A Rangers player has dropped a pointed update regarding his Ibrox future during the international break, aiming a message at manager Russell Martin.

Martin says no issues with Rangers players

The Gers did at least manage to come away with a 0-0 draw away to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership before the international break, but it has still been a hugely disappointing start to the season.

One individual who played no part in proceedings at Parkhead was Nicolas Raskin, with former Rangers striker Kris Boyd left bemused by what he sees as chaos at the training ground.

That being said, Martin has played down any issues that may have arisen, saying the relationship he has with his players is healthy currently: “I’d describe my relationship with all the players, all the staff as honest and open.

“I don’t think you can have anything else apart from that. There’s not a breakdown in any relationships here. If it’s honest and open, there can’t be a breakdown in any relationships.”

Rangers ace gives key update on his future

Speaking to the media after representing Belgium on international duty, Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin provided a 12-word update on his Ibrox future, with a short but pointed message to Martin after the manager refuted rumours of a relationship breakdown.

“But it (my future) doesn’t just depend on me, it depends on the coach.”

It is disappointing to see Raskin up in the air about his Rangers future, and clearly not entirely happy at the club, considering what a talented player he is.

The 24-year-old possesses a great combination of quality and fight in the middle of the park, with former striker Rory Loy speaking of his admiration for him earlier this year.

“You’ve seen a side of him, and I’m not saying he never showed it under Philippe Clement, but the consistency he’s shown with it since Ferguson has come in has been quite something. So I do think he deserves credit in terms of the mental side of the game and then we already know he’s got ability. He’s shown that in abundance over the last three months.”

Hopefully, Raskin’s relationship with Martin improves enough for him to remain at Ibrox for the foreseeable future, but the situation doesn’t exactly feel too encouraging currently.

Rangers have found the new Cerny in £2m star who Martin thinks is "exciting"

Václav Černý was always going to be a difficult player for Rangers to replace, but could their “exciting” £2.2m signing actually prove to be better?

ByBen Gray Sep 8, 2025

To leave an international player out of the squad entirely in a huge game against Celtic shows that all is not well, and if things don’t improve, it is hard to see both Raskin and Martin being at Rangers come the end of the season, if not by the time the January transfer window arrives.

Somerset 637 for 6 (Banton 344*, Rew 152) lead Worcestershire 154 by 483 runsTom Banton made history at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton as Somerset assumed a position of dominance on day two of the Rothesay County Championship First Division match against Worcestershire.The 26-year-old batter made the highest first-class score in the county’s history, his 344 surpassing the 342 made by Justin Langer against Surrey at Guildford in 2006. The right-hander faced 381 balls, struck 53 fours and a six and batted for just over eight hours. He became only the eighth Somerset player to register a triple-century and the first since James Hildreth in 2009.In a dramatic finale, Banton pulled Kashif Ali to the midwicket boundary off the penultimate ball of the day to break the record and make it a day to remember for all Somerset supporters.”It’s a weird feeling and I was a bit emotional up there in the dressing room,” Banton said. “This is the best day I’ve had in cricket and will probably be the best day I’ll ever have. It feels special and you cannot take it for granted. These days don’t come along very often and you have to make the most of them.”On a day when records tumbled, Banton and James Rew staged a mammoth stand of 371 in 86.3 overs as the home side amassed 637 for 6, a substantial first-innings lead of 468. Rew raised 152 from 275 balls, striking 14 fours and two sixes, he and Banton establishing the highest fifth–wicket partnership in Somerset history, eclipsing the 320 made by John Francis and Ian Blackwell against Durham UCCE at Taunton in 2005.It was a day to forget for Worcestershire, who toiled in the sun and now face a mammoth task if they are to save the game over the course of the next two days.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

