Christian Vieri has tipped Inter’s 20-year-old striker Francesco Pio Esposito to become “a great striker,” stressing that the pressure of playing for a club like Inter will accelerate his growth. Esposito has already made his mark in Serie A with his first goal and is now being asked to step up in the absence of Marcus Thuram.
Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has issued a stark warning to Barcelona despite praising Hansi Flick’s side as "the most attractive in Europe". The former midfielder believes the Blaugrana’s high-risk approach leaves them vulnerable in the Champions League, claiming fatigue and tactical rigidity could cost them deep into games.
Newcastle United fans from far and wide eagerly anticipate the advent of Monday night’s Premier League clash, with Eddie Howe’s side meeting Liverpool to St. James’ Park.
Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and the like will want to mete out a kind of retribution on the defending champions after weeks of being embroiled in a bitter transfer saga concerning the future of Alexander Isak, who is on strike as he tries to force a move to Merseyside.
Isak won’t be involved, Howe has confirmed. Whether the Sweden striker will wear black and white again remains a million-dollar question, and one that has disrupted United’s build-up to the 2024/25 campaign.
Though Anthony Gordon gave it his all as a makeshift number nine as Newcastle opened their season with a goalless draw at Villa Park last weekend, it’s clear that a natural finisher is needed.
And though the interminable search for such a forward drags on, there remains hope that Newcastle will get a deal for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa over the line.
Newcastle have been locked in a battle to sign Wissa for several weeks, and though the 28-year-old is desperate to move to Tyneside, with parallels to Isak’s situation, his outfit are playing hardball, having rejected two bids so far.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews said earlier this week that the DR Congo star had returned to pre-season training, but he played no part in the Bees’ trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Wissa scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season, but he’s not as technically gifted or nimble-footed as Isak, and so is not actually viewed as the 25-year-old’s potential replacement.
Callum Wilson, after all, joined West Ham United this summer after his contract expired with the Toon.
So then, Newcastle might need to sign a centre-forward to compete with Wissa, should he arrive, for a place in Howe’s starting 11. And they might have found one who has more about him than the Premier League goalscorer.
According to Spanish sources, Newcastle have entered the bidding for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, who wants to leave Diego Simeone’s side before the end of the transfer window.
The prolific marksman is available for a cut-price €35m (£30m) figure, which is beneath the £40m offer Newcastle tabled for Wissa earlier this week.
However, Tottenham Hotspur and Serie A champions Napoli are also reported to be interested in the Norway international, so Howe and his transfer coterie will need to act swiftly here.
The 29-year-old Sorloth might not be a spring chicken, but he’s developed into a devastating striker in Spain, having previously fallen by the wayside when at Crystal Palace seven years ago, scoring just once across 20 matches.
Afterwards, Sorloth rediscovered himself out on loan in Turkey with Trabzonspor, scoring 33 goals across the 2019/20 campaign. He hopped to Germany and joined RB Leipzig, and that was so-so, but La Liga has proved a hothouse for his shooting skills, having now surpassed 20 goals in successive campaigns, first with Villarreal and then in the capital under Simeone’s wing.
Last term, in fact, Sorloth managed to notch 24 goals across 53 appearances for Atletico, starting only 20 of those matches. Talk about clutch. Simeone remarked that the frontman had been “phenomenal” when finding space in the box.
Sorloth is powerful and prolific, but he’s also mobile and committed during defensive phases. When looking at how he matches up against Wissa over the past 365 days, there’s little question that he’s the more complete man.
|
Sorloth vs Wissa (all comps – past 365 days) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
Sorloth |
Wissa |
|
Goals scored |
0.94 |
0.57 |
|
Assists |
0.10 |
0.10 |
|
Shots taken |
4.30 |
2.79 |
|
Touches (att pen) |
6.37 |
5.01 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
1.78 |
2.16 |
|
Progressive passes |
1.97 |
2.06 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.83 |
1.87 |
|
Successful take-ons |
0.84 |
0.44 |
|
Aerials won |
5.04 |
0.92 |
|
Data via FBref |
||
And that’s okay. Wissa is not targeted for his creativity (although he showed when linking up with Bryan Mbeumo last season that he’s capable of more than just shooting), and he would serve as a neat foil if Sorloth were to be welcomed to the fold.
