Tag Futebol

Chelsea have now reportedly launched their first move to re-sign Antonio Rudiger in what would be a sensational return for the experienced central defender.

It’s no real surprise that the Blues have set their sights on more experience. As impressive as their young squad is, it is still exactly that – young. Enzo Maresca has already suffered the consequences of an inexperienced side at times this season, with Chelsea too inconsistent to seriously challenge for the Premier League title but good enough to secure a top four place.

Against Wolverhampton Wanderers, that quality was on full show as goals from Malo Gusto, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto wrapped up a comfortable 3-0 defeat. In the same week, however, Chelsea drew 2-2 with Qarabag in a game they should have comfortably won – highlighting their inconsistencies once again.

The addition of a serial, experienced winner could be the missing piece to the puzzle – particularly within Maresca’s backline. The Blues have suffered a number of injuries and suspensions within their back four this season, leaving Maresca with little choice but to come up with internal solutions.

Against Qarabag, 19-year-old Jorrel Hato especially struggled, begging the question as to whether he’s ready to be thrown into the current Chelsea side. Maresca defended his decision to rotate in midweek, but admitted that young players need the chance to make mistakes.

The Italian told reporters: “They are talented, they are young. When they are young you have to give them chance to make mistakes.”

Still, the question of experience will remain and as Rudiger’s contract continues to tick down at Real Madrid, the Blues could have the ultimate solution to their problems lying in wait.

Rudiger makes Real Madrid decision as Chelsea come calling

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea have now made contact with Rudiger over a return to the club in 2026 when he’s set to become a free agent at the end of his Real Madrid contract.

Alas, whilst Rudiger does love the West London club, his preference is to extend with Real Madrid and stay put. Leaving the ball in the Spanish side’s court, the German has less than nine months to get his wish.

If that contract doesn’t arrive, then Chelsea should come swooping in. Rudiger is a two-time Champions League winner these days and one of the most experienced defenders around at 32 years old. He’s led the Blues before and would comfortably do it again.

Chelsea star criticised vs Wolves after having fewer touches than Sanchez

The summer signing endured a tough time against the Old Gold.

1 ByJames O'Reilly Nov 8, 2025

Having previously written in the Players’ Tribune that Chelsea will always be “in his heart”, a return to Stamford Bridge could be the perfect way for Rudiger to close out an excellent career.

Whether Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso will let him leave that easily is another question, though. The Spaniard previously reiterated that the German is “very reliable” and losing that for the cost of nothing next summer is something that the La Liga giants should want to avoid.

Chelsea "actively in talks" over signing "very mature" England international

Sean Dyche was once part of a bust-up involving Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, and his comments on the situation have now emerged after taking over as the Reds’ new manager.

Dyche takes the reins as Forest manager following Ange exit

Having proven his ability to come in and stablise clubs during his time with Everton, Dyche has now taken charge at Forest, following a disastrous spell under the helm of Ange Postecoglou, with the Australian failing to win in eight games and lasting just 39 days.

The former Everton man’s first day on the training ground was Tuesday, with the new boss commencing preparations for Thursday’s tough test in the Europa League, as the Tricky Trees take on FC Porto at the City Ground.

Speaking after his return, the 54-year-old made it clear that he has a lot of love for his former club, saying: “I’ve often spoken about my affection for the Club, having started my career here under the great Brian Clough. I didn’t quite make it to the first team, but I have such fond memories from around the place — and hearing the boss’ voice in the distance.”

However, it remains to be seen how the ex-Nottingham Forest youth player finds working with Marinakis, given that the owner’s public falling out with Nuno led to the Portuguese manager’s departure earlier this season.

The Forest owner is known for his fiery temper, having been seen arguing with Nuno on the pitch near the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and The Sun report he was part of a bust-up involving Dyche after Burnley’s Europa League match with Olympiacos in 2018.

Heading into half-time at 1-1, Marinakis reportedly confronted the referees in the tunnel. Shortly after the break, Olympiacos restored their lead and Burnley’s Ben Gibson was sent off, leaving Dyche fuming.

