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Real Madrid have provided an update on Kylian Mbappe's ankle injury, suggesting the star striker will take part in France's upcoming international fixtures despite limping out of Los Blancos' 3-1 win over Villarreal. The 26-year-old scored his side's third goal of the game, before he was substituted in the 83rd minute after spraining his right ankle.

The latest on Mbappe's ankle injury

It appeared that Mbappe's injury was relatively serious. Just moments after finding the net, he went down in discomfort requiring immediate medical attention. After he was replaced by Rodrygo, Mbappe went straight down the tunnel to continue his treatment.

However, it would appear the ailment is not a massive cause for concern, as Sergio Quirante said on the game's broadcast: "It's not serious, just a knock to the ankle. He feels good. He'll most likely travel with France."

AdvertisementAFPAlonso coy on Mbappe's involvement with France national team

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Xabi Alonso was guarded about his star man's release for international duty. Los Blancos' manager did not provide a meaningful update on Mbappe or Franco Mastantuono's prognoses. The Argentinian wonderkid has picked up a slight hamstring tear. He was substituted in the 75th minute.

Alonso said: "We can't say if Mbappe and Franco won't be with the national team. Let's hope it doesn't go any further. I can't say anything right now." 

In an interview with , Alonso had suggested Mbappe had entered the game with some discomfort in the ankle, however he also intimated that both Mbappe and Mastantuono could well be released for international duty. 

"Kylian was already having ankle discomfort, and we'll see. Franco has a hamstring strain. We'll see how they progress with the national teams," Alonso claimed.

Mbappe's glittering start to 2025-26 season

The knock is maybe the first negative personal moment for the 26-year-old in what has been a blistering start to the 2025-26 season. Mbappe has scored in all but one of his competitive appearances for Los Blancos this term, bagging 14 goals in 10 games. That represents more than half of the team's 26 goals so far this season. He has been a force in the Champions League in particular, scoring both goals in Madrid's opening 2-1 win over Marseille, and bagging a hat-trick against over-matched minnows Kairat. 

Those goals have fired Real Madrid to a solid start to life under Alonso, their chastening 5-2 defeat against inter-city rivals Atletico Madrid the only loss on their record in the new season. Mbappe's goal put the game to bed against Villarreal, after Vinicius Jr re-found his form to bag twice.

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AFPFrance looking comfortable in World Cup qualifying campaign

Didier Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches to call upon in attack for his France side. The World Cup winning coach handed a first call-up to Crystal Palace marksman Jean-Phillippe Mateta, new Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike as well as regular contributors such as Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman. However, he will obviously want to include his best player and captain in Les Bleus upcoming World Cup qualifiers, especially given the ongoing absence of Ballon D'or winner Ousmane Dembele. 

France currently sit atop of their group with a win over Iceland and Ukraine. They host Azerbaijan on Friday, before travelling to Iceland on October 13. 

Arsenal are preparing for a major financial windfall as they line up a new, lucrative deal for food and drink rights at the Emirates Stadium and explore ambitious plans for expansion. The Gunners are expected to earn an extra £10 million per season from new matchday partnerships, while long-term proposals could see the team temporarily relocate to Wembley for two years.

Arsenal set for cash boost with Emirates redevelopment

Arsenal are on the brink of a substantial revenue boost as they prepare to renegotiate their long-standing catering deal at the Emirates Stadium. The club’s current 20-year agreement with Delaware North – signed when Arsenal first moved into their new home in 2006 – is set to expire next summer, opening the door to a more flexible and profitable arrangement. The Gunners are reportedly in talks with multiple firms, as per The Sun, with the new deal expected to add at least £500,000 per game to matchday revenue, translating to over £10 million annually.

In the 2023-24 financial year, Arsenal posted record revenues of £616.6 million, of which £132 million came from matchday income, including ticket sales, hospitality, and in-stadium spending. With constant Champions League football and attendances consistently at capacity, the club now view the Emirates as a key driver of sustained commercial growth. The decision to restructure the food and beverage operations is part of a wider strategy led by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) to modernise the matchday experience and maximise earnings.

