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Newcastle United are reportedly ready to push to complete the signing of an "incredible" player this summer, with a free transfer on the cards.

Newcastle injury crisis deepens

The Magpies have underperformed badly this season, both in the Premier League and the Champions League, but their injury problems are a fair excuse to make for their shortcomings. Eddie Howe has had to deal with a constant stream of fitness issues throughout the campaign, with important players missing all over the park, holding back his team greatly.

Nick Pope has been a long-term absentee in goal, while defenders Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Dan Burn have all missed significant chunks of action. In midfield, the likes of Joelinton and Joe Willock have been out for lengthy periods, too, while Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have found it hard to stay fit leading the line.

Newcastle's misery in the injury department has been summed up by two serious new problems for Botman and Lascelles, both of whom are going to miss many months of action after suffering ACL damage. Neither will feature again this season, and they could even struggle to play until 2025, summing up the severity of their issues.

It has heightened the need to make a number of key signings in the summer transfer window, with one defender reportedly being lined up by the Magpies.

Newcastle eyeing "incredible" free transfer

According to a new report from HITC, Newcastle are "set to step up their interest" in Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly ahead of the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old is out of contract with the Cherries at the end of the campaign, at which point he will be available on a free transfer.

Kelly appears to have been a long-time target for Newcastle, being linked with a move to St James' Park a number of times in the past, and he would be an astute signing this summer. While not necessarily a game-changer of a signing who is going to get Magpies supporters off their seats, he could be a really solid defensive addition – one who can thrive as both a centre-back and a left-back.

Last year, former Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil waxed lyrical over him after his performance up against Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, saying: "I thought Lloyd was incredible.

"I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury. Didn't have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world. I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender. I thought it was a very, very impressive performance against a top attacker."

At 25, Kelly is both experienced and still young enough to develop further as a player, while his aforementioned versatility means he would provide so much squad depth for Howe, alleviating potential further injury woes in the process.

Tottenham have been left "hugely impressed" by a £30 million forward's performances this season, which has lead to interest in signing him this summer.

Spurs set sights on new attackers for Ange Postecoglou

Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou already has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal, but widespread reports indicate that the Australian wishes to add further goals and assists.

Double Tottenham exit on the cards if Ange signs £50m "leader" – pundit

Their futures could be far away from N17.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 6, 2024

Timo Werner's deal includes an option to buy him permanently from RB Leipzig for around £15 million, but it is rumoured this won't affect Tottenham's search for another new forward to bolster Postecoglou's ranks.

Many names have been linked with moves to north London in this respect, with Genoa star Albert Gudmundsson among Spurs' priority targets this summer, according to widespread reports.

Two players are already into double digits for goals this season at Spurs. Son Heung-min's bagged a brilliant 15 in the league alone, while Richarlison boasts 10 in what has been a rejuvenating season for the Brazilian.

However, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano is among those to have backed the club's chase for a fresh attacking outlet to provide that extra bit of cutting edge in the final third.

“Look, a player they appreciate for a long time is Raphinha from Barcelona. We know the financial situation at Barcelona is not easy, so he could be one of the names. They will look at that kind of player," said Romano to JD Football last month.

"Another player they appreciate is Pedro Neto, but he has this issue with his injuries, so I’m not sure Liverpool, Tottenham or the other clubs following the player will be prepared to play big money for Pedro Neto this summer. That kind of player is the priority for Tottenham, I see them going for that kind of winger, a quality player to help with goals and assists."

The Championship could be a fairly solid pool of talent to look at from a Spurs perspective, as it's also feasible they could depart for fairly affordable fees.

One of the league's best players, Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville, is now rumoured to be attracting attention from Tottenham.

Tottenham looking at Summerville with scouts "hugely impressed"

According to HITC, Tottenham are looking at signing Summerville after being left "hugely impressed" by his Elland Road performances this season.

The winger has bagged 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions, leading to Leeds slapping a £30 million price tag on his head. He's been described as the Championship's "best player" by Tom Cleverley, while Whites boss Daniel Farke has called him "outstanding".

