Ezri Konsa has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa, with Liverpool keen on him, and now a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

The 28-year-old has matured into such an important player for the Villans, becoming a key starter and coming right into the prime years of his career.

In fact, Konsa will even be hoping of starting for England at the 2026 World Cup, with he and John Stones likely to battle to play alongside Marc Guehi in the right-sided centre-back spot for the Three Lions.

Worryingly, the Englishman has been linked with various clubs in recent weeks and months, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City mentioned as potential options for him.

Konsa isn’t out of contract at Villa until the summer of 2028, and now a new update has dropped regarding his future at the Premier League club.

Key latest on Konsa's Aston Villa future

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed that Aston Villa won’t even entertain the idea of allowing Konsa to leave in the near future, with the player himself happy at the club.

“Aston Villa have been an example in recent years of how to build a team. It’s a testament to Villa’s recruitment that so many of their best players are attracting interest. The players they’ve brought in, like Konsa and Rogers for example, have reached new levels since they arrived and proved to be very important players for them.

“So Konsa, for example, has impressed at Villa and got himself into the England team. That only invites more interest, because he’s playing on a bigger stage, attracting more eyes on his performances, and that leads to more speculation. So Villa then have a hell of a job behind the scenes trying to keep him at the club.

“From what I’m told, they’re not massively concerned about his future, because by all accounts he’s happy at Villa and he’s been a crucial part of their success. Emery has no plans to let him go because of how important he is to Villa, and I think Villa will be confident that they can keep him. Even with teams like Liverpool or Chelsea looking at him, that won’t chance Villa’s position.”

Ezri Konsa’s 2025/26 Premier League stats	Total
Appearances	8
Starts	8
Minutes played	696
Clearances per game	3.4
Aerial duel wins per game	1.1
Pass completion rate	95.7%
Goals	0
Assists	0

This will come as a relief to Villa supporters, with Konsa arguably now one of the first names on Unai Emery’s team sheet, recently being hailed as “excellent” by Troy Deeney.

Aston Villa now join race to sign "insane" £35m former Bayern Munich striker

The Villans are looking to sign a centre-forward, with Unai Emery keen on greater strength in depth in attack.

By
Dominic Lund

Oct 28, 2025

As mentioned, he now feels like he is at his peak, which should remain the same for another three or four years or so, and if Villa are to continue heading in the right direction, they cannot afford to sell their best players to teams who are higher than they are in the table.

Liverpool learn true price for Ezri Konsa as PSR forces Aston Villa's hand

The Baltimore Orioles have been one of Major League Baseball's most disappointing teams during the 2025 season, and appear prepared to sell as the trade deadline approaches. One of those pieces likely to move is veteran starting pitcher Charlie Morton.

While he has struggled at times this season, Morton has a ton of playoff experience, having won World Series titles with the Astros in 2017 and Braves in 2021. Given his age and the fact that he's a pure rental, he shouldn't be wildly expensive at the deadline, despite there not being a ton of starting pitching available.

In 21 appearances (15 starts) this season, Morton is 5-8 with a 5.58 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings. But he has improved lately. In his last 12 appearances he's 5-1 with a 3.47 ERA, a 3.30 FIP, a 1.26 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 57 innings.

What follows is a look at four teams who could be interested in the 41-year-old.

New York Yankees

While the Yankees' primary need is a third baseman, they could use another arm. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are solid atop the team's rotation, but after that things get a little murky. As a whole, the team's starters rank seventh in baseball in ERA (3.74), and Clarke Schmidt was having an excellent season before suffering an elbow injury that will require Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil is on his way back, but with Gerrit Cole also out for the year, adding a reliable starter with postseason experience would be huge.

San Diego Padres

The Padres could use upgrades at catcher and in the outfield, but they're another team that might need a low-cost arm. Yu Darvish has finally returned to the mound, but projected ace Michael King hasn't pitched since May 18 as he deals with a nerve issue in his shoulder. He might be on his way back, but no one knows how long that will take.

The current group of starters ranks 11th in ERA leaguewide (3.91). This is another team that could use an insurance arm like Morton.

