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Unsurprisingly, given their immense success, Chelsea have been blessed with some utterly sensational players over the last two decades.

The likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba all cemented themselves as club and Premier League legends in the 2000s and early 2010s.

Then, after them, came another crop of world-class title-winners, with perhaps two of the most entertaining being Cesc Fàbregas and Eden Hazard.

Both players were absolute magicians with a football, and so fans should be excited about reports linking Chelsea to someone who has shades of both in his game.

Chelsea target international with shades of Cesc & Hazard

It’s been a brilliant summer for Chelsea so far this year, as on top of their successes on the pitch, the Blues have been efficient and intelligent with their transfers off of it.

Transfer Focus

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

BlueCo have sold incredibly well so far, and brought in players who should be able to make a real difference for Enzo Maresca this season, like Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato.

However, with the window still open for another two weeks, the West Londoners appear intent on making at least one more addition to the team and are targeting a player who reminds us a little of Fabregas and Hazard.

At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has confirmed that Chelsea are still incredibly keen on Xavi Simons.

The Italian journalist has revealed that the Blues are still in talks and “working on the deal with Leipzig,” but have yet to reach an agreement with the German outfit.

Romano doesn’t mention how much the Dutchman is likely to cost the West Londoners, but stories from earlier this summer claim that the Bundesliga side want around £61m for him.

So, while it could still be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, Simons has proven he’d be worth the effort for Chelsea, especially as there are shades of Fabregas and Hazard in his game.

How Simons compares to Fabregas and Hazard

At their peak, both Fabregas and Hazard were near enough unplayable at times for Chelsea, and so even though fans should not expect Simons to be at that level from the word go, we don’t see a reason why he couldn’t get there, especially as there are some evident similarities between his game and theirs.

Starting with the Spaniard, the most apparent element of his game that we see in the Dutchman is his vision.

At times, the former Arsenal star was a conductor from the middle of the park, seeing passes before anyone else and playing balls in behind that opposition defences could do little about other than watch on.

This is something the former PSV Eindhoven gem can do as well, as, according to FBref, he sat in the top 1% of midfielders in the Bundesliga last season for through balls, the top 2% for passes into the penalty area and the top 5% for shot-creating actions stemming from live passes, all per 90.

In other words, the 22-year-old magician was incredible at passing the ball into dangerous areas for his teammates to exploit, which helps to support one analyst’s bold claim that he’s “one of the best 10s in the world.”

However, the Amsterdam-born dynamo is not just a creator, as he’s just as much of a goal threat, which is one of the traits he shares with Hazard, who left the Blues with a strong record of 110 goals in 352 games.

For example, despite playing just 33 games for Leipzig last season, Simons managed to score 11 goals to go along with his eight assists, which works out to a goal every three games – not a million miles off the Belgian’s rate of return for the Pensioners.

Moreover, while the La Masia graduate can play in the middle of the park, he’s also more than comfortable playing out on the left, where he can really demonstrate another trait he shares with the former Real Madrid ace: his close control.

We can see this by once again looking at FBref, as they ranked him in the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga last season for carries into the final third and the top 8% for fouls drawn, both per 90.

These numbers help to show that he’s not only elite at dragging the ball up the pitch and into dangerous areas, but that opposition defenders struggle to get it off him without committing a foul.

Ultimately, while it might take him some time to reach the levels of Fabregas or Hazard, Simons looks to be on his way, and therefore, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign him as soon as possible.

26-year-old star holds talks to join Chelsea alongside Simons and Garnacho

He’s set to leave his club.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 13, 2025

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney admits he would be "dead" without the love and support of wife Coleen. The ex-England international made the candid admission while talking to former team-mate Rio Ferdinand as he lifted the lid on some dark moments in his life. Although the 39-year-old has allegedly cheated on his spouse in the past, he recognises how vital she has been for him.

• The ups and downs of Rooney's marriage

  The childhood sweethearts have been married since 2008 but they have endured some bumpy times since then. But the former Everton forward is under no illusions about how important the 39-year-old is to him and their family. 

