Dribble Diaries

Despite Arsenal's renewed interest in acquiring goalkeeper Joan Garcia, Espanyol will not reduce their asking price. For more than a year, the Gunners have been pursuing Garcia as the Premier League team searches for a seasoned backup to David Raya. Despite Espanyol's impending relegation struggle, Garcia may be less inclined to make a trade if Raya is the clear No. 1 at the Emirates Stadium. The ball is now back in Arsenal's court because Espanyol will not take anything less than Garcia's entire €25 million release clause, according to Daily Mirror reports. Garcia is the favored option, and it is unlikely that Brazil veteran Neto will turn his current loan deal into a permanent one in 2025. Espanyol will benefit from a longer winter break as they have already been eliminated from the Copa del Rey. On January 11, they will visit Leganes as part of their La Liga comeback. With one point separating them from safety, the Catalans are now ranked 18th in the table.

When NJ/NY Gotham FC announced the signing of Brazilian forward Gabi Portilho, who has a 2026 contract with a 2027 extension option, they managed to surprise everyone. Considering the titles and pivotal performances that this athlete utilized to alter the game's outcome on the field by utilizing her ingenuity and movements, it's not a small signing. The club is placing a wager on both her skill and her capacity to improve the team's standing in the NWSL. Between 2020 and 2024, 29-year-old Gabi Portilho established herself as a superb player for Corinthians. In addition to winning 15 crowns in five seasons, the stats speak for themselves: 162 games, 29 goals, and 24 assists. But what really makes her stand out is her deft footwork and deft dribbling. The talented Portilho is a quick attacker who generates, penetrates defenses, and helps her teammates win. She was a vital member of both the Brazilian National Team and Corinthians because of this exact technique. Portilho sc...

Barcelona has also lost their appeal against the initial denial of their request to extend Dani Olmo's registration. Olmo's present registration expires on December 31 along with that of teenage attacker Pau Victor. Originally registered through a loophole made feasible by Andreas Christensen's injury, the club currently lacks the funds to renew Olmo's registration. When a court last week denied their attempt to circumvent La Liga's financial regulations, they were left in a bind. Several Premier League teams are taking notice of Olmo's contract clause that permits him to go on a free transfer if he is unable to be registered. Numerous media outlets have now covered Barcelona's appeal's failure, with the court maintaining that the initial decision was legitimate and needed to be upheld. Barcelona, fortunately, has a different strategy in place. It only requires final approval to sell a portion of the VIP seats at Camp Nou for €120 million over the nex...

Instead of celebrating their former sides, many players raise a bashful hand. However, Omari Hutchinson tore up the rulebook in style as he gave second-from-bottom Ipswich the most improbable 2-0 lead against Chelsea's former style. The 21-year-old made his senior debut in the 2022–2023 season after rising through Chelsea's junior divisions. After the team was promoted to the Premier League in the summer, he decided to join the team permanently after spending the next season on loan at Championship team Ipswich. At Portman Road, Hutchinson delighted in doubling Ipswich's lead and dazzled the home crowd with a magnificent back flip. Can Ipswich maintain their historic victory?

In December, Manchester United was defeated by all of Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Bournemouth, and Wolves. With a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford after just 19 minutes, Newcastle now appears capable of doing the same. Their defense has been giving up goals, and this month's total of 18 goals given up across all competitions is the highest since March 1964. For new manager Ruben Anorim, it's a concerning trend, and if the Reds let up another goal, their record will be surpassed once again. Since 1962, Manchester United has not given up three goals or more in three straight home games. Is it going to happen tonight? 

Right now, Alexander Isak is having a lot of success. The Swedish player has scored in less than five minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford after scoring in his previous five Premier League games for Newcastle. He has now scored eight goals in his past six games, matching a record set by a historic Tyneside match. Alan Shearer is the only other player who has scored 25 goals or more for Newcastle in a single calendar year. With 25 goals in 2024, Isak now joins him in that elite club. What is in store for him in 2025?

Two of La Liga's top teams have set their sights on signing a defensive player from Rayo Vallecano. That is according to Mundo Deportivo, who identify Andrei Ratiu as the player in question. For those unfamiliar with his name, Ratiu is a 26-year-old Romanian international who starred at the European Championships this summer. The former Villarreal player has extended his impressive form into the new season, establishing himself as one of Rayo Vallecano's top performers. Ratiu has started all but three of Rayo's La Liga games from right-back, scoring once and providing an assist. And the defender's continuous excellence has not gone unnoticed, both in Spain and beyond the continent. As per MD: 'Teams like FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Tottenham, Bayer Leverkusen, and Roma have him on their radar. Barca, for one, has already discussed the parameters of a deal, with Ratiu's January departure from Vallecas looking 'very possible'.

