It is the start of a crucial period for Tottenham Hotspur, so can they continue their impressive start to the campaign?

Having accumulated 14 points so far, Spurs begin the weekend third in the Premier League table, following a 2-1 victory over Leeds United before the international break; Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus the scorers.

Next up, Sunday’s visit from Aston Villa commences a very tough looking fixture list for Thomas Frank’s team, who will take on Everton (A), Chelsea (H), Manchester United (H) and then Arsenal (A) in their subsequent four league fixtures.

If the Lilywhites are going to collect a respectable number of points from these matches, Frank must make one key star, reminiscent of Dele Alli, a central figure, both literally and figuratively.

Dele Alli's rise and fall at Tottenham

Last month, Dele Alli was released by Como, having made just one appearance for the Lariani, this a nine minute cameo against AC Milan at San Siro in March, cut short as he was sent off.

That was his first, and so far only, appearance for anyone for 748 days, back in the footballing wilderness at the age of just 29.

In his pomp though, Dele was one of the best midfielders in the world, earning 37 England caps, starting against Colombia, Sweden and Croatia as the Three Lions reached a first World Cup semi-final in 28 years back in 2018.

For Tottenham too, as the graphic below demonstrates, he made 269 appearances for Tottenham, directly involved in 126 goals, a key figure in Mauricio Pochettino’s incredibly strong side.

During this period, Pochettino labelled him “one of the most talented players in England”, while teammate Harry Kane stated “Dele has everything. He scores goals, makes runs, creates chances. He’s an unbelievable player”.

That ability to both create chances as a midfielder but also score goals like a centre-forward is what made prime Dele unique, so which member of the current Spurs squad could replicate this?

Tottenham's new Dele Alli

During a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul, James Maddison ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for, probably, the entirety of this season.

Thus, Tottenham acted fast, knowing that they needed to add some creativity, so, after failing in the attempt to sign Eberechi Eze, acquired Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for £52m, who isn’t a bad alternative.

The Dutch international has been highly-rated for many years now, making his senior debut for Paris Saint-Germain, before really announcing himself on loan at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists during the 2022/23.

More recently, he has been at RB Leipzig, certainly impressing during his two seasons in Saxony, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelling him a “game changer”, while his market value has now soared to as much as £97m, as per CIES.

The Dutch international has featured in each of Tottenham’s last four Premier League matches, starting three of them, but is yet to score for Spurs, his sole assist coming on debut against West Ham.

So, let’s take a look at his statistics so far.

Shots

9

5th

Shots per 90

1.94

4th

Shot-creating actions

9

5th

Attempted take-ons

18

3rd

Progressive carries

16

5th

Carries into final 3rd

12

3rd

As the table notes, Simons has pretty impressive attacking statistics at Tottenham so far this season, despite the lack of tangible end product.

However, the majority of his minutes have come as a left-winger, which is very much not his best position, significantly more likely to thrive in a number ten role.

Well, against Leeds a fortnight ago, he was finally deployed through the middle, flanked by Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert, with Mathys Tel leading the line.

This has to be the set-up Frank uses going forward, especially in matches where Tottenham are going to be dominating territory and possession.

The recent 1-1 home draw with bottom of the table Wolves the prime example of this, with Simons shunted out to the left flank, with João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur both starting at the base of midfield, which felt unnecessarily cautious.

Simons scored ten Bundesliga goals last season, the second-most of any midfielder, behind only Jamal Musiala, showing that he can be a goal-scoring threat when utilised correctly.

In his prime at Spurs, Dele was unplayable as a goal-scoring number ten, and Simons has shown similar attacking instincts at previous clubs, so he needs to be given attacking freedom in a similar way.

Not just Richarlison: Spurs trio are on borrowed time after Paratici return

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for a clear-out of the squad after Fabio Paratici returned to the club.

