Free agent slugger Juan Soto's market is heating up quickly, as expected, with the star slugger the prize of the market this offseason.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Soto is set to begin with prospective teams this week in California. The Toronto Blue Jays will get the first meeting with Soto, followed by the Boston Red Sox. After that, the two prohibitive favorites, the New York Mets and New York Yankees will get a chance for Soto to hear their pitch.

The Yankees would certainly love to have him back impacting the middle of their batting order. The 26-year-old Soto hit .288 this season for the Bronx Bombers, with 41 home runs and 109 RBI in 576 at-bats.

Soto is also in historic company as he enters his prime. As Passan noted, Soto is eighth all-time in OPS+ among players with 3,000 or more plate appearances through their age-25 season. His OPS+ of 160 trails only Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout, Jimmie Foxx, Albert Pujols, Tris Speaker and Rogers Hornsby. That is certainly good Hall of Fame company to be in.

Soto will likely command the longest contract in MLB history due to his age and talent. Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres currently holds that record for contract length with his 14-year, $340 million contract. Soto's deal could break the record for contract length, and is expected to exceed $600 million in guaranteed money.

Carlo Ancelotti has called out Vinicius Jr for his angry reaction after being substituted by Xabi Alonso during Real Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico win over Barcelona, describing the forward’s behaviour as “a mistake”. The Brazil boss revealed that he has since spoken directly with the 25-year-old, confirming the issue is now resolved as both player and coach look ahead to next month’s international fixtures.

Vinicius' outrage towards Alonso after El Clasico sub

Real Madrid may have celebrated victory in El Casico on October 26, but the post-match discussion was dominated by Vinicius' frustrated reaction to being substituted in the second half. The Brazilian winger, replaced by Arda Guler in the 72nd minute, appeared visibly irritated and went straight down the tunnel rather than joining his teammates on the bench, and his actions sparked immediate controversy.

In the hours after the match, Vinicius took to social media to issue a public apology, acknowledging that his emotions got the better of him. The apology helped calm tensions inside the Real Madrid camp, with reports confirming that he had also spoken privately to Alonso to clear the air. Despite the brief drama, club insiders emphasised that there was no lasting rift between player and manager.

The incident came at a delicate moment in Real Madrid’s season, with Alonso’s team fighting to maintain their lead in La Liga and navigating a tight Champions League schedule. While the 2-1 win over Barcelona reinforced Madrid’s credentials, the outburst briefly threatened to overshadow what had otherwise been a statement performance. However, both the player’s apology and Alonso’s composed handling of the matter ensured that tensions did not escalate further.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAncelotti personally told Vinicius 'he made a mistake'

When unveiling Brazil’s squad for their upcoming November friendlies, Selecao boss Ancelotti was asked to comment on the situation, and did not hold back. “We have a very good relationship with Vinicius. When something happens, we make sure to talk about it,” Ancelotti said. “I spoke with Vinicius about the issue, about his reaction. I told him what I thought — that he made a mistake. He apologised, and it’s a resolved matter. He’s a very important player.

The veteran manager, who previously coached Vinicius at Real Madrid, also made clear that his relationship with the forward remains professional and focused. “He doesn’t have a problem here or in his club, or with his coach [Alonso]. As for his personal life, it’s his — I’m not his father nor his brother, I’m just his coach,” Ancelotti clarified.

Getty ImagesVinicius and Alonso have already cleared the air after drama

Vinicius Jr’s fiery temperament has long been both his greatest strength and a recurring source of controversy, as his competitive drive occasionally boils over in high-pressure moments. In this case, his frustration stemmed not from a personal issue with Alonso but from dissatisfaction with his own performance and desire to stay on the pitch.

Ancelotti’s intervention was significant given his longstanding influence on Vinicius’ development. It was under the Italian’s management at Real Madrid that the Brazilian evolved from a raw, inconsistent talent into one of the world’s best forwards, leading the club to Champions League and La Liga titles.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesVinicius crucial to Brazil's 2026 WC plans

Despite the short-lived drama, Vinicius remains central to both Real Madrid and Brazil’s plans heading into a crucial phase of fixtures. Ancelotti included the 23-year-old in his latest squad for the November friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, with the matches set to take place at London’s Emirates Stadium and Lille’s Decathlon Arena, respectively. Alongside teammates Rodrygo and Eder Militao, Vinicius will be expected to lead the attack as Brazil continue fine-tuning their system under Ancelotti’s leadership.

