The summer window can’t come soon enough for Chelsea fans.
That’s because they’ll finally get their hands on Brazilian whizz kid Estevao, whose two sensational goals for Palmeiras on Saturday left Blues supporters drooling.
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Estevao’s two goals for Palmeiras were sublimeCredit: Getty
The 17-year-old started on the right wing for Palmeiras in their Campeonato Paulista quarter-final away to Sao Bernardo.
It took the teenage talent just 16 minutes to open the scoring with a shot that somehow didn’t blast a hole in the net, such was the ferocity of the strike.
Estevao controlled the ball from a header before taking a touch to open up space for a strike from outside the 18-yard box.
With his left foot, the Chelsea-bound star rifled a shot into the top-right corner of the goal that left Sao Bernardo goalkeeper Alex Alves clutching at thin air.
Safe to say, Chelsea supporters were in awe of the 17-year-old’s strike.
One user on X wrote: “Oh my word Estevao what a goal. The power on that strike.”
Another said: “Another day, another banger from Estevao. What. A. Goal.”
One fan added: “Just saw Estevao’s goals so far from tonight. What a joke. This kid is actually a demon. The absolute biggest thing out of Brazil since Neymar. Don’t you dare fumble his development, Chels.”
The teen collected his second goal of the contest in first-half stoppage time.
With the ball at his feet high on the right flank, Estevao beat his marker and cut inside to find himself in acres of space before unleashing a driving curling effort past a sprawling Alves.
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Chelsea fans were left in awe of Estevao’s two goals against San BernardoCredit: Getty
By scoring twice against Sao Bernardo, it brought Estevao’s total goal involvements for Palmeiras to 30, 20 of which were goals and ten being assists.
It meant Estevao became the first Brazilian to reach 30 career goals and assists before the age of 18 since superstar winger Neymar accomplished the feat in 2010.
Unfortunately for Palmeiras supporters, they only have a few more months left to enjoy Estevao before he moves to Chelsea on a permanent basis.
However, due to FA and Premier League rules, teams are unable to sign players from abroad if they are under the age of 18, meaning Estevao cannot join until the summer.
But it hasn’t stopped Chelsea fans from getting excited ever since they agreed the deal to sign him, especially since he has been nicknamed ‘Messinho’, or ‘Little Messi’, owing to his small stature and remarkable ability on the ball.
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It won’t be long before Blues fans could see Estevao in action for the clubCredit: Getty
He was also crowned the Best Young Player and Best Attacker of the 2024 Brasileirao thanks to his exploits with Palmeiras as he registered 13 goals and nine assists in 31 Serie A appearances.
Estevao’s success will no doubt give Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca a headache of the good kind as the Italian works out how he could fit the teenager into his team.
Further complicating matters is the fact Estevao previously told ESPN Brazil his ‘favourite position is number 10.’
“But I am comfortable in every position, also on the wing,” Estevao added.
Burnley will demand £30million for Newcastle goalkeeper James Trafford, talkSPORT understands.
The Magpies are confident of finally signing Trafford this summer after several previous failed attempts to prise him away from Turf Moor.
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Trafford has been in startling formCredit: Rex
But Burnley believe they can command a high price for their England World Cup hopeful, especially if they are promoted to the Premier League.
Trafford has kept 23 clean sheets this season and has not conceded a goal for more than 1,000 minutes.
The 19-time England U21 international is a product of Manchester City’s famed academy and has made a name of one of the nation’s best young shot-stoppers since signing for Burnley permanently for £15m in 2022.
This season he’s been in stunning form where Burnley have conceded a miserly nine goals in 33 games, 11 fewer than any other Championship side.
He’s also from the north, in Cumbria, where many Newcastle fans reside, and delighted the fanbase with some heroics against rivals Sunderland in January.
Trafford saved two penalties in the 0-0 draw, and after the second appeared to replicate the celebration of Magpie Alexander Isak.
His incredible form even led to investor and NFL great J.J. Watt joking that he could come out of retirement to try his hand at football due to Burnley being so water-tight at the back.
“You don’t allow a goal for the rest of the season and it’s a deal,” the 35-year-old said in a text.
The Premier League winter transfer window closes at 10am (AEDT) and a host of clubs are still scrambling to bolster their squads to close out this season.
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Catch all the latest transfer news below!
ANGE’S SPURS BACK IN TEL EQUATION
After initially rejecting a move to Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou’s club have reportedly made strides in their attempts to sign French young gun Mathys Tel.
According to ESPN, the 19-year-old travelled to London on deadline day after a breakthrough in negotiations.
Tel will reportedly join Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich, however it remains to be seen how his contract will be structured.
It looms unlikely there will be an option or an obligation for the North London club to buy the rising star once the load period ends.
Chelsea and Manchester United were also reportedly interested in Tel’s services after he was seeking a move away from the German giants due to a lack of game time.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had previously flown to Munich, but was unable to convince the winger to make a permanent move to London after a $100m AUD transfer fee was agreed between clubs.
However, he reportedly had a change of heart and remained open to a loan move after speaking with coach Postecoglou.
Spurs are also keen to add more defensive recruits before the window closes.
The BBC reported Crystal Palace rejected a $140m AUD million bid from Tottenham for captain Marc Guehi, who has just 18 months left to run of his contract at Selhurst Park.