As the winter transfer market opens, we take a look at ten prominent players who may change teams next month. Naomi Girma Age 24 Nationality US Club San Diego Wave Girma, widely regarded as one of the top centre-backs in the world and recently named to the FIFA top XI, is nearing the final year of her contract, and speculation has grown that she may leave San Diego. Only the world's wealthiest clubs are expected to be able to afford her this window, and she has been connected with French giants Lyon, although Chelsea are also looking for a central defender after Kadeisha Buchanan suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament damage. Chloe Kelly Age 26 Nationality English Club Manchester City Having started only one Women’s Super League game this season, a move away from Manchester City may be the solution for Kelly to secure more match minutes in her quest for a seat on the plane to Euro 2025 with the Lionesses next summer. The winger, whose winning goal clinched England vic...

According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea will begin talks with Paris Saint-Germain about signing Randal Kolo Muani during the January transfer window. Muani has been a peripheral role at PSG since his €95 million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023. He has started only 15 league games for his current club, with only two of those coming this season under Luis Enrique. He removed the 26-year-old from the final three matchday lineups of 2024. As a result, a move away from the French capital is a real possibility for the striker next month, with many clubs throughout Europe vying for his services. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a transfer, while AC Milan is also apparently considering a trade for the French international. Chelsea, the Premier League heavyweights, are the latest squad to be linked with Muani. They are eager to sign a new striker following their unsuccessful chase of Victor Osimhen last summer. While Muani is predominantly a centre forward, ...

Atletico Madrid has a strong finish to 2024. They now top the La Liga table, one point ahead of fierce rivals Real Madrid, after 12 straight victories in all competitions. Enrique Cerezo, the president of Atleti, has viewed the year as a whole as being quite beneficial, according to Diario AS. "I believe that this year has been fantastic, and there are plenty of reasons to be joyful. It appeared quite difficult just a short while ago, yet we ended the year in first position in La Liga. It is now evident that we can accomplish anything. Cerezo also discussed the time of Diego Simeone. "I believe that we are living in the greatest period in Atletico Madrid's history if we consider the last 15 years collectively. We've advanced to two Champions League finals and won La Liga. However, we have also expanded significantly and are becoming larger in many ways. For all of these reasons, I believe that this is the best time in the club's history.

Whether Marta will play for the Orlando Pride, the NWSL champions, in 2025 is the biggest question. Orlando Pride, the NWSL Champion and Shield winner, is a strong contender for the 2025 campaign. Bringing Marta back on board is currently the biggest move. She is currently in negotiations with the organization. Orlando Pride captain Marta Da Silva was well-known throughout the world before she joined the team in 2017. From 2000 to 2009, she was listed as one of Sports Illustrated's Top 20 Female Athletes of the Decade. With 17 goals, she leads both the men's and women's totals and is the all-time World Cup goal leader. She has won FIFA Women's Player of the Year six times and is the first player to score at five World Cups. When this team won the NWSL Shield and Championship, she was the squad leader. Since 2019, they are the first squad to do that. More importantly, the Pride are now the first Orlando-based professional sports team to take home a major league trophy...

It was nearly assumed for a long time that Barcelona would choose a pacifist strategy during the next January transfer window. The club was supposed to concentrate just on renewals and registrations and not make any movements in the market given their financial circumstances. The tables could soon change, though, as Barcelona is about to pull an economic lever that could result in a more than €100 million inflow. Barcelona will be able to register their summer additions and get back to the 1:1 rule thanks to this. A signing in January might be possible. According to Diario SPORT, there is now a slim chance that Barcelona could sign a player on loan in January in response to their possible new lever. Barcelona is still not aiming to sign any long-term contracts in January, but they might think about making a loan move given Hansi Flick's particular request for midfield reinforcements. Despite Marc Casado's rise to prominence as a first-team regular in the holding position, F...

With a 2-0 victory at Leicester, Manchester City snapped their five-game losing streak, and Pep Guardiola celebrated winning his 500th game as manager. Erling Haaland's header after the interval and Savinho's strike in the first half gave the struggling champions a much-needed three points at the King Power Stadium. Even though they had only won twice in the Premier League since the end of October, their weaknesses from the previous two months, in which they had dropped nine of their last 13 games, were still evident. With Jamie Vardy missing a crucial opportunity at 1-0 down and Facundo Buonanotte hitting the post, Leicester put up a tough fight and may believe they could have won. Even though they are currently 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, who play later on Sunday, their title challenge is most likely finished. However, City managed to get back into the top four and will be hoping that this is a sign of a complete comeback. The Foxes are still in the relegation zo...

