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Newcastle United are reportedly set to have a free run at Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as fellow suitors Arsenal prioritise a deal for Gabriel Jesus.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that the Magpies have been ‘given new encouragement’ regarding a deal for the England international, with their main competitors – the Gunners – focusing on their bid to sign the Brazilian Manchester City ace.

The report suggests that talks have been held between the St James’ Park outfit and the 25-year-old’s representatives, while the Merseysiders are seemingly open to a sale as they look to begin a much-needed squad rebuild under Frank Lampard ahead of next season.

While previous rumours have suggested that it could take as much as £70m to prize Calvert-Lewin from Goodison Park, the report outlines that a £45m offer would likely be accepted.

Better than Ekitike

A new centre-forward addition appears high on the agenda for Eddie Howe and co this summer, with one – or even perhaps two – new faces set to walk through the door, with Reims teenager Hugo Ekitike another name who could be on his way to Tyneside.

Although both could be added to the former Bournemouth managers’ squad ahead of next term, should it become a case of one or the other it would be wise for PIF to favour the more senior forward, with the £37.8m-rated marksman having shone for the Toffees in recent seasons.

Despite a gruelling, injury-hit 2021/22 campaign, the £72k-per-week striker had previously been a lethal presence for his current club, netting 29 Premier League goals in just two seasons under Carlo Ancelotti.

Having been less than prolific prior to the Italian’s appointment, even the serial-winning coach was forced to admit his “surprise” at the flurry of goals from the 11-cap international, as the former Sheffield United man eventually blossomed into a key player for the now Real Madrid boss.

Ekitike, by contrast, has caught the eye for his form in the most recent campaign after netting ten Ligue 1 goals, although is still raw in terms of top-flight experience, with it set to be a real gamble to fork out the reported £38m fee on a player who has never played in England.

Not that Calvert-Lewin is simply just a safe pair of hands, having showcased his lethal finishing prowess in recent years, leaving that man Ancelotti to dub him “cold” for his unerring composure in front of goal.

Having also been compared to Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo by former Everton assistant Davide Ancelotti – Carlo’s son – Howe and co are seemingly set to have a real genuine talent on their hands should they progress their interest.

Ekitike remains something of an unknown quantity, while Calvert-Lewin is the real deal.

IN other news, Eddie Howe can now help NUFC sign “spectacular” £64m “nightmare”, he’s better than Saint-Maximin

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is attracting increasing interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that both Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United are lining up moves for the 25-year-old in the off-season.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Previous reports had revealed that Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici went as far as to submit an enquiry regarding a deal for the left-winger back in the January transfer window, with Conte believed to be a big fan of the former England U21 international due to his ability to play both at left wing-back and in a front three.

Forget Raphinha

While it is true that Harrison did not enjoy the finest campaign of his career this time out – something that can quite easily be said about the vast majority of the Leeds first team – the argument that cashing in on him this summer would be a disaster for Andrea Radrizzani is nevertheless an easy one to make.

Indeed, despite averaging a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.67 over his 35 Premier League appearances this term, the £20m signing still managed to find the back of the net eight times, provided one assist and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 1.2 key passes and completing 1.5 dribbles per game.

Furthermore, the £60k-per-week winger who Frank Lampard dubbed “one of the best” (Sky Sports News, 17:25, February 12, 2022) highly impressed in a defensive capacity, with FBref ranking the 25-year-old in the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for clearances per 90, in addition to the top 13% for blocks, the top 18% for both interceptions and tackles and the top 22% for pressures over the last 365 days.

As such, while Leeds will certainly be hit by the likely departure of Raphinha this summer – with the Brazilian reported to have already agreed personal terms ahead of a switch to Barcelona – it is clear from his statistics that the further loss of Harrison would also come as a gutting blow to Jesse Marsch and his side, leading us to believe that Radrizzani simply must refuse any approach made by Tottenham or Newcastle for the former Manchester City starlet ahead of 2022/23.

