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West Ham defender Oliver Scarles was hauled off in their 2-1 loss to Leeds United with what looked to be a serious injury, and insider ExWHUemployee has now shared how long he’ll be out for.

The Hammers are second-bottom in the Premier League and have conceded more goals than any other side in the division thus far.

In his last two games, under-pressure new boss Nuno Espirito Santo has gone with a centre-back pairing of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, with both men struggling to deal with opposition attacks.

West Ham have precious few alternatives to Kilman and Todibo, with Konstantinos Mavropanos sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

The Greek international, who had been selected for nearly every game since West Ham’s only victory of the campaign at Nottingham Forest, faces up to six weeks out after picking up a hamstring injury at home to Brentford (GiveMeSport).

The last thing Nuno needs is another defensive injury, but according to insider Ex, Scarles has joined Mavropanos on the sidelines with the extent of his injury revealed.

The academy graduate was deployed at full-back against Brentford and started again away to Leeds, but was forced off in the opening 20 minutes after fracturing his collarbone.

West Ham have since confirmed that the 19-year-old has undergone successful surgery on the problem, with Performance Director Richard Collinge estimating he could return in December.

However, while this is the official line from the club, insider Ex believes that Scarles could be out for even longer.

West Ham dealt Scarles blow with real return timeline revealed

Writing via his West Ham Way Patreon, Ex states that Scarles actually faces as long as three months on the sidelines — meaning the teenager might not be back in action until 2026.

The England Under-20 international seriously impressed at youth level for West Ham before breaking into the first-team — even bagging three goals and 14 assists in 50 appearances for the Under-18s.

The attack-minded full-back also notched 13 goal contributions (six goals, seven assists) for the Under-21s, with Scarles since making 19 senior cameos in total for the east Londoners.

He was clearly starting to impress Nuno too, after being given the starting nod in each of West Ham’s last two Premier League games, so this layoff will be a major blow to him personally.

It was Julen Lopetegui who handed Scarles his Premier League debut last season, with Graham Potter then using the youngster on a pretty regular basis towards the end of 2024/2025.

With Mavropanos out injured too, it represents a golden opportunity for summer signing Igor Julio to battle his way into the starting eleven.

Nuno must give Igor Julio a chance amid West Ham defensive crisis

Nottingham Forest have now reportedly joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign an in-form Serie A striker in the January transfer window.

Dyche "disappointed" by VAR call

On a night that saw Nottingham Forest edge past Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers courtesy of Jesus’ second-half effort, it was VAR that stole the biggest headlines. Once again, the technology was at the centre of the controversy after Dan Ndoye was adjudged to have been interfering with play in an offside position for what many believed to be Jesus’ initial opener.

It’s the type of call which has split opinions in recent weeks and the type that Sean Dyche didn’t understand – telling reporters at full-time: “Well, I’m the only manager who ever mentions why they (referees) go over to the screen. It’s funny how it goes against us, that was interesting.

“Managers in the old days could lose a job on a bad decision. At least now it gives you a better chance of everyone, in theory, having similar decisions. There’s always going to be tough decisions, even with VAR.

“Tonight I’m bound to say he (Dan Ndoye) doesn’t impede anyone. He doesn’t. He just stands still. He’s not trying to deflect it in or anything like that.

“I’m bound to say I’m disappointed in it. I don’t think the keeper would have saved it. But you never know, these keepers are so agile. He’s a good keeper as well, so he might have. But I’m bound to say that I’m aggrieved.”

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Eventually, the decision did not prove costly as Forest picked up three points for the fourth time in their last five games in all competitions – highlighting Dyche’s impact.

Evangelos Marinakis will be most relieved that his managerial call is finally working out after already sacking Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou earlier this season. The Greek owner, with relegation fears eased, now has the chance to strengthen Dyche’s side in January.

Nottingham Forest racing to sign Pellegrino

As reported by Calcio Mercato and relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are now battling to sign Mateo Pellegrino from Serie A side Parma in 2026. The Tricky Trees are joined by Tottenham and West Ham United in the race, but could yet get one over on the two London clubs.

With Jesus still finding consistency and Chris Wood yet to match last season’s outstanding form, Dyche could certainly do with a player of Pellegrino’s talent.

The Parma striker has enjoyed an impressive campaign so far and is reportedly unlikely to come cheap if Forest want to make their move in the January transfer window.

