Mikel Merino
January 2026
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino had surgery on a fractured foot and posted an upbeat recovery message, but faces a spell out with a rare injury type, per Arteta. Merino was hurt in Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United. Arteta said the case is unusual and depends on post-surgery healing and monitoring. Merino confirmed the operation is done and signalled his intent to return as soon as the recovery process allows.
Michael Carrick
February 2026
Manchester United’s tentative talks about a revenue-friendly Middle East exhibition match have been paused, with Carrick’s appetite for the trip reportedly lower than under Amorim. Amorim previously argued the club needed commercial fixtures after missing Europe, but the current plan has been deprioritised. With a schedule gap after the West Ham match and before Everton, Carrick is instead expected to give the squad time off rather than travel.
Paul Green
February 2026
Chelsea confirmed Paul Green has left his Head of Women’s Football role, ending a 13-year spell that included major recruitment influence and a trophy haul of 19. Green joined in 2013 and helped build the programme through sustained domestic dominance, including multiple league and cup titles and a Champions League final appearance. He also contributed to appointing Bompastor as Hayes’ successor, with Bompastor delivering an unbeaten domestic treble in her first season.
Cristiano Ronaldo
February 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo is again being linked with an exit after sitting out matches in protest over Saudi league transfer politics, but reporting says Manchester United are not positioning themselves to bring him back for a third spell. Ronaldo is frustrated about how PIF-backed clubs have strengthened and has effectively applied pressure by missing games, while the league has publicly pushed back on any suggestion he can dictate decisions. Reports also claim a release clause could be triggered in the summer, keeping global interest alive even if United do not move.
Jérémy Jacquet
January 2026
Jeremy Jacquet suffered a left shoulder injury and may need surgery, putting the remainder of his 2025-26 season at risk before his planned summer move to Liverpool. Jacquet left Rennes’ 3-1 loss to Lens in significant discomfort. Reporting claims an operation could be required, and Rennes coach Habib Beye described the outlook as serious, with Jacquet set for weeks out at minimum and potentially missing the rest of the campaign through rehabilitation.
Kylian Mbappé
January 2026
Kylian Mbappé was filmed confronting the fourth official over an offside decision, using insulting language in the tunnel and again seeking an explanation before the second half. With the match 0-0 at the break, Mbappé challenged an offside call that he believed wrongly stopped a run on goal. Broadcast footage captured him demanding an explanation, being told it would be discussed inside, then insulting the official and later complaining again when he felt no explanation was given.
Cole Palmer
January 2026
Elliott’s loan at Villa cannot be terminated early because Liverpool would not waive the required termination fee and Villa would not pay it, leaving him unable to return and effectively sidelined. The loan reportedly lacks a standard unilateral recall clause; ending it required Villa to pay a cancellation fee. With no compromise, Elliott remains at a club where he is not being used, reportedly to avoid triggering a mandatory £35m clause.
Sandro Tonali
January 2026
Reports say Manchester United are lining up a summer move for Sandro Tonali as Casemiro nears the end of his deal, with Newcastle expected to demand around £100m and Juventus also interested. United are planning midfield reinforcements and Tonali is one of several targets, alongside Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton. Newcastle hold Tonali under contract to 2029 and would command a premium based on recent nine-figure midfield deals, and any sale would represent a major profit on their 2023 fee.
Erling Haaland
January 2026
Erling Haaland criticised the late VAR decision that disallowed Rayan Cherki’s stoppage-time goal at Anfield and instead sent off Dominik Szoboszlai, arguing officials should have allowed the goal rather than issuing a three-match ban. With Liverpool pushing forward, Cherki released Haaland through on goal. Szoboszlai pulled Haaland back, Haaland then pulled Szoboszlai as the ball trickled in. VAR ruled the goal out for Haaland’s foul and dismissed Szoboszlai for denying a clear chance earlier in the move. Haaland said he felt bad for Szoboszlai and preferred the goal to stand.
Ousmane Dembélé
January 2026
PSG thrashed Marseille 5-0 in Le Classique to go top of Ligue 1, with Dembélé scoring twice including an outside-of-the-foot strike being touted online as a possible Puskas contender. PSG built a dominant win with an own goal credited to Facundo Medina plus goals from Kvaratskhelia and Lee, while Dembélé’s second came after driving in from the right and finishing with a creative outside-foot shot. Post-match he said PSG are “back” and aiming to win everything in the run-in.
