The winger is one of the rising talents in Europe after enjoying a sensational breakout campaign last year for the German side.

He established himself as Cologne’s talisman last season, with 13 goals and four assists in 34 Bundesliga appearances ensuring they stayed away from any relegation troubles.

It sparked widespread interest from around Europe, including from Brighton, who have been admirers for at least 18 months. Indeed, they were the first Premier League club to make a move, offering €20m in 2025 to try and get ahead of the competition.

2026 efforts

That interest continued into this year, with numerous reports before the summer transfer window indicating that they had not given up. Brighton even tried to hold talks during the March international break to try and sort out a deal.

They were very much at the front of the queue during the summer, with that continuing into July. They even tried to use a personal connection through Fabian Hurzeler to push it through.

But by that point, El Mala and his family had different intentions, with the likes of Chelsea also in the picture for his signature. Ultimately, a deal never happened, though. Instead, El Mala signed a new deal at the club.

That’s proven to be a smart move as he’s continued his upward trajectory, earning his senior debut for Germany under Jurgen Klopp. He also has four goals and one assist in nine games so far.

Brighton still trying

Interest is likely to be big in the coming months once again. A report this week insisted that Brighton will try again.

El Mala will be more than aware of their interest, admitting that he listened carefully to all the offers sent to him this summer.

“I chose Köln because I simply felt comfortable here. I didn’t want to leave, even though there were many inquiries,” he said.

“Of course, I listened to what was on offer—that’s completely normal. But I had extensive discussions with the board and the coach, and I heard about the plans for the team.

“Looking at things now, those plans have been implemented exactly as discussed. I want to bring joy to the city and the club through my own performances and those of the team.”

If the Seagulls do want to convince to the move, they may have to secure Champions League football first.

“You always have dreams,” he added.

“I want to achieve great things one day and play in the Champions League. I can’t say exactly when that moment will come—but it will happen eventually.”

The post “It will happen eventually” – Brighton transfer encouragement, player listened to summer offer appeared first on Sport Witness.

The midfielder is currently playing for Flamengo in his native Brazil after moving there in a €42m move from West Ham in the January transfer window.

That move was very much an attempt to put the betting scandal that ruined his time in England over the last few years.

Paquetá was accused of deliberately forcing referees to show him yellow cards in four specific matches across 2022 and 2023 to manipulate the betting market for others to profit.

The case ran for years but he was ultimately cleared of all major spot-fixing and betting misconduct charges by an Independent Regulatory Commission. But the damage was already done by that point.

Manchester City dream

He left West Ham not long after being found not guilty. But also, the accusations and public fallout also cost him a move to Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side had been advancing in a potential £80m move for the Brazilian midfielder in August 2023.

Indeed, reports indicated that it was effectively agreed upon in principle. It was on the verge of completion before the betting allegations surfaced.

Manchester City first put the deal on hold before then pulling out of negotiations entirely.

That’s something Paquetá cannot get over, even three years later. He recently appeared on TikTok, where he answered questions about the affair.

Regrets

Omatogrossense report that the midfielder stated he did not regret his choice, but acknowledge the investigation ruined his plans.

“I didn’t end up going to City because of the investigation I went through, you, see?” he declared.

During the conversation, a participant mentioned clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​asking if the Brazilian truly desired to play in Manchester.

“No, it was City—it was City. I’ve always really liked City,” the midfielder replied. He then added that the length of the case against him meant that, by the time he was cleared, a deal was no longer possible as he was in a different stage of his career.

As a result, the possibility of playing for Manchester City was not longer part of his immediate plans.

Now, years later, Paquetá can only sit and wonder what might have been. Not only was his time at West Ham ruined, but his dream transfer was also stolen from him. It’s fair to say his anger and disappointment may be justified.

The post “I’ve always really liked City” – Player still sore over Manchester City dream being taken away appeared first on Sport Witness.

