Liverpool continue their summer spending spree with the club-record £100million signing of Florian Wirtz, while new team-mate Mohamed Salah is up for another award.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson loses his head in Club World Cup defeat, while Gareth Bale is looking at getting back into football.
No fun for Reds’ record signing Wirtz
Liverpool’s record signing Florian Wirtz insists he has not moved to Anfield to “have fun” but believes it is the right place for him to improve and be successful.
The Premier League champions have paid Bayer Leverkusen £100million for the 22-year-old Germany international but that fee could potentially become a British record as there are £16m of add-ons included.
If achieved that would surpass the existing mark of £115m which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023 and it is understood Liverpool will be happy to pay these “aspirational bonuses” as it will mean they have enjoyed considerable success at elite level.
“I’m not coming (to) have fun here, I want also to achieve something and give the fans what they deserve,” Wirtz told the club’s website.
“I would like to win everything every year. I’m really ambitious.”
Jackson loses cool in Philly heat
Nicolas Jackson was sent off as Chelsea crashed to a 3-1 loss to Flamengo at the Club World Cup.
Pedro Neto fired the Blues ahead early on but Enzo Maresca’s side imploded in the second half in Philadelphia.
The Blues conceded twice and saw Jackson dismissed for a horror tackle in the space of just six minutes after the break.
Their woes were compounded when Wallace Yan wrapped up the scoring late on, adding to earlier goals from fellow substitute Bruno Henrique and veteran Danilo.
The result – played out in temperatures of 27C in front of a crowd of 54,019 at Lincoln Financial Field – left Chelsea with a win and a loss from their two outings in Group D having earlier looked set to take a giant stride towards the last 16.
Bale bid for Bluebirds
Gareth Bale is part of a United States investment group wanting to buy League One club Cardiff, according to reports.
The 35-year-old former Real Madrid and Wales forward was understood to be part of a consortium that had conversations regarding a takeover of Plymouth earlier this week, along with several other clubs, but it appears they have now turned their attention to south Wales.
The Athletic reports that the consortium sent current Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan a letter of intent last month, which included financial figures, but it was rejected.
Salah favourite for PFA award
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah leads a six-player shortlist for the Professional Footballers’ Association Men’s Player of the Year award.
The Egyptian was instrumental in the Reds’ Premier League title success last season, scoring 29 goals and adding 18 assists.
Earlier this year he was voted footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association, and will now be favourite to win the vote of his peers.
He is joined on the shortlist by team-mate Alexis Mac Allister, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Cole Palmer of Chelsea, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
What’s on today?
Jobe Bellingham gets another chance to impress for new club Borussia Dortmund at the Club World Cup with a game against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Inter Milan face Urawa Reds while Fluminense take on Ulsan.
England’s Under-21s have a European Championship semi-final against Spain.
