All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester United can reportedly rope in Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP without having to pay his current release clause in full.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man Utd could sign Amorim for a cheaper price
• Sporting CP have offered him new deal with three key clauses
• United face Leicester City in League Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils are strongly linked with a move for the Portuguese coach as they look to appoint a new manager after the departure of Erik ten Hag on Monday. Amorim, who joined Sporting CP in 2020, has a contract with the club until June 2026. Per , the Liga Portugal club are set to offer their manager a new deal that will have three clauses that could heavily boost United's pursuit.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The first variable in the new contract includes a €30 million (£24m) release clause which a Portuguese club will have to activate if they want to sign him, however, it could drop to €20m (£16m) if a foreign club shows interest in the manager. The second clause benefits the Red Devils as the figure further drops to €10m if one of the top clubs in Europe want to rope him in.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In the past four years, the 39-year-old coach has achieved immense success with the Lions, having won two Primeira Liga titles, the Taca da Liga and the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Amid the search for a new head coach, the Manchester club will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Leicester City in a Carabao Cup round of 16 clash under the tutelage of interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Since the arrival of new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have worked quickly in the transfer market.

Tosin Adarabioyo became the first signing of the Italian’s era, and it looks set that a striker will be the next priority target, with Marc Guiu up next.

Plenty of household names have been linked with a move to the Blues, but there are some players who are ready to depart.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a current Chelsea player who could head for the departure lounge this summer.

Omari Hutchinson could leave this summer

According to a report from Football.London, Omari Hutchinson could be on his way out of Stanford Bridge before next season.

It’s said that Ipswich Town are ready to make an offer for last season’s loanee, which is expected to be around £20m.

The Blues will demand a higher fee than that, potentially around the £30m mark, and for Hutchinson, a move away is a ‘serious option.’

However, what may concern the Chelsea faithful is that he has previously hinted that he's keen to depart and permanently stay with the Tractor Boys.

Hutchinson could be Chelsea’s own Cole Palmer disaster

While spending the 2023/24 season at Portman Road, Hutchinson developed into one of the finest attackers in the entire Championship.

Despite only starting 20 league games, the Jamaican played a huge role in helping Kieran McKenna’s side earn promotion, particularly towards the end of the campaign.

Overall, the winger made 44 appearances, and across these matches, he scored an impressive ten goals, including three in the final three matches of the season.

On top of that, Hutchinson provided five assists, and he finished the campaign as the club’s fourth-highest goal contributor, despite his fewer minutes.

As you can see from the table above, Hutchinson proved to be just as influential for his side as Mykhalo Mudryk and Noni Madueke, who’ve operated on the flanks for Chelsea.

The 21-year-old was the catalyst for plenty of attacking scenarios for Ipswich, whether that was by using his elite vision, weaving past defenders, or simply having intensity off the ball.

This is why football scout Antonio Mango labelled him an “outstanding” talent, yet it also makes him similar to Cole Palmer, in regards to his ability to win a game on his own.

Last season, Palmer joined Chelsea for £40m from Manchester City in search of game time, and his development under Mauricio Pochettino was sublime.

The versatile attacker scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists in the Premier League while also picking up the Premier League Young Player of the Season Award, and the sale of a homegrown product looks to have been a huge mistake by Pep Guardiola.

Now, given the quality of Hutchinson, Chelsea are at risk of repeating City’s woes if they do sell the creative gem, especially off the back of a season where he progressed brilliantly.

Although the competition in the Chelsea attack is extremely strong, Hutchinson has more than enough talent to have a future at the club, but if he does leave, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his departure become a Blues howler in the future.

No Jackson, £226m trio sign: Enzo Maresca's dream lineup at Chelsea

Chelsea are set for a busy summer with plenty of signings expected.

By
Tom Lever

May 29, 2024

Kyle Walker admits he was "beaten fair and square" by Adama Traore in a sprint during Manchester City's recent clash with Fulham.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• City beat Fulham 3-2
• Walker in sprint race with Adama
• England defender admits losing battle

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  During Fulham's clash with City, Adama went toe-to-toe with Walker, as two of the quickest players in the league faced off. During the encounter, Walker was amazingly outpaced by Adama, despite the England right-back having a head start, as the Spaniard went through on goal. It is not a common occurence for Walker to be sprinted past, and he has now opened up on the encounter.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Walker admits he tried to use his arm to hold Adama off as he began to motor past him, but the former Wolves man was simply too strong. Fortunately for the right-back, Adama couldn't finish, but the Englishman insists he will "remember" being beaten.

