All posts by n8rngtd.top

Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the renovated Spotify Camp Nou will feature a secret ceremonial kick-off and multiple performances for the reopening against Athletic Club. With 45,000 fans expected, Barca promise surprises as the stadium comes back to life after 909 days away.

• Camp Nou returns with secret ceremony

  Barcelona’s return to the Spotify Camp Nou against Athletic Club marks the end of a 909-day exile and the beginning of a new chapter at the iconic stadium. According to Mundo Deportivo, the club has confirmed that the refurbished venue will welcome 45,000 supporters, with gates opening at 2:15 PM, two hours before the 4:15 PM kick-off, to ensure fans experience the full pre-match lineup of celebrations.

  The reopening event is designed to be both emotional and theatrical. As per the report, DJ Mon will be the first to perform as fans enter, followed by the central pre-match segment beginning at 4:00 PM. Catalan duo Figa Flawas will take the stage shortly before kick-off, while the Orfeo Catala will perform the ‘Cant del Barca’ accompanied by fireworks, symbolising the club’s return to its spiritual home.

  But the biggest talking point ahead of the match is Barcelona’s deliberate secrecy surrounding a “special ceremonial kickoff.” The club has refused to reveal who will take the honour, teasing supporters with the promise of further surprises throughout the evening. At halftime, popular group The Tyets will perform.

  Barca have encouraged fans to arrive early, fill the renovated stands in Blaugrana colours and immerse themselves in what the club describes as a once-in-a-generation moment. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Laporta & Deco celebrate ‘the legend returns’

  The reopening is not only a logistical triumph but also a deeply sentimental milestone for the club’s leadership. President Joan Laporta has spoken extensively about the emotional weight of the return, calling Saturday’s event “a historic moment” and telling RAC1, “It’ll be wonderful to be back.”

  Sporting director Deco added his personal tribute through a series of messages shared on Instagram, each reflecting pride in Barcelona’s homecoming after more than two years away. His posts captured the atmosphere the club wants to create, “The Future is Here: We’re Coming Home, to the New Spotify Camp Nou.”

  In a second message, he wrote: “It’s a pride to see how our house is transformed to house the next chapters of FC Barcelona’s history. Long live Barca!” He followed with a third reflection: “The Legend Returns: Back to the New Spotify Camp Nou! I feel immense pride witnessing the return of FC Barcelona to its transformed home.” And finally, echoing the club’s historic motto, one more declaration: “More Than A Club!”

  These messages underline the importance of the moment internally at Barca. Beyond the performances and the secret kick-off, the reopening is being framed as a symbolic rebirth, a return not just to a stadium, but to identity, history and continuity. For Laporta, Deco and the wider institution, Camp Nou is more than infrastructure; it is the heart of the club.

• A 909-day journey back home

  Barca’s return comes at the end of a renovation saga far more complex than anticipated. The club had originally left the Camp Nou in 2023 to begin a €1.5bn modernisation project designed to transform the ageing 1957 structure into a world-class, revenue-generating venue. However, the journey back has been marked by repeated setbacks, shifting deadlines and ongoing construction challenges.

  The initial plan targeted November 2024, coinciding with the club’s 125th anniversary, but this quickly proved unrealistic. A proposed return for the Gamper Trophy in August 2025 also fell through. Even La Liga’s flexibility in allowing multiple away fixtures at the start of the 2025-26 season failed to align with the pace of construction, forcing Barca to temporarily move matches to the Estadi Johan Cruyff and later back to Montjuic.

  The delays stemmed from several structural and administrative hurdles, including approvals linked to Phase 1B and ongoing negotiations with the city council. The Espai Barca project itself has a long backstory, Norman Foster’s 2007 redesign failed to progress, then the modernisation plan proposed under Josep Maria Bartomeu in 2014 stalled amid financial turmoil. When Laporta returned to the presidency in 2021, he radically revised the project, leading to socios approving a new model in December of that year. Turkish construction firm Limak was hired in early 2023, with funding secured through Goldman Sachs shortly thereafter.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  What comes next?

  The new stadium features expanded VIP rings, improved infrastructure, modernised changing rooms and a redesigned players' tunnel. These updates aim to increase recurring revenue, projected at around €120 million annually, while elevating the fan experience.

  Saturday’s match against Athletic Club is more than a celebration; it is a first operational test of the new Camp Nou. The ultimate goal is to reopen the stadium at its full 105,000-seat capacity, though no definitive completion date has been set.

