Mohamed Salah has been left out of Liverpool's starting line-up to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, as Arne Slot has taken action following the Premier League defeat at home to Manchester United last Sunday. Hugo Ekitike has replaced the Egyptian winger in the Reds' XI after starting on the bench against the Red Devils.
Manchester City and England defender John Stones revealed he briefly considered retiring amid his injury nightmare last season.
The 31-year-old’s 2024/25 campaign was decimated by foot and hamstring injuries, which saw him make just 24 appearances for club and country and none after February.
Stones considered retirement amid Man City injury struggles
He is back fit again this season and looks set to make his first appearance under England boss Thomas Tuchel in the upcoming games against Wales and Latvia.
Despite his injury woes last season, Stones, on £250,000-a-week at the Etihad, was invited to Tuchel’s summer camp for the games against Andorra and Senegal, which showed the German’s intention for the defender to be part of his plans.
“I love England so much and I love playing for England,” Stones said. “Some of the best moments in my career have been playing for England at tournaments.
“And when he said to (me), would I come out and be with the guys and continue my training, it was a no-brainer. For me to come and show my face to the guys, offer advice, be a good team-mate, I suppose – it was a special moment.
“I had not thought about it since, because everything moves on so fast. But it was a big sign and something that I was really happy to
do.”
Wrexham AFC have enjoyed a phenomenal rise up the leagues under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and are now splashing the cash as a Championship side.
As a result, their annual payroll has increased dramatically to an eye-catching £18.2m, with the average Red Dragons’ player picking up more than £550,000 per season.
Wrexham's most expensive signings of all time
Football FanCast takes a look at Wrexham’s record signings.
ByCharlie Smith Dec 30, 2024
But who earns what at The Racecourse Ground? Here is what Wrexham are paying their players for the 2025/26 season, as per Capology.
Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.
1
Kieffer Moore
£30,000
£1,560,000
=2
Conor Coady
£25,000
£1,300,000
=2
Jay Rodriguez
£25,000
£1,300,000
4
Lewis O’Brien
£17,500
£910,000
=5
Josh Windass
£15,000
£780,000
=5
Ben Sheaf
£15,000
£780,000
=5
Callum Doyle
£15,000
£780,000
=5
Matty James
£15,000
£780,000
=5
Liberato Cacace
£15,000
£780,000
=5
Sam Smith
£15,000
£780,000
=5
Issa Kabore
£15,000
£780,000
=12
Danny Ward
£12,500
£650,000
=12
Nathan Broadhead
£12,500
£650,000
=12
Ollie Rathbone
£12,500
£650,000
=12
Dominic Hyam
£12,500
£650,000
=16
James McClean
£10,000
£520,000
=16
Ryan Hardie
£10,000
£520,000
=16
George Thomason
£10,000
£520,000
=19
George Dobson
£8,500
£442,000
=19
Dan Scarr
£8,500
£442,000
=21
Lewis Brunt
£7,500
£390,000
=21
Ryan Longman
£7,500
£390,000
=23
Eoghan O’Connell
£6,000
£312,000
=23
Andy Cannon
£6,000
£312,000
25
Elliot Lee
£5,500
£286,000
=26
Ryan Barnett
£5,000
£260,000
=26
Callum Burton
£5,000
£260,000
28
Arthur Okonkwo
£3,000
£156,000
29
Max Cleworth
£1,200
£62,400
30
James Rainbird
£1,000
£52,000
=31
Harry Ashfield
£900
£46,800
=31
Aaron James
£900
£46,800
33
Max Purvis
£750
£39,000
Here's a detailed look at Wrexham's top 10 earners… 10 Sam Smith £15,000 per week
Sam Smith is just one of seven Wrexham players picking up £15,000 per week at The Racecourse, with the forward arriving in January 2025 from Reading.
He scored some vital goals to help Wrexham win promotion to the Championship and is under contract until 2028.
9 Liberato Cacace £15,000 per week
Liberato Cacace was Wrexham’s only 2025 signing made outside of England, with the New Zealand intermational arriving from Italian side Empoli.
The left-back cost just over £2m and put pen to paper on a three-year deal in Wales.
8 Matty James £15,000 per week
Wrexham didn’t pay a penny to sign Matty James in 2024 after he became a free agent following his Bristol City exit.