• WHAT WALKER SAID

  "I mean Adama Traore would beat me, quite comfortably, I want to address it," Walker said on the BBC’s You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker podcast. "I just base myself on that I’m quick, I thought that I had him, it’s not an excuse, he beat me fair and square, but I’m going to remember it.

  "My arm should have come across but you know when I start running backwards [towards goal], nine times out of ten people just stop but he obviously backs himself so much, just like I do, he’s thought, ‘I can actually catch this’. And next minute he’s actually in front of me and I’ve tried to give him the arm to try to claw a little bit back, he’s that strong. From what I’ve seen he could be up there with me. [Micky] Van de Ven is so quick, he’s about 6ft 7in and his stride is incredible.

  "It’s not bad in 18 years, first time someone can actually say, probably [Ousmane] Dembele, I used to get that clip all the time when I’ve sprinted to him when we played France away, I sprinted to him and he’s actually already running the other way and everybody’s clipping it, ‘oh my gosh, Kyle Walker just got smoked’. But that’s not a bad reaction for them to be that surprised, I’m obviously doing something right."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Walker will next be in action when City play Southampton this weekend. Adama, meanwhile, will hope to be involved when Fulham play Everton at Goodison Park.

Erling Haaland appeared to have handed Manchester City an injury scare when going down in training, but he was merely playing up to his team-mates.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Striker maintaining stunning strike rate
• European action next on the agenda
• Brushed off a slight knock in training

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The prolific Norwegian striker is readying himself for another Champions League outing. Premier League title holders City are preparing for a trip to Portugal that will see them face Sporting – who remain under the guidance of Manchester United-bound boss Ruben Amorim for now.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Haaland has netted in City’s most recent European outings, against Sparta Prague and Slovan Bratislava, but drew a blank in his last domestic appearance as Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a shock defeat at Bournemouth. A positive response to that result is being demanded on Tuesday.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Guardiola will want to have Haaland leading his line in Lisbon, with the 24-year-old frontman vital to their plans – with a further 14 goals being posted this season through as many appearances. He did give City’s coaching team a brief moment of concern during a training session on Monday as he hit the deck holding his right leg, leading to a theatrical roll on the turf.

It hasn't exactly been plain sailing at Aston Villa over the past several weeks, but Unai Emery and Monchi will consider their transfer work thus far a success, given the circumstances.

Selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus was not what the Villa Park bosses had in mind after incredibly qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four finish in the Premier League, but profit and sustainability (PSR) rules have dictated the summer so far and Villa were forced to cough up.

The June 30 PSR deadline has now flown by but the club has been braced for the date, having suffered significant financial losses during the 2022/23 campaign. Luiz and academy prospects Tim Iroegbunum and Omari Kellyman speak of savvy trading that has now rolled out the carpet for focused investment ahead of a thrilling season ahead.

Ross Barkley and Enzo Barrenechea have been added to the midfield while Samuel Iling-Junior will add electrifying energy down the flanks, but Emery's outfit have yet to bolster their backline.

Aston Villa transfer news

According to Viola News over in Italy, Aston Villa have seen a €20m (£17m) bid rejected for the signing of Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode, with the Serie A side holding out for €25m (£21m) including bonuses.

Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the 19-year-old defender, submitting their own proposal that was turned down, meaning that transfer chief Monchi would be wise to make an improved offer with dispatch.

Villa Park already yields a talented right-back in Matty Cash but some depth wouldn't exactly be a bad thing, especially with Champions League nights looming just a few months away.

What Michael Kayode would bring to Villa

Kayode might be young but the teenage talent has already demonstrated himself to be an indispensable member at Fiorentina, featuring prominently throughout 2023/24 – his debut year on the professional scene.

It's remarkable how similar Kayode and Cash are in regard to their playing style, though the Italy U21 international is already displaying signs of superiority in defensive phases and greater levels of energy and creativity, making more recoveries, more consistent with his key passes.

As per FBref, the Italian ranks among the top 12% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles made per 90, living up to praise from analyst and Serie A fanatic Ben Mattinson that he is a "duel monster".

