Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale admits he is "definitely" interested in getting into football ownership after failing with his Cardiff City takeover. The ex-Tottenham man was part of a consortium that tried to buy the League One team earlier this summer but it came to nothing. Despite that setback, the Welshman still wants to pursue that avenue in the future.
Bale's Cardiff takeover fails
The former Wales star's efforts to be part of a new era in Cardiff's history was rebuffed by Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan over the summer. However, the 36-year-old, who is enjoying family life and a slower pace of life, still feels that club ownership is something he could sink his teeth into.
AdvertisementAFPWhat Bale said on his future plans after Cardiff snub
He said, via Wales Online: "I knew football wasn't going to last forever anyway. I enjoy being with family, keeping in football a little bit by doing some stuff on the TV. My kids keep me very busy, It's great to now have that time to spend with them and not be away every weekend and missing a lot of them growing up, just being able to go out and be a dad finally. At the moment I'm quite content where I am. Like I said, if something was to happen with a football club, I would definitely be interested and would love to explore it. I'm still pretty relatively new into retirement so I'm still enjoying that phase of relaxing a bit."
Bale eager to stay in football
It is clear Bale does not want to slip into the shadows following his retirement in 2022. The ex-winger has taken up a punditry role with TNT Sports for this season and seems to want to follow in the footsteps of Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Whether that happens remains to be seen.
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Getty Images EntertainmentHow are Cardiff doing in League One?
While Bale continues his TNT Sports duties, he will no doubt be keeping an eye on hometown side Cardiff as they try to secure an immediate return to the Championship following their relegation to League One in May. They currently sit fourth in the table, but suffered a 3-1 defeat to Bradford in their latest game.
His match-turning rescue act showed glimpses of the knock against Afghanistan and stunned Renegades
Tristan Lavalette12-Jan-2025Glenn Maxwell produced an extraordinary innings, farming the strike and smashing ten sixes in a brilliant 90 off 52 balls, to keep Stars’ BBL season alive after they defeated Renegades in the Melbourne derby.Stars’ finals hopes appeared over at 75 for 7 after they were sent in to bat at a closed-roofed Marvel Stadium due to stormy weather in Melbourne. Maxwell’s thunderous batting flipped the match on its head to lift Stars to 165 and a stunned Renegades fell well short in the chase.After losing their first five matches, Stars have won four in a row to remain a chance of reaching the finals while it was a costly defeat for Renegades (placed at the bottom with a 3-5 win-loss record) in a disappointment for much of the 38,000 crowd.Maxwell puts the cape onStars’ season appeared to be petering out as their powerful top-order fell apart. Opener Ben Duckett had been boom or bust this season, but played himself in as he eyed a significant contribution in his last BBL match before departing for the ILT20.Duckett made 21 off 14 balls before miscuing a slower ball to long-on, while skipper Marcus Stoinis tried to counterattack. He blasted quick Tom Rogers in a mighty blow that almost hit the roof but was caught at long-on. It was a dismissal that even left tennis superstar Novak Djokovic gobsmacked as he watched on in the terraces as Stars slumped further.Glenn Maxwell hit ten sixes in his 52-ball 90•Getty ImagesTheir hopes rested on Maxwell, who has a knack of producing miracles, and he delivered yet again. There were echoes of his famous World Cup double-century against Afghanistan in Mumbai as he hogged the strike and backed himself to smash sixes.He cracked a personal T20 record of 10 sixes, including a 122-metre strike off quick Kane Richardson over deep midwicket, while he laced Will Sutherland for three consecutive blows into the crowd.Maxwell effectively targeted legspinner Adam Zampa down the ground and also unfurled trademark switch-hits in one of his best T20 innings.In scenes more reminiscent of Test cricket, Maxwell refused singles in a strategy that paid off spectacularly. He added a BBL record eighth-wicket partnership of 81 with Usama Mir, who played something of the Pat Cummins role from Mumbai. Mir was scoreless and faced only five of the 46 balls in the partnership, but held up his end.Maxwell deserved a century, but chopped on to Richardson at the start of the final over to end one of the most surreal innings played in BBL history.Renegades’ attack starts hot before succumbing to MaxwellRogers has painful memories of the last Melbourne derby, played just eight days ago. He was thrashed at the death by Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright as Renegades let a match slip at the