Browsing: Replacement

Oct 13, 2025, 04:00 PM ET

Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong has been identified as Robert Lewandowski‘s successor at Barcelona, while Manchester United have joined the clubs wanting to sign Mexico’s rising star Gilberto Mora. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TOP STORIES

– AI agent? Ex-Utd prospect used ChatGPT for move
– Sources: Utd set for Mainoo, Zirkzee talks as clubs circle
– Glasner had ‘early’ talks over new Crystal Palace contract

Karl Etta Eyong has made a big impact in LaLiga since signing for Levante from Villarreal. Pedro Salado/Getty Images

TRENDING RUMORS

– Robert Lewandowski is increasingly likely to leave Barcelona at the end of this season rather than renewing his contract, Diario Sport reports. This is said to be down to the 37-year-old striker’s age, a decline in form and an inability to press at the same pace as his teammates. The Blaugrana are already looking for replacements with Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong being identified as somebody who can compete with Ferran Torres for a starting berth up front — the 21-year-old Cameroon international has already scored four goals and registered one assist in five LaLiga matches since signing from Villarreal in the summer. Lewandowski could look to move elsewhere or retire, but he doesn’t want to go to Saudi Arabia.

– Real Madrid and Manchester United are among the clubs who want to sign Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora, according to Calciomercato. The report adds that Inter Milan and Juventus have included the 16-year-old on their list of possible options after scouting him at the Under-20 World Cup. This attention comes despite the fact that the Mexican won’t be allowed to move to Europe until he turns 18. He has already represented Mexico at senior level, winning the Gold Cup.

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– Liverpool’s Joe Gomez is the priority for AC Milan as they aim to sign an experienced centre-back in January, according to Corriere dello Sport. The 28-year-old wants to get more minutes and Igli Tare and Giorgio Furlani will try to make a move happen, but they will move on if a solution can’t be found. The Rossoneri are also looking to renew forward Christian Pulisic‘s contract as “the eyes of half of Europe could soon turn on him”, while Premier League clubs are enquiring about goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Milan will look to renew the contracts of Fikayo Tomoriand Alexis Saelemaekers.

РReal Madrid and Valencia are showing the greatest interest in signing Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, reports Diario Sport, but Barcelona, Atl̩tico Madrid, Villarreal, Paris FC and Premier League clubs are also keeping track of the 20-year-old. This comes with Mendoza having impressed for Spain in the Under-20 World Cup after making the step up to La Liga having helped his side earn promotion last season.

– Juventus could reignite their interest in Girona right-back Arnau Martínez in January with full-back being seen as an important position to strengthen in, reports Tuttosport, who add that the Bianconeri have also been closely monitoring Genoa’s Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Monaco’s Jordan Teze. Juventus have also made enquiries about Bayern Munich left-back Raphaël Guerreiro and are considering a move, as the 31-year-old is unlikely to renew his contract with his current deal expiring in the summer.

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OTHER RUMORS

– Inter Milan see Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi as a possible long-term successor to Yann Sommer. (Rudy Galetti)

– Juventus are looking at Matias Siltanen, but DjurgÃ¥rden want €20m for the 18-year-old midfielder with Bayer Leverkusen and Premier League clubs also interested. (Tuttosport)

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– Piotr Zielinski could leave Inter Milan in January, although his salary of €4.5m-per-season could be a stumbling block. (Corriere dello Sport)

– Atlético Madrid are happy with loanee Nico González and plan to make his move from Juventus permanent. They have an option worth €32m plus €1m that becomes an obligation if the winger plays at least 45 minutes in 21 La Liga matches. (Nicolò Schira)

– Negotiations are underway between Juventus and Kenan Yildiz for a contract that could run until 2030. (Calciomercato)

– Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is set to sign a new contract. The Toffees are also looking to extend the deals of James Garner and Vitaliy Mykolenko. (The Times)

– Inter Milan don’t want to let Francesco Esposito leave and are prepared to double the 20-year-old striker’s salary. (LGazzetta dello Sport)

– Bologna are planning to extend 28-year-old winger Riccardo Orsolini‘s contract to 2030. (Corriere dello Sport)

– Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish has admitted that Adam Wharton will want to play Champions League football at some point, whether that is at Selhurst Park or elsewhere. (talkSPORT)

– Inter Milan are closely monitoring Santos teenage forward Robinho Jr., who is the son of former Brazil and AC Milan star Robinho. The Italian club is expected to make an offer in the next transfer window to sign the 17-year-old, whose contract with Santos runs until 2027. (TNT Brasil)

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Oct 11, 2025, 06:22 PM ET

Tiger Woods went through a seventh back surgery Friday, this time to replace a disk in his lower back that had caused pain and mobility issues.

