CK Updates
Heskey Advises Salah Against Barcelona, Real & Bayern Switch
Thursday Feb 26, 2026. 13:00
Liverpool FC cult-hero Emile Heskey has advised Mohamed Salah and backed the Egypt captain to thrive if he moves to the Saudi Pro League.
Amid reports of a potential summer exit from Anfield, fueled by the winger’s dip in form this season and December 2025’s public frustration where he accused the club of throwing him “under the bus,” Heskey discussed Salah’s transfer options.
While Salah remains a regular under Liverpool manager Arne Slot, though his output has dropped significantly, Premier League legend Heskey believes the two-time African Player of the Year could excel in Saudi Arabia, avoiding tougher moves to clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich.
“Could Mohamed Salah move to a Barcelona, a Real Madrid or a Bayern Munich instead of the Saudi Pro League? Everyone would love to see him to go those places, and I’m sure he would as well but you take what’s there and in front of you,” Heskey said, as per Tribal Football.
“If that is Salah’s route well we’ve seen Cristiano Ronaldo still scoring goals out there. You see Ivan Toney still scoring goals. Sadio Mane’s out there. There’s no reason why you can’t do it in Saudi Arabia and still be producing on an international level as well.
“It’s whatever suits him to be honest with you because once you’ve done what he’s done as fans we’ve just got to accept what he decides. We accept, and we love him for what he’s done because when you look at the numbers that he’s produced, no one can say anything.”
After nine consecutive Premier League games without a goal, his longest drought in a Liverpool career, many fans question whether Salah, now 33, still has what it takes to lead the Reds’ attack.
With growing links to RB Leipzig’s exciting 19-year-old Ivorian winger Yan Diomande, it increasingly feels like Salah’s Anfield era may be nearing its end, with his contract set to expire in June 2027.
CK Updates
Hibs: David Gray ‘will continue until told otherwise’ – but has Hibs boss lost the fans?
Kieron: Kilmarnock could have won by three or four and it wouldn’t of flattered them. Hibs were so poor tonight. David Gray’s position is hanging by a thread.
Stuart: The players on that pitch have to take as much responsibility as Gray for this result, nowhere near good enough. Amateur performance.
Andy: How can Gray continue to keep his job? The players are not playing for him. The club is a mess. Banning the only fans that bring an atmosphere. Benching three of our best players. So confusing.
Chris: Question the tactics. Thought for long time long ball is desperate and lacks ambition. Pressure indeed on David Gray.
Lee: If we end the game two points off bottom spot then it’s surely time up for the Hibs manager. It’s not a run and recovery from a bad position needed, it’s deliver and results from the get go the support demands for a club of our size.
Stuart: The players on that pitch have to take as much responsibility as David Gray for this result, nowhere near good enough. Amateur performance.
Paul: Long balls to no-one as usual from Hibs and as usual our keeper is a weak link. Gray has to go even if we win as this is awful football. Bring in Neil Lennon or Steve Clarke asap before our season drifts to nothing as usual.
Andy: How can Gray continue to keep his job? The players are not playing for him. The club is a mess. Banning the only fans that bring an atmosphere. Benching three of our best players. So confusing.
Brian: Worst backline in Scotland, midfielders trot about like headless chickens, feel sorry for strikers. Gray clueless. No plan. No tactics. Blah, blah, blah after game as usual but won’t resign. Board have to act.
SMcDhfc: David Gray has lost the team, it was obvious tonight. As an attacking force, we were shocking, lots of huffing and puffing but not one real effort on target. The players should be embarrassed after that display, but they will get the result they are after, Gray sacked.
Craig: I like Gray but believe it’s time he goes. He has one formation. It’s just not good enough. But, if he goes, Malky MacKay [director of football] should go too. His signings have been terrible.
CK Updates
Thomas Tuchel: England boss regrets not eating Azteca turf after World Cup win in Mexico
England’s victory was only the third time Mexico had tasted defeat at the stadium in 90 competitive matches.
Tuchel described it as one of the highlights of the campaign and hailed the “huge bond” within the camp, especially the reaction to Jordan Henderson’s tournament-ending injury after falling over an advertising hoarding while celebrating the Azteca success.
“This game had so much of what you could wish for,” added the German. “If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players and how they were with each other, it was the moment Jordan fell over and broke his arm.
“Within a second, the players were there. Every single player was there stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was so special.”
England are next in action against World Cup winners Spain on 26 September in their 2026-27 Uefa Nations League opener, with the 2028 European Championships also on Tuchel’s radar.
Confident of ending England’s wait for a first senior men’s trophy since 1966, he believed their World Cup run not only cemented his relationship with the squad – “it feels like they are my players now” – but also represented “something to build on”.
Tuchel added: “I’m very excited. I think we got another step closer and I think we’re there.”
CK Updates
Northern Ireland: Eligibility rules ‘not particularly fair’ – Michael O’Neill
Under the Good Friday Agreement – the 1998 peace accord that followed the conflict colloquially known as The Troubles – those born in Northern Ireland can hold both British and Irish passports.
A Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in 2010 means players born anywhere on the island of Ireland are able to represent the Republic of Ireland regardless of whether they fulfil any other measure of eligibility, namely being born in the territory, having a biological mother, father, grandmother or grandfather born in the territory, or having lived there for an uninterrupted period of five years.
Players born in the Republic of Ireland, however, cannot represent Northern Ireland unless they are otherwise eligible.
“We exploit eligibility, the same as every other country does, down to the grandparent rule, but this is a rule which is obviously unique between ourselves and the FAI [Football Association of Ireland],” said O’Neill.
“I think everyone recognises it’s not particularly fair, but as I say, our focus is to make sure our pathway for our young players is as good as possible and that’s a pathway for boys from any part of the community.”
In May, FAI director of football John Martin said the organisation should at “the bare minimum” be sounding out eligible players.
“We know there are kids out there who want to play for Ireland who haven’t been approached in the past,” said Martin.
“That’s not right. It’s making sure we have a presence and we understand all the players available to us, and that they are being monitored and tracked.”
When asked whether the narrative around young players in or around his squad is tiresome to him, O’Neill said: “It would have been in the past, it’s not tiresome now.
“We have people who comment on this and talk about nationality and talk about identity and talk about all these different things, which are part of being born in Northern Ireland and growing up in Northern Ireland.
“But I think what we’re missing now is that we’re putting young players in a situation where they have to make a decision which is irreversible.”

