Wayne Rooney has responded to Michael Owen in the lively debate which has seen questions asked of who was better at 17 years of age.

Both men broke through as teenagersOwen believes he was better at that stageRooney enjoyed greater longevityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Both men were senior stars by that point, with breakthroughs being made on Merseyside with Everton and Liverpool respectively. They would go on to star for club and country, with Owen claiming the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 2021.

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Rooney is Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer and briefly held the same record with England until Harry Kane came along and raised that bar. He made 120 appearances for the Three Lions and is considered to be one the most naturally gifted players that English football has ever produced.

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Owen has, however, claimed that he was better when first starting out, posting on social media in response to a probing question from the Match of the Day account on X: “At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d'Or), Wazza scored 9. In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn't outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became the 2nd youngest Ballon d'Or winner ever. Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he'll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please……”

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GettyWHAT ROONEY SAID

The man on the other side of that debate has said on podcast: “I think his comments are fair. Of course, he's going to back himself. I'd back myself. I completely understand what he's saying. But we're two completely different footballers – different styles, different techniques. Michael Owen, for a three or four-year period, was probably the best centre-forward in the world. I think people do forget actually how good he was.

“It's hard to argue against anyone coming up against Michael Owen then. Unfortunately, he did get his injuries and he probably couldn't adapt his game maybe as well as I could in playing from the side or going back into midfield. But, I'd never judge myself against Michael Owen because he's someone I actually looked up to and had the pleasure of playing alongside [for England and Manchester United].”

Rooney added on Owen’s reputation for being a little boring away from the field: “He is one of the funniest people you'll meet. I hope he just gets that out because everyone who played with him, we know what a good lad he is, and sometimes that doesn't always come across.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Os planos de Rogério Ceni mudaram para o confronto desta terça-feira (18), contra o Puerto Cabello. A princípio, com as novas lesões da semana, a ideia era tentar uma escalação alternativa, a fim de testar alguns jogadores.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSão PauloSão Paulo defende tabu de 68 anos contra adversários venezuelanosSão Paulo17/04/2023São PauloTorcida organizada do São Paulo pede demissão de Rogério Ceni: ‘Temos somente um ex-goleiro que treina’São Paulo17/04/2023São PauloPresidente de organizada do São Paulo pede reintegração de Pedrinho e contratação de Alexandre PatoSão Paulo16/04/2023

Porém, diante da pressão que o treinador passou a enfrentar depois da sequência ruim do Tricolor nos últimos jogos, a ideia agora é outra: ir com força máxima.

Com 21 brasileiros, levantamento aponta os jogadores sub-23 mais valiosos do mundo; veja lista

Veja tabela da Copa Sul-Americana

Mas que pressão seria essa? Além dos dois últimos resultados das partidas mais recentes da equipe, no caso o empate sem gols contra o Ituano, pela Copa do Brasil, e a derrota para o Botafogo, na estreia do Campeonato Brasileiro, o posto de Ceni como treinador da equipe passou a ser questionado pelos torcedores. Inclusive, pela primeira vez, a Independente – maior organizada do clube -, disse com todas as palavras que quer a demissão do treinador.

Além disso, o Tricolor segura uma boa marca contra times da Venezuela. A última vez que foi derrotado por um aconteceu em 1955. E é importante destacar que o São Paulo tem muito mais tradição que o Puerto Cabello, tendo em vista que a equipe foi fundada em 2011 apenas e é a primeira vez que jogará fora do país.

Ou seja, a vitória é essencial. Assim, diante da pressão, não arriscará uma escalação alternativa. Luciano era uma preocupação.Recuperado de um trauma na coxa direita,trabalhou normalmente com o restante do elenco.

Boa notícia também quanto a evolução de Igor Vinícius.Em recuperação de uma cirurgia no púbis, o jogador fez hoje seu primeiro trabalho no gramado. David teve diagnosticadoum estiramento no ligamento colateral medial do joelho direito. Não houve ruptura ou lesão mais grave, mas deve ficar no Reffis em tratamento.

