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Aston Villa are yet to really make a splash in the summer transfer window.

Of course, at the start of the window, a dark PSR-related cloud did hang over Villa Park, which limited the Villans’ spending power, meaning a whole host of high-profile names were being tipped to ditch Unai Emery’s men for luxurious new pastures.

Thankfully, no such exits have taken place, yet, although rumours do continue to persist that Ollie Watkins might soon be off, alongside recurring bits of news that Morgan Rogers is being eyed up by Chelsea.

Villa could have to make peace very shortly with the prospect of waving goodbye to one of their superstar performers, especially if they want to snap up his exciting new attacker before September’s approaching deadline.

Aston Villa continue to admire Bundesliga goal machine

Losing Watkins would be a major knock for Emery and Co. to address, considering the England international fired home a weighty 16 Premier League strikes last campaign from just 31 starts.

Villa do appear to be in the market assessing their available options, however, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin reportedly being looked at on a free agent basis, alongside ex-Arsenal forward Mika Biereth also allegedly being on the Villa shopping list.

Away from those named, though, the most jaw-dropping option seems to have now come in the form of RB Leipzig marksman Lois Openda, with journalist Sacha Tavolieri taking to X to confirm Villa’s interest in the Belgian attacker.

This interest has been long-standing, with contact having occurred between the two parties for several months now. Villa would have to offload Watkins to make such a deal a reality, though.

Villa already knows too well what the explosive 25-year-old is capable of, having been on the receiving end of Openda scoring against Emery’s outfit in the Champions League last season, with this deemed a risk worth taking even more if he can become the Spaniard’s very own Alexander Isak up top.

How Openda can become Emery's own Isak

All the talk surrounding Watkins’ future in the West Midlands has been nothing compared to the Isak fiasco at Newcastle United.

It does look as if the potent Swede will get the move away he desires now, as Liverpool attempt to secure another statement purchase this summer, with Openda hopeful he can become a Premier League superstar much like the former Real Sociedad attacker if he takes to leap to England shortly.

After all, much like his blistering Magpies counterpart, the “terrifying” Belgian – as he was once dubbed by journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor – has been a whirlwind success in front of goal wherever he’s been all across Europe.

In total, Openda has registered a breathtaking 105 strikes from 283 club appearances, lining up for Club Brugge, RC Lens, Leipzig, and Vitesse. 44 of those have come about with Leipzig, as the 25-year-old now itches for a more testing next step in the Premier League.

Isak is on a deadly 144 goals himself from a weightier 324 clashes, when plying his trade in Germany, Spain, and lastly on Tyneside, with 54 of those coming in the English top-flight for Newcastle as the Toon’s main man.

Openda must be yearning for that same level of status, and that could soon come his way, leading the line for Villa, especially if there’s a gaping Watkins-sized hole to soon fill.

Looking at similar aspects of their games using FBref further brings into focus how alike the attacking duo are, with Openda not a million miles off Isak’s insanely high levels when glancing at the table above, despite regularly falling just behind.

Of course, Isak wasn’t the most well-known striker when he first arrived on the scene from Sociedad, before he then cemented himself as a goal machine in the Premier League.

Openda will hope he undergoes the same immediate transformation, with his lethal career numbers leading up to this point indicating that he should be a rip-roaring success story.

Emery’s next Rogers: Aston Villa prepare bid for “unpredictable" £27m star

Aston Villa could now sign this unpredictable attacker who has the potential to be Unai Emery’s next Morgan Rogers.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 30, 2025

Chelsea chiefs are currently negotiating for both Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons in what would be separate deals, with a move for the latter particularly advanced.

The prospect of both men arriving at Stamford Bridge is a particularly exciting one for supporters, with Enzo Maresca in need of more wide options after the departures of both Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended for failing a drugs test.

Chelsea must make room for them by sealing more exits, though, despite already raising close to £220 million through player sales.

Cash isn’t the object for BlueCo, especially given their income via outgoings, winnings from the Club World Cup and qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Their need to sell first stems from a pact with UEFA, who have put pressure on the west Londoners to produce a ‘positive transfer balance’ by September after Chelsea were fined for breaching FFP rules last month.

