Bayern Munich's unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Wednesday as they fell to a 3-1 loss at Arsenal in the Champions League. Teenager Lennart Karl found the net yet again for Vincent Kompany's side after they had fallen behind to a Jurrien Timber header, but strikes from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli settled the game in favour of the Gunners.

Bayern dominated possession in the early stages, but their weakness at defending set-pieces saw them fall behind midway through the first half as Timber headed in at the near post in front of Manuel Neuer. The Bundesliga champions battled back, however, and were level 10 minutes later when Karl finished first time from Serge Gnabry's cross.

It was all Arsenal after the break, though, and Neuer needed to be at his best to deny both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. However, he was powerless to stop Madueke from tapping in at the back post after Riccardo Calafiori picked him out shortly after coming off the bench. Fellow substitute Martinelli then made the game safe when he rounded Neuer miles out of his goal before stroking into an empty net.

GOAL rates Bayern's players from Emirates Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Manuel Neuer (4/10):

Should have done better for Timber's goal as he flapped at the ball, but redeemed himself somewhat with a fine saves to deny Saka, Mosquera and Rice. Took chances with his distribution, but plenty came off, while his positioning had been excellent until he was caught miles out for Martinelli to seal victory.

Josip Stanisic (6/10):

Kept Trossard and then Madueke on a pretty tight leash. Didn't offer much going forward but otherwise a solid display.

Dayot Upamecano (4/10):

Never looked wholly comfortable. Played some sloppy passes and was pulled out of position on more than one occasion, which resulted in him being booked for a late challenge.

Jonathan Tah (7/10):

Much more composed than his central defensive partner. Showed good strength to deal with Merino.

Konrad Laimer (4/10):

Engaged in a battle with Saka that he came out second-best in. Booked in the first half before losing Madueke for the substitute's strike.

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Joshua Kimmich (7/10):

Played some outstanding passes, most notably when spreading the play in the build-up to Karl's equaliser. Did present a chance to Saka early in the second period, but that was one of his very rare miscues.

Aleksandar Pavlovic (6/10):

Gave Bayern a physical presence in midfield while he kept things simple with his passing.

Lennart Karl (8/10):

Looked completely at home whenever he got on the ball as he sought to be positive with everything he did. Showed great composure to score the equaliser in a performance where the teenager announced himself to the world.

AFPAttack

Michael Olise (6/10):

Looked dangerous when he got opportunities to run at Myles Lewis-Skelly. Didn't create much of note, but still a decent showing.

Harry Kane (5/10):

Caused problems with his movement but most of his most impactful moments came when defending as he barely had a touch inside the Arsenal box.

Serge Gnabry (6/10):

Had some eye-catching moments on his return to north London, most notably when he provided the superb first-time cross for Karl to score.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Nicolas Jackson (5/10):

Replaced Gnabry but barely had a kick.

Tom Bischof (5/10):

Struggled to get into the game after coming on in midfield.

Leon Goretzka (N/A):

Thrown on for the final 10 minutes.

Raphael Guerreiro (N/A):

No real impact.

Kim Min-jae (N/A):

Blazed a late chance over the bar.

Vincent Kompany (5/10):

Set-pieces continue to be an issue for the Belgian's side which they need to figure out, and fast. His team also needed more potency in attack for all their possession.

Crystal Palace are now in ‘direct talks’ about signing a Bayern Munich star ahead of the looming January transfer window, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace prepare for Man United after excellent start to the season

Palace welcome Man United to Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon with Oliver Glasner’s side sitting just outside the top four, while the Red Devils languish nearer mid-table following Monday’s shocking home defeat to ten-man Everton.

Glasner’s impressive Palace project continues gathering momentum despite recent bumps.

Positioned just three points behind second-placed Chelsea, the South London club have managed 20 points from their opening 12 Premier League games — their strongest start to a top flight campaign since 1991-92 — all while conceding just nine goals.

