But the following season he was on the bench more for Manchester City and, despite winning his fourth Premier League title, was sold to Chelsea, the first marquee signing of their new owners. This move hasn't worked out at all. Now, aged 30, Sterling faces a season in exile at Chelsea, the 30m remaining in wages on his contract a key factor in the stalemate.
The balance of power in European football has shifted once again after a record-breaking summer transfer window, with seven clubs now boasting squads valued at more than €1 billion. The surge marks a dramatic rise from just three sides surpassing that threshold last year, underlining how spending and on-pitch success continue to reshape the financial hierarchy of the sport. According to Sportingpedia's latest analysis, Real Madrid remain the world's most valuable squad at €1.4 billion,
Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guéhi is one of the most sought-after center-backs in Europe and nearly moved to Liverpool during the summer transfer window. Now, Bayern Munich could be among the clubs looking to swoop in and take advantage of Liverpool's inability to get the deal done:
It was the transfer window when spending by Premier League clubs went into uncharted territory. Buoyed by the start of a record 6.7bn four-year domestic TV deal, and the extra revenue generated by newly expanded European club competitions, the top flight invested more than ever before this summer. But while the unprecedented 3bn outlay, and the drama of a frenetic deadline day, undoubtedly fuels even more interest in the league, does it also raise concerns?
Every year, after the NFL draft, everyone is talking about "steals" and "reaches." The "steals" are the players that the football-watching public thinks went way later than their talent warranted. And the "reaches" are the players we thought went way higher than they should've. It turns out: we're only half right. A 2021 study by Timo Riske of Pro Football Focus looked back at six years of draft data and identified the players who went significantly higher or lower than the consensus of publicly available draft rankings. What he found is that the players who were "reaches" did underperform, on average, compared to the other players drafted at the same pick in other years.
Brentford have had two offers rejected for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman. The Dutch club responded to Brentford's second offer, believed to be in the region of 25m, with the message that Veerman is not for sale. The Bees are now considering whether to return with a new offer for the 26-year-old, who has 16 caps for the Netherlands. Brentford remain keen to strengthen their squad before the transfer deadline on Monday but are having difficulty in landing their top targets.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the two clubs are currently locked in talks, and a deal is likely to be concluded soon. Garnacho needs regular gametime, and he has decided to join Chelsea. The move to the London club will allow him to showcase his qualities in the Premier League regularly. Chelsea need more quality and depth on the flanks, and the South American should prove to be an excellent investment for them.
Adrien Rabiot has been transfer-listed by Marseille, and Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to sign him. As per Fabrice Hawkins, they have opened talks with the representatives of the 30-year-old French international regarding a summer move. It will be interesting to see if they come forward with an official offer for Marseille. They have been linked with Rabiot in the past as well. Aston Villa are interested in the player as well.
Inter Milan has shifted focus back to Christopher Nkunku after moving away from targeting Ademola Lookman. Concerns about Nkunku's injury history had initially paused interest.
Thomas Frank's debut as Tottenham head coach was a resounding success, highlighted by Richarlison's stunning bicycle kick and a strong performance from new signing Mohammed Kudus.
Andoni Iraola emphasized the significance of the Premier League opener against Liverpool, stating, "It's going to be a good test for us and a place where we can see where we are at." He acknowledged the strength of Liverpool but assured that his team will give a good account of themselves, showcasing their preparation during pre-season, including games played in the United States. He noted that the game is an opportunity to gauge the team's status for the upcoming season.
