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Barcelona have reached a breakthrough with Frenkie de Jong, who has agreed to extend his stay until 2029 on reduced wages. Talks had stalled after the Dutchman changed agents, but fresh negotiations revived the process. Joan Laporta insists good news is close, with De Jong’s renewal securing a vital pillar in Hansi Flick’s midfield.

• Contract breakthrough after agent standoff

  According to , De Jong is set to extend his Barcelona contract until 2029 after finally reaching an agreement with the club. The Dutchman’s renewal had been left in limbo after he switched agents earlier this year, but with Sebastien Ledure now handling his affairs, talks have moved quickly. Barca will keep one of their captains and most important midfielders, albeit on a reduced salary compared to his current deal.

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  A key figure in Flick’s midfield rebuild

  The 28-year-old remains central to Flick’s project, often deployed in the double pivot in front of the defence. Alongside Pedri, he provides balance and progression in midfield, making him indispensable when fit. Securing his long-term future gives the Blaugrana club stability as they continue to rebuild under Laporta and Deco, while rivals across Europe had been watching his contract situation closely.

• Laporta delivers renewal update

  Club president Laporta confirmed progress in an interview with , saying: "The renewal with De Jong is being worked on. De Jong has done an extraordinary job. We said we didn't want any player whose contract expires this year, but we made an exception for De Jong because he changed agents. He's motivated; he even says he's sleeping despite having recently become a father. We expect good news soon." 

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  Next steps for De Jong and Barcelona

  De Jong will play out the 2025-26 season on his current terms before the new structure kicks in. The Dutch international remains fully committed and, despite recently becoming a father, is described as highly motivated. Barcelona will now prepare for a midweek clash with Real Oviedo, where De Jong is expected to feature.

With just three days left to salvage their transfer window, Aston Villa are now reportedly closing in on signing a Champions League-winning star who knows all about Premier League football.

Whilst PSR has limited Aston Villa all summer long, there’s still every chance that they could complete some late business. The sale of Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United should have at least freed up some funds to welcome some reinforcements of their own, and there’s no denying that Unai Emery needs it.

The new Rogers: Aston Villa open talks to sign "exceptional" £30m star

Aston Villa are looking to sign a new attacker before Monday’s deadline

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 28, 2025

So far, with two games played, the Villans are yet to win a game. After drawing 0-0 with Newcastle on the opening day, the Midlands club suffered a 1-0 defeat against Brentford to hand Keith Andrews his first victory in charge of the Bees. With Crystal Palace up next in what is historically a tough game for Emery’s side, those at Villa Park should be desperate for fresh faces.

Just who arrives is the big question. Whilst Emery is a clear admirer of Nicolas Jackson, it looks like the out-of-favour Chelsea striker is off to Bayern Munich rather than a Premier League rival. Meanwhile, there’s also plenty of competition in the race to sign Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher and Villa are reportedly among those ready to send an offer to the Spanish club.

Emery is well aware that there’s still work to be done in the window too, having told reporters last week: “The club are working hard to get our structure as strong as possible with the players in the squad, trying to get two players for each position. There is still work to do, maybe even some players leaving more and we will have to sign and complete the squad with some players.”

It’s work that will go right up until the deadline and could even include the arrival of a familiar face in the Midlands.

Aston Villa submit first Asensio offer

As reported by Sacha Tavolieri, Aston Villa have now submitted an opening offer to sign Marco Asensio and are closing in on a deal to sign the Paris Saint-Germain winger worth just €15m (£13m). The Villans are reportedly “confident” that the Spaniard will seal his return for the first time since a successful loan spell at the club last season.

When Asensio arrived last season, he handed Aston Villa the spark that they were beginning to lack alongside fellow loanee Marcus Rashford. There was, therefore, understandable disappointment when the latter sealed a move to Barcelona and it looked as though the PSG star was destined for other things.

In a last-gasp move, however, a player who former Tottenham Hotspur man Andros Townsend called a “special talent” looks likely to join back up with his Aston Villa teammates on a permanent basis.

Ibrahima Konate was fiercely defended by Liverpool head coach Arne Slot amid his rising errors at the back as the Reds look to end their losing run. The French centre-back was shaky against Crystal Palace, gifting two gilt-edged chances in a disastrous first half and picking up a booking in the process. A similar story unfolded at Galatasaray on Tuesday, where his hesitant defending and loose touches under pressure left fans biting their nails.