Amid the uncertainty surrounding Glasner’s long-term future, not to mention Marc Guehi’s, and the fact they lost star playmaker Eberechi Eze in the summer, Palace’s start comes as a shock to everyone.

They’ve also coped extremely well with the added Conference League fixtures, and responded in excellent fashion after being denied what many perceived as their rightful place in the Europa League.

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Following the departures of Eze and another quality forward, Michael Olise, in the last two years — Palace have relied on new stars like in-form striker Jean Philippe-Mateta to deliver the goods instead.

Palace’s unprecedented 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which was eventually ended by Everton in October, is also testament to the fine job Glasner has done with limited resources.

Crystal Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run in full

Palace 0-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)

Arsenal 2-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 3-0 Aston Villa (FA Cup)

Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Tottenham 0-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 1-0 Man City (FA Cup)

Palace 4-2 Wolves (Premier League)

Liverpool 1-1 Palace (Premier League)

Crystal Palace (3) 2-2 (2) Liverpool (Community Shield)

Chelsea 0-0 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 1-0 Fredrikstad (Conference League)

Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Fredrikstad 0-0 Palace (Conference League)

Aston Villa 0-3 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 0-0 Sunderland (Premier League)

Palace (4) 1-1 (2) Millwall (Carabao Cup)

West Ham 1-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Palace (Conference League)

However, if Palace are to convince the Austrian to remain at Selhust Park, chairman Steve Parish will need to showcase ambition.

According to reports, Palace could be active in the January transfer window, and it is believed that Bayern right-back Sacha Boey is a player of real interest.

Crystal Palace hold talks over signing Bayern Munich's Sacha Boey

The former Galatasaray star, who was once a rumoured target for Arsenal, hasn’t found life easy since swapping Turkey for Bavaria in 2024.

Boey has been in and out of Vincent Kompany’s starting elevens, and a January transfer for the 25-year-old is now growing increasingly possible.

That is according to Bayern Insider, who also report that Glasner is in ‘direct talks’ with sporting director Christoph Freund about a potential move for Boey.

Palace are also said to have made a ‘concrete offer’ for the Frenchman, who’s potentially looking to battle his way into Didier Deschamps plans for the 2026 World Cup next year amid stiff competition.

Even though the Bundesliga champions signed him for around £26 million, Bayern are now prepared to sell for half the price at around £13 million — opening the door for Palace to strike a bargain move.

Links to Boey will intensify reports that in-form Eagles right-back Daniel Munoz could leave in the near future, with Chelsea among those considering a swoop for the Colombian who’s arguably been one of Glasner’s top players this season.

The Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has apologised to the PCB in their ongoing dispute concerning the PSL, though in a manner that could escalate rather than defuse matters. The PCB had sent Tareen a legal notice charging him with breaching a clause in their franchise agreement and demanding an apology for his recent public criticism of the league.In a nearly five-minute-long video released on his social media accounts, Tareen apologised for his comments on the PCB in a tone heavy with sarcasm, while continuing to taunt the board, claiming it wanted to be surrounded by “yes-men and minions”.”You don’t even want to work with your stakeholders,” Tareen said, while flashing the legal notice the PCB sent him. “You cannot bear any criticism from anyone. If you were even remotely competent, you would have known this is not the way to manage things.”Only a big man apologises. I apologise for wanting to make the PSL better. I apologise for raising my voice when I saw problems. It is my fault, not yours, that I was dissatisfied with your mediocre mindset. I apologise for being unhappy that you give yourselves so much credit for doing so little.”Related

