The biggest story of the transfer window was undoubtedly Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool, but West Ham United had their own saga going on.

For a moment in time, it looked like Lucas Paqueta might have been leaving the club, with Aston Villa reportedly keen to sign him.

However, to the delight of the fans, the Brazilian maestro made it abundantly clear in his celebration against Nottingham Forest that he had no intention of leaving.

The former Lyon ace has been a brilliant player for the Hammers, although they did once come close to signing an upgrade who is now worth more than Isak.

Paqueta's West Ham career

It would be fair to say that since joining the club for around £51m in the summer of 2022, Paqueta hasn’t always had the easiest time of it at West Ham.

However, when you discount the off-pitch issues, it’s impossible to deny that he’s been more than worth the investment the Hammers initially made in him.

For example, despite playing under several different managers and in various systems, the 28-year-old has amassed an impressive tally of 21 goals and 14 assists in 124 games.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.54 games, and, crucially, he produced five goal involvements in the club’s historic Conference League winning campaign.

In all, Paqueta remains one of the most talented players in West Ham’s squad, and someone who could make all the difference for them in what could still be a tough season.

Yet, things could have been very different, as just a couple of years ago, the club came close to signing someone who would have been a significant upgrade, someone now worth more than Isak.

The Paqueta upgrade West Ham almost signed

All clubs have their own list of star players they’ve missed out on over the years, and West Ham is obviously no different.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast’s One That Got Away series.

However, there are some players who are worse to miss out on than others, and that is certainly the case for Cole Palmer.

Yes, according to David Moyes, the Hammers were very “close” to getting the former Manchester City gem before his move to Chelsea, but the deal broke down, in part because Paqueta’s potential move to City fell apart.

It would have been an utterly sensational signing for the East Londoners, for good as the Brazilian is, the Englishman would be an upgrade.

For example, since moving to Stamford Bridge, the “world-class” superstar, as dubbed by Pat Nevin, has scored 43 goals and provided 29 assists in 98 appearances, totalling 7950 minutes.

Appearances

98

124

Minutes

7950′

9340′

Goals

43

21

Assists

29

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

0.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

110.41′

266.85′

That means he’s averaged a goal involvement every 1.36 games, or every 110.41 minutes, with the West Londoners, which is an outrageous rate of return.

Unsurprisingly, his out-of-this-world ability has seen his valuation skyrocket over the last couple of years, and according to the CIES Football Observatory, he is now worth up to 164m, which is about £142m, or £18m more than Liverpool paid for Isak.

Ultimately, there is no point crying over spilt milk, but we can’t help but think West Ham would be in a better position today had they secured a deal for Palmer two years ago.

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

Purple Cap table

Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans (GT) took one wicket on Sunday to get to 21 wickets, and CSK’s Noor Ahmad joined him there after returning 1 for 42 from three overs against RR. For Noor, though, such expensive figures was of no help, as he continued to remain behind Prasidh on the table with an inferior economy rate as well as average. Prasidh is going at 7.85 and 17.57, while Noor’s corresponding figures are 8.41 and 18.42.Josh Hazlewood, who hasn’t played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since April 27 and may or may not play a role in the remainder of the tournament as he recovers from a shoulder injury, is still in third place with 18 wickets. But Trent Boult could go past him and close in on the table-toppers when Mumbai Indians (MI) play Delhi Capitals (DC) tonight, though there is rain around and the game could be affected.

Orange Cap table

Suryakumar Yadav will get a chance to close in on the top three on the Orange Cap list if the MI vs DC game goes ahead, and goes ahead for long enough. He is at No. 4 currently with 510 runs, but the table-topper, GT’s B Sai Sudharsan, is over 100 runs away with 617, and second-placed Shubman Gill is also quite a distance away from Suryakumar with 610 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 36 in 19 balls in RR’s win over CSK, is at third with 559 runs.Also in action tonight will be KL Rahul, the DC batting frontman, but he is further behind Suryakumar at No. 7 with 493 runs.Here’s what ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table looks like.And here are some other IPL 2025 tables that show the season’s best performers in different aspects of the T20 game.

