Landon Donovan offered a positive assessment of the United States men’s national team following its 2-1 win over Paraguay during the November 2025 friendlies, noting signs that the squad is beginning to form a clearer identity as it continues preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil. He commended the team’s continued progress under the current coaching staff, led by Mauricio Pochettino.
Getty Images SportGrowing cohesion and style
Donovan highlighted how each match has shown increased confidence and tactical clarity, noting that despite frequent lineup rotation, players are embracing clearly defined roles that contribute to a more recognizable on-field identity.
“Another excellent performance by the men’s national team,” Donovan said on social media. “Seems like the team is getting better and better, growing in confidence. The roles are clear, even though the players are changing a decent amount, but the roles are clear, and you’re starting to see a clear identity."
AdvertisementPochettino’s imprint taking shape
Donovan also highlighted how the squad’s mentality has evolved under Pochettino. He noted that with questions of attitude and commitment no longer overshadowing performances, the team is now showcasing a clearer tactical identity that reflects Pochettino’s style.
“Now that the fight piece, the pride to play for your national team is no longer a conversation, you’re actually starting to see this team play in a more distinct way that is very Pochettino,” Donovan explained.
Donovan pointed to Giovanni Reyna’s performance as a major positive, noting the midfielder’s first goal and assist for the national team since March 2024. He said Reyna’s 70-plus minutes – highlighted by sharper decision-making and increased confidence – reflect the level the team needs from him.
“That’s the Gio we need, that’s the Gio we want, and why he is so valuable to this team. So hopefully this is a stepping stone for Gio, hopefully he can do it again on Tuesday," Donovan said.
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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for the USMNT after the win
The USMNT will now face Uruguay in their final game of the 2025 international window on Nov. 18.
Manchester United have confirmed head coach Ruben Amorim is remarkably related to one of his players after Portuguese ancestral site Geneall claimed the pair share the same great-great-grandfather. The Red Devils boss's relative was born in France before moving to and settling in Portugal as a circus artist, where they continued to perform alongside raising a family.
Amorim's relative revealed
As per , Amorim's distant relative is none other than defender Diogo Dalot, who has been a regular starter at United since the former Sporting boss took over. They are both great-great-grandsons of Carlos Dallot, who was born in France and toured Europe as a performer with his siblings Jose and Julia.
Dalot has previously confirmed that his family has French origins, and that the circus performers permanently relocated to the Portuguese city of his birth, Braga.
The 26-year-old is now able to call his manager part of the family away from their working relationship. Dalot has started 39 times in Amorim's 54 matches in charge of United, including the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. However, the Portuguese international was the first man taken off after Forest went into a 2-1 lead early in the second half.
Amorim said of that decision: "If you see Dalot, many times Dalot has the ball with space to make the cross, but he’s a right footer, he’s always inside without space. The only [alternative] is Patrick (Dorgu), you are going to do the same thing. When you have the ball, go to the side and cross, the space is there. Because if you want to come inside [Matheus] Cunha is always there to receive the ball."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportDalot key to Man Utd's resurgence
United have been enjoying an upturn in form under Amorim after a tricky start to the season, but Dalot has been an ever-reliable servant for his manager as he continues to embed his philosophy and system at Old Trafford. So far this term, the defender has played as a right and left wing-back, as well as part of the three. In 2025-26, Dalot has made eight Premier League appearances and is now up to 219 in total for the Red Devils. He cost the club £18 million ($23m) from Porto in 2018.
Amorim's biggest believer
At the height of a dark period for Amorim that came with a lot of scrutiny, Dalot was one of the few who stood up for his manager. In the troubles of last term, with United scrambling to avoid being pulled into a relegation scrap and fighting to win the Europa League, the defender claimed that if he is given time, Amorim can lead the club to the Premier League title, a feat not achieved since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge in 2013. Speaking in an interview, Dalot said: "If you want me to be completely honest, with this manager, I think we can win a Premier League. I think realistically we can win. But then it becomes the most difficult thing to hear as a fan: that it will take time. I understand. I'm a player but, at the same time, I know what you feel. I know that this club is thirsty to win and everybody wants to win. We're not talking about cups – I know that is important, to win trophies – but what brought this club to what it is is big trophies.
"I think we can win a Premier League with this manager, but at the same time, we need to create an environment where he has everything set for what he wants from the players. We need to also adapt to the system. It will take some time. Obviously we cannot think too much ahead, but I'm really convinced that the way he conducts himself, the way that he communicates with players, the idea that he has… we can do it. Now it becomes the most difficult part, but being really honest and positive about it, I think we can win big trophies with this manager."