• Konate's rough patch

  Against Galatasaray, Konate's struggles were compounded by a costly pass that set Victor Osimhen free, forcing goalkeeper Alisson Becker into a desperate sprint. The Brazilian hurt his hamstring in the process and now faces an extended spell on the sidelines, adding to Liverpool’s mounting defensive headaches.

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  Not at ease with the ball at his feet

  Konate’s acknowledged weakness on the ball has long been an area of concern. While the Reds continue to work on improving this aspect of his game, the spotlight is firmly on the Frenchman as Liverpool try to halt a worrying slide. Even going forward, Konate has been frustrated. From corners in both matches, he sent headers wide that should have been hammered home.

• Slot refuses to panic

  "If you are losing a game of football, it doesn’t help if you lose the ball a few times very easily," Slot said at a press conference on Friday. "Ibou has been one of them, but definitely not the only one. Against Galatasaray, apart from the penalty, maybe they got three or four other moments, all from us losing simple balls without any pressure, which happened to him once in the Palace game and once against Galatasaray.

  "If you lose there is so much focus on that moment and, all of a sudden, 90 minutes have been very poor. That’s not the way I analyse a game when I watch it back. I see what we did well and what we did wrong. In the last two games, it has been obvious and clear we have made a few errors, not only him, but also others we are not used to. If you do things that people are not used to then normally the manager gets criticised."

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  Worrying record for Slot

  Liverpool's record this season tells a worrying story: only two clean sheets in ten games and four in 21 since a 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain back in March. Contrast that with four clean sheets in the first six games of last term, and it’s clear Liverpool’s defensive issues run deeper than any one player. It remains to be seen if Slot chooses to stick to Konate against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge or tries out Joe Gomez. 

Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa looks to be a matter of when and not if, with the Englishman following Marcus Rashford in moving to the Midlands side from Old Trafford.

It has not been made clear whether there will be an option or obligation to buy the winger at the end of the season, but he will spend 2025/26 in the West Midlands.

He might not be the only creative player who joins Villa before the window slams shut at 7pm today, either.

Aston Villa exploring another deal alongside Sancho

With the deal to sign Sancho on loan all but confirmed, Villa will move on to their next target. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Villans are now closing in on a move for Harvey Elliot to join Unai Emery’s ranks.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Liverpool star is set to sign on a season-long loan deal, although it would include an obligation to buy as part of that initial temporary switch. According to Ornstein, the Reds are looking for a fee in the region of £35m, should such a clause be included.

Why Elliot would be a good signing

Described as a “diamond” by football scout Antonio Mango, England under-21 international Elliot has impressed for Liverpool. However, with the quality they have in creative areas, such as Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz, it is hard for him to break into the side.

However, his quality is undeniable. He has made 149 appearances for the Reds, with 15 goals and 21 assists to his name. His best campaign came in 2023/24, which was Jurgen Klopp’s final season. Elliot scored three goals and assisted nine in 33 Premier League games.

The former Fulham player shone in the recent under-21 European Championships, too. He was a pivotal part of England retaining their title, scoring five goals in six games and even skippering the side in their final group stage clash.

It is easy to see how Elliot could become the second coming of Morgan Rogers at Villa Park. The newly-crowned PFA Young Player of the Year winner has been sensational under Emery since his move to the West Midlands.

In 73 appearances so far, he’s found the back of the net on 17 occasions and has also chalked up the same number of assists.

Last season in the Premier League, he scored eight times and created 11 goals for his teammates.

It is easy to draw comparisons between the two players. Both are young English talents who excel at operating between the lines and creating chances.

On top of that, they’ve each played for huge clubs, with Rogers coming through the Manchester City academy, and Elliot, of course, at Liverpool.

Statistically, you can compare the players and see the similarities. In the last two Premier League campaigns, Elliot has averaged 2.46 key passes and 2.83 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

As for Rogers, he’s played an average of 1.44 key passes and completed 3.26 progressive carries on average each game.

Signing Elliot could be a huge addition for Villa. He is certainly similar to Rogers, given the playmaking ability he possesses in the final third. For a fee of around £40m, this could be a bargain for Emery and for Monchi on deadline day.

