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Wolverhampton Wanderers are now among the clubs showing the strongest interest in signing a £30m “monster”, and they have now opened talks over a deal.

Wolves looking to bolster options after losing opening two games

Wolves were always expected to find it difficult against Manchester City in their opening Premier League game, but the manner of the defeat will be disappointing, losing 4-0 at Molineux, and Vitor Pereira’s side were unable to bounce back against AFC Bournemouth.

Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring after just four minutes, and Toti Gomes didn’t do his side any favours by being given a straight red card early in the second half, which meant the Old Gold were ultimately unable to find a way back into the game.

Emmanuel Agbadou, on the other hand, impressed throughout the match, winning all eight of the duels he contested and making one crucial last-man tackle, which earned the Ivorian a SofaScore match rating of 8.1.

Their new Vitinha: Wolves submit big bid to sign "midfield general"

As Wolverhampton Wanderers look to bolster their squad, could they sign a “midfield general” worth £26m, in a move reminiscent of Vitinha’s arrival?

By
Ben Gray

Aug 22, 2025

However, with City finding it all too easy at Molineux last weekend, and Gomes putting in a poor display against Bournemouth, it is no surprise that Pereira remains keen on bringing in another centre-back this summer.

According to a report from Caught Offside, both Wolves and Bournemouth are now showing the strongest interest in signing Chelsea defender Axel Disasi, with the Blues open to sanctioning a departure for a fee in the region of £30m.

An anonymous Caught Offside source has also confirmed the Old Gold have now entered negotiations over a deal for Disasi, saying: “Talks with Chelsea have already begun. Wolves are exploring creative solutions such as performance-based bonuses to complete the deal without stretching their budget.”

However, the defender may wait to hear from the other interested parties before making a final decision, with reigning Serie A champions Napoli also expected to advance talks soon, alongside Bournemouth.

"Monster" Disasi could be excellent signing for Wolves

The 27-year-old is set to leave Chelsea before the deadline, having failed to force his way into Enzo Maresca’s plans, and while he may not be at the level to start for a side with title aspirations, the centre-back could be a solid addition to Wolves’ backline.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Rahman Osman, the Frenchman spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Aston Villa, where he impressed Unai Emery, with the manager praising the defender for his mentality and dedication.

The five-time France international is now experienced at Premier League level, having made 44 appearances in the competition, notably catching Statman Dave’s eye with a solid performance against Manchester City in the 2023-24 season.

Wolves recorded the worst defensive record of any side that avoided relegation last season, and having made a poor start to the new campaign, it is clear they need to bring in a new defender, so Disasi could be an excellent addition.

Declan Rice has revealed he was inundated with messages from some icons of the game after his free-kick heroics for Arsenal against Real Madrid in the Champions League last season. The midfielder scored two outrageous goals from set-pieces in the quarter-final first leg at Emirates Stadium, inspiring a famous 3-0 victory that set up a comfortable 5-1 aggregate win for the Gunners.

• Rice gets recognition from the best

  Speaking to , Rice has revealed that he received a DM from legendary dead-ball specialist David Beckham, among others, following his impressive exploits against Los Blancos back in April, when he found the net from range twice within 12 second-half minutes. The 26-year-old spoke about the unexpected attention on his set-piece abilities, and also discussed how the growing England contingent at Arsenal has helped new signings settle into the squad.

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  Unlikely free-kick specialist

  Rice has unexpectedly emerged as something of a set-piece specialist, having been elected to take both corners and free kicks for the north Londoners. His ability there has even drawn comparisons to Beckham, the former England and Manchester United star renowned for his adeptness from a dead ball. The presence of Rice, alongside other England internationals like Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White, and new signings Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, strengthens the English core within the Arsenal squad, fostering a sense of camaraderie and aiding integration of the fresh faces.

• DMs from Beckham, Gerrard & Lampard

  Discussing the messages he received after the Real Madrid game, Rice said: "Who messaged me? I don't want to get this wrong. I think [David] Beckham messaged me. But I had that many messages that I should know that. But yeah, like old England legends, all of them, like Frank Lampard, [Steven] Gerrard, so many people."

  When asked about being compared to Beckham, Rice responded: "Yeah, it's crazy because I I didn't come here to be a set-piece taker, but it was something the manager seen in me and the set-piece coach seen in me. I don't know, I felt like they had more belief in it, like more belief in me than I had in myself in taking them. And then the more I started to take them and like get more confident with it, I've realised that I could do what they want. And yeah, I've been really consistent with my deliveries."

