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Marcus Stroman is shaping up to be the odd man out in the New York Yankees' 2025 rotation. Stroman signed a two-year deal with the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season and was decidedly mediocre, going 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA and didn't make an appearance during his team's run to the World Series. Now the outlook is grim for Stroman as a starter; the pinstripes appear to have five ready-made arms to make up the starting rotation for 2025 in Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Clark Schmidt, and free agent acquisition Max Fried.

One way to fix that particular problem for both Stroman and the Yankees would be to move the righty to the bullpen. Stroman, however, does not appear to be willing to do that at all. He gave a defiant refusal to reporters when asked about the idea after showing up at spring training a few days after pitchers and catchers reported.

"I'm a starter," Stroman insisted to assembled media. "I'm a starter. I don't pitch in the bullpen. I'm a starter."

It's a bit of a change in tune from Stroman given he was willing to jump into bullpen work for the Chicago Cubs in 2023 as he worked his way back from an injury.

His stance and how strongly he sticks to it could complicate matters for the Yankees should they decide to trade Stroman instead of keeping his $18.3 million salary on the books as a sixth starter. A situation to watch as spring training gets underway.

Chelsea have discovered how much time Romeo Lavia will miss after losing the midfielder to yet another injury setback. Lavia was forced off after just four minutes of their Champions League draw against Qarabag, with manager Enzo Maresca subsequently admitting that the Blues are "ashamed" about the amount of time their big-money has spent on the sidelines since joining from Southampton in 2023.

• Lavia out for a month for Chelsea

  Chelsea will have to cope without Lavia for another month following his latest injury setback, according toThe midfielder will therefore miss games against Burnley, Arsenal, Leeds and Bournemouth in the Premier League. He's also expected to sit out the Champions League fixtures against Barcelona and Atalanta due to the quadricep problem. Lavia has been plagued by injury issues since joining the club in a £58 million transfer and those struggles have continued into the current campaign. He has made just seven appearances for the Blues so far this season, and fans will now have to wait until December to see him back in action for Maresca's side.

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  Maresca 'ashamed' of injury record

  Lavia has made only 29 appearances in total over two years with Chelsea, leaving Maresca to admit the club are "ashamed" by his frequent injuries. "We feel very ashamed, especially for him, because he's not able to be fit for a long, long period," Maresca said after Chelsea's clash with Qarabag. "It's not a recurrence of his hamstring problem; it looks like a quad injury. We'll need to assess him further, but it doesn't look good."

• Lavia's injury hell at Chelsea

  Lavia's injury record at Chelsea does make for dismal reading. The midfielder has sustained 10 injuries and been out for a total of 568 days, missing 88 games, since Chelsea invested heavily to bring him in from Southampton back in 2023. Rather incredibly, Lavia is still yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Chelsea and his latest injury is yet another in a long list of setbacks for the 21-year-old. Chelsea have reportedly tried to manage his workload in a bid to get him fit and featuring on a regular basis but even that does not appear to have worked, with Lavia once again on the sidelines at Stamford Bridge.

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• 'My body let me down' – Lavia lifts lid on injury jinx

  Lavia has previously spoken about the injuries he's had to contend with at Chelsea and has been unable to put his finger on the problem. He told: "You're young and you want to play. You're getting to know your body as well, which is sometimes unfair because you feel like you’re doing everything right to get back but then nature sometimes decides in a different way. It was just about understanding that and growing as a person. It was frustrating but it was more in the head, and now it has helped me. Injuries can happen. I'd say that it was unlucky and I tried to catch up every time. My body let me down a couple of times because I felt like I was doing everything right. I wouldn't blame anything."

Manchester United are considering making a £44m offer for Palmeiras attacker Vitor Roque, having shown an interest in him in the past.

The Red Devils’ summer attacking signings are increasingly coming to the fore, playing a key role in their upturn in fortunes under Ruben Amorim this season.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have been particularly impressive, adding the consistent end product that has so often been lacking in the final third at United in recent years, and justifying being in the club’s 10 most expensive signings of all time.