The central midfielder’s experience was key in the League One promotion run in.
7 Callum Doyle £15,000 per week
Callum Doyle is actually one of Wrexham’s most expensive signings of all time, but he’s down the list when it comes to the club’s highest paid players.
Signed from Premier League giants Manchester City for £5m, Doyle picks up £780,000 per season in Wales.
6 Ben Sheaf £15,000 per week
After starring for Coventry City over four years, Ben Sheaf swapped the Midlands for Wales, joining Wrexham on deadline day in September 2025.
He reportedly cost Reynolds and McElhenney £6.5m and is under contract until 2028.
5 Josh Windass £15,000 per week
After leaving Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 2024/25 season, attacker Josh Windass penned a three-year contract at Wrexham.
The forward actually scored Wrexham’s first goal back in the second-tier away at Southampton.
4 Lewis O'Brien £17,500 per week
Another marquee signing following the club’s promotion to the Championship was Lewis O’Brien, who arrived from Nottingham Forest in a £3m transfer.
His £910,000 per season deal in Wales runs until 2028.
3 Jay Rodriguez £25,000 per week
Signed at the beginning of 2025 to help Wrexham to promotion, Jay Rodriguez is on a deal worth £1.3m per season at The Racecourse.
A striker with Premier League experience, Rodriguez’s contract expires in 2026.
2 Conor Coady £25,000 per week
An England international, centre-back Conor Coady signed for Wrexham from Leicester City in a deal worth £2m.
He signed a two-year contract and was made a key part of Phil Parkinson’s plans straightaway.
1 Kieffer Moore £30,000 per week
Top of the list as Wrexham’s highest paid player is Wales international Kieffer Moore.
An experienced Championship striker who has scored goals for Cardiff City, Bournemouth, Ipswich Town and Sheffield United in recent years, Moore is under contract until 2028.
Tottenham have rejected Romania's bid to call up injured defender Radu Dragusin national team for their fixtures next month. Dragusin sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear during an Europa League match in January and has not played competitive football since then. Romania are scheduled to face Moldova in a friendly match, before taking on Austria in a World Cup qualifier.
Dragusin suffered dreadful injury in January
The 23-year-old sustained a serious knee injury during Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over Elfsborg in the Europa League in January this year. Coming on as a substitute at half-time, Dragusin landed awkwardly while trying to clear his lines and in the process damaged his knee.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportRomania named Dragusin on preliminary list of overseas-based players
Romania manager Mircea Lucescu kept Dragusin in his preliminary list of overseas-based players for their two October international games, first a friendly against Moldova on October 9 and three days later a World Cup qualifier at home against Austria. If Romania lose against Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina also beat Cyprus, their dreams of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will be shattered.
Spurs reject Romania's plea
Tottenham, however, are not keen on releasing the defender for international duty as the Premier League side want Dragusin to focus on his day-to-day rehabilitation plan, training and building his fitness steadily under the scrutiny of their medical team.
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Getty Images SportRomania accept Spurs' decision
While Romania could force the issue under FIFA rules, they have accepted Spurs' decision and won't push for Dragusin. Speaking to , Lucescu said: "I spoke with him. He was very happy for the national team comeback but I don't think I will call him. Tottenham wasn't so happy to let him come now at the national team. He needs one more month to play again. Radu wants to come, but others warned us it is better to let him train with Tottenham now."
Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has cheekily admitted he is “happy” Cole Palmer will be absent when he makes an emotional return to his former club Chelsea next week. The Special One heads back to his old stomping ground when he takes the Portuguese giants to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Palmer to miss Benfica clash as groin struggles continue
Palmer will miss Chelsea’s next three games in all competitions against Brighton, Benfica and Liverpool in an attempt to recover from the groin injury which has plagued his 2025-26 season. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed earlier in the week that the Blues have decided to rest their star man after his groin complaint – which previously saw him miss Premier League games against West Ham and Fulham – flared up in his side’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester United last weekend.
AdvertisementMaresca plans to carefully manage Palmer's fitness
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Brighton on Saturday, Maresca said: "Yes, we decided to protect a little bit Cole, in terms of not letting his injury get worse. We decided to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break to see if with that rest he can recover 100 per cent and to be fit after the international break. I don't think he needs surgery but it is just to manage the pain in his groin. We have decided to be a little bit conservative with him.”