  On the England bond within the Arsenal squad, Rice added: "I think us four lining up together [for England] was it was incredible to be honest with you. I can't remember the last time probably four Arsenal players lined up in an England shirt together."

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  Key man for club and country

  Rice will continue to be a pivotal figure for Arsenal as they aim to mount a serious title challenge this season and compete in the Champions League. His performances, leadership qualities, and growing influence within the group will be crucial to his side's success. The midfielder will also be hoping to maintain his place as a key member of the England squad as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. With the Gunners back in Champions League action against Olympiacos on Wednesday, Rice will hope to demonstrate his ability from set-pieces once again.

Fair to say, the start of this season has not gone to plan for Rangers.

The Light Blues were actually impressive during the early rounds of Champions League qualifying, knocking out both Panathinaikos and then Viktoria Plzeň, winning the first leg at home both times.

However, their Champions League dreams quickly went up in flames on Tuesday night, 3-0 down after less than 20 minutes at home to Club Brugge, ultimately defeated 3-1, but still needing a miracle in Belgium next Wednesday, or once again the Europa League beckons.

Meantime, the start of the Scottish Premiership campaign has been catastrophic, held to a 1-1 draw by both Motherwell at Fir Park and then Dundee at Ibrox, thereby failing to win either of their opening two league matches for the first time since 1989 under Graeme Souness.

Thus, the pressure is really on as the Gers travel to St Mirren on Sunday, with the first Old Firm of the season to come a week later.

Defeat in both of these fixtures would be unthinkable, but could have drastic consequences for the new man at the helm.

Russell Martin is under pressure already

When he was appointed during the summer, Russell Martin became only the 20th permanent manager since Rangers’ first in 1899.

However, the way things are going, he could become the shortest-serving, not including caretakers, as the table below documents.

As the table outlines, Pedro Caixinha is the shortest-serving permanent Rangers manager of all time, taking charge of only 26 matches in 2017, winning just 14, overseeing the infamous Europa League qualifying defeat at the hands of Progrès Niederkorn.

Well, with pressure increasing already, Martin could break that record, needing to remain in charge until late-November to avoid this fate which, at the moment, is in the balance.

However, could the new manager immediately win over the Ibrox faithful by landing a statement signing before the window closes?

Rangers aiming to rebalance midfield

Most would’ve forecast that midfield would be the strongest part of Rangers’ team, given the performances of Mohamed Diomandé and player of the year Nicolas Raskin last season.

However, they’re yet to find the right balance with those two alongside summer signing from Bournemouth Joe Rothwell, who is yet to impress supporters.

With that in mind, could Rangers reignite their interest in Andy Irving, after it was reported by the Scotsman earlier this month that they were among many sides interested in securing his signature?

Numerous other clubs from across Europe are also interested, Wrexham, Köln, Stuttgart, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Sturm Graz, to name but a few, but Rangers could place themselves at the front of the queue.

The 25-year-old, who is reportedly valued at £3.5m, has already had a fascinating career; born in Edinburgh, he began his career at Heart of Midlothian, loaned out to both Berwick Rangers and then Falkirk, appearing 61 times for Hearts in total.

He then made the unconventional move to Türkgücü München, spending one season in Germany’s third-tier, before joining Austria Klagenfurt, playing for two seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga, scoring 16 goals and registering 14 assists.

This earned him a move to West Ham, although he’s been used infrequently by the Irons, his sole Premier League start, to date, coming at Stamford Bridge in February, serenaded by supporters throughout, despite a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.

He was then handed his senior international debut by Steve Clark against Liechtenstein at Rheinpark Stadion in June, remaining very popular amongst West Ham supporters, earning the nickname the ‘Portobello Pirlo’ due to his ‘precocious talent’ and ability to dictate play from the base of midfield.

Writer Kai Watson outlines how Irving can “play under pressure” and “break the lines with his passes”, concluding that the Scotland international “would do well in Martin’s system”.

As he proved at Southampton last season, Martin is not going to change his principles nor his philosophy, or playing style, so the only way he is a success at Rangers is if the players are better able to carry out his instructions.

Based on what he’s produced so far, Irving appears as though he could do just that at a high level, so he could be the man to save the sinking ship, with his ability to succeed in the system being played.