Under an astute and meticulous coach in Emery, Kayode would find the perfect conditions to grow into his skin and impress upon the Premier League his dizzying potential.

And considering the partnership that could be forged with another of Villa's fresh signings, it's surely worth the investment…

Imagine him & Iling-Junior

Emery deserves plenty of praise for separating the grains of promise from the chaff of mediocrity after replacing the beleaguered Steven Gerrard at the Villa Park helm in October 2022.

He has shaped the squad to his making and is now reaping the rewards. Losing Luiz, who was described as "one of the Premier League's standout midfielders" last season, is a blow on the cusp of a seat at Europe's pre-eminent table but the shrewd moves made to counter the loss bears testament to the man at the helm.

Kayode would be another mark of impressive growth, providing Cash with real competition and allowing Ezri Konsa to play in central defence with greater regularity – which is vital given that he's one of the toughest defenders in the game, remarkably winning 76% of his duels last term.

But most importantly, he could be a dream for Iling-Junior, allowing the talented and positionally flexible winger to shuttle forwards with the security of a top-class defender behind.

Speaking of Iling-Junior's qualities, former Chelsea and Tottenham academy coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst said in 2022: “Samuel brings the full package to the party, he has got everything. He is almost like a street footballer with his skill and balance. He brings almost everything to the table. He can play seven, eleven, a 10 or even in central midfield.”

Such fluency is pleasing but the pointers suggest that the 20-year-old Englishman will principally ply his trade on the flanks, having done so for Juventus last season.

Iling-Junior ranked among the top 5% of positional peers in Serie A last term for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive carries and the top 10% for tackles per 90, but given that the above-mentioned Mattinson has noted that he could become a “[Bukayo] Saka rival” for England down the line, his left-footed preference may well see him feature on the right.

This would allow him to swing inwards and strike on goal, still maintaining his quality as an "assist machine" – as said by journalist Michele Neri – to set him in good stead for a starring role for the Lions.

Young and unrefined, however, he'd need some steely security behind him, and with Konsa's formidable and experienced presence partnering Kayode's breezy exuberance and budding defensive distinction, there's no telling how slick the right side of the Aston Villa rearguard could look in a few years or so.

Aston Villa must make their move this summer, wrapping up a deal for a top, top talent who would grow into one of the finest full-backs in the Premier League under Emery's watchful eye.

Strong interest: Aston Villa line up dream Luiz replacement

Aston Villa will be on the search for a Douglas Luiz replacement now.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 1, 2024

In the hope of solving their striker problems once and for all, Chelsea are reportedly plotting a player-plus-cash deal to sign a Euro 2024 hero for Enzo Maresca this summer.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues have already endured a busy summer transfer window, as is the trend at Stamford Bridge, welcoming the likes of Omari Kellyman, Estaveo Willian, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Viega and Marc Guiu. With just two arrivals above the age of 24 years old, the Blues' transfer tactic clearly hasn't changed and remains transfixed on the future.

Their summer of arrivals is unlikely to cease anytime soon either, following such a disappointing campaign last time out. Chelsea's issues were laid bare for all to see, leading to Mauricio Pochettino's dismissal, and now the task falls the way of Maresca to turn a sinking ship around once and for all. And to do that, he may just get one of the Premier League's best on his way.

Chelsea struck gold on £0 signing who's now worth way more than Mitoma

He’s cemented himself as a regular starter in the last 12 months.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 14, 2024

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are plotting a player plus cash deal to sign Ollie Watkins in a deal that would see Conor Gallagher head to Aston Villa this summer. The Blues have already been linked with Villa's Jhon Duran in recent months, but now look set to skip their backup option and go straight for their standout star in Watkins, who just stole the headlines at Euro 2024.

However, following his side's Champions League qualification last season, whether those at Stamford Bridge can lure Watkins away from Villa Park remains to be seen.

"Amazing" Watkins would be an instant upgrade on Jackson

Whilst Nicolas Jackson showed glimpses of the player that he could become, Chelsea arguably need a player of Watkins' calibre if they are to make their way back to the Champions League and back to the top of English football. The Blues are often cursed with failed strikers, no matter their previous reputation, but all signs are pointing towards Watkins following Didider Drogba and Diego Costa and not Fernando Torres and Alvaro Morata.

What instantly stands out about the Villa star is his ability to create as well as find the back of the net himself. It's a trait that could suddenly bring the rest of Chelsea's frontline to life and hand Maresca the ultimate boost.