AND in other news: Orta can land “frightening” Raphinha heir as Leeds now eye “unreal” £72k-p/w signing

The most striking statistics to come out of an incredible run-chase

Sampath Bandarupalli26-Mar-2023259 The target that South Africa successfully chased down against West Indies in Centurion, setting a new T20 world record. The previous highest also came in an international match when Australia chased down 244 against New Zealand in 2018.ESPNcricinfo Ltd517 Runs scored by South Africa and West Indies, the first-ever T20I to aggregate 500-plus runs.
These are also the most runs scored in all T20 cricket – including domestic games – surpassing the 515 runs scored by Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators in Rawalpindi during the recently concluded PSL.0 250-plus totals by South Africa and West Indies in men’s T20Is before Sunday. South Africa’s previous highest total was 241 for 6 against England in 2009, while West Indies’ was 245 for 6 against India in 2016. There have only been five totals higher than what South Africa and West Indies each put up in all T20Is.81 Boundaries by South Africa and West Indies in this game, another T20 record, going past the 78 recorded during the PSL game between Sultans and Gladiators earlier this month.35 Sixes hit by South Africa and West Indies, the highest for a T20I, beating the 33 sixes between Bulgaria and Serbia in 2022. West Indies hit 22 sixes, the joint-highest by a team in a T20I, equaling Afghanistan’s 22 effort against Ireland in 2019.ESPNcricinfo Ltd102 South Africa’s total by the sixth over, the highest Powerplay total by a Full Member in men’s T20Is, eclipsing West Indies’ 98 for 4 against Sri Lanka in 2021.South Africa needed just 5.3 overs to reach the 100-run mark, the second-fastest team 100 in men’s T20Is (where ball-by-ball data is available). The fastest is by Romania in 5.2 overs against Serbia in 2021.15 Balls taken by Quinton de Kock to bring up his fifty, the fastest for South Africa in T20Is. De Kock already held the Proteas record with his 17-ball fifty against England in Durban in 2020.ESPNcricinfo Ltd39 Balls taken by Johnson Charles to complete his century, the joint fourth-fastest in men’s T20Is. It is also the fastest hundred for the West Indies in men’s T20Is, bettering Chris Gayle’s 47-ball effort against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup.4 The record for most 200-plus targets chased down by a T20I team, now jointly held by South Africa and India

Duo’s perfect combination of fire and ice puts team on the verge of another final

Shashank Kishore10-Feb-2023Sheldon Jackson is 36. But don’t remind him of it. There’s no reason to either, because he is showing no signs of slowing down.A century in the final following a run-drought helped deliver Saurashtra the Vijay Hazare Trophy title in December. Now, a classic 160, his 20th first-class century, has Saurashtra knocking on the doors of the Ranji Trophy final, three years after they clinched a historic first, with Jackson playing a pivotal part.Then there’s Arpit Vasavada, the stone waller, a Shitanshu Kotak clone, someone who can bore bowlers into submission. For the longest time, Vasavada has been known as Saurashtra’s crisis man, and he hasn’t let that tag weigh him down.If crease occupation is of essence, they look up to Vasavada. This isn’t to say he can’t score runs. He can, and do so quite effectively, like on Friday when he made 112 not out, his third hundred of the season and eleventh overall in first-class cricket. That Saurashtra can dare to dream is because of his 232-run fourth-wicket stand with Jackson to bring them within touching distance of a first-innings lead with two days remaining.Related

