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Despite slipping to a late defeat on the road at Crystal Palace on Saturday, Liverpool remain at the summit of the Premier League for the time being.

Arne Slot and Co had five straight league wins to thank for their table-topping position, but the concerning nature of their defeat at the hands of Oliver Glasner’s Palace will make those with connections to the Anfield giants worry about more crushing losses to come.

It’s too soon to be furiously pounding the panic button, but there will still be an uneasiness in the air surrounding Mohamed Salah’s poor performances of late, as the ageing winger now inevitably faces the winding down of his esteemed playing days.

Salah's poor performances in numbers

Staggeringly, if you remove his opening day strike against AFC Bournemouth from the equation, Salah only has a last-minute penalty against Burnley to shout about for his goalscoring efforts this season.

He does also have two assists next to his name, but it was a worryingly sub-par showing from the usually enigmatic Egyptian against the tough to break down Eagles, with Tyrick Mitchell managing to make the “world-class” ace – as he was once dubbed by Jurgen Klopp – look ordinary.

Salah was arguably lucky to last the full 90 minutes, with the lacklustre number 11 managing to complete none of his dribble attempts to try and catch out a resolute Palace defence, while also squandering two big chances to try and keep the Reds’ 100% record intact.

It does feel rather far-fetched that Salah will be dropped, though, even with these off-days popping up, but Slot will have one eye on the future now, surely, with the left-footed ace coming in at 33 years of age.

Thankfully, Liverpool do have some shiny starlets in the youth set-up who will be desperate to make more considerable strides in the first team picture soon, with one rising attacker maybe even aiming to become the next Salah in time.

Liverpool's up and coming Salah heir

When the day comes that Salah leaves Anfield behind, it will be an extremely tough task to try and instantly replace the Egyptian’s unmistakable star quality.

Despite visible chinks in his armour now appearing, Salah does boast an unbelievable 248 goals and 116 assists for the Reds, with two Premier League triumphs and a Champions League trophy lifted off the back of his blistering heroics.

Still, everybody has their day in the sun before they have to walk away, and with Liverpool already beginning to put the pieces together for a new-look attack with Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz in through the door this summer, there could soon be a queue of candidates wanting to take over from the modern day icon as Liverpool’s electric spark down the flanks.

Rio Ngumoha might well fancy his chances at being a long-term successor to Salah’s throne, having already lit up the Premier League this season with a Salah-like moment of quality when breaking Newcastle United hearts with a last-gasp winner at St. James’ Park.

In the right place at the right time to smash home that decisive strike, the tricky 17-year-old also managed to complete one successful dribble, despite only being present on the Tyneside turf for eight minutes.

Having also scored and assisted for fun in pre-season for Slot’s men – with two goals and two assists registered against the likes of Athletic Bilbao and AC Milan – it does feel like only a matter of time before Nguhoma enters into the Dutchman’s first team plans and remains there.

The future is immensely bright for this talented teen, with his former youth coach in Saul Isaksson-Hurst even going as far as to say he could one day make the Ballon d’Or shortlist like Salah.

Nguhoma’s current moment in the spotlight at Anfield could have well been Chelsea’s own success story in an alternate reality, with the teenage sensation lining up nine times for the Chelsea U18s before moving to Merseyside.

Of course, Salah was also once let go of prematurely by the Blues, before turning into a world beater donning Liverpool red.

With a Salah-like directness present in his game, also making him “one of the best young wingers in Europe” according to Secret Scout, there is an unbelievable level of hype already surrounding the 17-year-old’s name.

It will be up to the England U19 international and those around him to ensure he is brave enough to ride these choppy upcoming waves, but a homegrown Salah potentially being in the works is an absurd thought.

Slot has found the new Nunez in Liverpool star who's "struggling" big time

Liverpool have problems to fix after suffering their first league defeat of the season at Crystal Palace.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 28, 2025

Did the ball or the keeper’s gloves hit the stumps, or both, and which came first? “There was enough doubt,” says Aakash Chopra

