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Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has declared that the weight of expectation lies firmly on Italy’s shoulders as his young side prepare for a daunting 2026 World Cup play-off semi-final away to the four-time champions. The March showdown in Italy on 26 March will mark the first step on what could be a remarkable path back to football’s grandest stage for both nations.Should Northern Ireland conjure an upset, they will face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later in a decisive, winner-takes-all play-off final for a coveted ticket to North America.

Two teams with ghosts of tournaments past

Italy’s recent record in World Cup qualifiers is nothing short of astonishing for a global heavyweight. They have missed the last two tournaments, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, both exits sealed by devastating play-off defeats and the Azzurri have not reached the finals since Brazil 2014. Northern Ireland’s own wait is even longer, stretching almost 40 years, but O’Neill believes that his side’s recent away performances prove they should not be dismissed. Despite away losses in Germany and Slovakia during the group phase, O’Neill believes that his players showed the resilience and quality needed to trouble elite opposition.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportO'Neill ready to take the fight to Italy

Northern Ireland qualified for the play-offs through their Nations League ranking despite finishing behind Germany and Slovakia in their World Cup qualifying group.

However, an upbeat O'Neill told reporters: "It's difficult to win away in international football and that is something this team still has to develop, but I take a lot of encouragement from the performances in Cologne and Slovakia where we were challenged and were missing key players in those games. We still gave a really good account of ourselves and were in the game in Germany for 70, 75 minutes. We were in the game in Slovakia right to the end and felt a little bit aggrieved by the nature of that result."

O'Neill wants his troops to turn the pressure dial up on an Italian squad already grappling with expectation and scrutiny.

"We have to make the game as difficult as possible for Italy and it will be difficult for them with the expectation they carry into the game," he said. "If we can add to that with how we play the game and the level of our performance, then who knows. We have an opportunity to go to a World Cup and we have to do everything possible to try to take it. What I will say to them is 'don't waste the opportunity'."

O'Neill wary of task ahead

The looming possibility of a third consecutive World Cup absence is unthinkable for a nation with Italy’s pedigree. Their previous two failures came in the most painful manner imaginable, play-off losses to Sweden in 2018 and a shocking defeat to North Macedonia in 2022. But O’Neill believes it is vital for his squad to avoid becoming distracted by Italy’s anxieties.

"The Italian team of now is not going to be the Italian team of eight years ago," he said.

"Not all their players are going to carry the burden of having been unsuccessful in play-off games. As a nation, they carry that burden, and the expectation of their crowd will be that they go to a World Cup. They have won it four times and are one of the heavyweights of world football, but those things are out of our control and our focus will be on how we are."

O'Neill expects a passionate Italian side to take the pitch and added: "Italy away is going to be a massive game, a great game for us to be involved in. The expectation and pressure is very much on the Italians, so we will need to use that in our favour. I know they've lost home and away to Norway and the bulk of their squad is based in Serie A. Gattuso is their manager, so you will expect them not to be lacking in passion.

"We have four months to prepare for this and look at Italy in close detail, so the work will start today and tomorrow. I suppose we would have preferred one of the other teams in Pot One, but to get to the World Cup, you're going to have to beat two good teams."

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Getty Images SportA defining moment awaits both nations

Two countries with proud football histories now stand on the brink of either redemption or renewed despair. For O’Neill and his young squad, belief is growing. However, for Italy, the stakes could not be higher, as another failure to qualify for the World Cup would be a dark spot. Gattuso has won the golden trophy wearing a blue jersey, and now it remains to be seen if he can inspire them to the main event after more than a decade. 

Joe Davis is calling the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. The heated matchup has resulted in some interesting comments both on and off the field, but it's the way that Davis is calling the action that has some fans crying foul.

Davis, who has been the full-time voice of the Dodgers since 2017, has been accused of homerism, the same way that Bob Costas has been during the Yankees-Royals ALDS for Turner. The only difference is, fans screaming favoritism with Davis seem to be mostly grasping at straws.

For instance, here's a post showing Davis apparently forcing himself to smile through an interview with Fernando Tatis Jr. after Game 3.