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  Rooney sings praises of wife Coleen

  He said on Rio Ferdinand Presents: "Coleen is massive. It's bad because we're two kids from Croxteth. We grew up together, obviously we started dating and got married, had kids. From when I was 17, she knew I was a bit out there. Loved my football, was obsessed with football but also loved a night out. She'd seen it very early on, and she controlled that, helped me control that massively. At times, she'd say, 'What are you doing?' How she's managed me, it was like I needed a manager. I honestly believe if she weren't there, I'd be dead. I believe that. What she's done… it's annoying at times. I'm like, 'What are you doing?' But everything she's doing is to keep me on this world and the best person. I've made mistakes in the past, which are well documented. I'm a little bit different at times, and she keeps me on that path. She's done that for 20-odd years."

• Rooney admits to alcohol problems

  Although Rooney had a tremendous career for both club and country, he believes that his fondness for liquor held him back a bit.

  He added: "I wanted to live my life as well. I wanted to go out and enjoy my time with my friends. It got to a point where I went too far. That was a moment in my life where I was struggling (with alcohol), massively. I didn't think I could turn to anyone. I didn't really want to because I didn't want to put that burden on anyone. I remember going into training and putting eye drops in, chewing gum. I just drank for two days straight, then came to training. On the weekend, I'd score a few goals, then I'd go back and drink for two days straight again."

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  Rooney steps back from management

  After being sacked by Plymouth Argyle late last year, Rooney has started his own podcast and has fully immersed himself in punditry duties. But the ex-Derby County boss has not ruled out returning to management one day.

Newcastle United have had a helter-skelter of a summer transfer window, and Eddie Howe’s side haven’t reached the end of the tunnel just yet.

Of course, the frenetic nature of this window doesn’t necessarily mean it’s been a poor one for the Magpies, even though a slew of transfer targets have slipped through Toon fingers, namely at centre-forward.

And so we have the Alexander Isak conundrum. Will the Sweden striker play in black and white two weeks from now?

If Newcastle stick to their guns and resist the player and Liverpool’s attempts, his threats of maintaining his self-ostracisation might seem somewhat shallow, for the 25-year-old would surely not jeopardise his career in such a manner, with Champions League football looming and a World Cup campaign looming on the horizon across the pond.

However, keeping Isak at St. James’ Park comes with the huge caveat that there is no telling what version – if any – will front Howe’s ship over the coming year.

That’s why sealing a move for Yoane Wissa is so important.

The latest on Yoane Wissa to Newcastle

Wissa was one of the most prolific forwards in the Premier League last season, scoring 19 goals across the term. Bryan Mbeumo often took the plaudits under Thomas Frank’s wing, but the DR Congo striker was every bit as effective.

Frank, now manager at Tottenham Hotspur, wants to sign Wissa before the closure of the transfer window, thus putting another spanner in the works for Howe.

Luckily, the 28-year-old is determined to sign for Newcastle this summer, having removed all Brentford affiliation from his social media footprint as he looks to seal his move to England’s North East.

A deal for Wissa has always been a separate entity when considering the fight to keep Isak on Tyneside.

That’s why – while Newcastle are prepared to keep their star striker at the club – plans are still being explored for a potential successor.

Newcastle consider rejoining transfer battle

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are willing to forgo their interest in Nicolas Jackson if it means Aston Villa secure the Senegalese’s services, because then they could re-enter the race for Ollie Watkins.

Villa have been hindered by the trammels of PSR this summer, but the public stance at Villa Park is that their 29-year-old talisman is going nowhere, even if they land Jackson from Chelsea.

However, this hasn’t stopped Newcastle from preparing to register their interest once again, though it would seem that Aston Villa are sticking to their £50m valuation.

Why Newcastle should sign Ollie Watkins

Despite the late advance of Tottenham, Wissa continues to keep his sights on Newcastle’s first team, and at some stage, Brentford are sure to ease their resistance.

Whatever happens, Newcastle must also put their focus into signing Watkins, for he would do a half-decent job at stepping in for Isak.

Described as “one of the best 9s in the world” by Statman Dave, Watkins has proven time and time again his expertise as a Premier League frontman, and that could remain so with a one-way trip to Tyneside at this later stage of his career, leading the line as Isak’s replacement, should that come to pass.

He has a good record against Newcastle: five goals and three assists across ten matches. Watkins blanked, however, last weekend.

Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to take from the Premier League a striker rich in potency when pitted against United, and fronting their team with him.

Last season, Watkins wasn’t at his best, but he still managed to finish the league campaign with a return of 16 goals and eight assists.

