عقد تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد مؤتمراً صحفياً حول آخر استعدادات فريقه لمواجهة فالنسيا في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال ألونسو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية حول جاهزية فريقه لمواجهة فالنسيا: “بعد أسبوع أول إيجابي للغاية، ينتظرنا أسبوعا آخر حافلا بالتحديات، مباراتين في الليجا ودوري أبطال أوروبا، نريد أن نختتم هذه المرحلة بطاقة إيجابية، غداً نبدأ ضد فالنسيا”.

وأضاف حول إذا كان فينيسيوس جونيور تقدم باعتذار عما بدر منه بعد تبديله ضد برشلونة: “عقدنا اجتماعا مع الجميع يوم الأربعاء وكان فينيسيوس مثالياً، تحدث بصراحة وكان رائعاً، بالنسبة لي انتهى الأمر”.

وسئل ألونسو عن اعتذار فينيسيوس جونيور: “كانت تصريحات قيمة وإيجابية للغاية، أظهر صدقه، تحدث من القلب، ما قاله هو الأهم وكنت راضيا جداً، أغلق الموضوع يوم الأربعاء ولن يكون هناك انتقام”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ألونسو يستعين بأسلوب مورينيو قبل مواجهة ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وحول تغيير أسلوب لعب كامافينجا في الكلاسيكو قال ألونسو :”كنا نعلم أنه نقطة قوة لدينا وأننا نستطيع استخدامه، ليس فقط لخطة لعب محددة، في أيام أخرى سنحتاج لنهج مختلف ولكن بالنظر للخصم الذي واجهناه وما حدث مؤخراً، فهذا ما نحتاجه ولقد نجح الأمر، من الناحية الذهنية وليس فقط من التكتيكية، هذا هو أساس نجاح القرارات التكتيكية، الكلاسيكو ينبئنا بالمستقبل”.

وحول إذا كان يطلب ألونسو من كيليان مبابي تسجيل مزيد من الأهداف فقد أجاب: “لقد سجل وسيواصل التسجيل، روتينه اليومي ممتاز ويتعامل مع الأمر بنضج كبير وهذا مهم جداً ثم علينا دعم الفريق حتى يتمكن من تسجيل الأهداف”.

وحول تشكيل مباراة فالنسيا إذا كان سيؤثر على مباراة الثلاثاء: “لا أفكر في الثلاثاء بل في مباراة الغد، أفكر في فالنسيا، قد تهدر نقاط في دوري أبطال أوروبا، لكن تركيزي على مباراتي فالنسيا ورايو، فاز فالنسيا في البرنابيو العام الماضي، ويجهز رايو نفسه جيداً، سنخوض المباراة بحذر لأنه بعد فوز كبير، قد نتهاون قليلاً”.

وعن أهمية الفوز في مباراة الكلاسيكو تابع ألونسو: “تحدثنا عن ذلك قبل المباراة، فوز بهذا الحجم مهم لثقة الفريق، لكن علينا أن نضع ذلك خلفنا ونواصل التركيز على كل مباراة، إذا أخطأنا في تحضيراتنا سنخسر نقاطاً ولا نريد أن يحدث ذلك”.

وأتم ألونسو عن كيفية إدارة غرفة الملابس: “بأن أكون على طبيعتي وأكون صادقاً، لا أن أتظاهر، التفكير دائماً في مصلحة الفريق والعلاقات الجيدة وفي إطار من الاحترام، مع العلم أن ليس الجميع متشابهين، يجب أن تتمتع بذكاء عاطفي”.

ورد ألونسو حول إذا كان قد شاهد الكلاسيكو مرة أخرى: “نجحت العديد من خططنا، أظهر الفريق صلابة كبيرة وكنا متحمسين للغاية، كان ذلك واضحا في اللاعبين وكانوا يتوقعون الموقف، عندما نكون أقوياء نأخذ زمام المبادرة”.

وسئل ألونسو عن فالفيردي الذي يلعب كظهير حتى يتأقلم ترينت أرنولد: “لعب كارفا 20 دقيقة وقدم أداء رائعا ونافس بقوة، وتلقينا ما تلقيناه يوم الاثنين وسنفتقده بالتأكيد، بعد أن بدا وكأنه سيعود، نعتقد أنه سيغيب سبعة أو ثمانية أسابيع، نحن ننتظره”.

واختتم عن إندريك الذي لم يلعب دقيقة واحدة حتى الآن :”أتمنى لو لعب بعض الدقائق، الظروف صعبة، هو يتدرب جيداً لكن هذه الظروف يجب أن تكون مناسبة”.

With every team in action on Tuesday, let's focus on which stars are set to go yard.