  On the sporting side, Hansi Flick’s team will hope to turn the emotional return into a performance boost. Playing at the Estadi Olimpic and later splitting games across alternative venues disrupted momentum over the past two seasons. The return to Camp Nou is viewed internally as a psychological turning point for both players and supporters.

  Athletic Club arrive as the first visitors to the partially reopened stadium, giving Barca a high-profile opportunity to mark the occasion with a statement result.

The Premier League is back after a third international break in as many months. Typically, this would be a moment of great excitement for Liverpool, but recent results have laced the build-up to the next phase of action with anxiety.

But Arne Slot’s side are a distance short of emulating last season’s smooth-sailing Premier League champions. Well adrift of first-placed Arsenal after losing five of six top-flight fixtures, there can be no doubting that this is a crisis for the Reds.

But Liverpool have weathered storms before, and it certainly feels like a matter of when, not if, Liverpool will click together after a summer of sweeping change.

Slot has played down chatter of a winter bid for a centre-back. Giovanni Leoni was signed for around £27m this summer, but the former Parma defender is out for the campaign after suffering an ACL injury on his debut. Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day.

Liverpool do appear set to complete some winter business, though, with rumours regarding Antoine Semenyo’s future at Bournemouth gathering speed.

Liverpool planning for winter business

It has been confirmed by the powers that be on the transfer scene that Liverpool are interested in Semenyo, whose £65m release clause with the Cherries becomes active during the January transfer market.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed FSG’s vested interest, but Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are among the suitors too.

This would be a significant deal for the Reds, who failed to seal a direct Luis Diaz replacement this summer, but sporting director Richard Hughes’ eye falls over more than one position, with another Premier League sensation earmarked ahead of 2026.

Indeed, according to a recent report from The Times, Liverpool have entered the race for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, though they face stiff competition from Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The Tricky Trees don’t want to part with their prized player, though Evangelos Marinakis concedes that keeping him for the long run will prove difficult. Therefore, he has been listed at £100m.

Why FSG want to sign Elliot Anderson

Liverpool have a robust crop of midfield players, but Anderson’s complete and combative style suggests he might be the missing link in an engine room lacking its typical efficiency.

Forged in Newcastle’s academy, Anderson was sold to Forest in 2024 as Eddie Howe sought to ease his side’s financial worries. It would have been a rueful transfer for the 23-year-old, though he has only gone from strength to strength since the switch, and now he is a fully-fledged England international, regarded as one of the finest midfielders in his homeland.

Instrumental for Forest since the start of last season, Anderson really is the full package, strong in the duel, utterly tireless and a developing playmaker, his range of passing growing by the month.

In fact, Anderson is among the best across a number of statistical metrics this season. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of Premier League midfielders for passes attempted, progressive passes and ball recoveries, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for successful take-ons, and the top 7% for crosses completed per 90. Quite the jack of all trades.

He’s an all-rounder, alright, a real force in the middle of the park. In this, he is an echo of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, and one who is far outstripping the Argentine at the moment – and that’s not up for debate, sadly.

The sum of Liverpool’s plight this season is greater than its individual parts, but it is hardly helping that Slot’s trusted midfield lieutenant is flattering to deceive.

While adding Semenyo to the ranks would be a positive move for Slot’s side, you have to wonder whether Liverpool need to complete such a deal. After all, the reason behind opting against a direct Diaz replacement was to ensure Rio Ngumoha has a clear pathway to consistent first-team minutes.

With Cody Gakpo also in the mix, it feels like a deal for Semenyo could run counter to that previously outlined ambition. Of course, Mohamed Salah is not getting any younger, and Semenyo is equally as dangerous on the right as he is coming off the left flank, but Semenyo would struggle to displace the Egyptian legend from the outset, and Salah is contracted to Anfield until the end of next season.

A lot for Hughes and Slot to ponder. With the need for a central defender also intense, Liverpool may struggle to pull off deals for all of these aforementioned players.

They might have to be savvy about it, and while Anderson would be the most expensive of the lot, he would also mark the most impactful addition, described as a “superstar in the making” by journalist Louis Wheeldon, with the potential to become a leading man in the Premier League over the next decade.

