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A ridiculous four-goal showing from Kylian Mbappe led an otherwise shaky Real Madrid to a 4-3 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. The Frenchman continued his outrageous run of form, while Vinicius Jr eased tensions after a week of controversy by grabbing an assist to carry Los Blancos to a much-needed European victory against a dogged opponent.

It was a miserable start for Los Blancos. They struggled to create in the early stages, and Olympiacos capitalised. Their opening goal was a wonderful thing, as Chiquinho crashed home from 20 yards after a fine team move. 

But the Madrid response was absurd, as their French superstar netted a seven-minute hat-trick. Mbappe scored his first after 22 minutes, running onto a ridiculous trivela pass from Vinicius and finishing through the keeper's legs. He added a second with a fine header, and a third with a simple run in behind the defence and pass into the bottom corner. 

And then they started to pile on. Vinicius might have made it four after 30 minutes – a much-needed moment after a week of controversy. But his fine effort was ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Olympiacos offered a response in the second half, though. A simple cross floated between Madrid's centre-backs was all they needed when Mehdi Taremi rose to nod into the bottom corner. The Greeks almost had another soon after, but reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin produced an impressive stop.

Mbappe gave Los Blancos daylight, though. Vinicius, in truth, did most of the work, with a lovely winding run down the left. Mbappe only had to convert his cut-back. Olympiacos showed some fight. They bagged a much-deserved third after applying plenty of pressure, and peppered the Madrid goal in the latter stages. However, Los Blancos held on to secure all three points. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Andriy Lunin (7/10):

  Could do nothing about the excellent opening goal, and was pretty helpless for the other two, as well. Made some important saves in between. 

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):

  A very 'Trent' performance. Pinged a few passes that few other footballers can even see, but was also truly woeful in his one-on-ones. 

  Raul Asencio (6/10):

  Lost his man to allow Olympiacos to grab a second, and was a bit erratic at times.

  Alvaro Carreras (5/10):

  Doesn't quite look comfortable at centre-back, in truth. Made a couple of mistakes, and didn't connect with the midfield too well. 

  Ferland Mendy (6/10):

  A return after injury, and a game in which he struggled. Could have closed down the cross before the Olympiacos second.

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  Midfield

  Aurelien Tchouameni (7/10):

  Missing on the Olympiacos opener, when he really should have been shielding in front of the back four. But was otherwise solid, winning his tackles and moving the ball.

  Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

  Full of energy in midfield, and played some key link-up passes, too. Removed at the half in what was likely a planned sub. 

  Arda Guler (7/10):

  Assisted the second Madrid goal, created a few chances, and was useful on the ball. A solid hour.

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  Attack

  Federico Valverde (7/10):

  Ran a lot and offered an attacking outlet, but was mostly moving to open up space for others. A typically selfless showing. 

  Kylian Mbappe (10/10):

  Scored twice in the space of two minutes to bring Madrid back into it. Added another three minutes later and added a fourth in the second half. He's in ridiculous form.

  Vinicius Jr (9/10):

  Looked to rebound after a week in which he told Madrid he won't pen a new contract. Assisted Mbappe's first with a sublime pass. Set up the Frenchman's fourth, too. A fine showing to answer the critics.

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  Subs & Manager

  Dani Ceballos (6/10):

  Brought on for midfield control, which he didn't really offer much of.

  Jude Bellingham (6/10):

  Ran around, carried the ball effectively, linked up play, but lacked a bit of end product. 

  Brahim Diaz (6/10):

  A puzzling introduction, especially with Asencio taken off. On the ball here and there but not particularly involved. 

  Fran Garcia (N/A):

  No time to make an impact. 

  Xabi Alonso (7/10):

  Needed a lift after being criticised of late. Got his win, even if Madrid are incredibly unreliable. Will take the three points, but concerns remain.

شهدت مباراة إلتشي وريال مدريد تسجيل هدفين متتاليين، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

ويجري اللقاء بين الفريقين على ملعب “إلتشي” وكان الشوط الأول بين الفريقين قد انتهى بالتعادل السلبي في الدوري الاسباني.

وجاء الهدف الثاني عن طريق ألفارو في الدقيقة 84 بتسديدة رائعة من خارج منطقة الجزاء، بعد مراوغة للمدافع راؤول أسينسيو.

