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A new UEFA report has revealed that, as of the end of the 2024 financial year, Chelsea have built the most expensive squad ever assembled.

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• Chelsea squad cost staggering €1.66bn
• Outstrips previous record set by Real Madrid
• Four Premier League clubs have spent over a billion

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A new UEFA report has revealed the staggering cost of Chelsea's squad, with it being worth over €1.6 billion (£1.39bn/$1.8bn). The huge number outstrips Real Madrid, who had the previous most expensive squad ever assembled in 2020, with theirs being worth £1.12bn ($1.44m).

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Four squads in total in the report had squads that cost over £1bn: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal. In addition, Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham all make the top 20, with the Hammers somehow building a squad that is worth more than Barcelona's.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Premier League's pure financial might is understated by the fact that 60% of the top 10 are English clubs. The only European clubs in the top 10 for squad worth are Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus, and Inter.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  In the summer, one can expect further spending from the Premier League. Last summer, the 20 clubs spent a staggering £2bn ($2.5m).

What crisis? Tottenham Hotspur’s continual ability to rewrite their narrative, for better and for worse, succeeds in mystifying the sharpest of Premier League analysts.

At their worst under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs are easy to play through and bereft of synergy in defence. When operating to their max, though, they are a force to be reckoned with – something that Manchester City felt keenly as they were trounced 4-0 in their own backyard on a gloomy Saturday evening.

It bears testament to Postecoglou’s nous that he is taking his side home from Manchester with a massive win in the bag for the second time this season, though the chequered results elsewhere serve as a reminder that there is plenty of work still to do.

Even so, this was an incredible evening, perhaps the best yet under Postecoglou’s wing. James Maddison was the architect of the success, utterly mesmerising for the Lilywhites.

James Maddion's birthday bonanza

Birthday boy Maddison enjoyed the most wonderful of presents when putting his side two nil up after just 20 minutes, setting the tone for Tottenham’s almighty victory.

Writing in his post-match player ratings, correspondent Alasdair Gold could only hand the 28-year-old a 9/10 rating, praising his goals but also noting that from that point ‘his confidence was flowing from then on and he showed exactly what he can do.’

As you can see from the stats portrayed below, Maddison was not only incisive with his shooting but indispensable with his combativeness and progression, completing both of his dribbles and winning a whopping nine ground duels.

It was a fine performance, and he was joined by forward partners such as Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and the like.

But let’s take a moment to hail the brilliant defensive performance of Radu Dragusin. He came up trumps.

Radu Dragusin's best Spurs performance

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, a formidable and dynamic defensive partnership. Sadly, injuries meant that both titans sat on the sidelines for this one.

No matter. Alongside the experienced Ben Davies, Dragusin was a stone-walled bulwark for his side, winning 100% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore, and silencing the beleaguered Erling Haaland, who mustered five shots to no avail.

The performance was so mighty that football.london had to match Maddison’s remarkable 9/10 score when assessing the Romania international’s showing, with talent scout Jacek Kulig even saying “Dragusin is simply a monster” after the spectacle.

The former Genoa man has come in for criticism for his form of late – having been particularly abject in the defeat to Ipswich Town last time out – yet up against the division’s fiercest marksman, Haaland, the Romanian stood firm, and then some, putting in arguably his fine display for the club to date, considering the nature of the opposition.

Remarkable stuff. If only Tottenham could play Guardiola’s lads every week.

Take a glance back at the Londoners’ results and you will be reminded that there is plenty of work to do. But come on, that’s an exceptional result, and hopefully an overture for the riches to come from this exciting crop.

Watch out Maddison: Ange could unleash "stunning" Spurs academy gem

The sensational talent has a bright future at Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 22, 2024

GOAL takes a look at five of MLS' most underperforming squads, examining how and why things are going wrong to begin 2025

Three weeks into the MLS season, there are clear frontrunners at the top. The Columbus Crew are unbeaten, as Wilfried Nancy's men continue to impress, while Inter Miami joins them among the East elite. The Vancouver Whitecaps and Philadelphia Union, however, are the only teams to win their opening three games of the season as both unexpectedly surge.