The Manchester United boss may have eased the pressure on himself with a big comeback against Roma this week, but that was a temporary fix to the huge problems at Old Trafford.

United’s start to the season is their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years, with one win four draws and four defeats leaving Manchester United on the brink of the relegation zone.

If results go against them this weekend, they could find themselves in that bottom three.

Conte option

Few would have predicted that situation after another summer of spending and the positive end to last season under Carrick.

The pressure is on him to pick up results and points quickly, particularly with Conte seemingly on the lookout for a new job.

He’s only been out of work since leaving Napoli in June. But he appears eager to get back to work as soon as possible. A third stint in the Premier League – after spells at Chelsea and Tottenham – looks plausible too.

Whether he would be a good fit at Old Trafford is a topic of debate. While some Manchester United fans would be happy to see the Italian put a fire under this current group, others are concerned about the long-term impacts.

Afterall, Conte’s jobs have typically lasted exactly two seasons or less.

Since leaving Juventus in 2014, Conte has never lasted longer than two years at a single club. So, Manchester United could find themselves in a very difficult situation again before too long.

Di Canio opinion

Paolo di Cano isn’t going to suggest he’d be an ideal fit. But he will say that the Italian would bring some much-needed organisation to Manchester United.

“Is Conte a good fit for Manchester United? Antonio would bring organization to a club that currently operates in a purely ad-hoc, improvised manner,” he told La Repubblica.

“Right now, it’s still a disorganized, ragtag bunch. The success against Roma helps us see the difference between the Premier League and Serie A.

“By simply applying a bit of spirit, they completely steamrolled Gasperini’s side. They’re a team that, back here, is devastating in terms of its tempo.”

The question is whether United move for him at any point in the coming weeks. For now, they appear determined to back Carrick despite a historically poor start to the season. But how long that patience stays if results do not improve, remains to be seen.

Until that point, we’re sure to hear more about what Conte would bring as he clearly looks for his next destination.

The post Paolo di Canio explains what Antonio Conte would bring to Manchester United appeared first on Sport Witness.

As you’re probably aware, Bournemouth are flying high at this moment in time. They head into this weekend seventh in the Premier League, riding a six-match winning streak across all competitions under Marco Rose.

Following a 5-1 defeat to Chelsea on October 10^th, the Cherries have undergone a spectacular turnaround, winning every single match while conceding just one goal.

That’s included some impressive performances in Europe, including a 3-0 win over Italian giants AC Milan at the end of October.

History

That win over Milan is widely considered the greatest and most significant single result in Bournemouth’s history, particularly given that in 1970 John Bond rebranded Bournemouth’s identify because of Milan.

They had just won the 1969 European Cup, and he decided to ditch Bournemouth’s traditional all red look and copy Milan’s iconic red and black stripers. Over half a century later, they have beaten them in Europe.

It was also significant given that 15 years ago, Bournemouth were sitting 17^th in League One. In 2008, they nearly went out of business completely. Now they’re beating Milan in Europe instead.

Di Canio impressed

Their rise does not appear to have gone unnoticed by Di Canio. He was certain they’d struggle, thanks to the depth in Bournemouth’s squad.

“Juventus and Milan are no longer what they were 15 years ago,” he told La Repubblica.

“It makes me think when people say they should have won the Europa League—just looking at their historical prestige. I was certain that Milan would struggle against Bournemouth; they have 5 or 6 players there who would be starters for Inter.

“Who is the leader in this Milan side? I don’t see it being Rabiot. Modrić leads by example, rather than through his personality. Back in my day, if you did something wrong, Baresi would fix you with a glare.

“The rest of us would smirk, as if to say: ‘He’ll handle it now’—even Capello wouldn’t need to step in. The starting eleven isn’t bad, but you can’t just win a derby and suddenly expect to win the Scudetto.

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The striker is now plying his trade in America with San Jose Earthquakes after bringing his time in Europe to an end back in January.

