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Fabrizio Romano has shared some transfer news concerning Chelsea this week, as Enzo Maresca’s side take a particularly keen interest in one highly-rated player from an elite European side.

Chelsea make January transfer plans amid weaknesses in key areas

The Blues ended last summer’s window as one of the Premier League’s highest spending teams, but somehow managed to register a profit by selling a plethora of unwanted players.

Chelsea brought in a host of attacking stars in that time, sealing deals for the likes of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Facundo Buonanotte.

However, despite making attempts to sign a new goalkeeper and star centre-back, Maresca’s side came up short in that regard.

Chelsea held talks to sign AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who wanted to join the west Londoners, but couldn’t agree on a price. Meanwhile, defender Dean Huijsen was also subject to an offer from Chelsea, according to reliable media sources, only for Real Madrid to eventually win the race for Bournemouth’s once-coveted starlet.

With Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah unavailable for their vital Premier League clash against Liverpool this weekend, BlueCo’s failure to sign a centre-half in particular is now coming back to haunt them.

Jorrel Hato can play at the heart of defence when required, but is primarily viewed as a left-back to cover Marc Cucurella.

That being said, due to their major shortage of options, Maresca will have little choice but to play the Dutchman alongside Benoit Badiashile against Arne Slot’s side on Saturday.

Chelsea want to address the centre-back problem in January, and it is believed that they’ve reached out for talks with Marc Guehi’s camp this week as they attempt to gauge the feasibility of a cut-price winter deal (Simon Phillips).

Guehi would be the perfect option with his contract expiring at the end of the season, potentially meaning he’s available for a very attainable fee next window, but it remains to be seen whether Oliver Glasner would sanction his exit midway through the campaign with Palace flying high right now.

Chelsea are also ready to go back in for Maignan and sign the Frenchman on a pre-contract in January (Graeme Bailey), so it appears Maresca’s side are very aware of their defensive frailties as they make transfer plans for early 2026.

That isn’t to say they haven’t still got their eyes on further attacking upgrades, though, with Juventus star Kenan Yildiz believed to be attracting real attention from Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea "very" interested in signing Kenan Yildiz

The Turkey international was Juve’s star player last season, bagging 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions, and the Old Lady are well aware of growing interest from England.

Yildiz has continued that fine form in a second striker role under Igor Tudor this term, with two goals and four assists in seven games already.

Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel in Italian, says that Chelsea are “very” interested in signing Yildiz, but Juve are planning to negotiate fresh terms and keep him out of Premier League’s clutches.

The 20-year-old fits Chelsea’s recruitment strategy down to the ground as one of Serie A’s rising stars, and they will undoubtedly continue to keep tabs on his exploits.

That being said, Maresca’s far more pressing issue is the gaping holes in his defence, so that should absolutely take priority over a move for Yildiz right now.

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa says he will step up as a leader during the club's time of need as the Reds continue to struggle under Arne Slot this season. The Premier League champions have lost four games in a row to put their title defence in serious doubt, with captain Virgil van Dijk admitting he held a players' meeting after the loss to Manchester United a few weeks ago.

• Chiesa starting to prove his worth

  Chiesa has had a mixed career at Liverpool so far. Injuries have hampered his progress at Anfield, but this season he has looked back to his best. Still, his three goal contributions in seven Premier League outings this term have not seemed to help the Reds, with the Merseyside club now sitting seven points off of top spot. The most recent setback came away to Brentford on Saturday – a 3-2 loss that Chiesa admitted stunned the Liverpool players into silence.

  He said: "No one was speaking, because afterwards everyone knows. Sometimes you don’t have to speak about the situation. You know what’s going on. So no one spoke because I think we have to think about what we can do better. Usually when we are in this situation the first thing that comes to your mind is to give more and train harder. It was good that after the game we didn’t talk because it’s a sign that everyone wants to change the situation.

  "Of course, after we went to the bus and we started to talk about the situation, the first thing is that we don’t have to blame anything or anyone. We’re not winning, and there could be many reasons for that, but we have to bounce back. Personally, I don’t care if it’s this (reason) or that which is causing us not to win. For me, the most important thing is to work harder."

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  Ready to lead his team-mates

  While Chiesa is confident he and his team-mates will dig deep to rediscover the form that made them champions last season, the Italian also claims he is ready to step up and lead, with his confidence coming from the huge support of the fanbase.

