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Bayern Munich head to London for a heavyweight Champions League clash with Arsenal, and Lothar Matthaus believes Vincent Kompany already knows who must start. The German legend insists teenager Lennart Karl “can make the difference” alongside Harry Kane and Michael Olise, urging Bayern to trust the 17-year-old on the biggest stage as both superpowers defend perfect European records.

• Karl backed to start in Arsenal vs Bayern showdown

  The Bavarians arrive at the Emirates for one of the biggest Champions League nights of the season, and Matthaus is convinced that boss Kompany does not need to overthink his lineup. In his latest column ahead of Wednesday’s clash, the German legend argued Karl should start in place of Luis Diaz, suspended after receiving a red card against Paris Saint-Germain, claiming the teenager offers the “special moments” Bayern will need against an in-form Arsenal side.

  The showdown pits the two best-performing teams in Europe against one another, with both Arsenal and Bayern winning all four Champions League matches so far. Arsenal have swept aside every opponent without conceding a single goal, while Bayern enter the tie unbeaten across all competitions, recently dismantling Freiburg 6-2 with Olise starring and Karl featuring again despite carrying a minor fitness issue.

  Matthaus believes the pattern of Bayern’s thrilling 2-1 win in Paris offers a blueprint for London. “Bayern stands for dominance, as they showed against PSG, allowing very little defensively in the first half,” he wrote. For that reason, he believes Kompany must back the formula that has lifted Bayern to the top of the Bundesliga and to a perfect Champions League start, a formula that, in his view, must include Karl.

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  Bayern team 'picks itself', says Matthaus

  Matthaus said: "Bayern Munich also have high ambitions. I expect them to perform similarly in London as they did in their 2-1 win in Paris, trying to take control from the outset. Bayern are known for their dominance, as they demonstrated against PSG, conceding very little defensively in the first half.

  "I would definitely start Karl in place of the suspended Diaz . You shouldn't expect him to score three goals right away, but he's capable of it; he has the instinct and creates special moments. The team picks itself for me: Karl and Olise on the wings, Kane up front and [Serge] Gnabry behind him . We know he enjoys playing against his former club and scoring against Arsenal.

  "Behind them is the double pivot with [Joshua] Kimmich and [Aleksandar] Pavlovic or [Leon] Goretzka, who brings a bit more physicality against the physically strong English, and at the back the back four with [Konrad] Laimer, [Jonathan] Tah, [Dayot] Upamecano and [Josip] Stanisic in front of [Manuel] Neuer."

• Karl the latest rising star at Bayern

  The Bayern teenager, who has become one of the breakout stars of the Bundesliga season, continues to impress for Kompany's side. Karl contributed a goal and an assist in the recent 6-2 win over Freiburg, extending a rapid rise that has electrified Bayern’s supporters and coaching staff alike. Karl has also shone internationally. Sent to the Germany Under 21 side during the most recent national camp, he promptly scored three goals in two matches under Antonio di Salvio. 

  For Bayern, the teenager’s explosiveness offers another dimension next to Kane and Olise, particularly in a match where Diaz’s absence forces Kompany to trust new solutions. Matthaus ultimately expects a very tight contest. “I expect a very close game and predict a 2-2 draw,” he concluded.

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  Champions League stakes rise ahead of London epic

  The focus now shifts fully to Wednesday’s blockbuster meeting, a contest that will break at least one of the last two perfect records in this season’s Champions League league phase. Arsenal enter the tie in elite form after a 4-1 north London derby win over Tottenham, maintaining their six-point Premier League lead and scoring 11 Champions League goals without reply.

  Bayern travel with confidence but also with selection dilemmas as Diaz’s suspension opens the door for Karl, while Serge Gnabry remains a doubt after a minor knock suffered on international duty. Kompany must also weigh midfield balance as Bayern aim to match Arsenal’s pace and physical presence.

  With both teams unbeaten, both scoring freely, and both managing injury issues, the match promises to be a defining point in the Champions League league phase.