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Getty Images SportA long road ahead
The Red Devils still look a way off being able to compete with the likes of Arsenal and rivals Man City for the title. But there has definitely been improvement at United, which has coincided with the summer arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Next up for the Manchester club is a trip to Tottenham on Saturday, a match Amorim will be keen to win after suffering humiliation in the Europa League final last season at the hands of their Premier League rivals.
Tottenham Hotspur are now in talks to sign a “world-class” £43m star, who is ready to fly into London to complete a move.
Spurs looking to sign forward before 7pm deadline
As we enter the final hours of the summer transfer window, Tottenham remain keen on signing a new forward, having failed to bring in a like-for-like replacement for Son Heung-min, with Manchester City’s Savinho remaining at the Etihad Stadium.
Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani, who can play at both centre-forward and on the wing, has now emerged as an option for Thomas Frank’s side.
However, Spurs are also ramping up their interest in a different forward of a similar mould, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they have now entered talks over a deal for wantaway Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.
The Italian club are looking to receive £43m for Lookman, and they could be willing to accept an initial loan deal, which would include an obligation to buy, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey adding: “Lookman has emerged as an option for Tottenham, not dissimilar to their Xavi Simons deal. They were in the right place at the right time.
“I am told Lookman is keen, Tottenham are keen, and this has a chance ahead of Monday’s 7pm deadline.”
Atalanta's AdemolaLookmanin action
Promisingly, with the Atalanta forward keen on a move to N17, he is now ready to fly to London to complete the deal.
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ByDominic Lund Sep 1, 2025 "World-class" Lookman would be exciting signing for Spurs
Much like Kolo-Muani, the Nigeria international is able to play at both striker and on the wing, making him a versatile option for Frank, and the 27-year-old has maintained a fantastic record in front of goal during his time with Atalanta.
Season
Serie A appearances
Goal contributions
2022-23
31
21
2023-24
31
19
2024-25
31
20
Not only has the London-born forward impressed in the Serie A, but he memorably caught the eye in the 2024 Europa League final, scoring a hat-trick to secure a 3-0 victory for his side over a Bayer Leverkusen side that won the Bundesliga undefeated.
Courtesy of the hat-trick against the at-the-time German champions, the Atalanta star scooped up a prestigious award and received very high praise from the BBC’s John Bennett.
Lookman would clearly be a top-quality addition to Tottenham’s squad, and a £43m fee seems reasonable, given the level of his performances in the Serie A and Europa League.
Half-century for James Vince keeps Hampshire interested but asking rate proves too steep
ECB Reporters Network19-Jun-2025Lewis Gregory clubbed a brutal half-century as Somerset defeated Hampshire Hawks by 17 runs at the Cooper Associates Ground to return to winning ways and move clear of Surrey at the top of the Vitality Blast South Group table.Will Smeed smashed 68 from 37 balls with nine fours and three sixes and dominated stands of 59 and 46 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell for the second and third wickets respectively after Somerset had been put in beneath the Taunton floodlights. But the home side lost their way during the middle overs and were indebted to skipper Gregory, who clubbed a much-needed 55 from 27 balls with four fours and four sixes and staged a record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership of 82 with Lewis Goldsworthy to propel the cider county to 209 for 6. Veteran allrounder Benny Howell claimed 2 for 12 and Liam Dawson 1 for 29 as the Hawks struggled to contain the South Group leaders.James Vince raised a 30-ball 54 and South Africa batter Dewald Brevis crashed 36 from 16 deliveries, but Ben Green took 3 for 40 as Somerset took wickets at key moments to restrict Hawks to 192 for 7 and secure a sixth victory in seven outings in the short format this season.Put into bat, Somerset made a subdued start by their own high standards, Tom Banton falling cheaply to a tremendous catch on the run by Joe Weatherley at deep square leg off the bowling of Eddie Jack. Kohler-Cadmore encountered no such problems, taking 14 runs off the third over, bowled by James Fuller, as the home side reasserted themselves.Smeed was equally expansive, plundering three boundaries in one Jack over, while Kohler-Cadmore emulated that feat at the expense of Fuller in the next as the second wicket pair fashioned a half-century partnership from just 23 balls in advancing the score to 68 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Hampshire’s seamers held their nerve and Fuller provided relief, bowling Kohler-Cadmore for a 15-ball 29 in the seventh with the score 70 for 2. Kohler-Cadmore accrued a quartet of fours and a six, only to depart before he could inflict real damage. In his absence, Smeed picked up the cudgels, hoisting Fuller over midwicket for six and then straight-hitting the next ball for four to post 50 from 27 balls.Dawson’s nagging accuracy notwithstanding, Somerset initially managed to maintain momentum during the crucial middle overs, Abell adopting the role of chief