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UEFA should ban clubs like Chelsea from Conference League after Blues lift trophy
By Tom Carnduff
Football
Thu May 29, 2025 · 18h ago
"Coming into this competition it was something we just had to win."

For 64 minutes in Wrocław on Wednesday night, Reece James and his Chelsea team-mates looked as if they were going to somehow pass up the opportunity to win a trophy that their captain openly admitted was theirs from the very start.

Real Betis held the advantage in the Conference League final, only for the Dad's Army-esque nature of their side to tire and concede four to Chelsea's big-money cast.

Victory for a club that didn't even register their best players in the group stage now being sold to us as a triumph of squad management.

In reality it's theft of an opportunity and exploitation of a competition that wasn't designed for them to be involved.

Chelsea lift the Conference League trophy
Chelsea won the Conference League with little issue
When plans were announced back in 2018, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: "This makes UEFA's club competitions more inclusive than ever before.

"There will be more matches for more clubs, with more associations represented in the group stages."

More inclusive. More involvement from other countries. A tournament created for teams from lower-ranked associations to have that chance of success.

At no point when the designs were drawn up should a club like Chelsea come into the picture.

The Blues' big-spending nature under Todd Boehly is well documented. Over £1billion dished out on players, some of whom will likely never make a first-team impact at Stamford Bridge.

Clearlake Capital's seemingly limitless funds utilised to compete on multiple fronts at the top level for years to come. Not this.

Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca has a seemingly endless pot of money for transfers
The prize money handed out in this tournament is roughly similar to that of the Europa League yet it is mere pocket change to a club of Chelsea's financial power.

An appearance in the final gives you an additional £3.3million, winning it adds an extra £5.8million. Djurgården's record signing - the club who Chelsea beat in the semi-final - is Tobias Gulliksen who they forked out £1.5million for just over a year ago.

Facing a side far closer to their level will have presented the opportunity to near quadruple that in the space of 90 minutes. Instead, they were denied that chance by a significantly uneven playing field.

Chelsea's European campaign has pocketed them around £18.5million this season. They spent more than that on five separate signings this season alone.

That is a luxury which the overwhelming majority of teams involved in the Conference League simply do not have.

And for what its worth, it's not their fault really. It's the cliché of playing what's in front of you. They've been granted entry and it was unlikely they'd adopt an attitude of not trying to win.

Djurgården were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Chelsea
Djurgården were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Chelsea
But this is where UEFA need to step in to protect their competition. They have their own measurements of a club through the coefficient rankings.

In their eyes, Chelsea are the seventh-best team in Europe. PSG and Inter - the two sides competing in Saturday's Champions League final - are in the spots directly above them.

And their opponents throughout the season? Each of them sat at the level the competition was made for.

Chelsea's opponents and UEFA coefficient rankings
Qualifying: Servette - 139
Group: Gent - 53
Group: Panathinaikos - 111
Group: Noah - 273
Group: Heidenheim - 103
Group: Astana - 134
Group: Shamrock Rovers - 99
Round of 16: Copenhagen - 49
Quarter-final: Legia Warsaw - 70
Semi-final: Djurgården - 63
Final: Real Betis - 40
Noah sit 273rd in UEFA's coefficient rankings
Noah - 273rd in the coefficient rankings - lost 8-0 at Stamford Bridge
Solving it may feel like a complex matter which will upset some yet the answer could be far more straightforward.

It may well be as simple as a ban on those in the top 15 of the rankings from entering. It protects this competition from significant clubs exploiting it after a bad season.

How that is dealt with if the situation arises is up to the respective associations. It may just be a case of the 'next-best' getting it if a top side underperforms and finishes lower than expected.

A 'sorry but this wasn't for you anyway' response required.

Ultimately, we do need some involvement from the higher-profile leagues. That's how you're going to get eyes on the games and it may also be the reason why UEFA will be hesitant to implement any restrictions.

West Ham win the Europa Conference League
West Ham are the other Premier League side to have won this competition
Chelsea's place in the Conference League will undoubtedly have raised the viewing figures. Bigger numbers to use when trying to sell the rights.

Yet who wants to watch something that is such a foregone conclusion?

A poor year for Barcelona (coefficient rank 10), Dortmund (coefficient rank 8) or Arsenal (coefficient rank 12) would see them win it with ease, once again denying someone else their rare day in the sun.

Ange Postecoglou
We heard so much about Man United and Tottenham, but what about Chelsea?
For all the negative discourse on Manchester United or Tottenham's potential Champions League involvement through the 'backdoor' of Europa League success, Chelsea have seemingly got away with it.

Not so much a flat-track bully but rather a juggernaut unleashed on significantly weaker opposition. A fish so big there's barely room for others to move around the small pond.

Sure, enjoy the medals and an additional trophy in the cabinet. We'll have to sit and listen to the narrative of them being the first club to 'win all' the European cups on offer.

And now to cap off the ridiculousness of it all, Chelsea jet off to the revamped Club World Cup.

All of this in itself is the problem.

Clubs at the top end shouldn't have the chance to do the clean sweep. It's now down to UEFA to prevent anyone else matching it.

Ban the big boys or scrap the whole thing.

Or Chelsea won't be the first super club to take candy from a baby.

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PSG thrash Inter Milan 5-0 to win Champions League for first time in club's history
By Sporting Life
Football
Sun June 01, 2025 · 1h ago
Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time in their history thanks to a 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in Saturday's final.

Luis Enrique's side were on the front foot from the very first whistle and the final was as good as over midway through the first half, thanks to goals from Achraf Hakimi and Désiré Doué.

