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Ryan Mason is certainly feeling the pressure of being an EFL manager on his shoulders right now at West Bromwich Albion.

Three wins from his opening four games in the Championship as the Baggies’ new head coach helped to lift some early tension, but with seven defeats now next to West Brom’s name in the competitive league, he isn’t looking at ease in the Hawthorns hot seat.

It could have been so different for the West Midlands outfit last time out on the road to top-of-the-table Coventry City, though, as a Aune Heggebo brace saw the visitors race into an unlikely 2-0 lead.

Yet, a red card to Jayson Molumby would ultimately aid the free-flowing Sky Blues, as a 3-2 victory was eventually secured.

Mason will hope he can guide his underperforming team out of this sticky patch and that no knee-jerk decisions happen from the powers that be, with lots of contracts set to expire down the line, which he could have a say over.

Contract issues at West Brom

A number of contracts are set to expire at the Hawthorns next summer, with Mason hopeful he will still be manager for the foreseeable future, regardless of his side underperforming as of late in 17th spot in the second tier.

Josh Maja is one notable name that catches the eye when running through those whose contracts are in play until June 2026, with the injury-prone attacker only starting four games this season, having had to now settle for fewer minutes up against the aforementioned Heggebo.

Only one goal has come the £17k-per-week striker’s way from those limited starts, too, next to the Norwegian’s heftier tally of four, with his injury issues another factor to consider as to whether West Brom will hand him an extended deal or not.

Karlan Grant will also be worrying about his future up until the mid-point of next year, with zero goals or assists next to his name this season, while Daryl Dike will surely be sensing that the end of his injury-plagued Baggies career is in sight next year when his deal ceases to be, as the American remains unsurprisingly sidelined still.

He also takes home a whopping £25k-per-week salary, despite his long-standing injury troubles.

However, he isn’t the only high earner that could soon be taken off the Baggies wage bill, as this Hawthorns veteran – who earns more than first team personnel Heggebo and Mikey Johnston – potentially waves goodbye to the Championship club shortly.

The West Brom high earner who could soon be axed

During West Brom’s slump in form, former Celtic winger Johnston has still been a regular scorer of some sweet strikes, such as the one that was hammered home back in October.

Amazingly, though, when looking at West Brom’s wage costs, Jed Wallace comes in as earning more than the standout duo, having also banked £25k-per-week this season, like Dike, as per Capology, even when consistently finding himself out of Mason’s starting XI.

Once upon a time, though, in the West Midlands, Wallace was seen as a constant source of creativity down the flanks, with six goals and eight assists picked up during his debut season at the club seeing his former boss Steve Bruce hail him as a “massive asset” to have around the place.

Unfortunately for the ex-Millwall forward, he isn’t producing those same electric numbers now, though, with only two goals coming his way across his last 40 outings in the demanding Championship.

Heggebo managed to put away that same amount just from the tie at the CBS Arena, yet, the former Brann striker only takes home a £15k-per-week pay packet.

Moreover, Johnston, who terrorised Coventry during the first half with two assists, also falls behind with a £12.5-per-week salary.

Therefore, although Isaac Price has been complimentary of his fellow Baggies midfielder this season by stating that he “leads the dressing room”, and he has had past moments of magic, Wallace could soon be shoved to the exit door when his contract expires this coming June – alongside the likes of Dike and Grant – off the back of his performances continuing to dip.

Forget Price: £3m “lion” is West Brom’s best signing since Corberan left

West Bromwich Albion could now have stumbled upon their best signing since Carlos Corberan left in this £3m battler.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 30, 2025

London Spirit are just about still alive in the Hundred after an emphatic win over Southern Brave took them level with their opponents on 12 points and meant that both are still within reach of the third qualifying spot as the men’s competition heads into its defining week.Spirit’s win meant that Oval Invincibles and Northern Superchargers have now qualified for the knockout stages, while Trent Rockets can lock in the third and final qualification spot with a win over Welsh Fire in Cardiff on Sunday afternoon. Spirit and Brave both need Rockets to lose their final two games, to win their own last fixtures, and even then would be reliant on Net Run-Rates.Under the lights at Lord’s, Spirit turned in arguably their most complete performance of the tournament to date. Jamie Smith was immense in the Powerplay, pumping seven of his 18 deliveries either to or over the fence to dominate an opening stand of 66 in 36 balls with David Warner.The Australian’s departure for 25, top-edging a reverse sweep, gave Michael Bracewell his first wicket, and the Kiwi offspinner then induced the mishit from Smith, who picked out Hilton Cartwright on the midwicket fence to go for a brilliant 44.Kane Williamson has simmered so far this summer but here, he unfurled his full repertoire, hooking Jofra Archer for six and then driving him behind square for another maximum. His three sixes here, propelling him to a maiden half-century in the tournament, took his season tally up to five.Jamie Smith struck 44 off 18•Getty Images

