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It’s been an excellent day for all concerned at Arsenal, following the big news today that defender William Saliba is poised to commit his future, but as one star prepares to sign an extension, another is eyeing the exit door.

William Saliba on the verge of signing new deal in boost for Arsenal

The Frenchman’s contract was due to expire in 2027, dealing a major worry for Mikel Arteta amid interest from Real Madrid.

Saliba rejected Arsenal’s initial proposal, but the Gunners have since made an improved attempt to tie the defender down, which is now on the verge of being accepted as sporting director Andrea Berta successfully thwarts Real in their pursuit of a star centre-back.

His new deal will run until 2030, and Saliba is expected to put pen to paper in the next few days, as per David Ornstein who originally broke the news.

According to other previous reports, this offer could make Saliba one of Arsenal’s highest earners, with journalist Dean Jones reporting that his salary may increase to around £300,000-per-week – putting him above the likes of Kai Havertz (£280k), Gabriel Jesus (£265k), Martin Odegaard (£240k), Declan Rice (£240k) and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres (£200k).

Speaking of Jesus, who remains in rehab after tearing his ACL in January, an update has now come to light on his future.

The Brazil international picked up a season-ending injury at a terrible time midway through last season, just as he was hitting a purple patch of form, and the arrival of Gyokeres this summer has pushed him further down Arteta’s pecking order.

Once Havertz also returns from his knee problem, there will be hardly any room for the 28-year-old, who was signed from Man City for £45 million in 2022.

Gabriel Jesus ready to green-light Arsenal exit in January

According to journalist Mark Brus, via The Daily Briefing, Jesus is ready to green-light an Arsenal exit in January, and is tempted by the prospect of a return to Brazil as he looks to battle his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Everton and West Ham have made approaches for the forward too, but that is as far as it has gone thus far. Berta and Arsenal are also prepared to grant Jesus a leave, as the north Londoners want to get his sky-high wages off the salary bill.

Why Arsenal must sell Gabriel Jesus

The South American has always delivered his best effort in red and white with a ferocious work rate, but the presence of Gyokeres and Havertz unfortunately negates any need for him.

His versatility has also been valuable. However, it is hard enough for Arteta to give super subs Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard enough deserved game time without throwing Jesus into the mix, so a transfer is definitely best for all parties.

According to ex-Premier League scout Mick Brown, Berta is indeed “ready” to accept suitable bids.

Harry Kane returning to the Premier League "isn't even a question" at the moment, claims ex-Bayern Munich star Dietmar Hamann, but "things can change quickly" when it comes to movement in the transfer market. Prolific former Tottenham striker Kane is said to have a release clause in his contract at the Allianz Arena that can be triggered during the summer of 2026.

• Kane clause: What is the transfer trigger in Bayern contract?

  Teams around the world have been made aware that Kane could be prised away from the reigning Bundesliga champions for around £54 million ($72m). He will turn 33 in July 2026, with inevitable questions being asked of whether such a sizeable sum represents value for money to any of Kane’s many suitors.

  He has, however, been able to maintain remarkable individual standards in Germany, registering 105 goals for Bayern through 108 appearances in all competitions. With there no sign of him slowing down, as the longevity of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is emulated, teams in the Premier League and La Liga have been credited with interest.

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  Trophy focus: Why Kane is giving no thought to transfers

  Kane has offered no indication that he is considering a move, with it suggested that he could retrace steps to Spurs or take on a new challenge in Spain with Barcelona or Real Madrid. Hamann can appreciate why no thought is being given to a change of scenery in a season that has Bayern chasing down more domestic and continental honours.

  He told when asked about the Kane rumours: "He has a clause which means he can leave Bayern in January or the summer, but whether anyone pays the £54 million in his contract, I don't know. Obviously, a lot will depend on how he plays in the World Cup.

  "However, he's very settled and happy, at the moment, returning to the Premier League isn't even a question. Then again, things can change pretty quickly in football, but right now, he seems like a very happy chap to me. I think leaving Munich in the summer is probably one of the last things on his mind."

• Premier League temptation: Will Kane head home?