وفي الدقيقة 86 عاد جود بيلينجهام ليتعادل للفريق الضيف بعد تمريرة من كيليان مبابي وتم الاحتكام لتقنية الفار التي جاء قرارها في صالح ريال مدريد، رغم اعتراض إلتشي على عدم صحته.

اقرأ أيضاً.. تيباس: أنا مشجع لـ ريال مدريد منذ طفولتي.. وسأواصل دفاعي عن الدوري الإسباني

وكان أصحاب الأرض قد تقدموا عن طريق أليكس فيباس في الدقيقة 53، وتعادل جود بيلينجهام في الدقيقة 88 بعد متابعة كرة طائشة داخل منطقة الجزاء واستغلال ركلة ركنية نفذها ألكسندر أرنولد.

Tottenham and Bayern Munich are in talks to activate the Premier League team's option to buy Joao Palhinha amid the midfielder's bright start since joining on loan from the Bundesliga side. The English side are negotiating to lower the purchase clause in his contract, which is currently set at around €30 million. Palhinha had moved to Bayern from English club Fulham in the summer of 2024 for a fee of €56m, but failed to get up and running in his solitary season in Germany.

Palhinha's failed move to Bayern

According to Nicolo Schira, Tottenham have already reached an agreement on personal terms with Palhinha for a contract running until 2029. 

According to German outlet , the London club have now entered negotiations with the German champions over a potential transfer, with the aim of reducing the €30m (£25m/$33m) fee initially set in the loan agreement. It remains uncertain whether Bayern would accept a lower offer or if Tottenham intend to finalise the deal in the upcoming winter transfer window or wait until the summer. 

The Portuguese international, who joined Bayern from Fulham in the summer of 2024 for around €56m (£47m/$61m), was initially seen as an ideal partner for Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka. However, he struggled to establish himself in the squad and failed to meet expectations. Palhinha made just 25 appearances in all competitions, with only 10 starts, and his transfer is now regarded as one of Bayern’s more disappointing investments in recent years. After just one season, he was loaned to Tottenham as Bayern sought to cut their losses, with the loan fee reportedly around €5m.

Palhinha reflected on his difficult spell at Bayern, admitting that injuries limited his chances to prove himself. “Last season wasn’t easy for me, especially when I got injured with the national team. I was out longer than expected. Afterwards, I didn’t get the opportunities I think I deserved," he said.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPalhinha's new lease of life at Tottenham

Under Thomas Frank, Palhinha has rediscovered his best form, thriving in his natural role and becoming a key player for Tottenham this season. The Portuguese midfielder has made 18 appearances and scored four goals, including a crucial strike against Manchester City. His influence has been central to Tottenham’s push for a top-four finish, with the club currently just one point behind Sunderland in fourth place. Palhinha has also played a vital role in the Champions League, helping Spurs move closer to automatic qualification for the round of 16.

Playing alongside Pape Sarr in a 4-2-3-1 system, Palhinha provides defensive balance while allowing Sarr to advance forward. A commanding presence in midfield, he dominates central areas, contributes effectively at both ends of the pitch, and plays a key part in Tottenham’s pressing structure. His consistency and tactical intelligence have cemented his place among the Premier League’s standout midfielders this season.

Bayern's wonderful start to the season

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern have been in outstanding form this season despite losing key players such as Palhinha, Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman, as well as missing out on transfer targets like Nick Woltemade and Nico Williams. Under Kompany’s leadership, Bayern remain unbeaten across all competitions, recording 16 wins and one draw, a testament to the team’s adaptability and tactical evolution. The Belgian coach has implemented a new playing style centred around the squad’s collective strength, perseverance, and sacrifice rather than individual brilliance. This philosophy has revitalised Bayern’s performances, bringing balance and intensity to their game. The system has particularly benefited Harry Kane, who continues to score freely, and Konrad Laimer, who has flourished in midfield. Koln coach Lukas Kwasniok has praised Bayern’s transformation under Kompany, suggesting they look like genuine contenders for a treble this season given their consistency and team unity.

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Getty Images SportPalhinha hopes Tottenham form leads to strong World Cup

Kompany will use the international break to reflect on Bayern’s impressive win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and use that performance as motivation for his players to continue working toward the treble.