Amorim has heaped praise on the impact Mbeumo has made in recent weeks, lauding both him and Matheus Cunha after the 3-2 win at home to Brighton last weekend.

“He’s a working machine. He’s so good in transitions. He’s improving when we are organising the final third. The connection with Amad, it’s really hard to beat these two guys because they change position, they are really fast, they are good in one against one.”

United will still be eyeing new signings, though, and they have now been linked with a move for a player with a big future in the game.

Man Utd preparing £44m offer for Vitor Roque

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are considering tabling a £44m offer for Roque, having been linked with a move for him during his Barcelona days.

The 20-year-old was nearly the subject of a £31m bid in that period, but he ended up moving to Palmeiras from Barca earlier this year instead.

Roque could be a great signing for United, being hailed as “truly magnificent” by scout Jacek Kulig and scoring 17 goals in 49 appearances for Palmeiras.

The youngster is also a one-cap Brazil international, and will be hoping to play a part for his country at next summer’s World Cup. He is a centre forward by trade, but his versatility allows him to be a force on both flanks, which has led United to be the “most determined” in the race for his signature as they seek to add varied attacking options to the squad.

Joshua Zirkzee’s United future looks to be in doubt, while Napoli are reportedly pursuing a permanent move for Rasmus Hojlund at the end of the season, so a new striker is likely to be needed at Old Trafford, in order to provide good competition for Benjamin Sesko.

Amorim has homegrown Wharton in Man Utd star who had a "meteoric rise"

Manchester United may already have their own version of Adam Wharton at the club.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 31, 2025

In Roque, the Red Devils could have an ideal long-term option whose best years are still way ahead of him, and a return to Europe could appeal to him, not least to bolster his international chances ahead of the World Cup.

Napoli ready to activate Rasmus Hojlund's clause and now another Man Utd as well

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series on Wednesday night, beating the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to clinch the franchise's eighth championship. After recording the final out, the Dodgers all poured onto the field to celebrate. Eventually they moved to the locker room to cover the visitor's clubhouse in beer and champagne.

Sometime in between those two traditional baseball celebration moments, the public address system at Yankee Stadium played Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York," a song usually played after victories by the home team. Here's video of impending free agent Juan Soto watching the Dodgers while the song plays in the background.

Unsurprisingly, this shocked or bothered some people.

The thing is, who cares? The Yankees play the song after losses, too. At this point it's apparently just used as a way to drive people towards the gates so they no longer have to hear a song so old it was released back in the '70s when the Yankees used to actually win World Series. The only people who should have been bothered by "New York, New York" playing was the Dodgers, because it was a reminder that they had a six-hour flight ahead of them.

Chris Sale is enjoying a bounce back season in 2024, having joined the Atlanta Braves to pitch in the National League for the first time in his career.

After struggling with injuries throughout much of the last few seasons and making a total of 31 starts from 2020 to 2023, Sale has been arguably MLB's most dominant pitcher this year. Not only will Sale be a NL Cy Young candidate, but he managed to set Braves' franchise history during his outing on Tuesday.

In the third inning of Atlanta's clash against the Colorado Rockies, Sale sat down Drew Romo for his third strikeout of the evening. In doing so, he reached 200 strikeouts on the year and became the first left-handed pitcher in Braves' history to strike out as many batters in a single season.

It's far from the first time that Sale has struck out 200 batters in a season, but he hasn't achieved the statistical milestone since 2019. Prior to his laundry list of injuries, Sale had racked up 200+ strikeouts in each season from 2013-19, including 308 punch-outs in 2017.

He's returned to his previous form in 2024 with the Braves, and looks better than ever during his age 35 season.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has been spared jail time despite being caught on camera driving dangerously in his Lamborghini. This was the French defender's ninth driving offence, and he is already serving a driving ban until May 2027. Fofana, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, has appeared in five matches across all competitions for the Blues in the 2025-26 campaign, including three in the league.

