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As talks continue with Swansea City, former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos could reportedly be about to face an instant problem if he takes the job in Wales courtesy of the January transfer window.

It’s been a frustrating couple of weeks for Swansea, who are still without a manager after sacking Alan Sheehan before the international break. There’s no escaping the fact that they missed out on their top target, either. It looked as though they were destined to appoint Hammarby’s Kim Hellberg, before Middlesbrough came swooping in to hijack their deal.

Since then, those in Wales have been back to square one in their search and have reportedly held talks with Matos. The former Liverpool coach is currently the manager of Maritime in Portugal’s second division, but could now have the chance to take his first managerial job in England courtesy of Swansea.

It’s undoubtedly a gamble, given the 37-year-old’s inexperience in the dugout, but it’s one that Swansea may still take. And to Matos’ credit, Maritime have only lost four of the 12 games that he’s had in charge, highlighting exactly why he could be on his way to the Championship.

It’s no easy job in England’s second tier, however. Swansea currently sit as low as 18th and seven points clear of the dropzone. If Matos, or whoever it is in charge for the foreseeable future, does not get off to a good start then the Swans will be at risk of dropping down even further.

It’s a relegation battle that they could certainly do without if they want to keep their top players too, with one of their key men receiving interest from the Premier League.

Premier League clubs interested in Ronald

As reported by ESPN Brazil’s Felipe Silva, Premier League clubs are now interested in signing Ronald from Swansea in the January transfer window, sparking an instant problem for Matos. The winger is considered “one of Swansea City’s key players” and there’s no doubt that his exit would deal their survival chances a major blow.

Reporting the news, Silva said on X: “Brazilian winger Ronald, one of Swansea City’s key players, could leave the team that competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, in the next transfer window. The forward’s strong performances have sparked interest from some Premier League teams and clubs in the Middle East.”

With three goals and one assist to his name in a Swansea side which has struggled for goals in the Championship this season, the Brazilian winger could become his side’s most influential player under Matos.

At just 24 years old, there’s also every chance that the next Swansea manager could take Ronald to new heights in what would provide those in Wales with a much-needed, consistent outlet.

Swansea hold talks to appoint 4-3-3 manager who's worked with Klopp

Newcastle United need to improve if they want to match the heights of the 2024/25 campaign. If they want to surpass those heights and continue this period of sustained growth in Eddie Howe’s system.

Struggling in the Premier League but making headway in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, the Magpies must find that all-important stream of balance. The forwards are not in sync right now, and the finely-wrought passing patterns lack the smoothness when everything’s clicking.

The win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday evening was hardly one to remember, but St. James’ Park responded after the haggard defeat at the London Stadium against West Ham United last weekend.

Sandro Tonali was as brilliant as ever, claiming his latest Man of the Match award, but there were a few unsung heroes who came up trumps and reminded Howe of his squad depth.

Newcastle's unsung heroes vs Bilbao

Dan Burn opened the scoring in the Champions League with a stunning header. Perhaps it’s inaccurate to label the 32-year-old Geordie an ‘unsung hero’, but he’s certainly surpassed expectations since joining from Brighton for £12m in 2022, right at the start of Howe’s reign.

Lewis Hall is back following a long injury, and his ball-playing expertise will open new dimensions. However, Burn is one of the staples of this successful chapter in the club’s history, and he reminded Tyneside that he still has a part to play.

In the middle, Joelinton put in a commanding and powerful performance. The Brazilian has struggled at times this term, but he still offers a unique skill in the engine room, linking up well with Nick Woltemade up top alongside his goal after the break.

Further up the field, Harvey Barnes earned praise for a lively performance on the right. Naturally left-sided, the clinical forward showed the second string to his bow by showing off his fleet feet and crisp crossing to find the unmarked Joelinton, who scored.

But perhaps the most underrated winner on the evening was a man who staked his claim once again, having reportedly come close to leaving Newcastle this summer.

Newcastle 'standout' was set to be sold by PIF

Tino Livramento has missed Newcastle’s past eight matches across all competitions with a knee injury, and while he’s closing on a return, Kieran Trippier will feel that his efforts in recent weeks have demonstrated there is mileage still in the tank.

