm and consistency under Xabi Alonso. His five goals and four assists in nine games reflect flashes of brilliance, but not dominance. Reports of him rejecting a new contract, wanting to be the highest-paid player at Madrid, have added an extra layer of tension to his form. Yet, Mbappe’s vocal support of him has steadied the dynamic. With Madrid also missing key defenders, Alonso will rely heavily on their directness and speed to test Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo early.

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  Flick's men 'very positive' ahead of Clasico test

  Despite recent setbacks, Flick’s Barcelona still believe they can outplay Madrid with patience and identity. The German manager has urged his players to “trust their instincts” while correcting positional discipline, something missing in recent games. Flick’s expected absence from the touchline due to suspension will be a psychological blow, but his tactical imprint remains clear.

  After a 6-1 win against the Greek side in midweek, Cubarsi feels positive as he addressed his ability to adapt to a new position in defence.

  “Scoring six goals for a Champions League team boosts your morale and helps you be more focused in front of goal. It's a very, very positive thing,” he said. "I haven't played that many games on the left and I felt like I was in a more familiar position, but it's also helped me improve football-wise. It doesn't change much, although on the right, since I've played there more, I find space and open players more quickly. I like the left, and it will help me in the future."

  He further added: “We're all at a spectacular level. I'm also very comfortable with Eric [Garcia], just as I was at the Olympics alongside him. With this season's center backs, we can achieve great things.”

For so many years, the Europa League offered Rangers supporters a safe space away from their domestic trials and tribulations, but even that is no longer the case.

On Thursday night, Russell Martin suffered yet another defeat, with his side defeated 1-0 at the hands of Genk in their league phase opener.

Only 38,000 were in attendance at Ibrox, around 12,000 below capacity, as supporters voted with their feet against the manager and CEO Patrick Stewart, considering the Gers currently sit second bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Livingston.

In the Europa League meantime, former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu was the main character of the evening, seeing a penalty saved by Jack Butland, missing at least two guilt-edged opportunities, before eventually scoring the only goal of the night, poking home at the back post, getting on the end of Patrik Hrošovský’s ball across.

From a Rangers perspective, most of the heat will be on the under-fire manager, but many of his players simply aren’t pulling their weight, one in particular not having any discernible positive impact on the night’s proceedings.

Mohamed Diomandé's costly red card

Rangers are finding winning football matches difficult enough right now with the full complement of 11 players, let alone ten.

In the quarter of an hour before half time, referee Matej Jug took centre stage, making three key decisions that all went against the home side.

The most outcome-altering was of course the red card, with Mohamed Diomandé dismissed for a foul on Zakaria El Ouahdi.

The Ivorian did win the ball, but his foot then bounced off the top of the ball and into El Ouahdi’s calf, thereby deemed a dangerous tackle.

Mere moments before, the Ibrox faithful thought their side were going to be given a penalty, Joris Kayembe seemingly set to be penalised for a handball, but the referee instead adjudged that James Tavrnier had committed a foul, which Ally McCoist said, speaking on commentary for TNT Sports, was the “biggest cop out you’ll see all night… he’s invented a shove there to take the easy way out”.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Even after the sending off, there was still time for Jug to award Genk a penalty in first-half injury time, following video review, but Oh’s attempt was saved by Jack Butland, eliciting the loudest cheer of the night.

Nevertheless, they were never truly able to recover from the loss of Diomandé and, even though he clearly didn’t mean to put in a dangerous challenge, he did ultimately, as McCoist put it, “cost his team”.

However, another Rangers starter offered even less on Thursday night, bringing into question why so much was paid for his services.

Rangers' anonymous attacker

Martin made just one change to his Rangers team that beat Hibs in the League Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, with Bojan Miovski, who actually scored his first goal for the club in that one, dropping to the bench, with Youssef Chermiti handed a first start for the club.

The 21-year-old joined the Light Blues for a reported fee of £8m, potentially rising to £10m, from Everton on deadline day, despite having scored zero goals in 24 appearances for the Toffees.

In fact, his most recent senior goal came for Sporting CP against Paços de Ferreira on 7 May 2023, underlining why this enormous fee raised so many eyebrows.

Well, as Chermiti seeks to change public perception of him in Glasgow, he didn’t do a very good job of it against Genk, as the table below outlines.

