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The Special One is back on familiar ground! Jose Mourinho, who is set to take charge of Benfica on a two-year deal, will find himself on English soil twice within the next month as the Champions League league phase unfolds. With trips to both Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park on the horizon, Mourinho is set for an early reunion with his former hunting ground..

• Mourinho returns to England with Benfica

  Mourinho is set to be appointed as Benfica’s new head coach, marking a return to the club where his managerial journey began back in 2000. The 62-year-old will replace Bruno Lage and will immediately be thrown into high-profile European action. Benfica’s Champions League league-stage fixtures pit them against Chelsea and Newcastle in back-to-back away games.

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  The Special One's chance to shine again

  Mourinho’s return to England is dripping with narrative, especially given his history with both Chelsea and Manchester United. The trips to Stamford Bridge and St James’ Park will rekindle memories of his iconic Premier League reigns, where his presence always drew headlines. For Benfica, these games offer both a sporting challenge and an opportunity to impress under their charismatic new boss.

• Mourinho also set to meet Real Madrid again

  Mourinho’s Champions League schedule is packed with familiar faces. After the two English clashes, Benfica will later welcome Real Madrid — another of his old clubs — in the final gameweek of the league phase. It means Mourinho will cross paths with two former employers in one campaign, underlining just how decorated his career has been.

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  Mourinho looking to steady Benfica after Lage's departure

  Mourinho’s immediate focus will be on steadying Benfica domestically, with the club sitting just outside the title race in Portugal. Attention will then turn to Chelsea, where his first big European test awaits against a club he once helped make serial winners. The English spotlight will soon be fixed firmly back on the Special One.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been praised for making the "narrative" at Wrexham "like Hollywood", with three successive promotions being enjoyed, but they are being warned that sacking record-breaking manager Phil Parkinson would be "absolute madness". The odd question has been asked of the Red Dragons’ boss this season, with Steven Gerrard rumoured to be a possible contender to take over at SToK Racecourse.

• Questions of Parkinson despite stunning Wrexham record

  Those inside the Wrexham camp have been doing their best to ignore the outside noise, with there little substance to the managerial speculation for now. A slow start to the 2025-26 campaign, on the back of a big summer spend in the transfer market, delivered inevitable gossip in North Wales. Coaches, regardless of their history, are always under pressure to deliver positive results.

  Parkinson has done that for the most part since picking up the reins at Wrexham in 2021. He has overseen 140 wins from 231 games at the helm, with the faith shown in him by Hollywood co-owners being richly rewarded. Whatever happens from here, the 57-year-old is assured of a place in Red Dragons folklore.

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  Links to Gerrard: Why they make little sense

  More successes on the field will help to bring the unwelcome rumours to a close, as links to Liverpool legend Gerrard die down, with Ally McCoist among those to have been left baffled by suggestions that Parkinson could be relieved of his duties after guiding Wrexham out of the National League and into the Championship.

  Ex-Scotland international McCoist told football betting site talkSPORT Bet: "Steven Gerrard has unfinished business in management, and I believe he'll want to return, whether in Scotland or England. Regarding Wrexham, how can their manager be under pressure? The whole narrative has been like Hollywood, and it's been fantastic to follow. It couldn't have been easy for the manager to keep everyone grounded amidst all the excitement.

  "I said last year that this season Wrexham would find their level. I'd put Birmingham in the same category, they were never going to keep getting promoted all the way to the top. There was always going to be a leveling-off period.

  "The most important thing for Wrexham now is to avoid slipping backward. They shouldn't get a new manager or start throwing their toys out of the pram just because the rise has levelled off. It was always going to happen, and it's levelled off exactly where I expected.

  "What's needed now is calmness and a reality check. This is where they are, and it's crucial they don't go down. Having leveled off, they need to maintain this position, perhaps for a couple of seasons, and continue to invest and strengthen the squad. As I said, this period was always going to come, and it's no surprise to me. To get rid of the manager now would be absolute madness."

• Director rubbished Parkinson exit rumours

  Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has done his best to rubbish the Parkinson gossip, telling the podcast: "It's an absolute disgrace. I think we're all disappointed we've not got more than four points at this moment in time. But to start quoting discussions and meetings that have taken place is the bit that's the disgrace.