Meanwhile, Palhinha will hope that Bayern and Tottenham can reach an agreement over his future. With his form back to its best, the midfielder will aim to maintain his performances for the rest of the season to secure a place in Portugal’s 2026 World Cup squad.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras amargou o vice-campeonato da Libertadores Feminina ao ser derrotado pelo Corinthians por 1 a 0, e a atacante Bia Zaneratto lamentou as chances perdidas pelas Palestrinas contra as Brabas.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalÉ tetra! Corinthians vence o Palmeiras e é campeão da Libertadores FemininaFutebol Nacional21/10/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras bate São Paulo e conquista o bicampeonato do Brasileiro Sub-17Palmeiras21/10/2023PalmeirasLeila Pereira viaja pra Cali para acompanhar o Palmeiras na final da Libertadores FemininaPalmeiras21/10/2023

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

– Faltou fazer o gol, simplesmente isso. Infelizmente elas tiveram uma chance, fizeram o gol e a gente não foi eficiente dessa forma. Acho que a gente tentou de tudo, tentou cruzar a bola, chutar, finalizar, infelizmente elas fizeram o gol, a gente ficou com a posse e não entrou. É difícil falar qualquer coisa agora. A gente tentou, mas a bola não entrou – disse a atacante palmeirense após a final.

O Corinthians viu a zagueira Tarciane ser expulsa aos 20 minutos do segundo tempo, e o Palmeiras empilhou chances na reta final, mas as Palestrinas pararam na goleira Lelê, que fez dois milagres nos acréscimos.

continua após a publicidade

+ Quais são os maiores campeões da Libertadores Feminina?

Com a derrota, o Palmeiras perde a chance de ser bicampeão da Libertadores e vê as rivais faturarem a Libertadores Feminina pela quarta vez.

It’s not even November yet, and Nottingham Forest have already gone through two managers in quick succession.

The ever enigmatic and controversial Evangelos Marinakis must have thought that results would instantly turn when ditching Nuno Espirito Santo for Ange Postecoglou, but after his disastrous 39 days at the helm pushed the Tricky Trees further into the relegation spaces in the Premier League, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss ended up being brutally dismissed.

Now, it’s Sean Dyche’s turn to come in and – hopefully – be a safe pair of hands at the City Ground, with a 2-0 victory over Porto on his managerial debut last time out in the Europa League instantly calming any jitters.

It’s the bread and butter of the Premier League that next awaits the ex-Burnley boss as a tough away trip to AFC Bournemouth beckons, with Oleksandr Zinchenko potentially being out injured for this journey to the South Coast, after hobbling off mid-week.

Even if he wasn’t in the treatment room, his starting spot might well have been at risk…

Why Zinchenko is likely to be dropped

It does sound as if the four-time Premier League title winner will be touch-and-go surrounding his availability right up until the teams are announced later today.

If there are any lingering doubts, Dyche won’t feel too uncomfortable in throwing Nicolo Savona into the first-team mix in his place, with the 22-year-old summer recruit from Juventus sticking out as a positive influence against Porto on Thursday night, when replacing the injury-stricken Ukrainian.

Ultimately, the number 37 would ensure a 2-0 win was secured against Porto, when a rare foray forward from the Italian would result in a penalty kick being given, which was then coolly dispatched to hand Dyche a debut win in the dug-out.

The former Juventus youngster will surely fancy his chances of retaining a first-team spot, therefore, with all 100% of his duels being successfully won, too, further showing off a defender that’s content at doing the dirty work, which Dyche, who is known to be an attritional manager in style, will love.

Chalkboard

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

To make matters worse for his ex-Manchester City counterpart, Zinchenko has already picked up three defeats donning Garibaldi Red from just six appearances, with his new manager also potentially preparing to axe this other Forest figure, even though the attacker in question impressed in the Europa League.

Dyche could ruthlessly drop "incredible" star

Although their Premier League form has fallen off a cliff, Forest have looked far more at home in European competitions this season, with a win and a draw collected from their opening three clashes in the Europa League.

They have Igor Jesus to also thank for that confidence-boosting win being secured against Porto, with the Brazilian now up to three goals exclusively in this competition for his new employers, on top of also collecting a brace in the EFL Cup when Postecoglou was still around.

