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It’s hard work vs natural talent for many, thunderous strikes vs magical moments for others and a debate that has stolen the spotlight for more than 15 years. There has not been anyone close to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in this current era of football and perhaps even history. Separating the two is, therefore, an almost impossible task.

The duo are still very much competing too, even if it’s not for the Ballon d’Or these days. In the September international break, Messi thought he grabbed the headlines with his brace in what could be his final appearance for the national team in his home country of Argentina, only for Ronaldo to swiftly respond by doing the same for Portugal a day later.

Ronaldo, himself, recently spoke about the affection that he has for Messi after years of competing against the former Barcelona star at the very top level.

He told reporters: “Of course I have affection for Leo Messi. We’ve been on stage together for 15 years. I remember translating English for him at the Galas because he didn’t speak English well. He always treated me well and respected me.”

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Messi has also shown the same respect to his rival when speaking to reporters, saying: “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and for the career he’s had and continues to have, because he’s still competing at the highest level.”

It’s a rivalry that is ending with the utmost respect, but also one that almost everyone has had their say on – even former boxing world champion Anthony Joshua.

Anthony Joshua weighs in on Messi vs Ronaldo

Not one for pulling his punches, Joshua admitted that he believes that Ronaldo is better than Messi, because he works harder than the World Cup-winning legend.

It’s perhaps the type of hard work that one of Britain’s greatest boxers can relate to, having gone from narrowly avoiding a prison sentence at a young age to defeating the iconic Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 in front of a packed Wembley crowd.

With five Ballon d’Ors to his name, to say that Ronaldo’s hard work paid off would be an incredible understatement. The Al-Nassr winger, even at 40 years old, has the physical conditioning of a player at the peak of their powers.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, football’s biggest stage could see its two greatest icons collide one final time. It’s then that AJ and others could get their answer as to just who takes the crown.

Everton have made a decent if unspectacular start to the Premier League season and have now identified a player they want to sign as a matter of urgency in January.

David Moyes urges Everton to continue seeking improvement

After a summer of tidy business in the transfer market and some intriguing signings, Everton have started the campaign on the front foot and look to have left the days of fighting survival behind them, providing they can sustain their momentum.

Jack Grealish has been the Toffees’ most impressive addition and created another four chances in their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham United on Monday, albeit David Moyes believes there is still more to come from the England international after he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad.

He said before his side face Crystal Palace: “I think there’s still room for Jack to improve. We want more from him – more assists from him and goals from him, as well.

“He’s started very well, but we’re driving him on and trying to get more from him. I still think his ambition is to get back in the England team. If he scores some goals and keeps up the assists, he won’t be far away.”

Intriguingly, the Manchester City loanee could have competition for his place if Everton formalise their interest in Celtic forward Daizen Maeda after the Japan international cropped up on their radar to add versatility across the front three.

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On the flipside, the Toffees’ rearguard has remained relatively solid despite only Seamus Coleman and the lesser-spotted Nathan Patterson available at right-back, something they could now be about to fix swiftly.

Everton ready to make formal approach for Juanlu Sanchez

According to Orgullo Biri, Everton view Sevilla defender Juanlu Sanchez as a priority signing in January and are ready to make a formal approach for his services.

The La Liga outfit aren’t willing to sanction any bids that fall under the £17 million mark, though the Spain Under-21 international is open to a new challenge if the correct opportunity arises.

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Capable of attacking and defending with a high degree of output, Sanchez has registered six goals and nine assists in 80 appearances for Sevilla and is viewed as one of their prize assets, albeit it remains to be seen whether they allow him to depart after Loic Bade and Dodi Lukebakio.

Crucially, the report describes Everton’s need for a right-back as an ‘urgent’ priority, lending credence to the fact they appear keen to conclude a swift deal to offer a different option on that side of their backline.