• Highest batting strike rates
• Best bowling economy rates
• Most sixes
• Best bowling figures in a match

MatériaMais Notícias

O ex-treinador da base do São Paulo, Alex de Souza, fez uma revelação sobre uma das grandes promessas do clube. Segundo Alex, na época na qual ainda comandava a base tricolor, Pablo Maia chegou a ser listado como o primeiro na lista de dispensa de Cotia. Hoje, é uma das principais peças do elenco profissional.

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Alex ainda revelou que, mesmo que não saiba quem foi o autor desta lista, sempre se admirou com a postura de capitão que o volante tinha na base. De acordo com o ex-técnico, aconteceu uma espécie de eleição para saber quem seria o capitão da equipe. De 38 votos, Pablo Maia recebeu 35.

– O primeiro da lista de dispensa era o Pablo Maia. Não sei quem fez o relatório. Do Pablo, tem uma história muito boa. Nós fomos fazer uma eleição de quem ia ser o capitão da equipe. De 38 votos, ele teve 35. Aí eu falei: ‘como é que pode ter 35 votos? – contou ao “Resenha ESPN”.

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– Aí eu pedi para escalarem de 1 a 11. Quando tinha pra escalar, ele não entrava muito. Mas para ser capitão era ele ou o Luizão. Eu falava: ‘Pô, os caras desconfiam dele’. Sei lá, tecnicamente jogando. Aí a gente vendo treinar, trabalhar, moleque fez um ano maravilhoso e agora está colhendo o que plantou a vida toda porque trabalha demais – completou.

Pablo Maia subiu para o profissional no último ano, logo no Campeonato Paulista. Em 2022, chegou até mesmo a ser eleito como a revelação do estadual. Com dois anos no elenco principal, conseguiu se tornar um dos principais nomes da equipe, praticamente titular absoluto da posição. Inclusive, Pablo Maia chegou a entrar até mesmo na mira de clubes da Europa, como o West Ham.

In January 2023, when Anthony Gordon forced his way out and signed for Newcastle United in a £45m deal, Everton supporters were livid.

The Toffees were in the throes of a relegation battle, after all, and Gordon was one of their own, handed his big break after graduating from the academy and featuring 65 times in the Premier League for the club before buying a one-way ticket to Tyneside.

It was a blow, but Everton staved off relegation, and then, in 2024, welcomed Iliman Ndiaye to the fold from Marseille in a £15m deal, and that has certainly proved to add flair and potency to the flanks.

No player scored more goals than the Senegalese winger last season, whose combination of pace and skills quickly established him as a fan favourite. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp marvelled that he brought a “dynamite” style to Goodison Park, while analyst Ben Mattinson noted that he “could play for any Premier League side”.

Everton Top Scorers 24/25 (all comps)
Player	Apps	Goals
Iliman Ndiaye	37	11
Beto	34	10
Dwight McNeil	24	5
Abdoulaye Doucoure	31	4
Dominic Calvert-Lewin	26	3
Michael Keane	31	3
Data via FBref

Any frustration around Gordon has long since passed, but this football club have a deep connection with their academy ranks, and might find a new homegrown hero, having welcomed a few to the senior stage over the years.

Everton's best academy graduates

Where else to start but with Wayne Rooney? One of the Premier League’s all-time greats, Rooney was handed his professional debut by Moyes during the manager’s iconic first tenure on Merseyside, starting with a bang and then signing for Manchester United for £30m when he was still only 18.

How the Toffees would like their next version of the Three Lions legend to join their ranks from Finch Farm.

There have been more, Leon Osman being a case in point. The 44-year-old was more of an unsung hero, a versatile midfielder, but he racked up 433 appearances for Everton and served dutifully for Moyes during his first term in office.

Ross Barkley was slated as Rooney’s natural successor, so impressive was his start to life at Goodison Park. Barkley came and went, and then Gordon did too, but Everton still seek their next big star from the youth ranks.

And though such talents are few and far between, Moyes might have a versatile attacking talent at his disposal who might even cause Jack Grealish to cast a glance over his shoulder.

Braiden Graham could be a star for Moyes

Grealish has made quite the start to his new career on Merseyside, having joined on loan from Manchester City this summer after falling from grace at the Etihad.