Emery won't be keen to bid farewell to his striker just yet, though, having told TNT Sports last season: "He’s amazing. Because he’s a really hard worker and his commitment to work every day is amazing. When he is scoring goals, it's the main objective he can have. Where he is assisting as well, he's contributing to help the team. But even when he's not doing both, he's working for the team."

Remarkable moments from the No. 1 and the No. 9 help USMNT emerge with Nations League quarterfinal win over Jamaica

A goal on one side and a big save on the other… sometimes the game really is that simple. Yes, there were 90 minutes of largely disjointed, rough-and-tumble and sometimes feisty soccer played in Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday night, but it all really came down to two kicks of the ball.

One found a corner, the other found a hand. Fortunately for the U.S. men's national team, they were on the right side of both.

Ricardo Pepi provided the moment in the 5th minute on one end, scoring the only goal the U.S. would need in their 1-0 CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal first leg win over Jamaica. Matt Turner provided the crucial moment in the 14th minute on the other, pushing away Demarai Gray's penalty kick to make sure that the 1-0 lead would hold true.

There were moments in between for both sides, and both will feel that they will have deserved a result coming out of the National Stadium. The U.S. got it, however, and now they have the lead heading back home.

Mauricio Pochettino's squad is in a good place. Protect this lead with a draw or win Monday night in St. Louis and they're through to the semifinals – and on a path to their fourth straight Nation's League title. The U.S. is effectively at halftime of this series, but this second half will be played in a friendlier atmosphere than the first, which proved to be a feisty match before a festive crowd.

Since dropping a 2-1 friendly in Washington, D.C. in 2019, the USMNT have are now on an eight-game unbeaten streak vs. Jamaica. The  challenged the USMNT deep into the semifinals of the 2023-24 Nations League before a brace from Wright powered the U.S. to the tournament final. The U.S. went on to score another Dos a Cero victory over Mexico for its third-straight title.

If the U.S. can find one or two big moments, they'll be in the clear thanks to the advantage they put together in Kingston on Thursday. GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from the National Stadium.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WINNER: Matt Turner

  Games like this are defined by a selection of moments, not just one. Some are bigger than others and, on Thursday, none were bigger than Turner's penalty kick save.

  He needed a moment like that, didn't he? Given the narrative surrounding the goalkeeping position and his club situation, Tutner really benefits from a signature moment like Thursday's. With Jamaica just a few short yards from turning the game on its head, it was Turner who stepped up to parry away Demarai Gray's spot kick and preserve the U.S. lead.

  Turner, of course, conceded the penalty by tackling Shamar Nicholson. The seconds leading up to that, though, were a comedy of errors, with nearly every single member of the USMNT defense having a hand in allowing Nicholson to get that far into the box. Ultimately, Turner bailed everyone out, preserving a lead that the U.S. ultimately never relinquished.

  That save, and his second-half parry of an Olimpico, were the reasons why. Turner will still have doubters due to his club situation, and those doubts are justified, but, at least on Thursday, he showed why he is still very much the No. 1 for this USMNT.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  LOSER: Demarai Gray

  When you get that sort of opportunity on a penalty, you cannot let it go. Gray did.

  His penalty was ultimately far too reachable, giving Turner the chance to make that diving save to his right. It wasn't a horrible penalty, but it also wasn't a particularly good one, allowing the USMNT shot-stopper to not just save it, but push it out of play and prevent a rebound.

  It was the type of chance Jamaica needed to take and, ultimately, make – and it cost them dearly. Even outside of that, the Al-Ettifaq star struggled. He completed just four of his eight passes and had just 16 touches before getting the hook at halftime. Ultimately, that wasn't good enough.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WINNER: Ricardo Pepi

  It was a striker's finish, to put it lightly. You can't provide that type of play without at least a little bit of confidence and it's quite clear that, right now, Pepi has plenty.

  Whenever he plays, it seems like Pepi makes an impact, whether that's with the U.S. or PSV. Right now, Pepi finds himself repeatedly asking a similar question for both club and country: what else does he have to do to prove he's the guy?

  Moments like this will help. So often as a striker, it comes down to one moment and one chance, and Pepi's came five minutes in. There was no time to warm-up or prepare; the game, ultimately, was defined by that one look at goal. Played in by Christian Pulsiic, Pepi made no mistake, and the U.S. were off – and now they're heading home with a massive advantage.

