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Manchester City are now reportedly one of the two most interested clubs in signing a key defensive reinforcement for Pep Guardiola worth over £40m.

Man City interested in key defensive addition

This time last year, Man City were gearing up for a frantic January transfer window. The Citizens were struggling more than ever before under Guardiola, who was on the worst run of his career himself.

One year later, things are little less concerning. The serial winners still have problems to address, but they still very much find themselves in a Premier League title race.

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Before they can even think about leapfrogging Arsenal, however, Man City must improve defensively. Close collapses against Leeds United and Fulham were worrying warning signs and the January transfer window represents the chance for Guardiola to add key reinforcements.

He told reporters when asked about his side’s defensive frailties as of late: “I don’t like to concede six goals in two games, but we have to build from that. We have to fix these kind of things. I believe we can do better. We create chances and score goals because we have built a team for that, but we have to be more solid.”

So, who could Man City sign in 2026? As things stand, the biggest names on their radar seem to be Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown.

Guehi would be a particularly impressive signing, given how Liverpool remain so closely linked with his signature. If he’s available as a free agent next summer, City should jump at the chance to welcome the England international.

Meanwhile, Brown would also be an impressive addition. The left-back reportedly has plenty of fans at the Etihad and has emerged as an early target to help Guardiola solve his current defensive leak.

Man City battling Arsenal to sign Brown

According to Caught Offside, Man City are now the most interested club to sign Brown alongside title rivals Arsenal. The two Premier League sides are seemingly leading the chasing pack to sign the impressive Frankfurt man, who is set to cost around €50m (£44m) when 2026 arrives.

It’s easy to see why Man City are one of the top contenders to sign Brown next year, especially as Guardiola transitions back towards flying full-backs.

The German was described as exactly that by Ben Mattinson last season, with the Como scout also calling the Frankfurt man “pacy”.

Man City rarely miss out in the transfer market and even as Arsenal rise to the top of the Premier League, they should feel confident that they can lure Brown to Manchester in 2026.

Man City now expected to sign "unbelievable" PL star who nearly joined Liverpool

There’s no denying that Chelsea employed a scattergun spending approach in the early days of BlueCo’s ownership, but that has since been streamlined over the past few years, with Enzo Maresca proving the perfect man for the job.

Sunday’s Premier League clash is a big one, with Stamford Bridge playing host to a top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. The second-place Blues will narrow the deficit to just three points with a win.

This is a team building toward a period of sustained success, and the tactical readings suggest that Chelsea are already one of the most exciting attacking outfits in the division, even if there is a sense that there are several levels still to be scaled.

Chelsea

2nd

22.1

Man City

3rd

21.8

Arsenal

1st

20.7

Crystal Palace

5th

20.2

Man Utd

10th

19.9

However, a question mark lingers over number nine, with Liam Delap yet to prove he is the answer. Could Chelsea be looking to sign an upgrade?

Why Chelsea are searching for a striker

In fairness, Delap has spent a sizeable portion of his first months in west London in the infirmary. Still, since returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for much of the autumn, the English striker has started twice in the Premier League and failed to break his duck on both counts.

That said, he did net his first goal of the campaign for the Blues against Barcelona in midweek, coming off the bench and coolly converting to seal the 3-0 win after neat interplay between Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.

However, the £30m summer signing from Ipswich Town has yet to prove he has what it takes to nail down a berth at the front of Maresca’s system, and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are searching for a potential upgrade.

They may have found one. According to Sky Germany, Chelsea are among the outfits to have been informed that Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy is worth about €50m (£44m), applicable for a number of top European outfits.

Chelsea are in the mix, and though Delap and Joao Pedro make up a dynamic central strike force in west London, Guirassy’s clinical record suggests he could add an interesting dimension to a title-challenging side.

What Guirassy would bring to Chelsea

Guirassy, 29, might not fit the age profile Chelsea have focused on targeting in recent years, but his experience and maturity in the final third would serve as a neat counterpoint to the younger generation.

Delap caught the eye for Ipswich last season, a shining light as he scored 12 goals across 37 Premier League outings. Kieran McKenna’s side were relegated, but so many teams swarmed for Delap’s signature, and Chelsea won the race.

The 22-year-old has a future at Stamford Bridge, but Maresca’s side need someone in the now who can maintain a fight against Arsenal, while pushing deep into the Champions League too.

Guirassy is “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to German legend Lothar Matthaus, and he ranks among the top 11% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

25/26

10

5 + 1

24/25

30

21 + 2

23/24

28

28 + 2

22/23

22

11 + 0

He’s hardly just a mindless poacher, with silky footwork and intelligent positioning that allows him to roam around the attacking half and link up with teammates.

But, at his core, Guirassy is indeed a goalscorer, and Chelsea may find that Delap earns fewer minutes with the Guinean striker in the mix.