Brave’s attack struggled to contain, though their young left-arm spinner James Coles showed his nous, going for just 22 from his 15 deliveries and picking up the wicket of the dangerous Ashton Turner, caught in the deep.In reply, much hinged on the Brave’s two white-ball icons, James Vince and Jason Roy. But when Vince plinked a pull shot off Luke Wood to mid-on, and Roy – after a sprightly cameo, including a monstrous 102-metre six off Richard Gleeson – played all round a straight one from Liam Dawson, the Brave’s assault ran aground.For a brief moment, as Laurie Evans climbed into the spinners Jafer Chohan and Turner, hitting four sixes in five balls to leave the Brave needing 90 from 43, the most unlikely of heists seemed possible. But as wickets fell at the other end, Evans ran out of partners, momentum and belief, eventually succumbing on the long-on boundary to give Gleeson his second wicket.Dawson took care of business at the death, picking up his third clean-bowled of the evening, with Jamie Overton then castling his brother, Craig, to clinch the match and help improve the Spirit’s run-rate.The consolation for the Brave is that they remain in the shake-up, ahead of their final match on Thursday against Welsh Fire, while the Spirit face their capital rivals on Monday at the Kia Oval.

Chelsea haven’t always been known as a club willing to nurture their young talents. Rather, their past reputation saw them constantly loan out starlets to far-off outfits, far removed from first-team minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Just last season saw the Blues chuck out the likes of Armando Broja and Djorde Petrovic to sides such as Everton and RC Strasbourg on loan, with both players now no longer on the books of the Premier League giants, as their patience ran thin with their lack of senior chances back at their parent employers.

However, this campaign so far, the narrative seems to be noticeably changing under Enzo Maresca, with Chelsea’s last Champions League tie seeing a whole host of promising stars for the future in Estevao, Jamie Gittens, and Marc Guiu lead the line, as the youthful Blues convincingly put Ajax to the sword 5-1.

Even in the bread and butter of league action, the Italian has been unafraid to gamble on the next generation coming through, with his willingness to integrate youth players into the senior frame very much paying off against Nottingham Forest…

Chelsea's crop of rising stars

Josh Acheampong’s first-ever senior goal would get Chelsea up and running on their travels to Nottinghamshire, with this confidently taken header also signalling the beginning of the end for Ange Postecoglou at the Tricky Trees.

The 19-year-old defender has already matched the same number of Premier League appearances he made last season this campaign at four, with seven duels won against Forest, on top of just four of his 52 passes being misplaced, backing up previous claims made by his manager that he can be a “top player” down the line for his boyhood side.

With a second-half run-out also handed to him against Ajax, expect to see Acheampong start a lot more games moving forward, as he only grows more in confidence, having also been branded as “excellent” by journalist Ben Jacobs after his goalscoring moment against Forest.

He, of course, isn’t the only emerging youngster catching the eye in West London, though, with the aforementioned duo of Guiu and Gittens also standing out, alongside a hotly-tipped Estevao, who is already being lauded as “world-class” by scout Jacek Kulig, despite being just 18 years of age.

The ex-Palmeiras wonderkid hasn’t floundered under his intense spotlight, either, with two senior strikes already collected at Chelsea.

Yet, there is another starlet who looks to be as exciting as Estevao, now, despite very much being in the early days of his unfolding senior career.

The Chelsea teenager who's as exciting as Estevao

It will be intriguing to see if Maresca sticks with this youth-focused approach in the Champions League, the more the tense competition progresses, with this decision to play a very young side last time out – with an average age of just 22 years and 163 days – going down as a masterstroke.

Regardless of whether he continues to be bold with his selections or not, there certainly seems to be a bright future ahead for 17-year-old Reggie Walsh in West London, with the homegrown midfielder now going down in the Blues’ history books as their youngest ever Champions League player when coming on against Ajax.