Their own Isak: Aston Villa target £15m “poor man's Haaland” after Sancho

Aston Villa are still searching for new attackers, even amid Jadon Sancho’s impending move to the Midlands

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 1, 2025

Inter president Beppe Marotta believes that Luka Modric thriving in Serie A at the age of 40 is not a bad thing, but in fact a "positive advert" for Italian football. Marotta highlighted the financial disparity between clubs in Serie A and those in leagues like the Premier League and La Liga, pointing to Real Madrid's big-money signing of Argentine teenager Franco Mastantuono as a prime example.

• Modric and other Serie A imports thriving

  Modric, who recently turned 40, signed for AC Milan as a free agent over the summer after spending 13 illustrious seasons at Real Madrid. Kevin De Bruyne was another veteran midfielder who arrived in Italy, bolstering the ranks at defending champions Napoli. The duo have had a bright start to their careers in Serie A, which Inter president Marotta sees as a "positive advert for Italian football". However, he says Italian football simply must accept the financial superiority of other leagues, saying Serie A sides cannot match other European sides when it comes to signing the next generation of young stars. He cited the €45 million (£39m) spent by Real Madrid on Franco Mastantuono as evidence.

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  Marotta gives harsh reality check on Serie A's level

  Speaking at a book launch event on Tuesday, Marotta said: "I don’t think it’s worrying that a 40-year-old is playing at this level in our league. I actually see him as a positive advert for Italian football. Our children fall in love with the game by watching a player like him. But the trajectory of our football is on the decline. Today, our league is a transitional one – it’s no longer the El Dorado it was in the 2000s. Nowadays, players come to us in the latter stages of their careers.

  "All the top Italian clubs can spend, at most, €30–35 million on a 2004, 2005, or 2006-born player. Real Madrid spent €70 million [sic] on Mastantuono. The big clubs in Serie A have to rely on capital gains to operate in the market. Today, that’s a standard feature of club budgets. Without those capital gains, Milan, Inter, and Juventus wouldn’t be able to present a viable financial statement.

  "That’s the difference between Italy and England. English TV rights, especially abroad, are worth four times more than ours and are sold for €3 billion. We barely reach €200 million. The economic aspect simply doesn’t give us competitive power."

• Premier League in a financial league of its own

  According to figures provided by FIFA, the total amount spent by Premier League clubs on transfers in the summer window was more than the combined money spent by teams from the other top five leagues – Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue 1. Per the report, Premier League teams spent a record-breaking $3.19 billion, more than thrice the $950m spent by Serie A teams. Interestingly, teams from La Liga and Ligue 1 spent less than Serie A teams.

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  When will Serie A resume?

  Serie A returns to action on October 18 after the end of the ongoing international break. Roma vs Inter, Como vs Juventus, Atalanta vs Lazio, and Milan vs Fiorentina are some of the high-voltage fixtures which will be played that weekend.

A collection of Glasgow Rangers supporters gathered outside Ibrox ahead of the League Cup clash with Hibernian to make their feelings clear about the state of play at the club.

The fans who attended the ‘protest’ were voicing their anger towards Russell Martin and Patrick Stewart, following the dismal start to the 2025/26 campaign.

Rangers are winless in five in the Scottish Premiership, their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years, and were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by losing 9-1 on aggregate to Club Brugge.

It is, therefore, easy to understand why some supporters have decided that enough is enough and want a change in the dugout at this early stage of the season.

However, the board have stuck by their man and they were rewarded with a positive result against Hibernian on Saturday, as the Gers won 2-0 at Ibrox in the League Cup quarter-final clash.

Nicolas Raskin scoring after being omitted from the last two squads was one headline, but Bojan Miovski getting the monkey off his back was possibly the biggest positive to take away from the match.

Why Rangers need to get Bojan Miovski firing

The Macedonia international scored the second goal of the game for the Light Blues by arriving in the six-yard box at the perfect time to slot the ball into the back of the net from close range.

As you can see in the highlights above, Mikey Moore did well to hook a cross-cum-shot towards goal that allowed the summer signing from Girona to pounce to make it 2-0.

That was potentially a big moment for Miovski because it could be the first of many goals in a Rangers shirt and takes a bit of the pressure off him, as he now has his first goal for the club.

