LIVERPOOL MAY HAVE ALREADY FOUND THEIR MOHAMED SALAH REPLACEMENT

There is a standout candidate being tipped to replace the Egyptian King

GOODBYE: MOHAMMED SALAH
REUTERS

Liverpool may have already found their replacement for Mohammed Salah.

The Egyptian star announced on Tuesday that this season will be his last for the Reds, calling time on a trophy-laden nine-year spell on Merseyside.

Salah will hope to add to his bursting trophy cabinet during his final months at the club, having already picked up two Premier League winners' medals and lifted the Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

It has been reported that talks between Liverpool and Salah over a summer exit have been ongoing for months, with the idea of cutting his contract short first discussed in December.

Salah signed a new two-year deal last summer, but has forfeited the final 12 months - valued at around £20million - to be allowed to leave Anfield on a free transfer.

It has allowed Liverpool to begin casting their eye over potential replacements, and one name is ringing louder than others.

Yan Diomande is the favourite with the bookmakers to be Salah's replacement at Anfield.

The RB Leipzig star has been attracting interest from Europe's top clubs after a stellar first season in the Bundesliga, which has seen him rise to prominence after making his breakthrough with Leganes in La Liga.

Premier League pair Anthony Gordon and Jarrod Bowen are joint-second in the market, followed closely by Tottenham duo Dejan Kulusevski and Mohamed Kudus, and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh.

The cheapest option may prove to be Harry Wilson, who left Liverpool to join Fulham and is currently set to be a free agent in the summer. Much like Salah, Christian Pulisic left Chelsea to prove his worth elsewhere and is now an attractive option at AC Milan.

Perhaps more eye-catching options include Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola, both of Paris Saint-Germain, while Rodrygo has regularly been tipped to leave Real Madrid.

Mohamed Salah replacement odds

Yan Diomande: 3/1

Anthony Gordon: 4/1

Jarrod Bowen: 4/1

Dejan Kulusevski: 5/1

Mohamed Kudus: 5/1

Harry Wilson: 5/1

Yankuba Minteh: 5/1

Christian Pulisic: 7/1

Rodrygo: 8/1

Kenan Yildiz: 8/1

Michael Olise: 10/1

Desire Doue: 12/1

Bradley Barcola: 12/1

(Odds via BettingLounge, subject to change.)

- ALEX YOUNG

ARSENAL IS STACKING UP AMMUNITION AS A MOVE TO ACQUIRE RODRYGO IS IN MOTION

Arsenal have settled on an offer of €60M with a further €20M in “achievable” bonuses for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo. 

Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is willing to accept such an approach, as the Brazilian has not established himself as a starter this season.

Rodrygo has only played 24% of the available minutes for Madrid this season, after hardly featuring at the Club World Cup.

(Source: Football365)

STAT ATTACK: REAL MADRID NOW THE TEAM WITH MOST PENALTIES IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY

Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images
 

Real Madrid edged past Olympique de Marseille with a 2-1 win in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It was a closely-fought match ultimately decided by two penalties for the home team, converted by superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Most penalties in UCL history

Spanish statistician Alexis María Martín-Tamayo Blázquez – better known as MisterChip – revealed on his X account that with the second penalty against Marseille, Real Madrid have now been awarded 63 penalties in the Champions League.

That tally sees the 15-time winners surpass Bayern Munich to become the club with the most penalties in the competition’s history.

Bayern Munich occupy the second place with 62 penalties awarded while Barcelona are third, with 56 spot-kicks given in their favour so far.

Controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s second penalty

Real Madrid were awarded the first penalty in the first half for a poor challenge on Rodrygo Goes by Geoffrey Kondogbia and Mbappe had no problem tucking it away.

The second one came after the half-time break for a handball by Facundo Medina and the Frenchman found the back of the net from the penalty spot again.

However, the referee’s decision to award Real Madrid the penalty for the handball sparked some controversy, with Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi and director Medhi Benatia both questioning the call.

