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Barcelona forward Ferran Torres says his side failed to "maintain" control of their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain as a last-minute goal saw the Spanish giants suffer their first defeat of the season. Torres, who scored the opening goal, warned his side should not overreact to the result as he stressed they must find a way to keep up their intensity throughout matches.

• Barcelona's 2-1 defeat to PSG

  Torres was in the right position to meet Marcus Rashford's cross, finishing past Lucas Chevalier after beating the offside trap in the first 20 minutes of the game. However, PSG youngster Senny Mayulu got between two defenders and calmly beat Wojciech Szczesny to level the score. In the 90th minute, Ramos took advantage of Barcelona's high line, beat the offside trap, and slot in the winning goal for PSG.

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  Torres' words of encouragement

  In a post-match interview with , Torres said Barcelona had a strong start but struggled to maintain the tempo: "The game went crazy. I think the first half hour was spectacular, but we didn't know how to maintain it. I'm sure that as time goes on we'll maintain it. We weren't able to regain control where we wanted it to be. We're having a lot of games, that's no excuse, but we have to focus on the weekend."

  Torres also urged fans and players to stay calm and not overreact: "At the end of the season, there will be defeats, but we shouldn't overreact. Now it's time to look at what we did wrong and correct the mistakes."

• Torres' glittering start to the season

  Torres has had a glittering start to the season, scoring five goals and providing one assist in all competitions so far. Initially deployed as a false nine due to Roberto Lewandowski's absence with injury, Torres’ form has helped Barcelona remain unbeaten in the league, keeping them at the top of the La Liga table after seven matches.

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  Barcelona's upcoming challenge

  Torres will look to get on the scoresheet when Barcelona travel to Sevilla, aiming to bounce back from their defeat to PSG.

Liverpool rocked the footballing world when they beat off fierce competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to sign Florian Wirtz in a British-record £116m deal.

Bayer Leverkusen’s talismanic playmaker had played an instrumental role in completing an invincible domestic double in 2023/24, with Xabi Alonso almost left speechless at times, managing to remark at one point: “Wirtz is a genius”.

He’s ebbed and flowed across his opening two fixtures in a Liverpool shirt, it must be said, although there’s no question that the German is one of the most exciting signings in the club’s history, having showcased his easy gait and technical elegance. There’s plenty more to come.

However, there’s another top transfer target on sporting director Richard Hughes’ watchlist who could have a bigger impact than the 22-year-old, should he sign before the deadline on September 1st.

Liverpool lining up another signing

You might well feel that the following section is going to detail Liverpool’s protracted pursuit of Alexander Isak, but the Newcastle United striker is not the focus here.

Locked in purgatory at St. James’ Park, Isak has fought tooth and nail to earn his dream move to Merseyside this summer, but the Magpies have failed to sign any of their myriad targets at number nine, leaving everyone in limbo as the window approaches the final stretch.

Without a doubt, Isak is a world-class striker and Liverpool will sign him this summer if encouraged by the suits on Tyneside, but he’s not the only Premier League star on FSG’s radar.

Indeed, according to Football Insider, Liverpool remain in talks with Crystal Palace as they push to sign Marc Guehi before the transfer deadline, with the centre-back having entered the final year of his £50k-per-week contract.

The Eagles are said to have lowered their asking price from £40m to £35m after negotiations with the Anfield side, although it’s suggested that Hughes and co still harbour reservations about paying such a figure for a player who is heading toward free agency.

Why Liverpool should sign Marc Guehi

Guehi has fashioned himself into a rather top-class centre-back over the past several years, instrumental in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph under Oliver Glasner’s wing last year, after being hailed as “England’s best player” at EURO 2024 by analyst Ben Mattinson.

A steely defender with an impressive technical range and an invariably calm head, Guehi is the real deal, having been created in the furnaces of the Chelsea Cobham scene before making his way at Selhurst Park, growing in size, strength, and significance.