  "Phil has everybody at the club's full support. I know before somebody starts writing headlines, 'Harvey gives Parkinson the vote of confidence'. That is not the vote of confidence. What I'm saying is, he's got our full support. You can only give somebody a vote of confidence when you've actually discussed the future. It's not even been on anywhere near an agenda as yet.

  "So, if that day comes, the decision has to be taken. But Phil's our man. We've backed him from the start. We backed him from four years ago. We've had all the success under that regime. Why should we start panicking now?"

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  Next up for Wrexham: Brady & Birmingham approaching

  Wrexham sit 15th in the Championship table at present, with eight points being collected from seven games. They did acquire Premier League pedigree over the summer, when spending more than £30 million ($40m), and have another intriguing tussle with Tom Brady’s Birmingham fast approaching – with the Blues due at the Racecourse on Friday.

Chelsea have raised a mountain of cash through transfers alone this window, and Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed they’ve just agreed another sale.

After their settlement with UEFA last month and fine for breaching FFP rules, to avoid further punishment, Chelsea must balance out their incoming signings with key player outgoings.

Failure to do so could result in Enzo Maresca being unable to register new signings in his A-list Champions League squad next season, and with barely over a week to go before deadline day, Chelsea need to get moving on some high-profile departures.

Thus far, Chelsea have raised around £220 million by selling Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Mathis Amougou, Djordje Petrovic, João Félix, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu on permanent deals.

Many more are expected to follow them out the door, including Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Alfie Gilchrist and even Tyrique George.

Nkunku has been in talks to join Bayern Munich, but no agreement has been found yet, so Premier League rivals like Newcastle United, or even fellow Bundesliga heavyweights RB Leipzig could still win the race for him.

Meanwhile, striker Nicolas Jackson is a target for both Newcastle and Aston Villa, and Chelsea are now considering the possibility of a loan plus obligation to buy deal.

While Jackson and Nkunku’s futures remain up in the air, Chelsea have now fully agreed their latest exit.

Chelsea agree to sell Renato Veiga to Villarreal

According to Fabrizio Romano, who broke the news on Wednesday, defender Renato Veiga is on his way to Villarreal in a move worth around £26 million.

The agreement includes a hefty sell-on clause, up to 40 per cent, according to some sources, with the La Liga side also breaking their transfer record to sign the Portuguese centre-back.

PA News has also said that the Blues have accpeted a £26m offer for Veiga’s services.

Interestingly, BBC journalist Nizaar Kinsella estimates that, with this sale completed, Chelsea have now raised a total of around £250 million in transfer income. This means that Chelsea are also on a net-spend of just over £25 million for this window, having invested nearly £280 million on new signings.

Veiga’s exit could potentially make room for an emergency centre-back option in light of Levi Colwill’s long-term injury, and that is something which Maresca is personally very keen to do, as he’s made clear in press conferences lately.

Newcastle United’s search for a striker has become the dominant theme of their summer transfer window.

The uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak has left the club scrambling for solutions at a time when Eddie Howe is desperate for stability.

Despite playing well in their Premier League opener against Aston Villa, Newcastle looked blunt without a proper No. 9, failing to make their dominance count in a 0-0 draw.

Isak’s public fallout with the club has only heightened the urgency. The Swede has made it clear he has no intention of reintegrating into Howe’s squad, regardless of whether a transfer materialises.

His absence has destabilised the attack, leaving Newcastle with plenty of industry in wide areas but little cutting edge through the middle.

Newcastle handed striker opportunity

Liverpool’s approach appears to have unsettled Isak beyond repair, and his Instagram statement about broken promises suggested a player who sees his future away from St James’ Park.

But Newcastle will not sanction his departure without first securing a replacement.

Two bids for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa have already been rejected. Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen and Atlético Madrid’s Alexander Sørloth remain on the list, but neither is straightforward to acquire.

Transfer Focus

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

With time slipping away, Newcastle’s options are narrowing – and Juventus have offered them a striker who could transform their frontline.

According to Sport Witness, Juventus are actively encouraging Newcastle to make a late move for Dusan Vlahović.

The Italian giants are under financial strain, with the Serbian forward’s €12m-per-year wages proving prohibitive as they attempt to reshape their squad.

To balance the books, they have put him on the market for €38m (£35m) – a fraction of the €85m (£80m) valuation he once commanded at his peak in 2022.