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He went on to further criticise the handling of the PSL, referring to the player draft, where issues with microphones persisted through the event, and for lip-syncing rather than live singing through the opening ceremony.He concluded the video by saying, “I hope you like my apology video,” holding the legal notice up to the camera and ripping it in half.ESPNcricinfo reached out to the PCB for comment, and understands the board will consult with its legal team before determining what, if any, further action to take, or whether to accept Tareen’s “apology”. While it does technically satisfy the PCB’s legal demand for a public apology, it appears set to only escalate the feud between the two sides.ESPNcricinfo has also seen a copy of the legal notice the PCB sent to Tareen on September 12. It accuses Tareen of breaching his franchise agreement and making “false, malicious, baseless, and defamatory allegations” in the build-up to the tenth season of the PSL. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, Tareen had become increasingly trenchant in his public criticism of the PSL management for what he believed was a lack of communication, ambition or transparency from the league, while deriding them for their incompetence.While the PCB had maintained a public silence in the months since, the legal notice threatens the most severe action the board, and the league, are in a position to take: blacklisting Tareen from franchise ownership, effectively stripping Multan Sultans away from him. Most seriously, Tareen is accused of deliberately seeking to devalue the PSL brand – with each franchise set for reevaluation at the end of the year – in order to pick up ownership rights to the Sultans at a lower value.The PCB also claims other franchise owners had urged action against Tareen earlier “for deliberately attempting to sabotage the marketing campaign and value of the PSL brand.”Amid the serious legal language, there are also allegations that display the triviality to which this feud between league and franchise owner has devolved. The PCB letter mentioned a video in which Tareen was filmed speaking to the Sultans players, telling them to target the opposition batters with bouncers in exchange for financial reward if they hit the helmet. The PCB called this “reprehensible,” accusing Tareen of disregarding players’ mental health and seeking to destroy their livelihoods.Tareen claimed the video was a joke and taken down, with Multans Sultans telling ESPNcricinfo their bowlers had bowled “the fewest bouncers in the league” last season, and accusing the PCB of desperation in their attempts to malign Tareen.Some aspects of the feud also appear to boil down to personal tastes. In the letter, the PSL called their trophy reveal at the opening ceremony “creative”. The trophy was unveiled as part of a short film that depicted it as lost at sea, with a military helicopter and expert divers sent to retrieve it. Tareen sarcastically called it a “game-changer” saying that it “gave me goosebumps”.While the nature of the feud may have become petty, its consequences are potentially severe for both the league and Tareen. The PSL could, in theory, preclude Tareen from rebidding to purchase Multan Sultans, meaning he would not be a part of the PSL as owner in the upcoming season. There remain plenty of unanswered questions for the PSL, too. Two new teams are to take part in the upcoming season but the PCB has not made any public statement revealing their identity or the date of the PSL draft.

Gio Reyna has been set a 2026 World Cup challenge. Former USMNT star Brad Friedel, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, has told the talented Borussia Monchengladbach playmaker what needs to happen in order to make Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for next summer’s tournament, with nobody – regardless of their ability – guaranteed a place in those plans.

• Form & fitness challenges for Reyna

  Reyna is unquestionably one of the most naturally gifted performers at the United States’ disposal. He has been tipped for the top since bursting onto the senior scene as a teenager, with a similar career path to fellow countryman Christian Pulisic being trodden when linking up with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

  Over 140 appearances were taken in for BVB, scoring 19 goals, but those numbers would have been considerably higher were it not for a string of unfortunate injuries. A fresh start is now being embraced with Gladbach – with more tests on form and fitness fronts being faced there.

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• Will Reyna make the USMNT squad for 2026 World Cup?

  Reyna did impress during his last international camp, registering goal number nine for his country in a friendly win over Paraguay, but questions continue to be asked of whether – having endured a tough time at the 2022 World Cup – he will be involved at another major tournament on home soil.

  Quizzed on whether the creative 23-year-old is in a position where a World Cup berth is his to lose, ex-USMNT goalkeeper Friedel – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “With Mauricio it is different, you have to go and impress and then you have to improve. There is no ‘you did well for me last month, you did well the month before’. That’s not how he goes about his business.