The 35-year-old was excellent against Athletic Bilbao, strong in his defensive duties while maintaining that ever-impressive creative flair when whipping into the area from deep and finding the head of Big Dan Burn, whose header was akin to an angled missile.

Handing the veteran an 8/10 match rating for his performance, Chronicle Live acknowledged the delivery to get Newcastle up and running, though also paid homage to his leadership and defending.

Minutes played

90′

Assists

1

Touches

73

Accurate passes

35/52 (67%)

Chances created

1

Crosses completed

2/4

Possession lost

20x

Dribbles

0/1

Recoveries

7

Tackles

3/4

Clearances

3

Duels won

5/9

We must draw attention to Bilbao’s somewhat laboured performance. Trippier will find a sterner test against Brentford at the Gtech on Sunday afternoon, and Trippier will need to draw upon every ounce of his athleticism in this later stage of his career.

But it’s curious to note that he’s still got it, standing firm at right-back while pinging balls forward and altogether enhancing Howe’s transitional tactical outlook. He is, after all, one of the finest defensive playmakers of his generation.

In fact, Trippier’s haul of 38 assists across 212 appearances in the English top flight marks him as the fourth-highest out-and-out defender for that metric in the division’s history.

Pinched from Atletico Madrid at the start of Howe’s Newcastle tenure, Trippier established himself as “the best right back in Europe”, according to Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley earlier in his Tyneside career, and he’s still got a part to play.

PIF must be thankful that they didn’t follow through with plans to part ways this summer.

25/26

8

0 (0)

24/25

25

0 (3)

23/24

28

1 (10)

22/23

38

1 (7)

21/22

6

2 (0)

Indeed, the £120k-per-week full-back has entered the final year of his Toon contract, but he may have parted with Howe’s side a year ago, having agreed personal terms with Turkish Super Lig outfit Eyupspor before a U-turn was pulled.

The former England international’s hefty salary and diminished role over the second half of his spell at Newcastle had made such a scenario seem far from improbable, though he and the club ultimately convened and thought that it was worth letting him see out the duration of his contract.

As Livramento eases himself back into the way of things over the next couple of months, Trippier will continue to earn starting roles across the various competitions in front of the club.

Once, Trippier was in with a shout as Newcastle’s most important player. It was not that long ago that industry figures believed he was the finest right-back on the continent.

That might not be the case any longer, but the experienced ace remains an important part of Howe’s plans, with journalist Charlie Bennett even singling him out as one of the “standouts” during the midweek win in the Champions League.

Howe must boldly drop Newcastle star who has now moved clear of Isak

Newcastle fought their way to a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 6, 2025

The Cubs and Brewers met for Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Monday night. Each team hit a three-run home run in the first inning and Milwaukee added another home run in both the third and fourth to take a 7-3 lead.

In the fourth, Jackson Chourio hit an absolute bomb to centerfield that was measured at 419-feet. Considering the wall in center is 400, it stands to reason that it wasn't even close.

The eye test confirms that when you see Chicago centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong's incredibly futile attempt to rob this home run.

PCA has a penchant for making spectacular plays in center, but he was nowhere near this ball at any point. If he was 25-feet tall, he would have had a tough time getting a glove on this ball. When he reached the apex of his jump at the wall, the ball wasn't even on the screen yet.

Yes, this is the kind of effort that allows you hit inside-the-park home runs or steal home from second base, but at some point you've just got to let the hard-to-reach chips go. There's no reason for you to end up crumpled on the ground when a ball was hit to the second deck.

Unlike some of their Premier League rivals, Arsenal’s summer signings are looking better with every passing gameweek.

For example, he might’ve started slowly, but Viktor Gyokeres already has six goals to his name this season, and Noni Madueke was just starting to pick up steam before his injury.

Moreover, with Gabriel Magalhães’ recent injury, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie are looking like incredible buys.

With all that said, an argument could be made that Martin Zubimendi has been Arsenal’s best signing of all, so fans should be excited about reports linking the club to someone who could be an heir to the Spaniard and has been compared to Rodri.

Arsenal target their next Martin Zubimendi

With reports coming out about Zubimendi’s move to Arsenal as early as January, the excitement for the move wasn’t quite as intense as it perhaps should’ve been when it finally came to pass in the summer.