League stats 25/26

Jesus

Pellegrino

Minutes

579

1,100

Goals

1

4

Assists

0

0

Expected Goals

2.3

1.9

It’s easy to see why Premier League sides are interested in Pellegrino. Compared to Jesus, the 6’3 forward has outperformed his expected goals by just over two and is on course for an impressive Serie A season.

Nottingham Forest now eyeing £15m Europa League midfielder after Anderson update

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was unable to make it five wins out of five in the Scottish Premiership when his team faced Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss had won his first four league games in charge of the Light Blues, beating Livingston 2-1 in the last Premiership outing before the weekend’s 0-0 draw with Falkirk.

It was a drab performance that had a goalless draw written all over it and that is, unfortunately, what it turned out to be, as Rohl’s side were unable to find the breakthrough.

Huge question marks remain over many of the players brought in by former sporting director Kevin Thelwell, including Thelo Aasgaard after he struggled again on Sunday.

Why Rohl must drop Thelo Aasgaard

The summer signing from Luton Town is a talented player. His stunning goal against Dundee United and his return of five goals in five games for Norway proves that.

However, the English-born flop has failed to provide any kind of positive consistency to the pitch with his performances for the Scottish giants this season, which is why he has been so disappointing to watch.

Aasgaard did not register a single shot on target and only created one chance for his team in 68 minutes against Falkirk, per Sofascore, which really sums up his season, as the attacking midfielder has scored one goal and provided one assist in 21 appearances.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

That is why Rohl should drop the Norwegian talent from the starting line-up for a run of matches to provide someone else with an opportunity, whilst giving the ex-Luton star a chance to recharge and come back stronger.

At the age of 23, Aasgaard is a young player who may just need more time to adapt to the expectations at Ibrox. However, that same patience may not be afforded to Bojan Miovski, who looks like an even bigger problem for the manager.

Why Miovski is a bigger problem than Aasgaard for Rangers

The Macedonia international felt like a sensible signing for Rangers when they bought him for Girona, as he had proven himself in the Premiership, even scoring against the Gers, during his time with Aberdeen.

Unfortunately, though, he has not hit the ground running at Ibrox this season, with one goal in ten games in the Premiership so far this season for the Light Blues, per Sofascore.

His only goal came against Falkirk in Russell Martin’s last game in charge, but he was unable to repeat that feat in the reverse fixture on Sunday, as the left-footed flop struggled badly throughout the match.

Vs Falkirk	Aasgaard	Miovski
Minutes	68	90
Shots	3	2
Key passes	1	0
Duels won	5/10	3/11
Dribbles completed	2/3	0/0
Fouls won	2	1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Miovski was even worse than Aasgaard, who has scored as many goals as the striker in the league this term, at the weekend, as he offered less at the top end of the pitch and lost 73% of his duels.

The Norway international, meanwhile, carries a bit of a physical presence and can hold his own against Premiership defenders, as shown by his 50% duel success rate against Falkirk.

Miovski, who was described as “dreadful” by reporter Mark McDougall, has lost 63% of his duels overall in the Premiership this season, which shows that he has been a flop in and out of possession in the league so far for Rangers.

At 26, the Macedonia international should have come in to hit the ground running in what should be the prime years of his career, especially with his prior experience in Scotland, but the opposite has happened.

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That is why Miovksi is an even bigger problem for Rohl and Rangers than Aasgaard is because his performances are even more alarming, whilst he does not have the same mitigation or time ahead of himself to improve that the Norwegian talent does.

Gerrit Cole remains sidelined for the 2025 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in early March. On Monday, he spoke to reporters for the first time following the surgery which ended his season before it began.

He was able to remove the brace protecting his right two-and-a-half weeks ago according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo. And now, he's starting to spend more time around the New York Yankees as he continues his rehab process. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he hopes the time Cole spends around the team will be therapeutic throughout the long road to recovery.

Cole dealt with elbow issues since last season that caused him to miss more than two months of action, not making his season debut until mid-June. Now, missing the 2025 season, and even possibly part of 2026, the ace badly wants to get back on the mound. That will have to wait until August, when he plans to start throwing again, but he can still imagine.

“I still pitch before I go to bed every night,” Cole said Monday via the. “I haven’t given up any hits recently.”

