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Jamie Carragher believes Mohamed Salah's anti-Liverpool tirade was a "disgrace" and accused him of causing "maximum damage" with his outburst. The 33-year-old stated that the Reds have "thrown him under the bus" after being repeatedly benched by manager Arne Slot, while arguing that he deserves a place in their starting line-up. But Carragher feels the Egyptian is trying to get Slot sacked.

Salah goes on the attack

Shortly after being an unused substitute in Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds United on Saturday, Salah said he no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot, that the club was throwing him under the bus and that someone at the Merseyside outfit wanted him to "get all of the blame". In response, Slot claimed he did not feel that his authority was being undermined by the former Chelsea man but said he had "no clue" whether Salah had played his last game for the Reds. For the time being, however, the veteran will not be part of Liverpool's squad travelling to Italy to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. Salah has been heavily criticised for his comments, and now Liverpool legend Carragher has taken aim at him, too.

AdvertisementCarragher tears into Salah

Last season, Carragher and Salah got into a war of words after the latter said he was "probably more out than in" as his Liverpool contract ticked down into its final eight months. This prompted Carragher to call him "selfish", before the forward eventually signed a new two-year deal. That feud looked set to escalate earlier this season after Carragher called on Salah to front up more and face the media amid their poor run. Now, he has torn the Egyptian a new one following his eye-opening comments.

He said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football: "I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game. Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst. I don’t think it was. I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he’s done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it’s choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position. He did that 12 months ago, and I called him out on it. He played on the heartstrings of the Liverpool supporters. Liverpool were top of the league, he’d scored the winning goal at Southampton, and that was the time to come out and put pressure on the Liverpool ownership. He’s chosen this weekend to do this, and he’s waited, I think, to choose a bad result for Liverpool. Supporters, the manager, everyone at the club feels like they’re in the gutter and he’s chosen that time to go for the manager and maybe get him sacked." 

'All about me, me, me'

Carragher did not stop there. He accused Salah himself of throwing Liverpool under the bus, rather than the other way around. The former defender also suggested the ex-Roma ace was thinking only about himself and not his team-mates.

"The one line that stands out for me is ‘thrown under the bus’. He’s thrown the club under the bus twice in the last 12 months. With the manager right now, he should be doing as much as he can to help the club get out of the worst run they’ve had since the 1950s, and he hasn’t done that," he said. "You weren't a big star before you came to Liverpool, you haven't really won much for Egypt, no matter how big you are, you need help from your team-mates, your manager and fans, it's important that he remembers that. When he talks after Leeds, it's all about me, me, me."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Salah?

With Salah not set to be part of the Liverpool side facing Inter, his last game before heading off with Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations will be against Brighton in the Premier League this weekend. It remains to be seen if he will feature in that contest, though.

Harry Kane starred with yet another hat-trick, while Michael Olise contributed with two assists as Bayern Munich thrashed VFB Stuttgart 5-0 to increase their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to 13 games. With 37 points, Bayern increased their lead to 11 points at the top of the table over RB Leipzig after comfortably routing their opponents on Saturday.

Kane inspires Bayern to their 12th win of the season

Bayern's unbeaten streak continued as they comfortably beat VFB Stuttgart 4-0 on Saturday to extend their lead over second-placed RB Leipzig to 11 points. Star forward Kane once again stole the show as he scored a hat-trick and took his Bundesliga goals tally to 17.

The visitors dominated the game right from the start and took just 11 minutes to break the deadlock as Konrad Laimer opened the scoring. Laimer received a pass from Jonas Urbig and entered the box before squaring it towards Michael Olise. The Frenchman quickly gave the ball back to Laimer, who comfortably found the back of the net.

Stuttgart pulled one back and restored parity in the match just minutes before the break as Nicolas Nartey headed the ball into the net from Bilal El Khannouss's inch-perfect free-kick but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out due to offside.

Stuttgart did not create too many chances in the second half and fell to a heavy defeat after the introduction of Kane. The England captain, who did not feature in Vincent Kompany's starting lineup, came on as a substitute in the 61st minute, replacing Nicolas Jackson. The move proved to be a masterstroke as he soon scored his opening goal. The Englishman made a solo run after receiving a pass from the centre of the park before finding the back of the net with a low-lying long-range shot. 