Opposite, at the bottom of the standings though, three teams sit without a point: Sporting Kansas City, CF Montreal, and... reigning champions, LA Galaxy. Two others, the New England Revolution and the Portland Timbers, are struggling mightily as well.

All five teams, in their own way, were looking to build off positive momentum from the 2025 offseason. So far though, it's been nothing short of woeful, and they've become the Not-So-Fantastic Five.

GOAL examines how and why this group of clubs, in particular, is struggling to begin the campaign.

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  LA Galaxy

  The Galaxy, 2024 MLS Cup champions, are officially off to the worst start to an MLS season by any reigning champion in league history. Three losses through three matches with a negative-6 goal-differential, LA has struggled mightily in all aspects of the game to start the campaign in unexpected fashion.

  However, is it that shocking? Yes, it is – but looking big picture – there are understandable reasons why things don't appear the same on the pitch.
  They're without the key centerpiece of their midfield in midfielder Riqui Puig, who is sidelined with an ACL tear, and star winger Joseph Paintsil – who is dealing with a calf injury to begin the season. Then, they lost their leading goalscorer Dejan Joveljic to Sporting Kansas City this offseason after the Serbia international departed for a reported $4M fee. That's three key members of the attack alone.

  In fact, their MLS Cup winning XI from December and their opening day XI in 2025 had five different faces representing the Galaxy – signaling significant changes.

  Manager Greg Vanney has his hands full to turn their form around, but it's still very early in the season, and there are truly no doubts that the Galaxy will find their way back into the competitive mix in the Western Conference. The one positive LA has going for them is they turned around a 1-0 deficit in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to Herediano, defeating the Costa Rican side 4-1 in leg two to advance to the quarterfinal of the competition.

  Matchday 4 presents them with a favorable matchup against the Timbers as well. The likes of Marco Reus and Gabriel Pec, if they trust each other and those around them, could finally unleash their attacking prowess and get their first points of the season.

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  Portland Timbers

  Phil Neville’s Timbers are off to a rough start, sitting at 1-2 through the opening three matches. Their lone win came on Matchday 2, a late 89th-minute free kick from David Da Costa that secured a victory over Austin. The strike was more fluke than precision, but three points are three points. Still, it doesn’t change the troubling trajectory the club is on.

  They opened the season with a humbling 4-1 loss to the Whitecaps and followed it with a 2-0 shutout defeat to Nashville SC on Matchday 3 – both marked by the same glaring issue: poor defending.

  The backline collapsed against Vancouver, conceding four avoidable goals after veteran centerback Kamal Miller was sent off just 11 minutes into the match. Against Austin – a struggling side in their own right – Portland’s defense showed some improvement but was rarely tested. Any progress, however, was undone in Nashville.

  The Timbers gave away two penalty kicks within the opening 18 minutes, but goalkeeper James Pantemis bailed them out with two stunning saves. His reward? His defenders collapsed twice — conceding in first-half stoppage time and again midway through the second half in a 2-0 loss.

  Neville has every right to be frustrated with his defense’s shaky start, but ultimately, it’s his responsibility to fix it. Questions about Portland’s lack of defensive reinforcements in the offseason are already looming over Neville and the club’s decision-makers. But regardless of the roster, the Timbers’ backline hasn’t even reached the basic standard expected in MLS so far in 2025.

• New England Revolution

  The Revs were arguably MLS' most shocking performers in 2024. They brought in a former MLS Cup-winning manager in Caleb Porter, some high-profile signings, and expected to return back to the top of the East. Instead, it was a disaster – from Porter feuding with players and media alike – to his roster critically underperforming. Despite a 14th place in the East, he returned in 2025 and completely overhauled the roster seeing more than 11 players depart the club over the offseason. In terms of incomings, they spent an MLS record GAM fee of $2.5M on Leonardo Campana and brought in a handful of MLS veterans to surround him with. The result?