For such a hulking striker, the 6 foot 4 Sorloth has a spring in his step, and his willingness to get on the ball and drive forward himself suggests that he could provide Howe with a more dynamic and effective focal point at the front of his system.
It’s something that Isak, 6 foot 3 himself, has performed with such aplomb across his three years as a Magpie.
In this way, it feels crucial that Newcastle beat off the competition and sign Sorloth this month, maybe even combining him with Wissa at number nine.
Sorloth is far above the level he performed while playing for Crystal Palace, and given the overarching fluidity that Newcastle’s squad is imbued with, there’s no reason why he couldn’t produce the goods for Howe over the next several years.
As well as his goalscoring success across the 2024/25 campaign, the nomadic forward also won 51% of his duels across the La Liga campaign, further underscoring his robust and combative nature, tailor-made for the rigorous nature of the Premier League.
Though there remains a chance that Isak could be reintegrated into Howe’s Newcastle team, it may well be that irreparable damage has been done over these frantic past weeks.
If that truly is the case, it would be worthwhile to sign a player such as Sorloth, who is progressive, strong and boasts a prolific touch that surpasses even Wissa on his A-game last year.
Higher ceiling than Wissa: Newcastle in talks to sign £80m CF this week
Newcastle United are in talks to sign a star who has an even higher ceiling than Wissa.
By
Will Miller
Aug 23, 2025
Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is hoping he is not the man between the posts when the Catalan giants take on Real Madrid in the highly-anticipated Clasico later this month. Instead, the veteran shot stopper hopes that the injured Joan Garcia is fit in time for the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu as he talked up the world-class potential of the summer signing.
Nottingham Forest have now agreed a late deal to sign an “incredible” defender, with his medical currently ongoing, it has been revealed.
Last time out, Nuno suffered his worst home defeat since taking over as Forest manager, with West Ham United emerging as shock 3-0 winners at The City Ground, and the manager was left extremely disappointed with his side’s performance.
Nuno said: “It’s not the best day to speak. We have to address what is happening. The job now is more about the team, I’m worried about the team because it was shocking.”
The 51-year-old has made it clear he wants to deepen his squad throughout the summer transfer window, and he was left disgruntled by the fact deals have been left to the latter stages of the transfer window.
It appears as though Nuno’s wish has now been granted, with the Tricky Trees advancing in talks to sign S.C. Braga’s Roger Fernandes, while they are also closing in on a deal for RC Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa.
Given the manner of the defeat against West Ham, however, Nottingham Forest now want to get another defender through the door, and they have agreed a deal to sign Atletico Madrid full-back Javi Galan.
That is according to a report from The Athletic, which states Galan is currently undergoing a medical in Madrid ahead of completing a move to The City Ground, which will be for an undisclosed fee.
Nottingham Forest now agree deal to sign gem with same agent as Chris Wood
Forest are set to complete a deadline day move for a defender.
By
Dominic Lund
Sep 1, 2025
The left-back is set to sign a three-year contract with the Tricky Trees, which includes the option of an extra 12 months, with the £54k-a-week defender set to arrive alongside fellow full-back Nicolo Savona, who recently arrived from Juventus.
One of the main reasons Nuno has been keen to get more players through the door is because his side are set to embark on a European campaign, which will mean an increase in the number of fixtures.
The Forest boss said: “So we have ahead of us the Premier League, Europa League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup. You know how many games this means for us. This is the respect that we have to show to our squad. Help them.”
As such, it would make sense to get more players with European experience through the door, and the Atletico defender made six appearances in the Champions League last season.
Not only that, but the 30-year-old has also impressed domestically, being lauded as “incredible” by journalist Pascual Ruiz Arnal after impressing against Real Madrid in the 2024-25 campaign.
Galan’s experience means he should be a solid signing for Nottingham Forest, and it will be music to Nuno’s ears that the deal is now edging towards completion.
Manchester United once had a Zinedine Zidane-esque midfielder, who legendary Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes compared to Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard.