2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 18, 2025

Corey Rocchiccioli, the Western Australia offspinner, has signed a short-term deal to play for Warwickshire in the County Championship. Rocchiccioli will be available for four Championship games over the next six weeks and said he “jumped at the chance” to play overseas during the Australian winter.Rocchiccioli, 27, has thrived in red-ball cricket over the last two years: since the start of the 2023-24 season, he has taken 84 wickets at 27.65 in the Sheffield Shield, second only to South Australia’s Nathan McAndrew. He joins Warwickshire for the Championship rounds this year that will feature the Kookaburra ball, rather than the Dukes.”We are very excited about welcoming Corey into our squad through June and July,” Ian Westwood, Warwickshire’s head coach, said. “He is a proven performer in Sheffield Shield cricket, and with his experience of the Kookaburra ball, we know he will make an impact for us.”Rocchiccioli said: “I’m really excited to play at a prestigious club like Warwickshire. I jumped at the chance to play when Westy and Davo [captain Alex Davies] rang me. I’m really excited to learn and grow in English conditions and hopefully contribute to some strong wins along the way.”Australia’s selectors have signalled their interest in Rocchiccioli, picking him for Australia A teams to face India A and the England Lions last summer. He is one of several potential successors to Nathan Lyon, along with Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy, who has agreed a deal with Gloucestershire for the same block of Championship fixtures.Elsewhere, Northamptonshire signed Tim Robinson, the New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter, on a short-term deal. Robinson, 23, will be available for two Championship matches and four Blast fixtures and replaces Matthew Breetzke after his selection for South Africa’s Test squad to face Zimbabwe.

Over the last couple of years, Arsenal have been known to offload players off their books, but numerous of which have caused controversy with the fanbase.

Alexis Sanchez is arguably one of the biggest examples in recent history, with the Chilean a star man before his controversial departure in January 2018.

The attacker racked up 80 goals in his 166 appearances for the Gunners, but would depart in a player swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan – subsequently seeing the former join Manchester United.

In the present day, boss Mikel Arteta must wish he had a player of his calibre within his first-team, with a prime Sanchez one of the scariest prospects in the Premier League.

However, he wasn’t the only player to make a huge impact at the Emirates before leaving in somewhat controversial circumstances despite their impressive form in North London.

The real reason why Aaron Ramsey left Arsenal

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey was a hugely influential figure during his time at Arsenal, featuring in over 350 games for the club after joining Cardiff City back in 2008.

His rise to stardom in North London was all the more impressive considering the Welshman suffered a horrific leg break under Arsene Wenger against Stoke City in 2010.

Despite being a deep-lying option, the 34-year-old managed to pop up with key goals in vital moments – none more so than the winner in the FA Cup final against Hull City.

However, he would depart the Emirates in controversial circumstances, subsequently leaving on a free transfer to join Italian giants Juventus in the summer of 2019.

Many thought he left after rejecting a new contract to stay with the Gunners, but in an interview after his departure, Ramsey explained all about his move away from the club.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he stated: “I wanted to commit to Arsenal, but then, for whatever reason, the new manager came in and then the contract wasn’t there anymore.

“When Juventus came calling then in January, you know, I had to sort of think about life after Arsenal and secure that as well. It was an experience I was excited about.”

However, in the present day, Arteta may have his own version of his former teammate in his quest to land the club’s first Premier League title in over two decades.

The Arsenal star who’s a Ramsey-type talent

In their attempts to end their unthinkable wait for a league triumph, Arsenal have spent big in recent times, with the board handing Arteta over £200m worth of funds this summer alone.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze have all arrived in North London, massively improving the quality and depth at the manager’s disposal.

Such additions appear to have had the desired effect, with the Gunners currently sitting top of the pile at the second international break of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, other players already at the club will also have a part to play in the coming months, with Mikel Merino undoubtedly a star with a huge part to play between now and May.

The Spaniard joined the club from Real Sociedad last summer, looking to provide added depth and quality to the club’s already stacked midfield department.

He started 2024/25 in such a position, but was rapidly catapulted into a somewhat unfamiliar role as a centre-forward amid the unthinkable injury crisis that plagued Arteta’s squad.

However, he took to the position like a duck to water, subsequently ending his debut campaign on nine across all competitions, six of which came as a striker, sitting third in the club’s top goalscoring charts.

Such a quality is similar to that of Ramsey, who had a habit of popping up with key goals in vital moments – as previously mentioned with his FA Cup-winning effort.