Josip Stanisic then added a third goal to the club's tally after former Liverpool star Luis Diaz dribbled past his marker inside the box. Thereafter, it was all Kane as he soon completed his brace after Lorenz Assignon conceded a red card for trying to stop the ball from going into the net with his hand. The England captain took the resulting penalty and made it 4-0 for his side before scoring a third goal from Michael Olise's cross.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe MVP

It was yet another masterpiece from Kane as the start forward once again stole the limelight with yet another hat-trick. Kane spent a little over 30 minutes on the ground but it was enough for him to bag a treble and guide his team to a dominant win.

The big loser

The Stuttgart defence completely crumbled once Kane entered the pitch just past the hour mark. However, it was Assignon who proved to be the villain as he tried to stop the ball with his hand in front of the goal in the 80th minute and picked up an unnecessary red card. Stuttgart going a man down at that point just added salt to their wounds as Kane completed the annihilation in the end.  

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Getty Images SportMatch rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Desire Doue, who bagged a brace for Paris Saint-Germain in their historic Champions League final victory over Inter, has collected his Golden Boy award for 2025. Tuttosport announced the winners of their prestigious prizes in November. England’s teenage striker Michelle Agyemang, who helped the Lionesses to European Championship glory, has landed the Golden Girl gong.

Golden Boy: Previous winners of U21 award

Golden Boy honours have been bestowed upon the best player under the age of 21 since 2003, with notable former winners including Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Pedri, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal.

Doue has now added his name to that list, with the 20-year-old winger enjoying a memorable 2024-25 campaign. He took in 61 appearances for PSG last season, scoring 16 goals, and helped them to three major trophies.

After winning the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France, the French giants made history when claiming the Champions League crown for the first time. Doue helped them to surge over that line in a 5-0 demolition of Serie A heavyweights Inter.

AdvertisementDoue dominates: PSG star tops 2025 poll

Doue is the fourth Frenchman to receive the award after Pogba, Mbappe and Anthony Martial. He collected 450 points out of a possible 500 in the 2025 vote, with rival contenders being left trailing in his wake.

Tuttosport handed over the Golden Boy award at a glittering ceremony in Turin. Nasser Al-Khelaifi was voted best president and Luis Campos best football executive, as PSG dominated proceedings.

Doue said of landing a top prize: “I am filled with a feeling of great pride and happiness. The teamwork has paid off, because it is thanks to this that Paris Saint-Germain has achieved its greatest goals this year, enjoying the best season in its history. It is the result of a collective effort.

“I am very happy to receive this award, which recognises the trophies won with the team and my positive contribution during important matches. I'm thinking first and foremost of my family. Then, of course, my team-mates, the coach, the staff, the managers and everyone who works for the club, with a special thought for our President, Nasser Al Khelaifi, who believed in me and brought me to Paris Saint-Germain. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to win the Golden Boy award.”

PSG proud of efforts in 2024-25 campaign

Al Khelaifi went on to say: “We've had a fantastic season and, as a club, we've reached an important milestone that crowns the work we've done over the last two or three years. It's the best season in the club's history, but even more important than the results is the way we achieved them. We're very proud of our approach and our victory. I think that was the most important thing for us: the way we won and transformed the club.

“We are very proud to be where we are today because it has been a difficult journey, but we are continuing on the same path without changing things. Our philosophy must be to win collectively, as a group, by developing our young players, thanks especially to the best manager in the world, Luis Enrique. We want to have the best players in the world, our young players, develop our youth teams and in this way guarantee the future of the club, not just today's results, which are certainly important, but also and above all the future of the club. That's why I really appreciate this recognition. It rewards my work and that of the club.”

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GettyGolden Girl: Lionesses star Agyemang lands prestigious prize

On the Golden Girl front, the top prize went to England star Agyemang. She scored two crucial goals for the Lionesses as they successfully defended their European Championship crown in 2025 – being named young player of the tournament in that event.

