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Snoop Dogg is reportedly set to make his first appearance at a Swansea game when a derby date with Welsh rivals Wrexham is taken in. The Red Dragons are co-owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynold and Rob Mac, who have made a habit of inviting celebrity guests to EFL fixtures down the years. Rap icon Snoop is now poised to make his bow with the Swans, having become a minority stakeholder.

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  Star investors: Snoop & Modric involved with Swansea

  The legendary musician bought into the Swans back in July. He then helped to front the launch of the club’s home kit for 2025-26, with his global appeal being put to good use. Snoop is not the only familiar face to figure on Swansea’s board, with Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric – who is now with AC Milan after severing ties with Real Madrid – another with financial ties to the Championship outfit.

  Modric is otherwise engaged at present prolonging his playing career in Italy at 40 years of age, making trips to South Wales difficult. Snoop is, however, finding space in his schedule to take in that journey. The 53-year-old is a big sports fan and has previously been spotted at NBA matches and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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• Derby date: When Swansea face Wrexham in the Championship

  Another change of scenery is about to be taken in, with Swans star Liam Cullen revealing that Snoop is due in Wales for the most glamorous of fixtures. There is no word on whether Reynolds and Mac will be joining him for a meeting between two geographical rivals.

  Cullen told the BBC when asked about Snoop’s ties to Swansea: “I've not seen him yet. I think he's actually coming over for the Wrexham game. That's what I've heard. So I'm looking forward to seeing him."

  Wrexham are due at the Swansea.com Stadium on December 19. Snoop could be on hand to deliver early Christmas presents, with Swans CEO Tom Gorringe having already talked up the commercial benefits that he brings to the club.

  Cullen added on embracing famous faces: “With the new investors in Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, it adds a few more eyes on the club, and with the investment there's a higher expectation now, which is good for us. It's a good thing to have the expectation of going and needing to do well.”

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  Snoop warning: Urged to remain behind the scenes

  Snoop’s son, Cordell C Broadus, has paid a visit to Swansea, taking in a 1-1 draw with Watford on August 23. He stopped by the dressing room to mingle with players and coaches, and his father has admitted that he is readying a “pep talk” for his trip to the United Kingdom.

  While Swansea are delighted to have Snoop involved, he has been urged not to interfere with team affairs. Experienced Welsh manager Tony Pulis has told sports betting site BetVictor: “Would I be pleased if someone like that came into a football club? Yeah, as long as they didn't poke their nose in and start picking the team and picking the players and picking the tactics, it'd be no issues to me.

  “I've met Luka Modric. What a wonderful, wonderful man. An absolutely fantastic player. Top, top player. And I mean a top, top player, but he's a fantastic lad as well. Having Luka around would be unbelievable. Snoop Dogg, I don't even know what he sings!”

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• Swansea target: Celebrity board brings added pressure

  Swansea have enjoyed a solid yet unspectacular start to the 2025-26 campaign. They have picked up 12 points from nine games that have delivered three wins, a trio of defeats and a few draws. They remain within three points of the play-off places in a congested Championship table – with Wrexham only two points behind them.

  Alan Sheehan is the coach charged with the task of generating positive results, with a permanent contract being passed his way after initially taking the reins on a caretaker basis in February. He is cutting his managerial teeth in a demanding division, with the presence of Snoop and Modric behind the scenes bringing with it added pressure. The Swans will return to action after the latest international break when taking in a trip to Southampton on October 18.

It is fair to say that Celtic and their recruitment team did not enjoy the deadline day that they were hoping for at the end of the summer transfer window on Monday night.

The Hoops went into Monday wanting two wingers and two centre-forwards to bolster their squad until at least January, but they were unable to get what they wanted.

Sebastian Tounekti joined the club on a permanent deal from Hammarby to add to Brendan Rodgers’ options in the wide areas, as a player who has predominantly played on the left wing in his career to date.

