يظل المصري محمد صلاح، جناح فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، محور حديث الصحافة العالمية، والإنجليزية خاصة، ويستمر الجدل حول مستقبله.
وتراجع مستوى محمد صلاح عن الأداء المعهود للمحترف المصري، وتواجد بديلاً خلال مباراة ليفربول الماضية أمام وست هام بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والتي شهدت فوز فريقه بثنائية.
وتستمر التكهنات حول وضع محمد صلاح في ليفربول تحت قيادة المدير الفني آرني سلوت، ويترقب الجميع ما سيحدث خلال مباراة الغد أمام سندرلاند وإمكانية استمرار تواجده كبديل.
وفي ظل تلك التكهنات، فتح الباب مجددًا عن إمكانية انضمام محمد صلاح لأحد أندية الدوري السعودي، ورحيله عن صفوف ليفربول.
اقرأ أيضًا | المباريات التي سيغيبها محمد صلاح عن ليفربول بسبب كأس أمم إفريقيا
وذكرت شبكة “talk sport”، أن محمد صلاح لا يزال محط أنظار أندية الدوري السعودي، ويعد الهلال أبرز المهتمين بالتعاقد معه، وظهر نادي القادسية في الصورة أيضًا.
ورفض صلاح عرضًا ضخمًا من الدوري السعودي في الموسم الماضي، واستمر في صفوف ليفربول وجدد عقده مع الريدز لتستمر إقامته في “آنفيلد”.
وأتم التقرير موضحًا أن الدوري السعودي يراقب وضع محمد صلاح مع ليفربول، ويستعد لتحرك في الصيف ليجدد عرضه للنجم المصري.
Manchester United have now entered concrete talks to sign AIK Fotboll striker Kevin Filling, and a move could be possible in the January transfer window.
Man United have a reputation of bringing through young players, having named at least one academy graduate in every first-team squad since October 1937, and they have continued to rely on youngsters in the early stages of the new Premier League season.
Senne Lammens appears to have taken Altay Bayindir’s shirt and established himself as the new starting goalkeeper, with Ruben Amorim also regularly calling upon the likes of Leny Yoro, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko’s arrival at the club was met with scepticism, given that on paper the Slovenian looked like another Rasmus Hojliund-type signing, considering he is just 22-years-old and arguably doesn’t have the experience to lead the line for a club like United.
However, after taking a while to get going, the striker has now started to prove his worth, picking up two goals and an assist in his last four matches, most recently setting up Bryan Mbeumo’s first goal in the 4-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Man Utd enter talks to sign Kevin Filling
According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Man United are now in “concrete” negotiations to sign another young striker, entering talks to sign AIK Fotboll’s Filling, who is valued at around €3m (£2.6m).
The “talented” youngster could be on the move as early as this winter, suggesting the Red Devils could get a deal done in the January transfer window, but there may be competition for his signature, as some unnamed Bundesliga clubs also find the centre-forward “interesting”.
At just 16-years-old, the striker is very much one for the future, but he has already made a breakthrough at senior level with AIK Fotboll, chipping in with two Allsvenskan goals in seven appearances so far this season.
The young Swedish forward has also started to make an impression at international level, making three appearances for Sweden U18s, and he netted a brace in an international friendly against Wales U18s earlier this month.
Of course, at just 16-years-old, Filling is likely to be some way off first-team level at a club like Man United, so it would make sense if he was sent back on loan to his current club or perhaps a smaller English club to gain more experience.
However, at around just £2.6m, it is definitely a risk worth taking for Man United, who should definitely try to get a deal done this winter.
Manchester United are also showing interest in Bayern Munich star Harry Kane
£86m striker who Harry Maguire called "world-class" now key target for Man Utd
A top striker has now emerged as one of the Red Devils’ main targets.
