Chelsea have reportedly moved ahead of Newcastle in the transfer race for AZ Alkmaar's 'Dutch Pedri' Kees Smit. The 19-year-old, valued at around £25 million ($33m), has attracted attention from across the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United also tracking his progress in the Netherlands. However, it is the Blues who are said to be in pole position as it stands.

• Chelsea take early lead in crowded Premier League chase

  According to Chelsea have already opened lines of communication with Smit’s representatives, even if a formal approach is yet to materialise. While Stamford Bridge is not expected to be especially active in January following an extensive summer rebuild, the groundwork is being laid for a move that could accelerate quickly should market conditions shift. Newcastle remain admirers of Smit and have monitored him closely since his breakout campaign in the Eredivisie last season. Eddie Howe is understood to view the Dutchman as an ideal long-term addition to his midfield options, particularly given the club’s desire to refresh and lower the age profile of the squad.

  However, confidence at St James’ Park has waned in recent weeks. There is a growing belief that waiting until the summer could prove costly, with AZ potentially engineering a bidding war that pushes the price beyond Newcastle’s comfort zone. Despite the financial freedom created by Alexander Isak’s £125 million ($167m) departure, Newcastle’s recruitment team remains disciplined, unwilling to overpay unless a deal aligns perfectly with their strategic vision.

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  Smit’s rise at AZ and European statement nights

  Smit’s reputation continues to soar in the Netherlands, where he has been the creative heartbeat of an AZ side enjoying another strong domestic campaign. The Alkmaar outfit currently sit fifth in the Eredivisie and remain one of Europe’s most respected talent incubators. This week’s Conference League victory over FC Drita offered another glimpse of Smit’s influence, with the midfielder dictating tempo and consistently unlocking defences with his vision. Within recruitment circles, there is a growing consensus that Smit represents a step above AZ’s usual graduates. Holding firm until the summer could maximise value, especially with interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid also lingering. Yet offers north of £30m ($40.3m) from England may prove difficult to resist.

• Koeman’s Pedri comparison fuels the hype

  Perhaps the strongest endorsement of Smit’s potential has come from Ronald Koeman. The Netherlands head coach, who previously worked with Pedri at Barcelona, has drawn parallels between the two midfielders.

  "I have to be careful what I say, but I coached Pedri at Barcelona and I see things in Kees Smit that remind me of him," Koeman said in November. "The changes of direction, the use of both feet, the vision of the game, these are things I noticed in Pedri at the time."

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  Chelsea focussed on signing the best youth talents

  The pursuit of Smit fits into Chelsea’s broader recruitment philosophy under their multi-club ownership structure. The club continues to prioritise high-upside talent, often moving earlier and more decisively than rivals. Chelsea’s ownership group recently beat Manchester United and Manchester City to the signature of Mohamed Zongo, one of Africa’s brightest emerging prospects. The Burkina Faso midfielder, who starred at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, will officially join Strasbourg in 2027 upon turning 18. Zongo was among the tournament’s standout performers, contributing two goals and three assists as Burkina Faso reached the quarter-finals. His performances against Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as a dominant display despite elimination against Italy, marked him out as a player of rare maturity.

  Upcoming youth signings include Sporting CP winger Geovany Quenda and striker Emanuel Emegha. Further down the line, FC Kairat wide man Dastan Satpayev and Corinthians full-back Denner Evangelista are expected to join once they reach eligibility, while Ecuadorian defender Deinner Ordonez is scheduled for a 2028 switch. 

  For Smit, Chelsea’s appeal extends beyond finances. The club’s recent track record of integrating young midfielders, coupled with clear development pathways, offers a compelling case. However, since competition for places is fierce under Enzo Maresca, it remains to be seen if Smit takes the risk of being a bench-warmer or decides to pursue a different challenge elsewhere, where he can earn sufficient minutes to continue his development.

If you're in the process of building a dynasty in EA Sports FC 26, you will need to invest in young talent – GOAL has you covered.

If you're kicking off a new save in EA Sports FC 26 Career Mode, you simply need to have an eye on the future and that means signing the best young players available. Whether you are a major club looking to secure the talent of the next Lionel Messi or a smaller team looking to make a profit by serving as a stepping-stone, buying high-potential young players is a key aspect of the game.