Failure to do so could result in Maresca not being able to register new signings for their Champions League squad next season, so while talks remain advanced for Simons, Chelsea are attempting to strike more outgoings first.

Once they’ve trimmed the squad a bit more, Chelsea are also expected to bid for Garnacho with Simons (The Telegraph), so there is plenty more business to be conducted before the transfer deadline.

As has been a common theme since Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club in 2022, Chelsea are pretty much always in the market for world football’s most eye-catching talents.

Chelsea fielded the youngest ever side in Premier League history last season (OptaJoe), so you can never rule out the prospect of more highly-rated gems making the move to Cobham.

Chelsea could sign 'exciting youngster' with Garnacho and Simons

Football Transfers have shared an update on this, and they report that another new addition could be made with Simons and Garnacho.

According to their information, Chelsea could sign another “exciting youngster” too – on the condition one becomes available in the next few weeks.

Under Boehly, the Blues have poured billions into snapping up teenage talent, and this summer is no different.

They’ve added Dario Essugo (20), Estevão Willian (18), Mamadou Sarr (19), Liam Delap (22), Jamie Gittens (20), Kendry Páez (18) and Jorrel Hato (19) – all on long-term deals designed to pay off years down the line.

16-year-old Kazakh striker Dastan Satpaev, who’s already been compared to Man City legend Sergio Agüero, will also join the club when he turns 18.

Henry Martín picked up the injury during Monday’s training session and is expected to be out for an undetermined period. The Club América captain had just returned in the 2-1 Clásico Nacional defeat to Chivas. After an injury-plagued year, he had regained fitness but still hasn’t scored this Apertura 2025 after eight rounds.

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  Henry Martín picked up the injury during training

  The fallout from América’s loss to Chivas in the Clásico Nacional continues to worsen. Forward Henry Martín, who came off the bench in Saturday’s match, has once again been ruled out due to a new injury setback.

  On Tuesday, Martín did not join his teammates on the training pitch at Coapa. Shortly afterward, the club confirmed he had suffered a sprain in his right knee – a major blow for .

  While América stated that the recovery timetable will depend on how the injury progresses, medical sources suggest that knee sprains of this nature can require anywhere from three weeks to six months of rehabilitation, depending on the severity.

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  A challenging year continues for the club captain

  This Apertura 2025 has been particularly rough for the Mexican international. A string of injuries has prevented him from regaining top form and even pushed him out of the national team picture. So far, Martín has appeared in just three league matches – against Querétaro, Necaxa, and Chivas – without completing the full 90 minutes in any of them. In total, he has logged only 111 minutes and is still searching for his first goal of the campaign.

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  How long will he be sidelined?

  If the sprain is minor, Martín could be back in time for Matchday 11, when América takes on Pumas in the . But if the injury proves more severe, there’s a chance he could miss the rest of the tournament.

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  América face a tough road test this weekend

  Next up for André Jardine’s side is a high-profile visit to Monterrey on Saturday, a clash between two teams currently battling at the top of the table.

Newcastle United reached new levels of success under Eddie Howe’s wing last season, but there’s no denying that they have been buffeted by the summer transfer window.

It’s been a testing period for those of a Toon persuasion, but it’s important to acknowledge the trophy-winning success of 2024/25, having won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League through the Premier League.

And while Newcastle failed to win their opening game of the new league campaign, they played well at Villa Park and left with a point, having lacked the presence of an out-and-out frontman, Anthony Gordon deputising at number nine.

Gordon is a fantastic player who will continue to star for the Tynesiders over the coming years, but he’s not a goalscoring striker.

Newcastle, as is no surprise, need to sign replacements up top, with the truant Alexander Isak showing no desire to return to Howe’s squad.

Newcastle searching for Isak replacement

Newcastle signed Isak from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m fee in 2022, and he has since gone from strength to strength to be regarded as “the best striker in the Premier League” by the likes of Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.