"He is playing an outstanding season in terms of performances," said Farke.

"End product and also his willingness to work for the team, to be there and deliver on a daily basis even in training, otherwise you can’t deliver consistency in this league."

Team GB Olympic gold medal winner Alex Yee has merged Cole Palmer and Kylian Mbappe celebrations in an iconic finishing line pose.

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• Triathlete won gold at Paris Games
• Crossed the line first at Boston event
• Paid homage to footballing superstars

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yee claimed gold at the 2024 Games in Paris with an epic late surge that saw him sweep past triathlon rival Hayden Wilde of New Zealand. The pair have been at it again during an event in Boston, with the pair finishing first and second.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yee held his nerve to take top spot on the podium, and made a point of giving waiting photographers a memorable image as he crossed the line. When breaking the tape, the 26-year-old struck a celebratory pose.

• WHAT YEE SAID

  Some have questioned his antics, with showboating frowned upon, but Yee makes no apologies for his arms-folded pose and has posted on social media as followers ask which footballing superstar he was trying to emulate: “We live for this sport.. After the Olympics I’ve ridden a rollercoaster. Incredible highs but also some lows too.. So to be able to race these guys again was pure excitement. We race fiercely and competitively but at the end of the day we all are mates and want to put on a show for you. Thanks Boston! #mbappe or #palmer”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  World Cup winner Mbappe has taken his trademark celebration with him to Real Madrid – giving it an early run out in the Blancos’ UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta. Palmer, meanwhile, has just been named PFA Young Player of the Year and will be hoping to remain in “ice cold” form for Chelsea in 2024-25.

To succeed at the height that an ambitious manager such as Ange Postecoglou strives for, a football club needs to ensure every department is improving and united in a single goal.

Take Tottenham Hotspur's fiery London rivals: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta joined back in December 2019 and took an outfit that was lacking purpose, presence and identity, instilling his tactical vision over a number of years, ensuring recruitment was sharpened and streamlined, freeing the Emirates of the flotsam and jetsam that had marooned the club on the fringes of success.

Arsenal had, candidly, become something of a laughing stock after interminably struggling to enter the ascendency post-Arsene Wenger, but now thrive as one of the Premier League's title contenders, with a framework that seems purposed to last.

But the real locus of a top-flight club's prosperity lies in the robustness of the youth academy. Manchester City are the cream of the crop in this regard, while Chelsea's Cobham academy notoriously churns out a remarkable line of teenage talents.

Tottenham, now under Postecoglou's guidance, are starting to reap the rewards of bringing the younger generation to the fore; Harry Kane is one of the finest footballers to emerge from an English club in several generations but he is something of a rarity in the Lilywhites' case.

But his career showcases the riches that can be plundered by entrusting the younger with a platform to prove their worth.

Harry Kane's career so far

Kane posted 280 goals and 64 assists over 435 fixtures for Tottenham and left last summer as the club's record scorer. Moreover, he is England men's top scorer with 62 strikes from 89 caps.

He was widely accepted as a "world-class" striker – as has been said by the likes of Antonio Conte, and is one of the most complete attacking players currently competing.

He joined Bayern in an initial £82m deal in August 2023 after scoring 30 Premier League goals in a frankly awful Spurs side last season, deciding to depart after slumping to an eighth-placed finish. He'd given his all.

But while Kane never got his hands on silverware with Tottenham, he unquestionably established himself as a true English great, with his remarkable rate of scoring in the Premier League and leadership at the front of the Spurs team leaving all onlookers in awe – Pep Guardiola, for example, has remarked that Kane remains "one of the best strikers" he has ever seen.

Since moving to Bayern, Kane instantly hit the rich vein of form that many expected, scoring 40 goals and adding 13 assists from 41 matches in all competitions.

As per FBref, Kane ranks among the top 2% of centre-forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 12% for assists and the top 8% for progressive passes per 90, highlighting his elite quality in the final third and his ball-playing mastery.