support to Smeed, who continued to trade in boundaries and put bowlers and fielders alike under pressure. He eventually succumbed, hitting Jack straight down the throat of Scott Currie at long-on as Somerset slipped to 116 for 3 in the 11th.When Abell played across the line to Howell’s first delivery and was bowled via an inside edge, the home side were 116 for 4 and Hampshire fancied they were right back in the contest, an impression that was confirmed in the 13th, Sean Dickson playing back to Dawson and watching the ball clatter into his stumps.Green came and went quickly, holing out to long-on to provide the wily Howell with a second wicket as the flow of boundaries temporarily dried up and Somerset further subsided to 127 for 6 in the 14th. Gregory then took matters into his own hands, harvesting 25 off one Wood over as the seventh-wicket alliance realised 50 in just 25 balls. Unleashing a barrage of sixes, Somerset’s captain tucked into the seamers on his way to a high-octane 25-ball half-century. His partnership with Goldsworthy, who finished unbeaten on 29 from 16 balls, was a Somerset record for the seventh wicket in T20 cricket, eclipsing the 67 made by Omari Banks and Ben Phillips at Northampton in 2008.Living up to their formidable reputation, Hampshire openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Vince afforded the reply a super-charged start, posting 50 in 5.2 overs to force Somerset’s seamers onto the back foot. Pugilistic in his approach, Pretorius struck four fours and a brace of sixes as the partnership advanced to 74 inside nine overs.Somerset needed a wicket and the ever-dependable Green obliged, luring Pretorius into front-foot indiscretion and having the South African held in the deep for 37. With the asking rate rising above 12 for the first time, Vince and new batter Toby Albert looked to attack Goldsworthy. But the spinner defied their best attempts as the home side worked hard to restrict the supply of boundaries during the middle overs.Goldsworthy struck a telling blow in the 12th, inducing Albert to hit high to long-off with the score 95 for 2 as the rate continued to climb. While Vince remained at large, Hampshire were in with a chance, and the England batter hoisted Green high over midwicket for six to raise 50 from 29 balls. He was out next ball, caught on the long-on boundary as Green further reduced the visitors to 107 for 3.South African dangerman Brevis and Weatherley opened their shoulders in a bid to put the chase back on track, but Somerset’s bowlers remained disciplined in their lengths and the latter was run out by Riley Meredith for 15 with 75 still needed from five overs.Fuller attempted to match Brevis blow-for-blow, only to be undone by a Meredith yorker and fall for 11. Having struck four sixes and a four, Brevis then attempted to drive Green down the ground and skied a catch to Gregory at mid-off to signal the end of Hampshire’s prospects in the 18th..
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has opened up about his bold financial vision for the Rossoneri, revealing how he plans to make the club competitive with Premier League giants. The RedBird Capital founder has set an ambitious goal of transforming Serie A’s global standing as he insisted the Italian top-flight is "the most competitive league".
Cardinale’s bold Milan vision: competing with England’s elite
Milan's American owner Cardinale has laid bare his grand ambition to elevate the Rossoneri to the financial level of Premier League clubs. In a candid interview on podcast, the American investor described managing Milan as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done” but confirmed that the project is beginning to yield results.
Since acquiring the club in 2022 through RedBird Capital & Partners, Cardinale has pushed for a model of reinvestment and sustainability rather than profit-making. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “In three years of owning Milan, we’ve been positive in terms of cash flow for the first time in 17 years. And I don’t keep that money for myself, I reinvest it in the team.”
The owner also pointed to Milan’s strong summer transfer window as proof of his commitment. “We spent more than any other Serie A team in the last summer transfer window. We are building a new stadium, not to pocket money, but to transform Milan’s financial profile and bring it up to the level of Premier League teams.”
Cardinale’s message was clear that Milan are not content with being Italy’s biggest traditional powerhouse; they want to be a global economic force capable of competing with the cash-rich English league.
AdvertisementFinancial transformation and the new stadium project
Cardinale underlined that Milan’s ongoing stadium project is central to his long-term financial plan. The proposed new venue will replace the historic but aging San Siro, which Milan currently share with Inter. The move is expected to drastically increase matchday revenue, corporate partnerships, and global visibility.
“The new stadium will transform AC Milan's financial profile and bring it to the level of Premier League clubs,” he said. “Because for us, the real competition is there, in the English league.”
Cardinale’s focus on self-sufficiency echoes his earlier remarks about wanting to innovate like the late Silvio Berlusconi once did. “My PR has gone crazy, but I meant to say that I want to innovate, like he did and like [George] Steinbrenner did with the New York Yankees in their day. But today you can't do it the same way, everything is too expensive, there are billion-dollar funds. We need to find another way.”
