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Nathan Broadhead's super double propelled Wrexham into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of a toothless Reading. After a docile first-half, Phil Parkinson's men jumped to life after the break to score twice and progress in the competition where they might come up against an opponent from the Premier League.

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  TELL ME MORE

  Wrexham’s dream cup run, having already dumped out Championship sides Hull and Preston, faced another tough test, and the opening 45 minutes against Reading showed exactly why. Parkinson rolled out a 3-4-3 setup, with Elliot Lee and Broadhead buzzing around striker Sam Smith, but it was the Royals who set the early tempo.

  The visitors looked sharp and aggressive from the off, moving the ball with real purpose. A crisp move ended with Scott Mahoney pulling the trigger from outside the box, only for his strike to whistle past the upright – a warning sign for the Dragons. 

  The home crowd finally found their voice when wing-back Ryan Barnett surged forward, his burst of pace raising hopes that Wrexham could turn the tide. Moments later, Smith tried to recreate the magic of his promotion-clinching strike at Charlton, but his miscued shot caused chaos instead. Reading’s keeper couldn't keep hold of the ball, leaving Callum Doyle with a sniff at goal, but his effort was bravely blocked. Just as Wrexham were building belief, Reading nearly delivered the hammer blow. Kamari Doyle, lively all evening, let fly from the edge of the area two minutes before the break. The ball cannoned off the post with Callum Burton stranded, leaving the Wrexham fans breathing a huge sigh of relief.

  The Racecourse erupted in the 57th minute when Broadhead finally cracked Reading’s resistance. A clever short routine from Doyle freed Lee, whose shot was charged down, only for the rebound to drop kindly at Broadhead’s feet. The record signing made no mistake, smashing the ball home to give Wrexham the breakthrough their pressure deserved.

  Far from settling for a slender lead, Parkinson’s men went hunting for the knockout punch. Thirteen minutes later, the insurance goal arrived in emphatic style. Barnett swung in a peach of a delivery, and Broadhead rose like a man possessed to bury a thunderous header. The ball rattled the underside of the bar, bounced on the line, and Smith made sure by prodding it in – but the referee confirmed it was Broadhead’s strike. The two goals from the new signing sealed the fate of the match and ensured that Wrexham progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time in 48 years.

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  THE MVP

  Wrexham smashed their transfer record to bring Broadhead in from Ipswich Town for a fee rising to £10 million ($13.5m), and this was the night he showed exactly why. Two goals, unrelenting movement, and the swagger of a man who knows the spotlight belongs to him. Quite simply, he dragged the Dragons into the next round.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Reading’s Mark O’Mahony, who is on loan from Premier League side Brighton, endured a night to forget. He chased shadows, rarely troubled the Wrexham backline, and squandered his best moment when he clipped the post.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Wrexham now eagerly await the round four draw on Wednesday evening to learn their next challenge in this fairytale run. Whereas, in the Championship, they next host Derby County on Saturday afternoon. 

Glasgow Rangers are not in the position they want to be in. They failed to qualify for the Champions League, dropping into the Europa League, and are yet to win their first game in the Scottish Premiership.

A clash with their city rivals on Sunday does not provide much hope that the first win in the league campaign will come before the first international break, particularly after a 6-0 thumping against Club Brugge.

Despite some supporters calling for the club to take action on the head coach, Russell Martin has the backing of the board and will be in the dugout at Ibrox this weekend.

The Light Blues board are doing more than just backing the former Southampton boss with their word, too, as they are making moves in the transfer market to improve the team.

Rangers have reportedly agreed a deal with Girona to sign Macedonia international Bojan Miovski in a permanent deal that could be worth up to £4.2m.

The centre-forward is set to undergo a medical with the Scottish giants on Friday before his official unveiling, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to play a part against Celtic.

What Bojan Miovski will bring to Rangers

With Hamza Igamane due to sign for French side Lille, Rangers needed to add more goals to their team before the end of the summer transfer window on Monday.

The Morocco international scored 12 goals in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, whilst playing on the left flank or through the middle as a striker, and Miovski is the calibre of player who can replace the goals that they are set to lose through Igamane’s exit.

His form for Aberdeen in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons shows that the left-footed number nine knows how to score goals on a regular basis in Scottish football, and that he may not need much time to get going at Ibrox, as the forward is already used to the country and league.

Miovski, who also has experience of scoring at Ibrox against Rangers, plundered 32 goals in two seasons in the Premiership with the Dons, per Sofascore.

As you can see in the table above, his xG on target was higher than his xG in both of his seasons in the division, which shows that he is a clinical striker who can consistently produce high-quality shots on goal.

