LAFC has been energized by Son, but clever transfer window additions could make the difference in MLS postseason

You can hear Son Heung-Min’s laugh from a room over. At least, that’s what Mathieu Choiniere claims. Walk into the LAFC training ground, get your reps in at the gym, listen for long enough, and you will hear that chuckle bouncing around the room. 

It is, these days, a fundamental part of the LAFC experience. This club will forever be associated with Son, not only for his hot start on the pitch, but also for the pedigree that comes with him. He carries the weight of a nation on his shoulders every time he puts an LAFC jersey on.

And it’s something he has embraced in full – that much is clear in his laughs, grins, and constant media appearances alone. 

But while Son has grabbed the headlines for his transfer fee and fine goal catalogue, there are plenty of others who have set this all up. LAFC may have made headlines when they shattered the MLS transfer record to bring in Son. But three other shrewd summer additions might be just as important – if only because of the way they have complemented Son, and allowed this team to function as a unit. 

That trio – Ryan Porteous, Choiniere and Andrew Moran – have all played their part. And if LAFC are to push for MLS Cup this winter in Steve Cherundolo’s final playoff push, then it will be as much down to the supporting cast as the big name.

“I don’t know where we can go. But this club has been going for everything, for every trophy, for every competition, every single time. That won’t change,” Choiniere said.

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  'What pieces do we need?'

  Just 10 games in, things were looking bleak in Los Angeles. The front office, usually so shrewd, had pieced together an unbalanced team. Olivier Giroud, a France legend and World Cup winning striker, was an expensive misfit up front. The rest of the side wasn’t quite firing around him. The Black and Gold, perennial cup contenders, sat in eighth. 

  Something had to change. And it did over the ensuing months. Giroud departed. The groundwork was laid for Son, who was ready to leave Spurs after a decade in North London. But things needed rounding out, too. Los Angeles had a main man in attack to pair with Denis Bouanga.

  But they also needed help in midfield, solidity in the back, and, ideally, an extra creative presence in the final third. In Porteous, Choiniere and Moran, they found all three – at minimal cost.

  “When you are looking at how things come together in complementary pieces and what have you, then you look on the field and you say, ‘OK, how will Sonny be utilized, and what pieces do we need around him to make the team better?’” LAFC GM John Thorrington said.

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  'Better late than never'

  It was a precarious spot for Cherundolo. The manager had announced in April that he planned to leave the club at the end of the campaign and return to Germany. A few eyebrows were raised when LAFC agreed to retain him for the entire season. In effect, they had a lame duck coach – and one that wasn’t getting the requisite results out of the team. 

  Some clubs would have stayed in stasis. Others would have removed the manager. LAFC, meanwhile, decided to go big. 

  “It's really important. If you asked me, if I had a choice, will we have a finished roster in the beginning of season or by the first of October? I would prefer the first of March,” Cherundolo said. “But better late than never, and finishing the season strong in our league is obviously more beneficial than starting strong.” 

  Communication with the front office was vital in the effort, Cherundolo said. At one point, he found himself short on options, dealing with multiple competitions, and pushing his players to the limit. These days, things are different. 

  “John and I talk all the time. He’s more than welcome to give me problems as far as choosing the roster and lineups every week. I like those problems,” Cherundolo said.

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  'It was a no-brainer'

  Porteous had his choices. The Scottish centerback – who had 13 caps for his national team – was frozen out at Championship side Watford. A loan to Preston yielded some success, but he was told by the club that he could leave if the right offer came in. And with two full seasons still left on his contract, there were options. 

  “I had offers elsewhere in the Championship, offers to go back to Scotland, other places abroad,” Porteous said. 

  But a few messages with other players in America, MLS and the direction of the league convinced him to make a move to the West Coast. The front office’s pitch – that he would be a crucial part of a team looking to make a run – sealed the deal. 

  “As soon as I had the conversations with the manager, the sporting directors, it was a no-brainer, because everything kind of aligned as in terms of the player they wanted to bring in, and the environment and the atmosphere that I wanted to join,” Porteous said. 

  He could sense the vibe as soon as he walked into the locker room. There was a real intent here. Change was already afoot. Son’s arrival – announced three days after Porteous’ signature – was no secret by that point. 

  “I was coming into a team that maybe had a stumbling block in the mid part of the season and just needed a little pick me up in terms of the recruitment,” Porteous said. "I think the people that they've brought in have added that energy.” 

  “Energetic” is one way of describing the Scotsman. He immediately established himself as a hard-nosed presence at the back – a leader who can play across multiple different positions, and also add a much-needed bite. It’s been there for as long as he can remember, Porteous admitted. He cut his teeth in the lower leagues of Scottish football, and then grew into the game in the physicality of the English Championship. 