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-20251:58

Shubman Gill’s runout – the Time Out verdict

Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler were going well, having added 62 for the second wicket and taken Gujarat Titans (GT) to a solid 149 in the 13th over against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Just then, the partnership was ended by a run out, a dismissal that sparked debate: were the bails dislodged by the throw from short fine-leg, or by wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen’s gloves? Gill was given run out by the TV umpire, but Aakash Chopra said “there was enough doubt” to turn the appeal down.Here’s what happened: Zeeshan Ansari, the legspinner, bowled a googly to Buttler, who flicked the ball behind square on the leg side, and the batters took off for a single. It didn’t seem too hurried, but as Harshal Patel hurled the ball at the stumps, Gill needed to stretch to get to the crease at the striker’s end. As the ball came in, Klaasen’s right hand – he stood adjacent to the stumps, not behind the line of the throw – seemed to go quite close to the stumps just as the ball appeared to hit them.”My point is simple, that hitting the stumps is not good enough these days. We’ve seen Jofra Archer bowling at 145 clicks, it hits the stumps, it’s visible to the naked eye, you can clearly make out that it’s hit the stumps, but the bails haven’t come off – thank you very much. You have to establish, there has to be conclusive evidence to suggest that the bails have come off courtesy that hit, the ball hitting the stumps, because, afterwards, we also saw the hands also flicking the stumps,” Chopra said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show.Related

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The decision was sent to TV umpire Michael Gough, who, not certain after the initial replays, asked for one that would show the trajectory of the ball, whether it (a) changed direction as it passed the gloves, to confirm that there was a deflection, and (b) hit the stumps. The replays seemed to suggest the ball did change direction. The question was what hit the stumps first: ball or gloves?”In my opinion, there was enough doubt. That’s what I felt. There is enough doubt to suggest that it wasn’t the ball,” Chopra said. “Because the moment it hit the stumps, the zing [lights] didn’t actually come on. Strangely enough. The hand, the glove was really close to the stumps, and it looked like, to me, that they’d hit the stumps. So what caused the disturbance in the end… it is definitely [doubtful].”Gill was given out. It didn’t affect GT much, as they still got to an above-par 224 for 6 and then stopped SRH at 186 for 6 to climb to No. 2 on the IPL 2025 points table. But Gill was visibly unhappy with the decision, and showed it as he returned to the dugout and again, after the game, when he spoke to the officials.

One of Everton’s marquee summer signings in 2025 was young centre-forward Thierno Barry. The Frenchman joined from Villarreal over the summer, costing the Toffees a fee said to be £27m. He signed a four-year contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

David Moyes is certainly easing him into his new club, which is smart given he is just 22 years of age. Barry has played just 143 minutes so far, and although he hasn’t scored, his record for the Yellow Submarine last season suggests he has top potential. He bagged 11 goals and assisted four in 35 La Liga games.

Eventually, it seems as though the plan is for Barry to replace Everton’s current first-choice striker, Beto.

Beto’s season so far

The man leading the line this season has tended to be Guinea-Bissau international Beto. The 27-year-old has struggled to find his best form on Merseyside, but this term he’s shown a glimpse of what he can do at his best.

That is best highlighted by the fact he’s already scored this season, both in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield and in the Premier League.

That strike in the top flight came in the 3-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the former Udinese star opening the scoring thanks to a Jack Grealish assist.

Yet, the striker has not really shown his best form in an Everton shirt, across his time for the club. In 75 appearances since moving to Merseyside in 2023, he’s only found the back of the net 17 times.

Beto’s average of 0.22 goals per game certainly leaves a lot to be desired. There are flashes of brilliance, and he scored eight Premier League goals in 30 games last season, but he has yet to prove himself a reliable and consistent asset.

It may well be the case that Everton look at bringing through a new striker soon enough. Barry is waiting in the wings, and they also have someone out on loan who could be a perfect long-term option.

Everton’s on-loan Beto replacement

The Toffees have certainly got some good options in their academy. Young playmaker Harrison Armstrong is someone who has been in and around the first team and grabbed two assists in the cup clash with Masfield.

Another player who could one day break through and become the eventual Beto replacement is Martin Sherif. The 19-year-old is currently out on loan at League One club Rotherham United and has made a strong start despite picking up an injury.

The Dutchman, who has played for the Netherlands at under-17 level, has featured three times for the Millers this term. He’s already bagged one goal, scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw against Wigan Athletic, a game in which he also played 90 minutes.

His stats from that game against Wigan show the kind of quality that the young striker has. Although he only had 23 touches, he made them count, registering two shots on target. Off the ball, he won five duels, showing an impressive work rate.

Touches

23

Pass accuracy

83%

Key passes

1

Shots on target

2

Goals

1

Duels won

5

The 19-year-old, described as a “nuisance” of a striker by journalist Lewis Bower, has featured on the bench for the Toffees. Although he is yet to make his debut, Sherif has featured in the matchday squad nine times.

