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O Botafogo-PB recebe o Sousa neste sábado (13), pela segunda partida da decisão do Campeonato Paraibano. A bola rola a partir das 16h30 (de Brasília), no Estádio Almeidão, em João Pessoa, com transmissão da Globo (PB).

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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
Botafogo-PB x Sousa – Campeonato Paraibano
Final – Segunda partida

🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 13 de abril de 2024, às 16h30 (hora de Brasília)
📍 Local: Estádio Almeidão, em João Pessoa (PB)
📺 Onde assistir: Globo (PB)
🟨 Arbitragem: Anderson Daronco (árbitro); Nailton Júnior de Sousa Oliveira e Rafael da Silva Alves (assistentes); Wagner Silveira Echevarria (quarto árbitro)

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BOTAFOGO-PB (Técnico: Moacir Júnior)
Dalton, Lenon, Reniê, Wendel Lomar e Bruno Cardsoso; Rodrigo, Thallyson, Lucas Siqueira e Warley Júnior; Gustavo Poffo e Pipico.

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SOUSA (Técnico: Paulo Schardong)
Bruno Fuso, Iranilson, Breno Cézar, Marcelo Duarte e Jackson; Hebert, Alexandre Aruá, Felipe Jacaré e Reinaldo; Hiago e Diego Ceará.

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The Saudi Pro League is renowned for its wealth and ability to give players huge wages, but who are the most expensive signings in the competition’s history?

European football remains the dominant force in the modern game, with the likes of the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga generally possessing the best players in the world.

In recent years, the Saudi Pro League has increasingly come to the fore, offering footballers eye-watering weekly wages and tempting them away from European clubs in the process.

To some, it is a sub-standard league where players go to earn big money in the twilight of their careers, but others feel it could only continue to grow in the coming years, especially if it continues to attract some of the biggest names in the sport.

There have been plenty of big-money signings to Saudi clubs since its rise to prominence – here are the 15 most expensive to date.

Rank

Player

Transfer

Date

Fee (£)

Neymar

PSG to Al-Hilal

Aug 2023

Jhon Duran

Aston Villa to Al-Nassr

Jan 2025

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta to Al-Qadsiah

July 2025

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool to Al-Hilal

Aug 2025

Malcom

Zenit to Al-Hilal

Jul 2023

Otavio

Porto to Al-Nassr

Aug 2023

Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad

Jul 2024

Ruben Neves

Wolves to Al-Hilal

Jul 2023

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham to Al-Hilal

Aug 2023

Galeno

Porto to Al-Ahli

Jan 2025

Ivan Toney

Brentford to Al-Ahli

Aug 2024

Fabinho

Liverpool to Al-Ittihad

Jul 2023

Mohamed Simakan

RB Leipzig to Al-Nassr

Sep 2024

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Lazio to Al-Hilal

Jul 2023

Marcos Leonardo

Benfica to Al-Hilal

Sep 2024

15 Marcos Leonardo Benfica to Al-Hilal (£33.7m)

Kicking off the list is Brazilian youngster Marcos Leonardo, who joined Al-Hilal from Benfica earlier this year in a deal worth a reported €40m (£33.7m).

The 21-year-old forward was previously with Santos in his homeland, but he clearly felt that a Saudi move was best for his development at this early stage in his career. Only time will tell if it is the right call, but it has been rare to see such a young footballer head there.

14 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Lazio to Al-Hilal (£34m)

For a long time, it seemed inevitable that Sergej Milinkovic-Savic would end up at one of the best teams in Europe, having stood out as such a dominant performer for Lazio, combining talent and physicality in midfield.

It came as a huge shock to see him join Al-Hilal last year in a deal reportedly worth £34m, especially as he was still only in his late 20s at that point. Will he return to Europe in the future?

13 Mohamed Simakan RB Leipzig to Al-Nassr (£37.9m)

Mohamed Simakan made the decision to leave RB Leipzig and join Al-Nassr in September 2024, in a move worth €45m (£37.9m), linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo in the process.