However, the Scottish Premiership champions did not add a single number nine to their squad before the window slammed shut, despite allowing Adam Idah to complete an initial £6m move to EFL Championship side Swansea City.

The Hoops were then forced to look at the free agent market to find a replacement for the Ireland international, and Kelechi Iheanacho arrived after his contract with Sevilla was ripped up on Monday night.

Celtic had to swoop for Iheanacho, who worked with Rodgers at Leicester, because they were unable to get a deal done for Kasper Dolberg before the deadline.

Why missing out on Dolberg was a blow for Celtic

The Scottish giants were linked with an interest in the Denmark international heading into the final days of the transfer window, but they failed to agree a deal with Anderlecht, and he went on to sign for Dutch side Ajax later in the week.

Reporter Stephen McGowan has since revealed that the transfer did not happen for several reasons: the club bid too low in their first attempt to sign him, the player was not sold on Celtic, the player was not too keen on Glasgow.

However it happened, missing out on a deal for Dolberg was a blow for the Hoops because he could have arrived at Parkhead as an upgrade on Idah for Rodgers.

The Danish marksman’s form for Anderlecht in the 2024/25 campaign suggested that he would have been a terrific signing for the club, hence why they were keen to bring him in in the first place.

As you can see in the table above, Dolberg scored five more goals than Idah at league level last season, with a greater conversion rate in front of goal, and performed better in his physical duels.

The 27-year-old centre-forward also scored five goals in nine games for Anderlecht at the start of the current campaign, per Transfermarkt, before he completed his permanent move to Ajax after Celtic failed to sign him.

This is why missing out on Dolberg was such a big blow for the Hoops, because the striker is in the prime years of his career and could have come in as a player who would have been ready to hit the ground running as an instant upgrade on what Rodgers previously had.

Instead, Celtic have had to take a risk signing Iheanacho on a free transfer, after the Nigeria international scored one goal in 24 league matches for Sevilla and Middlesbrough last season, per Sofascore.

In The Pipeline

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

Another risky move the manager could make would be to unleash a player from the B team who could potentially emerge as his own version of Dolberg – Rhys Dargie.

Why Celtic should give Rhys Dargie a chance

Whether it is in a League Cup match or off the bench in the Scottish Premiership, Rodgers should look to present the young attacker with a chance to prove his worth at first-team level.

Celtic are clearly in a difficult position with their strikers, given that they felt the need to sign Iheanacho as a free agent after the window slammed shut, but they have a talented goalscorer in their academy set-up who may have the potential to make an impact for Rodgers.

In July, Broxburn reporter Stu Mclellan described Dargie as “some talent” after his impressive performance in a 3-2 win for Celtic’s B team against Broxburn on the opening day of the Lowland League season.

The 18-year-old starlet is a versatile talent who can play centrally or out wide. Interestingly, Dolberg played on the right wing and as a striker at U19 level for Ajax in his academy days, per Transfermarkt, and this Celtic youngster could follow in his footsteps.

Dargie has shown impressive instincts in front of goal at youth level, as evidenced by his goal in the clip above. The teenage whiz reacted brilliantly in a central position to divert the ball into the back of the net from Jude Bonnar’s effort.

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic B star has a very impressive goalscoring record at youth level with 13 goals in 26 games since the start of last season.

In that time frame, Dargie averaged a goal every 123 minutes. Interestingly, Dolberg also averaged a goal every 123 minutes in all competitions for Anderlecht last term, with 24 goals in 2,963 minutes, per Transfermarkt.

This suggests that Celtic have a player in their academy who has the potential to be just as prolific as Dolberg if he can translate his form over to the first-team.

Although Dargie has played a lot of his football as a right-winger, the teenage talent’s goalscoring instincts suggest that the club could get the best out of him in the centre-forward position, particularly given his impressive goal return, which is the route that Dolberg also went down in the Ajax academy.