As you can see in the graphic above, the left-footed forward knows how to score goals on a regular basis in Scottish football, having grabbed 32 in two seasons with Aberdeen, and has the quality to step up in the big games.

Seven goals against Celtic and Rangers show that Miovski can be a difference-maker against top-quality opposition, but it is down to Martin to get the best out of him at Ibrox.

The statistics in the table above show that the Gers centre-forward struggled with the physicality of being a lone number nine in his first two appearances for the club, which both came in the Premiership.

This suggests that Martin needs to find a way to structure the team in a way that results in Miovski competing in fewer duels and focusing more on getting into the box to take shots at goal, after two shots in 162 Premiership minutes.

One way to free up the Macedonia international could be to bring summer signing Youssef Chermiti into the starting line-up to play with two strikers, or one striker and a shadow striker or number ten, depending on how you want to view it.

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Chermiti was signed from Everton in a deal worth up to £10m, the highest fee agreed for a signing since Tore Andre Flo in 2000, and that kind of outlay suggests that Martin needs to get him into the XI at some point.

Why Rangers should unleash Youssef Chermiti from the start

Thelo Aasgaard played as the number ten behind Miovski in the 2-0 win over Hibernian in the League Cup on Saturday, but failed to catch the eye with an impressive display.

The Norway international, who scored a hat-trick for his country against Moldova earlier this month, has not delivered a goal or an assist in seven appearances in all competitions so far for Rangers since his move from Luton in the summer.

His lack of impact at the top end of the pitch could open the door for Chermiti to come into the side as the player who plays closest to Miovski through the middle of the pitch.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the Portugal U21 international has the physical presence to occupy opposition defenders to free up the former Aberdeen man in the final third.

Chermiti has yet to prove himself to be a prolific scorer, with no competitive goals for Everton in his two years in the Premier League, but he could be a fantastic foil for Miovski to get the best out of the Macedonia international.

The 21-year-old star, who did show some promise as a scorer in pre-season last year, only made four appearances in the Premier League last term, but won 67% of his aerial duels, per Sofascore.

Chermiti’s physicality was really on show across his 18 appearances in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign, though, as the young marksman showed that he could compete with top-flight defenders on and off the ball.

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese striker was excellent from a physical perspective for the Toffees in that season, competing brilliantly on the deck and in the air.

These statistics suggest that the 6 foot 4 giant has the tools to compete with Premiership centre-backs to occupy them and cause issues in duels, which would free Miovski up to focus on getting into goalscoring positions.

Chermiti, who was described as “powerful” by writer Kai Watson, could prevent the former Girona striker from needing to constantly compete in duels and waste his energy on a part of the game that he does not excel in.

Therefore, Martin could keep Miovski firing after his first goal for the club on Saturday by unleashing the summer signing from Everton over Aasgaard moving forward.

Rangers must regret losing the Harry Kane of Scottish football for nothing

Rangers had their own version of Harry Kane and Michael Beale watched him walk away for nothing.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 18, 2025

Marcus Rashford scored twice and Fermin Lopez netted a brilliant hat-trick as Barcelona thumped Olympiacos 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Hansi Flick's side blitzed their opposition with four goals in 11 second-half minutes, as they took advantage of a remarkably harsh sending off that reduced the visitors to 10 men.

Barca could have had the lead within five minutes, only for Rashford's volley from 10 yards to zip over the crossbar instead of nestling in the top corner. But they didn't have to wait long, as Fermin scored just two minutes later, lashing home after Lamine Yamal had slalomed his way into the box beyond multiple defenders and goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. 

Fermin added a second before half-time, collecting a fine pass from teenager Dro Fernandez, before sitting down a defender and finishing coolly. 

On 49 minutes, Olympiacos had a goal back, as striker Ayoub El Kaabi rose above Eric Garcia to score. However, the strike was ruled out for offside, with a penalty awarded instead due to a handball by Garcia in the build-up; fortunately for the visitors, El Kaabi stepped up and scored again. 

Within six minutes, the Greek side were down to 10 men, as Santiago Hezze was shown a second yellow card for apparently brushing the face of Marc Casado in a decision that left the visitors rightly frustrated. That sense of injustice only deepened when Barca won a penalty after the hour, as Rashford was brought down by Tzolakis. A VAR review was required, and replays suggested that the Manchester United loanee bought the spot-kick, although Yamal had no qualms with putting it straight down the middle from 12 yards. 