Houston Astros

Like the previous two teams, the Astros have solid starters, but are missing the rotational depth they might need to win a World Series. Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez have been outstanding this year, but four potential starters have dealt with injures. Spencer Arrighetti is on his way back from a thumb injury and Cristian Javier is attempting to return from Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski have both undergone Tommy John surgery as well.

As a group, Houston's starters rank 10th in MLB with a 3.84 ERA, but there's almost no room for error. Plus, both sides of the potential deal are already well familiar with one another—a reunion with Morton makes a lot of sense.

New York Mets

The Mets' rotation actually looks solid right now, with Sean Manaea finally back on the mound and Kodai Senga and David Peterson both dealing. But there is a problem edging its way over the horizon, and that's Clay Holmes' innings total. The first-year starting pitcher has tossed 108 2/3 innings, which is 38 2/3 more than his previous career-high. The 32-year-old former closer could start to hit a wall if he continues at this rate. He's been solid this season (8-5, 3.48 ERA), but also had a 5.66 ERA in four July starts.

Adding Morton and giving Holmes and the rest of the rotation a bit of a cushion could be huge for the Mets down the stretch.

Shubman Gill has been the man all through this tour and once again he was able to tick off a record – most runs by an India captain in a Test series – but his poor luck with the toss continued. And just as he was helping get his team past that disadvantage he was run out for his first score past 20 and under 100 since arriving in England, meaning he had gotten a start and, against the odds, gave it away. Ten balls later, the rain came and swept everyone back into the dressing room. It was as untimely as a wicket could ever be, leaving India at 85 for 3.B Sai Sudharsan was the batter at the other end, and although he took a step forward, there was no way he was going to make it across for a single. Of all the ways to get out on a pitch with 8mm of grass and consistent sideways movement – both swing and seam. India were negotiating all that well for the most part. Gus Atkinson, returning to the fold after just a second XIs game to judge his fitness, was the single biggest threat from England. He took down Yashasvi Jaiswal in the fourth over and had a part to play in the Gill run-out as well – quick to spot the opportunity in his follow-through and nailing a direct hit at the keeper’s end.England went into the Oval Test with a vastly changed bowling attack, Chris Woakes the unlikely survivor despite playing all five matches. Ben Stokes was out with injury. Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse were rested and the replacements didn’t seem quite up for it. Josh Tongue gave away 11 runs in wides in his first over and Jamie Overton’s first three overs cost more than five runs apiece. Atkinson was keeping them in it, his first spell a wonderful example of how to keep it simple and reap the rewards on offer. He pitched the ball up, kept a tight line around off stump and walked away with figures of 6-1-7-1.India, though, were recovering from that. Sai Sudharsan was leaving the ball well – a marked improvement from the last Test where he was out for a duck leaving the ball to second slip – and seemed better equipped to handle balls aimed at his body as well. He is 28 off 84, having played some gorgeous drives down the ground. There were only six overs bowled in the middle session due to rain interruptions but that was still enough to cause a significant dent to India, whose hopes now lie with one batter who made his debut on this tour and another on the comeback trail which might not have a lot of trail left. Karun Nair, brought back in place of Shardul Thakur, was unbeaten on 0 off 8 at tea.

Atletico Madrid have officially confirmed the sale of a majority stake in the club to global sports investment company Apollo Sports Capital (ASC). The landmark deal will see ASC become the majority shareholder, injecting new capital to bolster the club's financial stability, sporting competitiveness and ambitious infrastructure projects, including the development of the City of Sport.

Atletico announce majority stake sale

Atletico have officially announced a significant change in ownership, with ASC acquiring a majority stake in the club. This crucial move, confirmed via a statement on the club's website, sees the current major shareholders reduce their stakes to facilitate the investment. While ASC will become the majority owner, the club confirmed that Miguel Angel Gil and Enrique Cerezo remain in their roles as CEO and chairman respectively, and will remain as shareholders.