Erison sofreu umestiramento em fibrose na coxa esquerda. Os demais lesionados seguem nos protocolos específicos de recuperação, sem novidades.

O treinamento desta segunda-feira (17) contou com a participação de alguns atletas do Sub-20. As atividades iniciaram com o elenco dividido em dois grupos. O primeiro fez um trabalho técnico, de troca de passes, sob os cuidados do auxiliar Charles Hembert. O outro fez um trabalho tático, de 11 contra 11, além de uma atividade posicional com Rogério Ceni.

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Na parte final, alguns jogadores fizeram um trabalho de bola parada, enquanto outros realizaram um completamento técnico, de finalização ao gol.

O jogo desta terça-feira (18) será às 21h30 (de Brasília), no estádio do Morumbi. O São Paulo que pode ir a campo é composto porRafael; Raí Ramos (Nathan), Diego Costa (Alan Franco), Arboleda e Caio; Mendez, Nestor, Michel Araujo e Wellington Rato; Luciano e Calleri

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Veja os próximos jogos do São Paulo:

It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say this summer is turning into something of a disaster for Newcastle United.

The Magpies should be looking forward to a season of Champions League football and possibilities for more silverware, but instead are embroiled in a transfer saga involving Alexander Isak.

On top of that, Eddie Howe and Co have had to watch the club seemingly miss out on target after target in recent weeks, with it now not entirely clear what is happening regarding Benjamin Sesko.

However, perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom, as the League Cup champions have done some business, and it now looks like they’re planning to go back in for one international who could be something of another Anthony Elanga.

Newcastle target another Elanga

While there is plenty to be worried about from a Newcastle fan’s perspective this summer, it is worth noting that the club have conducted some promising business, such as getting Aaron Ramsdale in on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

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The Englishman may have his detractors, but for two years at Arsenal, he was brilliant and played a big part in the Gunners’ surprise title push in the 22/23 season, pulling off some notable saves in games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

On top of that, the club have also got their hands on Elanga, and while it would be fair to say pre-season has been mixed for the Swedish international, we all saw how effective he could be last season when he ended the campaign with six goals and 12 assists in 43 appearances for Nottingham Forest.

Interestingly, with just under a month until the transfer window slams shut, the Toon look set to go back in for one of their previous targets, someone who could be described as another Elanga.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Times, which claims Newcastle are interested in Marc Guehi again.

The report has revealed that the Crystal Palace star, who is valued at around £50m, is now back on the menu for the Magpies, and that they could finally go in with a fresh bid at any point in the coming weeks – although they do not want to spend more than £40m.

It would be another significant investment from the club, but the Englishman has proven his worth over the years, and there would be an Elanga-esque quality to the deal.

Why Guehi would be an Elanga-esque signing

So, before we get into a few reasons why Guehi would be an excellent signing for Newcastle in his own right, it’s worth going over why his arrival would be reminiscent of Elanga’s.

The first is that, like the Swede, the Englishman would be moving to St James’ Park from another Premier League side, and not just that, but one set to compete in Europe next season.

Moreover, while it’s not entirely clear just how much the Palace ace will cost at the moment, the likelihood is that the final price will not be too far off the £55m the Toon paid for the Malmo-born winger.

Lastly, like former Manchester United prospect, the Eagles star defender had to leave one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ sides early in his career to really gain a foothold in English football and make a name for himself, and make a name for himslef, he certainly has.

That brings us to arguably the most crucial reason the 25-year-old would be an excellent addition to Howe’s squad, which is his vast experience.

Hato’s senior record

Team

Club

National

Appearances

216

23

Goals

8

0

Assists

4

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.05

0.08

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Despite still being relatively young for a centre-back and around two years off from hitting his peak, according to research carried out by The Athletic, the “exceptional” star, as dubbed by former goalkeeper Joe Hart, has now made 216 senior club appearances across his stints with the Eagles, Swansea and Chelsea.