Minutes played

24

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

22

Accurate passes

18/19 (95%)

Key passes

2

Interceptions

2

Recoveries

2

He didn’t look out of his depth for the 24 minutes he was on the turf, either, with Walsh only misdirecting one of his 18 passes on the day, with two key passes tallied up from his cameo nearly unlocking the porous visitors even more.

Amazingly, this isn’t the first time that the 17-year-old has been trusted to perform on the European stage, with a 90-minute run-out even afforded to him last season in the Conference League.

He is yet to get up and running in the blue of Chelsea in the senior ranks, but goals and assists should come his way soon, you imagine, to rival Estevao, with the number 46 previously being lauded as a “joy to watch” in this capacity by one Blues content creator, when collecting six goals and two assists in the U18 picture from 20 outings.

While the revolving door of loans that once occurred at Stamford Bridge did halt some players and their development, a loan away from West London could do Walsh the world of good soon, with Estevao undoubtedly boosted by his senior success in Brazil.

Such a chance could come Walsh’s way in January, but until then, don’t be surprised to see he’s still being selected here and there by Maresca, alongside Acheampong and Estevao.

With a new professional contract having only just been penned, Walsh looks to just be at the very start of what will hopefully be a fruitful first-team journey at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca's incredible 6-word message to Chelsea teenagers before they destroyed Ajax

The Blues manager is giving youth a chance.

ByBen Goodwin Oct 23, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A LDU segurou a pressão do Defensa y Justicia, empatou em 0 a 0, em La Forteleza, na Argentina, e enfrenta o Fortaleza na decisão da Copa Sul-Americana. O time equatoriano fez valer o mando de campo do primeiro jogo, venceu por 3 a 0, e poderia perder até por dois gols de diferença que ficaria com a vaga na grande final.

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Com ampla desvantagem, o Defensa y Justicia se lançou ao ataque desde o início do jogo, mas parou no goleiro Alexander Domínguez, que fez grandes defesas. A trave também foi uma aliada da LDU, que chegou a ter chances claras de abrir o placar. Em uma delas, Jhojan Julio recebeu de Guerrero, mas chutou para fora cara a cara com o goleiro Bologna.

+ Chaveamento da Copa Sul-Americana: tabela, onde assistir, data e horário da decisão

Fortaleza e LDU disputam a decisão da Copa Sul-Americana no dia 28 de outubro (sábado), em Punta Del Este, no Uruguai. O palco da final será o estádio Domingo Burgueño. O time equatoriano chega em sua terceira final e soma um título (2009). Já o Leão do Pici chega em sua primeira decisão internacional de sua história.

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FICHA TÉCNICA
Copa Sul-Americana – semifinal (volta)
Defensa y Justicia 0 x 0 LDU

Local: La Fortaleza (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Data e horário: Quarta-feira (4/10), às 19h (Brasília)
Árbitro: Piero Maza
Assistentes: Jose Retamal e Alejandro Molina
Árbitro de Vídeo (VAR):  Angelo Hermosilla

Cartões amarelos: Paolo Guerrero (LDU); Sant’Anna, Lucas Pratto, López, Soto, Solari (Defensa y Justicia)
Cartão vermelho: –

Gol: –

DEFENSA Y JUSTICIA (Técnico: Julio Vaccari)
Bologna; Sant’Anna (Castellani), Cardona, Ramos Mingo e Soto; López (Duarte; Andrés Ríos) e Tripichio; Togni, Barbona e Darío Cáceres (Solari); Lucas Pratto.

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LDU (Técnico: Luis Zubeldia)
Alexander Domínguez, Quintero, Adé, Rodríguez e Leonel Quiñonez; Martínez, Piovi, Ibarra (Richard Mina), Sebatián González e Jhojan Julio (Angulo); Paolo Guerrero (Zambrano).

GOAL looks inside the numbers, tactics and trends for key U.S. internationals in Europe early in the season

The last international break was a good one for the U.S. men's national team. A draw with Ecuador and a win over Australia proved that the team is on the right track as they build towards the World Cup. That momentum has carried over to the club level, too, even for players who weren't involved in October's matches.

It's been a busy few weeks for USMNT stars, despite several injuries among the team's most recognizable players. However, while Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson have been out, others have stepped into the spotlight. It's been easy to see those standout performances, but some are worth a closer look to assess how they'll translate to the USMNT.

GOAL examines some noteworthy tactics and trends for USMNT players in Europe.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Aaronson growing at Leeds

  Brenden Aaronson's performance against West Ham was one of those games in which only the eye test was necessary. There was the goal, of course, which is an obvious win. There was his mazy run through the entire West Ham team, too, one that was Messi or Maradona-esque right up until his shot, unfortunately for him, hit the crossbar.