Hakimi finished off a cut-back from Doué at the end of a typically swift, incisive team move before refusing to celebrate in front of fans of his former club, then Doué bagged one for himself to become the youngest player to score and assist in a Champions League final at the age of 19.

Inter briefly threatened afterwards but Doué put the game beyond doubt with his second on the break, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu capped a famous night for PSG, who became just the second French side to win the competition.

Kvaratskhelia was another to make history in becoming the first Georgian player to score in a Champions League final, his goal similar to Doué's second as PSG ruthlessly killed off Inter on the break.

Fittingly, the final flourish came from homegrown teenager Mayulu, who wheeled away in delight after scoring from the bench, scarcely able to believe what had happened both over those few seconds and the hour and a half of total superiority which had preceded it.

PSG's five-goal winning margin was the widest in the history of European Cup and Champions League finals and left TNT Sport analysts pondering a period of dominance over European football. On this evidence, and the age of this young side, further success at the very highest level seems more likely than not.

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Premier League 24/25 awards: Our winners for players, goals and managers
By Alex Keble
Football
Tue June 03, 2025 · 26 min ago
With the domestic football season coming to an end, Alex Keble gives out his Premier League awards.

Manager of the Season – Arne Slot
Last summer, an unproven manager with no experience in a ‘top five’ league took over from a club legend, Jurgen Klopp, and led an ageing team suffering from a long comedown into a new Premier League season. He was given no new signings.

Nobody – and that includes Liverpool supporters – thought Arne Slot could sustain a challenge for the title, much less win it with four games to go.

The gloss has been taken off Liverpool’s first title in five years by its inevitability since January and the four-game winless streak that ended the campaign.

Arne Slot with the Premier League trophy
Arne Slot with the Premier League trophy
But we shouldn’t let the achievement be normalised. Slot has become just the fifth person to win the Premier League in their debut year, a remarkable feat in the circumstances.

He rejigged central midfield, slowed things down by teaching the players some game management, and tweaked the full-backs to hide the limitations of both. And he made it look easy.

Player of the Season – Mohamed Salah
This one picks itself.

There is no looking past Salah’s record-equalling 47 goal involvements (29 goals, 18 assists), and even though he slowed significantly over the final couple of months Salah has still arguably put in the greatest single-season performance in Premier League history.

Salah’s goals and assists accounted for 54.7% of Liverpool’s total, by far the highest in the division, which is all the evidence needed to show Salah was the most influential player in the team that won the title.

Mohamed Salah celebrates
Mohamed Salah has enjoyed yet another brilliant season
There can be no arguments with Salah picking up more or less every award going.

He is now fifth in the all-time goalscorer list and needs 75 more to overtake Alan Shearer. Having signed a new two-year deal this spring, and after suggesting this week he could play on for another eight years, there is every chance Salah will get there.

Young Player of the Season – Myles Lewis-Skelly
Another young left-back, Milos Kerkez, is unlucky to miss out here after starting every single Premier League game for Bournemouth (and he gets the nod in team of the season to make up for it), but the teenager who emerged at Arsenal is on a whole other level.

Myles Lewis-Skelly
Myles Lewis-Skelly saw a breakout campaign with Arsenal
Lewis-Skelly didn’t start his first Premier League game for Arsenal until mid-December.

By April, he was an automatic selection for both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, in which he twice kept Vinicius Junior quiet.

Already he looks like a complete player; a left-back as adept at driving to the byline as inverting into central midfield. Already – and this is the really crazy bit – he looks like England’s best left-back and a star player for Thomas Tuchel.

Signing of the Season – Nikola Milenkovic
There are lots of factors behind Nottingham Forest’s magnificent season but maybe the most important is the partnership of Murillo and Milenkovic: the centre-back pair who laid the groundwork for a defence-first rise into Champions League contention under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nikola Milenkovic scored Forest's opener
Nikola Milenkovic was a big reason behind Forest's great campaign
Milenkovic is the star player of the two, more comfortable with the ball at his feet and as dominant on the ground as in the air.

He also scored five Premier League goals and played in 37 straight games after missing the opening day 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

Tellingly, he was the only one of Forest’s summer spree who was a regular starter. If anyone deserves the lion’s share of the praise for the club’s rise from 17th to 7th, it’s Milenkovic.

Best performance of the season – Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool & Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City
There is nothing to choose between these two and it just feels right to present them as a pair.

Newcastle completely dominated Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, swarming central midfield and bursting into the final third in a textbook example of Eddie Howe football.

It was a tactical masterclass that made the league-leaders look average.

newcastle carabao palace fa cup
Silverware came for Crystal Palace and Newcastle
Nobody else managed to do that in 2024/25, and to do it under pressure on the biggest day of their careers was extraordinary.

The same can be said of Palace’s FA Cup final victory, which in its defensive organisation and counter-attacking winning goal was a perfect distillation of Oliver Glasner’s football.

They thoroughly deserved to beat Man City, rising to the occasion with a spectacular, 10/10 display at Wembley. Both historic cup finals had that in common.

Moment of the season – James Tarkowski’s goal in Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby
It was the perfect volley, a rifling thwack into the roof of the net that seemed straight out of the 1990s. It’s hard to recall the last time we saw a goal that looked like that, never mind one of such significance and late drama.

James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equaliser, the last kick of the game, gave Goodison Park one final moment of magic for the men’s team.

It is already being talked about among Everton supporters as one of, if not the, greatest moment the stadium has ever seen.


Defeat would have given Liverpool final, everlasting bragging rights, but Tarkowski’s goal kept the Goodison Park Merseyside derby record at 41 wins apiece.

It was surely the wildest any team has ever celebrated a draw.