Shots

Zero

6th

Accurate passes

10

12th

Key passes

1

3rd

Duels contested

15

2nd

Duels won

5

4th

Possession lost

10

4th

Touches

24

11th

Sofascore rating

6.3

14th

As the table documents, Chermiti essentially had no impact on Rangers as an attacking force on Thursday, touching the ball a mere 24 times, nine fewer than the dismissed Diomandé, as well as five less than Oliver Antman, who was introduced as a half-time substitute. That return was also less than the aforementioned Butland, who recorded 45 touches.

Of course, it isn’t easy playing the role of a lone striker, especially when your side are down to ten men, but the Portuguese youngster lost possession ten times, as well as winning only five of 15 duels, not mustering a single shot, which simply isn’t good enough.

It is obviously unfair on the youngster, but when you cost as much as Chermiti has, big things are expected.

That fee will only prove to be value for money if he fires Rangers to league titles and scores crucial goals in European competition, so the fact that it is over two years since the striker scored a goal for anybody has to be alarming.

The most galling fact is that Martin left a proven goalscorer in Miovski, one who literally scored a goal less than a week ago, in reserve, watching on like the rest of the Rangers support, wondering how on earth this team are ever going to score a goal.

Reports suggest Martin now has three games to save his job, all away from home, facing Livingston, Sturm Graz and then Falkirk on the road in the next ten days, so, if he is to remain in situ during the international break, he must ditch Chermiti and get Miovski back up front.

Not Dyche or Gerrard: Rangers should axe Martin for future "elite manager"

With Russell Martin under intense pressure as Rangers boss, the 49ers should make a future “elite manager” their top target to replace him at Ibrox.

Sep 25, 2025

In what could see them finally get one over on Real Madrid, Liverpool could yet hijack the Spanish giants’ move to sign an England international when 2026 arrives.

Slot slams "stupid" Ekitike red card

Away from potential incomings, it was one of Liverpool’s summer signings who stole the headlines for the wrong reasons against Southampton. After emerging from the bench, Hugo Ekitike was perfectly placed to score another late winner for Liverpool as they edged past the Saints in the Carabao Cup.

For a brief moment, the Frenchman was the hero of the hour. And then he continued his celebration by replicating Lionel Messi’s famous shirt celebration to receive his second yellow card and subsequent red card in the 86th minute. It’s a moment that he won’t be forgetting anytime soon and one that Arne Slot slammed in his post-match reaction.

The Dutchman told reporters: “I told him if you score in a Champions League final in the 87th minute after outplaying three players and hitting it into the top corner I can maybe understand that you are like ‘this is all about me’.

“I’m old-fashioned, I’m 47 and old and I haven’t played at this level but I did score a few goals and if I had scored a goal like this I would have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and said this goal is all about you, not about me. “So needless, not smart, you call it stupid, I call it stupid as well.”

"Really difficult" – £150k-p/w Liverpool star admits he wasn't at "level" Slot wanted

The player is feeling much better now.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 24, 2025

It’s fair to say that the manager didn’t hold back when sharing his true feelings, but that’s the type of mistake that cannot happen at Europe’s top clubs. It’s the type of mentality that attracts players in the first place and the type that is now reportedly tempting a Real Madrid target.

Jarrad Branthwaite tempted by Liverpool move

As reported by Caught Offside, Jarrad Branthwaite is now tempted by a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, which could yet see him reject the chance to join Real Madrid in 2026. The Spanish club have admired the England defender from afar, but could see any potential move hijacked by Premier League opposition.

Speaking about Branthwaite’s desire to join a big club, Caught Offside’s Mark Brus wrote: “Everton have sometimes had to sell their star names to bigger clubs, though they’ll obviously hope to be able to keep Branthwaite for as long as possible. As per my sources, though, it’s well established that the talented young Englishman has the desire to play for a top club.”

Brus also claimed that Man United are expected to submit an offer worth as much as £60m to sign Branthwaite in 2026. Whether Everton deem that worthy of selling their star man or Liverpool decide to match that price is the big question.

It would certainly steal the headlines if one of the Toffees’ most important players jumped ship to Anfield.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has praised one Spurs player who he’s barely used so far this season, highlighting his excellent displays in training ahead of their Premier League return against Aston Villa this weekend.

