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In the last few years, it's seemed relatively easy to predict the winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin. In 2025, though, it feels incredibly tricky, especially after England's win over Spain in the European Championship final.

Alexia Putellas was the slight favourite going into the tournament, with Mariona Caldentey hot on her heels and Aitana Bonmati well in the mix for a third Golden Ball in a row. However, all three were on the losing side in Basel.

For England's stars, it's quite a different story. Among their heroes were players who enhanced an already strong case for the Ballon d'Or and outsiders who threw their hats firmly into the ring, having backed up strong seasons with stand-out summers. After all, we know how the voting goes for these awards in this day and age; there is immense weight placed upon these major tournaments by many of the voters. That much was evident when the full list of nominees was revealed on August 7.

The Euros wasn't the only tournament played during the summer either. The Women's Africa Cup of Nations came to its climax the day before, as Nigeria came from 2-0 down to beat Morocco in a thrilling final, while Brazil got the better of Colombia in the Copa America decider.

So, ahead of Monday night's ceremony in Paris, who is in pole position to win this year's Ballon d'Or? GOAL takes a look at the leading contenders below…

Getty Images15Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich)

It's often difficult for players in the Frauen-Bundesliga to get nominated for the Ballon d'Or, and it's not going to be any easier this year, given both Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg crashed out at the quarter-final stage of the Women's Champions League. However, Pernille Harder had herself a truly outstanding season which helped Bayern clinch a domestic treble.

The German champions retained their league title, lifted the German Super Cup and beat Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal final – with Harder at the heart of it all. A treble, combined with her wonderful stats, should be more than enough to put the Denmark captain onto the list of Golden Ball nominees. That said, the Danes' disappointing group-stage exit at the Euros could stop her from ranking too highly.

AdvertisementGetty Images14Melchie Dumornay (Lyon)

Until Lyon's shock Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal, Melchie Dumornay felt like a genuine contender for the Ballon d'Or at age 21. The Haiti international was OL's best player all season long and even scored in both legs of their European semi-final, despite the team's disappointing defeat.

She still deserves to receive votes for the Golden Ball this year, but the fact Lyon were only able to win one trophy, plus Haiti's lack of a major tournament this summer, will stop her from getting on the podium. Watch this space, though: she looks capable of winning this award – and sooner rather than later.

Imagn Images13Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)

Twelfth in the Golden Ball voting last year, Barbra Banda stood a good chance of ranking even higher in 2025. The latter stages of the 2024 NWSL season will count towards this year's award, during which the striker helped the Orlando Pride win the NWSL Shield and the Championship, and she has continued to excel in 2025.

Banda was not able to enhance her case with a big Africa Cup of Nations, though that's not on her really. The striker scored three goals and assisted another in her four appearances for Zambia at the tournament, but defensive frailties hurt the team again as they lost 5-0 to Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

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Getty Images Sport12Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea)

Chelsea completed an incredible domestic treble this past season and reached the last four of the Champions League – and yet, until some backed that up with big summers on the international front, they lacked obvious contenders for the Ballon d'Or. It's an award that often leans at least somewhat on name recognition as well as performances, and the Blues' most recognisable stars were often hampered by injuries.

However, Sandy Baltimore made her mark in enough big moments to be in with a shout. It was her corner that Lucy Bronze headed home to win the WSL title at Manchester United and she was then involved in all three goals in victory over the same opponent in the FA Cup final, scoring twice and assisting another. A quarter-final exit at the Euros with France will weaken her case, though.

The striker situation at Newcastle United has developed into one of the defining sagas of their summer window.

Alexander Isak’s desire to leave the club has left Eddie Howe and the recruitment team scrambling for solutions, with each failed pursuit only heightening the sense of urgency.

Newcastle have already missed out on Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, João Pedro, and Benjamin Šeško – all of whom might have paved the way for Isak’s departure had they been secured.

As things stand, the Swede’s future remains unresolved.

He has made it abundantly clear he does not wish to reintegrate with the squad, even if no sale materialises.