Jake O’Brien has featured frequently in an adapted role, though having someone who is naturally capable of slotting in would offer Moyes tactical flexibility at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Arshdeep Singh gave away just three runs in the final over to leave MI with a score a tad underpar, according to Suryakumar

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-20251:45

Jaffer: ‘Tilak needs to be more aggressive against spin’

Suryakumar Yadav converted his record 14th straight score of 25 or more in T20s with a 39-ball 57 as Mumbai Indians set Punjab Kings 185 for a place in the top two. Suryakumar felt the surface at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur was “challenging” and they may have been “10-15 short.”Suryakumar came in at No. 3 in the sixth over and batted right through until the final over. Along the way, he helped ride through a wobbly middle phase, before accelerating superbly towards the end with Naman Dhir.The penultimate over, Vijaykumar Vyshak’s fourth, went for 23 to raise hopes of a grandstand finish. Arshdeep Singh then nailed his yorkers superbly in a gun final over that went for just three runs as PBKS closed out the innings superbly.Suryakumar and Dhir aside, there was a key lower middle-order contribution from Hardik Pandya (26 off 15). This injected momentum before the final lift-off as they finished with a total they will be confident of defending, even if a tad under-par in Suryakumar’s words.Playing his final game of the season before he leaves for national duties, South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton did the early running until Rohit Sharma caught up. Rohit, who had been dismissed by left-arm seamers four times this season struggled a touch early on against Arshdeep and Marco Jansen, but seemed to get into his groove as he took the attack to Harpreet Brar in the powerplay.He first stepped out imperiously to hit him over long-on and then lofting him inside-out over cover. It needed a Nehal Wadhera stunner at long-on to send him back for 24.Rohit’s dismissal followed a choppy middle phase where they lost two wickets in quick succession, before Hardik, who’d batted just 39 balls in the last six games, injected momentum along with Suryakumar, who brought up his half-century off 34 balls. While MI made 53 off the last five, there was a sense that they may have missed out on a few extra runs.Vyshak, playing only his third game of the season, was on track to be the pick of the bowlers until he leaked two fours and two sixes in his final over to finish with 2 for 44. Arshdeep and Jansen too picked up two wickets apiece.

Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro has decided to defer the activation of the €11 million option to make Ansu Fati’s loan move from Barcelona permanent. The Spanish forward has been in fine form since joining the Ligue 1 side on loan, but Scuro emphasised that he must first be provided with the right conditions to develop into an important and consistent player before any transfer decision is made.

Fati's record start to the season

Fati’s brace against Nice extended his impressive record to six goals in five games, following another double against Metz after coming on as a substitute. The Spaniard also became the fastest player to reach five goals in the French league, a record that had stood since 1948. Monaco have an €11 million (£10m/$12m) option to make Fati’s loan move from Barcelona permanent, but sporting director Scuro has downplayed the early success, insisting that the club will wait before making a decision on his long-term future.

AdvertisementAFPScuro's words on Fati

Fati's resurgence comes after a difficult few years for the former Barcelona wonderkid. After his sensational rise to stardom at Camp Nou, his career faltered amid a dip in form, a disappointing loan to Brighton and a few injury troubles. 

While he is off to a fine start in Monaco, his long-term future remains unclear as Scuro, speaking at the unveiling of new coach Sebastien Pocognoli, said more time must be given to Fati so he can achieve consistency and become an important player for the team. 

"The key is to continue giving Ansu the conditions so he can get playing time and be an important and consistent player for Monaco," he said. "Business isn't important right now. When the time is right, we'll make a decision. Monaco is protected in this situation by the agreement we have with the player and Barca. The goal is performance and keeping him on the pitch."

Will he return to the Spain squad?

Fati’s impressive performances have caught the attention of Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente, reigniting hopes of a potential call up to the national side after his recent run of form.

"He's scored five or six goals, and we've assessed him," the coach said. "Ansu is on the list, and that's interesting."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

Fati will aim to stay injury free and continue his strong form as Monaco prepare to face Angers in Pocognoli’s debut match as head coach. The French side hoped the game would mark Paul Pogba's debut and first game following his doping ban, but another injury setback means he may have to wait a bit longer.

Oliver Kahn has warned Bundesliga clubs that clinging to "tradition" will only see them fall further behind Europe’s elite. The Bayern Munich legend urged German football to follow Real Madrid’s forward-thinking model, stressing that long-term financial planning and strategic investment are key if the league wants to compete with the Premier League’s global power.