• Fofana slapped with fresh driving ban but avoids jail time

  According to , Fofana was caught speeding and weaving through traffic on the A3 Esher Bypass in Hook, Surrey. The incident was caught on a dashcam and the footage was presented in court. While the Blues star was spared jail time for what was his ninth driving offence at the age of 25, he has been ordered to serve 300 hours of unpaid community service. He has also been hit with a fresh 18-month driving ban, although his licence is suspended until May 2027 for previous offences. The Frenchman has also been ordered to pay just £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge. The video below was shared by the Crown Prosecution Service.

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• Fofana slammed by judge

  District Judge Julie Cooper slammed Fofana inside the courtroom for setting the wrong example for young people who look up to professional footballers like him.

  She said: "You obviously realise there are a lot of young people who look up to you and they would like to be like you and follow you. That’s part of the whole gig. However, they will not be able to afford these expensive cars, with all their additions that keep them safe and you could have some 17-year-old, who has just passed their test, who think they can copy you. They will not be able to handle their car and do some ridiculous driving manoeuvres and they are dead. You need to be much more responsible about your behaviour."

  Prosecutor Rabbi Khan said: "The witness identified the danger and this defendant was driving on the hard shoulder at speed in a 50mph zone. The offence is aggravated by an approaching bend that was signposted and he is not indicating when making these manoeuvres. He refused to abide by the road rules at speed."

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  'There is no explanation or excuse'

  Representing Fofana, his solicitor Imogen Cox told the court: "The video speaks for itself – 15 to 20 seconds of driving that are conceded. There is no explanation or excuse for his driving on that day. He attended voluntarily for an interview at Guildford Police Station and apologised for driving and said he had learned a valuable lesson about his driving and had no explanation for his driving on that day. This offence pre-dates the speeding offences, which were all within a seven-month period and tied-up at Lavender Hill. He is essentially of good character, having no criminal convictions against him. He is fit and healthy and able to carry out community work."

The Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS era at Manchester United has been a rollercoaster of emotions to date.

The old regime were hardly ideal but trophies were a regular occurrence and under the new ownership, it has not been smooth sailing whatsoever.

Erik ten Hag has gone but perhaps they might have been better off sticking by the Dutchman. After all, Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford has been dire and that’s putting it politely in all honesty.

While United returned to winning ways on Saturday, defeating high-flying Sunderland 2-0, the Portuguese has not showcased the immense managerial potential that he did at Sporting CP in Lisbon.

Indeed, after 33 games, only five managers in Premier League history had achieved fewer points. This is Manchester United, not a relegation-threatened team; things need to improve.

Yet, there has been some good to come from the Amorim and Ratcliffe era. They’ve flushed out some bad eggs, put together a backroom team that looks far more organised and gone back to the days of Sir Alex Ferguson in recruiting Premier League-ready talents. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are a testament to that.

They’ve also done well to keep the current poster boy of the Carrington Academy at the club, JJ Gabriel.

How Manchester United convinced JJ Gabriel to stay

The Man United academy has been a sacred place for some time now. It might not be Barcelona’s La Masia but the Class of 92 is known the world over.

Remarkably, United have had someone from their academy in every first-team matchday squad since 1937, but that record is now in danger.

Amorim’s treatment of Kobbie Mainoo nearly saw him leave and he was the only outright Carrington graduate in the squad for the win over Sunderland. Ayden Heaven was on the bench but he is technically a graduate of Arsenal’s Hale End instead.

While it might be a few more years before we see 15-year-old JJ Gabriel making waves at first-team level, he certainly looks like the next big thing to come out of the club’s academy.

Hailed as “one of the most exciting talents in the world” by the Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston, the teenager has been catching the eye for some time now and is already playing several years above his age group.

Perhaps the most sparkly jewel at Carrington right now, he has already found the net on seven occasions in six U18 Premier League matches this term. Yeah, he’s pretty special.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

As the MEN outline, some academy followers believe ‘he could be the best talent United’s academy has ever seen’ but there was a threat of him leaving.