  One point through three matches courtesy of a 0-0 draw with Nashville SC. Since? They've been shut out two times, a shocking return on investment in their attack.

  "I think just overall we need to stick to our process, and we need to stay in our reality. Our reality is an honest one, it's an objective one. It's a reality where we look at everything and look at the film, and we understand the good and we understand what needs to improve. So, I think that's really important and that gives us perspective on where we're at. We're three games into a season, and we have a bunch of new players. We need time," Porter shared with the media after their Matchday 3 loss to the Philadelphia Union.

  Apple TV's Taylor Twellman said it best: New England needs Porter to be better.

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  Sporting KC

  Sporting missed the postseason in 2024 and have opened 2025 winless in five matches across all competitions, without a single point to their name. In MLS play, they've now suffered 10 straight losses dating back to the 2024 regular season. It’s been nothing short of a disaster for the Western Conference side, with underperformance across every part of the pitch.

  MLS’s new documentary series pulled back the curtain on Sporting’s struggles, with the club’s ownership openly discussing the possibility of firing Peter Vermes in the offseason. Vermes himself admitted that it would have been a fair decision – but also explained why sticking with him made sense. In the end, Vermes, who has been with the club since before its 2010 rebrand to Sporting KC, is now tasked with steering the ship back on course.

  So far, though, there’s little reason for optimism.

  The big-money signing of Dejan Joveljic was supposed to be a turning point, but Sporting has struggled to build the right supporting cast around him. New Designated Player Manu Garcia has shown flashes of quality, but he’s still adjusting to the physicality and pace of MLS.

  Defensively, it’s been even worse. USMNT prospect Jake Davis has been forced to play at right back despite his natural position being in midfield. Meanwhile, centerbacks Joaquin Fernandez, Danny Rosero, and Robert Voloder have failed to show they are MLS-caliber options. Individual mistakes have piled up, repeatedly letting down Vermes and the squad.

  Ultimately, it’s up to Vermes and Sporting’s ownership to decide if this group of players has what it takes to compete in MLS. If not, Sporting could be headed for another forgettable season – and Vermes could be out of a job for the first time in 16 years.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement will be hoping the next few weeks are positive and that the Ibrox side can reach the turn of the year still having a chance of winning the domestic title, with the League Cup nestled away in the trophy cabinet for good measure.

It’s a lot to ask from the Belgian, but if he wishes to remain in the Light Blues dugout, then these are the targets which must be set, as second-best is not good enough, that’s for sure.

With the rumours circling around the manager amid the links to the Belgium national team job, the 50-year-old might not even be in charge for much longer.

Regardless of who is in charge, the January transfer window is a major chance for the Gers to move on some players who don’t have long left on their current contracts, while bringing in a new signing or two to bolster their squad.

With this in mind, here’s a look at a dream Rangers starting XI from January onwards, as the club look to improve during the second half of the campaign.

1

GK – Jack Butland

Jack Butland might not be at the level he displayed during his first six months at Ibrox, but the Englishman is still a dependable keeper between the sticks.

Aged only 31, his long-term future at the club looks secure. Liam Kelly is the current deputy, and he will be able to fill in whenever required, yet it will be Butland who will remain as the number-one choice over the next few months.

2

RB – Ryan Barnett

James Tavernier’s future has been heavily discussed of late. The captain is entering into the final 18 months of his deal and January could be the final chance for the Ibrox side to sell him for a decent fee.

If he does go, a replacement right-back will be required. In recent weeks, the Gers have been linked with a move for Wrexham defender Ryan Barnett, who could be an ideal replacement for Tavernier.