Vlahović, however, is not pushing for a move.

Although he has muted aspirations to play in the Premier League one day, Newcastle would have to convince him that now is the right moment. Their Champions League qualification could help, as could the prospect of leading the line in front of St James’ Park’s raucous atmosphere.

For Howe, who has watched his team create chances without anyone to finish them, Vlahović represents the kind of focal point Newcastle have been crying out for.

How Vlahović could link with Gordon and Elanga

The appeal of signing Vlahović lies not just in his ability but also in the potential partnerships he could form with Newcastle’s wide players.

This summer has already seen the arrival of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, joining Anthony Gordon in giving Howe two explosive options on either flank.

Elanga is particularly strong as a supplier.

Last season he recorded 11 assists, ranking in the 94th percentile for assists per 90 according to FBref.

His delivery was equally impressive, with 6.66 crosses per 90 (94th percentile) and 3.09 corners per 90 (93rd percentile).

With a striker like Vlahović attacking those deliveries, Newcastle would finally have a clinical finisher to match the service from wide.

On the opposite flank, Gordon offers direct running and intelligent distribution into dangerous areas.

According to FBref, he ranked in the 85th percentile compared to positionally similar players for passes into the penalty area per 90 (2.03) and in the 83rd percentile for crosses per 90 (4.84).

His ability to cut inside and release balls into the channel would dovetail neatly with Vlahović’s movement across the front line, whether the Serbian drops deep to hold up play or runs in behind.

Vlahovic himself could offer the presence and decisiveness Newcastle lacked against Villa.

Standing at 1.90m, he combines physical dominance with intelligent movement and a sharp instinct for goal.

Described as a “monster” by Carlo Garganese and as a “better and more complete forward than Haaland” by Serbian FA president Nenad Bjekovic, he scored ten times in Serie A last season, adding four assists, as Juventus secured a top-four finish and returned to the Champions League.

He also netted twice in three games at the Club World Cup, underlining his pedigree on the biggest stages.

The tactical balance looks promising. Vlahović thrives when supported by high-volume chance creators, and Newcastle’s wingers fit that mould.

His aerial ability also provides the Magpies with a set-piece weapon, an area where Howe has been keen to maximise output.

Elanga’s and Gordon’s consistent delivery could therefore add another layer to Newcastle’s attacking threat.

Yet there remain hurdles. Newcastle’s recruitment strategy has been cautious since their initial Saudi-backed spending surge, and the wages involved in a deal for Vlahović could test the limits of Financial Fair Play.

Juventus’ willingness to sell does not automatically mean Newcastle can afford to buy, especially after significant outlays already this summer on Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, and Aaron Ramsdale.

Still, the logic is clear.

Newcastle cannot allow the Isak saga to derail their season, and they need a proven striker to lead their Champions League campaign.

Vlahović, with his blend of power, finishing, and top-level experience, ticks every box on paper.

Whether Newcastle can persuade him to swap Turin for Tyneside, though, will decide if this move is remembered as an opportunity seized – or one that slipped away.

He'd be the new Andy Carroll: Newcastle now chasing £30m Wissa alternative

Newcastle United Consider Move for Atlético Madrid Striker to Replace Unsettled Alexander Isak

By
Will Miller

Aug 24, 2025

A difficult night in the Champions League for Liverpool was compounded by a tongue-in-cheek social media post from Galatasaray, using the Reds' famous anthem You'll Never Walk Alone against them. Arne Slot's side lost 1-0 on the evening, making it back-to-back defeats following the 2-1 reversal at Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend.

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  Slot shot down in Istanbul

  Galatasaray defeated Liverpool 1-0 courtesy of a Victor Osimhen penalty in the 16th minute after Dominik Szoboszlai fouled Baris Yilmaz. Liverpool boss Slot made several changes to his starting line-up, dropping Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak to the bench, and struggled to break down Galatasaray's well-organised defence. Despite dominating possession, Liverpool failed to convert their chances with Gala goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir making crucial saves, including from Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz efforts. Liverpool's frustrations were compounded by injuries to goalkeeper Alisson and striker Hugo Ekitike, forcing them to be substituted in the second half. A late penalty awarded to Liverpool for a foul on Ibrahima Konate was overturned by VAR, confirming the home side's victory. 