The artnership aims to strengthen Atletico Madrid's position among football's elite and support long-term success for its millions of fans worldwide. The investment is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

AdvertisementAFPNew capital injection for sporting and infrastructure development

The investment from ASC is set to provide substantial new capital for Atletico's ambitious long-term plans. A key focus will be further investment in all of Atletico Madrid's teams, encompassing the men's, women's and academy sides, to enhance their sporting competitiveness.

One of the most significant aspects of this investment is the funding for major infrastructure projects, notably the "development of the City of Sport." This ambitious project envisions a new sports and entertainment centre adjacent to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. The club stated: "The aim of this project is to become a world-class destination for sport, leisure, culture, and community activity." With Apollo's extensive experience in the sports, media, and entertainment sectors, ASC aspires to create a "dynamic, transformative, and multidisciplinary urban center for the people of Madrid."

Angel Gil, Atletico's CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. "We are very proud to welcome a new partner committed to the club. Apollo Sports Capital is a great ally that respects the history, traditions, and identity of Atletico de Madrid and its fans, while bringing additional resources and enthusiasm to help maintain our growth and competitiveness," he said.

Continuity in leadership and a strong financial foundation

Robert Givone, partner at Apollo and co-manager of ASC, underscored the importance of this continuity. "Atletico de Madrid is one of Europe’s great sporting institutions, and it is an honour for Apollo Sports Capital to invest in this historic club and its legacy of over 120 years. Miguel Angel has done an extraordinary job transforming Atletico, and it was essential for us to invest in support of the continuity of his leadership, as well as investing in the team and the local community," Givone stated.

The new partnership aims to reinforce the club's financial stability. Gil acknowledged the contributions of previous partners, saying, "Atletico would not be where it is today without the support of Wanda Group, Quantum Pacific, and Ares, whose backing has strengthened us at crucial moments." This collaboration with ASC is designed to build on that foundation, driving "solid and sustainable growth" for the club.

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Apollo Sports Capital's broader investment strategy

ASC is a global sports investment company and a subsidiary of Apollo. Its investment strategy focuses on the sports and live events sector, primarily through credit and hybrid investment opportunities. Atletico will serve as the flagship investment for ASC, with the firm explicitly stating that it is "not part of a multi-ownership strategy to control clubs."

This clarifies that ASC's interest is specific to Atletico and the club's potential, rather than building a portfolio of clubs under common ownership. Other recent investments by Apollo Sports Capital include stakes in the Mutua Madrid Open and Miami Open tennis tournaments, in partnership with MARI, and a new company formed by Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro. ASC is led by CEO Al Tylis, co-managers Givone and Lee Solomon, and Chief Strategy Officer Sam Porter.

Atletico Madrid currently sit in fourth place in La Liga, with 25 points from 12 matches, including seven wins, four draws, and one loss. They are four points behind league leaders Real Madrid and three points behind second-placed Barcelona. Their recent form has been strong, with four wins and one draw in their last five league matches, including a convincing 3-1 victory over Levante in their most recent fixture, where Antoine Griezmann scored twice.

The club also confirmed that the investment extends to its affiliated clubs, Atletico de San Luis and Atletico Ottawa, which will also become majority-owned by Apollo Sports Capital. The current shareholders – Angel Gil, Cerezo, Quantum Pacific Group and funds managed by Ares Management – will retain minority stakes across these entities.

In stark contrast to last season, Arsenal cannot stop winning at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side’s win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night was their tenth on the bounce in all competitions.

Additionally, it marked their eighth consecutive clean sheet, a feat the club have not achieved in 122 years.

As things stand, Arsenal are far and away the best team in the Premier League, and a somewhat underappreciated star should be in serious contention for the Player of the Season Award.

The Arsenal players on track for the Team of the Season

It is still early on in the season, but as things stand, there are a handful of Arsenal players who feel like a shoo-in for the Team of the Season come May.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

For example, while he was once seen as something of a liability, Gabriel Magahelse has transformed into one of the best centre-backs in world football, and on form, the best in the league.

