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Arsenal have been utterly sensational so far this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Champions League, and look near enough unstoppable when it comes to the Premier League.

More impressively, the Gunners tore Tottenham Hotspur to shreds on Sunday afternoon without the man many would consider to have been their best player so far this year: Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian has been sensational in defence and attack, and so fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal with a star who could be looked at as another version of him.

Arsenal target another Gabriel

With the transfer window just over a month away from opening, it’s not been a surprise to see reports starting to link Arsenal with some brilliant players in recent weeks.

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For example, while the Gunners are fairly well-stacked in the position, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has been touted for a £120m switch to the Emirates.

Likewise, despite Leandro Trossard’s impressive form this year, Kenan Yıldız continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League title challengers.

However, while incredibly talented, neither of these players can really be compared to Gabriel, unlike Murillo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a few clubs interested in the Brazilian defender.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Barcelona are keen to sign the talented centre-back, who Forest value at up to €90m, which is about £79m.

Therefore, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and similarities to Gabriel, one Arsenal should be pursuing.

Why Murillo would be another Gabriel

So to start with, there are the more superficial similarities between the pair, such as both being Brazilian centre-backs.

On top of that, there is the fact that when Arsenal signed Gabriel from LOSC Lille in the summer of 2020, he was 22 years old, and if they sign Murillo in the winter window, he’ll be just 23.

However, the comparison goes deeper than that, as, in addition to playing in the same position, the two defenders tend to play in a similar style as well.

For example, while he’s not quite as tall as the Gunners star, the “monstrous” Forest man, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, is someone who makes the most of his physicality.

Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, the former Corinthians gem is more than happy to go in for a full-throated challenge, which, more often than not, he comes out better off from.

However, don’t let that fool you into thinking the Sao Paulo-born titan is just an old-fashioned defender who can’t compete when it comes to the technical side of the game, as that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Like his compatriot, the 23-year-old is far more accomplished on the ball than most who don’t watch him on a weekly basis would expect.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 5% of centre-backs in the league for successful take-ons, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for through balls and shot-creating actions from live-ball passes, the top 13% for progressive passes and more, all per 90.

Murillo’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 2%

Blocks

1.83

Top 3%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.12

Top 5%

Interceptions

2.07

Top 5%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 5%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 7%

Passes Blocked

0.85

Top 7%

Ball Recoveries

4.87

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.46

Top 9%

Tkl+Int

3.65

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.25

Top 11%

Goals – xG

+0.09

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.09

Top 11%

Passes Attempted (Long)

9.99

Top 11%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

1.10

Top 11%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.12

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

4.87

Top 13%

SCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.24

Top 13%

Goals

0.12

Top 15%

All Stats via FBref

When you consider those technical qualities alongside the fact that he helped Forest produce one of the defensive record in the country last season, it’s easy to see why one analyst made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best defenders in the Premier League.”

Ultimately, while he might not be on the exact same level as Gabriel – few defenders are – Murillo is clearly an exceptional player. Therefore, Arsenal would be wise to sign him before one of their rivals gets there first.

Related Arsenal have signed an "unpredictable" star who's the new Ian Wright

The incredible match-winner could be the difference for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta this season.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 24, 2025

Bavuma says de Kock had started hinting at wanting to reverse his ODI retirement as early as January

Abhimanyu Bose08-Oct-2025Quinton de Kock’s ODI retirement U-turn has South Africa captain Temba Bavuma excited, but he said that the wicketkeeper-batter might not get an “easy pass” into the XI, with the team loaded with in-form batters who have helped them win ODI series in Australia and England over the last few months.”I’m a little bit biased when it comes to Quinton. I grew up playing with Quinton from school cricket. So the fact that he is back, I’m as excited as a lot of fans out there,” Bavuma said on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday. “I think there’s quite a lot of batters, young batters especially, who have put up their names. So he is obviously going to have to do what he needs to do from a run-scoring point of view.”I don’t think he is oblivious to that. It’s not the case that he is getting an easy pass into the team. But I think it’s a case of, from where he has been in the abyss, per se, watching into the team, he wants to be a part of what has been created within the team.”Related