Kane's incredible ability to drop deeper and influence plays speaks of elite-level skills that few of his position could emulate, if any to the same degree.

His start to life in Germany has been described as "astonishing" by his manager Thomas Tuchel, and while Die Roten have been subpar this season, the forward is serving as the offensive fulcrum that could yet see the struggling German giants secure the shiniest of silverware this season.

Tottenham supporters might watch on wistfully but the Spurs legend devoted many years of service to the north London side, and while his exit is still keenly felt, a new star in the form of Mikey Moore might just prove to be the latest prodigy emerging from N17.

Why Spurs must unleash Mikey Moore

Moore is only 16 years old but he possesses that natural style and confidence that suggests he is suited for a career right at the very top.

The Evening Standard recently put together a list of London's most exciting prospects and described Moore as the pick of the bunch: 'Widely considered one of the best young talents in the capital. A strong, skilful player with a powerful build who has caught the eye with his dribbling and finishing.'

The road from Wonderkid to world-class phenom is long and freight with peril, but it is doable and if Moore's development is managed right, if he is nurtured and plies his trade diligently, then there is every chance that he can carry the quality that has earned high praise at this early stage.

Postecoglou certainly seems to think so, having allowed Moore to train with the first-team after an incredible campaign, having scored 16 goals and supplied nine assists from just 14 fixtures for the U18s this season.

This return, not including a run of six goals and four assists from five matches with England U17s and U16s, has even led transfer guru Fabrizio Romano to herald the versatile teenager as a budding "superstar."

And why not? Aged just 16, Moore has completed a week's worth of training sessions with the Spurs senior squad and is creeping toward a debut.

A series of injuries this season have hindered the teenager – he was expected to cement a place in Wayne Burnett's U21 squad, top of the Premier League 2, but for a fractured leg suffered while on international duty. Still, he's overcome adversity and his prolific record bespeaks his immense powers of recovery.

There's every chance that Moore will find a place in Tottenham's pre-season plans, and should he make a good impression, a senior debut might even be less than one year away.

Police are investigating an attack on Nurnberg's Niklas-Wilson Sommer after he posted a photo of himself in a Bayern Munich shirt.

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• Sommer targeted after posing in Bayern jersey
• Police investigation underway
• Nurnberg condemn attack

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sommer, who joined Nurnberg from Waldhof Mannheim in 2023, was "physically attacked" at his home in what appears to be a reaction from Nurnberg's fans to a photo of him wearing a Bayern Munich shirt – as per . Nurnberg have condemned the attack in a statement on their website, calling the incident "absolutely incompatible with the values of FCN", and a police investigation is underway.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sommer posted the photo of him wearing a shirt of Nurnberg's fierce rivals on his Instagram account. Nurnberg supporters vented their fury with the 26-year-old at Saturday's home game against Magdeburg, with critical banners raised around the stadium. One banner said: "Club pride instead of hipster posing. Niklas Wilson, you're sh*t, like FCB," while another read: "Wilson, piss off, you Bayern pig."

  Instagram (@niklas.wilson)

• WHAT NURNBERG SAID

  Nurnberg's statement read: "During the night from Saturday to Sunday, there was a physical attack on one of our U23 players. By lying in wait on the doorstep in the early evening and then physically attacking him a few hours later in the night, these people crossed all boundaries. The act is apparently a reaction to the player appearing in a Bayern jersey on social media three days earlier. The photo was deleted shortly after publication and the player also publicly apologised.

  "The club will never accept players being physically attacked. That is exactly what happened last night through the actions of individuals. The club condemns this behavior in the strongest possible terms. It is absolutely incompatible with the values of FCN. The police investigation into the incident began last night. If there are any convictions in this connection, the club will of course react accordingly."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sommer is also an influencer with over 1 million followers on Instagram. He linked up with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Arda Guler and David Alaba during a recent trip to Real Madrid.

Wrexham have signed striker Mo Faal from West Bromwich Albion, in a deal that provides support to Paul Mullin.