All notion of a Worcestershire fightback on day two was dispelled in a morning session that went altogether in Somerset’s favour, Banton and Rew extending their partnership to record-breaking proportions. Banton set the tone, moving from his overnight score of 84 to post his fourth first-class century in quick time from 124 balls, glancing Matt Taylor off his legs to raise that landmark with his 20th four.Worcestershire deployed seven different bowlers during the session, but Ben Allison was the only one to inconvenience the batsmen. When Rew, having advanced his score to 31, took on the seamer and top-edged a pull shot to deep mid-wicket, Tom Hinley contrived to drop a sitter.Thereafter, Worcestershire ambition unravelled with indecent haste. Ensuring the Pears were made to pay for their profligacy, Rew went to 50 from 102 balls, dispatching a short-pitched delivery from Allison through midwicket for his eighth boundary as Somerset’s lead entered three-figure territory. The hundred stand occupied 165 balls, while Banton clipped Adam Finch to fine leg to register his career-best first-class score, eclipsing the 133 he made against Kent at Taunton 11 months earlier.Rew lofted Hinley high over long-on for the first six of the match, Banton went to his maiden 150 from 173 balls and, in what seemed like no time at all, the pair established a new record Somerset stand for the fifth wicket in matches against Worcestershire, surpassing the 176 mustered by Australians Bill Alley and Colin McCool at New Road in 1959. Out of sorts with the ball and increasingly prone to errors in the field, Worcestershire conceded 131 runs in the session, Somerset reaching the interval on 318 for 4, a lead of 164.If Worcestershire hopes were invested in the new ball, which was taken shortly after lunch, they were sorely disappointed as the Banton and Rew show continued unabated, these extending their alliance to 200 from 298 deliveries.Rew may be just 21, but he has already established a reputation for consistency in excellence. There was almost a sense of inevitability that, having registered his 16th half century in first-class cricket, he would go on to achieve his ninth hundred in his 41st match. On this occasion, he brought up the landmark in 186 balls, pulling Taylor for his eleventh four to elicit a standing ovation from an audience of more than 1,500.They were on their feet again moments later, acknowledging Banton’s maiden double-hundred, a landmark attained from 241 balls with 33 fours. A breakthrough indeed for a player who, until recently, was typecast as a one-day specialist. It was fitting that Banton should then cut Taylor for four to establish a new Somerset record fifth wicket partnership with Rew.Having banked maximum batting bonus points, there was still time for Banton and Rew to extend their partnership to 300 from 413 balls before tea was taken with Somerset on 482 for 4, a substantial lead of 328.Ethan Brookes afforded Worcestershire overdue relief when taking a brilliant return catch to end Rew’s five and-a-half hour innings, after which Banton took centre stage during a dramatic final hour.”I won’t lie, I was pretty tired out there and I kept saying to myself ‘just keep batting, keep going’,” Banton said. “There were a few moments when I felt I wanted to be back in the dressing room, but I wanted to go for it (the record) tonight, so I tried to play my shots when possible.”It was also a great day for James Rew and it was special seeing him go about his work. But we cannot get too carried away, because this is a good pitch and we still have a game to win over the next two days.”

He has previously been with Mumbai Indians and specialised in fielding and running between the wickets for the franchise

Mohammad Isam07-Apr-2025James Pamment has been appointed as the new fielding coach of the Bangladesh men’s national team. He will join the Test squad ahead of the two-match series against Zimbabwe at home later this month. Pamment has been given a long-term contract that ends after the ODI World Cup in 2027.”I am really excited about the opportunity to get involved with a very talented Bangladesh side,” he said in a statement. “I am eagerly looking forward to joining the players and the backroom staff ahead of the Zimbabwe series.”Pamment effectively replaced assistant coach Nic Pothas, who oversaw the side’s fielding improvement in the past few months before leaving the job in January this year. Bangladesh have had a number of fielding coaches in the recent past – Ryan Cook and Shane McDermott also worked with the team in the last few years.Pamment comes with an impressive resume as a fielding coach. He was the assistant coach at Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL since 2018, and specialised in fielding and running between the wickets for the franchise.Prior to the IPL role, Pamment’s international experience was with New Zealand, where he was the fielding coach and specialist technical advisor. He also worked in NZC as a high-performance coach.Pamment, 56, was born in Yorkshire but is a New Zealand national who played all his first-class cricket for Auckland.

Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the Spotify Camp Nou may face further delays, with November’s clash against Athletic Club now emerging as the likeliest homecoming date. Despite nearing approval for an early-October reopening, the club are weighing financial, logistical and sporting factors that could push Flick’s side to stay at Montjuic a little longer.