Kahn urges Bundesliga to rethink ‘tradition-first’ mindset

German legend Kahn has sounded the alarm over the Bundesliga’s competitive decline, urging clubs to “stop hiding behind tradition” and instead embrace a future-oriented strategy similar to Real Madrid’s. Speaking on , Kahn said the current model risks leaving the Bundesliga “a kind of training league” if major structural changes aren’t made.

The ex-Germany goalkeeper pointed out that while Real Madrid remains a member-owned club, Spanish club's top brass is exploring ways to integrate strategic investors to ensure financial strength without compromising the club’s identity. “For now. And Florentino Perez is currently intensively considering how we can integrate strategic investors into this club," Kahn said. “We always hide behind this tradition, it’s used as an excuse too often. Of course, tradition is important, but it’s also about looking to the future.”

According to Kahn, the Bundesliga’s financial gap with the Premier League and even La Liga is widening every year, driven by limited TV revenue and restrictive investment policies. He warned that German football risks becoming a feeder system for richer leagues if it fails to adapt.

Advertisement‘We have to wake up at some point’ – Kahn on German football

Kahn admitted that heavy Champions League defeats suffered by German clubs should be a “wake-up" call for the entire football system. "I think we can't play tricks on ourselves. Yes, we have to get used to such results in the future if we don't wake up at some point. And if you look at what Real Madrid is doing now, you have to imagine that Real Madrid is an eV (registered association). There is no capital company; it's still a pure club," he said.

"If I look at the Premier League, what's happening there, I might not be able to keep up with Real Madrid at some point. And that's called strategic thinking. Thinking about the future. And we have this tendency here in Germany, that we always hide behind this tradition, and I'll put it a bit bluntly, often. That means that tradition is always used as an excuse. Of course, it's important. It's a value, and the The entire club system in Germany. No one disputes that. Nevertheless, it's also about looking to the future. Ultimately, the most successful football is played where the most financial resources are. That's the way it is. So I have to address how we can ensure the financial resources are available in the future so that German players don't constantly go elsewhere, and the league doesn't gradually degenerate into a kind of training league. Nobody wants that."

He argued that financial sustainability and sporting competitiveness must coexist, and clubs should find creative ways to secure future investment. “Selling the club and its tradition to investors isn’t the point at all,” Kahn explained. “It’s simply about considering what paths we can take to maintain the club’s value and still generate financial resources. That’s the job of a professional football club.”

Kahn’s comments came in the wake of renewed debate about the Bundesliga’s ownership model, following protests against potential external investors in the DFL. His remarks highlight a growing divide between those who wish to protect Germany’s unique 50+1 rule and those who believe change is necessary to survive financially.

Kane and the Premier League comparison

Bayern's superstar striker Harry Kane, who left Tottenham to join Bayern Munich, has also noted differences between the Bundesliga and the Premier League. The England captain described German football as more open but less structured than its English counterpart. “In the Bundesliga, more teams try to play out from the back, more teams press and sometimes even play man against man,” he said. “The spaces are a bit bigger, which we can take advantage of by bringing pace into our game.”

Kane added that the Bundesliga atmosphere was “fantastic” but admitted that the Premier League’s global reach and commercial structure make it the most dominant league in world football. While, Kahn echoed that sentiment, warning that unless German football adopts a more business-savvy mindset, its clubs will struggle to retain top players and talent will continue to flow abroad.

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Getty Images SportFrom European glory to chasing the pack

In recent seasons, the Bundesliga’s influence in Europe has dwindled, and over the past decade, only two German clubs have lifted major continental trophies, Bayern's 2020 Champions League triumph and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League win in 2022.

According to UEFA’s five-year ranking, the Bundesliga has slipped to fourth, trailing behind the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga. Financially, the gap is even more alarming, Premier League clubs generated €7.4 billion in revenue last season, compared to the Bundesliga’s €4.8 billion.

The disparity extends to television rights, where the Premier League’s domestic and international deals far outstrip Germany’s. For the 2025-26 season, English clubs will share nearly €2 billion from TV income, while Bundesliga sides will split just €1.12 billion, across both divisions.