The centuries from Samson and Tilak showed how India’s changed mindset is taking them to untouched heights

Hemant Brar16-Nov-20244:49

India sign off on stellar T20I year in style

As Marco Jansen ran in to bowl the last ball of the 16th over in the fourth T20I in Johannesburg, there was a strange curiosity. In the first five deliveries, he had not conceded a single boundary. Another such delivery would make it the first boundary-less over since the opening over of the innings. And the first since the eighth to not feature a six.It wasn’t to be. Tilak Varma got underneath the full-length ball and deposited it into the stands beyond deep midwicket. That it was a free hit did not help either. But then India treated all 20 overs of their innings as slog overs, and posted a gargantuan 283 for 1, the fifth-highest total in men’s T20Is. Tilak finished with an unbeaten 120 off 47 balls, his second successive century. Sanju Samson, after two ducks in the last two games, smashed 109 not out off 56 to make it three hundreds in five outings. Abhishek Sharma, who was dismissed in the sixth over, contributed 36 off 18.This was a game of such glorious absurdities that Samson, with a strike rate of 194.64, was the slowest of the three India batters. Jansen, who went for 10.50 an over, was the most economical of the seven bowlers South Africa used.Related

Tilak asks Suryakumar for No. 3 spot and owns it with dazzling century

Samson, Tilak smash records like it's nobody's business for 3-1 series win

Stats – Samson and Tilak show no T20 record is safe in India's brave new world

If India were caught in a perfect storm during their infamous 36 all out in Adelaide, South Africa were hit by its batting equivalent on Friday. The Wanderers is at a height of 1.8km from the sea level, the air so thin that the cliche “when they hit, it stays hit” is probably truer here than at any other international ground. The small square boundaries, 62 and 66 metres, further aided batters.South Africa, too, shot themselves in the foot by failing to grab their chances. Abhishek was dropped on the first ball he faced and Tilak was put down twice. Apart from that, multiple mishits landed safely.But make no mistake, a total of such magnitude would not have been possible without batters’ skills, and Abhishek, Samson and Tilak showed plenty of it. After an uncharacteristic slow start of 10 off nine balls, Abhishek hit Andile Simelane for three sixes in one over. For the first and the third, he charged down the track, gave himself room and launched Simelane over extra cover.Samson’s method was exactly the opposite. He went deep in his crease and converted even marginally short balls into boundary opportunities. The two shots in Gerald Coetzee’s opening over exemplified it. There was not much wrong with Coetzee’s length on either occasion. Still, Samson managed to pull him over deep midwicket and then cut him past point.ESPNcricinfo LtdTilak’s approach was closer to Samson’s than Abhishek’s. He bent his left leg and leaned backwards to get underneath the ball and find elevation. Often, he ended up with his back knee almost touching the ground.Samson and Tilak dominated not only their favourable match-ups but also the supposedly unfavourable ones. Samson crunched Keshav Maharaj inside-out for four twice; Tilak hit Aiden Markram for 4, 6, 6, 4 off successive balls.The duo took India to 200 in just 14.1 overs, their ninth total of 200 or more in 2024. No team has had more in a single year. India hit 23 sixes during their innings, the most in a T20I involving two Full Members. Their 135-run victory meant they finished the year with 24 wins in 26 T20Is, a win percentage of 92.3 – the best ever for a Full Member who played at least ten T20Is in a year.These are staggering numbers. But until a year ago, India were hardly the trendsetters in T20Is. Despite owning the world’s best T20 league, their only World Cup title in the format had come before the IPL came into existence. Then, at the start of 2024, in desperation to end their ICC trophy drought, they finally embraced T20 cricket. Winning the T20 World Cup in June was a just reward.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe change that was initiated by Rohit Sharma is being carried forward by the current lot. This is the first generation that did not grow up trying to keep their shots down. These guys have been training to hit sixes on demand for years now, and they don’t have the unlearning to do which the older generation did.At the same time, the team management has backed the players, which is essential given the high-risk nature of this style of cricket. Despite his failures in Sri Lanka, Samson was told that he would play the next seven games. When Tilak asked to be promoted to No. 3, captain Suryakumar Yadav did not take long to sacrifice his spot.This is also the closest India have come to recognising that T20 is a different sport and not just a different format. Barring a name or two, their T20I batting line-up is completely different from the one in Tests and ODIs.Another thing that has helped Indian batters unlock their latent potential is the Impact Player rule in the IPL. The cushion of an extra batter allowed them to attempt what they were previously afraid of. The IPL may or may not do away with the rule in the future, but it has changed the mindset of the batters forever.And that changed mindset is changing the trajectory of India’s T20 cricket and taking it to new, untouched heights.