Barca weigh Camp Nou return

Barca are considering pushing back their return to the renovated Camp Nou, even as the First Occupation Licence is expected to be granted in the coming weeks, according to . While the club could technically reopen the stadium in mid-October for fixture against Girona in La Liga, there is growing momentum behind waiting until November, when more seats will be available and revenues higher. The November 23 meeting with Athletic Club has emerged as the leading candidate for Barca’s first match back in their iconic home. 

AdvertisementWhy Barca may delay further

At present, the Montjuic Olympic Stadium provides greater matchday capacity than Camp Nou could in October, with 50,000-plus attending recent fixtures. In contrast, an October reopening would allow for only 27,000 spectators under phase 1A of the licence. By November, the lateral stand could be completed, opening up around 45,000 seats. This figure comes close to Montjuic’s capacity but with the added benefit of generating higher income inside Camp Nou itself. The club also wants to minimise construction interruptions, as hosting games earlier could slow progress on the renovation.

Athletic Club as a key date

The match against Athletic, scheduled for November 22 after the international break, has become a symbolic target for the return. By then, Barcelona hope to have phase 1B in place, allowing nearly double the October capacity and potentially reaching 62,000 seats if phase 1C approval is secured in time. Club directors see the game as the best balance between fan demand, financial sense, and construction continuity. It would also offer Flick’s team the chance to reintroduce themselves at Camp Nou in front of a significantly larger crowd than an earlier date would allow.

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AFPChampions League remains big challenge

Until a final decision is made, Barca's current plan is to continue playing their home games at Montjuic, including the upcoming clashes with Olympiacos in the Champions League, which UEFA has listed as being set for Camp Nou, and Elche in La Liga. A definitive timeline for the Camp Nou return will depend on the board’s approval once the licence is granted. For now, November remains the strongest option, giving Barcelona the chance to mark their homecoming in front of tens of thousands more fans while keeping the renovation on schedule. But, the immediate focus of Hansi Flick and Co. is on their next massive challenge pose by the European champions PSG in the Champions League.

Tottenham are working to sign an alternative to Eberechi Eze after their deal with Crystal Palace fell apart by the seams.

Despite agreeing both personal terms with the 27-year-old and the finances of a deal with Palace, Arsenal swooped in at the last moment to agree a deal of their own for Eze, and once left with the choice, the boyhood Gunners supporter was always going to pick N5.

It comes as Tottenham’s second public transfer mishap of the window, after also seeing an advanced deal for Morgan Gibbs-White blocked by Nottingham Forest in bizarre fashion earlier this summer.

For Thomas Frank, who’s now bereft of any playmaker at all following James Maddison’s long-term ACL injury and Dejan Kulusevski’s absence, it is a hammer blow and one that needs rectifying as soon as possible.

That being said, in response to all the reports surrounding Eze’s rejection, Frank has made it crystal clear that he only wants players with a burning desire to wear the Tottenham shirt.

Of the alternatives mentioned by media sources, a few have emerged in the past 48 hours.

Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss are just some of the names linked with moves to N17 after Eze’s move elsewhere, with Como sensation Nico Paz apparently still in their thinking as well.

The latter was reportedly subject to a rejected Tottenham bid earlier in the window, according to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, with Como holding out for around £60 million to even consider a sale.

The Argentine’s future is also tied heavily with his former club, Real Madrid, who possess a hefty 50 per cent sell-on clause and the option of bringing him back to the Bernabeu for a reduced fee in both 2026 and 2027.

Tottenham hold talks with Nico Paz's representatives after Eberechi Eze blow

According to TBR Football, amid other reports that Tottenham are preparing a fresh attempt for Paz, it is believed that Spurs have also held talks with the 20-year-old’s representatives in the aftermath of their Eze blow.

Paz bagged six goals and nine assists under Cesc Fàbregas last season as one of Como’s standout performers, with the ex-Madrid man shining among Serie A’s latest rising stars.

However, journalist Graeme Bailey also told TBR that a move for Paz carries plenty of risk, even if Spurs have explored it through intermediaries with the player.

Footballing icon Lionel Messi is on record calling Paz “incredible” for some of his traits, but Levy definitely won’t be keen on losing a hefty sum of money on him in the future.