A move to Anfield remains his desired outcome, but Newcastle have been equally firm: no replacement, no transfer.

Newcastle's new contender

That replacement hunt has taken them down multiple avenues. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has long been admired, but negotiations have stalled.

The Congolese’s absence from Brentford’s win over Aston Villa raised eyebrows, though nothing concrete has yet been agreed.

Jørgen Strand Larsen of Wolves has also been sounded out, though Vítor Pereira’s reluctance to part with the Norwegian makes that transfer unlikely.

With time ticking down, Newcastle have turned their attention to a different profile of forward.

According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle hold an interest in Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth.

Hope stated: “He has been discussed. He is the latest one in the orbit of players they could move for. It’s Alexander Sorloth at Atletico Madrid. His goal record is quite incredible. Absolutely in the mold of his countryman, Strand-Larsen. Sorloth is one of the names being considered and there are others too.”

The 29-year-old Norwegian is a familiar name to Premier League fans, though his first spell in England was far from remarkable.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Signed by Crystal Palace from FC Midtjylland in 2017, Sørloth failed to score in 16 appearances before eventually being moved on.

Described as “phenomenal” by Diego Simeone, any deal would likely be complicated. Newcastle would need to convince the Spanish club to part with him, likely at a fee north of his current market value of £30m.

But with Isak’s situation dragging on and the clock ticking, pragmatism may force their hand.

Newcastle's new Andy Carroll

After leaving the south-east London club, Sørloth established himself at Real Sociedad, and then flourished at Villarreal, where his goalscoring exploits earned him a move to Atlético last summer.

Standing at 1.95m, he offers the kind of aerial dominance and physical presence that Newcastle fans associate with Andy Carroll.

His numbers back up that comparison.

In La Liga last season, Sørloth scored 20 goals in 35 appearances, a remarkable tally that underlines his development into one of Europe’s most reliable finishers.

Alexander Sørloth – La Liga – 2024/25

Matches

35

Minutes

1,566

Goals

20

Assists

2

Progressive Carries

32

Progressive Passes

31

The advanced metrics paint an even clearer picture of his value: according to FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.90), 97th for total shots per 90 (4.29), and 94th for aerials won per 90 (5.05).

Far from being just a target man, Sørloth also excels in his movement inside the penalty area, ranking in the 93rd percentile for touches in the opposition box.

This blend of attributes would address one of Newcastle’s most glaring issues.

Against Villa, Howe’s side controlled large periods of the game but lacked the cutting edge to make their dominance count.

With Isak unavailable for selection, there was no focal point to convert their possession into clear chances.

Sørloth, who already played at St James’ Park this summer in a pre-season friendly, could provide precisely that.

For Newcastle supporters, the prospect of Sørloth evokes memories of Carroll, who embodied the traditional number nine spirit with his strength, aerial ability, and goalscoring instinct.

Across two spells at the club, Carroll made 134 appearances, scoring 34 goals and adding 26 assists.

His big-money move to Liverpool in 2011 highlighted just how much Newcastle relied on his presence at the time.

Sørloth is not a like-for-like replacement, but the comparison is clear. Both men stand at virtually the same height, both are capable of bullying defenders, and both bring a blend of physicality and technical competence.

Where Carroll was at times let down by injuries, Sørloth has shown resilience in rebuilding his career after early setbacks.

His resurgence in Spain suggests he could thrive in the right system, and Eddie Howe’s structured, attacking side might be the perfect environment.

There is also a strategic angle.

Newcastle’s summer recruitment has been careful, even cautious, reflecting the club’s need to stay within the boundaries of the Premier League’s financial regulations.

Having already brought in Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw, and Aaron Ramsdale, the addition of a proven goalscorer would bring balance to the squad.

Sørloth, available for a fraction of the fee Isak might command, would also represent value in a market where reliable strikers are scarce.

But above all, Sørloth’s candidacy illustrates Newcastle’s willingness to adapt.