Diaz 2.0: Liverpool prepare £88m bid to sign "the best player in the world"

Liverpool have lacked balance and sharpness in the final third this season.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 21, 2025

MLB umpires catch a lot of heat when they miss calls or make egregious mistakes during games. It's just part of the job. But they should also be applauded when they do something awesome during a game.

Chris Guccione did just that in Saturday's Colorado Rockies-San Francisco Giants game when he found a very athletic way to avoid what could have been a painful collision at first base.

This all happened in the top of the eighth inning with Colorado's Ryan McMahon had his bunt fielded by the first baseman. He was then tagged out and fell to the ground in foul territory. Guccione was able to jump over him and make the call with style.

Check this out:

The Rockies' announcers loved it, too, saying: "That's a gold medal in the Umpire Gymnastics."

Well played, Chris Guccione.

Aston Villa have recently submitted an offer for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia, and the Spanish club’s stance on sanctioning a departure has now been revealed.

Villa have stepped up their pursuit of a new centre-forward with Ollie Watkins failing to reach his usual lofty standards in the Premier League this season, netting just one goal and receiving criticism from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright back in September.

Wright said: “As a player, I think that he should be doing more for what he’s capable of doing.

“He’s a channel runner, gets in the box, he gets on the end of things. I think he could be a lot sharper with his finishing, and I thought that’s what he’d be working on.”

Fortunately, the Villans have managed to find goals from other sources, which have propelled them up the table in recent weeks, rising to sixth after a dominant 4-0 rout of AFC Bournemouth in their final match before the international break.

That said, Watkins’ poor form is likely to still be a concern for Unai Emery, and the manager has seemingly decided to bring in another striker capable of challenging for the Englishman’s place in the starting XI.

Aston Villa submit offer for Gonzalo Garcia

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa have offered €20m (£18m) offer for Real Madrid forward Garcia, and they are looking to finalise a deal as quickly as possible, given that the Spaniard’s value could plausibly rise as the season goes on.

Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers have lodged bids of their own, so there will be competition for the 21-year-old’s signature, but a deal could be there to be done, as the Spanish club view cashing-in as an ‘attractive financial opportunity.’

As one of the first clubs to make contact with Madrid, Villa should be well-placed to get a deal done, not least because their main rivals seem to be newly-promoted Sunderland and a Wolves side at serious risk of relegation.

Hopefully, it will only be a matter of time before Watkins starts scoring again, but the 29-year-old having some healthy competition could kick him into gear, and there are signs the Real Madrid starlet could push for a starting spot.

Lauded as a “goal machine” in the media, the youngster performed remarkably well at youth level in the 2024-25 campaign, netting 26 goals in 37 games for RM Castilla, before going on to impress considerably at the Club World Cup, netting four goals for the senior side.

That said, it would be a risk to sign Garcia, given that he is yet to prove himself in the Madrid first team over a sustained period, and 21-year-old FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, who scored 19 league goals last season, could be an interesting alternative option.

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa amid interest from Tottenham and Arsenal

Recent reports have indicated that Aston Villa would be keen on signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa.

By
James O'Reilly

Nov 5, 2025

Idrissa Gueye was shockingly sent off for Everton after striking the face of team-mate Michael Keane in their Premier League game at Manchester United. Seconds after the Red Devils shot narrowly wide, the veteran angrily confronted the defender, before appearing to hit out at him. Referee Tony Harrington immediately issued a red card as the Toffees went down to 10 men after just 13 minutes.

• Early drama at Old Trafford

  In shades of Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dier for Newcastle United in 2005, Gueye clashed with Everton team-mate Keane on Monday night. The former was soon giving his marching orders, with the Premier League quickly moving to explain the decision.

  The Premier League match centre posted on X: "The referee’s call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed to be a clear strike to the face of Keane."

Advertisement

• Watch the clip

  On Sky Sports' commentary, United legend Gary Neville expressed his shock at what he had just seen, while praising Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for trying to diffuse the situation.

  He said: "There's a coming together between him and Michael Keane. It always looks unsavoury when it is team-mate on team-mate. Idrissa Gueye has gone towards Michael Keane, who hasn't really reacted. He just pushes them, and then there is not much in it. I think Jordan Pickford does a very good job, to be fair to him."

• 'Game's gone'

  @agbnufc_ wrote on X: "Shades of Bowyer vs Dyer you love to see it."

  @ChelsChris03 tweeted: "That is the softest red card I’ve ever seen. Let’s just say if that was 2 united players it’d never be a red card."

