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Chelsea are fighting hard on the market despite being away at the Club World Cup and could now be about to take the next step in their pursuit of a winger, according to Simon Phillips.

Chelsea chase Jamie Gittens deal and could sanction surprise exit

Following the Blues’ early spree in the window, Enzo Maresca has set his eyes on Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and it has now been confirmed that Chelsea are still well in the fight for his signature.

Taking to social media platform X, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Londoners have remained in contact to sign the England Under-21 international. Most importantly, out of all transfer options, he only wants a move to Stamford Bridge.

Intriguingly, Noni Madueke could be someone that could make way at Chelsea this summer if the price is right, with Phillips, who we will hear more from later on, stating: “Maybe they even look to end up bringing in two more out-and-out wingers, and they may well need them depending on the future of Noni Madueke as well, who Chelsea will listen to offers for.”

Most supporters wouldn’t be delighted at the prospect of the England international getting sold. From a fan perspective, Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling walking through the exit door would be far more productive amid their poor loan spells at AC Milan and Arsenal.

With the transfer merry-go-round now heating up, Chelsea may now be advancing for a star who could send shockwaves around the Premier League if he were to move to West London.

Phillips: Chelsea stepping up Alejandro Garnacho pursuit

Writing in his Si Phillips Talks Chelsea Substack, Phillips has detailed that Chelsea are now discussing a loan-to-buy agreement for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho in light of their desire to secure reinforcements out wide.

He explained: “Until now, our sources had not heard too much on Garnacho other than tentative interest. However, we have been hearing more and more noise on this one throughout this week, and fresh info has also just come in on him.

Jadon Sancho vs Alejandro Garnacho – who had the better record last season?
Jadon Sancho	Appearances – 41 Goals – 5 Assists – 10
Alejandro Garnacho	Appearances – 58 Goals – 11 Assists – 10

“SPTC sources have heard that Chelsea have been discussing signing Garnacho on a loan to buy deal, just as they did with Jadon Sancho.

“Of course, both players are Manchester United players, so it would not be a deal that would be unfamiliar to either club and could suit both if the fee is right. I’m not sure if it would be a permanent buy with an option to send him back with a fee, or a straight loan with an option/obligation.”

Seemingly forming a similar fashion to their arrangement involving Jadon Sancho, it remains to be seen whether Manchester United would allow what is essentially a ‘try before you buy’ deal after the Blues sent the former Dortmund man back to Old Trafford via a £5 million penalty fee.

Nevertheless, Garnacho, who was praised for his “brilliant” assist for the Red Devils against Real Sociedad earlier this year by Paul Scholes would definitely be a player that would come into starting contention at Stamford Bridge if he were to join this window.

There are plenty of intriguing transfer stories doing the rounds involving Chelsea right now, but this one may be one of the most complicated and multi-faceted deals to conclude, especially with his price tag reportedly sitting at £70 million.

A look back at some of his standout performances after he became the third Australian to 500 Test wickets

Andrew McGlashan10-Dec-2021 • Updated on 17-Dec-20235 for 34 vs Sri Lanka, Galle, 2011It couldn’t have started much better. First ball in Test cricket, a beautiful, dipping offspinner which then gripped and turned to find the edge of Kumar Sangakkara’s bat and was safely held at slip by Michael Clarke. “I was so full of excitement,” he said on the day. “I wouldn’t say it was the perfect ball, I thought it was a bit wide, but I was quite happy with it in the end.” Lyon would transform it into a five-wicket haul, albeit with a helping hand from Sri Lanka’s lower order, and would later take the scalp to seal victory.Related

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Cameron Green a key element in workload and rotation debate