MCG.But he got a big boost after being the hero with bat and ball in Renegades’ comeback victory over Perth Scorchers in Perth. His confidence spilled over when he dismissed Sam Harper plumb lbw on the match’s first delivery.Recalled-quick Fergus O’Neill justified his selection with the pivotal wicket of Duckett then nicked off Thomas Rogers for a golden duck. He almost claimed a hat-trick when Stoinis hit just short of a diving Richardson at mid-off.O’Neill cleverly bowled subtle variations to finish with 2-16 from 4 overs and finished his spell before Maxwell’s carnage started. Renegades’ attack were then helpless and rattled by his tactic of declining singles.Sutherland, a youthful captain, has been a revelation in his first season as skipper but a few times did appear asleep at the wheel as Maxwell found singles with ease at the end of overs.In a worry for Renegades, Richardson appeared to injure his hamstring and was unable to complete the final over of the innings.Steketee steps up after wayward startVeteran quick Mark Steketee has taken 11 wickets in four matches since being selected in Stars’ line-up. But he could not find his radar initially with wayward new-ball bowling that threatened to undo Stars’ momentum.Steketee turned it around later in the second over after finally finding a straighter line that led to the dismissals of openers Marcus Harris and Josh Brown. He returned in the eighth over to pick up Jake Fraser-McGurk, who briefly threatened, before left-arm quick Joel Paris tore through Renegades’ middle-over. Steketee added two more wickets at the backend to finish with 5 for 17.Fraser-McGurk misses opportunity, debutant Dixon shows glimpsesIf Renegades don’t make finals, they will rue an inconsistent batting effort. Fraser-McGurk has particularly struggled with his highest score this season being just 26.He looked less manic at the crease on this occasion as he eyed ending his slump. He finally made his move when he blasted allrounder Beau Webster for a six over wide long-on, but it proved a tease as he holed out to end his 17-ball 19.Renegades were in massive trouble at 44 for 4, but they still believed after the Sutherland-led chase against Scorchers. They took the Power Surge, however, Sutherland was bowled by evergreen quick Peter Siddle in the 13th over to effectively end the ‘Gades hopes.Debutant Harry Dixon, an under-19 World Cup winner for Australia, had an impossible task but did underline why he’s highly-touted with several flowing stokes.But the left-handed Dixon, whose elegant style at the crease has shades of Shaun Marsh, holed out on 13 where Maxwell, fittingly, claimed the catch to cap his special night.
Zimbabwe took a 86-run first-innings lead and left Afghanistan three down at stumps
Abhimanyu Bose03-Jan-2025
Craig Ervine made a valiant 75•AP
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan wrestled for the advantage on a fast-paced day of Test cricket in Bulawayo, with the hosts only slightly ahead.Two-hundred-and-eighty-three runs were scored and 13 wickets fell on the second day where the momentum see-sawed between the two teams, leaving the Test delicately poised.Resuming from 6 for 0 after bowling Afghanistan out for 157 on a rain-hit first day, Zimbabwe were in early trouble thanks to a top-order collapse. But half-centuries from Craig Ervine (75) and Sikandar Raza (61) and a knock of equal value from an injured Sean Williams (49) saw Zimbabwe take an 86-run lead – one that was significant given the difficult nature of the pitch.Zimbabwe then removed three Afghanistan batters – with Blessing Muzarabani accounting for two – to end the day 40 runs ahead, while Afghanistan have just seven wickets in hand to try and set up a challenging target.There was enough in the pitch for bowlers in the morning and Zimbabwe started off showing a lot of discipline. But Joylord Gumbie’s patience didn’t last long as he edged Fareed Ahmad as Abdul Malik took a good low catch at second slip.Yamin Ahmadzai then had Takudzwanashe Kaitano strangled down the leg side to make it two wickets in two overs.Just as Ben Curran started to gather momentum with a couple of boundaries off both Afghanistan quicks, Fareed trapped him with front with an in-ducker, with Curran playing down the wrong line.Afghanistan applied instant pressure on Zimbabwe’s No. 5 Dion Myers, who was promoted because Williams was nursing a back injury from Thursday. With a catching mid-on in place, Myers opted to hit his way out of trouble. He lofted Ahmadzai down the ground for a boundary, but nicked off trying to cut a short and wide one to leave Afghanistan on 41 for 4.It could have been five down next ball when Fareed drew the outside edge from Raza – who was on seven – only to see a regulation catch go down at first slip. The drop from Riaz Hassan proved expensive. Raza got going with consecutive boundaries off Ahmadzai – an elegant on-drive followed by a cut through point.Raza and Ervine soon added 71 for the fourth wicket, mostly relying on singles, while Raza came up with the occasional boundary. Raza, playing his first Test since 2021, brought up his fifty by driving Rashid Khan through the covers for two in the second over after lunch.In the next over, Raza had another slice of luck as he miscued a pull to deep square leg’s left, but Ismat Alam let the ball slip through his hands, much to Fareed’s frustration for the second time in the day.Sikandar Raza steadied Zimbabwe after an early collapse•Zimbabwe Cricket