This is why this signing could be perfect for Rangers in their hunt to replace the goals that they will lose with Igamane’s move to Lille in the coming days.

Rangers in talks to sign Premier League talent

Miovski may not be the only signing to come through the door before the deadline, though, as the club are looking at another experienced talent who could be just as important as the striker.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Santi Aouna, Glasgow Rangers are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign goalkeeper Illan Meslier from Leeds United this summer.

The report claims that the Scottish giants are in talks with the Premier League side over a possible move for the Frenchman, although it is unclear if the discussions are centred around a loan or a permanent transfer.

Aouna adds, though, that Valencia and Lorient are also interested in signing the left-footed stopper, which means that there is plenty of competition for his signature.

Valencia are said to have made him their number one target, but must first sell Stole Dimitrievski, and Lorient have already made their first offer to Leeds.

Why Meslier could be an important signing for Rangers

At face value, it would be understandable if this is a link that does not generate much excitement from supporters. Ultimately, Meslier is currently the third choice at Elland Road after being dropped towards the end of last season.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper conceded 2.73 goals more than expected, based on the xG against him, in the Championship last term, which shows that he was not good enough as a shot-stopper despite his haul of 21 clean sheets, per Sofascore.

However, there are other aspects of Meslier’s game that could be well-suited to what Rangers need between the sticks, particularly if they continue to back Martin as the head coach, and he could be just as important as Miovski.

Because of the way that the defence is set up, the Gers need a goalkeeper who is proactive when coming off his line and willing to come out to sweep outside of the box as well as coming out to collect crosses.

The goal above, whilst not being solely Jack Butland’s fault, shows that the Rangers number one is not comfortable playing the role that is being asked of him, as he got caught between staying and coming out.

Butland is an old-fashioned goalkeeper who sticks to his line and looks to make saves, rather than being amazing with the ball at his feet or in other areas of goalkeeping, which may be why Meslier could be an upgrade on him, despite his flaws as a shot-stopper.

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds outcast could be just as important as Miovski for Rangers because he could also arrive as an upgrade in a key position for Martin.

The £30k-per-week gem appears to have the mentality and the quality to perform far better than Butland as a sweeper-keeper for the Gers, whilst also enjoying a much higher save success rate and claiming a higher percentage of the crosses into his box.

This means that he may prevent Rangers from facing as many shots as they currently are by coming off his line to stop crosses from reaching attackers and through balls from creating chances out wide or through the middle.

Therefore, Meslier could be a very important signing to make the style more effective from a defensive perspective, just as is the case with Miovski from an attacking perspective.

He could revive Raskin: Rangers in the race to sign "versatile" £1m talent

After both Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomandé were left on the bench in Brugge, are Rangers about to sign a “versatile” midfielder valued at £1m?

By
Ben Gray

Aug 29, 2025

Millions of soccer fans from around the world have the opportunity to buy tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in North America, as lottery winners from 4.5 million applicants were granted access starting Wednesday. FIFA said lottery winners were or will be informed of their status via email. The governing body expects demand will be high.

• High demand

  Though more than half of the spots in the 48-team World Cup are not yet finalized, 4.5 million applications is a strong indicator in interest for the event, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S.

  “These are not only outstanding figures, but also a strong statement,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino posted on social media. “The whole world wants to be part of the FIFA World Cup 26, the biggest, most inclusive and most exciting event ever. From Canada, Mexico, and the United States, to countries big and small across every continent, fans are proving once again passion for football truly unites.”

  There are still concerns, especially for foreign travelers, ranging from visas to concerns to immigration policies in the U.S.

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  Breaking down the sales

  Tickets are divided into four categories, with Category 1 offering the most premium seats and Category 4 generally located higher up in the stadium. Prices start at $60 for group-stage matches and climb as high as $6,730 for the final.

  Those figures are only the baseline, though, as this will be the first World Cup to implement dynamic pricing – meaning costs are likely to fluctuate.

• Concerns remain

  U.S. immigration policies have raised questions for international fans. Tourism officials have already reported a decline in overseas visitors this year. President Donald Trump, who has worked closely with Infantino, added to the uncertainty by suggesting that host locations could be shifted if his administration views them as unsafe.

  The U.S. host cities include East Rutherford in New Jersey, Inglewood and Santa Clara in California, Foxborough in Massachusetts, Houston and Arlington in Texas, Atlanta in Georgia, Seattle in Washington, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Kansas City in Missouri and Miami in Florida.

  "If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the Olympics, but for the World Cup in particular, because they're playing in so many cities, we won't allow it to go. We'll move it around a little bit," Trump said.

