Oakland’s Coliseum, the recent home of Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise Oakland Athletics, will host nine Major League Cricket (MLC) fixtures in 2025. It will become the league’s third venue, with the first two seasons split between Grand Prairie, Texas and Church Street Park, Morrisville.The Coliseum, which has hosted baseball and American football since 1966, will be modified to host cricket, with a reduced capacity of 12,000 and the planned installation of drop-in pitches to meet international standards. Athletics left the venue at the end of last season, with the franchise’s owners planning a relocation to Las Vegas.San Francisco Unicorns, the losing finalists in 2024, will play three home games at the Coliseum. “The Bay Area has a deep and growing love for cricket,” David White, the franchise’s CEO, said. “This move allows us to create an unforgettable match-day experience in one of the region’s most iconic venues.”The Coliseum was considered as a potential venue for last year’s men’s T20 World Cup, but the idea was eventually ruled out due to logistical challenges. The stadium was a prominent feature in the 2011 film , based on Michael Lewis’ book which documented the Athletics’ success following data-driven strategies in the early 2000s.It will host the opening match of the 2025 season on June 12, a rematch of last year’s final between the Unicorns and Ricky Ponting’s Washington Freedom. MLC said on Wednesday that the league would deliver “a $3 million [USD] direct economic boost” to the city, which will become the first west-coast venue to host top-level cricket.”The Coliseum is a fantastic location for Major League Cricket, and we are thrilled by the prospect of some of the world’s biggest cricket stars playing in such an iconic Californian venue,” said Johnny Grave, who became the league’s chief executive earlier this year.”Coming to the West Coast, and being here in Oakland, is an historic move for cricket globally. It reinforces our commitment to growing the game in the United States and providing fans with an exceptional cricket experience.”ESPNcricinfo revealed earlier this year that MLC has avoided a clash with the Hundred in 2025, with the final scheduled for July 12. Several international stars have been retained by their franchises, including Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Heinrich Klaasen, though Pat Cummins will miss this season due to Australia’s Test tour of West Indies.The league is set to expand in the coming years, with Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Toronto all considered as potential new venues. Broward County Stadium, in Florida, will also host games in 2025.

Wayne Rooney has delivered a damning assessment of Florian Wirtz, claiming that the £116 million ($156m) star “damages” Liverpool. The German playmaker was acquired by the Reds, in what was a British record transfer at the time, to provide more creativity for the reigning Premier League champions. He has endured a slow start to life in English football, with questions already being asked of his place in Arne Slot’s strongest starting XI.

• Wirtz's early Liverpool record: No goals or assists

  Wirtz surprisingly dropped to the bench for Liverpool’s first Merseyside derby of the season against neighbours Everton and has been subbed off in every one of his starts for the Reds in all competitions, with little impact being made. He is still waiting on a first goal and assist after eight appearances.

  Expectations were high when the 22-year-old made his way to Liverpool, with a talismanic role being taken up with Bayer Leverkusen – a side he helped to Bundesliga title glory in 2024 and registered 34 goals for across his last two seasons in Germany. Time is still on his side when it comes to making a decisive contribution at Anfield. He is no longer the most expensive player in Britain, so does not have to contend with that added pressure, as club colleague Alexander Isak inherited that standing when completing a £125m ($168m) switch from Newcastle.

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  Rooney's assessment: Is Wirtz right for Liverpool?

  Amid questions of where Wirtz fits into the bigger picture at Anfield, with Slot blessed with plenty of alternative options in the midfield department, former Manchester United and Everton star Rooney has suggested that the highly-rated German actually makes Liverpool weaker.

  The ex-England captain told podcast: “It's been tough for him. I don't think there's any denying that. He's played OK. When you sign so many players like Liverpool have – Liverpool don't normally do this but they've signed basically a whole new frontline, and then you've got [Mohamed] Salah there as well – they're all competing and they all want to do well. Wirtz is probably the one who's not doing as well, but he's got so much ability.

  "I don't see where he gets into the team. I think it was a lot of money. I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play. He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better – but he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that.

  “I've seen players come into this league and it takes time. It's not the price tag. It's not the player or his ability. I don't see where he fits into what Liverpool do in that system. Is he a third midfield player? For me, no, he's more of an attacking player. So if I have to choose between him and [Dominik] Szoboszlai, then I choose Szoboszlai.”