Merino has demonstrated a box-crashing ability to ghost into the opposition box and find the back of the net.

Games played

9

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

80%

Dribble success

100%

Fouls won

1.9

Tackles won

1.9

Recoveries made

5.7

Possession won final third

1.1

He’s already showcased his goalscoring ability once again this season, scoring the equaliser in the victory over Newcastle United.

Remarkably, he’s also scored six goals in four World Cup qualifying matches for Spain, notably bagging a hat-trick in the European champions’ win over Turkey. He then also scored twice in a 4-0 win over Bulgaria during the present international break.

In the words of Arsenal writer Adam Keys, “Arteta has unlocked a magnet in the box” and his move to join the Gunners has evidently been an exceptional one to date, with the former Sociedad star showcasing a similar ability to Ramsey with his goalscoring exploits.

Should he continue on such a path and continue to pop up in key moments, there’s no reason as to why he can’t make himself a fan-favourite and lead the club to further silverware.

Arsenal's "legend in the making" is their own Kane and it's not Gyokeres

Arsenal already have their answer to Harry Kane in the form of one star, but it’s not Viktor Gyokeres.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 15, 2025

Former Germany midfielder Didi Hamann criticised the match officials after Luis Diaz was wrongly deemed onside before scoring the equaliser, which proved to be the turning point in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Koln. Hamann argued that the absence of VAR until the third round of the DFB-Pokal is unfair to teams that have been eliminated due to refereeing errors.

Diaz and Bayern benefit from lack of VAR in Koln win

Koln took the lead through Ragnar Ache after making a strong start to the game, testing Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig on multiple occasions. The turning point came in the 36th minute when Diaz scored the equaliser in controversial fashion. Konrad Laimer drove forward into Koln’s half and laid the ball off for Josip Stanisic, whose shot was saved by goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler. However, Zieler could only parry the ball into the path of Diaz, who tapped it into an empty net. Replays later showed that Diaz was in an offside position before scoring, but with VAR only available to referees from the third round of the DFB Pokal, the error went uncorrected and the goal stood. Bayern went on to win the match 4-1.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHamann argues Koln could have won

Former Germany and Liverpool midfielder Hamann, in his column for , criticised the officials for failing to spot Diaz’s offside goal, which he believed was the decisive moment of the match, saying: “To beat them [Bayern], everything has to fall into place. But if the 1-1 hadn't counted, then perhaps the second goal wouldn't have been scored either and Cologne would have gone into the break with a lead.”

He added: “It's all hypothetical, but when you concede a goal like that, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to beat Bayern. That's not to detract from the winners' achievements. Bayern played a great game in Koln.”

Bayern take charge with Harry Kane double

The officials’ mistake proved costly, as just two minutes after Diaz’s equaliser, Harry Kane showcased his trademark off-the-ball persistence by dispossessing a Koln defender inside the box before turning and firing home to give Bayern a 2-1 lead. The England captain doubled his tally in the 62nd minute, rising highest to head in Joshua Kimmich’s corner and make it 3-1.

With Koln chasing the game, they pushed players forward, leaving gaps at the back. In the 72nd minute, Michael Olise sparked a swift counterattack, finding Aleksandar Pavlovic, who carried the ball the length of the pitch before switching it to Diaz on the opposite flank. Diaz then squared the ball back to Olise, who calmly slotted it past Zieler to seal a 4-1 victory for Bayern. The victory marked Bayern’s 14th win in 14 games across all competitions, surpassing a record set by AC Milan in the 1992-93 season. Koln coach Lukas Kwasniok praised Bayern’s relentless form, saying he sees a strong sense of determination within Vincent Kompany’s side to chase another treble, a feat the Bavarians last achieved in the 2020-21 season. 

However, Hamann argued that their treble hopes may have been dashed this week had VAR been in effect, instead of only being implemented from the third round of the DFB-Pokal. The ex-Liverpool player said the system’s partial use is unfair to teams like Koln, who have been eliminated in earlier rounds due to refereeing errors.

“The crazy thing is that teams have advanced in the DFB-Pokal due to the absence of VAR, but may benefit from it in the next rounds. That's hard for the eliminated clubs to accept,” Hamann said.

