England boss Sarina Wiegman admits she has a "headache" when it comes to her defensive options ahead of this week's friendly against Germany.
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The 2022 World Cup captain gets his first start in months, showing Andoni Iraola's faith in the midfielder
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Aston Villa have successfully circumvented breaking Premier League profit and sustainability (PSR) rules and now look set to to bolster their Champions League-qualified squad.
Of course, Unai Emery and Monchi haven't exactly been shiftless over these recent weeks, with moves made to sign Ross Barkley and Chelsea's Ian Maatsen. Moreover, the regrettable sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus, to counter PSR, included the signing of Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior in the opposite direction.
Villa will look to send some deadweight packing this summer and this could include either or both left-backs Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno, but Maatsen would need some support and an experienced head has been lined up.
According to Spanish sources, Aston Villa are set to tussle with Manchester United for the signing of Reinildo Mandava, who has one year remaining on his contract with Atletico Madrid.
The versatile defender, aged 30, has displayed remarkable powers of recovery to return from an ACL injury suffered at the start of 2023, playing a starring role in Diego Simeone's side's exploits over the past several months.
The Mozambique international could be available for just £8m, with his robust style of play making him the perfect player to add depth and dynamism to the Villa Park backline.
The Athletic's David Ornstein might have allayed fears of a points deduction or detrimental restrictions on spending after the shrewd business of recent weeks, but Villa are certainly not out of the woods.
Digne, for example, is being considered for a transfer away, one of the club's highest earners and probably going to be replaced as the No. 1 left-back by Maatsen.
|
Aston Villa: Highest Earners 2024/25 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Salary |
|
1. |
Boubacar Kamara |
£150k-per-week |
|
1. |
Youri Tielemans |
£150k-per-week |
|
3. |
Ollie Watkins |
£130k-per-week |
|
3. |
Moussa Diaby |
£130k-per-week |
|
5. |
Lucas Digne |
£120k-per-week |
|
5. |
Leon Bailey |
£120k-per-week |
|
5. |
John McGinn |
£120k-per-week |
|
5. |
Emi Martinez |
£120k-per-week |
|
Wages via Capology |
||
Reinildo, despite missing the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, indeed impressed with his athleticism and sharp defensive involvements, ranking among the top 9% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for tackles and successful take-ons and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.
Furthermore, the 30-year-old won 66% of his ground duels in La Liga last term. Digne, in comparison, won only 53% of his contested ground duels.
Reinildo is a true "gladiator" – as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig – and would offer the kind of dynamic alternative to a player like Maatsen, whose tactical flexibility and high-level technical quality marks him as the first choice, though he too is perhaps not quite so formidable in the tackle, winning only 50% of his ground duels last season while on loan from Chelsea at Borussia Dortmund.
Having showcased himself to be a dynamic and capable defender with impressive creativity and a combative sheen, Reinildo would be an absolute bargain at £8m, and given Digne's exorbitant wage and stuttering form, it might be wise to ship the Frenchman on.
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Pep Guardiola was filmed furiously ranting in the Manchester City dressing room in a teaser for the club's upcoming documentary.
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Glasgow Rangers once again failed in their pursuit to bring the title back to Ibrox last season as they watched their local rivals lift the trophy for the third year running.
Rangers must now plot a way to regain control of the division in the 2024/25 campaign, to win the title for the first time since Steven Gerrard moved on from the club.
Philippe Clement and head of recruitment Nils Koppen appear to have placed an emphasis on making the squad younger in order to compete for trophies moving forward.
Of Rangers' seven summer signings so far this window, only one player – back-up goalkeeper Liam Kelly – is over the age of 22. Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Jefte, Clinton Nsiala, Hamza Igamane, and Connor Barron have all been brought in to bolster the ranks and lower the age profile at Ibrox.
Meanwhile, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, and Ryan Jack, who are all in their 30s, were released at the end of May.
There is still plenty of time left for further changes in the summer transfer window and Rangers are reportedly looking at another young talent to add to the group.
According to Football Scotland, Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller has emerged as a target for the Scottish giants ahead of next season.
The report claims that the Light Blues are interested in a deal to sign the teenage starlet after his breakthrough year at senior level during the 2023/24 campaign.
It states that the Scottish Premiership side sent scouts out to watch the 17-year-old dynamo in the flesh against Livingston in a 2-1 win for his side during pre-season earlier this month.