The upcoming games also offer Vinicius an opportunity to shift focus back to his on-field performances after a turbulent few days. Brazil are seeking to bounce back from their shock 3-2 defeat to Japan in October, and Ancelotti will be counting on his Real Madrid contingent to provide both quality and stability.

For Real Madrid, the matter now appears closed. Alonso has already accepted Vinicius’ apology, and the player has also started Los Blancos' clash with Valencia on the weekend, and will do so again at Anfield against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Atlanta Braves just got more bad injury news.

After the Braves secured their spot in the postseason by winning the second game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets on Monday, they got some deflating information. Ace starter Chris Sale is unlikely to pitch in Atlanta's wild card series against the San Diego Padres.

Sale was in line to start the second game of the doubleheader after the Braves lost the first 8–7. He experienced back spasms and was scratched shortly before the game and was replaced by Grant Holmes. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker isn't planning to have his best starter any time soon.

After the game, Snitker said he does not expect to have Sale for any of the three potential games against the Padres.

Sale is the runaway favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award after compiling an outstanding season. The 35-year-old lefty finished the 2024 campaign with an 18–3 record, an NL-best 2.38 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 225 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings.

The Braves have been beset by injuries this season. Star righty Spencer Strider missed most of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery while reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. and All-Star third baseman Austin Riley are also out for the season.

Atlanta's rotation is in flux as the team heads West to take on the Padres.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras novamente abriu vantagem na liderança do Campeonato Brasileiro. Na noite desta quarta-feira (29), o Verdão bateu o América-MG, no Allianz Parque, por 2 a 0. E como mais cedo o Flamengo foi derrotado em casa para o Atlético-MG, a equipe alviverde se isolou no topo da tabela. Paulistas e cariocas iniciaram a rodada empatados em pontos, mas com o Palestra liderando por ter mais saldo de gols, o que é o segundo critério de desempate.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasDom da adivinhação: veja o que Palmeiras pensa sobre supostamente ter ajudado Hulk a defender o Atlético-MG contra o Flamengo Palmeiras29/11/2023FinançasFlamengo e Palmeiras lideram consumo de torcedores na reta final do BrasileirãoFinanças29/11/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras agiu nos bastidores para que Hulk, do Atlético-MG, não fosse suspenso antes de enfrentar o Flamengo, diz jornalPalmeiras29/11/2023

Os palmeirenses dominaram a partida desde o primeiro minuto, quando Endrick abriu o placar. O segundo gol foi marcado ainda na etapa inicial, com o zagueiro Eder, do Coelho, empurrando contra o próprio patrimônio. Já no fim da partida, o argentino Flaco López, que havia saído do banco de reservas, marcou o terceiro e o quarto gol da equipe verde e branca.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Com o triunfo, o Palmeiras chega a 66 pontos na classificação do Brasileirão, seguido do Botafogo, Atlético-MG e Flamengo, ambos com 63.

O Verdão depende somente de si para conquistar o título e tem mais dois jogos até o término da competição. O primeiro, neste domingo (3), contra o Fluminense, na arena palmeirense, e o segundo, na próxima quarta-feira (6), contra o Cruzeiro, no Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte.

continua após a publicidade

CINCO PONTOS QUE MARCARAM A PARTIDA

> MAS JÁ?! Logo no primeiro lance da partida, com dois minutos, o Palmeiras abriu o placar com o garoto Endrick marcando pela décima vez no Brasileirão. Veiga cobrou falta, a zaga americana afastou, e a joia alviverde ajeitou para emendar um lindo chute no canto esquerdo.

> DANÇA, ENDRINHO, DANÇA! Na comemoração, teve dancinha da revelação palmeirense com o zagueiro Murilo, que é um dos melhores amigos do jovem, de 17 anos, no elenco palmeirense.

> POXA, RONY 🙁 O atacante não era titular desde o dia 19 de outubro e recebeu uma chance nesta partida, já que, por conta da ausência do lateral-direito Mayke, suspenso por acúmulo de cartões, o técnico Abel Ferreira voltou a usar linha de quatro no sistema defensivo. O camisa 10 palmeirense, no entanto, precisou ser substituído com 11 minutos, sentindo o antebraço. O problema aconteceu após uma dividida com o goleiro Jori, onde não houve sequer marcação de falta. Teve revisão, através do VAR, que não viu lance passível de cartão vermelho para o atleta americano.