• Bavuma out of Test series against Pakistan with calf strain

• De Kock reverses ODI retirement

• De Kock is back on his own with 'no strings attached'

Bavuma also revealed that de Kock had started hinting at wanting to reverse his ODI retirement as early as January. In de Kock’s absence, two left-hand wicketkeeper-batters – in Ryan Rickelton and Lhuan-dre Pretorius – have staked their claim for spots in South Africa’s XI. Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis have also been impressive, in addition to the more seasoned batters like Bavuma himself and Aiden Markram.”I chatted to him earlier this year, in January, just before we were going to the Champions Trophy. And there he started kind of throwing out the fact that he would like to be available. Before he went and spoke to Shukri [Conrad, South Africa head coach], he spoke to me. He made it clear that that’s what he would like to do. And we will support him.”Quinton is one of the good guys within the system, a super-talented player. So if it’s the Quinton who batted in the 2023 50-over World Cup, I don’t think anyone would say no to that.”South Africa will begin their World Test Championship defence in Pakistan•ICC/Getty Images

At the 2023 World Cup, de Kock scored 594 runs from ten innings, at a strike rate of 107.02, and finished as the third-highest run-scorer, helping South Africa reach the semi-finals.Apart from South Africa’s lead-up to a home ODI World Cup in 2027, Bavuma will also have to oversee their defence of the World Test Championship title, beginning with a two-Test series in Pakistan starting October 12. Bavuma will not be part of that series as he is recovering from a calf strain but he sounded positive about South Africa’s chances.”Pakistan selected five spinners into their squad, so that really shows you what type of conditions the guys will be faced with there,” Bavuma said. “Guys are back home now, busy with their preparation. So we’ll leave no stone unturned. We’ve been to Pakistan before. The Champions Trophy – yes, those were good wickets. But we are familiar with the place.”After that will be India. There’s Sri Lanka as well. So there’s a lot more of the subcontinent tours that we’re going to have to overcome the challenge. And then something a little bit more familiar back home with Australia and England. But then again, those are strong teams.”South Africa faced criticism from some quarters about getting favourable fixtures in the previous cycle, but Bavuma was adamant that they didn’t want to shy away from playing the best teams.”I know in the previous cycle, there was criticism around our route into the final, supposedly playing the weaker nations,” Bavuma said. “That’s not the case now. I think for us as players, we look at it with a lot of optimism. Firstly, as a competitor, as an international player, you can test yourself against the best players. And obviously from a team point of view, we keep going and achieving what we want to achieve.”

Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000

Karthik Krishnaswamy21-Oct-2024Update: This poll has ended. Jasprit Bumrah’s performance goes into the quarter-finals. Check the other polls here.ESPNcricinfo LtdJasprit Bumrah’s slower ball to Shaun Marsh remains one of his iconic deliveries•Getty Images

Jasprit Bumrah – 6-33 and 3-53 in Melbourne, 2018

India won by 137 runs, lead series 2-1India had won in Adelaide, lost in Perth, and knew Melbourne would be a hard slog on a slow surface where only 24 wickets had fallen in a drawn Ashes Test the previous year. Time was precious, particularly with rain forecast on days four and five, so they declared seven down with less than 450, recognising they had batted nearly 170 overs.Turns out you don’t need much time if you have a game-breaker who can take the pitch out of the equation. India bowled Australia out twice in 156.2 overs, with nine of their 20 wickets coming from Jasprit Bumrah’s irresistible blend of brain and biomechanical brawn. They wrapped up victory shortly after lunch on day five, with even a washed-out first session powerless to stop them.Bumrah’s first three wickets, all on day three, all from round the wicket to left-hand batters, showcased how dangerous he could be even with minimal swing, seam or pace off the deck. A pinpoint bouncer managed to both rush Marcus Harris and cramp him for room. An unstoppable yorker, with a hint of reverse, burst through Travis Head.In between came the last ball before lunch, a devious, 113kph change-up that would go on to define not just this spell but all of Bumrah’s remarkable career. Shaun Marsh’s movements, tuned to Bumrah’s regular 140 kph rhythm, were entirely out of step with this ball out of a slow-motion nightmare. Fixated on a front leg that moved too far across and far too early, it dipped late to miss the cue end of the bat and pinged the pad on the full, plumb in front.Watch the highlights of these performances on the Star Sports network at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm IST, from October 22 onwards.Cheteshwar Pujara put his body on the line for India in Sydney•Getty Images

