Arsenal were interested in a deal before Chelsea won the race (Picture: Getty) Morgan Rogers’ camp asked Arsenal to match Chelsea’s £117m transfer bid as he wanted to move to the Gunners, according to reports. Mikel Arteta identified Rogers as one of his top targets at the start of the summer and Arsenal were believed to be leading the race to secure his signature. The Premier League champions were willing to pay around £80m for Rogers, who was part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup. But Chelsea blew their London rivals out of the water with a stunning £117m deal with Aston Villa, making Rogers the most expensive British player in Premier League history. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Rogers said he was joining the ‘biggest club in London’ after switching Villa Park for Stamford Bridge but the Daily Mail says the England midfielder wanted to join Arsenal. The report adds that the player’s camp urged bosses at the Emirates Stadium to match Chelsea’s record-breaking bid as he was ‘keen’ to bolster Arteta’s title-winning squad. Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph says Rogers was ‘enthusiastic’ about joining Arteta’s project at Arsenal and was ‘ready to pack his bags’ and move to north London. Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa (Picture: Getty) Rogers was the first of several summer targets that Arsenal failed to sign during the transfer window. Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez had his heart set on a move to Barcelona, Arsenal refused to pay over the odds for new Liverpool signing Bradley Barcola and Vinicius Junior signed a contract extension at Real Madrid. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was surprised Arsenal didn’t push harder to sign two-time Champions League winner Barcola from PSG. Rogers was reportedly keen to join Arsenal (Picture: Getty) ‘I’m happy it didn’t happen but I was looking at the Barcola thing,’ Carragher said on the latest episode of Stick to Football. ‘For me with Arsenal, left wing has always felt like where the drop is compared to [Bukayo] Saka, [Martin] Odegaard, [Kai] Havertz. ‘The new kid [Christos] Tzolis has made a decent start. But the longer the Barcola thing went on, and then Arsenal didn’t get Vinicius Jr or Alvarez, I was thinking is that [signing Barcola] not the one?’ {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"John Terry singles out act that Alonso did during Brighton game that spells well for Chelsea","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/31\/5230901859085403608\/480x270_MP4_5230901859085403608.mp4","description":"He loves to see it.","duration":"T1M","height":480,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/31\/14\/110952603-0-image-a-22_1788181481167.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-31T14:03:31+0100","width":270} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); Rogers has enjoyed a promising start to his Chelsea career, scoring and providing an assist in the first two Premier League games of the season. After completing a stunning move to west London, the 23-year-old England star said: ‘I’m joining the biggest club in London. ‘The way the club wants to go and how it wants to move forward is something I want to be a part of. I think it was just perfect for me. I just can’t
As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming match between these giants, fans are left wondering: has Lionel Messi ever faced the Norway international? Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland are two of the most prolific goalscorers in modern soccer, yet they have never faced one another for any club or national team. For years, Ronaldo has been the standard-bearer for Portugal, while Haaland has become Norway’s most feared finisher as their careers have run in parallel, but never in the same match. As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming match between these giants, fans are left wondering: has Lionel Messi ever played against the Norway international? This highly anticipated duel will pit Ronaldo’s remarkable longevity against the explosive power of Haaland. Throughout his illustrious career, the Portuguese forward has showcased his talents at every major European destination he joined. Meanwhile, the Norwegian striker has bullied defenders across the continent with his incredible physical strength and ruthless finishing. The long wait for this monumental encounter will finally end on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The match will take place at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, where the home squad will host the Portuguese roster in a crucial Nations League fixture. A subsequent return meeting is already scheduled for October 4 in Porto, giving fans another chance to witness the spectacle. The Portuguese maestro and the Norwegian sensation have each carved out remarkable careers on the club and international stages. The former has spent years at the pinnacle of European soccer with clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, while the latter’s meteoric rise has seen him shine at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City. Despite their prominence, they have surprisingly never played against each other in a competitive fixture. Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Erling Haaland (right) Their paths have also not crossed on the international stage. Portugal and Norway have met multiple times, but these encounters occurred before Haaland established himself as a senior international star in 2019. This absence of face-to-face competition is even more notable considering how often their names are compared due to their goalscoring prowess and attacking brilliance. Have Messi and Haaland ever crossed paths? With the spotlight shining on this unprecedented European clash, observers naturally wonder about the Argentine legend’s history with the Norwegian powerhouse. In fact, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland have also never played against each other in an official match. Their paths completely bypassed one another during their respective domestic and continental campaigns. During the height of his European career, the Argentine maestro was securing trophies with his beloved Spanish employers, Barcelona. At the same time, the young Norwegian phenom was busy making a name for himself in Germany and England. The draw for the UEFA Champions League never paired their respective squads together on the pitch. The situation at the international level mirrors their missed connections in domestic leagues. The South American champions Argentina simply never scheduled any friendly or competitive fixtures against the Scandinavian squad during their overlapping active years. As a result, a direct head-to-head battle between these global icons remained entirely elusive. Lionel Messi of Argentina and Erling Haaland of Norway. Furthermore, any hope of an international clash between the Argentine and the Norwegian was recently extinguished. Messi recently announced his retirement from international action, ending an illustrious La Albiceleste career with a record 207 caps and 125 goals. His achievements include winning the 2022 World Cup, but now the possibility of future encounters with Haaland in international tournaments is gone. Could they still meet in the future? Since Messi now plays for Inter Miami in MLS and Haaland remains at Manchester City, their c