Tottenham reportedly won’t make any further bids to sign the English centre back.
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, applauds the fans after defeating Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Brentford Community Stadium on February 02, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Palace previously turned down a host of bids in the summer, with the final offer tabled by Newcastle at the time sitting at $130m AUD.
Their resistance to let their captain go comes after injuries in their defensive ranks, with only three fit centre backs currently in their squad.
Chelsea’s Axel Disasi has been linked with a move across London, while Spurs also completed the signing of centre-back Kevin Danso from Lens on Sunday.
CITY MAKE MOVE FOR FOURTH SIGNING
Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Nico Gonzalez from Porto before Monday’s transfer deadline.
City’s midfield frailties without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is out for the season due to a serious knee injury, were exposed in a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s men find themselves in a battle just to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with the defending champions sitting fourth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
City could also use reinforcements for a blockbuster Champions League playoff round tie against holders Real Madrid later this month.
Former Barcelona midfielder Gonzalez, 23, will reportedly arrive for a fee of $100m AUD.
City have already splashed out more than $240m AUD million in January on Egypt forward Omar Marmoush and young defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
Premier League: Spurs win, City smashed | 02:45
WEST HAM SECURE NEW MARKSMAN
West Ham on Monday signed Brighton striker Evan Ferguson on loan until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old Ireland international will be reunited with Graham Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui as manager at the London Stadium last month.
Ferguson has made 13 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls this season, but most of those have been off the bench.
Brighton boss Fabian Huerzeler said the loan would give the highly rated Ferguson much-needed game time.
“Evan has had a frustrating 12 months with injuries and for him to get back to the level he’s capable of and to continue his development, he really needs to be playing regularly,” he said.
“This loan gives him that opportunity, and under a manager he knows well. We are looking forward to watching Evan’s progress over the next few months, and we wish him well.” Ferguson has made 80 appearances in all competitions for Brighton since his debut as a 16-year-old in the League Cup under Potter, scoring 17 goals.
He will boost West Ham’s attacking options in the absence of Michail Antonio and Niclas Fuellkrug, both of whom are injured.
“It feels good to be here. Seeing the stadium and being here today, I’ve got a very good feeling,” Ferguson told West Ham TV.
“I can see and know how big West Ham United is. It was a big opportunity for me to come here. I know the gaffer well and look forward to working under him again.” Potter said Ferguson had “plenty of quality attributes” that would help the team, currently 15th in the Premier League.
Aston Villa signed Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season on Sunday to end the England international’s exile under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
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Once a hero for the United fans, Rashford has not featured for his boyhood club since December 12 and admitted earlier this season he was ready for a “new challenge”.
The 27-year-old had been linked with a move to AC Milan and Barcelona, but the European giants were put off by his reported £300,000-a-week (A$600,000) wages.
According to Sky Sports, Villa will pick up at least 75 percent of that pay packet for the coming months, rising to 90 percent depending on performance-related bonuses and have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for £40 million (A$40m).
“I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision – I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager’s ambitions,” said Rashford in a Villa statement.
“I just want to play football and am excited to get started. I wish everyone at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season.”
Villa moved to bolster their attacking options after selling Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr on Friday for a reported £64 million.
Unai Emery’s men have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League and still have aspirations to qualify for that tournament again next season.
Villa sit eighth in the Premier League, eight points above 13th-placed United. Rashford scored 138 goals in 426 appearances since coming through the ranks at Old Trafford and has lifted the Europa League, two FA Cups and two League Cups as a United player.
However, his attitude and work ethic in training has been questioned by Amorim, since he took charge in November.
After last weekend’s 1-0 win at Fulham, the Portuguese coach sensationally claimed he would rather put the club’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, in the squad than Rashford.
“Our team should be so much better with Rashford, but he has to change,” Amorim said last week.
“If he does change, we are more than welcome to put a talent like Rashford in, and we need it.
“But in this moment I think it’s really clear that we have to set some standards. That’s all.” A temporary switch to Villa allows Rashford a fresh start to rehabilitate his tarnished reputation after his astonishing fall from grace.
He was part of England’s World Cup squad just over two years ago and scored a career-best 30 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.
But he netted just eight times last season and has seven in 24 appearances so far this campaign.
ANGE HI-JACKS $40M TRANSFER
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have hijacked a deal Wolves had in place to sign 26-year-old centre back Kevin Danso, who joins initially on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season for 25 million euros (£21 million, A$42m).
“It’s great to get Kevin in, we desperately needed a defender,” added Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have hijacked a deal Wolves had in place to sign Kevin Danso.Source: Getty Images
“Getting him is great because he’s a great fit for us. He’s had a strong career and he’s at an age now (26) where he wants to kick on and he has all the attributes we look for. We’re really pleased and it will be a lift for the whole group.”
Danso is expected to be available for selection by the time Spurs play the second leg of their League Cup semi-final against Liverpool on Friday morning.
Postecoglou’s first-choice centre-backs Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero have missed a large part of the season, while their backup Radu Dragusin is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.
Spurs had reportedly held advanced talks with AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori but the England international opted to remain in Italy. It was the second high-profile snub Spurs had suffered in the window after Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel also opted to stay put despite the agreement of a A$100m transfer fee.
