Arsenal may have dropped points away to Sunderland on the weekend, but there is a lot for fans to be happy about.

Firstly, Mikel Arteta’s side remain clear at the top of the Premier League table, and just as importantly, the team looked genuinely dangerous in the second half.

They might have been defensively suspect, but the Gunners looked excellent going forward, and Leandro Trossard continued his fine form with a sensational long-range effort.

However, while the Belgian is playing out of his skin at the moment, recent reports suggest his game time could be dramatically reduced by another international who’s been compared to the legendary Thierry Henry.

Arsenal target monster winger

While Arsenal are flying, there are still some weaker areas of the squad, and the left wing is undoubtedly one of them.

Transfer Focus

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

Granted, Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have improved this season, and Eberechi Eze can fill in there.

Yet, compared to the options of Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke on the right, and then the three players who can start up top when fit, it’s clear the left-hand side could do with a genuine superstar option.

This appears to be an opinion shared by the club, as recent reports from Spain indicate that they are interested in Rafael Leão.

The report claims that Arsenal are set to make a serious move in the winter window for attacking reinforcement and are prepared to make an offer of around €80m for the AC Milan star, which is about £71m.

The North Londoners reportedly view the Portuguese international as a perfect fit, and Arteta is said to be a big fan, although with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and several French teams also said to be interested, this won’t be an easy transfer to get over the line.

With that said, given Leão’s ability and the fact he’s been compared to Henry, this is a deal worth going all out for, even if it could spell the end of Trossard’s Arsenal career.

How Leão compares to Trossard

Given Arsenal’s need to add more goals to their frontline, the first thing to look at when comparing Leao and Trossard should be their output from last season.

Unfortunately for the Belgian, this is where he comes out second best.

For example, in 56 appearances, totalling 3455 minutes, he scored two goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.8 games, or every 172.75 minutes.

In contrast, the Milan star racked up a tally of 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3499 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 139.96 minutes.

It’s a little closer this year, but once again, it’s the Portuguese dynamo who comes out on top.

In eight appearances, totalling 470 minutes, he’s produced six goal involvements, which is an average of one every 1.33 games, or every 78.33 minutes.

Appearances

50

56

Minutes

3499′

3455′

Goals

12

10

Assists

13

10

Appearances

8

14

Minutes

470′

832′

Goals

5

4

Assists

1

4

In contrast, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has produced eight goal involvements in 14 appearances, totalling 832 minutes, which is an average of one every 1.75 games, or every 104 minutes.

However, while their output is ultimately what matters most, especially for a team gunning for the title, there is also the matter of how they play the game and how fun they are to watch.

Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, this is another area in which he is bested, as while his technical trickery can be a joy to behold, he’s nowhere near as powerful or dynamic as the former LOSC Lille star.

Moreover, the 26-year-old’s ability to pick up the ball in his own half, take on opposition defenders and then slide the ball into the far corner is why former Milan coach Stefano Pioli said, “Leao reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry.”

Just imagine a player capable of doing that once again donning the club’s red and white and helping them end their two-decade title drought.

Ultimately, Trossard is an excellent player and is in good form, but if Arsenal can sign Leao in the winter, they should do so.

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The incredible prospect could be another Max Dowman-style star for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2025

Aston Villa are now reportedly racing to sign Oscar Mingueza alongside Premier League rivals West Ham United as those in the Midlands look to land a La Masia graduate.

The Villans turned on the style against Bournemouth, bouncing back from defeat at Anfield to head into the international break with a convincing victory under their belt. Emiliano Buendia’s free-kick was undoubtedly the pick of the four goals that Unai Emery’s side scored, as he continued his recent, much-welcomed resurgence.

After a tough start to their campaign, Villa now sit seventh and Emery admitted that his side “are recovering from a bad start”, telling reporters: “I am very happy with the win.

“We are recovering from a bad start to the season. The effort physically was huge and to manage the squad with different players, with the effort we needed, we can feel proud after the game.

“This is the level of the players. We are trying to set our standards in everything [we do], every day how we prepare for the game, and the quality of the players is important.”

Qualifying for European football, whether it’s the Europa League, Europa Conference League or in the best-case scenario, the Champions League, is more important than ever in the Midlands. Those at Villa Park can’t afford to miss out and run into more problems with PSR limitations as a result.