On top of being a “colossus” at the back, as dubbed by Adam Keys, the Brazilian is a force of nature in the opposition’s penalty area and, in the league alone, has already amassed a tally of two assists and one goal in ten appearances.

Another defender who stands a good chance of featuring in the team, so long as he remains fit, is Riccardo Calafiori.

The Italian international has added an element of the unpredictable to the Gunners’ team, and his ability to pop up all over the pitch has seen journalist James Benge label him “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.”

While not quite shoo-ins, William Saliba and Martin Zubimendi also stand a great chance of making it.

Finally, someone who should be the first name in the midfield is Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain has been utterly sensational for the Gunners this term.

On top of breaking up opposition attacks with ease, the Englishman’s passing has been world-class, and it is hard to think of a better dead-ball specialist in European football, let alone the Premier League.

However, with all that said, there is another Arsenal star who not only should be in the Team of the Season but also in contention for Player of the Season.

The Arsenal star in line for Player of the Season

Now, you could make the argument for several Arsenal stars here, but as things stand, Jurrien Timber has arguably been the team’s best player this season.

The Dutchman had an impressive personal campaign last season, cementing himself as one of the best lockdown full-backs in the league, but has, in the words of Arteta, reached a “different dimension” entirely this year.

On top of being a brick wall at the back, notably delivering a “monster” performance in the words of Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley against Madrid last season, the former Ajax star has become a seriously dangerous attacking outlet.

For example, in the league alone, he has already scored two goals and provided two assists in just ten appearances.

However, his influence cannot be measured purely in terms of output, as he’s become far more accomplished at overlapping with Bukayo Saka on the right.

More than that, though, he’s also starting to take on opposition defenders in central areas, with him going on a couple of mazy runs against Slavia Prague on Tuesday night.

However, if you are still unconvinced, you only need to take a look under the hood at his underlying numbers.

Through Balls

0.91

Top 1%

Goals

0.23

Top 4%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.23

Top 4%

Tackles

3.52

Top 4%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.25

Top 4%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.80

Top 4%

xG: Expected Goals

0.23

Top 7%

Progressive Passes

6.02

Top 7%

Shots on Target

0.57

Top 7%

Passes into Penalty Area

1.59

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.18

Top 7%

Touches (Att Pen)

3.64

Top 7%

Goals + Assists

0.34

Top 9%

Shots Total

1.25

Top 9%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for through balls, the top 4% for non-penalty goals, tackles, and penalties won, the top 7% for progressive passes, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it’s still early in the season, Timber has not only been Arsenal’s best player, but arguably the best in the league.

Therefore, he should be the leading candidate for the Player of the Season.

He's like Saka & Odegaard: Arsenal star is one of the "best in the world"

The incredible international is starting to perform like Saka & Odegaard for Arteta & Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 5, 2025

Ollie Pope will deputise for Stokes; Woakes will lead an inexperienced seam attack with Atkinson, Overton and Tongue in

Matt Roller30-Jul-20252:35

Harmison: ‘To lose a player like Stokes is massive’

England will go into Thursday’s fifth Test at The Oval without their captain, with Ben Stokes ruled out with a torn shoulder muscle. Ollie Pope will deputise, leading for the fifth time in Tests, and England have made four changes in all from the draw in Manchester, with Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue all coming into the side.Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse are both rested after heavy workloads last week, while Liam Dawson is left out altogether. Bethell and Joe Root are the two spin-bowling options, with Chris Woakes retained to lead an inexperienced seam attack: England’s other three fast bowlers have 18 caps between them.Stokes arrived at The Oval on Wednesday morning hopeful to play as a specialist batter but after discussions with head coach Brendon McCullum and England’s medical team, and 20 minutes of quiet reflection, decided against playing through the pain. “The risk was way too high for damaging this any further than it currently is,” Stokes said. “It’s obviously very, very disappointing.”Related

• Shubman Gill on Gambhir-Fortis argument: Coach has every right to look at the pitch

