Chelsea are now believed to be at the front of the queue to sign a Liverpool transfer target in January, and one who Man United have also rated very highly in the past.

Chelsea prepare for Leeds United battle after 1-1 Arsenal draw

Chelsea travel to Elland Road on Wednesday evening seeking to build momentum after their hard-fought 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, where Enzo Maresca’s side demonstrated remarkable resilience despite playing almost an hour with 10 men.

The Blues dominated proceedings during the opening half-hour before Moises Caicedo’s reckless studs-up challenge on Mikel Merino resulted in a straight red card following VAR intervention.

The Ecuadorian midfielder’s dismissal represented Chelsea’s fourth sending-off across just thirteen league fixtures this season – twice as many as any other Premier League side.

Chelsea responded defiantly, though.

Trevoh Chalobah glanced home Reece James’ near-post corner to open the scoring just after halftime, rewarding the hosts’ dogged display, but Arsenal eventually equalised through Merino’s header before the hour mark.

It was a promising display overall from Chelsea, who are still firmly in the title race and must now come away from Yorkshire with all three points to keep pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side.

Daniel Farke’s relegation-threatened side have endured difficult recent form, collecting just three points from their last five league games.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are having to watch their injury situation closely, with Dario Essugo suffering a setback and Maresca carefully easing Cole Palmer back into the team following his return from a groin problem.

Away from the pitch, Chelsea have been tipped to potentially sign a new centre-back in January, and RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba is emerging as a prime contender.

Chelsea favourites to sign Castello Lukeba in January

That is according to CaughtOffside, who report that Chelsea are leading the winter chase to sign him next month, ahead of Liverpool, who are also keen on a move for the Frenchman.

Lukeba, who’s started nearly every game as a mainstay for Leipzig this season, is currently their best-performing player in the Bundesliga behind David Raum, going by average match rating per 90 (WhoScored).

The 22-year-old’s deal includes a release clause which will drop to around £70 million in the summer, but CaughtOffside state that Leipzig could be willing to sell Lukeba to Chelsea for much less at £53 million.

Lukeba, interestingly, was highly recommended to Man United by an unnamed recruitment chief in 2023, according to Football Insider, who told the Red Devils that he’s a ‘generational’ talent.

Chelsea will be without Levi Colwill until midway through next year after the Cobham graduate’s ACL injury in pre-season, but Chalobah and Wesley Fofana seriously impressed against Arsenal.

Some believe the pair might be one of England’s best centre-back pairings right now, so the need for another defender is nowhere near as critical as it was back in October.

In any case, Maresca publicly demanded another centre-half in the summer, so it could still be one worth monitoring.

A stunning brace from Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga's header helped Real Madrid pick up a crucial 3-0 win over Athletic Club on Wednesday. Pressure had been building on manager Xabi Alonso, but his players turned up at San Mames, with Trent Alexander-Arnold picking up his first assist of the season.

There was little sign of the apparent crisis engulfing Madrid as they quickly took the lead when Mbappe wonderfully controlled Alexander-Arnold's raking pass and whizzed past a number of Athletic players before lashing a powerful shot well beyond the reaches of Unai Simon.

The visitors, who headed into the contest four points behind league leaders Barcelona, had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to thank for preserving their lead, the Belgian somehow denying Alex Berenguer from point-blank range. That stop proved crucial as Alonso's side soon extended their lead through Camavinga, who nodded in from Mbappe's header across goal.

The hosts did carry a threat in attack, particularly when they got Nico Williams on the ball, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished just before the hour mark when Mbappe was given too much time on the edge of the box, bagging his second of the night and 18th in La Liga this season with a long-range effort that snuck in at the near post.

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from San Mames…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (8/10):

Huge save in the first half to deny Berenguer. Made another spectacular stop early in the second period.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (8/10):

Bagged his first La Liga assist with a long pass which Mbappe brilliantly controlled and ran away with to score. Unfortunately seemed to pick up a knock and was hauled off before the hour. 