Four assists from as many matches and the Premier League Player of the Month award to boot emphasise just how impressive a start to this new chapter it has been for Grealish, so much so that he has moved Ndiaye out onto the right flank, a role he performed just once last season, and three times already in 2025/26.

It would take a special talent indeed to displace the silky Three Lions star, but Everton might just have such a player rising to the fore in 17-year-old Braiden Graham, who completed a move from Linfield in Ireland to Everton in July 2024, when he was only 16.

It would take only a couple of months for Graham to earn his first professional contract, proving to Everton his capacity to score and to assist across a number of attacking berths after ex-Linfield boss David Healy hailed his “incredible” potential.

Braiden Graham: Everton Stats by Position
Position	Apps	Goals (assists)
Attacking midfield	8	6 (1)
Centre-forward	5	2 (2)
Left winger	4	3 (1)
Right winger	2	1 (0)
Centre-midfield	2	0 (0)
Stats via Transfermarkt

He scored eight goals across only 12 matches in the U18 Premier League last season, assisting two goals too, thus earning a promotion to the Premier League 2, nestled right underneath the big time.

At 17, he wouldn’t have been expected to offer more than support as he cut his teeth among older hopefuls, but eight games later, the Irish talent had five goals and an assist to his name. All told, 13 goals in all competitions last year saw him rise above Ndiaye as Everton’s top goalscorer, albeit at a lower level.

The fanfare is real, and Moyes will no doubt be interested in handing him a senior shot this season, perhaps in a domestic cup against lesser opposition, should the opportunity arise.

The right-footed teenager is still working out his best position, but he seems at his most fluent and dangerous when coming off the left flank and into the danger area, fearless on the ball and endowed with natural strength and balance.

His physical development continues to be the biggest hurdle yet to be leapt over, but that’s only natural given his age. Praised as “a good finisher” by Everton U21 boss Paul Tait, that advantage in goalscoring could see him offer something excitingly different to Grealish, who has never really been clinical in front of goal.

Grealish appears to be the cream of the crop right now, but Everton have got a whole load of creative forces who weren’t there af few years back.

What still appears lacking is a range of goalscoring threats. Up top, Beto currently lacks the clinical edge that comes to him in bursts, and Thierno Barry is unrefined within the English game.

Graham is a player who has the lot: goals, assists, pace, power, smarts. Whether he can transfer his youthful flair to the senior stage remains to be seen, but there’s little question that if he keeps going from strength to strength, he will come knocking on the 29-year-old Grealish’s door, with sights set on claiming that left-sided spot and adding a new dimension to Everton’s frontline.

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Wales and Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow hopes to end his Wembley heartache against England – the country he once wanted to represent.

The Leeds stopper has twice been denied playing under the Wembley arch by red tape, at Newport in 2012 and in the 2023 Carabao Cup final for Newcastle.

Darlow was on loan from Nottingham Forest when he missed out on Newport’s FA Trophy final against York. The Exiles had failed to sign the then 21-year-old before the international clearance deadline and subsequently lost an appeal, claiming a paperwork delay was not their fault.

Over a decade later, Newcastle were unable to recall Darlow from a loan spell at Hull after Nick Pope had been ruled out of a Wembley date against Manchester United.

“I’ve been slightly unfortunate and it would be nice to finally tick it (Wembley) off the list.” Darlow said ahead of Wales’ friendly with England on Thursday.

“The Newport one was on the morning of the final. They were still waiting on confirmation and the manager Justin Edinburgh was optimistic it was going to be done.

“In the end I wasn’t even allowed to be part of the matchday squad and I watched the game in the stands. I’m 35 on Wednesday, so it’s been a long time coming.

“It’s one of the biggest and the best stadiums in the world. As a footballer you want to be playing in the biggest stadiums and testing yourself on that level.”

Darlow’s grandfather Ken Leek was a member of the 1958 Wales World Cup squad that reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

Darlow once wanted to represent England over Wales

But Darlow was born in Northampton and grew up with aspirations to represent England, saying in a previous interview there “would be no bigger achievement”.

Having rejected previous attempts from Wales managers to get him on board, Craig Bellamy persuaded him to join up last year and he has since established himself as the number one goalkeeper and won eight caps.

