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Crystal Palace have started off the campaign with a trophy to their name and could now be set to go toe-to-toe with Nottingham Forest to sign a talented midfield operator, per reports.

Crystal Palace lose CAS appeal after winning Community Shield

Oliver Glasner and his club have been involved in a turbulent couple of days that saw them win the FA Community Shield against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium, though the joy of another day in the sun has been blighted by recent developments.

Taking to social media platform X, journalist Ben Jacobs delivered that Crystal Palace have lost their CAS appeal against Europa League expulsion, and they will now have to settle for a place in the Europa Conference League this term.

He said: “Crystal Palace have lost their CAS appeal and will play in the UEFA Conference League this season. Nottingham Forest will replace them in the Europa League. Palace will consider all legal options.”

Nottingham Forest will replace Crystal Palace in the Europa League, igniting more fire between both clubs ahead of their meeting on matchday two of the Premier League season next weekend.

Chelsea await in their opener at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the Eagles will hope to bring Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss into the fold as soon as possible, even if his arrival depends on Eberechi Eze leaving the club.

Crystal Palace now hold strong interest in "gifted" £17m ace, bid planned

Palace could be set to make an offer for a defender.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 7, 2025

Veteran Raheem Sterling has held talks over a move to Selhurst Park and may be another option to provide a spark of creativity across the forthcoming season.

However, Glasner also appears to be focused on legs in central areas and could now be set to try and trump Nottingham Forest in the process.

Crystal Palace battle Nottingham Forest for Yunus Musah

According to reports in Italy cited via Area Napoli, Rai Sport journalist Ciro Venerato has confirmed Crystal Palace have joined Nottingham Forest in the race to sign AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah.

Napoli are also keen on the United States international and although the Rossoneri could ask for just under £26 million, even a fee of £21.6 million may be enough to prize him away from the Serie A giants.

Capable of playing in a variety of central midfield roles or on the right flank, the 22-year-old is a versatile presence who can deputise where needed. It should be noted that Napoli are looking to sell Giacomo Raspadori before accelerating their pursuit.

Labelled a “complete player” by Stefano Pioli, the AC Milan star completed 21 dribbles and won 19 tackles in the Italian top-flight last term, illustrating why he is a competent operator in several positions.

After losing their Europa League place to Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace could make a statement by bringing him to Selhurst Park as they now look forward after kicking the new term off with an encouraging victory over Liverpool in the Community Shield.

Barcelona’s wait to return to Camp Nou drags on, as it was confirmed their upcoming La Liga clash against Getafe will be played at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. While the club hope to secure the necessary license in time, focus is already shifting to the Champions League deadline, with UEFA demanding assurances before the crunch clash against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.

• Barcelona forced into Johan Cruyff Stadium switch for Getafe clash

  Barcelona will host Getafe at the Johan Cruyff Stadium as they have not been granted the First Occupancy License required to reopen the Camp Nou on time for the match. With only five days left until kick-off, hopes of a late approval have vanished. The club had briefly considered returning to Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, where they played all home games last season, but the pitch conditions there ruled it out completely. It means, just like against Valencia, the Blaugrana will once again play in front of just 6,000 spectators instead of the tens of thousands who would normally pack Camp Nou.

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• Barcelona release statement on Camp Nou delay

  "FC Barcelona announces that the match corresponding to matchday 5 of LaLiga, which has to take place on Sunday, September 21, at 21:00, against Getafe, will not be able to take place at the Spotify Camp Nou," a statement read.

  "The Club continues to work intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the Spotify Camp Nou in the coming days. For this reason, the match will finally be held at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.

  "FC Barcelona thanks its members and fans for their understanding and support in such a complex and exciting process as the return to the new Spotify Camp Nou. The Club will provide further details soon regarding the organization of the match and ticketing procedures."

