Manchester City are reportedly prepared to challenge European giants Real Madrid and Juventus for the signature of Elche wonderkid Rodrigo Mendoza. The Spain U21 international, who has a €20 million release clause, has attracted widespread interest following his eye-catching performances in La Liga, with Arsenal also reportedly in the picture.

Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Juventus target Rodrigo Mendoza

City are reportedly in a fierce battle with Real Madrid and Juventus to sign Elche's highly-rated midfielder Mendoza. The 20-year-old Spanish international, who has a €20 million release clause in his contract, has emerged as a top target for several European powerhouses.

According to Tuttosport, Manchester City have "been moving on" Mendoza, who has also been "followed by Real Madrid for a while." Juventus are also strongly interested in the youngster, challenging top clubs for his signature. A report from AS further adds Arsenal to the list of clubs monitoring the Elche talent.

Mendoza joined Elche's academy in 2019 and was promoted to their first team in 2022. He was part of the squad that secured promotion to the top flight. This season, he has already made 10 appearances for the La Liga side, including nine in the league where he has scored one goal, and one in the Copa del Rey where he also found the net, as per Transfermarkt. His rapid rise has not gone unnoticed by scouts across Europe.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportElche's efforts to retain Mendoza amid growing interest

Elche recognised Mendoza's burgeoning talent last summer when they reportedly turned down offers from Saudi Arabia for his services. In August, they moved to secure his long-term future by offering him an improved contract, extending his stay until 2028. This new deal, however, includes a €20 million release clause, which, while substantial, is considered "negotiable" and "certainly affordable" for clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

Mendoza's performances have been particularly notable, including a goal in nine La Liga matches and another in the Copa del Rey this season. He also impressed at the U20 World Cup and recently contributed an assist for Spain U21s in their 7-0 victory over San Marino, further cementing his reputation as a rising star.

Despite Elche's efforts to tie him down, the mounting interest from Europe's elite clubs suggests that his future at the club beyond the current season is increasingly uncertain.

Mendoza's playing style and tactical fit for interested clubs

Tuttosport describes Mendoza as a player who "needs a physical and dynamic midfielder next to him to perform at his best." This tactical insight offers a glimpse into how the interested clubs might integrate him into their respective systems.

For Juventus, the report notes that the club has "plenty of them," referring to dynamic midfield options such as Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, and even Teun Koopmeiners, should he be deployed in midfield after his successful stint in defence. Observers have also compared Mendoza's skillset to that of Barcelona star Pedri, suggesting a highly technical and creative player.

Real Madrid, known for their penchant for signing young, talented midfielders, have been tracking Mendoza for some time. Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, are also known for developing technically gifted players who can thrive in possession-based systems. The €20 million release clause makes him an attractive proposition for clubs seeking a long-term investment in midfield.

The race for Mendoza's signature extends beyond just the three European giants. Tuttosport also revealed that clubs from the Saudi Pro League and the Red Bull group had shown interest, with the latter attempting to bring him to Paris FC. Como, under the tutelage of Cesc Fabregas, were also reportedly hoping to add Mendoza to their youth Spanish contingent.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWhat next for Rodrigo Mendoza?

Mendoza's immediate future remains with Elche, where he is under contract until 2028. However, the upcoming January transfer window and the summer market of 2026 will likely be crucial in determining his next career move. With a €20 million release clause and fierce competition from top European clubs, a move to a major European powerhouse seems increasingly probable.

For Elche, the challenge will be to either retain their prized asset against overwhelming interest or to maximise his transfer fee. For Mendoza, the decision will involve choosing a club that best suits his developmental needs and tactical preferences, allowing him to continue his ascent in European football. Juventus, Manchester City, and Real Madrid will undoubtedly be closely monitoring his performances in the coming months as they prepare their strategies for his signature.