On top of that, the former Blues gem has also won 23 caps for England and was a key member of the squad that made it to the final of the European Championships last season.

Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Newcastle should once again push the boat out to sign a player previously discarded by the ‘big six’ as Guehi looks like he has everything needed to elevate their backline next season.

Tottenham have been told one key condition to sign a player who’s been identified by manager Thomas Frank as a summer target, according to a new report.

£43m star "clear" he wants to join Tottenham in talks with club chairman

He’s expressed his desire to seal a Spurs switch.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 15, 2025

Spurs are fresh off the back of their first pre-season game against Reading, with new signing Mohammed Kudus enjoying an impressive cameo on Saturday as the Lilywhites ran out 2-0 winners against the League One side.

Goals from Will Lankshear and new arrival Luka Vuskovic secured Frank the perfect start to his new managerial chapter, with the Dane getting a first look at his star-studded squad.

He could yet see more illustrious names added to it, as Tottenham maintain their pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White despite Nottingham Forest’s threat of legal action. Fabrizio Romano confirms that sealing a deal for Gibbs-White is their priority right now, speaking via his YouTube channel, but that doesn’t mean Daniel Levy won’t have other plates spinning in the background.

Yves Bissouma has been regularly linked with a move away from north London before deadline day on September 1, and José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe are believed to be prime contenders for the Mali international (Yağız Sabuncuoğlu).

With Spurs competing in the Champions League next season, Frank will need a ready-made replacement for Bissouma, considering the hot and cold midfielder played 28 games for them in the Premier League alone last term.

According to recent reports, Bayern Munich ace and former Fulham favourite Joao Palhinha is among the targets on Tottenham’s shortlist to potentially step into Bissouma’s shoes for 2025/2026.

The Portugal international finally sealed what was a long-awaited move to Bavaria last summer, signing for around £47 million, but his debut season at the Allianz Arena was marred by injury struggles, suspensions, illness and a subsequent lack of game time under Vincent Kompany.

As a result, reports suggest the 30-year-old could call time on his stay in the Bundesliga already, and Spurs have been told the requirements to seal a deal.

Tottenham told Joao Palhinha condition after opening Bayern Munich talks

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham have held club-to-club discussions with Bayern over Palhinha, and Kompany’s side are adamant that Levy will only be able to sign him on a permanent deal.

Any offers for a loan will not be accepted as Bayern attempt to get Palhinha’s £166,000-per-week wages off the books for good, but Frank has personally identified the player as a target, so there appears to be a real willingness from Spurs to move for him.

Bayern are said to have made it clear that Tottenham will need to table a “big-money” bid for Palhinha if they stand a chance of signing him this summer, but this report doesn’t disclose the exact amount they’d be looking for.

In any case, if Spurs decide to press forward, there is reason to believe he would thrive under Frank.

Palhinha was famed for his tackling and robustness in midfield during his spell at Craven Cottage, indicating why Spurs are so keen, with former teammate Tom Cairney even calling him a “breath of fresh air”.

“If you lose the ball, he smells blood,” Cairney said in a glowing endorsement.

“He’s probably one of the best I’ve ever seen off the ball, in terms of getting back, recovering and trying to win back the ball. He doesn’t just put pressure on them, he goes back to win the ball and does the tackle.

“It’s amazing to watch sometimes. I think the fans have taken to him. I think he’s been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League.”

Tottenham Hotspur could make a “marquee signing” of a £68m Arsenal target as an alternative to Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, it has been revealed.

Spurs' Gibbs-White pursuit hits snag

Tottenham had been expected to complete a deal for Gibbs-White, after triggering the £60m release clause in the attacking midfielder’s Nottingham Forest contract, but his current employers are holding up the move.

Forest are adamant that an illegal approach was made for the England international, consequently reporting Spurs’ alleged wrongdoing to the Premier League, meaning little progress has been made over the past few days.