His road to recovery is a long, difficult one, which he acknowledged.

"It starts out really dark," Cole said on his recovery via ESPN. "And then you work your way closer to the end of the tunnel."

Castillo said Cole described the eight-week checkpoint after the surgery as "significant." Now, the sidelined ace plans to be around the team more to provide guidance amid his recovery. Although fans won't see Cole on the hill this season, the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner remains upbeat.

Manchester United have improved drastically in the forward areas this season, though they could now be prepared to offer a platform for Real Madrid star Endrick to shine ahead of the World Cup if circumstances align.

Benjamin Sesko has endured a mixed time since joining the Red Devils. Two goals in 11 matches haven’t exactly set the house on fire, though he has been an impressive presence within build-up play under Ruben Amorim.

Nevertheless, his recent performances have not escaped Gary Neville’s attention, who told NBC Sports that the ‘jury is out’ on whether he will be the right fit through the middle long-term.

He said: “I’m no further forward with him. The jury is out. He’s well off it compared to the other summer signings that Man United made up front in Cunha and Mbeumo.

“He looks awkward, he had a couple of really good opportunities in the first half – when balls got played over the top. And his touch wasn’t quite right.”

Quite clearly, Sesko has the potential to come good. Other than him, Joshua Zirkzee has had limited minutes at Manchester United this season, and he is now reportedly in the sights of Everton with the World Cup taking place next summer.

At this point, it is unclear whether he will be allowed to leave in January. If he is permitted to go, the Red Devils will likely target another forward to pick up the shortfall for the second half of the campaign, even temporarily.

As the transfer window draws closer, Manchester United may now have a plan in place to land a world-renowned talent to bolster their attacking options.

Man Utd target Endrick tells agent he wants loan from Real Madrid

According to The Daily Star, Manchester United target Endrick has told his agents that he will seek a loan move in January, with the only way of that being likely to change if his minutes improve at Real Madrid.

The Brazil international has been frozen out by Xabi Alonso and has played in a single match this season. Aston Villa have also come to the table if uncertainty over his future is set to linger.

Endrick since joining Real Madrid

Appearances

38

Goals

7

Assists

1

West Ham United and Juventus have been mentioned in dispatches as alternative suitors, with the 19-year-old fearful that a lack of games may prohibit his chances of going to next year’s World Cup.

In the scenario where any deal is concluded to send Endrick on loan, Real Madrid want his next club to pay his wages in full for the duration of a spell away from the Spanish capital.

Man Utd are also pushing hard to sign an England international

Mid-season always promised to be an important time of year at Old Trafford, and it now remains to be seen whether they can secure the youngster in a deal that would make headlines across the world.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca sold a player who’s been “absolutely transformed” since leaving Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea take on Sunderland after Ajax demolition

The Blues are back in fantastic form with four straight wins in all competitions, despite missing a host of key players, and they’ll be going into tomorrow’s clash against Sunderland with renewed confidence.

Maresca’s side were given a rude wake-up call when they lost 3-1 to Brighton at home this time last month, but that dire showing at Stamford Bridge appears to have lit a fire under Chelsea’s players.

Despite missing both summer signing Liam Delap and star forward Cole Palmer, who remain out through injury, Chelsea have managed to cope very well without the pair — scoring 10 in their last three matches.

Goals from Marc Guiu, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, Estevao and Tyrique George sealed an impressive win over Ajax in the Champions League last time out, with Maresca’s men also doing a solid job defensively considering they’re minus Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill.

Newly-promoted Sunderland, who’ve started the campaign very well, travel to London and present another tough test this weekend, but based off Chelsea’s recent run, the Black Cats could be in for a tough afternoon.

That being said, Maresca definitely isn’t underestimating them.

Chelsea’s squad, which lifted both the Conference League and Club World Cup earlier this year, is coming together, and once they have a more fully fit roster, the west Londoners will be firm favourites for a top four finish at the very least.

Marc Cucurella has been an ever-present at left-back and key cog in their system, leaving little room for ex-Chelsea left-back Diego Moreira, who was permanently sold to Strasbourg in 2024, to battle his way into the team.

Diego Moreira "transformed" after leaving Chelsea

Of course, given Chelsea’s connection with their sister club, there is always a chance for BlueCo to re-sign the Belgian.