Woods said in a social media post Saturday that he had the surgery in New York and added it was the right decision for his health and his troubled back.

He did not mention how long it would keep him out of golf, though it was unclear if he was trying to play in his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas or the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie. Both tournaments are in December.

He hasn’t played since a playoff loss in the PNC Championship last year.

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It was his second surgery of the year — he had a procedure in March after rupturing his left Achilles tendon — and his second back surgery in the past 13 months.

Woods said he consulted doctors and surgeons after experiencing pain and lack of mobility in his back.

“The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal,” Woods wrote in the post Saturday. “I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Woods had the first of his seven back surgeries in April 2014, which eventually led to having his lower back fused in 2017. A year later, he won the Tour Championship and then captured his 15th major and fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters.

He was in a car crash in February 2021 that shattered his right leg and ankle, which Woods has said nearly led to an amputation.

He returned a year later at the 2022 Masters.

Since the car crash, Woods has played only 15 times in the past four years, four of those at the PNC Championship, where he can use a cart for the 36-hole event.

Santos Escobar is very likely to be leaving WWE in the coming days. The leader of Legado Del Fantasma reportedly will not be signing a new deal, making him the latest in a long line of Mexican stars who have failed to break through on the main roster. Escobar is not the first wrestler from Latin America to struggle on SmackDown or RAW, but his departure further raises the question: why has the company never managed to find the elusive “next Rey Mysterio�

Rey Mysterio: The Benchmark WWE Canâ€t Replace

One of the smartest creative decisions WWE made in the early 2000s was to bring back Rey Mysterioâ€s mask when he joined the company. He had lost it in WCW, a call Eric Bischoff has defended, but putting it back on him for WWE proved to be a masterstroke. The mask became the centrepiece of a 20+ year merchandising juggernaut, helping Rey connect with young fans.

The challenge since has been finding someone to replicate that success. WWE has tried repeatedly, but none of their attempts, from Sin Cara to Escobar, have stuck in the same way as Mysterio.

Why US Promotions Struggle With Lucha Stars

Promoters in the United States have long tried to tap into the Mexican market by importing Lucha Libre talent. WCW, ECW, TNA, AEW, and WWE have all attempted to make household names out of Luchadores. Only WWE, through Mysterio, has truly managed to do so at scale, yet they have been unable to strike gold twice.

Is the Lucha Mask the Problem?

Some have argued that the mask itself is the stumbling block. WWE requires performers who can tell stories both in the ring and on the microphone. Masks that cover the full face will limit facial expressions and can hinder promo delivery, so it’s difficult to emote and build a connection with the televised and in-building audience.

Reyâ€s mask works because it reveals enough of his face to convey emotion, while his distinctive eyes and even his custom contact lenses enhance his look. Contrast that with Mistico/Sin Cara, whose mask covered too much, muting his expressions. In Mexico, where masks themselves carry deep storytelling symbolism, this isnâ€t a problem. But WWEâ€s audience relies more heavily on visible emotion, there needs to be stories told at every element.

That being said, Escobar didnâ€t even wear a mask for most of his NXT and main roster run. So if it isnâ€t the mask, what went wrong?

Booking, Not Talent

The issue lies in how Escobar was booked. In NXT, he thrived as a charismatic, ruthless leader of Legado Del Fantasma, where the group had purpose, identity, and presence. But when they debuted on SmackDown, their momentum was immediately blunted. Instead of being positioned as a major heel faction, they were absorbed into Rey Mysterioâ€s rebooted Latino World Order. Escobar was no longer the star of his own story, but a supporting act to someone elseâ€s.

This is a pattern WWE has repeated. Andrade, Kalisto, Gran Metalik, Sin Cara, and even Alberto Del Rio at times all suffered from inconsistent creative direction. The performers had the talent, but WWE failed to sustain their momentum.

The Rey Mysterio Problem

The truth is that WWEâ€s obsession with finding “the next Rey Mysterio†has been part of the problem. Rey is unique, he’s a once-in-a-generation athlete who combined the Lucha style with US-friendly storytelling ability and mass-market appeal. His mask became iconic because of who he was underneath it.

By forcing new Mexican and Lucha-inspired wrestlers into Reyâ€s shadow, WWE sets them up for disappointment. Instead of searching for a replacement, the company needs to allow the next star to carve out their own identity, not inherit someone elseâ€s.

There are many that could do it: Penta, Rey Fenix, Dragon Lee…but WWE’s track record is not exactly glowing.