  Hamann has previously told GOAL of Kane potentially heading back to England and chasing down Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goals record: "Well, he’s got two years left, and obviously Bayern were very, very keen on Nick Woltemade this summer, which in the end they didn’t get.

  "A lot of people have been saying that Kane might leave, or will probably leave, after the World Cup. I don’t know whether people know more than I do, I’ve not heard anything, but a lot of people suggested it.

  "It’s obviously the last year of his contract that Bayern Munich can get a fee for him. But then people said he might want to go back to England and play in the Premier League for one or two more seasons. It’s certainly something I can see.

  "Obviously, Bayern haven’t got a replacement now because Woltemade didn’t come, [Nicolas] Jackson is only there on loan. It’s a long way away; you need to see what happens in the World Cup. But I think there’s a possibility that he might leave after the World Cup."

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  England's GOAT: Will Kane grace another Euros?

  Hamann is of the opinion that Kane has plenty of football left in him at the very highest level, with it possible that next summer’s World Cup will not be the last major international tournament that the fearsome No.9 graces.

  Ex-Germany midfielder Hamann added: "There might be an outside chance he could play in the next Euros. However, I can't see him playing in four years' time because he'll be 36 or 37.

  "Forward players tend to have shorter careers than midfielders or defenders. There aren't many offensive players past 35 because, as I said, even though he doesn't rely on his pace, as he's never been the quickest, I think once you go past 33 or 34, it becomes very hard to compete at the top level."

  Kane has reached 76 goals for England, meaning that a century of strikes for his country is a realistic target. He is also closing in on Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps – having acquired 110 of his own – and is considered to be staking a claim to GOAT status with the Three Lions.

Glasgow Rangers need to find the next head coach to carry the club and the new ownership forward after Russell Martin was relieved of his duties from the Ibrox hot seat on Sunday night.

It is hard to make a case for the former Scotland’s international’s defence, because the statistics around his short time at Rangers paint a pretty clear picture.

Martin’s Gers conceded 24 goals in 17 games and won just five times, including once in the Scottish Premiership, which is why it is hard to argue against the decision to part ways with him heading into the international break.

Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell must, though, get this next appointment right to get the Ibrox supporters back on side, and to get Rangers’ season back on track.

Rangers eyeing move for title-winning manager

After Martin, a manager who had never won a top-flight title in his playing or managerial career, the Gers may turn to a proven winner to bring success back to the club.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

According to Football Insider, the Light Blues have identified four managers who are not the frontrunners to replace Martin in the dugout for the clash with Dundee United after the break.

The report claims that Steven Gerrard, Sean Dyche, Danny Rohl, and Kevin Muscat are the four head coaches in the running to land the job at Ibrox.

Muscat, who played for the club in 2002, is an interesting contender for the vacant position because he could be an upgrade on Martin and Rangers’ own version of Ange Postecoglou.

Why Rangers should appoint Kevin Muscat

Journalist Gavin Berry recently compared the English-born boss to the former Celtic manager, who worked with Postecoglou as his assistant at Melbourne Victory.

The reporter said: “I just think the style that he plays, similar to Postecoglou, obviously worked under him. We know it works in the Premiership. I think he’s someone who could take a squad and get the most out of it.”

Postecoglou, of course, won two Premiership titles in two seasons with the Hoops, including a domestic treble in his second campaign, with his high-octane, exciting, brand of football.

Muscat’s managerial record since going down his own path as a head coach suggests that he could bring similar success to Ibrox as a big upgrade on Martin in the dugout at Rangers, as he has shown that he can win titles.

As you can see in the table above, he has won a league title in two of the last three seasons, and is on course for a third title in four seasons unless Rangers can convince him to make the move to Ibrox.

He won the J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos in the 2022 campaign and currently manages SH Port, which is the club he joined at the start of the 2024 season.

His impressive league form in Japan and China shows that he would come in as an upgrade on Martin, because Muscat has proven that he can instill a winning mentality in multiple countries and leagues.

Muscat, who has won seven trophies (Transfermarkt) in his managerial career, knows what it takes to win trophies and to win titles, which is exactly what the Gers need in this moment in time.

Ally McCoist says 49ers and the old Rangers staff colluded to make fatal error

The Gers are in peril.