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• Wrexham announce Faal deal
• 21-year-old signs three-year deal
• Will compete with Mullin

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham confirmed the signing of Faal from West Brom on transfer deadline day. The 21-year-old has signed a three-year contract in Wales, and will provide support to first-choice Paul Mullin in Phil Parkinson's squad.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Faal has made three first-team appearances for Wrexham but has accumulated plenty of experience on loan. He has played for Hereford, Telford United, AFC Fylde, Doncaster Rovers and Walsall while on the books at West Brom, but has now completed a permanent move away from the Hawthorns. He has scored 27 senior goals throughout his career, and becomes Wrexham's eighth signing of the summer.

• WHAT FAAL SAID

  Faal told Wrexham's website: “I have had a smile on my face since I've been here. I’m excited and thoroughly buzzing to be here – I can’t wait to get started. I think everyone in the football world now knows just how big of a Club this is, and where it wants to be.

  “Ever since I heard about the project that has been going on here, it has been on an upwards trajectory. Over the last couple of years it has been a club that has really come through and since hearing about all of that and speaking to the gaffer, it made my decision very simple. 

  “I scored my first professional goal here, and when I came here it was an unbelievable place to play at. The fans are incredible, every single seat was filled. The atmosphere was rumbling and the stadium was absolutely buzzing – to finally be a part of that, It’s unbelievable.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Faal could be given his Wrexham debut this weekend when Phil Parkinson's side take on Peterborough in League One. They have won two and drawn one of their opening three games this season.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has now personally identified a £51 million forward as a perfect fit for his Spurs system, according to reports.

Spurs looking to strengthen with new attacking signings

Regardless of whether they trigger the £15 million buy-option in Timo Werner's loan deal from RB Leipzig, there is a real belief that the north Londoners will look to bolster Postecoglou's ranks with fresh attacking signings.

Tottenham targeting £45m striker for Ange after Levy sets aside big funds

Spurs want Harry Kane’s replacement in the summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 17, 2024

Werner has performed very well overall since making the temporary move back to England, but there are some doubts over his ability to contribute effectively enough in the final third.

Pundit Jay Bothroyd even, perhaps harshly claimed that the 28-year-old is one of the "worst players" in the Premier League on a technical level.

“I can’t help, but I have to be critical of Timo Werner," said Bothroyd to Optus Sport.

"I’m sorry, he misses so many good chances. And those chances that he missed, they can change games. Technically, he’s one of the worst players in the Premier League. I’m going to say that, because I honestly believe that.

"He doesn’t cross the ball well, he hits it as hard as he can across the face of the goal all the time. He never picks anybody out. His finishing’s poor. His passing’s poor.

“And yes, you can say that he’s effective. But then I’m saying, okay, he’s an athlete. In this day and age, I look at him and I say he’s effective because of his athleticism. As he gets older and he loses that athleticism, how effective is he going to be then?”

To strengthen their forward line, it is believed Tottenham are targeting the likes of Pedro Neto, Eberechi Eze and Raphinha as few of the many options across Europe's who've been shortlisted by technical director Johan Lange and the recruitment team.

Another interesting option they're now believed to be keen on is RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo.

The Spaniard, who can play anywhere across the forward line and centrally, would plug a lot of gaps in Postecoglou's squad simultaneously – making him an attractive option with an "affordable" release clause of around £51 million.

Ange identifies Olmo as perfect for Tottenham system

According to GiveMeSport, Spurs boss Postecoglou has identified Olmo as a player who would fit "seamlessly" into his system.

The Australian has been conducting checks on potential summer targets, and he's apparently a big fan of the 25-year-old who's scored four goals and assisted five others in 18 Bundesliga matches this season.

"The Bundesliga has a higher pace than the Croatian league, so it takes some time to adjust physically. But he was extremely hard-working, won the ball a lot of times and defended very robustly," said former Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann on Olmo in 2020.

"He has exceptional abilities and is very safe with the ball. When he gets put under pressure, he knows how to provoke a foul."