The former Burnley manager’s comments from the time are eye opening: “I don’t know how many people ran on the pitch and surrounded the referee and linesman. The feel of the game changed in the second half, you’re left scratching your head.

“At half-time, there were plenty of people waiting for the ref in the tunnel.

“It wasn’t just the bench, it was people from the offices, even the tea lady! That’s a joke, of course, but it felt like everyone was piling on.”

Dyche has big task on his hands at Forest

Marinakis will no doubt be very frustrated Forest have been unable to kick on since sealing a return to Europe last season, especially considering how much he backed Nuno in the summer transfer window, spending around £206m.

However, having failed to win since the opening day of the campaign, the Tricky Trees have to be considered relegation candidates, with home defeats against a struggling West Ham United side and newly-promoted Sunderland particularly concerning.

Immediate concern for Dyche at Nottingham Forest after Marinakis decision

It probably isn’t what the new manager wanted to hear.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025

Dyche is known for making a statement in his first match in charge of a new club, however, defeating then league leaders Arsenal 1-0 in his opening game as Everton boss, and the new Forest manager will be hoping for a similar start against Porto on Thursday.

خاض لاعبو الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، فقرة بدنية قوية تحت إشراف الجهاز الفني للأبيض، خلال مران اليوم الثلاثاء، الذي أقيم على ملعب قصر الإمارات استعدادًا لمواجهة بيراميدز في نصف نهائي بطولة السوبر المصري.

وركز الجهاز الفني خلال الفقرة على رفع الحمل البدني في إطار البرنامج الموضوع للاعبين لتجهيزهم للقاء بيراميدز المقبل.

كما خصص الجهاز الفني مجموعة من الفقرات الفنية والخططية للاعبين، خلال التدريبات الجماعية.

طالع|خاص | السبب الحقيقي وراء إيقاف قيد الزمالك

وحرص الجهاز الفني للفريق بقيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف على تنفيذ العديد من الجمل الفنية خلال المران، وتصحيح بعض الأخطاء التي ظهرت خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

ويترأس بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك في الإمارات، المهندس هشام نصر نائب رئيس النادي.

ويستعد فريق الزمالك لمواجهة نظيره بيراميدز، يوم الخميس المقبل على ستاد آل نهيان في أبوظبي في نصف نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

وجاءت قائمة الزمالك لبطولة السوبر كالتالي:

حراسة المرمى : محمد صبحي – محمد عواد – مهدي سليمان.

خط الدفاع : عمر جابر – بارون أوشينج – محمود حمدي “الونش” – حسام عبد المجيد – محمد إسماعيل – صلاح مصدق  – أحمد فتوح – محمود بنتايج.

خط الوسط : أحمد ربيع – محمد شحاتة – محمود جهاد – سيف جعفر – أحمد عبد الرحيم “إيشو” – عبد الله السعيد – أحمد حمدي – ناصر ماهر – عبد الحميد معالي – أحمد شريف – شيكو بانزا – خوان بيزيرا.

خط الهجوم : عدي الدباغ – سيف الجزيري – عمرو ناصر.

Stumps The two faces of India’s new generation of Test batters traded sparkling centuries to dominate England on the opening day at Headingley. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cruised to hundreds as opener and No. 4 respectively, shrugging off the absence of two modern greats whose retirements have vacated those roles: no Rohit Sharma, no Virat Kohli, no problem.Jaiswal plundered 712 runs in India’s home series against England 18 months ago; here, he provided further evidence of his adaptability. His century was a masterclass in off-side strokeplay: each of his 17 boundaries, including a vicious cut for six over cover, came on the off side, and he took only 48 balls to move from 50 to 100.But Gill’s innings, his first as captain, was even better. He embodied the tempo that he wants from his side, charging to his fastest half-century (off 56 balls) without offering a chance before cruising serenely to three figures. After lashing a cover drive for four to reach his sixth Test hundred, he bowed to a standing ovation from his team-mates on the dressing-room balcony.Related