Goal of the Season – Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton v Chelsea)
One, two, three, four perfect touches from Kaoru Mitoma turned an innocuous long ball from Bart Verbruggen into a uniquely beautiful goal.

Mitoma’s first touch, plucking the ball out of the sky, is up there with the best we’ve ever seen.


But the instant second and third touches are also special, turning Trevoh Chalobah inside out to set up the shot.

For its rarity alone, Mitoma’s goal surpasses the late contender from Omar Marmoush.

Worst performance of the season – Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd
Manchester United’s 15th-place finish is scarcely believable, yet had it not been for a refereeing error on the final day they would have finished 17th and won fewer than 40 points.

There are so many people to blame for their historic ineptitude, but Ruben Amorim has played a very big part in it. Since his appointment Man Utd have won 27 points from 27 games, which is near-enough relegation form.

Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim has a huge task turning this United team around
The team have gone notably backwards thanks to Amorim’s brutally-honest management style sapping confidence and his steadfast refusal to compromise on a formation that simply does not suit the players at his disposal.

United lost 18 league games, their most since 1973/74, the year they were relegated. Old Trafford hasn’t seen days this bad for 50 years.

The storm came. It shows no sign of subsiding.

Team of the season
Matz Sels | Daniel Munoz, Nikola Milenković, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez | Youri Tielemans, Ryan Gravenberch, Moises Caicedo | Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Morgan Rogers.

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Summer transfer window 2025: When it opens and closes and Club World Cup impact
By Jake Osgathorpe
Football
Thu June 05, 2025 · 1d ago
The transfer window is open much earlier than usual, with FIFA creating a mini-window from June 1 to June 10 to allow teams participating in this summer's Club World Cup to strengthen their squads.

It has meant an early smattering of transfers both from the clubs participating in that tournament, and others who are keen to complete their business early.

Jeremie Frimpong's move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool, and Matheus Cunha's transfer from Wolves to Manchester United are two examples of teams not contesting the Club World Cup taking advantage of the exceptional registration period.

Here, though, we'll be focusing on the clubs who are competing to take home approximately £74m as well as a snazzy new trophy, to keep track of just how different each of the major European teams' XIs will look in the USA compared with on the last day of the regular 2024/25 season.

As well as keeping an eye on where Cristiano Ronaldo turns up...

club world cup trophy
When does the transfer window open and close?
The 2025 summer transfer window will then open again on Monday June 16 until Deadline Day on Monday September 1.

The "mini" transfer window opened on June 1 and closes on June 10 shortly before the Club World Cup gets under way.

It will then reopen on June 16, with deadline day on Monday, September 1 - at precisely 7pm for Premier League and EFL clubs.

Chelsea
Major ins: Liam Delap
Major outs: Jadon Sancho
Liam Delap
Chelsea announced the signing of striker LIAM DELAP on Wednesday - his move to Stamford Bridge from Ipswich costing the Blues a £30m fee.

Meanwhile, they have paid £5m to not sign JADON SANCHO rather than activate the obligation to make his loan from Manchester United permanent.

Goalkeeper has been a glaring issue for Chelsea this season and has led to Enzo Maresca rotating between the sticks, which is why it is no surprise the club are reportedly in talks to sign France number one MIKE MAIGNAN from AC Milan.

Manchester City
Major ins: none
Major outs: Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Dutch midfielder TIJJANI REIJNDERS from AC Milan and hope to have him registered in time for the CWC.

Pep Guardiola's side have also been linked with moves for Lyon's RAYAN CHERKI and Wolves left-back RAYAN AIT-NOURI.

Kevin De Bruyne is leaving City, and won't be part of the Club World Cup, looking to avoid injury that could impact his next move.

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Where did it all go wrong for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool?
By Sam McGuire
Football
Tue June 10, 2025 · 33 min ago
Liverpool don’t get much wrong in the transfer market.

But there’s no escaping it, Darwin Nunez has been a disastrous signing for the Premier League champions.

The 25-year-old moved to Merseyside during the summer of 2022 for an initial fee of £64million. The deal, however, included add-ons totalling £21million.

If his signing worked out, he would, comfortably, be the club’s most expensive purchase, surpassing the £75million paid for Virgil van Dijk.


It all started off so well for the former Benfica man, too. He won a penalty and scored a goal in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City to kick-off the 2022/23 campaign.

The Uruguay international managed to steal the spotlight away from Erling Haaland during his brief cameo at the King Power Stadium.

Darwin then changed the game for Liverpool off of the bench in the season opener against Fulham at Craven Cottage. He scored and assisted in a 2-2 draw.

A red card in his first start for the Reds, a game against Crystal Palace at Anfield, definitely impacted his settling in period. And he was playing catch-up after that.

His suspension coincided with injuries to Liverpool attackers. Jurgen Klopp was forced to tweak things to paper over the cracks. The German tactician started to change the system on what felt an almost weekly basis.

The Reds used a variety of shapes over a short period, with Klopp seeing how things looked in a 4-3-3, a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2. Darwin’s role changed, too. He went from leading the line to being partnered in attack before ultimately being shifted out wide on the left.

Darwin Nunez Liverpool
Darwin Nunez's signing hasn't worked out for Liverpool
Klopp spoke openly about his No27, saying: "The potential is incredible. It’s not only speed, the attitude is really good, he is a real worker, some people out there aren’t sure technically, but it’s incredible. He doesn’t bring it on the pitch at the moment all the time but it’s nothing to do with technique. It’s all possible to develop. It’s really exciting, but where it could go I have no idea."

The Reds continued to struggle though.