This season, he has recorded a goal and six assists in 18 games, showcasing his attacking talents. Could this mean he would slot into Tavernier’s role with ease?

3

CB – John Souttar

John Souttar was impressive for Scotland during the recent international break, playing 90 minutes in the wins over Croatia and Poland, even grabbing an assist during the latter tie.

For Rangers this season, the centre-back has missed only one game and while he has looked susceptible in a few games, overall, his performances have improved vastly since he first joined.

4

CB – Neraysho Kasanwirjo

The versatile defender signed on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy included in this deal. During his time on the pitch, the Dutchman has looked solid and can play across the back four.

It is at centre-back where his future should lie, however. Leon Balogun is out of contract at the end of the season, while Robin Propper hasn’t impressed, meaning the youngster should be given the chance to shine alongside Souttar.

5

LB – Jefte

Jefte may only be 20, but his exposure to senior football this season will aid his development superbly.

Yes, he will face competition from Ridvan Yilmaz when he returns from injury, but in the long term, Jefte could be the ideal Borna Barisic successor.

6

CM – Connor Barron

It was clear that a refresh was needed in the midfield during the summer. Signing Connor Barron and slotting him straight into the engine room is perhaps the most important thing Clement has done this term.

The 22-year-old has a bright future and has played a part in every single match for the club during 2024/25 thus far.

7

CM – Nicolas Raskin

The Belgian has enjoyed a resurgence of late, being someone who Clement can trust in the middle of the pitch.

Injury issues may have hampered his start to the season, but Raskin has impressed recently. Against Olympiacos in the Europa League, the midfielder made four key passes, won 50% of his ground duels and made seven tackles during the game as the club secured a 1-1 draw.

He and Barron could form a partnership which could shine for the next few years at least.

8

RW – Kwame Poku

Vaclav Cerny may be in decent form, but his loan finishes at the end of the season. According to Graeme Bailey, the Gers have been linked with a move for winger Kwame Poku of late.

The Peterborough United star has scored ten goals and recorded seven assists in just 17 games this term, which works out as a goal contribution a game.

Hailed as “unplayable” by manager Darren Ferguson, Poku could be an ideal long-term option as the right-winger for the Ibrox side, no doubt about that.

9

AM – Mohamed Diomande

The Ivorian can exude his creative talents when deployed as a number ten and this could suit the team far better in the long run, allowing Barron and Raskin to sweep up everything at the base of the midfield.

Diomande has created three big chances, averages one key pass and succeeded with 1.1 dribbles per game in the top flight this term. From now on, he should be unleashed as an attacking midfielder.

10

LW – Nedim Bajrami

While not his usual role, Nedim Bajrami has taken to the left wing with ease since joining Rangers. In 14 games, he has scored three goals and grabbed one assist.

Despite Rabbi Matondo and Oscar Cortes returning from injury soon, Clement must continue to utilise the Albanian out wide, especially considering his impressive displays.

Christian Norgaard has thanked Dele Alli for his admission regarding his sleeping pill addiction as he reveals he feared a similar fate.

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• Norgaard reveals his sleeping pill addiction
• Thanks Dele Alli for his 2023 addiction admission
• Reveals that Brentford helped him get clean

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  In a 2023 interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, former Tottenham Hotspur star Dele revealed that his six-week absence from football in 2022 had been due to his admission at a rehab centre for his addiction with sleeping pills over the years due to stress brought on by his footballing career and his rough childhood.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Brentford captain Norgaard has now revealed that he also went through an addiction to sleeping pills after being prescribed them due to stress regarding performances while at his former club, Brondby. However, he was able to ward off his addiction with the help of the Bees' sleep coach, Anna West, and he also thanked Dele for going public with his own struggles and bringing to light the issue with sleeping pills in the football community.

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  WHAT NORGAARD SAID

  Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Norgaard opened up on his struggles: "I really clearly remember when it [first] happened. It was before quite an important cup game in Denmark, and the mind started going. I had a bad night's sleep and I brought those thoughts to the game and I was like, 'What if I don't play well now because I've slept bad?'.