Journalist reveals what he's heard about Russell Martin's Rangers future

Is the Gers boss already on his way out of Ibrox?

By
Henry Jackson

Aug 22, 2025

As a Scotland international, Irving may also warm to supporters quickly as a player they may have an added investment in, which could help to get the fans back onside at Ibrox.

Barcelona have suffered another injury blow, with Robert Lewandowski picking up a muscle tear while on international duty with Poland. The reigning La Liga champions have put no timescale on the Polish striker’s recovery, but it is being reported that he could be sidelined for several weeks. If that proves to be the case, then the veteran frontman will miss a Clasico clash with Real Madrid on October 26.

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  Lewandowski injury: What is wrong with the Polish striker?

  Lewandowski played the full 90 minutes for Poland in their latest 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lithuania. He was on target in that contest, taking his international goal tally to 87 through 161 appearances. He has told reporters of wanting to become a centurion on the goal front: "I'm only 13 goals away from 100. There are still a few games left this year, and next year too. I'm happy with every goal. We'll see what happens." The 37-year-old did, however, complain of experiencing discomfort after said outing for his country.

  The experienced Pole returned to training in Catalunya on Tuesday at the Ciutat Esportiva. He was sent for medical tests after informing Barca of the issues regarding his left leg. It has been confirmed that Lewandowski will require a period of rest.

  A statement on Barcelona’s read: “Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury in his left thigh. He will be sidelined, and his recovery time will depend on how the injury progresses.

  “The Polish striker has scored four goals in nine appearances so far in the 2025-26 season. His tally includes a brace against Valencia and goals against Oviedo and Real Sociedad. This season he has also scored two goals for Poland, the most recent coming during the October international break against Lithuania.”

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• Barcelona fixtures: Games Lewandowski could miss

  It remains to be seen how long Lewandowski will be sidelined for, with the legendary No.9 having already lost his starting berth at Barca to Ferran Torres this season. A pessimistic update on his condition has been delivered by .

  They claim that Lewandowski is likely to be ruled out for between four and six weeks, with it never wise to rush recovery from hamstring injuries. It appears to be inevitable that the Poland international will sit out a Clasico trip to Santiago Bernabeu on October 26.

  He will also miss a meeting with Girona on Saturday and a Champions League clash with Greek giants Olympiacos next week. If Lewandowski is ruled out through to the next international break, then matches with Elche, Club Brugge and Celta Vigo will also be watched from afar.

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  Injury list: Who else is missing for Barcelona

  Lewandowski joins a growing list of walking wounded at Barcelona. They are already going to be without Joan Garcia, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, and Dani Olmo for a meeting with old adversaries Madrid.

  As things stand, on-loan Marcus Rashford, Torres – who returned early from international duty with Spain after picking up a knock – and teenager Roony Bardghji are the only senior attackers available to Blaugrana boss Hansi Flick for a clash with Catalan neighbours Girona.

  Brazilian forward Raphinha is not yet training fully with the rest of the first-team squad, but 18-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal is said to be “training more normally” after resting during the latest international break and could be ready for a recall at the weekend. Fermin Lopez is also considered to be fit, but Dani Olmo is still two or three weeks away from a return.

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• Contract expiring: Lewandowski heading towards free agency

  Barcelona will want everybody back as soon as possible, with Real having returned to the top of the Liga table. They hold a two-point lead at the summit through eight fixtures, with injury troubles having stung Barca at the worst possible time.

  Lewandowski, who hit 42 goals across all competitions last season, will hope that he is not out for long as his contract in Catalunya continues to run down. Amid talk of interest being shown in Bayern Munich’s England international striker Harry Kane, it could be that Lewandowski is allowed to hit free agency in the summer of 2026.

The loss to Liverpool has certainly made things more complicated, but Arsenal still have a great chance to win the Premier League this season.

Moreover, despite the narrative some in the media are seemingly desperate to spin, Mikel Arteta’s side were just as good as the defending champions, and were it not for a freak free-kick, would be level on points with them.

That said, while the Gunners were defensively excellent against the Reds, they were a little underwhelming in attack, although Viktor Gyokeres didn’t really get the service he needed to make an impact.

Fortunately, the team will only grow more familiar with his fame in the coming weeks and months, and if his form over the last few seasons is anything to go by, he should be scoring for fun in no time at all.