• Difficulties settling in England: Wirtz admission

  Wirtz has admitted to enduring difficulties settling in new surroundings, telling Sky Deutschland of that process: “Of course I would have liked to have scored a goal or collected a few points. But no matter what anyone says, I'm staying cool. I don't want to constantly hear ‘give it time, give it time’. Instead, I simply try to do it better each time than before.

  “Sometimes there are just phases where things aren't going well for you. I haven't had that very often in my career. Once I get through it – that might be harsh, because I'm not playing badly, I just haven't got the points (goals and assists) yet – it will come at some point, and then everything will be fine.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Next up for Wirtz: Liverpool face Champions League test

  Wirtz’s next opportunity to impress, potentially opening his account on the goal contribution front along the way, could come in a Champions League clash with Galatasaray on Tuesday. Liverpool are readying themselves for a European fixture in the most hostile of atmospheres. Trips to Istanbul are never easy, but the Reds need their expensive German playmaker to start delivering on the grandest of stages as there is only so long that they can wait for a missing spark to be found.

قرر حكم مباراة الأهلي وبيراميدز في بطولة الجمهورية مواليد 2007، إلغاء المباراة بسب الاعتراضات قوية للاعبي الفريق السماوي. 

وواجه الأهلي نظيره فريق بيراميدز مواليد 2007، مساء اليوم، في الجولة الخامسة من بطولة دوري الجمهورية. 

طالع.. حقيقة إغراء الأهلي لـ فيستون مايلي براتب 150 مليون لخطفه من بيراميدز

واعترض الجهاز الفني ولاعبي بيراميدز، على احتساب حكم اللقاء ركلة جزاء لصالح الأهلي، مما دفع حكم اللقاء إلى إلغاء المباراة. 

ونشرت الصفحة الرسمية لشباب الأهلي على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي فيس بوك صورا من اعتراض لاعبي بيراميدز وعلقت قائلة: “الحكم يُقرر إلغاء مباراة الأهلي وبيراميدز في بطولة الجمهورية مواليد 2007؛ لاعتراض بيراميدز على احتساب ركلة جزاء لصالح فريقنا”.

Barcelona are in the process of renewing Frenkie de Jong's contract at the club, with an official announcement set to be made by the Spanish champions. Sporting director Deco confirmed last week that a contract renewal with De Jong will soon be secured, with the Dutch midfielder set to commit to the Catalan club until 2029.

Barcelona reach agreement with De Jong

Barca and De Jong have been aiming to come to terms over a new contract for the Dutch midfielder for a long time and the wait appears to be near its end and he is expected to put pen to paper on October 15, reports. The signing will come the day after he returns from international duty. A few clauses, like the bonuses, are yet to be finalised, and soon after the agreement is signed, an official announcement from the Catalans is expected.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDutchman remains to to Catalan club

The decision-makers at Barca consider the midfielder key to their project under head coach Hansi Flick. Having joined the club back in 2019 from Ajax, he has remained a key figure in their midfield in recent times. Rumours regarding a potential transfer to the Premier League were in the air a few windows back, but De Jong has opted to continue at Barca. This season, he has already featured seven times for the Catalans, which includes five games in La Liga and two in the Champions League. Last season, he was third among the five captains, but this term, after the Marc-Andre ter Stegen soap opera, he is leading the side on the pitch.

Ex-Ajax star wants to keep winning titles at Barca

Recently, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, sporting director Deco revealed how crucial De Jong is for Barca and that he wants to fight for trophies. He said, "We're talking. Frenkie is really enjoying being here. Maturity at all levels, with the family, within the team… if you're a player with character, you don't just want to stay to be at Barcelona, but because you want to compete for titles, and he sees that he can compete for titles. He sees this and wants to stay here. At the club, we see him as a key player for the current project and the years to come, so I think we'll make the most of it."

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Getty Images SportDe Jong part of World Cup qualifiers

The October international break is to commence soon, and De Jong, who has donned the Netherlands shirt 60 times since 2018, will be a part of the two qualifiers against Malta and Finland.