  It was quite clearly Aaronson's best performance of the season. The USMNT midfielder has been quietly putting in some good shifts all season long, though, despite the criticism he so often receives.

  When looking at Aaronson's status, the expected stats stand out. Compared to other wingers, he's in the 99th percentile in just about every defensive category: tackles, interceptions, blocks, and clearances. He's always been a guy who provides energy and, with Leeds back in the Premier League, he's been playing as something of an inverted winger, one who helps the club survive against proven Premier League sides.

  However, there are some strong attacking stats, too. Per DataMB, Aaronson leads the Premier League's wingers in chance creation ratio. In that stat, the top five is rounded out by Jeremy Doku, Harvey Barnes, Iliman Ndiaye and Mohamed Salah. That does not, obviously, mean Aaronson is a better player or more dangerous than those in that group. But it does show that Aaronson more dangerous than many give him credit for.

  "I know that he's a player who polarises at times and gets lots of stick when he has a poorer day," Leeds boss Daniel Farke said recently. "He's a younger player who can have a bit more clarity in his actions and be a bit more clinical, but we have to back him a little bit more. He works his socks off for Leeds United. Standing ovations when he came off against Bournemouth and Spurs."

  It might be time for fans of both Leeds and the USMNT to give Aaronson more credit as he continues his evolution in the Premier League.

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• AFP
  

  Getting Balogun going at Monaco

  Despite his recent USMNT heroics, there have been some questions about Folarin Balogun's time at Monaco. Why, after dominating the league at Reims, has he not quite been able to replicate that with a bigger club? There are some obvious answers, namely, his injury last season. A look at the numbers, though, shows that Balogun hasn't dropped off nearly as much as some people think.

  During that star-making season at Reims, Balogun put up 21 goals in 2,999 minutes. That came out to .63 goals per 90, a damn good haul. He struggled in that first season at Monaco, yes, held to .37 goals per 90. But in limited time last season, he rebounded to score four goals in 615 minutes, putting him right back at .59. This season, in 419 minutes, Balogun has netted twice while also providing an assist, putting him at .43 goals per 90 and .64 goal contributions per 90.

  What does that mean? It says that his USMNT performances aren't outliers. When he has seen the field at Monaco, he's generally produced, most recently with a goal against Angers. It is just a matter of opportunity, then, for Balogun, who has made the most of his chances with the USMNT and could now do so at Monaco under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

• AFP
  

  Sorting Weah's position

  For years, Tim Weah played as a wingback on the club and as a winger for his country. Now, the roles may have flipped as the USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino continues to refine his new three-back system. That's no reason to panic. Weah looks like he'll be just fine either way.

  Since making the move to Marseille, Weah has made 12 appearances for the French side in all competitions. In those, he's played as a left-winger, left-back, right-winger and right-back. One of Weah's biggest assets has always been his versatility. That's proving the case at Marseille, too. 

  This past weekend, Weah provided his first assist of the season, setting up Mason Greenwood in a loss to Lens. In that match, Weah started as a right-wingback, but that didn't prevent him from influencing the attack. 

  Statistics show that. When compared to other fullbacks in top five leagues, Weah is in the 75th percentile or better in shots, progressive carries and passing percentage. When compared to pure wingers, he's in the 87th percentile or better in tackles, interceptions and clearances.

  You can nitpick those numbers, or simply conclude that Weah is doing a lot of different things for a team that is asking him to do a lot of different things. That bodes well for the USMNT, because that may be what's asked of Weah next summer at the World Cup.

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  Praise for Adams

  Bournemouth fans took to social media this week to gush about Tyler Adams.

  "Send Leeds another 20 million. We robbed them blind," one post read.

  "He's like a pitbull," said another, "and possibly the most vital part of our team."

  Deserved praise for one hell of a player, who continues to take his game to a new level. Adams, no surprise, is a tackling machine. He's averaging 3.58 tackles per 90, putting him with the best in the world. At the moment, Adams is tied for seventh in the Premier League in tackles. He's third in the league in interceptions, too.

  Those defensive stats are, ultimately, leading to results. Following Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest, one in which Adams picked up an unlikely assist, Bournemouth are up to second in the Premier League with 18 points through nine games. Bournemouth are starting to get recognition as a result. So, too, is Adams, who should be earning more praise.