By
Ben Goodwin

Oct 6, 2025

Rangers have not won a trophy since Philippe Clement lifted the League Cup in 2023, but the SH Port boss could bring glory back to Ibrox as the 49ers’ own version of Postecoglou.

It is now down to Stewart and Thelwell to convince Muscat to move on from the Chinese club, in spite of his side being on the verge of winning a league title.

Super-agent Jorge Mendes has dismissed the "noise" surrounding the young Spanish talent Lamine Yamal, urging for support for the 18-year-old Barcelona star. His comments come as Yamal himself refutes "lies" about his pubalgia injury after a stunning display in the Champions League, though Hansi Flick confirms the issue is still being actively managed.

• Mendes defends Yamal

  Mendes has publicly addressed the intense speculation and "noise" surrounding Yamal, following weeks of discussion about the 18-year-old's fitness and conduct. Mendes, who represents five players at Barcelona including Yamal, Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati, broke his silence to defend the teenager from the mounting pressure. The agent's comments arrive in the wake of Yamal's scintillating performance in the Champions League, but also amid a backdrop of ongoing concerns over a persistent pubalgia injury.

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  Mendes addresses 'noise' and ongoing pubalgia concerns

  Speaking directly on the recent debate surrounding Yamal, Mendes sought to normalise the situation and called for the player to be supported, not scrutinised.

  “I don't understand all the noise surrounding Lamine Yamal. We've all been 18 and young," Mendes told . "As president [Joan] Laporta said, what we have to do is support him and help him as much as possible because he's a great asset to the club."

  The Portuguese agent, whose Gestifute agency manages Yamal, acknowledged the unique burden on the young forward, who now wears the number 10 shirt for Barcelona once worn by the likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

  "Lamine is the player everyone is talking about worldwide; there's a consensus that he's a great player for both the present and the future," Mendes continued. "Having everyone watching you is also a great responsibility and a lot of pressure. He's handling it very well, and we have to continue helping him, and one way to do that is to focus exclusively on his work.”

  Mendes also confirmed the reports of a physical issue but insisted it is being handled correctly by the player and the club.

  “Lamine knows perfectly well what he has to do both on and off the field, and that's what he's doing: concentrating on working quietly and not talking much," he added. "He has some physical issues that he's addressing with the club to resolve them in the best way possible while he plays, and that's the most important thing, that he recovers well and can contribute as much as possible to the team."

• Yamal hits back at 'lies' after Brugge heroics

  Mendes's comments about letting the football do the talking were emphatically underlined by Yamal's performance in midweek. The agent noted: "The best thing Lamine does is let his play on the field do the talking; he does it like no one else, as we saw in the Brugge match."

  In that chaotic 3-3 Champions League draw against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Yamal was Barcelona's standout performer. He dragged his side back into the game three times, scoring a sensational solo goal and creating the third, which resulted in a Christos Tzolis own goal.

  After the match, Yamal himself confronted the recent rumours about his fitness. The forward missed seven games for club and country earlier this season with the pubalgia problem.

  "I am good," Yamal told reporters. "I try not to read things. A lot has been said about my injury and that I was sad. It was all lies. I wanted to work hard to get back to this level, which is when I feel the best and have the most fun."

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• Flick confirms injury is still being 'managed'

  Despite Yamal's declaration and his agent's supportive words, Flick provided a more cautious assessment. The German coach confirmed that the pubalgia, a notoriously difficult groin-related injury, remains a daily concern.

  "I am happy that Lamine is back on this level, but how I said also, we don't know what is tomorrow; we don't know what is next Sunday," Flick said in his post-game press conference in Belgium.

  "The important thing is that he manages this situation he has now because it's not easy. He has to be focused on what he has to do, how he has to train and also the treatment. If he manages that the right way, hopefully it goes away, but it's not easy to say when with the situation."

Lionel Messi has suggested that he finds life in the United States with Inter Miami a little more palatable because the pressure is different and less intense to what he used to face in Europe with Barcelona, and then Paris Saint-Germain. It was previously the case that the 'day to day grind' would leave him in a bad mood, unable to enjoy life with his family quite so much as he does now.