There were no real surprises in the squad picked for the World Cup

Sruthi Ravindranath19-Aug-20253:52

Nayar: India went for Rawal’s solidarity over Shafali’s flamboyance

Fast bowler Renuka Singh and allrounder Amanjot Kaur have returned from injuries and have been named in India’s Women’s World Cup squad.Shafali Verma, who fell out of favour in the ODI set-up last year, continues to miss out on selection, while Tejal Hasnabis and Sayali Satghare, who were all part of the recent ODI series against England, have been left out of the 15-member squad.Amanjot has, however, been rested for the three-match ODI series against Australia leading up to the World Cup, with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur saying she was at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence “working on a few small niggles”. Renuka has been named in that squad for the series, which starts on September 14 in New Chandigarh. Satghare will also play the three ODIs against Australia and will be replaced by Amanjot for the World Cup.Amanjot, who has risen through the ranks to become one of the key allrounders for India, missed the last two ODIs against England last month due to a flare up of a back injury. Renuka, meanwhile, has been out of international cricket since December 2024 with a stress fracture.”Renuka has been a precious player for us,” chief selector Neetu David said. “She had niggles and been out of the game, but is available. Is our main player. This is a main event, great she’s part of the team.”ESPNcricinfo LtdDavid said Shafali, who recently played in the three one-dayers for India A against Australia A in Brisbane, is still part of India’s ODI plans in the future. “Shafali played the Australia A series. She’s in the system, it’s not like she’s not. We’ve got our eyes on her. Hope she plays a lot more and garners experience, it’ll help serve India in the 50-overs format.”Kranti Goud, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the England ODIs, is among the pace bowlers in the squad alongside Renuka, Amanjot and Arundhati Reddy. Sneh Rana, who made an excellent comeback during the Sri Lanka tri-series, and Shree Charani are the two other specialist spinners in the squad, along with Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav.”We have Renuka and Kranti [to bowl] in the power play,” Harmanpreet said. “Then have Shree Charani, Deepti and Radha to bowl in the slog overs, Sneh Rana in the middle overs. We didn’t want to make a lot of changes and wanted continuity.”Pratika Rawal, who took over Shafali’s spot in the format last year and has been impressive across her 14 ODIs so far, is expected to continue opening alongside Smriti Mandhana. Harleen Deol, who has shown consistency with the bat in recent times, is expected to continue at No. 3, with Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues to follow at No. 4 and 5 respectively.Yastika Bhatia, who last played an ODI in October 2024, is also in the squad and will serve as a back-up option for wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. Though Satghare is not part of the World Cup squad, she is among the standbys alongside Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Uma Chetry and Minnu Mani. Bhatia made two fifties in the Australia A series, which Hasnabis, Mani and Rawat were also part of.Co-hosts India and Sri Lanka are set to begin the tournament on September 30. India have never won the ODI World Cup but have made the final twice, in 2005 and 2017.The selectors also picked up an India A squad that will play the warm-up match against South Africa on September 28. All six standbys for the main squad and Shafali are part of that team. India’s main team will play their warm-up against England on September 25.India squad for Australia ODIsHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh, Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, N Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Sneh RanaIndia’s World Cup squadHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh, Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, N Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Sneh RanaStandbys: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Uma Chetry (wk), Minnu Mani, Sayali SatghareIndia A squad for warm-up matchMinnu Mani (capt), Dhara Gujjar, Shafali Verma, Tejal Hasabnis, Vrinda Dinesh, Uma Chetry (wk), Nandini Kashyap (wk), Tanushree Sarkar, Tanuja Kanwer, Titas Sadhu, Sayali Satghare, Saima Thakor, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Raghvi Bist

تعرض أحد لاعبي فريق برشلونة للإصابة والتي تمثل ضربة قوية للنادي الكتالوني والمدرب هانز فليك، حسبما ذكرت تقارير صحفية وأكده الفريق في بيان رسمي.

وذكرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، يوم السبت، أن لاعب فريق برشلونة الرديف، تشافي إسبارت، تعرض لإصابة في فترة التوقف الدولي الحالي.

وأوضحت أن إسبارت يعاني من مشكلة على مستوى ركبته اليمنى، ولم يُعرف بعد ما إذا كان الرباط قد تأثر أم لا، ويرغب الجهاز الطبي في توخي الحذر قبل إصدار تشخيص نهائي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. برشلونة ينافس ثنائي الدوري الإنجليزي على صفقة إيونج

وبعد عدة ساعات، أصدر نادي برشلونة الرديف بيانًا رسميًا لتوضيح إصابة إسبارت، والتي كانت في الرباط الجانبي الداخلي لركبته اليمنى، وتُقدر مدة غيابه 8/10 أسابيع.