Both CSK and RR are searching for their right combination

Shashank Kishore29-Mar-20252:45

Cricinformed: Jaiswal’s first-two-overs conundrum

Big picture – CSK, RR search for right combinationThis is a contest between two sides who’ve hit an early speed bump in IPL 2025.Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) biggest home defeat, to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday night, has raised questions about team combination. Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad batting at No. 3? Can he open with Devon Conway, instead, with Rachin Ravindra dropping down a spot?Is No. 6 the best spot for Shivam Dube, who reinvented himself as a spin basher during their run to the title in 2023? And what exactly is the deal with MS Dhoni, who came in as late as No. 9 against RCB?These questions make it seem like CSK’s situation is dire, but they’re at least on the board unlike Rajasthan Royals (RR), who have suffered two back-to-back defeats. Yashasvi Jaiswal is yet to hit top form, stand-in captain Riyan Parag has a new role at No. 3.There’s also a question mark on Shimron Hetmyer’s batting position – and whether batting too low. Is their batting bench among the weakest? They don’t have another overseas batting cover, while their two Indian options – 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Kunal Singh Rathore – are inexperienced. What of their strategy of playing a batter less while taking first strike even with the Impact Player rule?These are unusually long lists of questions for teams to grapple with this early in the season. RR will draw solace from hitting 242 in their chase of 287 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. CSK, meanwhile, have little downtime considering they arrive in Guwahati only on match eve. The long flight to the far east could prove challenging.New loyalties – Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh TheekshanaSeamer Tushar Deshpande, who went from being net bowler to Dhoni’s trusted ally, is now playing for RR. Dube, former RR player, is now a fixture in the CSK line-up. Then there’s Maheesh Theekshana, CSK’s powerplay specialist, now playing for RR in a similar role.Ruturaj Gaikwad has moved down to No.3 to accommodate Rahul Tripathi and Rachin Ravindra•AFP/Getty Images

Team news and likely XIIsCSK are not known to chop-and-change, but there’s a case to bring in Conway for Sam Curran. This could potentially also lead to playing Vijay Shankar as the batting allrounder or Anshul Kamboj as the bowling allrounder, with Impact Sub Rahul Tripathi playing as a floater.Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Rachin Ravindra 2 Devon Conway, 3 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 4 Rahul Tripathi/Vijay Shankar, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Anshul Kamboj, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Khaleel Ahmed, 12 Matheesha PathiranaSanju Samson will likely be their Impact Player for a bowling option. Given the previous game in Guwahati was dominated by Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinners, maybe RR could consider bringing in Kumar Kartikeya.Rjasthan Royals (probable):1 Sanju Samson, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Riyan Parag (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 Kumar Kartikeya/Tushar DeshpandeBig questionWill Gaikwad slot back up to open the batting for CSK? In any case, he’s come in to bat in the second over in both the games so far.In the spotlight – Riyan Parag and Rahul TripathiRiyan Parag’s first stint as IPL captain – albeit stand-in – has gotten off to a challenging start. He’s also now got the responsibility of being a pace-setter at No. 3, as against No. 4 where he had much success last year. He has scores of 4 and 25 in his first two outings, but needs no bigger motivation than another chance to score in front of his home crowd.Rahul Tripathi made his name in the IPL as an opener, when he came in midway through 2017 and spurred Rising Pune Supergiant’s run to the final. He has since moved to multiple teams – KKR, RR, SRH and now CSK – but is yet to find the stability he’d like. Two single-digit scores to kick off a new season has put him in a spot. CSK aren’t known to fiddle with their playing XI too much, and therein lies another opportunity for him to come good.Yashasvi Jaiswal is yet to hit top form this IPL•BCCI