After winning the 2026 World Cup, Marcos Llorente announced his retirement from Spain national team at just 31 years old. The Spain national team took the global soccer community by storm with a dominant defensive run during the 2026 World Cup, conceding just one goal across the entire tournament. However, La Roja have suffered an immediate roster blow ahead of defending their crown in 2030, as utility star Marcos Llorente announced his retirement from international duty at just 31 years old. In a statement published on his Instagram account on Thursday, September 3, Llorente confirmed that he is stepping away from the senior national team. The decision caught observers off guard, given his status as a key member of the World Cup-winning squad and the expectation that he could remain an integral contributor for years to come. The Atletico Madrid midfielder turned right back also revealed that his retirement was decided well before the tournament kicked off in North America. “Regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we had won or not, I had already made this decision,” Llorente wrote. Llorente made his senior debut for Spain on November 11, 2020, coming off the bench for 18 minutes in an international friendly against the Netherlands. Over the subsequent six years, he compiled 27 total caps while transitioning seamlessly between central midfield and right back, recording four assists without finding the back of the net for La Roja. Marcos Llorente’s Instagram post. The versatile Spaniard featured during the group stage of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League campaign, but missed the final four due to a muscle injury as Spain went on to claim the title. He was also left off the final roster for UEFA Euro 2024 by manager Luis de la Fuente, missing out on another major trophy during that cycle. His crowning international moment arrived this summer as Spain captured the 2026 World Cup trophy. Llorente opened the tournament as De la Fuente’s starting right back, playing all 90 minutes in group stage victories over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, before Pedro Porro claimed the starting spot, leaving Llorente to make a brief six-minute cameo in the semifinal victory over France. Marcos Llorente’s farewell letter “After spending a lot of time thinking it over, I have decided to close my chapter with the National Team. I am aware that I am still young and that, perhaps, if I kept doing things right, I would still have years left to continue playing in this shirt. I know that many of you will not understand it and, surely, I wouldn’t have understood it from the outside either. But it is a personal decision, deeply considered and, above all, deeply felt. Regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we had won or not, I had already made this decision. I can only be infinitely grateful to all the people I have crossed paths with over these years who have made it possible for my family and me to experience unique and unforgettable moments. I take with me everything we experienced, but above all, these last 52 days. With a wonderful group that fought until the end to put Spain at the very top. And they did just that. It has been a matter of great pride to represent my country and be part of this history. Thank you for everything. A warm embrace to everyone.“
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith (Picture: Getty) Alan Smith fears Mikel Arteta and Arsenal made a major mistake with one piece of business in the summer transfer window. Having won their first Premier League title in 22 years, the Gunners did not rest on their laurels over the summer transfer window, spending almost £200million on five new signings. Piero Hincapie’s move from Bayer Leverkusen was made permanent, with Ezri Konsa arriving from Aston Villa to add more depth across the defensive line. Illan Meslier arrived as a third-choice goalkeeper from Leeds United, while Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis were also signed from Newcastle United and Club Brugge, respectively. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Arsenal had been keen to strengthen further on the left wing, but fell short in their pursuit of Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior. And with that in mind, Smith believes the club should not have been so hasty to let go of Leandro Trossard, who joined Besiktas for a measly £17m fee earlier in the summer. ‘Time will tell, but Trossard, on paper, is more of a loss,’ Smith told Metro via BestBettingSites.co.uk. Leandro Trossard was sold to Besiktas (Picture: Getty) ‘He performed in big games, and he chipped in with goals in big games, so that’s hard to explain. ‘Whether Tzolis does that is another story altogether, but that’s asking a lot. ‘But they’ve let Martinelli go, Trossard go, Jesus go; they’ve lost three forward players and just brought in Tzolis, really. ‘So from that point of view, one or two question marks, definitely.’ Speaking before the season, the former Gunners striker tipped Manchester City as Arsenal’s closest challengers for the league title. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty) And Smith believes City could prove an even tougher challenge than he expected after watching Enzo Maresca’s side win their first two games against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. ‘The phrase in the weeks leading up to the season has been that it’s Arsenal’s to lose,’ Smith added. ‘I don’t see it like that now. ‘I did Man City at Crystal Palace last Friday, and even then, before they’d made the signings, I thought, oh, they’re going to be challengers. Manchester City’s new signing Enzo Fernandez (Picture: Manchester City FC) ‘And I think they’ll be even stronger challengers now. Splashed the cash, some good signings. ‘Obviously, Enzo Fernandez being the last one there. I think they’ll be feeling really bullish about things, City.’ Chelsea are another team being talked up as potential title challengers for Arsenal, but Smith can’t see Xabi Alonso’s side staying the course despite the impressive late signing of Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa. ‘It makes them better by some margin, I would say, not only what he can give them in terms of commanding his box, but the confidence it will give his defenders and team in general,’ he said. ‘He is a world-class keeper, and he’s a big personality. As for a title challenge, I do see them just being off it at the moment. ‘I might be proved wrong. Who can say what’s going to happen with injuries over the course of the season? ‘If they keep Palmer, Rogers and João Pedro together, it gives them a great chance. But yeah, they’re in a much better position now.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
At the end of a busy transfer window which spanned the World Cup, here are some of the subplots of the summerThe World Cup is always a good shop window. Yan Diomande was already a rising star at RB Leipzig but shining for Côte d’Ivoire in the US helped push up his price tag before a £115.7m move to Real Madrid. There were other breakout stars: Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, whose signature Aston Villa pipped Newcastle to; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic, who went to Juventus; and Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi, who is now in the Premier League with Coventry. Cape Verde’s cult hero Vozinha now keeps net for the Chilean giants Colo-Colo and Morocco’s attacking dynamo, Ismael Saibari, has rocked up at Bayern. Billy Munday Continue reading...
Four teams are aiming to protect their 100% record in the Premier League on MD3, but who is Opta supercomputer backing to stay perfect? The post Premier League predictions: Arsenal and Chelsea face off in battle to maintain perfect starts appeared first on SoccerNews.
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