Kane Williamson is set to replace Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam at Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) ahead of SA 2025-26, ESPNcricinfo understands. DSG had bought Taijul for R500,000 (approx. US$28,858) at the mega auction in September, but he’s set to miss the upcoming fourth edition of the SA20.Williamson, meanwhile, had made his debut in the tournament when he represented DSG last season, but was released by the side despite being their highest run-scorer. He scored 233 runs at an average of 46.60 and a strike rate of 118.87 in eight games. DSG finished at the bottom of the table.Williamson’s return to the SA20 continues his foray in the franchise world. Last month, he was appointed Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) strategic advisor in the IPL. Earlier this year, after his maiden stint at the SA20, he played in the Hundred for the first time in his career and in the Vitality Blast after seven years. Soon after, Williamson signed only a casual agreement with New Zealand Cricket to have flexibility in playing overseas.Related

• Brevis, Markram earn record sums at SA20 2025-26 auction

• Kane Williamson retires from New Zealand T20Is

• Williamson joins LSG as strategic advisor

Last week, he also retired from T20Is with the T20 World Cup only three months away.At the SA20 next year, Williamson will join Noor Ahmad (retained), Sunil Narine and Jos Buttler (both pre-signed), among others, as DSG look to improve on their performance from last season.The fourth edition of SA20 begins on December 26, with DSG playing the opening game against MI Cape Town in Cape Town.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has explained why Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were left out of his starting XI to face Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The Gunners were already without key defenders Gabriel and William Saliba due to injury, meaning midfielder Christian Norgaard was handed a surprise start in central defence in Belgium.

Injuries piling up for Arsenal

Arsenal have had a very strong start to the season but have seen key players pick up injuries in recent weeks, particularly in defence. Gabriel, William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera  have all been sidelined, while Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice were also ruled out of the trip to Belgium for Arsenal's latest Champions League match. The situation means that Arteta raised a few eyebrows with his team selection against Club Brugge as the north Londoners aim to maintain their 100% record in the competition so far this season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesArteta explains absence of duo

The Arsenal boss told ahead of kick-off: "They both had issues from the weekend, both really bad kicks. For Jurrien it was too early and for Ricci [Calafiori] we have to manage to see if he can do some minutes [tonight]."

The absence of the duo meant that Arteta lined his team up with Norgaard partnering Piero Hincapie in central defence, with Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly as the full-backs. The outing is Norgaard's first as a centre-back since featuring in the role for Brentford in the Championship back in 2020.

Arteta defends training methods

Arsenal have now suffered 28 injuries already this season, but Arteta has defended his training methods and insists they are not to blame.

He told reporters: "Not training, no, because we don't have time to train. So, training is not there. But obviously, the fact that you are missing players, you are loading other players more. That's a consequence of that and it's a really dangerous. The fact that we have some others who have long-term contracts that haven't been with us since the beginning of the season. But, yeah, it's a test for the team, and so far, we have reacted very, very well to that."

"I think you have to separate the kinds of injuries that they have. Some of them have been long-term and acute injuries, especially with some of the key players who give you a lot of days out. It's something that we are constantly looking at. As I said, we have played a lot of games with a lot of players missing. That gives a lot of stress and then more injuries. We are on it and I'm really happy with what we are doing in terms of the medical stuff and everything that we are trying to do together. Sometimes, as well, we need some people to go in our time.

"It's not only one season. It's about some of the players that they have played. It starts to get overloaded and you start to ask them again and again to play. Others, because, as well, the moment that you have an injury, you are more likely to have another injury. That's been a consequence of some of the states as well. We're on it."