And here are some reactions to the post:

"It’s ridiculous to put Joe Davis on a Dodgers series."
"Joe wanted the Dodgers to win it all again 😭 "
"I swear they don’t wanna see us shine"
"He is crying on the inside"
"That man is HURTING"
"Cope Joe"

The thing is, Davis doesn't seem uncomfortable at all during the actual interview with Tatis. It looks more like an announcer making the same faces anyone would make during a player interview.

Not to mention Davis's call of Tatis's second inning home run that broke the game open for the Padres.

That's an announcer caught up in the postseason drama who sure sounds like he's enjoying one of the best players in baseball doing something awesome. If this is how well Davis is disguising his bias, he's doing a great job faking it.

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has expressed his “disappointment” over the international retirement of Heinrich Klaasen but played down suggestions of a rift between them. Klaasen, who announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday, stepped down from Tests in January 2024 – 11 months into Conrad’s tenure as red-ball coach and after being dropped from the South Africa side following a poor series against West Indies.Conrad does not think Klaasen’s decision was prompted by his pronouncement that South Africa’s best players need to be more available for bilateral series than leagues, but confirmed he has yet to have a conversation with Klaasen about his reasons.”Obviously, if you lose a player of the calibre of Heinrich Klaasen, you’d be disappointed,” Conrad told the media at South Africa’s warm-up match against Zimbabwe at Arundel. “But if that’s the narrative that you want to espouse, that I’m the common factor, then be my guest. I haven’t even had a conversation with Heinrich. He turned down the contract long before I was even a thought in the white-ball space. It’s really unfortunate that we lose a player of his calibre. He’s one of the best in the world, if not the best, among the white ball middle-order batters.”Related

• How much of a loss are Pooran's and Klaasen's retirements to international cricket?

• Heinrich Klaasen retires from international cricket

• Conrad confident SA players will prioritise national duty over T20 leagues

• Klaasen not in SA central contracts list

Conrad was confirmed as South Africa’s all-format coach in May, a month after Klaasen was not included on CSA’s central contract list, even as a white-ball-only player.At the time, CSA said discussions with Klaasen were ongoing. Klaasen is signed to play in both MLC and the Hundred, which take place in July and August, at the same time as South Africa are due to play a T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe and a white-ball series in Australia. Klaasen is understood to be wedded to those deals and would have opted out of South Africa’s tours, which Conrad is leaving little room for, as he expects players to put national duty first.Shukri Conrad has asked for his players to prioritise bilaterals over T20 leagues•Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

“I’d be disappointed if it [Klaasen retiring to favour leagues] was, because we didn’t have a conversation,” Conrad said. “I think if guys pre-signed deals prior to me coming on board, I certainly wasn’t going to come in there and say, ‘Well, you have got to withdraw from whatever you pre-signed.’ So without us ever having a conversation, I’d be disappointed if that was why he retired. From the little bit I know, I know Heinrich from way back when he was at the academy, kept in the academy sides when I was the coach. I’d be very surprised if he was as short-sighted as that. I think he’s obviously got really good reasons for why he’s retired, and we’ve got to respect that.”An example of Conrad’s flexibility will be seen later in the year when David Miller, who is on a white-ball-only contract, will miss the Zimbabwe or Australia tours. “He has signed at the Hundred and but he’s going to come and tour England with us,” Conrad said.He also indicated some players will be given conditioning breaks during the year, which could impact both their league and international availability. “Some guys are going to have a break during MLC and not get selected because of the break that we feel they need,” Conrad said. “People maybe got it slightly wrong in that they probably felt that I’m imposing these things on the players. It’s far from it. The only thing I said, and I’ll keep saying it, is when South Africa plays, we want our best players available. And I’m not changing my stance on that, I think the players respect that. Conversations will be had, we’ll work it out for players, plan their year, and then everybody will be good to go and happy with the arrangements.”All that does not mean the door is closed on Klaasen, who was expected to be a key player for South Africa’s T20 World Cup campaign next year and possibly even the home ODI World Cup in 2027. Conrad left matters open to discussion in future.”Once the dust has settled and I manage to have a conversation and sit down with Klaasie, then we’ll try and see,” Conrad said. “I don’t know what his future plans are. For now, we have got to respect his decision, and I’m sure he’s done it for good reasons.”