Eder Militao (7/10):

A steady night's work for the Brazilian, with Athletic's attacking talents largely stifled throughout.

Antonio Rudiger (6/10):

Did look a little lethargic in some of his ground duels, but it didn't end up mattering much at full-time.

Alvaro Carreras (7/10):

Bagged a simple assist for Mbappe's second and was largely untroubled on the left side of defence.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Eduardo Camavinga (9/10):

Was constantly winning duels and attracting fouls, helping Madrid take control in the middle of the park. Deservedly scored just before half-time, but took a knock and was later substituted.

Aurelien Tchouameni (8/10):

Was dominant alongside Camavinga and stitched together Madrid's attacks with his mostly accurate passing.

Jude Bellingham (8/10):

Used the ball really well in possession and was constantly winning it back too.

Getty Images SportAttack

Federico Valverde (6/10):

Didn't provide much attacking quality on the right wing, but was a dogged presence when helping out in defence.

Kylian Mbappe (9/10):

Wonderful run and finish from Alexander-Arnold's raking ball to put his side ahead. Then bagged an assist when he headed it across goal for Camavinga before getting his second with a rasping effort.

Vinicius Jr (7/10):

Might have scored in the first half but saw a shot from a tight angle clip the post. Looked typically dangerous on the counter.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Raul Asencio (6/10):

Filled in at right-back and had little issues.

Arda Guler (6/10):

Didn't make much of an impact with the game's tempo dropping after his arrival.

Brahim Diaz (6/10):

The game had petered out by the time the Spaniard came on.

Rodrygo (6/10):

Had the occasional breakaway opportunity.

Gonzalo Garcia (6/10):

Also didn't have loads to do in the final 15 minutes or so.

Xabi Alonso (8/10):

Needed a victory after a tough few days which saw his future at Madrid questioned. Saw his side get the crucial early goal and they didn't look back from that point.

Liverpool’s disastrous campaign is showing little sign of relenting at the moment, and there are so many different parts of Arne Slot’s system to criticise.

After the 4-1 defeat at Anfield against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate took heavy pelters for their woeful defensive displays.

However, they were hardly the only Redmen who flattered to deceive, with Cody Gakpo yet again failing to convince on the left side of Slot’s frontline.

It might seem somewhat blunt to say, but Gakpo plays with a lack of dynamism, often repeating the same old patterns. As per Sofascore, he is averaging less than one dribble per game in the Premier League this season, while only completing 39% of his attempted ball carries on the continent.

Though he scored 18 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions for Liverpool last season, it always felt like Luis Diaz had more to his game.

Well, now Diaz plies his trade with Bayern Munich, and Liverpool are searching for a left-sided forward after opting against a like-for-like replacement this summer.

Liverpool searching for a left winger

We’re just over one month away from the opening of the January transfer window, and Liverpool’s interest in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has been confirmed.

Semenyo, 25, has been one of the most in-form forwards in the Premier League this year, but FSG and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes appear to have earmarked an alternative who may actually prove a better pick than the Ghanaian.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool chiefs have learned that a deal for Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior would likely cost the club about £80m next summer, with the Brazil international informing Los Blancos he will not be renewing his contract, of which has entered the penultimate year.

Manchester United are set to rival the Reds for the 25-year-old, while old suitors in the Saudi Pro League are bound to return for his signature. Hughes needs to pull the right strings quickly if he is to get this one over the line.

What Vinicius Junior would offer Liverpool

Vinicius Jr has been a thorn in Liverpool’s side on numerous occasions over the years, scoring five goals and providing two assists across six meetings. It was his goal that sealed the Champions League title against Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2022.

Brought from his Brazilian homeland to the Spanish capital in 2019, Vini has won the whole gamut at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring 111 goals and supplying 89 assists across 340 matches in all competitions.