Chelsea’s Axel Disasi is also reportedly on the verge of a move across London before Tuesday morning’s (AEDT) transfer deadline.
Brazilian superstar Neymar has left sections of the football world in meltdown with an announcement about his return to boyhood club Santos expected to be made within days.
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Saudi giant Al Hilal on Monday night released a statement to confirm the club had reached a mutual agreement to release the former Barcelona star from his mega-contract.
The Champions League winner shared a message on Tuesday night, saying goodbye to his Saudi Pro League fans.
“To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans, Thank you,” he posted on X.
“I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together.
“To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences I now know the real Saudi and have friends for life. I always felt your love and passion for the game. I will be following your journey ahead as a club and a country towards 2034.
“Your future will be incredible, special things are happening and I will always support you.”
Al Hilal’s Brazilian forward Neymar warms up. Photo by AFP.Source: AFP
Neymar’s deal was reported to have been worth a staggering $215 million (£129m) per-year, The Sun reports.
And after leaving following 18 months at the club, it meant he earned £193.8m in total.
That breaks down to an outrageous $4.1 million (£2.5m) per-week.
Combined with his transfer fee, Al-Hilal effectively paid $452 million (£271m) for Neymar’s single goal and three assists in seven matches.
Al Hilal’s nightmare isn’t even over yet.
Neymar will still pocket $87 million (£51.9m) of the wages he was owed for the remainder of the season, agreeing to give up just 15 per cent – which works out to $13 million (£8m).
That means by the end of the season, his single goal will have cost over $554 million (£322m), while each appearance will have been worth £46m.
If all that wasn’t enough, Neymar also raked in a cool £136m from commercial income, separate to his wage from Al-Hilal.
The former Paris Saint-Germain winger played just seven times since joining the club in August 2023.
Neymar was the subject of what is still the biggest transfer in football history when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2017 for a fee of 220 million euros.
He followed fellow superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the lucrative Saudi league.
But two months after his arrival in Riyadh, he ruptured a cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier in October 2023, which kept him on the sidelines for a year.
He returned for Al Hilal with two brief appearances in October and November but injured a hamstring and has not played since.
Club’s blunt Neymar statement as boyhood fairy tale nears
Al-Hilal’s statement confirming Neymar’s exit was short and sweet.
“The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career,” said a club statement posted on social media.
The decision to release Neymar came after boss Jorge Jesus admitted the player was no longer capable of the required physical demands.
He said: “Neymar can no longer perform at the level we are used to.
“Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”
While Neymar had been courted by MLS teams in the United States, reports in Brazil said Santos, the club where Neymar made his name, was in talks for him to return to his homeland.
A return to Brazil would likely be the last chance for a player who is his country’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 127 matches.
Neymar scores for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Club president Marcelo Teixeira took to Instagram to deliver the message to Neymar on Tuesday night but did not officially confirm the 32-year-old’s return to the club where he first broke through in 2009.
“The time has come, Neymar. The time has come for you to return to your people. To your home, to our beloved club,” said Teixeira.
“Welcome back, Ney boy!… Come and be happy again in the sacred jersey. The Santos nation awaits you with open arms.”
Earlier in January, Neymar said he was aiming to play the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico.
“I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance and I will do everything I can to play in it,” he told CNN.
At the start of his career he was cast as the heir to Pele.
After scoring 107 goals in 177 appearances for Santos, he joined Barcelona in 2013, becoming the young star of a team that also featured Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, which swept to the Champions League title in 2015 by beating Juventus 3-1 in the final in Berlin.
A year later he scored the winning penalty in a shootout as Brazil won the men’s football gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2017, Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain prised him away from Barcelona with what is still a world-record transfer fee of 220 million euros ($230 million).
He won five Ligue 1 titles and he and prolific French forward Kylian Mbappe led PSG to the final of the Champions League in the Covid-blighted 2019-2020, but they lost to Bayern Munich.
PSG reunited Neymar with Messi in the French capital, but the trio with Mbappe failed to gel as personal rivalries got in the way and he was pushed to the exit, and to Saudi Arabia, by the Parisian management in 2023.
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At the start of the season, no one would have predicted Nottingham Forest to be guaranteed a place in the Premier League’s top three on New Year’s Day.
The once mighty Forest, who famously won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980, were in fact one of the favourites to be relegated this season, according to the bookmakers.
After winning two of their last three matches to finish one place above the drop zone last campaign, that prediction made sense.
But now, they are one place off top spot and everyone else has egg on their face.
Forest moved to second with a 2-0 win at Everton in the early hours of Monday morning Australian time, and at worst they will start 2025 in third if Chelsea win at second-last Ipswich Town.
It was their fifth consecutive victory in the league, which is the longest winning streak in English football’s top flight since 1995.
Sitting on 37 points with 11 wins and four draws for 19 matches, they have already surpassed their entire points tally from last season by five.
Forest returned to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years in the 2022/23 season and in their two previous campaigns back among England’s heavyweights, they only won nine games in each season.
“We are enjoying it,” Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said of their league position. “We are especially enjoying because our fans are enjoying.
“This is what we have to do together, let’s enjoy the journey, compete in every match. Nothing changes, we have to realise we didn’t achieve anything.”
It has been a stunning turnaround, and it has been built off the back of staunch defence.
