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Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has ignited pre-Clasico controversy by claiming Real Madrid “steal” during a cheeky exchange on Twitch. The 18-year-old made the remark while chatting with streamer Ibai Llanos, comparing Madrid to a Kings League team known for benefiting from refereeing decisions. The comment comes just days before El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Yamal stirs controversy ahead of El Clasico

Barca sensation Yamal has sparked uproar in Spain after boldly accusing Madrid of benefiting from refereeing decisions, describing them as a team that “steals and complains.” The Barcelona prodigy made the explosive remark during a broadcast on Kings League, just days before Clasico against Los Blancos.

When asked by Ibai Llanos, owner of Kings League side Porcinos FC, whether his team reminded him of Real Madrid, Yamal didn’t hesitate. “Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…” he said, prompting laughter and disbelief from those on the stream. Llanos, a well-known Madrid supporter, immediately pushed back, asking, “Real Madrid steals?” To which Yamal doubled down, laughing nervously before reaffirming, “Well, let’s see, let’s see.”

The comment has since gone viral across Spanish media and social platforms. The timing, however, could not be more controversial, just days before Barca travel to the Bernabeu in a high-powered La Liga clash.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportInside Yamal’s cheeky exchange with Ibai Llanos

The exchange came as part of a lighthearted discussion between Yamal, Llanos, and Gerard Pique, the former Barca defender who co-founded the Kings League. Yamal, who co-owns the Kings League club La Capital FC, was discussing his upcoming fixture against Ibai’s team, Porcinos, when the topic of Real Madrid naturally arose.

Pique jokingly stoked the rivalry, while Yamal’s response carried a sting. “They steal, they complain, and they do things…” said the Barcelona winger, alluding to what many Barca fans have long believed, that Real Madrid receives favourable treatment from referees.

Despite his youthful tone and playful delivery, Yamal’s remarks have added extra spice to an already heated build-up to Clasico. His comments follow a long line of pre-Clasico mind games.

Focus on Clasico showdown at the Bernabeu

Barca will face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu this Sunday in a match that could decide early leadership of La Liga. Hansi Flick’s side currently trail Xabi Alonso’s men by two points, and a victory would see the Catalans leapfrog their rivals into first place.

Yamal’s comment, while made in jest, could add pressure ahead of one of the most-watched games in world football. The 18-year-old is expected to start on the right wing after producing a string of impressive performances this season, including eight direct goal contributions in just seven La Liga appearances.

Yamal’s self-assurance underlines his growing importance in Flick’s system, where his creativity, pace, and composure have made him one of the defining faces of Barcelona’s new era.

Madrid, meanwhile, have remained silent publicly, focusing on preparation under Alonso after a tough-win in the Champions League game against Juventus. The club’s fans, however, are expected to make their feelings known when Yamal steps onto the Bernabeu turf this weekend.

With tensions high, form stakes tight, and personal rivalries simmering, Clasico once again promises to deliver football, theatre, and controversy in equal measure, and Yamal finds himself right at the heart of it all.

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AFPMbappe vs Yamal – the new Clasico duel

This weekend’s encounter will also renew the rivalry between two of football’s biggest generational stars, French superstar Kylian Mbappe and Yamal. The pair have already faced off eight times across club and international competitions, with Yamal holding an extraordinary record of seven wins to Mbappe’s single victory.

While Mbappe has outscored the Barcaa youngster in those meetings, eight goals to six, Yamal’s teams have consistently come out on top, including a memorable 5-2 Supercopa de Espana victory and a 3-2 Copa del Rey triumph. The French forward, now spearheading Madrid’s attack, will be eager to rewrite that record in front of home fans.

Yamal’s form heading into the Clasico has been impressive despite Barcelona’s mixed start to the campaign. With three goals and eight assists already this season, he continues to showcase the balance between flair and maturity that has made him Europe’s most exciting teenager. His performances have not only drawn praise from Flick but also earned him a runner-up finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or at just 18 years old.

Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners over Premier League champions Liverpool on Saturday despite fielding a weakened side, and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards says a previously struggling player shined alongside Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea battle to dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool

After what was a difficult last few weeks in the build up to their clash at Stamford Bridge, with reports even suggesting tension between Enzo Maresca and Chelsea’s board (Simon Phillips), the Blues couldn’t have gone into the international break on more of a high.