In the discussion for an AL MVP, Bobby Witt Jr. will look to keep a hot June going with a home run against a lowly Athletics pitching staff in favorable conditions, highligting my card on Tuesday with two other sluggers in the mix as well.

Find out how I'm attacking home run props on Tuesday's slate.

Best MLB Home Run Prop Bets Today, June 18th

• Adley Rutschman (+520)
• Julio Rodriguez (+420)
• Bobby Witt Jr. (+430)

Adley Rutschman

Rutchsman is dangerous against lefty pitchers, which he is in line to face on Tuesday when the Yankees send out Nestor Cortes. 

Rutchsman is hitting .420 with a .693 slugging percentage against southpaws, crushing six home runs in 93 plate appearances. 

In the hitter friendly Yankee Stadium, Rutschman can take advantage of Cortes’ concerning hard-hit metrics, 17th percentile in the big leagues according to MLB Statcast, and high fly ball rate, fourth percentile in groundball rate. 

Rutschman is worth a bet at north of +500. 

Julio Rodriguez

Rodriguez only has seven home runs on the year, but is still hitting the ball just fine. He is in the 91st percentile in terms of hard-hit percentage and is in the 91st percentile in average exit velocity. 

We are starting to see his numbers trend upwards, hitting .281 in June with a slugging percentage that is a monthly high of .456. He already has tied May for the most home runs in a month with three in June and I fancy his chances of going yard on Tuesday against Triston McKenzie. 

The Guardians right hander is in for harsh regression as the season continues, posting an xERA of 4.81 that far outpaces his 4.10 ERA. Further, the wind is set to blow out of Progressive Field at nearly six miles per hour, helping J-Rod’s hard contact to push over the fence. 

Bobby Witt Jr.

Witt Jr's numbers are fantastic this season, and they should be even better. With 11 home runs and a slugging percentage of .551, Witt's xSLG is .616. He is one of the best hitters in the bigs and should have plenty of more home runs already.

Tuesday is a great set up for him, facing an Athletics pitchign staff that is bottom five in ERA and starting lefty Hogan Harris. The utility arm has allowed three home runs to right handers in five appearances this season, making for a tough matchup against the likes of Witt Jr, who will also have the benefit of more than nine miles per hour of winds pushing the ball out.

If it wasn’t for a last-minute equaliser from AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, Leeds United would have been celebrating two successive Premier League wins under Daniel Farke.

A 2-2 draw against Andoni Iraola’s stern Cherries isn’t a terrible result, all things considered, as the promoted sides up from the Championship continue to show that they belong at such an intimidating level.

The close showdown with the visitors from the South Coast also showed off Leeds’ excellent summer recruitment, as both Anton Stach and Noah Okafor stood out once more, among other fresh purchases.

Leeds' standout performers vs Bournemouth

Stach wasn’t as overwhelmingly brilliant as he was against Wolverhampton Wanderers, however, with no more audacious free-kicks being hammered home.

Still, come the final whistle, the German had still won three ground duels from his 40 touches of the ball, with his goalscoring flair substituted out for some grit for the challenge of Bournemouth.

Leeds fans would have been relieved to see another hero from that 3-1 away day success at Molineux start against Bournemouth in the form of Okafor, with the Switzerland international looking rather sheepish by the close of that whirlwind contest.

He did last just an hour against the Cherries, but his directness on the ball in forward areas certainly caught the eye of the Elland Road masses, with three successful dribbles and two shots on the Bournemouth goal nearly catching Iraola’s men out.

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Yet, away from all the shiny new toys filling out Farke’s starting XI, it was the old reliable Joe Rodon who equalised for Leeds with a bullet header, with the £10m to bring him in permanently last summer continuing to look like a steal.

He isn’t the only recent buy being made to look like a bargain deal, however, with one under-the-radar star now boasting a higher transfer valuation than both in-form Stach and Okafor, despite both their impressive starts to life in England.

Leeds' under-the-radar star is now worth more than Stach & Okafor

Signings from far-off Europe are always going to be instant attention grabbers, with Stach costing a high £20m to obtain from Hoffenheim, on top of Okafor joining from AC Milan for an equally pricey £18m.

However, Farke would have been abundantly aware this summer that the spine of his side needed Premier League experience, having tasted the bitter disappointment of relegation from the division previously with Norwich City when that experience just wasn’t there.

Thankfully, Sean Longstaff has already come to the rescue in this department.

Purchased for just £12m, the ex-Newcastle United midfielder has already managed to show off his top-flight class, with his all-round showing against Bournemouth seeing Farke declare the 6-foot-2 ace as “outstanding.”

It was deserved praise too, when glancing over his superb numbers from the score draw, with Longstaff very much good value for both his goal and assist, having amassed a ludicrous seven key passes throughout.