But he’s headed for the exit, it would seem, having intimated to the Newcastle hierarchy that he has no intention of rejoining Howe’s squad, and only wants to sign for Liverpool.

Newcastle need to sign two strikers, though. There is optimism that a deal will be concluded for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, but the DR Congo striker was never considered Isak’s potential replacement, and instead, an upgrade on Callum Wilson.

The likes of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and long-time transfer target Goncalo Ramos are on the club’s radar, but whether either are deemed appropriate to succeed Isak remains to be seen.

However, there’s another Premier League talent who has been earmarked, with discussions between the clubs rumoured to be in the works.

Newcastle in talks for new striker

As per David Ornstein of The Athletic, Newcastle are holding discussions over the possible signing of Jørgen Strand Larsen via intermediaries.

The Norwegian frontman spent last season on loan at Molineux but only became a fully-fledged Wolverhampton Wanderers player at the beginning of July.

Even so, he is on the Magpies’ shortlist, though it would take a considerable offer to convince Wolves to part with the goalscorer, who has been valued at around £65m.

Why Newcastle want Strand Larsen

The 6 foot 4 Strand Larsen proved an industrious and effective outlet for Wolves last season, standing firm and tall as a focal point from which the likes of Matheus Cunha could use to create and link play together.

Strand Larsen’s 14-goal, five-assist return across the Premier League campaign bespeaks his potential, having only the year before plied his trade in Spain with Celta Vigo.

His 60% success rate in hitting the target put him among the top 1% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for that metric, and with a bit more confidence behind his powerful strikes, there’s every reason that the Norwegian could be fashioned into a superstar at St. James’ Park.

With the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga blending their blistering speed and dynamic movements down the flanks, the Old Gold centre-forward would not need to play the flashy role under Howe’s tutelage, but rather, provide Newcastle with a clinical presence in the final third.

Gordon has spoken of his struggles last season, but how he has since rekindled the fire in his belly and is ready to return to the form that saw him crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24, having notched 21 goal involvements in the Premier League.

That kind of electric dribbling and unrelenting chance creation bodes well for a striker of Strand Larsen’s ilk, especially when Toon legend Alan Shearer has already singled him out as being a frustrating adversary for Premier League defenders.

After one display against Ipswich Town, Shearer said: “He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent and I thought his touch and his control were superb.”

Such coolness in the final third would allow Gordon to shift in and play neat one-twos so he can strike on goal himself, too. And what’s more, the same could be replicated with the rip-roaring Elanga on the alternate wing.

Elanga, 24, has declared himself to be “one of the fastest players in the league,” and after two years of work under Nuno Espirito Santo in a counter-attacking Forest side, he will have perfected the art of swift transitional play.

This should see him dovetail into Newcastle’s first team, having impressed on his league debut for the outfit on Saturday, completing 23 sprints, winning five duels and making two key passes.

It’s clear, however, that Elanga works better with a strong forward in the centre – see his connection with Chris Wood at the City Ground, for example – and Strand Larsen could surely play that role, brawny, aerially efficient and composed with the ball at his feet.

While Strand Larsen doesn’t appear to be the first-choice pick for Newcastle as the end of the transfer window looms large, he’s proven in the Premier League and stands below a high ceiling indeed. He would be a credit to the squad, completing an exciting and multi-faceted frontline.

Howe's next Gordon: Newcastle make move to sign "exceptional" £26m star

Newcastle expect to complete a flurry of signings before the end of the transfer window.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 18, 2025

Following Inter Miami's 4-0 win over NYCFC Wednesday at Citi Field, manager Javier Mascherano highlighted that the team had accomplished their first objective of the season – securing a place in the MLS playoffs. He added that while some players will get rest, the Herons will also aim to finish as high as possible in the Eastern Conference standings.

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  A big boost of confidence

  Miami proved dominant in their win in New York. Lionel Messi scored twice, Baltasar Rodríguez added a goal, and Luis Suárez converted a penalty as the Herons secured another win, moving up to third in the Eastern Conference with 55 points. Mascherano’s side also notched a rare clean sheet, a feat they’ve struggled with this season. 