• Vasavada's 202 puts Saurashtra one step closer to Ranji Trophy final

• Jackson 160, Vasavada 112* deflate Karnataka

• Mayank's 249 leads Karnataka's recovery

• Porel helps Bengal extend advantage

On Friday, it was this perfect combination of fire and ice that propelled Saurashtra. Jackson started in blazing fashion, nonchalantly flicking length balls from middle to the midwicket fence, cutting and pulling ferociously and sweeping the spinners off their lengths. Vasavada was the craftsman, carefully molding his sandcastle with precision, accumulating runs slowly, nudging and tapping deliveries, blunting the bowlers like that was his life mission.Batting of that kind is second nature to him. Growing up at Railways Colony in Rajkot, Arvind, Pujara senior, who was also his first coach, would ingrain virtues of playing ‘correct cricket’ to his wards. Young Vasavada and Cheteshwar would religiously stick to those principles, and proudly accept the treats that were on offer should they achieve set milestones. Over time, Vasavada hasn’t let the vagaries of T20 cricket come in the way of his batting style.This season, Vasavada and Jackson have had different roles.With Jaydev Unadkat away on national duty, Vasavada has also had to shoulder the captaincy responsibilities lately. He’s had to rally the team together after back-to-back losses heading into the quarter-final threatened to derail all the momentum they had built up.In the quarter-final, Vasavada was among a group of players that led a stirring fightback, after Saurashtra were on the mat against Punjab. Having conceded a 128-run lead, Vasavada made a grinding 77 in the second innings to help close in on the deficit, before the lower order helped them surge ahead. On the final day, his bowling chances and field placements were spot on. His calm marshalling of his bowlers even as Mandeep Singh, the Punjab captain, threatened to snatch a draw, was commendable.It’s this calmness and assuredness that Vasavada brought to the fore in the semi-final too, against Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He walked in to bat early on the third day with Saurashtra on 92 for 3. Karnataka’s seamers were accurate and meant business. Vasavada took 24 balls to get off the mark, but showed no signs of being edgy.In this period, he also copped a blow on his helmet when he was late on a pull off Vidwath Kaverappa. Shaken, but not stirred, Vasavada took his time to ease himself back in and focused on strike rotation. It helped that Jackson was alert to the possibilities of pinching singles at the other end, much to Karnataka’s annoyance. Over three overs, they picked up eleven singles to ensure the bowlers had to keep altering their lengths to the right-left pair.As his innings progressed, Vasavada showed excellent smarts in ensuring he was getting well outside the line of the stumps to defend K Gowtham’s offspin, while also quickly pulling back to dispatch Shreyas Gopal’s half-tracks. It’s perhaps why Gopal wasn’t introduced until the 21st over the morning; while his legbreaks can be deceptive, he’s often struggled for consistency, and both batters took full toll.Arpit Vasavada is known as Saurashtra’s crisis man, a stone waller who can bore bowlers into submission•PTI Vasavada’s refreshing clarity against spin and sound judgment of his off stump all contributed to his innings, one of immense concentration and fight on the face of some serious heat from Karnataka. When he brought up his hundred, off a thick edge that flew between the wicketkeeper and slip, Vasavada finally let out his pent-up emotions. But that he fought through to stumps told you a story of grit and not wanting to leave it to the others to get the job done.At the other end, Jackson was doing what he’s done for most of his career: being in a constant dogfight. Against himself, because he comes from small-town Bhavnagar, and not a traditional cricket centre. It meant if someone made 100, he needed a double, perhaps a triple ton, to get noticed.He’s had to ward off stifling competition despite coming from a relatively small state, geographically speaking, like Saurashtra, because he was in a queue for the senior team for four straight seasons before breaking through in 2011-12.When he finally got his chance, he had to make up for lost time. Over the next decade, Jackson has been a towering presence in a Saurashtra line-up that has evolved from being the outliers to Ranji Trophy champions three years ago. Yet, he’s had to contend with the disappointment of not making the next step up despite being a prolific performer. He’s on a mission to prove why those on the wrong side of 30 must not be viewed, in his own words, as “fossil”.When his team needed him to dig deep, Sheldon Jackson stood tall with one of the biggest knocks of his career•PTI In the Ranji season Saurashtra won in 2019-20, he had finished that season with 809 runs in 18 innings at an average of 50.56 and was the third-highest run-getter among batters in the non-Plate category. A season earlier, he amassed Ranji Trophy with 854 runs at an average of 47.44. But no Saurashtra player made the India A cut even though they finished runners-up. A furious Jackson let his feelings know.Compared to those seasons, this one threatened to run dry. He hadn’t made a single hundred. Like at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he went into the knockout with a prolonged lean patch, Jackson had felt the jitters here too. However, come the big match, with his team needing him to dig deep, Jackson stood tall.He imperiously cover drove Kaverappa for a boundary off the third ball of the morning to lay down a marker. Two balls later, he picked length in a jiffy to wallop a pull behind square. Jackson wasn’t going to just defend. He was going to thrill, especially if the ball was there to be hit.When Gopal was introduced belatedly, he didn’t take time to step out and loft him inside-but over extra cover. In trying to score quickly, the counterpunch seemed to frustrate Karnataka to such an extent that Manish Pandey even began to sledge Jackson. What ensured was some banter for a better part of the next hour. At one point things got so heated that Pandey even claimed a bump catch and celebrated wildly, much to Jackson’s annoyance as he stood his ground.But it was clear he wasn’t going to let such distraction come in the way of his concentration. Jackson’s marathon knock was also another example of how Saurashtra have often given their seniors clarity. X-factor players who bring something to the table have been given a long rope in the hope of there being a big performance along the way. For Jackson, this was as big an effort as he’s come up with in his career so far.He literally had to be dragged off the field after being given out lbw to a grubber on 160, but by then Saurashtra were within touching distance of a lead. Vasavada stood there applauding, as did the very players who were sledging him not long ago.In defying Karnataka’s bowlers the way they did, Vasavada and Jackson had sowed seeds of another dream in the making for Saurashtra.