AFPMourinho cheekily admits he is 'happy' Palmer will miss out
One man who is relieved Palmer will spend a short period on the sidelines is Mourinho, who is due to return to Chelsea with his new side Benfica. The 62-year-old, who was appointed by the Estadio da Luz club on September 18 following the dismissal of compatriot Bruno Lage, managed Chelsea between 2004 and 2007 and again between 2013 and 2015, winning eight major honours including three Premier League titles.
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What Mourinho said about Palmer's spell on the sidelines
In quotes carried by Portuguese publication A Bola, Mourinho said of Palmer’s absence: “I'm happy. My Chelsea team was a winning machine, with a big investment, but a lot of ambition. Then they seemed to lose some direction, and it was tough for those who love the club. Enzo Maresca [Chelsea manager] arrived, and the puzzle is being completed piece by piece, and they won the Conference League. Now I think they have a good, good team, and if Cole Palmer isn't a problem for Chelsea [through injury], that's a big problem for me. If [Heorhiy] Sudakov or [Vangelis] Pavlidis don't play, that's a big problem for me.”
Rangers fans protested against Russell Martin, whom they consider the "worst manager in their history", after a dismal start to the 2025-26 campaign. Rangers faced Hibernian in a Scottish League Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday and after the team's 2-0 win, Martin bizarrely thanked supporters, despite their vehement protest at the Stadium.
Rangers fans protested against Martin
On Sunday, during Rangers' Scottish League Cup quarter-final tie against Hibernian, the supporters of the Scottish giants displayed vehement protest outside the Ibrox as they demanded the ouster of manager Russell Martin and chief executive Patrick Stewart. Inside the stadium, the fans unfurled banners with the words written: "Russell out – worst manager in history." They also hurled balls onto the pitch, which led to a delay in the start of the game.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMartin thanks Rangers fans
The under-fire Rangers boss was asked about the pre-match protest after the game, to which he said: "Well, it was actually right during the team talk, but it's like I said to the guys, I can't control any of it. And also a bit of perspective, like I said, yesterday in the press conference about some family stuff this week that's been really difficult to put in some perspective.But we had control of the performance and we had control of, not the start of the game, but the fans at the end of the game. And I have to say I thought the fans were brilliant.
"They made their feelings really clear, and then once that was done, the team started playing with a bit of flow. I think they were really, really good. So I have to thank them for that. At this football club, it comes about one person really quickly. But it's just not. It's not. It's about so many people, staff and the players. It's become about me, not by my choice. So now, hopefully it'll become more and more about the team if we put in performances like that."
Rangers' maiden win in domestic competitions
After going winless in their first five Scottish Premiership matches, which included four losses, Rangers finally registered their maiden win in domestic competitions as they rode on Nicolas Raskin and Bojan Miovski's first-half goals.
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GettyWho could replace Martin at Rangers
Rangers’ hierarchy have publicly backed Martin but are reportedly exploring alternatives if results at Ibrox don’t improve. Among the potential candidates is the son of legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, Davide, who is currently in charge of Botafogo in Brazil.
MatériaMais Notícias
Após um bom início de Campeonato Brasileiro, vencendo o Atlético Mineiro fora de casa e empatando com o Palmeiras no Maracanã – os dois últimos campeões nacionais -, o Vasco vem acumulando uma sequência ruim de resultados. Já são quatro jogos sem vencer, com três empates e uma derrota. Contra o Coritiba, nesta quinta-feira, no 1 a 1 no Couto Pereira, o time voltou a mostrar um de suas principais deficiências: o ataque.
O Coxa abriu o placar no fim do 1º tempo e obrigou a equipe do técnico Maurício Barbieri a sair mais para o jogo em busca do empate. Porém, apesar dos 62,4% de posse de bola na etapa final, o Cruz-Maltino finalizou apenas quatro vezes, sendo somente uma em gol, exatamente a de Erick Marcus, que definiu a igualdade no marcador.
A falta de criatividade do time e de eficiência do seu ataque tem se refletido também nos números. O Vasco é a equipe que menos finalizou até agora no Brasileirão. Passadas cinco rodadas, foram apenas 45 arremates, sendo somente 15 na direção certa. Com seis gols marcados – apenas dois nas últimas três partidas -, tem a sétima pior marca até o momento.