The American executive’s approach marks a major cultural shift for Serie A, where clubs often rely on owner funding or player sales rather than sustainable business models. Milan’s steady financial recovery under RedBird is now being viewed as a model for the future.
Premier League comparison and European imbalance
Cardinale also addressed the financial gap between Serie A and the Premier League, which he described as “the biggest challenge in European football today.” “The Premier League has almost four times the TV revenue of other European leagues, which is a problem,” he explained. “However, in Serie A, the last-placed team can beat the first, it's the most competitive league, but it's not paid for that. Distributors only want the best, which is why the idea of the Super League was created.”
His comments highlight a tension between sporting competitiveness and commercial appeal. Cardinale’s frustration reflects a broader sentiment across European football, that Italy’s domestic product is strong on the pitch but undervalued commercially.
By positioning Milan as the face of Serie A’s modernisation, Cardinale is not only aiming to close the gap with England but also to reshape the league’s global brand. The planned new stadium, coupled with a focus on digital innovation and fan engagement, could make Milan the Italian club to fully modernise its infrastructure in the 21st century.
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Getty Images SportWhat’s next for AC Milan?
The Rossoneri have started the Serie A campaign strongly, having lost just one of the 10 matches they have played so far. Milan’s squad, featuring key players like Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Luka Modric, who all hold the experience of the Premier League, embodies Cardinale’s goal of blending European heritage with international appeal. Off the pitch, plans for the new stadium continue to progress, with hopes to begin construction by 2026.
On the field, Milan will travel to Bergamo on Tuesday night to face an unbeaten Atalanta side in a highly anticipated Serie A clash. Milan are eager to return to winning ways after a frustrating 2-2 draw with Pisa that saw Zachary Athekame rescue a late point. With Massimiliano Allegri’s side unbeaten in their last eight matches and Loftus-Cheek back in contention, the Rossoneri will look to reclaim the Serie A top spot and strengthen their title credentials against a disciplined Atalanta outfit.
Neil McKenzie and Quinton de Kock strung together a perfectly-paced chase against Mumbai Indians, but the senior batsman was not constantly at his young partner’s ear; Lions are making sure they don’t smother de Kock in expectation
Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers15-Oct-2012The oldest and the youngest members of the Lions squad, who went to the same school – King Edward VII – combined to cap off South Africa’s successful weekend of Champions League fixtures.Neil McKenzie and Quinton de Kock both scored half-centuries as Lions paced their chase of 158 perfectly to record a second successive win over Mumbai Indians (albeit in the space of two years) and ensure both South African franchises won in their opening matches of the tournament.Matters did not ever get completely away from Lions, who reined in Mumbai Indians from 45 for 1 after five overs to a par score. Even though the required run-rate climbed for 14 overs of the Lions reply, they reached the target with seven balls to spare thanks to a delicate innings from McKenzie, who barely played a shot in anger and also ushered the 19-year-old de Kock through to the end.”We just batted according to plan,” McKenzie said. “We’ve all got our different roles in the side. Once we get to a certain number, we open up and go from there.” The freeing of the arms came after Malinga had bowled his third over, having conceded only eight runs in 18 deliveries, and with Lions needing to score almost 11 runs an over. McKenzie, who was on 26 at the time, hit Pollard for back to back fours and the pressure began easing.From that moment, Lions took control away from Mumbai Indians but it was the passages of play before then that had them battling for the upper hand. The Mumbai Indians spinners tied them down, sometimes for five consecutive balls, as Pragyan Ojha did in the eighth over, and each time Lions had to muscle their way out.The power-hitting came from de Kock, who secured relief at crucial times. “Just as we got bogged down a little, he would clear the rope,” McKenzie said. “At the Wanderers, you get value for shots. You just have to beat point or midwicket and it’s four.”While it looked as though McKenzie was the one issuing instructions to de Kock, he said it was a more case of them operating as a partnership. “He gave me a couple of balls to get in. I had 10 runs from nine balls before I really got going but we ran well between the wickets as well.”De Kock has already been spoken about as a future talent, especially since he is also a capable wicketkeeper, who could be a long-term successor to Mark Boucher. Lions are managing him carefully to ensure they continue to get the best out of him instead of smothering him in expectation. “I don’t mentor him; I just give him some advice but whether he takes it [or not], you will have to ask him,” McKenzie joked.It is Alviro Petersen, the captain, and Geoffrey Toyana, the coach, who guide de Kock, although even that is only a little. “We just want to let him be for now,” Petersen said. “In big games, it’s the senior players who must be counted. I don’t want to put pressure him at this stage.”Just as pressure will not be overloaded on de Kock, neither will praise, and Petersen was measured in his assessment of the innings. “He hasn’t been around for too long but he has got a good head on him and he had Neil there as well,” Petersen said. “There was no real slogging from Neil, even his boundaries were good cricket strokes.”He singled out another member of the squad though. Aaron Phangiso was responsible for the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar and for stemming the flow of runs in a miserly spell of 1 for 17 in four overs. “I was not happy with the way we bowled in the first five overs and then Aaron came on and just got us the momentum back. He never gets the credit he deserves, but he bowled exceptionally for us.”Mitchell Johnson was sent in at No. 4 by Mumbai Indians for the purpose of trying to take Phangiso on and he admitted it was a ploy that did not work: “I was looking to have a go at their spinner but I found it really difficult. I just couldn’t get bat on ball.”Johnson also had praise for McKenzie and de Kock’s 121-run stand. “Those two worked well together. Quinton would have worked off Neil, and he kept a cool head and played his own game. Neil knows this ground and he knew where to hit the ball. They batted really well and deserved the win.”