Only in his mid 20s, the centre-back’s decision to move away from Europe arguably surprised some, but it is still early days, and the club’s success on the domestic and continental stages may determine whether he’ll come to regret saying goodbye to the Bundesliga.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Frenchman will certainly be looking to make an impression as he seeks a first senior international cap.

12 Fabinho Liverpool to Al-Ittihad (£40m)

Liverpool enjoyed a glorious period in their history under Jurgen Klopp, winning plenty of trophies, and Fabinho played a massive role in the Reds’ success.

A world-class No 6 at his peak, the Brazilian’s ability started to wane in the 2022/23 season, with his body no longer allowing him to cover ground like he once did.

A Saudi move felt like the best outcome for all parties, and Fabinho moved to Al-Ittihad for a reported £40m the following summer.

11 Ivan Toney Brentford to Al-Ahli (£40m)

Much like Milinkovic-Savic, Ivan Toney felt like a player who was only on the up at Brentford, with a move to one of the Premier League’s biggest teams often mooted.

Instead, the England international left the Bees to join Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024 in a move that surprised many, even amid his contract issues in west London.

Reports of his eventual transfer fee were mixed, but most appear to indicate Brentford received a sum of around £40m.

10 Galeno Porto to Al-Ahli (£41.6m)

Former Porto star Galeno was one of two major signings in the January 2025 market for the Saudi Pro League, with the winger joining Al-Ahli for €50m (£41.6m).

Galeno had scored eight in 18 appearances for Porto before departing for the Middle East, and has already written his name into the history books, scoring in the AFC Champions League final against Kawasaki Frontale.

His arrival marks Al-Ahli’s most expensive signing, replacing Ivan Toney.

9 Aleksandar Mitrovic Fulham to Al-Hilal (£46m)

Many players who have moved to the Saudi Pro League have been individuals whose peaks have been and gone, but Aleksandar Mitrovic went there while in his prime.

He was just 28 when he opted to trade Fulham for Al-Hilal, but he is no doubt reaping the financial rewards. Mitrovic’s transfer fee was officially undisclosed, with the Cottagers indicating they had received a “club-record” fee. While it was thought to be close to £50m, a sum of £46m appears to be the most widely mentioned.

8 Ruben Neves Wolves to Al-Hilal (£47m)

Ruben Neves’ move to Saudi Arabia has to stand out as one of the biggest surprises having grown into such a key player at Wolves, while still only being in his mid-20s.

It looked like the Portugal star had the pick of his clubs given the natural talent he possesses in midfield, but the race for his signature was won by Al-Hilal, who paid £47m for Neves’ services.

7 Moussa Diaby Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad (£50m)

It looked like Aston Villa had signed themselves a gem of a player in Moussa Diaby, with the winger catching the eye with his quality and end product during his one season at Villa Park.

His campaign did fizzle out a bit as it went on, but few would have expected to see him ditch the Midlands side for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad, with the Villans receiving around £50m in the process.

It’s hard not to feel as though the Frenchman is wasting the best years of his career in a lesser division, although the financial aspects of the move are undeniably appealing.

6 Otavio Porto to Al-Nassr (£51.1m)

Otavio was always a highly rated figure for Porto, and became a key part of the Portugal setup before opting for a Saudi move instead of a European switch, which cost Al-Nassr €60m (£51.1m) in August 2023.

He’s not set the world alight in the Middle East, scoring just one goal and supplying five assists in 2024/25.

There is little to suggest that Liverpool are close to turning a corner and sustaining a respectable level of performance any time soon. What is most concerning is that the Reds and their boss, Arne Slot, have shown little sign of finding a solution to any of the many problems plaguing their campaign.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence lies in tatters. There is a grudging acceptance across the red streets of Merseyside that Arsenal’s grip on top position is out of reach. Certainly, the gulf in quality between the two sides this season suggests that Liverpool will have to settle for a lesser prize on the league front.