Kahn’s warning reflects growing concern that German football is losing both its best players and its global appeal. High-profile exits like Florian Wirtz, Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman in the summer underscored that trend, while the arrival of only a handful of top names, most notably Luis Diaz from Liverpool, highlighted the league’s struggle to attract elite talent. 

The challenge now lies in striking a balance between Germany’s footballing values and the realities of modern economics. Kahn’s comments could reignite debate within club hierarchies, particularly at Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, where calls for reform are growing louder. 

Manchester United are keen to compete on all fronts and could now look to add an experienced full-back to their ranks who could push Patrick Dorgu for his starting spot.

Manchester United look to balance youth and experience

The Red Devils are a club that has always taken pride in developing youngsters from their academy. Balancing the growth of young players with some experienced older heads to learn from will be their best chance of long-term success at Old Trafford.

With that in mind, Manchester United fans will be delighted to hear that Shea Lacey was called into England’s senior squad training before their clash against Wales, and England Under-20 coach Ben Futcher spoke to BBC Sport about the impact he feels the step up can have on his development.

He said: “We have looked after Shea and helped him get some minutes. He is a top talent, has reconnected with the group and I thought he performed really well. I am sure Manchester United have a good plan for him. Hopefully he can stay injury free and fulfil that potential.”

JJ Gabriel and Samuel Lusale are among other promising Manchester United academy gems hoping to one day make their senior breakthrough, and it appears that they are willing to give youngsters a chance.

Patrick Dorgu comes into that conversation under different circumstances since his move from Lecce in January. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old has made seven appearances in all competitions this season, completing four full matches in the Premier League.

Despite his emergence as a positive source of energy on the left-hand side of Ruben Amorim’s backline, he won’t be expected to play every game this season, which could pave the way for a positional competitor to arrive at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim pushing to sign Federico Dimarco for Man Utd

According to Inter Live, Manchester United are pushing to sign Inter defender Federico Dimarco, who is into the final two years of his £142,500 per week contract at San Siro.

Amorim is considered the man behind the effort to recruit the Italy international, and their involvement in persuading him to move to England is reportedly complicating the Nerazzuri’s bid to have him extend his contract.

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Earning 33 caps for his country, Dimarco has registered 20 goals and 37 assists in 198 appearances for the Serie A giants, establishing himself as a key goal threat and presence on the left flank.

Two strikes and three assists in eight outings this campaign has elevated his stock once more, and he may well be the ideal candidate to offer competition to Dorgu after Luke Shaw’s move into a left-sided centre-back role.

Either way, this transfer saga may be one to keep an eye on as Manchester United probe the market for reinforcements to strengthen under Amorim.

Eighteen-year-old left-hander set to play against Australia A alongside the experience of Jake Weatherald and Kurtis Patterson

Alex Malcolm02-Jun-2025Eighteen-year-old Victoria batter Oliver Peake has been named in the Australia A squad to face Sri Lanka A in a multiformat series in Darwin next month having just played one first-class game.Peake has been selected after making his first-class debut in March and headlines a mixed squad that features some veteran Sheffield Shield performers in Jake Weatherald and Kurtis Patterson, as well as injury-prone 25-year-old Western Australia quick Bryce Jackson who is yet to play first-class cricket and has only played five List A games.Peake’s selection to face Sri Lanka A in three 50-over matches and two four-day matches in Darwin in July had long been expected and it confirms how highly Australia’s selectors regard the left-hander after he was taken on the Test tour of Sri Lanka as a development player.Related