5 for 134 and 7 for 152 vs India, Adelaide, 2014The most emotionally charged Test Australia have ever played, coming shortly after the death of Phillip Hughes. It was a game dominated by the bat and Lyon was the difference with the ball. India attacked him in both innings – Virat Kohli with a pair of brilliant hundreds – but Lyon kept finding a way through. He took out the middle order in the first innings to earn a handy lead and then, for the first time in his career, was the final-innings matchwinner. At 242 for 2, India sensed a famous victory but Lyon trapped Murali Vijay for 99 then had Ajinkya Rahane caught a short leg (although there was no bat). Less than 20 overs later this Test was over.Nice Garry: Nathan Lyon holds the ball up after claiming 8 for 50•AFP8 for 50 vs India, Bengaluru, 2017This haul remains Lyon’s best figures in Test cricket although they would come in defeat as India’s spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, had the final say. Still, it was a remarkable opening-day display from Lyon as India fell from 72 for 1 to 189 all out after he had removed Cheteshwar Pujara shortly before lunch then soon after pinned Kohli lbw when he shouldered arms. “I don’t know if they’re going to spin or go straight, so if I don’t know neither does the batter really,” he said.Lyon finished with a 13-for in the Chattogram Test of 2017, his best in the format•Getty Images7 for 94 and 6 for 60 vs Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2017Later the same year, Lyon enjoyed a bountiful tour of Bangladesh capped by the best match haul of his career. And it came at a moment where Australia desperately needed it having lost the first Test in Dhaka by 20 runs. It’s a good quiz question to name the Australia XI that took the field in Chattogram (no cheating) but suffice to say Lyon opened the bowling. In the first innings he removed Bangladesh’s top four lbw then with a useful lead to work with skittled them for 157 in the second – his 10th wicket of the game a lovely piece of bowling to get the key scalp of Shakib Al Hasan.2 for 78 and 3 for 67 vs England, Brisbane, 2017An overall match tally of five wickets may not leap off the page, but this was a classy performance from Lyon which was key to the early stranglehold Australia took on the Ashes. He conceded just 2.41 runs an over throughout the Test and the first-innings display where he sent down 36 overs was a textbook example of the role a spinner needs to play in the early stages of a Test in Australia. He set his sights on Moeen Ali and never let go, produced a ripper to spin through Chris Woakes on the second day and harassed England’s other left-handers. And, of course, there was run out as well.5 for 67 and 3 for 39 vs India, Perth, 2018He was Player of the Match in Australia’s first Test victory post the ball-tampering scandal as he made terrific use of the bounce available on the Optus Stadium surface. His first-innings haul secured a precious lead and after Australia had battled for every run on a spicey pitch he helped seal the game, bowling Vijay through the gate and then having the key man – Kohli – caught at slip. “Every team wants a spinner like Nathan Lyon,” Tim Paine said. “He loves bowling to the best players in the world.”Lyon picked up the 350th wicket of his Test career in Edgbaston in 2019•Getty Images3 for 112 and 6 for 69 vs England, Edgbaston, 2019The match will be remembered for Steven Smith’s spectacular twin hundreds on his return to Test cricket, but Lyon’s nine wickets were a crucial part of a win that would set-up Australia’s retention of the urn. In the first innings he dented England’s hopes of a more substantial lead and with a big target to defend on the final day – on a surface by now offering assistance – Lyon worked through England’s flimsy batting order. His wicket of Ben Stokes was the 350th of his Test career.5 for 68 and 5 for 50 vs New Zealand, Sydney, 2020A landmark occasion for Lyon on his home ground, a venue that had not often been kind to him. It was a lop-sided contest against a New Zealand side badly hit by injury and illness, but Lyon battled through an injured thumb after he had dropped a return catch. “It’s quite special to go up on the honours board and take five wickets at your home, in front of your family and friends, and to take five at one of your favourite venues from around the world,” he said. The match return of 10 for 118 was the best by an Australia spinner against New Zealand.Nathan Lyon helped Australia to a famous victory in Pakistan•AFP/Getty Images5 for 83 vs Pakistan, Lahore, 2022Australia had been denied the game before by the rearguard of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, but didn’t let a second opportunity slip and secured a famous series win in Pakistan. At the start of the final day they needed all 10 Pakistan second-innings wickets. About an hour into the day, Lyon got to work got when he removed Azhar Ali and later added the stubborn Imam-ul-Haq for 70 off 199 balls. But the moment that really made Australia believe came when Lyon had Babar caught at slip by Smith and the lower order swiftly followed.3 for 35 and 8 for 50 vs India, Indore 2023In a helter-skelter Test that barely made the third day, Lyon earned himself a new career-best haul when he ran through India’s second innings to enable Australia to claw back a game after they had thrown away the advantage in Delhi. The highlight was his absorbing battle with Cheteshwar Pujara who played superbly on a spiteful surface before tickling Lyon to leg slip where Smith, who was captaining in the absence of Pat Cummins, held a wonderful catch. “Certainly, it’s up there as one of my career highlights,” he said.4 for 149 and 4 for 80 vs England, Edgbaston, 2023This was a very different sort of challenge for Lyon, with England’s Bazballers trying to hit him out of the attack. In the first innings he conceded more than five an over, but the wickets of Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow were vital – especially the latter with England 297 for 5. In the second innings he was superb, managing to go at a little over three an over. Luring Joe Root down the crease was a critical moment in the game as England tried to build their lead. And then, at the finish, he was there with the bat.