Here, GOAL brings you the best young players to sign in every position – from strikers and midfielders to defenders and goalkeepers – to help you get off to a flying start in Career Mode.

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Essential FC 26 readingGuide to EA Sports FC 26 web app & companion appThe best 50 men's players in EA Sports FC 26The best 26 women's players in EA Sports FC 26EA Sports FC 26 soundtrack: Full list of songs & artistsEvery team & competition in EA Sports FC 26

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Getty ImagesBest young strikers & forwards in EA Sports FC 26: Wonderkid CFs & STs

Player Club Age POS CR PR

EndrickReal Madrid19ST7791Francesco CamardaLecce17ST6587Mathys TelTottenham20ST7786Eli Junior KroupiBournemouth19ST7485Conrad HarderRB Leipzig20ST7485Charalampos KostoulasBrighton18ST7285Chido ObiMan Utd17ST6584Christian KofaneBayer Leverkusen19ST6884Marc GuiuChelsea19ST7184Francesco Pio EspositoLombardia20ST7284Jeronimo DominaUnion Santa Fe19ST7084Nelson WeiperMainz20ST7084Santiago CastroBologna20ST7684Kaye FuroClub Brugge18ST6383Kaua EliasShakhtar Donetsk19ST7183

Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Endrick remains the best young striker in EA Sports FC 26, having also been deemed the forward with the most potential in FC 25. His rating at the beginning of the game is 77, but he has an exceptionally high ceiling of 91 – a rating which, if reached, would place him at a similar stature to players such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

AC Milan youngster Francesco Camarda, who is on loan at Lecce in the game, follows Endrick in the potential stakes, with a possible rating of 87, putting him slightly ahead of Tottenham's Mathys Tel, whose potential is 86. Manchester United fans will be excited to see how Chido Obi develops, with the teen boasting a potential rating of 84 in the game.

AdvertisementGettyBest young midfielders in EA Sports FC 26: Wonderkid CAMs, RWs, LWs, CMs & CDMs

Player Club Age POS CR PR

Lamine YamalBarcelona18RM8995Desire DouePSG20RW8591Joao NevesPSG20CM8590EstevaoChelsea18RM7889Jorthy MokioAjax17CDM7089Kenan YildizJuventus20CAM7989Arda GulerReal Madrid20RM8189Rodrigo MoraPorto18CAM7689Rio NgumohaLiverpool17LM6888Franco MastantuonoReal Madrid18CAM7788Geovany QuendaSporting18RM7688Antonio NusaRB Leipzig20LM7688Pablo GarciaReal Betis19RM6887Assane Diao DiaouneComo20LM7687Lucas BergvallTottenham19CM7787Ethan NwaneriArsenal18RW7687Warren Zaire-EmeryPSG19CM8087Arthur VermeerenMarseille20CM7787Julien DuranvilleBorussia Dortmund19RM7287Kees SmitAZ19CAM7287Lennart KarlBayern Munich17CAM6386Ayyoub BouaddiLOSC Lille17CM7586Konstantinos KaretsasGenk17CAM7086Maher CarizzoVelez19RM7286Joao CostaAl Ettifaq20RM7186

It will come as little surprise to learn that Lamine Yamal is the best young midfielder in EA Sports FC 26 and, given that he is just 18, he will likely be so for the next few years. The Barcelona wonderkid is already one of the best players in the game and boasts a potential rating of 95, which means he is capable of emulating talents such as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Paris Saint-Germain duo Desire Doue and Joao Neves follow Yamal, with potential ratings of 91 and 90 respectively, while the likes of Chelsea's Estevao (PR: 89) and Ajax defensive midfielder Jorthy Mokio (PR: 89) will be sought-after talents, especially if you are in control of a bigger club. Liverpool's exciting winger Rio Ngumoha leads an array of 17-year-old talents in our list, with the Anfield sensation possessing a potential rating of 88.

Other intriguing talents within that 17-year-old cohort, include Bayern Munich youth Lennart Karl (PRL 86), Lille central midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi (PR: 86) and Genk's Greek CAM Konstantinos Karetsas (PR: 86).