Rasmus Hojlund is thriving out on loan at Napoli currently and a new update claims that a permanent switch there from Manchester United is already close.

The £87,000-a-week Dane found it tough to shine in a Red Devils shirt after joining in a big-money move from Atalanta, proving to be one of many disappointing young signings at Old Trafford in recent years.

Last season, Hojlund only managed four goals in 32 appearances in the Premier League, not offering enough consistency leading the line, and it felt right for him to enjoy a new challenge.

The 22-year-old was shipped out on loan to Napoli during the summer transfer window, and he is enjoying a far more fruitful time of things in Germany, already netting twice in five Serie A outings, and also bagging a couple of goals in the Champions League.

It remains to be seen if Ruben Amorim sees a long-term future for Hojlund at United, but a new update suggests that a permanent exit is far more likley than him returning to Old Trafford.

Napoli close to permanent Hojlund move and now want Mainoo

According to a key claim from Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Napoli now want to trigger the buy clause in Hojlund’s Manchester United contract once this season comes to an end. Talks have been held and a deal looks set to be finalised ready for the summer.

“Napoli are confident. They’re in a strong position with the buy clause and they’re ready to activate it. Talks have been taking place and it should be finalised soon, ready to formally go through at the end of the season.”

It is also stated that Napoli want to sign Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the January transfer window, with the England international “likely to push for a move away” from the club.

There is a certain risk in United allowing Hojlund to leave, considering he is still young, but they now have Benjamin Sesko in their ranks, suggesting that they have moved on from the Denmark international.

With all due respect to Serie A, it is a weaker division than the Premier League, so he is naturally standing out more – Scott McTominay was arguably the best player in the whole league last season, which speaks volumes – and he has struggled with the pace of English football.

Hojlund may simply be one of many transfers that just hasn’t worked out for United, but that’s not to say he can’t still enjoy a strong career for club and country. He possesses plenty of attributes, from speed to power, but his finishing is inconsistent and the Red Devils need a far more prolific figure to lead the line.

Carragher said Man Utd star was "terrible", now he's Amorim's key player

Manchester United now have a talent who has managed to transform his career at Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 30, 2025

Granted, Sesko is still finding his feet and hasn’t exactly been perfect yet, but the likes of Amorim and Jason Wilcox seem to be confident in him being an upgrade on Hojlund, and they need to be trusted after this recent improved run of form.