  “We achieved our first goal, it was very important for us. We have to keep pushing forward. We still have two games left, so we’ll try to rotate the squad a bit, but we also want to win and secure the best possible playoff position,” Mascherano said. “We want to fight for the Supporters’ Shield, but first we need to focus on Toronto, recover our players, and keep our mindset that the next match is always the most important.”

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• Messi’s team-first spirit

  Mascherano also praised Lionel Messi’s unselfishness after the Argentine star once again gave penalty opportunities to his teammates. 

  “We need goals more than he does, and that’s exactly how he wants it. He likes to share, to involve everyone. Suárez needed to score, and that’s really good for the group,” he explained.

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  Valuable clean sheet on the road

  Another positive takeaway for Miami was keeping a clean sheet, something the team has only done five times this season. 

  “The next games we’ll work hard to avoid conceding. That will help us a lot in the playoffs,” Mascherano said. 

  He also acknowledged the club’s next target, which is climbing as high as possible to secure home-field advantage.

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  Traveling to Canada

  The Herons look to keep their strong run going in MLS as they visit Toronto FC this Saturday.

After a very quiet start to the transfer window, things are really starting to heat up at Aston Villa.

Back-up goalkeeper Marco Bizot was the only new signing to start the Claret and Blue Army’s Premier League opener against Newcastle, deputising for the suspended Emi Martínez, while their most noteworthy new recruit, Evann Guessand, was an unused substitute.

Meantime, as they seek to stay compliant with the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules, Villa have made a few sales in recent days, so could this lead to them making a notable addition?

Aston Villa's new look attack

On Sunday, it was confirmed that Jacob Ramsey had departed Aston Villa, the club he joined as a six-year-old, signing for Newcastle United for a reported fee of £43m.

Meantime, having not even been on the bench at the weekend, Leon Bailey is expected to complete a move to Roma this week, with the Giallorossi paying a £2m loan fee, the deal containing a £19m option to buy.

So, could these departures facilitate an attacking addition or two being added to Unai Emery’s squad?

Well, according to a report by the Daily Mirror, Aston Villa are ‘interested’ in signing Leandro Trossard from Arsenal, with Brentford as well as ‘several foreign clubs’ also monitoring the Belgian’s situation; Fenerbahçe and Bayern Munich have been mentioned in the past.

Interestingly, the £18m-rated forward was an unused substitute during the Gunners’ Premier League opener at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta turning to new signing Noni Madueke instead, when the Belgian had previously been the first man off the bench for so long.

Transfer Focus

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

Having spent big, Arsenal need to raise funds in the remaining weeks of the window, looking to offload Oleksandr Zinchenko, Reiss Nelson, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fábio Vieira and possibly Trossard too, so could he soon swap North London for Villa Park?

What Leandro Trossard would bring to Aston Villa

Ever since he first arrived in the Premier League, joining Brighton from Genk, Trossard has been a consistent performer.

He scored 25 goals and registered 15 assists in 121 outings for the Seagulls, most notably bagging a hat-trick against Liverpool at Anfield, before a public falling out with Roberto De Zerbi in January 2023 saw him depart.

Having failed in their pursuit of Mykhailo Mudryk, Arsenal swooped in and signed Trossard, and this has certainly proved to be £27m well spent.

The Belgian has racked up 28 goals and 23 assists in 124 Arsenal appearances, earning a reputation as something of a super sub, often making key contributions off the bench, including scoring with his first touch at Villa Park almost exactly 12 months ago, this the last time Aston Villa tasted defeat in a league match at home.

Ben Jacobs of talkSPORT labelled him a “clinical” finisher, while manager Arteta described him as “competitive”, adding “he wants to win… he always wants to be the best”. In the words of one Arsenal content creator, he is “one of the most underrated player in the Premier League”.

Trossard featured in all 38 of Arsenal’s Premier League matches last season, the only outfielder to achieve this, filling in across the front line, deployed as a centre-forward and a second-striker, as well as on both flanks, given the Gunners’ injury crisis.