Their poor start to the season stemmed from a disappointing summer transfer window and the chaos of potential sales that never arrived. This time next year, they must be in a better position on that front.

Fixing their PSR problem would see Emery’s side reach another level entirely and could finally see long-term target Mingueza arrive.

Aston Villa racing to sign Mingueza

According to reports in Spain, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are now battling to sign Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo alongside the likes of West Ham and Newcastle United. The Villans have been admirers of the La Masia graduate for some time, but have consistently failed to secure his signature.

Capped four times by Spain, the defender has also played twice for the national team of Catalonia, who are not recognised/affiliated with FIFA or UEFA due to their status as one of Spain’s regional football federations.

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa amid interest from Tottenham and Arsenal

Recent reports have indicated that Aston Villa would be keen on signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

Emery will be hoping that 2026 is finally the year that the right-back arrives, given that he’s on course to become a free agent next summer and any transfer complications will suddenly become far easier to navigate.

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman once predicted that the Spaniard would have a “great future” and that could yet arrive in the Midlands, where he’d compete for a place with Matty Cash, who is in excellent form.

Minutes

670

966

Assists

2

0

Tackles Won

4

10

Ball Recoveries

30

24

When compared, it’s clear that Mingueza and Cash have different qualities. Whilst the former is arguably better going forward, the Villa star has been a more well-rounded player so far this season – impressing in and out of possession.

What is clear is that Mingueza’s arrival would add vital depth to the right-back role for Emery, even if he’s forced to provide backup for Cash.

"Best in the league" – Media stunned by "aggressive" Aston Villa star vs Bournemouth

Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya couldn’t believe Sri Lanka had bottled yet another last over against India in their Asia Cup Super Fours game in Dubai.Their loss instantly brought back memories from July 2024, when they squandered what should have been a straightforward chase against India. On that scarcely believable night in Pallekele, Sri Lanka needed just nine runs from two overs with six wickets in hand. Yet, they stumbled against the bowling of Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav as the game went into a Super Over, where they managed just one run, which Suryakumar took one delivery to score.On Friday, Sri Lanka needed 12 runs to win in the last over with six wickets remaining and centurion Pathum Nissanka on strike. But he fell immediately and when Dasun Shanaka hit the last ball towards wide long-on with Sri Lanka needing three to win, there was a chance of closing out the game in regulation time. Except, Shanaka sprawled a full-length dive to complete the second run to level the scores, anticipating the throw to be fired at his end, completely unaware that Kuldeep Yadav had misfielded and that there could have been a chance for a third. It meant the game was to be decided in the Super Over, where Sri Lanka stumbled again.Related

• Why was Shanaka not given run out in the Super Over drama?

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“I would’ve preferred to finish games in normal time,” Jayasuriya said at the post-match press conference. “No captain or coach wants to go to a Super Over. Unfortunately, Dasun missed completing the third run. But no, there’s no mental block against India. Our batting line-up is strong, and we’ve given them confidence. Chasing 200 (203) is never easy, but we almost did it, which shows the quality we have.”There is no doubting Sri Lanka’s class or quality, and few embody it better than Nissanka. Having first broken through as a Test batter in 2021, he has since blossomed into a formidable white-ball player. Just last week, after the group stage, Nissanka spoke glowingly of Jayasuriya’s influence, and the freedom the coach has given him to develop a niche, along with a leeway for mistakes. On Friday, he repaid that faith in style, turning what looked a daunting chase of 203 into a stroll at one stage with a sublime 107 off 58 balls.What made the innings even more remarkable was the character behind it. Jayasuriya revealed afterwards that Nissanka had been carrying groin and hamstring niggles since the group stage. Yet, his determination to deliver for the team drove him through the pain. On a muggy night when as many as three Indian fielders cramped up, Nissanka put his body on the line.It took an ill-judged flick straight into the hands of Varun Chakravarthy at short fine leg with 12 needed off the final over to finally stop him. Jayasuriya was all praise for Nissanka and Kusal Perera, who scored 58 off 32 balls during their second-wicket stand of 127 in just 70 deliveries.2:01

‘SL will surprise some teams in T20 World Cup’