However, since then, the Spaniard has more than proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Whether it’s putting in a perfectly timed tackle to shield the back four, or driving with the ball and delivering a pinpoint accurate pass to a forward, the former Real Sociedad star really does it all.

Therefore, it makes sense that the club would already be looking for a younger gem who, over the next five to six years, can be moulded into his long-term heir.

According to a recent report from Spain, one of the young prospects that could sign for this purpose is Chema Andrés.

The story has revealed that, alongside Manchester City, Arsenal are already making moves to sign the VfB Stuttgart gem, who has had an excellent start to the season.

However, a potential roadblock for Andrea Berta and Co is that he’s a former Real Madrid prospect, and the Spanish giants have a buy-back clause worth around €13.5m for 2026, which is approximately £12m.

If Arsenal want to sign the young Spaniard, they’ll almost certainly have to pay significantly more than that, but even so, Andrés would be worth it as a future Zubimendi heir.

Why Chema Andrés could be Arsenal's future Zubimendi

So what is it that makes Zubimendi such an incredible footballer and has seen him so quickly become essential to Arsenal’s midfield?

Transfer Focus

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

Well, to put it simply, it’s his impressive combination of defensive nous and sensational ability on the ball, which has seen him already amass a tally of three goal involvements in 11 league games from the six position.

The good news is that, while it’s still very early on in his career, Chema Andrés appears to share this ability to heavily influence play in both halves.

For example, just last month, respected u23 scout Antonio Mango described his defensive abilities as “Rodri-like,” noting that he “simplifies the game and makes the basics look effortless.”

Then, when it comes to going the other way, Mango has praised him for his “expansive passing range”, and fellow talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him an “orchestrator” thanks to his incredible “vision” and “football IQ.”

Unsurprisingly, the 20-year-old “supernova” of a talent, as dubbed by one analyst, also has some incredible underlying numbers to more than justify the hype.

Interceptions

2.11

Top 1%

Clearances

3.65

Top 1%

Dispossessed

0.14

Top 1%

Aerials Won

3.93

Top 1%

Tkl+Int

4.49

Top 4%

Ball Recoveries

6.74

Top 4%

Shots on Target

0.70

Top 5%

SCA (Shot)

0.28

Top 6%

Successful Take-On %

66.7%

Top 6%

Blocks

1.83

Top 7%

Average Shot Distance

14.40

Top 8%

Shots Blocked

0.56

Top 9%

% of Dribblers Tackled

63.6%

Top 10%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.15

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

7.16

Top 11%

Passes Blocked

1.26

Top 11%

% of Aerials Won

62.2%

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

2.53

Top 14%

xG: Expected Goals

0.15

Top 15%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions, clearances, aerials won, the top 4% for tackles plus interceptions and ball recoveries, the top 5% for shots on target, the top 11% for progressive passes and more, all per 90.

Finally, on top of doing business at the club level, the youngster is also making waves on the international scene.

After making ten appearances for Spain’s u19s, he skipped the u20s altogether and has now made four appearances for the u21s, with the last coming on Tuesday night.

Ultimately, Zubimendi should be Arsenal’s starting six for quite some time, but if they can, they should do what they can to sign Andrés, as at just 20 years old, he could be the long-term heir.

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All the numbers from the PBKS vs KKR game, which set new records for low totals in the IPL

Sampath Bandarupalli15-Apr-20256:18

Pressure or complacency – why did KKR collapse?