As for Mainoo, on just £25,000-a-week, it would be a shame to see such a talented homegrown player leave, but if United’s manager doesn’t see him as an important part of his plans, a move away may be best for all concerned.

Man Utd flop Rasmus Hojlund has seen value fall £20m since Amorim was hired

The Premier League has been blessed to have witnessed some incredible young talents across its history, but that has naturally sparked a debate as to just who sits top of the list between Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

The best young players in Premier League history

In recent times we’ve seen Rio Ngumoha and Oliver Dowman star for Liverpool and Arsenal at just 17 years old and 15 years old. Before then, it was the likes of Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold who thrived. And before them, the likes of James Milner, who – believe it or not – was once the new kid on the block, who stole the headlines.

With every season comes a new beginning for the next generation from successful academies at Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and more as the Premier League continues its reputation for producing some of the world’s best.

Out of all the impressive young players that have come through the ranks in Premier League history, the biggest debate lies between Rooney and Owen.

At 18, both were at an absurd level and one that even saw the latter reach the peak of his powers before injuries combined with unwise transfer decisions changed the trajectory of his career.

Rio Ngumoha joins the 10 youngest goalscorers in Premier League history

The Liverpool teenager is the latest to join the list.

By
Lewis Thompson

Aug 26, 2025

Rooney thumped home a stunning strike against Arsenal to score his first Premier League goal at 16, whilst Owen quickly became the main man at Liverpool and even won the Ballon d’Or at just 22 years old.

It’s when both players meet in the middle at 18 that the debate gets interesting, however, and Rooney has now finally settled things with a swift 12-word response.

Rooney finally settles Owen debate

Speaking on Match of the Day, Rooney settled the Owen debate with a simple 12-word answer after taking a look at the numbers all these years later.

Owen also responded to the debate back in September, saying 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).”

It seems as though Rooney agrees with his former rival, who certainly built his own convincing case last month, but there’s no denying that it is the former United star who enjoyed the better career in the end.

As Owen struggled with injuries, Rooney broke records, won Premier League titles and has his rightful place amongst the best players that English football has ever seen.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has slammed his team-mates and demanded the entire squad raises their levels after a woeful performance against Chelsea. Spurs were second-best throughout their defeat by the Blues and were flattered by the 1-0 scoreline. Speaking after the game, the Italian bemoaned the display which suggested there is little harmony in the squad.

• Blues take the spoils in London derby

  Spurs were dominated by Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and deserved to lose by more than just the one goal. The Blues took the lead in the first-half through Joao Pedro and never looked like surrendering their advantage over their London rivals. It marked yet another defeat for Spurs, and another in front of their faithful home support, as they notched up their 42nd loss in the Premier League at their new ground since its opening in 2019 – only six fewer than north London rivals Arsenal have lost at the Emirates, a stadium opened in 2006.

  With just four home victories in the Premier League in all of 2025, Thomas Frank has a lot of work to do to turn around Spurs’ misfortunes. While the Lilywhites tasted their first piece of silverware in decades in the summer when they lifted the Europa League, the club have remained disappointing domestically. After a club record-low 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season, the club have become used to disappointment and it may more than just a new managerial appointment to heal the rot at its heart.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Vicario vents frustration

  After a series of consistently poor displays, Vicario is growing frustrated. The Italian has been one of the club’s better players in the last two disappointing seasons and issued a passionate assessment of how the side have been performing.

  Speaking after the defeat to Chelsea, via , Vicario said: "It's tough to accept but this is the reality of today's game. We need to look inside us and we need to do more because when you play for this club, we have to do things at 100 per cent. I know it's tough but we have to do that every single day.

  "When you go inside it's tough to accept because you expect yourself to perform at your best, with a lot of energy but something today didn't go in the right direction.

  "Everyone knows that personally, we have to do a little bit more if we want to achieve good results, make everyone happy and make ourselves happy. Today is a bad day for us, we didn't perform at our best level."