Liverpool have been outclassed in successive top-flight fixtures, and change is surely needed now. Indeed, Liverpool languish in 11th place in the Premier League, having scored 18 goals and conceded 20.

Defensively, it’s been a mess, and the noise concerning Ibrahima Konate is only intensifying after the thrashing dealt by Nottingham Forest brought the French defender’s season to its lowest ebb.

Why Konate is becoming a huge problem for Liverpool

Konate, 26, was immense throughout the 2024/25 campaign, a powerful partner for Virgil van Dijk. He, of course, won the Premier League title, settling as a regular starter in Didier Deschamps’ France squad too.

Now, Konate is only offering the vestiges of that former level. What is most frustrating is that he has proven his quality before, but the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold beside him as exposed Konate’s issues in establishing confident build-up patterns.

But these two versions of Konate are so staggeringly opposed that it is hard to accept this is the same player. Errors and baffling decision-making have been central parts of the £70k-per-week talent’s season, and you can’t help but question whether he is somewhat distracted by outside noise.

Konate is playing out the final year of his contract at Anfield, and though FSG have offered him an extension, there has yet to be a breakthrough as speculation regarding Real Madrid’s interest continues to linger.

The season-ending injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni in his first game for the club after signing from Parma for £27m this summer was a cruel blow. A detrimental blow. The 18-year-old’s absence has been keenly felt, not least because a move for Marc Guehi fell through on deadline day.

With Slot insinuating that Liverpool’s focus this winter might be on areas further upfield (heavy speculation centres on Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo), it might be that the Reds opt to make do at the back.

If this is to be the case, Slot must surely hand one of the club’s most talented young defenders a chance to shine.

Liverpool's academy Konate solution

Slot has shown a willingness to give youth a chance since taking over at Liverpool before the start of last season. Amara Nallo, for example, has been handed a few opportunities at senior level, albeit with those outings on the major stage leaving the up-and-comer beleaguered after red cards in both matches.

However, Nallo isn’t the only teenage centre-back who is playing himself toward senior contention, with 19-year-old Wellity Lucky inching toward a breakthrough after commanding displays for Rob Page’s development side.

The Spain-born defender moved to England aged 11 before joining Liverpool’s academy scene, and he has gone from strength to strength in the years since joining, having now made 60 appearances for the club’s respective youth levels.

Earlier this season, the “highly-rated” defender, as he was described by Reds reporter Ben Bocsak, made his professional debut off the bench as Slot’s side were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.

In the process, he was rewarded after being “outstanding this season” in the Premier League 2, as has been said by youth correspondent Jack Lusby.

A commanding and dominant defender with a promising ability to read and then snuff out opposition attacks, Lucky has shown that he can take his power and potential and transfer that over to contests against senior opponents. In the Football League Trophy this term, Lucky has impressed against the bustle of outfits like Crewe Alexandra and Chesterfield for the U21s.

Front-footed and fast, you could even say that he offers shades of a player like Konate, which could make adding him to the mix an attractive prospect from a stylistic standpoint.

Wellity Lucky – EFL Trophy Stats (25/26)

Match Stats (* per game)

#

Matches (starts)

2 (2)

Touches*

90.5

Accurate passes

61.5 (88%)

Key passes*

0.5

Dribbles*

1.5

Ball recoveries*

6.0

Tackles + interceptions*

3.0

Clearances*

5.5

Duels (won)*

5.0 (83%)

Data via Sofascore

It might not have been against top-level opponents, but for Lucky to have won 83% of his duels across the two fixtures bespeaks his incisiveness in defensive phases. Moreover, his cameo against Palace last month saw him complete all 22 of his attempted passes while making a recovery too. Small factors, but promising nonetheless.

Slot continues to show a reluctance to give Joe Gomez a run of chances, and if Konate continues to flatter to deceive, it’s surely only a matter of time before things change there.

Could that open up an opportunity for a youngster such as Lucky? After all, he has earned Slot’s approval already this year, and Nallo’s struggles under the boss’s wing suggest that Lucky could be set for a promotion sooner rather than later.