• England quicks await India acid test after changing of the guard

• Shubman Gill: Big achievement if we level the series

• Cricket must be played by the rules, not Stokes' moral code

• Akash Deep likely to replace Bumrah for Oval Test

England refused to reveal the exact nature of the injury, but it is understood that Stokes has sustained a grade-three tear in a shoulder muscle and that his recovery will take at least six weeks. He was not scheduled to play any more cricket this summer, and is confident that he will be fully recovered ahead of England’s first Ashes Test in Australia on November 21.Stokes bowled 11 overs on the final day of the Manchester Test but grimaced throughout his two spells. He repeatedly clutched his shoulder while bowling and said afterwards that he was “very unlikely” to miss the fifth Test despite struggling with a biceps tendon injury, but woke up feeling “pretty sore” the following morning and scans confirmed a significant tear.His absence is a major blow for England, and for Stokes personally: he is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 17, scored his first Test century in two years in Manchester, has been named Player of the Match in the last two Tests, and his injury represents yet another frustrating setback after two hamstring tears in the second half of last year.Stokes insisted he could not have prevented the injury. “When I’m out on the field, I play to win and give everything I possibly can,” he said. “If I feel there’s a moment in a game where I need to put everything I’m feeling aside, I’ll do that because of how much this team means to me, how much playing for England means to me, how much winning means to me.”Jacob Bethell has found a spot in the XI for the final Test•PA Photos/Getty Images

He also suggested that playing at The Oval could have aggravated the injury to a worrying extent. “It was risk-reward,” Stokes said. “I’ll always try to push myself as much as I possibly can. There’s absolutely nothing I could have done [differently] before. Being a professional sportsman, injuries are part of this game and I can’t do anything about that.”England were planning to head into the fifth Test without a specialist spinner as soon as it became clear that Stokes would not be fit to bowl. Dawson bowled economically in Manchester but failed to take a wicket in 47 second-innings overs, and England are expecting a match dominated by seamers at The Oval, with a healthy covering of live grass on the pitch on Wednesday morning.”The Oval generally plays that it’s your seamers who take the wickets,” Stokes said. “We felt that, here, that gives you the best chance of winning the game. The way it’s played here through the year in the Championship as well: it’s looked very similar to this, and played like that. There’s a bit of intel there, and we wanted to give ourselves four seamers.”Stokes’ absence means Bethell will bat at No. 6, having scored three half-centuries at No. 3 in his maiden series in New Zealand last year. “Being the type of player that he is, where he plays all three formats, it probably allows him to be a bit more versatile with where he bats in the order,” Stokes said. “I’m very confident in his ability. He’s a quality player.”England’s seam attack is their biggest area of concern. Woakes has never bowled more overs in a series than the 167 he has got through over the past month, while Atkinson returns from a hamstring injury that had ruled him out since May. Overton wins his second cap, and first for three years, and Tongue is back after missing out for Archer in the third and fourth Tests.Stokes will remain with the squad this week, as he did last year when he missed four Tests – three against Sri Lanka, and one in Pakistan – through injury. Pope, his vice-captain, will again stand in on his home ground and will look to Shubman Gill for inspiration after struggling to “compartmentalise” his two roles when he deputised last year.”We know that the series is still on the line here,” Stokes said. “It’s been toe-to-toe throughout the whole series so far. We know that India will be coming out fighting, because they don’t want to leave England with a loss. The next best thing for them is a draw, so we’ll be doing everything in our powers to not let that happen.”

England XI for fifth Test against India

1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Jamie Overton, 11 Josh Tongue

MatériaMais Notícias

A Seleção Brasileira disputa neste domingo (10) o título da Copa Ouro Feminina, torneio organizado pela CONCACAF com as melhores equipes das Américas do Norte, Central e Sul, e terá pela frente os Estados Unidos, seleção mais condecorada do futebol feminino mundial.

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Na briga pelo título inédito, o time de Arthur Elias terá que quebrar um tabu que já dura mais de 30 anos: vencer as norte-americanas em sua casa pela primeira vez. Das 10 partidas realizadas entre as duas equipes no país todas foram vencidas pelos EUA.

Quer ganhar mais de R$200? Aposte R$50 na Lance! Betting e garanta o churrasco de domingo!