Worth more than Tierney: Ange struck gold for Celtic on "phenomenal" star

Celtic have hit the jackpot on this star who is now worth more than Kieran Tierney.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 6, 2025

Therefore, Rodgers could unearth his own version of Dolberg by boldly unleashing this impressive youngster as a striker for the first-team in the coming weeks.

Manchester City are already looking ahead to the January window and appear primed to commence talks with a prime target to strengthen their forward line.

Manchester City prepare to face Manchester United in derby clash

Despite their dominance in the fixture since 2010, Manchester City take on Manchester United this Sunday in a match that Pep Guardiola will be hoping to see a vast improvement from his side in following a poor Premier League start.

The Citizens’ opening day victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers delivered some early promise for supporters to work with, but back-to-back defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have left the club in an unusual position of 13th.

In what could be a potential baptism of fire for Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italy international has signalled his excitement to work under Guardiola and outlined his hopes to be a major part of future success at the Etihad Stadium.

“I think his history speaks for itself. The fact that he wanted me here is a reason to be proud of. It’s an indescribable emotion. Being coached by him I think is the best for a football player.

“I can’t wait to follow him and take to the pitch with him. I’m sure he will help me a lot and we will do great things together, this season as well as in the following years. As we said, it’s been an era of unbelievable success here.”

Looking ahead, January could be a big month at the club and Manchester City are reportedly plotting a mid-season move for Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo, though he isn’t the only high-profile star they are considering to add some inspiration to their forward line.

Manchester City preparing bid to sign Bradley Barcola

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are set to commence talks as they prepare to bid for Bradley Barcola in January, who has been identified as a target due to uncertainty over Savinho’s future at the Sky Blues.

Establishing himself as a key figure at Paris Saint-Germain, the France international is said to be valued at around £87 million and has registered 27 goals and 31 assists in 107 appearances across all competitions.

The report states Guardiola thinks Barcola could be key in the second half of the season alongside Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Jeremy Doku.

Liverpool battling Man Utd and Man City to sign towering Dutch defender

He could have a big future in the game.

By
Henry Jackson

Sep 9, 2025

Dubbed “one of the best dribblers in Europe” by Luis Enrique, he has already put that to the test this campaign, evading his marker four times and creating six chances in Ligue 1, per Fotmob.

Guardiola sees the arrival of Barcola as a priority to strengthen his frontline, which already includes the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Oscar Bobb and his versatility on both flanks is something that he feels would offer balance in the long-term.

Manchester City have enacted a notable squad refresh this summer and being able to secure another talented star with a high level of pedrigree would be a statement to their competitors across Europe.

Ahead of Benfica's presidential election, candidate Joao Diogo Manteigas claims Jose Mourinho, the club’s current manager, “is not a coach with a future” at the Lisbon side and already has his eyes set on managing the Portuguese national team. While acknowledging Mourinho’s winning mentality, Manteigas believes the veteran tactician’s ambitions go beyond Benfica.

• Mourinho’s short-term stint at Benfica raises questions

  The return of Mourinho to Benfica, 25 years after his brief debut stint, was seen as a monumental reunion between the club and one of Portugal’s greatest football minds. Appointed to replace Bruno Lage just over a month ago, Mourinho signed a two-year deal and immediately brought structure and belief back to the dressing room. But according to presidential candidate Manteigas, the 62-year-old coach’s heart might already be set elsewhere.

  Manteigas described Mourinho as a “winner capable of making Benfica champions this year,” but one who lacks long-term commitment to the club. “He’s not a coach with a future here,” Manteigas told Portuguese media, suggesting the veteran tactician is eyeing the Portugal national team job, a role he has long been linked with. “Everyone in football knows Mourinho wants to be the national team coach,” he added.

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  Manteigas on Mourinho’s motives

  As the presidential race intensifies at Benfica, Manteigas offered a candid take on Mourinho’s appointment. While acknowledging the manager’s pedigree and winning mentality, Manteigas made it clear that he believes the Portuguese's stay at the club will be short-lived.