While he’s only 30, it’s fair to say he’s now in the final years of his career after a few disappointing years at Tottenham, Leipzig and Chelsea before that.

He was once considered one of the most prolific strikers in Europe after scoring 95 goals in 159 games for RB Leipzig. That earned him attention around Europe, particularly in the Premier League.

He eventually joined Chelsea in €53m move in 2020, but a record of 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 games there was seen as a complete failure. His career never really recovered from that disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool interest

Things could have been very different though. Before Chelsea paid big six years ago, it was Liverpool who were heavily linked with the German striker.

Sport Witness can attest to that. Dig into our archives and you’ll find plenty of reports around Liverpool and Werner, dating back years before Chelsea appeared on the scene.

For example, this report, from March 2017, includes comments from Werner. He admitted that a move to Liverpool would be special.

Reports of Liverpool showing an interest, Jurgen Klopp being particularly keen on his compatriot and such followed for the next few years. Indeed, even in 2020 BILD were continuing to say that Werner fancied the move to Anfield.

Obviously, that never happened, but Werner himself admits it was a sliding doors moment. And perhaps the Reds would have been better suited to his game.

“Perhaps the style of play (at Chelsea) wasn’t the best fit for me,” he told The Late Run podcast.

“If I had played for Liverpool or another team, I might have found myself in more situations where we could have capitalized on quick counterattacks.”

No Liverpool regrets

Unlike Werner, Liverpool didn’t end up regretting their failed move of course.

They signed Diogo Jota that summer instead. The Portuguese forward became a highly successful signing before his death last year.

They also signed Salah in 2017; around the same time Werner was first being discussed. That deal certainly proved to be worth it. The Egyptian went on to score 257 goals and register 120 assists in 442 games for the club. He sits third in their all-time goalscorers list.

It means the Reds certainly won’t be looking back with the same kind of regret that Werner clearly is.

The post “If I had played for Liverpool…” – Player clearly has Reds transfer regret appeared first on Sport Witness.

The Englishman joined the London side from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2025. The move came after he sparkled in Germany and was one of the best attackers in his age group too.

But since the transfer, Bynoe-Gittens has never made a mark. Last season, he played less than 1000 minutes in the Premier League and so far in the campaign, he hasn’t featured a single time.

Sport Witness have previously tracked how AS Roma made progress towards a summer move. It never went through, as Chelsea wanted to include him in a deal for Manu Kone. Gian Piero Gasperini rejected that move, extinguishing Bynoe-Gittens’ hope of an exit.

Key target for January

Gazzetta dello Sport have information about Roma’s current situation. While they’re in a positive spot, the loss to Manchester United generated buzz about January signings.

Gasperini himself noted this in the post-game presser, saying that the squad needs more to compete in the Champions League.

The newspaper use that to suggest that an attacking signing will be made in the winter. Chelsea’s Bynoe-Gittens is now the key target, amidst confirmation that a summer attempt was made for him.

Further, Gazzetta indicate that a January approach will be made and ideally, Roma would want him on loan. But so far, stances are unclear and more clarity can emerge in the next few weeks.

Our take: Transfer can unlock player

There is enough evidence to show that Gasperini unlocks many attacking talents – with Donyell Malen being the latest example. Bynoe-Gittens needs that, especially as he is still only 22.

He needs a new club and Gasperini’s Roma could be the perfect solution. The winger has lost his charm and desperately needs to recover that.

The Giallorossi will also allow him to play in the Champions League, which will only help Bynoe-Gittens. Everything will come down to the Blues and the sort of deal they want from Roma.

The post Roma want to sign Chelsea player in January – Gasperini pushing for deal appeared first on Sport Witness.

The 21-year-old has started this season on fire for the German side, with 13 goal contributions to his name already.

Internal projections at Leipzig had planned for him to hit 20 contributions this season, meaning he is already well on course to match that tally or better it. And his impressive numbers are not going unnoticed.