The midfield was a huge issue but the lack of protection from the forward line was also a problem. The solution? Cody Gakpo joined in January 2023 and was deployed as a false-nine.

Darwin, moved to the left, had a disappointing end to his debut campaign in England.

His second season in the Premier League was just as frustrating. Yes, he started more games and yes, he scored more goals. But he managed just over 2,000 minutes in the English top-flight. The one-time Almeria man wasn’t a guaranteed starter for the Reds.

In fact, he started just five of the final 10 matches in the Premier League. He failed to start any of the final four games.

Again, it was a disappointing end.

A new manager at Anfield was supposed to present the No9 with a fresh start.

But, if anything, the 2024/25 season was the worst of his Liverpool career.

Fewer minutes than ever before and a reduced goal threat. His time at Anfield is up.

Arne Slot and Darwin Nunez
Arne Slot hasn't been able to get the best out of Darwin Nunez
He’s going to leave the club having scored just 25 league goals. Mohamed Salah scored more than that last term.

Darwin chipped in with 13 assists too. If we’re being honest, 38 goal involvements across 4,875 minutes isn’t a bad return at all, all things considered.

He played different roles in different systems under different managers. Despite the changes, he remained fairly consistent as a goal threat, averaging an expected goals involvement (xGI) of 0.9 in his debut season and 0.95 during the 2023/24 campaign.

Last season, it dropped off to 0.56 as Arne Slot moved away from using the enigmatic centre-forward as a primary threat.

He just wasn’t the goalscorer many thought the club was signing. Darwin underperformed as a finisher. He had an expected goals (xG) haul of 33.7 during this period.

In 2025, he made just four starts for Liverpool. These arrived in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley, the Carabao Cup against Spurs, the Champions League against Lille and the Premier League against Southampton.

It is quite clear that he’s not part of Slot’s plans.

It was quite clear that, despite being a Klopp pick, he wasn’t really part of the German’s plans either. It’s why, at the end of every season, he was barely involved.

And this is why his signing has been such a disaster.

Darwin Nunez scored twice late on
'His signing has been such a disaster'
His arrival was always seen as a gamble. Dr. Ian Graham, the former Head of Research at Liverpool, said as much. When assessing the forward ahead as a candidate, he raised some queries.

"The difficulty with Nunez was that he was a very different type of player to Firmino. My questions were: ‘Are we going to change our style or formation for him?’ Is he a good enough player that it might be worth making those changes?’.

"It was something we had resisted for many years.

"We went through the same data process for Nunez as with other players. I wanted to make sure that everyone knew what a big change it would be with Nunez.

"It was more, ‘Are we sure we’re going to make the best use of him?’."

By all accounts, they weren’t overly convinced. In a piece for The Times in 2024, Paul Joyce confirmed that Darwin was Klopp’s choice and that the recruitment team at Anfield had their eye on someone else.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gives a speech
Jurgen Klopp wanted to bring Nunez to the club
"Nunez was very much a Klopp signing (Liverpool’s recruitment thinktank preferred Christopher Nkunku, then of RB Leipzig, who has spent this season injured at Chelsea) and the manager spoke about how it is his responsibility to provide the player with the confidence to perform."

Klopp got his man and then seemed to regret his decision.

After initially buying into the idea of using Darwin as the primary goal threat and ensuring everything was funnelled his way, turning Salah into more of a creator in the process, the manager seemed to realise he couldn’t trust the No9.

Gakpo arrived and Salah was given more of the goalscoring responsibilities again.

Darwin was impactful. But he wasn’t reliable enough and neither Liverpool manager trusted him enough to build their attack around him.

He was supposed to lead the attack at Anfield for the best part of a decade. Instead, he’s leaving after three frustrating years and the Reds need to navigate a difficult market to bring in a successor.

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Club World Cup: Why FIFA see European domination as disaster
By Alex Keble
Football
Fri June 13, 2025 · 5h ago
Welcome to the billion-pound tournament that nobody wanted, to the Saudi-funded FIFA spectacle plonked at the end of an exhausting campaign, and, maybe, to a really fun summer of football.

If the Club World Cup’s reformatting wasn’t so weighed down by geo-political manoeuvring and FIFA-UEFA feuding, if it hadn’t been inflated into the men’s calendar in the midst of an international crisis of player fatigue, then we might say this is objectively a Very Good Idea.

A club-football equivalent of the World Cup played every four years between the best teams from around the world: what’s not to love? If anything, it’s weird nobody thought of doing it decades ago.

If they had, football would be in a much healthier state.

CWC hero
Arriving at this moment in history there are legitimate concerns that gifting huge sums to competing clubs will kill off domestic leagues around the world, much in the way UEFA Champions League prize money has caused monopolisations in huge pockets of Europe.

But if the Club World Cup had been introduced in this format 20 years ago it might have reshaped football for the better, boosting the finances and reputation of clubs from the Americas just before the Champions League began the brain drain.

Instead we find ourselves preparing for a leap into the unknown and fearing the worst: disinterest from fans and domination from the European contingent.

The Club World Cup is supposed to be a glittery showcase of FIFA's influence and prestige. It could turn out to be the exact opposite, highlighting the immense power imbalance in world football, mocking the idea of a global game, and confirming that UEFA have already won the war.

The favourite non-European clubs are Flamengo and Palmeiras at around 33/1, the same as Newcastle United were priced to win the Premier League last August. The only reason the Brazilian pair are even that short is the possibility Europe’s super-clubs won’t take the competition seriously.

xabi alonso
But money talks, and they will. It is no coincidence that the only outspoken manager on the issue, Carlo Ancelotti, who last year said FIFA can “forget it” and Real Madrid would “refuse the invitation”, is being replaced by Xabi Alonso in time for the Club World Cup.