Their pursuit of Wissa and Strand Larsen indicates they are exploring different striker types: mobile forwards who press aggressively, and more traditional target men who can hold up play.

Sørloth sits firmly in the latter camp, a player who could give Howe a tactical alternative while easing the transition away from Isak. Whether he is the long-term solution or a stop-gap remains to be seen, but the logic is hard to ignore.

Newcastle’s aspirations extend beyond domestic stability; they are preparing for another European campaign and require depth to compete on multiple fronts.

Sørloth offers something they currently lack: presence, pedigree, and proven productivity at the top level.

Their answer to Guehi: Newcastle weigh up late move to sign £30m "monster"

Newcastle aren’t just looking at forwards as the transfer window enters the final stretch.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 24, 2025

Australia prevailed amid a flurry of DLS calculations in Canberra and can now set their sites on a whitewash

Andrew McGlashan24-Jan-2025After retaining the Ashes in Sydney, Beth Mooney didn’t want to get drawn into talk of a whitewash before the series was won but with that box ticked team-mate Grace Harris now wants to “embarrass” England with a 16-0 scoreline.Australia prevailed in Canberra amid a flurry of DLS calculations – England were ahead when the game was stopped for the first time – and latterly Heather Knight played a defiant hand before rain returned with 18 needed off five balls.Australia have been hugely motivated by the draw in the 2023 Ashes which left them with muted celebrations when they lifted the trophy at the end of the series having seen England fight back from 6-0 down. Now, with the final T20I to come in Adelaide followed by the day-night Test at the MCG, the focus turns to not allowing the visitors to get anything on the board.Related

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McGrath, Harris, Schutt and rain help Australia win the Ashes

“Of course, I have thought about 16-0,” Harris told after the win. “A whitewash would be outstanding. England got the better of us in the last series.”To me, it’s a loss, a draw is boring. But 16-0, that would be very, very good if we could embarrass this England team because they’re actually a very competitive outfit and they’ve got some really good players among them.”Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath, who has taken over from the injured Alyssa Healy since the start of the T20I series, admitted relief was one of the initial emotions after the Ashes were secured outright having been behind the DLS when play was first suspended.”It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, there’s just so much drama in that game and so much mental capacity taken up watching DLS, watching run rates, radars, so it was a weird way to wrap up and win them outright,” she said. “Relieved, happy to win it this early, it would be nice when we get a chance as a group to properly celebrate together but job not done, still two really big games to go.””[A whitewash] would be pretty special to us. The Ashes last year, retaining them in England didn’t quite sit well with us and we’ve been hungry for a while and looking forward to these Ashes for a very long time. We’ve been playing some really good cricket but still feel like there’s areas to improve.”Tahlia McGrath has been in resounding form in recent games•Cricket Australia via Getty ImagesMcGrath herself has played a key role with the bat in the last three games after a lean start to the series which, amid Australia’s abundant batting talent, put her under scrutiny. But she has responded with a 38-ball ODI fifty, 26 off nine balls at the SCG and an unbeaten 48 off 35 in Canberra having come in when Australia had lost 3 for 9.”I was really disappointed with my batting in the first two games,” she said. “I went away from my natural game a little bit. I like to take the game on, I like to move around the crease and I sort of went away from that.”I went into my shell a little bit the first two games so I went back to a blueprint that has worked for me in the past and just trying to be a bit braver, a bit more fearless and lucky enough that it’s come off for the last couple of games.”But Grace was huge for me because I was scratching around a little bit and struggling and she came out and took the pressure off me and just freed me up a little bit at the back end as well.”

Alongside the avalanche of major honours, Chelsea fans have been able to watch some genuinely incredible superstars play for their club over the last two decades.

The likes of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Eden Hazard are some of the best players to have ever graced the Premier League, and are unquestionably legends of the game.

Another, perhaps somewhat underrated, superstar who consistently dazzled the Stamford Bridge faithful during his time in West London was Cesc Fàbregas.