The 19-year-old, who has been taking in a second loan spell at Brighton from WSL giants Arsenal, is set to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign after suffering knee ligament damage – with a long road to recovery currently being worked down.

Arsenal have been named among the Premier League teams "reviewing their position" regarding a proposed salary cap that could be introduced to the competition and has been scheduled for a vote this week. But circumstances have changed for the Gunners after an executive at the Emirates Stadium who was in favour of the idea has left the club.

What does the Premier League salary cap propose?

The idea behind the salary cap in the Premier League is "anchoring" what clubs are permitted to spend on player wages to the prize money and broadcast revenue of the team that finishes bottom of the table, thereby denying the bigger sides the power to spend freely and potentially keeping things fairer and more competitive.

The proposed limit is five times what the last-place makes in the aforementioned revenue streams and gives the example of Sheffield United, 20th in 2023-24, earning £109.5 million ($144m). Therefore, the salary cap imposed on the following season would have been £550m ($723m). As it goes, Premier League clubs are not yet spending that amount on salaries, with Manchester City becoming the first break the £400m ($526m) in 2202-23 and Liverpool’s most recent set of published accounts for 2023-24 showing a wage bill rise to just shy of £373m ($490m). But the very idea threatens to take control away from the clubs themselves.

AdvertisementAFPArsenal threaten salary cap

The reason that Arsenal are specifically considered a "threat" to the plans to vote on introducing a salary cap is a potential change in stance. The same report from The Times explains that the Gunners are reconsidering, having previously been "staunch supporters" of the idea. A key change is the departure of former executive vice-chairman Tim Lewis, who was a particular advocate. But he is no longer with the club, departing the Emirates Stadium in September, and views on the proposed salary cap have since softened, to the point where Arsenal could now oppose it instead.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Salary anchoring 'absurd'

Arsenal are just the latest club who could turn against the proposed salary cap, with others having been more vocally opposed for longer. Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe suggested last year that it would see Premier League clubs restricted in comparison to European giants.

"[Anchoring would] inhibit the top clubs in the Premier League, and the last thing you want is for the top clubs in the Premier League not to be able to compete with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain – that's absurd," Ratcliffe said.

The PFA, the union representing players in England, has attacked the idea from a legal point of view.

"We have a tendency in football to think that we're above the law, but football is not above the law, and unfortunately the reality is you cannot artificially cap someone's ability to make a living," PFA chief executive Maheta Molango told Today programme earlier this month.

"The league knows themselves that even before the PFA does it, there will be clubs within their own room that would also legally challenge that measure, and the only ones who'll end up winning are the lawyers. There are ways to agree on things around financial sustainability, but this cannot be imposed unilaterally. This needs to be negotiated with the right people and there are some mechanisms that need to be respected."

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Getty Images SportA vote on Friday?

A vote on the Premier League salary cap is intended for Friday's shareholders' meeting, but with support waning there is no guarantee that ballot will even go ahead.

Premier League rule changes require 14 clubs to vote in favour, and while 16 showed support for the idea last year when it was beginning to be explored, the number of teams beyond just Arsenal having second thoughts could swing it well below the required threshold.

Tottenham Hotspur have only won one of their last four matches in all competitions after a last-gasp goal meant that they had to settle for a point against Manchester United on Saturday.

The Lilywhites turned the game around from 1-0 down to lead 2-1, but they were unable to get the three points over the line, as they were napping in stoppage time to allow Matthijs de Ligt to head in at the back post.

Spurs have only won one of their last four matches in the Premier League after that result, which has seen them drop out of the top four in the division.

Thomas Frank will surely be disappointed with the nature of the two goals that were conceded, because they were both unmarked headers inside the box that should have been dealt with.

The former Brentford head coach should look at his full-backs and demand more from them defensively, as Destiny Udogie was on the scene for the second goal and Pedro Porro was caught out for Bryan Mbeumo’s header.

In fact, Porro is one player who may be on borrowed time in the starting line-up under Frank, because his defending has come into question on multiple occasions.

Why Pedro Porro should be dropped

The Spanish right-back’s marking, or lack thereof, for Mbeumo’s goal was simply not good enough. He was not aware of arguably the biggest United threat in the box, and allowed him to have a free header to score past Guglielmo Vicario.