Should he move to Villa, Emery would surely appreciate this versatility, but let’s assess how he compares to the outgoing Bailey.

As the table outlines, Trossard has produced a far greater output across the last two Premier League seasons, albeit Bailey does come out on top in terms of assists, chances created and dribbles per 90, albeit the Belgian completed a higher proportion of his take-ons.

So, in terms of being an out-and-out goal threat, Trossard would surely represent a clear upgrade on what Villa are selling.

Also, as already documented, the Belgian is very durable, while the same cannot be said of the departed Ramsey, who missed eight Premier League matches last season due to a hamstring injury, having seen little over 1,000 minutes during the previous campaign due to metatarsal, foot, toe and hamstring issues.

Even last year, when making 46 appearances, accumulating over 2,300 minutes, the 24-year-old scored just four goals and registered a mere seven assists across all competitions.

Given that Villa could play as many as 67 matches this season, including up to 17 in the Europa League, Trossard’s availability would surely prove invaluable.

Thus, if Arsenal are eager to sell, and the 30-year-old is available at the right price, he would add plenty to Emery’s squad.

Asensio repeat: Aston Villa making late push to sign "superb" Spanish star

Aston Villa are pushing to sign a £4m star who could be Asensio 2.0.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 18, 2025

Will West Ham United’s midfield rebuild right at the end of this transfer window continue?

So far in the Premier League, the Hammers have been smashed 3-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and then 5-1 when Chelsea visited the London Stadium.

In the latter, the Irons midfield pairing of Tomáš Souček and James Ward-Prowse was completely overrun by Chelsea’s duo of Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo, both of whom scored, barely getting near them all night.

Thus, it is no surprise that Graham Potter has prioritised midfield reinforcements since that ill-fated defeat, so could another be on his way to East London?

West Ham's midfield rebuild

On Friday, West Ham signed not one but two new midfielders.

First, Mateus Fernandes arrived from Southampton for £38m before, a mere few hours later, Soungoutou Magassa joined from Monaco for a reported fee of £17m.

The latter, who won Olympic silver with France in the summer of 2024, is very highly rated, so West Ham fans should be excited about his arrival, but could his dream midfield partner soon be on his way to Stratford?

Well, according to a report by TEAMTalk, West Ham are ready to raid Rangers for Nicolas Raskin, adding that the Glasgow-based giants value their Belgian international at around £15m.

This transfer speculation has been fuelled by the news that Raskin will not be involved in Sunday’s Glasgow derby, training away from the rest of the first team, following an alleged falling out with manager Russell Martin.

Transfer Focus

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

Wolves, Burnley, Aston Villa, Brighton, Fiorentina and others are also purportedly interested in signing the Belgian, but could he soon swap Glasgow’s south side for East London?

What Nicolas Raskin would bring to West Ham

Raskin was Rangers’ Players’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year last season, very much their standout player during an otherwise underwhelming campaign.

In total, the 24-year-old has made 104 appearances for the Glasgow giants, scoring six goals and registering 16 assists.

Thus, before a ball was kicked this season, it would’ve been unthinkable for Rangers supporters that he would not be in their lineup for key fixtures.

Well, that has been the case under Martin, with Raskin left on the bench for Champions League qualifiers against Viktoria Plzeň and Club Brugge, introduced at half time at Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday with the team 5-0 down.

The table below documents Raskin’s importance to Rangers last season.

As the table outlines, Raskin was a key contributor for Rangers last season in every aspect, ranked first for assists, passes, tackles, ball recoveries and touches, emphasising his importance both in and out of possession.

He was even labelled a “pitbull” by journalist Bob Faesan – who noted that he is a “a box-to-box midfielder” – while John Walker has also described his performances as “utterly sensational”.

Thus, alongside Magassa, who likes to sit in front of a defence, they could form an excellent partnership. Indeed, the Frenchman is a real monster out of possession in his own right, having ranked in the 3% of European midfielders for interceptions per 90, as well as in the top 4% for tackles made, as per FBref.