Each of SRH’s top six including debutant Aniket Verma struck at 200

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-2025

Ishan Kishan slammed his first IPL hundred•BCCI

New IPL season. Same-old Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). They looked to launch every ball into orbit and threatened to hit 300 for the first time in the IPL. They eventually fell 14 short of 300, and just one short of their own record of the highest IPL total.Ishan Kishan, SRH’s new recruit, marked his franchise debut with a 45-ball century – his first in the IPL. Kishan is an upgrade over their previous No.3, Rahul Tripathi, and seamlessly slotted into SRH’s sixy batting line-up.Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma had laid the platform with a 45-run opening partnership off just 19 balls. The stand ended when Maheesh Theekshana hid the ball away from Abhishek’s reach and had him caught at point for 24 off 11 balls. The assault was so unfettered that SRH forced Rajasthan Royals (RR) into doing death bowling from the powerplay onwards. SRH plundered 94 in the first six overs, the fifth-highest powerplay total in the IPL.Head continued his boundary-hitting spree along with Kishan in an 85-run stand off 38 balls. During that period, it appeared like 300 was within SRH’s reach.Kishan announced himself with back-to-back fours off mystery spinner Theekshana and went onto bring up his fifty off 25 balls. He needed only 20 more balls for his hundred.Head had also looked good for a century of his own until Tushar Deshpande struck in his first over and had him holing out for 67 off 31 balls. Nitish Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen also joined the fun as SRH kept finding or clearing the boundaries.Each of SRH’s top six, including IPL debutant Aniket Verma struck at over 200. Jofra Archer had a rough return to the IPL, coming away with 4-0-76-0, the most expensive spell in the IPL.

It is fair to say that the deadline day of the summer transfer window at the start of this month did not go exactly to plan for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers.

The Hoops wanted to make several additions to their forward line heading into the day, and allowed Adam Idah to sign for Swansea City on a permanent deal.

Sebastian Tounekti arrived from Hammarby on a permanent deal to add to the manager’s options on the right wing, but they did not land a striker or a right winger.

Celtic were reportedly interested in a deal to sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on loan from Crystal Palace, only for him to remain at Selhurst Park. Meanwhile, the club made a £10m offer to sign Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht, but lost the race for his signature to Dutch giants Ajax.

Missing out on those deals meant that the Scottish Premiership giants had to dip into the free agent market to tempt Kelechi Iheanacho into a reunion with Rodgers at Parkhead, having worked with him at Leicester City in England.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not the former Manchester City centre-forward will be a success in Glasgow, it was a blow for the Hoops to miss out on Dolberg.

Why missing out on Kasper Dolberg was a blow for Celtic

Missing out on a deal to sign the Denmark international from Anderlecht on deadline day was a big blow for Celtic because he could have been the main number nine for the club this season.

As aforementioned, Idah’s move to Swansea left the Hoops in need of a new centre-forward. Dolberg’s form in Belgium in recent seasons suggests that he could have been the perfect replacement.

The new Ajax signing scored 44 goals in 96 appearances in all competitions for Anderlecht, per Transfermarkt, and started the current campaign with a return of five goals in nine games.

Dolberg’s output in the Belgian Pro League in the 2024/25 campaign in comparison to Idah’s in the Premiership, in particular, illustrates the gulf in class between the two.

24/25 season	Dolberg (Pro League)	Idah (Premiership)
Appearances (starts)	31 (30)	35 (19)
xG	16.70	N/A
Goals	18	13
Conversion rate	22%	17%
Goals from outside the box	3	2
Assists	2	0
Duel success rate	50%	41%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old marksman could have arrived at Parkhead as a big upgrade on the Ireland international to provide Rodgers with a lethal and reliable centre-forward option this season.

Instead, Celtic have had to take a gamble on Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored four goals in 26 matches in all competitions last season for Sevilla and Middlesbrough combined, per Sofascore.

Therefore, Celtic’s failure to get a deal over the line for Dolberg on deadline day last week was, ultimately, a big blow because of his quality and because of the gamble they have had to make as a result of that failure.

The club’s options in the number nine position could have looked a lot different, though, because they once had a striker on trial who is now worth more than £20m more than the £10m they bid on Dolberg.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson, who is currently loan at Roma, previously revealed that he had trials with the Scottish giants in his younger days.

Celtic missed out on Evan Ferguson

When asked last October if Celtic had tried to sign him in recent seasons, the striker said: “No, nothing. I went on a few trials when I was younger.”

The young marksman played for St. Kevins Boys and Bohemians in Ireland before his move to Brighton’s academy in 2021, but it is unclear as to when he went on trials with the Hoops, whether it was just before his move to Brighton or before his move to Bohemians.