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  Champions League pressure mounts as Camp Nou race continues

  While missing one more La Liga home game may not be a catastrophe, Barcelona’s real challenge is the looming Champions League clash with PSG on October 1. UEFA require the stadium to host at least one domestic fixture beforehand, allowing inspectors to evaluate its condition during competitive use. Barca are hopeful the September 28 league fixture against Real Sociedad will provide that opportunity, but the clock is ticking and any further delays could push them into a logistical crisis.

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• UEFA demands clash with Barca’s renovation timeline

  Even if Camp Nou gets the green light, Barcelona must comply with UEFA’s strict rules. For the Real Sociedad match, reports only the main grandstand was scheduled to be open, accommodating around 27,000 fans. But UEFA regulations require both sides of the stadium to be operational, raising doubts about whether the Catalan giants can meet capacity demands in time for Europe’s biggest stage. If UEFA reject the proposal, the club may be forced to split their European and domestic fixtures across two stadiums, something that goes against current rules but could be argued under exceptional circumstances.

Newcastle United have done some major business this summer, and their first Premier League game of the season allowed them to see their new winger, Anthony Elanga, in black and white, but they have to wait a little longer to see some of the other signings in action.

Monday’s clash with Liverpool could allow fans the opportunity to see their new defender, Malick Thiaw, and their new midfielder, Jacob Ramsey. It’s unlikely that their loanee goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, will displace Nick Pope in any of the major Premier League fixtures, but fans could see him in action once Newcastle enter the domestic cups and the Champions League.

Ahead of the clash, Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, spoke of the attacking threat that Newcastle poses, even without Isak, and provided an injury update that will give the Magpies a confidence boost as he revealed that Jeremie Frimpong will be unavailable for the fixture.

Behind the scenes, the board are continuing to work on improving the attack that already causes concern for the Premier League-winning manager by approaching one of last season’s Champions League finalists about one of their up-and-coming talents.

Newcastle approach Inter over promising young striker

Newcastle United have “come forward” to Inter Milan to sign striker Francesco Pio Esposito. The 20-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan at Spezia and is yet to make his Inter debut. Atalanta are also said to have approached Inter about signing Pio Esposito, while Napoli have submitted a bid worth around £38.9 million.

These reports come from Italy, via Sports Witness, and with Napoli’s bid rejected, Howe’s side are reportedly reluctant to pursue the transfer further unless Inter change their stance. The Italians are looking to move players on in the last few weeks of the window, but they would prefer to keep Pio Esposito, seeing him as a player for the future. They are more inclined to sell Mehdi Taremi, with Fulham reportedly interested in the Iranian striker.

Why Newcastle are considering a move for "terrorising" Pio Esposito

Newcastle look to be pushing to sign Brentford’s Yoanne Wissa as a replacement for Isak, but Pio Esposito would further add to their attacking depth.

The Italy under-20s star could also serve as a replacement for Callum Wilson, who left Tyneside for West Ham when his contract expired. The 33-year-old only scored once in 22 appearances for Newcastle last season, so Pio Esposito would likely be an immediate upgrade. Last season at Spezia, the youngster scored 19 Serie B goals, making him the league’s second-highest goalscorer. He was also the only teenager in the league’s top 125 goalscorers.

Italian football expert Siavoush Fallahi had previously shared on X his thoughts about the Italian youngster.

He continued: “Strong, big guy, who’ll strike if the ball falls to him. Terrorising for defenders because they’ll keep him quiet for all game but then he’ll turn up and score, useful for the team, I love that randomness of crosses into the box randomly ending at his feet. Stuff happens around him”.

If Newcastle can change Inter’s mind on selling Pio Esposito, then they will have a very talented player on their hands. Potentially, they could approach Inter to loan Pio Esposito, so the Italian side doesn’t lose him permanently, and Newcastle have a temporary replacement for Wilson.

Can Uzun stole the show as Eintracht Frankfurt surged to a 6-4 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, scoring a goal and providing an assist. The 19-year-old is taking Bundesliga by storm, scoring in every Bundesliga match so far. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has hailed the teenager's latest display as “absolutely world class,” emphasising his ability to control the entire game, make intelligent decisions, and inspire the team.