A willing runner behind defences and a combative forward with a wide breadth of ways to hurt opponents, Watkins would be the cream of a new crop of attacking talent at Newcastle, for sure.

While Wissa and Watkins could cohabit within Howe’s Newcastle frontline, it’s hardly controversial to suggest that the former might outrank the other. The Villan star has proven himself and then some in the world’s toughest league, and he’s also got more variation to his attacking game than the Brentford sharpshooter.

Indeed, as per FBref’s data, Watkins ranks among the top 3% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 19% for progressive carries per 90.

Quite the player. And he’s something of a star on the big stage too, boasting some pretty impressive individual records against the English top flight’s legacy ‘big six’.

As Howe looks to mastermind the latest success in his growing list of triumphs as Newcastle manager, there’s every chance that Watkins at the spearhead would allow Newcastle to reprise their place in the Champions League at the end of the season while competing for further slices of silverware, having gotten a taste for the big prizes during last season’s Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool.

Would Watkins definitively prove to be an upgrade on Wissa? It would appear so. He’s got more about him, and even after a ‘poor’ campaign in the Premier League last year, the Three Lions star still managed to trail Wissa in his pomp by just three goals.

Newcastle have a problem in Alexander Isak. He has divorced himself from the Newcastle squad and appears willing to stay in isolation.

But with Watkins added to the fold, United would have what they need to attack the season. He’d certainly be an upgrade on Wissa, but given the two forwards would be competing alongside each other, that doesn’t really matter, does it?

Superior to Wissa & Watkins: The "next Gyokeres" is Newcastle's new target

Newcastle could sign the new Viktor Gyokeres before the deadline.

By
Matt Dawson

Aug 21, 2025

Real Madrid have made a perfect start under Xabi Alonso with six wins from six in La Liga. The Spanish manager is pleased with the progress but warned it is only the beginning and the team must keep improving if they want to stay at the top of the Spanish top-flight and in with a chance of competing in the Champions League.

• Real Madrid flying high under Xabi Alonso

  Madrid extended their perfect start in La Liga with a convincing 4-1 win over Levante. Vinicius Jr opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a brilliant strike and set up Franco Mastantuono for his first goal in a Madrid shirt just before half-time. Levante pulled one back early in the second half through a deflected header by Etta Eyong, but Kylian Mbappe sealed it with a penalty and a goal later to make it six straight wins in the Spanish top-flight.

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  Alonso reacts to perfect start

  Alonso reflected on the team’s performance, saying: "The path is good. Because of the results and the way we’re doing things. We’ve been here for 51 days and there’s still a long way to go. We're building a solid foundation to be competitive in the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey. Many feel connected and engaged, which is important, but there are still things to improve. There are things we can do better. The path is good in terms of results and the way we're doing things. This is just the beginning, and we want to continue competing well."

• Vinicius Jr. delivers statement performance amid speculation over future

  For the first time in 13 competitive matches under Alonso, Vinicius completed the full 90 minutes. This came amid reports of his frustration over limited starts, but he responded in style with a goal and an assist against Levante. Alonso also showered high praise on the winger after the game, saying he was "decisive and important". When asked whether the Brazilian will start in the derby, Alonso added: "We're thinking about today, and starting tomorrow, we'll think about the derby."

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• Real Madrid boss continues to shuffle his squad

  When asked about the constant lineup changes and how players are adapting to it, the former Bayern Leverkusen manager said the quality and versatility of his players make rotation much easier. 

  “Having quality players makes things much easier, and players who understand the idea with little training," he added. "We have 'flexible' players who can play in different ways and in different positions. Today we thought it was appropriate because some had to rest, especially [Eder] Militao and [Dani] Carvajal, and that was good, and those who came on did very well. We shouldn't gloat too much; now we're thinking about the derby."

Newcastle United lost to Liverpool at St. James’ Park 3-2, but if ever there was a match which typified the spirit, togetherness and talent of Eddie Howe’s side, this was it.

With Alexander Isak still on strike, looking to join Monday night’s opponents before the looming crescendo to the summer transfer window, Howe was forced to field Anthony Gordon as a makeshift centre-forward once again.

However, in a moment of complete madness, the Three Lions star got himself sent off before half-time after a rash challenge on Virgil van Dijk, with the hosts 1-0 down in spite of a breathtaking and dominant display.