“When you’re chasing 202 (203), you have to keep finding boundaries,” Jayasuriya said. “Their partnership was the key. The momentum shifted when we started losing wickets. That’s natural in a chase because someone has to take risks. Sadly, Pathum got out at the wrong time, and later on, the ball began to turn more. Still, it was a very good game of cricket.”Kusal is one of the best players of spin in our team. He played that role well again, though I’d have liked him to bat longer. Both took calculated risks, and when they wanted boundaries, they executed them. Pathum also had a bit of a hamstring issue recently but still gave 100% for the team, which shows his commitment.”Sri Lanka will return home without a win in the Super Fours from their three games; such a result didn’t seem likely when they went through the group stages unbeaten, following wins against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong in what was dubbed as the group of death. Reflecting on their campaign and looking ahead to the next six months leading into the T20 World Cup in February, Jayasuriya stressed on the need for the batters to adapt faster to challenging conditions.”In T20 cricket, assessing conditions quickly is everything,” Jayasuriya said. “In Abu Dhabi, for example, the first-round pitches had pace and bounce, but in the second round, things changed, and we were too slow to adapt. That cost us. The disappointment was the Bangladesh match in the Super Four – 168 on that pitch was a good score, but we didn’t bowl well enough to defend it. Against Pakistan, we didn’t assess the conditions [in Abu Dhabi] quickly enough, and were late to adapt.”Today, India played very well to get over 200. Our boys showed they’re capable of chasing that, but again we just fell short. Apart from that Bangladesh game, I’m fairly satisfied, though disappointed not to reach the final. We have the batting and bowling quality. The key is to execute plans according to conditions and opposition. If we do that consistently, this team can go very far.”

Four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. enjoys one major benefit that many other big leaguers don't: Having a Baseball Hall of Fame father in his corner.

Guerrero Jr., who on Wednesday officially signed the third-richest contract in baseball history in terms of total value at $500 million, appears to have heeded the advice of Vladimir Guerrero Sr. when it comes to his new deal.

While speaking to reporters before the Toronto Blue Jays' 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, Guerrero shared the advice his father gave him during contract negotiations.

"Trust god," Guerrero said, via Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "My dad told me to trust god, and to get the last penny that I could from the organization."

Guerrero did exactly that. The Blue Jays star's contract includes no deferred payments, a full no-trade clause and a very unique structure. $325 million of the $500 million will be paid out to Guerrero in a signing bonus, while the other $175 million will be paid out in salary. This benefits the Blue Jays slugger both during tax season and in the event that baseball has a work stoppage in the future.

Even as contract negotiations between the two sides hit a snag during spring training, Guerrero, seemingly ticketed for free agency, was steadfast about wanting to remain in Toronto for the rest of his career. To that end, Guerrero's daughter joined his father in making her voice heard during the process.

"That’s one of the hardest ones, right there, when your daughter comes to you and asks you, ‘Daddy, are we going to stay in Toronto?’" Guerrero said. "When you know that your family really wants to stay in Toronto, that was the hard one. All along, they wanted to stay in Toronto."

In putting pen to paper on Wednesday, Guerrero and his family got their wish.

New Era quickly ran into some controversy after unveiling its latest line of MLB hats, three of which have already been removed from MLB's official online store.

Among the hats no longer for sale on the site include a Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels New Era Overlap 59FIFTY hat (sorry AL West fans).

Removing the hats from the online store hasn't prevented those who bought them early from turning a quick and hefty profit. Multiple listings for the controversial Rangers hat have sold on eBay for a staggering sum, with one hat even fetching as much as $1,000.

The hat in question appears to spell out a vulgar word in Spanish, due to the bizarre design choice that resulted in the Rangers' "T" logo covering part of the word "TEXAS." The hats went viral on social media, and although MLB moved quickly to pull them from the website, that hasn't deterred fans from scooping them up at a significant cost on the secondary market.

Another seller on eBay has created their own knockoff version of the viral Rangers hat. As of writing, more than 160 of those hats have been sold for a price of $36.

Celtic look set to finally confirm the appointment of their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead with the arrival of Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew.

Rodgers tendered his resignation at the end of October, after a 3-1 loss to Hearts, and experienced manager Martin O’Neill has taken the reins as interim head coach for the past month or so.

