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There is no getting away from the fact that West Ham United have not had the best of starts this season.

In fact, following their defeat at the hands of Arsenal, the club sit 19th in the Premier League, on just four points.

However, it really isn’t all doom and gloom, as Nuno Espírito Santo has already made the team far harder to break down, and there remain some incredibly talented players in the squad.

High up on that list is summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf, and in yet more good news, it looks like West Ham are brewing their own version of the Senegalese international.

Diouf's incredible start to the season

West Ham made a few signings this year who could go on to have great careers at the club, like Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa.

However, if you were to ask the fans who they consider to be the best addition, Diouf would surely be atop that list.

The former Slavia Prague gem cost the East Londoners around £19m, and while that seemed like a lot of money at the time for someone so young and from the Czech league, it now looks a bargain.

The Dakar-born titan is a maurading full-back in the very best way possible, someone capable of doing the defensive work when needed, but then an incredible outlet at the top of the pitch, thanks largely to his brilliant ability to fire in cross after cross.

The game against Everton was perhaps the best example of this, as while he didn’t get the assist, it was his cross that led to Jarrod Bowen’s goal, and on another night, the 20-year-old could have had a hat-trick of assists.

This might all sound a bit hyperbolic, but the dynamic full-back has been impressing plenty of people, with one analyst making the bold claim that he’s “one of the best full-backs in the league.”

In all, Diouf looks like one of the signings of the summer so far, and as if one of him wasn’t enough, West Ham appear to be brewing a homegrown version as well.

West Ham's homegrown Diouf

West Ham have a proud history of developing and promoting some of the most exciting youngsters in England, like Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Declan Rice.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

While he might not reach the levels of those three, another exciting prospect in the club’s academy at the moment is Emeka Adiele.

The 18-year-old gem has been on fire for the Hammers’ U21 side, and looks like he could become a player in the mould of Diouf.

For example, in just eight appearances, totalling 698 minutes, the dynamic youngster has scored one goal and managed to provide six assists.

That means the academy star is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.14 games, or every 99.71 minutes, which is a simply sensational rate of return for someone who spends plenty of time at left-back.

Moreover, while the rate at which he’s producing goal involvements has increased this season, the teenage sensation has been a reliable source of output for some time now.

Last season, for example, he produced nine in 25 games, and the year before that, it was another nine in 25.

Finally, in addition to already having the end product, he also appears to possess the mentality to succeed in the senior game, with one analyst claiming that he is “full of confidence & tenacity.”

Ultimately, West Ham appear to have a superstar in the making in Diouf, but if they end up losing him in a couple of years, they also appear to have the perfect replacement in Adiele.

Nuno "raised a few eyebrows" with his "first act at West Ham" after replacing Potter

The Portuguese is tasked with turning West Ham’s fortunes around.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 4, 2025

Arsenal and Manchester City have both dispatched scouts to monitor Feyenoord's 19-year-old right-back Givairo Read, according to reports. However, they face a "very complicated" transfer battle, as Bayern Munich are also in pursuit and have reportedly already held initial talks for the highly-rated Dutch prodigy ahead of the January window.

• Premier League scouts dispatched for Read

  Arsenal and City are actively scouting Read, with officials from both clubs having travelled to monitor the player, according to a report from De Telegraaf.

  The Premier League heavyweights are not alone in their pursuit, however, as Sky Sport in Germany reports that Bayern Munich have also entered the race and held initial talks, setting the stage for a significant transfer battle for one of Europe's most coveted young defenders.

  Interest from England's elite is intensifying, with both Arsenal and City reportedly sending scouts to closely observe the Netherlands U21 international. The clubs are assessing the teenager as a high-potential target ahead of the January transfer window.

  Read's rapid development has placed him firmly on the radar of Europe's top clubs. Despite the high-profile nature of his suitors, the report from De Telegraaf notes that Read would likely not be an immediate starter at either Premier League destination, suggesting any move for Read would be a strategic investment for the future.