Either way, Celtic will rue the fact that they missed out on bringing him over to Glasgow, whether it was their decision or his, because he is now a top striker prospect who is an incredibly valuable asset.

Ferguson scored 18 goals in 39 matches for Brighton at U21 level, per Transfermarkt, before being thrust into first-team action at the age of 17. He was valued at just £519k by Transfermarkt when he made that step up.

The Ireland international has scored 17 goals in 80 first-team matches for Brighton, but he may not get a chance to add to that tally because Roma reportedly have an option to sign him on a permanent basis for a fee of roughly £35m, which shows how much his value has soared in recent years.

Ferguson, who scored against Hungary for Ireland last weekend, scored two goals in two games for his country during the current international break, but is still looking for his first competitive goal for Roma.

Evan Ferguson’s Premier League career
Season	xG	Goals	Differential
22/23	5.67	6	+0.33
23/24	3.97	6	+2.03
24/25	1.36	1	-0.36
Total	10.29	13	+1.89
Stats via UnderStat

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old marksman’s finishing quality in the Premier League for Brighton suggests that he will score goals for the Italian side if they provide him with enough chances.

Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker compared him to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland during the 2023/24 campaign, saying: “I do see a hint of Haaland about him, his stature, his movement, his youth and stuff like that.”

That was an incredibly high praise from Lineker, a former striker himself, and it came off the back of Ferguson scoring six goals in the Premier League as a teenage centre-forward, which is partly why he is such a valuable young player, because he has proven himself in a major European league.

Now, he is worth £35m, £25m more than the £10m that Celtic were willing to pay for Dolberg, and the Hoops could do with a talented striker like him in their current squad after their deadline day woes.

Brown 2.0: Celtic have their next number 8 in the making & it's not Nygren

Celtic may have their next Scott Brown in the making and it is not Benjamin Nygren.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 6, 2025

خاض فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، مباراته في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26، مساء يوم السبت ضد نظيره برينتفورد.

واستضاف ملعب “جتيش كوميونتي ستاديوم” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وبرينتفورد في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث خسر حامل اللقب بثلاثة أهداف لهدفين. أهداف مباراة ليفربول وبرينتفورد في الدوري الإنجليزي

واهتزت شباك ليفربول بعد مرور خمس دقائق فقط من بداية الشوط الأول، عن طريق رمية تماس حيث وصلت الكرة إلى منطقة الجزاء، ومررها كريستوفر أيير ووصلت إلى زميله دانجو واتارا الذي سددها في المرمى.

واصطدم محمد صلاح بزميله السابق، حارس مرمى فريق برينتفورد، كيليهر، بعدما حاول ملاحقة الكرة التي مررها ناحيته كودي جاكبو، ولكن المصري لم يتمكن من السيطرة على نفسه واصطدم بالأيرلندي في الدقيقة العاشرة.

وكاد فلوريان فيرتز أن يسجل هدف التعادل لصالح ليفربول، في الدقيقة 20، بعدما سدد كرة أرضية زاحفة، ولكنها مرت بجوار قائم مرمى برينتفورد.

واضطر مدرب برينتفورد إلى إجراء تبديل في الدقيقة 28 بسبب إصابة اللاعب يهور يارموليوك، حيث نزل مكانه زميله فيتالي جانيلت.

وكانت البطاقة الصفراء الأولى في تلك المباراة من نصيب لاعب ليفربول، ميلوس كيركيز، بعدما ارتكب خطأً تجاه أحد لاعبي برينتفورد.

وتألق حارس مرمى فريق ليفربول، مامارداشفيلي، حيث تصدى لتسديدة خطيرة قوية من خارج المنطقة، في الدقيقة 39.

وطالب ليفربول بضربة جزاء في الدقيقة 44 بداعِ وجود خطأ ضد جاكبو، ولكن الحكم رفض احتساب أي شيء، ليتواصل اللعب.

وقام برينتفورد بهجمة مرتدة سريعة في الدقيقة 45، والتي تُرجمت إلى هدف ثاني سجله اللاعب كيفن شايد، وسط أداء دفاعي سيئ للغاية من جانب حامل اللقب.

وقبل نهاية الشوط الأول، تمكن ليفربول من تقليص الفارق بعدما سجل ميلوس كيركيز الهدف الأول، بعد تمريرة من هوجو إيكتيكي.