  @0xJonnyDee commented: "What a moron. Slapping your own teammate and getting sent off for it. Not seen that in a long time."

  @ViscogliosiLuca mused: "Is that really worthy of a red card?. A bit of handbags, nothing more than that."

  @brxdzQPR quipped: "Get a camera in that half time dressing room and interview Gueye at half time immediately. Only time I’ll advocate a half time interview."

  @Alexander_divi exclaimed: "MICHAEL KEANE CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE JUST WITNESSED. HE GOT SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY HIS OWN TEAMMATE WHO THEN GOT SEND OFF."

  @mevans_11 agreed with Neville, writing: "Think a yellow would’ve been fine. If that’s against an opponent, I think it’s a yellow 50% of the time. The fact that it’s his own teammate should see it even more likely to be a yellow."

  @ftbIdxniel put: "Game's gone," and @Ash_LFC7 added: "So pushing your own team mate gives you a red card now. Honestly the PGMOL are an utter embarrassment. Football is a dying sport."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Everton make unwanted history

  According to BBC Sport, Arsenal, and now Everton, have been shown more red cards than any other side in Premier League history at 110. Moreover, Gueye became the first player to be red carded in the division for fighting with a team-mate since Stoke City duo Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin in December 2008.

  Incidentally, the laws around 'violent conduct' state: 'Sending off offence – Striking an opponent or any other person on the head or face with their hand or arm, unless the force used was negligible."

  And according to Neville, it could have easily been avoided if the correct card was dished out. 

  "Was it negligible? That's the question. I think it was negligible. I don't think there was much in that at all," he said. "They were not fighting, it wasn't a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow. I don't think it needed to be a red. I'm now trying to imagine what Gueye and Keane say when they get to the dressing room. How is that one going to go?"

Paul Goldschmidt will play for his third MLB team starting this season, and his switch from St. Louis Cardinals red to New York Yankee pinstripes will be a strange sight, at least at first. Goldschmidt started with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but became a star with St. Louis, earning an MVP award, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger during his six years with the Cardinals.

Goldschmidt, who departed St. Louis via free agency—signing a one-year deal with the Yankees—took out a newspaper advertisement Sunday to get the fans a final message. Here's what it read:

ESPN ran into some rough audio issues during its television broadcast of Game 2 of the AL wild-card series between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

In the middle of the game, the normally crystal-clear audio of broadcasters Michael Kay, Tim Kurkjian and the rest of the crew sounded fuzzy for an extended amount of time—almost like it was a vintage baseball game broadcast on AM radio.

In a critical moment of the game, the audio sounded so poor that the Astros' official social media account decided to post a highlight with no sound.

Kay, serving as the play-by-play announcer on the broadcast, apologized for the technical difficulties that lasted for an extended amount of time. The audio issues appeared to be fixed by the time Detroit took a 5–2 lead in the eighth inning.

MLB fans, while enjoying the game, dropped their jokes on social media:

If the Tigers are able to close out Game 2, they will advance to the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians. If they lose, Detroit and Houston will square off in Game 3 of the wild-card series on Thursday,

Kylian Mbappe has cheekily hinted that his France teammate Dayot Upamecano could find “better teams” than Bayern Munich in a playful invitation to join him at Real Madrid. The defender is out of contract in 2026, and talks with Bayern remain unresolved. With Los Blancos searching for a long-term defensive anchor, Mbappe’s comments have reignited talk of a blockbuster French reunion in Madrid.

• Madrid circle as Upamecano faces uncertain Bayern future

  Madrid’s pursuit of a new central defender has taken a familiar turn, straight into the heart of France’s national team setup. Last week reports emerged in Spain that Los Blancos have held preliminary talks with the representatives of Upamecano, who could be available on a free transfer in 2026 if Bayern fail to secure a renewal.

  The 27-year-old centre-back has become one of Vincent Kompany’s key players at Bayern, forming a formidable partnership in defence and featuring heavily across competitions. However, with Madrid exploring options due to long-term fitness concerns around David Alaba and Eder Militao, Upamecano’s name remains high on their shortlist. 

  Adding intrigue to the speculation, Mbappe was quizzed about his compatriot’s situation ahead of France’s World Cup qualifiers and couldn’t resist a mischievous comment about Bayern’s place in football’s pecking order.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  ‘There are better clubs’ – Mbappe praises Upamecano but drops Madrid hint

  Mbappe, speaking at a press conference, was full of admiration for Upamecano’s recent form but couldn’t help letting a playful smile slip when asked whether his teammate should stay in Munich.