To his credit, though, the former Manchester City youngster did react to a comment from a supporter after the match and acknowledged that he was not at his best against the Red Devils.

This is not the first time that Porro’s defensive qualities have been called into question. Last year, former Ireland international Keith Treacy said: “Pedro Porro is a good footballer, obviously, he plays in the Premier League, he’s a decent footballer, but he’s not a good right-back, he can’t defend.”

The former Blackburn star added: “If I was a coach going up against Spurs I would say to isolate him, run at him all day long.”

Back in 2023, former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood said that Porro was “all over the place” because he “just wants to run forward” and play as a winger. The Tottenham defender later reacted to those comments by saying that he is not a “machine” who could integrate straight away, as he had only just joined the club from Sporting.

On top of the long-standing question marks over his defensive capabilities, the 26-year-old full-back has also been incredibly wasteful with the ball at his feet in the last two Premier League matches.

Minutes

73

67

Tackles won

0

1

Duels won

3

3

Error led to shot

2

0

Key passes

0

0

Crosses completed

0/5

1/12

Possession lost

24x

29x

Pass accuracy

58%

64%

As you can see in the table above, Porro has lost possession of the ball a staggering 53 times in the last two league games, without creating a single chance for his teammates, and creating two chances for the opposition with errors that led to shots.

This shows that the Spaniard has been dismal defensively and offensively of late for the Lilywhites, which is why Frank should ruthlessly ditch him from the starting XI after the international break for the North London derby.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The obvious solution in the short-term would be for Udogie, who assisted Mathys Tel’s goal on Saturday, to come in at left-back and Djed Spence to move over to right-back.

However, the long-term plan that could put an end to Porro’s career in North London could be for Archie Gray to eventually nail down a place in the team as a right-back.

Why Archie Gray can end Pedro Porro's Spurs career

The England U21 international is currently sidelined with a calf injury that he sustained at the end of last month, and he is expected to be back in action around the end of this month or at the start of December.

Gray signed for the Lilywhites from Leeds United for a fee of £40m in the summer of 2024, with Joe Rodon heading back the other way, but he has failed to establish himself in one position since his move to the club.

The English youngster had to fill in at centre-back far too many times under Ange Postecoglou because of the injury crisis in that position, with the likes of Radu Dragusin, Micky van de Ven, and Cristian Romero all picking up injuries last term.

Centre-back

20

Right-back

9

Defensive midfield

8

Left-back

6

Central midfield

3

As you can see in the table above, Gray’s second-most played in position at Spurs has been right-back, which is where he played the majority of his first-team football with Leeds, despite coming up through the academy set-up in West Yorkshire as a central midfielder.

The young defender played 44 out of 46 league matches for Leeds in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign, mainly as a right-back, and earned the Championship Young Player of the Year award.

Gray, who was hailed as “ridiculous” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, showcased his defensive quality as a right-back in that second tier season with the Whites, winning 92 tackles and 186 duels in total.

Per FotMob, he ranked within the top 7% of full-backs for tackles won and the top 14% for duels won, whilst also ranking in the top 7% for ball recoveries (196), which shows that he was one of the best defensive full-backs in the division, for a team that finished third in the league.

Frank must never start £130k-per-week Spurs duo together ever again

Tottenham ended up drawing a frenetic Premier League clash against Manchester United this weekend.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 9, 2025

These statistics suggest that he has the defensive resolve to eventually nail down a place at right-back as a reliable defender for Spurs in the future, which is why he could end Porro’s career at the club by offering Frank a steadier presence than the Spaniard, who has struggled on and off the ball.

It is now down to Gray, though, to return from injury and deliver quality performances when called upon to show that he can be better than Porro defensively week-in-week-out, which would leave Spence free to compete with Udogie at left-back.

MatériaMais Notícias

Alisson deixou o gramado da Ligga Arena com dores na coxa esquerda, durante o empate por 1 a 1 do São Paulo com o Athletico-PR. Segundo o Lance! apurou, o jogador sofreu uma pancada na região ainda no primeiro tempo. A substituição do atleta, por sua vez, aconteceu na segunda etapa.