At the same time, the club is exploring long-term expansion possibilities that could see the Emirates’ capacity rise from its current 60,704 to as much as 70,000–80,000. Such plans, however, would come with a heavy price tag – potentially upwards of £500 million – and might require Arsenal to temporarily play home games at Wembley Stadium for up to two seasons.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportArsenal preparing for new high-income deals at new Emirates

The expiration of the Delaware North contract marks a turning point in Arsenal’s commercial operations, offering a rare opportunity to restructure a deal first signed under financial strain nearly two decades ago. When the Emirates opened in 2006, the Gunners had limited leverage due to stadium construction debts, which forced them into a lengthy agreement that soon became outdated as matchday spending habits evolved. A more modern, flexible partnership could allow Arsenal to integrate multiple hospitality brands, food vendors, and premium fan zones across the concourse and executive levels.

Financially, the timing is ideal. Arsenal’s return to Europe’s elite competitions has re-established their global profile, and consistent home sellouts have made the Emirates one of the Premier League’s most lucrative venues. The club’s ownership recognises the importance of converting that demand into long-term infrastructure growth – particularly as competitors like Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool continue to expand or upgrade their own stadiums.

However, the proposed large-scale redevelopment would come with logistical and financial challenges. While the club’s vision of a 70,000–80,000-seater Emirates excites supporters, the associated costs could exceed half a billion pounds, making such an expansion potentially prohibitive in the short term. A more likely outcome, according to sources, is a reconfiguration of corporate boxes into open hospitality areas, which could boost capacity by up to 2,000 seats for a fraction of the cost – around £100 million.

Getty Images SportArsenal and their history with the Emirates

The Emirates Stadium, which opened in July 2006, represented a bold leap for Arsenal’s ambition to compete financially with Europe’s elite clubs. Moving less than 500 yards from their beloved Highbury, the Gunners invested around £390 million into constructing the 60,000-seat venue, which instantly transformed their economic outlook. Matchday revenue skyrocketed from approximately £37 million at Highbury to over £90 million at the Emirates in its early years, though the project also ushered in a decade of financial restraint that limited player spending under Arsene Wenger.

Over time, Arsenal undertook a process of “Arsenalisation” to embed the club’s identity into the modern structure, installing legends’ statues, murals, and the famous Highbury clock. The Emirates now stands as one of the Premier League’s most recognisable stadiums, though fans have long called for improvements in atmosphere and amenities. Demand for tickets remains enormous, with over 100,000 supporters reportedly on the waiting list for season passes – one of the factors motivating KSE’s renewed interest in expansion.

Historically, Arsenal have even considered Wembley before. In the late 1990s, when Highbury’s expansion plans were blocked, the club formally bid to purchase Wembley Stadium to make it their permanent home – a proposal rejected by the Football Association. The Gunners later used Wembley temporarily for Champions League fixtures between 1998 and 2000, making it a familiar fallback option should renovation works force another relocation.

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Arsenal expect record income after Emirates revamp

Arsenal are expected to finalise their new catering and hospitality deal before the 2026-27 season, setting up a significant financial uplift as soon as next year. Club executives are simultaneously continuing feasibility studies on the Emirates expansion, weighing the benefits of a modest reconfiguration versus a full-scale rebuild that could necessitate a temporary move to Wembley. Any major redevelopment would require planning approval and would likely begin no earlier than 2027.

In the immediate term, the focus remains on sustaining record-breaking commercial growth while ensuring supporters benefit from an enhanced matchday experience. A revamped hospitality model, increased concourse variety, and potential capacity gains could push annual matchday income past £140 million, closing the gap with the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham.