Supporters perhaps feared the worst, knowing that Maresca had precious few options to pick from defensively, with Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo all forced to miss Liverpool through injury or suspension.

Maresca elected to start youngster Josh Acheampong alongside Benoit Badiashile at the heart of Chelsea’s defence, and the duo managed to keep Arne Slot’s side fairly at bay as the West Londoners sealed a dramatic victory.

Caicedo opened the scoring with one of the goals of the season so far, thundering a long-range strike past Giorgi Marmadashvilli just 14 minutes into the keeper’s Premier League debut.

Cody Gakpo managed to grab one back for the visitors, but it was exciting teenage sensation Estevao Willian who scored next deep into added time — securing all three points as the delighted Maresca was sent off for his jubilant celebrations.

Caicedo and Estevao grabbed most of the headlines for their obvious contributions on an afternoon to remember for Chelsea, but a few other star performers deserve a worthy mention.

Star right-back Reece James was impeccable against Liverpool, and Chelsea will be praying the Englishman’s shin problem isn’t too serious after he withdrew from the England squad with Man City’s Nico O’Reilly replacing him.

Reece James vs Liverpool

Statistics

James

Match rank

Tackles

5

1st

Defensive actions

10

1st

Blocks

1

1st

Interceptions

2

2nd

Key passes

2

4th

Accurate passes

50

2nd

Duels contested

10

3rd

Duels won

8

1st

Aerial duels won

2

1st

Touches

83

1st

SofaScore rating

7.2

5th

Stats via SofaScore

As well as the aforementioned, redeemed star Enzo Fernandez once again proved very capable in his more advanced midfield role.

The Argentina international was struggling to justify his mammoth price tag around this time last year after a difficult start to life in London, but he’s since become a mainstay of Maresca’s midfield as Fernandez also attracts serious rumoured interest from Real Madrid.

Micah Richards says Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez now has "everything"

Speaking on The Rest is Football Podcast, Richards was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old after Liverpool — saying Fernandez now has “everything” after becoming a “leader” at Chelsea.

Even taking into account the odd sub-par performance this season, Maresca has made it clear what he thinks of Fernandez, with the Italian underlining his plan to utilise the ex-Benfica star in an attacking midfield role more often than not.

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.

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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.

One of the biggest concerns emerging among the fanbase at Leeds United at the moment appears to be the lack of goal threat in the team in recent games.

The Whites have failed to score a goal from open play in the first four matches of a league season, failing to score in any of their last three games in the division.

Lucas Nmecha’s penalty in the 1-0 win over Everton on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign is the only league goal that has been scored by the Whites since they won the Championship title.

Leeds scored a whopping 62 goals to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign, with Patrick Bamford’s 17-goal haul standing out as the headliner from that attack.

Daniel Farke has to find a way to platform his attackers in a way that allows them to be as effective as Bamford was that season, because one of his forwards does have the potential to be a big threat in front of goal.

Leeds swooped to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton this summer and one of the reasons why they moved to bring him in was because he is a proven Premier League player.

Why Calvert-Lewin could be the goalscorer Leeds need

Despite his experience in the league, signing the 28-year-old centre-forward was a risky move by the Championship champions because he has not been at his best in front of goal for several years.

Per Understat, Calvert-Lewin only scored three goals from 8.85 xG in the Premier League for the Toffees in the 2024/25 campaign, which led to them deciding to allow him to depart from the club on a free transfer.

The 11-cap England international also missed 21 matches through injury in the 2024/25 and 2023/24 seasons combined, per Transfermarkt. This means that Leeds are banking on being able to help him avoid injuries in a way that he has been unable to do in recent years.

24/25

8.85

3

23/24

13.63

7

22/23

6.50

2

21/22

6.22

5

20/21

18.21

16

19/20

16.11

13

18/19

6.17

6

17/18

5.44

4

16/17

1.25

1

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin did score an eye-catching 29 goals in the Premier League between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns for the Toffees, which shows that he does have the capability to score plenty of goals in the top-flight.

It is down to Farke to find a way to get the best out of the striker, though, and down to the player to take his chances when they come to build his own confidence back up.

If Leeds can get Calvert-Lewin firing at his best, then they could have their next version of Bamford from the 2020/21 season to fire them to safety in the Premier League.