Getty Images SportBest young defenders in EA Sports FC 26: Wonderkid CBs, LBs & RBs

Player Club Age POS CR PR

Dean HuijsenReal Madrid20CB8289Jorrel HatoChelsea19LB7889Pau CubarsiBarcelona18CB8288Givairo ReadFeyenoord19RB7588Finn JeltschStuttgart19CB7287Myles Lewis-SkellyArsenal18LB7887Luka VuskovicHamburg18CB7287El Chadaille BitshiabuRB Leipzig20CB7587Pietro ComuzzoFiorentina20CB7486Leny YoroMan Utd19CB7886Joaquin SeysClub Brugge20RB7386Joane GadouRB Salzburg18CB6685YarekPSV20CB7385Pau NavarroVillarreal20CB7085Jan-Carlo SimicAl-Ittihad20CB7085Diego LeonMan Utd18LB6485Martim FernandesPorto19RB7585Josh AcheampongChelsea19RB7085Tobias PalacioArgentinos Juniors18CB6985Ayden HeavenMan Utd18CB6984

The two best young centre-backs in EA Sports FC 26 both play for Spain, but on either side of the Clásico divide. Real Madrid's Dean Huijsen (PR: 89) and Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi (PR: 88), look set to form the defensive foundation for La Roja for years to come. German youth Finn Jeltsch and Croatian centre-half Jusko Vuskovic aren't far behind, with each boasting a potential rating of 87.

Chelsea's Jorrel Hato is the best young left-back in the game, while the best young right-back is Givairo Read, who plays for Feyenoord. Manchester United should be well set for the future, with Leny Yoro, Diego Leon and Ayden Heaven all among the brightest young defensive talents in the game.

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Best young goalkeepers in EA Sports FC 25: Wonderkid GKs

Player Club Age POS CR PR

Guillaume RestesToulouse20GK7886Matthieu EpoloStandard Liege20GK7385Dennis SeimenPaderborn19GK6684Mike PendersStrasbourg20GK7384Lucca BrughmansGenk17GK5982Tiago Pereira CardosoBorussia Monchengladbach19GK6782Robin RisserLens20GK7282Ewen JaouenReims19GK6882Mathys NifloreDunkerque18GK6381Joeri HeerkensAjax19GK6480

While he is getting to the older end of the wonderkid grouping, Guillaume Restes continues to be the best young goalkeeper in the game. However, the Toulouse shot-stoppers's potential has dropped from 88 to 86 in EA Sports FC 26. Matthieu Epolo has a similar ceiling (PR: 85), while German goalkeeper Dennis Seimen is still among the best young net-minders around.

France appears to be a fertile ground for goalkeeper talent, with the likes of Robin Risser, Ewen Jaouen and Mathys Niflore all plying their trade in the country.

In February, it was reported that MLB and ESPN agreed to end their national television contract after the 2025 season, with ESPN opting out of the rest of its deal with the league. As of Monday, there have reportedly been further discussions between both sides about continuing the broadcasting rights in a new deal, 's Andrew Marchand reported.

If an agreement is not reached by October, then MLB and ESPN partnership will officially end. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred hopes an agreement on ESPN's current package is determined by the All-Star break in a few weeks, whether it remains with the network or goes to other bidders. ESPN opted out of their current contract three years early after the two sides have been in business together for 35 years. MLB followed suit and also opted out of the deal itself.

If ESPN does not reach a new agreement with MLB, the current frontrunners to take over the broadcasting rights are NBC, Apple and Fox.

ESPN's current deal is worth $550 million, which Manfred said he was O.K. with, though, ESPN felt that they were paying too much. With the package, ESPN broadcasts the weekly game along with the Home Run Derby and eight to 12 playoff games annually.

MLB has broadcasting deals with Apple ($85 million per year for Friday night doubleheader games) and with Roku ($10 million per season for Sunday morning games). The main issue for MLB right now is figuring out how to improve their local rights situations for viewers. ESPN’s chairman Jimmy Pitaro previously said that ESPN's new direct to consumer app, which will launch later this year, could be the league's solution for this problem.

We'll see what happens over the next few weeks.