Europe will compete, and it will conquer.

The World Cup-style format of the competition means we can already predict the pathways to the final. It doesn’t look good for the rest of the world.

There are guaranteed to be four non-European clubs in the second round (Groups A, D, E, and F only contain one club from Europe) but unless there is a truly monumental shock, realistically only two more places are up for grabs: in Group C, Boca Juniors challenge Benfica, and in Group H, Al Hilal could outrank RB Salzburg.

Even if we lean towards optimism and say that six non-European clubs will make it, it is highly likely their second-round opponents will be newly-crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

Out of the probable ties, only two have the potential for upsets: Dortmund v River Plate and Palmeiras v Atletico Madrid, and that’s assuming the Brazilian club can best Porto to the top their group, otherwise they face PSG.

So it’s entirely conceivable – likely, even – that the Club World Cup quarter-finals will be an all-European affair, a disaster for FIFA.

gianni infantino
Their only hope is that the Europeans will be physically and mentally exhausted at the end of their calendar, while those from Argentina and Brazil, right in the middle of theirs, will be at peak fitness.

It’s a nice thought, but the gap between the two continents is vast.

Europe has won 16 of the last 17 Club World Cups, the only exception being Corinthians’ 1-0 victory over Chelsea in 2012, a result that reflected the strange times Chelsea were navigating; Rafael Benitez had replaced Roberto Di Matteo just three weeks earlier.

There are no such caveats for this summer’s contingent. PSG and Bayern are fresh from having won their titles relatively easily; Man City and Chelsea are finding form; and Real Madrid are mentally rejuvenated with Alonso at the helm.

An all-European semi-final is practically guaranteed. If that is extended to the quarter-finals FIFA will be deeply embarrassed.

We could be about to witness Gianni Infantino’s 'Emperor’s New Clothes' moment; a show of supposed strength that reveals to the world, in brutal colour and detail, just how unbalanced FIFA has allowed world football to become.

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Club World Cup: Why FIFA see European domination as disaster
By Alex Keble
Football
Fri June 13, 2025 · 3d ago
Welcome to the billion-pound tournament that nobody wanted, to the Saudi-funded FIFA spectacle plonked at the end of an exhausting campaign, and, maybe, to a really fun summer of football.

If the Club World Cup’s reformatting wasn’t so weighed down by geo-political manoeuvring and FIFA-UEFA feuding, if it hadn’t been inflated into the men’s calendar in the midst of an international crisis of player fatigue, then we might say this is objectively a Very Good Idea.

A club-football equivalent of the World Cup played every four years between the best teams from around the world: what’s not to love? If anything, it’s weird nobody thought of doing it decades ago.

If they had, football would be in a much healthier state.

CWC hero
Arriving at this moment in history there are legitimate concerns that gifting huge sums to competing clubs will kill off domestic leagues around the world, much in the way UEFA Champions League prize money has caused monopolisations in huge pockets of Europe.

But if the Club World Cup had been introduced in this format 20 years ago it might have reshaped football for the better, boosting the finances and reputation of clubs from the Americas just before the Champions League began the brain drain.

Instead we find ourselves preparing for a leap into the unknown and fearing the worst: disinterest from fans and domination from the European contingent.

The Club World Cup is supposed to be a glittery showcase of FIFA's influence and prestige. It could turn out to be the exact opposite, highlighting the immense power imbalance in world football, mocking the idea of a global game, and confirming that UEFA have already won the war.

The favourite non-European clubs are Flamengo and Palmeiras at around 33/1, the same as Newcastle United were priced to win the Premier League last August. The only reason the Brazilian pair are even that short is the possibility Europe’s super-clubs won’t take the competition seriously.

xabi alonso
But money talks, and they will. It is no coincidence that the only outspoken manager on the issue, Carlo Ancelotti, who last year said FIFA can “forget it” and Real Madrid would “refuse the invitation”, is being replaced by Xabi Alonso in time for the Club World Cup.

Europe will compete, and it will conquer.

The World Cup-style format of the competition means we can already predict the pathways to the final. It doesn’t look good for the rest of the world.

There are guaranteed to be four non-European clubs in the second round (Groups A, D, E, and F only contain one club from Europe) but unless there is a truly monumental shock, realistically only two more places are up for grabs: in Group C, Boca Juniors challenge Benfica, and in Group H, Al Hilal could outrank RB Salzburg.

Even if we lean towards optimism and say that six non-European clubs will make it, it is highly likely their second-round opponents will be newly-crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

Out of the probable ties, only two have the potential for upsets: Dortmund v River Plate and Palmeiras v Atletico Madrid, and that’s assuming the Brazilian club can best Porto to the top their group, otherwise they face PSG.

So it’s entirely conceivable – likely, even – that the Club World Cup quarter-finals will be an all-European affair, a disaster for FIFA.

gianni infantino
Their only hope is that the Europeans will be physically and mentally exhausted at the end of their calendar, while those from Argentina and Brazil, right in the middle of theirs, will be at peak fitness.

It’s a nice thought, but the gap between the two continents is vast.

Europe has won 16 of the last 17 Club World Cups, the only exception being Corinthians’ 1-0 victory over Chelsea in 2012, a result that reflected the strange times Chelsea were navigating; Rafael Benitez had replaced Roberto Di Matteo just three weeks earlier.

There are no such caveats for this summer’s contingent. PSG and Bayern are fresh from having won their titles relatively easily; Man City and Chelsea are finding form; and Real Madrid are mentally rejuvenated with Alonso at the helm.

