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Cristiano Ronaldo will play on with Portugal for “as long as he wants”, says Ricardo Carvalho, with the 40-year-old frontman expected to lead his country at the 2026 World Cup. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has earned 223 caps, remains available for international duty after signing a two-year contract extension with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr.

• When did Ronaldo make his international debut?

  Ronaldo made his senior international debut in 2003 when ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid defender Carvalho was still part of Portugal’s playing ranks. He is now working alongside Roberto Martinez in a coaching capacity.

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  Three trophies: Ronaldo's international honours

  Said role has allowed him to reunite with Ronaldo, who has helped Portugal to European Championship glory and two UEFA Nations League crowns over the course of his record-shattering career.

• No end in sight for evergreen Ronaldo

  There is no sign of the evergreen striker slowing down, with Carvalho telling when asked when the end will be reached by CR7: “I feel like it will be as long as he wants. The truth is, he's earned so much credit over all these years… And I think he's doing well, which is the most important thing.

  “It helps; you feel like he's part of the team, and you feel like he can help. Coach Roberto, especially, had all the merit in bringing him back to the national team after the 2022 World Cup. The coach's feeling, in the meetings we've had, is that Cristiano will be capable of making it to the World Cup.

  “I have no idea how long he can go, if there's a limit or not, but we're all very happy that he's our captain and leading the team the way he has.”

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  Next captain: Portugal have plenty of leaders

  Questions have been asked of whether Ronaldo should be figuring as prominently for Portugal as he does, with the captain’s armband still being passed in his direction, but Carvalho has no concerns in that department. He added: “We have good leaders. Cristiano knows he'll eventually lose this fight against time. He feels good and is an important part of the team. I think he's taking it day by day right now.

  “Then we have players who play for big clubs, who are champions. They already lead their teams, they have experience, and they'll surely be able to lead in their own way. Cristiano leads in his own way; he's grown a lot over the years, since he started with me in 2003-04. The most important thing is that the national team is well-stocked with talent and good leaders.”

Aston Villa have now submitted an offer for an “elusive” forward, with his current club open to a sale at the right price, according to a report.

Villa keen on new forward amid Man Utd's Watkins interest

Villa may have a battle on their hands trying to keep hold of Ollie Watkins this summer, given that the England international has attracted widespread interest from elsewhere, and Manchester United are becoming increasingly keen on a deal.

Ruben Amorim’s side have whittled their striker search down to just two targets, and Watkins is one of them, with the Red Devils of the belief they could be able to get a deal over the line for a relatively low sum.

Having also lost Jhon Duran in the January transfer window, there will be a serious need to bring in a new centre-forward if Watkins moves on this summer, and Unai Emery also remains keen on bringing in a new winger.

According to a report, Aston Villa have now submitted a €20m (£17m) offer for Galatasaray forward Baris Alper Yilmaz, and they have since been slowly increasing their proposal in increments of €1m to €2m.

However, Villa may have to increase their bid significantly if they are to tempt the Turkish club into a sale, as they are thought to be holding out for a fee of €40m (£35m).

Aston Villa now stepping up efforts to sign "incredible" £30m Brazilian ace

There has been a development in Villa’s pursuit of a midfielder, who is also being targeted by Leeds United.

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 29, 2025

Should an offer in that region arrive, Galatasaray could be tempted to cash-in, but the Villans are not the only Premier League club in the race for his signature, with Nottingham Forest also named as potential suitors.

"Elusive" Yilmaz could be exciting signing for Villa

If Watkins departs, Emery may have to bring in multiple forwards to make up for the Englishman’s attacking contributions, and the Galatasaray star was regularly among the goals last season, picking up 12 goals and three assists in the Turkish Super Lig.

Not only is the 25-year-old a real threat going forward, but he is clearly a very well-rounded player, having performed well from a defensive point of view over the past year, while proving himself as an aerial threat.

Virgil Van Dijk has also made it clear how difficult he has found it to defend against the Turk in the past, saying: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us.”

As a result, Yilmaz could be an exciting acquistion for Villa, but they may need to increase their offer significantly to tempt Galatasaray into a sale.

