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Arsenal are now prepared to break the bank to sign Vinicius Jr, amid a major new update on the forward’s future at Real Madrid.

The Gunners should be well-positioned to start competing for the signatures of some of the world’s best players once again, having announced themselves as serious contenders for the Premier League title as a result of the 4-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Signing the Real Madrid star would certainly be a major statement of intent, given that he is still regarded as one of the best wingers in world football, despite narrowly missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or, finishing as runner-up behind Manchester City star Rodri.

Interestingly, an exciting new report has now suggested that the move could be a realistic possibility, following a major new update on the Brazilian’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu…

Arsenal prepared to break the bank for Vinicius Jr

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now prepared to break the bank to sign Vinicius Jr, with the Emirates Stadium now one of his most likely destinations, having informed Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez he does not currently wish to sign a new contract.

The winger’s unwillingness to put pen to paper on a new deal stems from a difficult relationship with manager Xabi Alonso, and negotiations have now stalled, which could open the door for a move to north London, and Stan Kroenke & co clearly mean business.

However, the Gunners may need to be willing to make the Brazil international one of their highest earners to get a deal over the line, given that he has been demanding a very high salary to extend his stay with the Spanish club.

In truth, the 25-year-old isn’t having the greatest of seasons, failing to score or assist in his last 10 matches for club and country, so it is no surprise he has fallen down the pecking order at Madrid, most recently being benched for his side’s 2-2 draw against Elche.

The forward’s attacking output has been very impressive previously, however, having contributed a whopping 111 goals and 87 assists in 339 matches for Real Madrid, and Liverpool manager Arne Slot sung his praises earlier this month.

With Arsenal looking to lift the Champions League for the first time in their history this season, it would make sense to bring in Vinicius Jr, who has won the competition twice, and ranks very highly in the 2026 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings…

Where Vinicius Jr ranks in the 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

Just a few weeks ago, the mood around West Ham United was as dour as it had been in years, and yet now there is a genuine sense of optimism surrounding the club.

This quite dramatic change in sentiment is, of course, down to Nuno Espírito Santo’s side finally putting in performances worthy of the badge, beating Newcastle United and Burnley 3-1 and 3-2, respectively.

On top of the wins, the fans have also seen Freddie Potts given a genuine chance in the first team, and so far, he’s looking every bit the future star so many thought he’d be.

So, supporters should be seriously excited about another player in the academy who could be the next Potts.

Why West Ham fans should be excited about Potts

Now, the headline from the last couple of gameweeks is, and should be, the fact that West Ham have picked up six points from six.

Chalkboard

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

However, it’s impossible to ignore the side story of Potts finally getting his full first-team debut and then earning a second start in as many games.

The Englishman was utterly impeccable against the Toon. He delivered quintessential all-action central midfield performances and was more than deserving of his Man of the Match award.

He was once again bossing the midfield against the Clarets on Saturday afternoon before going off with what looked like a leg injury, although thankfully it has since been revealed to have only been a dead leg.

Despite being on the pitch for just 62 minutes, the 22-year-old played three key passes, took 56 touches, won 66% of his tackles, made six clearances, won six of nine ground duels and made four recoveries.

It was another showing that demonstrated just why fans are right to be excited about the academy gem.

The Barking-born monster, who, according to one analyst, is blessed with a “supreme confidence and ability to create time and space on the ball”, looks like he could develop into the perfect central midfielder for a Premier League side looking to climb the table.

So it’s good news that the academy may have already produced another prospect who could be Nuno’s next Potts.

West Ham's next Potts

While the first team has been largely disappointing over the last couple of years, the academy has continued to produce exciting prospects for West Ham. One of those talents, and someone who could be the next Potts, is George Earthy.

Now, while the youngster can and has played in several positions across the pitch, he is primarily an attacking midfielder. However, where he plays on the pitch has very little to do with the comparisons to and why he could be another Potts.

Instead, one of the main points of comparison is that, while he hasn’t had many first-team chances, the 21-year-old is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects at the club and has a youth record to prove it.

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.

Then, in 53 appearances for the u21s, totalling 3573 minutes, he scored 17 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.76 games, or every 119.1 minutes, and was enough for him to be named Young Hammer of the Year at the end of the 2023/24 season.

With it clear that the “priceless” gem, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, was too good for academy football, the club sent him on loan to Bristol City last season, where he once again won another young player of the year award.

Now, in addition to being very highly rated from a young age, something else the Havering-born gem shares with the Hammers’ current man of the moment is a love for the club.