يستمر الإعلام الإنجليزي في تحليل تصريحات محمد صلاح جناح ليفربول، والتي أدلى بها عقب التعادل أمام ليدز يونيتد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ومدى تأثير ذلك على مستقبله مع الفريق.

وتواجد محمد صلاح على مقاعد بدلاء ليفربول للمباراة الثالثة على التوالي في الدوري الإنجليزي، ليدلي المصري بتصريحات عقب اللقاء يؤكد خلالها عدم رضاه عن وضعه، ويسلط الضوء على توتر علاقته بالمدرب آرني سلوت.

ورصدت شبكة “سكاي سبورتس” تقريرًا عن محمد صلاح وموقفه، وافتتح بالحديث عن أن اللاعب وضع إدارة ليفربول أمام قرار مصيري بعد تصريحه بأنه لم يعد يملك أي علاقة بمدربه آرني سلوت، وهو ما يجعل استمرار الطرفين معًا شبه مستحيل، وأي قرار قادم سيكون زلزالًا داخل النادي.

وأفادت أن محمد صلاح اختار التوقيت بعناية للإدلاء بتصريحاته، بعدما جلس على دكة البدلاء للمباراة الثالثة على التوالي، معتبرًا ما يحدث له قلة احترام، وجاءت تصريحاته في وقت يعاني فيه سلوت من ضغوط كبيرة بسبب تراجع نتائج ليفربول.

التقرير يرى أن تصريحات صلاح لم تكن عاطفية فقط، بل محسوبة ومقصودة، خاصة أنها جاءت في لحظة ضعف للمدرب سلوت، والذي فشل في حصد النقاط التي كان يحتاجها للحفاظ على منصبه، كما صرح جيمي كاراجر.

اقرأ أيضًا | جارديان: محمد صلاح “الأناني” يخون زملاءه ويُسرّع نهاية حقبته مع ليفربول

والأهم أن صلاح ذكر سلوت فقط بالاسم من بين الجميع، ما جعل المواجهة تبدو وكأنها صراع مباشر بين الطرفين، والرسالة الأساسية من كلام صلاح أنه يريد اللعب فقط، لكن هل يمكن أن يحدث ذلك في ليفربول؟ هذا بات محل شك كبير.

مباراة ليفربول وبرايتون القادمة قبل سفر محمد صلاح إلى كأس أمم إفريقيا مع منتخب مصر، قد تكون الأخيرة له في آنفيلد، وهو ما ألمح إليه اللاعب، وقد كان دقيقًا في كلماته، ولم يُصرّح برغبته في الرحيل، لكنه أفاد: “سأكون في آنفيلد (لحضور مباراة برايتون) لأودع الجماهير وأذهب إلى كأس إفريقيا، لا أعرف ما سيحدث عندما أكون هناك”.

وعن أسباب توتر العلاقة بين اللاعب ومدربه، يوضح التقرير أن القشة التي قسمت ظهر البعير تكمن في المباراة أمام آيندهوفن بدوري أبطال أوروبا، وتحديدًا هدف آيندهوفن الثاني، والذي ظهر فيه تقاعس صلاح دفاعيًا، وهو ما أدى لاستبعاده لاحقًا وتواجده بديلاً.

صلاح يرى نفسه لاعبًا على مستوى خاص ولا يجب أن ينافس على مكانه مثل البقية، وصرّح: “لستُ مُضطرًا للقتال كل يوم من أجل مركزي لأنني استحقيته، لستُ أكبر من أي شخص، لكنني استحقيت مركزي”. 

التقرير شبّه موقف صلاح بما فعله كريستيانو رونالدو مع مانشستر يونايتد، في فترته الثانية بأولد ترافورد، حين هاجم المدرب إريك تين هاج علنًا، قبل كأس العالم قطر 2022، وانتهى به الأمر في الدوري السعودي.

صلاح سبق وبادر بنفس التصرف مع المدرب السابق يورجن كلوب حين أجلسه بديلاً في المباراة أمام وست هام، وظهر وهو يتجادل معه على خط التماس، وعقب المباراة صرّح: “إذا تحدثت اليوم، فستشتعل النيران”.