Alasdair Gold has suggested the Tricky Trees may be powerless to stop the move going through, however, saying: “It’s difficult to predict right now with complete certainty as it’s an unusual situation, and that’s reflected in media coverage across the board, but the feeling among many at this early stage seems to be that Forest are more likely to hold up the deal than prevent it.”

Tottenham may hijack Nottingham Forest bid for "unbelievable" £50m forward

Spurs are in the race for a major Nottingham Forest target…

ByDominic Lund Jul 13, 2025

Regardless, it is still worth planning for the worst-case scenario, and Tottenham News have revealed that Spurs could revive their interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, who is also a firm target for north London rivals Arsenal.

The outlet also spoke to iconic commentator Ian Darke, who said: “There are a lot of mentions with Spurs and Eberechi Eze, whose release clause I am told is somewhere around £60-68million, that would be a marquee signing for whoever got him.

“I think he is a wonderful player to watch and looks to be moving on a level. It would be a marvellous signing if they could get him.

“Forest are upset about how Spurs have gone about it, so it looks like they will play hardball even though the release clause has been met, Eze would be a brilliant substitute deal but they will hope to revive this one because Gibbs-White would be an exciting statement signing.”

"Unbelievable" Eze could be ideal Gibbs-White alternative

The Crystal Palace star is available for a similar price as Gibbs-White, while he also flourished in an attacking midfield role for the Eagles last season, amassing 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Most famously, the England international scored the only goal of the game in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, securing Palace their first ever major trophy in the process.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner has also been left very impressed by the forward in the past, saying: “He’s always dangerous because he has the quality and ability at 1-1, he’s such an unbelievable finisher, in some situations he can improve, he’s a guy who can always score and he’s someone who everyone likes.”

That said, the rival interest from Arsenal could pose a major problem for Tottenham, with the 27-year-old keen to move to the Emirates Stadium, so their number one priority should be to get a deal for Gibbs-White over the line.

SL were bowled out for 42, their lowest Test total, as SA gained a 149-run first-innings lead

