Clayton Kershaw is calling it a career after 18 seasons with the Dodgers. The three-time Cy Young winner announced his retirement from baseball on Thursday, and he will make his final regular season start on Friday, Sept. 19 against the Giants at home.

Kershaw held a pregame press conference on Thursday to address his fans and the media. He was understandably emotional when speaking about his future, even though he said he's "at peace" with his decision.

“I’m gonna call it. I’m gonna gonna retire. I’m at peace with it. I think it’s the right time," Kershaw said. "I’m really not sad, I’m really not. I’m really at peace with this. It’s just emotional."

The 11-time All-Star had to wipe away some tears when he was asked what his time on the Dodgers has meant to him.

"Hold on, I can answer that, just give me a minute," Kershaw said while holding back tears. "I think we all play this game for the respect of our teammates, so having these guys here is pretty special."

Kershaw's retirement isn't a total surprise as he is 37 years old and is in his 18th season. He signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers, the only club he's ever known, back in February, and it was assumed that he signed the short-term deal for a chance to retire after the season.

Kershaw's 18th season has definitely been memorable. He made history by joining the elite 3,000 strikeout club, something only 20 pitchers in total have done. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred named Kershaw a "Legend Pick" at this year's All-Star Game, too. Through 20 appearances before his final start on Friday, Kershaw posted a 3.53 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 40 earned runs on him over 102 innings pitched.

MatériaMais Notícias

Fora de casa, o Palmeiras derrotou o Liverpool-URU, pela 4ª rodada da Libertadores, nesta quinta-feira (9). Veiga, Endrick, Rony e Gustavo Gomes foram os autores dos gols do triunfo do Verdão. Assista aos melhores momentos no vídeo acima.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasCom show de Raphael Veiga e Endrick, Palmeiras goleia o Liverpool e encaminha vaga nas oitavas da LibertadoresPalmeiras09/05/2024Fora de CampoTorcedores criticam escolha de Abel Ferreira no ataque do Palmeiras: ‘Coitado do Flaco López’Fora de Campo09/05/2024FinançasDe onde vem o dinheiro do Palmeiras? Veja as principais fontes de receitaFinanças09/05/2024

➡ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

Tudo sobre

Futebol NacionalLibertadoresmelhores momentosPalmeiras

Everton’s stance on selling Tim Iroegbunam in the January transfer window has now been revealed, amid a key decision from manager David Moyes.

Moyes has implemented a 4-2-3-1 system with two holding midfielders this season, giving the likes of Kieran Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye licence to push forward, with the former grabbing his second assist of the campaign against Fulham prior to the international break.

Idirissa Gueye has remained one of the first names on the team sheet, despite being 36-years-old, finding the back of the net in the 2-0 victory against the Cottagers, but Moyes has been unable to settle on a regular partner for the defensive midfielder.

James Garner has predominantly been given the nod, but the Toffees boss has also used the Englishman at right-back, meaning Iroegbunam has slotted in alongside Gueye intermittently, making eight appearances in the Premier League so far this season.

However, there has now been a significant update on the midfielder’s future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, having seemingly not done enough to impress Moyes…

Everton planning to accept January offers for Tim Iroegbunam

According to a report from Football Insider, Everton are now planning to accept offers for Iroegbunam in the January transfer window, with Moyes making the decision that he is no longer a key part of his future plans.

The Toffees may even be willing to take a loss on the midfielder, who arrived from Aston Villa for a fee of around £9m back in 2024, such is their desire to get him off the books, while the Merseyside club could also sanction a loan move.

Gueye and Garner’s promising start to the campaign has meant the former Villa man has often been limited to appearances as a substitute, with Moyes perhaps not as fond of the central midfielder as former manager Sean Dyche.

Speaking after the EFL Cup victory against Doncaster Rovers last season, Dyche said: “Tim’s slightly different [to the new signings] because he’s had a full pre-season, I think he’s been different class. I think his equivalent minutes in the Premier League last season was about two games so to be having a full pre-season and to be doing what he’s doing – I’m very pleased with that.”

However, it may be a little early to cash-in on the 22-year-old, given that he is still very young, and has impressed from both an attacking and defensive point of view when given the opportunity over the past year.

