After his breakthrough the youth system at Manchester United in recent years, Kobbie Mainoo was once seen as the future of the side – potentially playing a key role in any success down the line.

Despite being just 20 years of age, the youngster has already produced numerous moments of magic, many of which have helped the Red Devils in key moments.

The midfielder has already racked up a goal in an FA Cup final, whilst also scoring a vital goal in the Europa League last season – helping Ruben Amorim’s side reach the final in Bilbao.

However, his future at Old Trafford appears up in the air, potentially departing his boyhood side before Monday’s deadline, with the likes of Real Madrid, Leeds and Everton all interested in his signature.

Other options are being considered by the hierarchy in an attempt to bolster the side, with the side potentially getting a new addition before the window slams shut on Monday.

United’s hunt for a new midfielder this summer

Over the last couple of days, Stuttgart star Angelo Stiller has emerged as a key target for United this window, after the German made 47 appearances in all competitions last campaign.

It’s been reported that he could be allowed to leave the Bundesliga outfit for a fee in the region of £32m this window – but time is rapidly running out to complete a deal for his signature.

However, other options have been considered by the board, with Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher another player INEOS are considering, according to TBR Football.

They claim the Red Devils are one of multiple sides currently interested in the 25-year-old’s signature, with the LaLiga side potentially allowing the Englishman to depart the club this summer.

It’s also been reported that the former Chelsea star could be tempted by a return to the Premier League, with Diego Simeone’s side demanding €50m (£43m) for his signature.

Why United’s latest target would be bad news for Mainoo

Despite rumours about his future at United, Mainoo started the Carabao Cup defeat against Grimsby Town on Wednesday night – in what was a night to forget for the football club.

The academy graduate featured for the entirety of the contest, even scoring his penalty in the shootout, but it wasn’t enough as Amorim’s side crashed out at the first hurdle.

However, he did get the assist for Bryan Mbeumo’s goal, helping produce the first goal of what’s been a slow start to the 2025/26 campaign – leading to questions about Amorim’s future in the role.

Last night was Mainoo’s first appearance of the new season, previously being an unnamed substitute in the two Premier League outings against Arsenal and Fulham.

It’s clear that the youngster isn’t in the manager’s immediate plans, as seen by his lack of league action, with a move for Gallagher only pushing him further down the pecking order.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the 2024/25 campaign, the Atlético star managed to better Mainoo in various key areas – highlighting the quality he could add to the Red Devils midfield.

Gallagher, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist John Cross, completed more progressive passes per 90, with more of his attempts going into the opposition box – handing the new attackers the chance to thrive at Old Trafford.

Games played

32

25

Goals & assists

6

0

Progressive passes

3.5

3.4

Passes into the opposition box

0.8

0.6

Progressive carries

1.4

1.2

Carries into final third

1.3

0.9

Tackles won

1.8

1.5

Blocks made

1.3

0.8

Interceptions made

1.1

0.9

Recoveries made

5.9

4.8

He also completed more progressive carries per 90, taking the ball into the final third more per 90, further showcasing the excellent ability the Atlético star possesses with the ball at his feet.

However, Gallagher has been just as effective without the ball, winning more tackles per 90 and making more blocks – subsequently handing Amorim the ball-winning option he’s craved this summer.

£43m could prove to be an excellent addition by the club, with the Englishman having key Premier League experience in the Red Devils’ hunt for glory once again.

Any move could spell the end of Mainoo’s time at Old Trafford – with the supporters potentially unhappy with the hierarchy should they decide to part ways with the youngster.

Bigger blow than Mainoo: £50m Man Utd ace in "very advanced" talks to leave

Manchester United look set to offload another star as Kobbie Mainoo exit rumours pick up pace.