Fenerbahce president Ali Koc revealed that Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu had agreed to join the club in the summer. The revelation comes despite Calhanoglu publicly declaring his lifelong support for Fenerbahce’s arch-rivals Galatasaray. In the end, neither side was able to finalise a transfer, and the Turkish international remained in Italy for the season.

• Calhanoglu's failed moves in the summer

  Calhanoglu, a key figure for Inter in recent years, was heavily linked with a move to Galatasaray following the Italian club’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. However, Inter’s €45 million (£39m/$52m) asking price proved too high, and the deal collapsed. Fenerbahce also made an attempt to sign the Turkish midfielder, much to the frustration of then-manager Jose Mourinho, who had prioritised reinforcements in other positions. In the end, Fenerbahce too failed to secure his signature.

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  Fenerbahce President's big revelation

  Koc in an interview to has revealed that Calhanoglu had agreed a move to Fenerbahce, saying: "Several active players, coaches, and representatives told me that Hakan Calhanoglu was available and would perfectly fit the profile we were looking for. So I spoke with Hakan. 'You're a Galatasaray fan, but do you still want to move to Fenerbahce?' He agreed.

  “We didn't discuss numbers, and I asked for his agent's number. I won't repeat what he told me because I don't have permission to do so.”

• Clash with lautaro and his agents comments on the rumours

  Playing in a deeper role than usual, Calhanoglu emerged as the heartbeat of Simone Inzaghi’s midfield. He scored 11 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions for Inter last season, positioning the club as contenders for the treble. However, Inter’s hopes unravelled as they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by arch-rivals AC Milan, lost the Scudetto to Napoli, and suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League final. Their misery continued when Fluminense eliminated them from the Club World Cup. Following that setback, captain Lautaro Martinez launched a verbal tirade at Calhanoglu, urging players who didn’t want to be at Inter to leave, as he felt the Galatasaray rumors were becoming a distraction. 

  Calhanoglu, however, committed his future to the club, with his agent Gordon Stipic clarifying: “There were no talks with the clubs mentioned in connection with Hakan. We didn't have any talks with Fenerbahce. That's baseless. I can say that we didn't meet with Galatasaray either.”

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  What Challenges are up ahead for Calhanoglu

  Calhanoglu will now look to put the transfer rumours behind him and focus on Inter’s Serie A campaign, as the team aims to bounce back against Sassuolo following their defeat to derby rivals Juventus.

Remarkably, Liverpool’s incredible summer of spending has yet to leave Arne Slot’s squad with an air of completeness.

Particularly, Virgil van Dijk’s central defence is rather light, especially now that Joe Gomez has suffered a minor Achilles injury following the £35m sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

Then turn your head toward the frontline. The incredible additions of rising superstars such as Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike suggest that Liverpool are shaping up to have one of the deadliest frontlines in the game (if they didn’t already).

However, Luis Diaz left for Bayern Munich last month, and now, Darwin Nunez is on the verge of completing a permanent transfer to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

With Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott both mooted to be off, it’s not desirable but imperative that Liverpool add another attacker to their mix, and FSG appear to have one or two show-stopping names in mind.

Liverpool chasing another forward

The dream transfer target is, of course, Alexander Isak. You might have heard that Liverpool are interested in signing the Newcastle United striker, and rumour has it he’s rather keen on the journey toward Anfield too.

Unfortunately, Newcastle’s transfer market has been a pitiful thing, with Eddie Howe no doubt feeling hot under the collar. Any number of top targets have been missed on Tyneside, and with Benjamin Sesko now hoping to sign for Manchester United, Isak’s sale is less certain, for a reliable replacement must be signed, else he will not leave.

Last month’s initial £69m signing of Hugo Ekitike has tempered Liverpool’s need for the Premier League superstar, but it would still be a stunning signing.

However, sporting director Richard Hughes is a man of deep nous, and he hasn’t placed all his eggs in one basket. Liverpool are emerging as contenders for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, though completing a summer deal will be difficult indeed.