Em 2000, a Seleção bateu na trave e foi vice-campeã diante dos Estados Unidos, que são as maiores vencedoras do torneio, com nove títulos. Com isso, a busca pela primeira conquista é uma oportunidade de exorcizar um fantasma antigo.

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Além da invencibilidade em casa, os Estados Unidos são um carrasco de longa data do Brasil, vencendo 23 das 30 partidas realizadas entre as duas equipes. As mais memoráveis são as disputas pelo Ouro Olímpico em 2004 e 2008, na qual as norte-americanas triunfaram sobre os times que tinham Marta como a grande estrela.

A última vez que as equipes se enfrentaram foi em 2023, pela SheBelieves Cup. Na partida, as americanas saíram com a vitória por 2 a 1. O gol brasileiro foi marcado por Ludmila. Caso o Brasil vença, será a primeira vitória em quase uma década, a última aconteceu em dezembro de 2014 numa partida amistosa com hat-trick de Marta.

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“Caso o Brasil vença a Copa Ouro, pelo contexto de ser uma vitória em cima dos Estados Unidos que é a seleção com o maior número de títulos mundiais e olímpicos, pode ser sim considerada uma grande conquista para o futebol brasileiro. Até porque a Seleção Brasileira desempenhou bem em muitos anos, mas sempre bateu na trave nos grandes títulos. Essa pode ser a maior conquista internacional do Brasil até o momento no futebol feminino analisando todo o contexto de quem é o adversário e da dificuldade que é vencer elas lá na casa delas”, declarou Camilla Garcia, narradora dos canais ESPN e especialista da modalidade.

Após vexame na Copa do Mundo e demissão da treinadora Pia Sundhage, a busca pelo ex-treinador do Corinthians e a boa campanha na competição, retomou a confiança na Seleção Feminina. O Brasil tem a melhor campanha da Copa Ouro até então.

📊 NÚMEROS DA SELEÇÃO BRASILEIRA COM ARTHUR ELIAS NO COMANDO:
⚔️ 9 jogos
✅ 7 vitórias
❌ 2 derrotas
📊 77.8% aproveitamento
⚽ 20 gols marcados
🚫 8 gols sofridos

Tudo sobre

Copa OuroEstados UnidosFutebol NacionalSeleção Brasileira

Manchester United have been warned they could be stepping into "extremely dangerous" territory if they push ahead with a blockbuster £100 million ($132m) move for Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton. Former Red Devils striker Louis Saha believes the hype around young midfielders in today's transfer market can backfire, urging caution amid mounting links to the England international.

• Man Utd show interest in £100m-rated Wharton

  Manchester United have intensified their long-running midfield recruitment discussions for the 2026 summer window, with Crystal Palace star Wharton emerging as one of the names under consideration. Having already spent big to overhaul their attack with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, the midfield is viewed internally as the next priority, following failed attempts to secure Carlos Baleba earlier in the year. Wharton has become a standout in the Premier League and for England, naturally drawing elite interest, but he recently played down rumours regarding United's interest and insisted he remains fully focused on Palace as they prepare a fresh contract offer.

  United's interest comes amid admiration from Ruben Amorim, who wants a high-IQ playmaker capable of controlling tempo and offering long-term value. Wharton has been on their six-player midfield shortlist for January and beyond, yet Palace remain calm, with the player under contract until 2029 and no urgency from his camp to force a move. While whispers of a future Champions League dream persist, Wharton himself highlighted that transfer chatter means little without performance consistency, reinforcing that he will only entertain talks if official interest arrives.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ex-striker warns Red Devils against massive transfer feee

  Manchester United icon Louis Saha urged caution when assessing a move of this magnitude, issuing a clear warning over the financial and sporting risks associated with modern transfer inflation. Speaking to , he said: "I think Adam Wharton is a young lad. I do think that sometimes you have to be careful with those big signings. I consider this new market to be extremely dangerous for clubs because you can see the hype that goes up and then you're left surprised. 