Things are moving apace. Liverpool have already replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong and are advancing with deals for Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

Talk about a show of intent. Talk about ambition. FSG have faced their criticisms across their time at the head of the Liverpool table, but the American owners are backing Arne Slot to the hilt this summer after the Dutch coach secured a Premier League title in his first term at the helm.

With a much-anticipated move for Wirtz, which could rise to a British-record £116m, set to be finalised in the coming days, hopes are morphing into expectations that the Reds will be right there in the title battle next season, throwing the heaviest punches and swerving the blows from Arsenal, Manchester City and the like.

What, then, should be Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes’ next move in the transfer market? Well, for all Anfield’s impressive dealings, the glaring point of contention still hasn’t been addressed: Liverpool need to part with Darwin Nunez and bring in a new number nine.

Why Liverpool need to sell Darwin Nunez

As far as statement signings go, Liverpool usually hit the nail on the head. However, Nunez has proven to be a blot on the copybook, never living up to the fixed £64m fee and actually regressing under Slot’s jurisdiction.

24/25

47

7

7

23/24

54

18

15

22/23

42

15

4

Back in February, Slot stated he “can’t accept” Nunez’s work rate following a slew of games which had turned little personal reward for the Uruguayan. Previous versions of the 25-year-old invariably provided a tenacious

A maverick, Nunez is powerful and instinctive, but consistent finishing has always eluded him throughout his time on Merseyside, and if it were not for Mohamed Salah’s extraordinary 2024/25 campaign, the striker’s woes might have been hung under a brighter, more blinding light.

Salah scored 34 goals and assisted 23 more across all competitions last season. Extraordinary. The Egyptian King turned 33 this month, though, and needs a more reliable frontman to keep him performing at his peak.

Well, Liverpool are acting with ambition, hoping to sign a star who might just prove to elevate the legend. Who knows, he may even surpass Salah’s greatness.

Liverpool line up new striker

According to Ben Jacobs for GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are ready to place a record-breaking bid for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak this summer.

Liverpool’s current interest in the Sweden striker can be traced back to the start of March, when The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed the Reds had him at the top of their shopping list.

The Magpies, who won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League last term, would want north of £150m for Isak, but GMS claim FSG would be willing to offer £100m plus add-ons, which would eclipse the fee agreed for Wirtz.

How Isak could surpass Salah at Liverpool

Liverpool need a striker, all right, and Isak is their dream target. If sporting director Richard Hughes could pick any number nine across the globe, this is the man he’d move for.

Coming off the back of a 27-goal campaign with Newcastle, Isak, who has been hailed as “the best striker in the world” by analyst Raj Chohan, could be the most incredible addition to a Liverpool side already jam-packed with attacking quality.

Isak’s prowess, always improving, could even see him become a goalscoring machine under Slot’s wing above that of Salah, whose 34-goal season was frankly ridiculous.

24/25 – Newcastle

42

27

6

23/24 – Newcastle

40

25

2

22/23 – Newcastle

29

11

3

21/22 – Sociedad

41

10

3

20/21 – Sociedad

44

17

2

Moreover, his unique approach to the attacking game could see him reach that pedestal on which Salah perches, surmounted above the rest of the Premier League’s attacking talent.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 16% of strikers last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

This protean attacking quality could see him join the likes of Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres as one of the most complete and electric number nines the Premier League has ever seen.

Would this make him a more dangerous forward than Salah? Who knows, but Isak definitely has the perfect style to dovetail into Slot’s system and bring a new level of direct goalscoring threat.

And it must be said, Liverpool have certainly felt the force of the Sweden striker’s skills, Isak having scored a stunning goal against them at St. James’ Park last year before bagging in the Carabao Cup final, a strike which proved definitive.