2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 27, 2025

Pat Cummins has returned to bowling as he prepares for the IPL next month and the build-up to the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June.Cummins, Australia’s Test and ODI captain, was ruled out of the ongoing Champions Trophy due to an ankle injury he managed during the Test series against India but told ESPNcricinfo on Wednesday that he was heading for the first bowl of his rehab.”The ankle is all going strong, [have been] able to give it a good rest and then been building up slowly, which you don’t get to do when you play lots of cricket,” Cummins said. “It’s feeling as strong as it has for a fair while. Should be fine [for the IPL], that’s the plan. So have a few weeks of bowling, building back up and then hopefully don’t have to worry about it for a while.”Cummins, an ambassador for Prime who are the exclusive broadcasters for the Champions Trophy in Australia, said his ankle is something he has had to manage on an ongoing basis and it began to become a bit more of an issue during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.”It’s something that we’ve opted never to have surgery on or intervene too much, just a lot to rehab,” he explained. “Having this break meant that I could get a couple of cortisones and really rehab it well the last couple of weeks.”Cummins is confident he will be able to build his workload during the IPL and is eyeing playing a full role in the three-Test series against West Indies which follows the WTC final. There is a chance he will miss some of Australia’s white-ball matches ahead of the Ashes – there are five T20Is in West Indies then series against South Africa, New Zealand and India – before facing England from late November.Pat Cummins is watching the Champions Trophy from afar as he recovers from an ankle injury•Prime Video

“Sometimes by missing the odd tour, you actually end up playing more cricket for the whole year,” he said. “I think in the past you used to play everything, whereas now, absolutely, you try and make sure the players are at their peak for as long as you can for the year and to play as much of the important stuff each year. It’s just the way of the world. Everyone’s used to it.”Related

• Marsh cleared to play in the IPL as batter-only for LSG despite back issue

• Ankle injury and 'personal views' behind Starc's Champions Trophy absence

• ESPNcricinfo Awards 2024 Men's captain of the year: Pat Cummins

• Finch: Labuschagne's form is an 'alarming sign'

• Inglis savours 'special' innings for Australia

The absence of Cummins in Pakistan, along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, has meant Australia’s pace attack is inexperienced. Ben Dwarshuis took three wickets against England while Nathan Ellis, who captained Hobart Hurricanes to the BBL title this season, was outstanding with 0 for 51 from his 10 overs in game where 707 runs were scored.”[Nathan] has always been so valuable in that he can bowl at any stage,” Cummins said. “He doesn’t necessarily need to take the new ball to have big impact. He can bowl through the middle and at the end.”However, the most eye-catching display from Australia’s one outing so far – their second match against South Africa was abandoned without a ball bowled – has been Josh Inglis with his stunning 120 off 86 balls to guide a huge chase. It followed his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka last month, having been picked for the prowess against spin, where he played alongside Alex Carey with the duo now featuring in the ODI team together with the keeping roles flipped between formats.2:04

Agar: Inglis controlled the innings, the rest could bat around him

“He’s been on almost every Australian tour for about the last four years running drinks. So we’ve always known his quality and scoring two hundreds in different formats in the last month is amazing,” Cummins said. “He’s so dynamic. You can bat him anywhere in the order. He can take down spin. He can also finish off an innings with all his different shots. Just someone who’s coming into a real sweet spot in his career.”Inglis will be part of a tough selection debate ahead of the WTC final with Sam Konstas in the mix to return as an opener and Cameron Green expected to be available as a batter. But while Cummins is not a selector, he can see a world where Inglis retains his spot.”I think you’re open to anything at the moment,” he said. “[Inglis and Carey] are two of the most in-form guys. They’re straight into that ODI side together and it’s no issue. We’ve picked two allrounders before. Picked two keepers in Sri Lanka. I don’t see any reason why they can’t coexist if they’re both scoring runs.”After the Champions Trophy, the next major men’s white-ball event is next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka followed by the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Australia will be defending the title they won in India and Cummins still has his sights set on leading them at that event.”It comes around pretty quick, we’re already almost halfway,” he said. “That’s definitely what we’ve been speaking to. Obviously, when it’s a long way away, Test cricket and other [tournaments] take priorities. But once it gets a bit closer, that becomes a bit more of a focus.”

Still in the market for an attacking reinforcement even after signing Jack Grealish, Everton have now reportedly been handed a major boost in pursuit of a top target.

Moyes "looking forward" to "best version" of Grealish

It wasn’t so long ago that Grealish was breaking records by becoming the most expensive British player of all time, and everyone involved at Everton will be desperate to see a player worthy of that £100m price tag arrive and not the version that Manchester City have witnessed in the last couple of years.

There’s plenty of debate over whether the former Aston Villa man ever truly lived up to his price at The Etihad, but it’s hard to forget the impact that he made during their infamous treble-winning campaign – even if that was not reflected through goals.

That’s the calibre of player that Everton have welcomed to The Hill Dickinson and David Moyes is keen to see the “best version” of that player.

