Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne showed the true meaning of 'no pain, no gain' after Sunday’s clash against Tottenham. The Frenchman suffered a gruesome ankle gash following a crunching tackle from Kevin Danso, later unleashing an X-rated tirade at the fourth official. The 32-year-old later shared a graphic image of his injury on Instagram.
As Eddie Howe aims to add depth to his side, Newcastle United and PIF are reportedly getting serious about signing a Champions League target in the January transfer window.
After losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool and only managing to welcome Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa late on in the summer transfer window, Newcastle were always likely to need time before finding their best form. Last weekend’s draw at Bournemouth summed that up more than previous games.
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The Magpies lacked the firepower that they once had. While Woltemade did score on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he still needs time to find his full sharpness. Wissa, meanwhile, has been forced to wait for his debut after suffering the most untimely injury during this month’s international break.
Howe will be hoping that both players eventually make their mark, but did admit that Newcastle have so far missed the “X-factor” that Isak gave them for a number of years.
Of course, if things don’t quite click then the January transfer window represents an ideal time for those at St James’ Park to welcome further incomings.
To that end, names such as Conor Gallagher have already been mentioned as potential candidates to arrive. The Atletico Madrid man could be on his way to English football and to St James’ Park. It’s there that he could also be joined by another Champions League talent, too.
According to reports in Spain, PIF and Newcastle are now getting serious about signing Julian Brandt and are one of many clubs considering his arrival when 2026 arrives. The German has fallen down the pecking order at Borussia Dortmund and could be available at a cut-price in January with his current deal expiring next summer.
The winger could finally get his move to the Premier League as a result. For some time, it looked as though he was destined for Anfield and Jurgen Klopp, before the Reds instead moved for Mohamed Salah many moons ago. Now, years on, he could come back to haunt the Reds in Newcastle colours.
Although he’s fallen out of favour in Germany, Brandt could provide Howe with the versatility that he needs in his current squad. The Dortmund ace can play in attacking midfield and on both flanks in what would offer Newcastle support across their attack.
Having been praised as “outstanding” by teammate Nico Schlotterbeck in 2023, the 29-year-old still has plenty to offer if he gets back to his best form. Whether Newcastle get ahead of Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature remains to be seen, however.
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha paid off sizeable chunks of their big transfer fees with spectacular displays as Manchester United beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 to record three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time in 20 months. Cunha netted his first for the club to open the scoring while Mbeumo struck twice, his last goal seeing off the growing threat of a Brighton comeback.
United had lost their last three home games against Brighton by a combined scoreline of 8-3, with Graham Potter, Roberto de Zerbi and Fabian Hurzeler all enjoying famous wins at Old Trafford. But this game felt different from the start. Fired up by beating Liverpool last week, United flew into their opponents and could have scored early when Fernandes missed the target with a header or when Cunha's rocket which was well saved by Bart Verbruggen.
United had a strong penalty claim turned down when Amad Diallo fell from a challenge from Maxim De Cuyper but they didn't need one as soon after Cunha swept the ball into the bottom corner to finally score his first goal in his ninth appearance in all competitions. Casemiro doubled United's lead with a massive deflected goal. Brighton had a couple of chances on the counter but United seemingly wrapped the game up when Mbeumo scored.
But the game was in fact far from done. United old boy Danny Welbeck fizzed in a free-kick in the 74th minute to give the hosts goosebumps before Charalampos Kostoulas cut the deficit down to one goal early in added time with a thumping header. United weathered the storm though and Mbeumo sealed the win with practically the last kick.
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Liverpool are willing to once again break their transfer record in order to sign a player who can “do everything”, and he is seen as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.
The Premier League champions suffered their third defeat in a week on Saturday, losing 2-1 at Chelsea, with the Reds heading into the international break in worrying form.
Speaking after the game, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot offered an honest verdict, admitting there were still aspects of the performance that he liked.