  He added: "I’m honoured to have such a big support from the fans, because we’re talking about Liverpool fans. Playing for Liverpool is an honour, and having this kind of support is amazing. So yeah, I feel that I can give a bit of leadership on the pitch, because I’m 28 and we have a lot of players that are around 24, or like Florian [Wirtz] just 22. Of course, then we have Virgil [van Dijk], we have Mo [Salah], but I think for the games that I have played in my past, I can bring that [experience] to our game."

• Fit and firing after stuttering start

  The former Juventus attacker missed 14 games for Liverpool through injury last season, but still collected a Premier League winners' medal in May. He has already made more appearances in the top flight this term than he did across the entirety of the last campaign, and Chiesa's main goal now is to get the club back to the top, where he feels they belong.

  He said: "Last year I wasn’t fit enough. I wasn’t mentally ready and I didn’t play. I was totally okay with it because I wasn’t up to speed with the other lads. This year, I felt as soon as we started I felt better physically and mentally. I have played more and I still need to play more to reach the level. I was playing a lot when I won the Euros [with Italy in 2021]. I’m a different player now, but I like where I’m going and I like the fact I have improved in many aspects of my game, apart from the fact I have lost a bit of speed!

  "I want to play well. That’s my main goal. Then the coach is going to decide whether I’m starting or not. But if I keep on playing well, then, of course, I’m going to have more minutes. That’s because the coach sees that. He showed that to me because I’ve been playing better. At the moment I’m happy with what I’m doing. I’m not happy with what the situation is like for the team because we’re not winning, but, personally, I think I’m giving a lot to the team, to the fans and I want to keep doing that in order to win in the future. That’s the main reason I’m doing this. Obviously, I want to stay here and I want to win for Liverpool again."

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  Long way to the finish line

  Liverpool's hot start may have faltered, but they will not be giving up yet. There are still 29 matches to be played in the domestic campaign, and current Premier League leaders Arsenal have earned a reputation for bottling at the crucial moment. Next up for the Reds is a Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace, a team they have already fallen to this season.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS — All-Star home runs are not created equally. Some mean more than others. And sometimes they have nothing to do with the scoreboard.

Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox hit an especially meaningful one in MLB’s 94th All-Star Game Tuesday night. Sure, the two-run blast in his first All-Star at-bat broke a tie and sent the American League to a 5–3 win. But the bigger meaning was evident on the words written on the white athletic tape wrapped around his wrists as he hoisted the Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP Award, a crystal bat named for another Boston outfielder.

On his right wrist, next to a cross, in ballpoint ink were written the words, “Still alive.” On the left, also next to a hand-drawn cross, were two words that in harsher language equated to “Forget ‘em.”

Duran has emerged from the darkness of battling mental health issues in recent years to become a very public advocate of mental health. He started writing those messages on his wrists last season. “Still alive” is a reminder to himself that he is still here after doubting if that would even be possible, and that a bad game is nothing compared to what he went through. The explicit version of “Forget ‘em” reminds him not to allow the doubters and haters to pierce his confidence and self-worth.

The same player who hit .219 in his first two seasons in the big leagues, falling into bouts of anger and darkness, hit .295 last year and is hitting .284 this year with double digits in doubles, triples, homers and steals—one of only a dozen players ever with a first-half quadruple-double and the first since Jose Reyes in 2008.

And now: the All-Star Game MVP and recognition from Red Sox manager Alex Cora that he is one of the leaders and core pieces of the next championship Boston team. A night that began as the national introduction of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes ended with Duran and his advocacy for mental health taking the national spotlight.

Asked if the MVP award proved something to himself about being the best of the best, Duran replied, “You know me. That's not how I think about myself. So, I'm definitely not thinking I'm the best of the best. I'm a guy that keeps my head down and just works hard. I don't like to think of myself better than anybody else. So, I'm just here to work hard. There's so many good players in this league. I'm just thankful that I can play against these guys.”

Duran’s openness about sharing his battle with mental health has encouraged others to reach out to him in gratitude. He welcomes the responses because he understands what many of them are experiencing. His story already has had a major impact. It just got bigger with his first swing in an All-Star Game.

“I mean, All-Star Game, first home run, All-Star Game MVP … it is a first,” he said. “And I'm just very thankful. It's hard to put into words. It won't hit me until I try to go to sleep tonight. Who knows if I'll be able to sleep tonight.”