Darlow enters the international break – Wales also play a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff on Monday – having started Leeds’ last four Premier League games.

He has taken over the gloves from the injured Lucas Perri and been in fine form, with one of his stops at Fulham nominated for September’s Premier League Save of the Month award.

“If you’re drip-fed a game here and a game there, it’s tough,” said Darlow.

“You like to get into a rhythm of playing week in, week out and knowing you can prepare properly for each and every single game

“It’s a massive plus that I’ve had a run of games now.”

The BCCI also announced back-to-back India A series at home against Australia A and South Africa A later this year

ESPNcricinfo staff29-May-2025Australia will tour India for a three-match ODI series in mid-September as part of both teams’ “crucial preparation” for the women’s ODI World Cup, scheduled to be played in India from late September.The matches will be played at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), the BCCI said in a statement on Thursday, on September 14, 17 and 20. The World Cup is scheduled to begin on September 29.India, the hosts, and Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka had earned direct entry into the World Cup, while Bangladesh and Pakistan got there after topping a qualifying event in Pakistan earlier this year.Pakistan’s matches at the World Cup, however, are likely to be played at a neutral venue in accordance with the BCCI-PCB agreement made earlier this year before the Champions Trophy. The PCB was the host of that tournament, but all India matches, including the one against Pakistan, were played in Dubai.Australia, South Africa men’s ‘A’ teams to visit IndiaIndia A, now in England to play two four-day matches against England Lions and then a four-day fixture against the main India Test team ahead of the five-match England vs India Test series, will have more cricket in September, October and November when Australia A and South Africa A visit.Australia A will visit first and play two four-day games – starting September 16 and 23 – and three one-dayers, on September 30, October 3 and October 5. After a gap, South Africa A will play a similar set of matches, two four-dayers, starting November 2 and November 9, and three one-dayers, on November 13, 16 and 19.The four-dayers between the Indians and Australians would be played in Lucknow, and the one-dayers in Kanpur, while all the India A vs South Africa A games would be played in Bengaluru. The two four-dayers are scheduled to be played at the BCCI’s new Centre of Excellence (formerly the National Cricket Academy), making these the first competitive matches to be played at the facility.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has announced the sacking of former Barcelona legend Patrick Kluivert from his role as head coach. The decision follows Indonesia’s 1-0 loss to Iraq, which saw them finish bottom of their World Cup qualifying group and eliminated from contention for next year's competition. Kluivert stepped into the role in January, but has been sacked alongside the rest of his coaching staff.

• Indonesia confirm Kluivert sacking

  In an official statement, the PSSI announced the sacking of their entire coaching staff. This includes senior team coach Kluivert, along with his assistants Alex Pastoor and Danny Landzaat. The statement also confirmed the dismissal of Dutch nationals Gerald Vanenburg, coach of the Indonesia U-23 squad, and Frank van Kempen, coach of the Indonesia U-20 team. The coaching staff had signed two-year contracts in January, but Indonesia’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup led to their premature dismissal in a strategic decision. 

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• AFP
  

  Ex-striker fails to qualify for World Cup

  Indonesia were placed in a group in the Asian World Cup qualifiers alongside Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with each team playing the others once. They lost 3-2 to Saudi Arabia, while Iraq beat them 1-0. As a result, Indonesia finished bottom of the group, with Saudi Arabia qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup and Iraq advancing to the play-offs. Under Kluivert, Indonesia played eight games, recording three wins, one draw and four losses.

• Ex-striker's playing days and coaching career

  A member of Ajax’s golden generation in the 1990s, Kluivert won the Eredivisie and Champions League in the 1994-95 season under manager Louis van Gaal. He later joined Barcelona, forming a lethal partnership with Rivaldo and helping the club retain the 1998-99 La Liga title. After spells with Newcastle United and PSV, he retired at Lille. Kluivert also served as assistant coach at Australian side Brisbane Roar under Ange Postecoglou and later with the Netherlands national team under Van Gaal in 2014. In 2025, he replaced South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong as head coach of the Indonesian national team.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What next?

  Kluivert will look to put the setback of his Indonesian sacking behind him and aims to return to the dugout as soon as possible.