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  Who is Givairo Read? Feyenoord's young prodigy

  Read, who only turned 19 in June, has enjoyed a meteoric rise since joining the Feyenoord academy from Volendam in 2023. He was promoted from the U18 setup to the first team in late 2023 and firmly established himself as a regular during a breakout 2024-25 campaign.

  That season saw him display remarkable attacking prowess from defence, contributing two goals and seven assists in the Eredivisie. He has continued that impressive form into the current 2025-26 season, registering three assists in ten league appearances and scoring a goal in the Europa League against Panathinaikos. In total, he has amassed 47 senior appearances, scoring four goals and providing 11 assists.

  Described by Sky Sport as an "excellent ball carrier" and a "progressive passer," Read's dynamic style fits the mould of the modern, attacking full-back sought by top-tier managers.

• Bayern Munich 'working on the matter' personally

  The competition from Germany is concrete. Sky Sport reports that Bayern Munich's sporting hierarchy, director of sport Max Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund, are both "working on this matter" personally. Read is considered "one of the preferred candidates" to bolster the right-back position for Vincent Kompany's side.

  Initial talks between the Bavarian giants and the player's representatives have reportedly already taken place. The interest is said to be "flattering to the player's side," with Read himself aware of the contact.

  Bayern's pursuit comes despite the outstanding form of Konrad Laimer, who has excelled in a new full-back role under Kompany, recently providing a hat-trick of assists in the Champions League. With Sacha Boey also gaining confidence and Josip Stanisic returning from injury, Bayern's move for Read signals a clear long-term strategic focus on securing a high-potential specialist for the role.

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• Feyenoord in strong negotiating position

  Any club wishing to sign Read will have to negotiate from a position of weakness. The Dutch prodigy only signed a new long-term contract extension with Feyenoord in April 2025, committing his future to the Rotterdam club until 30 June 2029.

  This lengthy deal provides Feyenoord with significant leverage. With multiple financial powerhouses like Arsenal, Man City, and Bayern Munich all interested, the Eredivisie side are in a prime position to demand a fee far in excess of his valuation and could instigate a bidding war for their prized asset. Sky Sport notes that securing a deal will be a "very complicated undertaking" for any of the chasing clubs.

  Despite the swirling rumours and jokes in the Feyenoord dressing room about his high-profile links, Read remains composed. The player insisted his focus remains entirely on his development at De Kuip.

  "But it doesn’t distract me, you know. I’m comfortable at Feyenoord, and my development here is the only thing on my mind," Read stated, as quoted by De Telegraaf.

  He also commented on the light-hearted reactions from his teammates regarding the Bayern Munich interest. "Yeah, yeah, jokes are being made. Suddenly they’re going to start speaking German to me and stuff. But that’s nice to see," Read explained.

Former Bayern Munich defender Markus Babbel believes that Harry Kane is currently the most complete forward in world football, ranking him above Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Babbel claimed that he wouldn't have wanted to face the Englishman – who has scored a staggering 22 goals in 15 games this season – as a defender, while also hailing his all-round displays.

• Kane aging like fine wine at Bayern Munich

  It wouldn't be wrong to say that Kane is perhaps playing the best football of his life at the moment, at the ripe old age of 32. The former Tottenham Hotspur frontman has been absolutely on fire this season, scoring 22 goals in 15 games. But it's not just the staggering rate at which he is scoring that has grabbed all the spotlight.

  Kane has long been recognised as one of football’s most intelligent forwards, renowned for his vision, awareness, and ability to bridge midfield and attack. This season, his evolution has taken another step. Often deployed as an attacking midfielder in a free-roaming No. 10 role behind Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson in recent weeks, Kane has thrived with the added creative responsibility. Even when leading the line as a traditional striker, he frequently drops deep into midfield to dictate play, using his exquisite passing range to pick out the diagonal runs of Luis Diaz and Michael Olise, effortlessly switching the point of attack from deep areas.

  Beyond his offensive influence, Kane has also become increasingly authoritative in the defensive third. His work rate and positional intelligence allow him to track back effectively, using his physicality to win back possession and bolster the team’s defensive structure; it's a testament to his complete understanding of the game and his growing adaptability.