There’s been no update on the nature of du Plessis’ injury, and Axar Patel, the DC captain, is expecting an update from the team physio soon

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Apr-20252:15

Pujara: Fraser-McGurk needs to be aggressive in his first five-ten balls

Faf du Plessis, the Delhi Capitals (DC) vice-captain, hasn’t played since April 10, when he picked up an injury during the match away against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).Axar Patel, the DC captain, isn’t totally sure where du Plessis stands with his fitness – and hasn’t confirmed the nature of the injury – but is hoping he would be back for DC’s next game, away against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday.”I had been told that he wouldn’t be able to play three matches – that’s the time he needs to recover – and two matches are done,” Axar said after DC’s Super Over win against Rajasthan Royals (RR). “Maybe he will play the Gujarat game. But the physio has to confirm how his rehab has been going.”Related

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There was another injury concern for DC when Kuldeep Yadav landed heavily while attempting to field a ball in the deep in the 17th over of the chase. The physio checked his bowling shoulder and he went off immediately.”I have no update on Kuldeep yet,” Axar said. “If something serious had happened, then we would have known by now.”Against RCB, it was off Axar’s bowling that du Plessis put in a sprint from extra cover after an aerial hit from Rajat Patidar. He couldn’t get to the ball and, after that over – the eighth – was done, he walked off. He went out to open the innings later and scored 2 off seven balls.He missed DC’s next game, against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 5. At the time, Axar had just said, “Faf isn’t fit.”DC would want the experienced du Plessis back in their line-up at the earliest, even though they have continued to stack up the wins with or without him.The win over RR was their fifth in six matches, and they have found a solid replacement in Abishek Porel, who is DC’s second-highest run-scorer at this stage – behind KL Rahul – with 156 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 143.11.The concern, though, is Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has played all six matches so far, but has tallied just 55 runs at a strike rate of 105.76 with a best of 38. With Tristan Stubbs going well for DC, averaging 76.00 and scoring at 163.44, du Plessis, when he’s back, could well push Fraser-McGurk out of the team.

Things have gone a bit mad at Chelsea since Todd Boehly completed his £2.45 billion takeover back in 2022. The Blues currently have a whopping estimated annual payroll of £164,216,000, with the average Blues player earning more than £4.5m per season.

A clear out in the summer helped things a bit, as the likes of Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Ben Chilwell headed for the exits, however, the Blues still spent more than £250m on new signings for Enzo Maresca.

Football FanCast has ranked every Chelsea player in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025/26 season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

1

Raheem Sterling

£325,000

£16,900,000

2

Reece James

£250,000

£13,000,000

3

Wesley Fofana

£200,000

£10,400,000

4

Enzo Fernandez

£180,000

£9,360,000

5

Marc Cucurella

£175,000

£9,100,000

6

Pedro Neto

£160,000

£8,320,000

7

Moises Caicedo

£150,000

£7,800,000

8

Cole Palmer

£130,000

£6,760,000

9

Joao Pedro

£125,000

£6,500,000

=10

Tosin Adarabioyo

£120,000

£6,240,000

=10

Jorrel Hato

£120,000

£6,240,000

12

Alejandro Garnacho

£110,000

£5,720,000

13

Jamie Gittens

£108,000

£5,616,000

=14

Mykhailo Mudryk

£100,000

£5,200,000

=14

Liam Delap

£100,000

£5,200,000

=14

Levi Colwill

£100,000

£5,200,000

17

Benoit Badiashile

£90,000

£4,680,000

18

Axel Disasi

£80,000

£4,160,000

=19

Robert Sanchez

£60,000

£3,120,000

=19

Estevao

£60,000

£3,120,000

=21

Marc Guiu

£50,000

£2,600,000

=21

Filip Jorgensen

£50,000

£2,600,000

=21

Trevoh Chalobah

£50,000

£2,600,000

=24

Malo Gusto

£45,000

£2,340,000

=24

Romeo Lavia

£45,000

£2,340,000

=26

Gabriel Slonina

£40,000

£2,080,000

=26

Dario Essugo

£40,000

£2,080,000

28

Andrey Santos

£35,000

£1,820,000

29

Facundo Buonanotte

£25,000

£1,300,000

30

David Datro Fofana

£15,000

£780,000

31

Tyrique George

£7,500

£390,000

=32

Josh Acheampong

£5,000

£260,000

=32

Leo Castledine

£5,000

£260,000

34

Jimmy-Jay Morgan

£2,500

£130,000

Here's a detailed look at the top 10 Chelsea earners… 10 Tosin Adarabioyo £120,000 per week

After securing the services of Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham in 2024, Chelsea were able to offer the defender a big contract.