• Frankfurt shine as Can Uzun stars

  Frankfurt delivered a thrilling 6-4 victory over Monchengladbach, racing to a 6-0 lead before a late Gladbach fightback. Uzun was central to the dominance, scoring a goal and providing a crucial assist. The German midfielder has now scored in every Bundesliga game this season, tallying five goals and three assists in five matches, cementing his reputation as a rising star. Frankfurt’s fluid attacking display drew praise from fans and pundits alike, with legendary Matthaus noting Uzun’s exceptional form and confidence.

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  Matthaus hails Uzun’s maturity

  The former German international, speaking on , lauded Uzun’s development and on-field intelligence.

  "The ball loves him because he consistently makes the right decisions. He needed a bit of time and hired a private coach in the summer, and now he's someone who has the entire game under control," he said. "He's in high demand at 19 and has the confidence to do anything, and that shows when you're confident and have the coach's trust. What he played yesterday in the first half was absolutely world class."

• Uzun’s journey and rising stats

  Uzun joined Frankfurt from Nurnberg in the summer of 2024 for €11 million (£10m/$12m), with add-ons of €3m, signing a contract until 2029. Initially adjusting to Bundesliga demands, he made 31 appearances in his debut season, scoring five goals and providing three assists, numbers he has already matched this campaign. Frankfurt plans to retain him until at least 2027 as top European clubs monitor his meteoric rise, reflecting the club’s strategy to nurture their young attacking talent.

  In a post-match interview, when Uzun was asked about his recent form, he said: "Of course, it wasn't obvious that things would turn out this way and I'd score so many times in succession. It was a nice goal by me after a great assist from Fares [Chaibi]. The first half was a lot of fun. We hardly gave them anything before the break, I'm happy about the win. I have full confidence in our defense. We scored six goals, which is amazing. Atlético will be awesome opponents. Hopefully I'll also score against Bayern."

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  Eintracht Frankfurt's challenging schedule

  Frankfurt continue to build momentum under their tactical setup, with Uzun as a key driving force in attack. The club faces a challenging set of upcoming fixtures as they are set to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on September 30 before they face Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on October 4.

Glasgow Rangers supporters were hit with a surprise on Saturday when it was revealed that the club had pulled out of a deal to sign versatile defender Nobel Mendy.

RangersReview reported that the Light Blues have pulled out of a £2m deal to sign the Real Betis centre-back, who can also play at left-back, after discussions collapsed in recent days.

The 20-year-old titan had looked set for a move to Ibrox to bolster Russell Martin’s options at the back, but is now set to remain at Real Betis, or move elsewhere before the end of the summer transfer window.

Why Rangers may have dodged a blunder with Nobel Mendy

Pulling out of a move for the Senegalese defender may turn out to be a blunder dodged by the Gers, as there is little evidence to suggest that he would have been a significant signing for the club.

Transfer Focus

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

Whilst Mendy, who is only 20, may turn out to be a fantastic player in the future, and could have turned out to be a quality addition for Rangers, there is little in the here and now to suggest that he would have hit the ground running.

The versatile defender has only played six senior games for Real Betis. He also struggled for the B team in the 2024/25 campaign, losing 59% of his duels across 13 league games for the reserve side, per Sofascore.

Rangers could forget about Mendy by swooping for a player who is more likely to make an immediate impact at Ibrox this season – Kassoum Ouattara.

Why Rangers should sign Kassoum Ouattara

The Light Blues have been linked with loan interest in the Monaco left-back, who is valued at £13m by his club, and they should be pushing to get a deal done for the 20-year-old star.

Despite being the same age as Mendy, Ouattara has played 55 times at senior level, including 33 times for Monaco, per Transfermarkt, and is more established in first-team football.