  "It took a bit of time for Moises Caicedo to settle at Chelsea as well so there are big signings and sometimes the expectations are too high. You have to really read under the lines and that's not easy. That's really not an easy market. 

  "People can throw big numbers. The agents are very pleased with that. I am not a big fan of this."

• Wharton's meteoric rise with Crystal Palace

  Wharton's meteoric rise has seen him transform from Blackburn prospect into a Premier League standout and senior England international within two years. His calm distribution, composure under pressure and elite positional awareness have drawn praise from analysts who believe he represents the modern deep-lying controller profile coveted across Europe. Palace snapped him up for around £18m in early 2024, and he immediately played a key role in their FA Cup triumph and European push.

  Interest from United has developed alongside Liverpool and Real Madrid, while the Eagles are readying an extension. Despite the noise, Wharton has maintained humility, stressing that rumours are simply part of the modern game and that his focus remains on delivering consistency at Selhurst Park.

  The Eagles believe they are the ideal developmental environment for him, especially at his age, and intermediaries have hinted they expect interest to ignite fully after the 2026 World Cup.

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  What comes next?

  Manchester United will continue to explore midfield reinforcements, but Saha's warning is food for thought as the club seeks value and stability after years of mixed recruitment success. Palace plan to intensify contract renewal discussions, protecting Wharton's value while giving him recognition for his performances, though summer interest could still reshape the landscape if bidding meets the club's expectations.

  If United decide to move forward, their pursuit will likely be met with pushback from Crystal Palace, as they will likely look to invite a bidding war for Wharton, with Liverpool and Real Madrid also credited with interest in the midfielder. Meanwhile, Wharton's continued development for club and country will only fuel the debate around whether he is worth the eye-watering fee already being touted.

أبدى داني أولمو، نجم نادي برشلونة، سعادته الكبيرة بفوز فريقه اليوم السبت على ديبورتيفو ألافيس بالدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى، موضحًا أن عودة جميع اللاعبين من الإصابة أمر جيد.

برشلونة حول تأخره بهدف أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس إلى فوز مستحق بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد، ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشر من عمر الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

واستطاع أولمو التألق في لقاء اليوم وسجل هدفين ليساعد برشلونة في تحقيق الانتصار في نهاية المطاف.

اقرأ أيضًا .. رجل مباراة برشلونة وديبورتيفو ألافيس في الدوري الإسباني

وقال أولمو في تصريحات لشبكة “دازن”: “الهدف الأول فاجأنا بعض الشيء، لكننا واصلنا اللعب بنفس الطريقة وهكذا فزنا”.

وأضاف أولمو في حديثه: “لقد أتيحت لهم فرصهم، إنهم لاعبون استباقيون ويلعبون بشكل جيد في المساحات، قدم خوان جارسيا مباراة رائعة وكان حاضرًا عندما احتجنا إليه، وكذلك رافينها”.

وأوضح لاعب لايبزيج السابق: “أحب اللعب هنا، والتسجيل والفوز، نحن سعداء بوجود جميع اللاعبين الذين نستطيع ضمهم إلى الفريق”.

أولمو كان يعاني من الإصابة خلال الفترة الماضية، وذلك قبل أن يعود مرة أخرى ليشارك بانتظام مع الفريق الكتالوني.

وتعززت صفوف برشلونة كذلك بعودة رافينها من الإصابة، إلى جانب تواجد بيدري الذي نزل في شوط اللقاء الثاني اليوم.

The good times keep rolling on for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side continued their winning run against Burnley on the weekend and remain seven points clear of Liverpool atop the Premier League.

It was another convincing performance from the North Londoners, and one in which Declan Rice once again proved that he is one of, if not the best, midfielders in the league.

However, the former West Ham United captain was not the only standout performer, as another of Arteta’s men continued the Ballon d’Or-level campaign he’s having this year.

Rice's sensational season

When Arsenal spent a club-record £105m on Rice in the summer of 2023, there was an awful lot of pressure on the Englishman.

Everyone knew that he was a sensational footballer at the time, but it’s a rare thing for someone to justify being worth more than £100m.