Read’s coaching staff will include fellow Trent Bridge stalwart Luke Fletcher as his assistant
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2025Trent Rockets women have appointed Chris Read as their new head coach.The former Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper and captain has been promoted from his assistant role held under previous incumbent Jon Lewis, who left the Women’s Hundred side at the end of the 2025 campaign after three years in charge.Read is a cult hero at Trent Bridge, having made over 700 appearances in all formats for Nottinghamshire across 19 years, serving as club captain for 10 seasons. He earned 15 Test caps for England, alongside 36 ODI appearances.Rockets will enter the 2026 season under new management following the acquisition of a 49% stake by Cain International – whose co-founders Todd Boehly and Jonathan Goldstein are part of the consortium that owns Chelsea FC – and private equity firm Ares Management. They will run the organisation, with Nottinghamshire retaining a 51% stake.Read’s move into coaching has recently included success as with Lancashire Women, marshalling them to two trophies this year. Last week, he signed a two-year deal to remain as their head coach through to the end of 2027.Read’s coaching staff at Rockets will include another former Nottinghamshire team-mate, Luke Fletcher, as assistant coach.”It’s a deeply proud moment to take on a head coaching role based at the ground that I have a huge number of unbelievably special memories at,” said Read in a statement. “I’ve really enjoyed developing my coaching skillset with the Rockets over the last three summers, and the opportunity to continue that journey is really exciting.”I felt the impact of a sold-out Trent Bridge crowd first-hand over many years, and I know how much their support can change the course of games.”With all the fresh energy and investment into the Hundred, I’m really looking forward to starting the preparation for 2026 and beyond as we bid to deliver success.”Rockets general manager Mick Newell, who coached Read at Nottinghamshire, added: “It’s a real full-circle moment for Chris to return to Trent Bridge to lead Trent Rockets, and we’re delighted to welcome him back.”Having established himself as a true club legend here with years of outstanding service as a player, he has now shown himself to be blossoming into an excellent coach and leader too.”His fantastic start to a coaching career at Lancashire, and his experience from previous years with the Rockets, will stand him in great stead, and we can’t wait to see him in his new role.”Despite boasting a strong group, which includes current England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, Rockets have yet to reach the final of the Women’s Hundred. Their best finish came in 2022, losing the Eliminator to Southern Brave.
علّق الإعلامي أحمد شوبير على تطوّرات أزمة نادي الزمالك المتعلقة بفسخ التعاقدات، وفي مقدمتها أزمة اللاعب عمر فرج، مشيرًا إلى أن النادي يعيش حالة من التخبط الإداري والمالي انعكست بشكل مباشر على أوضاع اللاعبين ومستحقاتهم.
وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الإثنين: “نحن نتحدث عن موجة فسخ التعاقدات داخل نادي الزمالك، لأن هذا الموضوع مهم جدًا، عمر فرج قام بفسخ عقده بالفعل وقدّم شكوى للحصول على مستحقاته”.
وواصل: “عمر فرج لا يتدرّب مع الفريق الأول، أي أنه غير مندمج مع المجموعة، وأصبح مُجمدًا، لقد حاول اللاعب مرة واثنتين وثلاث مرات، ولكن الأمر لم يكن مناسبًا، أنهى الإجراءات وغادر القاهرة فعلًا، كما قدّم شكوى للحصول على المستحقات، ومن ضمن تفاصيل الشكوى أن النادي رفض السماح له بالتدرّب مع الفريق الأول وأنه لم يحصل على أمواله”.
وتابع: “يا جماعة اللاعب لا يتدرّب ولا يحصل على أموال، واللاعب مغترب، فمع من سيقيم؟ وكيف سيصرف؟ هذه قصة غريبة، أنا تحدثت عنها سابقًا، فهي قصة غريبة منذ بداية التعاقد، لقد ضموه فقط لأن بعض الوكلاء روجوا أن الأهلي أنهى اتفاقه مع عمر فرج، فهرع البعض في الزمالك وقالوا لنأخذه وتصبح (ضربة وخبطة)، وأنتم تعرفون السيناريو الذي نعيشه في الأيام الأخيرة، قالوا تعاقدنا مع عمر فرج، وأنه صفقة العمر”.
وأضاف: “جيد، لكن عمر فرج لم يلعب، لعب مباراة واحدة وسجل هدفًا، لكنه لم يحصل على وقت كاف، ثم تمت إعارته إلى السويد، وبعد انتهاء الإعارة عاد إلى الزمالك، لماذا لم تحاول الإدارة تسويقه طالما أنها تعلم أنه لن يشارك؟ لماذا لم يتم منحه إعارة جديدة منذ البداية؟ أو عندما كان في السويد، لماذا لم يُترك هناك؟ لماذا عاد؟ ثم تدخل الرسائل والوسطاء والاتفاقات، من البداية كان واضحًا أنه لن يشارك”.