“Another disappointing loss. That’s clear. Another game similar to the Palace game, although the game was completely different because the playing style of both teams are completely different. But not similar to the Palace game where in the first half I think we played not our best football but still were able to create three big chances.
“They’ve only had one and they’ve immediately scored it, which was completely different to the Palace game, where Palace created a lot of chances in the first half. And the second-half performance, like in Palace, I liked, we’ve created more than enough chances to score more than one goal – last week and today. I think there was a period of the game where I felt, ‘Now we’re going to win it.'”
Salah struggled badly once again, with the Liverpool legend in poor form, and a potential replacement for him has now been linked with a move to Anfield.
According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are preparing to pay £130m to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, breaking their transfer record again in the process, with the Reds seeing him as a replacement for Salah.
The Frenchman has grown into one of the best wingers in Europe currently, and Chelsea and Manchester City are also mentioned as options for him.
Writing Salah off feels far too premature, with the Egyptian simply not playing with his usual confidence, but at 33, it is clear that he can’t go on forever.
Finding a long-term successor to him at Liverpool has to be considered priority transfer business, and in Olise, the Reds could have the perfect option to take on the mantle.
The former Crystal Palace man can be a joy to watch, gliding in off the right wing onto his left foot, and he has been lauded by Bayern teammate Dayot Upamecano: “He’s a magician. His technical level is very high. He can do everything. He can score, set up, and even defend.”
Most importantly, Olise has substance as well as style, which will be needed to replace Salah, with four goals and assists apiece already coming his way for Bayern this season.
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At 23 years of age, he has so much time to improve, and while £130m is an enormous amount of money, Liverpool signing the Frenchman could be a masterstroke as the years pass.
Wolves have sacked Vitor Pereira after a disastrous start to the Premier League season, and are now eyeing a shock reunion with Gary O’Neil, the man they dismissed less than a year ago. O’Neil, who guided Wolves to safety in 2023-24, could make a sensational comeback as the club’s hierarchy scrambles to keep the club in the top flight.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
That was apparently the case for Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, who tossed seven no-hit innings during the club's 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night. Imanaga was eventually removed from the game after seven innings and 95 pitches, and the Cubs' bullpen finished off the game for a combined no-hitter.
Imanaga was so locked in that he didn't even realize what he had until it was over. Speaking to reporters through his interpreter after the game, Imanaga said he didn't know he was pitching a no-hitter until manager Craig Counsell told him he was coming out of the game.
"So after I finished the seventh inning, I went seven, no earned runs," Imanaga said. "So Craig came to talk to me. Usually, he looks at me and tells me 'Good job.' But he looked a little worried."
"And so I was figuring out what was going on and that's when I learned."
Counsell echoed what Imanaga said.
"He actually didn't know he had a no-hitter going at all, which is funny," Counsell said.
Cubs relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge each pitched hitless innings in the eighth and ninth to finish off the combined no-hitter, Chicago's first at Wrigley Field since 1972.
Counsell acknowledged how hard it was to remove Imanaga from the game, but explained that the decision was about his "health."
"It's always hard to do in that situation," Counsell said. "But you're taking care of Shota. That's 100% about taking care of Shota and making sure we're doing the right thing for him."
"It's not fun to do, but when you're prioritizing the player's health and you don't know what's going to happen moving forward, we want him to stay healthy."
Imanaga told reporters he both trusted and understood Counsell's decision.
The rookie southpaw has been outstanding in his first season in Chicago, pitching to a 12-3 record with a 2.99 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 153 1/3 innings. The Cubs, (72-68) are just 4.5 games back of the third Wild Card spot in the National League.
Leeds United have endured a mixed start to life in the Premier League, and a path may now be emerging for one of their players to depart in January.
Points are a precious commodity in the top-flight, and the Whites will be feeling frustrated that they couldn’t make their chances count against Burnley in a frustrating defeat at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Despite retaining a vastly superior expected goals total of 2.63 to the hosts’ 0.45, Scott Parker managed to get the better of Daniel Farke, who expressed a sense of frustration at not being able to come away with a positive result after an afternoon of failing to hit the target.