The former Arsenal gem was a key member of the Blues side that won two league titles in the mid-2010s and beat the Gunners in the 2019 Europa League final.

Therefore, fans should be excited about reports linking them to another midfield gem who could be their new Fabregas.

Chelsea target their new Fabregas

As they are every year, Chelsea have been busy in the market this summer, as on top of selling a host of players they don’t really need, the club have made several exciting additions to Enzo Maresca’s squad.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, while they didn’t look great on Sunday, the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens should make the side far more dangerous this season, and it feels like a matter of when, not if, Alejandro Garnacho joins them.

Yet, even with the Argentine set to join, the West Londoners look set to make more signings before the window slams shut and are eyeing a midfield talent who could be their new Fabregas.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which has claimed that Chelsea are very interested in Marc Casado.

In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that the Blues have now made an offer for the Barcelona gem, which could be worth up to €50m, which is about £43m.

Interestingly, the story claims that Hansi Flick does not want the 21-year-old to be sold, but that the Catalans need to raise funds, which is why they have not outright rejected the offer yet.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Casado’s ability and immense potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Chelsea’s new Fabregas.

How Casado compares to Fabregas

It should go without saying that, at just 21 years old, Casado is not at the level Cesc was when he first joined Chelsea, but with time, he could certainly get there.

After all, there are several key similarities between the players and their moves.

For example, it would be another instance of the Blues going all out to sign an exciting Spanish midfielder from Barcelona.

Additionally, while the “spectacular” prospect, as dubbed by Sergio Busquets, does play that little bit deeper than Cesc did during his time at the Bridge, he is still a creative force from the middle of the park.

In 36 appearances for the Catalan outfit last season, he scored one goal and provided six assists, which comes out to a reasonably impressive average of a goal involvement every 5.14 games.

His underlying numbers are even more impressive and point to a player who could be a metronomic midfielder for the West Londoners.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles in the middle third, the top 6% for completed passes and touches, the top 7% for passes into the final third, the top 9% for goal-creating actions from live passes and more, all per 90.

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

2.01

Top 1%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

58.41

Top 2%

Passes Completed

68.11

Top 6%

Live-ball Passes

73.50

Top 6%

Touches

85.36

Top 6%

Pass Completion %

90.0%

Top 7%

Passes into Final Third

7.23

Top 7%

Total Passing Distance

1049.21

Top 8%

Tackles Won

1.88

Top 8%

Assists

0.21

Top 9%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.38

Top 9%

Tackles

3.05

Top 10%

Carries

46.04

Top 11%

In other words, the midfield “genius,” as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, can take the ball from deep and either control the pace of the game or kickstart an attack, just like the World Cup winner used to.

Finally, despite still being so young, the twice-capped international shows he isn’t one to be overawed by the big occasion, nor was he flustered by the task of helping Barcelona win a league title last season, which is just the sort of player Maresca would want in his side.

Ultimately, it might not be a cheap transfer to get over the line, but Casado looks like the real deal and could be Chelsea’s new Fabregas.

Garnacho upgrade: Chelsea in agent talks to sign "world-class" £43m star

The dangerous international would be a far better signing than Garnacho for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 21, 2025

BCB’s media committee chairman says the board has given the franchise “enough chances” but they have “crossed all limits”