Roy Keane has slammed Liverpool supporters for booing Trent Alexander-Arnold on his first return to Anfield since joining Real Madrid, accusing them of lacking 'class' after jeering a player who gave 'his everything' to the club. The Manchester United legend was left 'shocked' by the treatment of the local hero, who was booed throughout his late cameo in Los Blancos' Champions League defeat.

• Alexander-Arnold booed on Liverpool return

  Alexander-Arnold endured a frosty reception on his return to Anfield as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday night, with Liverpool supporters loudly booing their former academy star when he came off the bench late in the Champions League tie. The 27-year-old right-back, who left Liverpool last summer after running down his contract, was introduced in the 80th minute but was greeted with jeers from sections of the home crowd, though a few fans were also seen applauding his appearance. The mixed response highlighted lingering resentment among fans who were angered by his decision to depart on a free transfer to Madrid, forcing the club to accept a nominal £10 million fee to release him early.

  The tension surrounding his return had been building all week, especially after his mural near Anfield was vandalised with white paint and graffiti branding him a “rat.” The mural, depicting his reaction to Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League triumph, was defaced ahead of Real Madrid’s visit, setting the tone for an emotionally charged night. Supporters also loudly backed current right-back Conor Bradley, who starred in Alexander-Arnold’s old position during Liverpool’s 1-0 victory.

  Despite the hostile atmosphere, Alexander-Arnold appeared composed, declining to react to the crowd as he entered the pitch and later telling reporters he would “always love the club” regardless of how he was received. However, the booing sparked debate among pundits, with Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher clashing over whether Liverpool fans were justified in their response to one of their homegrown heroes.

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  Roy Keane blasts Liverpool fans for jeering TAA

  Keane was quick to condemn Liverpool supporters for their reaction, questioning the club’s long-standing reputation for having “classy” and loyal fans. “The reputation of Liverpool fans is that they are loyal and a level up from most supporters,” Keane said on Stick to Football. “Whatever anyone else says, I think for any player to go back with the service he gave — his contract was up — to boo him, I find that really poor.”

  The former Manchester United captain went on to highlight Alexander-Arnold’s achievements at the club, insisting that the defender deserved respect after nearly a decade of service. “Why would you go to a match and boo a lad who has played 260 or 270 games? His stats are fantastic, he’s helped the club win two Premier League titles and a Champions League,” Keane argued. “You don’t have to wish him luck at Madrid, but to go out of your way to boo him — for a local lad — Liverpool fans have to have a good look at themselves.”

  Keane also praised Alexander-Arnold’s quiet conduct throughout his final months at Anfield, contrasting it with players who make public declarations of loyalty before leaving. “The beauty with Trent over the last year or two is that he’s said very little,” he added. “He’s not gone around saying, ‘I love this club, I’ll stay forever.’ He kept his head down, didn’t play games with the fans. Sometimes that’s the best thing you can do.”

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  Carragher 'understands' Liverpool fans' frustrations with TAA

  Carragher, who spent his entire career at Liverpool, had already expected the kind of reaction Reds fans would eventually have on Alexander-Arnold's return. However, the former centre-back had a very different opinion compared to Keane: "Supporters decide what type of reaction he gets. The reason why it will be poor is because Trent, throughout those 20 years, has played the position of ‘I’m a supporter on the pitch,’” Carragher said earlier in the week. “The supporters in the stadium wouldn’t leave on a free transfer and go and play for Real Madrid.”

  Carragher pointed to Alexander-Arnold’s silence in the months leading up to his exit as a source of fan anger, arguing that it created a sense of betrayal among the Anfield faithful. “If what he’s said before — that Liverpool is the only team for him and he wants to be a legend here — was true, then you don’t leave when you’ve just won the league title and can go on to win more,” he explained. “A lot of fans feel they’ve been hoodwinked because Trent stayed quiet while others like Salah and Van Dijk publicly stated they wanted to stay.”

  The former Reds vice-captain acknowledged that the defender had every right to pursue a new challenge but maintained that the timing and manner of his departure were always going to sting. “He’s been brilliantly successful and he’s entitled to do what’s right for his career,” Carragher added. “But you can’t be surprised if supporters feel hurt — it’s emotional, especially when you’ve come through the academy and represented the club your whole life.”

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  Conor Bradley shows up Alexander-Arnold on his Anfield return

  The fallout from Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield return looks set to continue, with debate raging over how Liverpool supporters handled the situation. While many fans insist their reaction was born out of frustration at the way he left, others believe the booing tarnished the club’s reputation for class and loyalty.