The former Celtic boss, as shown in the graphic above, won the Scottish Premiership title in his first two seasons back at Parkhead, and it will be down to Nancy to overcome Hearts to win the division in his first season.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Hoops are set to confirm the appointment of the MLS boss before the weekend, but that means that it remains to be seen if he will be in the dugout for the weekend’s clash with Hibernian.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna were also said to be in the running for the role, but it is the Frenchman who is poised to replace Rodgers.

Whilst Nancy will have to deal with the players that he inherits for the first month or so of his reign in Glasgow, the incoming boss has already been linked with a move to bring one of his Columbus Crew stars to Scotland.

The Columbus Crew star Wilfried Nancy could bring to Celtic

Earlier this week, it was reported that Celtic are lining up a move to bolster their attack by swooping for one of the French head coach’s key players from the MLS side.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Nancy is reportedly set to swoop for Columbus Crew centre-forward Wessam Abou Ali to provide him with a proven and lethal number nine at Parkhead for the second half of the 2025/26 season.

The Palestine international scored three goals in five MLS games for Nancy towards the end of the 2025 campaign, per Sofascore, after a £5.7m move from Egyptian giants Al Ahly back in July.

Prior to his almost £6m move to the MLS in July, Abou Ali’s form for Al Ahly in Egypt caught the eye, as he showcased his reliability in front of goal in the Egyptian Premier League.

Abou Ali – Egyptian Premier League	23/24	24/25
Appearances	19	16
Goals	18	10
Minutes per goal	76	118
Big chances missed	5	1
Conversion rate	40%	23%
Big chances created	3	2
Assists	4	3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old frontman scored a staggering 28 goals in 35 appearances in those two seasons, which shows that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

However, it remains to be seen how much money Columbus Crew would want for the prolific striker because they paid almost £6m for him earlier this year, and he has already scored three goals in five league games.

If the MLS side demand a hefty fee that Celtic are either unable or unwilling to pay in the January transfer window, Nancy will have to look at alternative ways to bolster his attacking ranks at Parkhead.

For example, the French boss could unearth his next version of Abou Ali by helping young striker Callum Osmand fulfill his potential when he is back fit and available for selection.

Why Osmand could be Celtic's own version of Abou Ali

The Jersey-born star is currently out with a hamstring injury and a timeline has not been given on his return date, so it remains to be seen when he will be available to the incoming Hoops boss.

With Kelechi Iheanacho and Osmand both missing through injury, Ireland international Johnny Kenny is the first-choice number nine at Parkhead. The young forward has had an impressive run under interim boss O’Neill with four goals in five matches, per Sofascore.

However, it may be the former Fulham youngster who is the most likely to emerge as the star goalscorer of the Nancy era when you consider his record at first-team and academy level to date.

The battle to be Celtic’s number nine
Academy + first-team	Kenny	Osmand
Appearances	150	83
Goals	47	49
Games per goal	3.19	1.69
Assists	11	13
Games per assist	13.64	6.38
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Osmand has scored and created goals at a much more impressive rate than Kenny has throughout his career to date, with an exceptional haul of 49 goals in 83 matches.

Whilst the majority of those goals have been at youth level, the 20-year-old star also showcased his quality in the first-team with a poacher’s finish against Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden Park earlier this month.

Unfortunately, Osmand then suffered his hamstring injury off the bench against Midtjylland in the Europa League in the very next game, shortly after winning a penalty from which Reo Hatate scored.

The ex-Fulham youngster, who was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, scored one goal and won a penalty in his first three first-team outings for the Scottish giants, which is an impressive start to senior football for the young attacker.

His exceptional goalscoring record in his career suggests that he has the potential to emerge as a real star for Celtic in the future, once he is back from injury, because he has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

Therefore, the summer signing could be unearthed as Nancy’s next version of Abou Ali, who has been a prolific scorer for his last two teams, as another number nine who can provide a lethal presence in front of goal, if the Hoops are unable to get a deal done for the MLS star.

£1.5m Celtic flop has been an even bigger waste of time than Balikwisha

This Celtic flop has been an even worse signing than Michel-Ange Balikwisha for the Scottish giants.

1

By
Dan Emery

Nov 25, 2025

تحدث غنام محمد، لاعب منتخب مصر الثاني، عن استعدادات الفريق للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025، وحديث حلمي طولان المدير الفني معه.