On top of this creative flair, however, the 27-year-old – who is now up to 177 top-flight outings – also won a powerful ten duels in total, with Alan Shearer’s previous comments about Longstaff being an “unbelievable” talent very much now ringing true, even if he has departed his boyhood employers.

Arguably, Newcastle could well have driven a harder bargain when getting rid of their homegrown talent, with Football Transfers now estimating that Longstaff’s value is way above the £12m he was purchased for back in July.

Leeds’ top five highest value players
Player	Value
1. Wilfried Gnonto	£23m
2. Sean Longstaff	£21m
3. Jaka Bijol	£20m
4. Joel Piroe	£16.5m
5. James Justin	£16m
Sourced by Football Transfers

Amazingly, Longstaff is now Leeds’ second-highest valued asset at £21m – according to Football Transfers – with both Stach and Okafor not even making the above list, with their own values coming in at £16m and £15m respectively.

Despite this sharp increase in Longstaff’s value sticking out, Farke will know he needs his full talented squad to keep firing on all cylinders to ensure survival is reached, with the early signs looking hopeful in their quest for Premier League safety.

Leeds want to sign new Brazil winger with £50m+ release clause on the cheap

The Whites are looking to sanction an exciting deal…

By
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Sep 28, 2025

Former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey has issued a desperate plea for help after his beloved dog, Halo, went missing in Mexico. The midfielder, now with Pumas UNAM, has offered a $10,000 (£7,500) reward for information leading to Halo’s return. Despite tireless efforts and global support from fans, the much-loved pet has yet to be found, leaving Ramsey and his family heartbroken.

Ramsey searching for dog

Ramsey has shared a heartbreaking update about the ongoing search for his missing dog, Halo, who disappeared earlier this month in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. The 34-year-old midfielder, who joined Mexican club Pumas UNAM in the summer, has been appealing to the public for assistance since the disappearance. Posters and placards have appeared across the city as local volunteers and residents rally behind Ramsey’s family in hopes of finding their pet.

The Welsh international took to Instagram to post a black-and-white image of Halo alongside the caption: “What I’d do to hold you one last time, Halo.” The emotional post followed days of silence from the player, who has been using social media to amplify the search. His wife, Colleen, also shared messages urging residents to look out for Halo, describing the family’s devastation as the days go by without news.

Ramsey revealed that the dog went missing near Hipsterrier, a local dog shelter, and has since offered a $10,000 reward for any credible information leading to Halo’s safe return. Fans from around the world have flooded his posts with words of sympathy and encouragement, as the search for the beagle stretches into its third week. The situation has left Ramsey emotionally exhausted but determined to find answers.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRamsey frustrated by search

Taking to social media on Thursday, Ramsey expressed deep frustration at the lack of progress and conflicting information surrounding Halo’s disappearance. “We’ve remained quiet trying to understand how you can leave your dog on a ranch and never see her again,” he wrote. “Without any explanation? The cameras weren’t recording, a tracker couldn’t find her, no sightings, no body, and a pile of lies. We just want to say goodbye and move on. How can we move on when we don’t know if she’s alive or dead?”

In earlier appeals, Ramsey wrote: “Please help us find Halo. He was lost in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, in the vicinity of Hipsterrier, which is a dog shelter. A reward is being offered. Any information is valuable. Help us get him back to his family.” The post quickly went viral, with messages of solidarity pouring in from supporters, animal rescue groups, and fellow footballers.

Ramsey's mind not on football

Halo has been part of the Ramsey family for over a decade, accompanying Aaron and his wife Colleen through moves across England, Italy, and now Mexico. The family’s three sons — Sonny, and twins Tomas and Teddy — have also been devastated by the loss of their pet, who has been described by the couple as “the heart of our home.” Ramsey has continued to use his platform to appeal for help, sharing images and videos of Halo across his social channels while coordinating with local volunteers.

Since moving to Mexico in July, Ramsey has made six appearances for Pumas UNAM, having joined the club on a free transfer after leaving Cardiff City. He had spoken enthusiastically about the challenge of playing in Liga MX, praising the league’s technical quality and ambition. “This league is very technical. Great players have been produced, and the national team is very good,” he said upon signing. “I’ve played for some of the best teams in the world and there’s always an expectation to win — I’m sure it’s no different here.”

However, the emotional toll of Halo’s disappearance has overshadowed Ramsey’s early months in Mexico. His focus has shifted almost entirely toward the search, with friends and teammates joining in to spread awareness. Local media have also covered the story extensively, turning it into one of the most talked-about human interest stories in Mexican sport this month. Despite the growing coverage, the trail has yet to yield any concrete leads.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

Ramsey remains hopeful that Halo will one day be found, telling friends he has not given up faith despite the silence surrounding the search. The player and his family have been in contact with animal shelters, rescue organisations, and local authorities in San Miguel de Allende, who continue to investigate any reported sightings. Ramsey has promised to continue funding private searches and says he will “never stop looking” until he knows what truly happened.