However, Raza could only add eight more runs to his total as Hashmatullah Shahidi brought Zia-ur-Rahman into the attack. Rashid changed ends, and Raza ended up missing a sweep the first ball he faced against the left-arm spinner.Rashid also looked sharper from the other end, and soon had Brian Bennett caught behind off the inside edge with a wrong’un. It did the trick again for Rashid as he knocked over Newman Nyamhuri.Zimbabwe were still ten runs behind Afghanistan’s first-innings total and Williams, coming out to bat at No. 9, and Ervine pulled Rashid and Ahmadzai respectively for two boundaries in the next two overs to take Zimbabwe into the lead.With Williams struggling with his back, Ahmadzai targeted him with short balls and nearly created a caught-and-bowled opportunity in the 52nd over, but the ball fell short. One ball later, Williams took on another short ball and crashed it through midwicket, but also went down on a knee holding his back in the process.Williams then decided to go on the attack, lofting Rashid over mid-on before driving Ahmadzai past mid-off twice in an over. In Ahmadzai’s next over, Williams slogged him for back-to-back boundaries. Ervine, who was happy to play second fiddle at the other end, reached his half-century in the final over before tea.Zimbabwe started positively in the final session, with Williams hitting Zia over mid-off for his fourth boundary in the second over after tea. But in the next over, Rashid got a wrong’un to spin away as Williams looked to turn it leg side. There was barely any audible noise but Rashid was loud in his appeal for caught behind. The umpire however, was unconvinced, but Williams, batting on 49, walked.”Obviously the medical staff have been working really hard to get him on the park today, they did a magnificent job there, and we’re going to have to continue to do that,” Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons spoke after the day’s play about Williams’ back issue.”It’s going to be tough, he’s in a lot of pain, but he showed tremendous courage to go out there and he showed what he’s about and what it means to him to play for Zimbabwe. You can see that in the way he goes about his business.”I can’t look too far ahead, obviously we take it step by step with him. We’re just going to try to get him into the best physical state we can as we move forward in this Test.”Ervine tried to the strike once play resumed after a brief rain break, but Ngarava convinced his captain to take a single off the second ball of the 71st over but was knocked over by an Ahmadzai length ball that stayed low.Ervine took Rashid on in the next over, first coming down the pitch to loft him down the ground and then slogging him over square leg for back-to-back sixes.However, another attempt at a slog sweep in Rashid’s next over saw Ervine hole out at deep-backward square leg. Zimbabwe now had an 86-run first-innings lead.Afghanistan’s second innings had a frantic start. Abdul Malik flashed at a full delivery and edged it to gully where Curran dropped him, before a vociferous appeal for caught behind from Ngarava, who got the ball close to Malik’s outside edge, was turned down.In the next over, Muzarabani drew a leading edge from Malik, with the ball popping to mid-on. In the eighth over, Muzarabani struck again, when he had Hassan Riaz edging behind to make it 18 for 2.Shahidi and Rahmat Shah, double-centurions in the last match, then tried to stave off the bowlers, but Raza gave Zimbabwe a late boost with a lovely offbreak that drifted in to pitch on middle before turning away past the outside edge and crashing into off stump, removing the Afghanistan captain in the penultimate over of the day.
Eberechi Eze has now finally departed Crystal Palace.
It had been a long time coming, but instead of the former Eagles number 10 pulling on the white of Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, he will be lining up in Arsenal’s famous red and white instead, as a last-minute detour across North London occurred to link up with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
Palace won’t want to dwell for too long on Eze’s star quality now being missing from Selhurst Park, with a healthy £67.5m in the Eagles’ bank account off the back of this much-talked-about sale, which will hopefully be put to good use before deadline day comes around.
Already, it seems as if Oliver Glasner’s side are eyeing up some ambitious moves, which could include a former midfield ace returning to East London.
Crystal Palace consider ambitious late move
Palace have money to burn, but not a lot of time to shell out significant amounts on an Eze replacement.