Tim Iroegbunam’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Assists

0.34 (99th percentile)

Tackles

3.38 (97th percentile)

Interceptions

2.54 (99th percentile)

Blocks

3.38 (98th percentile)

Iroegbunam may need a consistent run in the starting XI to prove himself, and with Garner moving to right-back against Fulham, he may have a chance to save his Everton career over the next month and a half.

Everton exploring move for James Ward-Prowse amid Tim Iroegbunam uncertainty Related Everton now exploring Ward-Prowse move with January exit expected

The midfielder desperately needs a winter move.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 12, 2025

Leeds United are interested in signing Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher, but they are far from alone in the race to snap him up with as many as 16 Premier League clubs eyeing up a move.

Daniel Farke is feeling the heat at Elland Road after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League, even though he was in defiant spirits after the game.

Farke would love new signings in the January transfer window or next summer, should he still be in charge of Leeds at that point, and either way the 49ers Group are expected to be active this winter.

Leeds in 16-club battle to sign Conor Gallagher

According to a new report from Sky Sports, Leeds are one of 16 Premier League sides making enquiries for Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in 2026.

It is claimed that Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are the only top flight sides not showing interest, meaning the Whites could look to seal a deal for the England midfielder, who cost the Madrid outfit £34m last summer.

Atletico are unwilling to let Gallagher, who has publicly commented on his need for more game time ahead of the World Cup, leave on loan, meaning the 49ers will have to stump up a significant fee to seal a deal in January.

Gallagher would be a high-profile signing for Leeds, considering he is playing for one of the biggest teams in Spain and is a Europa League winner from his time at Chelsea. The 25-year-old is also a 22-cap England international, scoring once for his country, while Atletico manager Diego Simeone has heaped praise on the tenacious edge to his game.

He wants to join: Leeds choose number one manager candidate as Farke nears sack

The Whites have a Premier League-experienced boss ready to come in at the expense of Farke.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 24, 2025

Leeds will know that being in a strong position for Premier League survival is paramount if they are to have a chance of signing him, but whether that influences their decision to stick or twist with Farke remains to be seen.

He's a lot like Bielsa: Leeds could sack Farke for "special" 4-2-3-1 manager

Sunderland’s extremely impressive start to life back in the Premier League has been built on a very strong defensive spine.

Indeed, the well-drilled Black Cats have only given up 11 goals across the 12 games they’ve played since dramatically returning to the big time, with five wins also coming their way.

Robin Roefs, in particular, has stood out as a top-drawer summer recruit in between the sticks, while Daniel Ballard has made the jump to the top-flight look routine, too, winning a commanding 6.3 duels per match across his seven Premier League starts.

This defensive doggedness is very unlike-Sunderland, when you look back at the woes they are used to experiencing at the foot of the top-flight table.

Still, even when times were consistently tough and bleak, previous club captain John O’Shea managed to stand out as a commanding force.

O'Shea's hero status at Sunderland

The Black Cats would have felt they’d won themselves a coup when O’Shea arrived through the door in 2011, having picked up 394 appearances for Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson’s heyday as a manager, before coming to the Stadium of Light.

The revered manager would even hail him as a “great professional”, despite his importance to the Red Devils’ cause sometimes slipping under the radar, with the Wearside outfit managing to win the five-time Premier League winner for just a reported £3m.

He would turn into a relegation fighter quickly, though, in his new surroundings, with his determined displays, matched by his knack of being in the right place at the right time to pop up with a big goal, making him a fan favourite from the get-go.

One of his former Sunderland bosses in Martin O’Neill, would go as far as to say he had “enormous” respect for the veteran defender, with the Irishman only absent from 18 league contests during his first four seasons at the club, all of which ended up in Sunderland surviving.

Unfortunately, the latter years of his Black Cats journey would culminate in a relegation down to the Championship, but he is still fondly remembered to his day for being a dependable giant.

In the current Sunderland ranks, it could be argued that the forceful Ballard – coming in at a 6-foot-2 frame – is most similar to O’Shea in his Stadium of Light prime, with two important goals already next to his name this season.

However, a different member of Le Bris’ rigid backline has caught the eye in this regard…

Sunderland's new John O'Shea

Sunderland might not be struggling against the drop this season, but that doesn’t mean certain members of Le Bris’ camp don’t still evoke similarities to heroes of the Black Cats’ recent past.