Rashford had time to add a fourth with a fine finish from inside the area, before Fermin completed his hat-trick in style with a thumping strike of a bouncing ball. Rashford added a sixth from range to put the cherry on the cake of an easy win ahead of Sunday's Clasico clash with Real Madrid. 

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Wojciech Szczesny (6/10):

  Didn't have a lot to do but was well beaten by Olympiacos' penalty. 

  Jules Kounde (7/10):

  Glanced a header wide in the first half. Barely tested throughout. Subbed as Flick managed his minutes. 

  Pau Cubarsi (7/10):

  Played well. Strong on the ball as well as off it and barely looked troubled by Olympiacos' forays forward.

  Eric Garcia (6/10):

  Handled the ball before Olympiacos' penalty. A little unlucky as he was involved in the usual penalty box jostling.

  Alejandro Balde (7/10):

  Set up Rashford for the fourth, and got up and down the flank as well as he always does. Subbed as Flick cast an eye towards this weekend's Clasico.

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  Midfield

  Pedri (8/10):

  Everywhere in midfield. He mucks in defensively, barely gives the ball away, and stitches together defence and attack with a minimum of fuss. An exceptional operator. 

  Marc Casado (5/10):

  Not as solid as he could be, and was bypassed more than once by Olympiacos. Takes care of the ball well but needs a bit more steel. Also got Hezze sent off with a disgraceful dive, which blots his copybook significantly.

  Dro Fernandez (7/10):

  Found Fermin for his second. Just 17, always looking to get on the ball, and has an assist under his belt. Could be a bit stronger off the ball, but he's a teenager; a very promising start.

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  Attack

  Lamine Yamal (8/10):

  Incredible dribbling before Fermin's opener left Olympiacos' backline at sixes and sevens and the goalkeeper on his back. Smoothly dispatched his penalty straight down the middle. Such a threat.

  Marcus Rashford (9/10):

  Fired a volley over within five minutes, but won the penalty in the second half as he trailed a leg and was brought down by Tzolakis. Scored the fourth with a smart finish, before adding a sixth from the edge of the box after an outrageous first touch. Get him on the plane for the World Cup now!

  Fermin Lopez (9/10):

  Scored the opener, finishing beyond a clutch of Olympiacos bodies after some dazzling Yamal dribbling. Added a second with another ice-cold finish, then completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes to go. He's some player and appears to be realising his significant potential. 

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  Subs & Manager

  Frenkie De Jong (7/10):

  Replaced Dro. Slotted in and played as we all know he can; keeping the ball and making Barca tick. 

  Roony Bardghji (7/10):

  Off the bench, beat his man, slipped, and his cross found Fermin for his hat-trick. A remarkable impact. 

  Gerard Martin (N/A):

  On in the second half. 

  Ronald Araujo (N/A):

  On late. 

  Marc Bernal (N/A):

  Replaced Pedri. 

  Hansi Flick (8/10):

  A perfect evening. Ahead of El Clasico, he will have wanted a straightforward win with the option to rotate thoroughly. Ask, and it shall be done. 

Luciano Spalletti has addressed speculation linking him to the vacant Juventus managerial position following the sacking of Igor Tudor. Speaking at a public event in Milan, the former Italy and Napoli boss offered a cheeky but respectful response, praising Tudor’s work and admitting that “whoever replaces him will be lucky” to inherit a team ready to compete.

• Spalletti responds to Juve links with class and humour

  Former Italian manager Spalletti has reacted to reports that Juventus are eyeing him as Igor Tudor’s replacement, just a day after the Croatian coach was dismissed following a dismal run of results. The former Italy and Napoli boss, speaking at an event in Milan, didn’t shy away from the rumours but handled the subject with a blend of humour and humility.

  “I thought we were talking about something else,” Spalletti said with a grin when asked about the Juventus links. “If I had to say something about Juventus, I’d gladly say it in favour of Tudor. I’ve met him and he seemed like a serious, valuable person. I’ve seen him work well on the bench, and he gave me the impression of a person of substance, someone who goes straight to the heart.”