وقال غنام محمد، عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “كابتن حلمي دائما يتحدث معي بشكل إيجابي للغاية، ويؤكد أنني لاعب جيد ولست أقل من أحد، وأنني سأقدم بطولة قوية مع المنتخب إن شاء الله، ويطالبني دائما بالثقة في نفسي وتقديم أفضل ما لدي”.

وأضاف: “محمد النني لاعب كبير جدًا، ودائما يتحدث معي ويوجه لي النصائح، ويطالبني بعدم القلق وأن ألعب بثقة، وإن شاء الله أقدم مستوى مميزًا في البطولة وكذلك عمرو السولية، فهو من اللاعبين الكبار والمؤثرين معنا في المنتخب”.

طالع.. رسائل هاني أبو ريدة لـ منتخب مصر الثاني قبل انطلاق كأس العرب 2025

وتابع: “أنا أتعامل مع الأمر خطوة بخطوة، وتركيزي الآن مع منتخب مصر في البطولة، وإن شاء الله نحقق شيئًا جيدًا وبعد ذلك طموحي بالطبع هو الاحتراف واللعب في مستوى كبير، ولكن من خلال النادي”.

وواصل: “أسمع كلامًا كثيرا عن اهتمام الأهلي والزمالك وبيراميدز، لكن حتى الآن لم يتحدث معي أحد شخصيًا، أنا أركز تمامًا مع فريقي، وأي خطوة ستكون من خلال النادي، وأنا تحت أمر النادي في أي شيء”.

وأشار:”لو جاء لي عرض من الأهلي أو الزمالك، فهما الأفضل بالنسبة لي، وجماهيرهما رقم واحد في مصر، والانضمام لأحدهما يقربك من منتخب مصر ويجعل الناس تتحدث عنك بصورة أفضل”.

وأوضح: “سعيد بارتباط اسمي بالأندية الكبيرة مثل الأهلي وبيراميدز والزمالك، وأتمنى أن تكون خطوتي المقبلة جيدة، ولكن الأهم الآن هو التركيز مع المنتخب”.

وتابع: “أتعامل مع البطولة وكأنها تحدي، ووضعت لنفسي هدفًا فيها، وإن شاء الله أحققه بمساعدة زملائي في المنتخب ونسعى للعودة بالبطولة إلى مصر، ومع نادي مودرن، بإذن الله ننهي الدوري ضمن المراكز السبعة الأولى”.

وأتم: “كل المنتخبات قوية: الجزائر، المغرب، تونس، والسعودية بالطبع، أي منتخب من هؤلاء عندما يواجه مصر يعرف جيدًا أنه يواجه منتخبًا كبيرًا لديه تاريخ وبطولات”.

Enhance your Football Manager 2026 squad with top free agents

Are you aiming to enhance your squad in Football Manager 2026 without the need to spend millions? Free agents, who are quality players out of contract and available for a free transfer, present an excellent opportunity to strengthen your team while adhering to a tight budget.  

At the beginning of the game (July 7, 2025), numerous seasoned athletes and overlooked talents are available, providing significant value for clubs of all sizes.

Below, GOAL provides a list of the top free agents in FM 2026, categorized by position: Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards. 

Getty Images SportBest goalkeepers as free agents in FM26

Name Age Position Nationality

Fraser Forster37GKEnglandVicente Guaita38GKSpainDarren Randolph38GKIrelandHirotsubu Nakabayashi39GKJapanAlessio Cragno31GKItalyManuel Riemann37GKGermany

This group of free-agent goalkeepers offers clubs a mix of experience, leadership and reliability. Fraser Forster and Vicente Guaita bring years of Premier League and La Liga consistency, making them ideal short-term stabilizers between the posts. Darren Randolph adds veteran depth, while Hirotsugu Nakabayashi provides a disciplined, technically clean option with experience from the J-League. Alessio Cragno remains an agile, modern keeper with strong shot-stopping ability, and Manuel Riemann offers a commanding presence and excellent distribution. Together, they form a dependable pool for clubs needing immediate reinforcement. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBest defenders as free agents in FM26

The defender free-agent market features a varied set of players capable of strengthening any back line. Takehiro Tomiyasu is a versatile option comfortable across multiple roles in defence, while Rui Mario and Hugo Mallo offer experience and stability on the flanks.   