لكن صلاح غير مستعد للاعتزال الكروي المبكر بالسعودية، ولا يزال يرى نفسه بوضوح يلعب في أعلى المستويات، رغم أن الدوري السعودي هو الوجهة الوحيدة القادرة على دفع راتبه الضخم الحالي (400 ألف جنيه إسترليني أسبوعيًا).

يشير التقرير إلى أن السيناريو الأقرب لحل الأزمة سيكون في انتقالات يناير، فليفربول لديه الوقت لإيجاد حل، وصلاح يعلم ذلك، إذا وصلت مصر إلى نهائي كأس الأمم الأفريقية، فلن يعود إلى آنفيلد حتى أواخر يناير، ويُفتح سوق الانتقالات في بداية ذلك الشهر، ويبدو أنه الحل الأرجح للمشكلة، ويوجد احتمال ضعيف لكنه قائم أن ينتظر صلاح لمعرفة مصير سلوت قبل اتخاذ قراره النهائي.

The Washington Nationals selected shortstop Eli Willits out of Fort Cobb-Broxton high school in Fort Cobb, Okla. with the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft Sunday.

Willits, 17, was the fifth-ranked prospect and second-ranked position player per MLB Pipeline's rankings. He's a switch-hitter who can have plenty of long-term upside for the Nationals as they work to reset after their recent turnover with the firings of general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez. Previous assistant GM Mike DeBartolo took over as interim GM.

Willits committed to play college ball at the University of Oklahoma where his father, Reggie, coaches and his older brother, Jaxon, plays. As this year's top pick, Willits is unlikely to play for the Sooners per MLB.com.

As a top-ranked prospect and the youngest player in the class, it's not outrageous that the Nationals went for Willits at No. 1. However, the general consensus was that Washington would go for either LSU pitcher Kade Anderson or top-ranked prospect Ethan Holliday out of Stillwater (Okla.) HS. The Seattle Mariners took Anderson No. 3 and the Colorado Rockies, Holliday's dad Matt's old team, selected him with the fourth pick.

MatériaMais Notícias

O atacante Thiago Galhardo é o novo reforço do Goiás para a disputa da Série B. O jogador, que pediu para deixar o Fortaleza, deve ser anunciado pelo Esmeraldino nas próximas horas. As informações foram divulgadas pelos jornalistas César Luis Merlo e André Hernan.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Após o ataque ao ônibus do Leão do Pici em Recife, realizado pela torcida do Sport antes do duelo das equipes pela Copa do Nordeste, Galhardo pediu dispensa do clube por uma semana para tratar da saúde mental. Na ocasião, o transporte da delegação da equipe foi alvejado por bombas, e jogadores e membros da comissão técnica do Tricolor saíram feridos do ataque.

No Fortaleza desde julho de 2022, o atacante disputou 100 jogos com a camisa do clube e anotou 27 gols no período. Na atual temporada, participou de 11 partidas e foi às redes em três oportunidades.

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Formado nas categorias de base do Bangu, Galhardo estreou como profissional em 2010. Nas carreira, o jogador acumula passagens por diversos clubes do futebol brasileiro, como Botafogo, Internacional, Coritiba e Vasco. Fora do país, atuou pelo Celta de Vigo, da Espanha, e Albirex Niigata, do Japão.

Tudo sobre

Brasileirão Série BFortalezaFutebol NacionalGoiásThiago Galhardo

Manchester United recruited a new-look front three for Ruben Amorim over the summer. With Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho both leaving the club, the Red Devils needed depth in forward areas.

To add that strength up top, Sir Jim Ratcliffe spent more than £200m constructing the new forward line. Matheus Cunha joined for £62.5m from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Their new number nine was Benjamin Sesko. He signed late in the window from RB Leipzig, costing United £74m. He scored in back-to-back games heading into the recent international break.

Bryan Mbeumo was the other signing from Brentford, costing £71m including add-ons. It has been a strong start to the campaign for the Cameroonian star, too.

How Mbeumo’s start compares to other Big 6 wingers

Naturally, there was going to be a lot of pressure on United’s new number 19. He had an exceptional season for Bournemouth last season, with 28 goals and assists in 38 Premier League matches.

However, the 26-year-old has started the season well. He’s already scored twice for United and has an assist in eight games.