Whether Grealish will be ready to make his Everton debut as soon as Monday’s Premier League opener against Leeds United remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that he’ll play a key role in the Toffees season with minutes under his belt.

Everton and TFG submit huge £37m bid to sign "powerful" new star for Moyes

The striker in question is wanted by multiple clubs.

ByCallum Kemp Aug 14, 2025

His arrival was a statement of intent by The Friedkin Group and they’re not done there on the transfer front. In fact, reports are now suggesting that they’ve received a major boost in pursuit of a La Liga star.

Kubo now wants to leave Sociedad amid Everton interest

According to reports in Spain, Takefusa Kubo has now asked to leave Real Sociedad following news that Everton submitted an opening offer to secure his signature earlier this summer.

Initial offers from those in Merseyside as well as from West Ham United and Bournemouth were believed to be around the €40m-mark (£35m) and, therefore, short of the winger’s €60m (£52m) release clause. As such, it would be easy to assume that all parties are still fairly far apart in negotiations, but Kubo’s request to leave could yet soften Sociedad’s stance in a major boost for Everton and others.

Since earning the praise of scout Jacek Kulig, who dubbed his start to the 2023/24 campaign as “fantastic”, Kubo has only kicked on and deservedly earned interest from the Premier League.

Mumbai are playing their third game in four days, and that workload could have an impact in the eliminator

Vishal Dikshit12-Mar-20256:16

Mithali Raj: Harmanpreet finds a way to score against Giants

Who’s playingMumbai Indians (MI) vs Gujarat Giants (GG)
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, 7.30pm ISTWhat to expect: two wounded teams eyeing a final spotEven though both Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians come into the eliminator after losing their last league games, Mumbai look a little more wounded. They lost their first home game at Brabourne Stadium in the WPL on Tuesday, they dropped four catches in the game, leaked a lot of runs in the field, and they are playing non-stop cricket at the end of the tournament. The eliminator on Thursday will be their third game in four days after back-to-back matches to start the week and should they make the final, it will be four games in the span of six days for Mumbai.Giants have no such issues. The margin of their loss to Mumbai on Monday was just nine runs after Bharti Fulmali’s blazing finish, their Indian players are stepping up at the right time to take some of the load off the overseas stars, and their run of three straight wins before heading to Mumbai would have given them bundles of confidence.Except they have never beaten Mumbai. In these three seasons of WPL, Mumbai boast of a 6-0 record against Giants but going by their last clash, the next contest may not be as lopsided as this stat suggests. One of the factors behind Giants’ rise in the points table was their middle-order batting led by captain Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin, even if they struggled to find the perfect opening partner for Beth Mooney. Giants have been the slowest starters in the powerplay this WPL (run rate 5.97), but then they pick up fabulously in the middle overs with a scoring rate of 8.81 (better than anyone else), and have been the second-best finishers at the death (10 per over) behind only Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Related