With that said, Arsenal may well have been able to save the £68m they spent on him had they not sold a youngster a few windows ago.

Why Arsenal splashed the cash on Gyokeres

While there were several problems Arsenal had to contend with last season, from chance creation to a never-ending list of injuries, one of the big ones was simply putting the ball in the back of the net.

So, if you were Andrea Berta and you wanted to help solve that problem, you’d probably go out and sign the most prolific player in the world last year, which is precisely what he did.

From January 1 to December 31, 2024, Gyokeres scored a staggering 36 goals in the league alone, more than any other player in any other top-flight league around the world.

Perhaps even more impressive than that, though, is the fact that the Swedish “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored a staggering 54 goals and provided 13 assists across 52 appearances last season.

In other words, the 27-year-old international averaged 1.28 goal involvements every game, which is nothing short of miraculous.

In all, it’s not his build-up play nor his passing ability that caused Arsenal to splash the cash on Gyokeres; it was his unreal ability to wallop the ball in the back of the net.

Yet, while his transfer will probably work out, it might not have been necessary had Arteta and Co shown faith in a former youngster at the club.

The Arsenal youngster who could have been their homegrown Gyokeres

For all the talents that have made it into the first team over recent years, such as Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skell and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal have let their fair share of young stars leave.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

The likes of Donyell Malen and Eberechi Eze were let go as youngsters, but in this instance, we are talking about Mika Biereth.

The Danish poacher joined the club’s youth setup from Fulham in the summer of 2021 and, within a few years, had been out on several loans, the most successful of which was at Sturm Graz, who he was sold to for around £4m in the summer of 2024.

To say the 22-year-old hit the ground running upon making the permanent move would be a massive understatement, as in the first half of this season, he ended up scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in 25 appearances.

Such an awe-inspiring start to the campaign was more than enough to convince AS Monaco to spend just north of £10m on him in the winter window.

Despite now playing in a top-five league for the first time, the “outrageous” talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, thrived on the French Riviera, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in 19 appearances, totalling 1366 minutes.

In other words, the free-scoring forward, whom Arteta sold for a pittance, scored 27 goals and provided eight assists in just 44 appearances, totalling 3337 minutes last season.

That comes out to a monstrous average of a goal involvement every 1.25 games, or every 95.34 minutes across the 24/25 campaign.

Now, we are not claiming that Biereth would be as good a striker for the Gunners as Gyokeres could end up being this summer, but it’s clear that they probably would have been better off keeping him around.

After all, his output last season was undeniably Gyokeres-esque.

Berta must axe "clunky and indecisive" Arsenal dud who earns more than Eze

It’s time for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal to move on from the big-earner.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 2, 2025

In recent years, Leeds United have seen a whole host of exciting, raw gems from the Thorp Arch academy structure explode into life in the senior set-up.

While he has gone on to have an up-and-down career since exiting the Whites, Kalvin Phillips’ name has to be mentioned when looking back at academy starlets coming good at Elland Road, with the Leeds-born midfielder going on to collect 14 goals and 13 assists in the first-team picture at his boyhood side. Safe to say, Marcelo Bielsa turned him into an elite talent.

Archie Gray is also another glaring example of the conveyor belt approach in West Yorkshire working wonders.

Daniel Farke and Co only had the adaptable teenager in the first team ranks for one season before he was poached by a Premier League outfit.

Gray's insane rise at Leeds

Despite having such a long-standing reputation for giving up-and-coming youngsters first-team minutes when ready, no homegrown starlets were present on Farke’s bench for the recent trip to Fulham.

Gray was also nowhere to be found in the Tottenham Hotspur lineup, either, against West Ham United later that Saturday, with a major concern now that the 19-year-old could be Phillips 2.0; another expensive failure in the Premier League when leaving the comforts of West Yorkshire behind.

With hindsight now firmly on side, Gray might well have been better placed to stay put at Leeds for the foreseeable, instead of sealing a £30m move to North London.

Still, those at Leeds no doubt loved every minute of the teenage sensation’s career in the first-team mix at Leeds, even if promotion failed to be secured, with the England U21 regular turning quickly into a starter week in, week out for Farke.

Indeed, Gray left having tallied up 52 appearances in the first-team ranks from just one season, with the 6-foot-2 wonderkid’s ability to line up as a central midfielder or as a full-back, making him a dependable figure, even at such a young age.