West Ham United are facing the grim prospect of Premier League relegation and the financial fallout could be catastrophic. An expert has warned that dropping to the Championship would cost the club up to £120 million ($160m) in lost revenue from television rights, ticket sales, and sponsorships, compounding growing unrest among fans amid the club's worst league start in decades.

• AFP
  

  West Ham facing battle to avoid the drop

  The situation at West Ham has reached crisis point, with results and morale spiralling in the wrong direction. The Hammers’ dismal run – four points from eight matches and five consecutive home defeats – has left them rooted near the bottom of the Premier League table. It marks their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1988-89, a season that ended in relegation.

  Their 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Monday was particularly sobering. It was the first time in club history that West Ham have lost their opening four home games of a league season and only the second time they’ve suffered five straight top-flight home defeats – the last occurring almost a century ago in 1931. Their latest loss deepened discontent among supporters, who staged boycotts and protests against the club’s ownership.

  Nuno Espirito Santo, the club’s fourth manager in 16 months, has failed to spark a revival since taking over. The former Nottingham Forest boss admitted after the Brentford game that his team were "very far" from having an identity, conceding that "we have a problem". His side’s lack of fight, creativity, and defensive discipline has left them looking bereft of confidence ahead of crucial clashes with Leeds and Burnley – both of whom are direct relegation rivals.

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• Hammers warned over financial implications of relegation

  Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has painted a bleak picture of what relegation would mean for West Ham’s finances. "Relegation would be a pretty big hit for West Ham,” he told the . "They made £270m in 2024, over half of that was television money. That would drop by something in the region of £120m."

  Maguire also warned that the club’s commercial and matchday revenues would take a substantial blow. "They would struggle to sell 60,000 tickets each week, especially if they don’t have a great season. They’d have substantial reductions in commercial revenue as well," he explained.

  The expert added that the club’s financial structure could further complicate recovery efforts. "My concern would be, while they don’t have any borrowings, the elephant in the room is that West Ham owe £191m in instalments for players they have already signed," Maguire noted. "That has got to come out of future cash. That would put pressure on the owners, who presumably would have to go down the borrowing route."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Unrest behind the scenes at London Stadium

  Relegation would trigger a cascade of financial repercussions beyond the immediate loss of revenue. Most of West Ham’s senior players are understood to have relegation wage clauses, which would automatically reduce salaries but still strain the budget. The club would almost certainly have to sell its most valuable assets – including Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta – to balance the books.

  There are also ownership implications. The late David Gold’s family, who own a 25% stake, have been exploring a partial sale, but relegation would drastically reduce the valuation of those shares. Potential investors would be reluctant to buy into a Championship club facing reduced income and instability. Such uncertainty could delay much-needed structural reform behind the scenes, particularly in recruitment and squad management.

  Fan frustration has already reached boiling point. The supporters’ group Hammers United claim more than 20,000 season-ticket holders boycotted the Brentford game, and further demonstrations are planned, including a sit-in protest after the next home fixture against Newcastle. The relationship between the fanbase and ownership – particularly co-owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady – has deteriorated to new lows amid accusations of mismanagement and poor communication.

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• Fellow relegation battlers up next

  On the pitch, the Hammers’ immediate focus must be survival, but their upcoming fixtures offer little comfort. Trips to Leeds and a home clash against Burnley loom large as season-defining encounters. Failure to secure victories in those games could see the club further adrift, intensifying pressure on Nuno to deliver results amid growing fan hostility.

West Ham United officially confirmed the departure of Graham Potter as the club’s first-team head coach with immediate effect on Saturday morning, less than 72 hours before their Premier League clash with Everton.

The English manager, formerly of Brighton and Chelsea, only won six of his 25 matches in charge of the club in all competitions, a win rate of 24%.

He can have no complaints with the decision by the board, given that record, but the timing of it, after he took the press conference ahead of the game against Everton, is slightly strange.

Former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has immediately replaced Potter in the dugout, as the Hammers look to get their season back on track.

Why Nuno Espirito Santo is a great appointment for West Ham

The Portuguese head coach led Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last term, before a fractured relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis led to his dismissal earlier this season.

Nuno has led Wolves and Forest to European football in England, which shows that he has a successful track record in the division, and his skills as a defensive coach are exactly what West Ham need.

Heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures, not taking Saturday’s results into account, West Ham were bottom of the Premier League for goals conceded (13) and 16th in the division for xGA (7.6), per FBref.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Last season, Nuno’s Forest team ranked ninth for xGA (48.9) and sixth for goals conceded (46), per FBref, which shows that he can organise a defence and make a side solid and hard to beat.

The biggest winner from Nuno Espirito Santo's arrival at West Ham

The biggest winner from Potter’s sacking and the former Forest manager’s arrival at the London Stadium could be central defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

After starting in defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea, the Frenchman was an unused substitute in the games against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in the last two weeks.

Nuno’s arrival could revive his West Ham career because the Portuguese boss has often utilised a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 formation, which would open the door for him to return to the starting XI with the extra centre-back spot available in that system.

During his time at Wolves, the tactician explained that the 3-4-3 system allowed Conor Coady, the middle centre-back, to progress the play with his ability on the ball, which is why Todibo could thrive in that formation.

Pass accuracy

89.6%

87.9%

Progressive passes

5.09

1.87

Progressive carries

1.09

0.44

Passes into the final third

3.84

2.17

Passes into the penalty area

0.24

0.05

As you can see in the table above, the France international was far more influential in possession during his time with Nice in Ligue 1 in the 2023/24 campaign than he was with the Hammers last term.

This suggests that West Ham were not using Todibo, who was once described as a “ball-playing sensation” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, enough in possession with their build-up play.

Nuno’s 3-4-3 system, should he opt to go with that, could get the best out of the Frenchman by deploying him in the same role that Coady had at Wolves, allowing him time and space to pick out passes or to carry the ball forward as the middle centre-back in a three.

Therefore, the former Nice star could be the biggest winner from Nuno’s appointment because he may go from being an unused substitute under Potter to an influential part of the system under the new manager because of his ball-playing qualities at centre-back.

This season feels like it’s set to be a pivotal one for this Chelsea project.

Enzo Maresca has a season under his belt, the players from last season are that bit more experienced in the Premier League, and they looked unreal in pre-season.

Add to that the impressive signings the club made in the summer, and it’s not unreasonable to expect a genuine title challenge from the West Londoners this year.

There are several players who will play a key role in that challenge, including one who cost them even more than their old transfer target, Xavi Simons.

Chelsea's potential difference-makers this season

It should really go without saying at this point, but so long as he’s fit and available, Cole Palmer will be one of Chelsea’s most important players this season.

After all, in just two years, the Englishman has managed to rack up a simply incredible haul of 43 goals and 29 assists in 98 games.

Another key player for Maresca this year is going to be Trevoh Chalobah.

The defensive stalwart was an important player for the Blues upon his return from Crystal Palace mid-way through last season, but with Levi Colwill now out for most of the campaign, he’s become even more critical to the team.

Fortunately, he’s made an impressive start to the season, with three starts, two clean sheets and a goal to his name.

Finally, the first few games of the season have shown us that, despite still being just 18 years old, Estevao looks ready to play an important role in this team.

He might not start too many games when everyone is fit, but his direct approach means he could be incredibly effective as an impact sub, someone who could terrify settled defences.

Yet, there is another player who has impressed even more this season, someone who could be a serious difference-maker for Chelsea and cost more than Simons did.

The Chelsea star worth more than Simons

While they eventually decided against signing him, it was widely reported that one of the players Chelsea were keenly interested in for much of the summer this year was Simons.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

However, when the Blues made it clear they were no longer interested, Tottenham Hotspur swooped in, paying around £51m plus add-ons to RB Leipzig for the talented Dutchman’s services.

Now, that may well end up being a brilliant deal for the North Londoners, but the Pensioners probably don’t care, as they made a game-changing attacking signing of their own, splashing £60m on Joao Pedro.

So far, it would be fair to say that the World Champions made the right choice in signing the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace, as he has looked like a player worth twice as much.

For example, he scored three goals in three games in the USA, bagged another two in the pre-season friendlies and already has two goals and two assists in three Premier League games.