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Mas, ao que tudo indica, não parece ser nada que preocupe. Como de costume nestes casos, Alisson deve ser avaliado na segunda-feira (30), durante a reapresentação da equipe.

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A principal dúvida é sobre como ficaria para o próximo desafio da equipe, durante a semana, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. Na quinta-feira (2), o Tricolor enfrenta o Cruzeiro, no estádio do Morumbi. Dependendo da avaliação de Alisson, o meio de campo de Dorival Júnior pode sofrer com algumas mudanças.

+Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo

Com 47 jogos na temporada, desde quando ajustado como um segundo volante nas escalações do treinador, Alisson se tornou uma importante peça do elenco. Agora, é questão de compreender o desenrolar dos próximos dias e avaliações para ter uma dimensão real de qual será o caminho.

Gambhir had flown back home because of his mother’s poor health, but will be back with the squad three days out from the first England vs India Test

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2025Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, will rejoin the rest of the squad in Leeds on Tuesday ahead of the first England vs India Test match that starts on Friday.Gambhir had flown back home, to Delhi, on June 11 after his mother was hospitalised, and wasn’t around when the senior India team and the touring India A side took part in a three-day game in Beckenham. It is understood that her health has improved since.In Gambhir’s absence, Ryan ten Doeschate and Sitanshu Kotak, the assistant coaches, and Morne Morkel, the bowling coach, oversaw the team’s prep, with Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the India A coach, with them. The game in Beckenham was played behind closed doors.Related

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Speaking about the game itself and the preparations in general, Morkel mentioned in an interview to bcci.tv, “There’s some quality energy in this group and, you know, that’s what you need. You need to go into a Test series confident, you need to have that team spirit in the group and I think so far they have done a great job.”Later, after the game was over on Sunday, Kuldeep Yadav stressed on the importance of “volume” of overs for the bowlers in the group, who had only played T20 cricket – for over two months, at the IPL – in the lead up to the five-Test series.”We’ve played a lot of T20 in the last four-five months, so volume is very important,” Kuldeep told bcci.tv. “All the bowlers are instructed to bowl as many overs [in practice as they would in a match]: the fast bowlers will bowl at least 15 to 20 overs so they can build up fully for the Test match, and it’s the same for the spinners – the more they bowl, the better it will be.”0:28

Watch – Gill faces Bumrah at the nets

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now retired from Test cricket, Shubman Gill has been made the new Test captain, and he got Kuldeep’s vote of confidence after the tour game: “I have seen over the last three-four sessions that Shubman has the same qualities that I’ve seen in our previous leadership groups. He’s fully ready to lead us.”Once back, from the point of view of the first Test, Gambhir will have to take some quick decisions along with the rest of the team management on the make-up of the playing XI. It has been known for a while that Jasprit Bumrah will play only three of the five Tests to manage his workload, though it’s not known which three those will be.That aside, B Sai Sudharsan, uncapped at this level, and the returning Karun Nair are among the contenders to fill the Rohit and Kohli vacancies. Nair scored a double-century for India A against England Lions earlier on the tour, while the likes of Dhruv Jurel and Abhimanyu Easwaran have also been among the runs.There is also likely to be a toss-up between the two seam-bowling allrounders, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur, with neither showing great form in their India A appearances.

Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz and Liverpool controlled the noise from the summer transfer window on Merseyside, but David Moyes’ Everton have quietly assembled a team more capable of competing on higher ground than in recent years.

Whether the Toffees will make it a successful one is, of course, anyone’s guess, but the signs certainly suggest that improvements have been made under Moyes’ wing.

But then, what to define as success? Everton sit sixth in the Premier League after four games, two wins tallied and three games unbeaten. The Farhad Moshiri era fizzled out rather quickly, and staving off the threat of relegation was the aim.

But now, Everton want more, and understandably so. There have been some good signings in recent years, but maybe this current crop feel a little different.

Everton's best signings of recent years

Everton’s men’s side bid farewell to Goodison Park at the end of the 2024/25 season, but the change afoot was to be more than just the scenery.