You can see why Liverpool want him. As per FBref, Guehi ranks among the top 9% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for successful take-ons, and the top 2% for through balls per 90, underlining his quality on the ball.

Such completeness denotes his potential to become a superstar at Liverpool, and it’s not out of the question that Guehi could have a dramatic impact upon arriving at Anfield, perhaps even a bigger one than Wirtz.

While Wirtz has yet to spread his wings in a Liverpool shirt, it’s early days, and the club are also undergoing a transformation after so much change this summer.

Expect him to improve incrementally as he adapts to the pace of the Premier League.

Guehi, on the other hand, would be expected to arrive and instantly ignite a spark in Liverpool’s backline, reinforcing the defensive barriers while using those ball-playing qualities to improve the fluency of Slot’s season-year squad.

Praised as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi has what it takes to become a jackpot signing for Liverpool, especially when considering the need to bolster Virgil van Dijk’s backline with an extra player, as Ibrahima Konate’s future continues to be a flashpoint for the fans.

The France international has sadly depicted a player who has reached an important juncture and with the knowledge that they are heading toward a Bosman. Against Bournemouth, during Liverpool’s league opener, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even commented that the 26-year-old was “all over the place”.

Guehi, conversely, has been a paragon of professionalism and style over the past few weeks at Palace, captaining his team as they defeated Liverpool at Wembley to claim the Community Shield before holding Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in last week’s Premier League curtain-raiser.

It’s not hard to imagine him carrying his Eagles form over to Liverpool, providing Slot with depth and dynamism at the back that could put these lingering discussions about Liverpool’s balance and fragility in defence behind him.

Whether Liverpool have the right kind of balance with Wirtz standing proud in midfield is a debate that may well continue over the coming days. St. James’ Park on Monday evening will perhaps teach us a bit more about where things are at.

It’s the kind of signing that could ensure Liverpool get themselves over the finish line in first place, retaining their league title with a strong backline that complements an attacking mix of players so replete with first-class talent.

For sure, Wirtz has proven himself time and time again over his maiden years as a professional and certainly has the potential to leave an indelible mark on the English game.

But we haven’t seen the best of him yet, and in Guehi, Liverpool might just land themselves the missing piece of the puzzle, slotting right in and raising the bar from the off.

Liverpool readying blockbuster late move, they think he's their next Salah

He could become their record signing.

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 21, 2025

Leeds United failed to get what they wanted out of deadline day, as they missed out on Harry Wilson, but it was a largely successful transfer window for the newly-promoted side.

As much as some supporters may not want to hear it right now, the recruitment team and board did well to bolster the defensive and midfield options for Daniel Farke.

Lucas Perri, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and James Justin arrived to improve the defence, whilst Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach were signed to add to the team’s midfield.

Supporters have already seen why the club were willing to spend around £17m to bring Stach to the club, after an impressive start to life in the Premier League for the Whites.

The towering German midfielder was excellent, as illustrated by the statistics in the post above, on his debut in a 1-0 win over Everton last month.

Stach and Longstaff coming through the gate at Thorp Arch meant that bringing back former star Kalvin Phillips was not high on the agenda at Elland Road.

Why Leeds were right not to sign Kalvin Phillips

Instead of immediately targeting a deal to bring the ex-England international back to the club upon promotion, Leeds decided to swoop for the aforementioned alternative targets to improve Farke’s side.

In the final few days of the window, journalist Graeme Bailey did note that the Championship champions were keeping tabs on Phillips and that he could have ended up in West Yorkshire again if Manchester City had ripped his contract up to make him a free agent.

The Cityzens did not do that, though, and the central midfielder remained at The Etihad, despite not being a part of Pep Guardiola’s plans, after the deadline passed.

Phillips earned a £42m move to Manchester City in the summer of 2022 after impressing, as shown in the clips above, in the Premier League with Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa.

