Cristiano Ronaldo could play for Portugal beyond the 2026 World Cup, Wes Brown has said in an exclusive interview with GOAL. Ahead of the group stage draw for next summer’s finals, a former Manchester United team-mate of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has explained why he could have more Hollywood storylines and another major tournament left in him.

Last World Cup but will Ronaldo grace another Euros?

Ronaldo, at 40 years of age, has conceded that he will be gracing FIFA’s flagship event for a sixth and final time when that competition heads to the United States, Canada and Mexico. He has, however, committed to a contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr that will take him through to 2027.

CR7 has set no definite date for his retirement, which suggests that he may have another deal left in him – potentially in the Middle East or back where it all began at Sporting CP. If he were to prolong his record-shattering career, then it could be that Euro 2028 is reached at international level.

AdvertisementRetirement call: Ronaldo not ready to hang up his boots

Quizzed by GOAL on whether Ronaldo will grace another tournament, ex-United colleague Brown – speaking in association with – said: “If he can bring something to the squad, why not pick him? Does that mean he has to play every game? Look at the last competition, everyone was saying he shouldn’t play but he did ok. He knows the press are going to give him stick anyway as soon as he doesn’t score or give an assist. At the same time, he is still there for his younger team-mates and wants them to do well.

“In his mind he won’t be finished yet and he can still contribute to the team. I don’t think he will retire from international football until he has retired completely. He’s still got the energy, that same belief, and can still do it. There are not many people that can say that at that level.”

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GOAT stakes: Ronaldo will be desperate to match Messi

Ronaldo recently pointed out how he does not need a World Cup win on his CV in order to cement his legacy and end a long-running battle with eternal rival Lionel Messi for GOAT recognition. Brown is, however, convinced that the Portuguese superstar will be desperate to complete his medal collection.

The ex-England international said when asked how badly CR7 will want a global crown: “He will want to win one! You know that. This is probably his last chance, I would have thought. He has got a really good team. I would like him to win one. If you ask any footballer, as a kid, what the main trophy – I don’t mean just playing for a team – was that you want to win, you would have to go World Cup. That’s the biggest of the biggest, regardless of what anyone tries to tell you. I know it’s not your bread and butter but you want to get to that level where you’re like ‘I’ve won the World Cup’.

“Believe me Ronaldo doesn’t need to say that, so I get the point, but he really would want to win one. I think a lot of people wish he could win one as well. Is it going to happen? It’s going to be difficult. But that will be on the agenda, definitely.”

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GettyFinal targets: Ronaldo chasing 1,000 goals & more trophies

Ronaldo is also in the process of chasing down 1,000 career goals. Given how his career has played out to this point, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he reaches that milestone at the 2026 World Cup – potentially even in the final.

Asked if that scenario is written in the stars, Brown said: “It probably is! If you had told him that he is up to that number by the time that he is nearly retired, he would probably have said ‘not sure’. You think about how many years that would take, how many goals per season. It would be unbelievable. There is only one guy that can really do that now, and that’s him. Pele claimed it, but these will all be documented. One day you will be able to watch a three-hour film of him just scoring all his goals – because that’s how long it would take!

“The icing on the cake would be that. It’s going to be hard but they will be one of the favourites. That would be an absolute dream come true, that you have pretty much notched up every single competition that you can imagine when playing at the highest level.”

The World Cup draw will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Ronaldo and Co are set to discover their group stage opponents, with a path that leads to ultimate glory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026 being mapped out.

Thomas Frank slammed 'unacceptable' Tottenham Hotspur fans after their Premier League defeat to Fulham on Saturday. The fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium booed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after his howler helped Fulham take a 2-0 lead within the first six minutes of the match. Spurs are now winless in their last four games across all competitions and have lost three in a row.

• Spurs' winless run continues

  Tottenham have won just one out of the six matches they played in November, which includes one draw and three losses in the Premier League. Their only win this month came against Copenhagen in the Champions League. Spurs headed into the Fulham clash after conceding nine goals in their last two matches against Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. They hoped to regain some confidence by beating London rivals Fulham at home, but they were off to a disastrous start as Vicario's howler helped the visitors take a two-goal lead at the start of the match.