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Praise for Norgaard

Arteta also took time out to praise Norgaard pre-match. The summer signing has only made two appearances as a substitute in the Premier League so far this season and just one start in the Champions League. Yet Arteta is happy with how he's settled in following his transfer from Brentford. He told reporters: "I'm really happy with how he’s come to the club, especially with him and everything that we need to do in many areas. Not only in the pitch, but what he has to do, he excels in the manner that we expect him. I think it's similar to Ben White or Myles [Lewis-Skelly]. They haven't played as much as expected, but they're very positive."

Harry Brook is ever the straight-talking Yorkshireman. He will fly to New Zealand on Friday night to captain six white-ball internationals but knows that there is one question occupying England fans’ minds more than any other: when he returns home from Australia in January, will he bring the Ashes urn with him? His response: “I bloody hope so.”England’s recent record in Australia is dreadful, but their quiet optimism about this winter’s series has been reinforced by the revelation that Pat Cummins is increasingly unlikely to play in the first Test. Australia have played down the severity of his back injury, but Andrew McDonald conceded on Friday that Cummins is “running out of time” before November 21.Cummins’ absence would be a shame for the series, but can only be seen as a boost to England’s chances. Brook said that Australia have “a hell of a lot of good bowlers” who could deputise, but Cummins’ package of leadership, pace and skill is impossible to replicate and England know as much.”He is an amazing bowler and has been for many years,” Brook said at Thursday night’s PCA awards ceremony, in partnership with Toyota. “He bowls at high pace, with high skill. With him out of their side for the first game, from what we’ve seen, hopefully that plays into our hands… [But] we can’t take anybody lightly.”Related

• Harry Brook is going to the Ashes with a clear mind, but how will he fare there?

• Cummins says he's 'less likely than likely' to play in the first Ashes Test

• Brook named as Ashes vice-captain as Jacks wins recall

• Rob Key: Woakes 'not in England's plans at all' after Ashes omission

• Ashes tracker: Labuschagne shines as Konstas stumbles

The series will be the biggest challenge of Brook’s career to date: it is his second Ashes series, but his first in the country where England have lost 13 of their last 15 Tests. He has built a remarkable away record – he has scored seven hundreds in his first 11 overseas Tests – but has only played in Pakistan and New Zealand, and will head down under with his eyes open.”I don’t know what I’m stepping into,” Brook said. “I know it’s a massive thing, but I’m still trying to get over that India series. That was awesome to be part of: to play 25 days out of 25 was mega. That was the most intense series I’ve ever been part of. If the Ashes tops that, I will be a very happy man.”It is obviously intense. I can’t even remember much about the 2023 Ashes, if I’m honest. It’s a very similar group of players that we’ll come up against: a very strong bowling attack and on home soil they’ll present different challenges. I haven’t had too much experience of the pitches out there, so I have to stay in the moment as much as possible and play what’s in front of me.”England’s series against India was the “most intense” that Brook has experienced•Getty Images

Brook’s experience in Australia is limited to a short spell at Hobart Hurricanes as a 22-year-old where he did “horrendously”, and a walk-on role (56 runs in five innings) in England’s T20 World Cup win three years ago. “I see white-ball and red-ball as completely different sports, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I’m going out there with a clear mind.”He started manically in his first Ashes series, hooking compulsively as England let a strong position slip at Lord’s, but played priceless innings in their wins at Headingley and The Oval to secure a 2-2 draw. His return of 363 runs at 40.33 featured four half-centuries in nine innings, and Brook played down the potential significance of scoring his first Ashes hundred on this tour.”That’s not something I really think about,” he said. “I want to be a match-winner. If the team is in a little bit of trouble, I want to get us out of it, which so far in my career I’ve done fairly well. If that’s getting 75 and getting us out of trouble for a little while and gets the team into a better position, I’d rather that than get a hundred and lose the game.”Brook’s captaincy experience in the white-ball team may yet be called upon in the Ashes•Getty Images