If neither move comes to fruition, there’s another option waiting in the wings who might be perfect for Slot’s system.

Liverpool in for for Barcola upgrade

According to L’Equipe, Liverpool are in the race to sign Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodrygo, 24, has been anticipated to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, having struggled for form last year and slid down the early pecking order as the Xabi Alonso era shapes up.

Liverpool’s interest in Barcola might have just become public, but their admiration for Rodrygo also has substance, and the South American’s suspected price tag has been reported to fall into the region of £78m.

Why Liverpool want to sign Rodrygo

Rodrygo came under fire for his performances with Los Blancos last season. Such is his level; such are the expectations at Real Madrid.

His 25-goal contribution return still matched that of Diaz and Cody Gakpo at Liverpool, perhaps illustrating the calibre of forward Slot would add to his ranks, on par with the Reds crop yet capable of so much more.

And given that he would likely play as a left-sided forward, a rare experience in recent years at Real Madrid, Rodrygo’s desire to move to Anfield, should he move at all, is understandable, for he notched six goals and six assists from only 12 games as a left winger last year.

Even though Real Madrid’s selfless superstar had been played out of position for the majority of the recent season, he still managed to impress, with former teammate Luka Modric even claiming he is one of the club’s “world-class superstars.”

When collating his seasonal data with Barcola’s, you perhaps begin to see that his underlying quality suggests he would rise to a higher level than Barcola could.

There’s no denying that Barcola has enjoyed the better season, winning the quadruple with PSG and notching 42 goal contributions across all competitions.

But when digging deeper, it becomes clear that Rodrygo is the superior player of the two, and given that they both fall into a similar financial ballpark, is the one Liverpool must push for.

For example, the French winger is regarded as a silky, high-speed dribbler, but he averaged only one dribble per match in Ligue 1 last year and, more concerningly, at a success rate of just 27%, as per Sofascore.

In fact, FBref also record that he ranked among the bottom 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across all of Europe last season for take-on success rate, underscoring the amount of failed efforts to drive the ball forward.

That’s not to negate his quality; Barcola has just played an instrumental role in a Champions League-winning campaign after all. However, Rodrygo knows his way around Europe’s elite competition, a two-time champion and a force to be reckoned with at the business end too.

Barcola, moreover, has yet to polish his shooting boots. Though he scored 17 goals across PSG’s Ligue 1 and Champions League campaigns, he also missed a whopping 33 big chances.

Conversely, Rodrygo only missed three big chances, albeit he also netted just 11 times across his disappointing season. Still, that makes a strong comment on his prolific ability.

When he’s on his A-game, the Brazil international is “unstoppable”, so says Madrid columnist Kiyan Sobhani.

Ultimately, the fact that Liverpool fans are mulling over whether they fancy Barcola or Rodrygo as potential alternatives to Isak, having already signed Wirtz, Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili, illustrates just how far this club has come.

The Premier League champions are in the most enviable of positions, but if given the pick of the bunch, Hughes might want to move for Rodrygo over Barcola.

Dream Elliott replacement: Liverpool in race to sign "exceptional" £35m gem

Liverpool are reportedly in the race to sign a star who would be a dream replacement for Harvey Elliott.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 7, 2025

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said Sergio Busquets’ retirement announcement gives the Herons "extra motivation" to close the season strong and finish the Spanish midfielder’s career in the right way. Miami, who face Toronto FC on Saturday, have already clinched a playoff spot but are pushing to climb the standings.

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  Mascherano on his talk with Busquets

  Mascherano shared details of his conversation with Busquets prior to the announcement that the Spanish star will hang up his boots and not renew with the club for next season. 

  “He told me yesterday – he’d been thinking about it for the past few weeks. It’s a shame because he’s still at a level where we can continue enjoying his game,” the Argentine manager said on Friday during a press conference. “As a friend who’s been through that moment, all you can do is support him and share your thoughts. Busi is completely convinced about his decision.”

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  “Hopefully it’s an extra motivation"

  Mascherano praised Busquets’ football intelligence and even speculated about his future beyond the pitch. 