Games played

7

Minutes played

146 mins

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

However, despite Jesus living up to his billing as an “incredible” finisher of chances – that was once handed to him by journalist Zach Lowy – up against the likes of the Portuguese giants, he remains without a goal in the Premier League, with Dyche perhaps wary that the number 19 could fold in front of goal again if he’s retained for the away day at the Cherries.

In Jesus’ defence, he is yet to be handed a start in the daunting division, but after hitting the woodwork against Chelsea from a 45-minute cameo, which also saw him win just one duel, Dyche might well opt to start Taiwo Awoniyi in his place instead, who at least has 17 Premier League goals next to his name, away from being frozen out of the side under previous regimes.

In an even more ideal reality, the 54-year-old could have Chris Wood back available for this tie on the South Coast – having sat out the clash versus Porto through injury – with the New Zealand workhorse already amassing 53 goals under Dyche’s watchful eye when the pair were together at Burnley, per Transfermarkt.

It does look like a bold call from the outside looking in, considering Jesus ensured Dyche’s start at Forest was a victorious one. But, with his ropey Premier League record to date, and other options at the Forest boss’ disposal who could cause Bournemouth more issues, the South American might well drop out of the XI alongside Zinchenko.

Dyche plotting shock January Nottingham Forest raid for "magic" £20m forward

The Forest boss is looking to strengthen his forward line.

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Sunderland returned to the Premier League this season with a summer that made the rest of the league sit up and take notice.

Backed by ambitious ownership, the Black Cats spent £141.5m, just short of Nottingham Forest’s record spend for a newly promoted side in 2022.

It was a bold statement that they intend to survive the drop.

Habib Diarra arrived from Strasbourg to add dynamism in midfield, Simon Adingra was snapped up from Brighton, while Chemsidine Talbi and Noah Sadiki joined from Belgium.

Perhaps the most eye-catching additions were Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen and Nordi Mukiele from PSG.

Both players who bring Champions League experience and leadership to a youthful squad. That recruitment drive quickly paid dividends.

A raucous Stadium of Light saw Sunderland sweep aside West Ham 3-0 on the opening day.

Reality bit a week later with a 2-0 defeat away to Burnley, but Régis Le Bris’ side bounced back.

A last-gasp Wilson Isidor strike secured a 2-1 win over Brentford before a disciplined 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace earned another valuable point.

The Black Cats host Aston Villa next, with the fanbase buzzing at the idea that this side might just be capable of more than survival.

For many, the excitement brings back memories of one man: Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian forward who lit up the Stadium of Light during his brief but memorable spell.

Asamoah Gyan – Sunderland’s Premier League icon

When Sunderland signed Gyan from Stade Rennais in 2010 for a then-club record £13m, expectations were high.

The Ghanaian had already proven himself in Ligue 1 with 14 goals and five assists in 53 appearances and had enhanced his reputation on the international stage, scoring freely for the Black Stars.

Gyan wasted no time making his mark, scoring on his debut against Wigan Athletic. His flair made him an instant fan favourite.

Sunderland supporters will never forget his role in the club’s famous 3-0 victory away at Chelsea, nor the dramatic 94th-minute equaliser in the Tyne-Wear derby that denied Newcastle a double over their fiercest rivals.

Though his stay was short – 11 goals in 37 appearances before a lucrative move to Al-Ain in the UAE – Gyan’s impact was lasting.

At Sunderland, he remains a symbol of what a talismanic striker can do for the club. Lift the team, energise the fans, and turn matches on their head.

Fourteen years on, supporters may finally have reason to believe they’ve found a modern version of Gyan in their new Dutch centre-forward.

Brian Brobbey can be Sunderland’s modern-day Gyan

When Brian Brobbey swapped Ajax for Sunderland in a deal worth up to £21 million, eyebrows were raised.

Here was a 23-year-old striker and “natural born killer”, as per talent scout Jacek Kulig, with a proven record in the Eredivisie – 56 goals and 24 assists in 163 appearances – opting to take the next step in his career on Wearside.

For Sunderland, it was their 13th signing of a hectic summer but arguably the most significant.