  “He’s doing very well, he’s very confident, full of self-assurance. He’s in the debate about who is the best defender in the world,” Mbappe said. “For me, he’s one of those dominant defenders. He’s capable of keeping up with the forwards, of winning duels. He’s a tactical asset.”

  With a grin, Mbappe added a line that quickly caught fire: “He’s at a big club, Bayern, there’s not much better… But there are better ones [smiles]. I’m not going to say anything, I’m not going to get into that debate, out of respect for his club and for him, because I know that if I say something he’ll be under more pressure. But when you talk about a player of this calibre, all the clubs will be on the lookout to sign him.”

• Upamecano stays calm amid Madrid links

  In response to mounting speculation, the former RB Leipzig has remained composed and avoided fueling transfer talk. Speaking to recently, Upamecano said he’s letting his representatives handle discussions while focusing on the season ahead.

  "My agent is taking care of it. We will make the right decision. I am receiving good advice," he said. "I am focused on this season and my goals with the club and the national team. I don't have the headspace for it."

  At the same time, he expressed appreciation for the growing interest in his future: “I'm completely relaxed. I'm under contract with Bayern. I have goals. But I'm very grateful when clubs are interested in me.”

  Upamecano’s agent Moussa Sissoko, who also represents Ousmane Dembele, is known for his strong negotiating stance and close connections within French football circles. His involvement adds another layer to the ongoing situation, especially with the Bavarians pushing for an extension to avoid losing the defender at his peak.

  For Madrid, the potential arrival of a French international with Champions League pedigree and a strong relationship with Mbappe fits perfectly within Florentino Perez’s recruitment model.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  Next moves: Contract talks or free transfer showdown?

  Bayern remain confident of keeping Upamecano, but there’s a growing sense within the club that delaying negotiations could prove costly. The Bavarian giants have already seen several key players depart on free transfers in recent seasons – a scenario they are determined to avoid repeating with one of their most reliable defenders.

  Club president Herbert Hainer confirmed that discussions with the player’s representatives are already underway, expressing optimism about a positive outcome. “We are in the process of speaking with Upamecano. I believe he feels comfortable in Munich. It's obviously an important decision for him as well. In principle, he likes it very much at Bayern. We would like to keep him. I am cautiously optimistic.”

  While Madrid continue to monitor developments quietly from afar, Bayern’s leadership remain united in their stance that Upamecano is central to their long-term plans. For now, both camps are handling matters with professionalism, Mbappe’s teasing remarks aside but with Les Blues stars regularly linking up on and off the pitch, speculation around a future Madrid move is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

Everton now reportedly want to sign Nicolas Jackson in an attempt to solve their goalscoring problems and take full advantage of Bayern Munich’s £70m decision.

The Toffees are so nearly the side that David Moyes needs. They welcomed the likes of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyler Dibling in the summer to inject some much-needed creative spark. In many ways, it was almost the perfect summer transfer window for the Friedkin Group.

All the American owners are waiting for now is Thierno Barry. The summer arrival is yet to score a single goal in 11 appearances since taking his place among Everton’s most expensive ever signings and is in danger of becoming a transfer flop. At a time when Beto is also struggling, the Toffees need their £27m star to start performing.

The numbers don’t make for pretty reading. Beto’s underperformance can be highlighted by looking at his expected goals. The forward can’t complain about service and has had good enough chances to reach at least three goals compared to the reality of his one strike.

Barry, meanwhile, needs more opportunities. Moyes has handed the former Villarreal forward just 252 minutes of Premier League action so far this season and, in contrast to Beto, he has recorded just 0.5 expected goals. Whilst Beto hasn’t been clinical enough, Everton aren’t creating enough chances for Barry.

The truth is that neither striker may get the opportunity to solve the Toffees’ problem in the near future. Names such as Ivan Toney have already been mentioned as reported targets come 2026 and he’s now joined on Everton’s shortlist by a £70m man. One way or another, those in Merseyside look destined to welcome another forward.

Everton now targeting Nicolas Jackson swoop

As reported by Football Insider, Everton now want to sign Nicolas Jackson by taking full advantage of Bayern Munich’s decision to opt out of triggering their £70m buy clause.