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  Babbel would have Kane as a team-mate over Haaland and Mbappe

  In a column for , Babbel waxed lyrical about Kane. "Which of this trio – Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe – would I not have wanted to defend against as a defender? Clear answer: Kane!" he wrote.

  "He's the hardest to pin down. He's neither exceptionally fast nor does he have an extraordinary physique, and he doesn't stand out in the air either. But he has incredible game intelligence, which allows him to evade his opponents.

  "It would have been easier in the past. Back then, center-backs were man-markers or even sweepers. They were allowed, and even encouraged, to track their opponents everywhere. These days, hardly any player knows how man-marking works anymore, and since the switch to 'modern zonal marking,' nobody really knows how or when to cover him."

  Babbel ranked Haaland behind Kane, explaining: "For me, Haaland comes after Kane. When he uses his dynamism and gets his body in the way, I don't know where I'd be flying." Mbappe, on the other hand, is not as difficult to defend against – "if you have pace and position yourself well."

  Towards the end, he was clear about whom he'd choose as his team-mate. "If I could choose one teammate from the three, I'd also choose Kane. With his defensive attitude, he's taken the whole thing to another level."

• Kane, Haaland and Mbappe in untouchable form

  Kane, Haaland and Mbappe trio have been terrorising defences both domestically and in the Champions League this season with their respective sides. Kane has been on a tear, becoming the fastest player in history to reach a century of goals for a club in one of Europe's top five leagues. 

  Haaland, meanwhile, has scored 13 of the 18 league goals scored by Manchester City in their opening 10 games – the Norwegian accounts for 72.22 per cent of his team's goals domestically. He is on track to break his own record for the most goals in a Premier League season he set in his debut campaign in the 2022-23 season. His total tally across competitions stands at 17 goals in 13 games.

  Mbappe, too, has put behind the collective disappointment of his debut season at Real Madrid, leading the La Liga charts with 13 goals in 11 games and 18 in 14 across all competitions. He is tied with Haaland in the race for the European Golden Shoe 2025-26, which the Frenchman hopes to win once again next summer.

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  Bayern and Kane await PSG challenge

  All the attention will now turn towards Tuesday's titanic clash between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Les Parisiens are the reigning champions of Europe's premier club competition and they pose a serious threat to Bayern's 15-game winning streak.

Russell Martin accepted full responsibility after another dismal Rangers performance ended with a 1-1 draw at Falkirk, but it may not be enough to save his position at Ibrox.

When striker Bojan Miovski tapped in after 41 minutes, the travelling supporters again turned their ire on the Gers boss and there were repeated chants against the former Southampton manager before and after John McGlynn’s side deservedly levelled in the 73rd minute through substitute Henry Cartwright.

Afterwards Gers fans sat down to attempt to stop the team bus leaving but they were dispersed by police. Images showed that Martin was escorted out of another part of the stadium by security guards before reportedly leaving in a car.

The Ibrox side are in eighth place with one win in seven William Hill Premiership fixtures, 11 points behind leaders Hearts and nine behind Celtic and Martin, who described the chants as “character building”, was asked if he was getting enough from the players.

He said: “They’re giving us everything they’ve got. I think they’re really trying. So I have to take responsibility for it, not them.

“There’s been some really honest discussions with them in the dressing room, some frustration with them and each other, but ultimately I’m the one in charge of the team, so I have to accept responsibility. We haven’t had enough wins on days like today, so it’s been a frustrating period.”

Kris Boyd slams "embarrassing" thing Martin had Rangers do in Sturm Graz defeat

It was another night to forget.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 3, 2025

Martin conceded the backing of the Ibrox board is not infinite but remains confident that he can get it right.

He said: “I think it’s the same everywhere. Just this club is intensified and the scrutiny is much higher, the noise is much louder.

“So every draw we’ve had has felt like a defeat because of the stature of this club and what it means and what we have to try and fight for.