Statistically similar to the aforementioned Caicedo, among his European peers, Magassa also has the benefit of being able to drag his side up the pitch, having also ranked in the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

Raskin has been at his best in a Rangers jersey when given the freedom to get forward and contribute in attacking areas, while also getting back and offering defensive solidity, ensuring both he and Magassa could strike a perfect balance in the centre of the park.

So, if the Belgian is on the way out at Rangers, West Ham could snap him up for a bargain fee and potentially form an exciting, new-look midfield duo.

West Ham readying bid to sign "crazy" ace who dreams of Premier League move

The Hammers have set their sights on a late deal…

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 30, 2025

Jude Bellingham has been left out of the latest England squad despite recovering from injury, with the Real Madrid midfielder failing to make Thomas Tuchel’s plans for a friendly date with Wales and a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Latvia. Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is absorbed back into the fold after overcoming fitness issues of his own, while Everton forward Jack Grealish remains in the international wilderness.

• Saka boost for England but no risks taken on Bellingham

  Bellingham sat out England’s fixtures in September after being forced to undergo surgery on a long-standing shoulder complaint. It was initially suggested that he could be out of action until November, but he has picked up important minutes with Real in La Liga and Champions League competition. The decision has been taken not to risk him in international action.

  Saka is fit and firing, though, after coming through a spell on the sidelines in north London. The Gunners star offers another useful attacking option for Tuchel, with the Three Lions still searching for a spark in the final third of the field despite enjoying a faultless run through five World Cup qualifiers that have delivered 15 points, 13 goals and no efforts conceded.

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  England squad in full for games against Wales & Latvia

  Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)

  Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)

  Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

  Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

• Who has been selected by England?

  Marcus Rashford, who has delivered a flurry of assists for Barcelona during a loan spell from Manchester United, gets the nod once more. He is looking to prove a serious point to his parent club, with the Red Devils deeming a home-grown star to be surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

  He is joined in the attacking ranks by Three Lions captain Harry Kane, who continues to enhance his record-setting haul of 74 international goals. The prolific frontman has passed 100 goals for Bayern Munich in a flying start to the 2025-26 campaign at club level.

  Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson gets another opportunity to impress after starring across two fixtures in the last international window – picking up a couple of Man of the Match awards – with AC Milan playmaker Ruben Loftus-Cheek is included from the off this time around after being a late addition in September.

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  Who has been left out of Tuchel’s England squad?

  Grealish, with 39 caps to his name, has been snubbed despite registering four assists for Everton this season. He has not figured for the Three Lions since 2024 and will be wondering what he has to do in order to keep his World Cup dreams alive.

  Another in-form Premier League performer to have been overlooked is Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden. He has two goals and a couple of assists to his name this term, with a lost spark being rediscovered. The 25-year-old, who was dropped by Tuchel in September, has not done enough to come back into favour.

  Noni Madueke misses out due to injury, with the Arsenal winger nursing a knee problem, while Newcastle defender Tino Livramento has picked up a similar ailment at the worst possible time for him. Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer has been ruled out of action with a groin complaint.

Mario Balotelli has been his using his time away from the pitch to give back to the community, as the former Manchester City and Liverpool forward recently completed a six-month community service program in Brescia, Italy. Balotelli revealed that the experience of volunteering for children allowed him "to get to know myself better and improve as a person."

• Car accident leads to community service

  Balotelli has completed a six-month community service program after a car accident that occurred in November 2023. The former Inter and AC Milan striker lost control of his vehicle on November 23, 2023 and subsequently refused to undergo a breathalyser test. As a result, his driver’s license was revoked.

  In lieu of formal sentencing, Balotelli's legal team negotiated a restorative justice agreement. Under the terms, the Italian footballer fulfilled a 40-hour probationary period by volunteering with Bimbo Chiama Bimbo, a child welfare association based in Brescia. During his time with the organisation, Balotelli engaged with young children through games and recreational activities.