Unfortunately, the midfield star only started two of his 12 Premier League appearances for City in his first season in Manchester, per Sofascore, before struggling out on loan at Ipswich and West Ham in the two subsequent campaigns.

As you can see in the table above, Phillips has been sent off twice and made four errors that have led to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition in his last 17 starts in the top-flight.

His market value has dropped off a cliff as a result of that poor form in recent seasons since leaving Leeds. Transfermarkt currently value the midfielder at just £10m, well short of the £42m fee that Manchester City agreed to sign him for in 2022.

Leeds were, therefore, right not to heavily pursue a reunion with the 29-year-old dud, because he is not the same player that he once was at Elland Road.

Despite once being sold for £42m, there are now numerous players within the current squad who are worth even more than Phillips, including central defender Pascal Struijk.

Leeds hit the jackpot with Pascal Struijk

The Whites swooped to sign the Dutch defender from Ajax on a free transfer in January 2018, as his contract with the Eredivisie giants was due to expire later that year, and initially linked up with the U21s.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

He only played seven times for the academy, though, before being fast-tracked into the first-team by Bielsa in the 2019/20 season, playing five times in the Championship. That led to him being valued at £650k in 2020, per Transfermarkt

Struijk then established himself as a regular in the Premier League for Leeds, playing 85 times across three seasons under Bielsa, Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce, before the team’s relegation in 2023.

The Dutch defender really hit his stride in the last two seasons in the Championship for the Whites. Although he did miss the second half of the 2023/24 campaign through injury, and was unable to help his side in the play-off final against Southampton.

Struijk had arguably his best season at Elland Road in the 2024/25 title-winning season, though, as he played in 35 of the club’s 46 league matches on their way to 100 points.

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star was sensational in possession for Farke’s team with his ability to progress play with the ball at his feet at an exceptional rate.

Promotion to the Premier League, though, places a greater emphasis on his defensive skills. He has stood up to the task so far, winning 75% of his ground duels to help Leeds to keep two clean sheets in their first three matches, per Sofascore.

His performances last season in the Championship heavily contributed to his market value soaring up to a whopping £15.6m, per Transfermarkt, which is millions more than Phillips is currently valued at.

This also means that his market value has skyrocketed by a staggering 2,400% from the £650k that he was valued at back in 2020, which highlights his impressive rise to prominence in West Yorkshire.

Leeds hit the jackpot with "dangerous" star who's worth more than Solomon

Leeds United have hit the jackpot on a star who is now worth even more than Manor Solomon.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 7, 2025

Therefore, Leeds hit the jackpot when they moved to sign Struijk from Ajax back in 2018 because the Dutch titan has developed into a key first-team player for Farke who is now worth even more than a star who was once sold by the club for £42m.

Scott Munn, who left Tottenham in the summer after less than two years as the club's chief football officer, is reportedly finalising a deal to join Serie A side Parma. His departure from north London came amid a major boardroom overhaul that saw even the chairman Daniel Levy and star manager Ange Postecoglou also exit the club.

• Munn finalising Parma executive role

  Munn is closing in on a new senior role with Serie A side Parma, according to reports in Italy. and state that the Australian is finalising a deal to become the new head of the Krause Group's football division, the American consortium that owns the Italian club.

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  Departure followed major Spurs overhaul

  Munn was placed on gardening leave by Spurs in June, bringing an end to a tenure of less than two years in north London. His departure came as part of a summer of significant change at Tottenham, which saw the sacking of his key ally, manager Postecoglou. Munn's exit also coincided with a major boardroom shake-up that included the departures of long-serving chairman Levy and executive director Donna-Maria Cullen, as a new chief executive officer, Vinai Venkatesham, arrived.

  Spurs endured a dismal domestic 2024-25 campaign despite their Europa League success. Injury issues were a constant source of frustration for then-coach Postecoglou. It was claimed that the fitness issues flared up after long-serving head of medicine Geoff Scott was forced out, a decision that followed a review that Munn had been at the head of. In April, it was reported that he would be leaving the club, even before Postecoglou's sacking.