  “If anybody met me on the field, they wouldn't like me. But I'd like to think anybody that knows me off it as a completely different person,” Porteous admitted. “But it’s always been that way.” 

  Cherundolo has repeatedly said that his aggression is key. Porteous has established himself as LAFC’s preferred right center back – and played every minute since his first start. And with Aaron Long out long term with an Achilles injury, his presence is vital.

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  'I needed something else'

  Choiniere had been in and out of MLS before. The Canadian came through the Montreal academy system, and was a two-time All-Star before being sold to Swiss Super League side Grasshopper in August 2024. His time in Switzerland was mixed. He made 17 appearances for the club, but was looking for a way out.

  “I needed something else. I wanted a new challenge,” he told GOAL. “I was training well, but wasn’t getting the playing time I wanted in the system that I wanted.” 

  LAFC came calling. Porteous added bite. But they also needed some control. Choiniere fit the bill perfectly. Thorrington’s pitch was simple. He needed someone to hold things down in midfield – cover the spaces, move the ball, put out fires. LAFC had the attacking talent. Choiniere was going to be the connective tissue in the middle. 

  “It's been amazing since I arrived. The club made me feel like I'm home, and since the first day, I'm feeling like I'm in the right place,” he said. 

  And he has returned the faith put in him by the front office when they invested on a short-term loan. He established himself as a starter in the latter days of the season, and now figures to be a part of Cherundolo’s best XI, sitting in a midfield three and pulling the strings. 

  “I’m waking up every morning and I want to go to training. You go into the locker room, everybody’s laughing, everybody’s talking to everyone. It could be about anything,” Choiniere said.

Centurion reflects on the moment he knew Australia were broken before his own wave of emotions breaks

Andrew Miller14-Jun-20251:53

Steyn on SA’s WTC win: ‘We saw the biggest of the biggest come through’

Aiden Markram’s long walk back to the pavilion at the end of his epic, trophy-seizing century, ought by rights to have been one of the proudest, most self-reflective moments of his life.With a mere six runs still needed for World Test Championship glory, here was his chance to soak in the moment, and stride off the hallowed turf of Lord’s with a salute to all corners. Surely, with 136 fourth-innings runs to his name, Markram knew in his heart of hearts (if not quite in his frontal cortex) that he was the man who had just exorcised some 30 years of South Africa big-stage failure.That wasn’t quite how the man himself allowed the moment to unfold, however.”I wish I could have,” he said. “But that’s me being me when I get out. I’m always angry.”At least looking at the building in front was pretty special. And then, naturally, the walk up [the stairs] was incredibly special. So at least there’s one or two memories from that.”Related