Not just Grealish: £30k-p/w Everton gem can be England's World Cup wildcard

Everton have a whole host of English players gunning for a seat on the plane next summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 31, 2025

The forward’s loan spell at the German club will become permanent if he starts 40 games, but Bayern chief Uli Hoeness confirmed at the start of the season that Jackson is incredibly unlikely to reach that number.

What that does is swing the door open for Everton to make their move when the 24-year-old returns to Chelsea next summer.

Those at the Hill Dickinson Stadium should not share the same reservations as Bayern Munich about signing Jackson, either. He is still very much a player full of potential and someone who knows how to find the back of the net in the Premier League, having scored 10 goals last season and 14 in the campaign prior.

Described as “fantastic” by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca last season, Everton should jump at the chance to sign Jackson next year.

How Richarlison feels about returning to Everton in January

British taxpayers will have to foot a bill to the tune of £2 million (€2.27m/$2.62m) if West Ham United are relegated from the Premier League this season. The Hammers are currently 19th in the league table after enduring a torrid season which is yet to pick up following the appointment of manager Nuno Espirito Santo as Graham Potter's successor.

• Nuno replaced Potter at West Ham helm following poor start to season

  Nuno was handed the reins at West Ham at the end of September after former head coach Potter was dismissed. The 50-year-old, who has since taken charge of Sweden, was sacked after only eight months at the helm following a start to the 2025-26 season which saw the club lose four of their first five league games. 

  West Ham suffered defeats against Sunderland, Chelsea, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, though they did register a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, in what turned out to be Nuno’s final game in charge at the City Ground. The Portuguese guided Forest to seventh in 2024-25 – their highest finish since the 1994-95 campaign – but was dismissed after just three league games this season. Nuno had previously revealed his relationship had "changed" with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, amid his frustration over the club’s summer transfer activity.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Captain Bowen admitted club are 'in trouble' following Leeds defeat

  Nuno’s appointment is yet to lead to an upturn in form, with West Ham failing to win any of their first four games under his stewardship. After earning an impressive 1-1 draw at Everton on 29 September, the east Londoners have since suffered three successive league defeats against Arsenal, Brentford and Leeds United.

  Speaking after their latest reverse against Leeds, West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen admitted the club are "in trouble now", telling after the game: "A dressing room when you're second bottom of the league is low. The only way this will change is if we step up and show some fight.

  "We need more of that. It's easy to hide and be scared almost. It's easier said and harder to do sometimes. You have to face up to the reality of where we are and we're in trouble now.

  "We've talked as a group, but it's down to the players as well. We speak to each other, but there's only so much. It's got to come from within. We haven't been great at home, but now is the time to roll your sleeves up."

• Taxpayer will feel brunt if West Ham are relegated

  With West Ham continuing to struggle, a new report in claims the British taxpayer would have to stump up £2m if they are relegated this season. The report claims that, under the terms of their 99-year lease for playing at the London Stadium, West Ham’s annual rent of £2.5m will be halved should the club drop into the Championship.

  The report also says control of the stadium, built to host the 2012 London Olympics, was handed to the Greater London Authority, with the London Legacy Development Corporation retiring from the operating company, E20 Stadium LLP, and being replaced by GLA Holdings Ltd. However, the most recent accounts – for the year ending March 31, 2024 – highlighted an operating loss of £20.9m in public money, given that the amount of rent West Ham pay does not cover stadium operating costs.

  And with West Ham currently languishing near the bottom of the table, the report concludes by saying that, given the club’s current form, there could be further expense to the British taxpayer because of an agreement detailed in the stadium concession agreement.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Influential West Ham midfielder Paqueta sanctioned by FA

  The news comes after West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta was sanctioned by the Football Association (FA) for "two proven breaches" following their investigation into alleged spot-fixing. The Brazil international has subsequently been reprimanded and given a warning over his future conduct by a regulatory commission, after a hearing found he had "failed to comply with a requirement to answer questions and provide information to The FA’s investigation into breaches of the Rules." Paqueta had previously denied the two charges.

  In a statement on their official club website, West Ham said: "West Ham United acknowledges the statement published by the Football Association today, confirming that Lucas Paqueta has received a warning as to his future conduct, following two proven breaches of FA rule F3, after he was cleared of misconduct charges made against him for alleged breaches of FA rule E5. West Ham United and Lucas Paqueta are pleased that this matter is now finally closed. The Club will be making no further comment."