Benfica presidential candidate confirms club's plans to bid for Silva
Benfica presidential candidate Joao Noronha Lopes has sensationally confirmed that he has been in talks with Manchester City star Bernardo Silva “for a long time” about a return to his boyhood club. Speaking during a campaign debate ahead of November’s decisive election, Lopes reiterated his promise to bring the Portuguese international back to Lisbon if elected.
Lopes reiterated his position at Thursday’s debate, insisting that his communication with Silva has been consistent and genuine. “I really want to bring him back,” he said [h/t SAPO Portugal]. “I’ve been talking to him for a long time. I repeat what I said at the beginning of the campaign, and I’ll say it again now: with me, the president will return. I’m not setting deadlines. He’s someone I admire; he’s a great Benfica supporter.”
He continued by stressing his respect for Silva’s current commitments at Manchester City, saying he understands why the player has not spoken publicly on the issue. “Bernardo makes his own decisions,” Lopes added. “I perfectly understand that he doesn’t take a public position regarding the elections.”
Lille starlet Bouaddi on Man Utd's radar
Manchester United’s recruitment blueprint has shifted from chequebook bravado to strategic precision, and the latest name to land on the club’s radar reflects that evolution. Caught Offside report that Lille’s teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi has been watched “extensively” by United, with Christopher Vivell described as a “big fan” of the 18-year-old. This is a player who has not simply broken into Lille’s first-team, he has ripped the door off its hinges in the process.
Bouaddi, already capped at France Under-21 level, has emerged as one of Ligue 1’s most dynamic young midfielders. His rise draws parallels with Leny Yoro, another Lille prodigy who United successfully brought to Old Trafford.
Former Liverpool star joins eight-tier team to 'rediscover joy'
Jordon Ibe, once one of English football’s brightest young talents and a £15 million Liverpool export, has joined eighth-tier side Sittingbourne as he looks to “rediscover the joy of football.” The 29-year-old winger, who previously starred in the Premier League with Bournemouth, has embarked on a new chapter in non-league football after his move to Sweden fell through earlier this year.
Ibe has signed for Sittingbourne, marking the ninth permanent club of his career and another chapter in a journey filled with promise, setbacks, and perseverance. The 29-year-old winger joins the Kent-based side following his departure from Hungerford Town, who play one tier higher in the English football pyramid.
Barcelona tracking Sao Paulo starlet Gustavo Zabarelli
Sport reports that Barcelona are keeping a close eye on Gustavo Zabarelli, the 16-year-old midfielder from Sao Paulo, as they continue their push to secure the best emerging talents. The youngster’s Italian passport could allow the Catalan club to sign him before he turns 18, offering a potential advantage under European transfer rules.
Sao Paulo’s financial difficulties have made them more open to letting young players depart, sparking interest across the continent. Zabarelli is currently training with VfB Stuttgart on a short-term basis, while Ajax and Benfica have also expressed strong interest in completing a permanent deal.
Revealed: The four clubs Mbeumo turned down to join Man Utd
Bryan Mbeumo reportedly turned down four clubs in order to join Manchester United in the summer. The in-form Cameroon international has made a blistering start to life at Old Trafford following his £70 million (€79m/$92m) summer move from Brentford, playing a significant role in what has been a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for Ruben Amorim's side.
Paqueta learns FA punishment following 'two proven breaches'
Lucas Paqueta has been sanctioned by the Football Association (FA) for "two proven breaches" following their investigation into alleged spot-fixing. The West Ham United and Brazil midfielder was cleared of four spot-fixing charges by an independent commission in July - almost two years after English football's governing body launched an investigation into him.
Bayern open talks to sign Feyenoord teenager
Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich are seriously targeting Feyenoord's 19-year-old right-back Givairo Read and have already held initial talks, according to reports. However, the German giants face a "very complicated" transfer battle, with multiple Premier League clubs also vying for the highly-rated Dutch Under-21 star.
Ex-Barcelona stars confirm Lazio departure but hints he's not retiring
Lazio forward Pedro has announced that he will leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season. The former Barcelona and Chelsea star expressed his desire to help Lazio return to European competitions, aiming to finish his time at the club on a high. Pedro, however, hinted that he could consider continuing his playing career even after his contract concludes.