The 26 goals they have scored so far is the equal least, alongside Aston Villa, among the top 12 teams, but they have still presented a serious attacking threat.
New Zealander Chris Wood has been the hero up front with 11 goals after earlier in the year knocking back the pursuits of the A-League’s newest team, Auckland FC.
The tall striker is a major threat in the air and is a proven finisher with a double figure goal tally in six different Premier League seasons across his stints at Forest and Burnley.
Reds hammer West Ham in 5-0 rout | 00:45
The 33-year-old is on track to better his best season tally of 14, which he has reached twice, and sits equal fourth in the golden boot standings, six shy of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Everton boss, and Wood’s former mentor at Burnley, Sean Dyche was full of praise for Wood after he scored at Goodison Park.
“He’s got a different format they’re working to there which seems to be to his liking. He’s got wide players, they’ve got a strength behind them, and they get the ball up to him quickly,” Dyche said.
“That seems to be a thing that’s good for him and not massively dissimilar to what we were trying to achieve at Burnley.
“But yeah, I think a lot of credit to him, credit to his professionalism to keep on top of himself. He had a quiet spell when he first went there and [there were] a few question marks over him.
“That can happen with strikers. He’s had that before, and he’s come through it. Certainly a very good player, and someone I’ve got a lot of respect for.”
But it is at the other end of the pitch where Forest are causing the most headaches for their opponents.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels boasts the most clean sheets in the league with eight, and has made many crucial stops throughout the first half of the season.
In front of Sels is real the star of the show, however.
Centre back Nikola Milenkovic was bought from Fiorentina for £12 million in the summer and is proving to be bargain in comparison to what the richer clubs fork out for the linchpins of their defences.
In fact, the 27-year-old is widely regarded as the best signing of the season.
“The Serbian defender has helped turn Nottingham Forest into one of the best defensive sides in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo’s guidance, with an old-school appetite for the battle with his centre-forward,” The UK Telegraph’s sports writer Lawrence Ostlere wrote.
“He’s also added a set-piece threat at the other end of the pitch, with a couple of goals and an assist already this season, and must have added plenty of value to his £12m transfer fee.”
Milenkovic’s impact has been so great, that it has even forgiven other missteps Forest have made in transfer windows past.
“Nottingham Forest were mocked, sometimes rightly, for signing vast numbers of players in recent years; so many that they didn’t have room in the squad for some of them,” The UK Telegraph’s senior football correspondent Richard Jolly wrote.
“Yet recruitment has clearly been refined: less quantity, more quality. Their side now has a series of fine buys. Nikola Milenkovic may be the best: not merely in what he is – a giant, dominant central defender – but in terms of what Forest lacks.
“He complements the excellent Murillo wonderfully. Forest now have one of the best central-defensive partnerships and defences in the division. And at £12m, Milenkovic is a bargain.”
In midfield, captain Morgan Gibbs-White has been inspirational.
He followed manager Nuno from Wolves to the City Ground, and has since become an England international.
Gibbs-White scored in their most recent outing at Everton, but it his creativity in the middle of the pitch that has drawn the most praise.
At Goodison Park, he also set up Wood’s goal and has been dubbed by his manager a “talented player” who is “fantastic”.
He along with Wood and Milenkovic will need to maintain their high standards if Forest are to challenge for the title or hang on to a Champions League place.
Chants of ‘we’re going to win the league’ have rung out from the Forest fans regularly in recent months, but with every win they are becoming less tongue-in-cheek.
It would take a mighty collapse from league leaders Liverpool, who are eight points clear with a game in hand, but the fact Forest and the Reds are battling it out at the pointy end of the table is a providing older fans with a lot of nostalgia.
Forest won the English First Division in 1978 with Liverpool finishing second, the following year their places were reversed.
During the 1980s, Forest finished third on three occasions and they last played in the European Cup, now the Champions League, in the 1980-81 season.
Now, the dream is real of hearing the Champions League theme on a Tuesday or Wednesday night at the City Ground.
It will be a challenge, but their biggest tests might be behind them.
Arsenal keep pressure on Liverpool | 01:27
In the second half of the season, their clashes with fellow top five teams Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are all at home.
That Liverpool match is only two weeks away, first they will travel to an in form Wolves in a grudge match for Nuno, and after that clash we will have a better understanding how serious about being a top team Forest truly are.
Their current standing proves this is more than merely a good start, but it remains unclear whether this could be another Leicester City fairytale title, an Aston Villa of last season charge to the Champions League, or a campaign that fades into the middle of the table.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs rollercoaster continues to roll on and he has an injury crisis on his hands that will force the North London club to hit the transfer market.
Meanwhile, a United talisman could be on the move, while City’s woes continue on the other side of Manchester.
Read below for all the latest Premier League talking points!
WHY TOTTENHAM MUST HIT THE TRANSFER WINDOW IN JANUARY
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou was scathing in his assessment of Timo Werner, who arrived at the North London club in January 2024.
The German winger is one of Tottenham’s most recent arrivals, and he was intended to provide depth, pace and energy to a depleted attacking line.
Postecoglou pulled Werner from the field at halftime in a draw against Rangers, and was later asked about the player’s response to his comments.
“I’ve got no time for that sort of stuff anymore. We’re in a fight here, collectively we’re in a fight. I’m not going to go around worrying about people’s bruised egos,” he said.