وأكد النادي أن إصابة إسبارت جاءت خلال تواجده في معسكر منتخب إسبانيا تحت 19 عامًا في الفترة الحالية.

وأشارت “سبورت إلى أن الظهير الأيمن كان يمثل لاعبًا موثوقًا به تحت قيادة المدرب هانز فليك، حتى أنه ضمه إلى تشكيلة الفريق الأول في المباريات الأخيرة، رغم أنه لم يلعب دقيقة واحدة.

وأفادت أن هانز فليك والطاقم الفني يقدران اللاعب بالنظر إلى طريقته قراءته للمباريات والحيوية التي يضفيها، ولكن تلك الإصابة تمثل انتكاسة خطيرة لتطوره، حيث كان من المتوقع أن يحصل على وقت للعب في الفترة المقبلة.

وكان هدف فليك أن يكون إسبارت بديلًا ممتازًا لـ جول كوندي، الذي لعب دقائق كثيرة ذلك الموسم، ويحتاج إلى راحة، ولكن إصابته ستجبر برشلونة على إعادة النظر في خططه ويضعه في مأزق جديد في فترة معقدة بالفعل.

A Champions League club have made an approach for Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier, with the Frenchman’s time at Elland Road likely to come to an end sooner rather than later.

The Whites have done well back in the Premier League so far this season, steering clear of the relegation zone and more than holding their own.

New signings have settled in well and last season’s Championship players have largely handled the step up to the top flight impressively, but one figure who hasn’t featured at all is Meslier.

The 25-year-old was once a highly-rated young goalkeeper of whom big things were expected, with some even predicting that he would be Hugo Lloris’ long-term replacement for France, but he has become an error-prone figure at Elland Road, leading to him being dropped last season.

It feels like a case of when Meslier departs Leeds rather than if, with Daniel Farke making it clear he isn’t an important figure, and it now looks as though his exit may not be too far away.

Champions League club make approach for Leeds ace Meslier

According to an update from Voetbal Krant [via Sport Witness], Club Brugge have made an approach for Leeds ‘keeper Meslier, as well as rivals Anderlecht.

They are hoping to strike a deal in the January transfer window, even though it is “not an easy proposition”, but his time with the Whites is still thought to be “coming to an end”.

It feels right for all parties for Meslier’s time at Leeds to reach its conclusion, with his current situation not helping anyone, in terms of having an out-of-favour player not featuring at all at the club.

The £30,000-a-week stopper will surely want to be starting games regularly at this point in his career, and that won’t happen with the Whites, with Farke brutally honest about his shortcomings last season.

“It’s fair to say he had a poor game against Hull and his mistake for the second goal was decisive. There were a few games where he could have and should have done better. There were perhaps one or two strikes where you would expect a player of his calibre could save it when he is on the top of his game. I spoke with Illan about this and although he has had many clean sheets and many good saves he could show this with more consistency. It’s important to be honest and open.”

Leeds now lining up January approach for Carvalho, could be ideal for Farke

The Whites are looking to strengthen their squad this winter, amid concerns about a lack of attacking firepower.

ByDominic Lund Oct 29, 2025

At 25 years of age, time is still on Meslier’s side, and he is a naturally gifted goalkeeper, but once the errors started creeping in at a more regular rate at Leeds, it became clear that he had no future at the club.

Leeds man was once the 'best in the league', now Farke needs to sell him

Wayne Rooney scored a sackful of brilliant goals during his illustrious career and he's proven he hasn't lost any of his world-class talent, despite turning 40 a few weeks ago, after scoring a thrilling overhead kick on popular TV show A League of Their Own. Rooney famously scored an iconic bicycle kick against Manchester City in 2011 and has rolled back the years during filming of the sports-based comedy panel gameshow.

• Rooney thrills the crowd with overhead stunner

  Rooney thrilled the watching studio audience after receiving a pass from host, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, he controlled it with his first touch, with the second he lifted the ball above his head and then acrobatically spun backwards and fired the ball over his head and into the (empty) net from a few yards out. The audience roared their approval and Rooney was quickly joined in celebrations by Ranganathan and his team-mates on the evening, fellow ex-pro Jamie Redknapp and comedian Alex Brooker. 