Another potential challenge for Brook in Australia is the prospect of captaining a Test match for the first time, after his appointment as Ben Stokes’ deputy. He described the role as “an honour” but does not expect to be called upon: “I see Stokesy playing all five Tests, if I’m being honest. I think he’ll power through, even if he has a little niggle.”Brook’s promotion means a return to the ranks for Ollie Pope, whose position at No. 3 looks increasingly precarious – even if Brook described him as a “vital part” of England’s side: “I dropped him a couple of messages a couple of weeks ago, talking about golf mainly. I don’t think he’s too bothered. He’s just happy to still be in the squad.”Stokes has not played competitively since damaging a shoulder muscle while attempting to bowl England to victory in the drawn Manchester Test against India; perhaps Brook’s biggest role as deputy will be to save him from himself: “Because he wants to bowl long spells, that can sometimes be to his detriment… Everybody in the world knows what he’s like.”

Luis Diaz's wonder goal against Union Berlin at the weekend has been labelled "world-class" by Bayern Munich icon Lothar Matthaus. The Colombian, signed from Liverpool over the summer, has been brilliant for Die Roten so far. While Matthaus believes that the hard-working left winger "needs to be more clinical in front of goal," he said that his "outstanding" strike compensates for his lack of efficiency.

• Union Berlin end Bayern's winning streak

  Bayern were brought down to earth this past weekend during a tricky away trip to Union Berlin at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, as Kompany's men could only salvage a 2-2 draw, thanks to a 90th minute equaliser from the in-form Harry Kane. 

  The game brought an end to the Bavarian giants' record-breaking 16-game winning streak across all competitions since the start of the ongoing 2025-26 season, breaking the 13-game record set by the famous AC Milan outfit from the 1992-93 season. The result also prevented Kompany from matching Pep Guardiola's record of 10 consecutive Bundesliga victories in the first 10 games of the season, with the Belgian managing to guide his team to nine straight wins before the stalemate against Steffen Baumgart's men.

  Even though Bayern left Berlin without maximum points, they certainly came out of the match with a few positives. For a team that has dominated on all fronts across all competitions, the encounter against Union Berlin allowed the visitors to equalise twice following goals from centre-back Danilho Doekhi in each half.

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  Matthaus lauds Diaz for being the overall package

  With Bayern trailing, they tightened the screw and switched gears in search of an equaliser as the game progressed towards the end of the first half. In the 38th minute, Diaz collected the ball on the edge of the box on the left side following a clearance. After collecting the ball, the Colombian passed it to Josip Stanisic and then made a run into the box to receive after a one-two. Stanisic seemed to have overhit the ball, his hands on his head out of disappointment as he saw the ball moving beyond the touchline. Just when it seemed Union Berlin would be awarded a goal kick, Diaz slid and somehow kept the ball into play. After sensing pressure from one of Berlin's defenders, the ex-Liverpool winger's daft touch put the ball past the on-rushing defender before striking into the top corner from an extremely acute angle. 

  Moments after his equaliser, Diaz fumbled a one-on-one with the Union Berlin goalkeeper. However, former Bayern player Matthaus is of the firm opinion that the Colombian international shouldn't find himself in the crosshairs of the fans and the media thanks to his work ethic and profound ability to create goals out of nothing.

  In a column for , Matthaus said: "After 16 consecutive wins, FC Bayern only managed a draw against Union Berlin . Refocusing completely on the Bundesliga and a match at the comparatively smaller Forsterei stadium after their stunning Champions League victory in Paris wasn't easy.

  "Their senses might not have been sharp enough at the start, but Bayern came back from behind twice. That was yet another sign of strength.

  "Luis Diaz 's goal was world-class. It's great to have a player who works hard for the team, scores goals, and creates clear-cut chances. He needs to be more clinical in front of goal, but his outstanding strike makes him forgivable."

• A week to remember for Diaz

  It was a memorable week for the 28-year-old. He scored twice in the 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes to maintain their perfect record in the Champions League. Against Union Berlin, his goal automatically makes him one of the contenders for the goal of the season.

  After the game, Kane was in awe of Diaz's "special" strike. "Incredible to be honest," said the Englishman, who now has 23 goals from 17 games. "The way he kept the ball in and got past his defender and then score was, just a special goal, a really, really special goal. He's been pulling stuff out like that all season but I reckon that's probably his best."