  The State Department has stressed that protecting the country – along with World Cup matches, players, fans, and venues – is its top priority in the run-up to the tournament. Officials are also urging international travelers who require visas to begin the application process as soon as possible.

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  Second phase starts soon

  Ticket sales will enter a second phase, which FIFA is calling an early ticket draw. That will likely run between Oct. 27-31. There will be a third phase – a random selection draw – which will kick off following the World Cup draw on Dec. 5. 

  Tickets will continue to be sold on a first-come, first-served basis closer to the tournament. FIFA also said it will be launching an official resale marketplace platform. 

Tottenham Hotspur are now expected to make a new approach to sign an “incredible” summer target once the January transfer window opens, it has been revealed.

Spurs set to renew efforts to sign major summer target

Tottenham suffered their fair share of setbacks during the summer transfer window, with Arsenal most notably hijacking the deal for Eberechi Eze, but Thomas Frank has made it clear he is very happy with the addition of alternative signing Xavi Simons.

Frank said: “I think he can bring on a day where I can say our structure building up and all that because it’s not only about that, then sometimes you need a player that can do something (clicks his fingers) a little bit out of nothing,”

“Go past the player, produce a cross, a shot, a pass, with that extra quality that you need on the day, and that’s what I think he can bring.”

Simons is undoubtedly an exciting signing, having performed very well in the Bundesliga last season, chipping in with ten goals and seven assists in 25 appearances for RB Leipzig.

However, the Dutchman was far from Spurs’ first-choice target, with Fabrizio Romano revealing they had agreed a deal to sign Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White at a much earlier stage in the transfer window.

The £60m move fell through, with the England international ultimately opting to renew his contract at The City Ground, but that may not be the end of the story…

According to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are expected to make a new approach for Gibbs-White in the January transfer window, with the Forest midfielder’s future still up in the air.

The 25-year-old is set to consider his options once again this winter, with Aston Villa, West Ham United and Newcastle United also credited as interested parties.

Signing "incredible" Gibbs-White would be crazy twist

It would undoubtedly be a crazy twist if Tottenham were able to get a deal over the line this winter, given all the drama that unfolded this summer, with the move falling through after questions were raised about how the north Londoners discovered the release clause.

Sold for £6.7m: Spurs must regret selling star who's outscoring Kolo Muani

After Tottenham signed Randal Kolo Muani on deadline day for a €5m loan fee, should Spurs regret selling a striker who has outscored the Frenchman?

1

By
Ben Gray

Sep 2, 2025

Any move is likely to hinge upon how Simons adapts to life in the Premier League, given that the Netherlands international operates in the same position, although there have been suggestions Spurs’ new signing may need to improve some aspects of his game.

Former West Ham coach Edu Rubio said: “He can add goals to the team too, but he may struggle at times with his weakest foot.

“He may need to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League, but there is no doubt he is a very exciting modern attacker with a lot to offer.”

That said, despite being lauded as “incredible” by ESPN’s Janusz Michallik, it would be a surprise to see Tottenham move for Gibbs-White, given that their relations with Evangelos Marinakis probably aren’t at an all-time high.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma both attended the inauguration of the new museum of football at Coverciano on Wednesday. Gattuso was meant to donate the boots he wore in the 2006 World Cup final win over France but revealed that his mother refused to give them up.

The museum isn't short of precious artefacts from Italy's glorious past, though, and their current coach admitted, "It's emotional to be here, because there are so many wonderful memories."

Unfortunately, the silverware also served as a tangible and very painful reminder of just how far the national team has fallen in recent years. Italy may have won Euro 2020 but they've failed to qualify for the past two World Cups, so while Donnarumma admitted that he felt goosebumps walking around the museum, the Azzurri captain also admitted to feeling "a lot of responsibility" to ensure that the four-time champions do not miss out on a third consecutive finals.

As it stands, though, it remains a distinct possibility…

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  From European champions to total disarray

  Despite the fact that Italy hadn't sat out a World Cup since 1958, the play-off loss to Sweden in November 2017 didn't actually come as that much of a surprise, given how badly the team had been performing under the hopelessly out-of-his-depth Gian Piero Ventura.

  However, the failure to make it to Qatar 2022 sent shockwaves through the peninsula. Roberto Mancini's Azzurri were the reigning European champions and would have won their group had it not been for shocking levels of profligacy before suffering an even more ignominious play-off defeat – this time at home to North Macedonia.

  Mancini was allowed to continue as coach – not least because it was clear that Italian football's problems extended far beyond the coach – but then the former attacking midfielder sensationally quit in August 2023, midway through the country's qualification campaign for the Euro 2024.