Already sponsored by Nike and boasting over 200,000 followers on Instagram, Gabriel is all the hype at the moment and has subsequently attracted plenty of interest.

He was close to leaving in the summer, with talks reportedly at an advanced stage with one top European club. However, a meeting was held at Carrington in which Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, and CEO, Omar Barrada, were both present.

They told Gabriel that he could become the face of the club, a verdict that led to the youngster deciding to stay in the north west.

So, he’s got the backing of Wilcox and Barrada already but is there currently a bigger talent in the academy ranks? Quite possibly.

JJ Gabriel's biggest rival at Carrington

While Gabriel looks like one of the finest talents on the youth circuit at the moment, there is a lot of hard work to be undertaken before he gets his opportunity.

He will also need to find a way past not just Benjamin Sesko in the forthcoming years but another academy sensation by the name of Chido Obi Martin.

Obi Martin arrived from Arsenal this time last year and considering his record at youth level, it was a move that caused a bit of a stir.

After all, before Max Dowman came on the scene, he was arguably the finest talent at Hale End. He scored 32 goals in 21 official games for Arsenal’s U18s and once bagged ten goals in a 14-3 win over Liverpool U16s. It’s safe to say he knows where the net is.

Sadly for the Gunners, he didn’t see a pathway to the first-team and moved to United, where to his credit, he did receive game time last term, featuring eight times for thesenior side without scoring.

Yet, in 2025/26, Amorim hasn’t selected him in a senior matchday squad once. That’s despite scoring three goals in six Premier League 2 matches.

Chido Obi’s development may have slowed slightly throughout 2025 but this is still one of the finest strikers we’ve ever seen at youth level in this country.

In the words of scout Jacek Kulig, he’s a “goalscoring machine”. No player has scored at a quicker rate in U18 Premier League history (37 goals in 24 games) and only one player, Southampton’s Nicholas Oyekunle has scored more (38) at that level in the competition’s history.

There is a huge difference between youth and senior football. Many players have soared up through the academy and then failed to make the grade. For Obi, that will be the concern, but the fact he was playing games for United’s first team last season at the age of 17 speaks volumes.

Gabriel is attracting all of the attention right now but don’t forget about Obi Martin; he’s even more prolific than his teenage counterpart. Amorim must find space in his squad to unleash him this season.

Better than Sesko & Mount vs Sunderland: Man Utd star is becoming Nani 2.0

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one star who’s starting to emulate fan-favourite Nani.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 5, 2025

Mohamed Salah has been branded “greedy” and accused of “hating” Florian Wirtz after passing up the chance to tee up his team-mate for what would have been a first competitive Liverpool goal for the German playmaker. Said incident occurred during the closing stages of the Reds’ 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League – with the potential there for that result to have been even more emphatic.

• Salah benched: Slot makes big selection call

  Salah was named among the substitutes as Liverpool sought to snap a run of four successive losses. Arne Slot named big-money summer signings Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the same starting XI, meaning that somebody had to miss out in his attacking unit. Salah was only introduced in the 74th minute of the Reds’ latest European fixture.

  That was enough time to fire in three shots on goal, with two of those on target, but end product has been in short supply for the legendary Egyptian forward of late. He has failed to hit the back of the net since helping Liverpool to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on September 17.

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  Salah accused of being selfish

  He was clearly desperate to get in on the act against Eintracht, but that proved detrimental at times to those around him. Wirtz, who moved to Anfield for £116 million ($155m) in the last transfer window, is still waiting on opening his goal account for the Premier League title holders.

  Salah opted against squaring for Wirtz in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, when the Germany international had a better angle for a shot, and ignored the 22-year-old again late on in Frankfurt. Rather than present his club colleague with a tap-in, Salah went for goal himself.