West Ham United picked up a well-deserved point against Liverpool in the Premier League to stem a run of losses that have sparked a frenzy of speculation surrounding the future of David Moyes', who is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Moyes' reign may well be drawing to a conclusion but the 61-year-old will have been delighted with the zest and zeal of his team's performance, lingering just outside the top seven with three matches left to play.

This result will need to be used as a launchpad for a late-stage purple patch but with Jarrod Bowen fit and firing in the English top-flight, anything is possible.

Jarrod Bowen's performance vs Liverpool

Bowen had missed recent Premier League defeats against Fulham and Crystal Palace but he made his presence known on his return from injury today, popping up with key contributions in both of his outfit's strikes.

Bowen produced yet another talismanic display for his side against Jurgen Klopp's struggling side and will be the main asset in the late-season fight for a European-qualifying spot.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Bowen's performance is that he completed only five passes despite playing the full 90 minutes.

Still, a goal and an assist apiece is hardly a bad day's work, taking his seasonal tally to 20 goals and ten assists in all competitions.

His Midas touch in the key moments proved his worth yet again and spared the blushes of a few of his teammates, with Edson Alvarez struggling to perform and looking very much out of sorts.

Edson Alvarez's game in numbers vs Liverpool

Alvarez, largely, has been a tremendous addition to the West Ham team this season following his £35m signing from Ajax last summer, effectively replacing Arsenal-bound Declan Rice, praised for being West Ham's "best summer signing" by The Athletic's Roshane Thomas.

In the Premier League, the Mexico international has featured 29 times, scoring one goal and supplying one assist, also playing a key part in Moyes' side's Europa League campaign.

And while, against Liverpool, Alvarez, completed 83% of his touches, made five tackles and won eight of 14 contested duels, as per Sofascore, he also committed two fouls, lost the ball 11 times and was dribbled past in the centre of the park.

Failing to take control, The Evening Standard's Malik Ouzia branded Alvarez with a 5/10 match rating, writing: 'By no means his best display since signing for West Ham in the summer. The Mexican looked off the pace.'

Given Alvarez's recent struggles in damaging recent defeats, Moyes might be tempted to rest the player for next weekend's fixture against Chelsea in the Premier League, perhaps giving Kalvin Phillips another chance to prove himself during his loan stint in east London.

Ings could soon be sent packing if West Ham unleash “insane” teen star

Perhaps it’s time for the Hammers to ditch the veteran talisman, whose goalscoring peak is behind him.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 23, 2024

Alvarez certainly has a prominent future at West Ham but he's not undroppable and he needs to pick himself back up after a recent decline in form.

Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Kylian Mbappe has been accused of “trying to copy” Neymar, with the Frenchman adding too many flicks and tricks to his game.

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• World Cup winner left PSG in summer of 2024
• Spent six years alongside Brazil star in Paris
• Accused of adding too many tricks to his game

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The World Cup winner has always been fleet footed, with pace the biggest weapon in his attacking arsenal. Speed over the ground has allowed Mbappe to terrorise opposition defences, becoming Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading goalscorer.

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  He is now the latest superstar to have joined the ranks at Santiago Bernabeu, with Real Madrid snapping him up as a free agent. Mbappe went three games without a goal for the Blancos at the start of the Liga season, having struggled to sparkle at Euro 2024, and is considered to be trying too hard to emulate the trickery of former PSG team-mate Neymar.

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  WHAT DIAZ SAID

  Former frontman Kevin Diaz has told of changes in Mbappe’s game that are doing him few favours: “When he’s on the ball, he tries some really challenging moves. Ever since he played with Neymar, it seems like he’s been trying to copy him with complex techniques. Sure, Kylian Mbappe has great technical skills, but when you’re not feeling confident, it’s like Thierry Henry says: just stick to what you know and do it well.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Mbappe did open his Liga account for Real in a 2-0 win over Real Betis, but drew another blank as France opened their latest Nations League campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Italy. He is now working alongside Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in Madrid as they look to form a fearsome attacking unit.

The veteran striker is in form in the Premier League yet no one seems to be talking about him for Mexico … why?