His wife Colleen has been equally determined, recently posting: “I refuse to believe Halo has simply disappeared. She’s likely been taken. I urge local residents to share her photo. We’re looking for her, dead or alive. There’s a reward. If you see her, please take a photo and send it to me or Aaron.”

As the family waits for news, Ramsey’s emotional messages have struck a chord with fans across the globe, many of whom have shared similar experiences of losing pets. The 34-year-old has said that even if Halo cannot be found, he hopes for closure and clarity about what happened. For now, the search continues for the Ramseys’ beloved pup.

Liverpool’s luck ran out at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace were always going to present Arne Slot’s side with a stern test, and their unbeaten start to the campaign continues at the champions’ expense.

It was a poor performance from the Premier League champions, who arrived in south London with a reshaped system, and that was quickly foiled by Oliver Glasner’s eagle-eyed tactics. Slot made the requisite changes at the interval, but Liverpool found themselves on the receiving end of last-minute heartache this time.

Slot might have suffered a rare off-day on the tactical front, but there were any number of Redmen who left with their tails between their legs, producing poor individual performances in the capital.

Liverpool's worst performers vs Palace

Ibrahima Konate has endured a tough start to the season. Out of contract at the end of the year and with Real Madrid hot on his tail, the centre-back has lacked his usual clarity and robustness at the back, and against Palace, Sofascore record that he made two direct errors within half an hour as the Eagles ravaged the visitors’ backline.

Both of the full-backs, Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez, left plenty to be desired, and the boss will know that chinks in the tactical make-up need to be smoothed out soon if Liverpool hope to start playing with more fluency and control, from start to finish.

Also toiling was Mohamed Salah, who has hardly been himself across the first phase of the campaign. The 33-year-old won the full gamut of individual awards last season to sit alongside his second Premier League gold medal, but he’s struggling at the moment, anonymous and out of sorts against Palace.

However, there’s a glaring spotlight on another of Slot’s stars, and it’s a new recruit. Indeed, one of Liverpool’s new additions is beginning to take the shape of a former title winner in Darwin Nunez, and Slot will hope to change the narrative swiftly.

Liverpool's new Darwin Nunez

Alexander Isak, on his full debut in the Premier League for Liverpool, missed a gilt-edged chance to restore parity with plenty of time left on the clock. However, the Sweden international is one of the most accomplished strikers in Europe, dominant in the English game over the past few years.

It is not the 25-year-old who is at risk of becoming Liverpool’s new version of Nunez, but Florian Wirtz, who broke the British transfer record when swapping Bayer Leverkusen for Anfield this summer, before Isak’s deadline-day arrival.

It’s not the first time the Anfield side have broken the bank in recent years. Nunez was signed from Benfica for a deal rising to a club-record £85m fee in 2022. The striker never maximised his financial potential, largely because his own deficiencies precluded it.

Across three years, Nunez missed a litany of chances and routinely lacked the composure and quality in the big moments. He won some silverware, sure, but he failed to repay the faith with individual performances.

It’s early into Wirtz’s time at Liverpool, but already he is struggling for form, having yet to score or assist across seven appearances in the Premier League. Against Palace, his fortunes did not change.

Minutes played

74′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

57

Accurate passes

37/44 (84%)

Key passes

1

Possession lost

10x

Dribbles

2/4

Tackles

0

Duels won

3/7

The 22-year-old is billed as one of the most talented footballers in the world, and there will remain every confidence in the FSG offices that he will come good. But all of a Liverpool persuasion will be hoping that that will be sooner rather than later, for a continuation of these middling returns would only raise the volume around his sub-par start to life in England.

Agonising misses became the Uruguayan’s currency on Merseyside, and there’s no denying Wirtz missed a golden opportunity of his own on Saturday afternoon.

Still, it’s worth noting that the Liverpool Echo handed the German a 6/10 match rating, acknowledging his impetus and tenacity, albeit drawing attention to his lack of quality on the ball too.

Nunez will be fondly remembered by the Liverpool fans for his efforts and his affable personality, but the plain truth is he arrived for a significant sum and, on an individual level, fell by the wayside.

There is hope, such hope and confidence, that Wirtz will not head down the same track, but with every passing performance, the £116m man has yet to show the Premier League what he is about.

Journalist Mark Ogden said before Liverpool’s defeat to Palace that Wirtz is “struggling to make an impact”, and that narrative has not changed now that Slot’s side have been sent packing.

There were times last season when Slot was said to have been riding on the coattails of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s success. He wiped such claims away.