• Messi: Miami similar to 'home' in Barcelona

  Messi left PSG after just two seasons, opting to skip the option in his contract for a third season. Many assumed that he struggled to settle in Paris, having lived 20 years in Barcelona, which he denies is the case and insists it was solely football-related. In Miami, however, he says that life is very similar to what the family previously knew in Castelldefels, the town 12 miles outside of Barcelona he called home.

  "It also seems like Paris was a nightmare, but it wasn't. When I say I didn't have a good time, it's because I wasn't happy with what I was doing and what I love to do – playing football, the day-to-day routine, training, matches – because I just wasn't feeling good," he told . "But then, honestly, we had a really great experience as a family. The city is spectacular, we enjoyed it. It was the first time we'd left Barcelona, and everything was new to us, which made it very difficult, because it wasn't an injury; it just happened that way. But the truth is, I wasn't happy with what I love to do on a daily basis.

  "And here [in Miami], yes, we're doing well, we're enjoying the city, our daily life. As I was saying, it's a very similar life to what I had in Castelldefels, with the club nearby, the kids' school very close too, everything within easy reach, convenient. We live away from the city, which is beautiful, but the traffic is terrible."

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  Life with Inter Miami more relaxed

  The intensity and scrutiny Messi experiences now is different, out of the harsh European spotlight.

  "And that's it, we enjoy each day, and in a different way, because it's more relaxed, without so much pressure, without the obligation – although I always wanted to – to win and achieve all our goals," he explained. "Obviously, we still want to, but the pressure is different, and that makes life more relaxed, and we enjoy our family more, the kids, being able to come to training, being able to go to the games, spending much more time at home, getting home and not thinking so much about football and thinking more about other things. And that, whether you like it or not, makes you live differently because it often happened to me that the results and the day-to-day grind would get to me, and well, sometimes I'd get home in a bad mood, and it was different, so we're happy here."

• European football is draining

  Messi isn't the only player to suggest that the pressure in Europe can sometimes get out of hand. It's been particularly evident in coaches, with Xavi calling it a "cruel, unpleasant job" to be Barcelona boss in 2024, while Pep Guardiola had a full year off when he left Camp Nou in the summer of 2012. Jurgen Klopp walked away from Liverpool in 2024 and is yet to return to a club management role.

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  MLS Cup glory awaits

  Miami are searching for a first MLS Cup title since entering the league in 2020 and hope Messi will take them there. The club collected the Supporters' Shield in 2024 for winning the regular season, only to then exit the playoffs frustratingly early.

  Despite dropping back to third in the Eastern Conference in 2025, Miami have already eclipsed last year by reaching the Conference semi-finals and will take on FC Cincinnati on November 23. If they are successful, one of New York City FC or Philadelphia Union awaits at the end of this month, before the MLS Cup is scheduled for December 6. The longer Miami stay alive, the longer it also keeps alive the illustrious careers of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who will retire at the end of the season.

Aston Villa are keen on signing a “spectacular” Champions League striker, who is now considering working under Unai Emery.

Villa want to sign new striker amid Watkins' struggles

Ollie Watkins has fallen below his usual lofty standards so far this season, with the striker finding the back of the net just once in eight Premier League matches, and he could find it difficult to reclaim his spot in the starting XI.

Emery may choose to persist with Donyell Malen at centre-forward, given that the Dutchman has impressed in recent weeks, scoring a brace in the 2-1 victory against Burnley at the beginning of the month.

Watkins was benched for the 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur due to fitness concerns, but the Englishman did manage to impress on international duty, scoring in the Three Lions’ 3-0 victory against Wales.

Emery will be hoping that goal will be a real confidence-booster for the 29-year-old, but it has now emerged that the Villans are looking to sign a new striker, who could push for Watkins’ starting spot.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are now keen on signing Real Madrid striker Endrick, and there are signs the Brazilian could be tempted by the move, with it being revealed that he is considering working under Emery.

There is widespread interest in the Real Madrid centre-forward from within the Premier League, however, meaning there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and West Ham United also in the race.

Not only that, but it could take a huge bid to get a deal over the line, given that the 19-year-old joined the Spanish side for around £53m, in a deal that eventually went through in 2024.