A two-time Eredivisie winner with Ajax, Brobbey also boasts international experience with the Netherlands, having earned eight caps so far.

Like Gyan before him, he arrives with pedigree and hunger, eager to prove himself in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.

The timing of his move was crucial. Sunderland had been forced into the market after Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu as cover for Liam Delap.

Brobbey was identified not only as a replacement but as a forward who could spearhead the club’s attack for years to come.

A centre-forward “goal machine”, in the words of Kulig, his numbers speak for themselves.

Brian Brobbey – 2024/25
Matches Played	30
Goals	4
Assists	3
Progressive Carries	18
Progressive Passes	19
Source: FBref

Brobbey ranks in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty expected goals (0.61 per 90), the 94th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.53 per 90), and the 99th percentile for assists (0.50 per 90).

He also offers physical presence, winning aerial duels at an impressive rate and pressing defenders relentlessly.

Stylistically, he has been compared to Nick Woltemade, Marcus Thuram, and Nicolas Jackson, as per FBref – all forwards who blend power with mobility.

Yet for Sunderland fans, the more exciting comparison is with Gyan.

Like the Ghanaian, Brobbey thrives on sharp movement in the box, intelligent link-up play, and an ability to score crucial goals.

If he can replicate even half of Gyan’s impact in red and white, Brobbey could become a cult hero on Wearside.

And unlike Gyan, who departed after just one season, Sunderland will hope their Dutch striker sticks around long enough to build a legacy of his own.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers are now ready to make a January offer for a midfield “artist”, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Wolves still not off the mark in the Premier League

It has been a torrid start to the Premier League season for Wolves, who remained bottom of the table after a very disappointing 3-1 home defeat against newly-promoted Leeds United last weekend.

Vitor Pereira’s side are the only top flight club yet to pick up a single point this season, but there has been some respite in the EFL Cup, having reached the fourth round, after progressing past West Ham United and, most recently, Everton.

Related Wolves star Munetsi reveals what they "really" worked on in training before Everton win

Wolves dominated the Toffees on Tuesday evening…

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There were some promising signs on Wednesday night, with the Old Gold defeating the Toffees 2-0 at Molineux, courtesy of goals from Marshall Munetsi and Tolu Arokodare, and the manager remains confident his players have the ability to turn things around.

Pereira said: “The work I watch everyday in training is hard work and this is a group who work a lot, they compete and want to be at a better level. We’re just missing the results because the players have quality.”

If things do not improve, however, and their Premier League status is on the line, Wolves may have to inject some fresh quality into the squad during the January transfer window, and they are now looking to sign Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states the Old Gold are now ready to make an offer for Locatelli as soon as January, although there will be competition from some of their Premier League rivals.

West Ham United and Aston Villa are also prepared to make bids of their own, and there are signs a deal could be possible, with the Serie A side considering sanctioning a departure, although it is unclear what sort of fee they would be looking for.

"Artist" Locatelli could play major role in Wolves securing survival

Even though we are just five games into the new Premier League season, it is already starting to look like Wolves’ main goal this season will be to simply avoid the drop, and the £103k-a-week Juventus maestro could take Pereira’s midfield to the next level.

An established Italy international, with 32 caps to his name, the 27-year-old has plenty of top-level experience, having made 22 Champions League appearances, and he is very highly rated by scout Ben Mattinson.

Not only is the midfielder comfortable in possession, but he is also solid defensively, as shown by his performance in some key statistics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

2.78 (84th percentile)

Blocks

1.96 (97th percentile)

Clearances

2.72 (92nd percentile)

Locatelli could be an excellent signing for Wolves, but it is questionable whether a player of his quality would be interested in moving to a relegation-threatened side.

With Vitor Pereira aiming to add the final touches to his side before the transfer window slams shut, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly leading the race to sign a Barcelona gem this month.

Their opening day defeat at the hands of Manchester City highlighted a number of problem areas for Wolves. Whilst there were little expectations against Pep Guardiola’s serial winners who have spent big once again this summer, Pereira’s squad looked alarmingly thin throughout.

Since that defeat, the Midlands club have – to their credit – welcomed Jackson Tchatchoua from Hellas Verona in an attempt to replace Nelson Semedo and hand their backline a much-needed boost. But there’s undoubtedly still work to be done as deadline day approaches.