• The original vision for Munn at Tottenham

  Munn joined Tottenham from the City Football Group in 2023 to fill the newly-created role of chief football officer, designed to oversee all of the club's footballing activities. Upon his appointment, then-chairman Levy said: "Scott has a unique and broad experience of running sporting organisations at the highest level and will take responsibility for the leadership and management of our football activities to instil best practice both on and off the pitch."

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  What next for Munn and Parma?

  An official announcement from Parma is expected in the coming weeks. Munn will be tasked by president Kyle Krause with strengthening the club's organisational structure as they look to consolidate their position back in Italy's top flight. After a brief and turbulent spell at Spurs came to an abrupt end, the 51-year-old will be aiming to implement his long-term vision in Serie A.

Tension is brewing in Spanish women’s football after Real Madrid reportedly blocked plans to hold the Women’s Super Cup in Miami. Several clubs have expressed frustration, accusing Los Blancos of halting a major financial and branding opportunity. Some even believe Madrid’s refusal stems from fear of facing Barcelona on American soil.

• Real Madrid block Miami move for Women's Super Cup

  According to a report by , Spanish women’s football clubs have been left furious after Real Madrid opposed the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) proposal to host the Supercopa de Espana Femenina in Miami. The plan, which aimed to expand the competition’s global profile, would have seen participating clubs earn guaranteed income of around €150,000 each. Madrid’s veto has now halted what could have been a landmark event for the women’s game in Spain.

  The decision came after meetings between the RFEF and the four participating teams, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid, where Madrid stood alone in rejecting the idea. Clubs view the refusal as a major setback to the league’s long-term growth, given the financial and promotional potential of the American market.

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  Clubs accuse Madrid of blocking growth for women’s football

  The refusal has not gone down well among other Liga F teams, with clubs across Spain expressing their discontent. As per the report which revealed that “an option for significant revenue both this season and in the future has been closed,” highlighting frustration over missed financial gains and brand exposure.

  Officials from rival clubs reportedly can’t comprehend why Real Madrid agreed to the men’s Super Cup being played in Saudi Arabia but opposed the women’s version abroad. Many see it as a contradiction that undermines efforts to raise the women’s game to the same international level as the men’s.

• Fear of Barcelona humiliation in Miami?

  Beyond financial concerns, whispers within Spanish football suggest Real Madrid’s decision may have been driven by sporting fear rather than logistics. The insider report believe Los Blancos were wary of a potential heavy defeat to Pere Romeu’s dominant Barcelona side in a high-profile setting like Miami.

  As the report put it, “behind this refusal is the fear of being thrashed by Pere Romeu’s Barca in Miami.” Barcelona’s women’s team, European champions and serial domestic winners, have been nearly unbeatable in recent seasons, and a public defeat on American soil could have dealt Madrid a serious image blow.

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  RFEF searching for new options after Miami setback

  With Real Madrid’s opposition putting an end to the Miami plans, the RFEF is now exploring domestic alternatives to host the Supercopa. The federation had considered several foreign venues, but the focus has shifted back to Spain, where it hopes to find new sponsors to secure financial stability for the tournament.

  Despite the setback, discussions remain ongoing about expanding the competition internationally in future editions. The RFEF and participating clubs still view overseas exposure as key to the long-term success and global recognition of Spanish women’s football.

Sunderland are yet to look fazed by the intense challenges of the Premier League.

Minus a disappointing loss away at Burnley on the second matchday of the season, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have collected two wins and two draws, with another encouraging display from the Wearside outfit against Aston Villa handing the hosts a 1-1 draw.

It wasn’t the prettiest overall display, as Sunderland had to dig deep after being reduced to ten men early on, but there was just enough in the Black Cats’ tank to steal a share of the points.