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Markram’s reaction was perhaps the final vestige of South Africa’s suspension of belief. Despite all of the well-worn caveats that the nation has learned to factor into impending glory, the thronging support in the stands had long since abandoned their reticence. Perhaps the biggest clue that the game was up, however, came from the reaction of Australia’s own fielders.Travis Head’s sharp take at midwicket created barely a flicker of recognition. For most people in the crowd, the first inkling that Markram was out came as he clasped his own helmet in agony and turned on his heel. But soon afterwards it was clear, as one by one, the Australians trooped up to shake his hand. It was wonderfully magnanimous in the moment, but their body language wasn’t just beaten, but broken.”I noticed it for sure,” Markram said. “Obviously, it was a great touch from their side. There’s quite a bit of banter had on the field. But all is well that ends well, I guess. It’s always nice to be appreciated from that position.”Perhaps he’s still in a trance, still locked into the duty of delivering an innings that, by every conceivable measure – grandness of occasion, fourth innings, and against a relentless attack of unprecedented quality and longevity – earns it the right to be considered the greatest Test innings ever produced by a South African.”Nothing’s hit me just yet, so maybe that’s a good thing, but something needs to hit me soon, to get out all the emotions, because it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.”It was Aiden Markram’s third fourth-innings hundred•ICC/Getty ImagesBut there was a moment, as Markram marched through to his century late on the third evening, when the mask cracked and the enormity of his performance seemed ready to engulf him. With a stiff upper lip that would doubtless have earned the approval of the many English public-school boys in the stands, he quickly gulped down his emotions – though not without ducking a request for a close-of-play word to the cameras – and reset himself to perform his duty.”Yeah, it was weird last night. I was pretty emotional,” he said. “From about quarter past five, the game had slowed down. I had a bit of time to look around and see all the fans, the family, all the mates that were there … I was looking at the changing room. I was like, ‘Yes, we are now getting close’, and it caught me off guard. Then the hundred happened, and a couple of tears leaked out that I was trying to fight.”Markram reached the close on 102 not out and, with just 69 runs still to get on the final day, he went on to sleep “horribly”.”I tried to take a sleeping tablet, it didn’t work,” he said. “The mind just couldn’t switch off. But fortunately, today wasn’t ever going to be a full day, so I knew it would be fine.”Markram went the full journey in the course of this contest. Way back on that frenzied opening day, he epitomised South Africa’s hunger with his highly-strung display in the slips – first, by being the distraction as he dived across David Bedingham from second slip, then by clinging on as Wiaan Mulder repeated the dose from third, as Kagiso Rabada cranked open the contest with two Australian wickets in four balls.Later that day, his lesser-heralded offspin extracted a well-set Steven Smith for 66, and on the stroke of lunch on Friday, he finally ended Australia’s dogged tenth-wicket stand as Josh Hazlewood holed out to cover.In between whiles, however, he had also fallen for a sixth-ball duck in South Africa’s ropey start to their batting display. And, having made 4 from five balls as captain in Barbados last June, as South Africa’s last appearance in an ICC final fell agonisingly short of glory, he admitted that the urge to stay in the moment was his single biggest driver, when his chance came again to steer his country’s fortunes.Aiden Markram got a well-deserved drink from a friend in the stands•PA Images via Getty Images”I thought a lot about the T20 World Cup last night and how hopeless I felt sitting on the side after getting out,” he said. “I was like, I don’t want to sit there again. So, this gave me a bit of motivation to make sure I stayed at the crease, if I could. But never once thought about the achievements and what would come with it. It was always about just trying to get the job done and trying to win.”That mindset meant that, throughout his game-breaking 147-run stand with Temba Bavuma, there was never any question about backing up his captain’s desire to soldier on, even after his left hamstring gave way just six runs into his critical knock of 66 that spanned three-and-a-quarter hours.”To see his hammy go was obviously a bit worrying,” Markram said. “We got to tea, and he said he felt he could still keep going, but he wanted to know from my side if the twos becoming ones would affect me.”I said, ‘there’s no chance’. It’s about the partnership, staying out there for longer, getting the ball even softer, even older, and that’s exactly what he did. He still managed to run twos and threes, so I think there was a lot of adrenaline there, but he showed a lot of leadership and character. Maybe not the big, big numbers, but the ones that really make a difference, and that was tremendous for us.”Besides being his most important innings, this was also Markram’s third century in five Tests against Australia, a team against whom he is clearly primed to raise his game. “Australians and South Africans are pretty similar,” he said. “They play the game hard, they play the game to compete, they play the game to really win, and it brings out the best in us. It’s just a battle between two teams that really don’t have any interest in losing.”And now, South Africa are the World Test Champions – an accolade earned in spite of the many well-documented brickbats they faced in the build-up, both in terms of their unusual route to this final, as well as the baggage that such a contest brings with it. “It’s as big and as tough as it gets,” Markram said. “All the questions that have been asked in the past have fortunately now been answered.”And now, at the very last, perhaps he’ll get his chance to savour the moment, now that he has lived it to the fullest. The first inkling of this occurred in the moments before the presentation, amid the melee on the outfield, and the tears and euphoria of his team-mates.Markram was beckoned by a familiar face in the stands, and after some initial hesitation, he trotted over to let his personal party begin.”Yeah, that was cool,” he said. “That was one of my mates from school. He wanted me to come over. And I was like, ‘man, I can’t, it’s too busy. It’s chaos’. And then he was like, ‘Oh, here’s a beer’ … and I was like, okay! I’ve had my first one for today, and I’m pretty sure there’ll be a few more.”

“Temba is tough,” says Ashwell Prince after crucial partnership carries South Africa towards finishing line

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-20252:56

Hayden lauds Bavuma’s ‘champion effort’

South Africa contemplated the need for captain Temba Bavuma to retire hurt on the third day at Lord’s after he suffered a hamstring injury early in his second innings. But with the urging of Aiden Markram, they opted not to disrupt a partnership that went on to carry them to the brink of the World Test Championship title.Bavuma was on 6, two overs before tea, when he pulled up with the hamstring injury which initially required lengthy treatment on the outfield before he made it through to the interval. He was clearly hampered when running between the wickets – which was one of the key factors the South Africa hierarchy discussed – but in the end, there were few alarms with the running, which even raised the question of whether Australia had pressurised Bavuma enough.”We had to make a big call whether he continues to bat and how it will affect his strokeplay, how that might affect Aiden’s rhythm,” Ashwell Prince, South Africa’s batting coach, said. “If twos are being turned into one [or] they can’t run the twos or the threes. Both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. He wanted to continue.Related