Losing the versatility of Gray, therefore, would have hurt Leeds as much as both Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter vacating the building did, with the teenager even being lauded as “elite” from his very early days in West Yorkshire by the iconic Bielsa.

Still, losing Gray for that aforementioned £30m won’t hurt too much anymore as Leeds now find themselves in the same division as their ex-academy product.

Yet, they wouldn’t say no to having a fresh version of the 19-year-old, with another academy sensation now aiming to make the grade required to break into the senior ranks very soon.

The next version of Archie Gray at Leeds

Amazingly, while their former number 22 is no longer around, there is still a lingering Gray family connection at Elland Road.

Indeed, Harry Gray – who is the brother of the £30m star – is now being tipped to reach some incredible heights in West Yorkshire, having already netted four goals in Premier League 2 action this season.

Staggeringly, this isn’t the only narrative that “runs in the family” – as analyst Ben Mattinson has quipped – with Charlie Cresswell’s sibling in Alfie Cresswell making similar waves in the U21 set-up, with a route up to the first-team not looking like the most daring next step for the 18-year-old already.

With two goals next to his name in Premier League 2 action, many looking in might well anticipate that Cresswell is a player who regularly lines up in the forward areas.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, when assessing the various positions he can slot into, the argument that he could be the next Gray-style talent undoubtedly strengthens.

Looking at the table above, Cresswell has routinely switched between playing in the middle of the park and as a right-back for the U18s and U21s.

Coincidentally, those are the two main positions Gray used to fill under Farke’s tutelage, with Gray even taking on a centre-back role at Spurs on occasion, like the 18-year-old’s main preference.

Therefore, the hope will be that Cresswell can go on to be a similarly standout success story like the Spurs number 14, as the next generation at Leeds aim to make significant strides to be remembered like Phillips and others before them.

Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues

A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

1

By
Dan Emery

Sep 15, 2025

Ryan Longman failed to convert an easy chance as Wrexham suffered yet another Championship defeat at the hands of high-flying Stoke City. The loss comes as yet another setback for Ryan Reyndols and Rob Mac's side, who continue to remain in the bottom half of the league table. Sorba Thomas scored a stunning goal for the hosts in the 36th minute to seal a key win for his side.

• Stoke too strong for Wrexham

  Stoke City dominated possession in the first half-hour of the game, though it was Wrexham who looked more positive with their moves in quick counter-attacks. The Red Dragons had a golden opportunity to go one up in the game in the 24th minute when Ryan Longman found himself in front of goal but the Wrexham star somehow contrived to miss from close range. Issa Kabore entered the box from the right side and attempted a shot on goal, which was parried away by Viktor Johansson but the ball fell to Longman's feet. The winger had an empty net in front of him but could only find the side-netting with a lacklustre shot.

  The miss proved costly for Wrexham as the hosts shortly broke the deadlock through Sorba Thomas' brilliant strike in the 36th minute. Stoke won their first corner of the match, which was taken by Lewis Baker, whose delivery lacked sting but it somehow went to Thomas on the left side. The Stoke winger quickly switched the ball to his right foot and took a shot which flew into the top right corner.

  The home side could have doubled their minutes after the hour mark as Million Manhoef rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot. Baker initiated the move and found Manhoef, who cut into the penalty box on his left before unleashing a shot. Unfortunately for him, the ball came off the crossbar, saving Wrexham from more embarrassment. 

  Phil Parkinson's side had an opportunity to restore parity towards the end of the game when Aaron Cresswell almost sliced the ball into his own net, while trying to clear Liberato Cacace's cross but it went over the crossbar. 

  Wrexham's misery continued as they remained in 18th position after Saturday's result. They have managed to register just two wins out of their first 10 matches and have now lost four times. 

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  The MVP

  Thomas stole the limelight in a match where both teams lacked sting in attack and remained toothless throughout the 90 minutes. The Welsh winger stepped up when his team needed him and scored the winner with a stunning effort in the first half to seal a crucial three points. 

• The big loser

  Longman turned out to be the villain for Wrexham as he embarrassingly missed a sitter by being unable to find the back of the net in the 24th minute despite having an empty net in front of him. The miss cost the Red Dragons dearly as their six-game unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end. It's also the first time this season they've failed to find the back of the net in a Championship game.