The French whiz may not seem like an obvious alternative, given that he plays at left-back mainly instead of centre-back, but the Gers could allow Emmanuel Fernandez and John Souttar to battle it out for a place next to Nasser Djiga, and bring Ouattara in to cover the left-back role that Mendy would have offered cover in.

As you can see in the table above, the Monaco talent’s output in Ligue 1 last season even suggests that he could be an upgrade on the departing Jefte, who is set to sign for Palmeiras, from an offensive perspective.

Ouattara, who writer Kai Watson described as a “very offensive” full-back, could excite supporters with his front-footed performances at left-back, as he is clearly a defender who likes to get forward to put crosses and passes into the final third to create chances for his teammates.

The £13m-rated talent may make more sense for what Rangers need in their backline, with Ridvan Yilmaz out of the picture and Jefte set to depart, than Mendy would, which is why it could make more sense to pursue the Monaco starlet.

So instead of signing a centre-back who could play left-back, in Mendy, the Gers could sign a talented left-back, who may have the potential to cover at left centre-back should Martin decide he would suit that role.

Dream Dessers replacement: Rangers have "lethal" £5m star on shortlist

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be a dream signing to replace Cyriel Dessers.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 16, 2025

This is why Rangers could forget all about this collapsed deal for Mendy because the signing of Ouattara could make more sense for the team, and make a greater impact on the pitch.

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal was quick to congratulate Ousmane Dembele after seeing the Paris Saint-Germain star beat him to the 2025 Ballon d’Or award. The teenager finished second in the rankings but didn’t go home empty-handed as he won the Kopa Award for a second year running, and his father is confident that it will be a different story next year.

• Dembele beats Yamal to 2025 Ballon d'Or

  Dembele has been crowned the best male player in the world after winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or award. The PSG star pipped Yamal to top spot after inspiring Luis Enrique's side to a quadruple last season. The campaign also brought a first Champions League title for the French giants after a 5-0 victory over Inter in the final.

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• Yamal congratulates Dembele on Ballon d'Or win

  Yamal may have tasted disappointment in Paris but he was spotted congratulating Dembele on his win with a handshake, a warm hug and a few words. The teenager also did not go home empty-handed as he won the Kopa Trophy for the second year in a row.

• Warning fired out by Yamal's father

  Yamal's father, Mounir Nasraoui, was at the ceremony and fired out a warning after seeing Dembele beat his son to the top prize. "Next year is ours," he told COPE after the awards had been handed out in Paris.

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  Barcelona hoping for Yamal return

  Yamal will now return to Barcelona and hope to return to action with Hansi Flick's side soon. The teenager is currently sidelined with injury and it's not clear yet when he will be available again. Barcelona take on Real Oviedo next in La Liga on Thursday and then face Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Chelsea struck deep into stoppage time at the end of the second half to beat Liverpool 2-1 and continue the Premier League champions' miserable run. Goals at either end of the match proved decisive for Enzo Maresca's men, who have put the pity and woe of an injury crisis behind them to come away with three massive points at the very last.

With just over 10 minutes on the clock, Chelsea pulled ahead. Moises Caicedo, who very nearly joined Liverpool back in 2023, was afforded too much space on the edge of the 18-yard-box, and he punished the visitors for their nonchalant defending with a piledriver from distance.

The hosts wanted a penalty late in the first half when Alejandro Garnacho was felled by Dominik Szoboszlai, only for their protests to amount to nothing, with both referee Anthony Taylor and the VAR deeming there was insufficient contact to award a spot kick.

Liverpool should have been level within a minute of the restart when substitute Florian Wirtz teed up Mohamed Salah, who somehow fired wide with the goal gaping and Chelsea got away with a lapse in concentration at the back. On 63 minutes, the Blues weren't as lucky when Alexander Isak brilliantly brought down a high cross from Szoboszlai for Cody Gakpo to slot home.

Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian both emerged from the bench to bring fine saves out of Giorgi Mamardashvili as the clock ran down, while the Brazilian winger's cross for Enzo Fernandez was nodded narrowly wide in added time.