Mohammad Isam27-Jan-2025The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is preparing to take legal steps against BPL side Durbar Rajshahi after they missed payment deadlines with overseas players and the team hotel. BCB media committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman said on Sunday that the board had given the franchise enough time and consideration and could no longer afford to keep doing so. The situation came to a head this weekend when the unpaid Rajshahi players made themselves unavailable for the match against Rangpur Riders in Mirpur.BPL rules stipulate a team to field a minimum of two and a maximum of four overseas players in a playing XI. When it became clear that the Rajshahi foreigners wouldn’t be playing on Sunday evening, the BPL governing council allowed the side to break the rule. It is the first time in the competition’s history that a team has gone out without a single overseas player in the XI. It is being considered the BPL’s lowest point this season, which has irked the BCB.”We have to take legal action by any means now,” Iftekhar told . “The money has to be paid. Otherwise, BPL’s reputation will be ruined. The violation of contractual obligations like cheque dishonour and other issues will be addressed and we will file cases for all matters, as per the merit of the breaches. The board has given them enough chances. But they have crossed all limits. They were given a contract. There are breach of contract clauses. Until today, we didn’t take any action but now, we will take all the legal actions against them.”Rajshahi captain Taskin Ahmed led the side to a surprising two-run win against table-toppers Rangpur. There was a smile on his face during the post-match press conference. A long and difficult day had come to a nice little end.”It was certainly a new experience,” Taskin said. “I heard that there was a problem with our hotel booking. There was probably a mix-up between the Sheraton and the Westin. We changed hotels [on Sunday morning] and then two hours before heading to the stadium, we heard that the foreign players won’t go [to the match]. We got a call from the board, telling us that at least you [local] guys play. They called the foreign players, telling them that the payment will be cleared. Still [they] didn’t come.”When I asked [the overseas players], they said they won’t play without money. I just said it’s their call. What can I say, I am also a player. We really felt bad playing without the foreign players. We requested the board to play with local players. They allowed it, and then winning the game gave us some respite.”Taskin confirmed that Rajshahi paid the local players some money on Sunday. “We were given the cheque today. We will place it today. One can hope [it goes through]. If the cheque bounces like this wicket, we are in trouble.”Everyone expects to play the BPL in a peaceful environment, so when these things happen, we get disappointed. BPL is quite popular this season, but our team is having problems. I tried to boost up the team by telling them that this is our stage to perform, regardless of what’s happening elsewhere. The feeling is certainly not nice, but we are trying our best.”

Karim Adeyemi's powerful strike in the early moments of the game against Wolfsburg sealed the win for Borussia Dortmund. Head coach Niko Kovac says the German forward took his advice to "work backwards" and aptly implemented it. The 23-year-old fired a powerful shot from outside the box, catching goalkeeper Kamil Grabara off-guard to score the only goal in the game.

Karim Adeyemi shines for Dortmund

Adeyemi was the difference-maker as Dortmund edged Wolfsburg 1-0, scoring a spectacular left-footed goal from distance in the 20th minute. He emerged as the game's standout performer with the most shots and relentless attacking runs. Head coach Kovac praised Adeyemi's physicality and hailed his increasing contribution to the team's collective play, stating that Adeyemi is now doing more for the team as Dortmund climbed to second in the Bundesliga with their third straight win.

AdvertisementAFPCoach Kovac is happy Adeyemi took his advice

In the post-match interview, the Dortmund coach was happy with how the team handled the pressure and showed total composure on the pitch to keep a clean sheet. He also praised Adeyemi for taking his advice and "working backwards."

"Karim only played five minutes in the last home game against Union," he said. He was annoyed, of course – but I told him: 'Karim, you're a great striker. You have to work backwards.' He's doing that more and more now. He's slowly understanding that you have to work backwards as a striker too. Because in the Bundesliga, the opponents have opportunities, which they then take advantage of – as we saw in the Champions League. We said: 'Boy, you won 1-0, you scored the goal. That's much better than a 5-4 – I think.' I hope he takes that as an example."  

Asked about Adeyemi's shot, Kovac said: "I know what power he has in his thighs; he jumps higher than anyone else on our team."

Nico Schlotterbeck is back in the squad

Schlotterbeck made an emotional and impressive comeback for Dortmund by returning to the starting XI after nearly six months out with a meniscus injury. Slotting straight into the back three, Schlotterbeck played the full 90 minutes and delivered a composed defensive performance. After the match, Schlotterbeck expressed his happiness at being back, stating he had worked hard for six months and was grateful for the support from fans and staff. Coach Kovac praised the medical and rehabilitation team for bringing the 25-year-old back to full fitness, while also highlighting the stability he brings to the defence.