  “Busi is going to be a coach – when, how, and where will be up to him. I haven’t talked to him about whether he’ll return home or stay here in Miami,” he noted.

  The Inter Miami coach also reminisced about their time together at Barcelona, where they formed one of the most solid midfields in the world. 

  “The nostalgia of those years is special. I was lucky to share almost eight seasons with him. I arrived to play the same position, but always knew he was the starter. In my early days, he helped me a lot. What we experienced at Barcelona was unique and unforgettable – it left a mark on all of our careers,” Mascherano said. 

  Mascherano hopes Busquets’ announcement serves as inspiration for the team as they chase the MLS Cup in the coming weeks. 

  “Hopefully, it’s an extra motivation to help Busi finish his career in the best possible way. This team thrives on challenges – it’s full of winners and competitors,” he said. 

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  Telasco shares intimate team moment with Busi

  Telasco Segovia shared how the team experienced the moment Sergio Busquets announced his retirement.

  “I was surprised by Busi’s decision; I didn’t know he was going to retire," Segovia said. "As a kid, I watched him play for Barcelona and dreamed of playing alongside him. I’m happy for everything he’s achieved. He gathered all of us and told us, and we were all shocked.” 

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  Toronto next…

  Javier Mascherano's team will fly to Canada Friday afternoon to face Toronto FC this Saturday.

Rangers supporters have certainly enjoyed their Europa League nights in recent seasons and, well, their side appear destined to return to their favourite competition.

On a truly disastrous Tuesday night at Ibrox, the Light Blues were demolished by Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League play-off, three down inside 20 minutes, before Danilo’s goal from close range shortly after the interval reduced the deficit, but could not spark a full-scale comeback.

The Brazilian was leading the line due to an injury suffered by Cyriel Dessers, while Hamza Igamane was only deemed fit enough to come off the bench on the hour mark, given that he’s still recovering from an injury of his own.

Nevertheless, both Dessers and Igamane have been strongly linked with moves away throughout the summer, the Light Blues rejecting a bid from Lille for the latter as recently as earlier this week, so perhaps Russell Martin will need to strengthen his attack.

Rangers' need for attacking firepower

Danilo’s consolation goal against Club Brugge was, remarkably, his first in a Rangers shirt since the demolition of Celtic all the way back on 2 January.

In total, since arriving from Feyenoord for around £6m two summers ago, the Brazilian has scored just 13 goals in 56 outings for the club, sitting out a whopping 58 matches due to various injury problems.

Thus, should Dessers and Igamane both be sold, Rangers cannot rely on Danilo, both in terms of quality but also his availability.

Thus, according to reports, via the Sun, Rangers are interested in signing young Villarreal striker Karl Etta Eyong.

Reports in Spain claim that Swansea City have had a loan offer rejected, while Leeds United and Levante, as well as Rangers, are also interested in signing the 21-year-old.

Transfer Focus

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

The Glasgow giants have already signed ten new players this summer, so could the centre-forward be the latest name added to that list?

What Karl Etta Eyong would bring to Rangers

Born in Cameroon, Etta Eyong began his senior career at Cádiz, primarily representing their B team, featuring only twice for the senior side, before swapping one Yellow Submarine for another last summer.

Well, fair to say, he caught the eye playing for Villarreal B in the Spanish third-tier, scoring 17 goals in 30 Primera Federación appearances, thereby the division’s second-highest scorer, behind only Club World Cup star Gonzalo García of Real Madrid.

As a result, he was rewarded with his senior debut in April before, in only his second substitute outing in La Liga, heading home a last-gasp winner against Girona at Montilivi that was key to his side securing Champions League qualification.

Now, following the sale of Thierno Barry, the 21-year-old started a La Liga match for the very first time last Friday night, again breaking the deadlock with a header as Villarreal beat newly-promoted Real Oviedo 2-0 at Estadio de la Cerámica.

Thus, he has been labelled both an “exciting talent​​​​​​​” and a “physical beast”, with writer Kai Watson describing him as a “powerful penalty box striker​​​​​​​”, impressed by his “determination​​​​​​​” and “anticipation” in the penalty area.