وتأخر انطلاق الشوط الثاني من عمر المباراة بسبب عدم قدرة الحكم سيمون هوبر على استكمال اللقاء، حيث تبين معاناته من شيء ما دون إيضاحه، ليتقرر استبداله بالحكم الرابع.

وأنقذ مامارداشفيلي مرمى ليفربول في الدقيقة 53، بعدما خرج في الوقت المناسب وتصدى لتسديدة خطيرة، كادت أن تهز شباك الريدز، وتألق من جديد وتصدى لفرصة في الدقيقة 56.

وتحصل محمد صلاح على بطاقة صفراء، في الدقيقة 56، لارتكابه خطأ ضد لاعب برينتفورد.

وفي الدقيقة 60، اُحتسبت ضربة جزاء لصالح برينتفورد، ونفذها لاعب الفريق تياجو بنجاح، ليحولها إلى هدف ثالث لأصحاب الأرض، وسط حسرة من جانب لاعبي ليفربول.

وقرر المدرب آرني سلوت إجراء عدة تبديلات، حيث دفع بكل من كييزا، ماك أليستر وروبرتسون في الدقيقة 62، بدلًا من جاكبو، برادلي وكيركيز، قبل دفع بالشاب ريو نجوموها في الدقيقة 70 بعدما عانى كورتيس جونز من إصابة.

وتمكن النجم المصري محمد صلاح من تسجيل هدف لصالح ليفربول في الدقيقة 89، بمهارة رائعة، لتزداد إثارة المباراة في دقائقها الأخيرة، خاصة مع احتساب 7 دقائق كوقت بدلَا من الوقت الضائع، ويستمر اللقاء إلى الدقيقة 100.

ولكن كل ذلك الوقت لم يغير من النتيجة أي شيء، لتنتهي المباراة بخسارة رابعة متتالية لصالح ليفربول في الدوري الإنجليزي ويتجمد رصيده عند 15 نقطة ويتراجع إلى المركز السادس، بينما ارتفع رصيد برينتفورد إلى 13 نقطة في المركز العاشر.

Nottingham Forest are now into their fourth season of Premier League football after qualifiying for the Europa League during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Reds do fork out an eye-catching amount when it comes to salaries, though. In fact, their annual payroll stands at £93,210,000 with an average yearly wage for a first team player standing at just under £3m. Here’s Nottingham Forest’s best-paid players from the 2025/26 season. All earnings are based on reports via Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

1

Douglas Luiz

£135,000

£7,020,000

2

Oleksandr Zinchenko

£120,000

£6,240,000

3

Morgan Gibbs-White

£110,000

£5,720,000

4

Nikola Milenkovic

£105,000

£5,460,000

=5

Chris Wood

£90,000

£4,680,000

=5

Callum Hudson-Odoi

£90,000

£4,608,000

7

Dan Ndoye

£85,000

£4,420,000

=8

Ibrahim Sangare

£75,000

£3,900,000

=8

Murillo

£75,000

£3,900,000

10

Dilane Bakwa

£70,000

£3,640,000

11

Neco Williams

£65,000

£3,380,000

=12

Arnaud Kalimuendo

£60,000

£3,120,000

=12

Ola Aina

£60,000

£3,120,000

14

Omari Hutchinson

£55,000

£2,860,000

=15

Ryan Yates

£50,000

£2,600,000

=15

Taiwo Awoniyi

£50,000

£2,600,000

=15

Igor Jesus

£50,000

£2,600,000

18

Nicolo Savona

£45,000

£2,340,000

=19

Willy Boly

£40,000

£2,080,000

=19

Elliot Anderson

£40,000

£2,080,000

=19

John Victor

£40,000

£2,080,000

=19

Matz Sels

£40,000

£2,080,000

=19

James McAtee

£40,000

£2,080,000

=24

Nicolas Dominguez

£35,000

£1,820,000

=24

Cuiabano

£35,000

£1,820,000

=24

Jair Cunha

£35,000

£1,820,000

=24

Morato

£35,000

£1,820,000

28

Angus Gunn

£30,000

£1,560,000

29

Omar Richards

£15,000

£780,000

30

Zach Abbott

£12,500

£650,000

31

Tyler Bindon

£5,000

£260,000

Here's a detailed look at Nottingham Forest's top 10 earners… 10 Dilane Bakwa £70,000 per week

One of many to sign for Nottingham Forest in 2025, Dilane Bakwa arrived at the City Ground after impressing in France with Strasbourg.