Again, Wilson Isidor would come to the rescue with a well-taken strike towards the dying stages of the tense contest, with both the Frenchman and his battling compatriot at the back in Nordi Mukiele key to the late draw being sealed.

Isidor & Mukiele's standout performances

Amazingly, Sunderland – at this point – boasts a sterner defensive record in the Premier League than that of Arne Slot’s table-topping Liverpool, and it’s clear to see why after Mukiele put in another combative display.

Leaking just four goals from six games, Mukiele has only given up two of those strikes since entering Le Bris’ first team plans after a summer move from Paris St. Germain.

The commanding 27-year-old would ensure the likes of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers were kept quiet throughout, despite the Villans’ man advantage, as seen in him winning seven duels and registering 12 clearances to ensure the basics were done valiantly, as per Sofascore.

Picked up for just £12m, it really does feel as if Sunderland have hit gold on an unbelievable bargain already in tempting Mukiele to Wearside.

Isidor is also proving to be a shrewd buy at the moment for just £5m, considering the ex-Zenit St. Petersburg striker is now in the Stadium of Light record books for his three strikes this season on home soil.

But, despite both the defender and the attacker sticking out once more, there is a different star buried in the senior ranks that is worth even more than both Isidor and Mukiele, who represents an even better bargain.

How Isidor & Mukiele's market values compare

Various Sunderland stars who were purchased just this summer have instantly settled into their new environment, away from just focusing on Mukiele, with Noah Sadiki running himself into the ground for the cause on Sunday, as seen in him winning three ground duels.

But, there is also the old guard that has been there since the beginning of Sunderland’s ascent, all the way from the lower reaches of the EFL to the promised land of the Premier League, that deserve equal praise, with Trai Hume being one figure still beloved by the Stadium of Light masses, despite all these flashy new buys taking over.

Le Bris’ past comments about Hume being a “warrior” were spot on when assessing his gritty performance against Villa, with three tackles amassed – which included this mistimed lunge on the aforementioned Rogers – on top of eight duels being won, generating lots of cheers from the home faithful.

Yet, it’s also his attacking flair that has turned him into a major fan favourite since he sealed a switch from his native Northern Ireland to England back in 2022, with nine goal contributions last campaign very much helping Sunderland steer themselves to promotion glory.

He is yet to get up and running with any goals or assists in the top-flight, but that will hopefully come with time, with Hume once making the jump from Linfield to the bruising nature of the EFL look straightforward.

Subsequently, the “outstanding” full-back – as he has been glowingly labelled by journalist Josh Bunting – is now worth way more than his original measly £200k price tag, with Football Transfers now estimating that the tough Northern Irishman has a bumped up value of £15.5m.

That’s even more than both Mukiele and Isidor’s valuations on the site, with the determined centre-back worth a lesser £10.6m, while the lofty attacker comes in at £13.6m, which is a huge increase from his modest £5m price tag in January.

Still, he pales somewhat in comparison to Hume, with Le Bris hopeful he can continue to get a tune out of his full camp to keep up their fantastic early return to the top-flight.

70% duels won: 9/10 Sunderland star is now as undroppable as Isidor

Sunderland battled to a well-earned 1-1 draw against Aston Villa as this brave star shone throughout.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 21, 2025

Lionel Messi hasn’t ruled out playing for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, set to take place across North America. The Inter Miami star said he will decide next year based on how his body feels, though he admitted that competing at age 39 would be a challenge. After previously downplaying the chances of returning, his words reignited hope.

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  Messi gives Argentina fans a reason to dream

  After previously hinting that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would likely be his last, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left the door open to one final appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

  Messi last week signed a three-year extension to keep him at Inter Miami through 2028. He said he’ll evaluate his physical condition next year before deciding whether to play in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

  "Well, the truth is that yes, it's something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup," Messi told NBC Nightly News’ Tom Llamas. "And I would like to be there. To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there. I am going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter Miami and see if I can really be 100 percent."