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Sep 21, 2025, 10:58 AM ET

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is Barcelona’s ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski, while Crystal Palace center back Marc Guéhiis set to snub Liverpool and now has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid next summer.Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TOP STORIES

– Liverpool’s Van Dijk hails form of ‘unbelievable’ Gravenberch
– Dowman, 15, breaks Arsenal record with goal for U21 side
– Matt Beard, ex-Liverpool women’s manager, dies aged 47

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is a man in demand. Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images

TRENDING RUMORS

– Barcelona have identified Manchester City striker Erling Haaland as their dream replacement for 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski, says Football Insider. Haaland, 25, has scored 130 goals in 151 games since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, and he signed a new 9½-year contract in January. City aren’t looking to let the Norway international leave, and it would take an offer of £150 million to start talks, which Barcelona would need to raise by letting other players go.

РCrystal Palace center back Marc Gu̩hi has now told his advisers that his heart is set on a move to Real Madrid, after his deadline day move to Liverpool fell through, says The Mirror. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konat̩already looks set to leave as a free agent in the summer, with Los Blancos one of the clubs interested in the France international, but they could also land Gu̩hi for nothing. Elsewhere, Marca reports that Bayern Munich center back Dayot Upamecano has offered himself to Real Madrid as a free agent with his contract also expiring in the summer.

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– Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford hopes to make a permanent transfer to Barcelona, but the club might struggle to make it happen due to LaLiga’s wage cap. Rashford, 27, is on loan at the club and has impressed so far this season, but The Daily Mail reports that Barca can’t afford to keep him long term due to his salary.

– Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes is the latest name being considered by AC Milan as they look into possible replacements for Mike Maignan in the summer, as reported by Calciomercato. Cagliari’s Elia Caprileand Parma’s Zion Suzukiare also among the candidates and will be closely monitored throughout the season. Even so, the Rossonerihaven’t given up on keeping Maignan past his contract’s expiration in 2026, despite renewal negotiations having stalled for several months.

EXPERT TAKE

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Has Vinícius Júnior been affected by no longer being Madrid’s star player?

Steve Nicol and Alex Kirkland discuss Vinícius Júnior’s recent performances for Real Madrid.

OTHER RUMORS

– Manchester United want to sign Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde and are ready to offer a deal of cash plus 20-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.(Defensa Central)

– Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all interested in Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who could be available for €80m. (CaughtOffside)

– Atlético Madrid aren’t giving up hope of signing Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson in January, having also looked at the 31-year-old in the summer transfer window. (Football Insider)

– Gabriel Jesusis seriously considering leaving Arsenal amid interest from West Ham United, Everton and Flamengo. (Football Transfers)

– West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are all monitoring AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek‘s situation. (Ekrem Konur)

– Brendan Rodgers could be the pivotal factor in persuading Chelsea winger Raheem Sterlingto join Celtic. (Football Insider)

– Roma, Juventus and Stade Rennais are among those who have looked at Atalanta right back Marco Palestra, who is currently on loan at Cagliari. (Corriere dello Sport)

– AC Milan are following Udinese center backs Thomas Kristensen and Oumar Solet, with the latter’s transfer costing double that of his teammate at around €30m. (Calciomercato)

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“WWE NXT” General Manager Ava has announced that Tiffany Stratton will not be competing on Tuesday’s Homecoming special at Full Sail University.Â

WWE’s developmental brand heads back to Full Sail this week for the special episode, scheduled to feature the returns of #DIY, Carmelo Hayes, and a trio of NXT Women’s Champions in Stratton, Stephanie Vaquer, and Rhea Ripley to their old stomping grounds; Stratton, Vaquer, and Ripley emerged to confront the reigning NXT Women’s Champion, Jacy Jayne, after she had made the claim to be the best holder in the title’s history.Â

The main roster stars were due to face Jayne alongside Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx in trios action. But as the reigning WWE Women’s Champion, Stratton defended her title against Jade Cargill during last Friday’s “WWE SmackDown,” with the bout ending in a double count out and an attack on Stratton at the hands of Nia Jax.Â

Evidently, the attack has left Stratton unable to compete in her return to “NXT,” with Ava announcing via social media that she could not be medically cleared and would be replaced by fellow alumnus Lyra Valkyria.Â

“After her WWE Women’s Championship match on SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton is not medically cleared to compete at Homecoming. As a result, former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria will be taking her place in the six-woman tag team match against Fatal Influence.”Â

After her WWE Women’s Championship Match on SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton is not medically cleared to compete at Homecoming. As a result, former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria will be taking her place in the six-woman tag team match against Fatal Influence.

— A V A (@avawwe_) September 15, 2025

For her part, Valkyria has not been a part of the “NXT” roster since April last year, having lost her Women’s title to Roxanne Perez at Stand & Deliver and receiving her call-up shortly thereafter.

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Wwe/Getty Images Throughout the last year, AEW commentator Jim Ross…