طالع أيضًا | اتحاد طنجة عن عبد الحميد معالي بعد فسخ عقده مع الزمالك: حالته النفسية ممتازة
وأردف: “أنا عندما أتحدث يغضب البعض، لكن الحقيقة أن إدارة الأزمات داخل الزمالك سيئة جدًا جدًا، لا يعرفون بيع لاعب، ولا شراء لاعب، ولا إجراء تسوية، ولا اتفاق ودي، ووصل الأمر إلى أن اللاعبين يقدّمون شكاوى ضد النادي، اللاعب فسخ تعاقده بالقانون، وبالتالي النادي لا يستطيع فعل أي شيء الآن، ويمكنه اللعب غدًا في أي نادٍ، لأن اللاعبين بدون نادٍ يحق لهم الانتقال في أي وقت وفقًا للوائح الفيفا”.
واستكمل: “سيذهب الآن إلى الفيفا، وإذا ذهب إلى المحكمة الرياضية فإن كل الأوراق التي بحوزته تثبت أنه لم يحصل على أمواله أو مستحقاته، وبالتالي كل الأوراق تثبت أنه صاحب حق، هذا ما حدث مع فرجاني ساسي، الذي حصل على حكم نهائي، انظروا إلى الإسماعيلي الآن، الأمر لم يعد مجرد ديون وإيقاف قيد، بل وصل إلى تهديد بخصم النقاط إذا لم يتم سداد مستحقات كارميلو، وفي النهاية قد يصل الأمر إلى الهبوط للدرجات الأدنى”.
واستمر: “نادي الزمالك بقيمته وجماهيره الكبيرة، والله لولا الجماهير لحدث له ما هو أسوأ مرات عديدة، الخسارة الفنية والمادية كبيرة، اللاعب أصلًا لم يكن مناسبًا للزمالك، لم تتم متابعته جيدًا، وتم التعاقد معه فقط لأن هناك شائعة بأن الأهلي يريد ضمه، فتم التعاقد معه كرد فعل.. هل هذا مقبول؟”.
وأضاف: “هناك مصادر داخل النادي تقول إن عمر فرج اقترب من أحد الأندية السعودية، وأنه عندما غادر كان قد أنهى اتفاقه مع نادٍ هناك، وأنه مستمر في شكواه، وبعد رحيله بدأت إدارة الزمالك تحاول إجراء اتصالات لتجنب أزمة كبيرة مع اللاعب ومنع تصعيد شكواه، لكنه سيصعّدها إذا لم يحصل على أمواله، إذًا ادفعوا له لتُنهي هذه الأزمة”.
وتابع: “بهذا يصبح عمر فرج ثالث لاعب يفسخ عقده، بعد صلاح مصدق وعبد الحميد معالي، وكلهم فسخوا من طرف واحد، هناك حالة رعب داخل النادي، البعض قال إنهم دفعوا لخوان بيزيرا مبلغ 50 ألفًا أو 75 ألف دولار، لأن كل اللاعبين الأجانب بدأوا يستفسرون، محمود بنتايج لم يفسخ عقده كما قلت أمس، لكنه يستفسر رسميًا، وبيزيرا بدأ يسأل أيضًا ما الذي يحدث”.
وأوضح: “الإدارة الآن تحاول جاهدة توفير سيولة مالية لاحتواء الأزمة، وتسعى لأن يكون موقف النادي سليمًا قانونيًا، يحاولون إغلاق الأزمات المتتالية، ولكن ما زالت الأموال غير متوفرة، ولذلك قد يتم دفع مستحقات بعض اللاعبين بشكل فردي، وليس للجميع، أي أن بعض اللاعبين سيحصلون على أموالهم، مثل بنتايج وبيزيرا وشيكو بانزا وآدم كايد وعدي الدباغ، ونتخطى الأزمة. ولكن هذا لن يحل الأزمة بالكامل”.
واختتم: “أنا أطالب لاعبي الزمالك المصريين بالصبر، فالنادي في أزمة، جماهير الزمالك صنعت هاشتاج على السوشيال ميديا لدعم رئيس الجمهورية والمطالبة بإنقاذ الزمالك، الجماهير تشعر بالقلق والخوف والأزمات، نتمنى أن تنتهي هذه الأزمات قريبًا”.
The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will play in front of a record-setting crowd Saturday as they meet for Major League Baseball's new Speedway Classic event at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Bristol Motor got a makeover for the occasion with a fully constructed MLB field in the middle of the track. With such a large venue, which has a capacity of just below 150,000, the event is bound to set a single-game MLB attendance record.