It’s a tough one, but given the promising position Maresca’s side have placed themselves into, it might just be the move to make.

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Tahlia McGrath will captain Australia in Alyssa Healy’s absence, while Georgia Voll is expected to open alongside Phoebe Litchfield

S Sudarshanan21-Oct-2025Australia captain Alyssa Healy will miss the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup match against England after suffering a “minor calf strain” during a training session on Saturday.Vice captain Tahlia McGrath will lead the side in her absence, while Beth Mooney will keep wicket. Healy will be monitored ahead of the final league game against South Africa on Saturday, Cricket Australia said in a statement on Tuesday.”Really unfortunate there for Midge [Healy] but we know we have got some options,” Australia head coach Shelley Nitschke said in Indore on Tuesday. “It’s twofold. Obviously, it’s a big loss for us. She’s our captain, she’s made back-to-back hundreds, she’s certainly in some form with the bat. We talk about our depth a bit and that’s going to be tested. It’s going to provide some opportunities for others to step up into some role, which we’ve got the ability to cover. Whilst it’s not ideal, that’s why you bring 15 players to be able to absorb when things like this arise.”Related

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Nitschke said Georgia Voll was the “obvious choice” to replace Healy, but added that Australia were yet to take a final decision. On Monday, Voll had a long batting session at the Holkar Stadium and faced both pace and spin. Nitschke also gave her left-arm throwdowns from a low trajectory to emulate England’s left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, and Voll was seen training for the scoop against that kind of delivery.”Georgia Voll is here and has filled that role before,” Nitschke said. “We’ll sit down today and probably just make sure we’re getting our matchups right and come to a final decision, but she’s the obvious choice.”Voll made her ODI debut against India last year and scored a century in just her second game. She played the WPL for UP Warriorz as a replacement player and even scored an unbeaten 99 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Voll bagged a duck in her first international match on Indian soil – against India last month in New Chandigarh – but followed it up with a half-century.”Volly’s a pretty casual customer,” Nitschke said. “She seems to be able to take everything in her stride, and if we do go that way and select her, I’m sure that she’s going to be ready and up for the challenge. She has shown that she has certainly got what it takes to perform at this level, and doesn’t seem to get too overawed by an occasion. So if that’s the way we go, I’ve got full confidence that she’s going to be ready to step in.”Nitschke also threw her weight behind McGrath, who has had scores of 26, 5 and 12 in the World Cup so far. McGrath has led Australia only four times in ODIs before, and Wednesday’s game against Ashes rivals England will be her first at the ODI World Cup.”It works in her favour, she is a pretty cool customer, TMac,” Nitschke said. “She probably hasn’t had the [desired] output, but she had a really important partnership for us in the New Zealand game with Ash Gardner. She’s someone that certainly steps up when she’s leading the team. So, I’m looking forward to seeing her out there captaining us, and I know she’d do a fantastic job.”Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield put on an unbroken 202-run stand against Bangladesh•ICC/Getty Images

Healy came into the World Cup low on runs – she scored 27, 9 and 30 in the ODI series against India – and started the competition with 19 and 20 against New Zealand and Pakistan respectively. But she then hit 142 in 107 balls in a record run-chase against India and 113 not out in 77 balls in a ten-wicket win against Bangladesh.Australia, having won four out of their five matches so far, were the first team to qualify for the semi-finals and currently sit at the top of the points table. England and South Africa have also secured their spots, with one more berth still up for grabs.This latest injury is a setback for Healy, whose 2024 T20 World Cup campaign was also marred by injury. During that tournament, she was sidelined for Australia’s final group match against India and their semi-final loss to South Africa after injuring her plantar fascia. The injury also had a knock-on effect through the remainder of her 2024-25 season. Knee and foot issues kept her out of much of the WBBL, an ODI series against India, the T20I leg of the Ashes, and a T20I tour of New Zealand.After months of rehabilitation, Healy made her long-awaited return in August, playing six white-ball matches for Australia A against India A in Queensland before being named in the World Cup squad.

Highlights from the fourth round of group-stage matches, with Punjab’s title defence hanging by a thread