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To help the former England international, Farke could revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation that served him so well in the Championship. The Whites scored 95 goals in 46 matches and racked up 100 points with that formation, before switching to a 4-3-3 in the Premier League to provide more stability in midfield.

It seems to have gone too far the other way, though, with the lack of attacking threat in the team at present, which is why the manager must go back to a 4-2-3-1 and unleash Wilfried Gnonto in a lesser-seen role for him to get the best out of Calvert-Lewin.

Why Gnonto could get Calvert-Lewin firing again

The bulk of the Italy U21 international’s appearances for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign came on the left or the right flank, as he only played centrally in three of his 46 outings in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Gnonto has also started this season as a wide option in the 4-3-3 formation, starting the first three matches on the left wing, but he has yet to deliver a shot on target or a ‘big chance’ created.

The move back to a 4-2-3-1 system could help to get the best out of the Italian forward whilst also providing Calvert-Lewin with more support and more creativity around him at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the graphic above, Gnonto would slot in behind the striker with Dan James on the right and Noah Okafor on the left flank, which would mean that Leeds have three attackers supporting the forward instead of two wingers and three central midfielders who are not specialist attackers.

The reason why Farke should unleash the Italian youngster, who Statman Dave once described as “electric”, in a central position behind Calvert-Lewin is that his career statistics suggest that he is at his best playing off a number nine.

Right wing (62)

14

10

Second striker (48)

20

7

Left wing (38)

7

4

Attacking midfield (18)

4

1

Right midfield (9)

2

0

Left midfield (7)

0

1

Striker (6)

2

0

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto’s best return of goals and assists combined per appearance in his career is as a second striker, which is a role he could play in a 4-2-3-1 in the hole behind Calvert-Lewin.

The former Zurich star scored nine goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 26 starts in the Championship last season, per Sofascore, whilst playing as a winger, so imagine what he could produce as a regular starter as a second striker, which appears to get the best out of him.

Gnonto’s ability to score and create goals from central positions could benefit Calvert-Lewin in multiple ways, because the Italian’s goal threat could take some of the pressure off the striker and his creativity could provide the Englishman with the chances he needs to score.

As aforementioned, Calvert-Lewin needs plenty of chances to score and unleashing Gnonto as a second striker as part of a formation change that would improve the team’s attacking set-up could be exactly what Farke needs to do to get him firing.

Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues

A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 15, 2025

Tottenham could turn to London rivals Chelsea in search of reinforcements this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, with contact made over signing one Blues player who’s set to leave Stamford Bridge.

Spurs’ need for reinforcements before the transfer deadline on September 1 is indisputable.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Having lost club legend Son Heung-min to LAFC and James Maddison to a serious knee injury this week, with Dejan Kulusevski also still out for a “long time” too, manager Thomas Frank is in danger of entering the 2025/2026 campaign desperately short of attacking outlets.

Their need for a new forward signing has dramatically escalated in the last few days, especially following confirmation that Maddison has ruptured his ACL and requires surgery, with the Englishman now expected to miss most of the campaign.

“I think we are definitely in the market in general,” Frank said about summer transfers, in the aftermath of their 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

“Of course, when players get a long-term injury we need to look into that, but generally we are in the market, yes. Nobody feels close or far away. I’m not saying anything before there’s anything that is completely 100%.”

There isn’t exactly much urgency from Frank here as the Dane attempts to quell panic and let technical director Johan Lange do his work behind-the-scenes, but Spurs need a new attacker desperately – something he’ll be acutely aware of.

Since the announcement of Maddison’s lengthy injury lay-off, a flurry of reports have linked Spurs with a wide array of attacking options.

Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Tottenham have already had a bid rejected for Como forward Nico Paz, while it is also believed that contact was made for Man City star Jack Grealish earlier this week amid Everton’s talks for the 29-year-old (Fabrizio Romano).

Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott is another candidate to reinforce Spurs’ attacking line, but he may not be for much longer as RB Leipzig advance a move for the 22-year-old, so Lange will need to formalise the club’s interest soon.

According to Romano, Spurs are also making contingency plans in the event Richarlison leaves.

Tottenham make contact over signing Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson

The reliable reporter, via X, now claims that Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is on their shortlist of potential replacements for the Brazilian.

It isn’t just interest, either, with Romano revealing that Tottenham have made contact over signing Jackson – who’s set to be one of the next “big players” moving on in this summer’s striker domino.