The window slams shut next Monday, with the Eagles reportedly setting their sights on a last-ditch move for Villarreal attacker Yeremy Pino, who coincidentally has a £67m release clause at the Yellow Submarine.
Yeremy Pino for Spain.
He isn’t the only costly midfield addition up for consideration, however, with an ambitious move to bring former loan sensation Conor Gallagher back to Palace in the works.
That’s what Eagles report Bobby Manzi has revealed, with the report stating that Glasner and Co. are weighing up another loan deal for the former Chelsea man, who has struggled for gametime during the infancy of the new La Liga season after trading London for Madrid in a £42m deal a year ago.
Such a lack of gametime means that the Englishman is open to heading back to Selhurst Park in the remaining days of the window.
He could well be the ‘talismanic’ replacement needed to fill Eze’s void, as the News Shopper have further stated.
How Gallagher is like both Wharton & Eze
Not only would Gallagher provide a helping hand in replacing some of the qualities that Eze has left behind, but the England international evokes qualities of another Eagles star.
Indeed, also possesses the same grit and energy of Adam Wharton’s varied game donning Palace’s distinct claret and blue, which makes a last-gasp deal for the 25-year-old to return to his former happy hunting ground even more of a must to seal.
Of course, when Gallagher was pulling on his new Palace strip during a brief loan stint away from Chelsea, he was desperately eager to make a name for himself as a rising gem.
At just 21, the wide-eyed midfielder certainly lived up to his hype, leading to eight goals and five assists coming his way from 39 Eagles outings.
Funnily enough, Wharton is making similar waves today in the senior set-up, at the same age when Gallagher first started coming onto Premier League fans ‘ radars far and wide for his entertaining showings at Palace.
The ex-Blackburn Rovers talent might well still be searching for a strike to break his duck at Selhurst Park, but he does boast one more assist than Gallagher from his 47 appearances, on top of also offering far more than just goals and assists when winning 4.9 duels per match during his debut Premier League campaign.
A far rawer version of the midfielder target won a heftier 5.9 duels per game during his only top-flight season to date for the Eagles – with then Palace manager Patrick Vieira even heralding how much he “sacrifices” himself for the team – before refining this edge to his game even more under the attritional approach of Diego Simeone at Atletico.
Gallagher Premier League stats
Stat
Gallagher
Games played
136
Goals scored
18
Assists
13
Completed passes
4678 (86%)
Total tackles
281
Duels won
731
Stats by Sofascore
He has further proven himself away from that memorable stay at Selhurst Park in the tough terrain of the Premier League with Chelsea, as seen in his healthy tally of 18 goals and 13 assists next to his name from 136 top-flight appearances.
Like Gallagher, Eze has more than proven he knows where the goal is, bagging 34 goals and 23 assists himself from 147 top-flight clashes. Thus, Gallagher will be hopeful his own total can rise to the levels of his £67.5m counterpart if he can be equal parts gritty and attack-minded under Glasner’s wing.
It will be intriguing to see where the Austrian does slot Gallagher into his line-ups if he joins, as he tries to get both sides of the “sensational” star’s well-rounded game – as he’s been previously lauded by football journalist John Cross – to come to the forefront.
Whatever does happen, it’s certain that the 25-year-old will relish a chance to return to the Premier League with his former loan employers, as Glasner and Co try to navigate their reality now with Eze missing.
Romano: Crystal Palace target "unique" £67m star as perfect Eze replacement
With Eberechi Eze having joined Arsenal for £67.5m, Crystal Palace will target a “unique” £67m star as his replacement, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones was honoured at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium after he completed his sport directorship degree in a bid to start a new career. Jones only retired last year after so much time spent battling injury setbacks, walking away from playing with just five senior appearances in his final four seasons. Now, instead of marshalling defences, he's plotting moves from the boardroom.
A degree of pride for Jones
The ex-England international picked up his diploma on Tuesday as part of the PFA Business School programme, joining fellow graduates Yoane Wissa and Ilkay Gündogan. For a man once tipped for greatness before injuries crushed his progress, the diploma marks a fresh start.
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The search for purpose after retirement
Standing proudly at the ceremony, the Lancashire-born defender said: "It’s a proud moment for me to graduate today. This is something I decided I wanted to do when I retired. I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s been a good networking opportunity as well as an educational one, and I’m really excited about what doors it opens up in the future.