Spurs’ biggest issue is their injury crisis, but his comments serve as a big message to the Tottenham squad.
Postecoglou has been without a host of big-name players that make up their regular starting side.
Guglielmo Vicario, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Heung-Min Son, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have all been sidelined.
So the former Celtic boss called upon teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall to start against their Scottish rivals.
Ange Postecoglou, manager of Tottenham, looks on before the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at St Mary’s Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I’m pulling kids out of school. I literally am. I’m getting notes from their teachers saying young Lucas (Bergvall) has missed another day of school,” he said.
With Spurs sitting in 10th and disappointing losses coming against Ipswich and Bournemouth in recent weeks, Postecoglou must hit the transfer market in January and it’s almost certain he will bring in defensive reinforcements.
On the attacking front, South Korean winger Min-Hyeok Yang is set to arrive, having already signed a contract in July until 2030.
However, he’s only 18-years-old and could take time to develop before he becomes a candidate to start, potentially getting minutes on the bench.
In defence, according to Spanish outlet AS, Postecoglou is set to recruit Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete from Getafe in the La Liga.
He is predominantly a centre back, but also can ply his trade off the left and he reportedly has a release clause said to be worth around $26 million AUD.
Meanwhile, according to Football Insider, Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for Lens in the Ligue 1, has also caught Postecoglou’s eye.
He’s reportedly been scouted on multiple occasions by Spurs, and the 20-year-old is reportedly also the subject of interest from rival Premier League clubs, namely Newcastle United.
Epic free kick sees draw for Bournemouth | 00:53
UNITED SUPERSTAR ON THE OUTER IN ARMORIM REVOLUTION
New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim dropped Marcus Rashford ahead of the cross-town derby against Manchester City.
The Red Devils secured a 2-1 win in that clash, and the 27-year-old’s time at the club could be coming to an end.
It’d be a considerable move for Rashford, who made his debut at his boyhood club as an 18-year-old, joining United’s youth system at only seven.
He’s played 287 games for the Red Devils, and now he’s openly admitted he believes it’s the right time to leave Old Trafford.
“For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford said to Henry Winter, a prominent football writer.
“When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings.’ You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.
“If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse. I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person.
“When I leave I’ll make a statement and it will be from me. It’s disheartening to be left out of a Derby, but it’s happened, we won the game so let’s move on.
“It’s disappointing, but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best the next time I’m available.”
Rashford has been a heavily criticised figure during his time at United, revealing he believes he is “misunderstood”.
“I’m halfway through my career. I don’t expect my peak to be now. I’ve had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person. So I don’t have any regrets from the last nine years,” he said.
“I have my own dreams. I’ve achieved parts of it. But I’m not at where I want to be. But the problem is when you get there, you create another thing.”
The dangerous attacker will likely command a significant transfer fee ahead of a potential January move, but it’s shaping as a disappointing end for a figure once revered as the face of Manchester United.
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United applauds the fans as he looks dejected after defeat to Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Old Trafford on December 07, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CITY’S WOES CONTINUE
Winning four Premier League titles in-a-row is a staggering feat, and the drop off Manchester City are experienced has been forecast for years.
But Pep Guardiola’s outfit are dropping to new lows in the run to Christmas, winning just one of their last 11 games.
The Spanish super coach has won every trophy under the sun during his time in the sky blue side of Manchester, but as his continue to get beat on the pitch, Guardiola is showing signs of a coach under siege off it.
“They implode on themselves, which is the reason why everybody says they’re fragile. Pep Guardiola’s reaction on the sideline, that all adds to it, and as players, you see everything,” former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said to Optus Sport.
“Everybody is seeing for the very first time a manager in Pep Guardiola being under such intense scrutiny now, questioning his ability to get themselves out of the situation.
“Maybe there’s an element of… players seeing stuff from him that they’re not buying into anymore. Maybe finger pointing is happening.”
Manchester City now sit nine points from the top of the Premier League ladder, and Guardiola himself even went as far as admitting he’s the one to blame for City’s woes after their 2-1 derby loss to United.
“I’m the manager and I’m not good enough, simple as that. I have to find a way to talk to them, to train them in the way we need to play, to press the way we need to press. I’m not good enough. I’m not doing well. That is the truth,” he said.
So what has gone wrong? Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes his transfer decisions have put them in a vulnerable position.
“We all know, it’s the first time and we’re allowed to say it, that we can challenge his decisions in the way of letting Cole Palmer go, Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez,” Henry said on Sky Sports.
“Ilkay Gundogan came back and it’s not the same Gundogan who scored 17 goals a season.
“You’re missing those goals. Erling Haaland is scoring the same goals, a few less than in his first season but he’s doing what he does usually.
“I’ve seen him miss sitters in every season but where are the goals of Mahrez, Alvarez or Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan – where are those goals?”
However, there could be light at the end of the tunnel and the French striker was of the belief if anyone could turn City’s fortunes around, it is Guardiola.
“One thing I will say about this team, it’s the first time it’s happening like this to him in his career. Let’s not kill the guy or this team because of what’s happening,” he said.
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SET PIECES CARRYING ARSENAL’S ATTACKING WOES
Arsenal have scored a league high eight goals of their total 29 from set pieces.
That figure includes two penalties, but it raises a question — are Arsenal too reliant on dead ball situations?