To throw Lucky into the deep end would hardly be a propitious move, but if Slot can ease him into life among the big boys, this could add an exciting and fresh dimension to a defence crying out for support.

Read between the lines and you could surmise that Liverpool will prioritise a wide forward this summer. In this, the need for academy support at the rear is significant, and Lucky could be the shrewd solution to thread the connection between the club and the fanbase back together.

Related Forget Isak: Another Liverpool flop is quickly becoming the new Nunez

Alexander Isak has had a wretched first few months at Liverpool.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Nov 23, 2025

Can Rangers continue their Premiership winning run?

Well, the Gers did bring to an end their seven-match losing streak in Europe on Thursday, albeit a 1-1 draw with ten-man Braga at Ibrox did little to boost their hopes of reaching the Europa League knockout phase.

Back in the Premiership, Danny Röhl has won four out of four since arriving in Glasgow, albeit his team will kick off down in fifth place when Falkirk visit Ibrox on Sunday.

This is followed by clashes with Dundee United at Tannadice and then Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the next week, presenting the Light Blues with a golden chance to climb up the standings, so which forgotten summer signing should Röhl unleash in these matches?

Can Rangers rely on Mohamed Diomandé?

Most would agree that, in a squad that otherwise lacks quality, the strongest part of this Rangers team is their midfield pairing of Nicolas Raskin alongside Mohamed Diomandé.

However, while the Belgian continues to impress, the same cannot be said of the Côte d’Ivoire international.

On Thursday, Diomandé was sent off in the dying embers of the underwhelming 1-1 draw with Braga, a pretty harsh dismissal in fairness, but this was his second red card of the Europa League already, having also been dismissed for a tackle on Zakaria El Ouahdi when Genk were 1-0 winners in Govan.

Thus, having now been sent off twice, the Ivorian will miss the next two Europa League fixtures against Ferencváros and then Ludogorets Razgrad.

That aside, he more broadly is not showing his best form this season, scoring his first goal of the campaign to snatch victory against Livingston last weekend.

Nevertheless, as a reflection of this, Diomandé has not been called up by les Éléphants manager Emerse Faé since June, putting his participation at both next month’s Africa Cup of Nations and the summer’s World Cup in doubt, unless his form improves.

Thus, searching for solutions as he attempts to configure a winning team, perhaps Röhl should leave Diomandé on the bench against Falkirk on Sunday, instead starting Rangers’ forgotten summer signing.

Rangers' forgotten new recruit deserves an opportunity

Given that Rangers brought in 13 new recruits during a busy and expensive summer, the first of those new recruits has been overlooked.

Back in January, 23 year old midfielder Lyall Cameron agreed to join Rangers on a pre-contract from Dundee, thereby arriving in the summer for mere compensation, having established himself as one of the Premiership’s most outstanding young players.

Of course, at the time he put pen to paper, Philippe Clement was still the manager, with a lot of change happening during the intervening six months, later admitting that the knowledge Russell Martin “didn’t sign” him was being used as extra motivation to prove his worth.

During his final season at Dundee, Cameron scored 14 goals across all competitions, an impressive return considering the Dark Blues finished tenth, narrowly avoiding relegation, certainly showcasing his talent.

Kai Watson was very much impressed, noting that “ball carrying, chance-creation, tenacity and vision” are his primary attributes, praising his “ability to be in the right place at the right time” in the penalty area, calling the signing a “no-brainer”.

Well, towards the start of the season, Cameron appeared set to be a key figure, starting three Champions League qualifiers and two of the first three Premiership matches, scoring his first goal for the club against Viktoria Plzeň on the road.

Overall, the Scotland under-21 international accumulated 409 minutes of action across July and August, but has seen a miserly ten minutes on the park subsequently, introduced as a late substitute by Röhl during home Premiership wins over Kilmarnock and Livingston.

Nevertheless, he surely deserves more of an opportunity, so let’s compare his statistics to those of Diomandé.

