León confirmed Ignacio Ambriz as their new head coach after Eduardo Berizzo resigned Saturday morning in the wake of a 2-0 loss to Juárez. The Mexican manager begins his second spell with La Fiera, the club he guided to the Guardianes 2020 title. León, who are led by Colombian star James Rodriguez, are winless in four and sit 11th in the Apertura 2025 with 12 points.
Getty ImagesA familiar face returns
Ambriz returns to Liga MX after last managing Santos Laguna in the Apertura 2024, a campaign in which the Guerreros finished at the bottom of the standings with only 10 points. Despite having Rodriguez on their roster, Leon have scored just 10 goals and conceded 18.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportPrevious success with Leon
This marks a homecoming for Ambriz, who guided León to the 2020 Guardianes title during his first tenure between 2018 and 2021. Over three seasons with the Esmeraldas, he recorded 61 wins, 23 draws and 29 losses in 113 matches, with his teams scoring 204 goals while conceding 136.
Ambriz’s second debut on the León sideline is set for Saturday, Oct. 4, when La Fiera will host league leaders Toluca on Matchday 12 of the Apertura 2025.
Getty Images SportFighting for Play-In qualification
After 11 rounds of the current tournament, León occupy 11th place in the table with 12 points, the product of three wins, three draws and five defeats.
The coaching change came swiftly after Berizzo’s departure, as the club immediately began searching for a replacement before settling on Ambriz. The Mexican coach now has less than a week to prepare his team for the crucial home clash against the high-flying Diablos Rojos.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportJames on his way out?
Rodríguez’s contract with León expires this December, and so far, there are no signs that the Mexican club plans to offer the Colombian a renewal.
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.
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
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.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFP
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.
Crystal Palace have now made an approach to sign an “incredible” defender, who is being targeted as a replacement for Marc Guehi.
Palace working on replacement for Eze and Guehi
It has been a difficult summer for Palace on the transfer front, with talisman Eberechi Eze leaving to join Arsenal, but it appears as though they have already secured a replacement, with Fabrizio Romano dropping some exciting news on Tuesday evening.
That said, Palace may still have some work to do before the deadline, given that Marc Guehi’s future remains up in the air, with the captain still expected to join Liverpool, although Manchester City were also recently named as potential suitors.
There has been talk about Man City’s Manuel Akanji heading to Selhurst Park, but the Eagles have also now made an approach for more of a left-field target.
That is according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), which states Crystal Palace have made an approach to sign Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly, who is being targeted as a replacement for Guehi.
He's like Eze & Wharton: Big-money star keen on moving to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace could seal a sensational late move by signing this £42m star.
ByKelan Sarson Aug 25, 2025
Oliver Glasner’s side have lodged an enquiry over Kelly, alongside Premier League rivals Sunderland, and there is a feeling that a deal could be possible, with the Italian club currently working on a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Beraldo as a replacement.
Having failed to adapt to life in Italy since making a £20m move from Newcastle United, the 26-year-old could well be on the move this summer, considering Beraldo joining Juventus is deemed ‘very possible’.
"Incredible" Kelly needs to leave Juventus this summer
It would be fair to say the Bristol-born defender failed to adapt to life in Italy last season, making just 12 Serie A appearances throughout the campaign, but he has proven himself in the Premier League in the past.
Indeed, the former AFC Bournemouth man was particularly impressive during his time with the Cherries, with ex-Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil once praising him for a solid display in a 1-0 win against Liverpool.
Newcastle United'sLloydKellybefore the match
O’Neil said: “I thought Lloyd was incredible. I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury. Didn’t have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world.
“I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender.”
If Kelly is to fulfill that potential, however, he needs to receive consistent game time, so a move to Palace could suit all parties, although the Juventus defender clearly isn’t currently on Guehi’s level, given that he is yet to be capped by England.
Os planos do meio-campista Kayque mudaram. O meio-campista viajou para a Bélgica, onde assinaria contrato com o RWD Molenbeek. Porém, exames realizados no clube de propriedade de John Textor detectaram que o jovem tem uma lesão no menisco do joelho e fizeram com que ele retornasse ao Botafogo. A informação do “GE”.
