Premier League
Tottenham sign Randal Kolo Muani on deadline day to bolster forward options
Tottenham sign Randal Kolo Muani on loan; Frank expects added options while Solanke recovers at club
Tottenham Hotspur completed a deadline-day loan capture of Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, a move that adds depth to a forward line weakened by injury.
The 26-year-old arrives as Dominic Solanke continues his recovery from an ankle injury suffered in preseason. With Richarlison the only other centre forward currently fit and available, Kolo Muani gives manager Thomas Frank an alternative up front and the ability to operate both centrally and out wide.
“Randal is a quality player who has proven himself over a number of years, playing for big teams in the Champions League and also with good experience for the France national team,” Frank gushed. “He’s a good age, in the prime of his career, has good qualities that will suit both us and the Premier League, and gives us a different option in the final third being able to play out wide and through the middle.
“We are all excited for what Randal can add to the squad, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
The club noted the forward’s recent numbers: the 26-year-old scored 10 goals in 22 appearances for the Old Lady while assisting three times. Kolo Muani has also made 31 appearances for the France national team. He rose to prominence as an Eintracht Frankfurt player before moving to PSG where he failed to make a serious impact.
The French forward most recently played in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, scoring twice across three appearances as Juventus were eliminated in the round of 16 by Real Madrid.
Kolo Muani’s arrival follows Spurs signing Xavi Simons on a permanent deal from RB Leipzig. The club pursued a creative attacking midfielder throughout the window, targeting Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, plus Manchester City’s Savinho, after James Maddison’s ACL injury. Forest accused Spurs of an illegal approach for Gibbs-White as the England international signed a new deal with his club. While Spurs were reportedly deep in negotiations for Eze, north London rivals Arsenal hijacked the deal and brought the former youth academy product back.
Chelsea
Santos turned down €70m Al Qadsiah offer to protect World Cup hopes
Andrey Santos rejected a €70m Al Qadsiah bid to prioritise his World Cup ambitions at Chelsea. This.
Andrey Santos has confirmed he rejected a significant summer approach from Saudi side Al Qadsiah after Chelsea opened talks over a €70 million offer. UOL revealed earlier this week that the bid, worth €70 million (£60.7 million, $82 million), prompted Chelsea to consider an exit for the midfielder.
Santos said he declined despite the opportunity to earn more than five times his current salary in the Middle East. “The offer did arrive, but I immediately declined because of my dream and main goal, which is the World Cup,” Santos told Trivela . “I know that being at Chelsea and in the Premier League gives me better chances than in Saudi Arabia. That was the main factor in my response to them.”
The 2025/26 season context has left Santos focused on forcing his way into Brazil’s squad for next season’s World Cup. He is aiming to move up Chelsea’s midfield pecking order under boss Enzo Maresca, who also has Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo among his options.
Santos has featured as a substitute in each of Chelsea’s three Premier League games to date, usually deployed slightly higher than the defensive role in which he impressed while at Strasbourg. He has been clear about where he prefers to operate on the pitch. “I really enjoy playing as a defensive midfielder,” Santos continued. “I even think it’s my main position, because I grew up as a defensive midfielder. When I moved up to Vasco, it was as a defensive midfielder. At Chelsea, I play a bit further forward, but I feel comfortable playing in both positions.”
Bayern Munich had also been linked as a suitor during the window, but Santos’s public stance is that remaining at Chelsea and competing in the Premier League offers the best pathway to his World Cup objective.
Bayern Munich
Hoeneß: Jackson’s Bayern Loan Will Only Become Permanent If He Starts 40 Matches
Hoeneß says Jackson must start 40 matches this season for Bayern to trigger a permanent deal. clause
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß has outlined a strict condition on Nicolas Jackson’s loan from Chelsea: the deal will only become permanent if Jackson starts 40 games across all competitions this season.
Hoeneß also addressed the headline fee attached to the single-season loan, which had been reported as a record €16.5 million (£14.3 million, $19.3 million). He said part of that sum was covered by Jackson and his agents. “Firstly, it wasn’t €16.5 million, the player and his agents paid €3 million,” Hoeneß said during an appearance on Doppelpass. “The player cost €13.5 million.”
Hoeneß defended the pricing in context. “If a player costs €80 million across a five-year contract, it costs around €16 million every year, so it’s a good transfer.” When the prospect of the purchase clause being triggered was raised, Hoeneß laughed: “He must play 40 games as a starter. He’ll never do that.”
The club’s fixture load and squad pecking order explain Hoeneß’s confidence. Bayern played 56 matches across all competitions last season, including five games at the Club World Cup. They exited the Champions League in the quarter-final and the DFB Pokal in the last 16.
On the field, Harry Kane remains Bayern’s undisputed starting striker when fit. The left wing is filled by Luis Díaz following his £65.5 million switch from Liverpool, while Michael Olise is a near-permanent starter on the right. Those factors, Hoeneß suggested, leave Jackson facing a clear battle for opportunities as a starter this season.
The condition set by Hoeneß ties Jackson’s future to consistent starts rather than isolated appearances, and it places the onus on the player to displace established options if Bayern are to trigger the purchase clause.
Arsenal
Saliba Could Miss Up to a Month After Ankle Injury
Saliba could miss up to four weeks after withdrawing from France with a sprained left ankle. at club
William Saliba faces a potentially significant absence after withdrawing from the France squad because of an ankle problem. He had been named in the international group for this month’s fixtures but pulled out soon after discussions with the national team doctor. A statement diagnosed Saliba with a “sprained left ankle”.
According to L’Équipe, the view inside the France camp is that Saliba will not be available until after the October international break, a layoff that could last as much as four weeks for Arsenal. Such a period on the sidelines would come at a difficult time for Arteta’s side, who have a demanding run of fixtures ahead.
In the Premier League the club host Nottingham Forest next weekend and then Manchester City the following week. There is also a trip to Newcastle United and a home match against West Ham United before club football pauses again. Arsenal also appear set to begin their Champions League group phase without Saliba, with Athletic Club and Olympiacos listed among early opponents.
A Carabao Cup third-round tie with Port Vale is also scheduled but Saliba was always likely to be rested for that match. At centre back the short-term options are clear. Cristhian Mosquera replaced Saliba against Liverpool and is a contender to do so again while Deadline Day signing Piero Hincapié may have moved up the pecking order after his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.
Riccardo Calafiori, who has started the season at left back but can operate centrally, offers further cover, and Myles Lewis-Skelly is ready to return on the left if needed. The club will manage the situation with those options available while monitoring Saliba’s recovery and the timeline set out by medical staff.