  The Spurs shot-stopper was punished by Fulham after going walkabout in the build-up to the second goal as Harry Wilson doubled his team's lead after Kenny Tete broke the deadlock in the fourth minute. Mohammed Kudus then pulled one back for the hosts around the hour mark but the Cottagers eventually walked away with the crucial three points. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Frank blasted Spurs fans

  Vicario was jeered at by the home fans after his costly mistake led to Fulham's second goal, as the goalkeeper was booed while the match was going on. The gesture of the fans did not impress the manager as he told : “I didn't like that our fans booed at him [Vicario] straight after and a few times he touched the ball. They can't be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you are on the pitch. And we do everything we can to perform. After, fair enough, boo, no problem. But not during. That's unacceptable in my opinion."

• Vicario's message to fans

  Taking responsibility or the second goal, Vicario addressed the Spurs fans as he told : "The second goal was a mistake of mine, I take responsibility for that. The intent was to clear the ball long and I just hit the ball in a bad way. It was an even bigger mountain to climb. I’m a big man, what can I say? We cannot be influenced by the situation in the stands. The fans have the right to do what they think. It's on us to stay more calm, to focus on ourselves. We are lacking in composure and calmness to overturn results. Today is a bad defeat and it's tough to accept."

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  Spurs need to pick up form soon

  Spurs started the 2025-26 campaign on a bright note under Frank after a forgetful 2024-25 season. But the sudden dip in form, which saw them collect just one point from their last four league clashes, has seen them drop to the 10th position in the Premier League table.

  Frank was brought in place of Ange Postecoglou to bring organisation and a calmer head to a young team. However, so far in the season, the team has continued to struggle. The manager, who made Brentford a real force in the English top-flight, has his work cut out in the next couple of months to turn things around at the north London outfit, although the club do not have any plan to part ways with the Danish manager. According to , the club's owners, the Lewis family, are targeting long-term success under the Dane, which suggests that no short-term decisions are being considered. 

  They next face Newcastle United in a difficult Premier League fixture on December 2. 

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Corbin Burnes is slated to undergo Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2025 season, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Friday.

This announcement comes days after Burnes appeared to injure his elbow on Sunday, causing him to leave the Diamondbacks' game in the fifth inning. He was put on the injured list on Tuesday, but will now miss the remainder of the season.

This is Burnes's first major injury of his MLB career, which began back in 2018 with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner is in the first year of a six-year, $210 million contract he signed with the Diamondbacks over the offseason. He chose Arizona over other frontrunners like the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays, and is fresh off one season with the Baltimore Orioles.

In 11 games during the 2025 season, Burnes posted a 2.66 ERA across 64.1 innings pitched. He threw 63 strikeouts, while having 49 hits, 23 runs and seven home runs hit on him.

The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Mets, 2-0, on Tuesday night and they did so after having their starting pitcher, Walker Buehler, get ejected from the game in the third inning after he had words with home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.

The moments before and after the ejection were quite heated, as Buehler wasn't happy with Estabrook missing what looked to be an easy strike call on pitch that went right down the middle. Estabrook didn't like hearing Buehler questioning his call so he took off his mask and fired some words back at the righthander.

Red Sox announcer Lou Merloni didn't like that move by Estabrook and he explained why with this very honest take on the broadcast: "When the mask comes off, you're very confrontational…When the mask comes off and you're aggressively coming at him, it's very combative. You're escalating it."

Take a look for yourself:

Merloni wasn't wrong there. Estabrook could have handled that a whole lot better than he did. A simple "let's get on with it" could have kept the game moving and not led to an ejection. Instead, he fired back at Buehler and things only got even more heated with Red Sox manager Alex Cora getting ejected, too.

The Red Sox were still somehow able to get the shutout victory despite losing their starting pitcher so early in the game. But it feels like Eastbrook made that situation worse than it had to be. Plus, it started with a really bad call on his part. Not a great look for the guy in blue.