“How do you intend to explain to Koln, now that they have been eliminated, that VAR will be used from now on? That won't do them any good.

“It is not acceptable to only use the technology from the third round onwards. Either you play the entire competition with VAR, or you play the entire competition without it.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportBayern out to dismantle Bundesliga rivals this weekend

Bayern will aim to make it 15 wins in 15 games when they face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, as Vincent Kompany’s men look to build on their strong momentum from recent victories.

Nottingham Forest chiefs privately want owner Evangelos Marinakis to replace Ange Postecoglou with a “master” tactician, with the latter relieved of his duties immediately after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Ange Postecoglou sacked by Nottingham Forest after Chelsea loss

Goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James cemented Postecoglou’s title as the shortest reigning manager in Premier League history, but his departure has been inevitable for quite some time.

Forest failed to win a single game during the Australian’s brief 39-day tenure in charge, with reports over the international break suggesting that Marinakis and co performed due-diligence on a host of potential replacements.

Ange Postecoglou’s tenure at Nottingham Forest

Competition

Arsenal 3-0 Forest

Premier League

Swansea 3-2 Forest

Carabao Cup

Burnley 1-1 Forest

Premier League

Real Betis 2-2 Forest

Europa League

Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Premier League

Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland

Europa League

Newcastle 2-0 Forest

Premier League

Forest 0-3 Chelsea

Premier League

Postecoglou also broke a 100-year record at the City Ground, making the worst start out of any new Forest boss in a century, forcing Marinakis to call time on the former Tottenham boss after a nightmare stint.

In his final pre-match press conference, the 60-year-old went down swinging, perhaps realising that a loss to Chelsea this afternoon would spell the end.

Marinakis had apparently made up his mind about sacking Postecoglou before their clash with Chelsea had even finished, with the Greek billionaire even seen storming out of his seat (talkSPORT).

Postecoglou was informed of the decision just moments after the full-time whistle blew (talkSPORT), and he then said goodbye to his Forest players in the dressing room before the club officially announced his departure.

Now, attention turns to who could replace Postecoglou in the hot seat.

A succession of managers have been linked within the past fortnight — including Sean Dyche, Oliver Glasner, Steve Cooper and Rafael Benitez — but it is Fulham boss Marco Silva who’s seriously admired by the Forest hierarchy.

Nottingham Forest chiefs want Marinakis to replace Postecoglou with Marco Silva

According to the BBC, internal figures at the club have identified Silva as their “preferred option” to succeed Postecoglou.

The 48-year-old, who reportedly has an £8 million release clause in his contract, is poised to become a free agent at the end of this season, and it’s believed that Silva is likely to leave Craven Cottage in 2026 after rather public spats with the owners about their transfer activity.

However, it’ll be much more difficult to prise him out of West London immediately, as Forest are mindful of the compensation fees due if they decide to try and appoint Silva right now.

Marinakis has only just paid off Nuno, and will also have to compensate Postecoglou now that Forest have parted company with him too — meaning the club aren’t overly keen on shelling out yet more money for a new manager.

The Tricky Trees have studied alternatives to Silva amid the difficulties surrounding his appointment, but if Marinakis does decide to invest the cash, it is clear that he’s a very ideal candidate.

The former Everton and Hull City boss has worked wonders at Fulham on a shoe-string budget since guiding them back to the Premier League at the first time of asking in 2022.

They briefly contended for Europe last season as well, despite their meagre transfer spend compared to rivals, and Silva has been lavished with praise as a “master” tactician by players who’ve worked with him.

Paris Saint-Germain are moving swiftly to extend the contract of club prodigy Senny Mayulu. The 19-year-old midfielder who scored in the 2025 Champions League final is being monitored by Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea as his current contract expires in 2027. However, the French champions are finalising a contract extension that could secure the future of one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.

• PSG move to protect their homegrown star

  The Parisian club are quietly working to secure their long-term future and that means keeping Mayulu, the French prodigy who exploded onto the scene last season. Having risen through the club’s academy since 2018, Mayulu became a symbol of PSG’s renewed focus on developing local talent rather than losing them early, as seen with past departures like Kingsley Coman and Moussa Diaby.

