Chelsea will make a fresh attempt to sign Spain striker Samu Agehowa, while Manchester United have learned how much it will cost to sign VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TOP STORIES

– Forest hire Dyche as Postecoglou replacement
– Klopp refuses to rule out Liverpool return one day
– PL clubs concerned over spending cap in Championship

TRENDING RUMORS

– Chelsea are prepared to make an £87m offer to FC Porto for striker Samu Agehowa next summer, according to Record. The Blues had been close to signing the Spain international from Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2024, but the move collapsed and he joined Porto instead. Samu scored 25 goals in his first season in Portugal, and has netted eight goals in nine games so far this term. The 21-year-old has a contract at the Estádio do Dragão until June 2029.

– Stuttgart have set their fee for Angelo Stiller at €50 million with Manchester United among the clubs who have expressed an interest in the midfielder but the 24-year-old’s valuation could still rise, according to Sky Sports Deutschland. While Stiller has a €40m release clause, the Bundesliga club can buy that out and make his transfer fee freely negotiable. Meanwhile, TEAMtalk reports that United are looking to January with their list of options featuring Sporting CP‘s Morten Hjulmand, Crystal Palace‘s Adam Wharton, Brighton & Hove Albion‘s Carlos Baleba, Borussia Dortmund‘s Jobe Bellingham and Porto’s Victor Froholdt. The Red Devils are optimistic that they can reunite coach Ruben Amorim with Hjulmand for £50m despite the 26-year-old’s £70m release clause, with this coming due to Sporting’s relationship with their former manager.

– Sky Sports Deutschland have offered an insight into the domino effect that could happen regarding free agent centre-backs in the summer. A final decision hasn’t been made on David Alaba‘s future but he is likely to leave Real Madrid, while the Saudi Pro League is watching the situation of his teammate Antonio Rüdiger with his future uncertain despite an offer having been tabled for a contract that runs until 2028. Liverpool‘s Ibrahima Konaté could be the replacement if either of them leave, while Marc Guéhi could replace the Frenchman at Anfield but is also wanted by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Dayot Upamecano could also move despite Bayern wanting to extend his contract to 2030.

– Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is weighing up a January loan move with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Brentford all looking at the 20-year-old, according to TEAMtalk. Mainoo remains committed to the Red Devils, but the feeling is that he needs more minutes to aid both his development and ambitions to represent England at the FIFA World Cup. Man United’s lack of depth in midfield has raised questions about whether they will be willing to allow a loan move.

– Barcelona are monitoring Mallorca winger Jan Virgili and could look to re-sign him, as reported by Diario Sport. The 19-year-old left the Blaugrana for €3.5m this summer as he didn’t want to be part of a reserve team any longer, but Barca included a clause that would see them receive a percentage of the funds from his next move and another clause that would allow them to re-sign him. Virgili marked his return from the Under-20 World Cup by providing the assist for Vedat Muriqi‘s equaliser in Mallorca’s win against Sevilla.

OTHER RUMORS

– AC Milan had a scout at Parma’s goalless draw against Genoa to watch goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. (Nicolò Schira)

– Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Willian Pacho could extend his contract in the coming weeks, with an offer on the table to extend his deal by one year so it lasts until 2030. (Le Parisien)

– Clubs from across Europe are monitoring Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. (Rudy Galetti)

– Massimiliano Allegri has given his approval for AC Milan to extend Fikayo Tomori‘s contract with initial informal discussions already taking place. (Calciomercato)

– Rodez centre-back Mathis Magnin is being monitored by various Ligue 1 clubs having impressed in Ligue 2. (Rudy Galetti)

– Several European clubs, especially from Italy and England, are monitoring Copenhagen centre-back Gabriel Pereira. (Rudy Galetti)

– Barcelona will not move in the January transfer window unless they suffer injuries. (AS)

– Bologna have turned down a “huge” offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah for Riccardo Orsolini, and the Rossoblu are in talks to extend the winger’s contract until 2029 with the option for another year. (Nicolò Schira)

SEATTLE — Not everything was bad for Seattle sports fans on Monday night.

While the Mariners fell just short of their first-ever World Series appearance, the Seattle Seahawks took care of business at Lumen Field, beating the Houston Texans 27-19. The Seahawks’ defense held Houston to 254 yards and sacked C.J. Stroud three times, helping them overcome four turnovers. Meanwhile, Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a touchdown pass while running back Zach Charbonnet ran for two more scores.

Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:

Moments before kickoff on Monday, the Seahawks had franchise legends Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas raised the ceremonial 12 flag at Lumen Field. And then their defense turned in a performance that would make the Legion of Boom proud.

The Seahawks harassed C.J. Stroud, sacking him three times, intercepting him once and holding the Texans’ quarterback to under a 50% completion rate (23-for-49). Their loaded pass rush and typically strong run defense were enough to keep Houston’s offense out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter despite Seattle again playing short-handed in the secondary, with Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love both inactive.

Seattle’s offense got another huge game from Smith-Njigba, who caught eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, but it turned the ball over four times and converted only 2 of 14 times on third down.

This night belonged to the defense, whose dominance helped Seattle improve to 5-2 heading into the bye. The Seahawks are off the rest of the week, but they may not be idle with the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaching and a potential trade chip in their back pocket in cornerback Riq Woolen, who isn’t part of their long-term plans. The Seahawks are expecting Witherspoon (and Love) back after the bye, which could give them more freedom to move Woolen and, depending on what they get in return, potentially improve what is already one of the best defenses in the NFL.

What to make of the QB performance: Sam Darnold has done an excellent job this season of avoiding sacks and negative plays in general, but he didn’t do that Monday night. With the Seahawks backed up near their own goal line in the third quarter, he tried to retreat in the end zone with the pocket collapsing in front of him, leading to a strip sack by Will Anderson Jr. that the Houston edge rusher recovered in the end zone. Darnold was sacked another time and threw an interception in the fourth quarter, making it an atypical performance for a quarterback who had entered this game ranked third in Total QBR. Darnold completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards and another touchdown pass to Smith-Njigba.

Trend to watch: If it wasn’t clear already, it should be now: Uchenna Nwosu is back to his old self. His sack of Stroud in the first quarter was his sixth in as many games this season. The veteran edge rusher missed the opener while coming back from offseason knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus he suffered in last season’s finale — one of several injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons. All the time he’s missed forced the 28-year-old Nwosu to take a pay cut over the offseason to return to Seattle, creating plenty of uncertainty over his future with the Seahawks beyond 2025. But that’s becoming less of a question.

Stat to know: Smith-Njigba became the first player in Seahawks history with at least 100 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in three straight games, according to ESPN Research. That’s just one stat that illustrates the incredible start he’s had to the season — the kind of tear that is putting him in the conversation of the best receivers in football. He entered Monday night leading the NFL in receiving by a wide margin with 696 yards, and he extended that lead with another 123 yards against Houston. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, his 11-yard touchdown catch had a completion probability of 28%, the least likely scoring pass for the Seahawks so far this season. — Brady Henderson

Next game: at Washington Commanders (Sunday, Nov. 2, 8:20 p.m. ET)

The Texans’ disappointing offensive showing Monday night was best symbolized by an anemic fourth-quarter, goal-line possession.

Down 27-12 with 5:21 remaining, Houston’s offense lined up on the Seahawks’ 3-yard line while dealing with a deafening, flag-waving Lumen Stadium crowd. And the Texans’ offense did nothing to silence them. The series of plays — a 2-yard run, an incompletion, another incompletion, a false start then yet another incompletion – equaled a turnover on downs and their best shot to come back to win a game in which they forced four Seahawks turnovers.

When the game was on the line, Houston folded. The evening featured another slog for the Houston offense, which could only generate 13 points and 254 total yards. Stroud was sacked three times, threw a touchdown pass and an interception while Houston’s run game was invisible, totaling only 56 yards. It was a disappointing showing coming off a bye, which followed a 44-point showing against the Ravens two weeks ago.

Biggest hole in the game plan: All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. versus Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver, was a marquee matchup. Smith-Njigba finished with eight catches for 123 yards along with a touchdown, with Stingley allowing 49 yards and the score. But Stingley never matched up against him in press coverage, his strong suit. Heading into Monday’s game, opponents only completed 36% of their passes against Stingley in press coverage, according to Next Gen Stats. And last season he allowed a passer rating of 14.0 when playing press, the best in the NFL. Maybe Stingley, who had a fourth-quarter interception, could have slowed Smith-Njigba down if he was allowed to play press coverage.

QB performance: Stroud didn’t pick up where he left off before the bye, when he threw four touchdown passes in a 44-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. This week Stroud passed for 229 yards and threw an interception while only leading his offensive group to 13 points. It wasn’t all his fault; there were multiple plays when there were free rushers, leading to a sack or throwaways. Even on Stroud’s interception there was a free rusher at his feet, leading to the errant throw. Overall, Stroud’s numbers weren’t good, but the pieces around him didn’t help enough.