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  Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has ignited pre-Clasico controversy by claiming Real Madrid “steal” during a cheeky exchange on Twitch. The 18-year-old made the remark while chatting with streamer Ibai Llanos, comparing Madrid to a Kings League team known for benefiting from refereeing decisions. The comment comes just days before El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

• Yamal stirs controversy ahead of El Clasico

  Barca sensation Yamal has sparked uproar in Spain after boldly accusing Madrid of benefiting from refereeing decisions, describing them as a team that “steals and complains.” The Barcelona prodigy made the explosive remark during a broadcast on Kings League, just days before Clasico against Los Blancos.

  When asked by Ibai Llanos, owner of Kings League side Porcinos FC, whether his team reminded him of Real Madrid, Yamal didn’t hesitate. “Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…” he said, prompting laughter and disbelief from those on the stream. Llanos, a well-known Madrid supporter, immediately pushed back, asking, “Real Madrid steals?” To which Yamal doubled down, laughing nervously before reaffirming, “Well, let’s see, let’s see.”

  The comment has since gone viral across Spanish media and social platforms. The timing, however, could not be more controversial, just days before Barca travel to the Bernabeu in a high-powered La Liga clash.

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  Inside Yamal’s cheeky exchange with Ibai Llanos

  The exchange came as part of a lighthearted discussion between Yamal, Llanos, and Gerard Pique, the former Barca defender who co-founded the Kings League. Yamal, who co-owns the Kings League club La Capital FC, was discussing his upcoming fixture against Ibai’s team, Porcinos, when the topic of Real Madrid naturally arose.

  Pique jokingly stoked the rivalry, while Yamal’s response carried a sting. “They steal, they complain, and they do things…” said the Barcelona winger, alluding to what many Barca fans have long believed, that Real Madrid receives favourable treatment from referees.

  Despite his youthful tone and playful delivery, Yamal’s remarks have added extra spice to an already heated build-up to Clasico. His comments follow a long line of pre-Clasico mind games.

• Focus on Clasico showdown at the Bernabeu

  Barca will face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu this Sunday in a match that could decide early leadership of La Liga. Hansi Flick’s side currently trail Xabi Alonso’s men by two points, and a victory would see the Catalans leapfrog their rivals into first place.

  Yamal’s comment, while made in jest, could add pressure ahead of one of the most-watched games in world football. The 18-year-old is expected to start on the right wing after producing a string of impressive performances this season, including eight direct goal contributions in just seven La Liga appearances.

  Yamal’s self-assurance underlines his growing importance in Flick’s system, where his creativity, pace, and composure have made him one of the defining faces of Barcelona’s new era.

  Madrid, meanwhile, have remained silent publicly, focusing on preparation under Alonso after a tough-win in the Champions League game against Juventus. The club’s fans, however, are expected to make their feelings known when Yamal steps onto the Bernabeu turf this weekend.

  With tensions high, form stakes tight, and personal rivalries simmering, Clasico once again promises to deliver football, theatre, and controversy in equal measure, and Yamal finds himself right at the heart of it all.

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  Mbappe vs Yamal – the new Clasico duel

  This weekend’s encounter will also renew the rivalry between two of football’s biggest generational stars, French superstar Kylian Mbappe and Yamal. The pair have already faced off eight times across club and international competitions, with Yamal holding an extraordinary record of seven wins to Mbappe’s single victory.

  While Mbappe has outscored the Barcaa youngster in those meetings, eight goals to six, Yamal’s teams have consistently come out on top, including a memorable 5-2 Supercopa de Espana victory and a 3-2 Copa del Rey triumph. The French forward, now spearheading Madrid’s attack, will be eager to rewrite that record in front of home fans.

  Yamal’s form heading into the Clasico has been impressive despite Barcelona’s mixed start to the campaign. With three goals and eight assists already this season, he continues to showcase the balance between flair and maturity that has made him Europe’s most exciting teenager. His performances have not only drawn praise from Flick but also earned him a runner-up finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or at just 18 years old.

A well-known Hollywood actor has described his love for Liverpool as he prepares to wear a Reds shirt in his new movie alongside Bradley Cooper.

Famous Liverpool fans include James Bond and LeBron James

As one of the biggest clubs in the world, it is no great surprise that the Reds have famous supporters in all walks of life, whether it be sport, music or film, to name just a few.