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“Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. Obviously, had [Tristan] Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba’s wicket intact, but you start a new partnership. They were feeling pretty good and they wanted to continue.”Aiden was well aware that he’ll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it.”By the close, the two were still unbeaten together with a stand of 143, with Markram having brought up a masterful century, although there was a question mark over how Bavuma would pull up after the night’s sleep and the body having cooled down. It was hard to see, however, a situation where South Africa’s captain wouldn’t emerge on the fourth morning.”Temba is tough,” Prince said. “Aiden has great respect for Temba. In fact, I think this team’s greatest strength is the unity that they have in this camp… they are well aware that South Africa have had much greater individual players, but they’ve got something special going on in that dressing room, and that sort of helps them to drag each other along.”But with the task not quite finished, Prince was reluctant to be drawn into discussing the wider narrative of what could unfold for Bavuma on Saturday. “He’s had to fight throughout his career, and this could be a defining moment for his career,” he said. “I believe it’s the biggest stage of in terms of Test cricket. Maybe I should answer the question after the game.”

Everton have come on leaps and bounds since David Moyes returned to the helm in January after so many years away.

However, there are plenty of wrinkles that still need ironing out, with Tuesday evening’s Carabao Cup defeat at Molineux illustrating that fact. The Toffees have gone 30 years without silverware, and Wolverhampton Wanderers handed them their fourth third-round defeat in the competition in five years.

One point from six available in recent Premier League outings, a point against Aston Villa at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and then defeat at Anfield, emphasise the task on Moyes’ hands if he wishes to restore the Merseysiders to their one-time standing and consistency during his first term at the club, but he has the tools to achieve this.

After all, Everton signed Jack Grealish from Manchester City on loan for the duration of the 2025/26 season, didn’t they?

The Jack Grealish effect

Grealish was at a crossroads this summer, having fallen by the wayside at Man City, sinking further and further into the fringes across the second half of his time at the illustrious outfit.

Everton and Moyes offered him a lifeline, and he has taken it with both hands, already registering four assists in the Premier League and being crowned the division’s Player of the Month for August.

Everton lacked fluency and drive in attack last season, and they needed a more passionate approach this year.

But Grealish wears his passion on his sleeves, and he’s built upon a skillset of flair and guile and sparkle. Pep Guardiola once hailed the Three Lions star for his “aggressive” nature on the pitch, but this wasn’t always on show at City.

Now, though, the 30-year-old has restored his bite down the left flank, not just creating but getting stuck in too, with Sofascore recording that he has averaged 7.2 duels per game so far.

Grealish is a sensation, but whether he is the finest forward in Everton’s ranks is a debatable thing when Iliman Ndiaye also plies his craft under Moyes’ wing.

Moyes has hit the jackpot on Iliman Ndiaye

Ndiaye has been a revelation at Everton, signed for just £15m in July 2024. Only spending one term in France with Marseille, the Senegalese winger struggled to get going after previously starring in the Championship with Sheffield United, where his performances earned many plaudits.

And he picked up where he left off in England, hailed for his “dynamite” quality when on the ball by Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp.

Across all competitions last term, Ndiaye scored 11 goals for the Toffees, more than any of his teammates.

He hasn’t quite settled into his finest form this season, but Ndiaye has still been fantastic under Moyes’ wing, scoring twice and assisting once.

When collating his match data with Grealish’s over these opening weeks of the campaign, it becomes all the more clear that Grealish has some fierce internal competition as he plays his way toward contention for the Player of the Year and indeed steers Everton to heights unscaled in many recent years.

As you can see, most of the effusive noise might be directed toward Grealish so far this term, but Ndiaye is on a level with the England international, and he’s five years younger besides.

Both are electric and pacy players, and there’s a neat balance in Grealish’s playmaking emphasis and Ndiaye’s more direct approach.

It’s also worth noting that the former Marseille man is earning just £45k per week at Everton, and while a bumper pay rise is sure to be on technical director Angus Kinnear’s radar, it’s an illustration of the shrewd business completed in reeling him over. Farhad Moshiri’s dysfunctional reign was characterised by many bungled deals, but credit must be paid for the addition of Ndiaye.

Grealish, meanwhile, is one of the best-paid players in the Premier League, and though he’s playing like it across the opening weeks of his Everton career, Ndiaye is quite the wide forward himself – and he’s permanently on the Toffees books besides.

In any case, both superstars are more than happy to be playing their football on Merseyside, beaming grins clear for all to see.