"When I finished playing, I asked myself: ‘Well, what do I do now?’. I like the coaching side of the game, and I’m still really ambitious about that, but I needed something else as well. This gave me a focus which is what I needed at the time. I reached out to the PFA when I heard about the course and it’s something that I was passionate about doing; something I could get my teeth into. The technical aspects of the sporting directorship role I really admire, and maybe in the future it’s a role that I’d like to fill."
Already plotting his comeback
Even before calling time on his playing days, Jones had started laying the foundations for his second career. Since the 2023-24 season, he’s been working with Manchester United’s Under-18s, helping guide the next generation through the academy.
"It’s something they allow me to do and what I wanted to do, to broaden my horizon on the coaching side of things and see how they do things," he said. "I feel like I’m in a position now where I’m ready for a challenge."
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Jones pursuing his UEFA Pro License
Jones is also pursuing his UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification available in Europe, which could eventually see him take a dugout role. The plan is clear: Jones wants to be armed with every possible qualification, whether it leads him into management, talent development, or the director’s office.
لم يبدأ محمد صلاح هذا الموسم بالمستوى المعهود عنه، ويعتقد جيمي كاراجر مدافع وقائد ليفربول السابق أن هناك أسبابًا وراء ذلك.
وسجل محمد صلاح ثلاثة أهداف فقط خلال عشر مباريات مع ليفربول في جميع المسابقات حتى الآن، وغاب عن التسجيل لمدة أربع مباريات.
وتزامن تراجع اداء صلاح مع تراجع نتائج ليفربول، حيث خسر فريق آرني سلوت آخر ثلاث مباريات قبل فترة التوقف الدولي في أكتوبر.
ورد كاراجر على ما يتعرض له محمد صلاح من انتقادات، وقال في تصريحات لصحيفة “تلجراف” :”لا يبدو نفس اللاعب الذي كان عليه الموسم الماضي”.
أقرأ أيضاً.. سلوت يدافع عن محمد صلاح بعد انتقاده ضد تشيلسي.. ويؤكد جاهزية ثنائي ليفربول لمواجهة يونايتد
وأضاف :”غير انتقال أرنولد إلى ريال مدريد أسلوب لعب ليفربول حيث كون هو وصلاح تفاهما ميدانيا بعد سبع سنوات قضياها معاً، لقد لعب صلاح مع أربعة أظهرة يمنى هذا الموسم وهما برادلي وفريمبونج وسوبوسلاي ولفترة قصيرة واتارو إندو”.
وأشار جيمي كاراجر للتعديل التكتيكي الذي أجراه آرني سلوت هذا الموسم والذي ساعد الفرق على استغلال جبهة صلاح عكس ما حدث الموسم الماضي: “أحد أسباب فعاليته الكبيرة في الموسم الماضي أن سلوت صمم الفريق بناء على استراتيجية المخاطرة والمكافأة”.
وذكر كاراجر: “لقد شجعه سلوت على البقاء في الملعب بدلاً من التراجع باستمرار، معتمداً على سوبوسلاي أو أرنولد أو كوناتي لتغطية الجانب الأيمن من دفاع ليفربول عند تعرض الفريق لهجمات مرتدة”.
وأكد كاراجر: “إن إعادة تشكيل خط الوسط بجانب تغيير لاعبي الظهير وتذبذب أداء كوناتي ساعد الخصوم على استهداف الجانب الأيمن للفريق بشكل أكثر فعالية”.
ويرى كاراجر أن هناك سببًا واحدًا على رأس الأسباب لتراجع مستوى صلاح الحالي: “كان الفارق الأكبر لصلاح في نصف ملعب الخصم حيث أهدر ثلاث فرص ضد تشيلسي كانت ستغير النتيجة”.
وأتم كاراجر: “تظهر الإحصائيات الأكثر إثارة للقلق أن الصعوبات التي يواجهها صلاح تعود لمارس الماضي، في آخر 21 مباراة له مع ليفربول لم يسجل سوى خمس أهداف اثنان منها من ركلات جزاء وكان قد سجل 32 هدفا في 42 مباراة سابقة له مع ناديه”.
واختتم كاراجر: “في الدوري الإنجليزي هذا العام يعد هدفه ضد بورنموث هو هدفه الوحيد من غير ركلة جزاء، يجب أن يتغير هذا لإنهاء الجدل الذي يثار حول أن أفضل ما لديه قد انتهى”.