  "That became my thinking pattern before the next game, 'I need to sleep [well] before the game otherwise, I'll be a disaster in the game.' So that's why you have to break those patterns up."

  Norgaard also opened up on Dele's 2023 admission and said: "It was tough to watch but it was also touching and it was quite emotional for someone like me who struggled with it and could've maybe ended up being addicted to these sleeping tablets.

  "I remember sending a text to our sleeping coach Anna to say thank you for the things we've been working on because this is a clear picture of how bad it can go. "It's a topic that has maybe been going a bit under the radar. I think now it's getting emphasised, not only in football but in general, how important it is."

• WHAT NEXT FOR NORGAARD?

  The Brentford captain has been one of the top stars with the Bees over the last few years and has beaten his addiction by using small routines. He finished by saying: "That's one of the things I'm really happy about, having left it behind, and I'm happy that I'm not addicted to it now," he said. "Because, I think, once you've finished your career, it's something you could struggle with."

Lionel Scaloni cited an iconic Lionel Messi and Neymar moment to de-escalate Argentina's rivalry with Brazil after Raphinha's X-rated comments.

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• Scaloni attempts to de-escalate tense situation
• Raphinha made provocative statements against Argentina
• Messi and Neymar miss out on World Cup qualifiers due to injuries

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arch-rivals Brazil and Argentina are all set to lock horns in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a 2026 World Cup qualifying game. Ahead of the exciting clash, Barcelona and Selecao star Raphinha made some X-rated provocative statements against the world champions during a chat with Romario. In response to the Brazilian, La Albiceleste boss Scaloni cited Lionel Messi and Neymar's example to try and de-escalate the tense situation.

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• WHAT LIONEL SCALONI SAID

  Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Scaloni said: "It’s an Argentina-Brazil match, it’s always an important game, but it’s still just a soccer match. I remember the image after the 2021 Copa America final of Leo sitting with Neymar on the steps of Maracana, and that is the image that should stay with all of us.

  "That says it all: the best player in the world, and possibly the second-best player in the world, together and being friends. That’s the image we should hold on to. After that, it’s a soccer match, 90 minutes where each one wants to win. It doesn’t need to go beyond that, and it won’t go beyond that."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The World Cup-winning coach also shared his views on the challenge posed by Brazil, as he added: "We expect a match similar to the one against Uruguay. Brazil has the potential to dominate you because it is one of the biggest national teams in the world, but we will be prepared for the phases of the game where they dominate us, and very attentive to their counterattacks when we dominate. It’s a great match to show that the team is still going strong, and the idea is to put in a good performance against a great opponent. We have to find a way to play without Messi. We try to develop a system so that his absence is felt as little as possible."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Both Messi and Neymar have pulled out of their respective squads due to injury problems. While the Argentine sustained a muscle injury, the Santos star picked up yet another knock just days after being named in Dorival Junior's initial Brazil squad.

INEOS have now made contact with a “top striker” who could cost Manchester United £50 million in the summer, according to a Sky Sports report. Since the Red Devils appointed Ruben Amorim as head coach, they have been linked with several new arrivals, as the Portuguese will be looking to put his own stamp on his squad soon.

Real Madrid talking to Man Utd about £85k-p/w ace who Amorim thinks is key

Real Madrid are keen on signing a Manchester United player who has become a key player in recent seasons.

By
Brett Worthington

Dec 2, 2024

Man Utd transfer news

As January fast approaches, the transfer stories are going to start heating up, and United look to have a shortlist in place should opportunities present themselves. It is unlikely that the Red Devils will spend heavily in the New Year, but there could be room for a few ins and outs depending on what INEOS and Amorim like to do.

United are keeping their options open when it comes to signing a new left-back. This has been a problem position for them for some time, and January could be where they address it, as United have now placed David Raum on their shortlist ahead of 2025.