But it’s not just his goalscoring. Isak has the capacity to outstrip even Salah’s ridiculous goal per game rate at Liverpool (0.61), with his Newcastle average currently at 0.57.

As he continues to go from strength to strength, Isak could hit a truly staggering flow, especially given that he would be playing among some of the best in the business (including Salah, whose playmaking has hit another level over the past couple of years).

Whether Isak would finish a potential Liverpool career with a greater legacy than Salah is tantamount to splitting hairs. In all likelihood, he’d fail on that front, for Salah has transcended pure quality on the field to immortalise himself in Liverpool lore.

However, Isak’s ability to score is a special thing – pundit Alan Shearer has described him as a “world-class assassin” – and if signed to the Liverpool cause and allowed to foster relationships with Salah and Wirtz, his goalscoring record could form something not witnessed on Merseyside.

Huijsen was better: How Spanish media rated Trent's first game post-Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold made his debut for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 19, 2025

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is now personally keen on an “extraordinary” goalkeeper as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez this summer, according to a report.

Martinez linked with Aston Villa exit

After five memorable seasons in a Villa shirt, it appears as though Martinez’s time in the West Midlands could be coming to an end, with the goalkeeper left visibly upset while waving goodbye to the fans after the final game at Villa Park this season.

With the goalkeeper seemingly heading for the exit door, there have been recent suggestions he could remain in the Premier League, as Manchester United have made an offer, although a move to fellow potential suitors Barcelona could be a more attractive proposition.

Should he depart, it will be a difficult task to replace the 32-year-old, but Emery now believes he has found a goalkeeper capable of doing exactly that.

Aston Villa chiefs now identify £40m Liverpool star to replace Emi Martinez

Aston Villa are in the market for a new goalkeeper as Emi Martinez looks set to leave this summer.

By
Brett Worthington

May 19, 2025

According to a report from Spain, the Aston Villa manager thinks Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has the experience to take over from Martinez, presumably because he has spent a number of years with one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Lunin has made 61 appearances for Madrid, but there is a feeling his time with the La Liga club could be coming to an end, given a lack of game time this season, and a move to Villa Park could be appealing to the Ukrainian.

"Extraordinary" Lunin could be at the level to replace Martinez

Of course, Villa fans may well be hoping Martinez has a change of heart and opts to remain at Villa Park beyond the end of the campaign, but there are signs the Madrid shot-stopper could be a suitable replacement.

Much like the Argentine, the 26-year-old has experience at the top level, making eight appearances en-route to Real Madrid’s 2023-24 Champions League triumph, and starring in the quarter-final victory over Manchester City.

Remarkably, the Ukraine international achieved a 9.7 SofaScore match rating in the second leg against City after making a number of important contributions.

Lunin’s stats vs Man City 23/24	Number completed
Total saves	8
Saves from inside the box	6
High claims	2
Punches	4

The £73k-a-week Madrid ace also caught the eye earlier in the competition, being lauded as “extraordinary” by CBS Sports’ Nico Cantor courtesy of an impressive performance against RB Leipzig in the round of 16.

With Villa looking to return to the Champions League next season, it would be wise to bring in a goalkeeper who is proven at the highest level, and Lunin clearly fits the bill, given his performances for Madrid.

County successfully appeals “disproportionate” punishment for outsized bat during Blast match