  "Mourinho is a winning coach. If there's anyone capable of making Benfica champions this year, it's José Mourinho. He's such an experienced and successful coach that he'll be able to overcome obstacles faster than any other coach we'd want to bring into a project that isn't his," said Manteigas.

  "Mourinho isn't going to stay at Benfica for two, three, or four years. Who doesn't know that Mourinho wants to be the national team coach? Who doesn't know in the industry? The other candidates may not know, but those who work in the industry, who doesn't know that Mourinho spoke with Pedro Proença to discuss a possible appointment to the national team?"

• Why Mourinho’s future could lie with Portugal

  The speculation around Mourinho’s ambitions isn’t new. Even during his unveiling at Benfica, the manager admitted he always believed his return to Portugal would come through the national team rather than a club job. “I always thought I’d come back to the national team. I was thinking one day it will happen. I think it’s a natural consequence of my career,” Mourinho said after Benfica’s 3–0 victory over AVS in his first game back.

  Manteigas’s claim aligns with these comments, noting Mourinho’s contractual clause allowing either party to terminate the deal after this season with compensation. With Roberto Martínez’s future dependent on Portugal’s World Cup performance, Mourinho could be positioning himself for the next chapter.

  "If Mourinho had been interested in staying, he wouldn't have signed for one season, with this one-year clause, depending on whether one of the parties wants it or not. All contracts have timings. Therefore, I'm going to sit down with him and find out his terms, but I'll give him everything he needs to win this year," Manteigas said.

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  Election heat intensifies at Benfica

  Mourinho’s uncertain future adds another layer of intrigue to Benfica’s already charged presidential race, scheduled for October 25. The contest pits incumbent Rui Costa, the current president and the man who brought Mourinho back, against former challenger Joao Noronha Lopes, ex-president Luis Filipe Vieira, and candidates like Manteigas, Martim Mayer, and Cristovao Carvalho.

  Costa is running on a platform of stability and continuity, using Mourinho’s appointment as proof of progress, while Lopes promotes modernisation and fan engagement. Manteigas, however, is positioning himself as the candidate of honesty, arguing that Benfica must plan beyond Mourinho’s short-term stay and prepare for sustainable growth.

Vinicius Junior has issued a public apology to Real Madrid for his reaction after being substituted in the 2-1 win over Barcelona at the weekend. The Los Blancos star was hooked with fifteen minutes to go in El Clasico, prompting a furious reaction from the Brazilian, who appeared to ignore Xabi Alonso before heading straight down the tunnel. The 25-year-old has now shared his apologies for the moment, but gave no mention to his boss.

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  Vini Jr's public apology

  The Madrid winger stole the headlines during the huge win over title rivals Barca for his reaction to being hooked with time to spare at the Santiago Bernabeu. Vinicius headed straight down the tunnel before returning to the bench before full-time, but not before he could exchange some heated words with Alonso, who was stone-faced during the moment.

  Now, in a statement released on social media, Vinicius has cleared up the situation and apologised. He said on : "Today I want to apologize to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologize again to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

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• Alonso omitted from statement

  Notably, there is one man Vinicius seemingly forgot to mention in his apology statement, head coach Alonso. The Spaniard took the brunt of his players' fury on Sunday evening, all with a game still going on in front of him. By omitting him, the Brazil star is only going to ramp up speculation that their relationship is fractured, and that one, or both, could leave the club. 

  Fans were quick to latch on to the absence of Alonso in the apology. On X, @cruelkroos said: "And the apologies to the coach, where are they? Because he's the first one you owe them to."

  @maarcoloopez93 opted to back the player over the manager, adding: "Never apologize for having an inept coach It's not your fault."

  @MrGafan was on the same line, posting: "Much honor Vini. The change was terrorism and your reaction was perhaps disproportionate but apologies can only be made by those who truly feel things. No one doubts your madridismo. Keep it up."