Leeds United secured a sensational win in the Premier League on Wednesday night. Daniel Farke’s side beat title challengers Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road, to pick up a huge three points in their quest for top-flight survival.

The game started in perfect fashion for the West Yorkshire outfit.

Defender Jaka Bijol rose highest from a corner to head home, after making a darting run from the edge of the 18-yard box to the corner of the six-yard box before unleashing his powerful header.

Chelsea did not really threaten despite dominating possession, having 71% across the game. Leeds were able to double their lead on the stroke of half-time, thanks to a sublime effort from Ao Tanaka.

The ball broke to Jayden Bogle on the edge of the box, who laid it off to Tanaka. The midfielder smashed it in from range to put his side 2-0 up.

Enzo Maresca’s men were able to pull a goal back just five minutes after the restart through Pedro Neto. However, Leeds resisted their pressure and managed to get a third goal after a calamitous mistake from Chelsea allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score.

It was a superb win for Leeds, with some standout performances across the pitch.

Leeds’ best players vs. Chelsea

One of the most impressive things about this Leeds victory was how hard everyone worked. That was certainly the case for captain Ethan Ampadu. Playing against his former club, the Welshman was the dominant force in midfield.

His stats from the game reflect how well he performed, both on and off the ball. Ampadu had 54 touches of the ball and had an 86% pass accuracy. He also won six duels and made six ball recoveries.

It was an all-action showing from the Wales international.

Another player who shone for the Whites was right wing-back Bogle. He was a real handful for Chelsea going forward, with his performance earning him an 8/10 rating from Graham Smyth, journalist for the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Smyth praised the fact that he ‘drove Leeds forward’, with the defender a real threat in attack.

That all came to a head with his assist for Tanaka, where he pounced on a loose ball before a Chelsea player could reach it, and quickly found his teammate with a first-time pass.

Ampadu and Bogle played well, but they were arguably outshone by one of their teammates.

Leeds’ best signing since Raphinha

It seemed to be a good night for wing-backs at Elland Road. Bogle was not the only one who stood out, with left wing-back Gabriel Gudmundsson one of the best players in a White shirt against Chelsea.

He enjoyed plenty of success defensively, coming up directly against the electric Estevao, and offered a threat going forward.

Gudmundsson won an exceptional 12 from 19 duels and five from eight tackles, as well as creating two chances.

Touches

55

Ground duels won

12/19

Tackles won

5/8

Ball recoveries

6

Crosses completed

2

Key passes

2

The excellent performance from the Swede was noticed by Smyth, who gave him a 9/10 for his efforts. The journalist praised him for how well he got forward, and credited him for the fact that he ‘got back in to defend and do his bit’.

As far back as September, the left-back was being called “the best” player in the Premier League in his position by journalist James Marshment.

The 26-year-old has made a brilliant start to life at Elland Road, featuring in all 14 of their top-flight games so far, and playing 90 minutes nine times.

There is a case to be made that the defender is Leeds’ best signing since Raphinha. The Brazilian was exceptional for the West Yorkshire side, and really hit the ground running in the Premier League. He managed 15 goals and assists in his first top-flight season.

Chalkboard

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

Well, Gudmundsson is making an equally fast start. To be branded as one of the best players in the league so soon is a testament to how well he has performed.

There haven’t really been any Leeds players who have started this fast, especially on the top-flight since Raphinha, with several of the players they have signed in previous Premier League campaigns now having left the club.

Farke will be desperate for this form to continue, and for Gudmundsson to prove he is one of their best signings since Raphinha.

Better than Calvert-Lewin: 9/10 hero had his best game for Leeds vs Chelsea

This Leeds star shone in their 3-1 win over Chelsea

ByJoe Nuttall Dec 4, 2025

Arsenal’s worst performance of the Mikel Arteta era to date? Quite possibly.

This season has been a brilliant one for the Gunners so far but as Wolves came to town, the team at the bottom of the Premier League table, Arteta’s side didn’t look up to the task.

They struggled to create much of note, relying on two own goals to win 2-1. Their defence was also well below-par. Since Gabriel Magalhaes got injured, they have not been the same side.