  “Once you impress, he will put a little higher bar on you and then you have to reach that bar. Then he will see if you can go again. The way that he performed, and I don’t know how he conducted himself in training, but let’s say it was positive, then they will watch him now with his club and see when he comes into camp again in March if he is lower. If so, he is already down in their minds again. If he comes in the same or higher, then he has impressed again.

  “That’s how they work. It’s the metrics, it’s building a squad of players that need to win – which is a better word than ‘want’ to win. What he has done right now is very good for him getting his foot back in the door. It’s not his to lose. Everyone goes on a level playing field, which is very different to what the US has been previously.”

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• Hot prospect: How Reyna can prove his worth

  Reyna knows that he faces fierce competition for places, and that he needs to steer clear of more spells on the treatment table in order to prove his worth. Friedel has previously told GOAL of how a hot prospect makes another global gathering: “With Gio, a lot of unfortunate stuff from the last World Cup, then injury after injury after injury. Talented, talented player. For Gio, he needs minutes and he needs not to be injured. Then we can see before the World Cup if he is ready. If he is, if he has a run of four or five months with no injuries, playing lots of minutes, he’s in the squad.

  “He’s a really talented player, one of the better ones we have. But he really does need to play. When I took the job at Besiktas, I was over at the Copa America and was watching. You could just tell there was something a little bit off. It’s not his ability, that is there. That’s not it. His body has unfortunately not cooperated with this sport.

  “Hopefully for him it goes well. He’s a really good kid and I hope he just stays fit, gets a run of games and then it will be down to Mauricio choosing him or not. I don’t like to see anybody get left out because of injury.”

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  2026 World Cup draw: When & where does it take place?

  Excitement levels in the USMNT camp are about to build even further, with their opponents for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup set to be revealed when that draws take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on December 5.

India captain says “If we want to win the match, then never mind the combination”

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-20254:23

Suryakumar: ‘I am in a good space, runs will come eventually’

India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav agreed that selecting a squad of 15 can sometimes gets challenging, with multiple options in the race for one slot, but said that the players understand the team’s needs and have their focus on one simple goal: to help India win matches.”It’s a good headache to have so many options, [whether] fast bowlers, [or] spinners,” Suryakumar said ahead of the first T20I against Australia in Canberra. “From the top to No. 7, everyone is flexible; anyone can bat anywhere. It is a little difficult during squad selection, but in this team, the atmosphere is such that everyone knows that the goal is to win.”If we want to win the match, then never mind the combination. So, even if someone has done well in the last two matches, but he is not fitting in the combination for the next game – for example, if we want to play an extra spinner or play an allrounder instead of a fast bowler – the player understands. We have reached that situation.”Related

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Suryakumar jokingly suggested that he maintains “a good friendship with everyone”, making it easier to tell them when they are not playing. But he has asked all 15 members of the squad to be ready at all times.”See, only 11 people can play, 15 cannot play, but according to me, anyone can get an opportunity at any time,” he said. “In the Asia Cup, Rinku Singh did not get the opportunity till the final, but he got a chance at such a time, when he needed 3-4 runs to win [the match] and he hit the boundary. I keep telling everyone to keep preparing and you never know when your opportunity can come. It can come in an important game; anything can happen.”Suryakumar was also glad to have Jasprit Bumrah back in the India squad after the fast bowler was rested for the ODI series and expected him to be the “guy who will take charge” against Australia, particularly in the powerplay.”As you saw in the Asia Cup, he took the responsibility of bowling two overs minimum in the powerplay,” Suryakumar said, “It is good that he is raising his hand. It is going to be a good challenge against the Aussie team in the powerplay.”The way he has played his cricket for the last so many years, he has kept himself right on the top, and he knows how to prepare for a good series. He knows how to come and play cricket here. I think he has visited this country the most of all the guys. So all of them have spoken to him. He is very open and very helpful in that, but yeah definitely when he takes the ground, starting from tomorrow, it will be a good thing. Good to have him in the squad, when we play in Australia.”Jasprit Bumrah will make a return to the India squad•Getty Images