Cheteshwar Pujara – 50 and 77 in Sydney, 2021

Match drawn, series level 1-1Cheteshwar Pujara contributed three hundreds to India’s 2-1 win in Australia in 2018-19. He scored no hundreds when they pulled off an even more dramatic 2-1 win in 2020-21, and ended this tour with an average of 33.87, but he was still almost as much of a thorn in Australia’s flesh. The key number: 1366 minutes, the most spent at the crease by any batter playing four or fewer Tests in a series without scoring a hundred.Batting time. If an Indian team that lost all its premier bowlers to injury during the tour somehow triumphed over an Australian team that had its first-choice attack in every Test, a fair share of the credit must go to Pujara’s crease occupation. He kept asking Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to go back and bowl another ball over and over again, until they weren’t quite themselves in the back half of the series.Pujara made two fifties in Sydney, and one in Brisbane, at strike rates of 28.40, 37.56, and 26.59, batting with a finger injury sustained earlier in the series. He showed it’s possible to mount a serious challenge in a chase of 407 – there’s a chance India could have won rather than drawn at the SCG if Hanuma Vihari, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja weren’t all battling injury – and haul down a target of 328 if one batter shuts one end down completely and tires the opposition while other, quicker-scoring colleagues bat around him. For hour after hour, Pujara just stood there, taking blow after blow to his gloves and body, and let Australia expend all their energy in the futile pursuit of his wicket.

West Ham could now be back in for a former transfer target who they were on the verge of signing for Julen Lopetegui in 2024, according to a new report.

West Ham poised for active January transfer window

According to recent reports, the Hammers are poised for an active January transfer window amid their battle against relegation, and could sign a defender, midfielder and striker for Nuno Espírito Santo.

Reliable club insiders like ExWHUemployee have backed this up as we fast approach the turn of the year, while former West Ham scout Mick Brown has claimed that Nuno is planning a major overhaul.

West Ham have undergone a mini revival under Nuno recently, losing just one of their last six Premier League games, but it is clear they need strength in depth across the pitch.

Niclas Füllkrug is set to leave the London Stadium in January following his lacklustre stint in England, so West Ham are believed to be looking at strikers to replace him.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Man United 1-1 West Ham
Brighton 1-1 West Ham

In terms of the midfield area, James Ward-Prowse, Guido Rodriguez and Lucas Paqueta have all been linked with mid-season exits, so the prospect of a new name in the engine room hasn’t been ruled out either.

Meanwhile, Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell is back on the club’s radar after coming close to joining in the summer, with the Irons planning to ‘reignite’ talks for his signature (ExWHUemployee).

Sticking at centre-back, West Ham could now be back in the hunt for a familiar name — Cruzeiro centre-back Fabricio Bruno.

The 29-year-old made 51 appearances in all competitions for Cruzeiro in the recently-concluded 2025 Brazilian campaign, and his recent form has even earned him a recall to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad.

Bruno featured in all of Brazil’s last three friendlies against Japan, Senegal and Tunisia, with the towering defender well in contention to be selected for next year’s World Cup.

Belief West Ham have rebid for Fabricio Bruno after near-2024 move

The former Flamengo stalwart was actually on the verge of joining West Ham in 2024.