Best of WPL 2025 so far: Ghosh's hitting, Henry's sixes, Gautam's promise

Priya Mishra spins her way into the spotlight

The rise and roar of Kashvee Gautam

Harmanpreet adds more aggression to her game

Going by this WPL’s trends, what could possibly decide the match will be Giants’ middle overs, when they will be looking to press the pedal but will be up against the mighty bowling of Mumbai – the best bowling side in that phase. Amelia Kerr, their star bowler in the middle overs, might have leaked plenty of runs on Tuesday, but had all the catches been taken off her bowling her figures might have been different. Her ability to excel under pressure – as was seen in the T20 World Cup last year – could be on display again on Thursday.Going into the toss, both captains would be relieved to know which way the coin falls might not matter too much: while teams have still been opting to chase, the tide has turned at the end of the league stage with teams batting first winning the last three games. Before that, only two games had been won batting first out of 17.While Mumbai will be eyeing their second final in three years after losing to RCB in the eliminator last year, the onus is on Giants to not make this year’s final match-up a repeat of what we saw in 2023.Form guideMumbai Indians LWWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Gujarat Giants LWWWLTeam newsBoth teams went unchanged into their last league games but will be concerned about their opening combinations. If Giants haven’t found anyone to partner Mooney, Mumbai’s strategy to promote Kerr to the top hasn’t worked in three attempts.Gujarat Giants (probable): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Kashvee Gautam, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ashleigh Gardner (capt), 5 Phoebe Lichfield, 6 Deandra Dottin, 7 Bharti Fulmali, 8 Simran Shaikh, 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Meghna Singh, 11 Priya MishraMumbai Indians (probable): 1 Hayley Matthews, 2 Amelia Kerr, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amanjot Kaur, 6 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 7 G Kamalini, 8 S Sajana, 9 Sanskriti Gupta, 9 10 Shabnim Ismail, 11 Parunika SisodiaPlayers to watch: Harmanpreet Kaur and Beth Mooney Harmanpreet Kaur loves playing Giants. She averages nearly 79 against them, scores at a rate of 171 and has four half-centuries against them. Harmanpreet’s tally of 315 runs is the most a batter has accrued against Giants. She has not been at her consistent best this season and, in the absence of solid batting options after her, another big score against Giants would give her a lot of confidence potentially going into a final.A big-match player like Beth Mooney will be crucial for Giants•BCCIBeth Mooney has been Giants’ only hope at the top of the order for large parts of the season. Fortunately for them Harleen Deol has come good at No. 3 lately, but Mooney has done the heavy lifting to give them steady if sedate starts. RCB’s openers showed on Tuesday that you could go after Mumbai’s top bowlers too, and Mooney could take a leaf out of Smriti Mandhana’s book. She has two half-centuries this season, not even close to her best, and she’ll be itching to get a big one against Giants’ nemesis in the eliminator.Key stats An average of nearly 70 combined with a strike rate that’s touching 153 is largely unheard of in WT20s, but such is Nat Sciver-Brunt’s purple patch this time. She currently has the Orange Cup and became the first batter to cross 400 runs in a WPL season. If she scores another 80 on Thursday – her highest score in the WPL – she will become the first player to reach 1000 WPL runs Ash Gardner is the top run-scorer (559) and the top wicket-taker (25) for Giants in WPL history There are three allrounders this season who have over 200 runs and more than five wickets so far, all from Mumbai and Giants: Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews and Gardner Kerr and Matthews lead the wicket-taking charts so far this WPL with 14 scalps each. Giants’ top wicket-taker is Kashvee Gautam with ten

MatériaMais Notícias

Não há um treinador de futebol sequer no Brasil que não defenda a necessidade de ter mais tempo para treinar a sua equipe. Vanderlei Luxemburgo no Corinthians, por exemplo, dirigiu o time alvinegro no dia seguinte à sua chegada e primeiro treino comandado e, desde então, comandou o Timão novamente em 11 jogos por três competições diferentes. Agora, ele terá 11 dias de intervalo entre o último compromisso, que aconteceu neste sábado (10), contra o Cuiabá, e o próximo, contra o Santos, no dia 21 de junho.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansProblema na panturrilha de Renato Augusto não preocupa o Corinthians, mas foi fruto de aceleração na recuperação anteriorCorinthians11/06/2023CorinthiansLiga o secador! Saiba para quem o Corinthians precisa torcer para não entrar na zona do rebaixamento do BrasileirãoCorinthians11/06/2023CorinthiansCorinthians tem acordo encaminhado para a renovação de empréstimo do meia Ruan OliveiraCorinthians11/06/2023

Mas, ainda que tenha esse período sem jogos, ele é infinitamente menor do que o desafio que Luxa tem à frente do TIme do Povo. Questionado pelo baixo aproveitamento desde que assumiu o comando corintiano – 27,7%, com somente duas vitórias -, Vanderlei tem a responsabilidade de estruturar um semestre em menos de duas semanas e salvar a temporada corintiana. Isso porque na última vez que o clube teve um hiato que permitiu um melhor período de preparação, a diretoria errou o planejamento. Eliminado no Paulistão no dia 12 de março, o Time do Povo só voltaria a entrar em campo no dia 6 de abril. A direção, no entanto, optou pela manutenção do técnico Fernando Lázaro, mesmo com a eliminação precoce no Estadual, ainda nas quartas de final, mas o demitiu quatro jogos depois, fazendo com que o sucessor tivesse que ‘trocar pneu com o carro em movimento’.