After missing out on a new central midfielder during the 2025 summer transfer window, Man United have set their sights on signing one in January, and a number of potential targets have already been identified.
|
Target |
Current club |
Potential cost |
|
Carlos Baleba |
Brighton |
£115m |
|
Adam Wharton |
Crystal Palace |
£50m+ |
|
Conor Gallagher |
Atletico Madrid |
£45m |
|
Elliot Anderson |
Nottingham Forest |
Unknown |
There are clear indications that Ruben Amorim needs to bolster his options in the engine room, with Scholes suggesting Bruno Fernandes isn’t cut out to be a central midfielder, while also singling Casemiro out for criticism.
The 50-year-old said: “Fernandes [and Casemiro], they’re the two he’s [Amorim] going with, and Fernandes for me, he’s someone who fills in as a midfielder, he might get away with it for one, two or three games. He’s not got the discipline to be a central midfield player.”
“Bringing two No.10s (Cunha and Mbeumo) was that really necessary? You think you’ve got Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo can do that.”
Man Utd now eyeing January move for "unbelievable" £47m Baleba alternative
The Red Devils are looking to sign a central midfielder, who could be perfect for Ruben Amorim.
1
By
Dominic Lund
Sep 10, 2025
Having arguably gotten their priorities wrong in the summer, United look poised to make a move for a new central midfielder this winter, and they will be hoping the new signing can eclipse Paul Pogba’s achievements, with the Frenchman leaving on a free back in 2022.
Pogba’s career at United didn’t pan out the way anyone was hoping, but he received extremely high praise not long after returning to Old Trafford, with Gianluigi Buffon saying:
Scholes was also a keen admirer of the central midfielder, saying:
The 32-year-old’s time at Old Trafford was by no means a complete failure, having won two EFL Cups and the 2016-17 Europa League, but there is no doubt that the midfielder didn’t manage to hit the heights expected of him.
Given how highly the 91-time France international was rated by Scholes and Buffon, he had the ability to become an all-time great for Man United, but things didn’t work out that way, arguably due to his attitude, which Graeme Souness regularly criticised.
Souness said: “Paul Pogba plays for himself, it’s all about how cool he looks, showing us how clever he is. I reckon Pogba’s only in the team to maintain his transfer value until United can sell him, because he doesn’t merit his place for any other reason.”
With Pogba’s doping ban over, the former United man arguably has one last chance to get his career back on track, having now signed for AS Monaco on a two-year deal.
Ruben Amorim hit back at critics who claimed that he would be sacked sooner rather than later as the Portuguese manager sent out a fiery message after Manchester United's crucial 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield. This was the first time since Amorim took charge at Old Trafford in November 2024 that United have won back-to-back Premier League matches.
It keeps on getting worse for West Ham United this season.
The Hammers kick-started their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sunderland last month, and instead of it being an aberration, it was, in fact, a sign of things to come.
The East Londoners have since lost the EFL Cup Second Round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers and three of their four league games.
It’s undoubtedly time for Graham Potter to be replaced, and the good news is that West Ham are being linked with a host of candidates, including one manager who could be even better than Tottenham Hotspur’s Thomas Frank.
West Ham have been linked with plenty of potential Potter replacements since the start of the season, with Gary O’Neil being a recent name to pop up.
Manager Focus
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The former Wolves boss would undoubtedly be an interesting appointment, and one that may help to stabilise things, but it’s hardly one that’ll get the fans excited.
Likewise, while there is certainly some romanticism surrounding the links to bring Slaven Bilic back to the club, there should be concerns over the fact that he has not managed in the top flight for five years.
Fortunately, there is another manager the Hammers are keen to hire, someone who could be better than Frank.
At least that is according to a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon, who has claimed West Ham are still keen on Nuno Espírito Santo.
In fact, Nixon goes further than that, revealing that the club are now “getting closer” to the former Nottingham Forest boss.
It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but Nuno would be worth the hassle, especially as he could be an even better manager than Frank.
So the first thing to say is that Frank is clearly a great manager, as he wouldn’t have been at Brentford for so long or got the job at Spurs if he wasn’t.