• Frank plays down defenders' snub

  Frank’s task in north London is looking increasingly difficult as the weeks go by. The former Brentford coach had made a decent start to life at Spurs, but a number of flat performances and defeats has turned up the heat under the Dane. The fractious atmosphere at Spurs was made clear after the defeat to the Blues, with a video of Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence snubbing Frank’s approach on their way to the dressing room circulating on social media soon after the full-time whistle.

  The defenders appeared unhappy with their boss and did not hide their feelings towards Frank when they stormed off the pitch. Shocked by their response, Frank was left rooted to the spot as he watched in disbelief as the duo shunned him. The incident played out under a cacophony of boos raining down from the terraces.

  Speaking after the game, Frank was keen to play down the incident. He said: “All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that.

  “I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that.”

  When pressed for his opinion on Van de Ven and Spence, the Dane remained diplomatic and defended his players. “We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can,” he said. “They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem.”

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• AFP
  

  Danish opposition arrive in London

  Spurs are in action again on Wednesday as they host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Frank will know the opposition well from his time as coach at Brondby in his native Denmark.

After a stop-start opening to the season, Newcastle United finally appear to be finding rhythm.

Going into their recent home fixture, Eddie Howe’s side had one of the lowest expected goals tallies in the Premier League – a concerning figure for a team competing in the Champions League and aiming for another top-four push.

But after back-to-back victories, 4-0 against Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise and 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, the Magpies look revitalised.

The improvement has been clear. Six goals in two games without conceding is a sign that Newcastle are balancing both ends of the pitch.

The performances weren’t so emphatic as to raise expectations sky-high, but they were precisely the kind of controlled, confident displays Howe would have wanted.

And perhaps most impressively, they’ve come despite a growing injury list.

Both starting full-backs, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, face extended spells on the sidelines.

Fabian Schär, meanwhile, has only just returned from concussion, but his place in the starting XI is suddenly far from guaranteed.

That’s because his replacement, a £30m summer signing from AC Milan, has made a seamless transition into the side.

While the spotlight currently belongs to the man spearheading Newcastle’s attack, it may be their new defender who turns out to be “one of the signings of the summer.”

Why Woltemade is the man of the moment

Nick Woltemade’s arrival at St James’ Park was met with curiosity.

The 23-year-old German forward joined from Werder Bremen after scoring 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances.

He caught the eye of Bayern Munich, who saw three bids rejected.

Instead, it was Howe who convinced the towering 1.98m striker that Newcastle was the right place to continue his development.

Since then, the attacker has been nothing short of transformative.

He opened his account on his home debut against Wolves, before adding further goals against Arsenal, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Nottingham Forest – where he rifled a superb penalty into the top corner to round off the win.

His blend of physical presence, link-up play, and calm finishing has quickly made him a fan favourite on Tyneside.

In Sunday’s match against Forest, he was unlucky not to score more than once, denied by the post and an inspired Matz Sels performance.

When he left the field, the Gallowgate End rose to its feet, chanting his name in unison.

Unfortunately, illness has ruled him out of the current international break – though Howe will secretly be pleased to keep his new talisman fresh and close to home.

With Yoane Wissa yet to feature for Newcastle, Woltemade’s form and fitness are paramount.

His early-season output has quelled doubts about Newcastle’s attacking fluency and offered a glimpse into Howe’s evolving system – one that relies less on chaos and more on control.

Yet while the German striker’s goals are making headlines, another of the club’s summer signings is quietly redefining their defensive stability.

Newcastle's real signing of the summer

Woltemade’s impact on this Newcastle side has been eye-catching. On the contrary, Malick Thiaw’s introduction to English football has been understated but immaculate.

The 24-year-old centre-back arrived from AC Milan for £30m after two standout seasons in Serie A, where he made 85 appearances.

His profile – composed, progressive, and powerful – fits seamlessly into Howe’s tactical blueprint.

Statistically, Thiaw’s impact has been immense. Compared to positional peers in the Premier League, he ranks in the 95th percentile among his positional peers for pass completion (93.2%) and in the 85th percentile for progressive passes per 90 (4.86).