  It was Pepi’s 12th USMNT goal, his second of 2024 (in 10 games), his third against Jamaica and his second under Pochettino – he also scored in the Panama friendly.

  Job done for Pepi, who continues to make his case. He'll almost certainly start the second leg, too, and, if he can score there, the opportunity for him to be the guy will only be gain momentum.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Imagn
  

  LOSER: Johnny Cardoso

  So, so unlucky. Cardoso is dying out for a big USMNT performance, and he looked on his way to one. That was until the injury.

  Forced out after 21 minutes, Cardoso had what could have been a statement game derailed. In his 21 minutes, he'd completed all 15 of his passes, including three into the final third, while also winning both of his duels. It really looked like he was going to run the midfield until he pulled up with what appeared to be a lower body injury.

  It's unfortunate. Cardoso struggled mightily against Canada in September and, to date, hasn't really had a signature USMNT performance. That's largely because he hasn't had a consistent run of games. Untimely injuries haven't helped, either, with the Real Betis star missing last month's camp due to an injury, too.

  Tough luck for Cardoso, who will certainly be eager to prove more in the midfield when given another shot.

For club and country, Pulisic is proving that when you're playing at an elite level, it makes life easier for everyone else around you

ST. LOUIS – "I appreciate you giving me credit for that!"

Christian Pulisic may have appreciated the question, crediting him for opening up space on an eventual U.S. men's national team goal against Jamaica, but he wasn't really willing to give that credit to himself. It was his run that opened up the space Ricardo Pepi needed to score the USMNT's third goal on Monday night. If not for Pulisic occupying the centerbacks, Pepi likely wouldn't have had that extra half-second or so to pick his spot in the back of the net.

Pepi, of course, deserves most of the credit. It was a fantastic finish, one that only a confident striker can provide. Pulisic – who had already accounted for the first two goals in the USMNT's eventual 4-2 win over Jamaica Monday night – played his part, and he did so to perfection by manipulating the defenders in front of him.

But looking back at the sequence, Pulisic had a confession to make: he didn't make that run for Pepi, he made it for himself.

"I did," Pulisic said with a laugh when asked if he really wanted the pass for himself. "I wanted that hat trick."

Regardless, that moment showed the power and impact Pulisic has in games. It was the type of sequence that perfectly encapsulated what an in-form player can do. When you're playing at an elite level, it makes life easier for everyone else – including manager Mauricio Pochettino, who continues to implement his tactics on this USMNT, with Pulisic at the center of it all.

And as Pulisic continues to ride that form for club and country, Pepi's goal showed how having a superstar such as Pulisic in the team can make everyone else better.

• getty
  

  Pulisic's ridiculous form

  It doesn't matter what jersey Pulisic is wearing the moment, if he's on the field, you can expect him to create goals.

  In 15 matches for Milan this season, Pulisic already has seven goals and four assists. He's established himself as one of the most dangerous players in Serie A, while his goals against Liverpool and Real Madrid continue to further the narrative that he genuinely a big-game player. He's been in the best form of his life and he looks happier than he's ever been on the club level.

  That's carried over to the USMNT, too. In five appearances since the Copa America, Pulisic has two goals and two assists while creating a Jamaica own-goal. There's been no slowdown when he's crossed the Atlantic. In fact, you could argue he's been even better in the red, white and blue than the red and black since the Serie A season started.

  Prior to his first game in charge in October, Pochettino praised Pulisic plenty, pointing to that initial run of good form. Pulisic has sustained it and, thus far, he's likely even exceeded his new coach's expectations.

  "I think he's a fantastic player," Pochettino said in October. "One of the best offensive players in the world."

  Pulisic certainly made that case in St. Louis on Monday, as he tore Jamaica to shreds.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Superstar in St. Louis

  Pulisic's second goal was eventually taken from him and called an own goal, unfortunately for him. Still, it's worth hyping up Pulisic's first against Jamaica given the quality of finish.

  The moment Weston McKennie received the ball on the right-hand side, Pulisic knew what to do. He darted towards goal, breezing past Jamaica's defense. McKennie picked his head up, saw the run and pinged a pass in Pulisic's direction. Controlling it was no easy feat, but Pulisic did more than that; he flicked it on the half-volley, leaving Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Andre Blake helpless as the ball trickled into the back of the net.