Fortunately, though, Arsenal found a hero in the form of Bukayo Saka.

The winger put the team on his back, swinging in the corner that led to Sam Johnstone’s own goal. Then, with the clock running down and Wolves looking like they’d rescued a point, Saka popped up again.

This time it was from open play. He got the ball on the right, put in an inch-perfect delivery, and it was headed into his own net by Yerson Mosquera.

So what went wrong?

Why Arsenal struggled to beat Wolves

As poor as Arsenal were at the Emirates on Sunday, you have to credit Wolves.

The Old Gold have been dire this term but they headed to the capital and played with a renewed sense of organisation, a new sense of grit and fight.

The fact that they scored what they thought was a goal to win them a point said it all. Out of nowhere, Tolu Arokadare headed the ball home with only injury time remaining.

This was a battle for Arsenal and that goal proved it. For that strike, their defending was notably poor. Arteta acknowledged that.

Speaking at full-time, he said that his team showed “horrible defensive habits” before the Wolves goal, suggesting that it was “unacceptable”. Quite.

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That said, they were also abject in the final third. Arsenal created just two big chances, only forced the goalkeeper into one save and had two shots on target.

Against a side who have amassed two points all season, to quote Arteta, that is unacceptable.

What didn’t help, once again, was the performance of a certain Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede scored 54 times in 2024/25 but has really struggled since coming back to England. He now looks like he’s suffering from a lack of confidence.

The three performances he’s put in since returning from injury have been really worrying. He didn’t have a single shot in his 45-minute cameo a week ago against Aston Villa and then after being given a start against Club Brugge in Europe, left the pitch after the hour mark having managed just four passes. He only had one shot of note, too.

Against Wolves, he was just as bad. He struggled to get on the end of chances and barely saw any of the action, completing just three passes. If Arteta’s side are to win the league, then they need far more from their marquee summer signing.

Arsenal star was as bad as Gyokeres vs Wolves

For Arsenal’s forward line this has been a puzzling season to date. In the early months of the campaign, the team were accused of relying on set-pieces. Yet, over the last month, they’ve not scored a single goal from a set play in the league.

Their open play threat has improved significantly. That was until Wolves came to town.

The attacking threat on this occasion, Saka aside, was virtually non-existent. The fact that Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli all failed to last 90 minutes said it all.

While Gyokeres will take a lot of the blame for the bluntness in attack, Martinelli must also take some criticism.

Having scored a brilliant goal in midweek, curling the ball in from range, he was back to his usual inconsistencies on Saturday.

What summed up the Brazilian’s performance was his header from one of Declan Rice’s first-half corners. A deep ball to the back post found Martinelli and standing a matter of yards out from the goal, he somehow headed the ball off target.

Martinelli vs Wolves

Minutes played

57

Touches

33

Accurate passes

12/18 (67%)

Shots

4

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Possession lost

11x

Ground duels won

4/6

Aerial duels won

0/2

Stats via Sofascore.

Truth be told, the winger struggled to get the better of an ageing Matt Doherty on Wolves’ right flank. Martinelli only completed one dribble and succeeded with a dire 67% of his passes.

While the 24-year-old did have four shots, not a single one of them was on target. Not great at all.

In the words of GOAL’s Charles Watts, he was largely “disappointing”. It was a performance way below what we’ve come to expect from him this season.

In the Champions League, the Brazilian has scored in five consecutive games but domestically, he’s leaving a lot to be desired.

When Arsenal face Everton next week, Arteta must ensure that Martinelli is back on the bench with Leandro Trossard – arguably the club’s best forward this season – selected ahead of him.

Related Only 3 passes all game vs Wolves: Arsenal star must now be dropped

Arsenal struggled to beat basement club Wolves on Saturday night.

Posts ByMatt Dawson 1 day ago

After an incredible few months, Arsenal suffered their first defeat since August 31st at the hands of Aston Villa on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side went behind in the first half, and while they did pull one back in the second, they were the victims of a 95th-minute Emiliano Buendía winner.