  At just 19 years old, Mayulu has already earned his place in coach Luis Enrique’s rotation, impressing with his creativity, ambidexterity, and ability to handle pressure. The midfielder’s technique and tactical maturity have drawn comparisons to Warren Zaire-Emery, another PSG academy success. With Mayulu's contract extension, PSG not only wants to secure the talent they have but also intent to retain Parisian roots in a superstar-filled squad.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham eye Mayulu signing

  According to transfer specialist Nicolo Schira, PSG are now finalising a new three-year contract extension for Mayulu amid persistent interest from City, Chelsea and Tottenham. Scouts from all three English clubs have reportedly monitored his progress since late last season, viewing him as one of France’s most complete young midfielders, who is equally capable of dictating tempo or breaking lines.

  However, Mayulu’s priority remains clear. He wants to continue growing in Paris, surrounded by mentors like Enrique and Marquinhos, and within the environment that shaped him. “Paris is home,” a source close to the player told , emphasising his desire to repay the club that trusted him. 

• Mayulu's rise from academy to Champions League history

  Mayulu’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After debuting professionally in January 2024, he made 39 appearances in the 2024-25 season, scoring six goals and registering three assists across all competitions. His defining moment came in the 2025 Champions League final, when he came off the bench to score PSG’s fifth goal in a 5-0 rout over Inter, becoming the youngest French player ever to score in a Champions League final at just 19 years and 14 days old.

  That goal not only rounded off PSG’s capture of a first European title but also announced Mayulu as a top prospect. By the end of the campaign, he had also lifted his second Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles, contributing key goals in each tournament. Across his senior PSG career so far, Mayulu has 54 appearances, nine goals, and five assists to his tally.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The future of PSG’s midfield

  With his current deal running until June 2027, PSG’s push for an extension is more about protection than urgency. The club want to ensure Mayulu remains untouchable amid Premier League interest, mirroring their approach with Zaire-Emery. Enrique, a long-time admirer of technically gifted and disciplined players, reportedly sees Mayulu as a cornerstone for the next phase of PSG’s evolution.

  Internationally, Mayulu continues to rise through France’s youth ranks, already a key figure for the U20 national team after success with the U18s. If his trajectory continues, a senior call-up seems inevitable.

Charlie Dean takes 4 for 9 but visitors pinch points in last-over finish at Taunton