However, there are some who argue that Nuno is the superior coach, with talkSPORT’s Rory Jennings boldly stating that the former Wolves manager is simply “better than Thomas Frank.”
Now, we know that the content creator isn’t exactly the bastion of good takes, but when you take a look at the stats and achievements, he may well be right.
For example, the Portuguese manager has now overseen 184 Premier League matches during his time with Wolves, Spurs and Forest.
Of those 184 games, 72 have been wins, 45 have been draws and 67 have been losses, which gives him an average of 1.42 points per game.
|
Nuno vs Frank in the PL |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Manager |
Nuno |
Frank |
|
Games |
184 |
157 |
|
Wins |
72 |
57 |
|
Draws |
45 |
39 |
|
Losses |
67 |
61 |
|
Points per Game |
1.42 |
1.34 |
|
All Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
During his time in the top flight, the Danish coach has managed 157 games, of which 57 have ended in wins, 39 have been draws, and 61 have been defeats, resulting in a worse points per game average of 1.34.
Moreover, unlike with other managers, this comparison feels quite fair, as both of them brought a team up from the Championship, so it’s not like the São Tomé-born tactician has had an easier time of things.
On top of that, while the former Bees boss turned the West Londoners into a mid-table side, Nuno did even better.
During his time with the Old Gold, he took them into Europe, and then, to prove he could do it again, he took the Tricky Trees from relegation candidates to European football within a season and a half.
Ultimately, Frank is a great coach, but from their raw numbers to what we have seen them do with Premier League teams, it looks like Nuno is simply better.
Ideal for Paqueta: Sullivan being urged to hire "immense" coach at West Ham
The experienced coach could be just what West Ham United need.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Sep 24, 2025
Eden Hazard has become the latest former player inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, joining a star-studded line-up of the competition's greats. The Belgian, a two-time Premier League champion with Chelsea across seven seasons with the club, also received a special message from former manager Jose Mourinho, who called him "one of the most amazing players" he has ever worked with.
Nottingham Forest haven’t enjoyed a positive start to life under Ange Postecoglou and a key update on his future has now emerged from the City Ground.
The fairytale return of Nottingham Forest to the European scene was a just reward for an excellent campaign last term. However, their shock 3-2 defeat at home to FC Midtjylland was a stark reminder of the frailties present within Postecoglou’s side.
Despite being alive in the majority of the Australian’s matches so far, conceding at awkward times has led to six games without a win under the former Celtic boss, breeding an elevated level of pressure on him to get it right in the East Midlands.
Speaking post-match, Postecoglou remained unbothered by chants calling for his dismissal, claiming that nothing surprises him in football anymore.
He said: “I heard it. They’re fans, they want to see their team win, and they’re entitled to their opinion. Nothing surprises me in football any more. We’ve just got to keep going. There is no hiding in the sport we’re in. Got to keep your head up and recover. We have a tough game against Newcastle at the weekend.”
With high-profile pundits such as Tim Howard among his detractors, Postecoglou has work to do in order to prove the doubters wrong, but that sort of challenge saw him win the Europa League last term, hence why it would be premature to count him out.
Nottingham Forest star fumes at something he's "never seen" before vs Sunderland
The Tricky Trees are still yet to find a victory under Ange Postecoglou.
By
Sean Markus Clifford
Sep 28, 2025
Newcastle United await on Sunday and won’t be an easy outfit to overcome. Nevertheless, their indifferent start to the Premier League season may offer a sliver of hope to the travelling supporters.
Either way, a change in mood is needed at the City Ground, though how are the Nottingham Forest hierarchy feeling about Postecoglou’s situation? Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on that front.
Writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano has confirmed Nottingham Forest are being patient with Postecoglou and believe that he simply needs time to adapt before results improve at the City Ground.
Truthfully, Postecoglou is between a bit of a rock and a hard place, though he is certainly made of strong stuff and has shown he has the thick skin to come through adversity.
However, his side need to find a level of stability, as two draws and four defeats isn’t going to cut it if Nottingham Forest want to survive. Making their priorities clear, Evangelos Marinakis and company are opting to keep the faith for now.