Juan Bernat and Sergio Reguilón are attack-minded left-backs with top-level pedigree in European competitions. Mohammed Abdel Shafy contributes reliability and tactical discipline, and Iván Marcano brings leadership and aerial strength at centre-back. These defenders provide both depth and quality for teams aiming to tighten up at the back. 

Name Age Position Nationality

Takehiro Tomiyasu27DR / DC / DLJapanRui Mário31DCPortugalHugo Mallo34DR / WBRSpainJuan Bernat32DL / WBLSpainMohammed Abdel Shafy40DL / WBLEgyptIván Marcano38DCSpainSergio Reguilón29DL / WBLSpainGetty Images SportBest midfielders as free agents in FM26

The available free-agent midfielders offer creativity, control and experience in equal measure. Damián Díaz remains a technically gifted playmaker capable of unlocking defences, while Rafinha provides versatility and composure in possession. Fernandinho adds elite leadership and defensive intelligence, making him a strong anchor for any midfield. 

Oriol Romeu brings ball-winning ability and distribution, and Giacomo Bonaventura offers tactical intelligence and goal threat from midfield. Hakim Ziyech delivers flair, chance creation and set-piece quality, while Fernando brings balance and positional discipline. This group can elevate midfield quality immediately.

Name Age Position Nationality

Damián Díaz39AM / CMEcuador / ArgentinaRafinha32MC / AMC / AMRBrazil / SpainFernandinho40DM / MCBrazilOriol Romeu34DM / MCSpainGiacomo Bonaventura36MC / AMC / AMLItalyHakim Ziyech32AMR / AMC / AMLMorocco / NetherlandsFernando38DM / MCBrazilENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportBest forwards as free agents in FM26

The forward free-agent group is headlined by several proven goal scorers and dynamic attacking profiles. Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne bring creativity, mobility and a wealth of experience from their Napoli days. Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao offer physicality, aggression and natural finishing instinct – perfect for clubs needing a traditional penalty-box threat. 

Gerard Deulofeu adds pace, dribbling and versatility across the front line, while Vincent Aboubakar provides strength, hold-up play and a track record of scoring on big stages. It's a diverse pool capable of elevating any attack. All for free!

Name Age Position Nationality

Dries Mertens38AM / STBelgiumDiego Costa37STSpain / BrazilLorenzo Insigne34AML / AMR / STItalyRadamel Falcao39STColombiaSilvio Romero37STArgentinaGerard Deulofeu31AMR / AML / STSpainVincent Aboubakar33STCameroon

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is poised to be without a key man for their upcoming Champions League clash against Barcelona, with the Italian facing a selection headache.

Maresca has already been forced into 93 first team rotations this season, the highest number of any team in the Premier League, and it is safe to say his squad depth has been stretched to the bare bones at times.

There were major worries surrounding fitness repercussions after Chelsea’s involvement in the Club World Cup last summer, which saw them play a grand total of 65 matches in a 53-week season.

This was an unprecedented number of matches for the Blues, with Chelsea also reaching the Conference League final beforehand and going on to win Europe’s third-tier tournament.

While they became the first club in history to win all five UEFA club competitions, and took home north of £80 million in prize money from the CWC, their extensive schedule appears to be having a dire effect on the players.

So far, Chelsea have lost Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Andrey Santos and Josh Acheampong to injury or suspension at various points this season, and a few absences have been seriously felt.

This all being said, Maresca deserves praise for navigating this storm of injuries and guiding Chelsea to third in the Premier League table, where they’re just six points off league leaders Arsenal and could be considered outside contenders for the title this season.

One player they will be very eager to welcome back at the earliest opportunity is superstar forward Palmer, who’s been battling a niggling groin injury all campaign.

The England international hasn’t featured at all since he limped off in a 2-1 defeat at Man United nearly two months ago, with Maresca stating back in mid-October that he’d be out for another six weeks.

Optimism then followed that he could actually be back and ready to start against Barcelona next week, but according to journalist Simon Phillips, hopes of a return against the La Liga champions have all but diminished.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer now likely to miss Barcelona through injury

According to Phillips, via his Substack, Palmer is now likely to miss Chelsea’s clash with Barça, and a more realistic timeframe for his return could be their London derby at home to Arsenal at the end of this month.