The international break has been and gone (until next month), and Newcastle United are primed to get their season up and running after an opening stretch that was disruptive to put it mildly.

Alexander Isak’s new life at Liverpool has begun, but Eddie Howe and co managed to pull through and equip their Magpies with firepower enough to challenge at the upper rung of the Premier League and in the Champions League too.

Two points and two goals from three top-flight fixtures to start the season underscore Howe’s task, and he will need to win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon without the suspended Anthony Gordon.

Joelinton is understood to have recovered from a fitness issue, but new recruits Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa are sidelined for the foreseeable, the latter of which presents something of a conundrum after being welcomed as Isak’s direct replacement.

Wissa and Nick Woltemade, who joined from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee, are sure to contest for a place at number nine across the campaign, each meting out their differing skills on opponents throughout, and though Wissa would surely have started against Wolves, his injury means Woltemade is slung into the deep-end from the outset.

Why Howe must start Woltemade

Woltemade’s ceiling is high, but he has untapped potential, and Howe would likely want to ease him through the rigmarole of Premier League integration.

Wissa, on the other hand, scored 19 times for Brentford in the English top flight last season, leading Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam to hail his “absolutely sensational” finishing. However, the forward’s recent injury will propel Woltemade into the spotlight.

Having signed from Brentford for £55m on transfer deadline day, Wissa provides the Toon with the clinical goal threat withdrawn upon Isak’s sale. However, supporters will have to wait for a taste of his sharp attacking skills.

Given that Newcastle have blanked twice already this term and simply have to beat Wolves at St. James’ Park, Woltemade will need to be at the races as he leads a squad lacking both Wissa and Gordon’s qualities.

Now, the job involves finding the right conditions for Woltemade to succeed at number nine, and Howe might want to unleash right winger Jacob Murphy to achieve this, with the veteran’s wide spread of talents perfect for a striker such as him.

How Jacob Murphy could get Woltemade firing

Murphy would admit that for the lion’s share of his Premier League career he has been something of a journeyman, competent and industrious but rarely standing out.

However, he has become a star under Howe’s tutelage, hailed by correspondent Scott Wilson as being an “unsung hero”, having featured 139 times for the Englishman, the fourth-highest of any player across his reign on Tyneside.

And last season, Murphy came alive off the right flank, combining deliciously with Isak to form an unlikely and deadly partnership, bagging nine goals and assisting 14 more. Ten times did the duo directly come together to breach opposition defences.

Alexander Isak

27 (6)

33

Jacob Murphy

9 (14)

23

Anthony Gordon

9 (7)

16

Harvey Barnes

9 (5)

14

Bruno Guimaraes

5 (8)

13

Bringing this back to Woltemade, Isak might wear Red now, but Newcastle’s new attacking recruit could form a neat connection of his own with the experienced English winger, not just a talented goalscorer but also ranking among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for successful take-ons, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 18% for ball recoveries per 90.

The 23-year-old scored 12 times in the Bundesliga last season, starting only 17 matches, and that budding clinical edge could be served well by a partner in Murphy, who could also feed into the German’s dynamic range of underlying qualities.

Murphy’s intelligence underpins his style of play, and he will have no qualms about maintaining a provider approach to best serve Newcastle’s new centre-forward, whose clinical shooting and crispness on the ball last season led FBref to draw Isak as one of his most comparable players.

Less mobile than the 25-year-old, Woltemade is still one of the most technically proficient young strikers in the business, and he has a knack for the kind of smooth link-up play that will enhance Howe’s interchanging attacking system.

Moreover, he actually had a higher conversion rate than Wissa last season and was more accurate with his overall shot-taking, and this all comes together to present an “absolutely ridiculous” skill set, as has been noted by journalist Zach Lowy.

What Woltemade needs, now that he is expected to be hauled onto the centre stage immediately, is a reliable dance partner to guide him through the nerve-wracking opening moments. Wolves’ resilient and well-drilled defensive shape will seek to restrict the towering talisman, but Howe’s is a well-oiled team too, and Murphy knows the ropes better than most.

Murphy’s starting berth would come at the expense of either that of Anthony Elanga or Harvey Barnes, but both are compelling options from the bench, and this merely speaks at the strength in depth at Newcastle, even with Isak gone and Gordon and Wissa unavailable.