> O QUE É ISSO, ÉDER, MEU GAROTO?! Quando o zagueiro do próprio time resolve jogar contra, aí fica difícil. Mais um lance que começou com Raphael Veiga levantando para área. Dessa vez, Eder, do Coelho, tentou evitar que a bola chegasse em Murilo, que fechava na pequena área, e acabou mandando contra o próprio patrimônio.

> INACREDITÁVEL, BRENO LOPES: ele poderia ter ampliado a vantagem palmeirense no segundo tempo, quando recebeu um belo passo de Endrick e arrancou sozinho, de frente para o gol. Mas, cara a cara com o goleiro Jori, o atacante isolou o chute.

COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO

Primeiro tempo de domínio único e exclusivo do Palmeiras, que logo no primeiro minuto abriu o placar com o garoto Endrick, que aproveitou uma sobra na entrada da área, após falta que Raphael Veiga levantou na área, dominou de forma impecável e acertou um chute melhor ainda, no canto esquerdo do goleiro americano.

continua após a publicidade

E o Verdão seguiu em cima do Coelho. Artur (quatro vezes, Murilo, Piquerez, Richard Ríos e Zé Rafael arriscaram, mas faltavam capricharem um pouco nas finalizações, que na maioria das vezes foram para fora. Em algumas oportunidades pararam no goleiro Jori, mas sem levar muito perigo.

Tanto que o segundo gol palmeirense foi marcado por um jogador do América-MG. Aos 39 minutos, Raphael Veiga cobrou falta pelo lado esquerdo, levantando na grande área, e Éder, ao tentar afastar, cortou contra o próprio patrimônio.

E O SEGUNDO TEMPO?

Menos intenso, mas ainda controlando o jogo, o Palmeiras cadenciou na maior parte do tempo. A equipe alviverde não empilhou chances como havia feito na etapa inicial, mas, ainda sim, teve grandes oportunidades para ampliar. A maior delas foi quando Breno Lopes recebeu lindo passe de Endrick, saiu na cara do gol, mas isolou. E quando a partida parecia terminar mesmo 2 a 0 para o Verdão, Flaco López entrou no lugar de Endrick e deixou a sua marca duas vezes, aos 42 e 46 minutos da etapa final.

+ CONFIRA MAIS DETALHES SOBRE A PARTIDA

O QUE VEM POR AÍ

Palmeiras e América-MG voltam a campo neste fim de semana. Enquanto o Verdão recebe o Fluminense, novamente no Allianz Parque, para colocar uma mão na taça. Já o Coelho, novamente cumpre tabela. Desta vez, os mineiros vão enfrentar o Bahia, na Arena Independência, em Belo Horizonte. O clube baiano briga para não repetir o caminho dos americanos e serem rebaixados para a Série B.

PALMEIRAS 4 X 0 AMÉRICA-MG
CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO – 36ª RODADA

Data e horário:29 de novembro de 2023, às 21h (de Brasília)
Local:Allianz Parque, São Paulo (SP)
Árbitro:Wilton Pereira Sampaio
Assistentes: Leone Carvalho Rocha e Lehi Sousa Silva
Árbitro de vídeo:Rodolpho Toski Marques
Público e renda:29.717 pessoas | R$ 2.694.055,09
Cartões amarelos:Naves e Richard Ríos (Palmeiras); Júlio e Eder (América-MG)
Cartões vermelhos:

GOLS: 1-0 Endrick (2’/1T); 2-0 Éder (contra) (39’/1T); 3-0 Flaco López (42’/2T); 4-0 Flaco López (46’/2T)

PALMEIRAS
Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Murilo, Naves e Piquerez; Zé Rafael (Jaílson, 35’/2T), Richard Ríos (Fabinho, 26’/2T) e Raphael Veiga; Endrick (Flaco López, 35’/2T), Rony (Artur, 11’/2T) e Breno Lopes (Jhon Jhon, 26’/2T). Técnico: Abel Ferreira.

AMÉRICA-MG
Jori; Rodriguinho, Danilo Avelar, Júlio (Iago Maidana, 32’/2T), Eder e Marlon; Lucas Kal, Emmanuel Martínez (Martín Benítez, 32’/2T0 e Juninho; Felipe Azevedo (Everaldo, intervalo) e Gonzalo Mastriani (Alê, intervalo). Técnico: Diogo Giacomini.

Interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has had a brilliant start to his return to Parkhead with two wins in his first two matches in the dugout.

He masterminded a 4-0 win over Falkirk in his first game back, despite the Hoops having lost their last two matches in the Scottish Premiership prior to that outing.