There’s no question that Vinicius Jr would mark an upgrade on a player like Gakpo, offering a wide range of qualities that could even see him replace, metaphorically, Mohamed Salah, as the club legend begins to wind down.

League Stats 25/26 – Cody Gakpo vs Vinicius Jr

Stats (* per game)

Gakpo

Vini Jr

Matches (starts)

12 (10)

13 (10)

Goals

3

5

Assists

2

4

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.4)

2.6 (1.2)

Big chances missed

2

5

Accurate passes

19.3 (81%)

26.8 (82%)

Chances created*

1.8

2.2

Succ. dribbles*

1.3

2.3

Tackles*

0.8

1.2

Duels won*

5.1

5.5

Data via Sofascore

Hailed as “the best player in the world” by teammate Jude Bellingham, it stands as a testament to Vinicius Jr’s level that he is still comfortably outstripping Gakpo as far as respective league stats are concerned, having endured something of a testing campaign under Xabi Alonso’s wing.

The fact that Gakpo is hitting the target less than once every two Premier League matches is deeply concerning. This is not the rip-roaring prolific form that Slot and Liverpool’s coaches would expect, and his limited output across other areas amplifies the noise. That said, Gakpo is creating a consistent number of chances this season, and that does count for something.

Hailed by former Los Blancos teammate Luka Modric as being one of the Spanish outfit’s “world-class superstars” and as “the best player on the planet” by Statman Dave, signing Vinicius Jr would signal an ominous statement of intent at Liverpool, and now it’s up to the Reds to put the plan into action.

Would that mean the end of Gakpo at Liverpool? The Dutchman did cohabit with Diaz, but there is a difference in quality that Vini would be sure to take advantage of, and it would throw Gakpo to the backbench.

Related As bad as Konate & Van Dijk: £85m Liverpool duo cannot start together again

Liverpool plummeted to new depths after losing 4-1 to PSV at Anfield in the Champions League.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 27, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have reportedly finalised a wedding venue that holds a special meaning for the Al-Nassr and Portugal superstar. The couple got engaged in August this year after Ronaldo proposed to his long-term girlfriend. They plan to tie the knot next summer, following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.

• Ronaldo and Georgina's romantic journey

  The couple started dating in 2016 and have been together for the last nine years, during which time they also became a family of five children. Ronaldo finally popped the question in August, as confirmed when Georgina showed off an image on social media of her huge engagement ring. In the caption on the post, she wrote: "Yes I do. In this and in all my lives."

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• Getty/Instagram
  

  When and where is Ronaldo getting married?

  According to , Ronaldo and his fiancée will tie the knot in a Christian ceremony on his home island of Madeira in the summer of 2026. The ceremony will take place in Funchal Cathedral after the World Cup in North America and the reception will be hosted at a luxury hotel. The location of the hotel holds a special meaning for Ronaldo as it is located just 1.5 miles away from the hospital where he was born and only three miles away from the base of Nacional da Madeira, one of the teams he played for in his youth.

• Ronaldo 'is not a romantic guy'

  Ronaldo claimed he is not generally a very romantic person in a recent interview on 'Piers Morgan Unsensored'. The 40-year-old narrated the entire episode of the proposal, as he said: "It was like 1 am. My daughters were in bed sleeping. One of my friends gave me the ring to offer Gio (Georgina) and as I was giving her the ring, my two kids come in and say 'Daddy, you're going to give the ring to mum and you're going to ask her to get married'. 

  "I said, 'Wow, this is the right moment to say yes.' It was the time. I knew that I was going to do it one day but I hadn't planned to do it then. Because my daughters said that and my friends were filming, it was what I wanted and I offered (the ring). I didn't (get on one knee) because I wasn't prepared but it was a beautiful moment. I made a speech. It was simple, I'm not a romantic guy. Well, I am, but I'm not very romantic, not the kind of guy who brings flowers every week to the home. But I'm romantic in my way. It was beautiful and I knew that it is the woman of my life so I did that and I hope that I did it well."