India haven’t had recent success in Australia. They lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in December-January and then went down in the ODI series 2-1 earlier this month. But Suryakumar doesn’t feel the recent losses will have any bearing on the T20I series, particularly considering India’s form, having lost just two of their last 15 T20Is.”According to me, it’s a different format,” he said. “The team is the same, but the format is almost different: Test, one-day and T20. And [as for] the brand of T20, we will continue playing the brand of cricket that we have been playing. There is no need to change anything and according to me, there are always challenging conditions, when you go to Australia, England, South Africa, [or] New Zealand. There is challenging cricket in all these countries, but at the same time, how you adapt to it and how you think about how to play shots, how to make runs.”I think it is non-negotiable at this level, you do your preparation and come. I feel it’s a good thing, good challenge to have going forward and we are playing five T20s, so I think it will be more fun.”Suryakumar Yadav has not scored a half-century in his last 14 innings•AFP/Getty Images

Suryakumar’s own form has been under scrutiny. He had a lukewarm Asia Cup 2025, managing just 72 runs in seven innings at an average of 18.00. The 35-year-old, however, isn’t fussed about his form as long as India keep winning.”I feel I have been working really hard,” he said. “I have had good few sessions back home, good two to three sessions here, so I am in a good space. I think that is really important… runs, it will come eventually but I think working hard towards the team goal, it’s more important what team wants from you in different situations. I take one game at a time and if it starts then I think it will be a good thing.”The one area where India have struggled in recent times has been their fielding. They were guilty of dropping many chances in the Asia Cup, and while Suryakumar reckons that fielding lapses are a part of the game, he wants the team to give the fielding department special attention.”See, catches do get dropped,” he said. “As a fielder, when you attempt a catch, sometimes you spill it. A batter gets dismissed, a bowler at times doesn’t get wickets. This is a part of the game. But, according to me, what you do after that is important. It was an optional session today, but everyone came to work on their fielding.”That means the team is working towards something really special. This is a department which I have told them we have to work really hard if we want to be the best fielding unit in the world. You have seen teams taking good catches, saving runs… they win matches through their fielding.”Sometimes the batting and bowling go awry, but you can also win matches through fielding. We are working hard. But there is no guarantee that if you take 25 catches today, then you won’t drop one tomorrow. You can drop, it’s part of the game but how much you want the ball to come to you, how much intent and opportunity you create, that is important for me. If someone drops a catch, it’s not a problem. There is disappointment, but at the same time, if you put in the effort, then there’s no problem.”

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has now decided which team he would like to join in January as he looks to leave Old Trafford ahead of the World Cup.

Zirkzee could get new opportunity at Man Utd after Sesko injury

After joining from Bologna in 2024 in a deal worth £36.5m, it is safe to say that things haven’t gone to plan for Zirkzee in Manchester.

Under both Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, the forward has failed to find the back of the net on a regular basis, scoring just seven times in 54 appearances for the Red Devils.

So far in 2025/26, Zirkzee has played 90 minutes of football in all competitions but could be in line for more appearances following the news of Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury that could see him sidelined for a month.

Talking about Sesko and Zirkzee, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that there could be an “opportunity” for the latter, who Amorim thinks can still be “very important”.

Zirkzee has also started to become a forward in demand ahead of the January window, and there have also been suggestions that the Red Devils are happy to sell the “imposter” for £35m with up to nine different clubs circling.

Aston Villa

Brighton

Everton

Sunderland

West Ham

Inter Milan

Juventus

Roma

Sevilla

Now, the 24-year-old appears to have selected his preferred destination in 2026.

Zirkzee looking to leave Man Utd for Roma

According to reports in Italy relayed by Sport Witness, Zirkzee has made it clear that he would like to leave Man Utd and join Serie A side Roma in the New Year.