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  Balotelli 'improving as a person'

  Speaking to , Balotettli said: "It was a very positive experience which allowed me to get to know myself better and improve as a person. I was very welcomed by the educators and everyone who works at the association."

• Where has Balotelli been lately?

  Once heralded as the next big thing in football following spells at Inter, Man City, AC Milan, and Liverpool, Balotelli failed to fulfill his potential due to his questionable attitude and long spells of inconsistency. After scoring more goals in Ligue 1 and Turkey's Super Lig, he returned to Serie A in October 2024, joining Genoa as a free agent and reuniting with Patrick Vieira. However, the former Crystal Palace boss banished him from his squad, reigniting their feud from their time together at Nice, with the 35-year-old managing only 56 minutes in six games throughout the season.

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  Balotelli's search for new club continues

  Over the summer, there were reports which stated that he was offered a unique contract by Spanish third-tier side Real Murcia. The Palermo-born player has also confirmed that he aims to play for a club that will trust him for "the next two to three years" before he can join his brother Enoch Barwuah in the lower leagues to Italy and retire together.

Tottenham’s transfer business for 2025 has officially concluded following one of the most dramatic and memorable summer windows on-lookers have ever seen, with Spurs enjoying a solid one themselves.

Despite their failure to bring in a natural left-winger and centre-back for manager Thomas Frank, which were two key items on their to-do list (Sky Sports), a recruitment team stocked with Daniel Levy, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and unofficial advisor Fabio Paratici did work some magic.

Following their infamously botched deals for Morgan Gibbs-White -who reportedly phoned Frank to apologise for his U-turn over joining Spurs – and Eberechi Eze, Spurs finally managed to get a replacement for the injured James Maddison by signing Xavi Simons in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig.

It was all happening in N17 during the final days, with an ankle injury to striker Dominic Solanke also partly forcing Frank’s side into a late temporary deal for long-time target Randal Kolo Muani.

Tottenham were actively pursuing the PSG-owned forward in January, only to back out and see Juventus win the race for his signature instead.

The France international really impressed for Juve, bagging 10 goals and three assists in all competitions, and while Igor Tudor wanted him back in Serie A, they couldn’t agree to re-sign him despite lengthy summer talks.

Instead, Spurs tempted Kolo Muani with a move to the Premier League, and Frank is set to benefit from the introduction of a centre-forward who can play in multiple areas with a proven scoring record. Interestingly, the 26-year-old was also a player who ex-manager Ange Postecoglou pushed for in the winter (Paul O’Keefe), and it’s not hard to see why.

His best-ever season to date in 2022/2023 saw the attacker rack up a brilliant 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt, with Kolo Muani also making his mark for France on the international stage.

Semi-final goals against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup and Spain in Euro 2024 showcase partly why Didier Deschamps has kept faith in Kolo Muani, even amidst a lack of game time at PSG, and Tottenham are in dire need of him now that reports suggest Solanke could be out for even longer than anticipated.

Kolo Muani’s arrival could end up being crucial with the influx of matches awaiting Spurs after this international break, leaving little wonder Levy and co were clamoring to get him through the door.

Tottenham agreed "un-Spurs like" Randal Kolo Muani deal condition

Giving his take on the deal, reliable correspondent Alasdair Gold says that Tottenham agreed an ‘un-Spurs like’ condition to sign Kolo Muani from PSG.

Namely, Gold states that the lack of any buy option in this move is something quite out of the ordinary for them, and some might suggest that it highlights their “desperation” to bring in another new attacker (football.london).

Without the inclusion of an obligation or option to buy, if Kolo Muani’s move proves a success, then Levy will need to return to the negotiating table with PSG – by which point they’d be able to command a loftier price tag.

They’ll also face competition from other elite sides on the look-out for a proven striker, so Tottenham face the prospect of this being Kolo Muani’s only season in north London, regardless of how well he performs.

It’s certainly out of Tottenham’s character not to take the future into account, but Frank’s need for attacking reinforcements was pressing, and it perhaps indicates Levy’s increasing willingness to compete after the Lilywhites tasted Europa League glory in May.