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Peake made 52 and 21 on first-class debut on a tricky pitch at the WACA ground. Another 22-year-old left-hander from Victoria, Campbell Kellaway starred in that game scoring an unbeaten 165 in the second innings to set up a win for Victoria. He has also been rewarded for an excellent second half of the Shield season with selection in the Australia A squad.Fringe Test batters Nathan McSweeney and Matt Renshaw have also been included alongside the experienced names of Weatherald and Patterson.Weatherald, 30, has been rewarded with Australia A selection for the first time in his nine-year first-class career following a outstanding Shield season for Tasmania. He topped the Shield run-scoring with 906 runs at 50.33 opening the batting with three stunning innings of 186, 155 and 145. Weatherald’s selection is even more significant given he was born and bred in Darwin before moving away to play state cricket for South Australia and Tasmania.Jason Sangha has also been rewarded for his Shield season with selection in the squad. A captain has yet to be named but McSweeney would appear to be the most likely candidate given he has led Australia A/Prime Minister’s XI on six previous occasions and recently captained South Australia to their first Shield title in 29 years.While the batting will feature of a lot of experienced players alongside Peake and Kellaway, the bowling group is raw and has been selected on potential more than first-class performance.Test spinner Todd Murphy was set to be the most experienced bowler in the attack but he is understood to have landed a last-minute deal in England for a five-week county stint. Murphy was the only specialist spinner in the original squad and a replacement may be added in the coming days.Bryce Jackson has played just five List A games•Getty ImagesBilly Stanlake will be the most experienced bowler in the attack that will feature Jackson, Jack Nisbet, Sam Elliott, Mitchell Perry and Henry Thornton. South Australia allrounder Liam Scott has also been rewarded for his fine finish to the Shield season.New South Wales wicketkeeper-batters Josh Philippe and Matthew Gilkes have been included with Gilkes earning his first Australia A call-up.Chair of selectors George Bailey said that a number of senior players who are either playing county cricket in England or will be part of Australia’s red and white-ball tours to the Caribbean were not considered for selection however many will come back into calculation for an Australia A tour to India in September and October.”We’ve picked a balanced squad which provides a number of options, which we expect will be required over the course of the series,” Bailey said. “Jake Weatherald, Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson have all had dominant Sheffield Shield seasons and earned the opportunity to test themselves against international opposition.”Additionally, there is a strong presence of emerging talent in the squad who will benefit from playing alongside senior players including Nathan McSweeney and Matthew Renshaw who bring substantial experience at ‘A’ level.”Given the timing of this series, the NSP (National Selection Panel) has worked closely with State and Territory associations to determine availability and identify players who would benefit from the opportunity.”There are several players with existing opportunities overseas or tailored off-season programs who weren’t considered for selection. We anticipate those players will be available for Australia A’s tour of India in September as we look ahead to the 2027 Border-Gavaskar Series.”Australia A squad vs Sri Lanka ASam Elliott, Matt Gilkes, Bryce Jackson, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Jack Nisbet, Mitch Perry, Kurtis Patterson, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Billy Stanlake, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald

Barcelona bounced back from their El Clasico loss with a convincing 3-1 win over Elche, a night that once again underlined Marcus Rashford’s rebirth under Hansi Flick. In Raphinha’s absence, the English winger has been electric, scoring his sixth of the season and earning a standing ovation from the Barca fans. Yet, even in triumph, Flick was clear he expects even more goals from Rashford.

Marcus Rashford shines as Barca bounce back

Barcelona returned to winning ways at the Olympic Stadium, defeating Elche 3-1 to stay within touching distance of leaders Real Madrid. Flick’s side dominated early, pressing aggressively and capitalising on defensive lapses. Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres struck twice in quick succession, before Rafa Mir briefly halved the deficit. But the moment of the night belonged to Rashford, who sealed the win in the 68th minute with a thunderous effort off the crossbar registering his sixth goal of the campaign and thirteenth direct goal involvement this season.

Rashford’s confidence continues to soar in Raphinha’s absence. The 27-year-old has thrived on the left flank, linking fluidly with Torres and Fermin Lopez in Flick’s high-tempo system. His revival, after a difficult spell at Manchester United, has been one of Barca’s success stories of the season.

After the game, coach Flick summed up the mood perfectly as he approach to the result was satisfied but grounded: “The most important thing is the three points,” he said. “We did many things well, others not so well. There are still areas where we must improve.”

AdvertisementAFPHansi Flick praises his team's performance but demands for more

Flick’s post-match comments reflected both pride and ambition. The German was quick to recognise Rashford’s growing influence but also used the moment to push him further, urging the winger to turn promise into prolific consistency.