It is suggested that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are offering him a clear starting spot in the side, something which appeals to the forward as he looks to increase his chances of making the Netherlands squad ahead of the World Cup.

Roma are looking to agree a deal with Man Utd as soon as possible and have already made initial contact over a transfer.

Should a move go through, Zirkzee, who scored 11 Serie A goals in 2023/24 before his move to Manchester, would be rivalling the likes of Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Brighton loanee Evan Ferguson for a starting spot.

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All three centre-forward options are currently injured, though, potentially explaining the reason why Roma want to land a new striker as soon as possible in the New Year.

How £100m Carlos Baleba now feels about leaving Brighton to join Man Utd

Being an umpire at the big league level is not the easiest of jobs in the world, we get that. But still, what happened on one horrific call in Monday night's Tampa Bay Rays-Baltimore Orioles game is something that just shouldn't happen at the professional level. Heck, this shouldn't occur at any level.

In case you missed it, Rays right fielder Josh Lowe laid down a nice bunt that was fielded by Orioles third baseman Ramon Urias. His throw to first was a bit late but that didn't stop umpire Bruce Dreckman from calling Lowe out, when he clearly beat the throw.

How do we know he got there before the ball did? Because of this screenshot:

Not great!

Here's the full play, which the Rays couldn't challenge because they were out of challenges:

The Rays would go on to win the game, 7-1, but still, that bad of a call just can't happen.

Shohei Ohtani has been working his way back to the mound after not having pitched since his last season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of that year, Ohtani was limited to serving as the designated hitter in his first season as a Los Angeles Dodger.

Well, it seems as if he could be toeing the rubber before too long, based on the latest update from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Ahead of Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres, Roberts told reporters that there's a "north of zero" chance that Ohtani is able to return to pitching ahead of schedule, via Fabian Ardaya of .

The 30-year-old is currently expected to return to the mound after the All-Star break, but after throwing a few simulated innings on Tuesday, Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior were both impressed with his progress. While Roberts wouldn't commit to Ohtani coming back earlier than expected, he certainly did not rule it out, either.

Ohtani has been hitting leadoff and serving as L.A.'s designated hitter through the first 65 games of the 2025 season. He leads the National League with 23 home runs and a 1.015 OPS, and before long will add his Cy Young-caliber arm to a Dodgers rotation that's been plagued by injury this year.

The last time Ohtani pitched in 2023, he had a 3.14 ERA across 23 starts and struck out 167 batters over 132 innings on the mound.

Chelsea have built a squad full of brilliant players over the last few years, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella all being genuinely world-class.

However, it would also be fair to say that, so far, their summer signings have not exactly hit the ground running.

In particular, Jamie Gittens has failed to live up to the expectations people had of him after his impressive campaign with Borussia Dortmund last year, during which he recorded 17 goal involvements.

So, it’s not a surprise to see reports linking Chelsea with an exceptionally exciting winger who could end up being a significant upgrade on the Englishman.

Chelsea target Gittens upgrade

With the transfer window less than a month away from reopening, Chelsea have once again been linked with a plethora of brilliant players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, while there has been plenty of talk about Emmanuel Emegha, the Blues have also been linked with his free-scoring teammate, Joaquín Panichelli.

On top of that, the West Londoners have also been one of several sides linked with Nottingham Forest’s imposing Murillo.

However, while both players would improve Maresca’s squad, because of where they play, neither could be described as an upgrade on Gittens, unlike Yan Diamonde.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are one of a handful of top teams interested in signing the Ivorian winger.

In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that the Blues’ board are convinced about the 19-year-old wonderkid and see him fitting into the team perfectly.

However, on top of having to get ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, the Pensionsers would also have to stump up a lot of money to secure the player.

According to the report, RB Leipzig would want up to €100m to sell their star asset, which is about £87m, but even so, Diomande looks like a player Chelsea should go all out for, especially as he’d be a significant Gittens upgrade.