Overall, the Gunners attacking output has been down. They’ve scored 29 goals in 16 appearances in the 2024/25 season, compared to 33 and 40 at the same stage in campaigns.
It’s also been more than three games since Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s last goal from open play, which came against West Ham.
Nicolas Jover is the man who has been credited with Arsenal’s success from set pieces, but dead ball scenarios alone won’t be able to spark a title resurgence.
As it stands, Chelsea and Liverpool sit four and six points clear in first and second place, and Arsenal dropped crucial points in their last outing against Everton.
For former Arsenal women’s player Karen Carney, Arteta’s side rely too heavily on the impact of Bukayo Saka.
“They’re very right side dominant,” she said on Optus Sport.
“[Teams] set up a game plan to eradicate that, and [apart from] being good from set pieces, then you’re thinking where else you’re going to get goals from.
“The left side isn’t giving us the output that [they] want. And that’s why I’m saying if they don’t go and get someone for the left side, I think they won’t ever kick on to the levels where they want to get to.
Nicolas Jover, Set-piece coach of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on December 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Saka and Odegaard are their main guys, and if you block that, there is a problem. I think the rest of the team is built on really good physicality, and they’re a hard team to beat.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry echoed that opinion and labelled Arteta’s attacking style “predictable”, whilst admitting it is a positive sign to be scoring off set pieces.
He compared the Gunners’ attack to that of Liverpool, explaining Saka has limited attacking options at his disposal beyond Martin Odegaard.
“Think about Liverpool, when Mo Salah cuts inside, you have Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, or [Darwin] Nunez running [on the left], or Conor Bradley sometimes on the inside running. Look at what Bukayo Saka has,” Henry said
“But it’s predictable, we all know he’s going to play with [Martin] Odegaard, everyone sees that. Can you beat the line?
“You can pass to Declan Rice and enjoy a quick three vs. two. That’s called creating, playing between the lines, attracting an opponent one way and going the other way to see what you can do.”
While Arteta remained coy when speaking on potential transfers, Arsenal could target another strike option to command the left wing spot over Gabriel Martinelli.
“The amount we generate in the match and how little we concede, I fully trust my players,” he said on Wednesday.
Newcastle ace Alexander Isak has previously been linked with a move to the North London club, while former Premier League defender floated the idea of recruiting Dutch playmaker Xavi Simons.
“For his size, he’s quite physical and he’s very good technically, so I believe he’s the type of player that would thrive in the Premier League,” Johnson said.
“£66 million’s not too bad for a player that’s going to be knocking on the door for a starting place in the team.”
UGLY WOLVES SCENES AS TENSIONS BOIL IN RELEGATION BATTLE
The Wolves are in a relegation battle, and tensions are clearly running high in Wolverhampton.
In their last two Premier League games they’ve been involved in post-match stoushes, with the latest coming after a 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town.
Not only does the loss boost the chances of a relegation rival, it also gave them a three-point buffer from Wolverhampton who now sit in 19th place with only two wins.
Gary O’Neil was sacked following the defeat, and Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira is in talks to replace him.
But the real issue looks to be a lack of emotional control from the playing group.
Rayan Ait-Nouri received a second yellow card after the final whistle, being walked down the tunnel by teammate Craig Dawson after a grapple with Ipswich’s Wes Burns.
Meanwhile, striker Matheus Cunha pushed and shoved with a member of Ipswich’s coaching staff in staggering scenes.
The latest incident came only days after Mario Lemina had the captaincy stripped off him after arguments between he and his teammates and coaching staff broke out.
“We are under a lot of pressure,” O’Neil said.
“I understand the players being emotional but we have to keep control better.”
While O’Nell will no longer have to deal with the turmoil in the Wolves dressing room, it’s going to be a big ask to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Only last season Wolverhampton were playing an entertaining brand of football, finishing in 14 with 13 wins.
Last campaign saw Luton town finish in 18th place with 26 points as the highest-placed team to go down. So can Wolves conjure up 17 points in their remaining 22 games?
The midlands club will likely experience a ‘new manager bounce’ when their next mentor arrives, but it’s a big ask.
England great Michael Owen believes conquering the mental side of the game could be the determining factor between 18-year-old Australian Nestory Irankunda enjoying a long career in Europe and not quite living up to his incredible potential.
As a former teenage star himself, Owen is well qualified to speak on the topic.
In 1997, a then-17-year-old Owen scored on Premier League debut for Liverpool. Just four years later the former forward took home the Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world.
The ‘next big thing in Australian football’ is a tag that traditionally has carried a heavy weight in the post-golden generation era.
With it comes pressure, expectation and usually a move to a well-known European side – slightly ahead of schedule – thanks to the awareness of the Australian market created by five-straight appearances at the World Cup.
The risk for the purchasing club is minimal.
Nestory Irankunda of the Socceroos. Picture: Maya Thompson/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Australian players cost relatively minor sums and the potential reward, if that player shines, is a transfer fee worth millions.
The downside for the player is being thrown into an environment where the likelihood of a years-long cycle of loan spells is high.
Garang Kuol, for example, has struggled to make an impact at Newcastle United in the Premier League after his transfer from the Central Coast Mariners in 2023.