Cameron 24/25 vs Diomandé 25/26
Stats	Cameron	Diomandé
Goals	0.3	0.2
Assists	0.2	Zero
Shots	1.2	0.7
Shots on target	0.7	0.4
Chances created	1.8	0.9
Big chances created	0.19	0.17
Passes completed	32.1	39
Forward passes	16.3	10.4
Duels won	4.1	4.9
Ball recoveries	5.8	4.9
Tackles	1.2	1.4
Ground duels won %	44.5%	45.5%
Touches	63.8	65.4
Average rating	7.12	6.54
Note: all stats are Premiership only and per-90.
Stats via Squawka and SofaScore

As the table documents, Cameron’s Premiership statistics last season are pretty much universally more impressive than those of Diomandé this time round, all on a per 90 basis, the Scotsman doing so for struggling Dundee, making it all the more impressive.

Cameron scored more goals and registered more assists, as well as coming out on top for a wide variety of underlying metrics, including shooting, chance creation, passing and ball recoveries.

Thus, considering Rangers’ lowly league position and, at best, mixed form, it is frankly baffling that Cameron has been given pretty much no playing time by Röhl, a fact that the German head coach should rectify against Falkirk on Sunday.

​​​​​​​

Rohl must bin Chermiti for Rangers star who was the SPFL's "best player"

After another anonymous performance by Youssef Chermiti against Braga, Danny Röhl must start the “best player in the league” against Falkirk on Sunday

By
Ben Gray

Nov 29, 2025

It's been over two months since star outfielder Juan Soto signed his massive 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, but with the MLB season now just around the corner, it's time to get excited again.

Ahead of their first spring training practice of 2025, the Mets' social media team captured the below video of Soto rocking orange and blue for the first time.

Take a look:

MLB fans—and for the most part, Mets fans—reacted to the video with plenty of excitement across X (formerly Twitter). Here's a look at some of the best:

"It feels pretty good to be sitting here—that I'm going to be here for a long time and be sitting in the same chair for a long time," Soto said to the assembled media following his first practice. "It's really exciting. I can't wait to see how it goes through the years and how we can enjoy it and embrace it every year."

The 26-year-old went on to say that the magnitude of the mega-deal he signed hasn't fully hit him yet.

"I'm still thinking about it and everything," he explained. "It's unbelievable. I'm really happy for that. I'm really happy to know where I'm going to be for the next 15 years."

Soto and the Mets open up their 2025 regular season on the road, in Houston, taking on the Astros on March 27 from Minute Maid Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. EST.

Earlier, Bumrah picked up his maiden Test five-wicket haul at Lord’s

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2025

Jofra Archer struck in his first over back•Getty Images

Tea Jasprit Bumrah was saved, or saved himself, for Lord’s. The temptation of the most famous honour’s board in the world might have had something to do with it, and if so, the plan worked. Bumrah was able to claim a five-for that helped bowl England out for 387 but he was far from the only fast bowler that set the pulse racing.Jofra Archer would have spent three years thinking about this moment, being told of the light at the end of the tunnel as he willed himself through the rehab his body needed to shoulder the burden that comes with red-ball cricket. Three balls into his first over back, the light wasn’t hypothetical anymore. His day in the sun had finally come and he was bathed in its glow as he celebrated a wicket with his third ball back. His fourth one, roused by the sight of a new batter in his crosshairs, was 93 mph.Bumrah was carving out legacy. Archer was clearing away the cobwebs. Lord’s was spoiled rotten.They stood up as one to salute Joe Root when he got the chance the vent the nerves of spending the night on 99, the first ball offering him width that he took on happily. An outside edge squirted away to the deep third boundary to signal the Englishman’s 37th Test century – which puts him in the top five in all of Test cricket. He went past Rahul Dravid and Steven Smith.Bumrah decided he wasn’t willing to share the stage anymore. So he sent back both the England captain Ben Stokes and their century maker as well, Root falling to the India seamer for the 11th time. There was another small victory for the visitors in this period of play when Shubman Gill secured his first successful review on tour to get rid of Chris Woakes. He rattled Archer’s stumps as well to collect his 13th five-wicket haul away from home, a new national record, one more than the great Kapil Dev.Jasprit Bumrah picked up his first five-for at Lord’s•Getty Images