  For Alexander-Arnold, his return ended in disappointment as Real Madrid fell 1-0 in a game dominated by Liverpool. The defender, who has yet to establish himself as a regular starter under Xabi Alonso due to injuries, cut a subdued figure at full-time, applauding the home crowd before leaving the pitch. Despite the cold reception, he is understood to have met privately with several former teammates and staff members after the match, reinforcing his own insistence that he still “loves” the club.

  The Reds, meanwhile, seem to have found their Alexander-Arnold replacement in the form of Bradley. Liverpool did sign Jeremie Frimpong to replace the Englishman earlier this summer; however, Bradley has shown that he is better suited to the role, while Frimpong also continues to struggle with fitness.

Manchester City are set to mount another Premier League title challenge and could now be primed to raid South America to sign a promising starlet.

Man City mark Premier League return with win over Everton

The international break is always a time to reset for players and managers alike, and Manchester City seem to have lived up to that mantra after claiming an impressive victory over Everton on Saturday.

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring exploits and Tijjani Reijnders’ industry in midfield proved to be crucial on a day where Pep Guardiola was able to celebrate, albeit, the Catalan boss made it clear that he expects more from his attacking support players to ensure there isn’t an over-reliance on the Norwegian.

He stated: “(I’m) disappointed he did not score four or five. All jokes aside, really pleased but we can not rely on just him, we need other players. Wingers, attacking midfielders. They have to make a step up and score goals. We play to provide Erling with quality and passing but other players have to step up.

“The chances were clear and they have to score. At this level they have to demand themselves. Chances from Savinho and Jeremy and Tijjani – they have to score. They have to do it otherwise we can’t do what we want to do.”

Either way, Manchester City find themselves only three points off league leaders Arsenal after ironing out some of their earlier issues in the campaign, representing a stark contrast to their shaky form at this stage last season.

Notoriously, the Citizens’ plethora of attacking talent has offered them a platform to compete across several fronts, and they may now be about to repeat the trick amid developments involving a potential target.

Man City eye move for River Plate youngster Ian Subiabre

According to TBR Football, Manchester City are among a host of clubs keen on River Plate youngster Ian Subiabre, who has been in fine form for Argentina at the Under-20 World Cup with two goals in six appearances.

In a prospective transfer, which could see the youngster embark on a path similar to that of Julian Alvarez, he has registered a goal and an assist in 15 appearances for the South American giants in 2025.

Pat Nevin slams Everton star who will "infuriate" Toffees fans in Man City defeat

He struggled again…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 18, 2025

Capable of featuring on either flank, Subiabre is on the radar of Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion, Fulham, and Crystal Palace.

Intriguingly, Manchester City made contact with the 18-year-old around the time they brought in Claudio Echeverri, and they remain keen on doing a deal as his stock continues to rise in Europe.

Now, it remains to be seen if they can beat competitors to his signature, with Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Monaco and RB Leipzig offering further options for Subiabre to further his career. Addressing his situation, Graeme Bailey has made it clear that a 2026 move could appeal to all parties, though didn’t give much away on his potential destination.

He said: “Speaking to scouts and clubs, the belief is now that we see Subiabre move in 2026. It is likely in the summer, but don’t be surprised if someone gets a deal done in January.”

Baseball fans were not having it with Dave Roberts's latest quote.

On Monday afternoon on the eve of Game 3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers' NLDS matchup with the San Diego Padres, Roberts made an odd statement.

The Dodgers manager was asked about reports of Padres third baseman Manny Machado tossing a ball into the L.A. dugout during a contentious Game 2 on Sunday night. Roberts claimed he saw video that showed Machado throwing a ball at him that was stopped by a net. He said he thought there was "intent behind it."

Video is below.

For his part, after the game, Machado claimed he was throwing the ball over to the ball boy, something he does often.

Roberts then followed up his claim about Machado by saying, "That team over there, they like the villain-type kind of role."

That's an odd thing to say the night after Dodgers fans threw things at Padres players on multiple occasions during their 10–2 win over L.A. in Game 2. Also, it's rich to hear someone associated with a team that spent roughly $1.2 billion over the offseason discuss another team embracing a "villain-type kind of role."

MLB fans weren't on board with Roberts's statement.

Yeah, not sure that characterization is going to go over well with people after what happened Sunday night.

West Ham won their first home game since February, and their first under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo, by beating travel sick Newcastle 3-1.