Shashank Kishore29-Nov-2024Brar turns hero as Punjab clinch Super-Over thrillerHaving conceded 176, a third loss in four games seemed all but certain when Punjab needed 24 off four balls in their Group A fixture against Mizoram. But Harpreet Brar did the unthinkable – hitting a four and three sixes. Along the way, Punjab also benefited from a wide to help force the game into a Super Over.Brar, who walked in at 151 for 6 with eight balls remaining, hit an unbeaten 23 off seven. Punjab then hit 15 in the one-over shootout to win by eight runs. The defending champions now have two wins in four games, and are currently fifth in their eight-team group with three games remaining. The top two from each group make the knockouts.Thakur delivers joint-most expensive spellIt’s been a tough week for Shardul Thakur. Having found no bidders at the IPL auction just a few days earlier, the India allrounder conceded the the joint-most expensive figures in SMAT history in Mumbai’s 43-run shellacking at the hands of Kerala.Shardul’s figures read 4-0-69-1 as Mumbai conceded 234 for 5 in 20 overs with opener Rohan Kunnummal hitting 87 and allrounder Salman Nizar 99. Nizar hit Thakur for a sequence of 6, 4, 6, 6 in his final over, which went for 28. Ajinkya Rahane responded with a 25-ball half-century to keep Mumbai briefly in the hunt. He finished with a 35-ball 68.Kerala are now second in Group E, with three wins in four games. Mumbai are fourth but have a game in hand.Hardik’s scintillating run continuesFour games in, Hardik Pandya tops the tournament six-hitting charts with 20. Shreyas Iyer comes next with 15. Hardik has married six-hitting with incredible consistency.His 231 runs have come at a strike rate of 211.92. After scores of 74*, 41* and 69, Pandya struck a 23-ball 47 on Friday to help Baroda beat Tripura and stay on top of Group B with four wins in four games.File photo – Ishan Kishan pummelled an unbeaten 77 off just 23 balls as Jharkhand chased down 94 in 4.3 overs•Associated PressDelhi use 11 different bowlersAll of Delhi’s starting XI turned their arm over during their win over Manipur at the Wankhede Stadium. Delhi won in the end by four wickets, chasing down 121 with nine balls to spare, but Ayush Badoni’s move divided opinion. On X, formerly Twitter, the former India seamer Dodda Ganesh termed it a “mockery of professional cricket.”Delhi are table-toppers in Group C with four wins in as many games, while Manipur are at the opposite end with no wins in four.Arunachal come under Kishan’s wheelIt isn’t just Manipur who are suffering. Arunachal Pradesh bore the brunt of Ishan Kishan’s incredible, unbeaten 77 off 23 balls. He opened the batting and hit five fours and nine sixes as Jharkhand chased down 94 in just 4.3 overs. This was Jharkhand’s third win in four games, and they are currently joint second with Uttar Pradesh in Group C.Shami ‘fine’ after brief injury scareEven as speculation builds over a late entry into India’s Test squad in Australia, Mohammed Shami gave the Bengal team management a few anxious moments during Friday’s game against Madhya Pradesh, when he lay on the ground clutching his back.It caused Nitin Patel, the head of the BCCI’s medical panel, who had been flown in to specifically keep track of Shami and update India’s team management on his progress, run into the field to attend to him. A member of the Bengal support staff group later told ESPNcricinfo that Shami was “fine.”For the record, Shami delivered four wicketless overs for 38 as Bengal failed to defend 189. It was their first loss in four games; MP meanwhile are unbeaten in four matches.Shami has so far been wicketless in two of his four games. He has picked up four wickets in all, with a best of 3 for 21 coming in a match-winning effort against Hyderabad. Prior to the SMAT, Shami picked up a match haul of seven wickets in a Ranji Trophy match against MP, his first competitive fixture since last year’s 50-overs World Cup final.

Liverpool have now received the green light to make their move for a defensive reinforcement in the January transfer window, according to reports.

Slot: Teams "think they can get a result" against Liverpool

It wasn’t a disaster at Anfield as Liverpool came from behind to rescue a draw against Sunderland, but it was hardly an inspiring performance from the Premier League champions yet again.

Despite breaking their transfer record to sign Alexander Isak in the summer, the Swede was back to his subdued ways just days after netting his first Premier League goal for the club against West Ham United. And whilst Florian Wirtz at least played a part in the equaliser and looked bright throughout, Liverpool’s attack was a far cry from their scintillating best of past campaigns.

What should concern Arne Slot the most is his own admission that teams now believe they can “get a result” against his Liverpool side. That should never be the case at the home of the champions, but the Dutchman also denied that Anfield’s fear factor has evaporated this season.

He told reporters: “No, not Anfield. For sure. But it’s clear that teams that play us now think they can get a result. Not only think, because that has been shown this season.

“And even in the games we’ve won, they also fuelled the confidence for other teams like, ‘Hmm, something is possible’ because the wins we had at the beginning of the season weren’t easy ones as well.”

The only positive for Slot to take from the Sunderland game is that his side, whilst found wanting in attack, were harder to break down defensively. With fixtures coming thick and fast, that defensive foundation will be important but so will any depth that Liverpool add in that area in January, especially if they sign Joel Ordonez.

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As reported by TeamTalk, Liverpool have received a green light to make their move for Ordonez after maintaining contact with the defender’s camp. Racing alongside Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of the Club Brugge defender, the Reds could land an ideal alternative for Marc Guehi.