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jun-2025Ailsa Lister held her nerve to stage a match-winning innings of 28 not out from 19 balls as Lancashire Thunder beat Somerset by four wickets in a thrilling Vitality Blast T20 contest at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.Chasing 133 to win, Thunder looked to be cruising when Emma Lamb and Eve Jones put together an opening stand of 60. But Somerset fought back, Charlie Dean claiming 4 for 9 to threaten a startling turnaround in fortunes.Needing eight off the final over, Lister edged Alex Griffiths for four through fine leg and then hit the winning runs with two balls to spare to see the northern county home by the skin of their teeth.Lancashire’s decision to bowl first paid dividends, Kate Cross claiming 3 for 21 and Sophie Morris 2 for 33 to restrict the home side to 132 for 7 from their 20 overs. Deep in trouble at 85- for 6, Somerset were indebted to the seventh-wicket pair of Amanda-Jade Wellington and Griffiths, who staged an exciting stand of 45 to at least make a game of it.This might have been the first time Somerset had staged a standalone women’s game under lights, but they will not look back on the occasion with any great fondness after coming off second best. The Cider county have now lost four of their five Blast outings this season, the other game having been washed out. As for Thunder, a third win in six games keeps them in the hunt for a top-four finish.Put into bat and missing injured England stars Heather Knight and Dani Gibson, Somerset made an inauspicious start, Amelie Munday missing a straight one from Cross and departing bowled without scoring, and Bex Odgers being stumped by Ellie Threlkeld off the bowling of Morris for 18 as the home side slipped to 26 for 2 in the seventh.Fran Wilson suggested a change in the balance of power, helping herself to a brace of boundaries at the expense of Morris to rouse an audience of around 3,000 – a record for a women’s match at Taunton. Cheers quickly turned to groans, though, Niamh Holland paying the price for hesitation and being run out for 10 by the ubiquitous Morris with the score 45 for 3.Charged with the task of rescuing a parlous situation, the experienced pair of Wilson and Sophie Luff combined deft placement and quick running to breathe new life into Somerset’s ailing innings, the fourth wicket pair adding 24 from 20 balls. But when Wilson was bowled by Morris for 25, Somerset were 69 for 4 with work still to do. Worse followed, influential captain Luff sending a leading edge to extra cover off the bowling of Tara Norris and Dean attempting to ramp a Cross bouncer and offering a catch behind as Somerset lurched to 85 for 6 in the 16th.Attempting to break the stranglehold, the hard-hitting Wellington plundered 25 from 14 balls, including five boundaries, to put the Lancashire bowling under pressure for the first time. Encouraged by the success of her partner, Griffiths opened her shoulders in raising 27 from 18 balls as the seventh-wicket alliance yielded 45 crucial runs in 4.3 overs at the death.There is something about playing at Taunton that brings out the best in Lancashire, who defeated Somerset in a 50-over contest on this ground earlier in the season and then beat The Blaze and Surrey to lift the Vitality County T20 Cup last month. Sure enough, their reply was afforded reassuring early impetus, Jones and Lamb taking advantage of some short and wide bowling to raise 50 in 6.4 overs and set the tone.The partnership was worth 60 when Jones, having scored 28, was pinned lbw by Dean in the ninth over. Lamb then went for 32 in the next over, held at short fine leg off the bowing of Ellie Anderson to give Somerset a glimmer of hope. When Wellington induced Seren Smale to hole out to long-off for 11 in the fourteenth over, Thunder were 91 for 3, requiring a further 42 to win off 39 balls.Dean bowled Threlkeld for 1 with the score 96 for 4, at which point the game was in the balance. But Lister calmed any nerves, hoisting Griffiths for sixes over long-on and midwicket in the 18th to put Thunder back in the box seat.Dean was still not done, bowling Fi Morris for 22 and then having Alana King held at point without scoring to leave Thunder needing eight off the final over. Lister then demonstrated nerves of steel to settle the issue.

MatériaMais Notícias

Desde a boa impressão deixada contra o São Paulo, no primeiro turno do Brasileirão, Wesley caiu nas graças da Fiel e ganhou mais oportunidades no Corinthians após a saída de Róger Guedes. A Cria do Terrão está em alta com Vanderlei Luxemburgo, que tenta controlar a empolgação em torno do atacante de 18 anos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansMesmo lutando para fugir do Z4, Corinthians vence ‘trio de cima’ no Campeonato BrasileiroCorinthians23/09/2023CorinthiansGil responde sobre renovação e ressalta comprometimento ao Corinthians em meio a críticasCorinthians23/09/2023BotafogoÁrbitro relata na súmula a reclamação de Marçal ao ser expulso em Corinthians e BotafogoBotafogo23/09/2023

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

O técnico reconhece o potencial do garoto, que desde sua estreia é o jogador Sub-23 com mais dribles certos (46) nas Américas. Contudo, Luxa vê Wesley como uma joia em desenvolvimento, e trabalha para ele melhorar a tomada de decisões com a bola no pé, priorizando o jogo coletivo ao invés do individual.

A comissão técnica corintiana também trabalha para controlar o temperamento de Wesley. Nas categorias de base, o atleta já mostrava ter um gênio forte. E durante o período entre os profissionais, já deu, por algumas vezes, sinais de indisciplina.

continua após a publicidade

– Quando eu falei que o Wesley não está pronto, ele não está. Tem muita coisa para aprender, tomada de decisões, toque de bola. Melhorou bastante, mas precisa melhorar mais. Só tem 18 anos, precisa aprender, se posicionar, para proporcionar os meias achar eles. Ele gosta de se posicionar só para receber a bola de lado e fazer um contra um, isso é muito pouco, precisa ser muito mais. Tudo isso é questão de trabalho, de fazer o dia a dia – disse Luxemburgo após a vitória sobre o Botafogo.