111 – The total Punjab Kings (PBKS) successfully defended against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday, the lowest in the IPL (excluding shortened matches). The previous lowest was 116 for 9 by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Kings XI Punjab (now PBKS) in Durban during the 2009 edition.In the previous fixture between these two teams in IPL 2024, PBKS chased down 262 at Eden Gardens, which was the highest successful chase in the IPL.5 – IPL matches where both teams were bowled out, including the PBKS-KKR game. Two of the four other games also featured KKR, but they won those.ESPNcricinfo Ltd95 – KKR’s total in the chase is their joint-third-lowest in the IPL, and the first time they have been bowled out for under 100 since 2009. It is also the third-lowest total in the IPL by any team against PBKS and the lowest since 2017.95 – KKR’s total is the joint-lowest by any team in the IPL to feature a half-century stand. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi added 55 for the third wicket. In 2009, KKR were bowled out for 95 against Mumbai Indians (MI) despite a 54-run stand between Brad Hodge and Sourav Ganguly for the third wicket.97.94 – KKR’s win probability as per ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster at the end of the ninth over of the chase, when the strategic time out was taken. They needed 41 runs in eleven overs with seven wickets in hand at that stage. They lost all those, adding only 24 more.8 – Four-plus wicket hauls for Yuzvendra Chahal in the IPL, the joint-highest in the IPL alongside Sunil Narine.Three of those eight hauls by Chahal have come against KKR, including a five-for. Narine has three four-plus wicket hauls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).Yuzvendra Chahal returned to form in grand style•Getty Images2-12 – PBKS’ win-loss record at home across IPL 2023 and 2024. They have won two of their three home games so far this season.36 – Wickets for Narine in the IPL against PBKS, the most by any bowler against an opponent, going past Umesh Yadav’s tally of 35, also against PBKS.15.3 – Overs PBKS batted on Tuesday, the fewest by any team in the IPL after electing to bat first (excluding shortened matches). The previous fewest was 17.2 overs by Pune Warriors against MI in 2011.KKR were also bowled out in 15.1 overs, making it only the third men’s T20 where both teams were all out in 16 or fewer overs.

Wolves now see Rob Edwards as a leading choice to replace Vitor Pereira as manager, having failed to bring Gary O’Neil back to the club.

Pereira was relieved of his duties over the weekend, following a dreadful start to the season that sees Wanderers sit bottom of the Premier League table, with Jeff Shi confirming the decision.

“Vitor and his team worked tirelessly for Wolves and helped guide us through a challenging period last season, for which we are grateful. Unfortunately, the start to this season has been a disappointment and, despite our strong desire to give the head coach time and matches to find an improvement, we have reached a point where we must make a change. We thank Vitor and his staff for their efforts and wish them the very best for the future.”

O’Neil had emerged as a front-runner to replace Pereira, but the former Wolves manager has now reportedly decided against a return to Molineux, feeling it isn’t the right time.

Meanwhile, former Wanderers striker Robbie Keane is another name who has been thrown into the mix, and now a key update has emerged regarding Middlesbrough manager Edwards taking charge.

Edwards speaks out about taking Wolves job

Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Edwards didn’t rule out taking over as Wolves manager, but admitted his focus is on his current club at the moment.

“I can understand it with my links to the club but my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around for a really big game against Leicester. It’s hard for me to comment on speculation and anything other than Middlesbrough. We’ve done a decent job so far, and all I care about is trying to win tomorrow.”

Journalist Ben Jacobs has added that Edwards is high on Wolves’ wishlist after O’Neil’s snub and has a release clause in his Boro contract, with the Old Gold looking to ‘try and line up a replacement for Pereira before the Chelsea game’.

Edwards is an impressive young manager who already knows Wolves well, not only spending four years there as a player, but also having a brief spell in interim charge back in 2016.

The 42-year-old famously guided Luton Town into the Premier League from the Championship, which was a special achievement, and he has been hailed by journalist Mark Ogden for his “ultra-positive” approach.

Middlesbrough

14

1.79

Luton Town

103

1.18

Watford

11

1.27

Forest Green

53

1.75

England Under-16s

1

0.00

Wolves Under-23s

34

1.76

Telford United

42

1.26

While Edwards will clearly be focusing on guiding Middlesbrough into the top flight, the lure of Wolves could be great for him, both in terms of returning to the club and also getting another Premier League job.

He is still a relatively young manager, so there is some risk in Wanderers appointing him, at a time when a more experienced head who knows how to get out of trouble arguably makes more sense.

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But if those high up at the club feel that the 3-4-2-1-playing Edwards is the right man to get Wolves out of this current mess, they need to be trusted, with age only a number and the Englishman already impressing so much in his managerial career.