  "When Weston gets the ball and he picks his head up, I feel like I might be his first target," Pulisic said. "He floated that ball in perfectly."

  Pulisic, though, deserves credit for the finish. It was one few players could provide. To have the confidence, the decisiveness and the quality to find the back of the net in that situation – that speaks to Pulisic's level.

  And, when playing at that level, Pulisic makes life better for others, which leads us back to that Pepi goal.

• IMAGN
  

  Making runs for others

  Pulisic won't get credit for an assist for Pepi's goal in St. Louis. He didn't directly set it up in the same way that he did in Kingston when his through-ball into the path of the PSV star led to the USMNT's only goal in a 1-0 victory.

  The AC Milan star sure helped, though.

  As Pepi receives the ball, Pulisic runs right past him. Jamaica defender Richard King spots that run and, for a split second, focuses on Pulisic. His feet shift towards the winger before he sees Pepi lining up to shoot. At that point, it's too late. Pepi lines up his shot and picks out his corner, making it 3-0 to the USMNT with a fantastic finish from just outside the box.

  "I think he's a super important player for a team with how he scores," Pepi said. "The defender went and he stepped towards Christian, and he left me a lot of space. You also can't leave me that space, you know! I see that space, and then I can just shoot and score that goal."

  All Pepi needed was that half-second. He's good enough to take advantage of it, as are a number of Pulisic's USMNT teammates. When a player with Pulisic's skill is making runs like that, he buys them that half-second because he puts defenders in an impossible position. Do they focus on Pulisic, the most dangerous player on the field, or the player with the ball? Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

  "I think I try to do that a lot," Pulisic says. "I think it's really important: creating space for others. Sometimes you make runs that are not for you to get the ball and that's just normal for me. I have to do it and create space for him in that moment."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The gravational pull

  Superstars are often measured by how they make those around them better, and Pulisic is showing that. Most importantly, he's showing it in ways that are indirect.

  Yes, the goals and assists are great, but, unless you're Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there will be dry spells there. You can't always control those. You can always control effort and energy, though, and, if Pulisic continues to make runs like he did on Monday, it'll be a huge lift for club and country.

  Back in Milan, all eyes are starting to shift towards Pulisic. It's been like that for years with the USMNT, but it's a relatively new phenomenon for Pulisic on the club level. At Milan, he's surrounded by talent, and every eye on Pulisic is one less on Rafael Leao. It's one less defender not fully accounting for Samuel Chukwueze's pace. It's one split second that allows Alvaro Morata, Noah Okafor or Tammy Abraham to slide into space that wouldn't have been there otherwise.

  It's what makes the game's greats so powerful: that gravitational pull. The more Pulisic scores and assists, the stronger it gets, and the stronger it gets, the more his teammates benefit. If becoming a leading goalscorer was the next step for Pulisic, this is the next, next step – creating space, excelling with and without the ball, using his growing reputation and elevated form to now help others.

  We saw an example of that in St. Louis, and we'll likely see more of it for Milan in the coming months. Pulisic won't be back in a USMNT jersey again until March, which means the focus is entirely on lifting his club back to old heights. Milan clearly believe Pulisic can be one of the pieces to lead that charge, whether by doing it on his own or making the game easier for others.

Glasgow Rangers have been fairly active throughout the summer transfer window, which opened for business last month, as they attempt to bolster their squad at Ibrox.

The recruitment team and Philippe Clement have dipped into the market in an attempt to lower the age profile of the group at Rnagers, with Jefte, Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Connor Barron, Hamza Igamane, and Clinton Nsiala arriving at Ibrox – all aged under 23.

With the Gers' desire to bring in new players to improve their options across the pitch, current first-team stars may need to be moved on in order to generate funds and free up space in the group.

One player who has been linked with an exit from Ibrox is attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell, who the club have struck gold on since his move to Glasgow – as he is now worth even more than the talented midfielder they just signed this summer – Barron.

How much Rangers paid for Todd Cantwell

Ex-Gers boss Michael Beale reportedly splashed out a fee of £1.5m in January of last year to sign the former England U21 starlet as his contract with Norwich City was due to expire at the end of that season.

He was once valued at €22m (£18m) by Transfermarkt in 2021 after two impressive seasons for the Canaries. The impressive maestro had scored six goals in 37 Premier League matches and followed that up with six goals and seven assists in 33 Championship games.