As for his record for the academy sides on Merseyside, the numbers are yet more evidence that he could become a top striker.

In the under-18s Premier League, he’s scored 21 times in just 40 appearances, and has five Premier League 2 goals.

It remains to be seen just how much longer Beto can keep his place in the starting lineup at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. One thing is for sure, with Barry an option for Moyes and Sherif gaining valuable loan experience, the competition for places is exciting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

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Arsenal are now expected to rival Liverpool for the signature of an “elite” player, who Declan Rice is a big fan of.

Gunners lay down marker with victory against Nottingham Forest

The Gunners suffered an early setback in the Premier League title race at Anfield before the international break, with Liverpool emerging as 1-0 victors, but they got right back on track against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.

A Martin Zubimendi brace either side of Viktor Gyokeres’ third goal of the season ensured the north Londoners picked up all three points, sending Mikel Arteta’s side back to the top of the Premier League table.

As expected, Arteta’s side have looked particularly impressive from a defensive point of view up to this point, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s arguably unstoppable free-kick the only goal they have conceded in the opening four games.

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However, there has now been a suggestion that Arteta remains keen on strengthening his backline even further, with a report from The Boot Room revealing Arsenal are now expected to rival Liverpool for the signature of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Arne Slot’s side are still the favourites to sign Guehi, despite missing out on a £35m deal during the summer transfer window, but there could now be stiff competition for the centre-back’s signature, with a whole host of Europe’s top clubs, including Chelsea, also keen.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey adds: “He is a fantastic person and everyone who meets him relays that fact – I was told by one high ranking Premier League executive that signing him is one of the ‘least risky’ transfers that anyone could do.

"Elite" Guehi would provide incredible depth for Arteta

Arteta is already blessed with a number of top-quality options at centre-back, with William Saliba and Gabriel forming a formidable partnership, which led to the Gunners boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League last season.

Having also signed Cristhian Mosquera in the summer transfer window, there are doubts over whether signing another defender is necessary, but the Crystal Palace star clearly has the ability to be a success at the Emirates Stadium.

Lauded as an “elite” centre-back by writer Eddie Gibbs, the 25-year-old is now an established England international, picking up 25 caps, with Statman Dave recently singing him out for praise for his performance in the 5-0 victory against Serbia.

The Englishman, who Rice is a big fan of, scored his first goal for the Three Lions in the thrashing, while he has also made a flying start to the season at club level, particularly impressing in a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa.

Guehi stats vs Villa

Number completed

Goals

1

Duels won

5

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

That said, it could be very difficult for Guehi to displace Saliba or Gabriel in the starting XI, so a move to Anfield could make more sense, especially if Ibrahima Konate doesn’t sign a new contract.

Ilkay Gundogan has lamented Galatasaray's mental fragility following their 5-1 Champions League thrashing by Eintracht Frankfurt. The ex-Manchester City star claimed his side were superior until the German team equalised, after which their "heads were hanging down". Gundogan admitted they "invited" Frankfurt to score and must improve as a group as they look to bounce back from the humiliation.

Gundogan on Galatasaray's UCL loss

Galatasaray got off to the perfect start in Frankfurt when Yunus Akgun scored just eight minutes into their first game of the competition. However, a Davinson Sanchez own goal tied the game after 37 minutes, and the Bundesliga club ended the first half with two stoppage time goals to put them fully in control at the break.

Gundogan has claimed Galatasaray were "clearly the better team" before the mental collapse that resulted in the stunning 5-1 demolition. Speaking to after the match, the former City captain expressed his frustration at the simple mistakes and poor reaction from his side after conceding the equaliser.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGundogan on Galatasaray's mental collapse

The 34-year-old midfielder, who joined the Turkish giants in the summer, was positive about his team's initial performance but was critical of their response to adversity. He pinpointed Frankfurt's first goal as the moment the game turned, suggesting his team's spirit broke after the setback.

"I think we were clearly the better team until the 1-1 score – we even had chances to score the second goal," Gundogan began. "Then we conceded the 1-1 and you could already see on the pitch that their heads were hanging down and that their courage was somehow lacking."

'We invited Frankfurt to score'

Galatasaray conceded two more goals in the second half, with Gundogan admitting the defeat was self-inflicted. He stated that errors at this level will always be punished and that Frankfurt were clinical in taking their chances.