As all Spanish clubs continue to tighten the purse strings​​​​​​​, in an attempt to comply with La Liga’s Draconian squad cost limit regulations, Villarreal would surely be open to selling the youngster, whose estimated transfer value is around £5.6m.

Signing Etta Eyong would of course be a risk, as he’s certainly not proven himself consistently at a high level, but he could turn out to be an absolute bargain in the long run.

Hamza Igamane, for example, arrived from Botola Pro side AS Far 12 months ago for just £1.7m, and could now be sold for around £15m, which is exactly the type of recruitment Rangers need to be targeting if they’re going to compete with Celtic financially.

Danilo is offering very little as Rangers’ centre-forward, that we know. He’s the third choice centre-forward without any injuries, so if Etta Eyong did arrive and thrive in Glasgow, it would surely only be bad news for him.

Not Djiga: Rangers must axe star who "looks like he's hasn't kicked a ball"

As Rangers’ Champions League hopes went up in flames, beaten 3-1 by Club Brugge, a summer signing “looks like he’s hasn’t kicked a ball before”.

By
Ben Gray

Aug 20, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers heard the Parkhead board come under fire from Hoops supporters and has made a transfer demand ahead of the deadline.

Celtic draw 0-0 in Champions League qualifier

It was a frustrating evening for all associated with Celtic on Wednesday evening, with the Hoops’ goalless draw against Kairat Almaty leaving them with work to do to qualify for the Champions League.

Much of the frustration was around Celtic’s transfer activity this summer, with the club spending just under £4m on seven new signings.

Talking after the game, Rodgers said: “I think it was pretty clear. You didn’t need to look into the future too far. You know these games are tough games and you want to have your best players in and have players in as quick as you can to tackle these sorts of situations.

“But listen, it is what it is and I just have to accept where it’s at and we’ll now get ready for Saturday and then the long haul on Sunday. “Then we’ll try and get through on Tuesday.”

As bad as Idah: Rodgers must now ruthlessly drop 5/10 Celtic man

This Celtic forward who was as bad as Adam Idah should be ruthlessly dropped to the bench.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 21, 2025

Rodgers responds to Celtic fans ‘sack the board’ chants and makes transfer demand

When asked about the fans reaction to the ‘sack the board’ chants, aimed at chief executive Michael Nicholson and chairman Peter Lawwell, Rodgers admitted that Celtic “need” signings before the deadline.

“I do know that, over many years, ‘sack the board’ normally means ‘sack the manager’. It’s normally the manager that goes when that starts to be sung. I can only really look at the players we have here, and the performance.

“We’ve known for a long time what we’ve needed as a squad, so I don’t want to go into that. Of course, at the end of the game, we’re having to shuffle things about to try and make it work.

“The players are out of position, but the players’ endeavour in the second half was really good. But at this level, it’s more than that. So hopefully we can show that.

“The boys are a great bunch of lads, they’re really honest. They’ve started the season well. Defensively, they’ve been strong. But tonight, offensively, we just couldn’t show those moments of quality to break through.

There have been reports that an agreement has been reached for Celtic to sign Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp, although there are still internal issues to resolve.

Neymar has taken a clear swipe at France Football while raging over Raphinha's final Ballon d'Or position. The Brazil and Barcelona winger finished fifth in the final vote, while Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele scooped the main prize ahead of second placed Lamine Yamal. Raphinha played a key role for Barca alongside Yamal as they won three domestic titles last season.

• Raphinha was among frontrunners to win Ballon d'Or

  Raphinha was among the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or this year, but when the results finally came out, the former Leeds United attacker finished fifth in the list. Dembele bagged the Golden Ball for the first time in his career ahead of Yamal, with Vitinha and Mohamed Salah completing the top five.

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  Neymar takes swipe at France Football

  As per , Raphinha's finish outside the top three enraged his Brazil national team colleague Neymar, who, in reply to an Instagram post, wrote: "Raphinha in 5th is too much of a joke."