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AFPCoach Kovac faces a crucial test

Dortmund now face Mainz in their next Bundesliga fixture on September 27, which will be another challenging away game for the team. After that, Dortmund will shift focus to the Champions League where they will go up against Athletic Club on October 2.

Mumbai went from 113 for 2 to 118 for 6 in the space of 11 balls

Shashank Kishore18-Feb-2025A full-blown middle order collapse – four wickets in 11 deliveries – has left Mumbai with an uphill battle in their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha in Nagpur.Parth Rekhade, the left-arm spin allrounder playing in only his second first-class match, dismissed Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in a single over, the 41st of the innings, as Mumbai went from a comfortable 113 for 2 to 113 for 5.Rahane was the first to go in the triple-wicket over for 18 when the ball rolled back onto the stumps off a defensive push. Suryakumar Yadav was next, out for a two-ball duck when he jabbed at an in-drifter with hard hands. Danish Malewar at silly point held it on the second attampts as it came off the pad after taking the inside edge. Dube then played back to one that skidded across from around the stumps as the thick edge was superbly taken at slip by Atharva Taide.There was more drama in store when Shams Mulani, who orchestrated a stunning turnaround in the quarter-final courtesy a century stand with Tanush Kotian, was trapped lbw by Harsh Dubey, the left-arm spinner. Originally given not out as he played around a sharp-turning delivery, Akshay Wadkar opted to review the decision and replays confirmed the ball would’ve crashed into the stumps. Mulani had to walk back for 4 as Dubey picked up his 60th wicket – it made him the sixth bowler in Ranji history and the first since Jaydev Unadkat in 2019-20 to pick up 60 or more in a season.Shivam Dube picked 5 for 49 as Vidarbha were bowled out for 383•PTI As he has often done, Shardul Thakur led a fierce Mumbai fightback as he put on a half-century stand with wicketkeeper Akash Anand, who battled his way to make a half-century from the top of the order. Shardul played his strokes and attacked the bowlers to pick up runs at every available opportunity. Their partnership was worth 60 when Shardul holed out to deep square for a 41-ball 37 while attempting to pull Yash Thakur, which was one of the last acts in an action-packed session.Yash Thakur bounded in full intensity on a hot afternoon, his figures of 2 for 56 in 11 overs doing no justice to his efforts. This included the big wicket of Siddhesh Lad to break a half-century stand when he got one to angle in and hold its line to burst past Lad’s outside edge. He should’ve also had Rahane lbw on 11, but for a no-ball he delivered in trying to hit the deck hard.In the morning session, Vidarbha managed to add just 75 to their overnight 308 for 5 with Yash Rathod, their top run-getter this season, bringing up his half-century before falling to trigger a slide. Dube, who had dismissed Rekhade and Karun Nair on the opening day, picked up three wickets in three overs to finish with figures of 11.5-1-49-5, his third five-for in first-class cricket.

With Thomas Muller’s 25-year Bayern Munich journey behind him, Harry Kane and the new leadership core are stepping up to uphold the Bavarian spirit and carry forward the winning mentality the legendary forward embodied. While director Christoph Freund admits Muller's personality is irreplaceable, Kane says the squad already have a “sense of togetherness” despite the loss of their "vocal" leader.

The void left by Thomas Muller

Muller’s departure at the end of the 2024–25 season marked the end of an era for Bayern as the veteran forward opted to join Vancouver Whitecaps after his contract expired. A talismanic presence at the club, his leadership as vice-captain and intimate connection with the fans made him irreplaceable. While Bayern remain a powerhouse, they squad now faces the challenge of filling the void left by a player whose presence extended far beyond goals and assists.

With Muller gone, though, a new hierarchy is taking shape within the dressing room, reports. In addition to captain Manuel Neuer, and his vice-captain Joshua Kimmich, 32-year-old Kane and summer signing Jonathan Tah have taken on more responsibility within the team, as have established stars Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry. 