At St. Mary's Stadium, West Ham United defeated Southampton 1-0 in their Premier League match on Thursday. After the away victory, the Hammers will probably feel more secure, but they now have a significant test when Liverpool visits them this weekend. With eight points from their past four league games, West Ham has made great progress in recent weeks. To win anything against the Reds, who have been unbeatable this season, they will need to put on a spectacular display. Team Lopetegui will pick vs Liverpool In midweek, West Ham defeated Southampton, but it cost them dearly. After suffering a severe head injury in a collision with Nathan Wood, Lukasz Fabianski was taken away on a stretcher.  The 39-year-old was later verified by Lopetegui to be awake and conscious in the locker room, but it seems improbable that he will play in Sunday's home match. Alphonse Areola will move back to the side to fill in between the sticks while Fabianski is away. Prior to the second half, Car...

Regarding Frenkie de Jong's future at Barcelona, a recent SPORT article has disclosed an important development. Unless the Dutch midfielder agrees to extend his contract, the team does not want him to be part of their plans for the upcoming campaign. His recent on-field difficulties and persistent injury concerns seem to have played a role in this choice. De Jong had a memorable 2024 campaign, filled with obstacles on and off the field. An ankle ailment has further hampered his rehabilitation, and his form has suffered. He is far from the guy who used to dominate the midfield with ease, and this season sticks out as the most challenging he has had since joining the Catalan team. Hansi Flick likes him. Manager Hansi Flick had earlier expressed confidence in De Jong, encouraging him and detailing a big role for him on the team. However, Flick made it obvious that De Jong needed to be in peak physical condition to fulfill the expectations of Barça's competitive environment. Un...

Without a question, some of the top football managers in the world work in the Premier League. Every weekend, there are some exciting tactical fights since England draws some of the best coaching talent from around the world. These managers compete against one another for honor, fame, and, preferably, trophies. However, during the course of the year, who were the top head coaches in the top division? Liverpool's Arne Slot There is no better place to begin than the top of the Premier League. Several major names, including Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, and Ruben Amorim, were considered to replace Jurgen Klopp earlier this year. Few people would have heard of Arne Slot before he was chosen as the German's replacement, but he's definitely establishing a name for himself today. The Dutchman could not have expected his first few months on the job to go any better. Liverpool leads the standings by six points, is through to the Champions League knockout stages with two games r...

With the acquisition of the gifted goalkeeper Lorena from Brazil's national team, Kansas City Current took a step closer to securing its position as one of the top teams in women's soccer. With a 2027 contract that can be extended to 2028, this former Grêmio player has a strong portfolio and is prepared to have a direct impact on the team's performance the next season. Her arrival represents a bold investment in the team's future. It is rare for a NWSL team to sign a player who is renowned worldwide for her technical prowess. Lorena, who is only 26, has already shown that she has what it takes to be among the league's top goalkeepers. She is a vital member of Kansas City's team because of her consistent play, leadership, and decisive performances throughout her career. During her introduction, head coach Vlatko Andonovski used a lot of adjectives: "Lorena has proven to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the highest levels." This only show...

On Boxing Day, the Premier League made a spectacular comeback with eight exciting games. With a 3-1 comeback victory over struggling Leicester City, Arne Slot's Liverpool can now enjoy a seven-point advantage at the top of the Premier League standings. André Ayew's close-range goal in the seventh minute gave the Foxes an early lead after an unexpected start on Merseyside, but Ruud van Nistelrooy's team was unable to build on any momentum before the Reds gained control. Dutch international Cody Gakpo curled his shot into the top corner to tie the score at one all after Mohamed Salah struck the bar in the last minutes immediately before extra time. In the 49th minute, Alexis Mac Allister's cut-back (his second assist of the evening) put the England midfielder within the six-yard box, setting Slot's team up for an eighth straight Boxing Day victory. Curtis Jones then scored from close range with a skillful touch to give Liverpool the lead. Less than eight minutes f...

Tonight, the Blues might trail Liverpool by seven points. After losing to Fulham at home in the west London derby, Chelsea lost the opportunity to get closer to the top of the Premier League standings. Cole Palmer's incredible strike in the first fifteen minutes of Boxing Day appeared to be the difference for a long time, but Enzo Maresca's team lost by giving up two goals in the last ten minutes, leaving them four points behind Liverpool. The Italian strategist made only one change to the team that began the goalless draw away at Everton before Christmas, instantly recalling Marc Cucurella after his suspension to take Axel Disasi's spot in the Blues' defense. Palmer delivered the only truly outstanding moment of the first half when he calmly stroked the ball into the back of the net after receiving it from Levi Colwill and squirming past a few defenders. Cucurella should have extended the lead before halftime, but Bernd Leno saved his header. Palmer was then denie...