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• Gala take swipe at Reds

  After the match, a Gala post on their official English X account said: "You'll never walk alone, but sometimes you walk out without points."

• Slot disappointed by referee performance

  Slot pointed the finger firmly at referee Clement Turpin for his side's defeat, suggesting the two major decisions in the match were incorrect. Slot said: "I haven’t seen it back but there was no contact with the feet. The last few weeks I am talking quite a lot about how we are a very fair team and maybe their player was really smart, he felt something and made it feel as if it is an unbelievable hit. The referee thought he could not overturn it, though he did in the last minute when we got one. For me, it was a different loss to the one we had against Palace because there was a lot more to like, especially in the first half. In the second half it became harder and harder for us to create because first of all they were fighting with all they had and you have to give credit to them, and secondly the ball was hardly in play in the second half."

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  Massive fixtures coming for Reds

  It’s not quite a wobble for Arne Slot and Liverpool just yet, but questions will be asked if performances don’t improve. The club invested heavily in the summer after landing the Premier League title and face a crucial period in the coming weeks, starting with a trip to Chelsea this weekend. There’s the small matter of Manchester United at Anfield after the upcoming international break, with Liverpool's next Champions League outing against Eintracht Frankfurt pencilled in for October 22. The Reds will host Brentford in the league three days later before attention turns to a round of 16 Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has directly addressed ongoing transfer speculation about star winger Michael Olise. It comes after fresh rumours that several of the Premier League's leading clubs are hoping to take him back to England and would potentially offer the Bundesliga champions as much as nine figures for the France international.

• Fending off the Premier League

  In recent days it has been reported in Germany that interest in Olise is coming from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as Paris Saint-Germain. All four clubs are supposedly willing to pay €100 million (£87m/$118m) when the summer transfer window opens.

  Bayern's response to fend off interest in one of their most important players – Olise has racked up 54 goals and assists across all competitions since the start of last season, including 11 in 10 games in 2025/26 alone – is reportedly to propose a new contract. A current €12m (£10m/$14m) salary is comparatively low for a player of his standing at one of the biggest clubs in the world and would be a good place to start, especially where the riches of the Premier League and PSG are concerned.

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  Olise said no to Chelsea

  Born and raised in London, but representing France internationally through his mother's heritage, Olise has turned down the chance to join Chelsea once before. The Blues were reported in the summer of 2023 to have triggered a £35m release clause in his Crystal Palace contract, only for the player to pen fresh terms with the Eagles to stay put instead.

  Even his lengthy prior connection with the Blues, spending seven years in the youth ranks at Cobham between much shorter spells with Arsenal and Manchester City, didn't lure him back.

  Chelsea were back in for Olise in summer 2024, before he joined Bayern, but wound up pulling out of a deal, reported at the time to be due to already having a glut of similar players in the squad.

• Bayern under no 'pressure' to sell

  According to Freund, Bayern will not Olise unless they want to…and they don't want to.

  "We're not under any pressure," the sporting director told German football podcast – a Sky Sport Germany production. "We can imagine him playing for Bayern for the next seven, eight, nine years. Michael has a long-term contract, he proved himself and took steps forward."

  Olise's contract, the five-year deal he signed in 2024, is not due to expire until 2029. That in itself protects Bayern massively, but the aforementioned new terms that could be coming the player's way in the not too distant future would likely extend that by at least another year or two.

  Harry Kane is thought to earn twice as much as it stands, so even a substantial pay rise for Olise would not compromise Bayern's overall wage structure.

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  Olise buys into the Bayern philosophy

  Speaking just a few months into his time with the Bavarian giants, Olise gave an insight into just how much he has embraced everything Bayern since arriving.

  "When I found out FC Bayern were seriously interested in me, it was an unbelievable moment. Now I've been here for a few months and realise the spirit of the club much more," he told the club's official magazine in December 2024.

  "This mentality of always wanting to win is quite impressive, and is also the biggest difference to my previous club Crystal Palace. We were often the underdogs there – that's never the case with Bayern! And the pressure here is very high because we really want to and must win every game. I like that, though. I feel that the pressure is making me a better player.