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Despite reportedly reopening talks to sign the Crystal Palace man, Liverpool may be forced to wait until next summer when his contract expires to secure his signature. If that does prove to be the case, then those at Anfield should turn to Ordonez.

Although Como scout Ben Mattinson aired caution around Ordonez’s “aggressive” nature last year, it’s the exact trait that Liverpool have been lacking this season. The Reds have been physically outmatched and the arrival of the 21-year-old would go a long way towards solving that problem.

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From overhead kicks, last-gasp winners and routine thumpings, the November international break was full of moments of jubilation. But, in between that jubilation, came the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the 2026 World Cup.

For many players, it was their final opportunity to reach football’s biggest stage, only to see it snatched from their grasp once more. Whilst Scotland may still be in party mode and Ireland preparing for the playoffs after Troy Parrott heroics, the likes of Hungary and Nigeria have been left to wonder what might have been.

With the tournament fast approaching, some of the world’s most impressive stars have now had their fates sealed and face the heart-wrenching task of watching on from home as their club teammates do what they can only dream of next summer.

From Victor Osimhen to Dominik Szoboszlai, we’ve taken a look at the best XI of players set to miss out on a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Goalkeeper and defence

GK: Jan Oblak (Slovenia & Atletico Madrid) – Part of Slovenia’s disastrous qualification attempts, Jan Oblak could do nothing but watch on as his side earned just four points from six games in a group with Switzerland, Kosovo and Sweden.

By the end of qualifying, the standings weren’t even close as Kosovo’s 11 points were enough to finish second and leave Slovenia in third to sum things up.

RB: Ola Aina (Nigeria & Nottingham Forest) – If Oblak’s situation was frustrating then Ola Aina’s was on a whole new level over the international break. The right-back could only watch amid his recent injury woes, as Nigeria crashed out of qualifying in a disastrous penalty shoot-out.

The Super Eagles’ manager, Eric Chelle, limited his penalty options by taking off attacking players to hold on for the shoot-out, before suffering the consequences.

CB: Willi Orban (Hungary & RB Leipzig) – As Parrott wheeled away in celebration for Ireland, Willi Orban was one of several Hungary players suffering the heartbreak of late defeat.

They had their World Cup fortunes in their grasp, only for it to be snatched away in the most harsh way possible. Now, the RB Leipzig man, at 33 years old, may never get the chance to feature in the tournament.

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CB: Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia & Nottingham Forest) – It makes Serbia’s struggles all the more confusing, the fact that they also had a defender of Nikola Milenkovic’s calibre at their disposal, but it sums up his season. The Nottingham Forest star has struggled to replicate last season’s form at club level and took that form into the international break.

LB: Milos Kerkez (Hungary & Liverpool) – It’s been a difficult season for Milos Kerkez. The left-back has failed to hit the ground running at Liverpool and recently lost his place back to Andy Robertson. Now, he’s had his World Cup dreams shattered to coincide with his dream move slowly but surely becoming more of a nightmare.

Midfield

CM: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon & Brighton) – Carlos Baleba is undoubtedly destined for big things, but the world stage will have to wait for his presence as Cameroon crashed out of qualifying against DR Congo. At 21 years old, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder will still have more opportunities in his future and those may yet coincide with an impressive move at club level.

CM: Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary & Liverpool) – Szoboszlai was lost for words after Parrott’s late winner. When his side took the lead before half-time, the Hungary captain would have had his sights set on the World Cup.

Just 45 minutes later, however, he saw his dreams torn apart in cruel fashion. A rare standout for Liverpool this season and often dragging Hungary to victory, Szoboszlai has certainly been hard done by.

RM: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon & Man Utd) – Like his international teammate and potential future club teammate, Belaba, Bryan Mbeumo will be missing the 2026 World Cup.

At the peak of his powers and with everything beginning to come together at Old Trafford, there would have been plenty of hope around Cameroon that the winger could drag them through the qualifiers. Ultimately, though, he struggled to land a mark on DR Congo.

LM: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia & PSG) – As talented as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is, Georgia were always likely to be underdogs in World Cup qualifying. They finished third in Group E and won just once in six games, as Spain and Turkey took the top two spots, and they were forced to settle for third ahead of Bulgaria.

Attack

ST: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Galatasaray) – The biggest stage has continuously passed Osimhen by in recent years. Since falling out with Napoli, he’s played much of his club football at Galatasaray, despite endless rumours linking him with some of Europe’s biggest clubs and leagues. Now, he’s set to miss the World Cup and didn’t even get to take a penalty for Nigeria as they crashed out after he was substituted off.

ST: Serhou Guirassy (Guinea & Borussia Dortmund) – Serhou Guirassy is quietly one of the most impressive strikers that European football has to offer. He’s consistently starred in the Bundesliga in recent years, yet won’t get the chance to do the same for Guinea next summer. His side finished fourth in Group G, despite losing just three of their 10 games.