Wolves have suffered a pretty dour start to the season themselves and will be desperate to strike a blow on Tyneside, but Newcastle have an underlying current of coherence and quality that shoots from left to right in Howe’s system, and the scratchy noises from a turbulent summer transfer window have now abated, and Newcastle are ready, and Woltemade is ready, and Murphy will help him score.

Newcastle brewing Isak-level star in 18-year-old who's "similar to Mbappe"

Eddie Howe could develop Newcastle’s next Alexander Isak at St James’ Park.

ByWill Miller Sep 12, 2025

Newcastle United’s summer transfer window has been nothing short of dramatic.

The club entered the market knowing a major decision loomed over Alexander Isak, and the striker’s eventual departure on deadline day to Liverpool for a British record £125m undoubtedly defined the window.

In the weeks leading up to the move, Newcastle pursued a number of targets but suffered numerous setbacks.

They missed out on Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, João Pedro, and Benjamin Šeško, while interest in Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa looked seemingly destined to go nowhere.

But then news of Newcastle agreeing a £69m deal for Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade set the wheels in motion.

Isak was finally allowed to depart, and a questionable £55m deal for Wissa followed soon afterwards.

Elsewhere, Newcastle strengthened with additions across the pitch.

Jacob Ramsay, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, and Anthony Elanga all joined, giving Howe greater depth and competition ahead of his fourth full season in charge of the club.

Yet the reality remains – the Magpies have lost their most clinical finisher, and their ability to adapt quickly will define their season.

Newcastle’s new-look attack without Isak

For Howe, the question is simple: how do you line up after losing your star striker?

Despite last season’s off-pitch drama, Isak still managed 23 Premier League goals and eight assists.

The Swedish international’s ability to stretch defences, link play, and finish chances gave Newcastle’s attack balance and variety. Without him, the early signs have been mixed.

In their opening two fixtures against Aston Villa and Liverpool, Newcastle played with energy and structure but lacked a cutting edge.

Makeshift striker Anthony Gordon worked tirelessly up front, but his needless red card against Liverpool handed Howe another headache, forcing William Osula to lead the line in a drab 0-0 draw at Leeds.

That will soon change.

Wissa, proven in the Premier League, is expected to slot straight in after the international break, offering pace, pressing intensity, and goalscoring instincts.

Woltemade, while talented, will likely be eased in gradually to adjust to the demands of English football.

However, the ripple effect of losing Isak extends beyond the number nine position. Newcastle can no longer rely on a single talismanic goalscorer.

Their attacking success will now depend on successfully spreading responsibility across the likes of Woltemade, Wissa, Gordon, Elanga, and Harvey Barnes.

Bruno Guimarães is everything Isak could have been

While Isak’s exit dominated headlines, Newcastle’s true talisman remains in midfield.

At 27, captain Bruno Guimarães has emerged as the heartbeat of Howe’s project.

Since arriving from Lyon in January 2022, the Brazilian international has become the player Howe wanted to build his team around, offering a blend of creativity, grit, and leadership that makes him irreplaceable.

Despite reported Saudi interest this summer – with Al Hilal said to be ready to pay £120m – Bruno stayed loyal, reaffirming his commitment just as he did when he signed a new five-year contract in October 2023.

His influence cannot be overstated. In a memorable 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest in 2024, Howe described him as the “difference-maker” after a match-winning brace.

That label has stuck. Statistically, Bruno backs it up.

According to FBref, he averaged 7.47 progressive passes per 90, completed more than 40 passes a game at an 82.3% success rate, and produced 3.66 shot-creating actions per 90.

His defensive work – 2.29 tackles and nearly one block per game – adds balance, making him the complete midfielder.

Bruno Guimarães – 2024/25

Matches Played

38

Minutes

3,271

Goals

5

Assists

6

Progressive Carries

64

Progressive Passes

271

Source: FBref

With Isak gone, Newcastle’s blueprint is clear: this is Bruno’s team. Howe even said it himself last year: “I want to build our team around him”.

Howe has constructed a midfield system that maximises his strengths, giving him license to carry the ball, dictate tempo, and act as the link between defence and attack.

While Wissa and Woltemade settle into the side, Bruno provides the consistency and leadership Newcastle need to remain competitive in both domestic and European football.

His loyalty also carries symbolic weight.

Where Isak’s future lay elsewhere, Bruno’s decision to stay – despite concrete interest from the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal – demonstrates belief in the project.

For the fans, it’s proof that Newcastle still have a world-class figure to rally around.

