Real Madrid are looking at Bayern Munich‘s Dayot Upamecano and Liverpool‘s Ibrahima Konaté as free-agent signings, while Federico Chiesa is linked with a move to Turkey. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.

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TOP STORIES

– Konaté on Madrid talk: Mbappé calls every 2 hours
– Sources: Man Utd’s Onana in talks with Trabzonspor
– Alex Morgan unworried by stars leaving NWSL

TRENDING RUMORS

– A move for Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano is being lined up by Real Madrid, according to Bild. Los Blancos are interested in signing the 26-year-old, who entered the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena in the summer, as they continue to identify future options to reinforce their defence. The Bundesliga champions are expected to prioritise signing Upamecano to a new deal by beginning negotiations soon. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reports that the LaLiga club are also looking at Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté. The Reds are yet to secure the 26-year-old’s future at Anfield beyond the summer of 2026, and after Real Madrid made an enquiry in the summer, they are prepared to make another move if an opportunity arises to sign him as a free agent.

– Besiktas have had an approach for Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa dismissed, reports Fabrizio Romano. The Super Lig are keen to sign a winger before the transfer window closes on Friday, but the Reds are unwilling to consider a loan offer for the 27-year-old. Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, 30, is also on the radar of clubs in Turkey, but he is yet to make a final decision on his future as the Blues look to part ways with him.

– There are no plans by Barcelona to send on-loan winger Marcus Rashford back to Manchester United in January despite reports, according to The Sun. The Blaugrana and manager Hansi Flick are “still giving their full support” to the 27-year-old, who has played 95 minutes across three LaLiga matches. An option clause in the loan deal agreed with the Red Devils would allow him to be signed for a fee of £30 million.

– AC Milan want Christian Pulisic to sign a new contract, reports Calciomercato. The Rossoneri have made contact with the 26-year-old’s representatives as they look to agree a new four-year deal, with manager Massimiliano Allegri considering the 26-year-old to be a key part of his project. The Serie A club are also aware of interest from other clubs. Pulisic turned down a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in the summer.

– Lazio remain keen on free agent winger Lorenzo Insigne, according to Calciomercato. The 34-year-old has been without a club since leaving Toronto FC in the summer, and he has his sights set on a return to Serie A. The club’s hierarchy are exploring options to improve their financial situation to make a deal possible, and they could have to offload players.

EXPERT TAKE

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Onuoha reflects on Onana’s ‘horrendous spell’ at Man United

Nedum Onuoha talks about André Onana’s performances at Manchester United amid links with a loan move to Trabzonspor.

OTHER RUMORS

– Several clubs are keeping tabs on the progress of on-loan Aston Villa winger Jadon Sancho. (Football Insider)

– Al Shabab are keen on signing free agent midfielder Oriol Romeu. (Marca)

– Barcelona want to sign defender Eric Garcia to a new five-year contract, with hopes of getting the deal over the line before Christmas. (Diario Sport)

– Clubs in MLS are interested in free agent striker Patrick Bamford, who recently left Leeds United (Football Insider)

– Al Qadsiah have agreed a deal to sign Al Nassr attacking midfielder Otavio, who is expected to sign a two-year contract. (Fabrizio Romano)

– AC Milan midfielder Yacine Adli is closing in on a switch to Al Shabab. (Sport Italia)

– Tottenham Hotspur are willing to listen to offers for midfielder Yves Bissouma in the January transfer window. (Football Insider)

– A deal worth €20 million has been agreed by Neom SC to sign Bahia forward Lucho Rodriguez. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Talks are ongoing between Lazio and Anderlecht regarding a move for defender Jan-Carlo Simic. (Calciomercato)

– Juventus full-back Jonas Rouhi is set to join Westerlo on loan. (Fabrizio Romano)

It’s Monday, and another round of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 19 to come up with this week’s order of all 14 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.

Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Washington Spirit, 7.30 p.m. ET

After becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot, Kansas City continues to crush the competition this season and are poised to run away with the Shield race. After beating Bay FC 2-0 this weekend, the Current are an incredible 14-games undefeated and lead the table by a 14-point gap. It’s hard to imagine anyone stopping them in their pursuit of at least one trophy in 2025.

Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. KC Current, 7.30 p.m. ET

The Spirit have withstood a number of changes and injuries throughout the past calendar year, but they’re once again heading into the final stretch of the season as one of the undisputed best teams in the league. They beat a solid Seattle Reign squad 2-0 in Washington D.C. thanks to a brace of goals from Trinity Rodman and are undefeated in their last seven regular season games. Next up? A fascinating test with the top-ranked Kansas City Current.

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Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC, 09/08/2025

Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Friday Sept. 12 vs. Gotham FC, 10 p.m. ET

On Sunday evening in San Diego, the Wave retired USWNT icon and club treasure Alex Morgan‘s jersey, then proceeded to get dismantled by the mid-table Houston Dash. San Diego has frequently looked like one of the most formidable teams in the NWSL this season. But this wasn’t one of those nights. They held more of the ball and outshot the Dash 19 to nine, but the two squads managed five each on target while Houston’s chances proved much more lethal on the night.

Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Bay FC, 5 p.m. ET

Things are going from bad to worse for Orlando. The reigning champs are now winless in seven regular season games (three draws, four defeats). Sunday’s 5-2 collapse against the Chicago Stars saw one of 2024’s best defensive sides concede five goals in the second half alone, marking their worst loss of the season and third straight defeat. Silver lining? Mexico forward Lizbeth Ovalle (who briefly held the women’s world transfer record when she signed for the Pride this August) made her debut for the club. Fans will be hoping for Ovalle’s smooth transition to help turn this ship around.

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Chicago Stars vs. Orlando Pride – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Chicago Stars vs. Orlando Pride, 09/07/2025

Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Seattle Reign, 8 p.m. ET

Louisville suffered their first loss in five games with a 2-1 defeat at home to Portland on Friday. Win, loss, or draw, all of Louisville’s games tend to be closely contested. Stretching back to April 27 all but three of their games (two defeats to Kansas City and a win against Orlando) have been draws or decided by the odd goal. They finished the weekend one spot inside the playoff positions and face a pivotal test against Seattle Reign next weekend, who sit just one spot above them as they seek their first-ever postseason berth.

Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Friday Sept. 12 vs. San Diego Wave, 10 p.m. ET

Gotham have oscillated around the standings this season but earned an important win at home on Sunday, beating Angel City 3-1 despite falling behind in the second minute. With that, they finished the weekend a few places higher in the standings, now sitting sixth behind a struggling Orlando Pride. Inimitable United States midfielder Rose Lavelle scored the second of three second-half goals for the Bats, which marks her first goal of 2025 as the midfield maestro seeks another level after returning from injury earlier in the year.

Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Utah Royals, 6 p.m. ET

The Dash made quite the statement Sunday evening, as they showed up to San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on the night of Morgan’s jersey retirement and handed the third-place home side a 3-0 defeat. There are no easy games in NWSL, but the Dash are now six games undefeated and sitting just short of the playoff positions before a pair of surmountable tests against the bottom-ranked Chicago Stars and Utah Royals the next two weekends.

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San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash, 09/08/2025

Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Chicago Stars, 3 p.m. ET

After losing 2-1 at home last weekend, Portland recovered with a 2-1 win on the road, this time against Racing Louisville. They’re a bit temperamental but they’re still in fourth place, and will look to keep the momentum apace with a second road test next weekend against 13th-place (but six games undefeated) Chicago Stars.

Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Racing Louisville, 8 p.m. ET

It’s not time to panic. But Seattle is winless in their last five games after losing 2-0 to Washington Spirit at Audi Field. Rodman on a mission is hard to contain, but the Reign need some results as they finish the weekend in seventh place, before facing a tough-to-play Racing Louisville next weekend in Seattle.

Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. NC Courage, 12.30 p.m. ET

A few days after losing 20-year-old USWNT winger Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea, Angel City were hoping for a statement win against Gotham, who entered the weekend just one spot above them in the NWSL table. The night looked bright for them in New Jersey after Kennedy Fuller‘s second-minute goal, but Gotham came back with three of their own in the second half. With that, Angel City finished the weekend still sitting just short of the playoff positions and looking for that final piece to break through.

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NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC, 09/08/2025

Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Angel City FC, 12.30 p.m. ET

After Jaedyn Shaw took the lead from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, the Courage were seconds away from a sorely needed victory at home when Paige Monaghan drew level for the Royals, handing North Carolina a 1-1 draw in the dying moments. North Carolina have now gone winless in six straight games (four draws, two defeats), and are still searching for their first win since letting go of former manager Sean Nahas.

Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Portland Thorns, 3 p.m. ET

Ludmila can’t stop scoring for the Stars. The Brazilian forward notched her sixth goal in four games in the 89th minute of a 5-2 demolition of the Orlando Pride. The reigning champs are struggling (no wins in seven games) but Chicago handed them their worst loss of the year, putting five goals past them, all in the second half. They’re still sitting at the bottom of the table, but they’re undefeated in their last six games (five draws, one big win) and gaining momentum.

Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Saturday Sept. 13 vs. Orlando Pride, 5 p.m. ET

It’s hard to break a rut while playing the top team in the league. But Bay FC’s 2-0 loss to Kansas City marks their fourth straight defeat, and brings them to eight games without a win. They’ve been unlucky at times, and their matches have often been closer than the result would show at face value, but that’s some dire form for the Cali-squad trying to make a second-straight playoff appearance.

Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Sunday Sept. 14 vs. Houston Dash, 6 p.m. ET

The Royals put in a valiant effort against the North Carolina Courage in Cary this weekend. They fell behind briefly following a penalty, but fought back for the equalizer in stoppage time to claim a 1-1 draw. It’s hard to crawl out from the bottom of the table, but the Royals deserve credit for some solid form, despite recently losing one of their key players in Ally Sentnor. They’re undefeated in their last three games, and have only lost one game in their last six matches.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday praised the national team for their dominant victory over Afghanistan in the final of the tri-nation T20I series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Naqvi reserved special mention for left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, commending his match-winning all-round performance, which included a hat-trick, fearless batting, and decisive contributions that turned the match in Pakistan’s favour.

“Despite posting a modest total, the team’s excellent teamwork ensured a convincing win against Afghanistan,” Naqvi said.

He also congratulated Head Coach Mike Hesson, Captain Salman Ali Agha, and the entire squad on the achievement, calling it a morale booster for future tournaments.

Taking to social media platform X, the PCB chief highlighted Pakistan’s recent consistency, winning 10 out of 14 T20 matches under Hesson’s guidance.

He urged fans and critics alike to rally behind the team ahead of the Asia Cup.

“Congratulations to Team Pakistan on winning the Tri-Series! This is a young, talented side playing fearless cricket.

Full support to the boys, coaches, and selectors for the Asia Cup—criticism and analysis can wait until after the tournament,” Naqvi wrote.

In the final, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 75 runs. Defending 142, Pakistan’s bowlers dismantled Afghanistan for just 66.

Shaheen Afridi struck early, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for five, before Abrar Ahmed dismissed Sediqullah Atal for 13.

Mohammad Nawaz then stole the spotlight, striking twice in one over, before completing his hat-trick by removing Ibrahim Zadran.

He went on to claim a fourth wicket, dismissing Karim Janat, reducing Afghanistan to 32-6 and sealing Pakistan’s commanding victory.

Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem also claimed two wickets each.

Pakistan’s innings saw early wickets, with Sahibzada Farhan dismissed for a duck. Saim Ayub (17) and Fakhar Zaman (27) offered resistance before falling to spinners.

Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Nawaz added 40 runs to stabilize the innings, with Nawaz contributing 25. Pakistan set a target of 141-8.

Rashid Khan took 3/38, while Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and AM Ghazanfar claimed the remaining wickets.