"The second penalty was a bit embarrassing, and I would say that if it had been awarded to me,” De Zerbi said, as quoted by MARCA.

“It’s a very difficult penalty to accept, but I already experienced it here seven years ago (with Juventus in 2018). I have the same feeling,” Benatia noted, insinuating favourable treatment towards Real Madrid.

 - Raghavendra Goudar

REAL MADRID 'PHENOMENON' RODRYGO MAKES ARSENAL TRANSFER DECISION AFTER £59M 'OFFER' REPORTS

Rodrygo has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo has decided to snub interest from Arsenal to stay at the La Liga club for now, according to reports.

The Gunners are looking to bring in reinforcements this summer after ending a third season in a row in second place in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s side failed to pick up any silverware and now the Arsenal boss and sporting director Andrea Berta are looking to improve, especially going forward.

Martin Zubimendi is one transfer that is ‘done and signed’ despite recent reports insisting that Real Madrid could still have a say in where the Real Sociedad midfielder ends up.

And it looks as if Arsenal are hoping to tie up deals for a striker and winger next with Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg “totally convinced” that RB Leipzig striker Sesko will end up at the Emirates Stadium.

Plettenberg said on Sunday: “I have a very good feeling on Sesko moving to Arsenal. Meetings have already taken place. RB Leipzig are expecting the first offer from Arsenal for Benjamin Sesko next week.

“I am totally convinced Sesko will play for Arsenal next season.”

There have been many links with potential wingers over the past couple of months with Nico Williams and Rodrygo particularly heavily linked.

Reports over the weekend claimed that Arsenal are ‘willing to submit a 70 million euro [£59m] offer to try and get him away’ from Real Madrid this summer.

But now Spanish newspaper AS claim that Rodrygo ‘has decided to stay’ at Real Madrid unless it becomes clear that Xabi Alonso doesn’t want him at the club.

AS writes:

‘There were even rumors that he was more out than in the squad for the 2025-26 season.

‘The São Paulo native, however, has made a complete about-face: when everyone pointed him out as a potential sale in this summer transfer window, he has decided to stay until he sees what happens with his future. And the first few days with the change of coach are doing him phenomenal.’

Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has labelled Rodrygo “a phenomenon” and says he would love to have his Brazil team-mate in the Gunners side next season.

Gabriel said: “I don’t [know if he is joining] but I’d like [him to] obviously. He’s a phenomenon. I’ve told people already, he’s a phenomenon! If it was up to me, of course.”

- Joe Williams

REAL MADRID MISS TOP EIGHT AND WILL FACE MAN CITY OR CELTIC

Real Madrid must go through the Champions League play-offs and a tie against either Manchester City or Celtic after failing to finish in the top eight despite comfortably beating Brest.

A Rodrygo double and Jude Bellingham's strike secured a win for the reigning champions, who needed a win in France to stand a chance of an automatic place in the round of 16.

But results elsewhere mean Carlo Ancelotti's side must play an extra two-legged tie if they are to defend their title.

Brest also go into the knock-out play-offs in their debut Champions League campaign.

After a slow start, Madrid assumed control in Guingamp and deservedly took the lead after 27 minutes through a fine goal from Rodrygo.

The Brazilian, who now has 10 goals in as many matches, cut inside a defender on his right foot, before shimmying back onto his left and striking a low effort in off the far post.

Madrid suffered a mighty scare as Ludovic Ajorque squeezed home a shot deflected off Aurelin Tchouameni, only to be determined narrowly offside following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

Instead, Bellingham made it 2-0 after 57 minutes when he finished from Lucas Vazquez's cutback, and Rodrygo added a third by turning in the rebound from a Marco Bizot save.

Victories for Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa meant it was mathematically impossible for Madrid to reach the top eight no matter their result.

Instead the European champions finish 11th, and will face one of Manchester City or Celtic in the play-offs with the draw to be made on Friday.

Brest come 18th, and will face Benfica or Ligue 1 rivals Paris St-Germain in the next round.