It wasn’t a terrible performance from the Gunners, but it was also some way off their best, and one of the players who has received plenty of criticism from the fans has been Martin Odegaard.

The captain was certainly not to blame for the result, but he did look a little off the pace at times, and after his underwhelming season last year, he is under the microscope more than most.

While his place in the team is safe for now, there are three players who could replace him in the coming years, and none of them is Eberechi Eze.

Chalkboard

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

3 Ethan Nwaneri

Starting with the player who is perhaps the closest to eventually challenging Odegaard for a place in the starting lineup: Ethan Nwaneri.

The Hale End star is already a regular in the match-day squads, and while there has been some concern from fans over his lack of game time this season, it’s important to remember he is still just 18 years old.

Moreover, due to injuries, he ended up playing a far more significant role in the team last season than anyone would have predicted, and to say he impressed would be an understatement.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

For example, the “phenomenal” prospect, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, scored nine goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances, totalling 1378 minutes.

That works out to a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or more crucially, one every 125.27 minutes, which helps to justify Joe Cole’s claim that “he’s the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.”

Now, a lot of his game time did come out wide, in place of Bukayo Saka, but the Enfield-born gem is first and foremost an attacking midfielder, as it’s where he spent most of his time in the academy and where his combination of shooting, passing and dribbling abilities are best placed.

There is little chance of Nwaneri replacing the Norwegian this season, but in a couple of years, if he fulfils his potential, there could be a real battle for that ten position.

2 Max Dowman

After Nwaneri, the Arsenal gem who feels like they could seriously rival Odegaard in a few years, is, of course, Max Dowman.

The 15-year-old might just be the most talked-about prospect in the country this season, and based on his form in the academy and for the senior side, it’s not hard to see why.

For example, when it comes to the former, the Chelmsford-born phenom has racked up a comical tally of six goals and one assist in just four appearances across the U19S and U21S.

Then, when it comes to the first team, he has already, in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, started “humiliating Premier League players.”

For example, he ran rings around Leeds United on his league debut, then became the youngest player in the club’s history to start a game in the Gunners’ League Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Finally, if all that wasn’t enough for someone who hasn’t even finished his GCSEs yet, he also became the youngest player in Champions League history when he came off the bench against Slavia Prague.

Now, like with Nwaneri, Dowman is not going to be a serious rival for Odegaard this season, but at the rate he is progressing, that time could come far sooner than most are expecting.

1 Holger Quintero

Last but by no means least, the final Arsenal player who could one day be the star to displace the captain from the team is Holger Quintero.

Now, just a week or so ago, most fans would have absolutely no idea who the 16-year-old was, but now, after the Gunners signed him and his twin brother Edwin Quintero, he has become one of the most exciting youngsters on the club’s books, and for good reason.

According to Mattinson, the Ecuadorian wonderkid is a “skilful attacking midfielder with 1v1 prowess to take on players”, which sounds quite a bit like Dowman, which can’t be a bad thing.

He appears to be more than just another promising youngster, though, as respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has stuck his neck out, labelling him “one of the most exciting U17s in South America.”

He is also someone who could potentially play the probing through balls that Odegaard has started to bring into his game, with Mattinson claiming he has an “excellent weight of pass” and is a “decisive creator with a killer final ball.”

However, due to rules around foreign-born youngsters, the midfielder won’t be able to join up with his new teammates until January 2027, so he is probably the last in line to compete with Odegaard.

Ultimately, the captain’s place in the team is currently safe, as it should be, but with three of the most exciting players in the game coming up behind him, Odegaard might have to step up his game over the next few years.

Arsenal hold initial talks to sign £88m Odegaard upgrade who's "Mbappe-like"

The incredible international game-changer would be unreal for Arsenal, but could spell trouble for Martin Odegaard.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 8, 2025

Wolves are now expressing an interest in signing a Man City player, with one of their squad members potentially set to leave in January.

Wolves nailed on for relegation barring Rob Edwards miracle

The Old Gold face the most perilous situation in the Premier League, rooted firmly to the bottom of the table with just two points from 14 games.