Titular em duas das últimas quatro partidas da equipe feminina do Palmeiras, a goleira Ali Bobadilla assumiu uma posição difícil no time palestrino. A paraguaia de 29 anos experimentou um desafio imenso ao substituir Tápia, lesionada, na titularidade da meta alviverde em um momento crucial da temporada. Ali comentou sobre a responsabilidade, afirmando que é necessário muito trabalho e dedicação.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras vence Oeste em jogo-treino na Academia de Futebol durante pausa da Data FifaPalmeiras16/06/2023PalmeirasTécnico do Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira comemora marca de 100 mil livros vendidos: ‘Orgulho’Palmeiras16/06/2023PalmeirasEndrick valoriza período sem jogos e comemora boa fase no Palmeiras: ‘Frutos do meu trabalho’Palmeiras16/06/2023
+ Palmeiras vence Oeste em jogo-treino na Academia de Futebol durante pausa da Data Fifa
– A responsabilidade de estar defendendo a meta do melhor time da América do Sul é enorme, mas muito gratificante. Requer muito trabalho e dedicação, e é preciso estar pronta para qualquer momento – disse a goleira.
No time desde o início da temporada, Bobadilla foi uma das apostas estrangeiras do Verdão. Goleira da seleção paraguaia, foi adquirindo ainda mais segurança e aprimorando suas habilidades nos treinos, até conquistar a confiança de se tornar opção do técnico Ricardo Belli com a lesão de Tápia.
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– Foi importante para mim voltar a ter minutos e voltar a contribuir para a equipe, acredito que sempre é importante estar preparado para qualquer situação e a qualquer momento.
+ Jornalistas confirmam: Abel Ferreira sempre foi brigão e sofre com a pressão do futebol brasileiro
O Palmeiras encerrou a primeira fase em segundo lugar na tabela de classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro. Agora, o Alviverde se prepara para encarar o rival São Paulo. A fase de mata-mata é fundamental para que a equipe avance em busca do título inédito do Brasileirão. A rivalidade entre os times aumenta a expectativa em torno do clássico. Bobadilla reiterou o objetivo do Verdão em conquistar o título independente do adversário.
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– Palmeiras quer sair campeão e vamos por isso, não importa o rival e a forma. O objetivo é claro, estamos fortes como grupo – concluiu.
No último Choque-Rainha, o Palmeiras foi derrotado em casa. O primeiro jogo das quartas de final, com mando do Tricolor, acontece no próximo domingo (18), às 16h (de Brasília).
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is currently assessing the remainder of his squad that haven’t gone out on international duty, and the Italian has promised one thing to a highly-rated youngster who’s now looking to turn heads at Cobham.
The Blues take on Brentford in their first game back from the break, four days before a blockbuster opening Champions League game against Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on September 17.
After a summer of trimming down Maresca’s squad, partly to comply with UEFA as Chelsea looked to register a ‘positive transfer balance’, Maresca named a 23-man squad for his European A-list — notably missing out summer signing Facundo Buonanotte.
Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen
Defenders: Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah,
Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Jorrel Hato,
Forwards: Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto,
Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Estevao.
Bomb squad members Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling were unsurprisingly omitted, with reports still suggesting the pair could leave soon, even after the UK transfer window shut its doors at 7pm on Monday.
Disasi has been subject to an approach from Saudi side Neom SC, while former Man United chief scout Mick Brown believes Chelsea could terminate Raheem Sterling’s deal in a bid to rid the club of his £325,000-per-week wages.
As we’ve seen from the last window, you can never rule anything out at Chelsea, with Liam Delap’s injury prompting BlueCo to both re-negotiate a more favourable exit for Nicolas Jackson whilst recalling Marc Guiu from his loan at Sunderland.
The teenager was also named in Maresca’s Champions League A-list squad, so the intention to play him is crystal clear, and Guiu is believed to have received the Chelsea boss’ word on a key issue.
The former Barcelona gem was set to further his development with more guaranteed game time at Sunderland, and had already made his mark by scoring for Regis Le Bris’ side in the EFL Cup against Huddersfield Town.
Marc Guiu desperate to impress in Chelsea training after Maresca promise
Now back in west London, Guiu is desperate to impress in Chelsea training, with Maresca promising the 19-year-old that he will be handed game time in the coming weeks.
That is according to GiveMeSport, who state that the Spaniard has set his sights on dazzling Maresca behind-the-scenes as he looks to stake his claim in the Chelsea squad.
It is also noted that, if Guiu can prove to be a constant threat in the final third, then there will be a chance for him to become a prominent figure in the club’s plans moving forward.