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  'Defending it would be spectacular'

  The Argentine legend turns 39 next June and admitted age will be a decisive factor.

  "I'm really eager because it's the World Cup," he said. "We're coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it's always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions. So hopefully God will allow me to do it once again."

  His words undoubtedly reignited faith among millions of supporters who dream of seeing him lead Argentina once again.

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  "Every player dreams of becoming world champion"

  Messi has played professionally since 2004, debuting with Barcelona at just 17 years old. After 17 seasons and four Champions League titles with the Catalan club, he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before moving to Inter Miami in 2023, where he has helped transform Major League Soccer’s profile.

  Messi reflected on life in South Florida, saying, “Miami lets us enjoy life, stay calm, and allows my kids to be themselves."

  International success had long eluded Messi until Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar, where he led his nation to its first title since 1986.

  “It was the dream of my life,” Messi said. “It was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had achieved everything with Barcelona. Every player dreams of becoming world champion.”

  Since his debut in 2005, Messi has earned 195 caps and scored 114 goals for Argentina – both national records.

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  What comes next?

  Inter Miami will visit Nashville SC on Saturday looking to seal their spot in the next round of the MLS playoffs, after earning a 3-1 win in the first game of the best-of-three series.

Two-time Champions League winners FC Porto may not be the force they once were, but they still have a number of quality players on their books.

The Dragons have an annual payroll of €30,910,000 for the 2025/26 season, with the average player earning just over €1.1m per season. Every FC Porto player in the first-team squad has been ranked in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Here's a detailed look at FC Porto's top 10 earners…

10

Alan Varela

€24,038 per week

Alan Varela signed a new deal with FC Porto in 2025, seeing his salary increase by €10,000 per week.

The Argentine midfielder has gone from strength to strength in Portugal and is now under contract until 2030.

9

Nehuen Perez

€24,038 per week

Centre-back Nehuen Perez made the move to FC Porto from Udinese in 2024.

The Argentina international was only on loan at the Estadio do Dragao, but he made a move permanent in 2025.

8

Diogo Costa

€27,692 per week

Academy graduate Diogo Costa made his senior debut for FC Porto in 2019 and hasn’t looked back.

The Portugal international has gone on to be first-choice for club and country in recent years and has even been linked with a big-money move away, so eventually, FC Porto could cash in on one of the best goalkeepers in the game today.

7

Samu Omorodion

€31,346 per week

It looked as if Samu Omorodion would be joining Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2024, but after a deal broke down, FC Porto came in and secured the forward’s services.

The youngster made an instant impact in Portugal, scoring 11 goals in his first 10 appearances in all competitions.

6

Alberto Costa

€36,923 per week

Portuguese full-back Alberto Costa returned to his native country in 2025 after a brief spell in Italy with Juventus.

The former Vitoria S.C right-back cost Porto €15m and signed a five-year contract.

5

Gabri Veiga

€38,462 per week

Gabri Veiga was handed the number 10 shirt after signing for Porto from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2025.

Like Costa, Veiga also cost €15m and signed a deal until 2030 and can play as an attacking midfielder or out wide.

4

Pepe

€40,385 per week

Not to be mistaken with the iconic centre-back who also played for FC Porto, Brazilian winger Pepe is one of three players on €48,077 per week.

After joining from Gremio in 2021, Pepe is under contract until 2027.

3

Jan Bednarek

€40,385 per week

After eight years as a Southampton player, Jan Bednarek swapped St Mary’s for FC Porto in 2025 in a deal worth €7.5m.

The centre-back signed a four-year deal and is set to earn €10m in wages during that time.

2

Luuk de Jong

€40,385 per week

Experienced striker Luuk de Jong was announced as a shock signing during one of FC Porto’s pre-season fixtures at the Estadio do Dragao.

He didn’t cost Porto a penny, allowing them to give De Jong a €2.5m per year deal.