Moreover, FBref place him in the top 3% of forwards in Europe’s top-five leagues for expected assisted goals, the top 5% for passes into the penalty area and the top 7% for carries, all per 90, which suggests he’s not just getting lucky.

Finally, if we compare his output from last season to that of Spurs’ new star, it becomes quite clear that BlueCo got the better deal.

For example, the “insane dribbler,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2299 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.65 games, or every 114.95 minutes.

In contrast, the former Leipzig gem scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in as many appearances, totalling 2763 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.

Pedro vs Simons in 24/25
Players	Pedro	Simons
Appearances	33	33
Minutes	2299′	2763′
Goals	13	11
Assists	7	8
Goal Involvements per Match	0.60	0.57
Minutes per Goal Involvement	114.95′	145.42′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, while Simons may well be a hit for Tottenham, Chelsea look like they have the better and more valuable player in Pedro.

Alongside Lopez: Chelsea join race for Barcelona gem with "infinite" talent

The Blues have set their sights on another Barcelona attacker…

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 8, 2025

Steven Gerrard is considered to tick the “Disney” box for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, with Wrexham continuing to see moves for a “so-called bigger name” in the managerial department speculated on. If Phil Parkinson were to be moved on by the Red Dragons, then a Liverpool legend may be approached as he boasts the “American connection” that has taken on greater importance in North Wales.

GettyWhy are questions being asked of Parkinson?

Questions have been asked of Parkinson’s future at SToK Racecourse on the back of a slow start to the 2025-26 campaign. He has, however, overseen a record-breaking run of three successive promotions that have lifted Wrexham out of the National League and into the Championship. That success has earned him plenty of credit and time to get things right – with Hollywood co-owners said to retain complete faith in their experienced manager for now.

That situation could change, with Reynolds and McElhenney making no secret of their desire to take Wrexham into the Premier League. They are also working on enhancing a brand that boasts global appeal. Pre-season tours to the United States and Australia help to highlight how far the Red Dragons have come in a short space of time.

The award-winning ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series has aided that cause, opening up a window to the world, and calls for a “bigger name” in the dugout have been doing the rounds for some time. Parkinson knows that the only way to fend off that speculation is to generate positive results on the field.

AdvertisementBigger name: Managerial change mooted

Former EFL and Premier League striker Kevin Doyle has told Boyle Sports, who offer the latest football betting, of what Wrexham’s A-list owners may have planned: “Phil Parkinson has done a brilliant job. How much higher, how quickly do they expect to go? We can't look into the minds of the Wrexham owners. They've had a lot of success, a brilliant story, and it's been fabulous for English football, gaining a worldwide audience.

“But now, how patient are the owners? Do they want to go up again this year or next year? Coming from so low down to where they are now, I don't think that's realistic. I think you have to give Phil Parkinson credit and time. But we don't know whether that's what their owners are thinking, they might want another story, another so-called bigger name in there as manager now, which I'm sure they could get if they wanted. However, it would be very harsh on Phil Parkinson if they did that.”

Getty/GOALGerrard to Wrexham? Why move makes sense

Amid the rumours of potential managerial change at Wrexham, ex-England captain Gerrard has seen his name thrown into the mix. Doyle can see why the Liverpool great would appeal to Reynolds and McElhenney. He added: “Steven Gerrard has the American connection, having played in the MLS for LA Galaxy. He's a big name. On paper, you would imagine he'd be the type of manager they'd want for their story for Disney, which would be great for viewers.

“But you wonder if their aim is to entertain or to stabilise the football club where they are now. They've come this far, and they should slowly build on that and not try to rush it in one season. In fairness to them, everything they've done so far has been brilliant, so give them credit for that. Wrexham wouldn't be where they are without them. So, just see what their next step is. It's interesting.”

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Wrexham fixtures: Next up for the Red Dragons

Wrexham have enjoyed back-to-back wins through their last two games in all competitions. A morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Norwich, which saw USMNT striker Josh Sargent kept quiet, was followed by a 2-0 success against Reading into the Carabao Cup which has lined up a fourth round derby date with Welsh rivals Cardiff.

Parkinson’s side, who spent big in the summer transfer window but endured injury issues early in the 2025-26 campaign, will be back in action on Saturday when playing host to Derby County.