Advertisement

• Watch Rooney's bicycle kick brilliance

• Rooney rolls back the years

  Rooney’s goal on the brought back memories of another overhead kick he scored during his playing days, a stunning strike for United against rivals City. The former England striker scored 253 goals during playing days at United, but his sensational goal against City in February 2011, at Old Trafford is etched in football history as one of the Premier League's most iconic. The score was level at 1-1 in the Manchester derby when the moment of magic arrived in the 78th minute. A cross from Nani was deflected high into the air, and with his back to goal, Rooney launched himself into an acrobatic bicycle kick. The ball soared into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Joe Hart stunned. Rooney himself admitted it wasn't his best game, but his pure instinct and spectacular technique produced a goal that secured a crucial 2-1 victory for United on their way to winning the league title that season. The strike was later voted the best goal in Premier League history. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Public spat with Virgil van Dijk

  After taking time to consider his stinging comments, Rooney has conceded he was wrong to claim Virgil van Dijk had "downed tools" after signing a new deal at Liverpool. The row had threatened to boil over as the pair clashed live on TV, but Rooney has moved to cool the disagreement and also offered Van Dijk advice on how to get the champions' faltering season back on track

  Rooney, speaking on , said: "My job now is to give my opinions, and I like to think I'm straight and honest with my opinions and how I feel. The one thing where I maybe went a bit too strong is where I said he’s downed tools since he signed his new contract – that's a big thing to say, and maybe I was wrong on that. But from a performance level, from what we’ve seen from Van Dijk, I don’t think he's been at that level this season, and I said I’m sure as captain he'd be speaking to players, taking them out for food, which he said he has done. Clearly if he's felt he’s done that, if he had to do that, there’s something not right."

  He added: "As champions, you can’t lose four games in a row. If you lose one game, there’s questions, and if you lose four in a row, there’s something not quite right. I think getting involved too much in the outside noise – that’s our job (as pundits), focus on your game. As a younger player, I’d be looking at Van Dijk and how he reacts to this – how is it going to help them? You have to get on with your game and speak internally."

Interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has had a brilliant start to his return to Parkhead with two wins in his first two matches in the dugout.

He masterminded a 4-0 win over Falkirk in his first game back, despite the Hoops having lost their last two matches in the Scottish Premiership prior to that outing.

The experienced manager then led his team to the final of the League Cup with a 3-1 win over Rangers, after extra time, at Hampden Park on Sunday.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not O’Neill will still be in the dugout when that final rolls around, as the Hoops are still looking for their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers.

The former Celtic manager tendered his resignation at the start of last week, after a 3-1 loss to Hearts, but the club do not seem particularly close to making an appointment at this moment in time.

As part of their process to find their next manager, the Scottish giants should be looking for someone who has a better record of competing in Europe.

Why Celtic need an upgrade on Brendan Rodgers in Europe

There is no doubt that Rodgers was excellent for the Hoops on the whole when it came to competing domestically, as he won four trophies in his two full seasons back at Parkhead.

The former Liverpool and Leicester City head coach won the Premiership title in both of those campaigns, although he did leave the club eight points adrift of Hearts last week.

However, Rodgers struggled in Europe throughout both of his spells in charge of Celtic, in both the Champions League and the Europa League.

The Hoops reached the play-off round, just before the last 16, in the Champions League last season, only to lose to Bayern Munich, after the change in format to a league phase.

That is the furthest that any of Rodgers’ Celtic teams managed to go in any European competition across six seasons at the club, though, as they never reached as much as a quarter-final.

The Northern Irish manager has won six and lost 18 of his 36 matches in the Champions League as a manager, which includes one win in six games at Liverpool, per Transfermarkt.

These statistics show that Rodgers has struggled in European competitions throughout his career, which is why he may not have been the right man to push Celtic forward in the Champions League or the Europa League.

It is also why the Hoops board should be looking for a head coach who has the potential to help the club to kick on in Europe, in order to compete for trophies on the continent as well as in Scotland.

Plenty of managers have already been linked with replacing Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead, but there is one in particular who could be a key upgrade on Rodgers.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

It was recently reported that the Scottish giants have approached Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen as they look to establish a shortlist of options for the role.

The report claimed that the Hoops will look to use the lure of big wages to tempt him to make the move from the Belgian club, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will be a successful approach.