How Diomande compares Gittens

Now, while Diomande is someone who can play on both flanks and has actually spent a little more time on the right recently, he is seen as a left-sided player.

Therefore, were he to join Chelsea next month, one of his main rivals for game time would be Gittens, but who is the better player?

Well, when it comes to raw output, which is fundamentally the most crucial metric of all, it’s not even close.

For example, in 15 first-team appearances this season, totalling just 951 minutes, the Ivorian star has scored seven goals and provided four assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.36 games, or every 86.45 minutes, which is a rate of return that lends credence to journalist Bence Bocsák’s claim that he is a “generational talent.”

Appearances

15

18

Minutes

951′

830′

Goals

7

1

Assists

4

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

0.27

Minutes per Goal Involvement

86.45

138.33′

In stark contrast, the Englishman has scored a single goal and provided five assists in 18 appearances this season, totalling 830 minutes.

That comes out to a pretty underwhelming average of a goal involvement every three games, or every 138.33 minutes.

Moreover, a caveat about the Reading-born ace’s age cannot be made, as the Leipzig star is just 19 and already running games in attack.

On top of having the better output, the Abidjan-born superstar in the making also has some brilliant underlying numbers to his name.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons, the top 2% for progressive carries, the top 10% for shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Finally, while the competition is less fierce, it is impressive that the Ivorian monster has already won four senior caps for his country, compared to none for the Englishman.

Ultimately, Gittens may well come good, but at the same time, Diomande is massively outperforming him and looks like someone Chelsea should break the bank on.

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Liverpool are already reportedly working on their move to sign a £100m winger to replace Mohamed Salah, who was left out of the squad entirely for their trip to face Inter Milan.

Thierry Henry: Salah "wrong" for public Liverpool spat

In truth, Liverpool’s dramatic 3-3 draw at Elland Road feels like an eternity ago such is the drama that’s unfolded since. Salah’s bombshell is still leaving shrapnel around Anfield and around the Premier League, with Jamie Carragher delivering a brutal assessment on Monday Night Football and Thierry Henry since adding to that in midweek.

The Frenchman said on CBS’ Champions League show: “Look, nobody is talking about what Mo Salah has achieved in the game. We’re talking about a moment in time that I think he got wrong.

“You do not talk about your personal situation openly when your team is struggling. You do it in a dressing room. I’ve done it. I went to the dressing room and smashed everything in. I went to the office of the boss and complained about stuff.

“When I was at Barcelona, I went away with the team. They put me in the stand. Did you hear me talking about it? No. There is a team. You need to protect your team at all costs, all the time.”

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Arne Slot, meanwhile, is still awaiting an apology and has at least seen his side bounce back from the Leeds game with a professional 1-0 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro.

The Athletic believe that Salah’s outburst was either aimed towards securing an exit away from the club or to put pressure on Slot’s position. If it is the former and there really is no way back then the Reds could reportedly turn their attention towards Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.

Liverpool begin "work" on Barcola move

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are already “working” on a move to sign Barcola in an attempt to replace Salah in 2026. The PSG man is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal in France, leaving the door ajar for those at Anfield to make their move.

Sources told Caught Offside: “Liverpool have already begun background work on replacing Salah. A player they really like, and have been following closely for some time, is Bradley Barcola.”

Even though he’s yet to sign a new deal, Barcola’s current contract doesn’t expire until 2028. That means Liverpool will likely have to pay a premium fee to secure his signature, with reports in the summer suggesting that PSG value their winger at as much as £100m.

Dubbed “special” by Como scout Ben Mattinson last year, it’s easy to see why Barcola has emerged as an option to replace Salah. In 1,274 minutes so far this season – the same as around 14 games – the Frenchman has scored five goals and assisted another three from out wide.

Replacing Salah will be one of the toughest jobs that Richard Hughes has had as sporting director, but he may already have an ideal candidate in mind.

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