Those at Stamford Bridge handed Adarabioyo a four-year deal on more than £6m a year, and he has gone on to become a regualr under Maresca.

9 Joao Pedro £125,000 per week

Chelsea splashed the cash on Joao Pedro early in the 2025 summer transfer window, with the Brazilian even able to jet out to the USA and play a part in the Blues’ Club World Cup triumph.

Pedro scored some important goals at the CWC and cost an initial £55m from Brighton.

8 Cole Palmer £130,000 per week

Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s standout signing under Boehly, going from strength to strength at Stamford Bridge after struggling to break into Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.

Some may have questioned the Blues for paying £40m to sign Palmer, but he’s been the star man and was rewarded with a new extension to his £130,000 per week deal through until 2033 last year.

7 Moises Caicedo £150,000 per week

Moises Caicedo is Chelsea’s second most expensive signing of all time after they pipped Liverpool to a deal back in 2023.

Arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in a transfer worth a whopping €116m, Caicedo looks set to play an important role over the coming years as he looks to justify that price tag.

6 Pedro Neto £160,000 per week

Another big-money signing, Pedro Neto swapped Wolverhampton Wanderers for Chelsea in Maresca’s first transfer window to add yet another attacking star to the Blues’ ranks.

He starred at Molineux and was arguably their most important player when fit, and he’s been a reliable performer so far in London.

5 Marc Cucurella £175,000 per week

Left-back Marc Cucurella is next on the list, picking up £175,000 per week. The Spaniard was another to swap Brighton for Chelsea and has had his ups and downs in west London.

He now appears to be first choice under Maresca, though, so he’ll be hoping to become one of the first names on the teamsheet while under contract.

4 Enzo Fernandez £180,000 per week

Chelsea’s club record signing, Enzo Fernandez is only the fourth highest-paid player at Stamford Bridge, something which may surprise some.

The Blues did fork out a whopping €121m for the Argentine’s services from Benfica, and now, they’ll be hoping Fernandez and Caicedo can star in midfield over the coming years.

3 Wesley Fofana £200,000 per week

On £200,000 per week is central defender in Wesley Fofana. Signed from Leicester City in 2022, Fofana has also had his injury issues at Stamford Bridge.

He managed just 29 Premier League appearances across his first two seasons with the Blues.

2 Reece James £250,000 per week

Club captain Reece James picks up £250,000 per week. The right-back has struggled to stay fit in recent seasons but is under contract until 2028.

His injury history appears to be a cause for concern for the Blues, so it’ll be interesting to see what they do with one of their top earners if he can’t remain fit.

1 Raheem Sterling £325,000 per week

Top of the charts is Raheem Sterling, who actually isn’t in Maresca’s first-team plans at Stamford Bridge. The winger spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Arsenal, however, the Gunners didn’t want to make a move permanent.

Sterling is still under contract until 2027, picking up just under £17m a season with the Blues.

Nottingham Forest haven’t enjoyed a positive start to life under Ange Postecoglou and a key update on his future has now emerged from the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest suffer damaging Europa League defeat

The fairytale return of Nottingham Forest to the European scene was a just reward for an excellent campaign last term. However, their shock 3-2 defeat at home to FC Midtjylland was a stark reminder of the frailties present within Postecoglou’s side.

Despite being alive in the majority of the Australian’s matches so far, conceding at awkward times has led to six games without a win under the former Celtic boss, breeding an elevated level of pressure on him to get it right in the East Midlands.

Speaking post-match, Postecoglou remained unbothered by chants calling for his dismissal, claiming that nothing surprises him in football anymore.