The experienced manager then led his team to the final of the League Cup with a 3-1 win over Rangers, after extra time, at Hampden Park on Sunday.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not O’Neill will still be in the dugout when that final rolls around, as the Hoops are still looking for their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers.

The former Celtic manager tendered his resignation at the start of last week, after a 3-1 loss to Hearts, but the club do not seem particularly close to making an appointment at this moment in time.

As part of their process to find their next manager, the Scottish giants should be looking for someone who has a better record of competing in Europe.

Why Celtic need an upgrade on Brendan Rodgers in Europe

There is no doubt that Rodgers was excellent for the Hoops on the whole when it came to competing domestically, as he won four trophies in his two full seasons back at Parkhead.

The former Liverpool and Leicester City head coach won the Premiership title in both of those campaigns, although he did leave the club eight points adrift of Hearts last week.

However, Rodgers struggled in Europe throughout both of his spells in charge of Celtic, in both the Champions League and the Europa League.

The Hoops reached the play-off round, just before the last 16, in the Champions League last season, only to lose to Bayern Munich, after the change in format to a league phase.

That is the furthest that any of Rodgers’ Celtic teams managed to go in any European competition across six seasons at the club, though, as they never reached as much as a quarter-final.

25/26

Intermediate stage

Group stage

24/25

Group stage

N/A

23/24

Group stage

N/A

18/19

N/A

Intermediate stage

17/18

Group stage

Intermediate stage

16/17

Group stage

N/A

The Northern Irish manager has won six and lost 18 of his 36 matches in the Champions League as a manager, which includes one win in six games at Liverpool, per Transfermarkt.

These statistics show that Rodgers has struggled in European competitions throughout his career, which is why he may not have been the right man to push Celtic forward in the Champions League or the Europa League.

It is also why the Hoops board should be looking for a head coach who has the potential to help the club to kick on in Europe, in order to compete for trophies on the continent as well as in Scotland.

Plenty of managers have already been linked with replacing Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead, but there is one in particular who could be a key upgrade on Rodgers.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

It was recently reported that the Scottish giants have approached Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen as they look to establish a shortlist of options for the role.

The report claimed that the Hoops will look to use the lure of big wages to tempt him to make the move from the Belgian club, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will be a successful approach.

Why Celtic should appoint Nicky Hayen

Celtic should push to bring Hayen to Parkhead to be the long-term replacement for Rodgers because his success at Club Brugge, domestically and in Europe, has been very impressive.

The Belgian boss, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, won the Pro League as an interim manager at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, before finishing second to USG by three points last term, per Transfermarkt.

Hayen won the Belgian Cup last season, though, and the Belgian Super Cup at the start of the current campaign, which means that he has won three trophies in roughly 18 months as the interim and permanent manager.

The Celtic target’s biggest selling point as a manager, however, should be his side’s impressive performance in Europe, as he reached the last 16 of the Champions League in the 2024/25 campaign, which is further than Rodgers after took the club.

Matches

4

15

Wins

2

6

Draws

1

2

Losses

1

7

Points per game

1.75

1.33

Best finish

Semi-finals

Last 16

As you can see in the table above, Hayen also reached the semi-finals of the Conference League in the 2023/24 campaign, winning in the quarter-finals before losing the semi to Fiorentina.

The Club Brugge boss, who was hailed as a “workaholic” by his former chairman Rob Edwards, has won as many Champions League games in 15 matches and 18 months as their manager as Rodgers has in his entire career, with 36 games under his belt.

This suggests that he would arrive at Parkhead as an upgrade on the Northern Irish head coach when it comes to competing on the European stage with the Hoops, as he has achieved more in less than two seasons than Rodgers managed in over four seasons with the Bhoys.

Hayen, who was described as “tactically unbeatable” by one scout on X, has shown that he can compete domestically, with trophies in Belgium with Brugge, as well as on the European stage.

That is why the 4-2-3-1 manager could be a perfect fit for Celtic as an upgrade on Rodgers to help them kick on in Europe this season and in the future.

Not just Osmand: O'Neill has another future superstar for Celtic's next boss

Celtic have another future superstar who is as exciting as Callum Osmand in their academy.

ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2025

On top of his success in the Conference League and Champions League, Hayen has also won all four of his Champions League qualifiers, which is noteworthy after Celtic lost to Kairat in the play-off round this season.

It remains difficult to piece together just where the blame lies for Celtic’s current slump – is it the board, is it Brendan Rodgers, or is it a period of dismal recruitment?