Lucas Paqueta’s strike, Sven Botman own goal and Tomas Soucek’s goal at the death saw the Hammers, who have looked relegation certainties over their first nine matches, register probably the shock of the weekend in the Premier League.

It was so long ago that West Ham last won at home – 248 days to be precise – that even Newcastle had tasted victory at the London Stadium more recently than them.

Some mutinous West Ham fans planned to stage a sit-in after the match in protest against the club’s owners, and for once the team gave them a reason to stay until the end.

Goalkeeper and defenders

Alphonse Areola – 7

It would be harsh to attach any blame to Areola for the goal, with the goalkeeper being let down by his defenders, who shouldn’t have allowed Jacob Murphy to get his shot away.

Otherwise, the Frenchman was solid, most notably producing a fine stop to prevent Anthony Gordon just before half-time, but in truth he had very little to do.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 8

Wan-Bissaka’s constant overlapping runs provided an attacking threat for the Hammers, and it was the right-back who made the biggest contribution to their second goal.

After being played through down the right, the 27-year-old put in a dangerous cross, forcing a mistake from Sven Botman, who turned the ball into his own net.

Jean-Clair Todibo – 8

West Ham’s defensive record this season has been very poor, reaching 20 goals conceded in the shortest period of time since 1967, and Todibo has struggled, receiving a 5.7 SofaScore match rating after the 5-1 defeat against Chelsea.

However, the centre-back put in a much better performance today, making 10 clearances, the highest number of any player on the pitch

Max Kilman – 7

The Englishman wasn’t quite as impressive as his centre-back partner, and had some shaky moments in the first half, but it was a solid display from the 28-year-old.

In truth, Newcastle barely threatened even when they were chasing the game in the second half, but Kilman dealt with everything asked of him.

El Hadji Malick Diouf – 7

It was a mixed performance from the left-back, who should have done far more to prevent Murphy’s goal, giving the winger way too much space to get his shot away.

However, the Senegal international was otherwise impressive from a defensive point of view as showcased by his first-half performance.

Midfielders

Freddie Potts – 7

Potts came agonisingly close to getting his first West Ham goal, finding the back of the net from close range in the second half, only for it to be ruled out due to Tomas Soucek being slightly offside in the build-up.

It was a shame the academy graduate was unable to get off the mark, as it would’ve capped off a solid all-round performance from the midfielder, who threatened going forward and helped keep things tight at the back.

Lucas Paqueta – 9

Rumours about Paqueta’s future continue to swirl, with Fabrizio Romano recently revealing the attacking midfielder could leave in January, but his performance today was not that of a player who wants out.

The 28-year-old got his side back into the game with a fine strike from outside the box, which was his first goal from open play since January, although Nick Pope arguably should have done better.

Regardless, Nuno will be hoping the former Lyon man breaking his duck will give him renewed confidence, as he could play a key role in digging the Hammers out of relegation trouble.

Mateus Fernandes – 7

While Fernandes didn’t have as much of an impact on the game as Paqueta, the midfielder caught the eye at times, picking up his first assist in a West Ham shirt when he set up the Brazilian’s equalising goal.

With Nuno deciding to implement a more defensive game plan, the 21-year-old was withdrawn with five minutes to play, but he should certainly be happy with his all-round performance, recording an 88% pass-completion rate and making three defensive contributions to keep the Magpies at bay.

Forwards

Jarrod Bowen – 8

Very unlucky not to open the scoring in the first half, hitting the post before Murphy went down the other end and scored, Bowen was once again a bright spark for the Hammers.

Although the Englishman didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet, he was a real threat, and will undoubtedly continue to be important going forward as Nuno’s side try to stave off relegation fears.

Crysencio Summerville – 7

Summerville also had some lively moments, forcing Pope into a save with a decent strike in the first half, but the winger didn’t have as much impact on the game as Bowen.

The 24-year-old is without a goal or an assist since the 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest back in August, and he will need to start creating more chances going forward.

Callum Wilson – 6

With Niclas Fullkrug yet to return from injury, Wilson led the line once again this afternoon, but the 33-year-old was largely ineffectual, barring a good effort that produced a save from Pope in the first half.

The striker has scored just one goal since arriving from Newcastle in the summer, and today’s performance suggests he may have a tough time keeping his place in the side when Fullkrug is available for selection.