Wolves appear destined for Championship football unless Rob Edwards can orchestrate an almighty turnaround during the second half of the campaign.

Edwards arrived from Middlesbrough in mid-November, leaving a promotion-chasing outfit second in the Championship to tackle one of football’s most daunting rescue missions.

Wolves still remain winless, sitting 12 points adrift of safety – a margin that already carries significant historical weight.

No team has ever survived relegation after collecting merely two points from their opening 14 games, and at their current rate, they would finish the season with just seven points — threatening to eclipse Derby County’s infamous 11-point record from the 2007-08 campaign.

The appointment of Edwards represents a desperate gamble by chairman Jeff Shi, who acknowledged the club needs a complete philosophical refresh.

Edwards’ deep connections to Molineux — having made over 100 appearances as a player before serving in various coaching capacities — offer hope that he understands the DNA required to navigate this crisis.

Wolves plotting January bid for "prolific" £17.5m striker with 29 G/A last season

The Old Gold are looking to bring in a centre-forward this winter, in order to bolster their survival hopes.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 27, 2025

However, his task is monumental. Vitor Pereira managed just a 36.8 per cent win rate before his sacking in early November, inheriting a squad stripped of its best talent through successive transfer windows.

The pattern has become devastatingly familiar.

After selling Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes in 2023, then Pedro Neto and Max Kilman in 2024, Wolves lost Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri last summer without securing adequate replacements.

Cunha’s departure to Man United for £62.5 million removed their most reliable goalscorer, 17 goals in all competitions last season, while Ait-Nouri joined Manchester City for £31 million.

The club’s attacking output has obviously collapsed as a result, with just seven goals scored so far — the division’s worst record and only team failing to reach double figures.

However, according to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Shi and Fosun do have a succession plan for goalkeeper Jose Sa.

Wolves express James Trafford interest with Jose Sa set to leave

Indeed, it is believed that Wolves have expressed interest in signing Man City’s James Trafford on loan in January as Edwards searches for solutions.

The 23-year-old England youth international finds himself behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order after the Italian’s summer arrival, which is bad timing ahead of the World Cup next year.

After starting the campaign as City’s number one following Ederson’s departure to Fenerbahçe, Trafford has managed just three appearances since August and is eager to continue his development elsewhere.

Wolves face mounting concerns between the posts, with current number one Sam Johnstone enduring a difficult spell.

His error against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday proved costly, failing to connect properly with Omari Hutchinson’s cross and allowing the winning goal.

Meanwhile, second-choice Sa is ‘potentially set to leave’ next month, with West Ham monitoring the Portuguese ahead of a potential winter swoop.

Trafford enjoyed an outstanding 2024-25 Championship campaign with Burnley before returning to City, keeping 29 clean sheets in 45 appearances with an impressive 84.6 per cent save percentage.

His promotion-winning pedigree under Scott Parker could prove invaluable as Edwards desperately seeks reinforcements capable of mounting an unlikely survival bid during the second half of the season.

However, they’ll have to contend with competition for Trafford’s services, with Tottenham also believed to be exploring a move for the ‘top talent’.

عاد النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند للتهديف من جديد، وسجل المهاجم في مباراة فريقه مانشستر سيتي أمام فولهام بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويحل مانشستر سيتي ضيفًا على فولهام في إطار مباريات الجولة الرابعة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” لموسم 2025-2026.

وسجل هالاند الهدف الأول لصالح مانشستر سيتي في شباك فولهام، وذلك في الدقيقة 17 من عمر المباراة.

ورفع هالاند رصيده في جدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي، إلى 15 هدفًا في صدارة الهدافين للموسم الجاري. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي

1. إيرلينج هالاند، مانشستر سيتي، 15 هدفًا.

2. تياجو، برينتفورد، 11 هدفًا.

3. فيليب ماتيتا، كريستال بالاس، 7 أهداف.

4. داني ويلباك، براتون، 7 أهداف.

5. أنطوان سيمينيو، بورنموث، 6 أهداف.