Fabrizio Romano even gave his famous ‘here we go’ to the transfer and claimed he would be Lopetegui’s first defensive signing, but the transfer ended up collapsing.

Now, as per South American journalist Jorge Nicola, there is every reason to believe West Ham may have rebid for Bruno.

According to his information, a mystery English club has submitted a £13 million offer for the player, and Nicola theorises that the most likely candidate is Nuno’s side given their very advanced talks nearly two years ago.

Bruno’s move to West Ham apparently didn’t happen because of the player’s salary demands, but the Premier League door may now be back open following what has been a stellar 2025 for him.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender David Luiz, who was on the books with Bruno at Flamengo, once said he has the ‘quality to play for any team in the world’.

However, given Cruzeiro only signed him in early 2025, they may be reluctant to part ways.

Tasmania offered some late resistance before the home side wrapped up victory in the final hour

AAP31-Oct-2025

Victoria celebrate one of Fergus O’Neill’s wickets•Getty Images

Test allrounder Beau Webster failed again with the bat in Tasmania’s 144-run loss to Victoria in the Sheffield Shield.Webster made just 6 as Tasmania, chasing 335 runs to win, were bowled out for 210 on day four at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on Friday.Victoria remain unbeaten with three wins from as many games, and paceman Fergus O’Neill enhanced his national call-up prospects with a haul of 4 for 54.Related

Webster hopeful he doesn't get 'squeezed out' of Australia's XI

Weatherald falls late after Kellaway and Harris centuries

Labuschagne welcomes opening challenge with clear head

Webster entered the game with heat on his Australian place ahead of national selectors naming their squad for the first Test against England. His meagre returns with the bat followed taking 1 for 26 from 12 overs in Victoria’s first innings, and 0 for 28 from 11 overs in their second.Before Friday’s play, both teams observed a minute’s silence for Victorian teen cricketer Ben Austin, who died after being struck on the head while batting in the nets.Tasmania resumed after losing another Ashes hopeful, Jake Weatherald, for 12 late on Thursday. And his opening partner Caleb Jewell was the first batter dismissed on Friday, bowled by O’Neill for 21.Tim Ward and Brad Hope put on 48 for the third wicket, but their stand ended with the score on 107. Ward, who made a polished 52, was run out in a horrible mix-up – as non-striker, he advanced for a single while Hope stood still after fending a short ball. Ward was almost three-quarters down the pitch when he slipped while trying to turn, and was still on his haunches when run out.Victoria struck again just four runs later when veteran Jordan Silk was bowled for a duck when shouldering arms to a Will Sutherland in-dipper.Webster departed just 14 runs later when caught from the bowling of Mitchell Perry, slashing at a wide ball and being caught at deep backward point.Jake Doran and Nikhil Chaudhary offered some resistance, before Victoria secured victory inside the final hour.

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany hailed Luis Diaz’s “chaotic creativity” after the winger helped his side return to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over St. Pauli on Saturday afternoon. The Colombia international scored deep into stoppage time as the German giants successfully put their midweek loss at Arsenal in the Champions League to bed.

• Diaz's late heroics inspire Bayern to victory over St. Pauli

  With the scoreline 1-1 heading into stoppage time at the Allianz Arena, Bayern looked on course to drop points against strugglers St. Pauli. The visitors took the lead after just six minutes when Burnley loanee Andreas Hountondji stunned the home supporters, before Diaz kick started his heroics with an incredible assist.

  The former Liverpool forward was on the ground when he somehow managed to flick the ball back to defender Raphael Guerreiro, who fired home to restore parity for Kompany’s men. And then after three minutes of additional time in the second half, Diaz headed home what looked to be the winner for Bayern, only for substitute Nicolas Jackson to make it 3-1 on 90+7.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Colombia forward missed Arsenal defeat following UEFA ban

  The victory saw Bayern bounce back from their 3-1 loss against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday. Tasting defeat for the first time in Europe’s elite club competition this season, the Bundesliga heavyweights fell to goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli after youngster Lennart Karl scored in the first half.