While Everton have hit the jackpot with the addition of Grealish, it’s important to remember that he is only a loanee. A permanent stay down the line isn’t out of the question, but it will present a new financial obstacle for Kinnear and co.

Ndiaye is already on the books, of course, and he just keeps on going from strength to strength, potent in the final third but also a willing defender, a crisp passer and a breakneck runner.

Data-driven platform FBref underscore all this. Across the past year, the African talent ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 9% for tackles per 90.

Watch him continue to improve. Here is a talisman. Here is a player who can match Moyes’ ambitions over the coming years.

Everton must only resist any inevitable efforts from interested parties, and while a price tag is unknown, it’s clear that the Toffees would demand a stratospheric sum for their star.

Moyes must ruthlessly drop Beto to unleash Everton's “serious” talent

Everton should start French youth star over Beto to boost Premier League attack.

By
Will Miller

Sep 27, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers have found life without their former star man, Matheus Cunha, to be torture so far this season.

Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold remain winless at the very foot of the Premier League, with just five goals next to their name from seven dismal matches, further reinforcing the hole left behind by the enigmatic Brazilian.

While Cunha tries to get up to speed with proceedings at his new club, Manchester United, Pereira will be tearing his hair out about how to kickstart Wolves’ season.

He does have Jorgen Strand Larsen, whom he can call upon in attack, with the Nordic centre-forward showing that he can score goals for fun when in the right mood at Molineux.

What makes Strand Larsen Wolves' best Cunha replacement

The 25-year-old striker impressed so much last season when firing home goals regularly that he penned a new long-term Old Gold contract in the summer, which keeps him at the West Midlands club until 2029.

As a result, it kept at bay suitors in the form of Newcastle who lodged what felt like several bids to tempt the hulking forward to St James’ Park.

It’s very clear why they wanted to tie him down to such a long-term contract, considering Cunha sadly exited the building, with Larsen helping himself to a clinical 14 goals in the last campaign to ensure Wolves stayed afloat for another season in the big time.

Yet, even as he began to adopt the tag of being Wolves’ main spark up top heading into the 2025/26 season, the ex-Celta Vigo striker has struggled to get going, largely because of injuries, leaving his team stuck at the foot of the tough league.

Larsen might well have two strikes next to his name in the EFL Cup, but he’s currently going through a barren streak in the bread and butter of league action, with no goals from five games, having amassed just 23.8 touches on average per clash.

Pereira could well be tempted to spruce things up in attack moving forward, with the Portuguese boss perhaps looking to the next generation coming through at Molineux to unearth a new Cunha in the making.

Wolves academy star could be the new Cunha

Pereira won’t want to just ditch the 22-time Norway international for good. Rather, he could be tempted to switch up the formation to bring in a partner for Larsen to bounce off

That player could be summer recruit Tolu Arokodare but if Pereira was thinking more outside of the box, he might also be tempted to experiment.

That’s where Wolves U21 sensation Mateus Mane comes into the equation. The Wolves boss labelled the rising talent as “special” back in May, long before his red-hot vein of form in the Premier League 2 this season.

Just one glance at the England U18 international’s numbers this campaign shows you why he’s so highly regarded in Wolves circles, with a sublime four goals and four assists coming his way from just nine outings in all competitions.

While Cunha was more well-known for his lethal edge in front of goal at Molineux, he did also have an eye for an assist, with 15 collected from 92 Wolves first-team appearances.

Evidently, Mane also possesses a similar hunger for creativity, away from finishing off chances confidently as an “instinctive” forward presence, as he was once labelled by analyst Ben Mattinson.

CF

16

7 + 5

AM

6

3 + 2

RW

3

2 + 2

The similarities to the former Wolves’ fan favourite don’t end there, either, with the teenage sensation also capable of playing all across the forward positions, away from just causing panic to the defenders solely in the centre-forward position.

While the South American superstar did shine as a lone striker, too, he also didn’t look out of place when lining up as a number ten or as a winger if needed, with a remarkable four goals coming his way from just four games as a left winger option for the Old Gold.

For the time being, considering their lowly status, it might be deemed a step too far to push Mane into the senior fold.

But, at some point, Pereira will surely be tempted to gamble with the 18-year-old ace – considering he already has one men’s appearance to his name – as he attempts to fill the Cunha-shaped void.

Vitor Pereira has personally asked Wolves to sign 15-goal ace who they once bid for

The Old Gold are plotting a move for a new centre-forward…

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 12, 2025

حقق منتخب مصر للناشئين تحت 17 سنة فوزًا هامًا على هايتي بنتيجة 4-1، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم ضمن لقاءات بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا.