Like O’Shea, Nordi Mukiele would have been viewed as a statement deal for Sunderland to secure this summer when leaving Paris St Germain behind, having accumulated a hefty 200 appearances in both the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, before embarking on a fresh Premier League challenge.

For just £12m, too, Mukiele has now gone down as a steal similar to O’Shea, only costing £3m, with the Frenchman visibly at the peak of his career, donning Sunderland red and white.

The £100k-per-week fighter has jaw-droppingly beaten Ballard in the duels won count total so far for the season, with a mighty 7.6 duels won on average to date, among other impressive numbers, making him a regular from minute one of his Stadium of Light stay.

With a goal and assist also next to his name, alongside collecting three clean sheets, Mukiele has managed to stand out as a well-rounded performer for Le Bris and Co. so far, away from just being seen as a “colossus” in physical duels, as per the words of Sky Sports’ journalist Andy Sixsmith.

Mukiele will be aiming for a long career in the Premier League now, past just a standout debut season, to become even more like O’Shea, with his levels never dropping for the Black Cats so far, already putting him on the same pedestal as the “always solid” Irishman, as both Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves labelled him recently.

It could also be argued, like O’Shea, Mukiele’s determined performances have gone somewhat unnoticed to the neutral, next to Granit Xhaka stealing the spotlight for his equally combative showings.

But, if he were to be a vital part of the defence that saw Sunderland pick up a mid-table finish, or even higher, right after promotion, he would surely be handed his flowers, as a new batch of heroes begin to emerge on Wearside.

Le Bris can end £7m star's Sunderland career by signing Guendouzi

This Sunderland leader will surely be shown the exit door if Matteo Guendouzi does join Regis Le Bris’ ranks.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 26, 2025

Travis Head will miss the final two matches of the T20I series against India as he switches to Ashes preparation with an appearance for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.Head will be available to face Tasmania in Hobart next week in what will be his first first-class match since the tour of West Indies in July. He has had a relatively lean run in white-ball cricket over the last month with a top score of 31 in eight innings across T20Is and ODIs after making 142 against South Africa in August.Related

• Short outlines clear pathway to next T20 World Cup

• Green helps Western Australia to safety, then gets into bowling work

• Ashes tracker: Key questions remain around Australia's squad

• Arshdeep and Washington help India level the series against Australia

Head shapes as a crucial cog in Australia’s Test line-up where he will slot in at No. 5 with the ability to change games with his counterattacking approach. It’s understood that it was largely left for Head to decide whether he wanted a four-day game before facing England.His appearance for South Australia will add to a star-studded round of Sheffield Shield ahead of the first Test with most, if not all, of the squad – which will be named later this week – expected to appear.Josh Hazlewood, who departed the T20I series after the second game in Melbourne, and Mitchell Starc are set to play for New South Wales against Victoria in an attack that will feature Nathan Lyon. Sean Abbott, who will also leave the T20I squad following the Hobart game, is also available for NSW. Steven Smith will play the second of his two matches after making 118 against Queensland at the Gabba.Victoria are expected to have Scott Boland for his third Shield outing of the season after he was rested for the match against Tasmania in Melbourne.Cameron Green will feature for Western Australia against Queensland in a game that should see him return to bowling for the first time since the opening match of the season.Marnus Labuschagne will likely be keen for another outing before the Test series, where he is certain to earn a recall, while Matt Renshaw has been in the opening conversation.Beau Webster will play for Tasmania against South Australia who will have Alex Carey available alongside Head. Brendan Doggett, who could have been named among the back-up quicks by then, is also due to play for SA.Meanwhile, legspinner Tanveer Sangha has been released from the T20I squad to play for NSW in the One-Day Cup match against Queensland in Sydney on Monday. He has been providing cover for Adam Zampa who is awaiting the birth of his second child.As previously announced, left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis will come into the squad for the final two matches on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane having overcome a calf injury.The T20I series is level at 1-1 following India’s five-wicket victory in Hobart.