Traffic-light outage near the ground causes issue for team bus on journey from Chelsea
Matt Roller03-Jun-20250:22
England arrive at The Oval on bikes after traffic delay
West Indies captain Shai Hope joked that his team “probably should have walked” to The Oval after heavy traffic prompted a farcical half-hour delay to their third men’s ODI against England.Traffic-light failures in the Vauxhall Area and the closure of Lambeth Bridge prompted England’s players to get off the team bus and use e-bikes to reach The Oval, but West Indies’ journey from their team hotel in Chelsea was so long that the toss was delayed by 40 minutes and the start pushed back by half an hour.”Due to a delayed arrival of one of the playing teams, who are stuck in heavy traffic north of the river, the scheduled start of play will be delayed,” an ECB statement said. “Once all members of the playing teams arrive, the match officials will coordinate updated timings and discuss any impact on the schedule of play.”Related
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The West Indies bus eventually arrived at around 12.40pm, 10 minutes after the scheduled toss, and their players immediately began to warm up. They were staying four miles away from The Oval at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel and Spa, prompting Hope to joke: “We probably should have walked.” A CWI spokesperson simply said: “There were some road closures.”Gudakesh Motie, the left-arm spinner, said after West Indies’ seven-wicket loss that the delay had significantly disrupted their preparations. “It was very tough this morning,” he said. “Two hours on the bus in the traffic is very hard… When we got to the ground, we had five or ten minutes before [the toss]. We had to speed up our routine, basically.”England had faced similar issues on their journey south from their hotel in High St Kensington, but decided to use alternative transport on their journey. “We were all playing cards on the back of the bus, and then next minute, we looked at the time and thought, ‘We’re going to have to get on some bikes.'”Shai Hope was a late arrival to the toss•Getty ImagesSome London-based players travelled in on the tube or walked, but around a dozen used Lime bikes to cycle in, riding up the Harleyford Road before parking behind the Micky Stewart Members’ Pavilion. Brook credited Jos Buttler for his quick thinking, saying: “It was his idea.”The start might have been delayed in any case due to inclement weather, with some drizzle around London on Tuesday lunchtime. West Indies’ first innings was later interrupted by rain for over 90 minutes, with England winning the reduced game comfortably.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has revealed that he is sweating on the fitness of Ao Tanaka after the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal at The Emirates on Saturday.
Speaking after the game, the German head coach explained: “After a tackle in the first half, he had problems with his MCL.
“He kept going and I hope it’s not too bad. I hope the assessment is not too bad. There are a few concerns that it would be an injury but it’s normally positive that he could play further on. But we will have to assess him and we will see how long it takes to get him fit and back to full fitness.”
Farke says that he hopes that it is not a bad injury for Tanaka, and that feeling may be compounded by a similar injury to club captain Ethan Ampadu last week.
The Wales international is due to be out until after the international break, at least, with an MCL injury that was sustained against Everton on the opening day.
That injury to the skipper allowed Ilia Gruev to test himself at Premier League level against the Gunners on Saturday, but he was unable to impress with his showing in midfield.
Why Ilia Gruev may not be the answer for Leeds
Speaking ahead of the clash with Arsenal, Farke revealed that Sean Longstaff is more suited to playing as a number eight instead of as a replacement for Ampadu in the number six role, which is why Gruev was then selected against Arsenal.
Unfortunately, though, the Bulgaria international failed to show the defensive strength and quality that was needed to protect the back four, in what turned out to be a hammering by Mikel Arteta’s side.