وأقيمت المباراة بين مصر وهايتي على أرضية استاد اسباير، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الأولى من مرحلة المجموعات لكأس العالم للناشئين.

وجاء الهدف الأول لـ منتخب مصر مبكرًا في الدقيقة الثالثة عن طريق بلال عطية، الذي أودع الكرة في الشباك بعد تمريرة عرضية متقنة من حمزة عبد الكريم، ليمنح الفراعنة الصغار بداية مثالية في المونديال.

وأضاف عبد العزيز الزغبي الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 11 بتسديدة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

لكن منتخب هايتي نجح في تقليص الفارق سريعًا، بعدما سجل اللاعب بير نيكولاي هدفًا في الدقيقة 20 من تسديدة قوية سكنت شباك الحارس.

طالع | موعد مباراة مصر القادمة في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا بعد الفوز على هايتي

وأضاف حمزة عبد الكريم الهدف الثالث لصالح مصر في الدقيقة 27 من عمر اللقاء، بعد تصويبة صاروخية من داخل منطقة الجزاء سكنت المرمى مباشرة.

وسجل عمر كمال، هدف مصر الرابع أمام هايتي، في الدقيقة 73 من عمر اللقاء، برأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء بعد كرة عرضية مرسلة من ركلة ركنية من الجانب الأيسر. أهداف فوز مصر على هايتي في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

وبهذا الفوز يحصد منتخب مصر أول ثلاث نقاط له، ليبدأ مشواره في البطولة بانتصار يمنحه دفعة قوية قبل المواجهات المقبلة.

يُذكر أن منتخب مصر سيلتقي في مباراته القادمة مع منتخب فنزويلا في إطار منافسات نفس المجموعة.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos assinou, juntamente com a WTorre, enfim, na manhã desta quarta-feira (27) o memorando de intenção para construção do novo estádio do clube. A nova Vila Belmiro terá capacidade para 30.108 pessoas.O custo total previsto para as obras é de R$ 300 milhões, e a concessão para a WTorre será de 30 anos.

A construtora deixou claro que o estádio vai pertencer 100% ao Santos e que os valores para construção do estádio serão levantados com vendas de cadeiras cativas e camarotes, além do investimento financeiro da própria WTorre. O Peixe, por sua vez, não colocaria dinheiro para construção.

+ Veja projetos de estádios de clubes brasileiros

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Com a assinatura do memorando de entendimento, se inicia a fase de aprovações com os órgãos públicos e definições entre as partes, assim como a captação de verbas para investimento nas obras, por meio de pré-vendas de benefícios e patrocínios.

Vale destacar que os atuais donos das cadeiras cativas da Vila Belmiro permanecerão com suas cadeiras. Em shows, caso o palco seja central, a capacidade será de 35 mil pessoas. Em caso de palco no fundo (onde fica o gol), são estimadas 25 mil pessoas. O Peixe precisará gastar, durante os anos de concessão da WTorre, com energia, segurança e manutenção geral do espaço. A Nova Vila terá cerca de 63 lojas e contará com gramado sintético, assim como a maioria das novas arenas do futebol brasileiro.

Na área da imprensa, o projeto tem a presença de quatro estúdios para TV, 24 posições escritas e duas salas de coletivas de imprensa. O público total do estádio será de 30.108 mil pessoas, com campo sem cobertura, mas arquibancada 100% coberta. Com as obras completas, o Peixe deve levar os principais jogos para a Nova Vila Belmiro, incluindo clássicos e partidas intercontinentais. Isso, segundo a WTorre, ajuda a valorizar o espaço e, consequentemente, traz patrocinadores ao clube.

Tottenham Hotspur splashed a fee of £30m to sign winger Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window after his loan spell in North London came to an end.

The France U21 international spent the second half of last season on loan with Ange Postecoglou’s side, scoring three goals and providing one assist in all competitions.

Spurs and former chairman Daniel Levy opted to make that loan deal permanent for £30m, despite the change in head coach, to provide him with a chance to impress under Thomas Frank.

Unfortunately, the ex-Brentford manager opted to leave the 20-year-old winger out of his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, which does not bode well for the young talent.

Tel did score two goals for France’s U21s during the international break earlier this month, which shows that he does still have potential to be a success at Spurs, but he needs to show it in domestic matches this season.

The French forward will be hoping that he does not join the list of expensive wingers who have failed to make a success of themselves in North London.

Ranking Tottenham's most expensive winger signings

Tel, who can play as a left-winger or as a centre-forward, ranks among the top five most expensive winger signings in the club’s history if Transfermarkt fees are taken into account.