Pitch and conditionsMoeen Ali saved KKR from missing Sunil Narine three nights ago in Guwahati. Varun Chakravarthy was able to get some assistance when he bowled a lot slower. CSK may find these conditions to be more like “home” than Chepauk, which coach Stephen Fleming believes hasn’t given them any “advantage.”Key stats Wanindu Hasaranga’s 90 wickets are the most in T20s since 2024. Khaleel Ahmed’s 11 wickets are the best by a current CSK bowler in the powerplay in IPL since 2024. Dhoni is now CSK’s highest run-scorer. He surpassed Suresh Raina’s tally of 4687 runs during his 16-ball 30 against RCB.Next three fixturesThis is Royals’ last game this season in Guwahati. They fly to Mullanpur and Ahmedabad to play a couple of away games against Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans before flying home to Jaipur for their first match of IPL 2025 there, against RCB.CSK alternate between home and away fixtures after this. They fly home to host Delhi Capitals in an afternoon match on Saturday before taking on PBKS three days later. They then go back home to play KKR on April 11 in Chennai.Quotes”Just because we don’t swing from ball one and have a little bit of luck go away… we’ll see at the end who wins. It’s a positive brand of cricket, no doubt about it, but don’t discount us.”

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers handed out two full debuts in the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock away from home in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Colby Donovan, an academy graduate, started for the first time at right-back. Summer signing Sebastian Tounekti also started the match on the left wing after his deadline day move from the Swedish side.

Both players caught the eye in different ways. The full-back showcased his defensive skills, winning seven of his ten duels, whilst the winger created four chances and completed five dribbles, per Sofascore.

As well as handing full debuts to Tounekti and Donovan from the start, Rodgers brought Kelechi Iheanacho off the bench to make his debut for the Scottish giants against Kilmarnock.

The former Sevilla marksman, who arrived at Parkhead on a free transfer on the day after deadline day, stepped up from the spot to score the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 96th minute.

Celtic will now be hoping that Iheanacho and Tounekti, two of their summer signings, can kick on from here and prove that they are worth the wage for the Hoops.

How much Celtic's new signings earn

Per Salary Leaks, Kieran Tierney is said to be the highest-earning player among the summer signings made by the Scottish Premiership champions, on £50k-per-week.

This is not a surprise because the Scotland international has spent the last six years in England with Arsenal, one of the biggest clubs in the world, after a £25m move from Celtic in 2019.

Iheanacho, interestingly, is the next highest earner alongside Benjamin Nygren, on £25k-per-week, after he moved to Glasgow on a free transfer from Sevilla, after the Spanish side ripped up his contract on deadline day.

The left-footed forward spent many seasons in the Premier League with Manchester City and Leicester City, though, and was previously at a LaLiga club, so it was unlikely that he was going to be on cheap wages.

Summer signing

Weekly wage

Kieran Tierney

£50k

Kelechi Iheanacho

£25k

Benjamin Nygren

£25k

Shin Yamada

£13k

Sebastian Tounekti

£10k

Michel-Ange Balikwisha

£10k

Marcelo Saracchi

£7k

Hayato Inamura

£6k

Ross Doohan

£5k

Callum Osmand

£1k

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

£1k

Via Salary Leaks

As you can see in the table above, most of the club’s 11 signings are reportedly on fairly low wages, as only three of them earn more than £13k-per-week.

Per Salary Leaks, only three of the club’s summer signings, Tierney, Nygren, and Iheanacho, are in the top 13 earners at Parkhead this season, which shows that the Hoops have not splashed significant money across the board on their new additions.

That may be a reaction to last summer’s signings and how poorly some of them went down. Adam Idah, for example, joined for an initial fee of £8.5m and left a year later to sign for Swansea for an initial fee of £6m on deadline day.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast’s Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

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Another one of last summer’s recruits who should be in danger of following Idah out of the door at Parkhead is Auston Trusty, who has not provided value for money since his move to the club.

The USA international joined from Sheffield United in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £5m and, per Salary Leaks, earns more than all of this summer’s signings aside from Tierney.

Why Celtic must part ways with Auston Trusty

Unless there is a drastic switch-up in form, the Scottish giants should be looking to finally part ways with the USMNT star when the January transfer window opens for business at the start of next year.

Per Salary Leaks, Trusty earns £32k-per-week, which is more than new signings Iheanacho and Tounekti, and the fifth-highest wage within the first-team squad, only behind Callum McGregor, Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Tierney.

Unfortunately, the former Arsenal central defender’s performances on the pitch for the Hoops since the start of last season have failed to justify the outlay that the club have paid, and continue to pay, for his services.