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy title defence got off to an inauspicious start, as Fakhar Zaman was forced off the field after two deliveries of their opening game against New Zealand in Karachi.New Zealand opener Will Young drove Shaheen Afridi through the covers to beat the infield, with Zaman setting off in pursuit. He cut it off before palming the ball to Babar Azam to throw it back to the keeper, but immediately appeared to feel discomfort in his lower back or side. He signalled that he needed to be replaced, and went off the field with the physio, though he walked unaided back to the dressing room.”Fakhar Zaman is being assessed and examined for a muscular sprain and further updates will be provided in due course,” the PCB said in a statement shortly after.Fakhar came back on the field after spending a little more than two hours off it, which prevented him from opening Pakistan’s chase of 321. Saud Shakeel opened with Babar Azar and Fakhar only came in at the fall of Mohammed Rizwan in the tenth over. He had been deprived of any batting time with the fielding restrictions in place, when his reputation for power hitting could have come in handy for Pakistan.Almost from the outset, though, it was apparent he would be unable to make that sort of contribution. He was unsteady on his feet and visibly struggling with running between the wickets. On more than one occasion, he slumped to his knees between overs, with the team doctor and physio coming on with painkillers. While he attempted to play the attacking strokes the match situation required with the asking rate ever-rising, it was something of a tortured knock. He managed 24 off 41 before he tried to sweep Michael Bracewell – a shot he a deployed throughout the innings – only to miss completely and see his stumps shattered.Pakistan had been hampered by an injury to Saim Ayub in similar circumstances, one that ultimately kept him out of the Champions Trophy. In a Test against South Africa, he set off in pursuit of a ball to the boundary and ended up twisting his ankle. It resulted in a fracture that will keep him out until at least the middle of March. Fakhar, who until then wasn’t part of Pakistan’s ODI plans, came back into the side as Ayub’s replacement, and made an impressive return, scoring 84 off 69 and 41 off 28 in his first two matches back in the side.Pakistan did, however, get a fitness-related boost before the game with Haris Rauf fit enough to start. He had pulled up with a side strain in the opening game of the triangular series these two sides took part in over the last fortnight along with South Africa. That day had also seen a New Zealand player struck down with injury, when Rachin Ravindra lost the trajectory of a hit while fielding at the boundary, which ended up hitting him flush on the forehead. He needed stitches, and though he trained yesterday and New Zealand have said that he showed no signs of delayed concussion, he did not play against Pakistan. He was seen running drinks to New Zealand’s batters, though.The game marked the return of ICC tournament cricket to Pakistan after 1996, with huge crowds building up outside the National Stadium in Karachi in the hours before the start. The opening ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari and had an air force fly-past parade after the toss, which Pakistan won and asked New Zealand to bat.

Aston Villa haven’t had an ideal summer transfer window to date.

Constant murmurs have been in the air all window long about the amount of outgoings that could desert Unai Emery’s men owing to PSR-related issues, with Jacob Ramsey the only real notable loss to date, as the homegrown Villa Park gem moved on to Newcastle United for a bumper £43m.

Thankfully, for the time being, the Villans have managed to keep a firm grip on Morgan Rogers, who has now been rewarded for his excellent performances across the 2024/25 season – with eight goals and 11 assists coming his way in Premier League action alone – with the accolade for PFA Young Player of the Year.

Chelsea will still hope they can tempt Rogers to Stamford Bridge down the line, as Villa attempt to get some more incoming signings in now, knowing that the final hectic days of the window are slowly coming into view.

Villa explore late move for new striker

Heading into their second clash of the season versus Brentford, Villa are edging ever closer to completing a brand new purchase.

Indeed, it has been widely reported that Marco Asensio is on the brink of a permanent return to the West Midlands, with a £12.9m move nearly over the line for him to leave Paris St. Germain behind for good to reunite with Emery and Co.

Ademola Lookman is also another name on the Villa radar, according to reports, with the ex-Everton attacker trying to secure himself a Premier League return, rather than sticking it out at Atalanta.

They could also do their shopping from within the English top-flight itself, with a development from journalist Ben Jacobs – via X – revealing that Emery’s men are “exploring a deal” for hot-and-cold Chelsea attacker Nicolas Jackson to Villa Park.