Turning point: The Texans were trailing 20-12 late in the third quarter as their offense faced a third-and-1 at their own 41-yard line. Running back Woody Marks got stuffed for no gain. Then on fourth-and-1, they called a similar run play in which Marks got stuffed again, resulting in a turnover on downs. The Seahawks scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to go up 27-12, which gave them enough of a cushion to win. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

DETROIT — Every time NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders is at a Lions game, Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs says he wants “to show out,” which is exactly what happened Monday night in a 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gibbs was spectacular, totaling 218 yards and two rushing touchdowns, as the Lions continue to make a case to be the NFL’s best following a loss.

After falling at Kansas City in Week 6, Detroit bounced back with another home win while breaking out their all-black uniforms for the first time this season. Detroit is now 13-4 following a loss since the start of the 2022 campaign, which is the second-best record in NFL over span after the Chiefs (11-2), per ESPN Reference.

Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:

Detroit Lions (5-2)

Most surprising performance: Despite playing without starting safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (suspension) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder), Detroit’s defense stepped up, particularly in the secondary while forcing both of the Bucs’ turnovers by halftime. The unit held an explosive Tampa Bay offense to 58 yards through two quarters and 251 for the game with four sacks. Lions cornerback Amik Robertson forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in the second quarter, and cornerback Arthur Maulet ripped the ball away from Bucs tight end Cade Otton for an interception later in the half.

Biggest hole in game plan: Third-down conversions. Detroit went 3-for-13 on third-down attempts. Lions coach Dan Campbell said he wasn’t pleased with their third-down efficiency at halftime.

Stat to know: Gibbs broke free up the middle for the longest run of his NFL career with a 78-yard touchdown with 5:51 left in the first half. Gibbs’ top speed was 22.2 mph, the fastest rushing TD by an offensive ball carrier this season, per Next Gen Stats. He is the only player over the past three seasons to reach 22 mph on a rushing touchdown, and he’s done it twice now, including on a 70-yard touchdown in 2024 versus the Titans during Week 8. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 2)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)

With the return of franchise’s scoring leader in Mike Evans (hamstring) and first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), the stars seemed set to align for Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Motown, especially considering the Lions would be playing without nearly every starter in their secondary.

But that would not be the case, between the gaffes on defense and Evans leaving the game in the second quarter with a concussion and a shoulder injury after colliding with Rock Ya-Sin on a deep pass. The offense struggled to get going, and Mayfield couldn’t connect with the team’s leading receiver in Egbuka — going 4-for-12 for 58 yards while targeting him.

Tampa Bay came into the game with the best record in the NFC, but this loss pulled them back into the pack.

What to make of the quarterback performance: Mayfield looked uncomfortable and out of rhythm throughout the night, completing 28-of-50 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown with one interception, although you can’t pin that one on Mayfield when it was wrestled out of Otton’s hands. The one bright spot was Mayfield slipping the ball past Hutchinson on a screen pass and connecting with rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson on a 22-yard touchdown. Mayfield also fumbled the ball on a sack from Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat, although it was recovered by Tampa Bay tackle Tristan Wirfs. It wasn’t a typical outing from a signal-caller who had been playing at an MVP level this season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Just like the Atlanta Falcons and the Houston Texans, the Bucs’ defense surrendered an explosive play and a touchdown on the opening drive. And once again, Tampa Bay looked vulnerable in the flat throughout the game. On the opening drive, the Bucs surrendered a 30-yard reception to Gibbs coming out of the backfield; that was on SirVocea Dennis. They had issues with Gibbs in the flat again on a 24-yard catch then on a 28-yard reception, during which Dennis dove at his ankles, setting a touchdown in the third quarter.

Biggest surprise: The run defense — fifth best in the league in giving up 3.7 yards per carry — surrendered Gibbs’ 78-yard scoring run in the second quarter, and the Lions averaged 5.1 yards per carry and finished with 164 yards. On Gibbs’ play, the Bucs had both interior defensive linemen — Greg Gaines and Elijah Roberts — drop back into coverage with three defensive backs, Jacob Parrish, Tykee Smith and Zyon McCollum, attempting to converge on Gibbs in the backfield. But Gibbs found daylight to add to his huge night once past Roberts and Lavonte David. — Jenna Laine

Next game: at New Orleans Saints (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)