An all-European semi-final is practically guaranteed. If that is extended to the quarter-finals FIFA will be deeply embarrassed.

We could be about to witness Gianni Infantino’s 'Emperor’s New Clothes' moment; a show of supposed strength that reveals to the world, in brutal colour and detail, just how unbalanced FIFA has allowed world football to become.

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Where does Jack Grealish go next? Manchester City winger's options assessed
By Ryan Baldi
Football
Wed June 18, 2025 · 2d ago
In August 2021, Manchester City paid £100 million – a British-record fee at the time – to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, banking on his flair, creativity and potential to be a marquee figure in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side.

He delivered in spades during City’s historic 2022/23 treble, but in the two seasons that have followed, his star has dimmed. Grealish now finds himself an outsider at City, omitted from their Club World Cup squad and facing a summer exit.

His fall from being a key figure in a team that won it all to a peripheral afterthought has been rapid.

And the 29-year-old now faces a crucial summer, with his future at club and international level on the line.

Grealish made 41 starts in all competitions during City’s 2022/23 campaign, scoring five goals and providing 11 assists in 50 total appearances. His impact was tangible, peppering the final third with dribbles, key passes and exuding his trademark confident swagger.

Since then, though, his involvement has declined sharply: In 2023/24, he made only 26 starts and scored just three goals in 36 total games. And last season he featured in just 20 Premier League matches (13 starts), scoring a solitary goal and assisting once.

Grealish’s minutes on the pitch tell an even starker story. He totalled 1,521 minutes across all competitions this past term – down from over 3,500 during City’s Treble run.

In the Premier League alone, he saw just 715 minutes of action in 2024/25 – the equivalent of only eight full games. In 2023/24, he started only 10 of 38 league games and featured in just 40 per cent of available league minutes.

Jack Grealish minutes
Pep Guardiola has been candid, though diplomatic, about Grealish’s fading prominence in his plans. In March, he acknowledged that his other wide options have simply outperformed Grealish.

“Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that’s why I play Savinho,” he said.

Perhaps the final straw came in May when City left Grealish out of their squad for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. For a player once essential to their greatest triumph, this omission is damning.

City’s decision to bolster their squad last summer with more adaptable wingers like Jeremy Doku and Savinho hinted at their lack of faith in the former Aston Villa captain.

And the subsequent additions of Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki all but confirm that Grealish is now surplus to requirements in east Manchester.

With his contract set to run to 2027, City will be determined to offload Grealish this summer, but there doesn’t appear to be a burgeoning market for his signature.

The Saudi Pro League continues to attract big names. There, Grealish could command a large wage with little tactical demand and more game time.

This move, however, would likely see the Birmingham-born star all but give up hope of getting back into the England squad ahead of next year’s World Cup – although a recent call-up for Ivan Toney, who plays for Saudi side Al-Ahly, has proven new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel will not completely discount players who make lucrative moves to the Far East.

Jack Grealish with the FA Cup trophy
Jack Grealish will have to consider a number of options this summer
Napoli have been credited with an interest in Grealish and the freshly crowned Serie A champions make for an intriguing potential next stop.

There, he’d be able to link back up with City icon Kevin De Bruyne. And Scott McTominay’s assimilation to a starring role at the San Paolo last season showed how discarded Premier League stars can reinvent themselves in new surroundings.

It is difficult to imagine Grealish being a comfy fit under the notoriously tactically demanding Antonio Conte, however.

Bayer Leverkusen – now managed by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag – are another European side said to be keen on taking Grealish overseas.

But a more suitable suitor might be found a little closer to home.

Tottenham and Everton are both said to hold strong interest in Grealish. It remains to be seen whether this could amount to a bid for his services or – given the 39-cap England player’s sizeable City salary – a loan offer.

Either way, such a move could revive Grealish’s England prospects under Tuchel as the German coach eyes 2026 World Cup qualification.

Thomas Tuchel
A good move for Jack Grealish could catch Thomas Tuchel's attention
Remaining in the Premier League offers two main advantages for Grealish: familiarity with the environment and keeping his profile high for England selection.

His England involvement has stalled, with no appearances at international level since October 2023. A return to form at Premier League level would be hard to ignore as Tuchel assesses his attacking options.

Grealish’s career at City was initially promising but has ultimately been deeply disappointing. And it now seems to be ending.

Omitted from the Club World Cup, overshadowed by younger, more dynamic players in his position and unable to make a splash in the opportunities he has been afforded, his exit appears imminent.

Where he lands will define his next chapter.

For a player once a central catalyst for a historic treble, Grealish now must find a place where he can play and thrive again. With plenty to prove and a World Cup on the horizon, a crucial summer and a key coming season awaits one of English football’s stalled talents.

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How do you stop Liverpool following their summer recruitment?
By Sam McGuire
Football
Tue June 24, 2025 · 13h ago
The Reds secured their 20th league championship in April with a 5-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield.

They then spent the final month of the campaign flying back from holidays to play their remaining four matches.

In fact, Arne Slot’s side failed to win a single game in the month of May yet still finished 10 points clear of Arsenal and 13 clear of former champions Manchester City.

At the start of the season, few tipped Liverpool to claim a top four place following the departure of Jurgen Klopp. Rival fans then tried to make themselves feel better mid-way through the campaign by suggesting it would be the club's last success for a while.

Why? Well, at the time, it looked as though Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all playing their final year on Merseyside.

Now though, the Reds, in the eyes of many, are the favourites to retain the title.

While Alexander-Arnold did depart on a free transfer to join Real Madrid, Van Dijk and Salah signed on for a further two years. Liverpool moved swiftly to sign a replacement for the right-back by bringing Jeremie Frimpong back to the UK. They also extended Conor Bradley’s contract.