Football Scotland adds that he is still contracted to Motherwell until the summer of 2026, which means that they are in no rush to cash in on their star midfielder.
It, therefore, remains to be seen how much the Premiership outfit would demand for his services, or whether or not the Gers are prepared to make an official approach for his signature.
In the 2023/24 campaign, all of Rangers' top five players in the league for minutes played were aged 29 or older and John Souttar, who ranked sixth, was the only Scottish player in the top 18.
Clement and Koppen now appear to be targeting young Scottish talent to be the future of the Rangers team and, with this in mind, Barron and Miller could be a dream pairing for supporters to look forward to seeing.
The central midfielder's contract with Aberdeen expired at the end of May and the Scottish giants took advantage of that opportunity to bring him to Glasgow.
Koppen stated that it is "important" that young Scottish players play a "big part" moving forward at the time of Barron's arrival, and described him as a "real asset".
At the age of 21, the Scotland U21 international is a player who combines the potential to improve with the quality to also make an immediate impact on the pitch.
He arrives as a long-term project for Clement to work with over the years to come but his performances in the Premiership for Aberdeen show that the talented gem can also slot into the first-team straight away.
Barron made 29 appearances in the Scottish top-flight last term and his displays in the middle of the park suggest that the potential is there for him to be an excellent replacement for Lundstram.
|
23/24 Premiership |
Connor Barron |
John Lundstram |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
29 |
34 |
|
Assists |
3 |
5 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
2.6 |
2.5 |
|
Dribbled past per game |
0.8 |
1.0 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
53% |
49% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
68% |
55% |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, the then-Dons star made more tackles and interceptions to win possession back whilst being dribbled past fewer times per game than the Englishman.
He also won a higher percentage of his duels both on the deck and in the air, which suggests that Barron could offer more than the new Trabzonspor signing out of possession.
Gers supporters can, therefore, look forward to seeing a tenacious and energetic defensive battler in the middle of the park next season, and he could play alongside another young Scottish star in Miller.
Firstly, the Scotland U21 international is another young talent who would come in with the potential to grow and develop over the years to come.
He only turns 18 in August and this shows that the Motherwell star has plenty of time left on his hands to improve with more experience at first-team level, which shows that the Gers would sign him as a long-term project.
However, such was the case with Barron at Aberdeen, Miller's performances on the pitch in the Premiership last term indicate that he could come in and make an immediate impact for Clement next season.
As you can see in the clip above, the teenage sensation has already showcased his talent against Celtic with a stunning assist against the Hoops back in February.
Miller also proved his defensive quality against Rangers by winning an impressive ten of his 12 duels to make three tackles and three interceptions in a 2-1 win for his side at Ibrox in February.
|
23/24 Premiership |
Lennon Miller |
John Lundstram |
Ryan Jack |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
25 |
34 |
11 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
2.8 |
2.5 |
0.2 |
|
Dribbled past per game |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.1 |
|
Duels won per game |
5.8 |
3.9 |
0.5 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
68% |
49% |
60% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
70% |
55% |
0% |
As you can see in the table above, he offered far more to his team out of possession than Lundstram and Jack, who were both released this summer, did for the Gers.
Miller, who was described as a "midfield machine" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a brute in the middle of the park who can win the majority of his duels to break up play, despite his age and inexperience.
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This suggests that he could form a monstrous partnership with Barron in midfield as the young duo could completely dominate opposition midfields with their physicality and defensive prowess, which would then allow the likes of Todd Cantwell and Mohammed Diomande to push forward to make an impact at the top end of the pitch.
A "versatile" European champion is refusing to rule out the prospect of a move to Liverpool this summer, according to a new transfer update.
The hope is that a number of shiny new signings arrive at Anfield in the current transfer window, giving Arne Slot the best possible opportunity of hitting the ground running. The Reds have been linked with an audacious move for Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but they have been shot down in the attempts to snap him up.
Liverpool are also believed to be pursuing a move for Spain and Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, who has been one of the standout attacking players at Euro 2024 this summer. The 22-year-old could be viewed as someone who could provide stiff competition for the likes of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo out wide.
One position where Slot's squad is arguably lacking is defensive midfield, with Wataru Endo the only out-and-out natural in the role, but not a player who is considered either a key starter or a long-term option. Benfica star Joao Neves is seen as an exciting target there, with the Portuguese already playing with a maturity well beyond his years.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin is seen as an ideal replacement for Alisson this summer, should the Brazilian move to the Saudi Pro League, but it would be a shock if that happened.