  Kompany, the head coach, admitted that Diaz could have bagged another goal, but stated that he was happy for him. ”We really needed that moment of brilliance from Lucho”, Kompany told reporters after the full-time whistle. “Of course he could’ve scored another goal afterwards, but the quality we have in this team is what we need to achieve our goals during the season. 3 goals he’s scored this week, that was good for him.”

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  Diaz to miss Arsenal clash in the Champions League

  Bayern will face Freiburg in their first match following the international break, before traveling to the Emirates Stadium for a high-profile clash with Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side have emerged as frontrunners in the Premier League title race this season, combining domestic dominance with impressive form in Europe.

  Bayern will, however, be without their in-form winger when they make the trip to London – a significant setback for Kompany’s men. Diaz, who has tallied 11 goals and five assists this season, received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi, which left the Moroccan defender nursing an ankle injury. As a result, Diaz will serve a suspension and miss the chance to face his former rivals in a familiar territory.

West Bromwich Albion are currently competing to climb back up the Championship table in an attempt to join the race to gain promotion to the Premier League this season.

A 3-2 win over Swansea last time out has the Baggies in 12th place in the table, four points off the play-offs, and there is plenty of football left to be played.

Aune Heggebo, who joined the club in the summer, scored twice to take his tally to six goals in the Championship this season, per Sofascore, and he is currently one of the most valuable players in the squad.

West Brom's most valuable players

Per Transfermarkt’s valuation system, West Brom’s current first-team squad has a combined value of roughly £71m, and Heggebo contributes to around £5m of that total.

The most valuable player in the squad, unsurprisingly, is central midfielder Isaac Price, who has scored five goals and provided two assists for the Baggies in the league, per Sofascore.

Transfermarkt value the Northern Ireland international at around £10.5m and there have been no recent reports to suggest how much the club value him at internally, amid reported interest from Leeds and Crystal Palace.

Isaac Price

£10.5m

Samuel Iling-Junior

£8.8m

Josh Maja

£7.9m

Aune Heggebo

£5m

Toby Collyer

£4.4m

As you can see in the table above, loanees Samuel Iling-Junior and Toby Collyer both rank within the top five most valuable players in the squad, whilst Josh Maja, who has only started four league games this season, ranks in third place.

Whilst the Baggies appear to be lacking in highly valuable players who could be sold for big money in the future, there is a former player who could be sold for more than the combined worth of the current squad in January.

The former West Brom player who is now worth more than the entire squad

In the summer of 2019, 16-year-old forward Morgan Rogers opted to move on from The Hawthorns at the end of his contract to sign for Manchester City.

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The Cityzens reportedly paid a compensation fee of near £4m to sign the England youth international, who had made one first-team appearance for the Baggies in the FA Cup against Brighton.

That outing in the FA Cup made Rogers the fourth-youngest player in the club’s history, and the youngest ever in the FA Cup, per Transfermarkt, and Manchester City clearly took note of that.

Izzy Brown

2013

16 years, 3 months, 27 days

Jonathan Leko

2015

16 years, 4 months, 30 days

Kane Wilson

2016

16 years, 5 months, 12 days

Morgan Rogers

2019

16 years, 6 months, 11 days

Bobby Hope

1960

16 years, 7 months, 5 days

Things did not work out for the attacking midfielder at The Etihad, unfortunately, but he has since made his way to Aston Villa, via Middlesbrough, and is now a fully-fledged England international.

Rogers has scored 20 goals and provided 21 assists in 89 appearances for Villa, per Transfermarkt, and has scored one goal in 12 caps for the Three Lions.

Because of his impressive form for club and country, the former Baggies youngster is attracting interest from elsewhere and has been given a mammoth valuation.

TEAMtalk reported in November that Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, PSG, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Tottenham have all registered interest in the attacker and claimed that Villa offered Rogers a new deal with a £100m release clause, shortly before it became official that he had put pen to paper on an improved contract.

Towards the end of November, The Mirror reported that the Villans are said to value the England international at a whopping £100m, although they did not mention it as part of a release clause.