  Luciano Spalletti was parachuted in as his successor – just three months after leading Napoli to a first Scudetto since 1990 – and ensured that Italy would get the chance to retain their continental crown in Germany the following summer.

  It quickly became clear, though, that the Azzurri were the weakest defending champions the Euros had seen since Greece in 2008.

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  A surprise Spalletti successor

  Italy began their campaign with an uninspiring 2-1 win over Albania but then suffered arguably the most one-sided 1-0 loss in the history of football against Spain. In the end, they needed a 98th-minute equaliser against Croatia just to sneak into the knockout stage – and, in hindsight, probably wished they hadn't, as Spalletti's side were immediately dismantled with embarrassing ease by Switzerland in a 2-0 defeat in Berlin.

  Nonetheless, the general feeling was that with more time to implement his footballing philosophy, Spalletti would turn Italy back into a top team. However, an abysmal 3-0 loss to Norway in the opening 2026 World Cup qualifier put paid to those hopes.

  It's actually difficult to articulate just how poorly Italy performed in Oslo on June 6. Indeed, Donnarumma admitted, "I have no words… All I can say is that our fans don't deserve this, and we have to find strength from somewhere, because we're Italy and these types of matches are not acceptable." Spalletti unsurprisingly concurred. "We need to find something more," he conceded. "Otherwise, something has got to change." Inevitably, that something was the coach, who had made a succession of strange selection decisions and proven incapable of forming a strong bond with the players.

  Still, while the decision taken by Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina to sack Spalletti after the Norway debacle was not in the least bit surprising; the fact that that he was still allowed to take charge of the game against Moldova three days later was staggering – and yet entirely in keeping with the FIGC's bizarre approach to governance.

  Luckily, Italy managed to eke out a predictably unimpressive 2-0 win in Spalletti's final game at the helm but Gravina still had a major problem to solve – because there weren't a lot of obvious potential successors. Claudi Ranieri was the popular choice but the beloved Premier League champion refused to go back on his decision to take up an advisory role at hometown club Roma after calling time on his coaching career at the end of the 2024-25 season, while Scudetto winner Stefano Pioli preferred to take charge of Fiorentina instead.

  As a result, the FIGC warmed to the idea of trying to tap into the spirit of 2006 by hiring a member of Marcello Lippi's World Cup winners. Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro were both considered but Gravina instead opted for Gattuso.

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  Why Italy turned to Gattuso

  A ferocious midfielder that picked up the nickname '' ('Growl') during his playing days, Gattuso was proving just as combustible as a coach, with many of his managerial meltdowns going viral. He'd also only won one trophy since hanging up his boots (the 2019-20 Coppa Italia with Napoli) and wasn't exactly revered for his tactical acumen.

  Gravina, though, was absolutely adamant that Gattuso was precisely the right kind of man for the job.

  "He has the qualities, the determination and above all the desire to achieve something great for the Azzurri and our country," the FIGC supremo said on June 19. "The National Team needs him and Gattuso answered the Azzurri’s call without hesitation. He responded with the same enthusiasm he showed when he was called up as a player.

  "I wouldn't make the mistake of reducing his commitment to mere enthusiasm, though. There’s much more to it. A great spirit of sacrifice, tremendous professionalism and an extraordinary level of preparation. What struck me from the very beginning was his willingness to put 'us' ahead of 'I'.

  "But we are confident of Rino's technical qualities. There is concrete evidence of his abilities, and I am convinced he will be a man of results. He knows Italian football very well, including the players’ mentality and the pressure from the media, having experienced intense environments such as Napoli and Milan. Personally, I have always appreciated his work with young players.

  "He immediately wanted to send very clear messages, overflowing with enthusiasm. He told me right away that nobody wins alone. We win together, we go to the World Cup together."

  However, Italy's qualification hopes remain on a knife-edge going into the crucial double-header against Estonia and Israel.

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  'A fair few slaps'

  The start of Gattuso's tenure has been predictably dramatic. Metaphorical and literal "slaps" were dished out before his first game against Estonia in Bergamo on September 5, which ended in a 5-0 win for the Azzurri that lifted the spirits of everyone within the camp.

  "I think these goals come from our hunger and determination, quite aside from our technical quality," centre-back Alessandro Bastoni told . "The fact is, we've always had quality, but we have to take responsibility and show it on the field.

  "I never had Gattuso as a team-mate, but I can imagine what that was like. He gives us so much determination and grit, a fair few slaps too, which perhaps we needed to have a wake-up call. I think we needed that."

  Remarkably, Italy would score another five goals in their second outing under Gattuso, only this time they would concede four too in what the Calabrese called the "craziest" game he'd ever been involved in.