+ Todos os jogos doBrasileirãovocê encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

O tempo pode até ter minimizado a responsabilidade de Lázaro, mas só escancarou os erros do departamento de futebol corintiano, que se perdeu na busca do treinador seguinte, viu o próprio Fernando dirigindo o time indiretamente em campo em um clássico contra o Palmeiras, e contratou Luxemburgo justamente em meio a uma maratona de jogos decisivos no mata-mata e importantes nos pontos corridos. Agora, frente à pressão pelos resultados já respingando no treinador, a convicção da diretoria é que a pausa para a data Fifa será fundamental para que as coisas sejam colocadas no prumo. Mas se esquece a cúpula do clube alvinegro que 10 dias sem jogos pode até ser muito tempo se comparado com a loucura do calendário do futebol brasileiro, mas não é praticamente nada quando você precisa estruturar um planejamento arrasado.

continua após a publicidade

Luxemburgo afirmou após o empate com o Cuiabá que o elenco corintiano não aguenta disputar três competições simultaneamente, o que mais uma vez lança luz às falhas de planejamento da gestão corintiana, já que a folha salarial em torno dos R$ 12 milhões mensais, que é pouco menor do que times como Palmeiras e Atlético-MG, que disputam nas partes altas as competições que participam.

+ Ruan Oliveira entra no segundo tempo e evita derrota do Corinthians contra o Cuiabá

E o pior é que, mesmo com a eliminação na Libertadores, confirmada na última quarta-feira (7), o Timão ainda pode ter três campeonatos para disputar ao mesmo tempo no segundo semestre, já que basta um empate em casa com o Liverpool, do Uruguai, no próximo dia 28, que o clube alvinegro conseguirá beliscar um espaço nos playoffs da Copa Sul-Americana. Assim, caberá a Luxemburgo usar os próximos 10 dias para planejar o que vai priorizar em colocar essa ideia na mente dos jogadores.

continua após a publicidade

Contra o Cuiabá, a mostra é que ainda há muito a se fazer. O time tem pouco repertório ofensivo, mesmo quando tem mais a bola, segue sentido muito a ausência de Renato Augusto e precisa ser mais efetivo no terço final, já que atualmente vê o seu centroavante principal viver uma péssima, e aparentemente interminável, fase, e a alternativa que está em bom momento, que é Róger Guedes, não rende tanto quando atua centralizado e próximo da área.

Serão 10 dias que Luxa terá para fazer ajustes técnicos, táticos, estratégicos e psicólogos em um grupo que até agora deu apenas poucas respostas e esporádicas na temporada. Então, se o tempo parece bastante, os problemas, ajustes necessários e as perspectivas após a data Fifa também são muitas.

Dele captured the hearts of the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase during his spell in North London, joining in a bargain £5m transfer from MK Dons in the summer of 2015.

No supporter could’ve imagined the immediate impact he would have on the first-team, racking up 269 appearances – netting 67 goals, with 22 of which coming back in 2016/17.

The Englishman won the PFA Young Player of the Year back-to-back, but his time at the club would come to an abrupt end – falling down the pecking order after scoring 14 times in his final three years at the club.

In an attempt to resurrect his career, he joined Como back in January, but only featured once – for a total of 10 minutes – subsequently departing Cesc Fàbregas’ side during the off-season.

There’s no denying the attacking midfielder failed to live up to the early expectations he once had in his professional career – potentially landing a similar player before the September 1st deadline.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for a new attacker this summer

Xavi Simons has been a player who has emerged on Spurs’ radar over the last couple of days, with the Lilywhites hierarchy even entering talks with the German side over a £60m transfer.

Chelsea have been said to be leading the race over recent weeks, but Thomas Frank’s side could complete their own hijack for the Dutch international’s signature in the coming days.

However, he’s not the only attacker who’s emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with Manchester United bomb squad member Jadon Sancho a potential option, according to TBR Football.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Lilywhites have “been offered” a last-minute deal for the Englishman, who looks certain to depart the Red Devils having initially cost them £73m.

It also states Frank’s side are desperate for a left-winger before Monday’s deadline, potentially targeting a move for the 25-year-old, who scored five times on loan at Chelsea in 2024/25.

Why Spurs’ latest target could be Dele 2.0

Had his career continued on the same trajectory, Dele would still have been a key member of the Spurs squad, subsequently entering the prime years of his career.

At 29, he should be thriving in the Premier League, but unfortunately, off-field events have prevented the former England international from kicking on his career.