AdvertisementAFPKane believes new leadership brings different dynamism

With Muller gone, the responsibility to lead has shifted across the squad Kane explained: "It's a mix of other players. Thomas was always a loud leader, but that doesn't mean we don't still have others like Josh, Manu, myself, or even Serge and a few others. When a player like him leaves, a leader like him, it puts pressure on other players to step up and be a little louder in certain situations than in the past.

"That's why I think it's a bit more spread out across the team now. But as you can see, we have a strong environment right now. The current team has a very good sense of togetherness. And that's how we started the season!"

Bayern sporting director Freund admits that no one can replace Muller but claims the team has divided their work and responsibilities making the leadership less stressful and more effective.

"Thomas Müller is a legend! I don't think replacing him one-to-one is possible. He was there for so long and had such a personality that you can't replace. But the team lives very, very well within itself, and things are simply divided up. It's great in the dressing room.

"There are a few young players, Alex Pavlovic, Tom Bischof. Besides Manu, Jo Kimmich, who have been here longer. Michael Olise feels extremely comfortable in the group. It's just a good mix at the moment."

The heart of Bayern: Muller’s influence beyond the pitch

Muller’s influence stretched far beyond his 13 Bundesliga titles, two Champions League trophies, and countless other accolades. A native Bavarian, he personified the club's ethos – resilient, authentic, and deeply connected to his home culture. His loyalty, humour, and leadership made him part of a much larger community, from the youth ranks to the senior squad, fans, and the city itself. 

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Getty Images SportKane and the team carry Bayern forward

With Muller gone, Kane has stepped up, scoring 13 goals in seven Bundesliga games – including two hat-tricks – and becoming the fastest player to reach 50 league goals. His clinical form has powered Bayern to a record 18 goals and 12 points from four matches, while the new leadership core, including Kimmich, Neuer and key young players, ensures team unity and the winning mentality Muller once embodied.

Arsenal are a club that have been utterly transformed over the last five years or so.

Mikel Arteta has taken a side that were spiralling down into mid-table mediocrity and has helped craft one of the best teams in Europe, let alone the Premier League.

While his philosophy and tactics have played a significant role in the North Londoners’ rejuvenation, so have the signings they’ve made.

Under previous Sporting Director Edu Gaspar and Andrea Berta today, the Gunners have become far more effective at identifying and signing brilliant players in the transfer market.

However, Arsenal still have a problem selling stars, and have seen more than their fair share leave for nothing, including an international who could be described as being Arteta’s own Alexander Isak.

Arsenals players who left for nothing

There were signs of improvement with the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Aaron Ramsdale all leaving for decent money last summer, but in the previous four or five years, Arsenal have had too many players leave for nothing.

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.

For example, perhaps the most exciting signing the club have ever made, the player whose arrival promised the ushering in of a triumphant period for the club that never arrived, Mesut Özil, ended up leaving for nothing.

The German superstar famously agreed to a bumper £350k-per-week contract renewal in January 2018, and it was pretty much downhill from that moment until he left for Fenerbahçe three years later.

Another big-money signing who left for free was Nicolas Pepe.

The Ivorian was a better player for the Gunners than people gave him credit for, racking up 48 goal involvements in 112 games, but he could never live up to his £75m price tag and, after several middling loans, had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

Going further back, to Unai Emery’s time at the club, and Aaron Ramsey’s exit was another disaster from a financial perspective.

After 369 games for the club, in which he scored 64 goals, provided 60 assists and played a significant role in several FA Cup triumphs, the Welsh legend left the Gunners to join Italian giants Juventus.

With all that said, none of these stars could realistically be compared to Liverpool’s new superstar Isak, which isn’t the case for another ace who left for nothing under Arteta’s watch.

The Arsenal star who was Arteta's Isak

Since taking the job at Arsenal, Arteta has overseen the exits of some notable players, including the aforementioned Ozil, but perhaps the most controversial one was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabonese international was the club captain for part of the Spaniard’s tenure, but following a drop in form and his late arrival for a North London derby in March 2021, the writing was on the wall for his Gunners career.