Of course, it is likely a mixture of all of those factors, with the latter point particularly key. Indeed, of those signed amid Rodgers’ return in the summer of 2023, only Paulo Bernardo and Yang Hyun-jun remain part of the current first-team squad.

Far too many deals have backfired over the past two years, although that’s not to say that the departed coach is himself free of criticism, having not exactly got the best out of those at his disposal.

You only have to look at the case of Callum Osmand, a player largely ignored by the Northern Irishman, to see where Rodgers was misguided. While now cruelly struck down by injury, the Wales youth international was the hero at Hampden, before winning a penalty during his lively, albeit brief cameo at FC Midtjylland.

Although Rodgers’ return did see two further Premiership titles secured, prior to him walking away for the second time, the magic of his first spell in charge didn’t appear to be there.

The Hoops, hopefully, will be targeting a figure who can replicate that first version of the former Liverpool boss at Parkhead.

Celtic's ongoing manager search

A clear frontrunner has yet to truly emerge with regard to Celtic’s managerial vacancy, with a romantic return for Ange Postecoglou having been deemed ‘very unlikely’, despite the Greek-Aussie now out of work following his dismissal from Nottingham Forest.

Interim boss Martin O’Neill does remain an option to see out the season, alongside Shaun Maloney, although such a decision would likely be a last resort considering the 73-year-old last took on a top job back in 2019, following his own brief stint at the City Ground.

The nature and timing of Rodgers’ shock resignation has no doubt complicated matters, although with the international break now to come, it presents the perfect time to finally nail down a preferred pick.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Expand Collapse

According to Football Insider, one of the current frontrunners is Ipswich Town boss, Kieran McKenna, with the 39-year-old deemed to be the “number-one target”, albeit with a potential obstacle likely to be his “big compensation package”.

As the report notes, it is believed that it would take a fee of around £5m to prise McKenna from Portman Road, with it yet to be seen whether the Glasgow side would be willing to fork out such a figure to get their man.

McKenna, for what it’s worth, did not wholly shut down talk of the move when quizzed on the speculation in recent weeks, having described Celtic as a “really big club”, amid suggestions that he is a rumoured Hoops supporter.

Why Celtic could be targeting the next Brendan Rodgers

An exciting young Northern Irish coach with a potential affinity to the Scottish champions – that certainly sounds familiar?

Yes, there are certainly real similarities between McKenna and his compatriot Rodgers, with Celtic no doubt hoping that the in-demand Ipswich coach can replicate the success that the latter man enjoyed following his first move to Parkhead in 2016.

While the ex-Swansea City, Liverpool, Watford and Reading boss had garnered far more experience at the time of his move north of the border, he had made the first major stride of his coaching career in the youth ranks at Chelsea, having been given the backing of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

McKenna – who initially worked in the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur – was also something of a favourite of Mourinho at Manchester United, having eventually become an assistant to the Portuguese coach in 2018.

Like Rodgers, the rising star had seen his own playing career cut short by injury, with the pair seemingly following in Mourinho’s footsteps by trying to make up for that on-field disappointment by shining in the dugout – as McKenna himself has admitted:

While Rodgers first truly made a name for himself by steering Swansea into the Premier League, the 4-2-3-1 coach has enjoyed similar success in the EFL with his current club, having claimed back-to-back promotions in what is his first managerial role.

McKenna’s record at Ipswich

Stat

Record

Days in charge

1419

Games

187

Wins

87

Draws

50

Losses

50

Points per game

1.66

Players used

81

Promotions

2

Relegations

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

Although the Tractor Boys’ stay in the top-flight was short-lived, that hasn’t stopped interest mounting in this “incredible” coach – as hailed by Ipswich’s Wes Burns – with former club Man United believed to have been considering him in the summer of 2024.

That would’ve been like Rodgers’ own Anfield switch, although perhaps McKenna can skip a step and head straight to Celtic instead, with the Glasgow outfit no doubt in need of an exciting, young and fresh voice to try and reinvigorate the current first-team crop.

For all the frustration over his decision to twice leave his post at Celtic Park, it’s worth remembering the glittering success that Rodgers has achieved when at the helm, namely overseeing that invincible domestic season in 2016/17.

With a raft of promising young talents, and with an attractive, front-foot style of play, the now 52-year-old was just what was needed to breathe new life into the club, amid the mixed stint of Ronny Deila.

Now, again, Celtic need to be revitalised. Can the next bright young manager, McKenna, be the man to do just that?