However, Cantwell then failed to score a league goal for Norwich, or Bournemouth during a loan spell, over the next 18 months in the top two divisions in England.

This caused his value to plummet to the £1.5m that Rangers were able to sign him for. The Light Blues gambled on him after a poor period in his career, and it is a move that has paid off for them on the pitch.

Todd Cantwell's current market value

At the time of writing, Transfermarkt currently has Cantwell valued at €8.5m (£7.1m) and this shows that his value has soared by millions over the last 18 months.

He is worth significantly more than 21-year-old Barron, who is valued at €1m (£840k) by Transfermarkt, but the former Aberdeen midfielder may have been signed with the idea that his worth will skyrocket over the months and years to come like the Englishman's has.

Cantwell's soaring value comes off the back of his impressive performances in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues during the 2023/24 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, he was a star in an attacking midfield role as no other player in his position provided more goals or assists.

That came after Cantwell had produced six goals and four assists in 16 Premiership games in his first six months at the club following his move from Norwich.

Could be Gascoigne 2.0: Rangers in the mix to sign "exciting" prospect

The Light Blues have reportedly entered the race to land the talented youngster.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 7, 2024

These statistics and his soaring value show that the Gers struck gold when Beale brought him to Ibrox, and they may now be hoping that Barron can follow in his footsteps over the years to come.

It must feel an awful long time ago for Leicester City fans when they now consider their side's unbelievable past exploits, with the East Midlands underdogs lifting the FA Cup and Premier League aloft in quick succession in what proved to be a golden period to be a Foxes fan.

Now, supporters packed into the King Power Stadium this campaign to come will just hope they can stay afloat in the top flight, away from their previous grand achievements, with Steve Cooper now at the helm tasked with ensuring relegation doesn't happen.

Leicester could look to turn back the clock to their unbelievable day out to Wembley in the FA Cup final, however, with this potential signing in through the door, who might well end up being the newly promoted club's next Youri Tielemans in the making.

Leicester City's search for a midfielder

According to a report by Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leicester hold 'concrete interest' in Royal Antwerp gem Mandela Keita this summer, as the midfield ranks look to be bolstered by Cooper.

Both Rennes and Fiorentina are also noted as being further interested parties going after the 22-year-old star, who even has a senior cap for the Belgium national team next to his name now, after an impressive individual campaign for his current employers.

It could take a bid of around £8m – as per his current estimated market value, according to Football Transfers – for a move to take place though, with Leicester having to splash the cash to land their desired target.

Why Keita can be Tielemans 2.0

Tielemans was once also a promising talent plying his trade in the Jupiler Pro League before Leicester swooped in, resulting in the now Aston Villa man becoming a key first-team performer for the Foxes, with his long-range strike against Chelsea back in 2021 enabling Leicester to upset the odds and lift the FA Cup.

Keita isn't quite as forceful when it comes to helping out in attack, but he could go on to become an established member of Cooper's first team all the same in England, much like the former Anderlecht man managed under previous managers at the King Power.

Keita's tenacity and energy from the middle of the park has been an effective calling card for Antwerp to utilise, however, with the goal above all the in-demand Belgian's own work, before allowing his fortunate teammate to simply tap home.

The 22-year-old would only pick up two goal contributions all of last season away from this clip, but his battling nature will be of use to Leicester all the same, and Keita could even end up striking up an effective midfield duo with Wilfried Ndidi if a deal is clinched.

Whilst Ndidi would look to get on the scoresheet, Keita would be more than content with being a disruptive presence in a more holding role, as can be seen glancing at the table above, with an unbelievable 5.9 total duels won on average last season playing in his native country.

But, his assuredness on the ball – away from trying to break up play – could also see him perform much like Tielemans operated when still pulling on a Foxes strip, with the Villa midfielder bowing out from the King Power with an 82% pass accuracy per Premier League contest during the 2022-23 season.

Labelled as being an "exceptional" talent by U23 football scout Antonio Mango after he won his first cap for his nation, Keita looks to be nearing a major move soon, and could really progress his game like Tielemans managed if purchased by Leicester.

Leicester must cash in on Rodgers signing who earns more than Ndidi & Soule

Steve Cooper will be preparing to offload a number of Leicester City players to balance the books.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 27, 2024