"It felt like we invited Frankfurt every time we conceded, simply giving them away," a disappointed Gundogan said. "In the Champions League, every opponent has the quality to punish these errors. If you make the first, the second, the third, then you'll be punished at some point. Frankfurt did that coolly today and scored five goals accordingly. It just wasn't good enough overall."

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Getty Images SportWhat next for Galatasaray in Europe?

The heavy defeat is a significant blow to a Galatasaray side that invested heavily in the summer, bringing in established top-level talent like Gundogan and Leroy Sane, who set up their goal, to compete in Europe. The midfielder issued a call for his team to function better as a unit to achieve their objectives. 

"We have a lot of individually strong players who can play at a very, very high level. We have to manage to bring that to the pitch as a group," he added. The Turkish club's aim remains to qualify for the knockout phase, with seven games remaining in the Champions League's new league stage to turn their campaign around.

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has shared how he learnt of his father’s victimisation in a knife attack in August 2024.

Yamal recalls father’s stabbing incident in MataroBarcelona star admits he trained and played days after attackForward remains a key figure for club and countryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal has spoken for the first time about a horrifying knife attack that his father, Mounir Nasraoui, was the victim of in August 2024, revealing he was locked in his house by relatives to prevent him from rushing to the scene. In an interview on the Renonancia de Corazon podcast, the 18-year-old detailed the traumatic moment he learned of the incident.

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Four suspects were arrested in connection with the attack, which left Mounir in serious condition with two stab wounds. The incident occurred in Mataro, where the player's dad lives, and reportedly erupted after an argument. Yamal's father was discharged from the hospital three days after the stabbing and Yamal went on to start for Barcelona, setting up a goal in their 2-1 La Liga victory against Valencia. 

WHAT YAMAL SAID

Reflecting on the stabbing incident Yamal said: "I was in the car with my cousin, Moha. I had CarPlay on, which connects your phone to the speakers, and my cousin, who was in Morocco, called me. And she asked me: 'Are you alone?' And she started telling me about it, and more calls came in as well. At the time, I was a 16-year-old kid.

"The first thing I did was get out of the car and try to go to the train station to Mataro. Imagine being a child and hearing that your father had been stabbed . I tried to get on the train, but my cousin wouldn't let me. I told him to take me to Mataró or I'd never speak to him again, but they wouldn't let me. They locked me in the house, and I tried to get out.

"It was a tough time, and I had training the next day. Then my dad called and told me he was fine and to stay calm. I went to see him in the hospital the next day, and everything calmed down,” he explains.

"I see my father and grandmother relaxing in their homes. It's everything a child could wish for."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

With the distressing event now in the past, Yamal continues his development as one of world football's most exciting talents. He remains a key player for Barcelona, who are competing to defend their La Liga title and wish for some European glory this season. He is also an established international for Spain, having lifted the European Championship last year. His focus will now be on the upcoming slate against Valencia on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of welcoming former Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha back to London after a round of quick-fire talks on Thursday.

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Spurs first made contact with Palhinha’s camp, which was first reported a while ago, but it didn’t take long at all for the north Londoners to finalise club-to-club talks with Bayern Munich given their excellent business relationship.

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg shared that the Lilywhites entered concrete talks with Bayern sporting director, Max Eberl, less than a day ago, and it then took just a matter of hours for Thomas Frank’s side to reach a full agreement for Palhinha.

Before supporters could blink, Bayern and Tottenham shook hands on an initial loan deal including an option to buy for around £26 million next summer – which may be seen as excellent business by chairman Daniel Levy.

It comes just one year after the Bundesliga champions signed Palhinha from Fulham for £47 million, with Spurs striking a potential permanent deal for just over half that price if they decide to pay the £26 million required next year.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Palhinha’s £26m clause is also strictly optional, not mandatory – meaning the 30-year-old goes to N17 on a sort of ‘one season trial’ basis. Levy also gave the green-light for Tottenham to cover the midfielder’s full salary, which is reported to be around £166,000-per-week.

This shrewd swoop has brought an end to Tottenham’s search for a new number six, and it likely means that Yves Bissouma could be sold as Frank needs to make room in his squad.

“His total of 152 tackles was more than any other player by a distance and was the standout trait of the Fulham enforcer,” said Sky Sports’ Peter Smith on what Palhinha will bring to Spurs.

“There were 13 yellows in that 2023/24 season, too, underlining the bite he brings to midfield battles. And that would be a welcome addition to Spurs’ play.