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Sean Markus Clifford
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With West Ham United to come next Friday, Leeds will hope to build on a mixed start to life in the top-flight, but January will be an important month in the context of finding stars who can stave off the threat of relegation.
Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer is a Whites target, and they may now be set to offload one of their stars to make room for mid-season arrivals.
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Leeds could offload Jack Harrison in January if they manage to bring in attacking reinforcements, even after he started in the defeat to Burnley on Saturday.
He explained: “Look, for Leeds right now, they’re probably looking to strengthen the squad rather than weaken it. Particularly in attacking areas, where Farke is planning to strengthen in January. A lot will depend on what Leeds are able to do in the transfer window themselves.
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Jack Harrison’s record at Leeds |
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Appearances |
214 |
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Goals |
34 |
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Assists |
32 |
“If they are able to bring in attacking reinforcements then maybe that could open the door to a move for Jack Harrison.”
Earning £90,000 per week at Elland Road, he is the second-highest paid player at Leeds and being able to alleviate space on the wage bill could suit all parties, albeit he is a hard-working winger who has a credible Premier League CV based on his time in Yorkshire and at Everton.
However, he is far from first choice when everyone is fit, so a departure would possibly be a sensible option if clubs were to come forward with proposals.
Xabi Alonso has responded to Vinicius Junior's public apology in light of his unpleasant reaction to being taken off during the 2-1 win against Barcelona last weekend. Speaking to reporters, the Real Madrid head coach put all doubts to bed once and for all by claiming that the "matter is closed" while also admitting that the Brazilian was "impeccable" during the conversations they had.
Anthony Rizzo doesn't seem to let the big moments faze him. In fact, some might suggest that he's a bit too relaxed when the stakes are at their highest.
Among those might be New York Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey, who, ahead of ALCS Game 3, detailed some of Rizzo's more hilarious antics.
Harkey was speaking with the YES Network and discussing how the bullpen phone can lead to some tension and how he tries to keep things loose among the pitching staff. That task becomes more difficult when Rizzo is on the other end delivering a prank call.
"Just trying to keep it as loose as I can because I know when the phone rings it becomes a little bit heart-pounding. Especially when Rizzo calls in the fourth inning, like he always does," Harkey said.
"Look, I have to yell at him after every game to stop playing on the phone. But, yeah, he likes to play on the bullpen phone," he added.
A call to the bullpen is often a signifier that things on the mound aren't going to plan. That could lead to some tension as the team needs to have a pitcher readying themselves to enter the game in relief. That doesn't stop Rizzo from having some fun at the expense of Harkey, who has to answer the phone in case it's actually Aaron Boone instructing him to get a pitcher throwing.
Never a dull moment with these Yankees.
The New York Yankees are gearing up for Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Cleveland Guardians. With first pitch set for Monday night, the series was discussed by the Fox Sports crew after Game 1 of the NLCS.
Derek Jeter hinted at the idea that the Yankees, should they reach the World Series, would not have had a very difficult path to get to the Fall Classic. Alex Rodriguez took things one step further and didn't beat around the bush.
"You don't want to say it, I'll say it. The Yankees have had an easy road to the World Series," declared Rodriguez, prompting a chuckle from Jeter.
Of course, the Yankees remain four wins away from actually clinching a World Series berth, and the Guardians are coming off their second 92-win season in the last three years. Still, the two Fox analysts didn't seem to give Cleveland much credit when dissecting New York's postseason matchups.
The Yankees advanced to the ALCS after defeating the up and coming Kansas City Royals in the ALDS. They won the series 3–1 after the Royals defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card round.
Although Rodriguez noted that it's "never easy" to reach the World Series, he called the Yankees' 2024 opponents the "clearest path in 20 years."
Game 1 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST on Monday, at which point New York, playing in front of their home fans, will look to grab an early series lead. It seems Rodriguez and Jeter certainly expect them to do so.