1

Jakub Kiwior

€66,731 per week

Top of the list as FC Porto’s hughest paid player for 2025/26 is defender Jakub Kiwior, who is on loan from Arsenal for the season.

The Poland international found game time hard to come by at the Emirates and there is thought to be an obligation for a deal to become permanent in 2026.

There was a time not long ago when seeing a Newcastle United player in an England shirt felt like a rarity.

Yet on Tuesday night, as Anthony Gordon completed 90 minutes against Wales, fans on Tyneside had reason to smile.

For a club once seen as an outsider to international recognition, Newcastle’s growing representation in the England setup marks a remarkable transformation.

Now, barring injuries, almost half a dozen Newcastle players could find themselves in the national fold.

Dan Burn appears to have established himself as England’s third-choice centre-back behind Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi, while the likes of Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are widely expected to receive future call-ups once they recover from their respective injuries.

Yet for all the current excitement, there’s one player Newcastle fans are forced to admire from afar.

A midfielder who came through their academy, left reluctantly, and is now flourishing in the England squad.

Anderson’s successes with England

Elliot Anderson’s story is one that continues to sting for many Newcastle supporters.

The 22-year-old, born in the Northeast and developed through the club’s academy, was sold to Nottingham Forest last summer as part of Newcastle’s desperate effort to stay within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

The deal, which saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way, was described at the time as purely financial – neither the player nor the club wanted to part ways.

Since moving to Forest, Anderson has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s most complete young midfielders.

Last season, he made 37 league appearances, scoring two goals and registering six assists.

His mix of energy and tactical awareness quickly made him one of Thomas Tuchel’s most reliable players.

His rise has continued on the international stage.

After switching allegiances from Scotland to England, Anderson has earned three senior caps, picking up two man-of-the-match awards in his first two games.

In England’s recent 1–0 win over Wales, he played 69 minutes before being replaced by Jordan Henderson, completing 77 passes (an impressive 96% accuracy) from 92 touches.

He also produced two key passes, won four of six ground duels, and made one interception.

Tuchel’s use of Anderson as Rice’s midfield partner for Declan Rice has proven to be a masterstroke.

The former Newcastle man’s ability to retain possession, play progressively, and read danger makes him an ideal modern central midfielder.

He thrives in tight spaces, dictates rhythm, and has a sharpness that’s elevated both Forest and England’s midfield balance.

For Newcastle, it’s hard not to imagine how Anderson might have looked alongside Bruno Guimarães or Sandro Tonali at St James’ Park.

But while they lost a gem in the short term, the club might just have the next one already developing in their ranks.

The England player of the future at Newcastle

At just 19 years old, Lewis Miley is being tipped as Newcastle’s next homegrown star.

Standing at 1.89m with a market value already approaching £20m, as per Transfermarkt, the central midfielder combines intelligence, technique, and maturity well beyond his years.

Last season, Miley made 14 Premier League appearances, scoring once, and has now featured 49 times across all competitions for Newcastle, including in the Champions League.

His calmness in possession and range of passing have drawn comparisons to some of England’s finest midfielders. BBC Sport’s Pat Nevin has gone as far as to describe him as “the next young English superstar.”

Despite his age, Miley already plays with the control of a seasoned professional.

He averages 48 completed passes per 90 minutes with an 88% pass accuracy, ranking among the best in his age group.

His defensive contribution is equally strong – 4.00 tackles per 90 and 1.43 blocks per 90 show a midfielder unafraid to do the dirty work.

Statistically, he even matches up well against Anderson.

While Anderson edges him in attacking metrics – 4.72 progressive passes, 1.72 progressive carries, and 2.87 shot-creating actions per 90 – Miley’s efficiency and composure are exceptional for a teenager.

His higher passing accuracy and greater defensive output underline why Eddie Howe sees him as central to Newcastle’s long-term plans.