On Monday, the league announced that the Speedway Classic sold more than 85,000 tickets to date, which will break the previous attendance record of 84,587 that was set at Cleveland Stadium back in 1954.
Even though Bristol Motor has a larger capacity than Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park and Atlanta's Truist Park combined, the Speedway Classic is shaping up to cost more to get in compared to your average baseball game. Outside of the attendance record the game will break, the contest is the first MLB game played on a race track and the first in the state of Tennessee. The league brought out all the stops for the occasion, planning a pregame concert and giving both squads custom NASCAR-themed uniforms. And fans are coming from all over to witness the unique game.
Here's how much it would run you to catch the first ever regular season MLB game in the state of Tennessee:
Cheapest Tickets for the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic
The get-in price for the Speedway Classic between the Braves and Reds is $67 on TickPick and $75 on SeatGeek as of Friday evening. Of course, fans won't be able to call balls and strikes from those seats at Bristol Motor Speedway which has a capacity of just under 150,000.
As of Thursday, TickPick reported the average purchase price for the game was $99 which is 106% more expensive than a typical Reds home game at the Great American Ball Park, which has an average purchase price of $48 for Reds home games.
Most Expensive Tickets for the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic
To get closer to the action, fans can sit in the constructed stands just off the field inside the race track. That option will cost a pretty penny, though. On SeatGeek, there are a pair of seats available three rows behind the Reds dugout for a whopping $1,273 apiece. To shift a section over to sit right on top of the action just beside the Reds dugout, that will cost a pricey $1,528 a seat. TickPick has some seats behind home plate just aside from the Braves' dugout, but that top-notch experience is going for $1,850 a seat. To pay a bit less but stay on the floor, SeatGeek has two seats for $985 each. Those are in the ninth row on the third-base line.
In Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United are enjoying the rise of a truly special player. Walk around the city and ask fans for their opinion of the Italian maestro, and many would say he is the very best they have witnessed at St. James’ Park.
It’s just one masterclass after another. Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t cope on Wednesday evening, dumped out of the Carabao Cup following Tonali’s brilliant midfield performance.
Eddie Howe engineered a covert contractual renewal when the star was serving a suspension for betting breaches, and so the Magpies need not worry about their central talisman playing elsewhere any time soon.
But Tonali alone cannot uphold the midfield, and it looks like change is afoot in the engine room, with United gearing up to sign a new central midfielder.
Newcastle angling for new midfielder
Joelinton has been a stalwart at Newcastle for many years, but the 29-year-old has come under fire at times already this season, with his questionable performances leaving some, such as blogger Thomas Hammond, to question whether this is “the start of the end” for the powerful Brazilian, who seems the weak link in this evolving midfield.
The emergence of Lewis Miley certainly suggests Joelinton’s place in the starting line-up is not as secure as it once was, and the continued question marks over Joe Willock’s long-term future in the Newcastle midfield add fuel to the fire.
Well, given that Howe is determined to re-sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, it does seem the cabinet could be set for a reshuffle.
As per Spanish sources, Newcastle are rivalling the mighty Real Madrid for the Three Lions star, who has been valued as high as £120m by Evangelos Marinakis. Technical director Ross Wilson will know he needs to act swiftly.
Moreover, Football Insider have followed reports with the claim that Liverpool and Manchester United have both placed the 22-year-old at the top of their lists.
Why Howe wants Elliot Anderson back at SJP
In the summer of 2024, Newcastle were being pressured by the Premier League’s PSR parameters, and sold two top talents – Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – to divisional rivals, easing away from financial bother.
Elliot Anderson for Nottingham Forest
Anderson signed for Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £35m, and he’s only gone from strength to strength at the City Ground, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “powerhouse” of a “midfield warrior”.
Indeed, you need only look at the metrics to see how he has evolved in his short time in red, with the current campaign seeing him take so many touches of the ball, creating and defending and leading by example.
Matches (starts)
37 (33)
9 (9)
Goals
2
0
Assists
6
1
Touches*
54.2
98.2
Accurate passes*
28.7 (82%)
66.4 (88%)
Chances created*
1.0
1.3
Dribbles*
1.0
1.3
Ball recoveries*
5.6
7.9
Tackles + interceptions*
2.5
3.7
Duels (won)*
6.5 (52%)
7.8 (56%)
He is the complete number eight, and in this, just like Tonali, who is now considered “the best midfielder in the Premier League” by English legend Paul Scholes.