At the start of 2025, Rodgers said that the left-footed flop had to do better against Dundee. The boss noted that the team was “a bit soft” with Trusty at centre-back, as he was beaten too easily in the air for Dundee’s third goal in the game.

Defensive mistakes, like the one in the clip above, were too commonplace for the former Sheffield United star for a player who was signed for big money on big wages last year.

Trusty has not provided the quality that was expected from a signing of his calibre, unfortunately, and has found himself as the back-up to Liam Scales in the left-sided centre-back role at the start of this season.

24/25 Premiership

Liam Scales

Auston Trusty

Appearances

26

22

Clean sheets

14

10

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

2.3

Dribbled past per game

0.2x

0.5x

Error led to shot

1

4

Error led to goal

0

1

Duel success rate

72%

64%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the American flop was outperformed by Scales in the Premiership last season, as the £5m signing made four more errors that led to shots or goals, was dribbled past more than twice as much, and won a lower percentage of his physical duels.

These statistics show that Trusty has been too much of a liability at the heart of the defence for Celtic, because of his costly errors and how easy opposition forwards find it to dribble past him with the ball.

He should be in the prime years of his career, at the age of 27, but finds himself as a second-choice in his position, despite being one of the highest earners at the club.

The Daily Record reported in the summer that European and English clubs were interested in signing Trusty, which suggests that there could be enough interest for Celtic to cash in on him when the January window opens.

Related Celtic have a bigger homegrown talent than Donovan & his "ceiling is so high"

Celtic may have a bigger homegrown talent than Colby Donovan in their first-team squad.

Posts ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

Whilst the Hoops must ditch Trusty because of his underperformances, the Scottish giants will be hoping the likes of Tounekti and Iheanacho will do enough to justify their wage this season, after a strong start from both of them against Kilmarnock.

Timo Werner’s RB Leipzig story is heading towards its final chapter. Even though the striker has fought his way back into the squad and made a late cameo against Wolfsburg, his first Bundesliga appearance in nearly two years, reports in Germany say a January move is on the cards, with the club ready to cash in.

• Werner’s Leipzig future looks uncertain

  According to , Leipzig have no plans to extend Werner’s contract, which runs until June 2026, and would prefer to sell him in January, even if it means accepting a cut-price fee. His €10 million-a-year wages remain a major issue, as he is the club’s top earner. The 29-year-old had been frozen out before the season began but worked his way back into Ole Werner’s squad after impressing in training. He returned to the matchday squad against Koln and marked his Bundesliga comeback a week later with a one-minute long cameo in Wolfsburg, almost two years since his last appearance.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  New York Red Bulls still circling

  Amid the uncertainty over Werner’s future, Leipzig’s sister club New York Red Bulls are once again being tipped as a potential destination after showing interest in the summer. But the striker won’t be short of options. He is open to staying in the Bundesliga or testing himself again in England, France, or Spain, with a Premier League return very much on the table.

  Notably, Werner made the big-money move to Chelsea back in 2020, winning the Champions League in his first season. By 2022 he was back at Leipzig, but the spark that made him one of Europe’s most feared forwards never quite returned. That led to a loan move to Tottenham in January 2024, where he had some moments but still struggled for consistency. Now, with his Leipzig future hanging in the balance, it feels like another big decision is coming for the German.

• RB Leipzig director applauds Werner for his professionalism

  Sporting director Marcel Schafer had earlier stressed that the door is by no means closed for the striker. He praised the Werner's attitude, saying the German international has been 'very professional' and that their communication has been 'really good.' Schafer added that Werner hasn’t given up and remains a full part of the squad. 

  "I’ve never known a manager who leaves his best players at home and doesn’t include them in the squad," he said, making it clear that Werner will get opportunities if he earns them.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What's next for Timo Werner?

  This means that last Saturday's brief appearance may not have been Werner's last game of the season for Leipzig, at least, that's what the Leipzig manager suggested when he hinted that more minutes could follow. For now, Werner might still pop up in a Leipzig shirt, but it feels like his long-term future lies elsewhere. January could finally bring the fresh start he has been waiting for.

Liverpool are looking to complete the signing of an “incredible” player next year, potentially beating rivals Manchester United to his signature, among others.