"We have done many things well and others not so well. I’ve seen many things we’ve done very well and others that haven’t been so good. We need to improve certain situations. We had an opponent that wanted the ball and it wasn’t easy. We wanted to pressure them from the start and we did because we scored two goals," said Flick in a post-match interview.

Flick further added: "I think we created many chances and didn't convert them all. If we had taken better advantage of our opportunities, we would have finished 6-2."

Reflecting on Rashford's performance, the Barca coach said: “One or two more goals would have been good for him. I’m happy with him; I know he can play at this level and he’s shown it. He’s an important player.”

Barcelona’s demands before making Rashford’s move permanent

Barcelona’s board is eager to make Rashford’s loan from United permanent but not without conditions. Club sources confirm that financial sustainability is the main hurdle. Rashford currently earns around £300,000 a week, a figure far above LaLiga’s wage structure.

Barcelona are prepared to pay the £30 million transfer fee, but only if Rashford agrees to a significant salary reduction to comply with league spending limits. The club’s sporting department wants to offer a multi-year deal that spreads the cost while maintaining squad balance. Rashford, aware of the limitations and keen to continue his resurgence in Spain, is reportedly open to compromise in exchange for long-term stability and trust.

For Barca, his impact has been undeniable. He has six goals and five assists in all competitions to his tally, plus four decisive strikes in the Champions League. But the next step depends on negotiation. As per reports, the club views Rashford’s future as “a matter of both sporting value and financial discipline.”

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Getty Images SportReturning stars boost Flick’s plans

Barcelona’s immediate focus shifts to a crucial Champions League tie against Club Brugge midweek, followed by a La Liga trip to Celta Vigo on November 9 before the international break. These games will test Flick’s rotation and squad depth, especially with injuries still limiting options in midfield.

There was good news for Barca fans, though. Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo both returned from injury and featured from the bench against Elche. Their gradual reintegration adds experience and attacking variety, offering Rashford and Torres the freedom to rotate and rest when needed.

Rashford’s resurgence has been a spark for Flick’s project but as the coach reminded everyone, it’s just the beginning. “We’re on the right path,” Flick said. “But we must keep improving, every game, every player.”

Chelsea are now looking to sign an “outstanding” experienced centre-back who’s won 11 trophies, having struggled defensively at times this season.

Blues fall to ninth after Sunderland setback

Enzo Maresca has been forced to contend with a number of injury problems already this season, with the manager particularly light on options in defence, given the absence of Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile, who are both set to be out for quite some time.

Colwill is a long-term absentee, having suffered an ACL injury in the summer, while Maresca has confirmed Badiashile won’t be back for another couple of months, saying: “Benoit will be out until December. He is injured again with a muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, showing how good he is, and we will wait for him.”

That said, the manager is still likely to be concerned by just how susceptible his team have been to conceding chances, with Nottingham Forest missing four big opportunities and hitting the woodwork last weekend.

The Blues got away with it against Forest, but Sunderland made them pay on Saturday, with the Black Cats emerging as 2-1 winners at Stamford Bridge, which means the hosts have fallen to ninth in the Premier League table.

As such, Maresca may need to bolster his backline if Chelsea are to transform into title contenders, and they are now looking to sign Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano, who is facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Arena.

That is according to a report from CF Bayern, which states the west Londoners want to sign Upamecano in 2026, at which point his contract with the German club will have expired, having been unable to agree a new deal.

Chelsea now join race to sign "hugely impressive" £70m Champions League forward

A new forward has emerged as a target for the Blues.

ByDominic Lund Oct 26, 2025

With the Blues potentially looking to offload ‘bomb squad’ member Axel Disasi, a new centre-back could be brought in to replace him, and the Bayern defender has been identified as a target, although there could be competition from Real Madrid.

"Outstanding" Upamecano could be exactly what Maresca needs

Jamie Carragher has made it clear just how much he disagrees with BlueCo’s recruitment policy of signing young players, saying: “Chelsea should be title contenders and considered Champions League challengers this season. Instead, their hierarchy seems content to be praised for being the smartest recruiters in the business – the world’s richest development club.”