Fortunately for Arteta and Co, he has achieved that and more over the last two and a bit years, first shining as an out-and-out six and then transitioning more into a marauding eight.

His first two campaigns in North London were brilliant, with him producing 17 goal involvements in the first and 19 in the second, but this year, he has taken another massive step forward.

With Martin Zubimendi now in the side, Arteta has once again modified the 26-year-old’s role in the team, with him telling the press on international duty that the manager has “adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year to give me a bit more freedom to drop deeper but to also get in the box when I can.”

This has seen the “world-class” international, as dubbed by journalist Tom Marshall-Bailey, spend more time in the middle of the park breaking up opposition attacks, but also then bursting forward to help create opportunities for the team.

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 13% of midfielders in the league for touches in the middle third, and also in the top 1% for progressive carries, the top 4% for expected assists, and more per 90.

Progressive Carries

2.80

Top 1%

Inswinging Corner Kicks

2.69

Top 1%

Total Passing Distance

1104.63

Top 4%

xA: Expected Assists

0.22

Top 4%

Dead-ball Passes

7.84

Top 4%

Crosses

5.82

Top 4%

Corner Kicks

4.03

Top 4%

Total Carrying Distance

304.48

Top 4%

Progressive Carrying Distance

143.28

Top 4%

Carries into Final Third

2.57

Top 4%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.22

Top 6%

Passes Completed

61.34

Top 6%

Passes Attempted

72.54

Top 6%

Progressive Passing Distance

281.08

Top 6%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

1.23

Top 6%

GCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.22

Top 6%

Touches

80.93

Top 6%

Touches (Att 3rd)

22.28

Top 6%

% of Aerials Won

68.4%

Top 7%

Passes Completed (Long)

5.93

Top 8%

Live-ball Passes

64.48

Top 8%

Switches

0.67

Top 8%

Carries

48.69

Top 8%

In other words, the Gunners’ monstrous number 41 is, in the words of Ashley Williams, an utterly “complete midfielder.”

Finally, on top of everything he does during open play, Rice has a shout for being the best setpiece specialist in the world, as whether it’s a corner or a free kick, he can and will drop the ball exactly where his teammates want it – just as he did against Burnley.

With all that said, there is another Arsenal star who is performing at a Ballon d’Or level this season.

The Arsenal star at a world-class level

With Arsenal doing so well this season, there are several players who could be described as playing at a Ballon d’Or level.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

For example, Zubimendi has hit the ground running, Jurrien Timber has been sensational in attack and defence, and Riccardo Calafiori is a joy to watch.

However, when it comes to picking Arsenal’s best player so far this year, it’s impossible to look past Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian has almost entirely rid his game of the mistakes that led to some questioning him in the past, and has instead become one of the most reliable defenders in the league.

Whether the ball is in the air or on the ground, the former LOSC Lille ace always seems to know how to deal with it, and perhaps the most complimentary thing you can say about him is that William Saliba looks that little bit less assured without him in the backline.

Moreover, the 6 foot 3 “colossus,” as dubbed by Adam Keys, has made the Gunners a far more physically imposing team, as few, if any, opposition players can cope with his physicality.

So far this season, he has made 15 appearances for the North Londoners, 13 of which have been starts, playing a massive role in the side, conceding just three goals and standing a chance of beating Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 in a league campaign.

Finally, it’s not just his defensive brilliance that makes the Brazilian a world-class talent, but also his offensive prowess.

For example, his assist for Viktor Gyokeres means no other defender in the Premier League has been involved in more goals than him since his arrival in 2020.

Moreover, just this season alone, the 27-year-old has been able to score twice and provide three assists, which would be a great return for a top-quality ten, let alone a centre-back.

Ultimately, due to his outstanding defending and exceptional attacking qualities, it has become increasingly clear that Gabriel is currently performing at a Ballon d’Or level this season.

Arsenal's "signing of the summer" has turned Rice into the best in the PL

Arsenal have hit the jackpot with one of Mikel Arteta’s latest additions at the Emirates.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 3, 2025