Celtic have endured a frustrating few weeks on the pitch, which has included four goalless draws in all competitions for Brendan Rodgers and his players.

They were held to 0-0 draws in regulation time of both legs of their Champions League qualifying clash with Kairat, to a 0-0 draw in the Old Firm match, and a 0-0 draw in the most recent game against Hibernian.

As shown in the highlights above, Celtic missed a host of huge chances to open the scoring in front of their own fans at Parkhead, with Kelechi Iheanacho, in particular, wasteful in front of goal.

Scoring goals is not the only issue that the Hoops have had this season, though, because they have also failed to find a suitable alternative to captain Callum McGregor.

The 32-year-old defensive midfielder has started ten of his 11 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership champions, per Transfermarkt, and played 931 minutes.

This shows that Rodgers has not found an alternative to the skipper who can step in and allow the veteran midfielder to rest and recharge ahead of important matches.

Why Celtic need an alternative to Callum McGregor

The Hoops need to find a player who can be a viable option in the number six position because the wear and tear on McGregor’s legs was evident in the recent 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League.

Celtic’s captain had played almost an hour against a lower league outfit in the League Cup in the game before the trip to Serbia, having played 300 minutes in the three matches before that, per Sofascore.

Minutes

90

Pass accuracy

98%

Defensive ground duels won

2/6

Aerial duels won

0/1

Tackles won

1

Dribbled past

1x

Fouls committed

2

The result, as you can see in the table above, was that McGregor looked a little bit off the pace against the Serbian giants, losing five of his seven defensive duels on the ground and in the air.

His passing, as usual, was almost immaculate, completing 98% of his attempted passes, but he lacked the mobility and energy to win the majority of his physical duels, which is a cause for concern heading into the rest of the league phase in Europe.

The former Scotland international is a crucial player for the Hoops and keeping him fresh and ready to give his all in the Europa League matches could improve his performances and increase the team’s chances of picking up more points on the European stage.

Johnny Hayes described the left-footed maestro as a “priceless” and “irreplaceable” player earlier this season, but the Hoops are now looking at a star who could solve the McGregor conundrum.

Celtic eyeing surprise move for free agent

According to journalist Mark Hendry’s Substack report, Celtic are considering a surprise move to sign free agent central midfielder Pierre Ekwah, despite not being linked with any midfield signings since the window slammed shut.

The outlet claims that the Hoops have been offered the chance to sign the French midfield maestro after his contract with Saint-Etienne was ripped up at the end of the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Celtic already took advantage of a similar situation when they signed Kelechi Iheanacho the day after the transfer window slammed shut, thanks to Sevilla ripping his deal up on deadline day.

Ekwah, like Iheanacho was before his move to Parkhead, is now free and available to sign for a new club. Mark Hendry’s report states that he has been offered to both Celtic and Rangers as an option.

The Scottish Premiership champions are now considering whether or not to take up the option to bring the left-footed star to Parkhead on a freebie, but they should push to get a deal done because he could be a dream alternative to McGregor.

Why Celtic should sign Pierre Ekwah

Celtic should be bringing Ekwah in on a free transfer because it is a low-risk move that could pay off big time in the long run, given that he is a player who has already proven himself in a major European league.

The 23-year-old star impressed in Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne in the 2024/25 campaign on loan from Sunderland, but decided to move on from the French club after they were relegated to Ligue 2 and activated their obligation to sign him permanently.

Ekwah seemingly was not keen on playing in the second division in France, hence his exit at the start of September, and that is not a surprise when you consider how well he performed last season in spite of his club’s relegation.

Appearances

29

Pass accuracy

88%

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.6

Error led to goal

0

Duel success rate

57%

Duels won per game

5.0

Aerial duel success rate

71%

As you can see in the table above, the former West Ham United youngster won the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air, whilst remaining reliable and composed in possession with a pass accuracy of 88%.

Ekwah ranked within the top 11% of midfielders in Ligue 1 for duels won (145), the top 17% for tackles won (57), the top 3% for interceptions (47), and the top 8% for ball recoveries (157), per FotMob.

These statistics show that the left-footed star is a mobile defensive enforcer in the number six role. He can get around the pitch to dominate opposition players in duels, whilst being reliable with the ball at his feet on top of that.