Up front, United also have Wolves forward Matheus Cunha on their radar, as they have been scouting him ahead of making a move in 2025. The 25-year-old has been a top performer for the Midlands side this season despite the team’s struggles, and he is now being looked at as a possible addition to Amorim’s side. But Cunha is not the only striker they are keeping an eye on, as they have now contacted another player that Amorim knows well.

Man Utd make contact to sign “top striker” Gyokeres

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United have made contact for Viktor Gyokeres ahead of a possible move next summer, officially opening “concrete talks”. The Swedish international has emerged as one of the brightest and most exciting forwards in European football since moving to Sporting Lisbon back in 2023.

Gyokeres, who has been labelled a “top striker,” was very impressive during his time at Coventry City but has since taken his game to a new level in Portugal. The 26-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2028, but there is an agreement he will be allowed to leave for £50 million in the summer, despite having a release clause worth £83 million.

With 16 goals in Liga Portugal this season, the Red Devils are looking to sign the striker in the summer and have made their interest known. However, they are not the only side chasing his signature, as Plettenberg adds that Manchester City have also “intensified” their efforts in recent days.

United will hope having Amorim as their head coach gives them the edge in the race to sign Gyokeres, as the forward was exceptional under the Portuguese. However, an upturn in form for Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund could potentially change their minds, as all three have found the back of the net in recent matches.

Aston Villa are interested in signing an “aggressive” £41 million defender in January, according to a new report. The Villans continued their upturn in form on Tuesday night, as they claimed an impressive 3-2 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

As well as Watkins: 5/10 Aston Villa man showed he's "regressed" vs Leipzig

Unai Emery will be concerned by the performances of this Aston Villa star recently.

By
Kelan Sarson

Dec 11, 2024

Aston Villa transfer news

Villa are always looking at ways to improve their team under Unai Emery, and January could be another busy month for the Midlands side. Ahead of it opening, they are already being linked with potential new arrivals.

One player Villa have their eye on is midfielder Felix Nmecha, as Borussia Dortmund are open to offers in January. The Bundesliga side are looking for around £33 million to sell the player in 2025, but Villa are not the only team interested, as Manchester United and Newcastle United are also keeping an eye on the situation.

The Villans are also among the Premier League teams interested in signing Kenan Yildiz from Juventus. The player is happy to remain in Turin, and Juventus are keen on keeping hold of the Turkish international, but he does have a price of £66 million on his head, and they could be tempted to sell if that offer is matched. Villa have had scouts watching the 19-year-old in recent matches against AC Milan and Lecce.

Aston Villa plotting January transfer move for Antonio Silva

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are interested in signing Benfica defender Antonio Silva but face a fierce battle to secure his signature. The 21-year-old has been at the Portuguese side for his entire career so far, playing for their under-15s, under-17s and under-23s before the first team.

Silva, who has been described as “aggressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, made the step-up to the first team in the 2022/23 campaign, during which he played 30 times in Liga Portugal and 10 times in the Champions League. Last season, Silva again played 30 games in the league and 10 games across both the Champions League and Europa League.

However, this season the centre-back has been in and out of the starting XI, despite being lauded as one of the best young defenders in Europe by this report. He has fallen down the pecking order, and for this, Benfica are considering loaning him out and could include an obligation to buy for around €50 million, which is roughly £41 million.

Aston Villa are big admirers of the defender, but so are fellow Premier League side Newcastle. Atlético Madrid are also keen on the player, but their biggest competition comes from Juventus, as they are considered the “most interested”. The race to sign Silva is open, and Villa are keeping a close eye on him after making an approach to “ask for information” on the Portuguese international.

Benfica’s president, Rui Costa, is set to hold a meeting with Silva and his agents in the coming days to discuss the plans for the upcoming January transfer window.