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GOAL spoke to a number of former NCFC players, who outlined the harsh realities of a volatile league after being made redundant four days before a playoff game

The day North Carolina FC announced they would be halting operations at the end of the season hit one player’s family particularly hard. 

Upon learning from her husband that everything their family had built in Cary, N.C., would come crashing to an end, the player’s wife was immediately rushed to the hospital. She had terrible breakouts on her face and body. It was so bad that a doctor determined she needed steroids to remedy her symptoms.

This is the side of football that many don’t get to see. And it was one of many reactions to the news that NCFC would, come the end of the season, no longer exist. On Nov. 3, the United Soccer League Players Association informed all 26 roster members of the club that they would not have an employer within a month. The news, officially announced by the team itself on Nov. 4 – four days before a home playoff game – made waves on social media. 

Yet more important than the debate over USL’s future and its grandiose ambitions was the impact that this news had on real human lives. A club closing down might seem a minor casualty in a much wider soccer sphere, in which news cycles last minutes – at most. And USL franchises are smaller and more volatile than those in more well-off leagues. 

But for the players, staff members, and those on the inside, such an event is life-changing and potentially catastrophic for a football career. 

“The reaction was anger. Having a two-year deal gave balance and a belief of certainty. Then, we had that ripped out from under us so late in the season,” one NCFC player told GOAL.

It isn’t fair to the thousands of paying fans who show up to games week in, week out – the season ticket holders who will suffer after watching their team fold. But there is also a devastating human cost of redundancy for the 26 on the roster. 

A handful of NCFC’s players, speaking on the condition of anonymity, talked about their reactions to seeing their contracts voided. Some were on multi-year deals, while others were due to see their contract expire at the end of the season. But all have had their lives turned upside down in recent weeks, with few apparent solutions.

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  'It’s embarrassing'

  NCFC are not the first USL team to halt operations in recent years – 12 franchises have folded in the last decade. As the league expanded, this has become something of an unfortunate trend. Ownership groups have often gambled on markets without success. And due to a lack of long-term sustainability, some simply pull the plug. 

  It’s common for players to see this happening in real time. One player, who was part of Memphis 1901 before it folded in December 2024, admitted that he could see the news coming. 

  “You don’t wake up one morning to a press release,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to have his identity protected. “It starts slowly with whispers in the locker room, uncertainty in staff meetings, small signs that something isn’t right.” 

  NCFC said their reason for ceasing operations was the franchise agreement ending, as well as an application to USL’s new Division One league, set to come to USL in either 2027 or 2028. They were, in effect, closing their doors now to set themselves up for the future. 

  The club itself reiterated that sentiment in an email. 

  “We had a great 20 years, but we're aiming to make professional soccer sustainable here for the next 20 and beyond. There’s an incredible soccer community in the Triangle, and this reset will give us the time and resources to connect better, understand more deeply, and best represent them when we kick off again in the future,” a club spokesperson told GOAL. 

  The club has already applied for Division One status, and its application, like many, is under review. 

  When asked about the club’s decision, the USL declined to offer a comment. According to sources, there isn’t an expectation that other clubs hoping to play USL Division One will make similar moves. The club, when asked about communications with the league itself, said they were unable to comment on behalf of the USL. 

  The general sentiment from club executives around the league is one of anger and disappointment. The president of another USL Championship club, speaking anonymously, characterized NCFC’s decision as a “betrayal of trust” and made clear that they don’t wish for the club to be let back into the league. 

  “It’s embarrassing for NCFC to capitalize on Division One the way they have, especially before the playoffs,” they said. 

  That same president also acknowledged that the decision comes at an inopportune time, given the league’s recent success and big ambitions for the future. “It’s disappointing at a time when there is so much happening around the league,” they added. 

  The USL Players Association expressed similar frustration. 

  “When a professional club shuts down, the players are always the ones left holding the bag. North Carolina FC is the 12th USL Championship club in the past decade to fold, and each time it happens, players are left with only two months of salary, immediate housing instability, and, for international players, real uncertainty over their immigration status,” Connor Tobin, Executive Director of the USLPA, said in a statement to GOAL.

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  'Shocked and disappointed'

  One squad member, who has a wife and son, was ‘shocked and disappointed’ to hear the news. He was supposed to be under contract for at least one more year – on a guaranteed salary. That deal, expected to sustain him for at least another season, has been shortened to just two months of compensation. He declined to answer if he felt optimistic about the chances of signing a new contract elsewhere. 

  A second player who had spoken with GOAL took the news poorly, but wasn’t entirely surprised. 

  “I felt hurt, but honestly, I could see it happening beforehand,” he said. 

  Another suggested that NCFC had been hinting that it would shut its doors for some time. The club’s franchise agreement was due to expire at the end of the 2025 season, and a few players noticed that the lack of marketing from club leadership – which also owns the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage – indicated that things might change. 