India continued to challenge the umpires, their irritation sparked by a second new ball that needed to be changed – a mere 10.3 overs into its use – and the replacement looking much the worse for wear. Gill spent the entire morning drinks break with umpires Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula voicing his dissatisfaction, which had to have played a role in the officials eventually switching out even the replacement ball, after eight overs.Away in the background, Jamie Smith, who was dropped by KL Rahul on 5, just kept his head down and did his thing. Once more, he led an England lower-order recovery mission, his skillset perfectly suited to the task. A 52-ball half-century was the result of a man concentrating on the job at hand while the opposition was too busy fretting about what could have been. India tried to forget about Smith and blow away the other end, but that didn’t work either. Brydon Carse was batting well enough to hit Akash Deep on the up through the covers and getting down on bent knee to slash Bumrah past point. He completed an entertaining maiden half-century in Tests as England’s last three wickets added 116 runs.India’s reply began brightly, Yashasvi Jaiswal collecting three fours in the first over, but he couldn’t last the next one. Rahul, armed with impeccable judgement around the off stump, and Karun Nair, whose determination to make his second chance count was matched by England’s ruthlessness, to prevent it from happening epitomised by a short-ball barrage, took India to tea at 44 for 1.

Leeds United have started the 2025/26 season better than people may have expected, given the hoodoo surrounding newly promoted sides in recent years.

Their first season back in the top flight, it was predicted that Leeds would go straight back down. ESPN’s Bill Connelly was one of those who predicted them to come 18th, despite explaining that they are “well-suited” to survive the drop.

There is still a lot of football to be played, with 31 games to go this season but Leeds find themselves on eight points, four clear of the drop. It has been a positive start to the campaign for Daniel Farke’s side.

One area they would surely want to improve is how clinical they are in front of goal.

Why Leeds are struggling in the final third

To win football matches, you need to be able to put the ball in the back of the net. That is something that Leeds were good at under Farke last season, bagging 95 times, more than any other Championship team.

It was always going to be tough to replicate in the top flight, but the West Yorkshire outfit have perhaps left a little to be desired in front of goal.

As per Understat, they have found the back of the net seven times this season, but have underachieved on their expected goals tally.

Farke’s side have notched up a total of 8.03 xG so far, and whilst it is not a huge difference, they will be hoping that doesn’t increase as the season goes on. Indeed, he will want more from his strikers, in particular Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Leeds’ summer signing has scored once for his new club. The 28-year-old bagged against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 3-1 win at Molineux, but has failed to bag in any of his other four appearances.

After their last game against Tottenham Hotspur, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth said his “finishing was missing again.”

So, it might be the case that Farke decides to shake things up ahead of their next game against Burnley on Saturday.

Leeds' Calvert-Lewin alternative

Of course, former Everton number nine Calvert-Lewin was not the only centre-forward who moved to Elland Road this summer. They also added Lukas Nmecha to their squad on a free, with the two strikers joining existing forward Joel Piroe in the ranks.

However, Farke might choose to shuffle the pack around and start Noah Okafor up front. The “versatile” forward, as football scout Jacek Kulig called him, has played as a left-winger to great success this term, but is a more than capable striker.

Despite being just six games into his Leeds career, the Switzerland international has already bagged twice, at an average of a goal every 154 Premier League minutes.

Just like Calvert-Lewin, he netted at Molineux and also got Leeds’ goal in their 2-1 home loss to Spurs last time out.

Playing as a number nine would not be a strange concept to the former AC Milan star. Okafor has played that role a great deal in his career, with Transfermarkt showcasing that he’s featured as a centre-forward on 79 different occasions, scoring 26 goals and assisting 16.

It is interesting to compare Okafor and Calvert-Lewin’s key underlying numbers from this season. The Swiss star comes out on top in several metrics, including the average number of goals per shot on target.