The winger signed a five-year deal with the Reds on deadline day, earning £3.64m a season.

9 Murillo £75,000 per week

Murillo has proven to be an excellent signing for Nottingham Forest after joining back in 2023.

A number of European giants were circling for the Brazilian defender, however, he signed a new improved five-year deal to stay with Forest in 2025.

8 Ibrahim Sangare £75,000 per week

Ibrahim Sangare was Forest’s record signing when he joined from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, signing a five-year deal worth £75,000 per week.

The Ivory Coast international only made 17 Premier League appearances in his first full campaign and 13 in his second season, though.

7 Dan Ndoye £85,000 per week

Dan Ndoye signed for Nottingham Forest from Serie A side Bologna after the Reds qualified for the Europa League.

Costing around £34m, the Switzerland international signed a five-year deal and is in line to recieve a total of £22.1m in wages during his time at the club.

6 Callum Hudson-Odoi £90,000 per week

Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi also picks up an eye-catching £90,000 per week, with Forest landing the attacker from Chelsea for an initial £3m in 2023.

That has proven to be a shrewd signing so far, with the Englishman chipping in with numerous goals and assists with his direct play.

5 Chris Wood £90,000 per week

Chris Wood initially joined on loan from Newcastle United in 2023, with that move becoming permanent months later after Forest remained in the Premier League.

The New Zealand international has used all of his experience to become first choice and is now the club’s all-time record scorer in the Premier League.

4 Nikola Milenkovic £105,000 per week

2024 signing Nikola Milenkovic swapped Fiorentina for Forest and was a regular during his first season at the City Ground alongside Murillo.

The Serbia international is under contract until 2029.

3 Morgan Gibbs-White £110,000 per week

Arguably one of Nottingham Forest’s most important players, Morgan Gibbs-White has gone from strength to strength after swapping Wolves for Forest following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

He nearly signed for Tottenham in 2025, however, at the last minute, signed a new improved contract at the City Ground on £110,000 per week.

2 Oleksandr Zinchenko £120,000 per week

Oleksandr Zinchenko signed for Forest late in the 2025 summer transfer window after the club submitted a deal sheet just before the deadline.

The Ukraine international is on a season-long loan from Arsenal, with Forest paying him over £6m in wages for the year.

1 Douglas Luiz £135,000 per week

Another loanee at the City Ground and Nottingham Forest’s top earner is midfielder Douglas Luiz, who will pick up more than £7m in wages from the Reds.

The Brazilian made the move back to the Premier League from Juventus, and there is an obligation to make a move permanent if conditions are met.

Bruno Fernandes has claimed he always wanted to remain at Manchester United over the summer, despite being the target of a number of bids from clubs in the Saudi Pro League. The Red Devils' skipper also dismissed the suggestion that he opted to remain at the club so he would remain in his best shape for the World Cup, insisting both he and the club wanted him to stay in Manchester.

Fernandes never wanted to leave Old Trafford

Fernandes was strongly pursued by clubs in Saudi Arabia and lucrative contracts worth a staggering £33m ($45m) per year in wages were floated his way in an attempt to bring the attacking midfielder to the Middle East. Despite the mammoth money involved, the Portuguese international had no interest in making a switch away from Old Trafford, with some suggesting he wanted to be playing at a top level ahead of the World Cup next summer.

had claimed that Fernandes would be open to a move to the Saudi Pro League, MLS or another European league, but only after the tournament in 2026. The report suggested that the midfielder did not want any upheaval before such a major competition and so opted to stay at United for the 2025/26 campaign.

Arguably United’s best and most important player of the last five years, Fernandes could have sought a move away from the side that finished 15th in the Premier League last season. The Portuguese midfielder is still one of the division’s stand out players and would have been well within his rights to look for a club playing Champions League football or one which could have offered him a far heavier pay package.

Despite this, Fernandes has confirmed he had always planned on staying at United and added that the club had always wanted him to continue playing for them. Yet, his outward display of loyalty to the Red Devils was caveated by his confession that he has not closed the door on a move to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere completely.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited skipper leaves exit door ajar

Speaking to the media ahead of Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night, Fernandes responded to queries around his future. Asked initially whether the World Cup had been on his mind in the summer when considering his future, Fernandes quashed the idea that he was even looking at a potential move away from Old Trafford.