Yes, on top of being one of their own, having graduated from the academy, the 21-year-old is a West Ham supporter and even travelled to Prague to watch the side lift the Conference League as a fan.

Ultimately, while they play different roles, Earthy shares a lot in common with Potts, and his impressive record in the academy and with Bristol should see him earn his first competitive start for West Ham sooner rather than later.

AC Milan join Fullkrug race as agent makes damning West Ham admission

The forward has struggled at the London Stadium.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 10, 2025

England have been told to wrap Harry Kane in “cotton wool” from January in order to avoid any injuries that would deliver a World Cup nightmare. Former Three Lions striker Fraizer Campbell, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, admits that Thomas Tuchel would struggle to mount a serious challenge for global glory if his talismanic captain were to be unavailable.

• Record breaker: Kane a talisman for club & country

  Kane has not steered clear of treatment tables over the course of his career, but has been able to avoid the most serious of setbacks. That has allowed him to become a record-setting performer at domestic and international level.

  He is Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer and holds a similar record with England, having found the target for them on 76 occasions through 110 appearances. He fills the armband for his country and has guided them to back-to–back European Championship finals.

  Heartache has been suffered there, but Kane did break his trophy duck when becoming a Bundesliga title winner with Bayern Munich in 2024-25. At 32 years of age, he now has his sights set on more major honours.

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  Injury worry: Could England win World Cup without Kane?

  The expectation is that he will be England’s No.9 at next summer’s World Cup, having shown no sign of slowing down and with few alternative options breathing down his neck. If the Three Lions are to roar in 2026, then Kane will be required to lead from the front.

  Campbell admits as much, with the ex-Spurs forward – speaking via Stake, where you can get Bundesliga odds – telling GOAL when asked if England could prevail without Kane: “It’s a difficult one. You have got [Ollie] Watkins, who is a quality player but he’s not in the same bracket as Harry Kane yet. It would be an issue.

  “We have got a lot of good, technical 10s who could potentially play higher up the pitch like a false nine. [Marcus] Rashford has played No.9 before and he’s doing well this season. It would be a big miss for us, but we would have to cope somehow. Maybe come the start of next year we just wrap him in cotton wool and tell him not to play too much for Bayern!”

• Goal centurion: Can prolific Kane emulate Messi & Ronaldo?

  Kane is being backed to play on for some time yet, with former England striker Emile Heskey telling GOAL when asked if one of the most fearsome frontmen on the planet could emulate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by reaching 100 international goals: “Why not? He’s a goalscorer, that’s what he prides his game on – getting goals. A lot of people say he’s got to do this and this, but when your numbers stack up the way that his do, you kind of look past a lot of it.

  “When you look at the way that he plays, and it’s about looking after your body – if he can have the right diet, the right rest, which is a key thing when you look at the amount of games and the intensity of the games, the key thing is can he get enough rest and get recuperated for the next game. He’ll be fine. I played to 38, it wasn’t at that level as I was in the Championship – which is actually quite relentless with Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday – but he’ll cope fine.”

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  More tournaments: Will Kane play on beyond 2026 World Cup?

  Ex-England captain Stuart Pearce also told GOAL when quizzed on whether Kane has more major tournaments left in him: “He’s got another World Cup in him next summer, then you are looking two years beyond that. He’ll be a 35-year-old.

  “He is incredibly professional. His game is not based on blistering speed. I see no reason at all to bow out. I saw Teddy Sheringham wheeling it out late on in his career. Teddy played with his head and I think Harry Kane does as well. I see no problem going forward. The big question mark will be, who’s coming along to dislodge him? At the moment, I’m not seeing anyone that is consistent enough.”

  Kane is the only recognised striker to have been selected by Thomas Tuchel in the latest England squad. With tickets to the 2026 World Cup already safely secured, the Three Lions are readying themselves for final qualification fixtures against Serbia and Albania.

Ruben Amorim has stuck by his infamous 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United and it appears as though it is finally yielding results.

The Portuguese manager has been in charge at Old Trafford for a year now, and although things have not gone exactly to plan, his side have now gone unbeaten in their last four Premier League games.

Amorim has finally begun to settle on his best lineup. That has seen summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha lock down the two number 10 positions in his system, with Mason Mount providing excellent competition.

However, those two signings have ensured Bruno Fernandes will remain in his deeper pivot role, rather than closer to goal.