Having worked under the Spaniard before at Villarreal, this might well be viewed as an ideal next move for Jackson to get back to his best, with Jacobs stating that a loan with an obligation to buy could be the best route for any club to win his services.

Should his £80m valuation also drop down to £70m, it will be intriguing to see if Villa do push the boat out to land the Senegalese centre-forward, hopeful that he can strike up a vibrant relationship with Asensio on his arrival.

How Jackson could thrive with Asensio

Asensio was an instant hit with the Villa Park faithful when joining on loan last season.

From just 21 appearances donning claret and blue, the 29-year-old would manage to notch up eight goals and one assist, leading to the Athletic’s Rory Smith hailing him as “elite” and an “astonishing” asset for Villa to have on their books.

Jackson will hope he can similarly raise his standards with the magic of Asensio next to him, supplying him with chances, having also been dubbed a “monster” in front of goal by John Obi Mikel.

An impressive 30 strikes have come his way at Stamford Bridge, with that tally no doubt even heftier if Jackson were more clinical and decisive in front of goal, having squandered a mammoth 19 big chances last season in league action.

Yet, this obvious weakness in his game might not be as evident at Villa Park if Asensio can get back to the creative peak he once showed off for some of the world’s most illustrious teams.

Games played

333

Goals scored

68

Assists

43

Big chances created

78

In total, for both Los Blancos and PSG, Asensio would amass a staggering 78 big chances created from his 333 career matches, with Jackson perhaps perfecting the art of being a lethal striker more, knowing he has a lot of opportunities put on a plate by him courtesy of the 29-year-old playmaker.

That’s before you even factor in Rogers’ creative presence, with the “extraordinary” attacker – as he was once lauded by scout Jacek Kulig – licking his lips at the prospect of linking up with the likes of the Englishman and Asensio to try and prove his doubters wrong.

There is also the worry that the £80m striker might sink to new lows, as even more chances are wasted, but with Emery’s immense track record with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran also on side, he could equally be a hit in his fresh location partnered next to Asensio.

Contact made: Aston Villa now gifted opportunity to sign "world class" ace

He’s desperate to leave his current club.

ByTom Cunningham Aug 20, 2025

تلقى ليفربول ضربة موجعة في سعيه للتعاقد مع بديل مثالي للنجم المصري محمد صلاح، والذي وقع على تمديد عقده في أبريل الماضي، نافيًا الشكوك والتكهنات عن شائعات رحيله في الصيف الماضي.

وقد كان من المقرر أن ينتهي عقد النجم المصري في الصيف الماضي، لكن عقده الجديد سيضمن بقاءه في ملعب أنفيلد لمدة عامين إضافيين حتى صيف 2027.

ومع ذلك ونظرًا لبلوغ محمد صلاح سن الـ33 عامًا، فإن ليفربول أصبح يجهز نفسه للمستقبل بدون نجمه المفضل النجم المصري الدولي.

ويبدو أن ليفربول قد تلقى ضربة موجعة في خططه لخلافة النجم المصري محمد صلاح، وقد يكون التعاقد مع بديل مثالي له أصعب مما كان يعتقد سابقًا.

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وكان صلاح قد سجل 248 هدفًا وصنع 116 خلال 408 مباريات مع ليفربول، وهي أرقام يكاد يكون من المستحيل تكرارها.

وقد وضع ليفربول في وقت سابق أنظاره على ضم مايكل أوليسي الذي أظهر موهبة كبيرة منذ انضمامه لبايرن ميونخ في يوليو 2024، والذي سجل 26 هدفًا وصنع 24 في 62 مباراة ويعد أحد أبرز اللاعبين في أوروبا ويملك عقدًا حتى عام 2029 وهناك شرط جزائي يسري مفعوله في صيف 2026.

ومع ذلك، فقد أفادت صحيفة “سبورت بيلد” الألمانية أنه من المحتمل جدًا أن يدخل بايرن ميونخ في مفاوضات لتمديد عقد اللاعب قبل نهاية الموسم.

وعلى الرغم من أن المفاوضات مع أوليسي لم تبدأ بعد، لكن بايرن ميونخ راض جداً عن أدائه منذ انضمامه للنادي.