The former Borussia Dortmund star was eventually let go for nothing in January 2022, and while he endured a lacklustre year and a half with Barcelona and Chelsea, he quickly found his form in the south of France.

In one season with Marseille, the Laval-born monster scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 51 appearances, which was enough to earn him a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League.

The 36-year-old was able to amass an impressive tally of 24 goal involvements in 36 games for Al-Qadsiah last season, but has now returned to Marseille, where he is already outperforming Viktor Gyokeres, producing three goal involvements in three games.

Appearances

51

36

3

Minutes

4005′

3196′

186′

Goals

30

21

2

Assists

11

3

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.80

0.66

1.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

97.68′

133.16”

62′

With all of that said, then, what was it about Auba that meant we could describe him as being like Arteta’s Isak in the past?

Well, the first reason is that, prior to going off the boil somewhat, the “world-class” striker, as dubbed by Behdad Eghbali, was a lean, mean goalscoring machine for the manager.

For example, in the 19/20 season, he racked up a sensational haul of 29 goals and three assists in 44 appearances, totalling 3725 minutes.

That comes out to an outrageous average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games, or every 116.40 minutes.

Moreover, like the former Newcastle United star, he’s a lanky striker but undeniably elegant centre-forward, who was capable of a plethora of finishes, but was particularly adept at coming in from out wide and slotting home.

In fact, like the Swede, he may be a striker first, but he has spent a considerable amount of time in his career playing out wide on the wings.

Finally, just as the Reds’ new star helped his former side with the League cup, the former Gunners star played a crucial role in Arteta lifting the FA Cup in his first season as manager.

Ultimately, while there were valid reasons for getting rid of Aubameyang, we can’t help but wonder how useful he’d be in this Arsenal squad, as he clearly still has an excellent ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

He's "England's future LB": Arsenal sold Hale End's own Hincapie last year

The promising full-back looked brilliant in Arsenal’s academy.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 4, 2025

The club versus country row between Barcelona and Spain has escalated after Luis de la Fuente called up Lamine Yamal for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The Spain boss fired back at Hansi Flick's complaints about player welfare, expressing surprise at the Barca manager's comments and defending his decision to include the teenager.

De la Fuente vs Flick continues

The Spain manager has hit back at Flick’s criticism over the handling of Yamal after naming the teenager in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria. During a press conference, De la Fuente expressed his surprise at the Barcelona manager's complaints, escalating the club-versus-country row over the 18-year-old's fitness.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDe la Fuente 'surprised' by Flick's criticism

The conflict ignited last month when Flick accused the Spanish setup of mismanaging Yamal, but De la Fuente has now fired back directly. When questioned about the Barca boss’s comments, he responded: "I was simply surprised by those statements because he was a national team coach, and I believed he had that empathy." 

He doubled down on his stance, adding: "Likewise, I say that he was a coach and knows how we players behave. That's what surprises me, that a former coach would have that opinion." 

De la Fuente attempted to steer the focus away from the dispute, stating, "We're playing for the World Cup, that's what's really important. The rest isn't important."

The background to the Barcelona vs Spain row

Flick’s anger stemmed from the previous international break in September, where Yamal aggravated a groin injury after reportedly being given painkillers to play for Spain against Bulgaria and Turkey. The Barcelona manager was left seething, as the injury subsequently ruled the winger out of four key club matches. "He went with the national team in pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers to play," Flick said last month. "He played 73 minutes and 79, and between matches he couldn't train. That is not taking care of the player. I am very sad about this.”

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Yamal's workload and current status

Despite reports that Barcelona intended to block the call-up, Yamal has been included in the 26-man squad. The situation is being monitored closely, with De la Fuente confirming the federation is in contact with the club. "We talk to all the players; we know how they're doing firsthand," he said. "We'll see how Lamine develops this weekend and see how much participation he has." The winger's workload has come under wider scrutiny, with a recent FIFPRO report highlighting the "alarming" number of minutes he has played at such a young age.