Manchester United duo Alejandro Garnacho and Manuel Ugarte face a gruelling travel schedule in the summer due to commitments with club and country.

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• Duo could feature in World Cup qualifiers
• United also planning Asia friendlies
• And pre-season tour of United States

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After a busy 2024-25 season, Garnacho and Ugarte also look set for a hectic summer. The two players are due to jet off to South America after the end of the Premier League season for World Cup qualifiers with their national teams. The pair may then have to fly out to Malaysia and Hong Kong to meet the United squad for friendly fixtures before heading back to England for the start of pre-season and games in Sweden and the United States, according to . If the two players do feature in all the games currently planned by the Red Devils they will end up travelling across four continents and racking up 75,000 miles.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The two players are said to be "alarmed" at the thought of taking on such a gruelling schedule after the end of the season. Garnacho has already made 48 appearances for club and country during the current campaign, while Ugarte has taken in 40 matches in total for United and Uruguay. The off-season should allow players the time to relax and recharge their batteries but there is increasingly little time for top stars to enjoy time away from the game due to a congested fixture list

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Man Utd's pre-season schedule sees the Red Devils take on Leeds United in Stockholm, before games against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton in the United States. The 2025-26 Premier League season is due to kick off on the weekend of August 16-17.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD

  Ugarte has been with the Uruguay squad over the latest international break and featured in the 0-0 draw with Bolivia in World Cup qualifying, while Garnacho was left out of Argentina's squad for games against Uruguay and Brazil. United are back in action on Tuesday in the Premier League against high-flying Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal have been rocked as it has emerged that another star is set to share the sidelines with Bukayo Saka for the forseeable future, missing what is set to be the busiest time of the year.

Arsenal injuries piling up as Saka hamstring timeline revealed

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side have seen injuries hamper their season since the opening day of the campaign, and now their worst fears have been realised.

After missing captain Martin Odegaard for a month of the Premier League between international breaks, Saka will now also be absent over the festive period and beyond.

Arsenal readying bid for "world-class" star who's like White & Timber

Arsenal could be about to make a huge statement signing in January.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 23, 2024

The Arsenal talisman went down in the first half of their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace with no one near him, and had to be replaced by Leandro Trossard, going straight down the tunnel. Now, Mikel Arteta has revealed the extent of the issue, admitting that his star man will miss “many weeks” with the hamstring issue.

“It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks”, the Gunners boss epxlained. “It’s a huge blow, but it’s going to be a big exercise for us to overcome another challenge”.

Saka has been vital to Arsenal’s revival in recent years, with the 23-year-old having managed five goals and 10 assists already this season, more than any other player in north London.

Now, the Gunners will need to look elsewhere for answers, with Gabriel Jesus a potential replacement for the winger, while Gabriel Martinelli filled in for the remainder of the clash against the Eagles. Quizzed on the situation, Arteta suggested as many as four of his players could fill in.

“Gabi [Martinelli] has played there, Ethan [Nwaneri] has played there, Leo [Trossard] can play there in relation to how the unit moves. Kai [Havertz] can play there. We will talk to them and understand how they feel about it.”

In yet more bad news for the Gunners, though, another star has been ruled out for almost the same amount of time as Saka.

Another Arsenal star sidelined with knee injury

That comes as loanee forward Raheem Sterling has also picked up an injury and will be sidelined for weeks. The England international arrived from Chelsea over the summer, but has struggled for game time in north London.

With Saka now injured, it would have been a perfect opportunity for the forward to step up, but he was absent from the squad against Crystal Palace and Arteta has now revealed that is because he too has been injured. Asked about the 30-year-old, the Gunners boss confirmed that, like Saka, he will be out for “weeks”.

It continues Arsenal’s misfortune with injuries, which has seen all of Gabriel, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori miss games in recent weeks, and now threatens to all but end their push for the Premier League title. With January around the corner, they may be forced to dip into the transfer window for a replacement.