The defender is keen to get going too, telling Wolves’ official website: “I feel good. I feel happy to be here and I’m excited. I spoke a little bit with the coach, but I’ll speak more. The Premier League is one of my dreams and it’s one step that I want to do in my life, and also the history of the club, the stadium, the fans, this convinced me.”

With a trip to face Bournemouth awaiting this weekend, the new arrival could have the chance to make his Wolves debut just days after putting pen to paper in a game that must see marked improvement from Pereira’s side.

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Meanwhile, now that Tchatchoua has officially arrived, Wolves have reportedly turned their attention towards the likes of Girona’s Ladislav Krejci and Christantus Uche. Rumours have even gone as far as to suggest that they’ve made an offer worth £26m to sign Krejci, whilst also setting their sights on another La Liga talent.

Wolves now in pole position to sign Casado

According to Sport Italia journalist Gianluigi Longari, as relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are now in pole position to sign Marc Casado and are willing to go all out to sign the Barcelona midfielder.

The Spanish giants reportedly value the 21-year-old at just €30m (£26m), sparking a race between Wolves, West Ham United and Bournemouth to secure his signature this month.

In a hectic race which now also includes Marseille, Wolves are reportedly pushing hardest to welcome the young Spaniard in what would hand Pereira an instant upgrade in possession compared to his current options at Molineux.

Minutes

2,472

1,611

Progressive Passes P90

3.96

5.98

Tackles Won P90

2

1.4

Ball Recoveries P90

7.05

5.03

Although Andre is effective out of possession, Casado would hand Wolves far more control in the middle of the park to almost replicate the job that Ruben Neves did for so many years in the Midlands.

Dubbed a “wonderful talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Casado would be an excellent addition to Pereira’s side. Whether Wolves manage to fend off the competition from both Marseille and their Premier League rivals to sign the Barcelona gem remains to be seen, however.

While the results and honours haven’t always followed, West Ham United have always been a team that can boast a genuine superstar or two in their side.

A few years ago, it was Declan Rice who was grabbing the headlines for the Hammers and representing them in a Euros final for England.

Nowadays, it’s Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta who are the standouts in the team, with the latter making it very clear he wants to remain in East London with his celebration against Nottingham Forest.

However, before either he or Rice had made their names in Claret and Blue, there was an exciting prospect who looked like an even bigger talent than both.

Rice & Paqueta's West Ham careers

Now, there may still be some ill feelings about where Rice moved on to a couple of years ago, but it would be impossible to deny that he gave an awful lot to West Ham over his time with the club.

He made his senior debut for the club against Burnley in 2017 and went on to make 245 appearances for the club, totalling an astonishing 20,580 minutes.

Despite playing in defensive midfield and even at the back at times, the Englishman managed to score 15 goals and provide 13 assists for the Hammers during his time in East London.

Moreover, he captained the club to Conference League glory in his final game – an achievement that has enshrined him in the club’s history books forever.

Paqueta, on the other hand, only joined the Irons from Lyon in the summer of 2022, but has still played a massive role at the club.

He was also part of the team that secured the Hammers’ European glory, and has amassed an impressive tally of 21 goals and 14 assists in 124 games.

However, for as brilliant as Rice and Paqueta are, there was an academy gem who, a decade ago, was being looked at as an even bigger talent, but is not without a club.

The West Ham gem without a club

Cast your minds back to the distant year of 2015 and West Ham’s Premier League opener away to Arsenal.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

It was a game to forget for the hosts, but a memorable win for the travelling Irons, and one youngster in particular: Reece Oxford.

It was the then 16-year-old’s competitive debut, and instead of making a fool of himself against a pretty stacked Gunners side, he looked incredible and practically pocketed a prime Mesut Özil.

It was a performance that more than turned heads, with then-manager Slaven Bilic proclaiming afterward that the youngster “has everything.”

Later on, the Croatian would tell the press that, at the time, “I couldn’t move around the place without hearing that Reece Oxford was going to be the next big thing.”

Moreover, in an interview with The Athletic, former West Ham trainee Lewis Page revealed that during his early days, Rice was unsure if he’d get a scholarship as Oxford “was the main talent at centre-back, and I’m not sure if the club thought Dec was good enough to play in midfield.”