There have been signs of growing pains this season, as he’s occasionally struggled to influence matches from deep.

Yet Howe and senior teammates like Joelinton have been quick to defend him, pointing to the experience he’s gaining as invaluable for his development.

A summer loan to Crystal Palace or Ipswich was considered but ultimately rejected.

Miley’s ability to combine tidy passing with defensive resilience makes him the archetype of the modern English midfielder.

Like Anderson, he’s comfortable playing between the lines, but he offers more control and balance in possession – something England’s midfield may need in the years to come.

For Howe, the lesson is clear: when you nurture talent properly, the next generation might already be waiting in your own backyard.

Not Gordon: Newcastle's "world-class" star will be PIF's next £100m sale

Newcastle have developed organically several elite-level Premier League players.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 10, 2025

Wayne Rooney has doubled down on his criticism of Virgil van Dijk after seeing his previous comments branded “lazy” by the Liverpool captain. The Manchester United legend remains of the opinion that the Dutch defender has not been at his best during the 2025-26 campaign, and believes the commanding centre-half would admit as much “if he’s honest with himself”.

• Run of defeats after big spend: Questions asked of Liverpool

  After seeing a flurry of late goals help them to a faultless opening across domestic and continental competition, the reigning Premier League champions saw the wheels fall off in spectacular style when suffering six defeats through a testing run of seven fixtures. Inevitable questions were asked of whether the Reds were in danger of imploding.

  Rooney is among those to have picked fault with Arne Slot’s side, having seen them struggle to replicate the consistency that carried them to the English top-flight title in 2024-25. Few could have predicted that they would wobble so spectacularly after smashing transfer records in the summer window – with historic deals being done for the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

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  What Van Dijk said in 'lazy' jibe at Man Utd legend Rooney

  Liverpool have been accused of lacking leadership on and off the field, with experienced skipper Van Dijk falling under the microscope. He has not taken kindly to seeing his contribution questioned by the likes of Rooney.

  Responding to accusations that he has not “really led” his team this season, Van Dijk said: “I didn't hear him [Rooney] last year. It doesn't hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things but I feel that comment is just I would say it's a bit of a lazy criticism.

  “It's easy to blame the other players but he knows we do it together, trying to help each and every one of us to try to get out of this. Last year when things go well you don't hear that at all. It is what it is. [Pundits] have to do that job. He has an opinion and we have to deal with it. There's no hard feelings. I don't take it personally.”

• Must do better: Rooney stands by comments on Van Dijk

  Rooney is not about to apologise for his comments or backtrack on them. Instead, the ex-England captain maintains that Van Dijk should be demanding more himself and those around him at Anfield.

  Speaking on , the five-time Premier League title winner said: “Virgil van Dijk’s similar to [Mohamed] Salah, you know, over the last five years he’s been one of, if not the best defender in the world, and last year it was hard to say anything bad because they were that good, and he was that good.

  “I’m sure he’ll come out and tell you, he probably hasn’t been at his best this season, if he’s honest with himself. And as captain, your job as captain if things aren’t going right, is to speak to your team-mates, call meetings with your team-mates, and that’s really what I was saying. You know, as a captain, as a leader, I’m sure he will have been doing that.

  “I've got full respect for Virgil. I think he's a fantastic player. My job now as a pundit is to give my opinions on what I feel. I'm sure if you ask him or Arne Slot, he probably hasn't been as good as he has been over the last few years. That was my comment which I stick by.”

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  Liverpool fixtures: Real Madrid & Man City next up

  Van Dijk helped Liverpool return to winning ways in their latest outing, with a welcome 2-0 victory being enjoyed when playing host to Aston Villa. That contest saw the Reds pick up their first clean sheet since September 14.

  Slot’s side will be back in European action on Tuesday when taking in a glamour Champions League clash with Real Madrid, with the next international break set to be reached after a trip to old adversaries Manchester City on Sunday.