  Diaz was absent from Bayern’s trip to north London after being handed a three-game UEFA ban following a poor challenge on Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi on 4 November. The 28-year-old will also miss the Bavarians’ next two Champions League games against Portuguese side Sporting CP and Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise on 9 December and 21 January respectively.

• Bayern boss Kompany waxes lyrical over Diaz's superb assist

  But after inspiring Bayern to an all-important victory which saw them move eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, manager Kompany was full of praise for Diaz after the game.

  Describing Diaz’s remarkable assist for Guerreiro’s equaliser, Kompany said: “Lucho has got a kind of 'chaotic creativity'. He can always do something in chaos.

  “As a [former] defender, I always found it uncomfortable to play against such players because you never know whether you have the ball under control or he has it. He kept his head up while on the ground and played a great pass. He did the exact same move in training yesterday. That's a quality of his.”

  And hailing Bayern’s collective grit, Kompany added: “Such hard-fought wins are part of a season. That gives us confidence in the future that we can win in such situations. Compliments to the boys that they kept going and believed in themselves. We need that over the course of the season.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bundesliga giants' director of sport issues Kane update

  One player who did not find the back of the net against St. Pauli was Harry Kane, who has forged a brilliant relationship with Diaz in 2025-26. England captain Kane has scored 24 goals in just 20 games in all competitions for Bayern this season, while ex-Porto man Diaz has netted 12 times so far.

  However, while he was unable to add to his goal tally on Saturday, Kane was a topic of discussion after the game as Bayern director of sport Max Eberl issued a cryptic update on the striker’s future.

  When asked whether Bayern have entered into contract renewal discussions with Kane, whose current terms expire in 2027, Eberl told : “Harry knows exactly what he wants and we have plans for him. We would like to continue. We can very, very well imagine that, but we will basically discuss everything with Harry.”

  And when pressed on the future of defender Dayot Upamecano, whose contract expires next summer, Eberl added: “We definitely want it [a renewal]. I think we've communicated that clearly enough. I believe he feels very, very comfortable here.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers find themselves on the lookout for a new manager and have been alerted to the availability of a former Liverpool star.

Over the weekend, a chain events happened that could lead some to think that former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is in line for a return to management in the West Midlands.

On Saturday evening, the ex-Premier League star gave an honest verdict on why he didn’t make a return to Scotland following negotiations to take him back to Ibrox breaking down at the last minute.

Speaking on TNT Sports, he admitted that the timing of the offer came at a difficult point in his personal life, while he also made clear that instability at Rangers made him unable to commit to a return.

“I have to analyse, is it right for me? Is the timing right and are things perfect for me to be the best version of myself in that job? Unfortunately the timing, it didn’t feel right to me. I’ve got that much respect for Rangers that I wouldn’t go in there if I was 80-90% ready, but hopefully one day I’ll be more ready and more prepared for it and that chance might come again.”

Despite passing up the opportunity to return to his old club, his availability comes at a time when Wolves are searching for a permanent successor after sacking Vitor Pereira.

An out-of-work boss may well be their preference amid links to Brendan Rodgers and Xavi. Gerrard may not be keen due to Fosun and the new ownership at Rangers being mired in difficulty, but they do have an interest from one of his old teammates.

Robbie Keane applies for Wolves managerial vacancy

According to talkSPORT, Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane has applied for the Wolves managerial vacancy after leading his side to the Hungarian top-flight crown last season.

Formerly a fan favourite at Molineux due to scoring 27 times in 85 appearances during his spell at the club, the 45-year-old also won the Israeli Premier League title and Toto Cup while in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Keane has also been considered for the Celtic job in light of their search for a permanent successor to Rodgers. His credentials to get teams on winning runs can’t be underestimated, though coming from Hungary into the Premier League would be a major ask.