6. فيل فودين، مانشستر سيتي، 5 أهداف.

7. ريتشارليسون، توتنهام، 5 أهداف.

9. بريان مبيومو، مانشستر يونايتد، 5 أهداف.

10. نيك فولتماده، نيوكاسل، 5 أهداف.

11. محمد صلاح، ليفربول، 4 أهداف.

12. كودي جاكبو، ليفربول، 4 أهداف.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

Thomas Frank is clearly a clever man. The Tottenham Hotspur manager is a bona fide tactician, and he has credentials in the Premier League after lifting Brentford into the top flight and keeping them there with a flourish.

But the Danish coach’s skills haven’t yet translated to Tottenham, not in the same manner, not with the same snap and grace.

Tottenham are 11th in the league standings, and they have two points from their past five matches. Home ground misery has spilt from last season into the new campaign, and this is forming the crux of a general air of frustration that may threaten Frank’s tenure if he does not find a solution quickly.

Much has been made of the north Londoners’ creative problems this season, but Frank’s resilient and organised defensive structure is also leaving something to be desired, prompting Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici to start searching for reinforcements.

Spurs searching for a defender

Frank’s well-ordered system lends itself to stability in the Premier League. He is not known as an attack-centric coach, but the rises of Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa bear testament to his man-management skills and tactical expertise across the board.

But it’s clear that Tottenham need more high-quality depth at the rear, with questionable recruitment in recent years leading to a lopsided outfit that quite simply doesn’t boast the wider quality to challenge at the very top of the division.

Burnley

28

28.8

West Ham

28

23.1

Nott’m Forest

22

21.3

Leeds

26

19.7

Tottenham

18

19.5

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are talented centre-halves, but the pool is shallow beneath them, and that’s why Tottenham are gearing up for a winter raid on a Premier League rival.

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are preparing an ambitious £40m bid for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who has been among the standouts for Fabian Hurzeler this season.

The Dutchman is physical and technically dynamic, and given that he is contracted to the AMEX until 2027, now represents the perfect time to strike.

What Van Hecke would offer Spurs

Van Hecke, 25 years old, has been at Brighton since signing from NAC Breda in 2022, spending his first two years out on loan and since featuring 107 times across all competitions. He was immense last term, earning praise for his “unbelievable season” from his manager.

You may have seen Van Hecke’s name crop up in recent days. He netted a brace during Brighton’s frantic 4-3 defeat to winning machine Aston Villa, emulating both Romero and Van de Ven in that regard.

Standing at 6 foot 2 and with a limber frame, the Netherlands native is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and athletic centre-backs in the Premier League, ranking among the top 5% of positional peers in the division this season for goals scored, the top 21% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

This underscores both his athleticism and proactivity on the ball. In this, he shares traits with Romero, who has scored three times but also assisted two goals across all competitions this year.

But the central point here is that Van Hecke is good enough to start; he would not move to the capital and play under Frank only to languish on the fringes.

Romero is the captain and a real talismanic force for a squad in need of guidance, but given Van Hecke’s enterprising passing and willingness to run, might he threaten countryman Van de Ven’s place in the starting line-up?

Matches (starts)

13 (13)

14 (14)

Goals

3

3

Assists

0

0

Touches*

69.2

86.4

Accurate passes*

53.2 (91%)

62.6 (87%)

Dribbles*

0.3

0.1

Ball recoveries*

3.7

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

2.5

Clearances*

3.5

5.1

Duels (won)*

3.4 (51%)

5.6 (60%)

Errors

2

1

Van de Ven simply isn’t winning enough duels this season. He is an elite athletic profile and a force to be reckoned with, but there is gas in the tank he is not burning right now, and a true challenger for his starting spot could jumpstart him into action.

Then again, Van Hecke does have the quality to nail down a berth, with former striker Pierre van Hooijdonk actually describing him as a “positively crazy” defender, something that can work in your favour as a centre-back, if harnessed effectively.

This Romero-esque player could prove a jackpot signing for Tottenham if signed, not only deepening Frank’s options but also enriching the quality of a team that has more to give.

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