Related O'Neill upgrade: Mjallby tells Celtic which manager is "the perfect fit"

Former Celtic star Johan Mjällby has told the club which manager would be the perfect fit for the club.

Posts ByDan Emery Nov 8, 2025

Liverpool have been backed to sign a “magnificent” player in the January transfer window, but they will face competition from Real Madrid.

Carragher bemoans Liverpool "crisis"

The champions lost a fourth successive Premier League game on Saturday evening, with the 3-2 defeat away to Brentford continuing a scarcely believable run of poor form, and big-money signings like Florian Wirtz struggling again.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes this is now a genuine “crisis” for Arne Slot, not holding back in his criticism of the champions for Sky Sports.

“Losing four games in a row for Brentford would be a disaster. To see the champions do it with the expenditure in the summer means we’re in crisis time for Liverpool right now. There will be a lot of serious questions asked in the dressing room between the players and the coaching staff and the people above the manager.

“When they’ve looked at what they’ve spent, they’ll be looking for a lot more. Liverpool have to look at the physicality and height within their team because, right now, I don’t think they have enough.”

Liverpool are struggling in many areas, not least in defence, with 14 goals already conceded in their first nine league games this season. It could be that a new defender is looked at, and a fresh update has emerged regarding the Reds’ winter window plans.

Liverpool backed to sign "magnificent" centre-back

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed Liverpool could look to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in January to fend off interest from the likes of Madrid.

“There’s obviously been a hell of a lot of talk about Marc Guehi, they missed out in the summer and now there’s all sorts of clubs having a look at him. At first, it seemed like a certainty that he would go to Liverpool in January, but that doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment because he’s got these other options.

“It’s no surprise that the likes of Real Madrid are in for him now, he’s England’s starting centre-back and he’s going to be available for free. But I’ve always felt Liverpool could try to get it done in January even if it isn’t a certainty any more. He is by far the best option out there at the moment, and he’ll be available for £35million or less, which is a bargain fee for a defender of that quality.

“When you consider the difficulties they’ve had in defense lately, I expect they’ll be even more determined to get that deal done as soon as possible.”

Appearances

9

9

Starts

9

9

Minutes played

810

746

Clearances per game

5.4

5.4

Aerial duel wins per game

3.0

3.9

Tackles per game

1.9

1.9

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

0

Missing out on Guehi on deadline day felt significant at the time, and it almost feels as though things have unravelled for Liverpool ever since then. He even assisted against them in the Eagles’ 2-1 win at Selhurst Park, and has been called “magnificent” by former Reds left-back Stephen Warnock.

The 25-year-old would surely be starting over the out-of-form Ibrahima Konate currently, and he would have added much-needed centre-back depth, especially with Giovanni Leoni now out injured for the rest of the season.

Move over Salah: Slot's 5/10 Liverpool star is the new Jordan Henderson

Liverpool’s crisis deepened as they were condemned to a fourth successive Premier League defeat at Brentford.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 26, 2025

If the chance arises to sign Guehi in January, Liverpool simply must swoop, or if not, snap him up on a free transfer at the end of the season. It would be a surprise if Palace allowed him to leave before then, especially with European commitments, but receiving a fee for him could still appeal.

Worcestershire hit back with two late wickets on rain-truncated day

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Hampshire 146 for 2 (Middleton 79, Weatherley 62) vs Worcestershire Worcestershire struck two late blows after Hampshire’s batters had laid a solid foundation on a truncated first day of their Rothesay County Championship match at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Hampshire, in search of their first championship victory since mid-May, closed on 146 for two having reached 127 without loss before losing openers Fletcha Middleton (79, 101 balls) and Joe Weatherley (62, 130) in a late burst of play in poor light.They were blows badly needed by Worcestershire, bottom of Division One and desperate for a win to sustain their slender hopes of survival.After a wet outfield prevented play before lunch, the home side chose to bowl in conditions still damp from morning rain, but the assistance for the seamers they hoped for did not materialise. Pakistan pace spearhead Khurram Shahzad was expensive as Weatherley and Middleton put 50 on the board by the 14th over.The Winchester-born openers, perhaps inspired by the adjacence of a cathedral, were little troubled by a Worcestershire attack bruised by last week’s heartbreaking defeat to neighbours Warwickshire. Having dominated the first half of the match at Edgbaston, the Pears suffered a devastating defeat as Warwickshire chased down 393 on the last day.Back on home turf, the Worcestershire attack, with Matthew Waite returning from paternity leave in place of Sussex loanee Bertie Foreman, again toiled. Middleton hurried to his half-century from 51 balls and Weatherley followed to his from 103.The openers were looking forward to a productive evening session only for the rain to return during the tea interval and prevent play until a late resumption at 6pm. Hampshire’s openers ventured back out with little to gain and everything to lose – and the home side took advantage of the murky, moist conditions. Middleton edged Tom Taylor to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, who took a superb catch in front of first slip, and Weatherly edged Ben Allison to Ethan Brookes at second slip.The wickets were an unwelcome postscript to a hitherto excellent day for Hampshire but they have still set down a solid platform from which to push for a victory that would lift them away from the relegation zone – and pretty much sentence Worcestershire to end the season in it.