The 23-year-old has been cut and above their superstar man since joining from Man City for what now feels like an absolute bargain fee.

Gus Poyet and others have even tipped Palmer for an eventual Ballon d’Or, highlighting his meteoric rise since leaving Eastlands.

Palmer spearheaded Chelsea to a double (CWC and Conference League) and Champions League qualification with 18 goals and 14 assists in 52 appearances for the west Londoners last season, and once he returns, the forward will provide Maresca with an almighty boost.

However, it appears they could now have to cope without him for one of their biggest games of the season so far against Hansi Flick’s Spanish giants.

Serhou Guirassy’s future at Borussia Dortmund has taken a decisive turn as new details reveal his release clause will drop to around €50 million in summer 2026, down from the €75m figure once reported. With Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and other elite clubs granted exclusive access to the clause, interest is intensifying as Dortmund prepare for potential replacements.

• Guirassy's exclusive clause to be activated next summer

  Guirassy’s contract saga has taken centre stage again after Sky Sports confirmed that his release clause at Dortmund is still active, but not for the upcoming winter window. Instead, it becomes valid in the summer of 2026, and its value is set to drop dramatically.

  The striker’s exit option will fall to around €50m (£44m/$57m), a sharp decrease from the €60-75m (£52m/$69m – £61m/$80m) range discussed last summer. Dortmund insiders have described the clause as “staggered,” meaning it becomes more financially accessible over time.

  According to , the clause is exclusively available to seven clubs: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United.

  These teams can activate it directly, while all others, including suitors in Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 or the Saudi Pro League, must negotiate higher fees with Dortmund.

  Guirassy, who has become Dortmund’s attacking anchor, is keeping his options open and has made it clear that he would only consider a move to a top-tier club capable of offering titles and Champions League ambitions.

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  Guirassy not interested in Saudi switch

  Although Saudi clubs continue to circle Europe’s biggest names, Guirassy has no interest in heading to the Saudi Pro League. This summer, he rejected a €20 million-per-year offer from Al-Hilal, believing the move would come too early in his career.

  Since joining Dortmund in 2024 for €18m, Guirassy has delivered exceptional output with 38 goals and nine assists in 50 matches. A brief dip in form earlier this season raised concerns, but he responded emphatically with a brace in Dortmund’s 4-0 Champions League win over Villarreal, reminding suitors of his reliability at the highest level.

  His contract runs until 2028, but the looming release clause means Dortmund know they may struggle to keep him if a major club acts decisively in 2026. For now, Guirassy remains fully committed to Dortmund’s project, tying his long-term future to the club’s ability to compete for titles.

  However, Germany legend Oliver Kahn is convinced the striker wants to leave the club, predicting a summer transfer for him.

• Dortmund eye Hoffenheim striker as Guirassy's replacement

  With Guirassy’s departure a genuine possibility, Dortmund have started preparing for life without their star striker. The club is seriously exploring a move for Fisnik Asllani, Hoffenheim’s rising Kosovo international.

  Asllani's release clause is set at €30m which will be active from summer 2026, making him a realistic and financially viable option. Dortmund had considered signing him last summer, but the player chose to extend his contract until 2029.

  Now, the interest is back, but competition is intense. Bayern are monitoring Asllani as a rotational attacking option, while Barcelona have emerged as fresh contenders. The striker has delivered six goals and three assists this Bundesliga season and continues to grow after a breakout loan spell at Elversberg.

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• AFP
  

  What's next for Dortmund and Guirassy?

  From struggling for minutes at Lille to breakthrough spells at Rennes and Cologne, Guirassy transformed himself at Stuttgart with a remarkable 30 goals in 30 Bundesliga games before moving to Dortmund. With his release clause dropping and Europe's biggest clubs circling, Dortmund face an inevitable challenge. Whether Guirassy stays will depend on the club’s progress, their ability to compete at the top, and how aggressively the seven eligible giants pursue him in 2026.

  For now, Dortmund remain focused on the present they view him as an ideal successor who is strong in the air, composed inside the box, and young enough to develop into a long-term No. 9.