Daniel Arzani, after 24-appearances for Melbourne City, landed at Manchester City and was immediately loaned out to Scottish giants Celtic. An ACL injury on debut in October of 2018 cruelly halted his progress – and after a series of loan spells after his recovery, landed back in the A-League.
Only now is he starting to rebuild his career.
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Both left as teenagers and now Irankunda is following the same path. His move from Adelaide United to German powerhouse Bayern Munich at just 18 years of age has placed the spotlight on his every move as a Socceroo.
Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England, offered some advice to players like Irankunda in an interview with Fox Sports News to promote his upcoming speaking tour of Australia – An Evening with Michael Owen.
“If I was having a chat with somebody like that, I would hardly mention the game of football in terms of what they can and what they can’t do,” Owen told Fox Sports News.
“There are lots of people that are super talented, but being talented is obviously very important; you can’t get to the top without being talented. But then if there’s a million talented people in the world, then it’s all what happens between your ears.”
Irankunda has reportedly settled into life in Germany quite well.
Nestory Irankunda of FC Bayern Muenchen controls the ball. Picture: S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
He finished his first pre-season at Bayern with two goals and three assists and appeared an outside chance of swiftly integrating into the first team under manager Vincent Kompany.
The South Australian has since had to bide his time in the club’s second team while he pushes for his Bundesliga debut, but good form in that environment kept him in the plans of former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold and the man currently in the role, Tony Popovic.
Challenges await though.
In Popovic’s first match in charge, against China in Adelaide earlier this month, Irankunda started the match, but was substituted for Riley McGree at half-time in what the coach called a “tactical decision” at the time.
He didn’t feature in a 1-1 draw against Japan away in Tokyo just days later.
Popovic’s system, where the wingers take up more inverted roles, doesn’t appear to play to Irankunda’s strengths, but the young gun is good enough to adapt with time.
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At club level he has mainly featured in his more favoured role wide on the right.
“There’s a million things you could tell them, a million experiences that you could share with them,” Owen said.
“They live their own life, and we’ve got to understand their background and how they take to pressure.
“Yes, you could always give them little tips on how to improve, but it would all be about their mindset.
“How do they think going into a game: What happens if you make a mistake in the first minute? There’s another 89 minutes to go. Do you curl up in a ball or have you got coping strategies?
“A lot comes with experience. I learned some over time, but I also had a huge bank of know-how, of ability and mental strength to fall back on if I made a mistake in a game.”
There’s also hurdles off the pitch to conquer.
This generation of footballers are more active on social media than perhaps any other in the history of the game.
It gives them access to feedback, both positive and negative, quickly and in great quantity.
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Arnold urged his players to stay off social media, warning it disrupted their mental preparation for games.
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Asked if he felt sorry for this current crop of players when it comes to the vast array of comments they get online, Owen had an interesting take.
“I don’t feel sorry for them,” he said.
“We had our own pressures. Our press were vicious, the pressure was huge; probably as much, if not even more back then.
“I feel sorry for young people in general with social media because everybody is under pressure to look good. You’re always getting it fed down your throat. So, I feel sorry for this generation of people because I think everybody feels that pressure, but no, I don’t feel sorry for footballers with social media.
TV pundit and former footballer, Michael Owen. Picture: David Rogers/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“They can be on it, or they can be off it. They’ve got the choice. They can create their own image.
“We had no choice. We had our image created for us by the press. If they wanted to put a turnip on our head on the front pages of all our media, they could do it and they did it.”
The 44-year-old, now plying his trade as a pundit, will tour Australia next month for a series of speaking engagements.
‘An evening with Michael Owen’ will stop in Perth, the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne; recounting a career that took him from Merseyside to Madrid and Manchester with stops at Newcastle and Stoke along the way as well.
The first show will be at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse on November 20.
Ange Postecoglou’s overhaul of his Tottenham Hotspur squad has taken a key step forward with four players released by the club, as the Australian manager looks to clear space to bring in new arrivals – including a bid for a $96m Chelsea star.
Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, Japhet Tanganga and Ryan Sessegnon all departed Spurs at the end of their contracts, with a club statement reading: “We thank Eric, Ivan, Ryan and Japhet for their service to the Club and wish them all the very best for the future.”
30-year-old Dier played 365 times for Spurs, but departed on loan to Bayern Munich in January – joining ex-Spurs captain Harry Kane at the German giants. He’s set to sign permanently there.
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It’s a similar situation for Ivan Perisic, who signed in 2022 and played 50 times for the club before leaving for Hajduk Split on loan in January.
25-year-old centre-back Japhet Tanganga was a highly-touted Spurs academy product who debuted for the senior team back in 2019 and went on to play 50 times before being sent out on two loans this season, including a fine stint with Championship side Millwall in the back half of the season. Spurs opted not to extend his deal by a further year which would have given them the chance to push for a transfer fee, something that seemed likely given widespread interest in his services.
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Sessegnon’s exit raises a few eyebrows given his undeniable talent – despite injuries having cruelled his career of late.
Sessegnon broke into the Fulham senior side at 16 and became a key player as they earned promotion to the Premier League, before signing for Spurs for £25m as a 19-year-old. That was back in 2019, but things haven’t quite gone to plan since. He played 23 games last season and 21 the year before, but the gifted left wing-back suffered a horror year with injury that required two hamstring surgeries and limited him to just one appearance this campaign.