“So I can’t answer your question really, you’d have to ask the people above me.

“I feel that the players and the staff are really behind me. I felt really supported by everyone else above me as well, and I can’t dictate whether that changes or not.

“I have to just try and focus on winning football matches (and we can do that) because of what I see every day with the players, how invested they are in it, how hard they run.

“If I felt any differently, I would feel differently here. It probably wouldn’t hurt as much, but I know they’re really trying.”

Martin "on the brink" of Ibrox sack

And Ben Jacobs reports on Sunday evening that Martin “is on the brink of being sacked” the Gers board “expected to make an imminent decision”.

Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl are both “appreciated” in Glasgow’s South side having been on the shortlist before Martin took charge.

Mookie Betts will be on the move again.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced their plan to move Betts back to the infield next season. The 32-year-old has moved positions several times since joining the Dodgers in 2020 and it appears another position shift is coming in 2025.

During the 2024 campaign, Betts was all over the diamond. He played 65 games at shortstop, 43 games in right field and 18 games at second base. In 2023, he played 107 games in right field, 70 at second base and 16 at shortstop.

There is no word where Betts will be sent next season, but second base would probably be a safe bet. Shortstop is an incredibly taxing position, while second could extend his career.

Moving Betts to the infield will open a place in right field which, theoretically, could be filled by a free agent. New York Yankees free agent outfielder Juan Soto is available, and the Dodgers are expected to be involved in the bidding for him.

We'll see what the Dodgers' actual plans are for Betts but it looks like he'll be switching positions again.

Harry Kane has received more transfer advice from Chris Waddle, with the England captain being told that “Bayern Munich are massive but Real Madrid are even bigger”. It has been revealed that exit clauses in Kane’s contract at the Allianz Arena can be triggered in 2026. A Premier League return is considered to be unlikely, but the prolific striker could end up heading for Spain.

• Trophy target: Kane eager to savour more success

  The 32-year-old frontman has offered no indication that he is looking for another new challenge, with an extension to his deal in Germany being mooted. Remarkable individual standards have been maintained with Bayern – registering 108 goals through 113 appearances.

  Kane has broken his trophy duck in Bavaria, savouring Bundesliga title and Super Cup successes, and is setting his sights on more major honours with club and country. A move to Santiago Bernabeu would present him with opportunities to compete for the grandest of domestic and continental prizes.

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  What next for Kane – Premier League, La Liga or Bayern stay?

  Ex-Tottenham and England star Waddle believes that Kane should be opening himself up to a spell in La Liga – potentially as a ‘Galactico’ in Madrid – with there little to suggest that he would be willing to retrace steps to north London as Spurs’ all-time leading scorer.

  Waddle told : “I know, it sounds nice, doesn't it? I've heard this before where people talk about Harry Kane coming back. It would be great for Tottenham of course, but I’m not sure Tottenham will want him at the price and his age.

  “Even if there was another team who wanted him, I’m not sure Bayern Munich will want to sell him. They let Robert Lewandowski go to Barcelona at about the same age, and he hasn’t stopped scoring since he left. I’ve looked, and Real Madrid could use a No. 9 like Harry Kane. Lewandowski could be stepping away from Barcelona and he’d be great to slot in there too.

  “Harry will be thinking that he’s done his job in England, he might feel the same about his time in Germany. He could now be looking at Italy, Spain or France for a new challenge. Bayern are massive, but Real are even bigger – what a story that would be!

  “If I was Real Madrid, Barcelona or Milan, I’d be asking why wouldn’t I go for him? He scores goals, technically very good, he can play as a No. 9 but he can play as a No. 10 too. Some of the work he’s done with Nicolas Jackson has shown just how good his passing and link-up play is. He can create. So really, I’d be surprised if Bayern would even let him leave rather than tie him down for another two years.

  “If I was Harry, I’d rather try life in Spain than head back to England. That record would be special, but his track record in England already speaks for itself.”