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• IG:@georginagio
  

  Georgina's ring valued at £1.5 million

  Ronaldo, who is football's first billionaire player, spent lavishly on the special engagement ring that he specially bought for his partner. According to engagement ring specialist Laura Taylor, Georgina's gorgeous diamond is valued at £1.5 million. Taylor told the : "A diamond of this size is almost certainly set in platinum for security, which also enhances its colour and gives the ring a timeless finish. This is a show-stopping ring, and easily among the most impressive we've seen in recent years, which feels perfectly suited to one of football's most famous couples. If the diamond is natural and of exceptional quality in the D-F colour range with flawless or near-flawless clarity, its value could easily exceed £1.5 million." 

  Meanwhile, Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, said to : "We estimate the value of Georgina Rodríguez's stunning engagement ring to be around $5 million. The ring is reminiscent of the famous Taylor-Burton Diamond, a 69.42 carat pear-shaped stone gifted to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton, who reportedly bought it from Cartier, who bought the rarity for over $1 million at auction."

MatériaMais Notícias

Athletico-PR e Internacional se enfrentam neste domingo (21), pela terceira rodada do Brasileirão 2024. A bola vai rolar a partir das 16h (de Brasília), na Ligga Arena, em Curitiba (PR), com transmissão da Globo (Aberta no Paraná), TNT Sports (Fechada), Cazé TV (Youtube) e REDE FURACÃO (Streaming).

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3ª rodada – Brasileirão

🗓️ Data e horário: domingo, 21 de abril de 2024, às 16h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Ligga Arena, em Curitiba (PR),
📺 Onde assistir: Premiere, TNT Sports, Cazé TV e RECE FURACÃO
🟨 Árbitro: Felipe Fernandes de Lima (MG)
🚩Assistentes: Guilherme Dias Camilo (Fifa-MG) e Celso Luiz da Silva (MG). VAR: Marcio Henrique Gois (SP).

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⚽PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

Athletico-PR (Técnico: Cuca)
Bento, Léo Godoy, Kaique Rocha, Thiago Heleno, Esquivel; Fernandinho, Christian, Zapelli, Cuello, Canobbio, Pablo (Mastriani).

Internacional (Técnico: Coudet)
Sergio Rochet; Fabricio Bustos, Vitão, Gabriel Mercado (Robert Renan) e Renê; Thiago Maia, Bruno Henrique e Mauricio; Wanderson; Wesley e Rafael Borré.

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Australia’s batting order for the first Test is still some way from being confirmed, but Labuschagne is currently the favourite to go in at the top

AAP31-Oct-2025

Marnus Labuschagne has been in terrific form this season•Getty Images

Marnus Labuschagne says he would have no issue opening for Australia in the Ashes, confident he is now much clearer in his own game than in recent summers.Labuschagne was denied another chance to bat in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match with New South Wales on Friday, with the match ending in an early draw.Related

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Smith proud of Labuschagne's 'pretty big statement'

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Khawaja on song for Queensland as Ashes loom

After rain washed out the opening day, Jack Clayton’s 113 ensured Queensland would not have to follow on.Sam Konstas was then more patient with the bat, before attacking later in the innings and being caught charging Sam Skelly on 41, before a draw was called soon after.Konstas won’t be there come the first Test in Perth next month, with the 20-year-old almost certain to be given time in the Sheffield Shield to find his game.Labuschagne is favourite to take Konstas’s spot at the top, in a move that would allow allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster to both stay in the team.Labuschagne has said throughout this summer his preferred position is No.3, while insisting he would be willing to open to get back into the team. He has done so just twice at Test level, out for 17 and 22 in this year’s World Test Championship final against South Africa before being dropped from the side.But on Friday he declared he would more than welcome the challenge to open in Perth in three weeks’ time.”I’d say ‘great’,” Labuschagne responded when quizzed on what he would say if asked to open. “It honestly doesn’t concern me, I just want to be playing cricket at my best.Sam Konstas whips through the on side•Getty Images