The free agent midfielder, who was described as a “powerful” player by journalist and Sunderland fan Josh Bunting, could be the perfect alternative to McGregor to provide the skipper with some time off in domestic matches ahead of European ties.

Rodgers could play Ekwah from the start in league or cup matches before Europa League games, which Ekwah would be ineligible for, to make sure that McGregor is fully fit and raring to go in the big European matches.

At the age of 23, the French star is also nine years younger than the captain and could be the long-term successor to his place in the team, which is another reason why this free agent move could be a shrewd piece of business by the club.

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Overall, Celtic must move quickly to beat Rangers to Ekwah’s signature because his arrival at Parkhead could solve the McGregor conundrum at the base of the midfield.

Barcelona treasurer Ferran Olive has conceded that the club are "late" in rebuilding Camp Nou, admitting that the long-overdue renovation should have been started long ago. His comments came as Barca president Joan Laporta hailed the Spotify Camp Nou project as the "collective dream" of the club's fans, calling it a legacy that future generations will inherit.

Barcelona inching closer to Camp Nou return

Barcelona have officially received the green light to reopen the Camp Nou after months of delays, with the city council approving the Phase 1A occupancy permit that allows 27,000 spectators inside the renovated stadium. However, the club have opted to remain at the Lluis Companys in Montjuic for now, prioritising financial logic over nostalgia. According to club sources, it makes little sense to return to a partially reopened Camp Nou when Montjuic's larger capacity currently yields higher matchday revenue.

The decision comes amid a crucial period for Barcelona's Espai Barca project, which continues to be one of the most ambitious infrastructural undertakings in European football. The club plans to eventually host 47,000 fans under Phase 1B, a step that would also allow UEFA approval for Champions League matches at the new stadium. Vice President Elena Fort has suggested that a grand return could coincide with the club’s 126th anniversary in late November, calling it "an ideal moment" for the homecoming.

While many supporters were disappointed by the extended stay at Montjuic, the board insists that patience now will lead to much greater financial and sporting stability in the long term. The delay also allows more time for structural checks and technical validation of the renovated areas, ensuring the safety and quality standards required by both local and European authorities.

AdvertisementAFPCamp Nou should have been rebuilt 'years ago'

Barcelona treasurer Olive acknowledged during the General Assembly that the club had left it far too long to modernise its iconic home: "We should have built this stadium years ago; we're late. And we're doing it so we can compete with the best clubs in the world. We have €175 million ($204m) in stadium revenue [for 2024-25], and without doing anything, without building a new stadium, we'd be at €250m ($291m)[at Camp Nou], but we can reach €400m ($466m)wtih the new stadium."

It underlines the project's vital role in the club's economic recovery. His remarks echoed those of  president Laporta, who described the new Spotify Camp Nou as a symbol of both unity and ambition.

"Spotify Camp Nou…it is the collective dream of Barcelona fans and the legacy that future generations will have," Laporta said. "We have had the courage to reactivate this project that had been put on hold. The members have to see this dream come true and have to live it. We have worked tirelessly to obtain the permits from the city council that would allow us to return to the stadium. This permit arrived and I would like to extend a warm congratulations."

Both Olive and Laporta reinforced that Espai Barca is about more than bricks and revenue, rather a statement of identity. The new stadium is intended not only to compete financially with Europe's elite, but also to preserve the club's essence by keeping the heart of FC Barcelona rooted in its historic home.

Controversies surrounding Camp Nou financing

The Espai Barca project, valued at nearly €1 billion ($1.17bn), has been one of the most scrutinised initiatives in Barcelona's modern history. Its construction contract was controversially awarded to Turkish firm Limak, despite the company reportedly scoring lowest in a technical evaluation against Spanish competitors Ferrovial and FCC. Limak's proposal demanded an upfront payment of roughly €200m ($233m) compared to just €12m ($14m) from other bidders, raising concerns about transparency and long-term financing. Club officials have since defended the decision, stating that Limak's plan best met the deadlines imposed by UEFA and the local government for completion.

The goal remains to transform Spotify Camp Nou into a state-of-the-art football and entertainment complex capable of generating consistent revenue year-round. The finished structure will serve as the crown jewel of the Espai Barca ecosystem, which also includes a new Palau Blaugrana arena and improved training facilities.

