‘I want to be player of the year’: Phil Foden ready to be Man City’s talisman in the post-De Bruyne era
New season, new Manchester City. And, if it all goes well, old Phil Foden. The best season of his career was followed by his worst. And yet, in the curiosity of a tournament that belonged fully to neither one season nor the other, there were hints he was returning towards the kind of form that saw him named Footballer of the Year. The Club World Cup may offer a long-term benefit to City if it provides a shift in momentum for Foden.
“I wouldn’t say [I was at my] absolute best but I was definitely feeling a lot sharper, I managed to score a couple of goals as well,” he said. Three, to be precise. The last was his best and 100th for City during the 4-3 defeat to Al Hilal.
Richard Jolly7 August 2025 20:00
Newcastle to move on to new targets?
Newcastle may have to quickly move on to new striker targets as news emerges that Benjamin Sesko prefers to join Man Utd.
The Magpies have reportedly earmarked both Ollie Watkins and Nicolas Jackson as targets, though Chelsea are valuing their man at around £80m according to reports.
Watkins would be available for closer to £60m, while other names linked to Eddie Howe’s side include Yoane Wissa, who was the subject of a £30m bid earlier in the window.
Mike Jones7 August 2025 19:30
How the Championship’s compelling and cruel nature delivers every time
After an indictment of the Championship, its advertisement came shortly after. Its last three escapees procured just 59 Premier League points between them and were swiftly cast back to the Football League. Yet Tommy Watson’s injury-time play-off winner for Sunderland showed the Championship in its full glory: the drama and the dream, the £200m reward for promotion, but also the emotion.
And, crucially, the unpredictability. Sunderland’s promotion without the benefit of parachute payments offered hope for the Championship’s upwardly mobile middle class; it was less good news for Chris Wilder, sacked by Sheffield United. Luton’s relegation back to League One, with parachute payments, showed the Championship can be both compelling and cruel.
How the Championship’s compelling and cruel nature delivers every time
Sunderland’s remarkable promotion shows the unpredictable nature of England’s second tier, with Birmingham City and Wrexham targeting an audacious promotion to the Premier League, alongside the three sides relegated from the Premier League, with crisis never far away towards the bottom of the table
Richard Jolly7 August 2025 19:00
Liverpool draw up striker shortlist including Barcola
Liverpool haven’t yet gone all in on signing Alexander Isak though it seems he is their priority.
The Reds want to bring in a new striker during this window and have drawn up a shortlist of options after selling Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich and accepting an offer for Darwin Nunez.
Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been linked with them and now reports say that Bradley Barcola has been added to the list.
Barcola is a key member of PSG’s team and the French champions will not let him leave easily with the sum of £87.3m (€100m) being touted as the possible fee.
Mike Jones7 August 2025 18:45
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Mike Jones7 August 2025 18:30
Arsenal duo set for exit door?
Jakub Kiwior and Fabio Vieira could be set to leave Arsenal this summer, with reports linking them both to moves away from the Emirates.
Kiwior is pushing to play more with Porto thought to be interested, though Arsenal rejected an offer from an unnamed club last month according to Fabrizio Romano.
And Vieira – who spent last season on loan at Porto – has been the subject of an approach from German side Stuttgart, who want to sign him on a permanent deal, according to David Ornstein.
It is though that both players could command fees in the region of £26m.
Mike Jones7 August 2025 18:15
Sheffield Wednesday fans hit out over plans for facial recognition at Hillsborough amid club crisis
Sheffield Wednesday fans have criticised the club over alleged plans to introduce facial recognition technology at Hillsborough this season, labelling the move a “potential infringement of supporters’ rights”.
In an open letter to Sheffield Wednesday’s Data Protection Officer, the Trust said that it was “deeply concerned” to learn that the club “may be intending to deploy facial recognition technology (“FRT”) at home fixtures at Hillsborough”, having learned about the plan “from SAG (Safety Advisory Group) meeting minutes obtained by an FOI request”.
Chris Wilson7 August 2025 18:00
Man Utd expecting Garnacho offers
Manchester United are expecting formal offers for Alejandro Garnacho later in the window, reports Sky.
Garnacho is a known target for Chelsea, who reportedly value him at around £30m.
Ruben Amorim said over the weekend that “it’s clear Garnacho wants a different thing with a different leadership”, and it is likely that the Blues attempt to sign both Garnacho and Xavi Simons before the end of the window.
Alejandro Garnacho could leave Manchester United this summer (PA Wire)
Mike Jones7 August 2025 17:45
Arsenal could make their first formal bid for Ebere Eze later this month as they wait for the proposed transfer of Fabio Vieira to Stuttgart.
The Gunners have targeted Eze all summer but rumours persist that Crystal Palace will insist that Arsenal pay the England international’s full release clause, which is around £68m.
The clause is set to expire around 16 August, though Palace could decide to remain firm in their valuation of the player.
Mike Jones7 August 2025 17:30
RB Leipzig are exploring a deal for Liverpool forward Harvey Elliott, reports the Athletic.
Elliott is seen as a potential replacement for Chelsea-bound Xvi Simons, with talks between the two clubs at an early stage.
The Reds value Elliott at around £50m, and have no real need or great desire to sell the England U21 international at present.
(REUTERS)
Mike Jones7 August 2025 17:15