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Timão no Brasileirão

Com a lacuna deixada por Róger Guedes no lado esquerdo do ataque, Wesley vem brigando com Guilherme Biro e Romero pela vaga do ex-camisa 10. Nos últimos seis jogos, o camisa contribuiu com uma assistência, foi titular em três partidas e soma mais de 330 minutos em campo.

continua após a publicidade

A ascensão de Wesley em 2023 fez o Corinthians acelerar a renovação contratual. Em agosto, o Timão anunciou o novo vínculo com o atacante de 18 anos, com duração até agosto de 2027. O jogador teve um aumento salarial, e a multa rescisória passou para 100 milhões de euros (R$ 526 milhões)

أعرب عامر صبري، المدرب العام لفريق الزمالك عن سعادته بالفوز على بيراميدز والتأهل لنهائي كأس السوبر المصري، على حساب منافس قوي ومحترم حقق بطولات كبيرة خلال الفترة الماضية بحسب وصفه.

وفاز فريق الزمالك على نظيره بيراميدز 5-4 بركلات الترجيح في المباراة التي أقيمت على ستاد آل نهيان في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المحلي بعد انتهاء الوقت الأصلي بالتعادل السلبي، ليتأهل الأبيض لمواجهة الأهلي في المباراة النهائية.

طالع.. الزمالك يعلن حجم إصابة الدباغ وبنتايج قبل مواجهة الأهلي

وقال المدرب العام لنادي الزمالك في تصريحات للمركز الإعلامي: “الجهاز الفني قام بالتحضير للمباراة بشكل جيد، وتعاملنا مع نقاط القوة والضعف بالمنافس، وحققنا الهدف المطلوب”.

وواصل عامر صبري: “المباراة النهائية سيكون لها حسابات خاصة، وسنعمل بكل قوة من أجل العودة إلى مصر بكأس السوبر”.

واختتم تصريحاته: “أشكر جماهير نادي الزمالك العظيمة على دعمهم لنا، وأطمئنهم بأنهم لديهم فريق كبير ولاعبين على أعلى مستوى، وسنعمل جميعًا على إسعادهم”.

Chelsea have now registered their interest in a surprise move for a “fantastic” Juventus star, who is being targeted by a number of Premier League clubs.

Blues join race for sought-after midfielder

The Blues’ 3-1 home defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion perhaps underlined that they’re not quite ready to mount a Premier League title push, despite their heavy spending, with Jamie Carragher making it clear that Enzo Maresca’s squad lacks experience.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “How long will the rebuild after Abramovich last? At what point will they realize the need to buy ready-made, established stars who can take the team from fourth place to first, combining youth with experience?”

Maresca’s squad has the youngest average age in the Premier League, at just 23.4, with a gap of 0.8 between them and second-placed Sunderland, and Raheem Sterling, who is part of the ‘bomb squad’ is the only player not in his twenties.

As bad as Chalobah: 4/10 Chelsea gem showed he’s not ready for PL start yet

Chelsea suffered a 3-1 loss at home to Brighton and this player failed to step up.

1

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 27, 2025

As pointed out by Carragher, the west Londoners need to bring in players with experience of winning major honours if they are going to become serious title contenders, and they have now joined the race to sign a new midfielder.

Indeed, according to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea have now registered their interest in signing Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli, which would be a surprising move, given that he does not align with their recent transfer policy.

At 27-years-old, the Italian is a lot more experienced than most players who make the move to Stamford Bridge, and there are signs that a deal could be possible, with any bids of €40m (£35m) deemed to be ‘unrejectable’.

With Romeo Lavia struggling on the injury front, a move for Locatelli would make sense, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature, as Newcastle United, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Bayer Leverkusen have also expressed interest.

"Fantastic" Locatelli has the talent to succeed at Stamford Bridge

Hailed as “fantastic” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Italy international is very impressive in possession of the ball, and has displayed his tackling ability on a regular basis over the past year, suggesting he is a well-rounded midfielder.

With Maresca keen on a central midfielder capable of progressing the ball up the pitch, the Juventus maestro could be an ideal option, and he also has a keen eye for goal, once scoring with a remarkable shot from distance for Italy.

At 27, Locatelli is by no means old, but his experience could be of great use to Chelsea, given that they have the youngest squad in the Premier League, and they should test the waters with an offer this winter.