The Leeds number 19 averages one per 90 minutes, with the former Everton striker just 0.14, showing far better efficiency in Okafor’s favour.

Goals

0.59

0.25

Goals per shot on target

1

0.14

Expected goals

0.35xG

0.35xG

Goals minus expected goals

0.24

-0.10

Goal-creating actions

0.3

0.25

There is a strong case to be made for Okafor starting at Leeds’ number nine during their next game. He’s got a good goal record and strong underlying numbers from the left wing this season, so Farke might well decide to test him out up front.

It would be a bold call, but one that could really pay dividends for the Whites as they look to become more efficient in front of goal.

Not just Meslier: Leeds star who was "so important" is now on borrowed time

This Leeds United ace could now find he’s on borrowed time under Daniel Farke.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 12, 2025

Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer, 39, has cheekily avoided questions about his future, joking he has to "take care of my bones" after a major 4-0 win in the Champions League. Major reports state that the German giants are planning December talks for a new deal, which could force Alexander Nubel's exit and add fuel to speculation of a possible 2026 World Cup return with Germany.

Neuer’s cheeky response on contract timing

Neuer humorously deflected questions regarding his future following his side's dominant 4-0 Champions League victory against Club Brugge. The veteran goalkeeper, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has been in imperious form, prompting increasing debate over a potential extension.

The victory at the Allianz Arena was Bayern's 12th win in their 12th competitive match of the season. Goals from Lennart Karl, Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Nicolas Jackson secured their third consecutive Champions League win.

When asked directly about the timing of a possible contract extension on Thursday night, Neuer joked about his advancing age and the physical toll of his career.

"I have to take care of my bones. It's getting late, and I'm already feeling it again," the 39-year-old said with a mischievous smile. "Let's see how it is when I get up."

Pressed on his morning routine, Neuer continued the joke: "Yes, the doctor's just passing by. I have to wait a moment." He then added: "There are good days – and better days."

AdvertisementBayern planning December talks for post-40 extension

While Neuer remains coy, Bayern Munich are preparing to open formal contract negotiations in December, according to reports in Germany. The discussions will focus on a new deal that could see the legendary shot-stopper remain the club's No. 1 beyond his 40th birthday and into the 2026-27 campaign.

Neuer, who joined Bayern in 2011 and kept a clean sheet against Bruges, has been in outstanding form this season, reinforcing his status as the undisputed first choice for manager Vincent Kompany.

New contract spells 'highly likely' exit for Nubel

A new contract for Neuer would have significant consequences for the future of his heir apparent, Nubel. The report states that should Neuer extend his stay, a "permanent sale" of Nubel next summer is considered "highly likely".

Nubel, 29, is currently on a long-term loan at Stuttgart but remains under contract with Bayern until 2029. Another loan move is reportedly "out of the question" for the club. Stuttgart, however, are believed to lack the financial means to secure Nubel on a permanent transfer, opening the door for other suitors.

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Ter Stegen injury fuels World Cup 2026 return speculation

Neuer's exceptional club performances have also reignited a public debate over a sensational return to the German national team for the 2026 World Cup, despite his retirement from international duty.

This speculation has intensified following news that Germany's current No. 1, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, is still out injured and is expected to be stuck on the bench at Barcelona after his recover if he decides against leaving in January.

Former Bayern and German Football Association (DFB) director Matthias Sammer added fuel to the fire when asked about a possible Neuer return, telling : "If we can afford to do without our best players, then we shouldn't throw away the World Cup title."

It’s not all good news for Newcastle United back in the Champions League amid reports that they’ve comfortably breached one of UEFA’s rules and could be facing a punishment as a result.

Where Newcastle stand financially

Whilst they were incredibly limited in 2024 when it came to spending in the Premier League, Champions League qualification and player sales quickly solved their domestic problems this summer. As such, Eddie Howe was finally in a position to welcome fresh faces again and after much toing and froing, he secured Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey.