No Alvinegro, o jogador de 23 anos e vai realizar o tratamento. A expectativa é de que ele faça tratamento e, posteriormente, viaje para a Europa em setembro, a tempo de ser inscrito no clube belga.
O meio-campista teria sofrido a lesão no primeiro treino no novo clube. Avaliado pelo departamento médico do Botafogo, o tratamento prevê uma artroscopia para correção. A expectativa é de que ele retorne em um mês.
Assim que estiver recuperado, Kayque fará as malas rumo à Bélgica, onde assinará contrato para atuar no futebol europeu. A janela de transferências da Bélgica fecha no dia 6 de setembro. No último dia 12, o jogador completou 23 anos e lamentou o momento vivido em um story nas redes sociais.
O objetivo do empréstimo é dar mais tempo de jogo e valorizar o meio-campista, atrás de uma série de jogadores no setor de meio-campo no Botafogo.
Leeds United have always been known for having some exciting attacking stars on their books, especially when they were Premier League regulars, way before Daniel Farke was handed the reins.
Indeed, the likes of Tony Yeboah, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Mark Viduka have all called Elland Road home previously in the attacking areas, with the final esteemed name listed going on to bag a hefty 72 strikes for the Whites when Champions League football was amazingly on the menu.
Even in modern times, club legends have been born, with Marcelo Bielsa’s distinctive brand of high-octane football, as seen in his time at Leeds, making it easy for entertaining forward players to express themselves fully.
Raphinha, in particular, would go on to be a revered hero under the enigmatic South American, with the Brazilian attacker then solidifying himself as one of the world’s best at Barcelona, after first showing off his obvious class in West Yorkshire.
Raphinha's unbelievable spell at Leeds
Leeds really did hit the jackpot when buying Raphinha for just £17m back in 2020.
From the get-go, it was clear that the Whites had struck gold, with Bielsa even going as far as to state that the skilful 28-year-old can “unbalance” teams all by himself with his quick-thinking down the flanks, on top of his ability to put away chances for fun confidently.
A sublime 15 goal contributions would come his way during this debut season on English shores, before turning on the style even more when his team were up against it during his swansong campaign, as relegation looked a very plausible reality.
Without Raphinha’s 11 strikes during the 2021/22 campaign, slipping back down to the Championship might well have been Leeds’ grim outcome. It’s no coincidence that, after the now £77m-rated attacker left, the Whites would immediately succumb to that unfortunate demise the following season.
Raphinha was even hailed as “the best player I’ve ever played with” by another ex-Leeds hero in Crysencio Summerville, with Farke desperate for another Raphinha-style figure in his camp now to wake up his goal-shy troops.
The promotion-winning German did once actually possess a similarly electric talent to Raphinha, who could be lauded as the most impactful attacker on Leeds’ books since the stylish number ten graced the Elland Road turf.
Possessing the tricky playmaker right now definitely would have eased the pain of Facundo Buonanotte not signing, that’s for sure.
How Georginio Rutter compares to Buonanotte
Farke and Co. were crying out for more attacking signings as deadline day grew closer and closer, with the new Chelsea loanee very much on their radar at the final hour.
Unfortunately, the standout Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder would choose Stamford Bridge over Elland Road at the last minute, leaving Leeds with a lack of exciting additions late into the hectic window.
While it’s clear that the promising 20-year-old would have boosted Leeds up top in the short-term, with nine goals and four assists next to his name in Premier League action, it’s even clearer that the Whites sold a far brighter talent in Georginio Rutter to Buonanotte’s parent club just last year, even if the pair are deemed to be statistically similar, according to FBref.
After all, despite only lining up for 41 clashes for the Seagulls to date in the Premier League, the hard-to-contain Frenchman is already up to ten goal contributions for the South Coast outfit in the tough division, having previously been branded an “entertainer” by analyst Ben Mattinson for his consistent, easy-on-the-eye approach at Elland Road.
Rutter’s Leeds record
Stat
Rutter
Games played
66
Goals scored
8
Assists
18
Big chances created
23
Stats by Sofascore
He further blows his Argentine counterpart out of the water when looking at his unbelievable Leeds numbers, with a ridiculous 23 big chances created from his 66 matches in West Yorkshire. In contrast, the 20-year-old Blues loanee would only muster up seven big chances being created last season in league action for Leicester City.