Madrid made to pay for slow start

Rodrygo (left) has scored 10 goals across his last 10 Real Madrid matches

Madrid have been in fine form of late, and have now won their last five games while scoring 20 goals in the process.

But their slow start to this Champions League campaign, in which they lost three of their first six matches, has ultimately cost them automatic progress to the round of 16.

Their vaunted attack in particular has found their touch too late - Rodrygo is now scoring at will, but only after going two and a half months without a goal.

Similarly Mbappe now seems to have adapted to his Real role as a central number nine, but the teething problems that were so evident earlier this campaign - such as the damaging loss at Liverpool - have still cost Madrid in the end.

It means Madrid must now go through an extra two play-off games in order to defend the title they regard as their birthright. While they will be well fancied to reach the last 16 and go further, it will be a sore point for Europe's most successful side that they have to take this road at all.

Brest, by comparison, will be thrilled to have reached the knockout stages of their first ever Champions League campaign.

The French side made a blistering start by going unbeaten in their first four league stage matches, but four winless games in the back half have cost them a top eight finish.

Eric Roy's side did have a tough draw - they are the first debutants to lose to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the same Champions League campaign since Leeds in 2000-01.

- Emma Smith, BBC Sport journalist

REAL MADRID'S RODRYGO 'UPSET' BY BALLON D'OR SNUB

Rodrygo told ESPN he was "upset" at his omission from this week's men's Ballon d'Or shortlist, after helping Real Madrid win a LaLiga and Champions League double last season.

Club teammates Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos -- since retired -- Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Carvajal were nominated, as well as Madrid's summer signing Kylian Mbappé, but there was no place for Rodrygo on the 30-man list.

"I was upset, I think I deserved it," Rodrygo told ESPN in an exclusive interview on Sunday. "I don't want to belittle the players who are there, but I think I had a place in the 30. It was a surprise... But there's not much I can do, I'm not the one who decides these things."

The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on Oct. 28.

Rodrygo scored 10 goals in 34 LaLiga appearances last season, as well as finding the net five times in the Champions League.

His place in the Madrid team has come under pressure with the arrival of Mbappé, although coach Carlo Ancelotti has continued to pick him as part of a three-man forward line so far this campaign.

In a recent social media post, Rodrygo published a series of photos of himself lifting trophies with Madrid, accompanied by a laughing emoji, which he admitted was intended to make fun of his Ballon d'Or snub.

"I made a somewhat mocking post," Rodrygo told ESPN. "Now there's not much to say. Everyone knows my indignation. Everyone [has supported me], both in the national team and at Real Madrid. People sent messages."

Rodrygo admitted that his versatility has inhibited his progress, especially with Brazil, who play Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

The forward scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory over Ecuador this weekend.

"Often, I'm just filling spaces," Rodrygo said. "Is someone missing there? Put Rodrygo in. Is someone missing on the right? Rodrygo. Is someone missing as No. 9? Rodrygo. That's it. It may get in my way a little, but I'm a team player."

Rodrygo was asked about Madrid and Brazil teenager Endrick, who has been given the ironic nickname "Bobby" by teammates after citing England legend Bobby Charlton as one of his idols.

"Now he has become Bobby!" Rodrygo told ESPN. "He is no longer Endrick. He's become Bobby, that's it. There's nothing to be done, if he gets angry, it's worse!"

- Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ SAYS REAL MADRID HAVE 'NO LIMIT' AFTER SUPER CUP WIN

Kylian Mbappé said there's "no limit" to how many goals he and Real Madrid can score this season, after getting off the mark in his debut as the club lifted the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-0 win over Atalanta.

After a tight first half in Warsaw, Poland, Federico Valverde opened the scoring in the 59th minute, converting Vinícius Júnior's cross, before Mbappé scored his first Madrid goal nine minutes later from a slick attacking move involving Rodrygo , Vinícius and Jude Bellingham.

"We're at Real Madrid, we have no limit, I have no limit," Mbappé told Movistar after the match on Wednesday when he was asked whether 50 goals was a realistic target for him this season. "If I can score 50 goals, it's 50. But the most important thing is to win and improve as a team, because we're going to win as a team."