“This year I’ve been in in the first few overs a few times. You’re used to it batting No. 3, and I’ve batted there probably 95 per cent of my career in both formats.”So I’m very used to being in early. If I have to open, great. If I bat three, great. Wherever there’s a spot for me I’ll take it and we’ll go from there.”Forced to watch on from the sidelines in the Caribbean last winter, Labuschagne has since adopted a less-is-more approach to his batting. The renowned cricket nuffie no longer bats in the nets on match days, admitting he was getting in his own head and thinking too much about his technique.Small changes have been made to his grip and stance, while he has also put pressure back on the bowlers in his four centuries for Queensland to start the summer.”Mentally I’m a lot clearer on my game and not getting too much deep thought into certain dismissals or methods,” Labuschagne said. “It’s not the actual training in the nets, I absolutely love that, I can do that all day.”But at times I feel like my technique gets in a space where I go home and I’m like ‘maybe I want to do this or maybe I want to go and try that’. Now I’m trying to stay out of my own way really and go out there and trust my skills when I get to the middle.”

Celtic are now targeting a move to sign Wessam Abou Ali from Columbus Crew, according to reports, with Wilfried Nancy looking to bring one of his star men to Scotland.

At long last, the Bhoys are closing in on a managerial appointment. The Scottish giants have taken their time, waiting for the right appointment, with Martin O’Neill doing an impressive job as interim boss in the meantime.

The 73-year-old has reiterated every week that he will happily step aside once Celtic have found their next permanent option and that looks set to happen sooner rather than later amid recent reports.

The Columbus Crew manager looks set to take his first job in European football and has the task of bridging the gap on Hearts in a shock Scottish Premiership title race.

O’Neill, meanwhile, will bow out of his second stint in charge after steadying the ship. Whether he’s still in charge by the time that Celtic travel to face Feyenoord this Thursday is the big question.

Speaking to reporters, the veteran manager said: “The answer is this: the game is on Thursday so the plane leaves on Wednesday. They better make their minds up very quickly.”

Of course, if Nancy doesn’t arrive in time, then O’Neill will have the opportunity to win his first European game of his second stint in charge to cap off a small tenure full of nostalgia.

The ball will then be in the new manager’s court, who has already reportedly identified the need for a new striker at Celtic Park and set his sights on exactly who that new striker should be.

Celtic now lining up January move for Columbus Crew star

According to the Scottish Sun, Celtic are now targeting a move to sign Abou Ali from Columbus Crew in the January transfer window. The 26-year-old Palestinian striker has been one of Nancy’s best players in the MLS and quickly won the faith of his manager after arriving from Ahly SC.

Celtic chiefs learn Nancy arrival date as personal terms update emerges

The Hoops are closing in…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 20, 2025

Described as “clinical” by Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall, Abou Ali first grabbed the headlines when he scored a perfect hat-trick against Porto at the Club World Cup as the MLS side watched on, waiting to secure his signature.

Since then, the 26-year-old has only impressed even more in America and may yet be on his way to Scotland to strike an instant reunion with Nancy.

Games

5

Goals

3

Assists

1

With four goal involvements in five games under Nancy, Celtic would be wise to go all out to sign the 6’1 forward, who could solve their own striker problem in January.

Whether Columbus Crew will allow their star striker to leave with their manager is another question, however. Losing Nancy is already set to deal them a blow in its own right, let alone their top star alongside him.