Sri Lanka were unable to chase down a target of 242

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2025Bangladesh edged out Sri Lanka by the narrowest of margins – one run – in the Women’s World Cup warm-up match in Colombo on Saturday.Sri Lanka stumbled early in a chase of 243, slipping from 56 for 1 to 86 for 4, but Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshika Silva steadied the innings, both scoring half-centuries. Dilhari’s 63 came to an unfortunate end when her bat slipped off her hand and hit the stumps after a shot over midwicket. Nilakshika continued the fight, making 75 off 78 before falling in the penultimate over.At 218 for 5 with 46 overs gone, Sri Lanka seemed in control, needing 25 from 24 balls. However, a collapse followed, left-arm spinner Nahida Akter triggering the slide, dismissing Piumi Wathsala and Anushka Sanjeewani in the 47th over before removing Nilakshika in the 49th. In the final over, Marufa Akter defended nine runs as Sri Lanka lost three wickets, including a run out, and fell short.Earlier, Sri Lanka made an early breakthrough with Udeshika Prabodhani dismissing Fargana Haque in the second over. Rubya Haider and Sharmin Akhter rebuilt with a 90-run stand, but Dilhari struck twice to remove both. Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, and Dilhari all took two wickets as Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to 242 for 8, with Sharmin’s 71 being the highlight.

Already an England great, Joe Root is still hungry for more – and Sachin Tendulkar’s record may not be safe

Matt Roller25-Jul-20254:14

Manjrekar: ‘Serious chance’ for Root to break Tendulkar’s record

“Just the one more to go now,” Ricky Ponting declared, as Joe Root jogged a single to overtake him as Test cricket’s second-highest run-scorer. Root has never paid much attention to personal milestones but after this innings, only Sachin Tendulkar is ahead of his 13,409 Test runs; Tendulkar is still a long way off, but nobody has ever come closer.This was a rare day, as Manchester basked in the greatness of a Yorkshireman. The 6000 fans in Old Trafford’s Party Stand rose to their feet when Root glided Anshul Kamboj to deep point to reach 120 and surpass Ponting, then serenaded him by singing his name to the tune of “Hey Jude”. Root grinned sheepishly, then waved his hand as though knocking their applause back.Root was met by another standing ovation when he was finally dismissed for 150, which he turned to acknowledge as he walked off. But first, with his left hand, he briefly imagined a shot that he could have played instead, shaping to work the ball into the leg side. It was a moment that epitomised the hunger and attitude that will keep him going for some time yet.Related

• Bazball has lit a fire under Joe Root. Will he overtake Tendulkar in about 27 Tests?

• Root revels in 'pinch-yourself moment' after moving to No. 2

• Stats – Root second only to Tendulkar for most Test runs

• Record-breaking Root arms England with control of Manchester Test

• Root surpasses Ponting to become the second-highest run-getter in Tests

Ponting’s arrival in the Sky Sports commentary box was perfectly timed: he witnessed what he described as “a magnificent moment in history” on only his third day of work in the series. He will not lose sleep over slipping down to third: when the golf brand Callaway sent him a putter inscribed with 13,378 at the end of his career, he was oblivious that it was his final run tally.It is a trait that Root shares: he has long insisted that he is motivated only by team success and has constantly played down his individual achievements. “I’ve never really been one to have goals because I just feel like if you miss them, then you’ve failed – and this game is full of failure anyway,” he explained in Multan last year, when he became England’s leading Test run-scorer.Alastair Cook, the man he overtook, obsessed over becoming the first Englishman to reach 10,000 runs but struggled to find another motivation thereafter and called time on his Test career two years later. At 34, Root is already a year older than Cook was then, but has expressed his ambitions to play in the 2027 World Cup – and may not stop there.His success has relied upon a hunger to keep improving: in his 40 Tests since stepping down as captain, Root has averaged 57.70, with 13 hundreds. “It’s just about wanting to keep the enjoyment element of it, to keep finding ways of improving and getting better, to make sure you don’t stand still and get stuck in playing one way,” he has said.Joe Root walks off after scoring 150•Getty ImagesWhere some batters – Cook and Ponting among them – struggle when they relinquish the captaincy, Root has attained new heights since he returned to the ranks. He scored heavily in his final years in the role, often shouldering the burden of run-scoring almost single-handedly in a poor side, but has been even better under Ben Stokes’ leadership.His innings in Manchester underlined why. It has often seemed as though Root has spent his entire Test career walking in with England 30 for 2, but their top three – if still imperfect – are far more dependable than they once were. This time, he came out at 197 for 2 and picked off runs against an underwhelming Indian attack, and ticked off landmarks like items on a shopping list.Even if Tendulkar’s record is unlikely to be a major source of motivation for him, Root still has a genuine chance to break it: he is 2,512 runs behind but, for context, has scored 2,556 in his last 50 innings dating back to February 2023. Since England play an average of 12-14 Tests per year, Root could feasibly overtake him by the end of 2027.”I wouldn’t be surprised if he can chase him down,” Ollie Pope said after the third day. “He loves playing for England in Test cricket more than anything… I think he just wants to keep playing as long as he can. The excitement he still has to play Test cricket [is huge]. Whenever we rock up at the start of a series, he’s always got the biggest smile on his face.”The most remarkable, yet least remarked upon, aspect of Root’s sustained brilliance is his fitness. England have played 159 Tests since Root’s debut at Nagpur in 2012 and he has only missed two, once when dropped, the other on paternity leave; despite his occasional back issues, he has never missed a match through injury across a 13-year Test career.Root avoided media duties on Friday evening citing cramp but in truth, his batting has already said more than enough. He has already secured his status as one of England’s all-time greats, and that position will become undisputed if he scores his first hundred in Australia this winter. If he can achieve that, then it would be brave to bet against him catching Tendulkar.