His first Premier League strike came against Burnley, and he set up Mason Mount against Sunderland.

But, how do those stats stack up to some of the other right-sided attackers in the Big 6? Well, Mohamed Salah’s start to the season has been somewhat underwhelming, although he has two goals and two assists in the Premier League so far. Those are the same numbers Phil Foden has across all competitions.

Arsenal’s main right-sided option, Bukayo Saka, has scored three goals in all competitions, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus has set up five goals. As for Chelsea, Estevao has been their chief destroyer on the right, with a goal and assist, including that late winner against Liverpool.

Overall, Mbeumo’s numbers stack up well to some of his rivals. What is scary for their opponents is that United have a homegrown version of the Cameroon star brewing at Carrington.

United’s homegrown Mbeumo

Although Mbeumo is only 26 years of age and not even in his peak years, it is always nice for United fans to know that they have an extremely talented right-sided attacker in their academy.

The Cameroonian international will be perfect for him to learn from.

Indeed, Red Devils fans can surely get excited about 17-year-old winger Bendito Mantato. The England under-18 international has shone for their academy over the past couple of years, so much so that Amorim invited him to join first-team training this week.

The forward is a versatile player who can play on both flanks and even at left-back. However, when operating as a right-winger under Darren Fletcher in the under-18s squad, he’s scored and assisted in just two games.

Indeed, those numbers are impressive, but his overall stats for the under-18s at Carrington show he’s posed a threat to opposition defenders for a few seasons. He’s scored 14 goals and assisted three times in just 23 games in the Under-18s Premier League.

Mantato – U18s PL
Season	Games	Goals & assists
2022/23	4	0
2023/24	7	6 goals & 2 assists
2024/25	11	7 goals
2025/26	1	1 goal & 1 assist
Stats from Transfermarkt

The 17-year-old is a player who possesses a good instinct in the penalty box, a great threat for a winger to have. This strike against Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup last season demonstrates just that.

It is also similar to Mbeumo’s goal against Burnley this season, highlighting the similarities between the pair.

Mantato is certainly an exciting prospect, with Academy Scoop, a Red Devils academy page over on X, calling him “one of the biggest talents at the club.” That is certainly high praise, given the quality in the academy ranks at Carrington.

It will be fascinating to see how Mantato’s development goes and how similar to Mbeumo he is when he does eventually break into first-team football.

Not Sesko: Carrington's "machine" is destined to be Man Utd's next No.9

Manchester United have their next number nine brewing at Old Trafford…

By
Robbie Walls

Oct 16, 2025

We’ve had to wait a while, but Football Manager 2026 is finally on its way.

After a number of delays, the latest version of the iconic game will finally be released on 4 November and with it, will come a number of changes.

The changes indicate that the wait will prove more than worthwhile, with over 40 new roles coming to the game and the chance to prove that Ruben Amorim’s system really is the problem at Manchester United.

What’s more, if club football isn’t enough to seal your legacy in the dugout, then a road to glory with San Marino could now do the trick.

So, with the tactics board at the ready, which of course is set up in 4-2-3-1 gegenpress, we’ve taken a look at five changes coming to Football Manager 2026.

5 Official FIFA tournaments

Forget taking the summer off on FM26, because the World Cup is calling.

For the first time ever, Football Manager will have official FIFA tournaments in a revamped international management module. The partnership will allow licensed graphics and leave players with the decision to make regarding international teams.

Will you finally bring football home for the England men’s side? Or will you pull off the impossible by getting San Marino to the World Cup and, dare it be said, much, much more?

4 The introduction of women's football

The women’s game has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, so much so that England have benefitted from winning the Euros and bringing football home.

Big steps have included broadcast deals to finally add further funding to the game and a number of games at the likes of Anfield and The Emirates. At long last, these players are beginning to receive the respect that they have deserved for some time.

Now, Football Manager has taken a big step after confirming that women’s football will be introduced for the first time in FM26. They confirmed that their database will consist of more than 36,000 players and a further 5,000 non-players alongside 14 playable leagues. 2026 really is the year to become the next Emma Hayes.