“Neither Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr nor Rodrigo Bentancur are as ruthless at winning the ball back as Palhinha, who also ranked among the top 10 for interceptions during his previous Premier League campaign.”

With Palhinha due for a Tottenham medical shortly, his arrival won’t be the end of Spurs’ transfer ambitions, and they’re still actively pursuing more attackers.

Tottenham talks "underway" to hijack Juventus deal for Randal Kolo Muani

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani is back on their radar.

Reports last month claimed that Spurs were offered the France international by intermediaries this window, and it’s believed the £43 million-rated Kolo Muani was once “very close” to joining in January.

Juventus’ negotiations to re-sign him after a successful loan spell are still dragging on, and Aouna reports that Tottenham talks are “underway” for Kolo Muani, as they bid to hijack the Old Lady’s deal.

The versatile forward bagged 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions during his best-ever season for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022/2023, with Kolo Muani also enjoying a real resurgence of form at Juve during the second half of 24/25.

His time at PSG hasn’t lived up to expectations, nor has it justified his £76.4 million transfer fee, but the Premier League could now be beckoning for him.

Middlesex’s 271 all out at Hove allowed Yorkshire to secure a return to the top flight by passing 350 in Leeds

ECB Reporters Network28-Sep-2024Adam Lyth and James Wharton scored superb day three centuries against Northamptonshire at Headingley as Yorkshire secured promotion back to Division One of the Vitality County Championship.Yorkshire needed a maximum of 10 points at the start of this final round fixture to seal second place ahead of Middlesex, that number assuming the London county claimed a maximum 24-point win over leaders Sussex at Hove.But in being bowled out for 271 in their first innings against Sussex at Hove, they missed out on four bonus points, cutting Yorkshire’s requirement by that number.Yorkshire claimed three of the six points they required in bowling Northamptonshire out for 147 before lunch after they had started the day on 117 for six. New ball seamers Ben Coad and, in particular, Matthew Fisher did the damage. Coad finished with four wickets, striking once before lunch, while Fisher claimed the other three.Yorkshire then closed the day on 371 for 2 from 83.2 overs in their first-innings reply, claiming three more bonus points en-route to a lead of 224. Upon reaching 350, amidst fading light just before 6pm, it was confirmed that Yorkshire will be playing Division One cricket in 2025 alongside Division Two champions elect Sussex.Lyth hit 147 off 163 balls and unbeaten Wharton 162 off 234 balls respectively, sharing 260 through the heart of the day – a Yorkshire record for the second wicket in first-class matches against this opponent. George Bartlett played the lone hand with an impressive 64 not out for Northamptonshire, who were overwhelmed by a home side intent on claiming their sixth win in seven games.Coad made the initial morning breakthrough when he had Lewis McManus caught at leg gully – 128 for 7 in the 47th over, the day’s seventh – before a trio of Fisher wickets in his final Yorkshire appearance before heading off to pastures new.He bowled Justin Broad and Ben Sanderson, uprooting the former’s off-stump with a yorker, and then wrapped things up when he had Jack White caught behind.After wrapping things up with the ball in the opening hour of the day, Lyth and Wharton came together at 15 for one in the fifth over of the reply after Sanderson removed Fin Bean caught behind as he pushed forwards.From there, the day was one-way traffic. Northamptonshire failed to build significant pressure, with Lyth and Wharton particularly strong on the off-side. Lyth pulled Broad’s seam for six over deep square-leg and Wharton later deposited Fateh Singh’s left-arm spin over long-off for the same result.Yorkshire reached lunch at 56 for one and tea at 228 for 1, the latter with a lead of 81. Lyth reached his century, his fifth of the four-day season, off 111 balls during the afternoon, while Wharton’s second of the season – and his career – came in the early evening off 154 balls.By this stage, Yorkshire were 264 for 1 with the best part of 35 overs remaining in the day. That 350-target for promotion was looming large.On-loan Singh, from Nottinghamshire, trapped Lyth lbw sweeping just short of his 150, leaving Yorkshire at 275 for 2 in the 58th over. In posting his 147, Lyth moved to 14,109 career first-class runs for Yorkshire, going beyond his close friend Anthony McGrath, who totalled 14,091 during his career for the county. Current Essex coach McGrath is one of the names linked with the Yorkshire coaching post, which Ottis Gibson will vacate after this game.Following the Lyth wicket, the run rate slowed significantly, with Wharton becalmed and Will Luxton getting himself set at the crease. But, in fading light and against spin from both ends late in the day, Wharton put his foot down and hit the run which secured promotion upon reaching 350 – punched to long-off against Saif Zaib’s left-arm spin off the back foot.He reached 150 shortly after off 228 balls, including two more sixes, amidst a 96-run stand with Luxton, 37. Bad light did end the day 4.4 overs early.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola now wants to sign an “ice cool” player, amid concerns over the performances of a current starter, according to a report.