Firdose Moonda28-Nov-2024South Africa are in control at Kingsmead after a fast-forward second day in which 19 wickets fell, and records tumbled. Sri Lanka were dismissed for 42, their lowest Test total, which was also the lowest Test score against South Africa, and the second-shortest in terms of number of balls faced: 83.Marco Jansen’s 7 for 13 headlined South Africa’s pace pack. He bowled 41 balls in the innings – the joint-fewest in history to take seven wickets – and gave South Africa a 149-run first-innings lead. By the end of the day, that had grown to 281, and the partnership between Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs to 43, the second-highest of the match.Under blue skies and in sunshine, there was still significant movement on offer, and batting conditions remained tough. South Africa had started day two by resuming their first innings on 80 for 4, and found themselves in trouble 15 overs into the day on 117 for 7. They were in danger of being shot out for their lowest score against Sri Lanka – 128 – but three handy lower-order partnerships, and Bavuma’s knock of 70 took them to 191, their third-lowest against Sri Lanka. And it was made to look like a much bigger total when South Africa got the ball in hand.Only two Sri Lanka batters got into double figures, and their misfortunes were a combination of incisive bowling and poor shot selection. Of the top seven, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva all played at deliveries they could have left.Kagiso Rabada started the slide when Dimuth Karunatratne hung his bat out to a length ball outside off. and edged to David Bedingham at first slip. Four balls later, Jansen drew Nissanka forward, as the latter reached out for a wide-ish ball. As a result, he was caught at third slip.Dinesh Chandimal left a gap between bat and pad, and a delivery from Jansen nipped through him•AFP/Getty ImagesTwo overs after that, Dinesh Chandimal displayed questionable defence when he left a gap between bat and pad, as a delivery from Jansen nipped through to bowl him. Mathews’ experience also let him down when he wafted at a ball that angled away, and edged to Bedingham. Sri Lanka were 16 for 4 in the eighth over.South Africa’s first, and as it turned out only, bowling change was to bring on Gerald Coetzee in place of Rabada. He started with a full toss that Kamindu drove for four. Coetzee soon had reward when Kamindu played a big shot, attempting to whack him through the covers, but edged to first slip.Jansen’s two wickets in his sixth over brought him his second Test five-for. The first of those two wickets was came when Dhananjaya missed an attempted drive and was bowled. The second wicket in the over was of Prabath Jayasuriya’s, as he was kept on the back foot and prodded to Stubbs in the slips.Coetzee took the eighth off the next ball, an lbw that was confirmed on review, before Jansen did another double in his last over to end Sri Lanka’s innings 78 minutes after it began.Their bowling effort eclipsed a strong Sri Lanka performance earlier in the day, led by good pace from Lahiru Kumara, and well supported by Asitha and Vishwa Fernando. They shared five wickets between them, seamed and swung the ball, and enjoyed operating on a surface with good bounce and carry. Add to that Sri Lanka’s good catching in breezy conditions, and they would have been fairly satisfied with their first session’s work.Wiaan Mulder was hit on the middle finger of his right hand by a delivery from Lahiru Kumara•AFP/Getty ImagesVishwa appealed for an lbw against Kyle Verreynne second ball, but replays showed an inside edge. Verreynne only faced three more deliveries, before Kumara fired in a 141kph ball that beat him and rapped him on the front pad.Three balls later, Sri Lanka wasted a review as Wiaan Mulder inside-edged onto his pad, but Mulder’s troubles were only just beginning. In Kumara’s next over, he was hit on the middle finger of his right hand as he tried to defend a ball that nipped back in. He received treatment on field and tried to continue despite struggling to grip the bat.Mulder kept out the next ball he faced and immediately wrung his hand in pain, left the last ball of the over, and then retired hurt. He returned to bat for the final partnership and also in the second innings, though X-rays confirmed he had fractured the finger and would not be able to bowl or field in the match.After Kumara’s opening spell, which had started on day one, ended with an analysis of 8-1-51-3, Sri Lanka went for a double change. Asitha replaced Kumara, while Jayasuriya’s spin came on for Vishwa. Jayasuriya had success with his tenth ball, when Jansen missed a tossed-up delivery, and was rapped on the pads.Coetzee was also drawn in by one that was tossed up, and recklessly hit Jayasuriya to deep midwicket, where Kamindu ran forward to take a good catch. South Africa had lost 3 for 34 in 9.1 overs at that stage, with no real batting to come.Temba Bavuma ramped one for six during his knock of 70•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesKeshav Maharaj joined Bavuma on the back of four successive Test ducks, and made his highest Test score in nine innings. He showed some fight against Jayasuriya, whose fourth over he hit for 15 runs, including a stunning six straight down the ground. When Jayasuriya was replaced by Vishwa, Maharaj did not rein his instincts in, and reached for a wide ball to drive it aerially to Dhananjaya at mid-off.Bavuma had only just reached fifty but was running out of partners, and took matters into his own hands. He left his feet to ramp Kumara for six, and drove him through extra cover and then back past him. The fun didn’t last long, and when Kumara was replaced by Asitha, Bavuma swiped across the line and top-edged to midwicket, where Kumara judged the catch well in the wind. That brought the first stanza of Mulder’s bravery, and he ended on 9 not out.Later, Mulder came in at No. 3 in South Africa’s second innings, after Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram’s 47-run opening stand ended when de Zorzi skied Jayasuriya to deep-backward square to become his 100th Test wicket. Jayasuriya, in his 17th Test, became the joint-fastest bowler in 74 years to the landmark.Meanwhile, Mulder scored 16 off 31 balls and looked in increasing levels of discomfort before being given out lbw. Markram, whose last five Test innings have not yielded a single half-century, looked convincing until he inside-edged Vishwa on to his stumps. Bavuma and Stubbs bedded in for the rest of the session, and will resume on what is expected to be an easier day for batting on Friday.

Bayern Munich director Max Eberl revealed Nicolas Jackson’s transfer took a 'big fight' and an intense 48 hours after Chelsea tried to block the move.