• Another Galactico? Kane urged to join Bellingham & Mbappe

  Waddle has previously said of Kane joining the likes of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe in the Spanish capital: “If he decided, ‘I've done well in Germany, now I'm going to have a game in Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid,’ I'm sure Real Madrid would be interested in taking him if he wanted to leave Bayern. And listen, I'm sure Tottenham would welcome him back.

  “He's a great player, and people talk about Harry Kane being a really good, intelligent centre-forward. People say he's not quick enough or this or that, but he's gone through his career and scored goals everywhere he's gone. Every season he consistently scores goals, and that's what he's paid for. But he's a very good footballer.

  “He wouldn't necessarily say, ‘I'd love to go back to Tottenham.’ If I were him, I'd think, ‘Why don't I sample somewhere else and play for someone like Real Madrid?’ What an opportunity that would be.”

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  Kane transfer fee: Cost of triggering Bayern clause

  Kane’s contract at Bayern is due to run until 2027. He could, however, be freed from that agreement by an offer of £57 million ($75m) during the summer of 2026. It remains to be seen whether any of his reported suitors – as Barcelona are heavily linked with an approach once more – decide to formalise their interest after Kane has captained England at another World Cup.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has heaped praise on a Spurs star who was a “real handful” against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, alongside player of the match Xavi Simons.

Spurs’ commanding 4-0 victory marked the perfect bounce back from their bitterly disappointing 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the London derby just days earlier.

After an extremely lacklustre performance against their rivals, which was followed by Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence snubbing Frank’s attempt at a handshake after the final whistle, Spurs responded on the European stage in style.

From the off, Tottenham seized control — dominating possession and creating chances.

The team pressed Copenhagen high, denying them space and time to settle, and it wasn’t long before their pressure paid off.

One of the night’s highlights was van de Ven’s superb solo goal, which had shades of Son Heung-min’s famous Puskas winner against Burnley in 2019, and it was the perfect apology to Frank after the Dutchman’s post-Chelsea controversy.

The centre-back picked up the ball deep in Tottenham’s own half and drove forward with purpose, evading challenges and slicing through Copenhagen’s midfield before cooly slotting past the keeper in what was a world-class piece of quality and sure-fire contender for this season’s Puskas Award.

The standout performer, however, was Xavi Simons — whose man of the match display encapsulated what was a fantastic evening for the Lilywhites.

The 22-year-old has been widely criticised for his slow start to life at the club since joining Tottenham in a deal which could be worth a grand-total of £125 million, when factoring in wages, agent’s fees and other add-ons over a potential seven-year deal.

However, Simons ran the show against Copenhagen, chalking up his first assist since making his Premier League debut away to West Ham, and he could’ve had even more to show for his efforts.

Fellow summer signing Randal Kolo Muani missed a gaping free header from Simons’ exceptional cross on the half-turn which almost certainly should’ve been converted, which was after the Frenchman failed to take advantage of another close-range set-up from his teammate to make it 2-0.

Thomas Frank praises misfiring Kolo Muani after Tottenham win

That being said, Kolo Muani, after working his way back to fitness from a dead leg, is also beginning to impress.

The PSG loanee showcased why he should be considered Spurs’ new first-choice striker, at least until Dominic Solanke returns from injury, and Frank had plenty to say about Kolo Muani after the match.

Tottenham’s head coach admitted that the 26-year-old is still not ‘fully firing’ after their 4-0 rout of Copenhagen, but was adamant that Kolo Muani proved to be a “real handful” for Spurs overall.

Even if he did fail to score multiple chances that were put on a plate for him by Simons, Kolo Muani did assist Wilson Odobert with what was a phenomenal piece of composure.

The ex-Eintracht Frankfurt star took the ball down from a lofty height with deft control before laying it off to Odobert, who duly doubled the home side’s lead, and that is perhaps a sign of things to come.

Richarlison could, and perhaps should, be worried — especially after missing a last-minute penalty against Copenhagen as Solanke nears his long-awaited return.

released its annual list of the world's most valuable sports franchises Thursday, and a familiar face led the way.