As you can see in the table above, summer signing Mohammed Kudus tops the list, whilst club legend Heung-min Son also features at the bottom.

If pressed to rank those five signings, Son would have to be at the top of the list. He scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists in 451 matches, per Transfermarkt, along with captaining the side to a Europa League trophy.

Brennan Johnson, meanwhile, has to be ranked in second place in this moment of time, simply because he scored the winning goal in a European final for Spurs against Manchester United at the end of last season.

Irrespective of what the Wales international did before that or what he will go on to do, that moment alone makes his signing and the fee paid for him worthwhile.

It is too soon to judge Kudus, who only arrived this summer, whilst Lamela should be third on this list. The Argentine forward had longevity on his side, as he racked up 37 goals and 46 assists in 257 outings for Spurs, per Transfermarkt.

That leaves Steven Bergwijn, who joined from PSV in 2020, at the bottom of the pile. He only lasted two-and-a-half years at the club, and the forward only scored eight competitive goals in that time.

The Netherlands international scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 83 appearances for Tottenham, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he was not as effective or impactful as Johnson, Son, or Lamela.

Bergwijn was an expensive flop on the wing, one that Tel is looking to avoid being a repeat of, and there is a winger at the club who is in danger of being the next version of the Dutch forward.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Tottenham swooped to sign French winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley for a fee of £25m in the summer of 2024, and he has yet to prove his worth on the pitch.

Why Wilson Odobert may be the next Steven Bergwijn

The young forward was signed for a similar fee to Bergwijn and his performances on the field for the club have done little to dismiss a comparison between the two.

It is worth noting that Odobert struggled with hamstring injuries last season, which disrupted his progress, but his displays when fit and available offered little encouragement.

The 20-year-old winger, who is the same age as Tel, has scored one goal and created one ‘big chance’ in 21 appearances in the Premier League for Spurs to date, via Sofascore, with his latest showing coming against Brighton at the weekend.

Thomas Frank handed the youngster an opportunity to shine on the left flank, but the Frenchman ended the game with zero out of three dribbles completed, zero out of five duels won, and no key passes or shots on target in 72 minutes, per Sofascore.

Odobert, who was described as “incredibly raw” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was an expensive signing for Spurs, at £25m, and just falls short of being one of the five most expensive wide signings in the club’s history, which is why it is not too harsh to expect more from the former Burnley man.

As you can see in the table above, Tel, who joined on loan in January, provided more quality at the top end of the pitch than his fellow France U21 international did in the Premier League last season.

These statistics suggest that Odobert offers even less than Tel does in the final third, as both a scorer and, certainly, as a creator from a wide or central berth.

The 20-year-old forward, of course, has plenty of time left to turn things around and prove to supporters and the club that the money spent to bring him in from Burnley was worthwhile, rather than becoming the next Bergwijn, who was an expensive flop on the wing.

However, the signs are not promising at this moment in time. We can only judge on what has happened so far, and Odobert has not done enough on the pitch to suggest that his fortunes are going to turn around any time soon.

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Therefore, the French winger is the one who is in danger of becoming the next Bergwijn, rather than Tel, who showed some glimpses of quality in the Premier League last term.

Bayern Munich have joined Barcelona in the race to sign Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani, one of the Bundesliga’s breakout stars this season. The 23-year-old’s rise has attracted widespread interest across Europe, with both Bayern and Barca viewing him as a long-term successor to their current No.9s, Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski.

Bayern step up interest in Hoffenheim's breakout striker

Bayern are actively monitoring Asllani, the Hoffenheim striker who has burst onto the Bundesliga scene with a string of impressive performances. According to reports from , the Bavarians have already gathered details about the 23-year-old’s release clause as they seek a capable backup and eventual successor to Kane.

Asllani has been one of the standout players of the season so far, scoring six goals and providing two assists in nine competitive matches, building on an exceptional loan spell at SV Elversberg, where he tallied 19 goals and 10 assists in 39 appearances. His quick feet, sharp movement, and clinical finishing have caught the attention of scouts across Europe.

Bayern view him as an ideal fit for their future plans – a young, technically gifted forward capable of complementing Kane now and replacing him in the long term. With Nicolas Jackson’s future at the Allianz Arena uncertain, the German champions are preparing for possible changes in their attacking depth heading into 2025.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBarcelona also in the mix for Asllani

The Catalan giants have been tracking Asllani for months, identifying him as a possible successor to Robert Lewandowski, whose contract runs until 2026. Barcelona have sent scouts to multiple Hoffenheim matches and maintain strong data analysis files on the Kosovo international.