The Magpies rallied, restoring parity from two goals and a man down, but 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha struck an agonising blow at St. James’ Park at the eleventh hour.

But there was so much to like for the home side, and while Isak was absent (again), substitute William Osula proved he has a part to play at number nine this season. Could he be Newcastle’s next Isak? Time will tell.

William Osula shows his quality

In August 2024, Newcastle signed Osula from Sheffield United for a £15m fee. He has always been regarded as a top talent, but Howe and Co view the Frenchman as a work in progress.

Last year, the young attacker only featured 14 times in the Premier League, having not been handed a single start, scoring only once off the bench in a 3-0 win over Ipswich Town.

Had circumstances been different, it’s not unfair to suggest the 22-year-old Dane would have drifted through the clash against the Premier League champions as an unused substitute, but Isak wasn’t there, and Gordon was sent off in the first half, and so Howe threw him into the fray.

His influence was game-changing, scoring a vital second half equaliser.

Osula might come to replace or rival Isak in terms of positional value, but another talisman stepped up on Monday night.

Indeed, Bruno Guimaraes proved once again why he is Newcastle’s defining superstar.

Newcastle's next Isak-esque superstar

Guimaraes has now played 156 times for Newcastle, one of the first to christen this exciting new era and steadfast throughout, hailed by his teammate Dan Burn as being a truly “world-class” player.

His technical quality and iron-willed passion were on full show against Arne Slot’s side, and though it didn’t prove enough on the night, the goalscoring 27-year-old proved himself to be Newcastle’s true talisman as talk around Isak’s future drones on.

Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder remarked in his post-match comments that the Brazil international ‘played his heart out’ against the Reds, and awarded him an 8/10 rating for his tireless efforts.

Isak should take a leaf from his book. Guimaraes is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City have shown a vested interest this year, but the passion he exudes when performing in black and white is a thing to behold.

Praised by Arsenal-focused content creator Alex Moneypenny as being a “ridiculous footballer”, Guimaraes is bound to play a focal role in the year ahead.

His leadership and quality are sure to drive this football team on and toward greener pastures, building on last year’s trophy-winning campaign and ensuring that it proves a springboard for a sustained period of success.

Isak, who? The Brazilian is Howe’s true superstar.

Huge upgrade on Strand Larsen: Newcastle in talks to sign "special" £50m CF

Yoane Wissa isn’t the only forward Newcastle are trying to sign before the closure of the transfer market.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 25, 2025

Barcelona have been handed a major fitness boost as Fermin Lopez edges closer to a comeback. The 22-year-old midfielder, sidelined since late-September with a muscle injury, has resumed individual training on the pitch. His expected return after the international break against Girona will be a welcome lift for Hansi Flick, who has faced mounting injury concerns.

• Barcelona get timely lift with Lopez return in sight

  Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain was softened by encouraging scenes at Friday’s training session, with Lopez making strides in his recovery. The attacking midfielder, who has been out since suffering a muscle injury against Getafe on September 22, returned to individual on-pitch work, according to . Though ruled out of Sunday’s trip to Sevilla, he is on track to feature in the La Liga clash against Girona after the break.

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  Why Fermin Lopez matters for Flick’s plans

  Lopez had cemented himself in Flick’s system before injury, scoring twice in five appearances this season and excelling in the No.10 role. His absence has been felt in recent matches, with the coach missing his pressing, creativity, and knack for late runs into the box. Having rejected Chelsea’s advances in the summer, the La Masia graduate has become a central figure in Barcelona’s long-term project.

• Extra insight into Barcelona’s injury woes

  The Andalusian's return comes at a crucial time as the Catalan giants continue to deal with fitness concerns elsewhere in the squad. While Eric Garcia has shaken off a knock sustained midweek, Flick remains without key players as Raphinha, Joan Garcia and Gavi are all injured. With the squad stretched across La Liga and Europe, getting Lopez back could ease some of the burden heading into a packed schedule after the international break.

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  The road ahead for Lopez and the Catalan giants

  Fermin is not expected to be rushed back, with Barcelona aiming for his full return against Girona on October 18. A strong comeback could re-establish him as a regular starter, especially as Flick looks to rotate his midfield options. For now, the Catalan giants will have to make do without him when they face Sevilla this weekend.

Manchester United have often spent big over the last couple of years in an attempt to land the calibre of players needed to mount a Premier League title charge.