Spurs braced for Premier League return against Villa

Both Spurs and Villa enter Sunday’s contest on a good run of form.

The Lilywhites, despite some near-misses, haven’t lost a single game in all competitions since their 1-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth — displaying a real grit and resilience to battle through testing scenarios and come through unscathed.

Over their last three games, Tottenham nicked a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Wolves by the skin of their teeth, courtesy of an expertly taken last-gasp equaliser from Joao Palhinha, with Spurs then stealing another draw away to Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

History threatened to repeat itself nearly a fortnight ago when Noah Okafor equalised for Leeds at Elland Road.

Matches

11

Wins

5

Draws

3

Losses

2

Points

18

Points per game

1.91

However, man of the match Mohammed Kudus was on hand to both end the Yorkshire side’s year-long unbeaten run at home in the league and break Tottenham’s pre-international break curse, as Frank’s side travelled back south with a 2-1 victory.

Spurs have proved they can grind out results under their new manager, and their newly-found defensive prowess was largely missing from Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League-winning squad of last season.

Villa, by contrast, endured a torrid start to 25/26, and it took five Premier League games for Unai Emery’s men to score their first top flight goal of the campaign.

That being said, Matty Cash’s wonder strike against Sunderland opened the floodgates for Villa, who’ve since won their last four games in all competitions and come into this clash against Tottenham with renewed confidence.

Frank has some very key decisions to make before the weekend, like whether to stick with Mathys Tel as the starting striker in place of Richarlison, amid doubts surrounding the latter and Dominic Solanke’s gradual return to fitness.

The latter has been on the pitch this week, according to Frank, but it remains to be seen whether he’s ready to start a full match or even be included against Villa.

In a big boost for Frank, though, summer signing Randal Kolo Muani is poised to return very soon after recovering from a dead leg which has kept him out of action.

Thomas Frank praises Randal Kolo Muani in Tottenham training

The Dane, speaking to reporters on Friday, claimed that the France international has been getting “better and better” in training with Kolo Muani now in contention to play against Villa.

The 26-year-old has played just 13 minutes since joining Spurs on loan from PSG, mainly due to his injury, but Kolo Muani’s imminent return comes as a real boost for Frank.

The versatile attacker, who bagged 23 goals and 17 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt during a phenomenal 2022/2023 campaign, showcased flashes of his best form on loan at Juventus last season and Frank could now be set to benefit.

Kolo Muani was ex-chair Daniel Levy’s last parting gift to Tottenham, and some believe that he may even become the club’s best striker ahead of Solanke.

Australia’s captain will play through the home summer which features a multi-format series against India

AAP23-Jun-2025

Alyssa Healy has been hampered by injury in recent series•Getty Images

Alyssa Healy has ruled out making this year’s ODI World Cup a farewell party, revealing recent injuries could persuade her to push back any retirement plans she might have had.Healy’s path back to cricket will be confirmed on Tuesday, with the wicketkeeper to be named as part of an Australia A squad to face India A in Queensland in August. The matches will be the Australia captain’s first since the Ashes success at the start of the year, when she missed games with a stress fracture in her foot and did not keep wicket in others.She has endured a difficult year fitness-wise, also missing the finals of last year’s T20 World Cup with the foot injury and having a knee issue end her WBBL season early.Related