"Spectacular" Endrick could flourish at Villa Park

The 14-time Brazil international has found it very difficult to break into the Real Madrid team this season, failing to play a single minute of football in all competitions, despite emerging as a first-team player last season.

Aston Villa now overtake Liverpool in race for "outstanding" £43m defender

There has been a new development in the Villans’ pursuit of a defender.

By
Dominic Lund

Oct 21, 2025

During the 2024-25 campaign, the youngster was used sporadically by Carlo Ancelotti, but he achieved some important milestones, scoring his first goals in both La Liga and the Champions League.

Ancelotti is a keen admirer of the former Palmeiras man, having once lauded him as “spectacular”, but the starlet clearly needs first-team football if he is going to fulfill his potential, so a move, at least on a loan deal, would make sense.

With Watkins reportedly frustrated with Emery, the manager may also need to start thinking about long-term replacements, and Endrick has the ability to flourish at Villa Park.

There were concerns that Aston Villa would wane under Unai Emery’s management after a frustrating and turbulent summer transfer window that left the club with more questions than answers.

But the emphatic 4-0 win over Bournemouth before the November international break sealed Villa’s fifth win from six Premier League matches, lifting them up to sixth in the standings, just two points off third-place Chelsea.

That Anfield defeat stands as the one dot on the recent copybook, rather than a new and wider concern for Emery as his side lose their form and verve once again.

This team is ready to challenge for a Champions League spot and compete for silverware, domestically and abroad. The stars are rising to the occasion – again. Two of the club’s most important players stepped up big time against the Cherries.

The Villa stars who are stepping up

Aston Villa smashed Bournemouth on Sunday and four different Villans got themselves on the scoresheet. But it was the defensive third that arguably shone brightest, limiting the visitors to just 0.23 xG (expected goals) from open play.

Credit to Ezri Konsa – again. The 28-year-old has grown into one of the finest defenders in the country since joining Villa Park from Bristol City in July 2019.

Now, maturing as a leader, Konsa’s completeness at the rear has led Sky Sports’ Dan Bardell to claim he “gets into every Premier League team” apart from table-toppers Arsenal.

And, again, we must draw praise toward Emi Martinez, whose stormy summer on an individual level saw him come close to joining Manchester United. He wanted this move and left Villa Park at the end of the 2024/25 campaign with tearful eyes and grateful gesticulations toward the fans.

But the Argentina goalkeeper has been as strong as ever this year, and his penalty save against Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo proved significant in snuffing out danger and capitalising.

There was another star away from the offensive action at the weekend who continued his rise in form. Indeed, this defender has shaped into one of the Premier League’s finest in one regard.

The Villa star now "among the best in the league"

Continuity. At times, an underrated facet in football. Aston Villa’s backline have developed together over three campaigns, largely unaltered. This has drawbacks, because the football is always evolving and it never stops, but the intuitiveness across the back four and Martinez too emphasises the strength of Emery’s tactics.

He makes players better, and Matty Cash is a perfect example of this. The right-back joined Villa from Nottingham Forest for £16m in 2020, and he has since played 195 matches for the Midlands outfit, posting 12 goals and 12 assists apiece.

Now, the 28-year-old is considered a core part of the side, having started all 11 matches in the Premier League this season.

With such energy and gusto to blend attacking and defensive sides of the right-back game, Cash has made headway after an up-and-down 2024/25 season, thus negating the chinks in the right-side armour.

This was showcased perfectly against Andoni Iraola’s south coast side. So dangerous are Bournemouth on the counter, their forwards as electric as they come. But they left with neither points nor consolation strikes last weekend, and Cash was instrumental in that.

Up against it, Cash kept the Cherries’ threatening forwards at bay while contributing offensively, enjoying the first chance of the game and providing a dynamic outlet down the right channel. For this, Birmingham Live’s John Townley awarded him an 8/10 match rating.

This was corroborated by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, in fact, who marvelled at the full-back’s display and hailed him as being “among the best in the league” when it comes to defending, aggression and mentality.

All told, Cash is a perfect example of a player who has embraced a manager’s tactics and worked tooth and nail toward an influential role. Villa are looking to go all the way in the Europa League, but also fight for the ascendancy in the Premier League and continue a journey which has gripped the fanbase since returning to the big time.