  “I wasn’t extremely shocked because of the lack of effort from the front office when it came to marketing the team,” he said. 

  But more generally, the reality for those who put their trust in a club can be devastating. 

  “A few had relocated their families just months earlier and signed year-long leases. Breaking those leases meant paying thousands of dollars they didn’t have and forcing many to stay in a city without a team simply because leaving was financially impossible,” a former squad member of a different USL club told GOAL.

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  Directly impacting a playoff match

  Part of the shock for the players was the timing of the announcement. 

  The club revealed its decision four days before an Eastern Conference semifinal clash with Rhode Island FC – a game which NCFC hosted at WakeMed Soccer Park. Head coach and sporting director John Bradford was looped in on discussions around the timing of the announcement. 

  The players, however, were baffled that the club chose a date so close to a crucial fixture. 

  “I was more surprised and annoyed with the timing right before a home playoff game,” one said. 

  Some players admitted that the news impacted their performance, or certainly the vibe around the team in the days before the game. 

  “It affected the training in the week leading up. Time that could have been spent preparing was spent on HR meetings and other meetings,” one player said. 

  One player who spoke with GOAL acknowledged that “team spirit took a hit,” but one insisted that they “focused valiantly on doing their best” given the circumstances. 

  The club, meanwhile, praised the players’ attitude in the week leading up to the game. “The players and staff were utmost professionals during the training sessions and the playoff match that followed the announcement, and we are incredibly proud of the effort and heart they showed in the conference semifinal,” an NCFC spokesperson told GOAL. 

  They lost 2-0.

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  Finding a new club

  Yet the effects of that Nov. 4 decision extend far beyond the result itself. USL contracts are typically shorter than those in MLS or other leagues, leading to significant roster turnover. In the USL, it’s common for players to be on one-year or two-year deals, creating constant movement from season to season. 

  But finding work so late into the season, when most teams have already formulated their roster plans for the following year, can be immensely difficult. 

  “The worst part is you’re late to the free agent game. Most teams have spent a good chunk of their budget and roster spots already. You lose all the leverage that you may have had if you knew you’d be a free agent six months ago. And as a result, you have to take a bad deal or a deal you don’t believe matches market value,” one player said. 

  Another, previously employed by a different club that folded, acknowledged the same. 

  “Contract status shapes the fallout,” they said. “Players out of contract can move on more quickly, but those with ‘guaranteed’ deals often discover the guarantee is limited. In a league with modest wages, that adds up to four paychecks and a public signal that players from a folded club can now be acquired at a steep discount.”

  The sentiment about finding a new club was generally pessimistic. Only one of the players GOAL spoke to said they were confident that they would seal a new deal with a new team. The club insisted they have worked with players to find new clubs. 

  “As soon as the team’s immediate future direction was finalized, our priority was to provide players and staff with timely, transparent information so they could prepare for 2026 and beyond,” a spokesperson said.

In need of another central defender amid their disastrous run of form, Liverpool have now reportedly been told how much they’ll have to pay to sign Ezri Konsa.

It was another sobering evening for those at Anfield, who watched on as Crystal Palace defeated Arne Slot’s for the third consecutive time. The Eagles have simply clawed away at the Reds time and time again this season and a young Liverpool side never truly stood a chance.

Losing 3-0 courtesy of yet more goals from Ismaila Sarr and a late Yeremy Pino effort, the Premier League champions are now out of the Carabao Cup and have lost six of their last seven games. They are a team in crisis.

When asked about his side’s latest defeat, however, Slot was quick to point out that his squad is weaker than it seems, using Manchester City as a comparison.

The Dutchman told reporters: “I saw Manchester City’s starting eleven and they didn’t have one starter from the weekend but it felt like their best team. That is a bit of an insight. Chelsea can bring Estevao in. After I made two substitutions tonight, we had six teenagers.”

After spending over £400m in the summer and breaking their transfer record twice, Liverpool are unlikely to get the sympathy that Slot asked for when looking at his squad last night. The former Feyenoord boss didn’t name a single first-team player on the bench and was ultimately made to pay the price.

Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez particularly struggled and the fact that Robertson was forced to play at centre-back exposed the big problem that the Reds must solve. Whether Konsa is the answer to that problem remains to be seen, though.

Liverpool discover Ezri Konsa price

After coming within hours of signing Marc Guehi in the summer, which would have solved their centre-back problem, it’s been back to the drawing board for those at Anfield.

Now, according to Caught Offside, Liverpool have joined the race to sign Ezri Konsa, who Aston Villa are ready to sell for £40m-£45m amid continued PSR problems.

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The 28-year-old also has interest from Manchester City and Newcastle United, but it’s Liverpool who will need his arrival the most if they miss out on Guehi in the summer.