  But the eagle-eyed @Petrelli86 was nother to notice the absence of Alonso's name, he towed the line of getting behind both. He said: "We love you, Vini. You're going to win the Ballon d'Or with Xabi, whom you haven't mentioned, by the way."

  Finally, @ahosani65 said: "What about the coach? Doesn’t he deserve an apology as well ??!!"

• Road to redemption?

  Vinicius' apology was the second in as many days after the 25-year-old attempted to explain the mass brawl that broke out between players during the derby. That time, he was apologising on behalf of Real Madrid as a whole for any young fans witnessing the ugly scenes. But in this post, the Los Blancos hero was holding his own hands up. It is a sign of his strong character to apologise despite the constant scrutiny on him both during games and away from the pitch. However, it still does not clear up the rumours of a strained relationship with Alonso, who currently has his side sitting top of La Liga.

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  Moving forwards in the capital

  Vinicius and Alonso will have to settle their differences if they are to compete for both domestic and European honours this season. They sit five points ahead of Barcelona after Sunday's win, and also find themselves in a strong position to compete for the Champions League. Next up is a clash at home to Valencia on Saturday, where fans will get the latest glimpse into the relationship between player and head coach.

Following a second defeat in a matter of days, Arne Slot is set to hand one player his Premier League debut against Chelsea in a game that must feature an improved performance from Liverpool.

Carragher: Time for Slot to "earn his money"

It’s a slump that looked on the cards as each late goal found the back of the net against Bournemouth, Arsenal, Southampton in the Carabao Cup and against Atletico Madrid, but it’s now one that the Reds must deal with before a panic turns into a crisis.

Liverpool star who's "on par with Salah & VVD" had his worst game under Slot

Liverpool endured a night to forget as they were beaten by Galatasaray in the Champions League.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 1, 2025

After suffering back-to-back defeats for just the second time under Slot, all eyes will be on Liverpool when they travel to Stamford Bridge this Saturday. Defeat would signal plenty of questions for those at Anfield, who Jamie Carragher believes are playing more like a basketball team than the defending Premier League champions that they are.

The Liverpool legend then went on to say that it’s time for Slot to “really earn his money” after a smooth ride last season. Just what that means for a number of struggling stars is the big question.

The Dutchman has already proved that he’s not afraid to get ruthless at Anfield and that could be on show this weekend with one player in line to make his Premier League debut.

Slot set to hand out Premier League debut vs Chelsea

Liverpool’s night became worse when Alisson Becker went down after what appeared to be a muscle injury and Slot has already confirmed that the Brazilian will not feature against Chelsea. As such, Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to make his Premier League debut. The former Valencia man has been waiting for his chance and now he’s set to get it.

A lot of questions were asked about Mamardashvili’s game time when Alisson stayed put this season, but the 25-year-old wasn’t just signed to succeed the world-class shot-stopper. Alisson has an extensive injury history and one which has almost had an inevitability about it in recent seasons, making Mamardashvili’s arrival incredibly important.

Described as “magnificent” by scout Jacek Kulig in 2024, the summer arrival offers Liverpool the chance to replace the injured Alisson without losing much quality. Mamardashvili is more than ready to step up, particularly in the shot-stopping department.

West Ham United have agreed a deal with Nuno Espírito Santo to replace Graham Potter, who was sacked on Saturday morning after just nine months and 25 games in charge.

Nuno Espírito Santo takes over from Graham Potter at West Ham

The 51-year-old, after leaving Nottingham Forest due to a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, has wasted absolutely no time getting back to work, replacing Potter at West Ham.

The latter recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, with the Irons conceding a calamitous seven of their 13 goals from corners so far this season.

It quite simply couldn’t go on, and West Ham shareholders held a very real worry that relegation was staring them in the face (Claret & Hugh), despite senior members of the squad telling close friends that Potter was the right man for the job (The Telegraph).

ExWHUemployee was first to report earlier this week that Nuno was close to agreeing a West Ham deal, and widespread reports suggested that the former Wolves and Tottenham boss was a standout favourite.