However, the Dutchman has since pieced his own super-team together, and now, the new system needs to join as one and prove that the Reds have what it takes to defend their Premier League title.

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West Ham United have now joined the race for an “insane” Premier League striker, who is keen to leave his current club.

West Ham looking to sign striker after Fullkrüg blow

In truth, Niclas Füllkrug has flattered to deceive ever since his arrival at the London Stadium, with the German failing to score in his first six Premier League matches this season, but the striker’s recent injury setback is still a blow for Nuno.

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has recently confirmed the 32-year-old has suffered a “torn muscle bundle in his thigh” on international duty, which means he will now be ruled out for several weeks.

That leaves Callum Wilson as the obvious choice to lead the line for the foreseeable future, but there are also major doubts over the former Newcastle United man.

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Wilson has struggled with injuries considerably over the past few years, missing 29 games due to hamstring and back issues across the 2024-25 campaign, so the 33-year-old is hardly a dependable option for the Hammers.

As such, it would make sense to enter the market for a new striker in the January transfer window, and that is exactly what West Ham plan to do, according to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, who credits them with an interest in Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Zirkzee wants to leave Man United, with the centre-forward frustrated by the lack of opportunities this season, and O’Rourke believes he could “push for a move away” in January if Ruben Amorim doesn’t give him more regular game time.

The journalist also stresses the importance of the Irons signing a new striker, adding: “Michael Antonio left when his contract expired, and neither Fullkrug nor Wilson have nailed down that number nine spot in the West Ham side.

“So I think if West Ham are still in relegation trouble come January, I think bringing in a new striker will be key to their hopes of staying up.”

"Insane" Zirkzee could reignite career at West Ham

It would be fair to say the Dutchman’s move to Old Trafford hasn’t worked out, having scored just seven goals in 53 outings for the Red Devils, but there are signs he could be capable of reigniting his career at West Ham.

At 24-years-old, the ex-Bologna man still has time on his side, and he received high praise during his time in Italy, with scout Ben Mattinson describing the former Serie A star as “insane”.

Mattinson also suggested the £105k-a-week forward has the potential to establish himself among the world’s best strikers.

It would be a risk to sign Zirkzee, given that the Netherlands international is still yet to establish himself in England, but it is difficult for a player to make a name for himself without consistent game time, which has arguably halted his progress at Man United.

Tottenham Hotspur have made some big additions over the last couple of years, with many of which have made a huge impact on their recent success in Europe.

The hierarchy has been boosted in recent days, after it was confirmed that former Sporting Director Fabio Paratici would return to his role after a two-and-a-half-year absence.

He’s been known to make key additions such as Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski during his previous stint in North London, but he could be about to land similar quality in the future.

With the transfer window still a couple of months away from reopening, the 53-year-old has a key period ahead of him to identify players who would improve Thomas Frank’s squad.

However, the Italian has wasted no time in finding players who could become top targets when the chance arises at the midway stage of the Premier League campaign.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent under Paratici

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been hugely touted with a move to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after his impressive start to the new campaign.

The 25-year-old has already scored six times and registered three assists in his seven league outings, with it being reported that he currently has a release clause in his deal at the Vitality.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Juventus star Dušan Vlahović a talent who is firmly in their sights, according to TEAMtalk’s latest report.

They claim that Paratici’s links with the Old Lady could help the Lilywhites in their pursuit of the centre-forward, with his deal set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

It also states that Spurs have been long-term admirers of the Serbian international, but they could face competition from Chelsea for his signature in the near future.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be perfect for Kudus

In an attempt to build on their Europa League success, Spurs spent over £100m on new additions during the off-season to help strengthen Frank’s chances in the role.

Mohammed Kudus was just one of the additions made, with the hierarchy paying local rivals West Ham United a whopping £55m for his services and signature.

The Ghanaian has already made himself a fan-favourite in North London after making an immediate impact in the Premier League under Frank’s guidance.

The 25-year-old has scored once and registered four assists – the most of any player in the squad – whilst laying on more goals for his teammates than any star in the division.

His assists alone highlight the quality he possesses within attacking areas, but such numbers could improve further should Vlahovic make the move to England in the near future.

Whilst he’s already netted six goals in his 11 outings in 2025/26, his underlying stats further highlight why his addition would be perfect for Kudus in the years ahead.

The Serbian, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by Luca Toni, has averaged 1.2 shots on target per 90, with 43% of his efforts troubling the opposition ‘keeper.

Games played

11

Goals scored

6

Shots on target

1.2

Shot on target accuracy

43%

Aerials won

2.4

Goals scored per 90

0.81

Touches in opposition box

4.5

Fouls won

1.7

Such numbers could hugely play into the hands of Kudus, given his assists, but the big-money addition also ranks in the 97th percentile for crosses completed, which would certainly be perfect for Vlahovic.