Chelsea cruised to a 6-0 win over Austrian side St Polten on matchday three of the Women's Champions League league phase on Tuesday night, which included a landmark 150th goal scored by the club in European competition. Sonia Bompastor's Blues move up to second in the standings, at least for the next 24 hours, with Sam Kerr working hard and rewarded for her efforts.

Kerr lacked conviction with a great early chance only a few yards from goal, but Wieke Kaptein made sure to put a similar opportunity away to break the deadlock after 12 minutes. Naomi Girma's bundled would-be second for Chelsea just over half an hour in was chalked off due to Kerr being offside as she knocked the ball across goal to the American, but there was nothing wrong with Catarina Macario's low strike from the edge of the box just before the interval.

A top Schluter save denied Macario a quickfire third right after the restart. But Alyssa Thompson soon drew a penalty by bamboozling Izabela Krizaj, that Macario made no mistake converting. Thompson had a goal disallowed with Kerr again offside in the build-up.

Kerr kept at it and eventually got her reward with a well-taken goal to make it 4-0. A heavily deflected Lauren James effort on her return from four months out handed Chelsea a late fifth, officially recorded as an own goal. A heavily deflected Lauren James effort on her return from four months out handed Chelsea a late fifth, officially recorded as an own goal from Lisa Ebert, before Kerr’s second of the night wrapped up the 6-0 win.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the NV Arena…

• Getty Images
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Livia Peng (6/10):

  Standing in for the injured Hannah Hampton, although she may have got that nod anyway due to the Lionesses number one being rested on matchday one. Largely a spectator.

  Ellie Carpenter (8/10):

  Chelsea had so much of the ball in advanced areas it was the perfect opportunity to get forward, playing like an extra winger at times, and she laid on the early breakthrough for Kaptein with a smart cutback. Defensively strong too.

  Lucy Bronze (7/10):

  Obviously not known for playing at centre-back, but it was a repeat of the recent WSL win over London City Lionesses, affording Millie Bright and Nathalie Bjorn a rest after the Arsenal game.

  Naomi Girma (7/10):

  Didn't know much about she managed to get the ball in the back of the net, after an initial header came back off the post and rebounded in…not that it mattered because of an offside flag.

  Sandy Baltimore (7/10):

  Freed up to move higher up the pitch once Niamh Charles was brought on in the second half.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Midfield

  Catarina Macario (9/10):

  Always a threat with exceptional delivery in to the danger area from both set-pieces and open play. Finished her chance with great precision to double the lead at a key moment right before the break and showed composure from 12 yards to send Schluter the wrong way for 3-0. The width of a post away from a hat-trick after striking the woodwork with a late free-kick.

  Keira Walsh (7/10):

  Probably wishes opposing players would stop flying in on her ankles, after Arsenal's Victoria Pelova at the weekend and now Fanni Nagy here. hardly misplaced a pass all night to help exhaust St Polten.

  Wieke Kaptein (7/10):

  It was a case of a well-timed run that got her into the right place at the right time to score early on. Tidy on the ball throughout.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (7/10):

  Ought to have made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage-time, but denied one-on-one by Carina Schluter's outstretched right foot. Otherwise a source of decent creativity on the right.

  Sam Kerr (9/10):

  This was her first start in almost two years – since December 2023 – after coming through injury hell. Got into the right positions constantly, but should have done better with an early opportunity and put a great headed chance wide. Eventually scored, setting the chance with a brilliant first touch, and arguably a sharper and more match-practiced version of Sam Kerr would have scored a hat-trick on another night.

  Alyssa Thompson (7/10):

  Won the second half penalty that really put the game beyond doubt and was unlucky that her goal was chalked off due to Kerr being offside.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Veerle Buurman (6/10):

  A nice opportunity to give the Dutch teenager meaningful minutes, replacing Girma at half-time.