However, Liam Rosenior appears to have worked wonders with Moreira since his Chelsea exit, and the tactician won’t be keen on losing his versatile defender who’s now become “one of the best” full-backs in Ligue 1.

Strasbourg are surprise contenders for the French title after a stunning start to 2025/2026, and they very nearly beat European champions PSG last week in a stunning 3-3 draw at the Parc des Princes.

They were two goals up at one point, and Moreira was at the heart of it all with a goal and an assist in the capital.

His performances have been nothing short of exceptional, and judging by his own admission last year, Moreira may not be clamoring to return to Chelsea any time soon.

Alisha Lehmann insists she "only drank non-alcoholic beer" when her and her Como team-mates headed to Oktoberfest in Germany. The entire squad were bedecked in traditional Bavarian clothing, and Lehmann was seen downing a huge stein, although she insists the liquid inside it was not liable to leave her tipsy.

• Lehmann's wild night out

  Lehmann headed with her Como team-mates to Oktoberfest in Munich, ahead of the start of the 2025/26 season. The former Aston Villa and Juventus star now plays for Como and she enjoyed some team bonding at the world-famous beer festival. She was even spotted downing a huge stein of amber liquid, although she has now insisted that it was not an alcoholic beverage. 

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  Lehmann's explanation

  Lehmann said at a press conference: "I only drank non-alcoholic beer! But it was really nice. I had never been to Oktoberfest."

  Earlier this month, Lehmann's new employers played her former employers, Juventus, and won 1-0. 

  She added: “Como will grow again in the coming years. The win against my old club, Juve, was amazing and really did me good. I'll never say anything wrong. I had a good year. I am now a regular starter (editor’s note, three times in the league since the beginning of the exercise), and playing is the main reason why we play football. Como also has a really interesting project in women’s football.”

  She added: “I feel good in Como. This is the perfect place for me and, certainly, the most beautiful place I have ever lived. I live right by the lake, and it's absolutely beautiful. I even met a few celebrities, because we go to the same restaurants. But it’s nice here, because everyone respects each other enormously.”

• Lehmann's off-pitch fun

  Como have allowed Lehmann to head out on multiple extracurricular activities and she even represented Como at Milan Fashion Week. 

  Como said in a social media post alongside images of Lehmann and Co modelling new threads: “F.C Como Women steps into Prada World at Milan Fashion Week. After a styling session at Nike’s headquarters, @alexckerr, @alishalehmann7, @ramona__ramirez stepped into the Prada event wearing pieces from our FC Como Women essentials line, our @art_of capsule collection and our 25/26 away jersey. We’d like to thank Prada and Nike for this incredible experience. A moment that highlighted women in football who feel free to express themselves on and off the pitch.”

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  What comes next?

  Como play Genoa on Saturday in Serie A. While they did beat Juventus, they have lost their other two league fixtures thus far this season, going down 2-1 to Lazio and 1-0 to Sassuolo. They will be out to get three more points on the board, and Lehmann will hope to prove her freshness with a fine performance.

Barcelona are finalising plans to play a friendly match in Peru this December to offset the financial loss from their cancelled Miami fixture against Villarreal. The proposed game, worth up to €7-8 million, comes after La Liga and organisers Relevent pulled the plug on the U.S. match, a blow to Barca’s global expansion and revenue strategy.

Barcelona explore Peru friendly after Miami cancellation

The Catalan giants are negotiating a lucrative offer to play in Peru in late December after the club’s planned Miami fixture against Villarreal was officially cancelled. According to , the potential friendly would generate between €7-8 million, providing a much-needed financial boost amid the club’s ongoing efforts to stabilise revenue streams.

Barcelona had been scheduled to face Villarreal at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, but the event organisers, Relevent Sports, withdrew due to “uncertainty in Spain.” La Liga and Relevent confirmed the match would not take place, citing a lack of preparation time and growing political instability, while Barcelona described it as a “missed commercial opportunity.”

The club had also rejected a separate offer to play in Libya earlier this month, which could have generated an additional €5m, due to safety concerns. Now, the club see the Peru proposal as an ideal alternative to recover lost income, especially after another financial setback from the Miami cancellation.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFinancial motives drive Laporta’s decision

Club president Joan Laporta personally addressed the players, manager Hansi Flick, and sporting director Deco at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training complex, confirming the club’s willingness to accept the Peru offer. During the meeting, Laporta highlighted the match’s financial significance, especially in light of reduced commercial revenues this season.