The Juve star has also won 2.4 aerial duels per 90, with such a figure handing the Dane’s side a needed focal point to play off when they find themselves under pressure.

He’s ranked in the 92nd percentile of all players in Italy for goals scored per 90, with such numbers making him the perfect talisman to complete the Lilywhites’ attack.

It’s unclear if a deal would be completed in January or the summer, but it’s evident that a deal for the 25-year-old would be one that could add a new dimension to the frontline.

If he can strike up a partnership with Kudus, it would also take the latter to the next level and hand Frank’s side a greater chance for added success in the near future.

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Things are starting to look a little more positive for West Ham United at the moment.

Granted, they lost their last game and currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone, but the performances under Nuno Espírito Santo have been far better.

Moreover, the club would not have fought back so valiantly for a point against Everton under Graham Potter.

However, there is still plenty the manager needs to do, such as phasing out an international ace in the same way he did James Ward-Prowse.

Why Ward-Prowse's West Ham career is over

It might seem a little over the top to say that a player’s time is up at a club when there are two years left to run on his contract.

Chalkboard

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

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However, the unfortunate reality for Ward-Prowse is that, if he wants to play regular football at any point over the next two seasons, he needs to leave West Ham, as it’s clear he won’t be doing that under Nuno.

After all, the Portuguese coach’s first action after taking the job was to leave him out of the squad entirely for the game against Everton and then do the same again for last weekend’s game against Arsenal.

It might sound harsh, and maybe it is a little, but it’s also not much of a surprise, as after joining Nottingham Forest on loan at the start of last season, the manager did the same to him there, so much so that his loan was cut short.

It’s hard to blame the manager too much, either, as while he’s a talented player with an impressive CV, the former Southampton captain has been well below par for the Hammers.

Ward-Prowse’s game vs Palace

Minutes

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

61

Accurate Passes

41/48 (85%)

Crosses (Accurate)

5 (1)

Shots on Target

0

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (1)

Aerial Duels (Won)

3 (0)

Lost Possession

14

Fouls

3

Dribbled Past

2

All Stats via Sofascore

For example, in Potter’s final game, against Crystal Palace, he somehow managed to lose the ball 14 times, lost eight of nine duels, misplaced four of five crosses and committed three fouls.

At the end of the day, it would be best for all parties if Ward-Prowse left the club in January, which could be said about another West Ham star who has been a big disappointment since joining the club.

The West Ham star who should be on borrowed time

While you could make the case for other West Ham players, such as Konstantinos Mavropanos, receiving the Ward-Prowse treatment, the international in question is Niclas Füllkrug.

There was quite a bit of hope when the German joined the club last summer, as he was coming off a season in which he scored 15 goals and provided ten assists in 43 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

Moreover, he had just played in the Euros for Germany, so while nobody expected Erling Haaland numbers, they did expect a reliable if unspectacular striker.

Unfortunately, the Hammers got the latter without the former, and as things stand today, it’s hard to see where his next goal comes from.

For example, in 27 games for the East Londoners, totalling 1262 minutes, the 32-year-old has scored just three goals and provided two assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 5.4 games, or every 252.4 minutes.

Füllkrug’s West Ham career

Season

24/25

25/26

Appearances

20

7

Minutes

877′

385′

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

0.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

175.4′

N/A

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Worse still, all five of his goal involvements for the club came last season, with him drawing a blank in all eight appearances this season.

With numbers like this, and performances like the one he put in against Everton, in which he lost the ball nine times, lost 50% of his ground duels and ten of his 14 aerial duels, it’s easy to understand why Gabby Agbonlahor said he’s “not a good enough player” to represent the Irons.

Therefore, Nuno should take him out of the team entirely now and either play the slightly less poor Callum Wilson, or be bold and go with Callum Marshall or Josh Landers.

Ultimately, Füllkrug clearly isn’t good enough to play in the Premier League, so he should be sold as soon as possible during the winter window.

Related West Ham ace who's "pure joy to watch" could become Nuno's new Gibbs-White

The international star could be the secret to helping Nuno get more out of West Ham this season.

Posts 2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، قائمة المرشحين للتواجد في التشكيل المثالي لأفضل 11 لاعبًا في العالم لعام 2025، حيث فتح باب التصويت أمام الجماهير.

وتم نشر قائمة تضم 88 لاعبًا، من بينهم 22 حارس مرمى، 22 في خط الدفاع، 22 في خط الوسط، 22 في خط الهجوم.

اقرأ أيضًا | فيفا يعلن المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم 2025.. موقف محمد صلاح

وتم ترشيح اللاعبين بناءً على أدائهم في الفترة من 11 أغسطس 2024 إلى 2 أغسطس 2025، وطُلب من المصوتين أيضًا اختيارهم بناءً على الفترة المذكورة.