3 New tactical visualiser

At long last, players won’t have to wait until they’re 3-0 down within 30 minutes against a bottom-half side to realise that their system is not working. On FM26, players will be able to use the new tactical visualiser to see how their system will play out on the pitch.

It will divide the pitch into three vertical zones (defensive, middle and attacking third) and by clicking on any of the nine grids, players will be able to see how their teams move as the ball travels across the pitch both in and out of possession.

For example, when utilising an inside wing-back, players will be able to see that they move into a traditional wing-back position in the defensive third, drift inside in the midfield third and continue their central movements to support when in the attacking third.

2 Premier League license

Back in June last year, the Premier League and Sports Interactive signed a multi-year licensing deal to bring official logos, kits and player photos to Football Manager. Now, over a year later, players are finally set to benefit.

The agreement should give the game a fresh new look and add that extra bit of realism. Winning the Premier League will now feel even more glorious with the official trophy awaiting to add to your list of achievements.

1 Over 40 new roles

As if there weren’t enough bold ideas to choose from, FM26 will feature over 40 new roles. The ability to use both in and out of possession systems should bring a tactical evolution for many players rather than just the one, more limited role.

Advanced CB

Breaks into CDM role in build-up

Playmaking wing-back

Central to creating attacking chances

Dropping CDM

Drops into backline

when under pressure

Wide-covering CM

Shifts wide to give defensive protection

on flanks

Channel forward

High-energy runner into wide channels

It’s been a long two-year wait, but the thought of finally having a midfielder to cover overlapping fullbacks may just make it all worthwhile. See you in the World Cup final, San Marino…

The Dodgers were able to win their second straight World Series title on Saturday night by beating the Blue Jays 5-4 in a legendary Game 7 at the Rogers Centre.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched six innings in Los Angeles' Game 6 win on Friday night, entered Game 7 with one out in the bottom of the ninth and then worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings to lead the Dodgers to their dramatic victory. He was named the World Series MVP for his heroic efforts, which also included a complete game gem in Game 2.

The righthander had a very subtle classy move in the bottom of the 11th inning that the Fox Sports cameras were able to pick up. Yamamoto was seen tipping his cap to Toronto's Vlad Guerrero Jr. as the slugger prepared to step into the batter's box with his team trailing by a run.

Here's how that played out:

That was such a great moment at such a pivotal moment of the game. Guerrero would go on to hit a double but then Yamamoto was able to close things out thanks to a double play that was brilliantly turned by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts.

Yamamoto gave up just one hit and had one walk in his relief appearance. He finished his second season with the Dodgers with a 12-8 record and then really became a force in the postseason. Along with his complete game in the World Series, he also had a complete game win over the Brewers in the NLCS.

Fans loved that hat tip from Yamamoto:

MatériaMais Notícias

Fortaleza e Vasco se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (1), pelo jogo de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. A bola vai rolar a partir das 19h (de Brasília), na Arena Castelão, com transmissão de SporTV e Premiere (pay-per-view).

➡️ Zebra? Com R$100 no Lance! Betting, você fatura R$451 se o Vasco vencer o Fortaleza no Castelão após 20 anos

➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

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Confira todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Fortaleza e Vasco (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
FORTALEZA X VASCO
COPA DO BRASIL – TERCEIRA FASE – IDA

🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 1 de maio de 2024, às 19h (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Arena Castelão, em Fortaleza (CE)
📺 Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere;
🟨 Árbitro: Matheus Delgado Candançan (SP)
🚩 Assistentes: Alex Ang Ribeiro (FIFA/SP) e Daniel Paulo Ziolli (SP)
🖥️ VAR: Daniel Nobre Bins (VAR-FIFA/RS)

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
FORTALEZA (Técnico: Juan Pablo Vojvoda)
João Ricardo, Tinga, Britez, Titi, Bruno Pacheco; Zé Welison, Hércules, Pochettino; Pikachu, Machuca e Lucero.

continua após a publicidade

VASCO (Técnico: Rafael Paiva)
Léo Jardim, Paulo Henrique, Rojas, Maicon, Léo, Lucas Piton, Sforza, Hugo Moura, Mateus Cocão, David e Vegetti.

Tudo sobre

Copa do BrasilFortalezaOnde assistirVasco