  "Every time I see the Bayern badge on my shirt, I feel a part of something big. I want to keep improving, though, and produce top-level performances more consistently. I have the feeling there's a lot more to come. I'm working very hard on that every day because I don't just want to win as many trophies as possible with FC Bayern – I want to step up in the big moments, make history with this team, leave a legacy. If that wasn't my ambitions, I'd be in the wrong place."

For the second year running, frustrations bubbling from the summer transfer window have threatened to slam the brakes on Eddie Howe’s project. But Newcastle United are made of sterner stuff.

Blunted by the absence of Alexander Isak at Villa Park last weekend, Newcastle kept a clean sheet and played well, albeit shaking hands with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa after failing to move forward from parity. But there was much to like, the visitors showing signs of eliteness maintained.

Tougher tests lie ahead – not least the clash with Premier League champions Liverpool at St. James’ Park on Monday night – but there’s every reason that the Tynesiders will find success once again in their travels this season.

As Arne Slot’s side continue to pursue the wantaway Isak, so too does PIF’s resolve remain taut. We’ve only a week until the transfer window slams mercifully shut, but whether the Sweden international remains on Tyneside is anyone’s guess.

The latest on Isak's Newcastle future

Isak’s incendiary comments last week put to rest any confusion or hopes regarding his stance: he is desperate to leave Newcastle and sign for Liverpool.

But ‘I want’ does not always get. The 25-year-old is contracted for three more years, and while he believes it had been intimated that he could leave for a new challenge this year, external forces have made that difficult, and he has little power from which to leverage his position.

While Isak will not play a part against Liverpool, a fixture seemingly dated by fate, all things considered, Howe is firm in his belief that Isak can still be reintegrated, if and when.

And PIF? Their stance has not changed: Isak isn’t for sale. Many figures have been bandied about, but it truly seems like an offer in the region of £150m is required if Newcastle are to part with their prized piece.

But the transfer market is a vicious beast, and every eventuality remains on the cards. With this in mind, Newcastle continue to push for new recruits at number nine.

Newcastle's search for a striker

The protracted bid for Yoane Wissa still hasn’t come to a head. There are parallels to Isak’s situation, for sure, with the DR Congo forward desperate to leave Brentford and join Newcastle within the week.

Transfer Focus

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

However, Isak’s future at Newcastle and the prospect of Wissa joining are not mutually exclusive; Callum Wilson left the Toon at the end of his contract last season, and so two strikers must be signed for Isak to leave.

And in the dreaded event of that happening, Italian outlet Tuttosport have claimed – via Sport Witness – that Newcastle have made a late approach for Paris Saint-Germain star Randal Kolo Muani, who has been slated to join Juventus after his recent loan spell.

Differences between French and Italian terms have proved a sticking point, with PSG looking for €70m (£61m), and if a breakthrough cannot be found, Newcastle could swoop in, having already made an official approach, along with an unnamed Saudi club.

What Randal Kolo Muani would bring to Newcastle

Newcastle need a striker. Kolo Muani would be a fantastic buy in replacing Isak, especially if welcomed along with Wissa, who is far less dynamic and athletic, yet a reliable marksman in front of goal.

In September 2023, Kolo Muani left his rich career at Eintracht Frankfurt and signed for PSG in a £76m deal, but his time back in his homeland has been disappointing, posting only 11 goals and seven assists over 54 matches.

However, a short-term move to Juventus in January has built the 26-year-old back up, eight goals scored in Serie A, 13 goal involvements racked up in all competitions, just 22 matches played.

The Les Bleus star’s big move to PSG hasn’t worked out, but that’s okay. He’s still one of the most dangerous strikers around, proven across other divisions, hailed as a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus during his Frankfurt days.

With Wissa adopting a more straightforward role in Howe’s system, Kolo Muani could step into Isak’s boots, taking the veritable form of the £120k-per-week sensation and preserving his presence, that style of play which has served United so well.

Nick Pope once described Isak as being “like a wizard” after setting up that goal against Everton, but Kolo Muani has a similarly creative slant to his game.

Across his 13 matches in the Serie A last year, the Frenchman averaged 1.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, and regularly sparked chances when taking on his man, beating him.

Actually, looking at Kolo Muani’s metrics across the past year in comparison to Isak’s, Newcastle’s interest becomes clearer. He’s the real deal, all right, and has the mobility and roundedness to replace the Swede, should he leave.