وشهدت قائمة المرشحين للتشكيل المثالي لعام 2025، فئة الهجوم، تواجد النجم المصري محمد صلاح بعد أدائه المذهل رفقة ليفربول الموسم الماضي. المرشحون للتشكيل المثالي لعام 2025

حراسة المرمى:

أليسون بيكر (البرازيل وليفربول)، ياسين بونو (المغرب والهلال)، ديوجو كوستا (البرتغال وبورتو)، تيبو كورتوا (بلجيكا وريال مدريد)، ميشيل دي جريجوريو (إيطاليا ويوفنتوس)، جيانلويجي دوناروما (إيطاليا وباريس سان جيرمان/مانشستر سيتي)، فابيو (البرازيل وفلوميننسي)، جون فيكتور (البرازيل وبوتافوجو /نوتينجهام فورست)، إيميليانو مارتينيز (الأرجنتين وأستون فيلا)، إدوارد ميندي (السنغال وأهلي جدة)، أليكس ميريت (إيطاليا ونابولي)، كيفن مير (كولومبيا وكروز أزول)، مانويل نوير (ألمانيا وبايرن ميونخ)، يان أوبلاك (سلوفينيا وأتلتيكو مدريد)، ديفيد رايا (إسبانيا وآرسنال)، روبرت سانشيز (إسبانيا وتشيلسي)، أوناي سيمون (إسبانيا وأتلتيك بلباو)، يان سومر (سويسرا وإنتر ميلان)، ميل سفيلار (بلجيكا وروما)، فويتشيك تشيزني (بولندا وبرشلونة)، ويفرتون (البرازيل وبالميراس)، رونوين ويليامز (جنوب أفريقيا وماميلودي صن داونز).

خط الدفاع:

باو كوبارسي (إسبانيا وبرشلونة)، مارك كوكوريلا (إسبانيا وتشيلسي)، ألفونسو ديفيز (كندا وبايرن ميونخ)، جيوفاني دي لورينزو (إيطاليا ونابولي)، روبن دياز (البرتغال ومانشستر سيتي)، دينزل دومفريس (هولندا وإنتر ميلان)، رافائيل جيريرو (البرتغال وإنتر ميلان)، أشرف حكيمي (المغرب وباريس سان جيرمان)، دين هويسن (إسبانيا وبورنموث/ريال مدريد)، إبراهيما كوناتي (فرنسا وليفربول)، كاليدو كوليبالي (السنغال والهلال)، جول كوندي (فرنسا وبرشلونة)، جابرييل ماجالايس (البرازيل وآرسنال)، ماركينيوس (البرازيل وباريس سان جيرمان)، نونو مينديز (البرتغال وباريس سان جيرمان)، نيكولاس أوتاميندي (الأرجنتين) (بنفيكا)، ويليان باتشو (الإكوادور وباريس سان جيرمان)، أنطونيو روديجر (ألمانيا وريال مدريد)، ويليام ساليبا (فرنسا وأرسنال)، تياجو سيلفا (البرازيل وفلوميننسي)، دايوت أوباميكانو (فرنسا وبايرن ميونخ)، فيرجيل فان دايك (هولندا وليفربول).

خط الوسط:

جون أرياس (كولومبيا وفلومينينسي/ولفرهامبتون)، جود بيلينجهام (إنجلترا وريال مدريد)، موسيس كايسيدو (الإكوادور وتشيلسي)، فرينكي دي يونج (هولندا وبرشلونة)، برونو فرنانديز (البرتغال ومانشستر يونايتد)، إنزو فرنانديز (الأرجنتين وتشيلسي)، ريان جرافنبيرخ (هولندا وليفربول)، جوشوا كيميش (ألمانيا وبايرن ميونخ)، أليكسيس ماك أليستر (الأرجنتين وليفربول)، سكوت مكتوميناي (اسكتلندا ونابولي)، جمال موسيالا (ألمانيا وبايرن ميونخ)، جواو نيفيز (البرتغال وباريس سان جيرمان)، روبن نيفيز (البرتغال والهلال)، مايكل أوليس (فرنسا وبايرن ميونخ)، كول بالمر (إنجلترا وتشيلسي)، بيدري (إسبانيا وبرشلونة)، ديكلان رايس (إنجلترا وآرسنال)، فابيان رويز (إسبانيا وباريس سان جيرمان)، برناردو سيلفا (البرتغال ومانشستر سيتي)، فيديريكو فالفيردي (أوروجواي وريال مدريد)، فيتينها (البرتغال وباريس سان جيرمان)، فلوريان فيرتز (ألمانيا وباير ليفركوزن/ليفربول).