A host of first-teamers left at the end of their contracts, and many needed to be shipped out if Everton wished to segue into a new, finer form.

Abdoulaye Doucoure was among those to leave at the end of their contracts, but the Malian midfielder’s departure was a more poignant one than most. 32 years old, he was still an industrious and effective part of the team, but he was also the highest earner on the books, taking home £130k per week.

His departure was necessary, especially with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz added to the central midfield ranks, the latter permanently.

The three years after Doucoure’s £20m move from Watford to Everton in 2020 were sparse in regard to jackpot signings, although Dwight McNeil has been a fantastic player when fit, and Amadou Onana did well before being turned for a healthy profit when sold to Aston Villa for £50m in July 2024.

It was one year ago, though, that Everton signed Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille for £15m. The Senegalese winger is among the most electric to play in England, and he has been described as being capable of “magic” moments by Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson.

His ten-goal return in 2024/25 was eclipsed by no Toffees member, and he was the cream of the crop.

Perhaps he’s not anymore. At no disrespect to the fleet-footed winger, Jack Grealish has arrived at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and looks eager to step up as the club’s talisman this term.

Moyes has hit the jackpot on Jack Grealish

This summer, Everton handed Grealish a lifeline. The England international was a Three Lion no more, kept from duty for his country across Thomas Tuchel’s first three camps. Sir Gareth Southgate opted against picking the Manchester City man for the 2024 Euros.

In fairness, Grealish had fallen from grace under Pep Guardiola’s wing. Joining the Premier League giants for a British record £110m fee in 2021, Aston Villa’s beloved maverick never quite captured the same effortless flair that defined his time at Villa Park, even if he has decorated his cabinet with a wealth of silverware.

It was time for a change, and Moyes offered him a platform to reinvent himself this summer, signing the 30-year-old on loan in August.

Grealish has been in fine fettle since joining, posting four assists from as many games and winning the Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

Matches (starts)

20 (7)

4 (3)

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

4

Touches*

28.5

48.3

Accurate passes*

18.8 (91%)

24.8 (88%)

Big chances created

2

3

Key passes*

1.2

2.8

Dribbles*

0.7

2.0

Ball recoveries*

1.3

4.5

Tackles*

0.5

1.8

Duels (won)*

2.4 (55%)

6.8 (54%)

While the data pool is shallow at this stage of the season, Grealish is already demonstrating an ability beyond what was seen across his last two years at the Etihad Stadium, more confident and creative.

He’s already shaping into the Merseysiders’ attacking talisman, especially given the profligacy of the centre-forwards, and with that in mind, maybe Grealish could prove to be Everton’s own version of the aforementioned Isak, who joined Liverpool in a British record £125m move on transfer deadline day.

Isak, 25, has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world over his three terms on Tyneside, with pundit Alan Shearer even hailing him as “world-class” last season, scoring against Liverpool at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup, and hurling constant daggers into the net to propel Newcastle back into the Champions League.

There’s no question that he was the attacking leader for the Toon, and he will be for Liverpool too, especially as the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah approaches the autumn of his career in England.

Grealish is not a striker, and he’s never been a particularly reliable goalscorer, but he could be Everton’s new hero in a different way, inspiring and galvanising and making things happen in a way that none of his peers, even Ndiaye, can match.

Both Ndiaye and Grealish are players who stand out as among Everton’s finest signings in many years. It’s not a particularly high bar, but there are many teams across the Premier League and across Europe who would jump at the chance to welcome such stars to their ranks.

Who knows if Everton will turn Grealish’s loan spell into a permanent deal? The opening weeks of the campaign suggest that it should be so. Last term, Theo Walcott remarked that he is a player of “incredible talent”, but that his spark had been “coached out of him”. Moyes is instilling that joy and wonder once more.

The playmaker’s wage demands would need redress: the attacking midfielder cannot take permanent residence in Moyes’ squad without agreeing to a pay cut.

But if some agreement could be engineered, Everton would land themselves one of the most talented players in the Premier League, a player who has already shown himself capable of standing out in a rising team and with a smile on his face too.

Just like Isak over at Anfield, Grealish has the chance to be a superstar in a new setting, and TFG must ensure they get his signature scribbled in permanent ink.