The hierarchy have splashed around £800m on new additions in the last three years alone, but the Red Devils only have an FA Cup triumph to show for their heavy spending.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck at Old Trafford, leading to £200m being spent throughout the summer window to try and correct the 15th-place finish achieved last campaign.

Any successful side in England’s top-flight need to balance the books and offload players to allow for heavy spending – not to mention avoiding any financial implications.

However, the hierarchy will be extremely lucky to get the money back they spent on Andre Onana, given his embarrassing stint at the club over the last few years.

Andre Onana’s decline at Manchester United

As part of United’s heavy spending in recent years, goalkeeper Onana moved to Old Trafford in a deal worth around £47.2m, including add-ons from Serie A side Inter Milan back in the summer of 2023.

Many supporters viewed the Cameroonian as the long-term solution to the situation between the sticks – coming in to replace David de Gea after the Spaniard was released after a decade at the club.

The last two years for the 29-year-old have been disastrous, subsequently registering nine errors leading to goals, resulting in the side dropping points in key moments, whether it be the Premier League or in European competition.

Last season alone, Onana notched six errors, including the Europa League final, where he failed to keep out Brennan Johnson’s effort – resulting in Tottenham Hotspur winning the final in Bilbao.

His only outing this campaign for Amorim’s side was the Carabao Cup clash against Grimsby Town, conceding twice and arguably being at fault for both of the hosts’ goals that night.

Altay Bayindir has since been the number one for the Red Devils, but that could be about to change given the summer arrival of Senne Lammens from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

Onana also looks set to leave Old Trafford in the coming days, after the club and player agreed a transfer to join Turkish side Trabzonspor on loan for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

Despite the English window being shut, another player should be pushed closer to the exit door, given his lack of impact at the club over the last couple of months.

The United player who should leave alongside Onana

Kobbie Mainoo is another player currently at United who has struggled for game time under Amorim – only starting the cup game against Grimsby, just like Onana.

The academy graduate was a player with huge potential during 2023/24, even scoring in the FA Cup final, but it’s safe to say his career has failed to take off since Amorim’s appointment.

He only started 50% of the league games last campaign, also yet to get off the mark in 2024/25, leading to the player himself requesting a move away from the club this summer.

However, he stayed put at his boyhood club beyond the end of the transfer window, but he will need to fight for his place if he is to become a regular starter once again.

He’s not alone in struggling to make an impact, with Dutch international Joshua Zirkzee also a player who’s failed to meet expectations since his own move to the Theatre of Dreams.

The 24-year-old joined the club from Bologna in a £36.5m transfer in the summer of 2023, but he’s only managed seven goals in his 51 appearances – just three of which have been in the Premier League.

Like Mainoo, he’s also yet to start in the league this campaign, with his only outing in England’s top-flight coming as a substitute in the 3-2 win over Burnley before the international.

His lack of action is no surprise to anyone, given his lack of form, coupled with the new additions in the attacking department, leading to one content creator claiming he looks like he’s now playing in “Sunday League.”

Zirkzee’s underlying stats highlight his lack of impact, only completing 72% of his passes and winning just 29% of the aerials he entered, subsequently unable to make much of a tangible impact – as seen by his lack of goals.

He also only completed 31% of his dribbles and lost possession 2.9 times per 90 – further showcasing his lack of positive impact when featuring for the Red Devils.

Given his lack of minutes, coupled with his poor displays, the club should be looking to move the former Bayern Munich star on over the next couple of months.

The arrivals of players such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have undoubtedly pushed the Dutchman further down the pecking order – with the hierarchy desperately needing to cut their losses.

Worth more than Baleba: Man Utd have struck gold on "generational" talent

Manchester United already have a big-money talent on their books despite missing out on Carlos Baleba.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 10, 2025

Accusations of Harry Kane stat-padding for England by filling his boots against lesser opposition have been rubbished by former Three Lions striker Chris Sutton. Bayern Munich frontman Kane, who continues to captain his country, has taken his historic tally of international goals to 74. He will be looking to join Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in an exclusive club by reaching 100.

• England GOAT: Appearance record in sight for Kane

  Few men have been able to pass that mark, with all-time greats Messi and Ronaldo achieving that feat with Argentina and Portugal respectively. When Kane made his England bow in 2015, nobody could have predicted what was to come. He now boasts entries in the history books with Tottenham and the Three Lions.