That was the prelude to the final minutes of a chaotic match as Chelsea successfully threw everything into one final attack, where Marc Cucurella drove a low cross right through the Liverpool box for Estevao to convert at the back post and send the home supporters into bedlam. Maresca was shown a red card for sprinting down the touchline in celebration as his side closed out a huge win in their season.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Robert Sanchez (6/10):

  Opened up Liverpool a couple of times with long kicks over the top, though annoyed the home fans with wayward passing at a shorter distance. Made a couple of comfortable saves.

  Reece James (8/10):

  Was expected to start in midfield but instead slotted into the back four as the more conventional right-back. Moved to centre-back after Badiashile went off. Couldn't do much about stopping Isak's assist for Szoboszlai but made a vital interception to block a cross bound for the Swedish striker afterwards. Stood up as a leader when Chelsea needed one to keep their heads.

  Josh Acheampong (6/10):

  Made a fine account of himself on another rare start before succumbing to an injury shortly after Liverpool's leveller.

  Benoit Badiashile (7/10):

  Did superbly well to contain the threat of Salah coming inside before being forced off with injury shortly after the break.

  Marc Cucurella (8/10):

  Got under Salah's skin to contribute to a really sloppy evening for the Egyptian on another return to Stamford Bridge. Popped up with the match-winning assist.

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  Midfield

  Malo Gusto (4/10):

  A surprise starter in midfield instead of James. Looked unnatural in that role for long stretches but did technically get the assist for Caicedo. Moved back into defence once Badiashile was substituted and notably lost the run of Gakpo for the equaliser.

  Moises Caicedo (8/10):

  Opened the scoring with a sensational strike from over 20 yards against the team who wanted him so desperately two years ago. Brought that usual crunch in midfield though didn't have a lot of support from a creative standpoint.

  Enzo Fernandez (5/10):

  At times it was easy to forget that the Argentine World Cup winner was even on the pitch, particularly when Liverpool gained control of the contest.

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  Attack

  Pedro Neto (6/10):

  Put in one hell of a shift to help cover whoever the right-back was at any given time. Found little joy trying to break Liverpool down, mind. Subbed for Estevao.

  Joao Pedro (5/10):

  Found himself extremely isolated up against Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Eventually replaced by Guiu.

  Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):

  A live-wire that Liverpool struggled to contain, even if his end-product was lacking. Taken off for Gittens.

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  Subs & Manager

  Romeo Lavia (6/10):

  On for the injured Badiashile. Opened play up nicely with his trademark drops of the shoulder.

  Jorrel Hato (5/10):

  Replaced Acheampong after he too pulled up but was far from assured when trying to nullify Salah.

  Estevao Willian (9/10):

  Introduced for Neto. Got fans on their feet every time he touched the ball, such was his unpredictability, and was fully deserving of scoring the winning goal. Phenomenal.

  Marc Guiu (5/10):

  Brought on for Pedro as Chelsea turned to a more physical No.9.

  Jamie Gittens (6/10):

  Came on for Garnacho. Like Estevao was a handful for the Liverpool defenders.

  Enzo Maresca (7/10):

  It was quite an ugly contest for the most part, but Maresca's men were great value for the three points amid their injury woes. Picked up a red card for his celebrations for the winner but not too sure he'll care.

Manchester United have endured somewhat of an overhaul of the squad this summer, with Ruben Amorim splashing the cash during his first summer window at Old Trafford.

With less than a week remaining until the market slams shut, the 40-year-old has already spent around £200m – all on players within the final third of the pitch.

Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have all made the move to the Theatre of Dreams, but none of the stars have yet netted their first goal in any of the first two Premier League outings.

Players such as Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans were released at the start of the summer, freeing up some of the funds to land the aforementioned trio.

However, further players are likely to be offloaded before Monday’s deadline, with numerous players touted with big-money moves away from Amorim’s side.

The latest on United’s potential departures this summer

Kobbie Mainoo has emerged as a surprise option to depart United in the coming days, after being an unused substitute in each of the club’s two opening league outings.

