Another weekend of European football action is in the books, so it is time to take a look at the updated Ballon d’Or power rankings before the final matchups of the Champions League league phase.
Manchester United might be scanning the market for midfield fixes, but Barcelona are clear on their stance of Marc Casado. United are understood to be prioritising a new midfielder ahead of the summer, with Casemiro set to leave and the club needing fresh legs and control in the engine room.
Nottingham Forest have stunned the Premier League with a bold £35million approach for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, igniting what promises to be one of the most contentious transfer sagas of the winter window.
Manchester United made a huge statement on Sunday in the Premier League by beating Arsenal 3-2, and they look like a totally transformed team under the leadership of new manager Michael Carrick, who is rather unsurprisingly good given he functioned as a coach on the field back when he was an underappreciated legendary midfielder at Old Trafford.
Matheus Cunha could find himself in trouble following his reaction after scoring Manchester United’s winning goal against Arsenal yesterday, an incident that overshadowed an otherwise dramatic conclusion to the match.
Retired Italian defender Lele Adani highlighted the great impact that Luciano Spalletti has had since joining Juventus. The 66-year-old joined in late October as a replacement for Igor Tudor.
Manchester United have been put on red alert following reports that Chelsea superstar Cole Palmer is open to a sensational summer switch to Old Trafford.
Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces once again became a major talking point after they failed to beat Manchester United yesterday, reviving a familiar debate whenever the Gunners drop points.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor has dismissed speculation linking him with a reunion with Brendan Rodgers in Saudi. The 32-year-old has been linked with a shock switch to reunite with Rodgers at Al-Qadsiah.
Tottenham Hotspur have had a busy January, with plenty of action still possible. They have loaned out several young talents and sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace earlier this transfer window.
Patrick Vieira watched as Arsenal were defeated at home by Manchester United yesterday, and he has now raised concerns about the team’s mentality. The Gunners are aiming to be both English and European champions this season and have generally performed well to maintain top positions in multiple competitions.
Liverpool’s summer signings Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak have been compared with Erling Haaland as debate grows over whether our new strikers have actually underperformed.
Defending champion Gotham FC announced the signing Monday of two-time NCAA champion Jordynn Dudley. The decorated Florida State forward inked a multi-year deal through the 2028 NWSL season.
Liverpool’s defensive depth has felt stretched for months, and Sky Sports believe Marc Guehi is the clearest example of a move we should have pushed harder to complete.
Tottenham are actively exploring a move for Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi, with manager Thomas Frank looking to reshape his defensive unit ahead of next season.
Aston Villa appear prepared to sell Emiliano Martinez this January, according to Football Insider. Despite being a fan favorite and a pivotal figure in the club’s recent resurgence, fresh reports suggest that the Midlands club may be willing to sanction a departure for the Argentine shot-stopper.
Joao Pedro scored a great goal and drew a penalty as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace on Sunday. It was his best performance for some time. “Once Estevao passed the ball to me, I felt confident that I could take the chance and I’m just very happy I managed to score and help the team,” the striker said.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is facing intense scrutiny from all sections of the fanbase and the media. The Danish tactician is under growing pressure to deliver immediate results as he attempts to guide the Lilywhites out of a precarious situation in the Premier League.
Michael Owen still believes Arsenal are the only team capable of stopping themselves from winning the Premier League title this season, despite a recent dip in form that has raised concerns among supporters.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton revealed his desire to play in the Champions League amidst interest from Manchester United and Liverpool. The 21-year-old was one of the best Premier League revelations in the 2023/24 season, when he earned a call-up for England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Arsenal did not lose a football match so much as they lost control of their own intent. For half an hour, the Emirates felt like a stage built for authority – wave after wave, United pinned back, Arsenal dictating the script.
A Manchester City win against Wolves on Saturday, January 24, at the Etihad Stadium saw them move closer to Arsenal. The Cityzens now trail the Gunners by four points.
The Jeremy Jacquet to Chelsea story may not be over just yet, and it seems like we are even speaking about for January here. It emerged earlier on that Chelsea are not going to be signing the young centre back from Rennes this window, although there was talk of a pre-deal for the summer.