  Kane has taken in 109 appearances for England, meaning that he could easily chase down Peter Shilton’s historic cap haul of 125. If he were to top that chart, then it becomes easier to support his claims to being the greatest player that the Three Lions have ever called upon – rising above the likes of Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and David Beckham.

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  Kane record: Impossible to argue with strike rate

  The odd question has been asked of whether he should, at 32 years of age, still be leading the line for England on such a regular basis. It is, however, impossible to argue against his strike rate and there are few proven alternatives for the Three Lions to select. With that in mind, Kane can expect to fill the No.9 jersey for some time to come.

  That will allow him to move ever closer to becoming a centurion on the goal front, with Sutton telling of a remarkable record at the very highest level: "If Harry Kane announced his retirement from international football today, we would instantly view the England team and their chances at next year's World Cup in a completely different light.

  “Kane may not have too long left with England, but who is the replacement? Who is anywhere near his level? No-one. That tells you all you need to know. As an all-rounder and ruthless goalscorer, England haven't had many better.

  “People say about scoring goals in qualifiers but he's not the fixtures secretary, is he? He can't help who he plays against. He's a goalscoring machine and has been all his career. When you are talking about all-time great England strikers, he has to be in that conversation. Just look at his numbers.”

• Major tournament numbers: Kane deserves respect

  Kane has not only filled his boots in qualifiers, with 15 efforts recorded across 29 appearances at major tournaments. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose, Gerd Muller and Jurgen Klismann sit above him on the combined World Cup and European Championship goal chart.

  Sutton said of that contribution not receiving the recognition that it deserves: “Anybody who has played either with or against him, raves about him. If people do not give him the credit he deserves, it may be because he's been England's main man for so long. People are sometimes there to chop you down.

  “England players get judged on major tournaments and if they don't win it the criticism comes, with the high-profile captain usually first in that firing line. You can have rivalries, tribalism and social media, and there will be people who put the boot in, but you won't get anyone who has played the game to a reasonable level having any doubts about him. And I think most fair-minded supporters recognise what a player Harry Kane is.”

  Sutton added: “He has never been blessed with great pace but the way his brain works is fantastic. He's not just a phenomenal goalscorer. He has the ability to drop deep to influence games, showing wonderful awareness, weight of passing, vision.”

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  England fixtures: Next up for Kane & Three Lions

  Kane sat out England’s latest fixture, a 3-0 friendly victory over Wales, with a minor ankle injury. He will be hoping to figure in a World Cup qualifier against Latvia on Tuesday, with Thomas Tuchel guiding the Three Lions towards a global gathering that will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

One of the biggest stories of the summer was around Newcastle United’s striker situation, as it looked inevitable that their talisman, Alexander Isak, was going to complete a British transfer record move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

The deal’s biggest sticking point was finding a replacement for Isak, and Eddie Howe’s side eventually found two with Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa. Between them, it looked like they could make up Isak’s goals, but it hasn’t been the smoothest start to life in the North East for the new strikers.

Wissa picked up a knee injury during the international break and is yet to make his debut. The DR Congo player has been ruled out for at least Newcastle’s next matches, and his debut may come after the next international break.

When asked why Woltemade received less than 30 minutes of game time against Barcelona, Howe cited it as being the result of Wissa’s injury, alongside Anthony Gordon’s suspension from the Liverpool game. The lack of options has meant that Woltemade has been handled delicately to ensure they aren’t left without any attackers.

While the two new attackers had previously looked sufficient to replace Isak, the opening weeks of the season have demonstrated how quickly Newcastle could be left shorthanded. Due to this, the club are already looking ahead to January to deepen their attacking roster.

Newcastle's Endrick loan plan

Newcastle are looking at bringing in Brazilian striker Endrick on loan from Real Madrid as a solution to their attacking frailties. The 19-year-old is yet to play a minute of football this season under Xabi Alonso and Madrid, alongside Endrick’s party, are concerned that a lack of minutes may hamper his development.

Reports from Spain indicate that this could be the perfect match that provides all parties with what they need. Newcastle are reportedly looking for “a young, dynamic offensive reinforcement hungry for success”, and Endrick is looking to gain more experience and can do so against the notoriously strong defences of the Premier League. In fact, the Magpies are one of the ‘among the first to inquire about his availability’, making an approach to Madrid in the process.