Rutter did have the advantage of largely playing in the Championship for Leeds to bump up his numbers, but based on his eight goals and five assists for Brighton already, he would have gone on to be a success for Farke’s men in the Premier League.
Regardless of what league he predominantly found himself in, his fantastic ability to entertain and enthral certainly puts him on the same pedestal as Raphinha before him.
It’s just a shame that Rutter couldn’t write his name into Leeds folklore as a dazzling performer who helped Leeds stay put in the Premier League – like the Brazilian – with the Frenchman no doubt filling the Buonanotte-shaped void well if he were still under the German’s wing today.
Leeds brewing biggest homegrown talent since Gray in "exciting" 18-year-old
Leeds could look to bring their next Archie Gray into the first team this season
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”.
Florian Wirtz – Career Stats by Season
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
24/25
45
16
15
23/24
49
18
20
22/23
25
4
8
21/22
31
10
14
20/21
38
8
8
19/20
9
1
0
Data via Transfermarkt
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.
Crystal Palace'sMarcGuehilooks dejected.
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.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts.
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
RCB, meanwhile, are looking to beat MI at the Wankhede for the first time since 2015
S Sudarshanan06-Apr-20250:56
Can Bumrah get MI’s season back on track?
Big picture – Bumrah available, Rohit set to returnOne of the running jokes of the IPL over its 18 seasons is that Mumbai Indians have needed the month of May to truly kick into gear. With the tournament usually starting in April in the early years, MI would typically lose a few games before getting back to winning ways in May. While the timelines may have shifted over the years, MI have continued to start slowly, and that’s been the case in IPL 2025 too. With three defeats in four outings so far, they are getting close to danger territory. Teams typically need at least 16 points from their 14 league games to be in contention for the playoffs, and time may be running out for the five-time champions.One bit of news will brighten the mood around the MI camp significantly, though. Jasprit Bumrah is available for selection. If any one player can transform a team’s fortunes all by himself, it’s Bumrah.Related
Bumrah available for selection for Mumbai Indians against RCB
What he can’t do, however, is fix MI’s batting issues. In three of their four matches, their opening partnership has not lasted beyond the second over. Rohit Sharma’s run of lean scores aside, MI have yet to settle on a batting order. Naman Dhir, one of their bright spots from last season and for whom they used the right-to-match card at the auction, batted at No. 7 in two games before scoring a 24-ball 46 at No. 3 in their last outing against Lucknow Super Giants. With Rohit set to return after missing that game with a knee injury, Will Jacks could move back to one-drop, which would push Dhir further down.While Suryakumar Yadav’s form has been a consolation for MI, Tilak Varma has looked scratchy enough to get retired out, and Hardik Pandya hasn’t been setting the death overs on fire. And there are questions over MI’s firepower – or lack thereof – lower down the order. On the eve of their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, head coach Mahela Jayawardene didn’t sound too worried. “I want to be more flexible with the batting order given where we are and the talent and skill we have,” he said in Mumbai on Sunday. “As long as we have productivity from those guys in different positions, it will give us advantage going forward.”MI’s opponents on Monday, RCB, are one of the form teams so far this season. They are coming off a loss to Gujarat Titans at home but have won both their away games. That run has included a win at Chepauk for the first time since 2008. RCB have beaten MI only three times at the Wankhede, and haven’t done so even once since 2015. With a unit in strong early-season form, with four of their batters having already scored half-centuries, this could be their best chance of ending that run.0:26
Jayawardene provides an update on Bumrah and Rohit’s availability