  "We were mad to systematically go on the attack at every opportunity, because that’s what Israel were waiting for, and they hit us on the counter every time. We should have defended deeper when leading," Gattuso told .

  "We’re a crazy team, because we are too fragile, we concede ridiculous goals too easily. The lads know that, but this is my problem, not theirs. They deserve credit for always reacting to every slap in the face.

  "The mentality is the best part, as even though we weren’t having a great night, we showed heart and the desire to react. These have been eight incredible days and I thank the lads for their efforts, but if we want to do something important, we’ve got to improve."

  Whether they can improve sufficiently to make it to the World Cup is very much open to debate.

While Ruben Amorim has already settled one debate by confirming that Altay Bayindir will start for Manchester United in the derby, there is still a decision to be made at the top end of the pitch.

With Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount sidelined, the Portuguese coach will have to configure a new-look forward line at the Etihad, with it yet to be seen whether this will mark the occasion for Benjamin Sesko’s first Premier League start.

In truth, it’s been an auspicious beginning in a United shirt for the £74m Slovenian, with four games having come and gone without a goal, having notably produced an agonising miss in the last knockings of the Carabao Cup exit at Grimsby.

While hampered by cramp in the subsequent penalty shootout, the sight of the 22-year-old taking the tenth penalty on the night did have alarm bells ringing. Amorim needed a new centre-forward to hit the ground running, but Sesko is yet to catch fire.

The Red Devils can ill-afford a Rasmus Hojlund repeat, with the young Dane – now shipped off to Napoli – having endured an injury-hit start in Manchester, while his first top-flight goal wasn’t secured until the Boxing Day thriller with Aston Villa.

Unfortunately, the ex-Atalanta man was unable to prove United’s answer to Erling Haaland, with the early signs suggesting that perhaps Sesko may not either?

How Sesko compares to Hojlund pre-United

It is far too early to be writing off United’s newest centre-forward addition, not least amid his bid to get up to speed fitness-wise, although it remains tricky to shake that nagging feeling that the Old Trafford hierarchy have repeated their prior mistake.

Indeed, £64m was splashed out on a 20-year-old Hojlund back in the summer of 2023, with the young marksman arriving after netting just ten times during his solitary campaign in Bergamo.

Formerly on the books at FC Copenhagen, the youngster’s most fruitful spell had come in Austria with Sturm Graz, with 12 goals scored in just 21 games for the Bundesliga outfit.

The parallels with Sesko are certainly evident, with the 6 foot 4 speedster making his own mark in Austrian football at both FC Liefering and Red Bull Salzburg, scoring 51 goals in 123 games combined for those two sides.

In a similar vein to Haaland, he then traded Salzburg for the Bundesliga in 2023, with 39 goals in 87 games for Leipzig proving enough to warrant United’s recent summer investment.

The comparison to Haaland – and Hojlund – as a towering young striker who has navigated Austrian and German football is clear, although the City star is undoubtedly on a different level.

Indeed, the Norwegian’s time at Salzburg yielded 29 goals in just 27 games. In Germany, meanwhile, he scored 86 times in just 89 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

Simply a freak of a footballer, the 25-year-old now boasts 127 goals in 149 games at the Etihad, with Sesko barely even close to such a level. In truth, few players are.

That being said, Amorim may well have his own clinical killer to call upon in attack, with new man Bryan Mbeumo showcasing shades of a Haaland quality in recent times.

How Bryan Mbeumo is emulating Haaland

Haaland, across the last three years, has been a menace in the derby, scoring six times in just eight meetings with United to date.

Hopefully, Mbeumo – signed from Brentford on an initial £65m deal – can reach similar heights, having already begun to fire with two goals in his last two games for the Old Trafford outfit.

The latest strike, in the dramatic 3-2 win over Burnley, was every bit a Haaland goal, with the left-footer making space for himself inside the area, before coolly converting from Diogo Dalot’s pullback. Such composure has rarely been seen by a United forward of late.

Such a strong start to life in Manchester, represented in him claiming the club’s Player of the Month award, should be no surprise considering his exploits back in west London, with the Cameroonian speedster notching a remarkable 20 league goals for the Bees in 2024/25.

Only Haaland (22), Alexander Isak (23) and Mo Salah (29) scored more.

As noted by Sky Sports, the former Troyes speedster is actually even more of a game-changing presence than the likes of Haaland, having relished his own talismanic role under Thomas Frank.

Indeed, his 2024/25 total of 27 goals and assists contributed directly to 22 points for his side. For comparison, Haaland’s 25 goal contributions helped to seal 17 points for the Citizens.