That ability to initiate play from deep has added an extra layer of composure to Newcastle’s build-up.

What stands out most is his calmness under pressure – his close control, his knack for turning out of tight spaces, and his confidence stepping into midfield to progress the ball.

For a defender still adjusting to the physicality of the Premier League, his transition has been remarkably smooth.

Thiaw’s partnership with Sven Botman has all the makings of a long-term defensive axis for Newcastle.

Both are young, technically gifted, and dominant in the air. Together, they could form one of the most balanced and forward-thinking centre-back pairings in the division.

For Howe, who knows the importance of rotation with European fixtures piling up, Thiaw’s arrival is more than just depth.

The German brings a level of assurance that allows Newcastle to play higher, press smarter, and retain control in matches that once felt frantic.

While Woltemade’s early-season exploits deserve every bit of praise they’ve received, the real signing of the summer might just be standing behind him.

90-touch Newcastle ace is now as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes & Woltemade

Newcastle United secured a vital 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 5, 2025

Newcastle United took out their Premier League frustrations on Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Fresh off surrendering a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Arsenal in the top-flight to remain 15th in the top-flight standings, Eddie Howe’s Magpies went in for the kill against their shaken hosts, who might have expected a closer battle, considering they sit top of their own domestic league standings.

The travelling Toon contingent were treated to a goal-fest at the Joseph Marien Stadium, with Newcastle running out convincing 4-0 victors due to a whole host of standout performers, as Anthony Gordon continued his fine form in Europe’s elite competition versus Sébastien Pocognoli’s men.

Gordon's impressive performance in Belgium

Scoring last time out in the Champions League as a Marcus Rashford-led Barcelona narrowly beat Newcastle, Gordon picked up from where he left off at St James’ Park when making the trip to Belgium.

The England international hasn’t had the most vibrant of campaigns so far but was outstanding this week, with the tricky number ten a major thorn in the side of hosts all night long.

He notably completed five dribbles across the course of the one-sided contest. Still, despite his slick nature, it was his partner on the opposing right channel in Anthony Elanga who won the Toon the first of two penalties Gordon confidently put away.

Nick Woltemade had opened the scoring by this point. Still, just on the stroke of half-time, Gordon would essentially end the contest with his coolly dispatched penalty, which beat a helpless Kjell Scherpen, who had to fish another spot-kick out of the back of his net from the electric 24-year-old in the second half.

Winning nine ground duels for the cause as well, Gordon will hope he can put in an equally lively performance when Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest travel to Tyneside next in the Premier League, having yet to pick up a goal or assist this season in league action.

Amazingly, while Gordon did help himself to a brace, there was another Newcastle star who caught the eye even more.

Newcastle star proving he is now one of the best in the world

The Toon do have a lot of exciting players on their books at this moment in time who could easily slot into a lot of elite sides if given the chance to do so. Alexander Isak has now gone but Howe already has another talisman.

Sandro Tonali’s name instantly springs to mind in this regard, with one Toon-focused content creator after the final whistle had been sounded on the big win away at Union, going as far as to declare the energetic Italian as “world-class”.

Fortuitously collecting this assist when his effort was cleverly diverted home by Woltemade only tells a mere fraction of his tale in Belgium, with the relentless drive he has displayed in the Premier League in spades this season – with 3.7 ball recoveries averaged per league clash – on full display in Europe’s premier competition, too, winning four duels in total helping him to completely dominate proceedings centrally.

Tonali dictated the game throughout with 90 touches overall, which led to journalist Henry Winter declaring the 25-year-old as “incredible” for both his quality on the ball and also his unwavering stamina levels.

Off the back of another near faultless showing, it’s not completely absurd to say Tonali is one of the best in the world in his central midfield position, right now, with the constantly active number 8 clearly a vital cog capable of helping Newcastle through some treacherous clashes on stages such as the Champions League.