Form guideMumbai Indians LWL (Last three matches, most recent first) Royal Challengers Bengaluru LWWNew loyaltiesTim David, Romario Shepherd and Nuwan Thushara, all of whom were at MI last season, are with RCB this time. Will Jacks and Reece Topley, meanwhile, were with the RCB squad in 2024, but have now moved to MI.Team news and likely XIIMumbai IndiansBumrah and Rohit – who had a near-30-minute batting stint at the nets on Sunday – are set to return, with Ashwani Kumar and Raj Bawa – who did not bat or bowl against LSG – likely to make way.Likely XII (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Vignesh Puthur.Royal Challengers BengaluruVirat Kohli was not at training on match eve. RCB are expected to go in unchanged, the only point of contention being whether they need an extra spinner. If they decide to pick one, they could bring in either Suyash Sharma or Swapnil Singh in place of Rasikh Salam.Likely XII (probable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Tim David, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Rasikh Salam/Suyash Sharma.The big questionNaman Dhir scored an impressive 24-ball 46 after being promoted to No. 3 against LSG. With Rohit Sharma set to return, though, Will Jacks could move back to No. 3 and push Dhir down the order. Is that the way MI should go?In the spotlight: Tilak Varma and Tim DavidTilak Varma has made a sedate start to IPL 2025. After a breakthrough international season that featured two T20I centuries for India, he has struggled for fluency in the IPL. He began the season with a 36-ball 39 against Gujarat Titans, and scored 25 off 23 against LSG before being retired out as MI’s required rate spiralled out of control. Tilak returns to the Wankhede now, but it hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for him in T20s: he has a highest score of 38 in 15 innings here, and his strike rate of 124.07 is his lowest at any ground where he has batted at least five times.Among the away players who could feel at home in Mumbai on Monday is Tim David, who made his name as a lower-order hitter for MI from 2022 to 2024. Since 2022, only Dinesh Karthik (208.33) and Suryakumar (197.09) have better IPL strike rates than David (188.95) at the Wankhede (minimum five innings). “Coming back to play in Mumbai, it’s a wonderful place to play at the Wankhede,” David said ahead of the game against MI. “[I] love batting here. It’s a nice place to have as your home ground. It’s not my home ground anymore. Hopefully I get a chance to do some damage out there in the middle tomorrow night.”2:00
Bishop: Hazlewood has an important role to play
Pitch and conditionsThe weather in Mumbai has been hot with high humidity levels. The temperature is expected to hover around the early 30s on Monday evening. Despite the ground’s relatively small dimensions, there have only been four 200-plus IPL totals at the Wankhede since 2024, two of them coming in the same game. Teams batting first have won four of the last eight matches here, but captains have preferred to chase, with the threat of dew in mind. The team winning the toss has bowled first in every IPL match here since 2024.Stats and trivia Rohit Sharma has been dismissed 21 times inside the powerplay in 33 IPL innings since the start of 2023. He averages 24.95 in this phase in this time – only Wriddhiman Saha (20.85) has done worse among the 11 batters who have batted at least 25 times in the first six overs. Since the start of 2023, no one has scored more runs in IPL chases than Suryakumar Yadav (809). Among batters with at least 10 innings in chases, only Nicholas Pooran and Abhishek Sharma have better strike rates than Suryakumar (184.28). Tim David (31) has hit the most sixes in the death overs (17th to 20th) in the last three seasons of the IPL, ahead of MS Dhoni (27) and Rinku Singh (26). Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs one wicket to become the third-highest wicket-taker in the IPL. He is currently on par with R Ashwin and Dwayne Bravo on 183 wickets, behind Piyush Chawla (192) and Yuzvendra Chahal (206).Quotes”The modern day [cricket] is so tactical. We keep changing line-ups to match up certain bowling line-ups. I don’t see how different [retiring a batter out] is. As a batsman, I have had times when you struggle to get through. [Tilak] batted well for us in the three games, built partnerships and got us to situations we need to. I still value that. He was trying and wasn’t able to get going, so I felt it was my decision to throw someone else to get those two hits.” “Rajat is aggressive and he backs himself to play his role. I watch these guys bat during the game and I love watching them bat. He’s very calm as a captain. He seems well-planned with his decisions and he’s building on from a great environment in this team, so it’s great fun to be a part of.”
Thomas Tuchel has told English players they can’t expect special treatment and must earn the right to play for Premier League clubs. The number of homegrown players has dipped alarmingly in recent years, but the Three Lions boss believes domestic clubs aren’t to blame as players must fight harder to earn a place in their team.