The left-footed maestro only started 20 times in the Championship last season, per Sofascore, and won 52% of his duels in the second tier as Leeds largely dominated games with the ball.
Gruev’s lack of physicality meant that there was always going to be a question mark over his head going into the Premier League season, and his performances in the first two games have not changed that.
Minutes
13
90
Pass accuracy
80%
92%
Key passes
0
0
Tackles
0
1
Interceptions
0
1
Duels won
0/1
1/3
As you can see in the table above, the former Werder Bremen star has only won one of his four duels in 103 minutes of action in the top-flight to date.
His lack of physicality was on display in the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal as he only won one duel in 90 minutes against a side that was constantly attacking his half of the pitch, which shows that he was not offering enough protection in front of the back four.
The Championship champions are now reportedly keen on bringing in another option in that area of the pitch who could come in as an upgrade on Gruev.
Leeds eyeing move for Bundesliga midfielder
According to Monday’s edition of Bild, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds United are one of the teams in the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach defensive midfielder Julian Weigl.
The report claims that the Premier League side and Al-Shabab FC are both contenders to land a deal for the Germany international before the end of the summer transfer window.
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It states that the Bundesliga outfit are set to allow him to move on before the deadline after the player requested to be allowed to explore a move elsewhere.
Sport Witness relay quotes from Gladbach director Roland Virkus explaining the situation: “The important thing was: He asked us to release him for talks. We are also in talks. That’s the way it is. That doesn’t mean he won’t return to the squad if they fail. That’s open. It was important for Julian to be able to hold talks with the clubs.”
It is said that Weigl is available for a fee of around £5m, amid interest from Leeds and Al-Shabab, and it is now down to the 49ers to get a deal done for the German star.
Why Leeds should sign Julian Weigl
Off the back of the injuries to Ampadu and Tanaka, securing a cut-price deal to sign Weigl from Gladbach as an upgrade on Gruev in the number six position could be a shrewd move by the club.
The 29-year-old star is a natural number six who could slot into that role at the base of the midfield when Ampadu is unavailable, or off the bench when needed.
Speaking about Weigl’s style of play, defender Marc Bartra once said: “He is very similar to Busquets. He dictates play from midfield and helps us a lot when we lose the ball, it looks like he always has everything under control. He really reminds me of Busquets a lot, even if there is obviously still some distance between the two of them.”
As someone who played alongside Busquets at Barcelona and Weigl at Borussia Dortmund, Barta is possibly the best-placed person to make such a connection, and it speaks to the profile of player that Leeds would be signing.
Sergio Busquets for Spain
The German ace could be Farke’s own Busquets at the base of the midfield as an upgrade on Gruev who can offer more to the team out of possession in what is set to be a scrap to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Tackles + interceptions
3.16
Top 37%
Clearances
2.69
Top 20%
Shots blocked
0.84
Top 2%
Percentage of dribblers tackled
60.9%
Top 13%
Blocks
1.69
Top 28%
Challenges lost
0.56
Top 13%
Aerial duel success rate
67.2%
Top 2%
As you can see in the table above, Weigl ranked highly among his positional peers in the Bundesliga last season in a host of defensive metrics, including his success rate in duels on the deck and in the air.
These statistics show that he can be a dominant defensive force against opposition players at the top level, whilst Gruev was not outstanding physically in the Championship and has struggled with the physicality of the Premier League so far.
Weigl, who started 33 games in the Bundesliga last season, per Sofascore, is an experienced campaigner who has played for Farke in the past and has proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.
This is why he could come in as a fantastic bargain signing for £5m as an upgrade on Gruev due to the defensive and physical qualities that he can bring to the number six position as a Busquets-esque figure.
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This is why Farke should be pushing the club to get this deal done before the deadline because he could be an experienced alternative to Ampadu at the base of the midfield, as a strong and dependable option who can be relied upon as a defensive force.
Manchester City remain level on points with arch-rivals Manchester United and six adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s side headed to the West Midlands unbeaten across their last nine fixtures in all competitions, but a solitary strike from Matty Cash proved to be the difference in a match that saw Erling Haaland draw a blank for just the second time this season.
City started brightly at Villa Park, with the ball being worked into promising wide areas that lacked a more pinpoint delivery. The hosts did, however, grow into the game and saw Ollie Watkins’ movement pose plenty of problems to City’s high defensive line, though the England international’s uncharacteristic struggles in the final third continued as he failed to make the most of opportunities that came his way.
Cash endured no such issues when breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute. Bernardo Silva and Haaland failed to close the Villa full-back quickly enough on the edge of the box, allowing him to drift onto his left foot from 20 yards out and crash an effort into the bottom corner.