Robbie Keane in talks with Wolves as Steven Gerrard gives clarity on future

Breetzke and de Zorzi have been added to the T20I squad; Baartman has been included in the ODI squad

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2025

David Miller has been sidelined by a hamstring injury•Associated Press

David Miller has been ruled out of South Africa’s T20I series in Pakistan, while fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will miss the entire white-ball leg of the tour due to injuries.Miller was named stand-in captain for the T20I series with regular captain Aiden Markram rested, but he has been sidelined after scans conducted on Wednesday confirmed he had suffered a grade-1 right hamstring strain during training in the build-up to the tour. “He will now begin a phased rehabilitation program,” CSA said.Allrounder Donovan Ferreira will captain the side in the three-match T20I series, which begins on October 28 in Rawalpindi. Ferreira had recently led South Africa in a one-off T20I against Namibia, which South Africa lost by four wickets.Coetzee was ruled out of both the T20I and ODIs in Pakistan due to a pectoral muscle injury. The 25-year-old sustained the injury during the T20I against Namibia. He bowled 1.3 overs in that game before he left the field and did not return.”Subsequent scans revealed the extent of the injury and following specialist consultation, he has commenced a structured rehabilitation program under the supervision of the Cricket South Africa High Performance and Momentum Multiply Titans medical teams,” CSA said.Left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka had also been ruled out of the Pakistan tour with a hamstring strain, which he sustained while playing in a domestic first-class match in early October.South Africa have included batters Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi in the T20I squad, while fast bowler Ottneil Bartman was named as Coetzee’s replacement in the ODI squad. Breetzke had earlier also been named captain of the ODI side. The three-match ODI series begins right after the T20I leg, on November 4 in Faisalabad. The T20I squad will depart for Islamabad on October 23.South Africa’s squad for Pakistan T20IsCorbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira (capt), Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil BaartmanSouth Africa’s squad for Pakistan ODIsMatthew Breetzke (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Ottneil Baartman

Despite looking like the better team, India were in threat of being 3-1 down. Thanks to the riveting draw in Manchester, they now have a chance at 2-2

Sidharth Monga27-Jul-20252:09

Manjrekar: ‘Warriors’ keep sprouting for India when needed

One of the least appreciated aspects of cricket narratives is the sheer physicality of it.There were times during the Old Trafford Test when we sat and wondered what the narrative would have been had this been a three-match series. It would have offered India an honourable series defeat that they could have won with a little bit of luck or with a little bit of ruthlessness.Instead, it felt like the fourth Test was exposing them physically. Their strike bowlers were down on pace and looking toothless, their injury replacement was not serviceable for whatever reason (which they should investigate and prevent a repeat of), and they looked like they were losing to a side that had a bit of luck in the early part of the series, which was now displaying superior conditioning, not by much but enough to outlast them.India’s batters had one final chance to flip that narrative on its head. To show two can play the game. That even though Ben Stokes believes pain is just an emotion, they can make some of his team-mates feel the physical pain of a long Test series that has been going into the final session of the final day on flat pitches.Related

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Gill, Washington, Jadeja tons script India's great escape