This week, Omar El Hilali, a star for Espanyol, disclosed that he had previously turned down the club's fiercest rivals' offers in Barcelona. For his part, defender El Hilali has so far had a successful campaign. The youthful player, who started all but one of Espanyol's La Liga games, has actually made a name for himself as one of the first names on manager Manolo González's team sheet thanks to his position at right-back. However, as previously mentioned, if circumstances had been somewhat different, such brilliance might have been displayed in the colors of one of the top teams in Spanish football. El Hilali stated last week in an interview with Diario AS, which Mundo Deportivo quoted, that when he was a young player, he rejected Barcelona's offers in favor of Espanyol: "I had the option to choose between Barça and Espanyol, and I decided on Espanyol because I felt that was the only option and because my family thought it was the best option for me—it w...

With the announcement that captain and now-famous forward Iago Aspas would be staying with the team, Celta Vigo handed their supporters perhaps the greatest Christmas gift they could have asked for. The 37-year-old signed a new contract that keeps him there until the end of 2026, but his previous one expired next summer. For the supporters at Balaidos, who have watched Aspas participate in their European runs and save them from numerous relegations in extreme sports, he has become a Messiah. Aspas, who has appeared in 16 of Claudio Giraldez's 17 Liga games this season, is still a key member of the team. He has six goals and three assists in those appearances, 13 of which have been starts. He is frequently the Galicians' center of invention, and despite his advanced age, he still has the midas touch in front of goal. However, the fact that Giraldez was benched against Real Sociedad and Celta still won shows that he has reduced the team's dependency on Aspas.

We haven't seen a three-way Serie A title contest in a long time. It appears that the Scudetto run-in this season will be extremely close. As the calendar year finale approaches, the top three are separated by just three points. Many fans utilize online betting sites to assess the odds in what looks to be one of the most exciting title chases in recent Serie A history because of the extremely narrow margins at stake. Atalanta and Napoli are still very much in the running for the title, together with the defending champions and clear favorites Inter. Gian Piero Gasperini's team could, in fact, conclude the year as the leaders. But in their final 2024 match, they have to defeat Lazio, another top-four challenger. Napoli would be able to take the lead if Atalanta were to suffer a setback at Stadio San Siro. Antonio Conte's team is just two points behind La Dea going into their seemingly straightforward home matchup with relegation-threatened Venezia. Third-place Inter has ...

Real Betis, a team in La Liga, is negotiating a contract to sign Arthur Melo from Juventus for next month. According to Juve transfer expert Mirko Di Natale, who gave an update on the most recent happenings behind the scenes at the Estadio Benito Villamarín on Tuesday, that is the case. In anticipation of the second half of the campaign, it is generally believed that Real Betis' management is searching for reinforcements in the middle of the park. This occurs in the midst of Manuel Pellegrini's team's chronic injury issue. During their quest, the name of the aforementioned Arthur Melo—who, of course, has prior La Liga experience with Barcelona—has long been prominent at Betis. At Juventus, the Brazilian is currently very unpopular and is not part of Thiago Motta's plans. According to Mirko Di Natale, the board at Benito Villamarín is aggressively negotiating a contract with Juventus, which might mean that Arthur could be on the verge of a loan move in January.

A number of well-known Bundesliga players are nearing the end of their contracts as January draws near. Here are the top 10 Bundesliga players who are currently scheduled to become free agents in the summer of 2025, ranked by value according to Transfer market: 10. Hoffenheim's Jacob Bruun Larsen Value at market: €6 million The former Borussia Dortmund player has played more and produced some outstanding performances since Christian Ilzer became coach of Hoffenheim. It's still unclear if he will sign a new deal with Hoffenheim or move on to another team. 9. FC Bayern's Thomas Müller Value at market: €6 million The Bayern veteran has not yet stated if he will sign a new short-term deal with the team he has played for his whole career. Alternatively, if he chooses to further his career, a transfer to the MLS might be an option. 8. Wolfsburg's Ridle Baku (Value at market: €7,000,000) For some time now, there have been rumors that Baku, who can play both right-back and r...

Next season will see a significant upheaval in women's European football as the Champions League is being restructured and a new tournament called the Europa Cup is introduced. The modifications represent a major shift for the women's game and mirror the format of the men's European tournaments, which were also redesigned at the beginning of the current season. The Europa Cup gives clubs all over the continent another chance to compete on the biggest stage, while the UEFA Women's Champions League, which was first known as the UEFA Women's Cup in the 2001–02 season, will take on a new format that intends to increase its competitiveness. The updated format of each competition, the important changes fans should be aware of, and the dates that fans should put on their calendars for the 2025–2026 season are all examined in further detail in 90min. Format of the Women's Champions League The Champions League's group stage structure will be replaced by an 18-team ...