He said: “I heard it. They’re fans, they want to see their team win, and they’re entitled to their opinion. Nothing surprises me in football any more. We’ve just got to keep going. There is no hiding in the sport we’re in. Got to keep your head up and recover. We have a tough game against Newcastle at the weekend.”

With high-profile pundits such as Tim Howard among his detractors, Postecoglou has work to do in order to prove the doubters wrong, but that sort of challenge saw him win the Europa League last term, hence why it would be premature to count him out.

Nottingham Forest star fumes at something he's "never seen" before vs Sunderland

The Tricky Trees are still yet to find a victory under Ange Postecoglou.

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 28, 2025

Newcastle United await on Sunday and won’t be an easy outfit to overcome. Nevertheless, their indifferent start to the Premier League season may offer a sliver of hope to the travelling supporters.

Either way, a change in mood is needed at the City Ground, though how are the Nottingham Forest hierarchy feeling about Postecoglou’s situation? Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on that front.

Fabrizio Romano on how Nottingham Forest view Ange Postecoglou

Writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano has confirmed Nottingham Forest are being patient with Postecoglou and believe that he simply needs time to adapt before results improve at the City Ground.

Truthfully, Postecoglou is between a bit of a rock and a hard place, though he is certainly made of strong stuff and has shown he has the thick skin to come through adversity.

However, his side need to find a level of stability, as two draws and four defeats isn’t going to cut it if Nottingham Forest want to survive. Making their priorities clear, Evangelos Marinakis and company are opting to keep the faith for now.

Former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has sent a message to Kylian Mbappe ahead of Sunday's Clasico clash against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid head into the match against the defending Spanish champions on top of the table and with Mbappe in red-hot goalscoring form. Mbappe has 10 goals in just nine league outings this season and will be out for more against Hansi Flick's side.

Real Madrid and Barca to renew hostilities

The first Clasico of the 2025-26 season takes place on Sunday as Barcelona travel to the Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid. The Catalan giants won all four meetings against their bitter rivals last season, meaning revenge will certainly be in Madrid minds ahead of the match. Real Madrid lead Barca by two points ahead of kick-off but know that victory will extend that gap and give Los Blancos a boost in the title race. However, another victory for Barca will see Flick's side move top again and strengthen their hopes of retaining their league title.

AdvertisementAFPRamos sends message to Mbappe

One man who knows all about El Clasico is Ramos who played in the famous fixture 43 times during his incredible career with Real Madrid. The defender, who now plys his trade in Liga MX with Monterrey, is looking forward to the fixture and expects Mbappe to shine. He told El Chiringuito: You know very well that I am a Real Madrid until death and I hope that Madrid wins, that my brother 'Kyky' plays a good game. I will motivate him. I often speak with him, he is at the top level, I hope he will have a great match and that the three points will stay at home."

Ramos also spoke about his own future, with his contract at Monterrey due to expire in December. The former Madrid star says he's enjoying life in Mexico and is eager to stay: "I hope to stay in Mexico, it's a country that treats me wonderfully well."

Mbappe on red-hot scoring streak

Mbappe has shone in the early weeks of the season for Real Madrid. He's currently on an eight-game scoring run for Los Blancos and is enjoying the best start to a season in his career. Manager Xabi Alonso has been full of praise for the France international. He told reporters ahead of their Champions League clash with Juve: "Not just the goals. His positive influence on the team is almost as important as his teammates following him with and without the ball. He helps us control games. He's always going to score goals. He's done it everywhere. His vital and personal moment is very good. He's very analytical and intelligent, he does things for reasons, everything fits together in his head now, and that's why he's doing so well."

Meanwhile, Mbappe says Real Madrid are starting to understand what new manager Alonso wants from his team after replacing Carlo Ancelotti at the helm. He told : "They're different, two generations of coaches who have crossed paths. Ancelotti is one of the best in history. When you arrive, you're happy to play for him; he's always close to the players. Xabi wants to help a lot, but he's younger. He has more need and desire to prove himself with Real Madrid, to achieve things in his first big opportunity at the best club in the world. We're going to try to help him win as many titles as possible. It's an important year for Real Madrid and the national team. We're starting to understand what the manager wants from us, but we have to improve to get where we want to be."