Basketball icon LeBron James is a big Liverpool supporter, for example, and even owns a small stake in the club, while former James Bond star Daniel Craig has also discussed his love for the club in the past, even sending his best wishes to Jurgen Klopp after he left.

“In the few precious moments that I spent with you. Hand on heart, I said to myself, ‘I would follow that man anywhere’. Thank you for what you’ve done and achieved at Liverpool Football Club. It’s been quite a ride. Your ability to cut through the b******t and get to the heart of what really matters has inspired me and millions of people around the world. So wherever you go and whatever you do, I wish you and your family only joy.”

The likes of Damian Lewis, Millie Bobby Brown and Samuel L. Jackson are just some of the other world-renowned Liverpool fans, and now another has emerged.

Liverpool have a future Ballon d'Or nominee who could soon dethrone Salah

Liverpool will hope this young star can go on to become the club’s next Mohamed Salah.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 29, 2025

Hollywood star to wear Liverpool shirt in new film

Now, Hollywood star Will Arnett has also been revealed as a Liverpool fan, with the Canadian a Reds “fanatic” after growing obsessed with them during the Klopp era.

In his new film starring and directed by Cooper, titled ‘Is This Thing On?’, Arnett will play a stand-up comedian, in a story inspired by the life of fellow Reds supporter and comedian John Bishop. In the trailer, he is seen wearing a Liverpool top, making sure those watching know where his allegiance lies.

Arnett is hoping to be among the contenders to win the Oscar for best actor at next year’s ceremony – wouldn’t it be nice if him winning the prize coincided with the Reds clinching back-to-back Premier League titles?

The 55-year-old is known for his various roles down the years, from Arrested Development to BoJack Horseman to Lego Batman, as well as co-hosting Smartless alongside friends Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, in one of the biggest podcasts in the world currently.

It’s always nice to know that Liverpool are being represented across the globe, and Arnett donning a Reds shirt when people flock to the cinema to see him will go down well with the fans.

Leeds United have made a positive beginning to the Premier League campaign and one of their players has been making a huge impact behind the scenes at Thorp Arch.

Leeds winger Daniel James ruled out due to injury

Unfortunately, Daniel Farke has confirmed that Leeds United winger Daniel James has been ruled out due to injury and is expected to be out for four to six weeks, leaving the Whites searching for an alternative out wide.

He said: “Daniel James will be out for a few weeks, he’s rolled his ankle sadly in training. The doctors say he’s likely out four to six weeks so realistically we expect him back just after the November international break. If he would be back before it would be a bonus and a surprise. It’s not great news.”

Joel Piroe may well come back into Farke’s thinking following his exploits last season. Either way, the German coach has shown he can compete with the Premier League elite on a tactical level this term, and he will be keen to build on a draw against Newcastle United that could’ve easily yielded three points.

Wilfried Gnonto and Harry Gray are also on the sidelines until after the international break, compounding Leeds United’s bad luck with absentees since returning to the top-flight.

As it stands, a return of eight points from their opening six league games has bred optimism that a positive season could be on the cards. That may well be the case, though Farke’s ability to make adjustments could determine how many results his side pick up across their coming run of fixtures.

While injuries continue to complicate matters, one of the Whites’ summer signings has been given credit for the impact he has made since arriving at Elland Road.

Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin's telling impact

Speaking to TBR, Graeme Bailey has talked up Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s impact at Leeds United behind the scenes, claiming his teammates have been impressed with how his arrival has raised standards alongside his general contribution on the field thus far.

He said: “Leeds are really happy with how he’s settling in. When you bring in good-quality players, they rub off on each other, and that benefits the rest of the team. Okafor and Calvert-Lewin, coming up from the Championship, are a massive step up in quality for Leeds.

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“They’re both international-calibre players, and their presence raises standards across the squad. Jack Harrison still has a role to play for Leeds. Calvert-Lewin may not be scoring as much as fans would like, but unless someone is hitting 40 goals a season, most forwards will face that criticism.

“Overall, they’re very happy with what they’ve seen so far. These players are influencing each other and the team positively, and they’ve been pretty impressive.”

One goal from five appearances for Calvert-Lewin probably doesn’t tell the full story. His enthusiasm, work rate and desire to lead the line efficiently has been an asset to Farke and has helped the Whites to pick up points over the last few weeks.

The England international looks somewhat revitalised after his spell at Everton came to and end, and supporters will hope he can start scoring regularly to offer the impact his general play deserves to yield.