Transfer Probe Underway

GM football fans. It’s Thursday, Jan. 09 – Liverpool’s not for sale, Saudi Pro League under pressure after a transfer probe, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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FIXTURES

Spanish Supercopa, Semi-Final: Real Madrid vs Mallorca, 19:00 / 14:00. Mallorca may take some confidence from the fact that they held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw when the two sides last met at Son Moix on the opening weekend of the season. But Los Blancos are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions.

FA Cup, 3rd Round: Sheffield United vs Cardiff, 19:00 / 14:00. Sheffield United have progressed from their last six FA Cup third-round ties against sides from the same tier. Everton vs Peterborough, 19:45 / 14:45. Everton have won just one of their last five FA Cup games, but the Toffees have progressed from 14 of their last 15 FA Cup ties against lower league opposition. Fulham vs Watford, 19:45 / 14:45. Fulham are unbeaten in their last five, while Watford’s form has been less than desirable with four losses in the same amount of games.

Results...

• English League Cup, Semi-Final: Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool (Match Report)

• Spanish Supercopa, Semi-Final: Athletic Club 0-2 Barcelona (Match Report)

• Scottish Premiership: Celtic 2-0 Dundee Utd | Kilmarnock 0-0 Motherwell

TOP TALKING POINTS

Liverpool Not For Sale

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have no desire to sell the Merseyside club to Elon Musk, the world’s richest person. This follows a radio interview where Musk’s father claimed his son would “love to buy Liverpool [FC]”. See previous write-up here.

Sources (unconfirmed) suggest that Musk and Liverpool’s owners have not been in contact. Insiders also insist that FSG does not want to hold any such discussion and is not taking the claims made during the radio interview seriously.

In February 2023 FSG owner John Henry moved to quash speculation about a sale, saying, "Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling LFC? Have we sold anything in the past 20+ years?" Later that year FSG sold a minority stake to US investment firm Dynasty Equity.

Saudi Transfer Probe

English clubs have been warned about selling players to Saudi Pro League teams. The warning comes after Welsh champions The New Saints lodged a complaint with Fifa over unpaid transfer fees.

The New Saints owner and chairman Mike Harris claims that Al-Orobah have failed to pay any of the £190,000 fee they agreed when they signed striker Brad Young in September. Fifa confirmed that it had received the complaint and the case is due to go to the Fifa Players’ Status Chamber for a decision next week.

The SPL was once one of seven countries that professional footballers were advised against moving to in 2023 due to non-payment of salaries becoming “a recurring problem.” However, cases reported to Fifa have fallen after the league privately recognised (paywall) that this could not continue as it chased a new and improved image.

Bellingham Tops Value List

Jude Bellingham is the most valuable player in the world, according to CIES Football Observatory’s latest transfer ranking. The Englishman, under contract with Real Madrid until 2029, tops the list with a value of €251m.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland (€221m) and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior (€206m) complete the podium despite contracts extending only until 2027. The youngest player on the list Lamine Yamal, 17, ranks fourth on the list with a transfer value of €180m. Now 26, Kylian Mbappe’s €175m transfer value places him the fifth-highest.

Three Premier League players, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, one from the Bundesliga, Florian Wirtz, and a fourth Real Madrid footballer, Brazil's Rodrygo, also feature in the top 10. Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres is the only player to feature on the list who plays outside the big five leagues.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> West Ham confirm the sacking of Julen Lopetegui after eight months; Graham Potter agrees to take charge (More) | Marcus Rashford’s agent travels to Italy to meet with AC Milan representatives ahead of a potential loan move (More) | Ange Postecoglou has said that even Mohamed Salah would struggle in his Tottenham side (More)

> A Premier League player, in his 30s, has been accused of sexual offences between 2021 and 2023; the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing a file of evidence (More)

> Raphinha has admitted that players will “think twice” before joining Barcelona after the Dani Olmo registration saga (More); the club has been given interim permission to register Olmo and Victor after appealing (More) | Vinicius Jr has been suspended for the next two games in La Liga; he’ll still be able to feature in the Spanish Super Cup (More)

> Didier Deschamps has decided to leave his position as manager of France after the 2026 World Cup; Zinedine Zidane is leading the way to replace him (More)

Americas

> San Diego Wave FC have announced Jonas Eidevall as the club’s new head coach; he becomes the second full-time head coach in the club’s history (More) | Seattle Reign FC sign former Rutgers defender Emily Mason for the 2025 NWSL season (More)

> Sporting Kansas City have transferred forward Alan Pulido to LIGA MX side Chivas Guadalajara for an undisclosed fee (More)

> Former Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has been appointed as Costa Rica's head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup (More)

Rest of the World

> Indonesia appoint Patrick Kluivert as men's national team coach (More)

> Yaya Toure has received his UEFA Pro License ahead of his new career as head coach (More) | Nigeria appoint former Mali boss Eric Chelle as the new head coach of its men's national side (More)

> Julian Draxler has signed a contract extension at Al-Ahli until 2028 (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday’s poll: Do you think knockout ties should be decided over a single leg or two legs?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🦵 Single leg... (53%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ✌️ Two legs... (43%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (3%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🦵 L.E: “Single legs encourage a better game, but, two-legged knock-outs only fatten the wallets of organisers.”

• ✌️ K.R.C: “I don’t believe it would be fair to have one match unless it were played at a neutral stadium. One at each club's home field seems more fair to me, plus the fans win with at least one more match at home.”

• ✍️ F.G: “Depends on the competition. I think European ties should be 2 legs, domestic ties should be a single leg, semi-finals at neutral venues.”

EXTRA TIME

First-ever VAR in-stadium announcement in English football during Spurs-Liverpool.

The top 50 greatest football shirts.

Opta’s release the latest Championship predictions.

Ranking the 100 best attacking players in Europe based on data.

How the role of a goalkeeper changed.

Isak’s confusing journey to Premier League stardom.

How does the money and tax work when playing in Saudi Arabia? (video)

Meet Everton’s wonder team of 1931. (via X)

ESPN makes bold predictions for the rest of the year.

Which football teams have won the league without a shirt sponsor?

Sean Dyche breaks down the key principles of the 4-4-2 formation. (video)

GAME FACE ON

Question: Aleksander Isak has now scored in seven consecutive Premier League matches for Newcastle United, becoming the third player to do so for the Magpies after who?

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

FA Cup 3rd Round

• Sheffield United vs Cardiff (19:00)

• Everton vs Peterborough 19:45)

• Fulham vs Watford (19:45)

Spanish Supercopa Semi-Final

• Real Madrid vs Mallorca (19:00)

Scottish Premiership

• Dundee vs Rangers (20:00)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CST -6. PST -8. MST -7. CET +1.

Answer

Alan Shearer (September-November 1996) and Joe Willock (April-May 2021).