Related Isak 2.0: Newcastle hero felt "stabbed in the back" after Barca move denied

Newcastle might find some curious parallels between this former saga and the recent Isak debacle.

Posts 2 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 4, 2025

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has lavished praise on his players after they hammered Ajax 4-0 in the Champions League clash at the Orange Velodrome. Mason Greenwood was on the scoresheet once again and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang provided a couple of assists and bagged a goal himself, but Igor Paixao grabbed the headlines with a quick-fire first-half double to get the ball rolling for the French giants. After the match, former Brighton manager De Zerbi described his team's performance as "perfect".

• AFP
  

  Marseille magic as Ajax are thumped

  Marseille secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Ajax in their Champions League first phase clash, with Paixao the star of the show, scoring his first two goals for the club in the sixth and 12th minutes, with the first coming via an assist from Aubameyang. Greenwood added a third in the 26th minute, also set up by Aubameyang. And Aubameyang completed the scoring in the 52nd minute, netting the fourth from a counter-attack, with an assist from Paixao. The victory handed Marseille their first points of the Champions League campaign after a 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the first matchday, while the Dutch side slumped to their second defeat in Europe, having lost 2-0 to Inter Milan in their opening fixture. Ajax were poor on the night, registering only two shots on target throughout the match, and were thoroughly outplayed by De Zerbi's side. 

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  The 'perfect' performance from Marseille

  Following the match, De Zerbi heaped praise on his side. He said: "We played an incredible match, the team was truly extraordinary. The team was very young, but competent, they can cause problems for any team and we played well in attack. The first half was perfect, almost perfect. Like against PSG in the second half, there was more tiredness, they failed to maintain the same mentality for 90 minutes. We've only conceded one goal in the last three matches."

• Steady start for De Zerbi's men in 2025-26

  Marseille have had a mixed start to the season, they sit third in Ligue 1 with 12 points after six games. They have won four and lost two of their league matches so far, with the highlight coming in a 1-0 victory over rivals PSG last month. Performances in Ligue 1 have been characterised by strong attacking displays at home, but they have struggled on the road. The impressive win against Ajax suggests potential for a successful European campaign, but their inconsistent domestic form, marked by a struggle for goals in away games, is a key area for De Zerbi to focus on as the season progresses, and maintaining consistency will be key to challenging for the title. There have also been key injuries to Geoffrey Kondogbia (calf strain) and Hamed Traoré (thigh injury), which haven’t helped, but both are expected to return this month. 

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  Greenwood leading the charge again

  Greenwood has started the season in fine form, building on his impressive debut year with the club. He was the joint top scorer in Ligue 1 last season alongside Ousmane Dembele, notching 21 goals. He is also being tipped to switch international allegiance from England to Jamaica, which follows a period of significant change for the player after criminal charges against him were dropped in February 2023, leading to his departure from Manchester United and subsequent move to France.

The countdown is very much on until Premier League football finally kicks back into gear at the Stadium of Light.

This coming Saturday’s opening contest for Sunderland against West Ham United is merely four days away now, with a hope on the Black Cats’ end that they don’t choke under the intense pressure of top-flight action from the get-go.

Instead, Regis Le Bris will be hoping for a confident display from his side against the Hammers, with the Frenchman given plenty of options to work with this summer transfer so far, having acquired 11 brand new signings in total.

That number looks set to increase even more before September’s early deadline, as the top-flight newcomers now enquire to bring this Premier League star to Wearside.

Sunderland plot deal for PL ace

Omar Alderete proved to be the latest addition to Le Bris’ ranks on Tuesday afternoon, with the 28-year-old Getafe defender making the switch from Spain for a fee of around £10.4m.

He might well be joined by another centre-back body in the form of Lloyd Kelly, with reports suggesting that the Black Cats have also made a £17m approach for the ex-Newcastle United defender to try and tempt him to Wearside.

Sunderland aren’t done in the midfield department, either, if other rumours are to be believed, even as the Frenchman already has the likes of Habib Diarra and Granit Xhaka at his disposal.

Reports filtering out from Italian outlet Tuttosport suggest that the Black Cats have lodged an enquiry about signing Brighton and Hove Albion ace Matt O’Riley, amid Juventus also being keen on landing the 24-year-old.

The former Celtic man is an in-demand figure this summer, with Nottingham Forest also being named as another party that has inquired about the ex-Hoops number 33, who has a transfer value of around €30m (£26m), as per the report.