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2024

An aerial view of New Road•Getty Images

Worcestershire have received a suspended two-points deduction for the next season’s Vitality Blast, after their allrounder, Josh Cobb, was deemed to have used an illegally-sized bat in their North Group match with Durham in July.Cobb admitted a breach of ECB Directives 3.2 and 3.3 after his bat failed a bat-gauge test during the Durham match, at which stage he had not yet faced a delivery. The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) adjudicator originally imposed a straight points deduction, but this was amended on appeal to a suspended penalty, which will be imposed if Worcestershire commit a further breach of this nature.It is the second such penalty to be levelled in county cricket this summer, following the 12-point deduction that Essex were last month handed in the County Championship, following Feroz Khushi’s breach of the regulations during their opening fixture of the season, against Nottinghamshire in April.Essex issued a scathing riposte to that verdict, with Keith Fletcher, the club president, decrying it as “stupid”, not least because it wrecked the club’s hopes of challenging for the County Championship, with their final match of the season, at home to Surrey – who have already been crowned champions – taking place this week.Worcestershire were similarly aghast at the original verdict, and explained in their appeal that the loss of two points could mean the difference between reaching the knock-outs of the Vitality Blast and an early elimination.”Being docked points next year potentially/effectively puts a club of our size, with our resources, out of contention for qualification to the later rounds in 2025,” the club wrote to the adjudicator, Chris Tickle. “This has an impact on next year’s squad, coaching team, sponsors and, therefore, the club’s finances. This impact is potentially devastating to us and is disproportionate.”In his amended verdict, Tickle wrote: “Given those circumstances, I am persuaded that it is in the interests of justice to review my decision.”Dave Lewis, the interim director of the Cricket Regulator, said: “I am pleased that we were able to work with Worcestershire CCC and the Cricket Discipline Commission and that the adjudicator was able to reconsider their original decision in this case.”We also note that this is the second oversized bat case this year, and the Cricket Regulator will be working with counties, players, and officials to inform them about the issue with a view to preventing a recurrence next season.”The Cricket Regulator is the independent body which enforces the rules for domestic professional cricket as well as working to educate participants and prevent potential breaches. The Cricket Regulator investigates and prosecutes cases but does not decide on any penalties.The Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) is the independent adjudication body which hears cases, rules on responsibility for breaches of rules and issues penalties to teams and participants.

It’s been another quiet week at Ibrox for Rangers, although is that about to change?

So far, the most noteworthy Rangers event of the past few days was Cyriel Dessers’ goal for Nigeria, on target on Wednesday in a friendly tournament against West African rivals Ghana.

Elsewhere, on Tuesday, Rangers confirmed they will face Club Brugge and Middlesbrough in pre-season friendlies at Ibrox in July but, for now at least, there’s still no news as to who will be in charge for those games, or indeed, more importantly, the start of Champions League qualification either.

Well, 95 days on from Philippe Clement’s sacking, could the 49ers finally be about to land their new manager?

Rangers ramping up managerial hunt

A whole host of names have been linked with a move to the Ibrox dugout in recent months, with fierce speculation suggesting Steven Gerrard could be on his way back to Scotland after a failed stint in Saudi Arabia.

Also of interest to the Rangers hierarchy are the likes of Russell Martin and Brian Priske. Yet, there’s another name who looks like he may be edging closer to filling the vacancy.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

According to a report by Guillem Balague for BBC Sport, the Rangers hierarchy have ‘held fresh talks’ with Davide Ancelotti this week, adding that ‘further discussions’ are scheduled to take place ‘over the next few days’.

Davide has been a long-time assistant to his father Carlo, working at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid.

This month, Carlo left los Blancos by mutual consent to become the new Brazil manager and, at his unveiling, he confirmed “Davide is currently in negotiations with a European team… if he goes to a club, I wish him the best, and if not, he can come back to us.”

Now, it appears increasingly likely that Ancelotti will become the new Rangers head coach, with former Rangers manager Mark Warburton saying that, should he take the job, it would be a “huge step up”, going from being an assistant to occupying the “number one role”.

Well, speaking to STV, Guillem Balague believes Davide to be one of the “most sought-after assistants” in world football, firmly believing he will be a success at Ibrox, so would his arrival be great news for a certain Rangers stalwart?

Why Ancelotti can reignite Tavernier's Rangers career

When James Tavernier joined Rangers from Wigan Athletic for a reported £200k in 2015, the Light Blues were still an SPFL Championship club.

Fair to say, a lot has changed in the subsequent decades, and this has proved to be, inarguably, one of the bargains of the century.

To date, Tavernier has made 513 appearances for the club, only ten men have accumulated more in a Rangers jersey, as the table below outlines.

John Greig

1961-78

755

Sandy Jardine

1964-82

674

Ally McCoist

1983-98

581

Sandy Archibald

1917-34

580

David Meiklejohn

1919-36

563

Dougie Gray

1925-46

555

Derek Johnstone

1970-86

546

Davie Cooper

1977-89

540

Peter McCloy

1970-85

535

Ian McColl

1945-60

526

James Tavernier

2015-present

513

Tavernier captained Rangers to the Premiership title in 2020/21, subsequently lifting the League Cup and Scottish Cup too, as well as being the talismanic figure en route to the Europa League Final three seasons ago, scoring seven times during the knockout phase.

