The Athletic FC Podcast

It is close to a year — 49 weeks and counting — since the Premier League handed Manchester City a charge sheet with 115 breaches of its financial rules across NINE different seasons.Just yesterday, the Premier League brought charges against both Nottingham Forest - and for the second time this season - Everton... All before the reigning Premier League champions are to even see a hearing begin?So, what’s going on? Is PSR (Profitability & Sustainability Rules) really about promoting sustainability, meeting arbitrary deadlines or maybe just maintaining the status quo? And is the Everton ruling to blame for an unusually quiet January transfer window?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production by Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was a sense of inevitability at St. James' Park on Saturday when Kevin De Bruyne entered the arena.So why can't Newcastle United, the-so-called “richest club in the world” match Manchester City spending power and have their own selection of superstars to call on from the bench?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Newcastle United writer Chris Waugh and Mark Critchley to analyse.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production by Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal returns to preview matchweek 16 of the Premier League.Five fixtures over the weekend are headlined by Man United vs Tottenham. Will we get a glimpse of new Spurs’ signings Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin, and will they hit the ground running?Elsewhere champions Man City travel up to Newcastle. Both teams won comfortably in the FA Cup last week, with City welcoming back Kevin De Bruyne from a 5-month absence. Can he make the difference in the title race?The remaining fixtures are a 6-pointer at the bottom between Luton and Burnley, a west-London derby as Fulham go to Chelsea, and second-place Aston Villa visiting Goodison Park.Host: Adam LeventhalGuests: Nick Miller, Jon Mackenzie, Jacob WhiteheadProducer: John Rogers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years on from Senegal ending their wait for glory, AFCON returns this weekend.Does this year's tournament represent Mohamed Salah’s best chance to finally lay claim to being King of the Continent?Meanwhile, Andre Onana, one of Africa’s most high profile players, once again sees his international career in jeopardy.Ayo Akinwolere is joined by former Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba as well as The Athletic's Jay Harris, Mark Critchley and Thom Harris.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production by Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last summer, the list of high-profile players leaving some of Europe’s biggest clubs to join the Saudi Pro League seemed to get longer by the day…What started with a multi-million-pound pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo in December 2022 soon expanded to include the likes of Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves and of course, Jordan Henderson.Well, now it seems Henderson wants out - and to return to the Premier League.But it may not be that easy and could come at a significant cost... So what would an exit from the Saudi Pro League cost Henderson?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Sarah Shephard & Oliver Kay.Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So Tottenham have agreed a loan deal for RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner.A player who  - it’s fair to say - was a disappointment at Chelsea.But if the German international fits the profile and style Spurs are looking for..Can Ange Postecoglou be the one to unlock Werner’s potential? Host Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic’s Spurs writer Jack-Pitt Brooke, Liam Twomey who as one of our Chelsea writers was there to witness Werner’s time at Stamford Bridge and European writer Seb Stafford-Bloor who is based in Germany.Produced by Mike Stavrou.Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal were beaten 2-0 at home yesterday by Liverpool in the FA Cup. That was despite creating a number of good chances and having relative ‘control’ of the game throughout...Something Gunners' fans haven’t seen since… well, the West Ham game last week! So, how worrying is this pattern for Arteta?And what’s their way out - Is it through coaching? Or in the January transfer window? Host Adam Leventhal is joined by former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke and The Athletic's James McNicholas to discuss.Produced by Adonis PratsidesExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Weekend Preview returns for 2024 with an FA Cup special.Headlining the show is the first Tyne-and-Wear derby since 2016, as a wounded Newcastle head to their local rivals Sunderland.Meanwhile, the highest-profile clash sees fourth-place Arsenal welcome table-topping Liverpool on Sunday. Arsenal are in poor form, but how much will Liverpool miss Mo Salah, who’s just left for AFCON?Another all-Premier League tie is Brentford vs Wolves, which Jon Mackenzie is off to attend. With Brentford only a couple of places outside the relegation zone, could a cup win re-ignite their season?And finally, we whip out the crystal ball and offer some predictions for the year ahead, covering winners, losers, new trends and best players.Host: Adam LeventhalGuests: Nick Miller, Jon Mackenzie, Tim SpiersProducer: John Rogers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Victory last night means Real Madrid have reached the halfway stage of La Liga as league leaders on goal difference.But in terms of stability, resources and recruitment they look miles ahead of everyone else in Spain - and most clubs across Europe. So with the future of manager Carlo Ancelotti secured, overseeing a clutch of talented youngsters in their redeveloped iconic stadium what, if anything, do they need to do to improve? Apart from adding Kylian Mbappe...Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic's La Liga writer Dermot Corrigan and Junior Spain Editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero to discuss Madrid's season so far as well as analyse the ongoing chase to sign Mbappe.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production by Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United has finally been confirmed, how will this impact the club’s January window?Even if players are sold, is spending even possible given FFP concerns? And is Jadon Sancho set to follow Donny van de Beek out the door at Old Trafford?Michael Bailey is joined by The Athletic's Football Correspondent David Ornstein, Adam Crafton and Manchester United writer Laurie WhitwellProduced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production by Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.