He has been one of the defining elements of this story, and he’s now one of the best in the division.

Fergie said Man Utd flop would reach Neville's level but he left for £2.5m

This former Man United star was billed for big things before his time at the club fizzled out.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 4, 2025

Marc Cucurella has cheekily claimed that Chelsea team-mate Cole Palmer fractured his toe after angrily reacting to a "loss on FIFA". The England international was set to resume first-team training last week after two months out with a groin injury. But the 23-year-old had a slight setback due to hurting his toe when he stubbed it on a door.

• Palmer suffers freak injury

  Shortly after he fractured his toe on his favoured left foot last Wednesday, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca lifted the lid on the matter.

  The Italian said at a press conference last week: "He is probably not available for Saturday for sure, Barcelona for sure, or Arsenal for sure. Unfortunately, he had an accident at home where he hit his toe. It is nothing important, but he won't be back in the next week. I wake up many times during the night – I hit my head, my legs, my everything – so it can happen."

  Ahead of the Blues' Champions League clash against Barcelona on Tuesday, the former Leicester City manager provided a more positive update on Palmer.

  "Yes, Cole is wearing a [protective] boot. We don’t know when he will be back but for sure it will be soon. He’s already on the pitch, he’s already touching the ball and the feeling [for him] is good," said Maresca. "At the moment, we are only looking at tomorrow’s game. It’s a Champions League game against Barcelona, that is our focus and then we will look ahead to Arsenal. I don’t think he will be available for these two games, but he is doing well."

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• Cucurella pokes fun at Palmer

  While many would have felt sorry for Palmer for this latest setback, Chelsea left-back Cucurella has alleged that this new injury was quite unavoidable. 

  He told reporters on Monday: "To be fair, I don't believe it. It is true that these things can sometimes happen. I have had this a couple of times but I'm stronger than them, so I don't feel anything. It's a big upset for us because he's getting closer to playing with us, to train with us, and then now he needs to rest. But this is part of life, a part of footballers' lives, we have personal lives, and we have these kinds of problems, so hopefully he can recover fast."

  When asked what he was doing, Cucurella replied: "I don't know. He's running because I think he lost a FIFA game or something like this, I think!"

• Season of frustration

  In some ways, 2025 has been a trying year for Palmer. After a superb year or so at Chelsea following his move from Manchester City, the England star has struggled with injuries and goal droughts. He couldn't stop scoring in his first 12 months or so at Stamford Bridge but things weren't quite going his way this year. For instance, this season, a troublesome groin problem has limited him to just four appearances in all competitions. 

  Back in late September, Maresca said: "We need to protect Cole for sure, 100%. Not only Cole in my personal view because as I said now because of the Club World Cup or because we never stop, we need to manage and protect different players. The solution with Cole, I don’t know, now we have a meeting with the medical staff and we decide the best solution for him. But it’s also a kind of injury that is not like black and white. It’s an injury that someday you can be better. It’s not that you have pain and tomorrow disappear. Sometimes you can be better, sometimes you can be worse. That’s why we need to manage day by day."

  He scored two goals in just over 230 minutes of action but the Blues could have been an even better place with him in their attack. Chelsea fans will hope he returns to action as soon as possible.

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  Crunch games for Chelsea

  The FIFA Club World Cup champions had a little wobble earlier this season but after three straight wins, they are up to second in the Premier League. This week, however, could potentially be a season-defining one as they host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night, before entertaining London rivals and table-topping Arsenal on Sunday. Win both of those and that could do wonders for the players' confidence. If it goes the other way, their outlook may be much bleaker.

The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels agreed to swap pitchers in a trade just days before the 2025 MLB season gets underway.

The Braves are set to acquire left-handed pitcher Jose Suarez from the Angels in exchange for righty Ian Anderson, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

Suarez, 27, has struggled over the last couple of seasons. The Venezuela native recorded a 6.02 ERA across 22 appearances including three starts in 2024. He registered 56 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings while walking 27 batters. In 2023, he made 11 appearances (seven starts) and logged an ERA of 8.29. It's possible he'll make some starts for Atlanta, but he figures to be utilized in more of a long relief role.