These are centre-forwards with skill beyond that of merely scoring goals, complete strikers both. While Isak is clearly the more confident and productive man, it’s worth noting that Kolo Muani spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign languishing in Paris, scoring twice and assisting once across ten Ligue 1 games.

Would Kolo Muani replicate Isak’s output? Perhaps not. Isak scored 27 goals and assisted six more across all competitions last season, with his clinical edge a large part behind his billing as England’s record-breaking man, should Liverpool sign him.

But Kolo Muani would be a more than adequate replacement, retaining some of the Scandinavian star’s same style. With Wissa joining too, it could be a fantastic deal for Howe’s side.

He's perfect for Elanga & Gordon: Newcastle offered "monster" CF for £35m

Newcastle United offered chance to sign Juventus outcast who’s ideal for Elanga and Gordon.

By
Will Miller

Aug 24, 2025

Alisha Lehmann has often attracted attention for her glamorous on-field appearances and a lifestyle rarely seen among the majority of women footballers in Europe. The Swiss star, however, explained that having a social media presence can accelerate the growth and popularity of women's football. Lehmann left Juventus over the summer and joined Como, where she believes women are able to yield all the power.

• Backlash over Lehmann's on-field appearance

  Lehmann is fond of having long hair, long nails, and wearing makeup, whether it be off the football field or on it. Her preferences have, however, often been scrutinised. Sporting a glamorous on-field appearance has come at a cost for the former Aston Villa star, with doubters often claiming she lacks professionalism and commitment to the sport. Despite the backlash, the Swiss international continues to do what she believes to be right for her, living life by the motto "haters gonna hate, lovers gonna love."

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  Lehmann speaks words of empowerment, addressing young girls

  Recently speaking at the Trento Sports Festival in Italy, Lehmann said: "I want people to know that playing football and being on social media are not mutually exclusive. Social media makes women's football more popular, and we need fans and platforms. I want young girls to know that you can play football even with long nails and makeup. I like wearing heels, but I'm still a professional. The important thing is to feel comfortable, because that's the only way you can pursue your passion. As a teenager, I liked eyelashes, nails and nail polish, which wasn't the ideal profile for a footballer. People think of baggy shirts and shorts, but I was different. I liked taking care of my appearance; I wore tighter shorts, but it wasn't a problem for me. I've always been like that and I didn't pay attention to people."

• A new chapter for Lehmann at Como

  Over the summer, Lehmann joined Como after spending one year at Juventus, describing her exit as a "very difficult decision." She has started in both Serie A Femminile games, including Como's 1-0 win over her former team Juve last weekend. 

  Her life at Stadio Ferruccio has been off to a good start, with Lehmann sharing her thoughts on her experience with her new team so far. “I really like the fact that it's an all-female team and that there's a kind of 'power' that we women can wield without being subordinate to men," she said. "Beyond that, we're a great team that helps and supports each other. We just need to work on our teamwork and we'll win a lot.”

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  Lehmann's next match: A tricky trip to Sassuolo

  Como Women will travel to Sassuolo on October 18 in what could be a tough fixture for Lehmann and her team-mates. Then, she will be expected to be called up by Switzerland for the upcoming international break.

Nottingham Forest have been at the centre of managerial uncertainty in recent times and could now be set to replace Nuno Espirito Santo with a rival Premier League boss.

Nuno headstrong amid Nottingham Forest uncertainty

After a strong summer transfer window, Nottingham Forest are primed for another Premier League campaign, but there are lingering doubts over the tenure of their manager.

Tense relationships with Evangelos Marinakis and Edu Gaspar have left the Portuguese boss in an uneasy situation, though new England star Elliot Anderson has confirmed he would like his boss to still be in the East Midlands once the international break is over.

He stated: “Yeah definitely. He’s been really good for me. I feel he’s given me the freedom to go out and do what I do. He just believes in me, which is the main thing.

“He has said ‘go out and play the way you train’, which has really helped me. Freedom in the team has given me the platform to do well. Right now I’m just focusing on this camp and doing my best here and then when I get back to my club I’ll be focused on my club.”

Away from the managerial situation, Nottingham Forest have agreed an out-of-window deal to sign Rangers youngster Blaine McClure, illustrating that work is ongoing behind the scenes at the City Ground despite the market now being closed.