The Senegalese commands a rumoured valuation of £80-£100 million, according to Sky Sports, and Daniel Levy is very unlikely at best to green-light what would be a club-record deal for Jackson considering Chelsea’s need to sell.

The Lilywhites will almost certainly look to negotiate a lower fee for him, should Richarlison leave, and they decide to move.

Jackson was actually called one of Chelsea’s most important players last season by Joe Cole, but the arrival of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap means he’ll struggle for game time next season – making a move away the best option for all parties.

After Boca Juniors’ 1-1 draw against Rosario Central, midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia highlighted the great moment his teammate Leandro Paredes is experiencing. The World Cup champion, who decided this year to leave European football for Boca, has previously played for PSG, Juventus and Roma. Since his arrival, Paredes now shares the midfield with Battaglia.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Battaglia and Paredes solidify midfield

  Battaglia had nothing but praise for Paredes, who returned to Argentina this year after a long spell in European football. Battaglia underlined the strong partnership he has developed with the former PSG star.

  "With Paredes, everything comes naturally. We talk a lot on the pitch. When he drops deeper, I push a bit higher so he can find me, and when it’s the other way around, I hold my position," Battaglia said. "Lea has vision and passing ability that, I have to admit, I don’t have as much. We complement each other well. If he attacks, I stay; if I push forward, he stays back. It’s basic, but I think we’re doing it the right way."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Paredes’ arrival a boost for Boca

  The former Sporting CP player also highlighted the maturity and completeness that Paredes has shown since his return to Boca.

  "I had high expectations for him, and he has delivered. He’s very mature now. Over the years, he became a more complete player. His vision of the game is special, and we try to take advantage of that," Battaglia said.

  When asked about Paredes’ current form, Battaglia was emphatic: "Paredes is at a great level, and without a doubt, he is the best player in Argentine football."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Having world champions in the team is something to enjoy'

  Battaglia also emphasized the importance of having a World Cup winner such as Paredes in the squad, both on and off the field.

  "Lea’s arrival helped us a lot as a team," he said. "A player with that much quality sets the tone for how we train and how the group is managed. That leadership carries over onto the pitch. We have a mix of experienced players, hungry players, and young guys who listen. Having world champions in the team is something to enjoy. It’s great for Argentine football that players of this caliber are competing here – it enriches the league a lot. Hopefully, more will come."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Boca Juniors on a strong run

  Boca Juniors sit in third place in Argentina’s Primera División with 13 points. The Xeneize are in good form and pushing to reach the top of the standings.

Manchester United’s ability to clinch the signatures of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo has massively improved the options at Ruben Amorim’s disposal ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

After taking the reins back in November, the Red Devils only managed to score 32 times in their 27 Premier League outings, highlighting the need for new additions within attacking areas.

The new attacking duo managed to score 35 top-flight goals combined last season, with such records leading to the pair’s big-money additions to Old Trafford.

Both deals set them back a combined £133.5m, including add-ons, which will undoubtedly place pressure on the pair to hit the ground running in their debut years in the North West.

However, if they are to succeed in their new colours, the hierarchy will have to make further additions to help provide the duo with the chances to find the back of the net.

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The midfield department has been subject to interest as of late, with numerous big-money options being considered by the recruitment team over recent days.

Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba are the two players who have been largely linked with a move to join United, but either would cost a pretty penny – given their £100m valuations.

However, another name has been thrown into the mix over recent days, with Barcelona star Fermin Lopez another option for the hierarchy, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim the Red Devils have already made a €80m (£69m) offer to the LaLiga giants over a move for the 22-year-old, who made 46 appearances across all competitions last season.

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It also states that he has been impressed by the ambition of the club, potentially wanting a move to join Amorim’s side, given his lack of reassurance over a regular role under Hansi Flick in Spain.

Why United’s £69m target would be perfect for Mbeumo & Cunha

Bruno Fernandes has for so often been the main creative presence in the United side, as seen by his tally of 19 assists across all competitions in 2024/25 – the highest of any member of the first-team squad.

However, the deals for Cunha and Mbeumo would likely force the Portuguese international to drop into a deeper role and occupy one of the two central midfield positions.

Given the unfamiliar role he will have to operate, it’s key that the board provide the captain with a top-level player alongside him to help take the creative pressure off his shoulders.

Whilst Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro all remain at the club, further depth is being targeted, which could allow a move for Lopez before the September 1st transfer deadline.