• Stokes repents in late spell after India capitalise on England's bowl-first call

• Shubman Gill takes control to stamp authority as captain

• New era, no aura? Gill and Pant have other things to worry about

• Shubman Gill: the next big thing is king

• Yashasvi Jaiswal and an exceptional understanding of how to score runs

Gill said on the eve of the series that he would look to lead through his actions and “dominate” with the bat, and backed up his words with an innings that oozed authority. Having never previously made an impact in Tests outside Asia, he looked completely at home as he seized his chance to prove he is not only the future of India’s batting line-up, but the present too.It made for a long, painstaking day in the field for England’s bowlers, who must have rued Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first on winning the toss on an unusually hot day in Leeds. Stokes himself was the pick of the attack, strangling the debutant B Sai Sudharsan down the leg side on the stroke of lunch and knocking back Jaiswal’s off stump straight after tea.Stokes’ call was informed by the sense that there would be life in the pitch in the first session, but Jaiswal and KL Rahul did not entertain that notion. England’s seamers bowled reasonably full and attacked the off-stump channel but without success, their desperation summed up by a hugely optimistic lbw review when Josh Tongue hit Jaiswal on the pad from around the wicket.Yashasvi Jaiswal brings up his fifth Test hundred•Getty Images

Jaiswal occasionally played and missed, and was struck on the ribcage by a lifter from Brydon Carse, but Rahul looked totally unflustered as he punished width and half-volleys. It came as a shock when he finally offered a chance off a Carse outswinger, his thick outside edge flying straight to Joe Root at slip.Carse’s follow-up ball to Sai Sudharsan, India’s new No. 3, was a snorter which rapped him on the back thigh, and he soon fell into England’s trap. Stokes bowled the final over of the morning session with a leg slip and a leg gully, appealing unsuccessfully for a leg-side strangle with his third delivery; Sai Sudharsan duly obliged one ball later, feathering through to Jamie Smith.Gill started jumpily after lunch, scampering through for a tight single off his second ball and offering a run-out chance off his sixth. He worked Carse to the right of Ollie Pope at short midwicket, whose pick-up-and-throw would have found Gill short of his ground with a direct hit; instead, it ran away to the boundary for overthrows.It proved to be the only real chance of the middle session, though Carse might well have had Jaiswal lbw on review for 45 had he not overstepped. After an itchy start, Gill settled down and looked utterly unflappable for the rest of his innings: he made Chris Woakes look utterly innocuous after lunch, then reached a rapid half-century with a pull off Tongue.Ben Stokes has a few words for Rishabh Pant•Getty Images

Jaiswal battled cramp as he put his foot on the accelerator, marking Shoaib Bashir’s introduction to the attack by slicing his first ball away behind point and later dumping him back over his head for four. As he grew tired, he began to stand and deliver: he reached his hundred by belting Carse for consecutive fours, then snuck through for a single and raised his arms aloft.His innings ended soon after tea, as Stokes angled the ball away off the seam and pegged back the top of his off stump. But the respite was short-lived: Rishabh Pant, playing against England in Tests for the first time in three years, charged at his second ball and belted it over Stokes’ head for four. England’s captain could only laugh.Pant and Gill reined themselves in, allowing Bashir to settle into an economical, if largely unthreatening, spell of 21 unchanged overs from the Football Stand End. But Pant was never likely to wait for long, and started to take on the deep fielders: he nearly miscued a catch to Crawley at short midwicket, but comfortably cleared long-on with a towering straight six.Gill upped the tempo further after his rasping drive off Tongue to reach his century, short-arm pulling six over long leg. And England’s hopes that the second new ball would provide a breakthrough were quickly quashed as Pant toe-ended a slog-sweep through mid-on, then hoicked Woakes over midwicket for six in the final over of the day.

Glasgow Rangers chiefs Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell must work alongside the owners to find a new head coach to lead the Ibrox giants into a new era.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh and Vice-Chairman Paraag Marathe penned an open letter to supporters on Monday that explained that they will be heavily involved in finding the next manager, which shows that they are not hiding away and allowing others to be solely responsible for it.