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Mbappe's Clasico record

Mbappe may have been on the losing side four times against Barcelona last season, but he still made managed to score five goals in those games. He even bagged a hat-trick in the 4-3 defeat in May, becoming just the third Madrid man ever to manage the feat in an away Clasico after Ferenc Puskas in January 1963 and Karim Benzema in April 2023.

Ninth-wicket pair bat out more than 10 overs to keep Lancashire winless

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay19-May-2025England bowlers past and present, James Anderson and Tom Hartley, took two wickets apiece but Lancashire’s Rothesay County Championship against Derbyshire ended in a tense draw with the visitors closing on 220 for 8, still 109 runs short of what had become a notional victory target.In the morning session, Lancashire had declared 184 for 7, thereby challenging their opponents to score 328 in 88 overs for victory. Harry Came made 63 as the visitors chased this target but, after reaching tea on 165 for 5, Derbyshire’s batters settled for securing the draw.The heroes were Anuj Dal, who faced 114 balls for 13 not out, and Jack Morley, who was unbeaten on nought after 36 balls when the game ended. Anderson finished with 2 for 25 from 16 overs and Hartley 2 for 38 from 20.5.Despite remaining winless after six games, Lancashire take 13 points from the match, meaning that they move off the bottom of the Division Two table, whereas Derbyshire’s 11 points keeps them in second place.In the morning session, Lancashire scored 43 runs off six overs before declaring. The only home batter dismissed was George Balderson, who was caught at third man by Martin Andersson off Blair Tickner for 9, while Matthew Hurst was 56 not out when Marcus Harris called his men in.Derbyshire’s pursuit of 329 began poorly when Caleb Jewell played too early at a slower ball from Anderson and chipped a catch to Tom Bailey at mid-on.Anderson returned figures of 6-1-17-1 in his first spell and, following Jewell’s dismissal for 12, David Lloyd and Came guided their side to 78 for 1 after 20 overs at lunch. By that interval, both batters were batting fluently and the visitors were up with the required run rate.But any optimism among the visiting supporters was dampened four balls after the resumption when Anderson trapped Lloyd lbw for 30. Undaunted, Came and the new batter, Wayne Madsen, saw off Anderson’s spell (4-2-4-1) and had added 50 in 16 overs before Madsen tickled Bailey down the leg side and was caught by Hurst for 17.By that stage, Came has reached his third fifty of the season off 72 balls, most of them pedigree strokes, but Brooke Guest could not match his partner’s fluency and was bowled round his legs for 2 when trying to sweep Hartley, who was bowling over the wicket, partly with the aim of achieving such a dismissal.Four overs later, Hartley struck again when he took the vital wicket of Came, the Derbyshire batsman pushing uncertainly forward and giving a catch to George Bell at short leg when he had made 63. That left Derbyshire on 151 for 5 with 44 overs still to be bowled.By tea the visitors had reached 165 for 5 and it soon became clear that Derbyshire had abandoned all thoughts of victory. Anderson bowled three uneventful overs, Hartley wheeled away from over the wicket from the Brian Statham end.Over an hour into the evening session, Lancashire took their sixth wicket when Josh Bohannon induced Andersson to drive a full toss straight to Keaton Jennings at short extra cover. Andersson’s dismissal for 43 was followed two overs later by a second success for Bohannon when Zak Chappell gave him a return catch.That left Derbyshire on 212 for 7 with 18 overs to be bowled and Tom Bailey struck the next blow when he had Ben Aitchison lbw for nought with 65 balls left in the game. After 80 overs Lancashire took the new ball and Anderson bowled three more overs trying to take the wickets that would seal victory. But Dal and Morley resisted him successfully.