While the former No66 is one of the best in the world at what he does, he wasn’t exactly a natural fit for Slot and his style. The Dutchman is now armed with two right-backs who fit his dynamic.

Not just that, the former Feyenoord boss has two full-backs who are fully focused on Liverpool. A scary thought for rivals.

Liverpool have also upgraded their left-back position too with the arrival of Milos Kerkez.

Andrew Robertson has played a key role in the Reds winning everything following his move from Hull City in 2017 but he is on the wane.

Andy Robertson and Milos Kerkez
Milos Kerkez is set to replace Andy Robertson
There’s no shame in admitting that, he’s played a lot of intense football under Klopp and it’s taken a toll on him. He had a number of nightmare moments last term.

Others might’ve let him see out his last year with the club as a starter. Liverpool weren’t sentimental though. They identified Kerkez early on in the season as the player they wanted and they went about signing one of the best young left-backs in Europe.

Caoimhin Kelleher has already left for Brentford but Liverpool signed his replacement 12 months ago. Giorgi Mamardashvili is coming in from Valencia.

The Georgian shot-stopper has the potential to eventually succeed Alisson Becker between the sticks but, for now, he’s comfortably the best back-up keeper in the Premier League.

The big one, of course, is the arrival of Florian Wirtz.

The 22-year-old moved to Liverpool in a deal worth an initial £100million. If add-ons are met, his fee rises to a British record of £116million.

Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is the big money arrival at Liverpool
The Reds had the most potent attack in the Premier League last term but, it is worth acknowledging here that they were carried by an all-timer of a season put up by Salah.

The burden needed to be eased on him while also replacing the creativity void created by the loss of Alexander-Arnold.

Wirtz does that and then some with 44 Bundesliga goal involvements across the past two seasons and an expected goal involvement (xGI) total of 38 during that period, the Germany international is someone who contributes in the final phase, both with goals and assists.

Liverpool have simultaneously freed up their main man in attack while also adding one of the best attacking threats in the world to their ranks. They’ve not just upgraded their options in the final third, they’ve taken them to another level entirely.

Already, the Premier League champions have improved their squad. And there’s more to come.

After the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35million, the Reds are looking at Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi.

The 24-year-old has just 12 months left on his deal and could be available for as little as £40million. If this move happens, Slot has upgraded his third choice centre-back for just £5million.

Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi could be the next one in at Anfield
That is some going. Last term, the Dutchman was reluctant to use Quansah in games meaning there was an overreliance on Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk. The arrival of Guehi removes that reliance on those two completely.

He gives Liverpool three genuine options at centre-back.

If the Premier League champions can manage the minutes of Van Dijk, something they’ve not ever been able to do before, he might be even better.

There’s also talk that Jorrel Hato could be on his way to Merseyside, possibly as a replacement for Joe Gomez as a fourth choice, versatile centre-back.

Initially, this won’t be an upgrade in quality but by simply being available, the young Dutch centre-back will be able to contribute.

His signing, due to his ability to play as a left-back, also frees Liverpool up to sell Kostas Tsimikas as well as Gomez. The Greek is, reportedly, liked by a host of Premier League clubs.

This could be a genius solution.

Ryan Gravenberch a goal with Kostas Tsimikas
Kostas Tsimikas may depart Liverpool this summer
With Kerkez starting all 38 games for Bournemouth last term, the need for full-time left-back cover isn’t really a requirement. With finite funds, Liverpool can get a little creative by having Hato come in as back-up to the new left-back as well as the skipper.

He gets his minutes across both positions. If he doesn’t become a specialist in a set role, he’s still a decent squad option. It’s a win-win for the Reds.

Richard Hughes, by all accounts, is still looking to bolster the attack too.

This isn’t too difficult either. Yes, Salah is one of the best in the world and he’s simply irreplaceable.

Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo both played their parts in the title success too but Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez mainly had watching briefs as the Reds secured their 20th league title.

Chiesa, for whatever reason, just didn’t appeal to Slot. Darwin seemed to throw in the towel after the January transfer window while injuries, again, limited Jota after a decent start under the Dutchman.

Federico Chiesa
Federico Chiesa couldn't get going during his spell at Liverpool
Liverpool won the title with Diaz playing as a false-nine.

There have been links to Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. A move for the former is likely tied to outgoings. If the champions get big money for those up for sale, they might be able to tempt the Magpies with an offer they simply cannot refuse.

If not, Ekitike seems to favour a move to Anfield even though there’s interest in him from Chelsea and Manchester United.

Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail recently revealed the club are also in the market for a young, versatile forward. The links to Malick Fofana make a lot more sense now.

There’s already been a lot of change at Anfield this summer and there looks set to be more.

A lot of the time, too much change can be a bad thing but the Reds have managed to keep the backbone of the team in place which gives them the best chance of retaining their title.

They’ve kept the core group and added players with the desire to become champions. It is, on paper at least, the perfect recipe for success.

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Have Arsenal already fallen massively behind in the Premier League title race?
By Ryan Baldi
Football
Mon June 30, 2025 · 10h ago
Arsenal have begun this summer’s transfer window with a mixture of smart pragmatism and cautious budgeting.

The signings so far – Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi (subject to expected completion of the deal) and Kepa Arrizabalaga – signal a strategy focused on stability and structural reinforcement.

But as Liverpool race ahead with their blockbuster business, Arsenal may be in danger of being left behind before the season even begins.

Norgaard’s arrival from Brentford, for a fee reported to be around £11 million, is a textbook piece of shrewd business. With Jorginho moving on and Thomas Partey’s future increasingly uncertain, Arsenal needed a steady hand in midfield. Norgaard offers precisely that.