• Bayern signed Jackson from Chelsea on season-long loan
• Transfer almost collapsed after Liam Delap’s injury
• Eberl admits it was an “intense 48 hours” of talks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayern unveiled Jackson as their latest signing after a dramatic end to the summer transfer window. The striker joined on a season-long loan from Chelsea for €16.5 million (£14m/$19m), with an unlikely-to-trigger €65m (£54m/$71m) purchase clause included. The move was thrown into doubt when the Blues tried to cancel the agreement following Liam Delap’s hamstring injury, but the Bavarians pushed hard to revive negotiations. Jackson himself refused to return to London, insisting he wanted the switch to the Allianz Arena.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The transfer saga highlights Bayern’s determination to reinforce their attack as they look to reclaim the Bundesliga title and compete strongly in the Champions League, especially after missing out on key targets like Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade. For Chelsea, Jackson’s departure was balanced by the decision to terminate Marc Guiu’s loan at Sunderland to strengthen Enzo Maresca’s squad depth. For Jackson, the move represents a fresh start after slipping down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, and he now has the opportunity to prove himself at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

• WHAT MAX EBERL SAID

  Speaking about the saga, Bayern sporting director Eberl admitted: "It was actually all done, up until Liam Delap's injury. Jackson was then clear in saying he wanted to stay. It was a big fight. He had other offers, even for a permanent transfer. But the key was that we had a player who really wanted to join us. It all worked out in the end, which is the most important thing. 

  He added: "It was an intense 48 hours with lots of ups and downs, but we were really focused on making it happen and found a good solution. We're really pleased Nicolas is here."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NICOLAS JACKSON?

  The 24-year-old is expected to make his Bundesliga debut against Hamburg this weekend. Bayern hope his integration will be smooth with Champions League fixtures just around the corner. The club will use the loan as a test run to see if the Senegalese striker fits their long-term project.

Enzo Maresca hit back at the claim that Chelsea were distracted by their Champions League commitments after Brentford's late comeback in their Premier League clash on Saturday. The Bees scored a late equaliser to snatch away a point in a 2-2 draw with the Blues, who next face Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener next week.

Brentford score late equaliser

Brentford took the lead through Kevin Schade's strike in the 35th minute, but Cole Palmer brought Chelsea back into the game with an equaliser just past the hour mark. Moises Caicedo then put the Blues in front in the 85th minute, which almost sealed a comeback win, but Fabio Carvalho's last-gasp equaliser helped the Bees walk away with a point. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMaresca refutes Champions League distraction claims

Maresca made significant changes to the starting lineup that comfortably beat Fulham in their last Premier League game, raising questions about whether the Italian coach was prioritising their Champions League encounter against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. However, the Blues boss refuted such claims.

What did Maresca say about Chelsea dropping points?

When asked if he had the Bayern game in mind before the Brentford clash, Maresca said: "No, no, no, no, absolutely [not]. Joao Pedro, before the game, asked me that he was not fit 100 percent, better [that he] doesn't play. And so if I was thinking about Bayern Munich, Joao was on the bench. But Joao played because the focus was about tonight. But for sure, when you have so many games, you have to plan a different option.

"For instance, Reece James played two games with the international team. So play tonight and thinking on Wednesday. So it's not, our focus was about tonight. And the reason why is because if this season we play Champions League, it's because we did well in the Premier League. And if we want to play again Champions League next season, we need to do well in the Premier League."

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AFPWhen are Chelsea playing next?

Chelsea will face Bayern on Wednesday in Munich before taking on Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 20.