Described as an “output machine” by content creator Ronaldo Brown, Mbeumo also outperformed his xG by 7.7 last term, indicating just what an elite, unique finisher he truly is.

While Pep Guardiola and co have had Haaland to rely on to deliver the goods in recent times, it has been a long while since United could hang their hat on a clinical attacker.

The last player to score 20 league goals for the club? Robin van Persie in 2012/13.

In Mbeumo, however, things might be about to change. If Sesko doesn’t deliver in the near future, at least Amorim can turn to his Haaland-esque, Premier League-proven option instead.

It's not Mbeumo: Man Utd sensation is now their best signing since Bruno

Manchester United conducted excellent business by landing the signature of one talent.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 13, 2025

Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini claims that Antony has “matured significantly” since bringing his Manchester United nightmare to a close and securing a permanent transfer to Andalusia. The Brazil international forward became a big-money flop at Old Trafford, but has rediscovered a lost spark in Spanish football and bagged a brilliant brace against Villarreal in his latest outing.

• Antony struggles after £85m Man Utd transfer

  Antony moved to England from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for £85 million ($114m). That switch allowed him to reunite with Erik ten Hag, and a bright start was made to his spell with the Red Devils. He was, however, to slowly slip down the pecking order – with Ruben Amorim eventually deeming him surplus to requirements.

  That allowed a loan switch to be agreed in January 2025, with Antony heading to Betis. A welcome return to form was enjoyed there, with nine goals being recorded through 26 appearances, with the South American forward also gracing the Conference League final.

  Antony made it clear that his preference was to rejoin Betis during the summer transfer window, with interest from elsewhere – including Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich – being snubbed. A protracted saga came to a close on deadline day when United agreed to take a huge financial hit on the 25-year-old.

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  Lost spark has been rediscovered in La Liga

  He has registered a further three goals this season, taking him to 12 in total for Betis – the same number that he posted for United across 96 appearances for the Premier League heavyweights. Antony bagged a stunning brace against Villarreal as Betis battled back from 2-0 down to claim a share of the points at La Ceramica.

  Betis boss Pellegrini told reporters afterwards: “Yes, of course, Antony's two goals were of great quality, very precise. Antony himself had perhaps easier balls in the first half and hadn't been able to convert them. But that's football, it's about mistakes and successes. But overall we were superior and it's not easy because Villarreal plays very well and has very unbalanced players.”

• Antony's growth: Betis boss hails Brazilian forward

  Pellegrini went on to say of Antony’s personal growth since escaping a difficult situation in Manchester: “I said it a while back, the last time Antony played a game was in May. He only started playing again when he arrived in September, which was a long time since he had played. But he's matured significantly, he's working really hard in games, with and without the ball, with 40-metre runs, changes up front, getting into the box, working on recovering… And that's what has helped him to make up for some of that lack of precision, these two goals will be very good for him.”

  Former Manchester City manager Pellegrini previously said of helping Antony to rediscover his love of the game: “I spoke with him before he came to Betis. He told me that he was not playing because he was not happy, but he had a lot of complaints about what he has done also. He wanted revenge, and here in Betis, I think he had it, and he did it in the way we know he can do, because it's not easy for you to play as a 100-million player. And Antony is a very good player. I am absolutely sure that this is a huge time for him here in Betis to help improve his career.”

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  Fresh start: Antony relieved to have swapped Manchester for Spain

  Antony was quick to air his happiness when seeing a move to Betis confirmed, saying of his desire to embrace a fresh start: “What a difference! Seville is more beautiful than Manchester. I’m finally here. I’ve spent more than 40 days in a hotel, it’s been very hard but everyone knew that I wanted to return to Betis. Now with more time, we have many things to do and to achieve. It has been difficult for me to sleep seeing so much affection from the Betis fans, there were people waiting at my house at two in the morning.

  “For me affection is very important and not all the money is paid. Here I have a lot of feeling and affection, he was always my first choice and that’s why I waited until the last day to return to Betis. Now I’m here and happy in a city and a club that I love.”

  Antony and Betis will be back in action on Thursday when facing Genk in the Conference League, before then travelling to Atletico Madrid on October 27 – with Pellegrini’s side currently sat fifth in La Liga.

Tottenham loanee Joao Palhinha is winning plenty of admirers since joining Thomas Frank on a temporary basis, and parent club Bayern Munich are watching his progress with keen eyes.

Joao Palhinha shining on loan at Tottenham

Spurs’ productive business relationship with Bayern in recent years has yielded another success story thus far in Palhinha, amid reports that Lilywhites legend Harry Kane’s contract includes a £54 million release clause.