Anderson isn’t there – yet. However, he is earlier in his development and surely on track to rival the likes of Tonali if he continues to add strings to his bow.
Now part of Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up, Anderson is finding a home alongside the more adventurous Declan Rice. Perhaps Bruno Guimaraes could serve as this type of partner, with Tonali elegantly keeping things moving from the side.
This is all to say that Anderson could be a stunning addition to Howe’s team, and maybe even come to surpass Tonali down the line.
Pulling him back over to Tyneside won’t be easy, but Howe has already shown his hand, speaking of his desire to bring the talent back home in a press conference last month, and must now hope that Anderson is swayed toward the nostalgia of returning to his boyhood club.
In any case, that aside, Newcastle might actually be able to canvass the most compelling proposal to the English talent.
New Tonali: Newcastle's 8/10 ace has been an "incredible piece of business"
Newcastle have proved their skill in the transfer market once again this summer.
Manchester City have now moved into pole position in the race for a “superstar”, and they are now ready to make a bid of over £65m.
Pep eyeing long-term additions to his defence
Pep Guardiola has made it clear he is a huge admirer of Matheus Nunes this season, saying: “He can be an incredible right-back,”
“Matheus is a holding midfielder with incredible physicality and as much as he is focused, he can become one of the best [right-backs].
“He has special attributions to play in the sides, and in the last two or three games he has played unbelievable.”
Nunes has remained a key player for Man City in recent weeks, starting the last three games, with Abdukhodir Khusanov also capable of slotting in at right-back, doing so in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen back in November, while also impressing against Arsenal.
Despite Pep being blessed with a number of options in defence, the City boss remains keen on making long-term additions to his backline, according to a new report from TEAMtalk, which states he views Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento as the complete package.
The Blues have now moved into pole position in the race for Livramento’s signature, despite interest from a number of Premier League clubs, and they are ready to make a bid of more than £65m, which could include add-ons, while summer signing James Trafford may also be used as part of a swap deal.
"Superstar" Livramento may find it difficult to dislodge Nunes
Lauded as a “superstar” by Newcastle content creator Kendall Rowan, there are signs the right-back could be a good fit in a Guardiola system, with his passing ability particularly impressive over the course of the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90 (past year)
Pass completion %
85.9% (90th percentile)
Progressive passes
5.17 (87th percentile)
Pep has been keen on signing the full-back for quite some time, and he is now vastly experienced in the Premier League, having made 103 appearances in the competition, while he has also tested himself in the Champions League for the second time this season.
The 23-year-old could be able to push for Nunes’ place in the starting XI before too long, but it will be difficult to dislodge the Portugal international, given that the City star is arguably a more well-rounded right-back at the moment.
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The 27-year-old has displayed a keen eye for creating chances this season, chipping in with one goal and three assists in the Premier League, while Livramento has just four goal contributions in 93 games for Newcastle.
As such, the Engand international may have to improve the attacking side of his game if he is going to take Nunes’ shirt.
Despite flying high in the Premier League and Champions League, it feels like Arsenal can’t catch a break this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side have played far better football than they did last year, but have been just as unlucky, if not more so, when it comes to injuries.
For example, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke are just some of their stars who have been forced to sit on the sidelines, or still are.
And then, if things couldn’t get any worse, the Gunners are now going to be without Gabriel Magalhães for up to two months, although Arteta might just have a surprising replacement in mind for the Brazilian.
Arsenal's record when Gabriel does not play
It’s no secret that, thanks to his impact in both penalty areas, Gabriel has become one of Arsenal’s most important players in recent years.
In fact, it’s this ability that led Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to suggest he could “be seen as the most influential player in the Premier League” only last month.
However, how essential is the big Brazilian to Arteta’s side? While that’s a pretty tricky question to answer, a decent way of approaching it would be to look at how the team have fared when he’s not been in the side over the last two and a bit years.
Starting with the 23/24 season, then, and across all competitions that year, the former LOSC Lille star made 50 appearances, 48 of which were starts, in which he scored four goals, provided one assist and averaged 2.16 points per game.
There were only two matches in which he didn’t appear: a draw against Fulham and a win over Sheffield United, meaning the team averaged just 2 points per game without him.
However, a two-game sample size is rather paltry, unlike last season, when he was absent for 16 games, of which the club won just eight, drew five and lost three, meaning the Gunners averaged just 1.81 points per game without the Brazilian in the team.