Off the pitch, Barcelona have strengthened their commercial backbone through an extended partnership with Spotify. The renewed agreement keeps the streaming giant as the club's primary sponsor until 2030 and extends naming rights for the stadium until 2034, ensuring consistent income during the reconstruction phase. The collaboration has been hailed as a perfect fusion of football and global entertainment culture.

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Getty Images SportWhen will Barcelona actually return to Camp Nou?

With the city council's Phase 1A permit secured, Barcelona are now focused on receiving the more expansive Phase 1B approval, which would allow 47,000 fans to attend matches at the renovated Camp Nou. Club vice president Elena Fort remains optimistic, stressing that the process is mainly administrative and that the works themselves are already complete.

Once approved, the club's long-awaited return could coincide with a marquee fixture around its November anniversary. Financially, the coming months will be decisive. The club aims to capitalise on future stadium revenues, expected to jump from €175m to as much as €400m annually once the venue is fully operational. That increase could be transformative for Barcelona, who are still recovering from years of financial turmoil and strict La Liga spending controls.

Chelsea have received plenty of stick over the last few years for their transfer policy.

While some of that criticism is certainly justified – every team gets things wrong – much of it isn’t.

While they aren’t the finished article, Enzo Maresca now has a squad full to bursting with exciting young talents, and he’s only going to get his hands more ahead of next season.

Chelsea have already secured the services of several brilliant prospects set to join the side at the end of the season, including one who has been compared to Erling Haaland of all people, and no, it’s not Joao Pedro or Liam Delap.

Players set to join Chelsea in the summer

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting gems set to join Chelsea next summer, like Brazilian left-back Denner.

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The Blues agreed to sign the young Corinthians gem in March of this year, but due to him not turning 18 until next February, he has had to stay in his homeland.

Described as a “marauding LB with so much quality in the final third” by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be used as backup for Marc Cucurella or sent back out on loan – either way, it’s an exciting addition.

Moving up the pitch to the attack, and to a youngster who looks set to be a star for years to come, Geovany Quenda.

The West Londoners agreed a deal to sign the 18-year-old the same month they signed Denner, but while the Brazilian is thought to have cost around £11m, the Sporting CP prospect could end up costing as much as £40m.

The frankly absurd price tag – for someone his age – is a reflection of just how highly-rated the dynamic winger is, with Mattinson describing him as “relentless” and “highly unpredictable.”

Despite still being so young, the Bissau-born gem has already made 64 senior appearances for the Lisbon outfit, in which he’s scored four goals and provided 12 assists.

However, while these two players will likely need time to adapt next year, there is another attacking addition that will be arriving in the summer, someone a few years older, someone who has been compared to Haaland.

The Chelsea player compared to Haaland

For a young striker to be compared to the otherworldly goal machine that is Haaland, they’ve got to be something quite special.

Fortunately for Chelsea, Emanuel Emegha, who is set to join the squad in the summer, looks to be quite the special forward.

The comparison to the Norwegian powerhouse comes from FBref, which examines all forwards across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League.

In this instance, it has been concluded that the Manchester City striker is the fourth most similar forward to the Dutchman.

You can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by examining some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely.

Emegha & Haaland

Statistics per 90

Emegha

Haaland

Non-Penalty G+As

1.59

1.61

Goals per Shot

0.20

0.29

Key Passes

0.80

0.71

Passes into the Final Third

0.80

0.71

Carries into Penalty Area

1.20

1.07

All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Campaign

These metrics include key attacking statistics like non-penalty goals plus assists, goals per shot, key passes, passes into the final third, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Now, while they share some key statistical similarities with one another, nobody is going to claim that the Strasbourg player will be as prolific for the Blues as the Norwegian is for City.

However, that’s not to see he’s a slouch in front of goal either.

For example, in 29 appearances last season, the “simply phenomenal” gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 14 goals and provided three assists, and then this season, he’s put the ball in the back of the net four times and provided two assists in just six games.

Ultimately, while it remains to be seen how he fares in the Premier League, Chelsea look set to secure a brilliant goalscorer in Emegha.

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