Woltemade’s arrival would have come as a particular relief. The German was one of many options on Newcastle’s list of striker targets, as they were handed rejection after rejection. Eventually, it was the Stuttgart striker that arrived and, to his credit, he’s wasted no time before finding his feet – scoring on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

But after a summer of spending and the record sale of Alexander Isak, where do Newcastle stand financially? Football finance expert Kieram Maguire had his say and compared it to when Aston Villa sold Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021.

He told BBC Sport: “It will give them that financial flexibility that they didn’t have 12 months ago when they were forced to do nothing for a couple of windows. You don’t want that repeating, especially when the club are ambitious and aspirational.”

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So, as things stand, it looks as though PIF will satisfy the Premier League’s financial regulations. However, the same may not be said for UEFA’s financial rules. Reports are now suggesting that Newcastle could be facing further trouble away from the pitch.

Newcastle could be facing UEFA punishment

According to The Athletic, Newcastle have comfortably breached UEFA’s loss limit, which allows teams to lose up to £52m over three years. PIF recorded operating losses at St James’ Park worth around £68m in each of the last two seasons and could now be facing a similar punishment to Aston Villa and Chelsea, who were hit with fines earlier this year.

Even after the sale of Isak, the problem that Newcastle have is that UEFA have noted Elliot Anderson’s move to Nottingham Forest as a swap deal with Odysseas Vlachodimos. They’ve also reduced the sale of Allan Saint-Maximin to Al Ahli to nil profit due to the fact that the Saudi club are a shared party with the club.

Whilst the official financial reports for 2024/25 are yet to be released, it doesn’t look good for Newcastle once again. They will hope that this is the final time that they face such issues after selling big in the summer.

For now, however, it looks as though they’re set to join Villa and Chelsea on the list of Premier League clubs to be hit with a fine by UEFA, unless their accounts provide an unexpected twist.

Aston Villa had to deal with some difficulties within the summer window, though they could be about to pounce to sign a star who is set to be on the market in January.

Aston Villa move on after frustrating window disrupted by PSR

Without going over old ground too much, the Villans were heavily hamstrung by PSR during the summer, and it is fair to say that Unai Emery didn’t have a tonne of freedom to acquire players in the West Midlands.

Late deals that saw Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott sign for Aston Villa provide squad depth, while Victor Lindelof has joined on a free transfer after his release from Manchester United.

Nevertheless, many supporters feel the Villans have been held to a higher standard than others by the authorities, something that Marc Albrighton has hammered home in a recent phone-in session on BBC Radio West Midlands.

He stated: “It is really frustrating because the Leicester victory was 10 years ago and somebody brings it up every single day – that is how special it was. To take that opportunity away from potentially happening to other clubs is scandalous really.

“I just think the PSR issue really needs sorting out. It’s so frustrating for clubs like Villa that have got the money but can’t they spend it. Then they are having to sell other players too – it’s making a mess. I think there’s a few things at the minute which needs looking at in football and that is one of them.”

If finances permit, Aston Villa are eyeing a £40 million move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in January. However, they are also plotting to add a new face to their backline that may arrive into conversation at a similar ballpark.

Aston Villa plot move to sign Athletic Club star Dani Vivian

According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa are plotting a move to sign Athletic Club defender Dani Vivian in January, though will need to compete with Premier League pair Manchester United and Newcastle United for his signature.

Putting him within reach financially, the 26-year-old has a release clause worth about £34.7 million, making him someone that could arrive for a relatively modest fee while strengthening Emery’s squad for the second half of the campaign.

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Labelled “colossal” by Thom Harris, Vivian scored four times in 46 appearances last term and has started 2025/26 by playing a part in three consecutive La Liga victories, including a clean sheet against Rayo Vallecano.

Illustrating his quality of distribution from deep, the 26-year-old has maintained a pass accuracy rate of 79% in the Spanish top-flight, per Fotmob, completing 109 successful passes in total.

Aston Villa were hampered in their attempts to recruit properly this summer, though may now be set to atone for their frustrating window once the January market period gets underway.