Spurs had the option to extend the now 24-year-old’s contract for one more season, but opted not to.
Sessegnon wrote on Instagram: “Spurs, thank you. I would like to thank everyone associated with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. I joined at 19 and have met some very special people along the way that have supported and guided me.
“From my teammates, to the backroom staff to my coaches – thank you! I’ve got memories and friends for life. From making my debut to scoring in the Champions League. I’ll always cherish these moments.
“Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way I or the club wanted during my time here. It broke my heart that I couldn’t play in front of you a lot more.”
Meanwhile, another defender in Djed Spence appears likely to depart, with the 23-year-old in talks to sign a permanent deal with Genoa.
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Spence, who signed for Spurs in 2022 for £20 million ($A38.5m) but played just six games, had been hoping for a new chance at Tottenham when Postecoglou arrived. But he soon fell out of the first-team picture in pre-season and was sent on two loan deals – the latter to Genoa in January. Selling Spence to the Italian club, as Fabrizio Romano is reporting, could help raise crucial funds for Postecoglou.
And high on the Australian’s shopping list is Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher.
Aston Villa held talks in recent days with the Blues over signing the star 24-year-old, but Tottenham is also reportedly preparing an offer.
According to reports, Chelsea will seek at least £50m ($A96m) for the England midfielder – and that price could quickly rise even further if he impresses at the upcoming Euros.
Gallagher is a Chelsea Academy graduate and is not pushing for a move, but the Blues need to offload players after their outlandish spending spree in recent windows.
Chelsea could break the bank yet again in pursuit of a superstar striker while Jordan Henderson’s wish to leave Saudi Arabia could be realised.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are eyeing up one of the hottest strikers in the Premier League while a maligned Manchester United star doesn’t want to leave the club just yet.
Catch up on all of the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
Just when you thought Chelsea couldn’t spend any more money, think again.
The Blues’ attacking woes were on display for all to see after a shock 1-0 loss to Championship side Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Chelsea’s struggles in attack has also plagued the team this season in the Premier League as they sit in 10th.
So it’s no surprise that Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are willing to open the cheque book once more to bring in a new forward to the club, per the Daily Mail.
And the report claims Chelsea holds a “strong interest” in Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen has a release clause of $AUD195 million but is away with Nigeria for the African Cup of Nations, meaning a deal might not be done until the summer.
Should Chelsea bring Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, it would represent a major upgrade on the unproven Armando Broja as well as Nicolas Jackson, who has struggled to impress since joining from Villarreal last summer.
Osimhen is attracting plenty of interest from Chelsea. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SURPRISE EXIT ROUTE EMERGES FOR ENGLAND STAR STUCK IN SAUDI ARABIA
Jordan Henderson hasn’t verbalised it himself, but the rampant reports of his desire to leave Saudi Arabia says it all about his disillusionment with his current situation.
The former Liverpool skipper is just five months into his Saudi adventure with Al-Ettifaq, the club managed by his former Reds teammate Steven Gerrard.
However, Henderson is looking for a return to Europe either on a permanent or loan deal as he attempts to remain prominent in England boss Gareth Southgate’s thoughts ahead of the 2024 Euros.
The England international could be inching closer to realising his new dream, with The Telegraph reporting Dutch giants Ajax have made contact with his representatives over a loan deal for the remainder of the season.
A team in the Bundesliga is also keeping a keen eye on Henderson’s situation, per the report.
However, Henderson’s mammoth weekly wage of $665k will likely prove a major stumbling block to any teams interested.
Henderson wants out of Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
PL BIG BOYS EYE RED-HOT STRIKER
With eight goals in his last eight games, Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke has rocketed towards the front of the golden boot race.
The season is just 20 games old and already Solanke has secured his best-ever goals return in the Premier League with 12 to his name, just two goals behind golden boot leaders Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
Unsurprisingly, Solanke’s red-hot form has caught the eye of some big teams, none more so than Newcastle United, per The Telegraph.
However, Newcastle’s inquiry was immediately knocked back by the Cherries as they have no intention of selling their prized asset in January.
Solanke is no stranger to Newcastle boss Eddie Howe given it was the latter who brought the striker to Bournemouth in the first place back in 2019.
Bournemouth’s reluctance to let Solanke go this month is understandable given the club has just one other fit striker, Welsh international Kieffer Moore, with Dango Outtara and Antoine Semenyo at the African Cup of Nations.
Solanke is in sensational form for Bournemouth. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MALIGNED RED DEVIL WANTS TO STAY
Despite receiving offers from elsewhere and not being a guaranteed starter, Anthony Martial is reportedly keen to stick around at Manchester United for the remainder of his contract.
Sky Sports reported Martial, who will become a free agent on June 30, has little interest in leaving Old Trafford in the January window.
The report claims the French striker has knocked back the likes of Marseille, Fenerbache as well as cashed-up clubs in Saudi Arabia in order to prove his worth at United.
The Red Devils also have the option to trigger a one-year extension on Martial’s deal, but that appears to be an unlikely scenario.
Martial also might not have much say in an exit should a club decide to bid for him in January as United look to receive a transfer fee before losing him for free in the summer.
After scoring 17 league goals in the 2019/20 campaign, the 28-year-old has found the back of the net just 12 times across the next four seasons.