Adding another versatile midfielder to the camp could be bad news for Chris Rigg ahead of the step-up in quality, as the teenage sensation fears for his gametime with the numbers in the group increasing.

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Why O'Riley signing would be bad news for Rigg

Season by season, Rigg has slowly found himself climbing up the first team pecking order, so much so that the 18-year-old collected four goals last campaign under Le Bris’ wing.

However, even with the ex-Lorient boss lauded by Sunderland academy manager Robin Nicholls for the “outstanding” way he gets the maximum out of youngsters, the Frenchman will still be aware that over-relying on Rigg in such a daunting division could be foolish, especially if O’Riley is now available to buy.

After all, much like Xhaka, whom he could soon potentially line up alongside in the middle of the park for Sunderland, O’Riley has bags of top-flight experience in some testing environments, with the 24-year-old viewed as a modern-day hero to those with Celtic connections.

Indeed, O’Riley would go on to amass a stunning 27 goals and 35 assists across 124 appearances in Glasgow, leading to Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers labelling the £26m-rated midfielder as “phenomenal”.

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O’Riley’s sublime performances in Scotland would see him seal a deal with the Seagulls, with the four-time Scottish Premiership winner also settling in well on the South Coast – when injuries haven’t troubled his short stay to date – as seen in his two goals and three assists for Fabian Hurzeler’s men.

This vast knowledge of some tough leagues instantly places O’Riley above Rigg in the updated pecking order, on top of the fact that the four-time Denmark international can also slot into multiple different positions in the midfield department, much like his far more raw counterpart.

While Rigg might have to make do with spots on the substitutes bench moving forward, O’Riley joining could also be seen as a blessing for the youngster, with the 18-year-old able to learn and grow even more under the Dane’s tutelage.

Once hailed as “one of the most intelligent footballers” he’s ever worked with by now Rangers boss Russell Martin, this feels like a standout addition if it were to take place, with Le Bris’ options brimming with even more quality if O’Riley joins imminently.

Sunderland are "very hot" in pursuit of "elite" £30m Europa League winner

It’s a potential big boost for Regis Le Bris.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 11, 2025

Renegades’ chase featured cameos from Bethell, Seifert and Evans even as there was a middle-order collapse

AAP23-Dec-2024Melbourne Renegades squeezed out a two-wicket win over Perth Scorchers on a much-criticised Marvel Stadium surface to end a six-match losing streak against the West Australian team.Social media fired up over a patchy-looking outfield which looked well below its best following a university graduation ceremony last week attended by tens of thousands of people, plus several recent concerts from Pearl Jam and Coldplay, among others.Chasing Scorchers’ 8 for 143, Renegades were well placed at 3 for 96 in the tenth over, but lost 5 for 44. Captain Will Sutherland scored the winning runs with one over to go.Scorchers’ batters found the going tough on a seaming wicket after being sent in, with Renegades paceman Tom Rogers (3 for 22 off four overs) instrumental in another strong bowling performance.Cooper Connolly (66 off 50 balls) and BBL debutant Matthew Spoors (29 off 26) were the only double-digit scorers for Scorchers. While Scorchers limped to 4 for 48 at halfway, Renegades bashed 42 off their four powerplay overs.They remained well ahead of the run rate through cameos from Tim Seifert (28 off 14), Jacob Bethell (30 off 22) and Laurie Evans (24 off 18).Scorchers spinners Ashton Agar (1 for 20 off four overs) , Connolly (1 for 17 off three) and captain Ashton Turner (1 for 3 off one) slowed the run rate, as well as took wickets. A brilliant direct-hit run-out by Matthew Kelly at deep midwicket reduced Renegades to 7 for 128 after 16 overs, and Fergus O’Neill was caught at mid-off with four needed off nine balls.One of the game’s major features was an outstanding fielding performance from Renegades’ livewire Mackenzie Harvey. He pulled off a sensational catch at midwicket, taking a leaping backward one-handed grab to dismiss Spoors. Mackenzie also executed a direct hit run-out and saved several runs with his fielding.Scorchers took 11 balls to score their first run, and O’Neill (1 for 18 off four overs) didn’t concede any up to his ninth delivery – and then only from a misfield.Australian one-day and T20 representative Connolly scored just one off his first 12 balls, but blasted Scorchers to a respectable score, belting six sixes – including two off successive balls over cover off quick Kane Richardson.Renegades improved to 2-1 while Scorchers dropped to 1-2 after successive loses.