Mbappé joined Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, signing a five-year contract and ending a long-running, high-profile transfer saga.

The France international started the Super Cup game -- which pitted the winners of last season's Champions League, Madrid, against the Europa League winners, Italy's Atalanta -- and played as a central striker, just a week after joining up with his new teammates for preseason training.

"A great night," Mbappé said. "I've been waiting for this moment a long time, to play in this shirt, with this badge, for these fans. It's a great moment for me.

"Winning a trophy is very important, we know that [at Madrid] we always have to win. I'm very happy, for sure with the goal, for a forward like me, being decisive in my first game, but more importantly it's a pleasure to play."

Madrid lined up with Brazilians Vinícius and Rodrygo either side of Mbappé, and Bellingham behind him, in an attacking side picked by coach Carlo Ancelotti.

- Alex Kirkland, ESPN FC

NEYMAR PREDICTS CHELSEA-BOUND ESTÊVÂO WILL BE A GENIUS

Estêvão Willian will join Chelsea from Palmeiras in 2025. Getty

 Brazil star Neymar has predicted Palmeiras teenage forward Estêvão Willian "will be a genius."

Estêvão will join Chelsea in July 2025 on a permanent transfer from Palmeiras in a deal worth a reported €61.5 million ($66m).

The 17-year-old has impressed for Palmeiras at youth level and was promoted to the first team earlier this year.

''He is a great talent that is emerging in Brazilian football today," Neymar said of Estêvão.

"I think he's going to be a genius."

With Neymar, Brazil's all-time top scorer, sidelined for Copa América with a knee injury, in-form Real Madrid pair Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are expected to lead Brazil's attack.

"Brazil's key player? For me I think it's Rodrygo," Neymar said. "Vini [Vinícius] will play everything he knows but I think Rodrygo is very different. He's a star and the no. 10 shirt will definitely bring him a lot of luck."

Rodrygo will wear the No.10 shirt for Brazil at Copa América, a shirt that has been graced in the past by the likes of Pele, Zico, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar.

"I know my responsibility, I know that every day I have to be better," Rodrygo said.

"I know that the eyes of the whole world will be on me there with that t-shirt, so I'm prepared to continue doing things well to respond to what they expect.

"I always try to make this clear to him [Neymar], that even though I'm wearing the No.10 shirt now, it's his shirt. I'm just substituting for a moment. People are waiting for him to return."

- Adriana Garcia

REAL MADRID BEATS MANCHESTER CITY 4-3 ON PENALTIES TO ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINALS

AP Photo 

 MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Real Madrid weathered the storm, silenced the crowd and ultimately ended Manchester City’s brief hold on the Champions League.

The all-time kings of Europe moved a step closer to a record-extending 15th title in the competition they have dominated after a 4-3 win Wednesday on penalties at Etihad Stadium.

But not before being pushed to the limit by defending champion City.

“I was pretty much dead on my feet at the end,” Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham said. “It’s so difficult. They are continuously probing with the ball and move you around. Most teams would fall apart when City get on top of you, but we stood up really well.”

The game had gone to the uncertainty of a shootout after ending 1-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate.

City dominated the chances after going behind to Rodrygo’s goal in the 12th minute, but only had Kevin de Bruyne’s leveler in the 76th to show for its superiority, which included 64% of possession and 18 corners to Madrid’s one through extra time.

That counted for little as Antonio Rudiger struck the decisive spot kick after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic both saw their penalties saved.

“In this competition, that’s the way football happens,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “In other sports, for (these) statistics, we would have won.”

AP Photo 

Guardiola had few complaints. He accepted his team had failed to capitalize against a Madrid team that was forced to defend deep against wave after wave of attack.

Erling Haaland hit the bar with one header in the first half De Bruyne sent an effort sailing over from inside the box in the second.

Madrid dug deep, held on and now faces Bayern Munich in the semifinals after the Germans beat Arsenal 1-0 on Wednesday and 3-2 on aggregate.