• Fans react to Salah failing to tee up Wirtz

  Wirtz was left visibly frustrated, as he clung onto the post, with Salah going on to hurry off the pitch after the final whistle. Liverpool supporters have been quick to ask questions of why Salah is being so selfish. @TheKopWatch posted on social media: “That’s so greedy from Salah, Wirtz is right there for his first goal ffs.” @CiebacT added: “Salah personally hates Flo, no other explanation.”

  As that debate continued, @_bubblxs said: “Imagine how good we could be if Salah played WITH wirtz instead of against him.” On a similar theme, @SanchezKing13 chimed in with: “If I’m Wirtz I’m airing Salah and not passing him the ball for the next 8 games”. @LFCApproved went on to say of some lacklustre displays: “Salah has come on, thrown his arms about when it’s not passed to him, only thought about shooting and scoring for himself, never looked for a team-mate. Attitude looked poor.”

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  Carragher supports huge Salah call from Slot

  Reds legend Jamie Carragher had suggested in the build-up to a clash with Eintracht that Salah should be taken out of the firing line. He told a television audience in the United States during CBS Sports’ coverage of Champions League action: “I spoke about that last night and obviously Arne was watching. Maybe he's got a dodgy box! Punditry isn't my full-time job… I've got a little side one where I speak to the Liverpool coaching staff.

  “When Mo Salah isn't being the legendary Mo Salah, he gets treated like one of the other players, which is right. He's 33 years of age and Liverpool will have three games in six days. At the moment, if he isn't at his best, he shouldn't play three games in six days. There are other options there as well. We know Liverpool have spent a lot of money. Liverpool have got a big game at the weekend as well, so great decision, Arne.”

West Ham are weighing potential replacements for under-pressure boss Graham Potter behind-the-scenes, and chairman David Sullivan favours one man in particular amid difficulties surrounding Nuno Espírito Santo.

Nuno tipped as West Ham favourite to replace Graham Potter

Nuno is currently the favourirte to replace Potter at West Ham, owing to his availability and obvious suitability to the role.

A public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis cost the Portuguese his last job, but before his unceremonious departure, Nuno helped to transform Nottingham Forest into a European outfit for the first time since 1995.

Nuno first went to the City Ground with Forest in major danger of a drop back down to the Championship, but the 51-year-old avoided relegation, solidified their leaky defence, gave them an identity and got the very best out of his squad.

On paper, Nuno’s appeal to West Ham is there for all to see, and he is by no means a one-club wonder, having achieved similar feats with Wolves, where he first made his name as a noteworthy Premier League manager.

His brief stint at Tottenham is one to forget for all involved, and he was sacked by Al-Ittihad just months after winning the Saudi side a league title.

However, you can make a serious case that Nuno is the best available manager for West Ham right now by some distance, with Potter on the verge of being sacked with looming games against Everton and Arsenal poised to decide his future.

ExWHUemployee is among the reliable media sources to state that Nuno is the favourite for West Ham’s hot seat, and he says that talks have already been held with both Sullivan and Karren Brady as the tactician considers joining them.

Other top contenders include Gary O’Neil, following his “respected” work at Wolves and Bournemouth (Miguel Delaney), while former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic is also reportedly very keen to make a return to east London (GiveMeSport).

Bilic was in charge between 2015 and 2017. He guided West Ham to one of their highest ever Premier League finishes (7th), earning them a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds, before he was sacked at the start of 2017/2018 with his side languishing in the relegation zone.

Sullivan in "regular contact" with Bilic as West Ham dealt Nuno roadblock

While Nuno is still the managerial favourite, journalist Pete O’Rourke has now said that West Ham have been dealt a roadblock regarding his potential appointment.

In a piece for Football Insider, the reporter claims that ‘legal issues’ are delaying a move for Nuno, so much so that they could even be forced to push back Potter’s sacking, with it now being unlikely he’ll leave before the October international break.

The legalities around Nuno surround his departure from Forest, and until they’re resolved, the race to replace Potter remains open.

Sullivan is apparently in regular contact with Bilic as a West Ham alternative to Nuno, and the Croatian would be the Irons chairman’s first choice.