The youngster scored six goals in seven Conference League appearances last term, playing a major role in the group stages before missing out on nearly every knockout game with a hamstring injury — bar a three-minute cameo in the final.
Arsenal passed up the chance to go top of the Women’s Super League table as they fell to a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Frida Maanum scored her third league goal of 2025-26 as the Gunners looked destined to climb to the summit, but substitute Lucy Parker netted late on to secure a deserved point for the visitors.
Villa boss Natalia Arroyo predicted Arsenal would carry “revenge vibes” into the affair following the 5-2 victory over Renee Slegers' side last season, and that looked to be the case when the hosts took the lead after just 10 minutes through Maanum. As Villa looked to build from the back, Missy Bo Kearns was quickly closed down by Mariona Caldentey, with the ball finding its way through to Maanum who showed great composure to stroke home from close range.
However Villa, so often a tough nut to crack on the road, started to look after the ball better and they came close to an equaliser when Lynn Wilms forced Daphne van Domselaar into a good save from a free kick. Arroyo’s side continued to huff and puff but captain Rachel Daly – making her 100th WSL appearance – was starved of service up top. Arsenal then started to grow back into things, with driven crosses from first Olivia Smith and then Katie McCabe forcing the Villa defence into action. And the European champions really should have gone 2-0 up when Beth Mead set up Maanum at the back post, but the midfielder failed to stab the ball home with the goal at her mercy.
In a second half which started with Arsenal duo Smith and Steph Catley suffering knocks they were able to shake off, Villa almost scored when Chasity Grant latched onto substitute Kirsty Hanson’s cross but her effort trickled just past the post. The visitors continued to press forward and Hanson soon went close with a long-range strike from distance. With the game on a knife edge, the newly-crowned Women’s Club of the Year responded as Mead set up Emily Fox but the defender’s shot was well blocked by Villa’s Wilms. McCabe then forced goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo into a good save with a powerful drive before Villa forced one last chance, with defender Parker finding the back of the net from a deep corner to break Arsenal hearts late on.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…
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Daphne van Domselaar (5/10):
Made two good saves from Wilms free-kicks but her distribution was rather shaky.
Emily Fox (6/10):
Collected an early yellow card for a rough challenge on Ebony Salmon, but otherwise she was superb on the ball.
Katie Reid (7/10):
Showed a great turn of pace on a number of occasions to shepherd the ball back to Van Domselaar.
Steph Catley (5/10):
She closed down Salmon really well for the most part, giving the Villa forward no room to breathe. The Australia international struggled after the break, though.
Katie McCabe (6/10):
Drove forward when she could but her crosses were well snuffed out by the Villa defence. The left-back also made a few important blocks to prevent Villa counter-attacks.
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Kim Little (8/10):
An excellent midfield performance from the skipper, whose reading of the game was terrific.
Mariona Caldentey (7/10):
Played a key role in Arsenal's opener by winning possession from Villa's Bo Kearns.
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Olivia Smith (5/10):
Defended dutifully up against the young Villa full-back Rachel Maltby, and she was tidy in possession too.
Frida Maanum (8/10):
Often dropping deep to link the midfield to the attack, Maanum was then calmness personified as she coolly slotted past Villa goalkeeper D'Angelo.
Beth Mead (7/10):
Unlucky not to register a fourth assist for the WSL season after she set Maanum up with a lovely header, but the Norway international failed to divert the ball home.
Alessia Russo (7/10):
Brilliant as always at peeling away from her markers, whether she was dropping deep or working the channels. The striker was unable to test D'Angelo often enough, though.
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Lotte Wubben-Moy (N/A):
She was introduced too late into the affair to make her mark.
Taylor Hinds (N/A):
She didn't have enough time to make an impact from the bench.
Victoria Pelova (6/10):
Brought on for Maanum in the second half and she put herself about, bringing her team-mates into play as they searched for a second.
Caitlin Foord (6/10):
Replacing Smith just after the hour mark, she had the chance to test D'Angelo from a Caldentey cross but she couldn't sort her feet out.
Chloe Kelly (N/A):
A late substitute, she didn't earn enough minutes to star.
Renee Slegers (6/10):
Brought Maanum and Mead into her starting XI and both calls were successful, with the former producing a first-rate performance in particular. However Villa's substitutions were better and that ultimately cost Arsenal all three points.
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will be hoping for more additions to the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window next week.
Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor have been added to the group to bolster his options in the final third, but the former Norwich City manager wants more.
Earlier this month, the boss said: “There is no doubt we need reinforcements, especially in the offence. Dominic can’t be the only step. We are on a good path, prepared for the first games and I hope when the transfer window is over we have a squad who is capable of fighting because we have one clear target – to stay in this league.”
It is hard to blame Farke for having that stance when you consider that the West Yorkshire outfit have only scored two goals in their first three competitive games: a penalty and a Jayden Bogle goal against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
Another winger, on top of the signing of Okafor from AC Milan, is on the agenda and it will be interesting to see who they go for before next Monday’s deadline.
One player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road before the end of the window is Tottenham Hotspur forward Manor Solomon, who spent last season on loan in West Yorkshire.
Manor Solomon's impact at Leeds last season
The 26-year-old attacker spent the season on loan to help the Whites win the Championship and earn promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James were already in the building as wide options for Farke to call upon on the left and the right flanks, but he was able to break into the team and establish himself as a key player for the German boss.
Solomon went on to start 30 of his 39 appearances in the Championship, per Sofascore, on the club’s way to hitting a staggering 100 points in the second tier last term.
24/25 Championship
Manor Solomon
Percentile rank vs wingers
xG
8.14
Top 8%
Goals
10
Top 6%
Shots on target
25
Top 12%
xA
10.30
Top 1%
Chances created
67
Top 5%
Assists
12
Top 3%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Israel international made a huge impact in the final third in those 39 appearances, scoring or creating 22 goals in 30 starts.
These statistics show that he performed consistently in front of goal to win vital points for the Whites with goals and assists that changed and won games in the Championship.
Leeds United'sManorSolomoncelebrates scoring their first goal
Whilst the club may yet look to bring him back before the deadline, the Whites are reportedly looking at another player who could be the new Solomon at Elland Road.
Leeds eyeing move for Nottingham Forest winger
Former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers chief scout Mick Brown has revealed that the 49ers are eyeing a last-gasp move for Nottingham Forest forward Jota Silva.
Speaking to Football Insider, Brown said: “I hear Leeds are interested in signing Jota Silva. They need new wingers, and he is one of the names on their list of targets.
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“When he’s been involved for Forest, he looks busy and bright, always looking to make things happen and not afraid to get on the ball. He likes to get at people and he’s capable of producing in the final third as well.
“He’s a bit of a maverick, and those types of players are always welcome at Leeds. Forest have signed a number of wide players, and spent a significant amount of money on him, so I hear he is questioning where he fits in.”
Nottingham Forest's Jota Silva celebrates with Chris Wood.
It was reported by O’Jogo earlier this summer that Sporting were hoping to land him for a fee of around £10m including add-ons, and it remains to be seen if Leeds are prepared to pay that kind of money for his services.
Why Leeds should sign Jota Silva
Leeds should swoop to sign Jota Silva from the Tricky Trees because he could be a more affordable option on the flank, given that Solomon reportedly has a price tag of £20m over his head.
The Whites save £10m and land their next Solomon by signing the Portuguese star, as another winger who has become surplus to requirements at a Premier League side, just as was the case with the Israel international last summer.
Jota Silva only started five of his 31 appearances in the Premier League for Forest last season, per Sofascore, but showed glimpses of the kind of quality that he has the potential to provide on a regular basis at that level.
The 26-year-old ace scored three goals and created eight ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 891 minutes of action, which shows that he was an effective contributor in the final third despite limited minutes on the pitch.
Jota Silva’s form for Vitoria in Portugal in the 2023/24 campaign, before his move to England, shows that he can deliver consistent quality on the flank when starting regularly.
23/24 Liga Portugal
Jota Silva
Appearances
33
xG
7.99
Goals
11
Big chances created
8
Key passes per game
1.0
Assists
5
Dribbles completed per game
1.3
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Portugal international caught the eye with 19 goals and ‘big chances’ created in the top division in his country.
These statistics show that he can be an efficient finisher who also looks to create chances for his teammates on a regular basis at the top level, when playing week-in-week-out, which is why he could be an exciting signing for Leeds.
The versatile forward, who can play on the right or the left as a winger, could be the new Solomon at Elland Road by arriving from a Premier League team to light up the flanks in West Yorkshire with his quality in the final third.
Given the difference in price between the two players, Jota Silva may even be a better option than signing Solomon permanently because he has shown that he can deliver in the English top-flight as recently as last season.
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