Amid mounting speculation that Kane could re-join Tottenham after leaving North London for Bavaria in 2023, especially amid Frank’s public ‘welcome back anytime’ message to the Englishman, Palhinha is already at N17 and seriously enjoying life.

The 30-year-old scored an acrobatic overhead kick to open the scoring in Spurs’ 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday, adding to his ever-growing collection of excellent performances after a 2024/2025 to forget at the Allianz Arena.

Palhinha, after pining for a move to Bayern over what seemed like years, endured a nightmare debut season under Vincent Kompany.

His campaign was marred by fitness issues, illness, suspension and a lack of opportunities — resulting in the Portugal international making just 25 appearances in all competitions with no goals, assists or contributions of note.

Since making the move to Spurs, Palhinha has stood out as, arguably, their best signing of the summer so far.

Frank has started the ex-Sporting Lisbon star in all but two of Tottenham’s eight matches in all competitions, with Palhinha dominating midfield and getting on the scoresheet in his full start away to Man City.

Spurs ran out 2-0 victors at Eastlands, largely thanks to Palhinha’s imperious display, and the midfielder currently ranks fourth in the Premier League for most tackles made per 90 on average, according to WhoScored.

Palhinha has added both steel and dynamism to Frank’s midfield, with ex-chairman Daniel Levy managing to negotiate a £27 million buy option in his loan from Bayern.

Bayern Munich make Joao Palhinha stance clear amid electric Tottenham start

According to journalist Ben Jacobs earlier this week, Palhinha is keen to seal a permanent Tottenham move next year, and was personally insistent on the option to buy.

Now, as per German news outlet BILD, Bayern have made their stance crystal clear on Palhinha amid his electric start to life at Spurs.

The website reports that, despite his excellent form right now, Kompany’s side won’t lose any sleep over Palhinha leaving, and are actually hopeful that Tottenham will sign him permanently next year.

The Portuguese is not in Kompany’s long-term plans, with Bayern preferring he seals an indefinite move away to get him off the wage bill and bring in some much-needed funds.

Palhinha is rolling back the years under Frank right now, with his current form reminiscent to that of his time at Craven Cottage.

The ex-Fulham star was “absolutely sensational” under Marco Silva, and judging by his quality in the Tottenham engine room, London appears to be agreeing with him.

Emma Hayes' side had a bumpy start to the October camp, but finished off in style by overpowering New Zealand 6-0

Various members of the U.S. women's national team said it this week: it seemed like forever since they last saw one another. Nearly four months, to be exact. A lot had changed since that last friendly against Canada on July 2, and, in truth, the USWNT's October camp reflected the fact this team hadn't been together.

It began in frustrating fashion with a 2-1 loss to Portugal, one that served as a wake-up call for this team. Portugal played hard and pressed well, earning their first victory over the USWNT in 11 all-time matches – and handing Emma Hayes' side their third loss of 2025.

The response? A big win a few days later, albeit an imperfect one with a 2-1 scoreline. There was nothing imperfect about their final game of the camp, though, as the U.S. blew past an overmatched New Zealand side, 6-0.

Something of a mixed bag, then, by USWNT standards. There were players who clearly stepped up and made their cases. There will be others who will be looking back at the first Portugal game with some second thoughts. With World Cup qualifying closing in, Hayes continues to sort out her player pool, and the results during this camp will certainly play a part in that pursuit.

Who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

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  Stock up: Rose Lavelle

  She's a World Cup and Olympic champion. Everyone knew who Rose Lavelle was before this camp, of course, but with her performances, Lavelle made sure they'd remember who she was after it, too.

  This was peak Lavelle. She scored in twice, netting 33 seconds into the opener before dazzling with a first-time finish from outside the box finish in the closer. In between, she impacted games in the way she has for her entire USWNT career, creatively running the show in a variety of ways.

  It was throwback, in a way, from the 30-year-old midfielder, but also a reminder that there's still plenty left to give, too.

  “Lavelle is one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” Hayes said on Wednesday. “I mean, that goal – not many players score that.”

  Even among these younger, rising stars who fighting to replicate what she did at the 2019 World Cup, Lavelle remains a standout. Creatively, there are with her talent, and this camp was a visceral reminder of that – even as the world focuses on the next generation of USWNT stars.

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  Stock up: Lily Yohannes

  Speaking of that next generation, it's getting harder to label Lily Yohannes as "next" instead of "right now." Even at 18, Yohannes doesn't just look like a USWNT player; she looks like a USWNT starter, and it might be time to acknowledge that fact.

  The midfielder has seemingly taken another leap since making the move to join OL Lyonnes, and she's running games in ways that 18-years-olds shouldn't be able to. There are times, even on this international level, in which Yohannes looks like an adult among children, which is remarkable when you consider that she's still a teenager. 