According to Give Me Sport, Atalanta midfielder Ederson could be a target Liverpool this summer, with the Reds "actively looking for a fresh presence in the middle of the park following Thiago Alcantara's exit".
It is claimed that sporting director Richard Hughes "could take advantage of his contacts" in Italy in order to sign the 25-year-old, and for his part the player is "open-minded" about moving to Anfield before the new season begins.
Ederson could be exactly what Liverpool are after in the No.6 role this summer, with the £45m-rated ace performing superbly for Atalanta, helping them win the Europa League last season.
Not only did he average 2.3 tackles per game across 36 appearances in Serie A, but he also scored six goals, showing that he is more than simply a sitting midfielder who doesn't offer much in an attacking sense. He has also been lauded by South American football journalist Tim Vickery in the recent past
"24-years-old, strong, well-built central midfielder. Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well. The first time I remember him was his professional debut really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues."
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It may be that Slot feels he has enough midfield depth already, but the importance of having an elite No.6 cannot be stressed enough, and Ederson could give Liverpool that extra bit of balance in the middle of the park.
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According to reports, West Ham United have now made a "verbal bid" to sign a new midfield reinforcement for Julen Lopetegui who could cost a hefty £4.8m-a-year.
The Hammers have enjoyed a solid summer transfer window so far, welcoming Luis Guilherme, Max Kilman, and Wes Foderingham as they look to hand new boss Lopetegui the ultimate start to life at the London Stadium. Kilman particularly stole the headlines upon his arrival, given that West Ham reportedly paid out as much as £40m.
The 27-year-old expressed his delight at joining the London club, telling West Ham's official website: “It’s an amazing feeling to be a West Ham United player. As soon as I was aware of the interest from the Club, it was an opportunity I was keen to pursue, so I couldn’t be more delighted to be here.
“I really enjoyed working with Julen during his time at Wolves – he’s a top-class coach and someone I learned a lot from, and I am confident I will continue to improve as a player under his management here.”
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The Hammers aren't stopping there, however, having already opened talks over their next potential move. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, West Ham have made a "verbal bid" to sign N'Golo Kante worth £15m, but have seen that offer rejected by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. The Frenchman is reportedly happy at the Saudi club, though he proved in abundance at Euro 2024 that he's still more than capable of playing at the very top.
If there were any doubts over Kante's ability to still perform on the biggest stage then his displays at the Euros should have put those concerns to bed for good. Even at 33 years of age, the midfielder remains the impossibly athletic ball-winner who could be the perfect partner for James Ward-Prowse at the heart of Lopetegui's midfield.
Thomas Tuchel is one of many in European football to have praised Kante so highly, previously saying via Sky Sports: "I see this every day in training and it's hard to believe how good he is. Don't make the mistake of reducing him to ball-wins. He plays excellent in every possession game we have in training.
"He's a unique guy. We were strong in midfield with him, Jorgi [Jorginho], and Kova [Mateo Kovacic] in the second half. N'Golo is N'Golo, he's fantastic."
That said, if West Ham are to continue their pursuit of the World Cup winner then they will need to find a way past his current reported wage of £404k-a-week at Al-Ittihad, which sees him earn £4.8m-a-year.
After some miscommunication with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Carter-Vickers accidentally put the ball in his own net.
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GOAL reviews key takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Pulisic's calf injury, more PSV scoring
The holidays are nearly upon us, and this weekend was a reminder for Americans Abroad that sometimes the soccer universse can be just as naughty as nice.
There was plenty of nice to go around in Eindhoven, for example, where PSV's Americans went wild in a big win. Everyone involved there continues to thrive and, as we continue on through the final few weeks of 2024, there's no sign of that coming to an end. PSV are cruising through the Eredivisie, scoring goal after goal with their Americans leading the charge.
As for the naughty, though, look no further than Milan. There was a big scare there as Christian Pulisic limped off early on against Atalanta, bringing back those pesky old concerns about his fitness. That injury will keep him out for the remainder of 2024 – so let it serve as a reminder of the risks that come with being a team's No. 1 superstar.
Games will becoming thick and fast now, which is usually a blessing and a curse. The final weeks of 2024 are upon us, and they promise to be pretty chaotic. GOAL looks at key takeaways from Americans Abroad this weekend.