Where Fernandes is best suited under Amorim

It has certainly been a topic of hot debate in Amoirm’s year-long tenure in the hot seat at Old Trafford. Fernandes is a number 10 by trade, and played his best football as close to goal as possible, in and around the penalty box.

That season came in 2020/21, when he scored and assisted 29 Premier League goals in 37 games. He was one of the deadliest attackers in world football at that stage. So, you might think it is logical for Amorim to play him as a number 10.

Well, that is not how the United manager sees it. In fact, he explained that his skipper operates in the pivot because he “is the right man to start with the tempo of the play.”

United legend Paul Scholes sees it differently, and says “there is no doubt” Fernandes should be playing as a 10 because he “is the most creative player on the team.”

In 51 games under the tutelage of Amorim, the Red Devils’ number 8 has played 30 games in the pivot, and 21 as a number 10. That certainly shows just how much their manager favours him in a deeper role.

Interestingly, United have another player coming through in a similar mould to Fernandes, and it will be interesting to see where Amorim chooses to play him.

Man United's in-house Fernandes successor

It is clear that Fernandes is viewed as a pivot player by Amorim, despite Scholes’ view and the success he has achieved in previous seasons. With the two number 10 positions nailed down by Cunha and Mbeumo, players may have to adapt.

That could certainly be the case for United academy star Jack Moorhouse. The 19-year-old is currently on loan at Leyton Orient, but has previously impressed for the Red Devils’ youth sides.

It has been an impressive start to life in professional football for Moorhouse. Described as a “deadly” player by United academy page on X, Academy Scoop, the Republic of Ireland U21 international has played 14 games for Orient, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.

As it happens, Moorhouse has already been described as someone who is “ideal for Amorim’s left 10 role” at United by football analyst Ben Mattinson. He has operated behind the striker more often than not for the U23s at the club, too, making five appearances in that role, scoring twice and assisting one.

Interestingly, he’s played a bit deeper for Orient this season, showing excellent versatility. He shone in a box-to-box role against Peterborough United, creating two chances and completing three out of three dribbles.

Touches

33

Pass accuracy

86%

Ball recoveries

6

Duels won

4/6

Dribbles completed

3/3

Key passes

2

Goals

1

There are certainly similarities between Moorhouse and Fernandes. Both creative midfielders, they can operate in advanced roles and a bit deeper. It would be intriguing to see where Amorim would utilise him in the first team.

One thing is for sure, the 19-year-old possesses great talent. If the Red Devils are looking for an in-house successor to their “Portuguese Magnifico,” they might be able to find him in their famous Carrington academy.

Carrington's "best talent" is a big Sesko upgrade in the making at Man Utd

Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 3, 2025

From Dhoni and Jadeja’s CSK highs to Bumrah’s Mumbai record, all the numbers to keep an eye on

Namooh Shah21-Mar-20259:55

Runorder: What is your wishlist for the IPL 2025 season?

19 – Runs MS Dhoni needs to become Chennai Super Kings’ highest run-scorer in the IPL. Suresh Raina with 4687 runs, currently holds the record.6 – Bumrah needs six more wickets to become Mumbai Indians’ highest wicket-taker in the IPL. If he gets there, he will dethrone Lasith Malinga (170 wickets), who has been leading the list for over a decade.Related

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• IPL to allow one ball change on demand to counter dew

8 – Jadeja is eight short of becoming the leading wicket-taker for CSK in the IPL and will surpass Dwayne Bravo who heads the list with 140 wickets for the franchise.4 – Four more fifty-plus scores this season will take Kohli to the top of the list for most fifty-plus scores in the IPL. The record is currently with David Warner who has 66 fifty-plus scores in the league.6 – Currently on 194, six more dismissals for Dhoni this season, will take his tally to 200. He is already at the top of the list, with Dinesh Karthik at 182 placed second.2 – Rohit will become IPL’s second-most capped player when he takes the field in Mumbai Indians’ first match against CSK. Rohit is also just a boundary away from completing 600 fours and be the fourth player to do so.Rohit Sharma will become IPL’s second-most capped player in Mumbai’s opening match against CSK•Associated Press142 – The runs Rohit requires in IPL 2025 to go past Shikhar Dhawan (6769) and become the second-highest run-scorer in the league. Kohli with 8004 runs heads the list.1 – Jadeja after scoring 41 runs this season will become the first player in IPL to complete the double of 3000 runs and 100 wickets.5 – Jadeja, if he plays at least five games this season, will become the second-most capped player for CSK in the IPL. He is currently third on the list, with Dhoni (234) and Raina (176) ahead of him. He is also ten matches away from becoming the fifth player in IPL to play 250 matches.3 – Kohli will become IPL’s third-most capped player if he plays six matches in the season. He will go past former RCB team-mate Dinesh Karthik who played 257 IPL games.3 – Wickets needed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar to become the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL. Yuzvendra Chahal (205) heads the list, while Piyush Chawla (192) and Bravo (183) are second and third. Sunil Narine (180) and R Ashwin (180) are also not far behind.