Jadon Sancho remains a potential future Ballon d’Or winner despite his struggles at Manchester United and a series of unspectacular loan spells, claims former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic. The England international winger has rather lost his way, with a big-money move to Old Trafford not working out as planned, but there is still potential in his game to be unlocked.

Sancho struggles: Man Utd flop & loan moves

Sancho is still only 25 years of age, so should not yet have reached his peak. He would hope to have found greater consistency in his game, having shown what he is capable of when making the brave decision to leave Manchester City for Dortmund in 2017. His exploits there earned senior international recognition and a £73 million ($97m) transfer to United.

Sancho managed just 12 goals for the Red Devils through 83 appearances, with a tumble down the attacking pecking order leading to him heading back to Signal Iduna Park in January 2024. He would go on to grace the Champions League final that season – picking up a runners-up medal.

The 2024-25 campaign was spent at Chelsea, hoisting the Conference League trophy aloft there, but no permanent transfer was agreed. That meant Sancho had to find another home in 2025, with Ruben Amorim deeming him surplus to requirements in Manchester, and just eight minutes of Premier League football have been seen at Aston Villa.

AdvertisementGettyBallon d'Or hopefuls: Sancho ranked alongside Bellingham & Haaland

Terzic, though, remains convinced that Sancho can rekindle a lost spark. He has also worked with the likes of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, meaning that he knows how to spot a superstar in the making.

Terzic has told : “All those players can win the Ballon d’Or in the future. Even Jadon. From the talent point of view, if you talk about Jadon, then maybe five years ago you would talk about Ousmane Dembele [who won the prize this year with Paris St-Germain] in the same way. I am talking about the talent and potential.

“The difference is Erling will reach this level if he stays hungry: Jadon will only reach this level if he keeps smiling – and Jude needs to do both. I really love Jude. He and Declan Rice will be the key figures in English football for the next 10 years. They have leadership and Jude has the ability to give solutions on the highest levels [and] make players around him better. This is what he can do.”

How Terzic brought the best out of Bellingham

Terzic, who led Dortmund to the 2024 Champions League final, added on how he helped to bring the best out of current Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham: “One example: I told him I possibly won’t be around when he’s going to win the Champions League but I’m going to be around when he’s going to lift his first trophy of his career and this is what we did with the German Cup. So he was on a springboard.

“Unfortunately, I was there when he lifted the Champions League trophy [at Wembley]! Both of us made our way to the final, but he left us for a record fee, and 10 months later, we faced each other in the Champions League final. We tried to develop him from being a winner, because he wants to win every game, into becoming a leader.”

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Getty Images SportHandle with care: How Sancho needs to be managed

Terzic added on how he was able to get Sancho firing on all cylinders, with other coaches having struggled in that task: “On the pitch, I tried to reach the joy of the child in Jadon – off the pitch, the professional athlete in Jadon. The only thing players hate more than rules is if there are no rules. As a manager sometimes you are a brother, sometimes you are a father, sometimes you have to be a lawyer and sometimes you have to be a judge. What I don’t want to be is a policeman all the time.”

World Cup winner Dembele has shown what is possible, having faced plenty of uncomfortable questions at Barcelona before landing a Golden Ball with PSG, but it may be that Sancho needs to find another new challenge in 2026 – severing ties with United on a permanent basis – in order to start heading down a similar path.

An “exemplary” Manchester United player is expected to leave the club at the end of this season alongside full-back Tyrell Malacia, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Malacia on course to depart Man Utd

The international break is getting in the way of Premier League action currently, but soon, all eyes will be on United’s trip to Liverpool next Sunday afternoon.

In terms of the futures of certain players, Malacia looks set to depart Old Trafford next summer, with journalist Fabrizio Romano saying as much in recent days.

“Tyrell Malacia, despite returning to training with the first team of Manchester United after a crazy window where he had several opportunities, Tyrell Malacia is not going to sign any new contract at Man United, and in any case, will leave the club for sure, 100% in 2026.”

It feels like the right time for Malacia to move on, considering the Dutchman is well down the left-back pecking order, and now another United exit rumour has emerged.