However, Bilic would only be given the job on a short-term basis, even if insiders like ExWHUemployee have claimed that the former West Brom boss is already plotting a major backroom reshuffle.

Mark Noble could come in as his assistant coach if he gets the job, with Julian Dicks also potentially joining Bilic’s would-be team of staff.

In terms of whether Bilic is the right man, even just for the season, the jury is very much still out — as best encapsulated by a confused Simon Jordan.

Vincent Kompany’s new Bayern Munich contract runs until 2029 without a release clause but with a Champions League bonus. The Belgian, who led Bayern to the Bundesliga title in his first season, has been rewarded for his rapid success as the club look to secure their long-term future under the 39-year-old tactician.

• Kompany signed long-term deal with Bayern until 2029

  Bayern recently announced the extension of Kompany’s contract until June 2029, a major show of confidence in the Belgian manager after a stellar debut campaign in Bavaria. The new deal makes Kompany the first coach since Hansi Flick in 2020 to be offered a renewal by the club, underlining the hierarchy’s satisfaction with his work.

  Bayern’s leadership finalised the agreement at the club's headquarters, marking the occasion with a celebratory toast. The 39-year-old’s deal was initially due to expire in 2027, but the two-year extension ensures long-term stability after several seasons of managerial turnover.

  Importantly, Kompany’s new contract does not contain a release clause, a key move to safeguard the German club against potential future interest from Manchester City, his former club, or other top European sides. Instead, the deal features performance-based incentives, including a lucrative bonus if Bayern win the Champions League.

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  The structure behind Bayern’s long-term faith

  The ex-Burnley manager's immediate impact in Munich has been undeniable. After taking over from Thomas Tuchel in the summer of 2024, he guided Die Roten to a dominant Bundesliga title, finishing 13 points clear and scoring 99 goals in 34 matches – a return to the free-flowing, aggressive football that defines the club’s identity.

  This season, Bayern’s resurgence has continued. They currently sit top of the Bundesliga with 24 points from eight games, boasting both the best attack with 30 goals and the best defence with only four conceded. Their recent 3-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach marked their 13th consecutive win across all competitions, equalling an elite European record previously held by AC Milan in 1992-93.

  Such results have cemented Kompany’s growing reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young managers. His emphasis on tactical flexibility, ball progression through the backline, and vertical attacking transitions has rejuvenated a Bayern squad that looked disjointed under previous management.

• Inside Kompany’s Champions League clause and Bayern’s ambitions

  Bayern’s management see the Champions League as the next major frontier for Kompany. After the club’s quarter-final exit to Inter last season, the new clause offers tangible reward for continental glory, a €1 million bonus should the team lift the trophy, according to .

  The clause symbolises Bayern’s renewed belief in a long-term project built around the former Manchester City captain’s modern footballing vision. Kompany himself spoke about his pride and motivation to build on their progress: “I’m grateful, honoured and would like to thank FC Bayern for the trust and the working environment they’ve given me from day one. It feels like I’ve been here a lot longer and that I know the club well. It’s been a great experience so far. We’ve started on a wonderful journey. Let’s keep working hard and celebrate much more success!”

  His words reflect a growing harmony between the club's leadership and coaching staff, something that had been missing since Flick’s departure.

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  Tough tests ahead for Kompany’s record-breaking Bayern

  The Bavarians' focus now turns to a crucial ten-day stretch that could define their early-season momentum. Kompany’s men face three major fixtures: a DFB-Pokal clash against Koln on October 29, a Bundesliga showdown with Bayer Leverkusen on November 1, and a high-stakes Champions League meeting with Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain, on November 4.

  Bayern are targeting a return to continental dominance after five years without a Champions League title. With Kompany now secured until 2029 and a strong blend of youth and experience in the squad, Bayern believe they’ve finally found the leadership stability to compete for Europe’s biggest prize once again.

  If the Belgian can translate his domestic brilliance to Europe, that €1m bonus may be just the beginning of a golden era under his watch.