Na temporada, as estatísticas também não são favoráveis. Com 33 bolas na rede em 20 jogos, os vascaínos têm o quinto pior volume entre os 20 clubes da Séria. Apenas o Corinthians, com 31, o Santos, com 29, o Coritiba, com 24, e o Cruzeiro, com 21, tiveram um desempenho pior nesta primeira metade da temporada.
TIMES COM MAIS FINALIZAÇÕES NO BRASILEIRÃO 2023
– Dados do Footstats
1º – Palmeiras – 92
2º – Fortaleza – 88
3º – Flamengo – 86
4º – Cruzeiro – 83
5º – América-MG – 77
6º – Red Bull Bragantino – 76
7º – Fluminense – 74
8º – Goiás – 71
9º – Atlético-MG – 69
10º – Internacional – 67
São Paulo – 67
12º – Botafogo – 65
13º – Coritiba – 62
14º – Bahia – 61
Corinthians – 61
16º – Santos – 54
Athletico-PR – 54
18º – Grêmio – 53
19º – Cuiabá – 52
20º – Vasco – 45
RelacionadasVascoANÁLISE: Previsível, Vasco precisa se reinventar para voltar a vencer no BrasileiroVasco12/05/2023VascoVÍDEO: veja os melhores momentos do empate entre Coritiba e Vasco pelo BrasileirãoVasco11/05/2023VascoBarbieri reconhece atuação ruim do Vasco, mas valoriza o empate com o Coritiba: ‘Satisfatório’Vasco11/05/2023
Jasprit Bumrah threatened to take a wicket every second delivery, but NZ eased their way to the target of 107
Sidharth Monga20-Oct-20242:01
Manjrekar: Rachin looking like one of the best overseas batters in India
The exhilarating Bengaluru Test got the climax it deserved, with New Zealand made to work hard to complete their first Test win in India in 36 years. Under overcast skies, the ball seamed around appreciably, Jasprit Bumrah threatened to take a wicket every second delivery, and the crowd appealed almost every ball, but New Zealand absorbed it all to ease their way to the target of 107 once things settled down a touch.Will Young was the calming influence after Bumrah got Tom Latham second ball of the day, but Devon Conway did his bit – jumping around, wearing blows on the body, but not playing loose shots. By the time Bumrah finally got Conway for 17 off 39 balls, he was at the fag end of his spell and New Zealand had scored 35 already. The fielders did their bit, having saved at least 11 runs by then.But once again India’s misreading of the pitch came back to hurt them. They didn’t have a third seamer to exploit the conditions, and Young and Rachin Ravindra knocked off the remaining runs with relative ease.4:44
Rohit: ‘Except the first two-three hours, we played very good Test cricket’
While Bumrah bowled, though, you struggled to see where the next run would come from. He drew 22 false shots in eight overs, consistently drawing movement off the surface. Latham might have thought he had the accurate inswinger covered, but the ball pitched and nipped in even further to get him. Conway thought he had the angle covered from around the wicket, but this one swung after pitching, beginning to change its path halfway between pitching and reaching Conway, beating the outside edge and trapping him in front.Bumrah was in his seventh over now, and Ravindra, the first-innings centurion, all but sealed the deal when he got two boundaries off the first three balls he faced. He steered the first one behind square, and then got the rare loose ball from Bumrah – a full one on the pads.Young then paddled and punched Ravindra Jadeja for boundaries in his first over to get the package ready. Not trusting the Bengaluru weather to hold up after lunch, the two batters attacked the spinners to put a nice little bow on the top. Young’s drop-kicked six off Kuldeep Yadav was even Mark Waugh-like.India made a remarkable comeback from being bowled out for 46 in the first innings, but in the end, New Zealand hung in long enough to seal only their third Test win in India and their first since 1988.
Arsenal are planning to hold talks with a club chairman about signing another forward, after their £50 million deal for Noni Madueke, with sporting director Andrea Berta making serious statements in the transfer market.