How did they fare when he was playing? Well, across all competitions, the Sao Paulo-born titan made 42 appearances, in which he scored five goals, provided three assists and averaged 1.98 points per game.
Arsenal with & without Gabriel
23/24
With
Without
Games
50
2
Wins
34
1
Draws
6
1
Losses
10
0
Points per Game
2.16
2
24/25
With
Without
Games
42
16
Wins
24
8
Draws
11
5
Losses
7
3
Points per Game
1.98
1.81
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Therefore, while there is not a massive drop in points per game for Arsenal without Gabriel in the side, there is still a noticeable one, and with games against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea coming up, that is a worry.
However, Arteta has more than enough replacements for his monster centre-back, including one who could come as a bit of a surprise.
Arsenal's surprise Gabriel replacement
The consensus among most Arsenal fans at the moment seems to be that either Riccardo Calafiori or Cristhian Mosquera would be the ideal replacements for Gabriel this weekend.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The former has been in fine form all season, and the latter has shown glimpses of real talent when he’s stepped in.
However, while either player would make total sense, another, more surprising option Arteta could go with is Ben White.
Yes, the former Brighton & Hove Albion man does feel like something of a forgotten man at the moment, and has spent most of his time at the club playing right-back, but the £50m signing could come in and do a job on Sunday.
After all, while he hasn’t played there consistently for some time – his last start in the middle was back in October 2024 – the Englishman was signed as a centre-back and spent the entirety of the 21/22 season playing there, and playing well.
In fact, the only reason he was moved to the right was because William Saliba was finally given a go, and Gabriel was not at all suited to playing at full-back.
Moreover, by playing the Poole-born ace there, Calafiori won’t have to vacate a position he has been incredible in all year, a young Mosquera won’t be thrown into one of the most tense games of the season, and the same could be said for Piero Hincapie.
Finally, and this is particularly pertinent for the game against Spurs, the 28-year-old is, in the words of journalist Charles Watts, a “master of the dark arts.”
In other words, he could be the perfect player to get under the skin of the Spurs players and either throw them off their game or even get them sent off.
Furthermore, he has a track record of making life particularly difficult for Guglielmo Vicario.
Ultimately, it would be a surprise and something of a risk, but even so, Arteta should look to start White at centre-back for Arsenal while Gabriel is out.
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Sunderland are believed to have contacted Real Madrid over the potential signing of one Spanish ace, as they look to seal an audacious piece of business.
It has been a dream start to life back in the Premier League for the Black Cats, with Regis Le Bris defying all expectations and silencing those who predicted them to be relegated straight back to the Championship this season.
New signings have excelled for Sunderland, helping them sit fourth in the table, but Le Bris will know that his side cannot afford to rest on their laurels, potentially even eyeing further new additions in the January transfer window.
They have been linked with plenty of players of late, with Barcelona star Fermin Lopez emerging as a stunning option, in a possible transfer record move to the Stadium of Light. Talks are believed to have opened regarding a mammoth £70m transfer.
It looks as though Lopez isn’t the only big-name target for Sunderland in La Liga, however, with another hugely gifted Spanish player now being mentioned as a target, too.
Sunderland make contact over Gonzalo Garcia signing
According to a report from Spain, Sunderland are in the mix to sign Gonzalo Garcia from Madrid, having made contact with the Spanish giants over a move to the Stadium of Light.
Fellow Premier League sides Aston Villa and Wolves are also mentioned in the update, with all three clubs willing to offer £17.6m for his services.
The fact that Garcia is a rumoured target for Sunderland sums up the incredible strides they have made under Le Bris, with the idea of signing a Real Madrid player unthinkable in the past.
The Black Cats are a genuinely enticing project currently, though, and the 21-year-old may well love the idea of a move there, having only managed one league start this season.
Garcia has scored five goals for Madrid, though, which is no mean feat in a team littered with world-class players, and scout Jacek Kulig has called him “incredible” in the recent past.
He has also represented Spain across three age groups, including the Under-21s, so there is so much for Sunderland to admire about him, not least the fact that most of his career is still ahead of him.
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Garcia’s versatility could also appeal to Le Bris, with the Spaniard a centre forward by trade, but also capable of excelling on either the left or right flank.
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Leeds United have a full midweek to train and prepare for their next Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX next weekend.
One of the aspects of the team’s play that Daniel Farke may place a big emphasis on is their ruthlessness in front of goal when it comes to taking the big chances that they are creating this season.