Whether you take it to be a release clause or how much Villa will demand from any interested clubs, Rogers appears to be valued at nine figures by the Premier League club, whilst West Brom’s squad is only worth around £71m between every first-team player.

There is no guarantee that he would have gone on to fulfill his potential at The Hawthorns, but it must be bittersweet for the club to see that one of their former players, who they lost for £4m, is now being valued at a staggering £100m, whilst their most valuable player is valued at just over a tenth of that.

Mason must now bin West Brom star who earns more than Heggebo & Johnston

Ryan Mason must now axe this West Bromwich Albion high earner for good.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

The Baggies can only hope that they are able to persuade the next Rogers, should such a talent come through the academy again, to stay at the club, rather than pursue a move elsewhere.

Several players showed up for the pair of friendlies vs. Italy, led by Cat Macario's three goals, Jaedyn Shaw's first goal on the year, and a two-game shutout from Claudia Dickey.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The USWNT closed out the calendar year with a confident 2-0 win over UEFA Women’s Euro semifinalist Italy, sealing back-to-back victories over the Azzurre in three days and finishing 2025 with a 12-0-3 record. It was a year of firsts for the Americans: 43 players earned their senior debuts, the most in a single year since 2001.

It was a near-perfect conclusion for head coach Emma Hayes, who spent the year stress-testing the depth chart, integrating new faces and challenging the group to evolve its style of play. For the rematch with Italy, Hayes made five changes to the XI and started three teenagers – Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton and Jordyn Bugg. Alongside them, Lindsey Heaps earned her 170th cap, tying former captain Carla Overbeck for 20th on the all-time appearance list. The blend of emerging talent and veterans has defined the arc of the U.S. program this year.

“My goal is always to create successive, competitive teams,” Hayes said. “Not just one team and then you have to rebuild again over another four-year period. This is how I know to build teams.”

The USWNT will now break before reconvening for January camp and the first friendlies of 2026. World Cup qualifying looms as the primary focus heading into the new cycle. Cat Macario’s three goals across the two Italy matches led the way, while goalkeeper Claudia Dickey capped her year with consecutive shutouts as the reshaped U.S. defense continued to settle in.

Who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

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  Stock up: Cat Macario

  It’s hard not to love Macario, whose return to full form has been nothing short of remarkable. Now the USWNT’s leading scorer this year with eight goals, she was the clear focal point across both matches against Italy.

  Macario wasn’t just clean and disciplined in her hold-up play – she delivered. She scored a brace in the first meeting and added an electric finish in the second, and realistically could have had more. The Chelsea forward has five goals in her last three U.S. appearances, and her output helped the Americans secure their ninth win in 10 games. Yohannes mentioned how Macario's finishing ability makes her top class and an easy player to assist. 

  "Cat is just such a special player, and I know if she gets the ball in front of the goal, 10 times out of 10, it is probably going to be a goal," Yohannes said. 

  There’s no holding Macario back now. Walking through the mixed zone afterward, she carried the look of someone who felt both pride and a growing sense of normalcy – back on the pitch, scoring goals, and doing it alongside teammates she calls friends.

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  Stock down: Alyssa Thompson

  It feels almost harsh to say Alyssa Thompson’s stock dipped, but across the two matches against Italy, her influence wasn’t at its usual level. Thompson started both games and remained her typically dynamic, impossible-to-contain self in flashes – yet she struggled to find her usual rhythm out wide.

  Her best moments with the USWNT often come when she cuts inside and drives directly at defenders, but those opportunities were limited in both fixtures. When she did get on the ball, she more often looked for quick combinations through midfield rather than attacking players one-on-one.

  It’s been a whirlwind year for the newly signed Chelsea forward, and with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith set to return, competition in the front line is about to intensify. For Thompson, continuing to lean into what makes her unique will be critical as the attacking depth chart tightens.

• Imagn
  

  Stock up: Rose Lavelle

  Rose Lavelle featured in only one of the two matches against Italy – understandable after her heroic, title-winning goal that lifted Gotham FC past the Washington Spirit in the 2025 NWSL Championship.