Sam Allardyce has named a Crystal Palace star in his Premier League Team of the Season so far, with an Arsenal counterpart snubbed.

Palace pushing for Europe once again

Off the back of winning the first major trophy in their history last season, Palace have started the current season in style, having taken 20 points from their opening 12 Premier League games, which leaves them just three points adrift of second-placed Chelsea.

Oliver Glasner has made his side very difficult to beat, with only Everton and Arsenal chalking up wins against the Eagles so far this season, and a solid defensive record has been the key to their success, keeping clean sheets in four out of the last five matches in all competitions.

Having managed to retain the services of Marc Guehi in the summer, despite deadline-day drama, Glasner’s side have shipped just nine goals in the Premier League this term, the second-fewest of any side, behind only league-leaders Arsenal.

However, Guehi hasn’t been the only player to catch the eye, with Allardyce recently naming another Crystal Palace star in his Premier League Team of the Season so far.

Speaking on the ‘No Tippy Tappy Football’ podcast, the former manager chose Dean Henderson ahead of David Raya between the sticks, while also adding: “He’s so confident in himself, he believes when someone’s got a penalty he’s gonna save it – you can see, it’s bordering on a bit arrogant.”

The 71-year-old justifies his decision by asserting that Raya doesn’t face enough shots to make it into the team, given the Gunners’ fantastic defensive record, most recently limiting Tottenham Hotspur to an xG of just 0.06 in the 4-1 North London derby thrashing.

Henderson must be in Tuchel's thoughts ahead of World Cup

Jordan Pickford has been England’s first-choice goalkeeper for quite some time, having now amassed 81 caps, and it is difficult to envisage Thomas Tuchel dropping him for the World Cup next summer, but the Palace shot-stopper is certainly pushing the Everton star all the way.

Player

Club

Premier League clean sheets

David Raya

Arsenal

7

Robert Sanchez

Chelsea

7

Dean Henderson

Crystal Palace

6

Nick Pope

Newcastle United

5

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Manchester City

4

Robin Roefs

Sunderland

4

Jordan Pickford

Everton

4

Guglielmo Vicario

Tottenham Hotspur

4

Djordje Petrovic

AFC Bournemouth

4

The 28-year-old has already picked up six clean sheets in the Premier League this season, two more than Pickford, while also saving two penalties in the shoot-out against Liverpool to help the Eagles clinch the Community Shield for the first time in their history.

Raya may have kept more clean sheets than the Englishman, but the Spaniard won’t be happy by Richarlison recently lobbing him from distance in the North London derby…

As such, Henderson’s selection is fully justified, and the goalkeeper has a huge part to play as Palace look to qualify for Europe for the second year running.