Sport Witness have reported that Arsenal are already making moves for the Norwegian. A report today stated that a Gunners delegation recently watched the clash with Manchester City to specifically watch the player.

Premier League watching

But BILD report that they’re not the only suitors. Their information is that Newcastle, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are also keeping an eye on his development.

The newspaper states that with every ‘stellar performance’, the winger is moving away from the German club. They too, are already seemingly preparing for an exit.

They have to make at least €100m in sales next summer. That figure will only increase if they fail to make it into the Champions League. So, selling Nusa for a top fee would certainly fit into their plans.

A potential battle for his signature would aid them too. That is something they saw in the summer as Yan Diomande’s asking price continued to rise while various clubs battled for his signature. Real Madrid eventually paid €125m for his signature.

€60-80m

Nusa won’t be allowed to depart in the January transfer window unless a ‘truly indecent’ offer – or ‘extraordinary ‘if you wish be less dramatic – arrives.

As things stand, Leipzig currently value him at €60-80m. Transfermarkt value the player at €45m but that could rise with an update next week.

Whether Aston Villa, Newcastle or Crystal Palace would be willing to pay €80m remains to be seen.

Whether they could even afford to is another relevant questions. But BILD insist that they’re in the picture, nonetheless.

ANTONIO NUSA Senior club career · All competitions

Club	Years	Appearances	Goals
Stabæk	2021	11	3
Club Brugge	2021–2024	86	7
RB Leipzig	2024–present	85	16
FIRST-TEAM CAREER TOTAL		182	26

2026/27 · RB LEIPZIG

Appearances	14
Minutes played	1,072
Goals	6
Assists	7
Goal contributions	13
Minutes per goal	178.7
Minutes per goal contribution	82.5
Goal contributions per 90 minutes	1.09

Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal combined. Goal contributions = goals + assists.

Senior competitive first-team matches only. Excludes youth and international appearances, plus two appearances for Club NXT. Current-season minutes and assists follow Opta Analyst data. Minutes-based figures are rounded.
Updated: 7 November 2026.

SPORT WITNESS

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Reports over the last week have indicated that Arsenal are eyeing a move for the Norwegian winger in the coming months.

A report at the end of October insisted that the Gunners were very serious about the 21-year-old. They were already working on a potential deal and bringing him €70m asking price down.

Sport Witness then reported Arsenal were getting serious about the winger and a move to the Emirates was absolutely a possibility.

Arsenal delegation

BILD now follow that up. The newspaper explain that the winger is currently in the form of his life, with 13 goals contributions to his name already. That’s seen him match last season’s tally already.

Internal projections at Leipzig had planned for 20 goal contributions across the season, so he’s already well on his way to matching that tally early. His performances have already led to interest.

Arsenal report that English clubs positioned themselves in the summer and Arsenal are ‘considered one of eh most persistent suitors’. Mikel Arteta is a big fan of the player and his ‘tactical discipline’.

BILD’s information is that a delegation from Arsenal was present at Leipzig recently. They attended the Champions League clash against Manchester City specifically to watch Nusa.

Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace also have the player on their radar. The feeling is that a bidding war could be on the cards, as was the case with Yan Diomande in the summer.

€60-80m

One thing is certain; Nusa will not be allowed to leave in the January transfer window. That stance will only change if a ‘truly indecent’ offer is sent. BILD also use the word ‘extraordinary’.

As things stand, Leipzig value the winger at €60-80m for next summer. That is in line with previous reports, which had it at €70m.

One potential factor is that Leipzig once again need transfer revenue next year. The figure being discussed is €100m. So, there is potential there for a deal to be done if the likes of Arsenal want it.

For now, they appear to be positioning themselves for a move. The delegation sent for the Champions League clash is very much a signal of their intentions.

The post Arsenal send delegation for transfer which could reach €80m – Trying to beat Tottenham and others appeared first on Sport Witness.