England haven’t won in Brisbane since 1986, and their trips to the Gabba are rarely easy. Here’s a look at the moments – iconic, chaotic and brutal – that etched the myth into Ashes folklore

Matt Roller03-Dec-20252:29

Miller: England must back their approach to win second Test

“Dare I say, there would have been a very British satisfaction to it,” David Gower says, recalling the moment 39 years ago when, from the non-striker’s end, he watched Chris Broad carve the winning runs through cover-point in England’s most recent Test victory in Brisbane. “I’m not really the whooping and jumping and shouting sort… I think we’d have had a broad grin.”It was a different world. The Gabba was a cricket ground rather than a stadium, with a greyhound track running around the boundary, and the total attendance on the final day was a mere 1362 as England completed their seven-wicket win. Graham Dilley and Phil DeFreitas celebrated with champagne and cigarettes in the dressing room, and Broad’s son, Stuart, was only four months old.”The legend of the Gabba has grown since,” Gower tells ESPNcricinfo. “The concept of the Gabba fortress has grown over the last probably 20 years… It is now much bigger, and you have more of that sense of pressure from a hostile crowd. I’ve been there for Sky, standing in the middle before the toss, and it is a cacophony of sound. You are surrounded by it.”Related

• England confront the Gabba's realities with Ashes hopes in the balance

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• Switch Hit: Pink ball, Bazball, Gabba gamble

The hostility of the Queensland crowd is notorious. Along with the heat and humidity of the Brisbane climate, and the pace and bounce of the pitch, it has contributed to overwhelming countless England teams. Even accounting for their wider struggles in Australia, their record in their past nine visits to the Gabba is truly abject: lost seven, drawn two, won none.Ben Stokes insists that his team sees England’s record in Brisbane as irrelevant. “Obviously records for teams go back a long, long time,” Stokes said on Tuesday. “Many teams have gone to the Gabba and lost to Australia, but this is a brand new outfit… It doesn’t hold too much fear.”Nearly four decades of history suggest that the odds are stacked firmly against them.”The trick,” Gower says, “is to play against Australia when all their best players are playing for [Kerry] Packer.” His first Test in Brisbane, in 1978-79, coincided with the second season of Packer’s World Series Cricket. “It still felt like a contest. But we were stronger, and they had some weak links.”England won by seven wickets at the Gabba, and took the series 5-1.They were beaten four years later, but the most memorable thing that happened in Brisbane on the 1982-83 tour was the surprise appearance of a pig – with the names of Ian Botham and Eddie Hemmings emblazoned on it – on the outfield. “That was the most brilliant, imaginative thing that I’ve ever seen,” Gower says, laughing. “I’ve never seen anything like it.The England squad celebrate after winning the first Ashes Test in 1986•Getty Images”Allegedly, it was brought in by some vets who had the expertise to sedate it. They put it in an esky. At the gate, some gnarled old Queenslander said, ‘What’s that mate?’. They said, ‘lunch’. They put the lid back on and carried on, and then, at the crucial moment, revived it, gave it a stimulant, and by god, did it move! I’ve never seen anything like it.”When England returned in 1986-87, they had been written off as a team with three major problems: “They can’t bat, they can’t bowl and they can’t field.” Botham addressed his team-mates the night before the Test. “His contribution was brief, succinct, and punchy,” Gower recalls. “It was along the lines of: ‘forget about the last month. We start tomorrow.'”Botham rose to the occasion, belting 138 off 174 balls on the second day. “It was extraordinary,” Gower says. “Beefy was Beefy… If you walk out into that atmosphere and it’s inspiring rather than deflating, that’s a good sign. Ian would feel that, and I would tend to feel the same. It’s the defining thing as to whether or not you have picked the right career.”By the time England arrived in Brisbane for the start of the 1998-99 series, Australia’s unbeaten run at the Gabba had stretched to a decade – including Ashes wins in 1990-91 and 1994-95. But Mark Butcher does not recall any particular sense of trepidation: “They were redoing the place, so maybe one-quarter of it was missing… We also had a s***load of travelling support.”