In 2024/25, he featured in 34 Premier League games, contributing five goals and four assists, while ranking in the top quartile for interceptions, recoveries and duels won – at roughly 1.56 interceptions and 6.14 recoveries per game.

His style mirrors Partey’s to a degree: disciplined, defensively astute and reliable. At 31, with leadership evident from his Brentford captaincy, he represents a safe solution without breaking the bank.

In essence, Norgaard is an insurance policy – and a solid one. But at this stage of the game, when competing against deeply reinforced rivals, solidity alone will not suffice. Arsenal need that extra edge.

While Norgaard brings experienced ballast, a confirmed signing of Zubimendi – at a rumoured £55 million – would elevate this midfield from functional to formidable.

Zubimendi is a metronomic presence: calm, composed and adept at recycling possession while disrupting opposing build-up play. That, in turn, frees Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to engage more explosively in the final third without worrying about cover.

Martin Zubimendi
Martin Zubimendi was previously a target for Liverpool
If Arsenal’s deal for Zubimendi goes through, they will have built a midfield axis that blends grit, industry, creativity and control. On paper, that’s a midfield make-up capable of anchoring the team on all fronts.

The arrival of Kepa as back-up to David Raya was a quiet but measured move. Arsenal targeted experience without extravagance.

Kepa, once among the best globally, has since been marred by inconsistency but demonstrated resilience in a solid loan spell at Bournemouth, where he maintained one of the best save percentages in the 2024-25 Premier League season.

Signing him for just £5 million makes sense: low-cost and low-risk.

Despite these pragmatic additions, however, Arsenal’s transfer business so far lacks the lofty ambition needed to truly challenge for the Premier League title. The most glaring deficiencies lie in two key areas: striker and left wing.

Arsenal ended last season relying on Kai Havertz at the point of their attack. And although he was their top scorer, nine league goals from 23 appearances is not the return of a top-level, ruthless goal-getter.

Kai Havertz
Arsenal relied on Kai Havertz to lead the attack
A clinical, prolific No.9 remains their biggest need. Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are both reportedly under consideration. Either would fit the bill.

Sesko, still just 20 but already a Bundesliga star, scored 13 Bundesliga goals in 33 games last season with RB Leipzig. His size and movement would be ideal for Arsenal’s dynamic front line.

Gyokeres, with 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporing CP, offers expert finishing with dynamic speed and off-ball intelligence.

Both are sensibly priced considering their calibre and potential and they fit Arsenal’s model – but neither has arrived yet. And without one, the squad risks carrying last season’s ceiling forward rather than breaking through it.

Arsenal’s width also demands reinforcement. Bukayo Saka remains top-tier, but heavy workload concerns persist; Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard offer depth, but not the world-class impact of a primary left winger.

Rodrygo of Real Madrid has been linked, as has Crystal Palace’ Eberechi Eze – each bringing different but complementary skill sets.

Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze has been linked with a move to Arsenal
The Brazilian offers elite technique and experience; Eze provides creativity and Premier League pedigree. Both would introduce unpredictability and alleviate pressure on Saka, yet neither is signed.

Again, good intentions but tangible progress is needed.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have launched a transfer offensive of breath-taking scale and ambition. Under new manager Arne Slot, they have already spent nearly £200 million on transformative talent.

Liverpool’s biggest, most jaw-dropping move was securing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a potential £116.5 million – making him the most expensive British signing ever.

Wirtz, a precocious talent with 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games last season, brings creativity, incisive passing and attacking intelligence – an ideal foil for Mohamed Salah and co.

Wirtz isn’t merely a luxury; he’s a statement. Liverpool are not content to rest on last season’s success – they want to evolve.

Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is a statement addition for Liverpool
And they didn’t stop in midfield. They have signed Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5 million) to potentially succeed Trent Alexander-Arnold and Milos Kerkez (£45 million) to replace, or at least challenge, Andrew Robertson.

Frimpong brings pace, work-rate and off-ball intelligence from the right; Kerkez offers verticality and defensive assurance from the left.

Further reinforcements are in play for the champions, too: Marc Guehi in defence and perhaps a natural striker, with the Reds reportedly eyeing Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

Their business is both broad and targeted – they’re building a squad with a blend of youth, potential and immediate class.

Last season, Liverpool’s squad depth allowed them to sustain form amidst injuries and fixture congestion. Arsenal, by contrast, wilted under injuries and during periods of fixture pile-up.

Their respective transfer activity so far reinforces that divergence – Liverpool set new standards; Arsenal reinforce existing ones.

Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta is yet to add any attacking reinforcements
It’s not that Arsenal’s additions are unwarranted – they are logical and measured. But retained status and solidity don’t win titles: ambition does.

At this stage, Arsenal must close the transactional gap.

Without the striker and winger they desperately need, Arsenal will enter the next season structurally fortified but strategically hamstrung.

Liverpool have redefined what title-ready looks like: elite midfield creativity, wing-back energy and bench depth. Arsenal have improved stability, but they need an explosive spark to match.

Arsenal have approached the summer with discipline and balance, strengthening midfield and goalkeeper wisely. But in a window defined by ambition and price tags in quadruple digits, prudence may not be enough.

Liverpool have doubled down on success with statement signings that hint at more to come.

Arsenal can no longer wait. To close the gap, they must address their longstanding areas of weakness quickly and comprehensively or else they’ll fall further behind Liverpool before a ball is even kicked.

Solid, sensible but incomplete: that is Arsenal’s current summer summary. The millions not spent will be counted in titles not won.