He spoke openly about his personal life two years ago, allowing the supporters to gain an insight into his struggles – with sympathy undoubtedly being directed the midfielder’s way.

Ultimately, despite his excellent start to his career, it’s safe to say the player never managed to fulfil the potential he burst onto the scene with – something which is also evident with Sancho and his own career.

The winger thrived at Borussia Dortmund, making over 120 appearances for the Bundesliga side, before completing a £72m switch to join Manchester United back in the summer of 2021.

He’s only made 83 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring just 12 times and failing to match the high expectations he arrived at Old Trafford with – leading to his pending departure this summer.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the 25-year-old would cost, but the stats from his loan spell at Stamford Bridge showcase he does still possess top-quality talent, with Frank needing to unlock such talent if he joins the Lilywhites.

Sancho, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Joe Cole, ranked in the 91st percentile for progressive carries (5.1) and 91st percentile for carries into the opposition’s box per 90 (2.9).

Such numbers highlight the threat the former Dortmund star possesses in attacking areas, showcasing his ability to drive forward with the ball at any given opportunity.

Games played

31

Goals & assists

7

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

4.6

Progressive carries

5.1

Successful take-ons

2.3

Passes into the opposition box

2.5

Take-on success

46%

Carries into the opposition box

2.9

He also completed 2.3 take-ons per 90, at a success rate of 46% – further offering Frank’s side an added dimension within the final third for his first campaign in the role.

The winger has also been able to find a teammate consistently, completing 83% of the passes he attempted, subsequently ranking in the 93rd percentile for passes into the opposition box – which could provide those around him with key opportunities in front of goal.

There’s no denying that Sancho won’t be many of the supporters’ first choice between now and the end of the window, but it could be an excellent option if he can recapture his best form.

It’s unclear how much a deal would set the Spurs hierarchy back this summer, but it’s certainly a risk worth taking – with the upside massively outweighing the potential drawbacks.

The new Son: Spurs make last-minute approach to sign "phenomenal" £60m star

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land a star who could be their next Heung-min Son.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 28, 2025

Everton are in a drastically better position early into the new Premier League season compared to where they were when the 2024/25 campaign kicked off.

Sean Dyche’s Toffees would lose all three of their opening league clashes, conceding an alarming ten goals along the way.

While the defence hasn’t quite been staunch under David Moyes in the early stages of this season, the Toffees do have a promising two wins next to their name from the three contests this time around.

Four goals have been shipped, but an impressive five goals have also been put away with some confidence, as their new leading man in attack, Jack Grealish, attempts to show the Premier League what he’s all about, still, after a bruising Manchester City stay.

Grealish's red-hot start at Everton

Away from the excitement and fanfare that was generated after his Toffees announcement, there would have been some lingering worries in the air that the former Aston Villa midfielder could be a flop on Merseyside.

After all, his time at the Etihad has been topsy-turvy to say the least, culminating in the three-time Premier League winner collecting a mere seven goal contributions last season from his limited first-team chances.

However, there didn’t need to be so many concerns based on his lightning-quick start to life donning Everton blue, with Grealish already only three short of last season’s tally at City, as seen in him picking up a blistering four assists from just four clashes to date. His early season heroics have deservedly seen him nominated for the division’s August Player of the Month award.

The exciting 29-year-old playmaker will hope he can keep this red-hot form up over the course of the long, gruelling campaign, with Moyes and Co more than happy to shell out £50m – as is his price-tag at the end of the loan – to keep him around permanently if he does so.

Amazingly, however, there is another attacker who used to call Merseyside home who has an ever-increasing worth that even eclipses Grealish’s bumper valuation…

The ex-Toffee now worth more than Grealish

Everton have fallen victim many a time to selling players before they’ve reached their peak.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Expand Collapse

Faces such as Ademola Lookman and Moise Kean immediately spring to mind, who have a combined tally of 107 goal contributions between them for their current employers, Atalanta and Fiorentina.

In Everton blue, they could only muster up a weak 12, in contrast. Thankfully for Anthony Gordon, while he never set the world alight regularly at this boyhood club, he did at least surpass this meagre amount before sealing a £45m switch to Newcastle United.

Dubbed a “delight to work with” by ex-Toffees boss Frank Lampard, Gordon would bow out from his time on Merseyside with a reasonable seven goals and eight assists from 78 clashes.