Why Celtic should appoint Nicky Hayen

Celtic should push to bring Hayen to Parkhead to be the long-term replacement for Rodgers because his success at Club Brugge, domestically and in Europe, has been very impressive.

The Belgian boss, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, won the Pro League as an interim manager at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, before finishing second to USG by three points last term, per Transfermarkt.

Hayen won the Belgian Cup last season, though, and the Belgian Super Cup at the start of the current campaign, which means that he has won three trophies in roughly 18 months as the interim and permanent manager.

The Celtic target’s biggest selling point as a manager, however, should be his side’s impressive performance in Europe, as he reached the last 16 of the Champions League in the 2024/25 campaign, which is further than Rodgers after took the club.

As you can see in the table above, Hayen also reached the semi-finals of the Conference League in the 2023/24 campaign, winning in the quarter-finals before losing the semi to Fiorentina.

The Club Brugge boss, who was hailed as a “workaholic” by his former chairman Rob Edwards, has won as many Champions League games in 15 matches and 18 months as their manager as Rodgers has in his entire career, with 36 games under his belt.

This suggests that he would arrive at Parkhead as an upgrade on the Northern Irish head coach when it comes to competing on the European stage with the Hoops, as he has achieved more in less than two seasons than Rodgers managed in over four seasons with the Bhoys.

Hayen, who was described as “tactically unbeatable” by one scout on X, has shown that he can compete domestically, with trophies in Belgium with Brugge, as well as on the European stage.

That is why the 4-2-3-1 manager could be a perfect fit for Celtic as an upgrade on Rodgers to help them kick on in Europe this season and in the future.

Not just Osmand: O'Neill has another future superstar for Celtic's next boss

Celtic have another future superstar who is as exciting as Callum Osmand in their academy.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 3, 2025

On top of his success in the Conference League and Champions League, Hayen has also won all four of his Champions League qualifiers, which is noteworthy after Celtic lost to Kairat in the play-off round this season.

Manny Machado is feeling good for the first time in years.

The six-time All-Star had surgery on a long lingering right elbow injury in October of 2023 and was never fully healthy during the 2024 season. Despite that, he put up excellent numbers. Now, he says he's finally fully healthy.

On Monday, Machado met with the media at spring training and was asked about his health. When asked if he was ever at 100% during the 2024 campaign, the 32-year-old said, "No."

In a follow-up, he was asked when was he last at 100% and with a laugh he said, "Today. And then it's back to not being at 100%."

When asked to clarify if he arriving at starting spring training at 100% he said, "Today? Yes. Yeah, absolutely."

Machado started slowly in 2024, but wound up putting together an excellent campaign. He finished the year slashing .275/.325/.472 with 29 home runs, 105 RBIs, a .797 OPS, a wRC+ of 122 and 3.6 fWAR. He was named second-team All-MLB and helped lead the Padres to within one game of the National League championship series.

A fully healthy Machado could be a big problem for opponents in 2025.

Roki Sasaki took the mound for the first time as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday as he threw live batting practice to some of his new teammates. The 23-year old's fastball and slider were reportedly on full display as he began a new chapter of his baseball life.

On Friday morning the Dodgers rookie announced that he was also beginning a new chapter of his personal life. In an Instagram post with a picture of two Dodgers hats Sasaki announced that he had gotten married. Since he's new to MLB fans, the announcement wasn't quite as unexpected as Shohei Ohtani's during Spring Training last year, but it was still pretty amusing.

According to Google Translate Sasaki thanked everyone for their support and said he had married a "non-celebrity" and was full of "hope and anxiety" as he begins his new personal and professional life.

The wedding vows probably don't translate perfectly either, but as long as his pitches do, the couple should be all set for a happy marriage.

Sasaki will make his Cactus League debut next week.