A total of 120 players have put their hats in the auction ahead of the 2025 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) to fill the 19 slots vacated by the five teams in the latest round of releases/retentions last month. The line-up includes 91 Indians – including nine capped players – and 29 from overseas, who will be in the fray to fill a maximum of five vacancies.The big names who have listed their reserve price at the highest slab of INR 50 lakh (US$60,000 approx.) are Deandra Dottin, Heather Knight (released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru – RCB) and Lizelle Lee. Of the Indians, Sneh Rana (released by Gujarat Giants – GG), Poonam Yadav (released by Delhi Capitals – DC), Shubha Satheesh (released by RCB), Tejal Hasabnis and Mansi Joshi are the prominent names.But there are some other big overseas cricketers around to pick from too. Lauren Bell, who was released by UP Warriorz (UPW), will be going under the hammer, as will her England mates Maia Boucher, Sarah Glenn and Sophia Dunkley, apart from Knight. A total of eight cricketers from England are going to be part of the auction, the second-highest representation – outside of India – behind Australia’s 12. Amanda-Jade Wellington, Alana King, Kim Garth, Laura Harris (released by DC) and Darcie Brown are the major Australians who will be hoping to find teams. Of the overseas players up for grabs, Garth and South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk have been part of the WPL in the past.Related

• Mithali Raj, Nooshin Al Khadeer part ways with Gujarat Giants ahead of WPL 2025

• All you need to know about the WPL 2025 mini-auction

• What each team needs at the WPL 2025 auction

• WPL 2025 auction – Full list of 120 players

UAE’s Samaira Dharnidharka and Theertha Satish and Scotland’s Sarah Bryce are going to be part of the auction from among Associate teams. Kathryn Bryce of Scotland, who was released by GG, has not registered for the auction.The WPL 2025 auction is scheduled to take place on December 15 in Bengaluru.RCB, led by Smriti Mandhana, are the defending champions, having beaten DC in the WPL 2024 final, played in Delhi.Below is a look at the five teams and their vacancies:

• Delhi Capitals: Four vacancies, including one overseas
• Gujarat Giants: Four vacancies, including two overseas
• Mumbai Indians: Four vacancies, including one overseas
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Four vacancies, no overseas
• UP Warriorz: Three vacancies, including one overseas

Leeds United are believed to have reached an agreement over the signing of an international attacker this week, but a deal is far complete as the Whites have yet to convince the player to join.

Leeds targeting three more signings

The Whites need as much squad depth as possible upon their return to the Premier League, with plenty of new faces already arriving at Elland Road, from Anton Stach to Jaka Bijol. Leeds’ summer business is unlikely to be done there, however, with former scout Mick Brown claiming that as many as three new faces could still arrive this month given they have yet to truly reinforce their attack.

“The feeling at Leeds has been that if they want to compete in the Premier League, the squad is going to need strengthening and that hasn’t changed. Their recruitment has been okay so far, but I would suggest none of them are nailed-on Premier League players who you know are going to be a success.

“They don’t have the type of Premier League experience in their squad that they would like. Before the window closes, there are two or three new players they want to bring in and I think it’s something they’re working on behind the scenes. There are still positions they want to strengthen in, and they’re going to concentrate on getting in Premier League players to aid that transition.”

A new forward needs to be near the top of Leeds’ wishlist, in order to have enough firepower to cope in the top flight, and a promising update has dropped regarding one target.

Leeds reach agreement to sign Serie A attacker

According to an update from Italian media [via Sport Witness], Leeds have reached an agreement to sign Sassuolo attacker Andrea Pinamonti this summer, who has been capped once by Italy.

That said, the update does also state that the 26-year-old has rejected the chance to join the Whites, with his reasoning for the decision not explained. It is now a case of Daniel Farke and those high up at Elland Road working to change his mind.

Pinamonti is a proven attacker at the highest level, having scored 50 goals in 212 Serie A appearances. Former coach Moreno Longo has heaped praise on him during their time working together in the past.

At 26, Pinamonti is both an experienced head and someone with years ahead of him, so he could come straight in as an influential leader of the line for Leeds.

Leeds closing in on "underrated" striker who's scored over 200 career goals

He’d hand Daniel Farke a major boost.

6 ByTom Cunningham Aug 9, 2025

Last season, the Italian scored 10 Serie A goals on loan at Genoa, also winning six Man of the Match awards from WhoScored, and the lure of moving to the Premier League will hopefully sway his thinking.