The Dallas Cowboys have been valued at $10.1 billion to lead all sports teams around the world, according to the publication. Dallas also led the list last year, with its estimated value appreciating 12% year-over-year.

The Cowboys' value belies their on-field performance; the team is 5–8 at the moment, third in the NFC East. In spite of their 29-year Super Bowl drought, Dallas has remained a corporate behemoth and iconic symbol of Americana.

Rounding out the top five are the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Rams, New York Yankees and New York Knicks.

Twenty-nine of the world's 50 most valuable teams are NFL teams, while 12 are NBA teams. Seven are soccer teams spread across four leagues, while three are MLB teams.

Ironically, the list's biggest riser and faller by rank are located in the same metropolitan area. The Boston Celtics jumped from No. 43 to No. 19, while the Boston Red Sox dropped from No. 32 to No. 45.

Newcastle United have been something of a mixed bag this season. Even in victory against Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, the hosts left something to be desired after winning 2-0 and rising to nine points from four outings.

Though the Magpies needed to bounce back after that limp defeat in the Premier League against West Ham United at the weekend, there are many levels still to scale in order to restore that finest, full-throttle style that Eddie Howe’s Tyneside outfit have become defined by in recent years.

However, the fact remains that Newcastle lack flair and creativity and inspiration across the midfield and the final third right now. Nick Woltemade has been a revelation since completing his club-record £69m transfer from Stuttgart at the end of August, but he is not the prime version of Alexander Isak in black and white stripes. Not yet.

And the German goalscorer can’t do it all alone. Anthony Gordon is still struggling and found his issues exacerbated on Wednesday, pulled off with another suspected hip injury after a showing that left plenty to be desired.

Why Newcastle are so inconsistent

Newcastle have been consistent in their inconsistency this season, and that’s a problem. Gordon is a case in point, but also the £55m right winger Anthony Elanga, who has blanked across 16 matches since his summer switch from Nottingham Forest.

Howe would have hoped the Sweden international (and Gordon) would have established firmer channels down the flanks, and their struggles in this regard have run counter to Howe’s tactical vision and its implementation.

Joelinton’s drop-off has been accentuated against the efforts of Bruno Guimaraes and, particularly, Sandro Tonali in the middle of the park. So elegant and effective are the robust pair, with the 29-year-old Brazilian lagging behind after years of robust service.

Change is necessary, and while players like Joelinton have been invaluable parts of this sustained period of progress, they are not indispensable and it is probable that a move for a new high-profile centre-midfielder will be explored in 2026.

In spite of Tonali’s emergence as one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the league, United seem to have a problem effectively passing the ball at the moment.

Howe’s Newcastle system is one of the most progressive in the Premier League, with transitional play at the forefront, but more is needed, and the solution might be to drop a fan favourite who’s reached legend status this year.

Howe must drop Newcastle star who's moved clear of Isak

Newcastle won against Athletic Bilbao, and opening the scoring was Big Dan Burn, as he has been affectionately nicknamed by the Toon supporters.

Club legend? The 6 foot 7 defender has certainly endeared himself to his boyhood club since joining from Brighton in January 2022, featuring prominently under Howe’s wing and scoring the first goal in United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley last year to lift the Carabao Cup.

But has he scored a goal more impressive in isolation than in the Champions League this week? Header of the Season, no doubt. In fact, the 33-year-old’s second goal in Europe’s premium club competition means he has edged ahead of Isak in the all-time scoring charts. A rather facetious statistic, but one lapped up by the fanbase all the same.

Of course, while Burn is one of the staple stars of the Howe era, we cannot turn away from the negative noise around his role and performances in recent weeks.

Frankly, the more laboured and sedate style of a team like Bilbao opens the door for Burn to show off his strongest qualities. He excelled, and remains a trusty member of Howe’s squad, having been among the first to be signed after the manager’s appointment nearly four years ago.

But Lewis Hall is far more dynamic as a full-back, and his cameo against the Spaniards suggests Howe might be wise to drop Burn as soon as the younger man recovers his full match fitness.