Steady decline of English players
The percentage of starters eligible for England this season has dropped to a record low of 23.2 per cent, which contrasts sharply with previous seasons under former boss Gareth Southgate, when it ranged from 30 per cent to 33 per cent. Before Southgate took the Three Lions hot seat the percentage of eligible players was above 38 per cent and when the Premier League first began in 1993 the number was a whopping 71 per cent.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWho’s to blame for decline of homegrown talent?
But boss Tuchel says that English players are not being overlooked, it is the clubs who are making the tough decisions: "It is competition. It is high level sport. The players have to fight their way to compete in the League. It is what it is. We have enough players to compete at a high level and they compete in the toughest League and they have to fight their way." And when asked if he's disappointed to see so few England players when he heads out on the road to watch matches, Tuchel added: "Yes, sometimes that happens. It is not frustrating. Of course I would love to see more English players. The more the better. But I come from club football and I know that no-one is holding anyone back. If anyone deserves to play, they will play so they have to fight for their place and I think they will. Quality will always find a way."
Wembley woe despite easy win
England secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. The win was another strong performance under Tuchel, who’s been building momentum towards the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions took control of the match early, with goals coming quickly in the first half from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and a stunner from Bukayo Saka. Despite the convincing win, Tuchel caused controversy by criticising the atmosphere generated by the home crowd at Wembley, stating that he could primarily hear the travelling Welsh supporters.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWhat next for overlooked stars?
The build-up to England’s clash with Wales was dominated by key absences to the Three Lions squad. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Adam Wharton were all notable absentees. But Tuchel says there is plenty of time for them to return to the fold. Tuchel said: "The door is always open for anyone to jump in. Let's play a second game and then we decide. The nomination comes and then there is always an open door for top quality, top character. We are in October now so we go step-by-step. We can just acknowledge he (Morgan Rogers) did amazing, the team did amazing and he buys into that. He is a humble player. He is a physical player. And he is a very talented player, of course. And in a good way. We need more than just 11 at the moment."
And when asked if the team he selected to face Wales could play England’s opener at next summer World Cup, Tuchel said: "I am sorry but I don't follow that mindset. I am a football coach to coach the team that I nominate. And that is where my focus is. Let's cross the river when we are at the river. It does not help anyone if we think in bubbles about what can happen and about what cannot happen. We had the last one and a half days to influence the team and I am happy they responded in this way. I am a happy coach tonight. And on Saturday we keep on going."
England are next in action on Tuesday as the Three Lions face Latvia away from home. They will return to action in November, when they face Serbia at Wembley and Albania in Tirana.
Mohamed Salah has started the 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a goal and an assist across three fixtures. The Egyptian King has played a starring role in Liverpool’s perfect start to their title defence, claiming nine points from nine.
Jurgen Klopp’s illustrious tenure ended with a Carabao Cup title and restored qualification to the Champions League, but for a superstar like Salah, it was another year without one of the game’s biggest prizes.
He made a promise, and he kept that promise. Salah scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists for Liverpool across all competitions last season, a paragon of perfection in Arne Slot’s team, breaking the record for goal involvements in a 38-match Premier League season.
Alan Shearer
441
260
Harry Kane
320
213
Wayne Rooney
491
208
Mohamed Salah
304
187
Andy Cole
414
187
Salah is not just a Liverpool legend, but one of the greatest forwards to have ever plied their craft within the English game. However, all good things must come to an end, and Salah turned 33 in June.
The £400k-per-week forward is contracted to Anfield until the end of the 2026/27 season, but whether he can maintain his jaw-dropping output remains to be seen.
However, FSG will rest easy with the knowledge that they have redefined Liverpool’s frontline this summer and eased their veteran hero’s burden.
On transfer deadline day, Liverpool signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee. Isak is one of the best strikers in the world, and he joins Hugo Ekitike in having made the move to Merseyside this summer.
While sporting director Richard Hughes made the call to sell Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, who played crucial roles in winning the league last term, the recent months of spending suggest Liverpool have gone from strength to strength, and that’s without even talking about Florian Wirtz, who is anticipated to grow into one of the best players in the world under Slot’s wing.