خط الهجوم:

سالم الدوسري (السعودية والهلال)، برادلي باركولا (فرنسا وباريس سان جيرمان)، عثمان ديمبيلي (فرنسا وباريس سان جيرمان)، ديزيري دوي (فرنسا وباريس سان جيرمان)، سيرهو جيراسي (غينيا وبوروسيا دورتموند)، فيكتور جيوكيريس (السويد وسبورتينج لشبونة/آرسنال)، إيرلينج هالاند (النرويج ومانشستر سيتي)، لويز هنريكي (البرازيل وبوتافوجو/زينيت سان بطرسبرج)، ألكسندر إيزاك (السويد ونيوكاسل/ليفربول)، هاري كين (إنجلترا وبايرن ميونخ)، خفيتشا كفاراتسخيليا (جورجيا ونابولي/باريس سان جيرمان)، روبرت ليفاندوفسكي (بولندا وبرشلونة)، لاوتارو مارتينيز (الأرجنتين وإنتر ميلان)، كيليان مبابي (فرنسا وريال مدريد)، ليونيل ميسي (الأرجنتين وإنتر ميامي)، جواو بيدرو (البرازيل وبرايتون / تشيلسي)، رافينها (البرازيل وبرشلونة)، ماتيو ريتيجي (إيطاليا وأتالانتا/القادسية)، كريستيانو رونالدو (البرتغال والنصر)، محمد صلاح (مصر وليفربول)، فينيسيوس جونيور (البرازيل وريال مدريد)، لامين يامال (اسبانيا وبرشلونة).

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has urged his players to "stay humble" after their surprising 1-0 defeat to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Conference League. On a night that was supposed to celebrate Selhurst Park's first-ever European fixture, the Eagles' dream turned sour as the visitors spoiled the occasion with a second-half winner and a stark reminder for the Premier League side.

• Eagles beaten on home soil by minnows

  Crystal Palace suffered a stunning home defeat to AEK Larnaca in the first-ever European match at Selhurst Park, losing 1-0 despite dominating large spells of the game. The Premier League side created 15 chances but failed to make their possession count, registering just one shot on target in a frustrating performance. Riad Bajic scored the only goal of the night in the 51st minute, punishing a defensive error from Jaydee Canvot to hand the Cypriot visitors a famous victory.

  The result ended Palace’s 14-match unbeaten home run and left supporters disappointed on what was meant to be a historic European night. Selhurst Park had been electric before kick-off, with banners and chants celebrating the club’s FA Cup triumph and newfound continental adventure. However, as Glasner’s men squandered chance after chance, the energy quickly turned to disbelief.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Glasner questions Palace 'environment'

  "You are always told when you play in the Premier League you win the Conference League," Glasner told reporters after the game. "Stay humble. I don’t know if any debutant is able to win the competition. I don’t think so. We will learn from it, the players will learn. It’s disappointing, a frustrating night, but maybe the whole environment needed it to stay humble."

  The Austrian coach admitted that his team’s failure to take their chances felt like "a little bit deja vu" after recent games in which they didn’t take their chances: "That's European football, and when you play the first time, maybe you have to learn that small mistakes get punished. We had enough chances to win the game, that's the story of not just today, but for many games. I think we had four or five big chances to score, but we didn't and made one mistake, and then you can lose a game like this, and it's now for us to learn from this and keep heads up."

• Inconsistency creeping in for south Londoners

  The defeat came at a time when optimism around Selhurst Park was soaring. Palace have enjoyed one of their best-ever starts to a Premier League season under Glasner, currently sitting eighth in the table with just one league loss in eight matches. They began the campaign by lifting the Community Shield after beating Liverpool on penalties, their second major trophy after having won the FA Cup, a few months earlier.

  In the Premier League, Palace’s form has been steady, highlighted by a 2-1 win over champions Liverpool and a 3-0 away victory at Aston Villa. Jean-Philippe Mateta has been the standout performer, scoring seven goals in all competitions, while Daichi Kamada and Tyrick Mitchell have also impressed. Yet despite these highs, recent weeks have seen a dip in consistency – the Larnaca loss followed a 3-3 draw with Bournemouth and a 2-1 defeat to Everton.

  For all their progress under Glasner, Thursday’s setback exposed how fine the margins are in European football. Against a Larnaca side ranked fifth in the Cypriot league, Palace’s lack of clinical edge and lapses in focus proved costly. The defeat also reignited questions about the squad’s depth and ability to manage playing two games a week.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attention turns to Premier League clash with Arsenal

  Crystal Palace will look to regroup quickly as they turn their attention back to Premier League action. Glasner’s men face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday – a daunting test that could reveal how much they’ve learned from Thursday’s humbling experience. In the longer term, Palace remain well-positioned domestically and still have time to recover in the Conference League group stage.