It’s tough to match the season that Guehi is having, but Konsa has also shown plenty of potential at Aston Villa, who are beginning to find their form in the current campaign.

Described as a “Rolls-Royce” by former manager Dean Smith, Konsa is represented by the same agent as Ibrahima Konate and could now use that link to get himself a summer switch to Anfield.

Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace player ratings

The dates and the fixtures, the players to watch and the players you can’t watch, draft details and everything else you need to know

Andrew McGlashan06-Nov-2025

When does it take place?

The competition begins with a triple-header on November 9, later than it traditionally does because of the ODI World Cup, with the final on December 13, the day before the BBL begins.

What is the tournament structure?

Last season, the tournament was reduced to 40 games plus finals to bring it in line with the BBL and fit it within a burgeoning women’s cricket calendar. Each club will play ten games during the regular season.The three-game finals format used since 2021 remains in place, with the top four teams from the regular season to qualify. The team that finishes top after the regular season will host the final. The third- and fourth-placed teams will meet in the Knockout on December 9 with the winner to travel and face the team that finished second on the ladder two days later in the Challenger for a place in the final.

Who are the defending champions

Melbourne Renegades won the title for the first time last season when they overcame Brisbane Heat in a rain-affected final at the MCG. However, they have suffered a major blow ahead of their defence, with West Indies allrounder Hayley Matthews, who was Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament, ruled out having undergone shoulder surgery.Melbourne Renegades will miss the services of last season’s superstar Hayley Matthews•Getty Images

How the overseas draft played out

Adelaide Strikers: Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Wolvaardt (pre-sign), Tammy Beaumont
Brisbane Heat: Jemimah Rodrigues, Chinelle Henry, Nadine de Klerk (pre-sign)
Hobart Hurricanes: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (pre-sign), Linsey Smith
Melbourne Renegades: Deandra Dottin, Alice Capsey
Melbourne Stars: Amy Jones, Marizanne Kapp (pre-sign), Dani Gibson
Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine (pre-sign), Paige Schofield, Chloe Tryon (withdrawn)
Sydney Sixers: Sophia Dunkley, Amelia Kerr (pre-sign), Mady Villiers
Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight, Chamari Athapaththu (pre-sign), Shabnim Ismail

Are there any availability problems or schedule clashes?

Not too many. The tournament itself has been squeezed by the World Cup but, currently, the only conflicting international series is South Africa’s against Ireland. That has seen Perth Scorchers replace Chloe Tryon, who has made herself available to face Ireland, with England’s Freya Kemp.

The squads

Adelaide Strikers
Jemma Barsby, Tammy Beaumont, Darcie Brown, Sophie Ecclestone, Anesu Mushangwe, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura WolvaardtBrisbane Heat
Lily Bassingthwaighte, Bonnie Berry, Lucy Bourke, Nadine de Klerk, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mikayla WrigleyHobart Hurricanes
Kathryn Bryce, Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Isa Malgioglio, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani, Callie Wilson, Danni Wyatt-HodgeMelbourne Renegades
Charis Bekker, Alice Capsey, Sarah Coyte, Emma de Broughe, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth, Sara Kennedy, Sophie Molineux, Davina Perrin, Naomi Stalenberg, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Issy WongMelbourne Stars
Sophie Day, Kim Garth, Dani Gibson, Maisy Gibson, Ella Hayward, Amy Jones, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Ines McKeon, Sasha Moloney, Indigo Noble, Georgia Prestwidge, Sophie Reid, Annabel SutherlandPerth Scorchers
Chloe Ainsworth, Maddy Darke, Sophie Devine, Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Ebony Hoskin, Freya Kemp, Alana King, Katie Mack, Shay Manolini, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo, Paige Scholfield, Ruby StrangeSydney Sixers
Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Cheatle, Sophia Dunkley, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Elsa Hunter, Amelia Kerr, Lauren Kua, Emma Manix-Geeves, Ellyse Perry, Courtney Sippel, Mady VilliersSydney Thunder
Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Bates, Ella Briscoe, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Laura Harris, Shabnim Ismail, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia WilsonThe MCG could host the final if one of the two Melbourne teams qualify•Getty Images

Any new regulations we need to know?

CA has strengthened in-game over-rate penalties. As per previous seasons a countdown timer will be in place for each innings. Once time expires, teams are required to bring an additional player inside the fielding restriction circle immediately. The timer will immediately reset (5 minutes for BBL, 5:45mins for WBBL) after hitting zero and if time expires again before the conclusion of the innings, full powerplay conditions will exist for the remaining deliveries.

Are the major stadiums being used?