  The 66-year-old coach, who won the Scudetto with Napoli in 2023 before managing Italy, added that “whoever replaces Tudor will be lucky; he’ll certainly find a team he can manage. Juventus is a great club with a great history. I think anyone would be happy to coach them; it could be the fortune of any coach.”

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  Spalletti shows respect for Tudor and Juve's legacy

  Spalletti’s remarks carried both empathy for Tudor and admiration for Juve, reflecting the coach’s trademark diplomacy. He emphasised that despite the speculation, his first thoughts were with the man who had just lost his job. “When we talk about this situation, the first thought goes to Tudor, who was fired, and I know very well what it’s like to be in the shoes of the guy who’s been let go,” he explained.

  Tudor’s sacking came after Juventus failed to win any of their last eight matches in all competitions, leaving them eighth in Serie A and six points off the top. The club issued a brief statement confirming his departure on Monday: “Juventus FC announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as coach of the men’s first team.”

  Despite the downturn, Spalletti insisted that Tudor had done good work. “He seemed like a good person to me, a tough guy, a true professional, and whoever is lucky enough to go and coach Juve will surely find a motivated, well-coached team because it was clear that he did his job to the fullest,” he added.

• Juventus step up up talks with Spalletti after Tudor's exit

  According to , Juventus have accelerated their pursuit of Spalletti following Tudor’s dismissal. The club’s directors, led by Damien Comolli, are reportedly planning direct talks with the 66-year-old, who is currently out of work following his sacking from the Italy job earlier this year.

  The proposed deal is said to be short-term, valid until the end of the season, with an automatic extension clause if Juve qualify for the Champions League. Spalletti, for his part, is understood to be “open” to the challenge but is seeking a longer commitment. Juventus’ offer could therefore evolve into a one-and-a-half-year deal to satisfy both parties.

  If negotiations fail, Juventus have reportedly lined up alternatives including Roberto Mancini, recently linked with a Serie A return, and Raffaele Palladino are on standby. However, the reports in Italy suggest Spalletti remains the clear frontrunner.

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  How Spalletti's Juve could look?

  The coming days could prove decisive in determining Juventus’ managerial future as talks between the Bianconeri hierarchy and Spalletti are expected to intensify this week, with the club eager to secure stability before their next Serie A fixture against Udinese.

  Should Spalletti take the Juventus job, his tactical setup is expected to differ markedly from Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 formation. The veteran coach has traditionally favoured a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, systems that prioritise quick transitions and creative interplay between midfield and attack. The flexible shape mirrors the one Spalletti used successfully at Napoli, where he crafted one of Serie A’s most fluid and entertaining teams, powered by Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

  Juve have struggled for goals and consistency, failing to score in four consecutive matches and sitting outside the European qualification spots. The appointment of a proven tactician like Spalletti could reignite their campaign and restore belief among supporters.

  As for Spalletti, the Juventus job represents both risk and redemption, a chance to return to Serie A after his abrupt Italy exit and to rebuild one of the country’s most iconic clubs. Whether he accepts the challenge remains to be seen, but his words alone have already captured the respect of Turin and beyond.

Everton will be hoping for an easier campaign in the Premier League than the last three have offered, with the Toffees fighting for their top-flight status on several occasions.

As the Blues aim to progress in their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, Football FanCast have taken a look at how much the Merseyside club spends on wages and who comes out on top as the club’s top earners. All earnings are based on reports via Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Here's a look at the top 10 highest earners at Everton:

10

Seamus Coleman

£55,000 a week

Club legend Seamus Coleman is the first on the top 10 list, currently earning around £2.86m a year with the Toffees. In fact, Everton only paid £60,000 to sign the right-back back in 2009, so it’s safe to say he’s been one of the bargains in Premier League history.

The Irishman is under contract until the end of the 2025/26 season.

9

Vitaliy Mykolenko

£58,000 a week

On the left-hand side, Vitaliy Mykolenko is on slightly more than Coleman, earning £58,000 a week. The Ukraine international was signed back in January 2022 from Dynamo Kyiv and has been first choice when fit.

Mykolenko’s current deal is due to expire in 2026.

8

Beto

£60,000 a week

Beto was brought to Merseyside back in the summer of 2023 from Italian side Udinese at a reported cost of more than £25m.

Under contract until 2027, the forward’s salary is thought to be worth more than £3m per season, and he has jumped up the pecking order following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Everton exit.