The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro have all been preferred over the academy graduate in recent days – casting doubt over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

As a result, the 20-year-old is now said to be open to a departure before the deadline, with the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea monitoring his current situation – with a £45m transfer fee being mooted.

The Englishman is not the only player touted with an exit, with bomb squad member Alejandro Garnacho edging ever closer to a departure, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The journalist claims that the Argentine’s move to join Chelsea is now “very advanced” after the player rejected a proposal from Saudi Arabia – stating he only wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

It’s also been reported that a fee in the region of £50m with future add-ons has been agreed, with only minor details remaining before the 21-year-old departs Amorim’s side.

Why United selling £50m star would be a bigger blow than Mainoo

Mainoo has endured somewhat of a rapid rise over the last couple of years, with no supporter able to envisage the impact he would’ve had on the first-team squad.

There’s no denying that the Red Devils have fallen way below the expectations set by the fanbase, but the 20-year-old midfielder has often been a shining light – often popping up in crucial moments.

He announced himself to the supporters with a last-minute strike against Wolves back in February 2024, with his effort securing a 4-3 win for the club at Molineux.

Goals in the FA Cup and against Lyon in the Europa League have further highlighted the impact he’s made within the first-team, with the hierarchy potentially living to regret any deal that would see him depart the Theatre of Dreams.

However, a deal for Garnacho to depart could arguably be a bigger blow, losing another top youth prospect who could develop into an elite-level forward.

The Argentine made his debut for the Red Devils back in April 2022 – going on to rack up just shy of 150 appearances, and looking like the future of the club at one stage.

Despite scoring 11 times and producing 10 assists across all competitions throughout 2024/25, he was left on the bench for the Europa League final – prompting a fall-out with the manager after comments on social media.

He’s since been placed in the bomb squad at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a decision that comes back to bite them – especially if he moves to a divisional rival.

Garnacho’s tally of 21 goal contributions last season showcases the talent he possesses within forward areas, something which the Red Devils have lacked already this campaign.

Amorim’s side have only netted one goal in the opening two league outings, with the youngster able to help the side in their quest should they keep hold of him beyond the summer.

However, it appears as though he’s set to leave in favour of a move to Chelsea, with the Blues potentially getting themselves a bargain given his output and tender age – having the potential to explode in the capital.

There’s no denying that Amorim wants to make his own stamp on the squad – but selling star youngsters like Mainoo and Garnacho could turn ugly, especially if they can fulfil their potential away from Old Trafford in the years ahead.

He'd revive Fernandes: Man Utd chasing the "best English CM since Scholes"

Manchester United want to sign a midfielder before the end of the transfer window.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 27, 2025

Chelsea fans will be relieved to hear their talismanic forward Cole Palmer faces weeks, not months, on the touchline as he recovers from a groin injury. But fears persist Palmer may need surgery to avoid the injury becoming chronic and hampering him for the long-term, with England manager Thomas Tuchel admitting his concern after the player missed out on another of his squads.

• Painful time for Palmer

  Palmer was ruled out of Chelsea's match against West Ham in August after aggravating the injury during the warm-up. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca stated that his key man had been experiencing a groin problem for several days and the decision was made not to risk him worsening it. This was considered a precautionary measure at the time, but further concerns were raised when he was forced off after only 20 minutes in the Blues’ defeat by Manchester United last month. Initial scans were positive, but fears are growing that it could become a chronic problem. Adding to the worry, during celebrations after Chelsea's victory against Liverpool, team-mate Jorrel Hato playfully jumped into the attacker. Palmer appeared to react with discomfort, clutching his groin. While the incident has not worsened his injury, it highlighted his ongoing pain and fuelled fan anxiety about his recovery timeline. However, it has now been reported in the that his absence will last weeks, not months.