After all, if Ryan Gravenberch is in that conversation for Arne Slot’s Liverpool, Tonali should follow closely behind for Howe and Co.

Further hailed as being the “heist of the century” by Magpies-based journalist Thomas Hammond, with Tonali costing around the £55m mark to sign back in the summer of 2023 from AC Milan, Newcastle will hope they can continue to get the best out of their exceptional gem for many years to come, cautiously hoping they don’t fall victim to another Isak situation.

Newcastle's "nightmare" star now in danger of becoming their next Almiron

Newcastle need this man to rediscover his finest form, and fast.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 1, 2025

Marcus Rashford has vowed to “keep fighting” after Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in his first-ever El Clasico appearance. Despite registering an assist in the heated Santiago Bernabeu showdown, the Manchester United loanee ended up on the losing side as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham struck to extend Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points.

• Rashford issues resilient statement after Clasico loss

  Rashford experienced his first taste of El Clasico drama as Barcelona fell 2-1 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Goals from Mbappe and Bellingham proved decisive, with the Englishman’s team-mate Fermin Lopez briefly restoring parity after Rashford’s clever assist. Despite flashes of creativity, Rashford’s performance drew mixed reviews, as Barcelona’s depleted side struggled to match Madrid’s attacking precision.

  Reflecting on the defeat, Rashford took to Instagram with a message of resilience, writing: “Clearly, not the result that we wanted yesterday. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and we will keep fighting!” The post underlined the 26-year-old’s determination to stay positive after a tough introduction to Spain’s fiercest rivalry.

  The defeat means Barca have now lost two of their last three La Liga matches, a run that has raised questions about their consistency under Hansi Flick. Rashford’s first Clasico ended in frustration, but his intent to keep fighting suggests a player motivated to turn things around in the coming weeks.

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  Real Madrid lay down statement as title favourites

  Real Madrid’s victory not only snapped a four-game losing streak against Barcelona but also extended their advantage in La Liga title's race. Xabi Alonso’s side now sit five points clear at the summit with 27 points from 10 matches, reaffirming their title credentials after a humbling 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid earlier in the season. The Santiago Bernabeu was electric once again as Mbappe and Bellingham delivered decisive moments that defined the evening.

  For Barcelona, the result was a blow in more ways than one. Pedri’s late red card compounded an already difficult night, while injuries to Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo left Hansi Flick’s team severely weakened.

  Yet amid the disappointment, there were glimpses of hope, none more so than Rashford’s involvement in the equaliser and his continued work rate despite limited service. The English forward showed flashes of his pace and movement, offering signs that he could evolve into a key attacking presence for the Catalan giants.

• Rashford’s performance receives mixed reviews

  The defeat to Real Madrid followed a hectic week for Rashford, who had been instrumental in Barcelona’s midweek Champions League victory over Olympiacos, scoring twice to seal a crucial win. His recent form suggests he is beginning to find rhythm and confidence after an inconsistent start to life in La Liga. Rashford’s willingness to shoulder responsibility in big games has not gone unnoticed, even as scrutiny around his performances intensifies.

  Spanish media offered contrasting assessments of his Clasico debut. Mundo Deportivo praised his assist but called his overall display “baffling,” suggesting he failed to fully utilise his physical strength or decision-making when space opened up. The publication noted that he looked “more comfortable as a winger than as a No. 9,” highlighting the positional dilemma Flick will have to resolve going forward.

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  What comes next?

  Barcelona will aim to regroup quickly as they return to domestic action next weekend against Elche, with a home fixture offering a chance to bounce back. The club’s medical staff are working to accelerate the returns of key players like Lewandowski and Raphinha, while Flick will be back on the sidelines following his suspension.

  For Rashford, the next few weeks represent an opportunity to build momentum and further integrate into Barcelona’s system. His assist against Madrid and goals in Europe point to a player growing in influence and confidence, and the club will hope he can become a reliable attacking outlet for now and the future, if the Catalan side decide to sign him permanently next summer.