The Brazilian forward has been earning admiring glances from Europe after impressing for the Brazilian side since returning in 2025.

The Premier League is particularly interested, with Everton having emerged as suitors over the last few weeks.

Sport Witness reported that the Blues were eyeing up a potential move for next year, with Palmeiras setting a €50m price tag on the 21-year-old. We then detailed what the player could potentially bring to Everton’s squad.

Agent speaks

Bolavip now report that the striker’s agent, André Cury, has now confirmed Everton’s growing interest in his client.

They report that the European market is beginning to ramp up its pursuit of Vitor Roque, leading them to contact Cury for comment.

When they got in touch with him, Cury confirmed the interest from Everton and then elaborated on the forwards’ future – “There are many clubs in Europe interested in Vitor.”

Bolavip state that this statement reinforces the likelihood of a competitive scramble for the 21-year-old during the January transfer window. In addition to Everton, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are also tracking the striker. All four clubs are in contact with his camp.

Palmeiras are staying quiet on the matter. But they don’t intent to make a potential departure for ‘Tigrinho’ easy. Bolavip confirm that the €50m asking price is in place. Palmeiras are also secure because his current deal with the club runs until 2029. That provides them with a strong negotiating position for January at least.

One key element will be the distribution of the striker’s rights. Palmeiras currently own 80% while Barcelona retained a 20% stake in him when selling last year. So, the Brazilian club will push for as big a fee as possible because of that.

Everton situation

The question for Everton is how much they want to spend. They were going to spend €40m plus on Folarin Balogun at the end of the summer transfer window.

But it remains to be seen if the money is still there to be spent in January after the Friedkins pulled funding late in the window.

They are seemingly reluctant to spend too heavily, although the American owners have insisted that Moyes will be backed in January regardless of their intentions to sell up.

There is also Thierno Barry to consider. He is currently impressing as the sole striker, and the question is whether Everton want to spend big on another striker in January or look at cheaper options just to support him instead.

Vitor Roque: What Brazilian can bring to Everton

Pros and cons of hardworking forward
Good at pressing, style of play explained…

https://t.co/ceXUfHWEYJ #efc #coyb

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) November 6, 2026

The post Vitor Roque agent said to have confirmed Everton interest in big development appeared first on Sport Witness.

The 21-year-old returned to Brazil in February last year in a €25m.5m deal after spells at Barcelona and a loan deal at Real Betis.

He’s impressed since, bagging 29 goals and eight assists in 96 games to date. That’s earned him growing attention from Europe once again.

Reports have insisted that Everton are keen on him – potentially for next year – but it seems that they are not the only Premier League suitors.

Agent confirms

Bolavip report that Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have joined the race for the Brazilian striker ahead of next year.

They’ve been in touch with the striker’s agent, André Cury, who has confirmed that the three English giants have shown an interest ahead of the January transfer window.

When reached for comment, Cury confirmed the interest from Everton specifically but then elaborated on the forward’s future.

“There are many clubs in Europe interested in Vitor,” he is quoted as saying. Bolavip say that a ‘competitive scramble’ could be on the cards for the striker when the January transfer window opens.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are all tracking his situation at present. They are in contact with his entourage and keeping an eye on the potential conditions for a move in a few months time.

€50m asking price

Palmeiras, for now, are not commenting on any transfer negotiations. They don’t intend to make a potential departure for ‘Tigrinho’ easy. The club’s board have set a minimum of €50m to begin negotiations for the players.

His current deal with the São Paulo-based club runs until December 2029, so Palmeiras are in a strong position on that front. There is also the issue of his economic rights.

Palmeiras currently hold 80% of his rights, with Barcelona hold the other 20%. So, the Brazilian side will push for as big a fee as possible given that agreement remains in place.

The growing reality, though, is that the 21-year-old re-established himself as a prominent figure in Brazil. Last season he finished with 20 goals, and he has nine in all competitions this season. Now Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are all in the mix and keeping an eye on his situation.

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