7

Michael Keane

£80,000 a week

Michael Keane’s game time has been up and down with the Toffees, and he has failed to make more than 30 Premier League appearances in a season since 2021/22.

Whether or not Everton should soon move the player on is another question, with his contract set to expire in 2026.

6

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

£90,000 a week

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cost Everton an initial £24m from Chelsea in the summer of 2025 and signed a five-year deal with the Toffees.

During that time, the midfielder is in line to collect more than £23m in wages, so the total cost of a transfer for Everton could reach close to £50m.

5

James Tarkowski

£100,000 a week

James Tarkowski has played a significant amount of football since arriving at Goodison Park following Burnley’s relegation in 2022.

Indeed, the experienced centre-back has made more than 100 appearances for the Toffees and is under contract until 2026, where he picks up an eye-catching £100,000 a week.

4

Idrissa Gueye

£120,000 a week

Having been re-signed from Paris Saint-Germain, Idrissa Gueye returned to a key role in the Everton midfield where he has featured heavily since making the move back to Merseyside.

He also returned on big money. Gueye seemingly took a pay cut to return to Everton, albeit at £10,000 more than his initial Toffees salary. However, his wages have since increased to £120,000 a week.

3

Jarrad Branthwaite

£120,000 per week

Jarrad Branthwaite committed his future to Everton in 2025, signing a new five-year deal which saw his wage increase dramatically.

Previously on £35,000 per week and attracting interest from numerous European giants, the Toffees offered the defender a £6.24m per season deal, a contract Branthwaite swiftly accepted.

2

Jordan Pickford

£125,000 a week

England’s number one, Jordan Pickford, picks up a huge £6.5m per year salary at Goodison Park, with his latest contract being signed back in 2023

Pickford is under contract with Everton until 2027, but there has been talk of the ‘keeper remaining with the Toffees for the rest of his career.

1

Jack Grealish

£225,000 a week

Top of the charts as Everton’s highest earner is loanee Jack Grealish, who arrived from Manchester City over the summer.

The Toffees are paying a huge percentage of Grealish’s £300,000 per week contract, with those at the Etihad picking up the remaining £75,000.

There are plenty of ways to bet on the Major League Baseball action on Sunday, but two of my favorite plays happen to be in the prop market on two starting pitchers.

Usually, I like to back some of the best pitchers in the league in the prop market, but this Sunday I’m actually fading two pitchers in different props. 

With Zack Wheeler and Corbin Burnes taking the mound in Baltimore, I have questions about one of their strikeout props, and there’s also a starter in the Kansas City Royals-Los Angeles Dodgers game that could be in a rough spot.

Here’s a breakdown of the two props I’m betting on Sunday.

Best MLB Prop Bets for Sunday, June 16

• Corbin Burnes UNDER 6.5 Strikeouts (-135)
• Brady Singer OVER 5.5 Hits Allowed (-160)

Corbin Burnes UNDER 6.5 Strikeouts (-135)

Baltimore ace Corbin Burnes has been great in 2024 – posting a 2.08 ERA in 14 starts, but the strikeout numbers haven't really been there compared to previous years.

Burnes has fallen under 6.5 punchouts – his line on Sunday – in 12 of his 14 starts this season, only clearing this prop one time since striking out 11 hitters on Opening Day. 

The Phillies average 8.24 strikeouts per game this season, but I’m not sold on Burnes cruising past this number. He ranks in just the 62nd percentile in strikeout percentage this season, and he has just 16 strikeouts over his last three starts (five, five and six) despite throwing seven innings in each of them. 

This number is simply too high to back since Burnes is 2-for-14 on it this season. 

Brady Singer OVER 5.5 Hits Allowed (-160)

Kansas City Royals starter Brady Singer is in for a tough matchup against the No. 1 team in OPS on Sunday. 

The Dodgers rank third in Major League Baseball in hits this season, and Singer has gotten off to an awful start in June, allowing 16 hits across two starts. 

Over his last five outings, he’s allowed nine, six, four, nine and seven hits in those games, pushing his season-long WHIP to 1.22. 

Singer is going to have a tough time with this Dodgers lineup, especially since he was tagged by another elite offense – the New York Yankees – for seven hits and seven runs in his last game. 

Take the OVER on this prop, even though you have to lay some juice.