Unfortunately, the former Hammers gem didn’t go on to become a world-beater, and after several loans, he left the club with just 17 appearances to his name to join Augsburg in the summer of 2019.

Augsburg

80

3

2

West Ham

17

0

0

Mönchengladbach

8

0

0

Reading

5

0

0

Things went reasonably well for the youngster out in Germany for a while, but persistent injuries followed with a severe case of long COVID that prevented him from really kicking on.

In all, the 26-year-old made 80 appearances for the club, but his last senior professional game was all the way back in November 2022, and he’s been without a club since July 1st of this year.

Ultimately, while Oxford was never able to live up to the hype, he did carve out a decent career for himself in the Bundesliga, and we can only hope he finds himself a new team soon.

West Ham now join the race to sign £60m star who was a major Spurs target

The Hammers are keen to bring in a “sensational” player, who was a key summer target for Tottenham Hotspur.

ByDominic Lund Sep 3, 2025

Deal is set to make London-based club the most valuable in the Hundred

Matt Roller and Nagraj Gollapudi31-Jan-2025English cricket has landed a multi-million pound windfall after a Silicon Valley tech consortium won a bidding war with the Sanjiv Goenka-owned RPSG Group for a 49% stake in London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s.The winning bid made by the consortium, headed by Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks, valued the Spirit at £295 million, more than twice the price paid by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) for Oval Invincibles on Thursday. It means they will pay £144.55m for a 49% stake in the Spirit, with MCC intending to retain its position as majority shareholder.The price is more than double the floor valuation set for London Spirit based on investors’ indicative bids and represents a significant injection of funds into English cricket. The revenue raised in the sales process will be split between the 18 first-class counties, MCC and the recreational game and is designed to “future-proof” county cricket for the next 20 years. RPSG Group is understood to have quit the race at the £292 million mark.The consortium – under the name Cricket Investor Holdings Limited – includes Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Shantanu Narayen and Egon Durban, the CEOs of Google, Microsoft, Adobe and Silver Lake Management respectively, as well as Arora and Satyan Gajwani, who is one of the co-founders of the US-based Major League Cricket and vice-chairman of Times Internet, the Indian digital giant.It is understood that the consortium’s bid was spearheaded by Arora and Gajwani, after they were among the last investors to enter the race. ESPNcricinfo understands that there are 11 individuals involved in the consortium in total, five of whom are yet to be named publicly.Related

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Mark Nicholas, MCC’s chairman, told members on Friday evening: “We are delighted to have found partners who share our values and understand the power and mystique of Lord’s. We look forward to building on the happy relationship we have already established over the past few weeks.”Nicholas said that there had been “remarkable interest” from investors, and wrote: “Today’s announcement shows what we as Members have always known: our Club is special. It’s why people want to be involved with us. I hope that all Members are as proud as I am and excited at the opportunities that lie ahead.”Goenka, whose company RPSG Group run Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, was considered the favourite to buy a stake in the Spirit but was beaten in a three-hour bidding war on Friday afternoon, which lasted so long that the start time for the same process at Welsh Fire – which was later won by the owner of Washington Freedom – was delayed by an hour.Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group pulled out of the race at a £292m valuation•SportzpicsAvram Glazer, the co-owner of Manchester United, and Cain International, who are run by Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein, were also involved in the auction process on Friday afternoon but pulled out early on. It is thought that what one source described as “the Lord’s factor” played a significant role in the unexpectedly high price for the Spirit.The consortium will now enter into a period of exclusive negotiations with Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the host venue’s owner, and complete an agreement in the eight-week window set by ECB from the completion of the final round of the bidding process. MCC has maintained throughout that it intends to retain its 51% share in the franchise.The Spirit are defending champions in the women’s Hundred, with England captain Heather Knight leading them to their inaugural title last year and India’s Deepti Sharma hitting the winning runs in the final. Their men’s team, by contrast, have only won three games in the last two Hundred seasons, and finished bottom in 2024.RPSG Group are now expected to refocus their attention to Manchester Originals next week, having held detailed meetings with Lancashire over the past nine months. RIL were also understood to be on the shortlist for the Originals but are out of the running after buying a stake in Oval Invincibles.