For all the concerns over Newcastle’s passing, they indeed stand as one of the most forward-thinking distributors in the Premier League. Statistics can be misleading, though, and that does not translate to fluent and sharp transitional play.

That is the objective, and Hall could be a strong proponent in enacting the right tactical change on Tyneside. Content creator Geordie Josh hailed the 21-year-old as a “generational left-back in the making” after his promising injury return, and we have all seen in the past his prowess on the ball and in defending on the wing of the backline.

After all, the former Chelsea prospect ranks among the top 16% of full-backs across Europe over the past year for passes attempted and progressive passes, as well as the top 9% for tackles won per 90 (data via FBref).

Burn, awarded a 9/10 match rating from the Chronicle Live against La Liga opponents, not only scoring an emphatic header but setting the standards with a steely, composed defensive display.

But he’s slow and less multi-faceted than a rising star such as Hall, who could become a nailed-down starter in the coming weeks as he builds his fitness up.

While Big Dan Burn will continue to be a dependable, industrious and beloved part of Howe’s Magpies side, he cannot start every game going forward; he is not progressive enough to propel the system back into full throttle.

Hall, however, has the perfect style to dovetail back in and make things tick.

Alongside Burn: Howe must drop Newcastle star who's "nowhere near his best"

Eddie Howe could be prepared to ditch this underperforming Newcastle United star later today.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 5, 2025

Lionel Messi's former World Cup-winning Argentina team-mate, Alejandro Gomez, has finally returned to action for an Italian second-tier club after serving a two-year doping ban. Gomez, who was part of Argentina's triumph in Qatar three years ago, has not touched a football since October 2023 after testing positive for a banned substance. He last played for Monza in Serie A.

• Gomez returns to action after two years

  Also known as Papu Gomez, the 37-year-old midfielder tested positive for terbutaline, a banned B2-adrenergic substance similar to salbutamol, after taking a cough syrup intended for his child. He was on the books of Sevilla at that time and the Spanish giants immediately terminated his contract following the case, leading Gomez to a short spell with Monza. He served a two-year suspension that ended on October 18, 2025. 

  Gomez returned to action on Saturday as his new club Padova faced Venezia in a Serie B clash. He came on as a substitute in the 58th minute amid a warm welcome from the fans but he could not stop his side from losing the clash 2-0.

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  'I didn't come here to sightsee'

  After making his first appearance in over two years, Gomez sent out a defiant message to his fans and the world as he said: "I didn't come here to sightsee. My ambition is to take Padova as high as possible."

• Gomez was furious after learning about doping ban

  At the time of his suspension, Gomez had shown frustration as he felt he was harshly punished. The World Cup winner told Corta: "You take cocaine, smoke a joint, and you get six months. I got two years for taking my son's cough syrup. Who gets that in their head? But hey, I got it and here I am, still going strong. Yes, I was really angry, really furious. I had a hard time watching football at first; I turned off the television. For me, football was dead. I isolated myself and started working with a psychologist because it was a cycle I couldn't get out of." 

  The Argentine also reflected on the emotional toll of being sidelined right after the greatest triumph of his career, lifting the World Cup in Qatar with Argentina: "The first few months were tough because I didn't understand why this was happening to me, at the peak of my career, after having won a World Cup. But life sometimes gives you these surprises and blows. It kept me going, like: 'Why do they have to retire me from football like this if I don't want to and it's not my time?' Why should two or three people in suits and ties, who've never played sports, decide when I should retire?"

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  Gomez angered Messi at World Cup

  Captain and legendary Argentina star Messi was reportedly left furious after Gomez allegedly made an inappropriate comment about his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, during the World Cup in Qatar. A panellist on the 'A La Tarde' programme on Tartu TV alleged that as the Argentina players celebrated in the dressing room following one of their games, Gomez made the comment. The panelist said: "Everyone is happy because they progressed, everyone in the locker room starts to sing. What does Alejandro El Papu say? 'Hand over Antonela!' "Imagine Messi's laser eyes… Immediate red card!"