A change was made in the dugout at Ibrox after the previous manager only won five of his 17 matches in charge of the Glasgow-based outfit, conceding 24 goals in that time.

German manager is keen on taking the Rangers job

The Light Blues bosses have two weeks to identify their new head coach because of the October international break, with their next game coming against Dundee United the Saturday after next.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

According to the Daily Record, Steven Gerrard has doubts about a return to Ibrox because of the quality of the squad and his desire to take some time away from management.

The same report, though, adds that former Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl would be keen on taking the Rangers job if offered the chance to get back into management.

It states that the German tactician and former Everton boss Sean Dyche would both be interested in landing the role, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers are keen on either of them.

Why Danny Rohl could be the next Steven Gerrard

Rangers took a big gamble when they appointed Gerrard in 2018 because he had only coached at youth team level, with Liverpool, and had not won anything as a senior manager.

However, he had a plethora of experience at the very top level of the game, as a player for Liverpool and then in an elite coaching environment at Liverpool’s academy, which helped him to instill a winning mentality that led to winning the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership title.

Rohl, whose work with Sheffield Wednesday was hailed as “outstanding” by reporter Phil Buckingham, could follow in Gerrard’s footsteps as another relatively unproven manager who has plenty of experience in elite environments.

The 36-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation (Transfermarkt), steered the Owls clear of relegation in both of his seasons at the helm in Yorkshire, but it is his posts before becoming a first-team manager that may attract Rangers to him.

Sheffield Wednesday

Manager

89

Germany national team

Assistant manager

25

Bayern Munich

Assistant manager

101

Southampton

Assistant manager

24

RB Leipzig

Assistant manager

83

RB Leipzig

Video analyst

15

RB Leipzig U17s

Assistant manager

29

As you can see in the table above, Rohl has worked for Bayern Munich, Germany, and RB Leipzig, which means that he has worked at some top clubs and one of the best footballing nations in the world.

Like Gerrard, he would arrive at Ibrox with a knowledge of how to win at an elite level, having been at Bayern, a winning machine, for over 100 matches as an assistant.

Rohl’s exceptional experiences as a coach in multiple elite environments have prepared him for management, as illustrated by Jack Hunt’s insight into his fantastic coaching ability during his time with Sheffield Wednesday.

The German head coach may not be a flashy or big-name appointment that is likely to excite supporters, given his lack of experience in senior management, but his overall career in the game and his impressive stint with the Owls suggest that he could be an excellent option.

Martin upgrade who's "similar to Postecoglou" in running for Rangers job

The Ibrox hierarchy are on the hunt to find an upgrade on Russell Martin at Rangers.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2025

Gerrard is, inarguably, the best Rangers manager in modern history, the only one to win a title since they returned to the Premiership, and Rohl could follow in his footsteps when you consider his coaching career.

Punjab Kings secured their second win in two matches having restricted their opponents to 171

Deivarayan Muthu01-Apr-20254:56

Knight: PBKS winning without overseas contributions a great sign

Punjab Kings (PBKS) bossed both the powerplays en route to their second successive win in IPL 2025. After opting to bowl on a fairly two-paced red-soil pitch, they left Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at 39 for 3 in six overs. Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni helped LSG overcome that poor start and post 171 for 7, which was a par score according to Nicholas Pooran, the holder of the orange cap.Pooran’s assessment, however, might have changed quickly after Prabhsimran Singh clattered a 23-ball half-century in the chase. Prabhsimran claimed 45 of the 62 runs PBKS had scored in the powerplay. There would be no way back for LSG, who suffered their second defeat in three games. Shreyas Iyer completed PBKS’ demolition job with an unbeaten 52 off 30 balls.Related

PBKS winning without overseas contributions shows 'real confidence', says Nick Knight

Zaheer: Looked like it was Punjab curator at our home game

Pant 'still figuring out a lot of things for the team'

PBKS make early inroadsThe first ball that Arshdeep Singh bowled to Mitchell Marsh stopped on him, seamed away from a leg-stump line, and had him skying a catch to Marco Jansen at short third. After having hit fifties in his first two innings this season, Marsh departed for a golden duck.Digvesh Rathi fined

LSG legspinner Digvesh Rathi has been fined 25% of his match fees and accumulated one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team’s match against PBKS on Tuesday. He admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 (using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player in the match) and accepted the match referee’s sanction.