• Raphinha beat Messi's Champions League record

  During the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, Raphinha registered 12 goals and eight assists as he surpassed Lionel Messi's club record goal contributions tally of 19, which the Barca legend achieved in the 2011-12 season. The Brazilian also scored 18 league goals as the Catalan side won the La Liga title. 

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  Barcelona vs PSG looming large on horizon

  Barcelona will close out the month with La Liga games against Real Oviedo and Real Sociedad before their attention turns back to the Champions League. Raphinha will come up against Dembele when Barca host reigning European champions PSG in a blockbuster clash on October 1.

Newcastle United’s need for a striker before next Monday’s transfer deadline has never been clearer.

With Alexander Isak still on strike and surely out of action when the Toon visit Leeds United next week, regardless of the outcome of his present situation, it was inconceivable that Anthony Gordon should get himself sent off against Liverpool at St. James’ Park.

The Magpies lost to Liverpool on Tyneside, but it was an incredible contest that showcased all the good of Eddie Howe’s side, even when so much went wrong.

But, even so, the desperate need for a number nine was accentuated, and a bid continues for Premier League forward Jørgen Strand Larsen.

The latest on Strand Larsen to Newcastle

Whether Liverpool sign Isak at some point this week is anyone’s guess, but Newcastle’s bid to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers’ rangy frontman remains a priority focus regardless.

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope corroborated news on Monday that the Magpies saw a £50m offer rejected for the Norwegian, and they are expected to return with an improved bid.

Hope made it clear that Larsen is being chased with a view toward him succeeding Callum Wilson, who left Tyneside at the end of his contract in June and has since signed for West Ham United.

Strand Larsen scored 14 Premier League goals last season, playing an instrumental role for the Old Gold as they staved off the threat of relegation.

But whether he’s the right frontman for Newcastle, for a figure sure to be in excess of £50m, is another question. Especially when there’s a younger and more exciting name on United’s shortlist.

Newcastle discuss move for Strand Larsen alternative

As per The Athletic, Newcastle have discussed a move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos as the transfer window is reduced to less than a week before closure.

Ramos, 24, has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in Luis Enrique’s super-team, but he’s still showcased his quality across the past two years, and was tracked by the Tynesiders during his Benfica days.

PSG appear open to selling, but the Portugal international wouldn’t come cheap. It’s been mooted this month that Ramos would fetch a fee in the region of £55m.

What Ramos would bring to Newcastle

Ramos has started the 2025/26 season strongly, bagging against Tottenham Hotspur in the dramatic Super Cup victory earlier this month before starting PSG’s Ligue 1 opener against Nantes.

Newcastle’s need for a new number nine borders on desperation, but they won’t let themselves be fleeced. Having seen a £50m offer rejected for Strand Larsen, might it be better to instead invest the set-aside funds in Ramos, whose dynamic profile aligns more with what Howe would need if Isak is to leave St. James’ Park this week.

Hailed for his “outrageous” performances on the international stage by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ramos is a prolific striker, and no mistake. His clinical value in dangerous positions could admittedly do with some work, but he creates space regularly through expert usage of his mobility and physical attributes, and thus maintains a steady goalscoring flow.

And, according to data platform FBref, the Iberian striker ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored,

While Strand Larsen has provided proof of his ability to score goals and perform convincingly in the Premier League, whereas Ramos has not, the latter man has highlighted performances at the highest level, including (but not limited to) that hat-trick at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

14 goals were scored by the 25-year-old in last year’s Premier League edition, but he also completed only 65% of his passes, lost 68% of his duels and averaged just 0.2 dribbles per game, as per Sofascore.

There’s nothing wrong with that; Strand Larsen is a powerful target man, after all. But it’s inconceivable that he should replace Isak, one of the most complete strikers in the business.

Of course, Newcastle chiefs have maintained that their interest in the Scandinavian is linked to Wilson’s departure, and not Isak’s possible exit.

Ultimately, Newcastle could do with two strikers, should Isak leave. Efforts are maintained for Brentford marksman Yoane Wissa, but that’s why Ramos’ profile could be so important for the Tynesiders, injecting dynamic athleticism without detracting from goalscoring, that core tenet of the striker’s game.