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The 35-year-old then sat out ODIs in New Zealand and the WPL in India as a result of her injuries, but said she has been fit and able to play since March.Healy has often joked she had decided to retire from cricket five or six times before opting against it, and revealed that earlier this year she had an ideal exit scenario. But that will not be after the October-November World Cup, with a hunger for cricket while injured meaning her yet-to-be-revealed plans could be pushed back.”It’s probably shifted a little bit,” Healy told AAP. “It’s made me realise that I still want to do a little bit more than maybe what I thought. At the same time, sometimes there’s stuff in life that are a little bit more important than pulling on the green and gold. So it’s just a constant reassess.”But at the moment I definitely want to play a home summer. I want to bring the World Cup home, but also to play against India [in February-March].”Tuesday marks 100 days until Australia’s opening World Cup game against New Zealand, with the India tournament presenting a real challenge for the defending champions.Australia are gunning to be the first side to win back-to-back in the tournament in almost 40 years, with the team having faced a large transition since 2022.Forming a pathway to the ODI World Cup was part of Healy’s pitch when she took over the captaincy when Meg Lanning retired in 2023.”That was one of my goals, putting a timeline on it and saying ‘this is where I could take this group’, even not knowing what I was going to do personally,” Healy said. “It definitely was a big focus of mine, to get the group to a place to compete at this World Cup, and win the trophy.”It’s not so much about the captaincy [driving me], or ticking one more box. It’s just that I want to win a World Cup for Australia, and no one has gone back-to-back, which is a real motivator.”Healy has not kept wicket in a match since January, but was confident the Australia A series and subsequent ODIs in India would have her fit for up to nine World Cup matches in 32 days.”According to science, the ODI World Cups is one of the heaviest loads that we go through as cricketers,” Healy said. “My aim is to play every game of that World Cup. So to make sure I can do that’s important.”

Paris Saint-Germain are targeting Barcelona’s 18-year-old prodigy Juan Hernandez, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season. The French champions, led by former Barca boss Luis Enrique, are monitoring the academy midfielder closely and believe he fits their strategy of building around Europe’s top young talents.

PSG target Barcelona gem as contract runs down

According to , PSG have set their sights on Juan Hernandez, one of Barcelona’s most promising academy players, as they look to strengthen their midfield options with youthful talent. The 18-year-old has been training regularly with Hansi Flick’s first team in recent weeks and even featured on the senior matchday squad earlier this month, underlining his growing importance within the club’s setup.

However, with his current contract expiring on June 30, 2026, and no renewal agreement yet finalised, the Catalan giants risk losing another La Masia graduate to a European rival. Hernandez’s situation has reportedly alerted several clubs, with PSG leading the chase for his signature and preparing to make a move if renewal talks fail to progress in the coming months.

AdvertisementGettyHernandez fits into PSG’s youth-driven project under Luis Enrique

The Parisian club’s interest comes as no surprise. Luis Enrique, who knows Barcelona’s academy system inside out, has personally monitored Hernandez’s growth and views him as a perfect addition to PSG’s revamped recruitment model, one focused on young, high-potential European players rather than costly superstars.

In recent years, the European champions have deliberately shifted away from their big-spending strategy. Under Enrique, the club have prioritised long-term development, signing Ilya Zabarnyi and Lucas Chevalier this summer, while also handing first-team minutes to academy products Ibrahim Mbaye and Senny Mayulu amid injury crises. This philosophy has created a clear pathway for emerging players like Hernandez to thrive in Paris.

Hernandez has impressed this season for Barca Atletic under Juliano Belletti, starting seven matches and contributing a goal and an assist. A versatile midfielder capable of operating centrally or out wide, he’s become a mainstay for Spain’s Under 19 team, having represented his country across all youth levels since the U15s. His blend of creativity and tactical intelligence makes him a standout among emerging midfielders in Europe.

Contract clause and renewal uncertainty keep PSG hopeful

Hernandez’s €6 million release clause makes him a highly attainable target, though Les Parisiens are reportedly more interested in securing him on a free transfer once his contract expires. According to , the Ligue 1 giants are carefully monitoring the situation, aware that Barcelona’s financial limitations could hinder swift contract extensions.

Despite initial discussions between Barca and Hernandez’s representatives, no agreement has been reached, leaving the door open for other clubs to step in. PSG’s recruitment team has already added him to their priority list for 2025, viewing him as a player capable of developing into a key squad member within a few seasons.

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Getty ImagesPressure grows on Barcelona to secure La Masia’s future

The Blaugrana club's struggle to retain emerging talents like Hernandez highlights an ongoing issue at the club, balancing financial recovery with the need to protect their La Masia pipeline. The teenager’s rise has been compared to that of previous academy stars who departed early in search of senior opportunities, a scenario Barca are desperate to avoid repeating.

For now, the ball remains in the Catalan club’s court. Hernandez’s strong form at Barca Atletic and consistent national team involvement make him a crucial piece of the club’s long-term planning. Yet, unless a renewal is finalised soon, PSG’s growing interest, backed by Luis Enrique’s influence could see another La Masia jewel slip away to Paris.