For Barca, Asllani represents an affordable and forward-thinking option – a player who fits the club’s tactical blueprint of mobility, technical ability, and intelligence in tight spaces. However, Bayern’s entry into the race threatens to complicate their pursuit, especially given the Bavarian giants’ financial advantage and Bundesliga familiarity.

Adding to the intrigue, Asllani himself has spoken openly about his admiration for the champions of La Liga. "FC Barcelona has always been my dream club," he said in a recent interview, further fuelling speculation of a potential move to Spain.

Even so, the Kraichgauers' willingness to negotiate may ultimately hinge on who meets his release clause, expected to be active in the summer of 2026. With several Premier League clubs also keeping tabs, the race for his signature is expected to intensify.

Bayern's transfer strategy and tactical vision

For Bayern, the pursuit of Asllani underlines their long-term planning and emphasis on developing depth behind Kane. The English striker has been prolific since his move from Tottenham but will turn 33 next summer, prompting the club to seek a forward who can rotate effectively while learning under one of the world’s best.

Asllani’s profile, a mobile, pressing-oriented striker who thrives in link-up play aligns with Die Roten's attacking identity under Vincent Kompany. His experience in the Bundesliga also makes him an attractive, low-risk investment compared to recruiting from abroad.

Meanwhile, Hoffenheim are bracing for offers, aware that Asllani’s rapid progress and international exposure with Kosovo have made him one of the most in-demand young forwards in Europe. His contract runs until 2029, but the player’s camp reportedly plans for a summer exit, aiming for a step up to Champions League football.

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Getty Images SportFuture battle brewing for Asllani's signature

With Bayern, Barca, and several Premier League sides monitoring developments, the striker's next move could define his career trajectory. Asllani's form has turned him into one of the Bundesliga’s hottest properties, and his ambitions suggest he will not remain at Hoffenheim for long.

The 2026 summer transfer window is expected to be decisive, as his release clause becomes active and clubs formalise offers. Die Roten are believed to have a slight edge due to their domestic advantage, but Barcelona’s long-term admiration and Asllani’s personal preference could still swing the decision.

Regardless of where he ends up, Asllani looks destined for the top tier of European football. Whether he becomes Kane’s heir at Bayern or Lewandowski’s successor at Barca, the young striker’s next chapter promises to be one of the most fascinating transfer stories of 2025.

Ibrox leadership figures have scheduled talks with one of their top managerial candidates to take the vacant Rangers job.

Rangers manager candidates named

A number of names have been mentioned in recent days, but the Gers are yet to make an official appointment to replace Russell Martin. The former Southampton boss endured a woeful run, winning just once in seven attempts in the Scottish Premiership, and looked destined to lose his job from the get-go.

Names mentioned for the job so far include Sean Dyche, Danny Rohl, Derek McInnes and others. Dyche represents an experienced Premier League option out of those three, but it remains to be seen whether the 49ers will want to turn towards English football again or whether Dyche will be tempted by the job.

Rohl, meanwhile, represents an exciting yet risky option. He was excellent at Sheffield Wednesday as their struggles away from the pitch threatened the quality that took place on it. Now a free agent, he could replace Martin.

That said, McInnes arguably provides the best balance out of those three names. The Hearts manager has enjoyed quite the start to the current campaign, with his side sat top and unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership.

Given Hearts’ impressive run, it should come as no surprise that the manager has made Rangers’ list. Whether he’s willing to cut his project short just five months after arriving is the big question, though.

It’s a season-defining appointment for the Gers and one that the 49ers must get right. It looks as thought the American owners are edging closer to a final decision after the latest update, too.

Rangers schedule Gerrard talks

According to Sky Sports, the 49ers have now scheduled talks with Steven Gerrard, which will take place in the next few days. The Liverpool legend recently revealed that he has “unfinished business” in management and could make a return to Ibrox with that in mind.

If the 49ers are looking for a transformation into title contenders, then hiring the last Rangers manager to lift the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea.

It wasn’t so long ago that Gerrard was receiving incredibly high praise from those around Ibrox and now the new set-up could reap the rewards from his return if talks go as planned this week.

Former Rangers chairman Dave King told reporters after the 45-year-old signed a new contract in 2019: “From the moment I met Steven, I could tell that he was the right man to help us to drive this club forward on the pitch. He has an elite mentality and that is exactly what I was looking for.

“He is relentless in his desire to bring success to our club and we are delighted that he has signed this new contract, which shows his commitment to Rangers.”

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A manager who has unfinished business in the technical area and an old club that are desperate for a turnaround. Rangers need Gerrard just as much as he needs them.