Crystal Palace star who "they don't want to lose" now has his agent testing an exit

The Eagles must look to keep hold of their star striker.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 25, 2025

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness says the club gained a “huge advantage” by deciding against pursuing big-money moves for Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons and Jamie Gittens. The Bundesliga heavyweights were strongly linked with all three players before their respective switches to Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the summer.

• Sesko, Simons and Gittens still finding their feet in English football

  Sesko, Simons and Gittens were seen as three of the most eye-catching new arrivals in the Premier League ahead of the 2025-26 season. The trio had earned rave reviews for their performances in the Bundesliga – Sesko and Simons at RB Leipzig and Gittens with Borussia Dortmund – which led to United, Tottenham and Chelsea forking out huge sums of money to secure their respective signatures.

  However, the youngsters are still yet to find their feet in England. On the back of moving to United for £74 million (€84m/$97m), Sesko – who is currently on the sidelines with a knee injury – has scored just two goals in 11 league appearances for Ruben Amorim’s side.

  Meanwhile, Simons – who joined Spurs for £52m (€60m/$70m) – is still looking for his first league goal for the club, though the Netherlands international has recorded one top-flight assist for Thomas Frank’s men.

  On the other hand, Gittens is also looking for his first league goal since joining Chelsea in a £55 million (€63m/$75m) deal. However, the 21-year-old did find the back of the net in the Blues’ 4-3 win over strugglers Wolves in the Carabao Cup on 29 October.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bayern chief Hoeness aims jibe at struggling Premier League trio

  And while Sesko, Simons and Gittens try to acclimatise to English football, Bayern chief Hoeness has aimed at a dig in their direction. The 73-year-old – who was part of the iconic Bayern team that dominated the 1970s including winning three successive European Cups in 1974, 1975 and 1976 – has praised the club for not giving into supporters’ wishes to spend big in the summer, insisting they have gained an edge over their rivals as a result.

  In an interview with German newspaper Hoeness said: "For months we were accused of not buying enough top-class or experienced players. That's precisely what's now a huge advantage for us, because we all decided together not to buy expensive players like Xavi [Simons] or [Jamie] Gittens, who had been discussed, or [Benjamin] Sesko, who costs €80 million. 

  “Instead, we said, come on, let's do nothing, let's just loan [Nicolas] Jackson from Chelsea. And that's how we ended up with a relatively balanced transfer budget. And we also have a coach [Vincent Kompany] who agreed to giving young players a chance.

  “The Thomas Muller decision [letting the forward leave upon the expiration of his contract] was also extremely tough, but important. Because one thing is clear: if Thomas Muller had stayed, he would have been on the bench – and then the whole stadium would have chanted 'Muller, Muller' every time someone was substituted. And then [Lennart] Karl and [Tom] Bischof would have been relegated to the sidelines.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  German giants labelled Newcastle 'idiots' for Woltemade signing

  It is not the first time a Bayern board member has sent a jibe towards a Premier League club this season, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge having earlier labelled Newcastle United as “idiots” for spending £69m (€79m/$93m) on striker Nick Woltemade – another player who was linked with a summer move to the Allianz Arena.

  He told German publication in September: “When the story with Woltemade and Stuttgart's demands came up, at some point I said to Uli [Hoeness], Herbert Hainer, Jan Dreesen and Max Eberl: 'Guys, we're getting into sums of money that I simply don't find acceptable anymore’."

  Bayern supervisory board member Rummenigge – who also played for the club in the 1970s – then joked that one could only “congratulate Stuttgart for finding an idiot [Newcastle] who paid so much money,” adding: "Because we certainly wouldn't have done that in Munich.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Sesko, Simons and Gittens could return to PL action this week

  Woltemade, 23, has been in excellent form since arriving at Newcastle on 30 August, scoring seven goals in 17 appearances in all competitions for the club. Eddie Howe’s side return to league action against Simons’ Tottenham on Tuesday, while Gittens will be hoping to feature when Chelsea travel to Leeds United on Wednesday.

  Meanwhile, United head coach Amorim confirmed before his side’s 2-1 league victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday that Sesko is unlikely to feature against West Ham United on Thursday evening.

  He said: "Sesko is going to take a little bit more time [than Matheus Cunha]. It will take a little bit longer and we are taking care of him."