It was just that India had lost two wickets in the first over. That can happen. Especially in a short period before a break when batters appear to be facing a lose-lose situation. They still had five sessions to go with two wickets gone and their best batter of the last five years down with a broken foot.India had an ally in the dying pitch – otherwise you can’t hope to bat five sessions for a draw against modern Test attacks – but this was as much a test of their temperament as it was of their physicality. Batting out draws is a task modern batters have to rarely face. Unless the deficit is small – 311 wasn’t – you can get there only one ball at a time. There is no counterattacking, there is no rushing. Time moves at its own objective pace. It can feel excruciatingly slow, especially when you are not in the middle.Out in the middle, India needed only four batters to negotiate 875 balls between them.Why KL Rahul had a middling batting average had been an enigma coming into the series. He had never scored 400 runs in a series nor scored more than one hundred in one. A lot of his good work in the rest of his Test career had happened in the first quarter of series. Here, he had scored a second century in a series for the first time, but even that resulted in a turning point in a Test India lost at Lord’s.Ben Stokes sees his offer for a draw to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar rebuffed•Getty ImagesRahul and Rishabh Pant, his partner at the time, wanted to get the milestone out of the way if they could before lunch. Pant ended up getting run-out. It was a human reaction. Rahul was honest enough to acknowledge what that happened. And good enough to regroup a week later and go back to doing what had brought him close to that second hundred.Except that runs didn’t matter here. So engrossed was he in just defending, switching off and switching on, that he was not even awake to a misfield late on the fourth evening. The milestone didn’t matter in this innings. The greatest achievement for Rahul was that he forced the opposition captain to risk an injured bicep and then come up with an absolutely unplayable ball to get him out. Not before he had faced 230 balls.Rahul’s partner on the fourth evening, Shubman Gill, is in the form of his life but under the pump as captain. There have been questions if this is his team. Whether it was him who wanted Shardul Thakur and not Kuldeep Yadav in the XI, and if so, why did he not bowl Thakur enough? Why were India 2-1 down, and going towards 3-1, after looking like the better team for long periods of this series? He also had to face the hat-trick ball with India needing to bat out five whole sessions.His bat doesn’t ask Gill these questions. That’s the one thing he is in control of. Not the injuries, not the weather that keeps turning against him, not the toss. He faced 238 balls with calmness and composure that have been the hallmark of his batting. This was his slowest Test hundred. Only once has he left more balls alone in an innings. He needed to quickly put behind the one he left alone and was out lbw.2:34

Has Washington nailed his spot in India’s Test XI?

Batters generally tend to not tempt cricketing gods. They take the runs that are available unless batting with the tail or with an injured batter. Gill was not afraid of doing that when he decided to face all the left-arm spin – in the first session of the day – when Liam Dawson was firing it in the rough for Washington Sundar.Washington, who had to be promoted to cover for the injury to Pant. Washington, who is so good a player that the team management is moving mountains to fit him in the XI. He has bowled balls and hit shots that will fit in the highlights reels of the series, but this innings was about anything but highlights.For more than two sessions, he and Ravindra Jadeja needed to negotiate everything thrown at them. India’s No. 1 allrounder and his heir apparent. Jadeja became only the third visiting player to score over 1000 runs and take more than 30 wickets in a single country. Washington finally got his maiden Test century after having been stranded on 96 and 85 before. They batted together for 55.2 overs, keeping out shooters and kickers. By the end of it, England were so knackered they wanted to get off the field with 15 overs left.The physicality was now catching up with England. India now have a full set of fit fast bowlers to choose from. The luck finally turned for them with three dropped catches that proved pivotal. They now have a chance to walk away with 2-2, which, at this point, seems like a fair result. It’s a good thing this was not a three-Test series.

Sandro Tonali maintained an interesting stance about a move away from Newcastle United earlier this week and now Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a move worth over £40m.

It’s an all too familiar feeling for Newcastle, who were forced to bid farewell to Alexander Isak for a Premier League record in the summer as they scrambled to find his replacement. Now, they potentially face the prospect of losing more key men amid reported interest from around English football in Sven Botman and, of course, Tonali.

It’s the last thing that Eddie Howe needs in the middle of the Magpies’ current domestic form. In the Champions League, his side have been close to perfect, but that couldn’t be further from the case in the Premier League with just three wins in their opening 10 games.

The Newcastle boss admitted in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brentford that his side must rise up the ranks in the Premier League after a disappointing run.

Missing out on Champions League qualification would only make Newcastle’s attempts to keep hold of key men even tougher, especially if Real Madrid do come calling for Tonali.

Tonali shares exit stance as Real Madrid prepare move

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid are now preparing a move to sign Tonali from Newcastle worth €50m (£44m) in 2026. Now, whilst the Magpies are unlikely to accept such a low offer for a player that cost them £55m, Madrid’s attempts would certainly spark some interesting questions about the midfielder’s future.

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Despite recent reports revealing that the Italian has already signed a new deal which could keep him at St James’ Park until 2029, Tonali refused to rule out an exit away from the club when questioned about his Newcastle future earlier this week.

Described as “excellent” by Howe, Tonali’s admission will undoubtedly concern those on Tyneside, who saw Isak force his way out of the club in the summer. The last thing they need is another summer-long transfer saga.