Wolves are eight points adrift in the top-flight and appear to be knee-deep in a scrap for survival. Seeing a former face would provide some hope to deflated Old Gold supporters, though the Irishman’s return of 13 wins in 22 matches circa 2025/26 hasn’t lived up to the hype of last term.

Find out the latest on Wolves' managerial search

Gary O’Neil could step back into the club after leaving less than a year ago. Either way, there is sure to be plenty of anticipation at Molineux over who will replace Pereira.

Boca Juniors have publicly confirmed their ambitious interest in signing Roma forward Paulo Dybala, sparking a frenzy of speculation in Argentina. Club director Marcelo Delgado described the potential transfer as a complex mix of "dream and reality" but insisted the Buenos Aires giants are prepared to make a significant effort to secure the World Cup winner.

Boca Juniors confirm ambitious Dybala plan

The prospect of Dybala swapping the historic monuments of Rome for the fervent atmosphere of La Bombonera has long been a topic of whispers in South American football, but those quiet rumours have now been given a voice by the Boca Juniors hierarchy. Delgado, a key member of the club's Football Council, has openly discussed the club's desire to recruit La Joya.

Speaking to the media regarding the club's future transfer targets, Delgado did not shy away when asked about the Roma playmaker. 

“Dream, illusion or reality? Dybala is a mix of all of this,” Delgado explained. “We hope to be able to make the necessary effort to bring him here, regardless of whether there is a possibility or not. The only thing I know is that his contract expires in June 2026. We will evaluate the situation and see what happens.”

AdvertisementAFPContract situation offers glimmer of hope

The Argentine forward is approaching the final six months of his deal with the Giallorossi, meaning he could start negotiating with clubs as of January with the view of making a free transfer at the end of the 2025-26 season.

While Dybala remains a key figure in Serie A, the lack of a contract renewal at the Stadio Olimpico has fuelled speculation that his time in Europe could be drawing to a close. Boca Juniors, led by president and club legend Juan Roman Riquelme, have made a habit of targeting elite veterans looking for an emotional return to South America. The arrival of Edinson Cavani previously proved that the club have the pull to attract global stars, and the hierarchy views Dybala as the next logical 'marquee' signing to elevate the club's status on the continental stage. However, the financial disparity between European wages and Argentine budgets remains the "illusion" part of Delgado's equation, requiring a massive financial package or a significant wage cut from the player.

The Leandro Paredes factor

Boca’s pursuit of Dybala is significantly strengthened by the presence of his close friend and World Cup-winning teammate, Leandro Paredes, who has already made the emotional journey home. The midfielder returned to Boca Juniors in July after activating a special clause in his own Roma contract, fulfilling his promise to return to the club while still in his prime. Since his arrival, Paredes has become the heartbeat of the Boca midfield, but his influence extends beyond the pitch.

Paredes and Dybala share a bond that goes beyond football, cemented during their time together in Italy and with the national team. It is an open secret in Buenos Aires that Paredes is acting as a de facto agent for the club. In multiple interviews leading up to his own return, Paredes publicly admitted to "driving Dybala crazy" about joining Boca, even joking that he told his daughter "Uncle Paulo" would eventually come with them. 

Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

For now, Dybala remains a Roma player, tasked with navigating the demanding Serie A schedule. However, Delgado’s comments have undeniably placed pressure on the Italian club. By publicly declaring their intent to "make the effort," Boca Juniors have signalled that they are not merely passive admirers but active participants in the race for his signature.

As January looms, the situation will become clearer. If Roma fail to tie their talisman down to a new deal before the New Year, the "illusion" Delgado speaks of could rapidly solidify into a concrete proposal. In the meantime, he will line up for Roma when they take on Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Amid talk of Jurgen Klopp making a sensational return to Liverpool, the respective stances of the club and their former manager have been revealed. Uncomfortable questions are being asked of current Reds boss Arne Slot a matter of months out from a Premier League title triumph, with it being suggested that a familiar face could head back to Merseyside.