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Raul Jimenez has played more than 100 matches for the Mexico national team, scoring numerous crucial goals for El Tri. So why does it seem like he has been overlooked by manager Javier Aguirre, the national team directors, and even the passionate fan base?

Here's the case for Jimenez.

• Back to his best?

  In the last two weeks, Jimenez has provided an emphatic reminder of what he can do when he's healthy and confident.

  The 33-year-old started a mini-hot streak for Fulham, scoring a well-executed goal against Newcastle United, in which he sprayed a pass to winger Adama Traore and then got into the box to receive a cross from his teammate. Jimenez chested down Traore’s cross, turned, and fired in the opening goal of the Cottagers’ 3-1 win on Sept. 21. That followed a performance in which he had shown his quick feet and finished off the club’s only goal in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Sept. 14.

  When Jimenez is at his best, he can lead the line, combine with other attacking players, and, most importantly score.

  Mexico doesn’t have anyone like Jimenez in its player pool. The question of where the next great Mexican forward comes from has been kicking around since Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, the country’s all-time leading scorer, and Jimenez both started struggling with injuries. Chicharito is still battling injuries, missing this weekend’s trip to Cruz Azul with current club Chivas.

  But Jimenez is starting each week for a Premier League side. Out of Aguirre’s options, that’s something only West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez and Bournemouth fullback Julian Araujo can say.

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  Jimenez's experience vs. Gimenez's potential

  Even if Jimenez were having trouble finding the back of the net, the fact he is playing regularly in arguably the world's top soccer is reason enough to bring him back into the national team squad. Just eight of the 26 players Aguirre called in for September’s friendly matches play for clubs outside of Mexico. Just three play in Europe’s top five leagues and none of that trio is an attacker.

  The fate of Mexico’s front line has been left to Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez. The former Cruz Azul product is a bright prospect, but El Tri fans are still waiting for the moment when Santi takes over in a national team shirt. It has been over a year since his last Mexico goal, and overall he has just four goals in 32 international matches. That sits in sharp contrast to the 23 goals in 30 games he scored for his club in the 2023-24 Eredivisie season.

  Gimenez also left Feyenoord’s match Sunday with a foot injury. No timetable has been announced for his return, but already it should be clear that Mexico’s plan can’t solely rely on what Gimenez can potentially bring to Eli Tri.

  There’s no guarantee Jimenez would be able to replicate his Fulham form with Mexico either, and certainly no guarantee this good moment will last for Jimenez. No one knows that better than he does.

• AFP
  

  Overcoming tragedy

  In late November 2020, while playing with Wolves, Jimenez fractured his skull in a clash with Arsenal's David Luiz. A year after the incident, Wolves released a documentary called “Code Red” which outlines the story of how Jimenez was lucky to be alive, much less playing soccer again.

  Before the injury, Jimenez was in the midst of a breakout spell with Wolves – scoring 27 goals in all competitions during the 2019-20 season. It was understandable that he wasn’t the same player as he worked back from that frightening moment. He scored six goals in 2021-22, remarkable given the circumstances but far from where he was at previously.

  A move to Fulham last season looked to help him find rhythm again with seven goals in 24 league appearances. Yet, a thigh issue kept him out of the Concacaf Nations League Final Four contests, and after being left off the Copa América roster by Jaime Lozano and the September list by Aguirre, Jimenez is yet to appear for Mexico in 2024.

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  Required addition

  Jimenez's lack of appearances for needs to change in October when Mexico faces Valencia and the United States in a pair of exhibition matches. His inclusion is also crucial for November when Mexico competes in two Nations League quarterfinals with a spot in the Final Four at stake.

  Jimenez will be 36 by the time the 2026 World Cup kicks off but could still be in the Premier League at that time. The contract he signed with Fulham in 2023 is through the summer of 2025 with a club option to extend the deal, one they surely would pick up if he can keep his place in the XI.

  Mexico would do well to remember it has a veteran scorer in a top league who may be their best forward option in the present and the future.