  She just makes everything look so easy, from long passes to receiving the ball in tight spaces. That level of technicality isn't supposed to be easy. To the contrary, it should take years to develop and refine. And just as amazing, Yohannes is still learning. 

  "She plays beyond her years," Hayes said. "She has no fear to get on the ball with pressure, solve pressure, she can switch balls out, she can thread balls in behind."

  There will, inevitably, be dips in form. That's natural at her age and should be expected. The thing is that, even in those valleys, she might just be better than just about everyone else. It's why, by the time World Cup qualifying rolls around, it'll likely be impossible to keep her out of the starting XI.

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  Stock down: Lindsey Heaps

  This isn't a reflection on Lindsey Heaps' game. She had a fantastic assist against New Zealand and, in general, continues to be a valuable leader in midfield, one that does a little bit of everything for a team that certainly needs that, given their inexperience.

  But with Yohannes' ascension, the midfield has become crowded. With Lavelle balling out and Sam Coffey providing much-needed energy in a deeper role, could it be the captain that, at some point, makes way?

  Fortunately, no one has to make that decision any time soon, and Hayes will be fine with putting it off. The U.S., in truth, doesn't need a set lineup until the World Cup kicks off in two years. And having multiple world-class midfielders available is a blessing.

  Heaps is still in that category, and it cannot be understated just how important she has been in Yohannes' rise as her club and international teammate. It has to be said, though, that Heaps might just be building up her replacement, even if that is a few years down the line. Of course, that's what she'll hope for, anyway, as she looks to continue setting the tone as this team's midfield leader.

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  Stock up: Olivia Moultrie

  Expectations were always a bit heavy on Olivia Moultrie. When you're the game's youngest professional, that happens. Everyone knew Moultrie would get to a certain level, but the question was always centered around how long it would take.

  Maybe it's now? Six years after turning professional, Moultrie is now a still just 20 years old. She's still, very much, an evolving player. She has developed into a goalscorer, though, one who could play her way into the mix over the next year.

  “I think she's having an outstanding season,” Hayes said. “I think she's a goal threat. I played her off of the right but coming inside. I knew there would be second spaces inside the box. I think she exploited them well.”

  Her goals will help. She's been scoring in bunches, both for the Portland Thorns and the USWNT, with her two goals in the win over Portugal really showcasing her game. Both finishes were wildly composed, placed shots, ones that showed maturity and poise beyond her years.

  It's the type of thing you expect from a player with multiple NWSL seasons under her belt, but it's not the thing you expect from a 20-year-old. Midfield spots are going to be difficult to seize. But Moultrie, who has been in and out of the team, made her case to be involved going forward.

The San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros will play in a rubber-match on Wednesday afternoon.

The Giants won the first game 4-3 and then the Astros evened up the series with a 3-1 win on Tuesday. Let's dive into everything we need to know to bet on today's Game 3 in this interleague showdown.

All odds listed in this article are via FanDuel Sportsbook

Astros vs. Giants Odds, Run Line, and Total

Spread

• Astros -1.5 (+160)
• Giants +1.5 (-194)

Moneyline

• Astros +100
• Giants -118

Total

• 7 (Over -120/Under -102)

Astros vs. Giants Probable Pitchers

• Houston: Framber Valdez (5-3, 3.53 ERA)
• San Francisco: Logan Webb (5-5, 2.92 ERA)

Astros vs. Giants How to Watch

• Date: Wednesday, June 12
• Time: 3:45 p.m. EST
• Venue: Oracle Park
• How to watch (TV): NBCS-BA
• Astros record: 31-37
• Giants record: 33-35

Astros vs. Giants Key Players to Watch

Houston Astros

Jose Altuve: The Astros' second baseman has been quietly having a fantastic season, batting .295 while racking up 26 RBIs and 10 home runs. If anyone is going to find a way to get to Logan Webb and his 2.92 ERA, it's Altuve.

San Francisco Giants

Logan Webb: The Astros' offense has been hot of late so it's up to Logan Webb to slow them down. He's allowed more than two runs only once in his last six starts, so he needs to keep that trend up for the Giants to win this game.

Astros vs. Giants Prediction and Pick

Framber Valdez (3.53 ERA) gets the start for the Astros today which could work in favor of the Giants, who are eighth in the Majors in OPS against left-handed pitchers. Their OPS improves from .674 against right-handed pitchers to .739 against lefties.

If there's a time to bet on the Giants, it's when they take on a lefty like they do this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Giants will be starting Logan Webb, who has been fantastic this season with a 2.92 ERA.

I'll back San Francisco as a slight home favorite.