Why Klopp left Liverpool

Klopp, over the course of almost nine years, helped to turn Liverpool into perennial contenders for the most prestigious of honours. He captured a top-flight crown in 2020, bringing a 30-year wait for domestic dominance to a close.

He walked away at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, with the decision taken not to honour a contract that was due to run for another two years. Klopp, having filled the most demanding of roles, felt burnt out. The German tactician said when bidding an emotional farewell: “My reserves are not endless. I’m not a young rabbit anymore. I am running out of energy. I know I cannot do the job again and again and again.”

AdvertisementGettyCould Klopp return to Anfield?

Klopp has gone on to take up a role with the Red Bull group, as their Global Head of Soccer, but recently hinted at being open to answering an SOS call from Anfield if Liverpool ever required his services again. He told podcast: “I said I will never coach another team, a different team, in England. So that means if then it's Liverpool, yeah, theoretically it's possible.”

Former Reds striker Emile Heskey has told 10bet Casino of Klopp potentially retracing steps to Merseyside: “For a manager who did what he did for Liverpool, it will be difficult for him watching them in this form. To pull them out of the mess they were in, and then to leave them in the position that he did, Klopp will always be linked with a return, especially when he's left the door open.

“It's an interesting one, isn't it? If you're a Liverpool fan, you will always feel allied to him and you will always want him back to emulate what he did before, but how often does that happen?”

Stance of Liverpool & Klopp revealed

While the rumours rumble on, as Slot’s Liverpool struggle for consistency in 2025-26, claims that Klopp is “committed to Red Bull” and has no plans to head back into the dugout.

Liverpool are also said to be wary of going over old ground. With Michael Edwards, Julian Ward and other members of the Fenway Sports Group hierarchy returning to Anfield following a managerial change, it is claimed that they “will certainly not want to go back to Klopp”. The Reds showed in their title triumph last season that they “could win without him”.

Slot has, however, been warned that he is not “immune from the sack”. FSG are considered to be “ruthless” when it comes to making big decisions for the good of the collective cause.

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Getty ImagesSack threat: Slot under pressure to deliver

They are prepared to bide their time for now as there is acceptance in the Anfield boardroom that “managers, like players, can go through a dip in form”. It is also recognised, on the back of a record-shattering summer spending spree, that “many signings take time to hit their stride, and not all can have the immediate impact of Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk”.

FSG are aware that there are “universal rules that football cannot ignore”, with it invariably managers that “pay the price” for any dip in form. Slot has seen Liverpool suffer six Premier League defeats through 13 games this season, leaving them nine points off the pace in a title defence that already appears to be over.

It may be that chance is considered, but Klopp is in no rush to dust off his tactics board and leave a less stressful role with Red Bull. claims it will not be him that “rides to the rescue” if Slot sees his stint in charge of Liverpool cut short.

Chicago White Sox rookie catcher Edgar Quero has an absolute cannon.

In the bottom of the first inning Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, White Sox starter Shane Smith worked himself into a bases-loaded jam with no outs. Angels leadoff man Zach Neto got a bit too aggressive inching off the bag at third, and Quero decided to take a shot.

He quickly popped up and snapped a perfect throw to third baseman Josh Rojas who got the tag down just in time to beat Neto back to the bag.

The amazing throw gave Smith a much-needed first out. He then struck out Angels outfielder Jo Adell, who was at the plate, and eventually got out of the inning without giving up any runs.

Quero is a 22-year-old rookie who actually signed with the Angels as an international free agent in 2021 before he was dealt to the White Sox in the Lucas Giolito deal in '23. He's slashing .280/.351/.381 with three home runs and 26 RBIs over his first MLB season this year. He had three pickoffs from behind the plate heading into Friday's game and now made one of the flashiest highlights you'll ever see.