Celtic set to make quadruple backroom appointment to Nancy's staff

Harmanpreet Kaur was “very happy” with India notching up their second straight win at the 2025 ODI women’s World Cup. But Sunday’s 88-run win over Pakistan in Colombo, one that she described as an “important game for all of us”, wasn’t without its fair share of flutters.Like in their opening game against Sri Lanka, India’s lower-order rescued them to set up a total they managed to defend courtesy of their spinners. For much of their batting innings, India struggled for momentum. They slumped to 203 for 7 at one point, and were in danger of being bowled out until Richa Ghosh’s unbeaten 35 off 20 lifted them to 247.”To be honest, it wasn’t an easy pitch to bat,” Harmanpreet said. “We just wanted to bat longer and see how many runs we can get. When we played here in the tri-series [in May], the pitches were different. But with the rain over the last two days, there was a bit of a hold on the pitch. The key was to keep wickets in the end so that we could execute.”Related

• Goud times roll for India's newest new-ball star

• Goud, Deepti seal another big win against Pakistan

• Bugs halt play between India and Pakistan in Colombo

• Muneeba Ali run-out in unusual circumstances against India

That’s exactly what Ghosh did to give India the end-overs momentum. The other key contributor was fast bowler Kranti Goud, who made the early breakthroughs before Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana got among the wickets with Pakistan batters miscuing big hits in succession with the asking rate mounting.Goud, 22, was named Player of the Match for her 3 for 20, which included the wickets of Sadaf Shamas and Aliya Riyaz inside the first ten overs to set Pakistan back.For Goud, it was a return to where it all began for her in May this year when she was handed her ODI debut during the tri-series, on the back of a sensational showing in last year’s domestic one-day final, where she picked up four wickets in four balls, including that of Ghosh to help MP clinch the title.Goud bowled with pace, got the new ball to dart around and in general troubled batters with her zip off the pitch. “Kranti bowled really well,” Harmanpreet acknowledged. “Renuka [Singh] was helping her from the other end, to get breakthroughs for us.”Kranti Goud was named player of the match for her 3 for 20•Associated Press

India let themselves down on the field, dropping four catches, including three off Sidra Amin, the top-scorer of Pakistan’s innings. Their ground fielding, too, was patchy, a concern that is slowly beginning to creep up on them.”We let ourselves down on the field, we got so many chances which we unfortunately dropped, but in the end, when you win, you feel happy.”India now play their next two games – against South Africa (October 9) and Australia (October 12) – in Visakhapatnam. For now, Harmanpreet wants the team to soak in the winning feeling and reflect on a job well done before they refocus.”There are a lot of areas to work on but right now I’m happy that we won this game,” Harmanpreet said. “We just want to go with that momentum. We go back to India now, where we know how the pitches will play. Let’s see what is the best combination that we can come up with and how we can improve day by day.”

Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski was brilliant in his major league debut on Thursday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, as the flamethrower went five innings without allowing a hit.

Misiorowski took the mound in the sixth to continue his no-hit bid, but after throwing three straight balls to Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott, Misiorowski rolled his ankle between pitches as he walked back to the mound.

Misiorowski left the game as a precaution, but not before going five-plus innings, allowing no hits while recording five strikeouts and four walks. He also threw 14 pitches of at least 100 miles per hour.

Misiorowski told reporters after the game that he was cramping up which caused him to roll his ankle, but that he's O.K. and isn't dealing with anything serious after his first start.

The Brewers went on to win 6–0.

The San Diego Padres didn't look like they had much juice against the New York Yankees on Monday night. They entered the top of the eighth with zero runs scored, down 3-0 at Yankee Stadium on a rainy night in the Big Apple. Things took a turn for the worse when Fernando Tatis Jr. struck out with two men on and one out, then proceeded to get ejected for arguing with the home plate umpire over the strike zone.

Then Padres manager Mike Shildt injected his team with some energy.

Shildt was furious about Tatis's ejection and stormed out of the dugout to make that clear with the umpire. He got so fired up he flung his glasses to the ground as an evening's worth of frustration bubbled to the surface. Naturally the manager got tossed as well.

However, Shildt's show wound up inspiring San Diego and the effect was immediate. After he was ejected the Padres scored four runs with two outs in the eighth inning and shut down the Yankees in the final two frames to escape with a 4-3 win.

Not all manager ejections will demonstrate such a clear cause-and-effect. This time, though, it was obvious Shildt's performance spurred his team to victory.