As for Anderson, the once highly-touted starter hasn't pitched in MLB since 2022.

Anderson broke onto the scene with the Braves in 2020 and recorded a 1.95 ERA across six starts. He then logged a 3.58 ERA in 2021 while making 24 appearances. He played a key role in Atlanta's World Series title in '21, when he made four postseason starts and recorded a 1.59 ERA across 17 innings on the mound.

He struggled in 2022, before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Across four minor-league levels in '24, Anderson recorded a 3.44 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 68 innings. The 26-year-old will now get the chance to rediscover his past form and get back on track with the Halos.

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has quickly addressed the shocking red card he was shown in the first half of his team's eventual win over Manchester United on Monday night, received for raising his hand to collegaue Michael Keane after an altercation between the pair on the pitch. Both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Toffees boss David Moyes have also given their reaction.

• Gueye's public apology

  The incident erupted when Keane seemingly took exception to Gueye carelessly giving the ball away near to Everton's goal, which resulted in Manchester United having a shot. There were angry words exchanged and then pushing and shoving between the pair, during which Gueye's hand swiped at Keane's face. He was quickly pulled away from the situation by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, but it was the latter action which resulted in the midfielder being sent off.

  The red card meant that Everton played all but 13 minutes of the match with a player disadvantage, miraculously still able to pick up a rare 1-0 win at Old Trafford, and Gueye didn't fail to see the significance of what he had done.

  "I want to apologise first to my team-mate Michael Keane," the player began, in a statement published as an Instagram story. "I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologise to my team-mates, the staff, the fans and the club. What happened does not reflect who I am or the values I stand for. Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behaviour. I'll make sure it never happens again."

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  Gueye 'said his piece' to Everton team-mates

  Before going public, Gueye had already said sorry to the rest of the Everton squad behind closed doors, straight after the full-time whistle in Manchester.

  "Idrissa has apologised to us at full-time, said his piece and that's all he can do," Dewsbury-Hall, scorer of what proved to be Everton's winning goal in the first half, told afterwards.

  "We move on from it. The reaction from us, was unbelievable. Top tier. We could have crumbled but if anything, it made us grow.

  The former Chelsea midfielder was also asked what Moyes had made of the dismissal and how the manager had reacted to it at half-time, adding: "He just said: that's done now. We'll deal with that another time. It was about keeping to the plan we had. He made sure we do the right things, continue what we're doing. We can't change that now, second half we continued to do that."

• Moyes bizarrely pleased by incident

  He might have thought very differently had the game not finished up as Everton's first win at Old Trafford since 2013 – ironically when Moyes himself was Manchester United manager and Bryan Oviedo scored the decisive Toffees goal – but the Scot claimed he saw a major positive in the Gueye flashpoint because of what it represented.

  "There's another side to it," Moyes said. "I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn't do the right action. If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it."

  On the actual decision to send Gueye off in the first place, Moyes added: "If nothing happened, I don't think anyone in the stadium would have been surprised. I thought the referee could have taken a bit longer to think about it. I got told that the rules of the game are that if you slap your own player, you could be in trouble.

  "I'm disappointed we got the sending off. But we've all been footballers, we get angry with our team-mates. He's apologised for the sending off, he's praised the players and thanked them for it and apologised for what happened."

  co-commentator Gary Neville disagreed with the decision to send Gueye off: "How much venom was in that slap? He has been sent off for that. Was it a little slap or a proper whack? There is no doubt a hand comes out to the face but it didn't look too much. They might have had to send him off purely because there is a strike to the face. They were not fighting, it wasn't a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow. I don't think it needed to be a red."

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  Gueye to serve automatic suspension

  The standard punishment for a straight red card in the Premier League is an automatic three-game ban, which the FA has the power to increase on a case by case basis, depending on the severity of the incident. With debate as to whether a red card was even a fair punishment, this instance differs vastly from the infamous on-field between Newcastle team-mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer, who had bans upgraded to seven games, so increasing it is highly unlikely.

  As it stands, Gueye will miss Everton's three upcoming Premier League games against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, and will be eligible to return for the trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on December 13.