Haaland fired a tame shot at Emi Martinez as City sought an immediate equaliser, while Josko Gvardiol did Morgan Rogers a favour when making little of an apparent shove inside the penalty area, but Villa came closest to a second before the break as captain John McGinn fizzed another strike from distance narrowly past the post.
Haaland has 24 goals for club and country this season, with Tottenham the only team to have kept him out before running into Villa, but the prolific Norwegian was surprisingly quiet as City lacked an attacking spark as a collective. They were unable to turn possession into something more tangible, with Villa prepared to sit deep and break out on the counter.
Savinho almost forced a leveller on the hour mark, but his low drive from seven yards out was somehow flicked over the crossbar by Pau Torres. At the other end, former City academy star Jadon Sancho forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a double save, before Haaland had a goal disallowed for offside and painfully collided with the post as Villa held on.
GOAL rates Manchester City's players from Villa Park…
AFPGoalkeeper & Defence
Gianluigi Donnarumma (5/10):
Could do nothing about the goal, with those in front of him failing to close Cash quickly enough. Happy to act as a sweeper keeper and displayed impressive reflexes to keep Sancho out, having caused himself problems when palming into the winger’s path.
Matheus Nunes (4/10):
Not a natural full-back despite being asked to fill in there on a regular basis. Villa would have expected Sancho to pose the Portugal international more problems, having slipped beyond him with ease at one stage.
Ruben Dias (5/10):
Left isolated with the lively Watkins at times, particularly in the first half, leading to him chasing back towards his own goal more often than he would have liked. City’s high press was beaten too easily far too often, leaving their defensive unit exposed.
John Stones (4/10):
Stepped into midfield at every opportunity, leaving City with three at the back. Is comfortable on the ball, but was unable to make Guardiola’s side tick. Was given a tough time by the movement of Watkins.
Josko Gvardiol (5/10):
Always encouraged to get forward, but that can leave space behind. Could have made more of a push from Rogers in the first-half that would have given VAR a big penalty call to make, but offered no appeal.
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Tijjani Reijnders (5/10):
Capable of driving through midfield with the ball, but needs to make better decisions when pushing on. Fired one wayward shot well off target when a pass should have been made. Booked for a clumsy challenge on Watkins.
Phil Foden (5/10):
Has enjoyed filling a central playmaking post this season, but was unable to pull the strings on this occasion. Had one well struck second-half shot blocked and struggled to find space between the lines. Booked when chasing back to stop a Villa counter.
Bernardo Silva (4/10):
Made a bright start as he drifted wide from his central berth and found pockets of space. His influence waned from there, with the Portuguese unable to impose himself on proceedings. Was taken off as Guardiola sought inspiration from the bench.
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Savinho (5/10):
Boasts quick feet and is full of running, but lacks end product. Got into plenty of promising positions, but his final ball let him down. Picked up a yellow card for a reckless tackle on Rogers and failed to hit the net with two second-half strikes that struck shirts and boots in claret and blue.
Oscar Bobb (4/10):
City were unable to get him on the ball in areas where he could hurt Villa. His most notable contributions early on came when tracking back to help defend. Came as no surprise when he was replaced midway through the second half.
Erling Haaland (4/10):
Had more touches in his own box than Villa’s during a quiet first half – with his only sight of goal coming when opening up his body too much and firing straight at Martinez. Barely had a kick after the break, with his one notable contribution seeing a close-range goal chalked off after Marmoush drifted offside in the build up.
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Jeremy Doku (5/10):
Always full of direct running, which ensured that Cash was forced to sit much deeper. Got to the byline on a couple of occasions, but was unable to drill a dangerous cross into the box.
Nico Gonzalez (4/10):
Collected a yellow card for a needless challenge on Digne, and snapped into at least one more that left him walking a disciplinary tightrope. Finished the game bloodied and bruised.
Nico O’Reilly (5/10):
Caught ball watching shortly after being introduced, which almost proved costly, but made amends and was allowed to surge forward from left-back as he overlapped beyond Doku.
Rayan Cherki (5/10):
Brought on to add more creativity to City’s midfield, but was unable to get into the game. Will expect more from himself.
Omar Marmoush (N/A):
Drifted offside which cost Haaland a late equaliser.
Pep Guardiola (5/10):
Will have been left disappointed with City’s display in the opening 45 minutes. They improved after the break, but were unable to get key men into the game. Has a chance to make sweeping changes for the midweek Carabao Cup clash with Swansea.
Glasgow Rangers’ treble ambitions are safe for another week as they secured passage into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup over the weekend.