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  England manager has his say

  Ahead of the Wales friendly, England boss Thomas Tuchel said: "He was only in the June camp, that is concerning, of course. First of all, the most important thing is that he can play without pain, because the groin issue is a very dangerous one to become chronic. This is the most important thing. When he's fit and when he has rhythm and flow, he can decide matches on club level and, for sure, on international level. We know that. There is also with him no problem at all (for me). We clearly understand and see the potential and the quality, but there is also a reality that he was not available in five of the (last) seven camps, so right now there are two camps left before the World Cup." 

  Chelsea’s first game back after the international break is away at Nottingham Forest on October 18th, but Tuchel is doubtful Palmer will be fit for that one. He added: "It would surprise me this time if he was able to play."

• Palmer set for November return

  The reports that Palmer is expected to be back to full fitness in early November, when Chelsea face Tottenham on the first day of the month. That means he is set to miss the upcoming games against Nottingham Forest, Ajax, Sunderland and Wolves, but he remains in contention for the England squad for the Three Lions' final two World Cup qualifiers in mid-November. That will be welcome news to both the player and his country, after Tuchel suggested his chances of being included in his World Cup squad have been affected by his fitness issues.

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  Cashing in on 'Cold Palmer'

  In the meantime, Palmer has moved to trademark to his 'Cold Palmer' nickname and celebration with the UK government's Intellectual Property Office, and that application was approved on Friday. It grants the England international the exclusive legal rights to the term 'Cold Palmer'. The registration lasts until November 25, 2034, when it can be renewed again for further 10-year periods. The 23-year-old's application includes an extensive list of products he intends to sell using the trademarked term. This includes: soaps, bath salts, snacks, razor blades, phone covers, drones, underwater vehicles, stationery, Christmas crackers and teddy bears.

Nottingham Forest have now agreed a deal to sign an “exceptional” defender, who was at the City Ground yesterday to finalise the move, it has been revealed.

Forest looking to strengthen squad amid Nuno "concern"

Nuno Espirito Santo has repeatedly made it clear that he wants to bring more new signings through the door before the upcoming transfer deadline, recently saying: “There are things that I myself cannot control. What I said is, and I had a long thought about it, is my concern for the squad,”

“These boys last season achieved something fantastic. If we as a club don’t help them in terms of numbers, in terms of quality and talent, everything will go.”

The need for more fresh faces was underlined yesterday, with Forest suffering a shock 3-0 defeat at home against West Ham United, which is unlikely to have done the manager any favours heading into clear-the-air talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

There is also well-known to be a rift between Nuno and Edu, with the two falling out over which players to bring to the City Ground this summer, but there is now one deal thought to be edging towards completion.

According to transfer expert Pete O’Rourke on X, Nottingham Forest have now agreed a deal to sign Linfield and Northern Ireland U21 defender Matthew Orr, who was at the City Ground to watch the clash against West Ham on Sunday and finalise the move.

At just 18-years-old, the youngster is likely to be one for the future, but he has already started to catch the eye for Linfield at senior level.

Nottingham Forest submit huge £50m+ package to sign "complete" PSG star

They’re eyeing one last blockbuster move…

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 31, 2025

"Exceptional" Orr could become "top player"

Linfield midfielder and coach Chris Shields has been left very impressed by the Forest-bound defender in the past, saying: “I remember Matty training – he was a sleight kid then, so I had to do a double take when he came into senior training. I was questioning if it was the same person because he had filled out over a couple of years.

“He’s met everything head on and his skill level at one-on-one defending is one of the best I’ve seen. He’s exceptional.”

Shields is not the only person who has singled the Linfield starlet out for praise either, with manager David Healy saying: “Matthew is a great young talent with a lot of potential to develop into a top player. He has taken his opportunities and his dedication and hard work have paid off.”

Despite still being a teenager, Orr, who shares the same CAA Base agency as Chris Wood, has already established himself as a first-team regular for Linfield, making 37 first-team appearances, so he is clearly a top prospect, who could be capable of pushing for a starting spot at Forest within a couple of years’ time.