He said, via the : “I didn't close the door on moving to Saudi Arabia because of the World Cup. That was never in my mind. I wanted to stay at Manchester United, and the club wanted me to stay. That's all there is to it.”

Yet, Fernandes was not willing to be drawn into discussions over his future at the club beyond the current season and next summer’s major international tournament. The Red Devils’ captain said that nothing has been discussed with him regarding his future and that thinking about where he could be this time next year was, he said, “an impossible scenario to imagine.”

He added: “I like to enjoy the moment, and the most important thing for me now is representing the national team, because it's a source of enormous pride to be able to play tomorrow [Saturday], and I still don't know if I'll play, let alone if I'll leave Manchester United in a year.

“I'm happy where I am. Otherwise, I wouldn't have stayed, but it's something that doesn't affect me.”

Red Devils plight continues

Whether Fernandes is happy to continue battling in the lower reaches of the Premier League for much longer remains to be seen. Ruben Amorim’s team picked up the new campaign where they left the last and languish in mid-table, thanks to a run of inconsistent form and lacklustre performances.

The Portuguese midfielder has also seen his role change slightly and is now playing deeper as part of the central midfield pairing in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. Dropping Fernandes down the pitch in order to accommodate new signings Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko has not helped the captain’s form either.

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Getty ImagesWorld Cup qualification beckons for Portugal

It may not have impacted his decision over a transfer, but the World Cup will be in the back of Fernandes’ mind for the rest of the season. 2026 will likely be the final opportunity for a generation of some of the nation’s greatest players, including Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo.

They take on Ireland knowing that victory will put them well on their way to achieving qualification, with another win against Hungary on Tuesday ensuring their place at the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico next June.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a strong start to the Thomas Frank era, and a win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday would consolidate the feel-good feeling down N17.

However, Bournemouth claimed themselves three points when visiting north London earlier this year, and Spurs failed to make their dominance count in a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex last week, albeit pulling back from a two-goal deficit.

No such stumbles can be afforded in this one, though Wolves languish in the division’s bottom spot and without a point on the board.

And, moreover, the in-form Richarlison is up against one of his favourite opponents once again.

Richarlison could be key vs Wolves

Dominic Solanke has scarcely had a sniff throughout the opening weeks of the Premier League season, with his injury issues compounded by Richarlison’s resounding form.

The Brazilian, 28, was rumoured to be on the move after lifting the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou, but here he remains, and he’s repaying the faith, with three goals and one assist from four appearances in the top flight so far.

Pundit Alan Shearer has praised the one-time Everton striker for his “phenomenal” start to the campaign, having struggled for form and with injuries over the previous two years in white.

And it would hardly be a surprise to see him continue his purple patch against the Old Gold.

Richarlison: Favourite Opponents

Opponent

Apps

Goals

Wolves

12

6

Leicester

15

6

Everton

7

5

Southampton

12

5

Leicester

13

5

Data via Transfermarkt

Supplementing Richarlison, Xavi Simons might be gunning for a starting berth on the left flank after a promising start to life in London, the 22-year-old playmaker joining from RB Leipzig for £51m in the summer.

However, Frank should unleash Brennan Johnson if he wants to ensure victory against a Wolves backline that is currently there for the taking.

Why Frank should unleash Brennan Johnson

It was Johnson, 24, who bundled in the winning goal as Tottenham defeated Manchester United to lift the Europa League, and after scoring in successive league matches to start the Premier League season, it looked like he might be taking his game to the next level.

However, he was hooked before the hour mark against the Cherries, having made some poor decisions and drifted through a painful defeat. The Welshman is yet to return to the starting line-up.

However, he scored 18 times across all competitions last year and has a natural instinct for goal to combine with his “frightening” pace, as noted by content creator HLTCO, who also described the versatile winger as a “nightmare to defend against”.

With Richarlison seemingly determined to star as Tottenham’s chief goal-getter this term, Johnson could add an impactful dimension by taking his place back on the left flank, ranked as he is among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

And that’s not to say that Simons cannot enter the fray and make an impression, perhaps operating from deep, pulling strings and opening up passing lanes for the goalscoring duo if the Lilywhites need to press for a late winner.

In any case, Tottenham have plenty of tools to secure all three points against struggling Wolves.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Sep 26, 2025