Four match referees and 14 umpires form the 18-member group that will officiate in India and Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2025

The upcoming women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka will feature an all-female line-up of match officials. On Thursday, the ICC announced the panel of four match referees and 14 umpires, featuring women from nine countries for the tournament that runs from September 30 to November 2.The match referees are Trudy Anderson (New Zealand), Shandre Fritz (South Africa), GS Lakshmi (India) and Michell Pereira (Sri Lanka).The on-field and TV umpires are Sue Redfern (England), Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan (Australia), Candace la Borde and Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Kim Cotton (New Zealand), Sarah Dambanevana (Zimbabwe), Shathira Jakir Jesy (Bangladesh), Kerrin Klaaste and Lauren Agenbag (South Africa), N Janani, Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan (India) and Nimali Perera (Sri Lanka).Related

Australia ready to embrace 'little bit of unknowns' at ODI World Cup

Ticket sales begin for 2025 women's ODI World Cup

Record USD 13.88 million prize money for women's ODI WC

Among them, Polosak, Williams and Redfern will be appearing in their third women’s ODI World Cups, while Agenbag and Cotton will be at their second.Three recent events – the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the two most recent women’s T20 World Cups – also featured all-female panels of match officials.Panel of match officials

Match referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michelle Pereira
Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Candace la Borde, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaaste, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Gayathri Venugopalan, Jacquline Williams

“This marks a defining moment in the journey of women’s cricket, one that we hope will pave the way for many more trailblazing stories across all facets of the sport,” ICC president Jay Shah said in a statement. “The inclusion of an all-women panel of match officials is not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket.”This development goes beyond symbolic value. It is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of meaningful role models who can inspire future generations. By highlighting excellence in officiating on the global stage, we aim to spark aspiration and reinforce that leadership and impact in cricket know no gender.”We are honoured to recognise a new chapter in the growth of the women’s game. We believe the influence of this initiative will resonate far beyond this tournament, motivating more women worldwide to pursue officiating careers and helping redefine what’s possible within the game.”The 13th women’s ODI World Cup begins with hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off on September 30. Defending champions Australia will take on New Zealand on October 1. Each team will play the other seven teams once with the top four moving into the semi-finals.The matches will be played in Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai and Colombo with the final scheduled for November 2.

Leeds United have made an approach to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, alongside two other Premier League clubs, and a January move could now be possible.

A lack of goals has been an issue for Leeds so far this season, having scored just ten Premier League goals, the joint-second lowest figure in the top flight, with Danny Murphy bemoaning their lack of quality attacking options back in September.

Murphy said: “I think the biggest problem for Burnley and Leeds is firepower. I agree with what we talked about earlier. I think all the newly promoted sides doing well is great for the Premier League.

“I’d like to see them all stay up, actually. But I don’t think it’ll be the case.

Since then, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has continued to struggle in front of goal, having found the back just once in nine league outings, although Daniel Farke will be glad Lukas Nmecha scored his first goal from open play at the weekend, albeit in a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

As a result of that loss, the Whites are just one point above the relegation zone, sitting in 16th place, and it has been revealed they have now made an approach to sign a new forward ahead of the January transfer window.

Leeds make contact to sign Gonzalo Plata

According to journalist Fabricio Lopes (via Sport Witness), Leeds have now made contact to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, and the Brazilian club could be willing to sanction a move in the January transfer window.

Indeed, Flamengo have become increasingly frustrated with Plata, given that he went to a nightclub before an important match, which means they will now be open to offers this winter, although there could be competition for his signature.

AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United have also made enquiries over a deal for the Flamengo star, who remains under contract until June 2029, putting his current employers in a strong negotiating position.

There may be some concerns over the 25-year-old’s off-field issues, but he certainly has plenty of ability, having been lauded as “exceptional” by scout Jacek Kulig earlier this year.

The Ecuadorian is established at international level, having scored eight goals in 45 appearances for his national side, while the versatile attacker, who is also capable of playing at centre-forward, has also chipped in with 17 goal contributions in 63 appearances for Flamengo.

Leeds may need a fresh injection of quality in attack if they are to avoid the drop, given that not a single one of their players has scored over two goals this season.

Leeds’ top scorers

Number of goals

Joe Rodon

2

Lukas Nmecha

2

Noah Okofor

2

Sean Longstaff

1

Brenden Aaronson

1

Anton Stach

1

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

That said, it would be a risk to sign Plata, given that the Ecuador international is unproven in the Premier League, and wasn’t exactly prolific in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A, netting four goals in 24 outings.

Leeds identify Brendan Rodgers as Daniel Farke replacement Leeds could replace Farke with FA Cup winner who once went 62 games unbeaten

Leeds United could end their Daniel Farke misery by going after this world-class upgrade.

1 ByKelan Sarson Nov 10, 2025