Now, those reports have come to fruition, with the tactician poised to take charge of his first game away to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.

It is interesting to note that chairman David Sullivan was reportedly in favour of Slaven Bilic’s return on a short-term contract until the end of the season, with some media sources claiming that Nuno was demanding big wages to join West Ham and a longer-term deal.

The driving force behind Nuno Espírito Santo's move to West Ham

Therefore, it is little surprise that he wasn’t the driving force behind Nuno’s move to East London.

Indeed, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, vice-chairman Karren Brady was leading West Ham’s charge to appoint Nuno, with the journalist also revealing a disagreement between the official and Sullivan over Potter’s previous contract.

It appears Brady has overruled Sullivan for the second time in a year through Nuno’s arrival, but considering the coach’s obvious credentials, her decision could prove to be the right one.

Why Brady was right to push for Nuno's appointment at West Ham

A succession of other candidates were linked with the post, including Bilic, Gary O’Neil, Scott Parker, Marco Silva, Sean Dyche, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.

However, Nuno stands above all the aforementioned names.

Following his appointment at the City Ground, the ex-Al-Ittihad boss – who won a Saudi Pro League title there before leaving just months later – steadied the ship, solidified Forest’s leaky backline, improved their set-piece fragility and gave his former team a clear counter-attacking identity.

What followed was a sensational 2024/2025, where Forest stood out as last season’s major surprise package, and they were justly rewarded via securing a place back in European football for the first time in 30 years.

Nuno eventually got the very best out of his players, despite inheriting what was once a dire situation. West Ham supporters will be hoping he can now replicate that feat down south, with Nuno aiming to end 2025 on a high in very testing circumstances.

Manchester United are reportedly set to reject any January transfer requests from Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee, despite the duo’s growing frustration over a lack of minutes this season. With key players expected to miss several weeks due to the Africa Cup of Nations, manager Ruben Amorim views both Mainoo and Zirkzee as crucial squad members for the winter period.

• Man Utd will not sell Mainoo and Zirkzee in January

  Manchester United have made it clear that Mainoo and Zirkzee will not be allowed to leave the club during the upcoming January transfer window, regardless of any personal requests to move, as per . Both players have grown concerned about their limited playing time under Amorim this season. However, the Red Devils’ stance is firm, with the Portuguese coach insisting that “they are our players and we need everyone to have a good season.”

  Mainoo, who requested a loan move in the summer, has seen little change in his situation since. The 21-year-old midfielder has featured eight times across all competitions but has yet to start a Premier League game, with his only start coming in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town in August. Meanwhile, Zirkzee, who returned from a hamstring injury in late summer, has played just over 80 minutes in total this term and is reportedly frustrated about falling behind Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo in the pecking order.

  Amorim has publicly acknowledged that he understands the frustration of players who are not getting minutes but remains adamant about maintaining squad depth through the busy winter schedule.

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  Mainoo and Zirkzee needed during AFCON period

  Manchester United’s refusal to sanction departures for Mainoo and Zirkzee stems from both strategic and logistical concerns. The club will lose multiple first-team players to international duty during the Africa Cup of Nations, including Mbeumo, Amad, and Noussair Mazraoui, all of whom have been central to Amorim’s system. With AFCON starting before Christmas and concluding on January 18, United expect to be short-handed for at least six domestic fixtures.

  Amorim’s tactical setup, a flexible 3-4-2-1 system, relies on adaptability, particularly in attacking and midfield positions. Mbeumo’s absence will create a significant void in the right-sided role, while Amad’s creative influence will be missed in the attacking midfield zone. Mainoo is seen as a potential solution in midfield to complement Bruno Fernandes or provide rest for Manuel Ugarte, while Zirkzee could serve as an auxiliary forward to cover for Sesko or operate in one of the playmaking roles currently occupied by Mbeumo or Amad. As per the report, the manager also views retaining the pair as a way to manage morale within the squad and ensure adequate competition for places.