On paper, Man City should have been no match for Al-Hilal, and they certainly had the better of their opponents, creating more chances and having over double the amount of shots on target throughout the match.

However, the Blues ultimately ended up crashing out of the Club World Cup after a shock 4-3 defeat, with Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou putting in a phenomenal performance, making eight saves from inside the box to keep Guardiola’s side at bay.

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The City boss refused to be too critical of his players in the wake of the result, while also singling out Bounou for praise, saying:“It is a pity. We have been on incredible journey together and were in a good place. The vibe was really good. I cannot thank the players enough for training and playing how they have been.

“But it was a difficult game. The margins were minimal. We created a lot and (Yassine) Bounou made incredible saves but we were so open.”

However, behind-the-scenes, Guardiola is still planning to make some changes to his squad, with a report from Spain revealing the Man City manager has made it clear that he wants to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

With Ederson not the player he once was, having lost consistency in his performances, there is a desire to bring in a new goalkeeper, and Guardiola believes Ter Stegen could be an ideal fit, believing that he has the qualities to succeed in the Premier League.

Barca would be willing to sanction a departure if a good offer comes their way, as the La Liga side are looking to reduce their wage bill, and the German rakes in a sizeable £105k-a-week.

"Ice cool" Ter Stegen has track record of success

The 33-year-old has won 20 major honours throughout a glittering career, having been an important player for Barcelona over a number of years, making a total of 422 appearances for the Spanish side.

That experience at the top level could be very useful for a Man City side which needs to start winning again, having endured a rare trophyless season during the 2024-25 campaign.

The “ice cool” goalkeeper is also comfortable in possession of the ball, which could make him a good fit in a Guardiola system, with counterpart Thibaut Courtois describing the Barca shot-stopper as the “best in the game” with his feet.

Ter Stegen could be a fantastic signing for Man City, but there may be some concerns over the fact the goalkeeper is already 33-years-old, making him two years older than Ederson, which indicates he is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for the Brazilian.

Southampton have “agreed a fee” with a club over the sale of an “incredible” Saints player, according to a fresh claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Will Still outlines plans as Southampton manager

Will Still has begun life as Southampton’s new manager, with the Englishman looking to back up his reputation as an exciting young coach with a big future in the game.

The 32-year-old has already spoken well since taking charge at St Mary’s Stadium, outlining what he wants to see from his team in a tactical sense.

“I don’t like to sit in and wait and be passive in what we do. I’d like our teams to dominate, to go and press, to be as aggressive as we can be. I don’t do that just for the fact of running and to say, oh, we’re going to be really aggressive. We want to be high up the pitch and in the opposition’s third as much as possible.

“It’s been entertaining. I want the players to enjoy it. I want the fans, obviously, to get on board and support it. But it’s (about) creating that environment where we’re here to win and we want to win a lot. We want to win consistently.”

The pressure will be on Still to guide Southampton straight back into the Premier League from the Championship, and he will know that new signings are vital. There are also players who will leave after Saints’ relegation, however, and a key update has emerged regarding one such figure.

"Incredible" Southampton attacker set to leave

Writing on X, Romano reported that Southampton have “agreed a fee” with Trabzonspor over the £6.8m sale of striker Paul Onuachu from St Mary’s.

Seeing Onuachu depart is a shame, given his popularity among Southampton supporters, with his giant stature and unique style making him something of a cult hero.

The Nigerian is a good footballer in his own right, however, scoring four Premier League goals last season and being lauded by Ivan Juric: “He’s an incredible guy, always training hard. He has some good things and some bad things he can do better, but he’s one of those guys that is always working hard.”

The fact that Onuachu only has one year remaining on his current Southampton deal means that selling him now is the sensible decision, though, allowing the club to receive a healthy amount of money that can be used on new signings this summer.

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A new striker will be needed in his place, though, and Still has to nail his replacement, in order to give his side the best possible chance of a quickfire return to the top flight.