However, as much as Lampard would wax lyrical about working with him, the manner in which the Liverpool-born attacker left his boyhood club behind did leave a sour taste in the mouths of those on Merseyside.

Unbelievably, it was alleged that the now 12-time England international reportedly skipped training in the midst of the 2023/24 season – which saw the Toffees languish near the drop-zone – to push through a big January move.

Gordon’s numbers at Newcastle

Games played

108

Goals scored

22

Assists

23

Value when joining

£45m

Value now

£56m

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Unfortunately for those back in Liverpool, Gordon would go on to be a rip-roaring success at St James’ Park, with a standout 45 goals and assists across 108 Magpies contests to date, even helping the Toon lift the EFL Cup last season.

Off the back of turning into even more of a “nightmare” for defenders to thwart – as he self-professed – Gordon has also seen his transfer value rise to £56m, via Transfermarkt, which is £6m more than man of the moment Grealish’s own price-tag.

In an ideal reality, Everton might well have kept the wantaway winger at his hometown club for longer.

But, with Grealish now in through the door, on top of Moyes also having the likes of Iliman Ndiaye at his disposal, his absence isn’t that sorely felt anymore, with a further hope that the captivating 29-year-old can stick it out permanently down the line to avoid any similar Gordon-style heartbreaks from occurring.

Related Everton sold "world-class" talent who's now playing like Grealish & Gordon

Everton could have used a player of Grealish and Gordon quality in their new-look team…

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Sep 4, 2025

Sergio Busquets has announced he will retire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, prompting an outpouring of emotion from the football world. Former rival and Spain teammate Sergio Ramos paid tribute to the Barcelona legend, calling him “one of the most brilliant midfielders” he ever played alongside.

Barcelona legend bows out after stellar career

Busquets has confirmed that he will retire from professional football at the conclusion of the 2025 MLS season with Inter Miami. The midfielder, a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, made his senior debut in 2008 and went on to feature in over 700 matches for the club. Over 18 seasons, he lifted nine La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies and seven Copa del Rey's, cementing his place as one of the most respected midfielders of his generation.

AdvertisementRamos’ heartfelt farewell to Busquets

Despite their intense rivalry at club level, former Real Madrid and Spain captain Ramos took to social media to honour Busquets.

"Busi [Busquets], you are the definition of how to be exceptional while remaining an ordinary guy," Ramos wrote on his Instagram post. "A rival most of the time, a teammate many times over, you have always stood out for your class, vision, and quality of football, and for your humble and authentic nature. Football is losing one of the most brilliant midfielders I've ever played with, but you leave with the recognition and gratitude of all who have been with you and all who love this sport.

"Thank you for being a great player, a great teammate, and a great friend. I wish you the best for your new journey."

Barcelona pays tribute to Busquets

The Catalan giants also honoured Busquets, writing on social media: “The Club of your life. A legend at our Club. Thanks for all the football, Sergio!” His career at Barca saw him form the backbone of the midfield alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta, contributing to one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. His move to Inter Miami in 2023 reunited him with Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez, where he continued to add silverware, including the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Busquets’ enduring legacy in Spain and beyond

The 37-year-old's influence extends beyond club football. A key figure in Spain’s golden generation, he played pivotal roles in the 2010 World Cup triumph and the European Championship wins in 2008 and 2012. Admired for his intelligence, positioning, and humility, Busquets has inspired a generation of midfielders and will be remembered not only for his trophies but for the elegance and consistency he brought to the game.

اعترف رافينها دياز، نجم نادي برشلونة، أن العديد من الأشخاص تمنوا رحيله عن صفوف الفريق الكتالوني، وذلك بعد فترة بسيطة من وصوله إلى ملعب كامب نو.

برشلونة تعاقد مع رافينها خلال صيف عام 2022، وذلك قادمًا من صفوف نادي ليدز يونايتد، مقابل صفقة كلفت خزائن النادي الإسباني حوالي 58 مليون يورو.

وعلى الرغم من أن التوقعات لم تكن عالية تجاه رافينها مع برشلونة، إلا أن الدولي البرازيلي قد انفجر خلال الموسم الماضي تحت قيادة المدير الفني هانز فليك.

رافينها استطاع أن يقدم موسمًا استثنائيًا مع برشلونة، حيث سجل اللاعب 34 هدفًا وقدم 26 تمريرة حاسمة، أي 60 مساهمة تهديفية خلال 57 مباراة فقط مع البرسا.