It was Lockie Ferguson who shared new-ball duties with Arshdeep, ahead of Jansen. Ferguson usually operates with the older ball for New Zealand and various franchises, but PBKS inverted his role on Tuesday to take advantage of a match-up with Pooran. Before this fixture, and across all T20s, Ferguson had snared Pooran four times in 17 balls at a strike rate of 7.05.However, Ferguson ended up bowling just three balls to Pooran on the day. After being picked away for three fours by Aiden Markram, Ferguson bowled him via an inside edge for 28 off 18 balls.3:02

Is there anything missing in Prabhsimran’s game?

With two left-handers in the form of Pooran and Rishabh Pant in the middle, PBKS matched Glenn Maxwell’s offspin up with them. Maxwell removed Pant for the third time in four innings in the IPL. The IPL’s most expensive signing at INR 27 crore, Pant has managed just 17 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 65.38.Pooran, Samad, Badoni revive LSGDespite wickets falling at the other end, Pooran remained positive, hitting Maxwell for back-to-back fours in the seventh over. A cat-and-mouse game then ensued between Pooran and Yuzvendra Chahal. The wristspinner’s plan was to hide the ball away from the swinging arc of Pooran with wrong’uns. In his first over, Pooran cracked his wrong ‘uns away for a brace of fours, but in his next Chahal had Pooran holing out to wide long-off for 44 off 30 balls with a loopier wrong ‘un.When Jansen had his South African compatriot David Miller caught behind for 19 off 16 balls, LSG slipped further to 119 for 5 in the 16th over. Badoni and Samad then briefly changed the mood and tempo of the game with a 47-run partnership off only 21 balls. Samad had launched his first ball, from Jansen, for six after stepping out and then left jaws on the floor when he reverse-scooped Arshdeep over the keeper in the 18th over, which cost PBKS 20 runs. Arshdeep had both batters holing out in the final over, though, to keep PBKS below 180.2:13

Rapid Fire: How big a concern is Pant’s form?

Prabh powerPrabhsimran relishes pace on the ball and it was no different on Tuesday. Unlike the first innings, the ball skidded onto the bat in the second, with Prabhsimran ramping Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan for six and four respectively in the first two overs.Pant responded by throwing mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi at Prabhsimran and Priyansh Arya. Rathi created a chance with his second ball, but Marsh fluffed an overhead catch at slip. The drop, though, cost LSG just one run as Rathi had Arya caught by Thakur at mid-on for 8.Prabhsimran took down Ravi Bishnoi in the last over of the powerplay. He lined up his wrong ‘uns and slog-swept him with the turn over mid-on and square leg. He then greeted dart-it-in left-arm fingerspinner M Siddarth, who was picked ahead of Prince Yadav as LSG’s Impact Player, with a switch-hit four. He brought up his fifty in more sedate fashion with a tucked single.It felt like LSG needed something special to dismiss Prabhsimran. That something special was a tag-team catch near the boundary from Badoni and Bishnoi. He holed out for 69 off 34 balls.PBKS required 62 off 59 balls, which was enough for Iyer to knock off a fifty of his own. He forged an unbroken 67-run stand off 37 balls with Impact Player Nehal Wadhera to finish the job with more than three overs to spare.PBKS established themselves as the early pace-setters, alongside Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC), in IPL 2025 with two wins in two games.

The long-rumored clash between World Cup champions Argentina and Mexico is now set, according to AFA president Claudio Tapia. Tapia said in an interview that the teams will meet in early June, just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off with Javier Aguirre’s El Tri playing their first match of the tournament at Estadio Azteca.