A trip to Easter Road to play Hibs is never easy at the best of times, but sandwiched in between a Europa League last-16 clash against Benfica, the match took on an even greater magnitude.
Much to their surprise, Philippe Clement kept the same starting XI for the cup clash that looked dead on their feet just a few days prior, but it worked a treat as they went into the half-time interval a goal to the good courtesy of John Lundstram.
While Hibs lost their discipline, Rangers kept their calm heads and Fabio Silva netted the clincher against the nine men and a 2-0 win was confirmed.
It was a professional performance by the Light Blues and, once again, John Lundstram was at the heart of everything good during the clash.
John Lundstram vs Hibernian in numbers
Towards the end of the Benfica tie, Lundstram had run himself into the ground, and it looked as though a well-deserved rest against Hibs would be the wisest thing for Clement to do.
No chance. Lundstram started in the capital and delivered a man-of-the-match performance, which included scoring the opening goal.
The midfielder was a calming presence in the heart of the midfield, looking like he had enjoyed a week between matches rather than the knackered figure during the closing stages of the tie in midweek.
There is no doubt he has been one of the most consistent performers during Clement’s reign thus far, missing only one match since mid-October. Two goals and six assists during 2023/24 have proven that he does like to get forward from time to time, but his ability to protect the defence and dictate the play from the middle of the pitch is perhaps his greatest strength.
John Lundstram for Rangers.
There is no time for respite, however, as the former Sheffield United gem will have to be prepared to take on Benfica at Ibrox on Thursday as the last eight of the Europa League awaits the winners.
When Lundstram could leave Rangers
A year ago, not many people would have predicted Lundstram being one of the most important players in the squad, but here we are.
Entering the 2023/24 campaign, the 30-year-old had a year left on his current contract, and it looked like his chances of an extension were slim.
Jack Butland
Fast-forward a few months, however, and it is clear he will be offered a new deal. The question is, when will he sign it? Clement has gone for a youth-based approach in the transfer market, yet keeping several experienced heads at the club, at least for the next couple of seasons, could be vital.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2023/24
43
2
6
2022/23
52
5
0
2021/22
48
4
1
Via Transfermarkt
While Lundstram may not have too long left at the very top, he still has plenty to give and his knowledge and experience could be passed down to the youngsters emerging through the youth academy.
Lundstram's academy heir at Ibrox
Cole McKinnon is arguably one of the brightest talents in the B team, and he could well become the heir apparent to the English midfielder in the coming years.
In the final Premiership match of the 2021/22 campaign, Giovanni van Bronckhorst rested a host of first-team players for the forthcoming Europa League final, giving chances to various academy talents in the clash against Hearts.
McKinnon came off the bench with just 30 minutes left and did not take long to announce his arrival, scoring the third goal which clinched a 3-1 win and his talent looked promising indeed.
The youngster was sent on a season-long loan to Partick Thistle, who were playing in the second tier, for the 2022/23 term and this experience of regular first-team football at a competitive level has clearly benefitted him.
Throughout that campaign, the 21-year-old made 31 appearances for the Jags, contributing three goals and three assists in the process as the club came so close to securing promotion to the top flight.
Michael Beale named him part of the matchday squad on numerous occasions during the early part of the season, but he failed to make it onto the pitch.
Under Clement, however, it looks as though he has the perfect manager to play under, as the Belgian has given him a couple of opportunities of late in the senior squad.
Cole McKinnon's stats vs Benfica and Hibs
The midfielder was hailed by Jordan Campbell prior to joining Partick Thistle last season, saying: “The 19-year-old is highly rated at Ibrox and scored in the final league game of last season. Goes box-to-box and has a knack of getting a goal.”
Evidently like Lundstram, the Scot bursts forward in the hopes of joining the attack, but he can also perform in a slightly deeper role if required and this flexibility will be a bonus to Clement.
John Lundstram for Rangers.
He came off the bench for the final 13 minutes of the tie against Benfica last week and did not let the occasion get to him.
Indeed, he won 100% of his aerial duels while making an interception and blocking a shot, proving that he has the required mentality to come into a game which is hanging in the balance and keep a calm head.
He was then rewarded with another ten-minute cameo against Hibs, and he was solid again. This could give Clement another option at the heart of the midfield, especially with the games coming thick and fast in the coming weeks.
McKinnon is finally seeing the rewards of all his hard work in the B team recently, and it should serve as a reminder that the chances are there for the youngsters, especially if they are committed and work hard.
Lundstram may have another couple of years at the highest level in the game, but if McKinnon can keep gaining important minutes here and there, the 21-year-old could become an ideal replacement for the Englishman and save Clement millions in the transfer market in the process.