• Both stars want to reintegrate in national teams ahead of World Cup

  Mainoo’s development remains a topic of internal debate at Old Trafford. The young midfielder has managed only 228 minutes this season, including one full appearance in the EFL Cup, but Amorim continues to see him as a long-term successor to Fernandes in the creative midfield role. Critics have suggested that the manager has been overly cautious with integrating Mainoo, while some within the club believe his composure and passing range could be vital once fixtures pile up around Christmas.

  Zirkzee, on the other hand, is still struggling to regain his form following a lengthy injury layoff that forced him to miss pre-season entirely. The Dutch forward, who cost £36.5 million, has found opportunities limited due to Amorim’s preference for more mobile attackers. Yet, his versatility as a withdrawn forward or link-up player makes him a useful tactical option when United need to alter their attacking shape, particularly with AFCON absences looming.

  Internally, both players are aware that consistent performances during the winter months could dramatically alter their prospects. For Mainoo, earning regular minutes could strengthen his case for a spot in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. Zirkzee, meanwhile, knows that proving his worth could reignite his standing in the Netherlands national setup and secure his long-term place at United.

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  How much playing time will Zirkzee and Mainoo get?

  Manchester United are unlikely to make major moves in the January window, with the focus instead on internal adjustments to weather the upcoming player shortages. Amorim’s emphasis will be on maintaining balance within the squad while giving fringe players like Mainoo and Zirkzee more responsibility during the AFCON period. Both players are expected to feature more heavily in rotation and may find themselves starting in several key matches across December and January.

  The club’s hierarchy is confident that retaining depth will prove vital to sustaining their top-four challenge in the Premier League. For now, United’s message to both players, and to potential suitors, is simple: no exits, no exceptions.

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed in a new interview with Piers Morgan that he doesn't expect to extend his history-making football career for that much longer, also admitting that his interests in retirement will ultimately lie outside the sport he has dedicated his life to. It comes after the Portuguese icon had been billed as "perfect" for a role upstairs at former club Manchester United.

• Ronaldo has retirement planned out

  Having chosen Piers Morgan for an incendiary interview marking his exit from Manchester United in 2022, Ronaldo again linked up with the divisive media personality, this time on YouTube channel .

  The 40-year-old forward, who has a contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League until the end of the 2026-27 season, was asked outright about eventual retirement. "Soon," Ronaldo replied, revealing he has been thinking about how it will go for years. "I think I will be prepared. It will be tough, of course. Will be difficult, yes. Probably I will cry, yes…

  "It will be very, very difficult but I've prepared my future since [I was] 25, 26, 27 years old. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure."

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  Future outside football

  There will be lots of calls for Ronaldo to stay in football when he eventually does hang up his boots, with a wealth of expertise and experience to share. But coaching, management or executive roles within the sport don’t appear to appeal to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

  "Nothing will compare to the adrenaline we have for football to score a goal," Ronaldo explained, revealing that retiring from football will finally give him the time to pursue other things.

  "But I have other passions. [When I retire] I'm going to have more time for me, have more time for my family, to raise my kids. I want to be more a family person, more present. Also, to have my own hobbies. I like to see UFC, the fights. I like padel. I like and I want to learn more about my companies.

  "I'll never be a [full-time] YouTuber, of course, but I want to be there. I'm going to spend more time on that to learn. I think I'm going to do funny things and things I'm not used to doing before. Because I live football 24 hours [each day] to do the right things and perform."

• Post-playing role at Man Utd now unlikely

  Ronaldo's desire to do things with his life other than football suggests leaving the sport altogether, which means recent speculation that he could consider a post-playing career in the boardroom, potentially even back at Manchester United, is quite unlikely to come to fruition.

  Former team-mate Wes Brown, who won the Champions League alongside Ronaldo in 2008, had said he wouldn't put it past Ronaldo to remain involved in football that way. "He could definitely move into the boardroom," Brown said. "He's got the ability to swerve away from coaching and into the executive level, 100 per cent. Why not? If he's enjoying it, it'll be perfect for him."