Real Madrid 'confident' of beating Liverpool to free signing of Guehi
Real Madrid are leading the race for Marc Guehi as the La Liga leaders are reportedly "confident" of beating Liverpool to complete the free signing of the Crystal Palace captain. The 25-year-old centre-back is out of contract at the end of the current season, and with Palace unable to convince him to stay, Guehi has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-demand free agents. The Reds tried their best to get him to Merseyside, but their attempts failed flat on their face after Palace chairman Steve Parish chose to shut the door on the transfer in the 11th hour.
TAA reveals when he began learning Spanish for Madrid move
Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up about the exact moment he started learning Spanish ahead of his blockbuster summer move to Real Madrid. The England international ended a 20-year association with Liverpool by joining Los Blancos for £8 million (€10m/$11m) in June, wowing football supporters as he fluently spoke the language during his unveiling.
Palace owner lifts lid on blocking Guehi's Liverpool move
Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish believes the club would have taken a "significant risk" by going through with Marc Guehi's proposed transfer to Liverpool. The England international was on the cusp of moving to the Reds on transfer deadline day, only for the Eagles to pull the plug at the last minute as they struggled to find a suitable replacement.
'Semenyo will probably end up playing for Real Madrid' - Deeney
Former Premier League star Troy Deeney believes Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo has what it takes to reach the very top, even suggesting the Ghanaian forward could one day line up for Real Madrid. The Watford legend hailed the 25-year-old as one of the Premier League’s most underrated stars and challenged him to maintain his stunning early-season form to fulfil his world-class potential.
Former Spurs ace retires to become director and photographer
Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman has officially retired from professional football at just 26 to pursue a new career as a photographer and film director. The lifelong Spurs player, once seen as a promising academy graduate, has joined the award-winning production company Somesuch, where he plans to channel his creativity into storytelling, photography, and filmmaking.
Schlotterbeck's salary demands revealed amid Liverpool interest
Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are circling Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, with the German defender’s contract talks at a standstill. Bild reports that Schlotterbeck, whose current deal runs until 2027, has rejected Dortmund’s latest offer and is demanding a wage closer to €14 million per year, a figure the Reds are reportedly ready to offer him next summer.
Dortmund, historically a selling club, have made strides in recent years to keep their key players, but the wage gap remains stark. Even as Die Schwarzgelben look to offer Schlotterbeck an improved deal worth around €10 million annually, competing with Liverpool, Bayern, or Real Madrid, who can all comfortably reach the €14 million mark, is proving a tall order.
Juventus appoint Luciano Spalletti as Igor Tudor successor
Juventus have confirmed the appointment of Luciano Spalletti following Igor Tudor's dismissal earlier this week. Tudor succeeded Thiago Motta in Turin in March and was handed a three-year contract after guiding Juventus to the Champions League. Juventus currently sit seventh in Serie A following their midweek 3-1 win over Udinese, though they are just three points behind rivals Inter in third.
"Luciano Spalletti is the new head coach of Juventus, signing an agreement with the Club until June 30, 2026," a statement read on the club's official website. "We are delighted to welcome a coach with such expertise and experience to the Bianconeri family: welcome to Juventus and good luck, coach!"
Major Mohamed Salah transfer update issued by Al-Ahly
Mohamed Salah put pen to paper on a new Liverpool contract earlier in the summer. However, the Reds hitman has made a dire start to the season having scored just three league goals as Liverpool's title defence lies in tatters. The decision to hand Salah a new deal has been criticised and heightened speculation that the champions could cut their losses on the 33-year-old. However, while he has been linked with a move to Al-Ahly, the Egyptian side are not in contention to sign Salah.
"Mohamed Salah is a very big star and has done things that are difficult for any player in the Arab world to do. He’s focusing on his professional career," Hafeez said. "Linking Salah to Al-Ahly is a media effort, and he’s a player who has honoured Egyptian football and all Arabs. Let’s talk realistically. Salah renewed his contract with Liverpool months ago. There is no official at Al-Ahly who talked about this matter. This matter was only circulated in the media. We will focus on the team’s priorities. I wish Salah success."