Improvements will continue as the Tricky Trees look to make a mark once again, albeit a feeling of disappointment over their comprehensive defeat to West Ham United before the international break will linger.

Espirito Santo’s position will continue to come under scrutiny despite talks between him and Marinakis, and there is now a new name in the running to replace him at the City Ground.

Marco Silva in contention for Nottingham Forest job

According to Football Insider, Marco Silva is a contender for the Nottingham Forest managerial position and is unhappy at Fulham, meaning he would welcome the opportunity to take a Premier League post elsewhere.

Preferring a 4-2-3-1, the former Everton boss shares the same agency as Marinakis and has emerged as a top target at the City Ground amid Nuno’s public disagreement with the Tricky Trees owner.

£6m Nottingham Forest ace desperate to leave, Marinakis cost him dream move

A Forest player is now pushing for an exit…

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 3, 2025

Dubbed “underrated” by Heurelho Gomes, Silva has won 75 Premier League matches from a total of 212 in the dugout, drawing 45 and losing 92 times.

Listing Sporting Clube de Portugal, Watford and Everton among his other former clubs, he may now switch clubs if Nottingham Forest opt to pull the plug on Nuno. However, results in the coming weeks will determine that.

Following four points from nine available in their first three Premier League matches, the Tricky Trees have work to do on the field, though confusion over their managerial reality continues to make headlines.

It doesn’t take much for the mood to change in football, and Arsenal are the perfect example of that.

Just a few days ago, there was a real sense of optimism around the club following big wins over Nottingham Forest and Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

However, their performance against Manchester City left a lot to be desired, and were it not for a late equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners would have lost their second Premier League game of the season.

It was a game to forget for much of the Arsenal team, and while Mikel Merino has received plenty of criticism, there is another star that Mikel Arteta should consider dropping for the game this week.

The Arsenal players who underwhelmed vs City

Now it is important to clarify that few, if any, Arsenal players were genuinely terrible yesterday.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

After all, while the result was hugely disappointing, the Gunners would not have earned a point against a team like City if they played terribly.

With that said, there were more than a handful of starters who underwhelmed in a big way, like Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian did little to dispel the idea of him being a better impact player than starter, as in 84 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.15, failed to complete a single cross, didn’t register a shot on target and was accurate with just 78% of his passes.

Someone who had some pretty impressive numbers for the game, but made one consequential mistake, was Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian stalwart found himself far too high up the pitch and mistimed a tackle in the lead-up to Erling Haaland’s opener, which meant he had no chance of catching the Norwegian.

Finally, it was another outing that showed a midfield of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Merino does not work.

The latter was particularly ineffective, completing 18 passes, failing to complete a long ball or cross, losing 100% of his aerial duels, losing the ball six times and generally being more of a hindrance to build up than any sort of help in defence.

It was a game to forget for all of these starters, but there is another who was at the very least just as bad and should therefore be dropped from the team this week.

The Arsenal star Arteta should drop

When it comes to arguably the most ineffective player on the pitch for Arsenal yesterday, it probably won’t surprise many of you that we’re talking about Viktor Gyokeres.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, the Swedish international has had a couple of good games for the club, such as Leeds United and Forest, but yesterday was not one of those.

The former Sporting CP superstar was anonymous for pretty much the entire encounter, as while he held the ball up relatively well at points, he offered little to no threat.

Now, there is an argument to be made that the rest of the team didn’t create enough chances for him; it could also be said that the best strikers help create their own chances.

It might sound like a harsh appraisal, but we aren’t the only ones who were disappointed by his performance.

For example, The Standard’s Simon Collings awarded him a 5/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘could not make an impact.’

Unsurprisingly, his statistics more than back this up, as in his 97 minutes of inaction, the Stockholm-born poacher didn’t take a single shot on target, took just 22 touches, completed six passes, lost 100% of his ground duels, lost the ball 13 times and failed in 100% of his dribbles.

In short, it was a poor showing from the man who is supposed to spearhead this Arsenal side to Premier League glory.

Therefore, Arteta should take him out of the firing line for the game against Port Vale tomorrow night, give him time to rest, and hopefully, he can come back into the side next week rejuvenated and ready to show the fans what he can do.

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By
Dominic Lund

Sep 22, 2025