“Today it came down to mentality," Bellingham said.

The defeat ended City’s bid to become the first English team to win back-to-back Champions League titles and its pursuit of successive trebles. It is still challenging for the Premier League title and FA Cup.

Victory for Madrid saw the Spanish giant advance to the semifinals for the fourth year in row — denying City the chance to emulate that feat.

“This was about survival,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "Madrid is a club based on always fighting to stay in situations where there seems to be no way out – but we always find a way. By the time the penalty shoot-out came, we were totally convinced we’d go through.”

AP Photo 

Ancelotti has already won the Champions League a record four times as a coach — one more than Guardiola — and could extend that record by lifting the trophy for a third time with Madrid.

For Guardiola it is back to the drawing board after watching his team to relinquish the trophy it won for the first time last year and ending his own 12-year wait to triumph again in European club soccer's most demanding competition.

“I have to say thank you to these players from deep in my heart because the way they played. But football is about winning and we didn’t do enough, yet we were exceptional," he said.

This was the third straight season Madrid and City have clashed in the Champions League in what is becoming a classic rivalry. The winner of their meetings going on to win the competition in each of the past two years.

Madrid avenged last year's loss when its defense of the trophy was ended by a 4-0 rout at the hands of City in the semifinals.

England midfielder Bellingham was pivotal to Madrid’s opener with a moment of brilliance to open City up. Collecting a high ball just past the halfway line, he shook off the attention of Rodri with a deft touch to wrong-foot his opponent.

AP Photo 

The ball was worked to Vinícius Junior on the right who crossed to Rodrygo, who beat Ederson at the second attempt after his first shot was saved.

That pressure eventually paid off when De Bruyne leveled the game, lifting the ball high into the net after Rudiger could only partially clear a cross from substitute Jeremy Doku.

With no further goals in extra time, the game went to a shootout and City immediately seized the advantage after Julian Alvarez converted his opening penalty and Luka Modric’s effort was saved.

But Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin then saved successive spot kicks from Silva and Kovacic to swing the balance in the visitors’ favor. Silva’s attempt was right down the middle and easily caught chest-high by Lunin.

It came down to Rudiger to take the winning kick that sent Madrid fans wild and City supporters home.

“We suffered a lot tonight because City really put you under the cosh (pressure)," Madrid captain Nacho said. “But we are Real Madrid. We always, always fight until the very end.”

- Job Robson 

XAVI SAYS 'SORRY' TO BARCELONA'S FANS AFTER CLASICO LOSS IN SUPARCOPA

The loss against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final will increase the pressure on Barcelona manager Xavi as his team sits fourth in the LaLiga standings. Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández repeatedly apologized to the club's supporters after Sunday's 4-1 humbling at the hands of Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.

Vinícius Júnior scored a first-half hat-trick at Al-Awwal Park, including two in the first 10 minutes, and Rodrygo Goes completed the rout in the second half as Madrid inflicted revenge on Barça for last year's defeat in the final.

Robert Lewandowski had briefly helped Barça back into the game at 2-1, but Vinícius' third goal, via a penalty, killed off any hopes of a Clásico comeback before the break.

"I am disappointed and sad," Xavi told Movistar after the match. "This is football and today we have to deal with the painful side of the game.

"It is a shame. We had a lot of hope going into the final and we've produced our worst performance. We started badly, we had a chance to come back, but the penalty killed the game.

"We were never comfortable. Madrid did a lot of damage on the counter and in transition. We apologise to the fans, we didn't compete, but I've experienced a lot of defeats with this club. Barça will come back."

REAL MADRID ADVANCE IN COPA DEL REY AS GÜLER MAKES DEBUT

Real Madrid easily handled fourth-division club Arandina 3-1 and moved into the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

Joselu, Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo scored for the defending Copa champions, who also finally debuted young Turkey international Arda Güler after a series of injuries.

Real Madrid dominated, controlled possession and didn't allow Arandina to threaten much until they were given a late own-goal by Madrid defender Nacho Fernández.