Salah has so much robust quality to work with this season, but the fact remains that Hughes and co will need to start considering the future on Liverpool’s attacking right flank.
Liverpool's top target to replace Salah
It’s not going to come as a surprise that Liverpool have already started planning for the future. Such is FSG’s way. There is a reason Liverpool’s model is so envied: years of painstaking progress and thriftiness culminating in the summer window we have just witnessed.
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot
And while the new contract awarded to Salah in April was provided with the belief that he would continue to play a focal role at Liverpool this season and next, it’s likely that his output will begin to dwindle as he reaches the autumn of his Premier League career.
And with that in mind, it might be worth heeding rumours that Liverpool have registered their interest in Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise nice and early.
According to Liverpool correspondent Lewis Steele, Olise has been earmarked by the Reds’ hierarchy as they compile a succession plan, with the France international believed to be right at the top of the shortlist.
Olise only joined Bayern from Crystal Palace for a £47.5m fee one year ago, but he has carried his immense form from London over to the Bundesliga.
Now considered by those at Bayern to have a value closer to £100m, Liverpool would have to break the bank once again to seal this marquee signing, but then they have shown a newfound willingness to make such a payment of late.
What Olise would bring to Liverpool
Olise scored 20 goals and set up 23 further strikes for Bayern Munich last season, instrumental in reclaiming the Bundesliga title from Bayer Leverkusen. His 43 goal involvements were far ahead of Isak’s own return of 33 goals and assists.
This term, the 23-year-old has so far scored four goals from as many matches for Die Roten.
Having previously turned the English scene over with Crystal Palace, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail him as “one of the Premier League’s best players”, Olise has proven himself across various plains and would surely prove a stunning Salah heir.
Looking at how Olise compares to Salah over the past 12 months, the Les Bleus star’s advantage in terms of physicality and underlying athleticism is underscored through the metrics.
This is only natural, of course, for Salah is getting on and has tweaked his game to retain his first-class output.
Goals scored
0.53
0.65
Assists
0.45
0.43
Shots taken
3.54
3.08
Shot-creating actions
6.31
4.11
Touches (att pen)
6.18
8.91
Progressive passes
7.37
3.87
Progressive carries
4.67
4.00
Successful take-ons
2.67
1.33
Ball recoveries
4.20
2.84
Tackles + interceptions
1.64
0.73
But Liverpool could go up a gear with Olise in the mix, more dynamic and electric up top. Of course, having signed Isak, this should be the case already, but Bayern’s new hero could prove a different demon.
His ridiculous success as an Eagle suggests that he could potentially even outperform Isak in Liverpool’s first team, shining like Salah as a winger whose skill stretches beyond simply world-class.
A few years back, pundit Micah Richards predicted that Olise is “going to be a superstar”, and it’s fair to say that he was on the money with that one.
Olise’s sheer range from his right-winged berth suggests he could add a new kind of quality to Liverpool’s frontline, providing a balanced output that would be reminiscent of Salah in his prime while adding so much to the build-up and fluency of Slot’s outfit as a whole.
Isak scored 27 goals for Newcastle last season, and there can be no doubt that Liverpool have signed one of the most formidable number nines out there.
However, Olise simply has so many instruments from which to work on opponents that he might just turn out to be the cream of the crop in Liverpool’s extraordinary frontline.
Bellingham repeat: Real Madrid eyeing move to sign Liverpool's top target
The Spanish giants could deal the Reds another blow…
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.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkereacts
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.
Ipswich Town'sKalvinPhillipslooks dejected after the match
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.
Phillips (Premier League)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
12
19
Starts
3
14
Goals
0
0
Assists
0
0
Duel success rate
48%
43%
Error led to shot or goal
1
2
Penalties committed
1
0
Red cards
1
1
Stats via Sofascore
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.
24/25 League
Struijk per 90
Rank vs CBs
Shot-creating actions
1.34
Top 16%
Passes attempted
85.57
Top 1%
Pass accuracy
90.1%
Top 4%
Progressive passes
6.15
Top 1%
Progressive carries
1.18
Top 8%
Passes into the final third
6.92
Top 1%
Stats via FBref
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.