Getty Images SportA highly-anticipated match

Tapia revealed that match with Mexico is one of two scheduled friendlies in June with a CONCACAF opponent, with Honduras being the other, as part of their final tune-ups for the tournament. 

“Although we still need to finalize the March date, we have confirmed the June friendlies before the World Cup, which will be against Mexico and Honduras. We’ll play them here in the United States, stadiums still to be determined,” Tapia told Ole. 

While the Mexican Football Federation has yet to make an official announcement, all indications point to the deal being finalized soon.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhere will it be played?

The clash will take place on U.S. soil rather than in Mexico, though the exact host city remains undecided. With this matchup, Mexico will potentially square off against two of the greatest players of the era – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – in their final preparations before the World Cup. Messi has previously mentioned he is unsure he will participate in next year's tournament. And neither Mexico nor Portugal have yet to confirm they will play each other, but it has been reported that the two sides will meet in a March friendly. 

Getty Images SportMexico's record against Argentina

Argentina have largely dominated the matchup against El Tri, with a record of 16 wins, 12 draws, and four losses against the CONCACAF side. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPOctober friendlies ahead for Mexico

Mexico will face Colombia on Oct. 11 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of the upcoming FIFA window. Four days later, on Oct. 15, El Tri will take on Ecuador at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

West Ham United are on the hunt for a new attacker this summer. After losing Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur for £55m, the Hammers have money to reinvest.

Graham Potter will no doubt be desperate for his side to improve on their 14th place finish, and begin ot make real strides.

Kudus might not be the only major outgoing of the summer, with star midfielder Lucas Paqueta also linked with a move away. Manchester City are said to be interested in the Brazilian, in a deal that could end up being worth just £45m.

So, the Hammers might need to strengthen in attack more than they may have initially thought at the start of the window. Already, there are a few links being banded about.

West Ham’s latest transfer targets

The Hammers are certainly looking to bring some new attacking threat to the London Stadium this summer. One player who has been earmarked for a move to the club is Southampton youngster Matheus Fernandes, who could cost as much as £50m.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, it is not just the Portuguese star who could switch to East London. According to Simon Jones of The Mail, the Hammers are one of the Premier League sides who have ‘shown interest’ in signing Liverpool and Scotland winger Ben Doak before the window slams shut in just over three weeks.

However, this will not be an easy deal to do. Potter’s side are set to face strict competition with top-flight rivals Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers for the winger.

Liverpool could ask for as much as £20m to let the youngster go permanently this summer.

Why Doak would be a good signing

At just 19 years of age, Doak boasts a big reputation. The winger, who was born in Dalry, is already an international for Scotland and has six caps to his name. Last term, he spent time on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough, where he thrived.

The former Celtic star, who made two appearances for the Bhoys at senior level, experienced his first full campaign of professional football for Boro. He played 24 times, scoring seven goals and grabbing three assists.

His underlying numbers from the Championship last season show just how much of a threat he was going forward.

For example, the 19-year-old averaged 2.23 key passes and 1.77 take-ons per 90 minutes, which placed him in the top 5% and 19% of wingers in the second-tier last term.

With that kind of attacking threat, he could become the most exciting player West Ham have had on their books since Dimitri Payet.

The Frenchman was “above anyone else” whom Mark Noble played with during his illustrious 18-year-long career with the Hammers.

Indeed, he was a special player, known for his quick feet, bags of tricks, and ability to score spectacular goals.

He only played 60 times for the club, but scored 15 and assisted 22 in that time, becoming a true West Ham icon.

With the talent that Doak possesses, it is easy to see how he could go on to become the Hammers’ best player since Payet departed back in 2017.

As football scout Antiono Mango once said, the forward can be a “menace” at his absolute best.

The way the play is similar, with both players looking to take defenders on and create bags of chances. Doak’s numbers from last term have already been highlighted, but Payet’s 2.2 successful dribbles and four key passes each game in his debut Premier League season, as per Sofascore, show just how deadly he was.