Substitutes: Tomas Soucek (8), Kyle Walker-Peters (6), Igor (6)

The center midfielder, who was a mainstay for the USMNT during the 2022 World Cup, is in danger of missing out on the 2026 tournament on home soil. Could a new manager at Atalanta change his fortunes?

On Aug. 26, Yunus Musah made it clear that he had big plans for the 2025-26 season at AC Milan.

"The nearest goals and achievement for me are winning trophies here at Milan," he told ESPN. "This season we have the possibility to win three trophies [Serie A, Coppa Italia, Italian Supercoppa]. I'd love to win all three of them. And also then go to the national team and win more trophies as well."

That all sounded good. There was confidence, gusto, the idea that Musah believed that all of those things were possible Milan and the USMNT. A week later, he was holding up an Atalanta shirt, grinning, after agreeing to a year-long loan to Milan's direct rivals. Just over two months after that, he is out of the U.S. squad after barely playing for his new club. 

It is impossible to speculate on the minutea here. But some things are true. The first is that Musah has played just under 300 minutes of football this season. He has also played for two different club managers and is about to play for a third after Atalanta sacked Ivan Juric on Monday. And, according to insights offered by U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino, it is playing time, not injury, that has seen him dropped from the U.S. squad. Piece it all together, and this looks like a footballer who made one of those rare, truly poor decisions in his career. His move may have come late, but the destination was also frightfully ill-judged, with Musah now stuck in a spot where he is unlikely to play more, and without a steady parent club to return to. 

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  Allegri didn't rate him

  The state of tension between Musah and Allegri was perhaps a bit overblown. But the eye test certainly didn't help. There were, in fact, two significant incidents in the game between Milan and Lecce that suggested that something was up. The first came in the second half, when the American was on the ground after being on the receiving end of a hefty challenge. Allegri didn't "kick" him, per se, but there was, to be sure, contact between the manager's foot and Musah's body. 

  Later in the game, Allegri berated him for trying to take a throw in quickly with his side leading 2-0 in stoppage time. Musah dropped the ball and looked away without even looking at his coach. It must be acknowledged here that managers and players are allowed to disagree. Allegri, too, isn't exactly the most fun guy. He is a strict disciplinarian who plays intense, testy football. He was famously denied a job in the Premier League when he outlined his playing style: "I don't have one." 

  Allegri also made it abundantly clear to Milan's hierarchy that he wanted a center midfielder who could offer a little more control in his side. The solution? Veteran Frenchman Adrien Rabiot, one of Allegri's favorites at Juventus, and a regular for Didier Deschamps in the French National Team. The reality was that Musah was always going to be a bit frozen out. 

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  Decision to join Atalanta

  And so it proved. Things accelerated rapidly on Musah's move. There had been some scattered talk for a few weeks that his long term future might not lie with the , but the pace at which his loan move was tracked through was remarkable. All of the reporting all summer suggested that Musah was set to be an important player for Milan. But then, on Aug. 27 – less than a week before the transfer deadline – Serie A transfer guru Matteo Moretto reported that a move to Atalanta was gaining traction. The club was reportedly prepared to pay €25 million for his services. Eventually, the two sides agreed on a loan with a club option to buy. 

  But it was an odd call, all said. There were, admittedly, some things to like about playing for Atalanta. They needed a little midfield depth. They play attacking football. They are in the Champions League this season. There seemed to be plenty of minutes to go around, then. 

  Tactically, too, the fit was intriguing. Atalanta play a 3-4-2-1, with two disciplined, defensive center midfielders and proper runners on the wing. Musah, at his best, is an energetic, box-to-box No. 8. But he can also play on the right or left. He even admitted, after playing well in a 4-3-3 for the USMNT, that he could play on the wing if needed.

  "It's more of a position where you're supposed to be that guy that takes the risks, you're supposed to be that guy that takes on a man and creates [scoring] chances," Musah said. "So ultimately, when the coach tells you to play free, then it gives you even more of a chance to do those things."

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  Needing a position

  Musah's versatility, in a way, cannot be questioned. But it might have also held him back a bit. In Milan in the 2023-24 campaign, he played nine different positions. But 42 percent of his minutes came in central midfield, where he was genuinely excellent for spells. The rest? Well, there was some time spent out wide, a bit as a defensive midfielder, and even as a right winger. But the point was, largely, he was a center mid doing center mid things. 