  Niamh Charles (8/10):

  A very impressive half hour.

  Lexi Potter (7/10):

  Another youngster to get a chance on the big stage.

  Sjoeke Nusken (6/10):

  Almost got a Chelsea seventh in stoppage time at the end, drawing a good save from Schluter.

  Lauren James (7/10):

  First Chelsea appearance since last season for the final 15 minutes. Deflected late shot goes down as a Lisa Ebert own goal.

  Sonia Bompastor (8/10):

  Kept key players Millie Bright, Nathalie Bjorn and Erin Cuthbert on the bench to provide at least some rest, and made good use of the wider squad. The result never really should have been in doubt.

Mousley leads response with unbeaten fifty but visitors still trail by 462 runs

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-Jul-2025

Michael Pepper was in the runs for Essex•Getty Images

Warwickshire 140 for 2 (Mousley 54*, Davies 52) trail Essex 602 for 6 dec (Westley 134, Allison 133, Pepper 107*, Walter 86) by 462 runs Dan Mousley led the Warwickshire fightback to Essex’s mammoth first-innings total with an innings that belied the gravity of the situation facing the visitors in the Rothesay County Championship match at Chelmsford.The imposing right-hander clocked up only his third half-century of the season, but at a rate of more than a run-a-ball. It was in contrast to his more measured captain Alex Davies, who went along at half the rate in a second-innings stand of 86 that pulled Warwickshire back into the game.Though Davies departed for 52 from 116 balls, stumped by the alert Michael Pepper to give Matt Critchley a second wicket of the innings, Mousley was still there at the end with 54 from 53 balls and Warwickshire 140 for 2.It had been a chastening day and a half in the field for Warwickshire after Davies put Essex in as Essex rattled up 602 for 5 declared on an unresponsive, green-tinged pitch. Along the way there were three Essex centurions, curiously all scoring their third three-figure scores of the season. Tom Westley’s 134 was followed by Charlie Allison and Pepper, who combined in a 38-over, sixth-wicket stand of 195, the largest partnership in an innings of large partnerships.Either side of a mid-afternoon rain break, it was carnage as the pair sensed the impending declaration and went for broke. The declaration duly arrived when Allison departed after four hours, caught at deep midwicket, for 133 from 202 balls with 17 fours and two sixes. That left Pepper unbeaten on 107 from just 117 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes.It would not have escaped Warwickshire’s notice that Allison was not even in the Essex XI announced at the toss, but was drafted in at short notice, without argument, when Simon Harmer dropped out for “personal reasons”.Before his partnership with Pepper, Allison also put on 91 for the fifth wicket with Westley. 57 of them in the morning. Westley added 24 to his overnight 124 before he was finally dismissed after a stay of more than six hours, caught at short fine leg turning Beau Webster off his legs. Significantly, the pair had carried Essex to a fourth batting point with four balls to spare.Westley had laced his 278-ball innings with 17 fours, a large portion of them driven elegantly through the covers. At the other end, Allison followed closely in Westley’s footsteps, punching fours through the off-side, though also comfortable enough to reverse-sweep Corey Rocchiccioli for four. He reached his fifty from 85 balls when he turned the Australian off-spinner for a single.The incoming Pepper did not hang about. He swept Rocchiccioli for an emphatic boundary to get off the mark and added four more with a late cut off Webster. The wicketkeeper-batsman went to lunch on 33, at which point he was presented with his county cap; little more than quarter-of-an-hour after the restart he had reached his half-century with a tap into the off-side off Rob Yates.Despite his rate of scoring, Pepper was beaten to his hundred by Allison, who helped a wayward legside delivery from Mousley for his 14th boundary. After a 25-minute rain break, Pepper made it to his century, having taken just two hours and 15 minutes of improvised nudges and paddles. Two balls later he celebrated by driving Yates straight for six. Not long afterwards Warwickshire were put out of their misery.Essex found the Kookaburra ball just as unhelpful when Warwickshire set out with the initial target of 453 to avoid following on. Yates and Davies made a competent start, passing 50 in 21 overs, Davies hammering Jamie Porter for successive boundaries before Matt Critchley made the breakthrough. Given the rare opportunity to take the main spin-bowling role in Harmer’s absence, Critchley had Yates retreating on to the backfoot and lbw to one that turned and reared up.Mousley brought Critchley down to earth when he slammed him straight back down the ground for six and reached his fifty from just 46 balls.