Wissa, like Strand Larsen, is limited in terms of technical scope, but he’s still proven himself to be a deadly Premier League striker with impressive link-up play besides. Given that the 28-year-old would ostensibly come at a cheaper price than his Wolves positional peer, he should be the priority.

And, in that case, Ramos must be targeted over a second bid for Strand Larsen, with the Portuguese man sure to bring goals and an electric presence too.

After the past few months of misery on the transfer front, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether Newcastle manage to sign a striker worth their salt – let alone two.

But it’s clear who they should move for after the latest series of rejected bids. Don’t blink: Newcastle are bound to ramp up the gas and seal a signature before the end of the month.

He's like Isak: Newcastle make late approach to sign £61m Wissa alternative

Newcastle continue to search for strikers as the summer transfer window enters the final week.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 25, 2025

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been told – in an exclusive interview carried out by GOAL – that he would have “no chance” of winning the Ballon d’Or at Liverpool, as Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer is offered advice on how he could push himself into contention for the most prestigious of individual honours. Those words have been delivered by Blues legend Gus Poyet, who continues to keep a close eye on European football.

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  Best in the world: Dembele lands Golden Ball in 2025

  In 2025, the title of best player on the planet has gone to Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele. The France international now forms part of an exclusive club – alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho – when it comes to players that have won the Ballon d’Or, World Cup and Champions League. His exploits when helping PSG to three major honours last season helped him to secure Golden Ball recognition.

  Competition from Yamal was fended off when landing that prize, with the teenage wonderkid enjoying a meteoric rise. At 18 years of age, he is already considered to form part of the global elite – with it seemingly only a matter of time before he emulates fellow La Masia academy graduate Messi by winning the first of many Ballons d’Or.

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• Does Palmer need transfer to compete for Ballon d'Or?

  Palmer will also be hoping to challenge for upcoming awards, with his creativity being put to good use by Chelsea and England. He finished eighth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or vote despite enduring a slight dip in the 2024-25 campaign – with his goal output dropping from 25 to 18. He is now tied to a contract at Stamford Bridge through to 2033.

  The 23-year-old has, however, been informed that a future switch to a team such as Barcelona or Real Madrid would make it easier for him to win the Ballon d’Or. Quizzed on whether that is the case, ex-Blues star Poyet – speaking in association – told GOAL: “100 per cent, no doubt. For me, [Jude] Bellingham when I saw him at Dortmund, I liked him a lot. Then his first season at Real Madrid, I love him. Why? Because he was at Real Madrid doing what he was doing, simple. And I thought, maybe he is the Ballon d’Or. It was a big opportunity because he was amazing his first season in Spain – he was tremendous, another dimension, another level, and that helps.

  “Would Lamine Yamal win the Ballon d’Or if he was playing at another team, Liverpool? No chance. I would say that I don’t like the Ballon d’Or nominations and I don’t like the vote, I think they are not fair. The people in Spain vote for the ones that play in La Liga, the people in England vote for those in England. The countries that don’t have anyone nominated, such as Uruguay, maybe they vote for the real one, the one that you think is the best. I don’t think it’s right, but it’s a great party for the players and it’s great to have one of them.”

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  Top 10: Palmer now in elite company

  Another former Chelsea star, Joe Cole, has told of Palmer’s claims to a Golden Ball after breaking into the top 10 of that poll: “He is there, he is in that elite level of players, so I am happy for him that he got that. These individual awards are wonderful; man of the matches, player of tournaments, they are great – they are not the be all and end all. They are nice and it is really nice for Cole Palmer that he is recognised, and I think it will give him a little boost.”

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• Injury blow: How long will Palmer be out for?

  Palmer has been nursing an injury of late, with physical issues forcing him out of Chelsea’s Premier League defeat at Manchester United on September 20. He has made just four appearances across all competitions this season, scoring two goals, with Enzo Maresca desperate to get his talismanic No.10 back.

  The Blues cannot afford to take any risks, though, on a player that is so important to the collective cause in west London. It is already being suggested that a groin complaint could keep him out for the remainder of the calendar year.