Largely, no. The Stadium Series, which took matches to the MCG, SCG and the Gabba, has been shelved for this season although Adelaide Oval will still host one Strikers’ match as part of a double-header day on November 28. Cricket Australia said it was down to scheduling and they could return in the future.”Due to scheduling reasons and needing to optimise those games in those big stadiums, we haven’t found the right slot for them this year,” head of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson said. “That’s not to say we won’t be back there in the future, because [playing] the world’s best cricket league in the world’s best stadiums is still a part of our thinking going forward, but not for this season.”There remains a chance the MCG could host the final if either Melbourne team qualifies because it is scheduled to be a night game and Junction Oval won’t have its new lights installed in time.

Players to watch

Tess Flintoff, who has made a crosstown move from Melbourne Stars to Renegades, is one of the emerging allrounders in Australian cricket. She was awarded a central contract earlier this year, perhaps somewhat surprisingly given her numbers. “Certainly looking at her performances, you’d go, why?,” national selector Shawn Flegler said at the time. “She hasn’t really banged the door down with wickets or anything, but there’s something about her that’s probably a little bit different.” After last season’s returns of three wickets in nine games and a batting average of 9.83, this is a season to show why she is so highly regarded.Laura Wolvaardt comes into the WBBL after topping the run chart at the ODI World Cup•ICC/Getty ImagesLaura Wolvaardt comes into the competition on the back of a magnificent World Cup for South Africa where she produced one of the all-time great innings in the semi-final before another century in the final that wasn’t quite enough. After consecutive 400-run seasons in Strikers’ back-to-back titles, last summer was more of a struggle for Wolvaardt with 193 runs in nine innings. Her challenge this season could be refocusing after a few weeks of incredible personal success, but ultimately another World Cup final heartbreak.Sianna Ginger, a 20-year-old allrounder, only has six WBBL games to her name but is quickly emerging as a player to keep an eye on. She earned Australia A selection over the winter where she was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the T20s against India A, and struck a century in the four-day game against India A.Davina Perrin is one of the breakout stars of English cricket, having carved a magnificent 101 off 43 balls for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred Eliminator final. The 19-year-old is already being talked about for national honours as England coach Charlotte Edwards looks to the future after the semi-final exit in the World Cup. Perrin was a late signing by Renegades and will be tasked with, partly at least, filling the huge shoes of Matthews.Laura Harris has made the move from Brisbane Heat to Sydney Thunder after signing during the WBBL’s first trade window, which was introduced last season. One of the hardest strikers of a cricket ball, Harris has made her name as a power surge specialist. Her overall T20 strike rate of 173.92 is far and away the best in the world for anyone with at least 1000 runs.

Harry Kane has urged his Bayern Munich team-mates to defend set pieces better against dead-ball specialists Arsenal. The ex-Tottenham striker is all set to take the field against his old north London rivals as Bayern face the Premier League leaders in a huge Champions League clash at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, and has admitted to being afraid of the Gunners' deliveries.

• Arsenal's set-piece prowess

  Arsenal have earned the 'set-piece kings' tag since the 2024-25 campaign for their amazing goal-scoring prowess from dead-ball situations. In the current season, 12 out of the Gunners' 39 goals across all competitions have come from set-pieces as they have maintained a 30.77 per cent conversion rate.

  However, in their last Premier League fixture, which saw Mikel Arteta's side clash against rivals Tottenham, the league leaders did not need a single dead-ball situation to register a dominating 4-1 win over Thomas Frank's side. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Kane sends warning to Bayern colleagues

  Bayern and England's star forward Kane has admitted that he is wary of Arsenal's set-piece skills ahead of their Champions League fixture, as he told reporters: "Of course I follow the Premier League. Arsenal have done well so far in that department. We've prepared for Arsenal as usual. The best thing will be to not give them any set pieces, to control the game – and we need to defend better than we have recently when we do concede set pieces."

• Arteta loves scoring from set-pieces

  While Arsenal comfortably overcame the derby hurdle against Spurs without requiring a single dead-ball situation, Arteta later admitted that he loves watching his team score goals from set-pieces. "I am upset we didn’t score with a set piece. I want to score with a set piece as well," Arteta told reporters after the match. 

  Bayern have dominated the 2025-26 Bundesliga race so far, but have conceded six goals from dead-ball situations, and will need to heed Kane's warning in order to conquer the Gunners.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  How are Arsenal planning to stop fiery Kane?

  Kane has displayed terrific form once again in the 2025-26 campaign as he has already scored 24 goals in 18 matches across all competitions. When Arsenal star Jurrien Timber was asked about their plans to silence the England captain, he said: "That is not going to be easy, of course. I think he is an amazing striker, everyone knows that. He has so many qualities. He has been doing it for such a long time already, and now at Bayern Munich he has been one of the best players in the world. So, it is going to be a nice challenge for us as a team, as defenders, to stop him tomorrow. I think when you face an opposition with Harry Kane as the striker, he is a topic and you discuss him as defenders, because he is one of the dangerous players. It is the same with any other game, we discuss their players and the way they play. For tomorrow, it is the same."