  The year after, Milan changed managers, and thereby removed the role that Musah had excelled in. Under Paolo Fonseca, he operated mostly as a right attacking midfielder. The Portuguese did not set up in a system that offered his preferred position. And even if he finished the campaign with 1,600 minutes under his belt and 19 Serie A starts, Musah didn't quite offer a sense of specialization that he needed. 

  And Atalanta have, in a way, capitalized on that. Musah has perhaps a similar problem to Weston McKennie in that he can do a little bit of everything – but is caught in a system that doesn't truly excel in his greatest area. 

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  A nightmare of a start to the season

  The result is a limited role. It was always, perhaps, going to be tough to crack the XI. In Ederson and veteran midfielder Mario Pasalic – a similar profile of player to Musah – they have two established center midfielders. Davide Zappacosta is a mainstay out wide. Raoul Bellanova has impressed on the other wing. Musah isn't a good fit in either of the No. 10 positions. 

  So, yes, the tactical fit is an awkward one. But what is perhaps even more surprising is just how few minutes he might get. Ederson is a star midfielder who plays nearly every minute. But Pasalic is aging. Zappacosta, too, could do with a rest here and there. Rotational minutes may not be ideal, but even they should still be attainable – especially for a player of Musah's potential. Instead, Musah has played just six times in Serie A, totaling 145 minutes. His one start came not for Atalanta, but Milan – where he played all 90 minutes against Lecce. He has only played five of Atalanta's last 10 games, despite being fit and available for all of them. 

  His performances, meanwhile, have been agreeable. It is admittedly hard to make much of an impact when minutes are sparse. But Musah assisted in the Champions League, and his efforts when on the pitch cannot be questioned. His dribbling and ball-carrying stats are as strong as ever, too.

Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in Arizona for spring training. While Ohtani is preparing to follow his historic season at the plate, as well as return to the mound where he started 20-plus games three seasons in a row for the Angels, it is important to remember that you can't spend every hour playing baseball.

That's why Ohtani and his teammates met at a Glendale Buffalo Wild Wings earlier this week to see a chicken wing eating contest. This is according to TMZ Sports, which was also able to obtain footage of Ohtani parallel parking his car before the event.

According to TMZ Sports, Ohtani first backed in before pulling forward and then he backed up again and pulled forward again. Then once the parking was done it was time to go inside and watch people eat a bunch of wings.

Ohtani's arrival was not included in any of the Dodgers' social media posts about the event.

A Manchester City star on £150,000-a-week is in a protective boot and set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Pep Guardiola celebrates 1,000th game as manager in Man City win over Liverpool

Prior to the international break, Pep Guardiola took charge of his 1,000th game as a manager as his City side defeated Premier League rivals Liverpool 3-0.

Jeremy Doku was the star of the show on the pitch at the Etihad, rounding off his performance with a goal in the second half after first half strikes from Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez.

Talking after the win at the Etihad, Guardiola reflected on his managerial career, which began at Barcelona B in 2007.

“I think my period at Barcelona B is the foundation for many things. To realise that I was able to do it and learn a lot.

“I will never forget the guys in that first season. For me, it has been so special to make 1,000 games in front of my family and especially against Liverpool. I have a huge respect for that club.”

Over the last 18 years, Guardiola has won 716 games in charge and looks set to lead City in another title battle with league leaders Arsenal.

However, he will have to do that for large parts of the season without one of his trusted midfielders.

Injury update on Man City’s Mateo Kovacic

According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Mateo Kovacic underwent successful surgery last Friday on ‘calcifications’ that had grown in his heel.

The midfielder, who has made just one Premier League appearance all season following Achilles surgery in the summer, is now set to travel down to London next week to have stitches removed.

Now in a protective boot, a rehabilitation programme usually lasts four months, so Kovacic, on £150,000-a-week, will hopefully return by March as he looks to get minutes before the World Cup with Croatia.

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Pep Guardiola is the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, but his time at the Etihad Stadium could be coming to an end.

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Dominic Lund

Nov 12, 2025

Between now and March, Man City currently have 22 games scheduled in all competitions plus the FA Cup third round tie that has yet to be drawn.

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is hoping to have Kovacic recovered in time for the World Cup next summer, recently saying: “I hope Kovacic won’t miss the World Cup. He has similar problems to those he had four or five months ago.

”We believe he’ll be with us at the World Cup. I’d like him to be back in March. It must be tough for him. The injury and the surgery are taking a psychological toll on him. I hope Kovacic gets through it all.”

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