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Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown has backed Roy Keane to make a sensational return to management — this time as a more balanced figure ready to lead the Republic of Ireland. Brown believes Keane’s intensity has mellowed with time and experience, making him perfectly placed to inject passion and discipline into an Irish side struggling for identity and direction.

• Ireland struggling for form in recent years

  Ireland’s recent struggles have reignited calls for a new managerial era, with Brown suggesting that Keane, alongside John O’Shea, could be the right pairing to lead the team forward. Keane, who previously managed Sunderland and Ipswich and served as assistant for Ireland and Aston Villa, has been out of management for several years but remains a respected figure. Ireland’s poor results and lack of consistency since Euro 2016 have left fans longing for a revival built on leadership and experience — qualities Keane is renowned for.

  The former Manchester United captain last held a top managerial role in 2011, but his influence has continued through punditry and assistant positions. Brown’s comments come as current boss Heimir Hallgrimsson faces mounting pressure to stabilise the national side. Despite being in the midst of a rebuilding phase, Ireland’s failure to qualify for major tournaments since 2016 has deepened frustration among supporters and former players alike.

  A Keane return would mark a dramatic comeback for one of the nation’s most iconic footballing figures, known for his uncompromising standards and relentless pursuit of excellence. For many, including Brown, Keane’s evolution in temperament could now make him the ideal figure to guide a new generation of Irish players emerging through the youth ranks.

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  Keane tipped to return to Ireland management

  “I actually think Roy Keane could be a great fit for Ireland now. He’s had some time away from management, but he’s got experience. He managed at Sunderland, Ipswich, he was an assistant at Aston Villa. I think if you listen to some of the players he coached, they found he was maybe too intense. I’m not sure you can be that strong with your management at every occasion, and I think he’s now had time to reflect on that,” Brown told 10bet Casino.

  “So that was probably his problem, and he’ll know that. I would also say that Roy can’t take all the blame, the players he had have to take some responsibility. You can still see that he loves the game, and I think now he’d be able to adapt, which is what the game is about.”

  Speaking about the possibility of Keane teaming up with O’Shea, Brown added: “John’s very intelligent. He watches a lot of football and sees a lot of what’s happening. He tells me they’ve got a really promising bunch of lads coming through in the younger sides, the under-21s and under-18s. There’s the potential there for what could be the emergence of a really strong team over the next few years. O’Shea’s been assistant managing for years now, five or six, so he’s got plenty of experience he can draw upon. He and Keane know each other and respect each other, so there would be no problem for them to work as a team. You’d just have to give them a chance now and see how it goes.”

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  Keane's leagcy as a player and manager

  Ireland’s national team is undergoing a period of profound rebuilding after years of underachievement. Since reaching the Euro 2016 Round of 16, they have failed to qualify for four consecutive major tournaments, cycling through managers without finding stability.

  Keane, who played 67 times for Ireland, remains one of the country’s most successful football exports and its most influential captain. His managerial record is mixed — leading Sunderland to Premier League promotion in 2007 before enduring a difficult spell at Ipswich — but his leadership qualities have never been questioned. Brown’s belief that Keane has matured emotionally and tactically could resonate with a federation looking to balance passion with progress.

  Alongside O’Shea, who has served as an assistant for both Reading and the Irish national team, a Keane-led management team could blend grit with insight into the modern game. The partnership would also symbolise continuity and national pride, rekindling the spirit of Ireland’s successful 2000s generation. For a fanbase disillusioned by inconsistency, the duo would bring experience, unity, and a renewed belief that Ireland can again compete with Europe’s elite.

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• Could Keane actually become Ireland manager?

  For now, Ireland remain under the guidance of Heimir Hallgrímsson, who took over in mid-2024, tasked with leading the country into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. His tenure, however, has already been marked by frustration, with poor results in the UEFA Nations League and narrow defeats in qualifying matches intensifying pressure. Should results continue to decline, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) may look toward a more iconic, motivational figure to inspire both players and fans.

  Keane’s potential return would depend not only on timing but also on his willingness to re-enter the dugout after several years of punditry.