For just £20m, this is a hugely exciting deal for the Hammers. Signing Doak would be a big statement given his huge potential. The excitement he would bring to the London Stadium might not have been seen since the days Payet donned Claret and Blue.

Dream Fernandes alternative: West Ham in talks to sign "goalscoring CM"

West Ham could sign a dream alternative to Fernandes.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 12, 2025

The Mexican goalkeeper had been a free agent after his deal with Burgos FC collapsed

• Seventh club in Europe for the veteran keeper
• Still chasing a sixth World Cup appearance
• His move to Burgos fell apart weeks ago

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After months of uncertainty, Guillermo Ochoa finally has a new home. The legendary Mexican goalkeeper has signed with AEL Limassol in Cyprus, the club confirmed on social media on Thursday.

  In a short video shared on Instagram Stories, AEL showcased some of Ochoa’s most memorable saves throughout his career, presenting him as one of the top shot-stoppers of his generation.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The move gives Ochoa his eighth club overall and seventh in European football. For the 40-year-old, it’s not just about extending his career – it’s also about proving he can still perform at the highest level as he aims for a record sixth World Cup appearance in 2026.

• AFP
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Over the years, Ochoa has played across some of Europe’s most competitive leagues. His résumé includes stints with AC Ajaccio in France, Málaga CF and Granada CF in Spain, Standard Liège in Belgium, Salernitana in Italy, and most recently AVS Futebol in Portugal.

  Now, with AEL Limassol, he adds Cyprus to the long list of countries where he’s left his mark.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

  In the October FIFA international window, Mexico will face Colombia on Oct. 11th at AT&T Stadium, followed by a clash with Ecuador on Oct. 14th in Guadalajara.

In an attempt to kickstart what has been a quiet summer transfer window, Aston Villa have now reportedly entered the race to sign a Bundesliga winner ahead of rival interest from West Ham United.

Aston Villa's difficult summer

When they failed to defeat Manchester United to secure Champions League football on the final day of the season, it was always going to be a difficult summer for Aston Villa. Their European fortunes ensured that they would have to face up to their PSR struggles and endure a window without spending big unless a number of stars went in the other direction.

To that end, the Villans have so far prioritised keeping hold of current stars rather than going in search of fresh faces. There has been interest in both Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez, for example, but the stance in the Midlands has remained ‘not for sale’. Whether that changes as Villa become desperate to act in the market remains to be seen, however.

The signings that have arrived, meanwhile, are young centre-back Yasin Ozcan, who is unlikely to break into Unai Emery’s best side at this stage, and backup goalkeeper Marco Bizot. To say Villa’s window has so far lacked excitement would be an understatement.

With a month remaining until the window slams shut though, that could yet change. The transfer rumours are still coming thick and fast even as those at Villa Park look to navigate PSR.

Among those mentioned has been Lois Openda. The RB Leipzig forward, whether in years to come or this summer if Manchester United get their wish, would be the perfect replacement for Watkins and an excellent signing.

The same can be said for another Bundesliga star too, as Aston Villa set their sights on getting their summer up and running at long last.

Aston Villa firmly in the mix to sign Adli

As reported by Caught Offside, Aston Villa are now firmly in the mix to sign Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen this summer. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder reportedly wants to leave the German club in search of consistent minutes and, although West Ham hold concrete interest, Villa could yet hijack the Hammers’ move.

Related Duran 2.0: Aston Villa in contact with “one of the best strikers in the PL”

Aston Villa have an opportunity to land their next Jhon Duran by signing this attacking menace.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Aug 1, 2025

Valued at around €25m (£22m), Adli’s arrival would likely keep Aston Villa within the lines of PSR whilst handing Emery a much-needed boost in the form of a Bundesliga winner.

Labelled a “sensational talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in 2022, Adli still has every chance of reaching that level again by joining Aston Villa and Emery. The midfielder has experience at the very top level as a title winner and, at just £22m, could quickly become an undeniable bargain this summer.