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  In pursuit of more trophies

  Ronaldo probably isn't going to call time on his career before the end of his Al-Nassr contract. Aside from it being incredibly lucrative – worth a reported €257m (£235m/$280m) per year – the veteran forward is still freely scoring for the club and continues to chase trophies.

  The lack of a major domestic or international trophy since moving to Saudi Arabia – the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup is the only silverware so far – is a notable blot on Ronaldo's record. Al-Nassr have seen both Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal win the Pro League in recent seasons, while the King's Cup and wider continental success has also been beyond them.

  So far in 2025-26, though, Al-Nassr lead the way in the domestic table with a 100 per cent record after seven games. They are only competing in the secondary AFC club competitions this season, but could feasibly be back in the Champions League Elite next year – potentially Ronaldo's last dance in football.

  Next summer also comes Ronaldo's last crack at the World Cup with Portugal.

Manchester United have faced managerial uncertainty recently and Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on developments that could follow at Old Trafford.

Manchester United pressure on Ruben Amorim eases a little

Supporters of Manchester United will be the first to tell you that this season hasn’t all been plain sailing so far. However, Ruben Amorim looks to have bought himself more time after helping to deliver a competent 2-0 victory over Sunderland.

After some turbulent results, the Red Devils rounded off the international break with a display that showed signs of recovery, alongside some excellent performances, notably from Senne Lammens. Optimism will now start to flow ahead of the Premier League return.

ESPN FC pundit Steve Nicol took time to praise Amorim’s side for their ‘comfortable’ performance, claiming that the win was the first match in a long time where nobody would’ve been able to ask any questions of Manchester United.

He stated: “I bet you, Amorim wishes every Saturday could be like this. I can’t remember the last time we watched Manchester United, home or away, where there wasn’t at some stage, some sort of drama, whether it’s giving a lead away, or whether it’s a comeback or or whether it’s just rubbish.

“I mean, for the first time ever I can remember in recent memory, there’s nothing to say about this Man United side. It was comfortable. As soon as Mount scored, they never looked in any danger.”

Nevertheless, consistency needs to be the focus for Manchester United after the break; otherwise, there will be a return of familiar rumours linking other managers to Amorim’s role at the club.

Speaking of which, Romano has now delivered an update on one man who could be a candidate to succeed the former Sporting boss if he does end up being relieved of his duties.

Romano: Man Utd are on good speaking terms with Gareth Southgate

Communicating on his YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that Manchester United hold an excellent relationship with Gareth Southgate, though he conceded that they are heading into the international break feeling far more comfortable with Amorim at the helm after Saturday’s triumph.

He said: “Man Utd were not going to sack Amorim even if Man Utd were going to lose the game against Sunderland. Even in that case, he was not going to be fired. That was the plan of Man Utd unless completely crazy things happened, like losing, I don’t know, 3 or 4 or 5-0. But, for example, losing the game, I don’t know, 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, something like that – Amorim was not going to be fired.

“I spent basically the last 10 days telling you that Gareth Southgate was in the media, but there was never a concrete negotiation between Man Utd and Southgate or his representatives. There is a very good relationship between Southgate and INEOS, but never a negotiation. And Man United wanted to show their support to Amorim.”

Amorim was always likely to gain an extended crack of the whip off the back of a victory. Still, Southgate would be an astute plan B option should results begin to head south over the coming months.

The 55-year-old retained a 59.8% win ratio in charge of England and has previously been labelled “ruthless” by John Stones. On the flip side, the main concern over him taking over at Old Trafford would be the fact he hasn’t managed in the Premier League since 2009.

Middlesbrough fans will remember him well for stabilising the club in the top flight. Nevertheless, managing Manchester United is an entirely different kettle of fish, an honour Amorim seems set to retain for now.