PIF's "massive overpay" is quickly becoming Howe's new Almiron

Aaronson has often been labeled a tweener, but his versatility has been vital for Leeds this season. That same flexibility could position him for increased minutes with the USMNT.

PHILADELPHIA – Recent Brenden Aaronson stats circulating on social media confirm what has been easy to overlook: despite steady criticism, the Leeds United midfielder is thriving this season.

The truth is this: Aaronson has been one of the Premier League’s most effective attacking players so far. Not always pretty, not necessarily prolific, but undeniably impactful. He’s a major reason Leeds sit just outside the relegation zone roughly one-third of the way into his second Premier League go-around. His performances have also put him firmly back in the U.S. men’s national team picture. For a while now, Aaronson has had a point to prove. This season, he is proving it.

“I think that the confidence that I have now and the sustainability of it is at a really good level,” Aaronson said to reporters on Wednesday's USMNT media call. “I’m happy with my mental space, and I think that’s the biggest thing in football. When you’re playing at your best level, you have the confidence, and that’s what I feel like is changing my game.”

So now, as he returns to Philadelphia – the place where he started his soccer career –  for the final USMNT camp of 2025, Aaronson is in a unique spot. He's in form and thriving. He's also fighting for a spot. After being benched for much of the Gold Cup, a tournament that lacked some of the USMNT's heavy hitters, Aaronson's spot is still anything but certain. This camp, then, is another chance to go out and earn it and show why his effectiveness for Leeds could translate to whatever plans Mauricio Pochettino has for him.

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  Changing perceptions

  Aaronson spoke about it with GOAL last year: he doesn't like the perceptions of him or his game.

  "It's definitely upsetting," Aaronson told GOAL, "Because I think, in moments, I show a lot of quality with the ball. I don't think a lot of people see that. People see my energy and that type of thing, and that's easy to see. You'll always see me giving 100 percent. That's something that I've always had. That was the first thing I learned from my dad at a young age."

  "I want to be outside of that box," he added. "I'm not just a runner. I'm not just a guy who's pressing all the time. I'll show that, of course, but I think I'm also more than that, you know? I think I'm a guy that brings other things to the pitch and, yeah, I just wish people could see that more."

  Leeds United fans have seen more of it this season. The numbers don't jump off the page, admittedly. He scored a goal recently against West Ham in an standout Man of the Match performance that included a mazy run through the entire Hammers team. He then set up a goal in this past weekend's loss to Nottingham Forest, notching his first assist of the season. One goal and one assist, generally, aren't anything to get excited about, but the underlying numbers tell a different story.

  Yes, the defensive statistics are still elite when compared to other midfielders and wingers, which is always helpful for a promoted team looking to stay up. The chance creation numbers are good, too. Per DataMB, Aaronson is right among the league leaders in chance creation ratio, which measures the amount of key passes per 100 attempts. When it comes to creating danger, Aaronson has been right up there among the Premier League's very best, even if there hasn't been as much to show for it as many would like.

  “It’s always a learning process going out there and playing,” Aaronson said. “But I think I’ve been playing at a good level this year, and I need to continue to get better and better and help the team the best I can."

  All of that isn't to say that Aaronson is at the level of the Premier League's best. Few would believe that. It does indicate, though, that Aaronson is getting better and is making a real effort to prove that doubters wrong.

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  Learning from criticism

  There have been multiple times during Daniel Farke's two-year Leeds United tenure when he has had to publicly defend his American midfielder from criticism. The most recent came just a few short weeks ago.

  “It’s important not to put too much weight on his shoulders,” Farke said in September. “Sometimes the feeling with Brenden is that we are a bit over-critical in public. We know Brenden has challenges in his offensive game in terms of decision-making, being a bit clearer and more straightforward. This is something we speak a lot about.

  “It’s not like I press a button, do my magic, and he’s a completely different player. In training, we bring him more into positions where he has to make decisions. It’s not like he is not willing to score or is not highly motivated. Sometimes, because he is so on it, he is, perhaps, losing a bit of his calmness, but it’s not helpful if everyone is always criticizing him.”

  Aaronson, meanwhile, recently acknowledged that he avoids looking into that criticism. It's something he's dealt with for much of his professional career. In his first season with Leeds, the club was relegated. A subsequent move to Union Berlin didn't work out. He returned to Leeds knowing he'd have to win back the fans' trust. That process is ongoing, even after helping the club back to the Premier League with an ironman run through the Championship.