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Madueke is poised to make the switch to north London and will become the latest in a long line of deals between both Chelsea and Arsenal. The England international specifically comes as the seventh player to move from Cobham to London Colney in the past six years, not to mention the second in this window alone, following Kepa Arrizabalaga.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
25/26 – summer
£75m
After opening formal club-to-club talks earlier this week, Arsenal reached a swift agreement for Madueke, worth over £50 million including add-ons. The 23-year-old agreed personal terms over this move a while ago, but Berta has now managed to convince Chelsea to sell their winger too.
Madueke joins Kepa, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard as Arsenal’s fourth signing in total this summer, and takes the club’s expenditure to around £125 million.
Arsenal are also in advanced talks to sign striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, with there being no sign of this deal collapsing just yet as Berta looks to end their long wait to bring in a prolific goalscorer
The Gunners could yet another attacking midfielder after Madueke too, as links still surround Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.
The 27-year-old would join Mikel Arteta’s side in a separate deal to his international teammate (Fabrizio Romano), following another electric campaign at Selhurst Park, where he racked up 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
Eze’s FA Cup-final-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Man City at Wembley ended the club’s history-long wait for a major trophy, but Palace face the very real prospect of losing their star man before deadline day on September 1.
Arsenal plan to contact Steve Parish over Eberechi Eze deal
The attacking midfielder joined Palace in a deal worth around £20 million from QPR in 2020, and he’s since justified that price tag time and time again.
His value has now more than tripled, with the Eagles holding steadfast in their demands for his full £68 million release clause to be paid.
That is according to The Guardian and journalist Ed Aarons, who also report that Arsenal are planning to contact Palace chairman Steve Parish directly about signing Eze, and he is unlikely to accept any proposal below the clause.
Reports suggest that Arsenal have held productive talks with Eze’s camp already, but formal negotiations are yet to open with the south London club, so this could be one to watch in the coming weeks.
Called a “sensational” footballer by members of the press, Sky Sports state that Arsenal are targeting their ex-academy ace to complement club captain Martin Odegaard in an attacking midfield, rather than out wide.
Glasgow Rangers are expected to make a bid to bring a Nike-sponsored attacker to Ibrox following their move for Thelo Aasgaard.
Rangers sign Thelo Aasgaard on four-year Ibrox deal
The Gers, new owners the 49ers Enterprises and manager Russell Martin have been busy so far at Ibrox this summer, with Aasgaard becoming the latest permanent addition from Luton Town.
An attacking midfielder, Aasgaard has cost those at Ibrox around £3.5m and has signed a four-year contract in Glasgow. Talking after completing his move to Scotland, Aasgaard said:
“When I heard about Rangers I was over the moon. I have played against the manager’s teams a few times and I always pictured myself in his team and to be here now is really good. It was an easy decision, I love the number of games here, it is like the EFL and I love playing. The stature and history is enough as well.”
Meanwhile, Martin was “delighted” at securing Aasgaard’s services: “We are delighted to bring Thelo to the club. He is a player who we have liked for a long time, and we believe he possesses the necessary qualities to thrive at this club and in this team. He wants to win and develop as a player, and we believe we can help him do both. His attributes will enhance the group and look forward to him getting to know his teammates on and off the pitch.”
A better signing than Djiga: Rangers exploring move for "lethal" £5m star
Rangers find out how much it will take to sign one of their main targets
ByRoss Kilvington Jul 6, 2025
Aasgaard joins Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez as Rangers’ summer signings, and by the looks of it, a new attacker is now wanted by Martin and co.
Rangers and 49ers set to make Weslley Patati bid
According to recent reports relayed by Ibrox News, Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Weslley Patati is a target for Rangers this summer.
It is claimed that the Gers are expected to make an offer for the Brazilian in the coming days, with Patati’s asking price of more than £8m.
A left-footed attacker, Patati is primarily a right-winger but can also turn out on the left or even as an attacking midfielder if required. Still just 21 years of age, Patati is already sponsored by Nike and currently holds a career-high €2.5m Transfermarkt valuation.
Weslley Patati stats 24/25
Games
39
Goals
13
Assists
10
Under contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv until 2027 after signing last year, Patati enjoyed a successful first season with the Israeli side, winning the league title in 2024/25.
As can be seen, he registered double figures for goals and assists, so a move for Patati could be a shrewd one by Rangers, considering the Gers have just Oscar Cortes, Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland as their only wing options at this moment in time.