The Spaniard may be a young talent, but he’s already racked up 88 senior appearances for Barcelona in the last two years – helping the club win Spain’s top-flight last campaign.

He registered nine assists across all competitions, with such figures aiding Cunha and Mbeumo, but his underlying stats further showcase the creativity he possesses.

Lopez, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, completed 5.7 progressive passes per 90, 4.7 of which were into the final third, handing the new additions the chance to thrive within attacking areas in their first season at the club.

Fermín López’s stats for Barcelona in LaLiga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

28

Goals & assists

11

Pass accuracy

82%

Progressive passes

5.7

Passes into final third

4.7

Shots taken

3.1

Take-ons completed

1.8

Tackles won

1.4

Key passes made

2.1

Recoveries made

4.7

Stats via FBref

Further talent on the ball is reflected in his tally of 2.1 key passes made per 90, subsequently able to consistently get the ball into dangerous areas for the aforementioned duo.

However, as previously mentioned, he will need to be capable without the ball to offer that deep-lying presence, but it shouldn’t be an issue if he can replicate his figures of winning 1.4 tackles per 90 and 4.7 recoveries per 90 from last season.

Whilst £69m would be another huge sign of ambition from the hierarchy, it would be a deal that could prove to be worthwhile if the youngster can continue on his current trajectory.

If he can provide Cunha and Mbeumo with the ammunition in front of goal and regain possession for the side in the middle of the park, there’s no reason as to why he can’t become a fan-favourite in the club’s hunt for success in the near future.

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Adil Rashid claimed his 200th ODI wicket when he removed Glenn Maxwell•Getty Images

Fresh from bringing up 200 ODI wickets at Headingley on Saturday, Adil Rashid says he has the hunger to continue playing international cricket, dismissing talk that retirement may be on the horizon.Rashid broke new ground as the first English spinner to reach the milestone, albeit one brought up in a second consecutive defeat to Australia. It was England’s 10th loss in their last 14 ODIs. Another at Chester-le-Street would consign the hosts to a series defeat with two matches still to play. Poor weather, which forced training indoors on Monday, may end up saving their blushes, even if it does remove a series win from the equation.That this is a transitional squad, shorn of a handful of senior players, including captain Jos Buttler, has already been offered as mitigation for the missteps so far. Nevertheless, a new era – initially under interim coach Marcus Trescothick before Brendon McCullum assumes the limited-overs job in the new year alongside his Test commitments – has had an ignominious start.Yet, even with the onus on refreshing tactics and personnel, Rashid remains an integral part of the future of England’s limited-overs teams. February’s Champions Trophy, the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2027’s 50-over World Cup signpost the next three years, and the 36-year-old, currently in possession of an ECB central contract that takes him through to the end of the 2025 summer, has designs on being around for all of them.”I have not thought about it [retirement] yet,” said Rashid, speaking before Tuesday’s third ODI at Chester-le-Street. “Keep playing, enjoy it, stay fit, bowl well, contribute to wins, hopefully World Cups and Champions Trophies – that is my ultimate aim.”I’m playing each game and each series as it comes and if I’m still enjoying it and performing well, I’ll keep carrying on.”To play for this long and take the wickets I have, I’d never, ever dreamt of that, so hopefully I can carry it on. It’s been an enjoyable ride with ups and downs, and hopefully I can stay on the up for the remainder of my career.”I’ve got no eye yet on retiring or anything like that – that’s not even crossed my mind. It’s about enjoying the game and still giving it everything I’ve got.”Related

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Carey takes his chance to silence hostile Headingley

Could more crushing ODI failure be just what England need?