  The Championship MVP didn’t look like she missed a beat despite the rapid turnaround from club to country. She was everywhere in midfield and set the tone early, slipping a clever ball to Olivia Moultrie for the opening goal inside the first 90 seconds. Lavelle now has three assists this year and 27 in her USWNT career.

  Her soccer IQ remains unmatched: she sees gaps that shouldn’t be there and combines in spaces that appear far too tight. Earning her 116th cap, Lavelle is firmly a veteran presence in this group – and will be paramount in steering the U.S. toward the 2027 World Cup.

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• Getty Images
  

  Stock down: Emma Sears

  Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears didn’t quite replicate the success she’s shown in earlier USWNT appearances. She covered ground relentlessly after coming on in the second half, but her timing was a bit off – runs came a step late, and the finishing touch wasn’t there.

  Sears’ work rate on the wing is almost unmatched, but the competition for wide attacking spots is fierce. On nights when she doesn’t produce a goal, an assist, or a clear impact while others do, it becomes harder to strengthen her case. Even so, Sears remains firmly in the mix for Hayes. Her energy as a first-off-the-bench option is valuable – the kind of spark teams rely on during long tournament runs.

يسعى فريق مانشستر سيتي تحت قيادة بيب جوارديولا، لاستعادة توازنه، ويرغب بالتعاقد مع لاعب خط وسط جديد، وقد ارتبط بضم آدم وارتون الذي يعد هدفاً لريال مدريد، لكنه تراجع عن التحرك للحصول على خدماته.

ويثير جود بيلينجهام لاعب خط وسط ريال مدريد، الكثير من الجدل والاهتمام بشأن مستقبله، حيث يقدم أداء لا يرضي تطلعات جماهير الفريق الإسباني منذ بداية الموسم.

وبحسب صحيفة “ديفينسا سنترال” الإسبانية، فإن جود بيلينجهام أصبح حديث الساعة في مانشستر سيتي، حيث يسعى عملاق الدوري الإنجليزي للتعاقد مع اللاعب.

اقرأ أيضًا.. هل عمر مرموش الضحية؟.. مانشستر سيتي يفكر في إبرام صفقة هجومية في يناير

ولا تعد هذه هي المرة الأولى التي يهتم فيها مانشستر سيتي بضم اللاعب، حيث كان يرغب بالحصول على خدمات بيلينجهام خلال فترة لعبه مع بوروسيا دورتموند، لكنه فضل الانتقال إلى ريال مدريد.

ويعاني بيلينجهام مع ريال مدريد، حيث إنه لا يتفق بشكل جيد مع مدربه تشابي ألونسو، على الرغم من أن المدرب الشاب قد نفى وجود علاقة سيئة مع الدولي الإنجليزي.

ومع ذلك لا ينوي ريال مدريد بيع أحد أفضل لاعبيه ويرى النادي الإنجليزي في بيلينجهام أنه قائد ونجم في السنوات القادمة، ويريده أن يبقى بعد عام 2029.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Cruzeiro empatou com o Alianza Petrolera, da Colômbia, em 3 a 3, na segunda rodada da fase de grupos da Sul-Americana, na noite desta quinta-feira (11). Os gols da equipe mineira, no Mineirão, foram marcados por Lucas Romero, Zé Ivaldo, enquanto Figueroa e Batalla (2) balançaram a rede para a equipe colombiana.

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⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?
O Cruzeiro abriu 3 a 0 logo com 18 minutos de jogo. Lucas Romero, Zé Ivaldo e Matheus Pereira foram os responsáveis por balançar a rede.

Porém, no segundo tempo, os ventos mudaram de direção. O Alianza Petrolera descontou com Batalla, que marcou dois gols. No apagar das luzes, Figueroa empatou e revoltou a torcida cruzeirense.

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📆 O QUE VEM POR AÍ?
Agora, o Cruzeiro volta a entrar em campo para estrear pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. A Raposa encara o Botafogo, às 17h de domingo (14), no Mineirão.

Tudo sobre

CruzeiroFutebol NacionalSul-Americana