Isak in Liverpool training ahead of debut

The Reds are back in Premier League action on Sunday action on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to Burnley in a game that many will expect to see the visitors win comfortably.

For Alexander Isak, it has the potential to be a special day, with the Swede in line to make his debut at some point, even if it is from the substitutes’ bench.

The 25-year-old took part in his first training session for Liverpool on Wednesday, with footage showing the elite finishing ability that he has in his locker, and why the Premier League champions were willing to pay Newcastle United a record-breaking £125m for his services.

Granted, Isak needs time to build up his match fitness, so as mentioned, Hugo Ekitike is likely to be preferred at Burnley this weekend, but a second-half cameo feels on the cards, in what is hopefully the first of many appearances in a Liverpool shirt.

Liverpool enter race to sign "incredible" ace

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now battling to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in 2026, whether that be in January or next summer.

Man Utd “face a fierce battle” with their biggest rivals, with FSG now entering the race, whereas Newcastle United and Chelsea are also mentioned as options for the £60m-rated England international.

Wharton is one of the most exciting young English players around currently, already becoming such an accomplished footballer at the age of just 21.

The Palace star is an elegant player with a lovely left foot, and he possesses the ability to both dictate play from a deep midfield role, but also shine out of possession, displaying good positional sense and a strong work ethic.

Wharton, who has won two of his three games against the Reds (66%), could be a brilliant squad addition for Liverpool, coming in as a replacement for Wataru Endo, before maturing into a key starter, having been lauded by former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze.

“Playing with him at Palace, I’ve got used to seeing the way he plays and understanding him. He’s very calm, composed, and a joy to play with. For someone so young, he’s very mature and very wise. When you speak to him, it feels like you’re speaking to someone older than you, that’s the type of person he is. He’s an incredible player.”

Related "Huge money" – Liverpool eye 2026 move for "magician" after Isak and Wirtz

What a signing this could be.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Sep 9, 2025

There was a time when United were clearly the more exciting proposition than Liverpool, but that has changed significantly in the modern game, and the hope is that Wharton sees the champions as his best future option, picking them over the Red Devils and other suitors.

Ruben Amorim has been accused of "killing Benjamin Sesko's confidence" amid the Manchester United striker's slow start to life at Old Trafford. The Slovenian arrived from RB Leipzig this summer carrying the weight of expectation, tipped to solve United’s long-standing striker crisis. However, the 21-year-old has only scored once in his first seven appearances and is already being branded another expensive flop.

GettyThe derby disaster for Sesko

The Manchester derby summed up Sesko’s struggles. On the biggest stage, he looked lost. He completed just eight passes all afternoon, won only three of his nine duels, and was hauled off in the 80th minute for Casemiro as United slumped to a 3-0 defeat against arch rivals Manchester City. For a striker meant to terrorise defences, it was a performance that did little to inspire confidence. 

AdvertisementLee Sharpe points finger at Amorim

Sesko did net his first goal for United on Sunday in the 3-1 defeat at Brentford, but doubts over his ability to mix it at the highest level remain. Former United winger Lee Sharpe has now come out to accuse Amorim of badly mismanaging his striker. Speaking to AceOdds.com, he said: "I think [Joshua] Zirkzee should be getting games. I'm a big fan of Zirkzee and I think he should have played instead of Amad [Diallo] in the No. 10 role. Or even play instead of Sesko because I don't think he's quite up to speed yet. I know he needs time to get up to speed with the Premier League and I think it could be killing his confidence, the way they've thrown him in at the moment."

Getty/GOALTraining ground tales tell another story

Curiously, whispers from Carrington paint a very different picture of Sesko. Behind closed doors, the striker is reportedly thriving, described as “sharp” in front of goal and often drawing “ripples of applause” from team-mates with his finishing. Those training ground heroics, however, have yet to translate into the pressure cooker of Premier League football.

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Sunderland showdown looms

On October 4, United host Sunderland at Old Trafford, and Sesko will be desperate to silence his critics with another goal, ideally helping his team to a crucial win too. But if his inconsistency continues, the calls for Zirkzee will only grow louder, and Amorim’s faith in Sesko will look more and more misplaced.