It is a vital statement from Rashid given the lay of the land. Though the likes of Joe Root (rested) and Ben Stokes (undecided) are expected to return to the limited-overs set-up in some capacity – the Champions Trophy works for both given England’s first Test in 2025 comes at the end of May against Zimbabwe at Lord’s – the set-up has lost a lot of experience and knowledge in the last six months.Of those moved on, Moeen Ali is the one Rashid will feel the most. The former vice-captain announced his retirement earlier this month after missing out on both T20 and 50-over assignments against Australia. And as a long-time friend, inseparable at home and aboard, the fear was that Rashid may soon follow suit. Those fears, for now, have been allayed. On Tuesday, the Yorkshireman will earn his 138th ODI cap – the figure Moeen finished on.Of course, the team environment is a little different for Rashid. Not only will he not have his usual confidant for company, but he also now has more responsibility to assume as the go-to wise head in the dressing room, particularly for young spinners as England prepare for life after Rashid. The former will take getting used to, but the latter role is something he is keen to embrace.”He’s a big miss for the team and a big miss for me because we’re really good friends on and off the pitch,” Rashid said. “He’s made that decision and got another chapter of his life with the remainder of his career and I’m sure he’ll do wonders.”With Mo not being there my input will obviously be a little bit more, speaking to the youngsters and them coming to me,” he added.”That’s the ultimate aim. Whatever I’ve got in terms of experience, form, ups and downs, the knowledge I have, I can pass that on. It could be in terms of mindset or technical things. I’m trying to do that now as well, with the youngsters I’m working with.”I’ve worked with Rehan Ahmed, I’ve worked with Jafer (Chohan) at Yorkshire. There’s a few around the circuit, they’re in competition, which is healthy, and they can compete to become that No. 1 spinner.”Easier said than done, of course. Rashid’s evolution into a world-class operator was aligned with a consistency of selection and schedule. Between the 2015 and 2019 50-over World Cups, he played 76 out of a possible 81 ODIs under Eoin Morgan. In turn, England emerged during that period as a ground-breaking white-ball outfit. The demands and opportunities of the modern game mean the next generation does not have the benefit of that level of continuity.As such, England’s route back to the top of the pile after botched defences of the ODI and T20I titles in 2023 and 2024 will require a different path on less certain terrain. But in Rashid, they can still call upon someone who knows, and – crucially – still has, what it takes to push them on.

Manchester United have only made one senior first-team addition to Ruben Amorim’s squad since the 2024/25 campaign came to a close against Aston Villa.

The Red Devils swooped to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha for a reported fee of £62.5m at the start of June to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the Brazil international racked up 15 goals and six assists in the Premier League for Wolves, which shows that he is a proven performer in the division.

Manchester United have, however, missed out on a deal to another proven Premier League star, as Tottenham Hotspur have snapped up Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The Red Devils reportedly made contact with the Hammers to enquire about a potential deal for the Ghana international in June, but their top-flight rivals have stolen a march on them to win the race for his signature.

Whilst Kudus is an exciting player who has a lot of potential, it is also worth acknowledging that the 24-year-old star would have been a risky signing.

Why Mohammed Kudus would have been a risky signing for Man Utd

Spurs have reportedly paid a fee of £55m to sign the former Ajax starlet from West Ham this summer, and it is a fee that comes with a lot of risk based on his form in the 2024/25 campaign.

Kudus hit the ground running in England in the 2023/24 season, ending the term with a haul of 15 goals and seven assists in all competitions, but failed to kick on in his second year.

The left-footed attacking midfielder, who can play anywhere across the frontline, ended last season with a return of five goals and four assists in 32 matches in all competitions for the Hammers, a steep decline from what he produced in his debut campaign with the club.

His form in the Premier League in his second year, in comparison to his first, is concerning and shows that there is no guarantee that Spurs have signed a player who can deliver consistent quality.

Mohammed Kudus (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

33

32

xG

5.16

6.90

Goals

8

5

Big chances missed

4

7

Big chances created

5

4

Key passes per game

0.8

1.0

Assists

6

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kudus underperformed in front of goal as a finisher last term and rarely created high-quality opportunities for his teammates.

This is why it would have been a very risky signing for Manchester United to commit £55m to this summer, despite the fact that he has shown a lot of quality moments in the league, as shown in the clips below.

Meanwhile, the club are pursuing another left-footed Premier League star who would be an even better signing than Kudus for Amorim’s side this summer.

Man Utd confident of signing Premier League star

According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are continuing to pursue a deal to bring Brentford sensation Bryan Mbeumo to the club before the end of the window.

The report claims that the latest bid submitted to the Bees is worth in excess of £60m, including add-ons, but there is no agreement between the two sides at this point, with two offers having been turned down already.

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It does state, however, that the Red Devils are confident that they will be able to complete a deal to sign the Cameroon international to bolster their squad.

The Manchester Evening News also reveals that a move could become complicated if Yoane Wissa leaves Brentford first, amid interest from Spurs and Nottingham Forest.

United will want to avoid a situation where Wissa leaves the Bees and the asking price for Mbeumo soars because they do not want to lose their top two scorers in the same window.