"Exemplary" Man Utd ace also expected to leave

Taking to X, Galetti claimed that Casemiro will leave Manchester United when the current season reaches its conclusion, with his £18m-a-year contract expiring at that point.

This comes after previous reports which went as far as to claim the midfielder actually has regrets over joining Man Utd from Real Madrid in 2022.

Like Malacia, it makes sense for Casemiro to leave the Red Devils in 2026, considering he will be 34 years of age then, and clearly not quite the world-class force he used to be.

That’s despite the midfielder being made Brazil captain by current manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has heaped praise on him in recent times.

“Casemiro is an exemplary player, respected by all. He has the experience and the character to guide this team. For me, he can be the captain, but I don’t know if he agrees with that. He knows the demands of the top level, he knows how to manage difficult moments and motivate his teammates. Being captain is not just about wearing an armband. It’s about setting an example every day, on and off the pitch. Casemiro does it naturally.”

Casemiro is on huge wages, but arguably doesn’t justify them, given his age, and his exit will help pave the way for a younger defensive midfielder to come in, whether it be Carlos Baleba or someone else.

Romano: "Tremendous" £75k-p/w Man Utd ace to "leave" Old Trafford in 2026

Is it the right time for him to depart?

ByHenry Jackson Oct 12, 2025

He has always given his all for United, but it makes sense for all parties for him to enjoy a fresh challenge, with a new deal surely unthinkable for the Red Devils at this point in his career.

Sterre Kalis fifty sets foundation for Birmingham side as The Blaze suffer first defeat of campaign

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Jun-2025Warwickshire handed The Blaze their first defeat of the Women’s Vitality Blast campaign, by 25 runs, in a clash of two of the competition’s front-runners at Edgbaston.Warwickshire’s total of 172 for 6 was built upon strong contributions from their top three with Sterre Kalis hitting 54 (41 balls), Meg Austin 39 (30) and Davina Perrin 25 (18). Thereafter runs came less freely as Kathryn Bryce dismissed those three on the way to an excellent 4 for 21.The Blaze replied with a scrappy 147 for 8. Tammy Beaumont hit 44 off 29 but the rest of the powerful batting line-up misfired against the home side’s excellent and varied attack led by the pace of Em Arlott, with 3 for 33 and the spin of Millie Taylor (2 for 23).Warwickshire chose to bat and were given a strong foundation by openers Austin and Perrin who added 59 in 40 balls. Both then fell to the Bryce sisters – stumped by Sarah off Kathryn. In each case it was excellent glovework by the wicketkeeper as Perrin was lured down the pitch and Bryce (S) did well to take a ball that bounced, and then Austin missed an attempted cut and lifted her back foot just momentarily but long enough for Bryce to pounce.Kalis added another polished half-century to the one she lodged for Netherlands against USA in Utrecht eight days ago but the rest came and went fleetingly.Laura Harris tried to slog-sweep from outside off stump and skied Kirstie Gordon to midwicket. Pavely, Warwickshire’s match-winner two days earlier, lifted Grace Ballinger to long-on.Kathryn Bryce returned to have Kalis caught at mid-off and Nat Wraith pouched at extra cover as Warwickshire came in with a decent but by no means daunting total on a good batting pitch.The Blaze soon lost former Warwickshire batter, Marie Kelly, who pulled Issy Wong to deep square. Beaumont, who hit seven fours and a six, and Kathyn Bryce added 49 from 48 balls but then fell in successive overs, caught in the deep off Taylor and Georgia Davis respectively. When Heather Graham chipped Hannah Baker to midwicket, three wickets had fallen for 12 runs in 18 balls and the required rate had climbed above ten per over.As the equation came down to 64 from the last five overs, the Blaze needed a huge over but it never came. Georgia Elwiss sought six over midwicket off England pace bowler Arlott but was well-caught by Perrin just inside the rope. Ella Claridge lifted Taylor straight and Perrin was under that one too as Warwickshire’s diverse and disciplined attack extinguished the Blaze chase.