Crystal Palace
22
Manchester City
19
Liverpool
19
Manchester United
17
Leeds United
15
Brentford
15
Arsenal
15
Newcastle United
14
Everton
13
Chelsea
11
As you can see in the table above, only four teams have missed more ‘big chances’ than the West Yorkshire outfit in the Premier League this term, which shows that they have been wasteful in the final third.
The Whites have only scored nine goals in nine matches in the top-flight in the 2025/25 campaign, but the number of ‘big chances’ that they have missed suggests that they should be well into double figures by now.
Part of that is down to the quality, or lack thereof, within the squad in the attacking areas of the pitch. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was brought in to be their main number nine, and they need much more from him.
Why Leeds need more from Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The £100k-per-week centre-forward was signed on a free transfer in the summer transfer window after he was released by Everton at the end of last season.
Calvert-Lewin’s only goal for the club in all competitions so far, though, came in the 3-1 win over bottom-of-the-league Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, as he brilliantly guided a header into the back of the net from Jayden Bogle’s cross.
The 11-cap England international was a risky signing for the Whites, despite being a vastly experienced player at Premier League level, because of his form in front of goal for Everton in recent seasons.
Since a 16-goal haul in the 2020/21 campaign, when supporters were not allowed in stadiums for the most part, the English striker has failed to hit double figures for goals in a top-flight season.
24/25
8.85
3
23/24
13.63
7
22/23
6.50
2
21/22
6.22
5
20/21
18.21
16
19/20
16.11
13
18/19
6.17
6
17/18
5.44
4
16/17
1.25
1
The statistics in the table above show that Leeds signed a player who arrived at Elland Road in fairly dismal form in front of goal as a finisher.
As you can see in the graphic below, that form has carried over to his time in West Yorkshire, as he has missed five ‘big chances’ and only scored one goal in the Premier League so far this season.
These statistics show that the Whites need more from the experienced forward, because he is one of the main reasons why they are among the worst teams in the division for missing ‘big chances’.
Leeds considering move for Championship striker
Amid Calvert-Lewin’s struggles as a finisher in the Premier League this season, Leeds are reportedly showing an interest in a striker from the Championship.
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According to LeedsUnitedNews, the club are considering a swoop to sign Coventry City centre-forward Haji Wright to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
The report claims that Leeds are keen on a deal to sign the USA international when the January transfer window opens for business, after they also considered a move for him in the summer.
However, the outlet adds that it may be difficult for the club to convince the Sky Blues to part ways with the striker, as they are currently top of the Championship and gunning for promotion to the Premier League.
In January, pundit Carlton Palmer claimed that it could take a fee of around £20m to tempt Coventry to sell him, but it remains to be seen whether or not that would be the case next January.
Why Leeds should sign Haji Wright
Farke should push for Leeds to press ahead with a deal for the USMNT centre-forward when the January transfer window opens for business at the start of next year, because he could be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin.
As aforementioned, the current Whites number nine has not done enough in front of goal in the Premier League to be deemed a reliable marksman for the German head coach, which may be why Wright has emerged as a possible target.
The Coventry star is unproven in the Premier League, having never played in the division, but his form in the Championship suggests that he has the potential to make the step up and excel at Elland Road.
Wright has racked up eight goals in ten starts in the second tier so far this season for Frank Lampard’s side, per Sofascore, after a return of 12 goals in 21 starts in the division in the 2024/25 campaign.
Appearances
7
11
xG
1.77
7.49
Goals
1
8
Big chances missed
5
6
Conversion rate
7%
29%
Minutes per goal
534
101
Duel success rate
38%
44%
As you can see in the table above, the American centre-forward has scored eight times as many goals as Calvert-Lewin at league level, with a far superior conversion rate.
At his current performance level, Calvert-Lewin would miss 40 ‘big chances’ to hit the eight-goal mark that Wright has reached this season, with just six ‘big chances’ missed for Coventry, albeit at a lower level.
The Sky Blues striker, who was described as a “big, big winner” by former USA international Alexi Lalas, has shown that he can finish chances at an impressive rate, outperforming his xG in the Championship in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns.
Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin is currently underperforming against his xG for the tenth Premier League season running, which suggests that Leeds cannot expect his fortunes to change in front of goal.
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This is why Farke should be pushing for the club to strike a deal to sign Wright in the January transfer window, as his impressive finishing skills could make him an upgrade on the Englishman at Elland Road.