In fairness, while Chelsea did win the Club World Cup in the summer, the model is yet to translate to success in the Premier League, and more experienced players are arguably needed if they are to become title contenders.

As such, the “outstanding” France international, as lauded by Joshua Kimmich, could be exactly what they need, given that he is experienced at the top level, winning 11 major trophies throughout his career, and the 27-year-old’s passing ability indicates he could be an ideal fit in a Maresca system.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

89.32 (99th percentile)

Pass completion %

93.4% (96th percentile)

Progressive passes

6.39 (95th percentile)

The £168k-a-week star’s potential availability on a free transfer is an added bonus for Chelsea, who clearly need greater strength in depth at the back, given that 19-year-old Josh Acheampong has emerged as a regular starter.

The England captain was nursing a cramp and didn’t bowl on day four at Old Trafford

Matt Roller26-Jul-20252:53

Trescothick: Need to limit the overs Stokes bowls

England are “hopeful” that Ben Stokes will be fit to bowl them to a series win on Sunday after KL Rahul and Shubman Gill exposed their reliance on his old-ball threat in Manchester. Stokes, the leading wicket-taker in the series, was deemed too “stiff and sore” to bowl during the first 63 overs of India’s second innings at Old Trafford and will be assessed overnight by England’s medical team.Rahul and Gill added an unbroken 174 for the third wicket in 62.1 overs as India recovered from a nightmare start to bat through two full sessions unscathed. Barring one drop at backward point by Liam Dawson off Brydon Carse, England’s seamers struggled to create chances once the ball went soft and missed Stokes’ ability to break the game open.Stokes prepared to face India with a gruelling rehabilitation programme following hamstring surgery in January and has bowled 129 overs in the series so far, his personal record for a Test series. He retired hurt on the third day after suffering cramp in his left leg but returned later in the evening, going on to score his first Test century in more than two years on the fourth day.Related

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Ironman Stokes beats his body and recaptures his peak

Stats – A rare double for Stokes as England break Old Trafford scoring record

“He’s a bit stiff and sore,” Marcus Trescothick, England’s assistant coach, said when asked if Stokes would bowl on Sunday. “He’s had quite a big workload in the last few weeks, and then batting in the first innings, he was getting quite a bit of cramp. We are hoping that with another night’s rest and a bit more physio work overnight, he’ll be back and doing a bit tomorrow.”Stokes was seen clutching his hamstring while chasing a ball in the outfield, but Trescothick played down the concern. “It’s just a build-up,” he said. “It’s just such a heavy workload, from where he’s been to what he’s doing. It’s just trying to monitor it, and obviously the cramp that he was getting yesterday, you have that little bit of worry… We’ll see what he’s like tomorrow.”After managing his workload carefully across the first two-and-a-half Tests, Stokes bowled 19.2 overs on the final day of their win at Lord’s last week and said he spent “four days in bed” recovering. He bowled another 24 overs across the first two days in Manchester, taking 5 for 72, but appears to have struggled to recover from such a high volume of overs.1:25

‘Very few cricketers in history with the ability of Stokes’

Trescothick suggested that England had never planned to bowl Stokes on the fourth afternoon in the belief that his body would benefit from a break, and said that he had gone out to field despite his stiffness to ensure that he is allowed to bowl on the fifth day. “If he was off the field [today], then he wouldn’t be able to come back and bowl tomorrow,” he explained.Stokes will skip the Hundred next month and has not played a white-ball international for nearly two years, meaning that he may not play competitively between the end of the fifth Test at The Oval next week and the start of the Ashes in November.Michael Vaughan, the ex-England captain, said that England’s hopes in Australia would rest on Stokes’ fitness. “We saw today how much he is missed,” he said on the BBC’s . “My fingers are crossed that we don’t have a moment before the Ashes or in that first Test in Perth.”I honestly look at this England side and everything they’re delivering and think, in Australia, they have a great chance if he’s fit. If Ben Stokes is injured […] and can just be the batter, it has a huge impact on the outcome of an Ashes series overseas.”