Endrick cost Madrid around £41.4 million, but at this stage, there is no indication that anyone involved wants to make the move permanent, and it is just a good fit for the back half of the season.

From Madrid’s perspective, they can keep Endrick on their books and allow him to develop without taking minutes away from their other forwards like Kylian Mbappe.

Endrick plays like a young Wissa

While there is currently no reason to suspect that Wissa’s knee injury will keep him out longer than his current predicted return date at the end of October, there is always the chance of it re-occurring or taking time to get back to full fitness.

If this does happen, then in the loan signing of Endrick, they will receive a similar style striker. While the Brazilian is young and hasn’t had the opportunities to fully develop his game yet, he looks to be becoming a very similar profile striker to Wissa.

While Wissa is the more experienced and more prolific goalscorer, the pair share lots of similar stats in terms of passing and build-up play, registering similar amounts of passes and a similar success rate, as well as being close in terms of xA.

From Endrick’s perspective, playing with Wissa could give him an insight into the type of player he could become, and Howe will be able to rotate the two players when necessary without having to make other tactical changes due to their similar styles of play.

There has been a twist in Rangers' manager hunt as Steven Gerrard has once again emerged as favourite to take charge at Ibrox Stadium, days after he pulled out of the race for the head coach's role. After Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin earlier this month, Gerrard was poised to return to Glasgow and he even held talks with the club hierarchy, but he later withdrew his name.

• Gerrard pulled out after holding talks with Rangers officials

  After a disastrous start to the 2025-26 campaign, which saw Rangers winning one out of their first seven Premiership matches, the Scottish giants parted ways with ex-MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager Martin, only a few months after he took charge at Ibrox. Martin, who was once considered to be a perfect fit at the club due to his ball-playing philosophy, quickly fell out of favour with the fans once the new season started. The fans wanted the manager out of the club after just one month in charge, as in September, they had publicly showcased their opposition by unfurling banners at Ibrox, displaying their wish to see the coach leave the club.   

  Rangers' 1-1 draw with Falkirk just before the international break proved to be the last straw as the 39-year-old English coach was shown the door. Soon after Martin's departure, Liverpool icon Gerrard emerged as the favourite candidate to take charge of the club and return to Glasgow after four years. He even flew down from the Middle East to hold talks with Rangers officials and was in advanced talks, only to later withdraw his name from the race as he felt that the time was not right to return to football management. 

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  Gerrard back to being favourite to manager Rangers

  Days after turning down the offer, Gerrard has reemerged as the favourite to take charge of Rangers. According to , the former England star has become the bookie's favourite to manage the Gers. , however, also claims that despite being the bookie's favourite, Gerrard is unlikely to be in contention any more and he has already flown back to Bahrain. On Wednesday morning, Gerrard's odds were as high as 20/1 with William Hill. 

  Spokesperson of William Hill, John Hill, told : "Despite ruling himself out of the job just a few days ago, Steven Gerrard has been heavily backed in our next Rangers manager market this morning. Gerrard is now just evens to return to Ibrox for a second spell in charge."

• Premier League legend has encouraged Gerrard to take Rangers job

  Amid the drama over Rangers' manager hunt, Premier League and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer shared advice for Gerrard as he urged the Reds icon to ignore the football cliche. 

  In a chat with , Shearer said: "I don't know Steven's tax situation with him being back in the UK and he can only answer that. There is that 'never go back' saying but if he wants to get back to management, he knows what it's like up there, he's done it and been successful before. He's a huge name in football. I don't think Celtic are that great either. Hearts are top of the SPFL at the moment so that tells you that Celtic aren't a great team either. Steven, or whoever goes into that role may fancy their chances and say it's worth the opportunity and worth going up there to compete. Rangers are miles off it at the minute and it's no surprise that Russell lost his job. The fans were going mad up there and it's not nice to see because of the human behind it and at the end of it. That's what you have to think of but you also know the score when you go into management – if you don't win games, you'll get sacked. The Rangers job will be a brilliant one for whoever takes over."

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  Who will become Rangers' next boss?

  Per SunSport, former Gers star Kevin Muscat is tipped to become the next Rangers head coach. The Australian, who played for the Scottish giants in the early 2000s for a year, is poised to make a comeback after more than two decades. Former Manchester United coaches Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are also among the contenders to take charge at Ibrox, although Muscat remains the favourite.