The friendly would take place after Barcelona’s final La Liga fixture of 2025, originally set to be the Miami encounter with Villarreal on December 20, and before the league’s Christmas break. The club are consulting the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) to ensure the date aligns with the players’ collective bargaining agreement regarding the official start of the holiday period.

If approved, the trip would mark Barcelona’s second exhibition abroad in December, following their 2023 friendly in the United States against Club America. The South American market, particularly Peru, represents a strong commercial opportunity for the club’s global brand strategy and one that fits perfectly with Laporta’s renewed push to strengthen ties across Latin America.

Wider impact on La Liga’s global ambitions

The decision to cancel the Miami fixture has reignited debate over La Liga’s internationalisation strategy, a key project championed by Javier Tebas. The league president criticised the cancellation as “narrow-minded,” accusing Spanish football authorities and Real Madrid in particular of “blocking progress” in taking competitive fixtures abroad.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have sought to maintain their own commercial momentum through friendlies and global tours. The Peru proposal illustrates how the club are bypassing traditional barriers to secure financial stability independently of La Liga’s initiatives. The €8m payday would not only cover the lost Miami revenue but also strengthen Barca’s cash flow ahead of an expensive 2026 campaign, which will include the reopening of the newly-renovated Camp Nou.

For a club still recovering from years of financial turbulence, opportunities like this remain critical. Despite improved sponsorship income and Champions League qualification, the Blaugrana club continue to navigate tight economic margins, and every global engagement is carefully evaluated for its commercial return.

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Getty Images SportBarcelona’s South American trip gathers momentum

The friendly in Peru would cap off Barca’s 2025 calendar year and could be scheduled just days after their final La Liga fixture against Villarreal at La Ceramica. While the precise date remains under discussion, internal approval appears likely, given the club’s positive financial projections and the absence of major scheduling conflicts.

If confirmed, it will be Barcelona’s first-ever senior appearance in Peru, a country with a passionate fanbase and strong ties to Spanish football. The match is expected to draw significant local attention, with organisers anticipating a sell-out crowd and major television coverage across South America.

Barcelona’s first competitive match of 2026 is set for January 3 or 4 against Espanyol at Cornella-El Prat, meaning players would have a short window for rest before the season resumes.

Liverpool have reportedly sealed a record deal to bring Alexander Isak to the club, but their business doesn’t appear to be done yet in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool agree record deal to sign Alexander Isak

After the 1-0 win over Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, the Reds were given another added bonus, with Isak’s £130m move to Anfield on the cards.

Newcastle have remained stubborn for weeks, potentially refusing to sell the Swede for less than £150m and making him train on his own.

The signing of Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart has changed things, however, with the Magpies also pushing to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford, and they have decided it is now best to sell Isak to Liverpool.

It is a stunning piece of business for the Premier League champions, assuming there are no late issues with the move, but another exciting update has also emerged regarding more transfer business.

Liverpool close to agreement for Premier League ace

According to the reliable Lewis Steele of The Daily Mail, Liverpool are edging closer to signing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi alongside Isak, with an agreement getting closer all the time.

Steele also provided another update on the situation on Monday morning, with Palace owner Steve Parish set to make a key decision on Guehi.

“Marc Guehi latest for those asking: told last night an agreement was ‘getting closer’ and ‘good chance’ it happens. Right now, still waiting on sign-off from Steve Parish, with CPFC in for replacements. Oliver Glasner involved too, but hope of a £35m+£5m handshake.”

This is huge for Liverpool, with Guehi their leading centre-back option for some time, with added depth badly needed there, especially if Joe Gomez departs for AC Milan.

The 25-year-old showcased his quality with a brilliant goal in Palace’s 3-0 win away to Aston Villa on Sunday evening, while Joe Hart hailed him in an England shirt at Euro 2024 last year.

“Huge shoutout to Marc Guehi. I thought he was exceptional. He really stepped in and was really calm on the ball. I thought Guehi allowed John Stones to play his game. The more Marc plays, the better that [centre-back] partnership will get.”

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If Liverpool can get deals for Isak and Guehi done and dusted, it will round off a memorable summer in the transfer market, arguably giving them their best squad in many years.