Why Man Utd should sign Bryan Mbeumo

The club should push to get this deal done as quickly as possible because the Cameroon international would be an even better signing than Tottenham’s move for Kudus.

Mbeumo’s form in the Premier League last season suggests that he would arrive at Old Trafford with far less risk attached to him, as he is an in-form star who is at the peak of his career.

The 25-year-old sensation ended the campaign with an outstanding haul of 20 goals and seven assists in the top-flight for Brentford on the right flank, as he showcased his ability to make a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

Mbeumo has produced at least eight goals and at least six assists in all six of his seasons at Brentford to date, whilst Kudus only managed five goals and four assists for the Hammers last term, which speaks to his consistency in the final third.

Premier League

Mbeumo (24/25)

Kudus (23/24 + 24/25)

Appearances

38

65

xG

12.26

12.06

Goals

20

13

Big chances created

17

9

xA

14.89

6.37

Assists

7

9

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Bees star scored more goals and created more than twice as much xA for his team last season than Kudus managed in both of his campaigns with West Ham combined.

The £60m+ star, who was once hailed as “unplayable” by Thomas Frank, is a winger who has shown that he can consistently deliver quality in front of goal in the Premier League, which is why he could be such an impressive signing for the Red Devils.

Unlike Kudus, Mbeumo is coming off the back of an electric season in the top-flight and could bring almost guaranteed quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, given his consistency over the last six years with his club.

It is now down to the club to ensure that they can strike a deal with Brentford to bring the winger to Old Trafford before long, as he would arrive at United as an even better signing than Kudus would have been.

Related Amorim's own Haaland: Man Utd make "world-class" £60m CF their top target

Manchester United appear to be making moves for a new forward in the transfer market.

Posts 2 ByEthan Lamb Jul 11, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have tabled a £21 million-plus “proposal” to sign a “huge” player who is also wanted by Manchester United, according to a recent report.

Wolves continue search to find Nelson Semedo replacement

The Old Gold are still waiting to hear back from defender Nelson Semedo on whether he will continue at Molineux or not. The Portuguese international has a contract offer on the table but has yet to respond, with it being suggested that a departure is now likely.

Therefore, Wolves are assessing potential replacements, and according to a report last week, the Midlands side are interested in signing Jackson Tchatchoua from Italian side Hellas Verona. The 23-year-old is considered a versatile defender, as he can also operate as a wing-back as well as a right midfielder. However, his performances in Italy have also attracted the interest of teams such as Everton, Marseille, and Galatasaray.

Wolves open talks over deal to sign "powerful" £13m Olympic gold medallist

The Old Gold are in a strong position to win the race for a defender.

ByDominic Lund Jul 10, 2025

As well as looking at Tchatchoua, Wolves are also one of two teams interested in signing Marc Pubill from Almeria. In fact, the Premier League side are in talks over a deal to sign the defender, with Almeria looking to get around £13 million for his services. But Wolves face strong competition, as AC Milan are also working on a deal to sign Pubill.

Wolves table £21m+ bid to sign "huge" ace who Man Utd have also approached

As the Midlands side weigh up their options to improve their defence, the Ol Gold also want a new central midfielder. According to journalist Gianluigi Longari, Wolves have made a “proposal” worth €25 million (£21.6 million) to sign Richard Rios from Palmeiras, which has now been turned down.

Longari states that Rios is a priority target for AS Roma, who have also seen a bid turned down by the Brazilian side, but it isn’t clear how much they were willing to offer. As well as Roma, Nottingham Forest have also made a bid for Rios, with theirs being worth €26 million, and that again was not enough for Palmeiras.

The 25-year-old has just come off the back of many excellent performances in the Club World Cup, where Palmeiras reached the knockout stages, and while he didn’t score, Rios registered two assists in five games. Those performances have also caught the eye of Manchester United, and the Red Devils have made an approach to sign Rios, as they see the midfielder as someone who can replace Casemiro.

Apps

137

Goals

11

Assists

10

Should Wolves sign Rios, who has been dubbed a “tough” by Antonio Mango, he would join Joao Gomes, Boubacar Toure and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde as the more recognised central midfielders for the Premier League side. Rios has shown he can not only operate as a central midfielder; he can also be more defensive or offensively minded should that be required, which could be perfect for Vitor Pereira.