أقرأ أيضًا .. بمشاركة برشلونة ومانشستر سيتي.. ميسي يعلن إطلاق بطولة تحمل اسمه في ديسمبر

وقال رافينها في مقابلة مع شبكة إي إس بي إن: “أراد الكثيرون رحيلي عن صفوف برشلونة منذ خطواتي الأولى في كامب نو، لا أستطيع ذكرهم جميعًا”.

وأضاف رافينها في حديثه: ”ربما لم أكن أؤدي ما توقعوه مني. لم أكن اللاعب الذي توقعوه ولم يروا لي مستقبلًا، ولم تكن هذه رغبة فئة قليلة بل كانت أمرًا ملموسًا وواضحًا”.

وأتم الجناح الأيسر: “ربما توقعوا 30 هدفًا في الموسم لكن هذا ليس مستواي. لست مهاجمًا صريحًا، أنا لاعب يساعد كثيرًا بالجهد والتفاني والعمل، وهذه هي شخصية رافينها، سأبذل قصارى جهدي دائمًا”.

رافينها يعاني من إصابة في الوقت الحالي ، والتي تشير الأنباء أنها قد تجددت ومن المحتمل أن يغيب اللاعب عن الكلاسيكو المرتقب بين برشلونة وريال مدريد يوم 26 أكتوبر المقبل، ضمن قمة الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele bizarrely compared his achievement to a goal he scored against Tottenham for Barcelona back in 2018. The Paris Saint-Germain star was given the honour of being named the world's best player throughout last season and he feels his drive to claim the trophy resembles a particular goal from seven years ago.

Dembele beats Yamal to the big prize

Dembele was the winner by a decisive margin as he added the individual accolade to his collection after guiding the French side to a clean sweep of domestic trophies and, most importantly, their maiden Champions League success. After beating Lamine Yamal and PSG team-mate Vitinha to the prize, the France international had an interesting analogy as he attempted to describe how he zeroed in on the award.

AdvertisementDembele compares win to solo effort against Tottenham

Dembele compared being named the world's best footballer with a solo goal he scored against Spurs for Barcelona at Camp Nou. In December 2018, Dembele fired the Spanish giants to an early lead in a Champions League clash against the London side. Spurs went on to claim a 1-1 draw, but the goal clearly sticks in the attacker's mind.

He explained to howthe win resembles the goal, saying: "I press the opponent, he loses his balance a little. I recover the ball and then, there is a two against one. 

"I said: 'I'm going alone'. I pushed the ball, I accelerated and I saw the player, the defender coming like crazy to tackle. I hooked him and I scored. It's pretty much the Ballon d'Or."

Dembele pays tribute to Benzema

Dembele went on to praise his compatriot Karim Benzema, who won the individual gong in 2022, and compared himself to the former Real Madrid striker, adding: "We both come from the suburbs, we grew up there, and to be at the highest level in the world, to win a Ballon d'Or, is exceptional. He is the first Ballon d'Or of the people, I am the second."

The 28-year-old also refused to call himself the best player in the world, as the expression ultimately does not matter or mean much to him. 

"It can change every weekend. One match, you are not good, we will say you are rubbish. The next match, you are the best in the world," said Dembele, before going on to stress that he owes his success to his PSG team-mates. "It's with everyone. It's a team… it's a whole group. It's the team's Ballon d'Or. Sorry for my language, but I didn't give a damn. You take it or you don't take it. Even if I wanted to score goals, I didn't mean to shoot up there."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

AFPDembele believes he and PSG can achieve more

While there were other worthy contenders, Dembele ultimately won the award as the crown jewel of a PSG that excelled in the 2024-25 season. As such, he refused to take much of the credit, repeatedly suggesting the award was the result of the team's performance. Even with this award, he still believes he needs to improve as a player, for fear of his manager looking to replace him. 

"If you don't win, if you're not hungry with Luis Enrique, you'll go to the bench. Or we'll buy another player," he said. 

Les Parisiens' defence of their Ligue 1 title hit its first hurdle earlier this week, when suffered a rare loss away to Marseille in a fiery clash that saw Roberto De Zerbi sent off towards the end. Dembele and his teammates will look to improve when they take on Auxerre later today, before a trip to the 28-year-old's stomping ground Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.