  “Listen. I wear the shirt of Leeds United. One of the biggest clubs in England,” Aaronson told Morning Footy. “The fan base is amazing. We have amazing fans, and sometimes it can be tough. It comes with the pressure of wearing the kit. [Criticism] is always there, it is always gonna be there. 

  "I’m not someone who uses social media. I never go on. My fiancée and my parents can look at that stuff. I tell them not to sometimes, but my mom can’t help it. I try to stay away from it. Week in and week out, all I can do is do the best I can and just go out there to be myself. That’s what I try to focus on.”

  This week, Aaronson is focused on the USMNT and making a mark that could, ultimately, carry him to a second World Cup roster.

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  Finding his place with the USMNT

  One of Aaronson's biggest assets is his versatility. He can play as an attacking midfielder. He can play on the wings. He can slot in as a No. 8 or even as a wingback, in theory. He's also a player that, no matter where you play him, seems like an ideal supersub, one that brings obvious energy and, if his Premier League run is anything to go by, a little bit of danger.

  “I play the winger like a No. 10 if I’m being honest with you,” Aaronson said. “I think at [Leeds] my coach talks to me about having the freedom to go and get involved with the game. Of course, he wants the formation and, of course, he wants me to stay in the positions, but I just kind of go out there and play like I would in the midfield. I don’t really change too much about it.

  “I’m not a winger that’s going one-v-one or stuff like that. I want to be in between the lines; I want to be driving with the ball. I want to be playing the final pass and shooting the final shot.”

  Despite that versatility, this season has been a difficult one for Aaronson on the USMNT front. He was left out of the USMNT's March CONCACAF Nations League roster, although hindsight does say that may have been a blessing in disguise given how that camp went. Then, after returning to the Gold Cup, Aaronson was largely a substitute, starting just one game: a largely meaningless game against Haiti to close the group stage after two wins to start the tournament. It wasn't a surprise when he was then left out of the September squad as Pochettino looked elsewhere.

  Aaronson returned in October and, despite playing just 26 minutes, he made an impression. In that cameo against Australia, he looked extremely dangerous. That performance, along with his recent run with Leeds, led to him being called back in for this November camp.

  "Brenden is an experienced player who has already brought a lot to the national team," Pochettino said this summer. "He’s a player who has a total commitment to the national team. His character, whichever position he's in, he’s always helping, always being positive in all moments. He’s a very dynamic player. We're very familiar with his characteristics and he’s a player who brings a lot of positives to the group."

  With Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, and Weston McKennie all sidelined, the U.S. are short on attacking midfield options. That gives Aaronson a chance to step into the spotlight in the place where he spent six years developing before moving to Europe.

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  A chance and a homecoming

  Even now, five years after he left the club, Aaronson remains one of the Philadelphia Union's top success stories. He burst onto the scene in 2020 as a Best XI player. He's since played in Europe at the highest level. This week, Aaronson is one of four Union academy alumni in the USMNT group alongside Matt Freese, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty. All four are fighting for World Cup places. All four's next chance to do so comes in a stadium that they, at least for a time, called home.

  On Saturday, the USMNT will host Paraguay at Subaru Park in their penultimate friendly of 2025. Aaronson, along with Gio Reyna, Diego Luna and Timothy Tillman, will be looking to show he deserves a larger role as one of the team’s No. 10s. The 25-year-old Leeds star will hope for that opportunity as he returns to where it all began.

  “I think the best thing about the Philly development is we have the mentality from a young age, this winning mentality,” Aaronson said. “I think from when we both went to the school, there was always Champions League on TV, football all the time, and that was the beauty of it. I think you were just kind of just surrounded by all these guys who wanted to be the best player they could be.

  "It’s not cutthroat, but it is competitive. So I think everybody wanted to reach the highest level. And that’s what the beauty was.”

  There isn't always beauty in Aaronson's game. He hopes that the outside world will notice more of it than they have in the past, though, and, as long as he keeps providing those types of moments, Aaronson's fight will continue as he pushes for more with club and country.