However, he has come in for some criticism this season, with Nick McPheat of BBC Sport questioning if he is ‘no longer first choice’, while interim manager Barry Ferguson trialled him as both a centre-back, as part of a back three, as well as at wing-back.

Nevertheless, if Davide’s playing style is at all akin to that of his father, a fluid approach that encourages maximum creativity, this appointment could reinvigorate Tavernier.

Right-back Dani Carvajal was such a prominent attacking figure for Real Madrid, so let’s asses how he compares to Tavernier, with the caveat that the Spanish international has not featured since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Villarreal in early-October.

Goals

5

1

Assists

13

1

Big chances created

20

0

Goals

24

6

Assists

12

5

Big chances created

19

4

Goals

18

0

Assists

10

5

Big chances created

14

4

Goals

18

1

Assists

17

4

Big chances created

18

7

As the table outlines, Tavernier’s attacking output has been absolutely off the scale, notably registering 52 assists since the 2021/22 campaign. Taking you back to that point about an Ancelotti side favouring creativity and you can begin to see why he could take quite a liking to the Gers captain.

While Carvajal’s’s numbers are not quite so astronomical, Tobi Peter of Breaking the Lines documents that his ‘attacking contributions are crucial’ for Real Madrid.

So, with the incoming Ancelotti likely to want his full-back to operate high and wide, this could be exactly the appointment 33-year-old Tavernier needs to reinvigorate his career in Govan.

Same agent as Gerrard: Rangers want cheap deal to sign £1m int'l defender

He could arrive with the potential new manager.

ByTom Cunningham May 28, 2025

GOAL US writers debate USMNT's victory over Costa Rica, chances in semifinals and where Canada go next

That was easy and not-even-remotely stressful, right? The USMNT showed simultaneously just how good and bad they can be over 90 minutes and penalties Sunday night. They gave away two awfully soft goals, scored two pretty good ones, and had a chance to win a penalty shootout before throwing it away.

In the end, they survived and advanced, and they have a guy in goal who went to Harvard to thank.

The good news is that they're in the the Gold Cup semifinals for a record 17th time. And let's face it, tournament play is about riding your fortune, putting in a few good performances, and seeing where you go from there.

Mauricio Pochettino's side might have been handed another lifeline in Guatemala's win over Canada. Jesse Marsch's men crumbled after being shown a first-half red card, and deserved no less than their penalty defeat. It's a bad look for the manager, who spoke so often about his desire to take Canada all the way.

Meanwhile, Mexico got the job done. They didn't exactly look flashy against Saudi Arabia, but it's hard to argue with the result. There's now the real potential for a USMNT-Mexico final (which might be what we all wanted anyway). But are there any further twists to come? And are Mexico now the favorites, period?

GOAL US writers debate it all in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

• Getty Images
  

  Did the USMNT deserve to beat Costa Rica?

  Tom Hindle: Bloody hell, who knows? If the whole game was simply the first 15 minutes following half time, then absolutely. But the U.S. showed why they're a bit of a young team still feeling their way. Over the course of 90 minutes plus pens, they just about edged it. But there was certainly some good fortune involved. What is it that Americans say, though? Survive and advance? Yeah, that.

  Jacob Schneider: They absolutely did. They were the better team most of the match, and if Malik Tillman scores his regulation penalty, the odds are that it's an entirely different game – and the U.S. puts it to bed early. Good performance from Diego Luna, Tillman and, of course, Matt Freese in goal.

  Ryan Tolmich: Deserve? Yes. Were they fortunate? Also yes. The U.S. made several mistakes that tend to get punished on the international level, but Costa Rica weren't decisive enough to make them pay the price. At this stage of a competition, you can't concede penalties, you have to make your penalties, you have to protect your leads AND – when given a chance to win a shootout – you have to take it. The U.S. failed on all of those fronts, but still had the quality and steel necessary to figure it out in the end. Can they ride that type of luck forever? Certainly not, but they earned their own luck by continuously responding to adversity.

  Alex Labidou: Honestly, no. But this is where quality speaks, and the U.S.'s top players all performed, from Diego Luna to Matt Freese. Landon Donovan might have oversold it, as it is too early to determine if Freese is a star. But he very well could be a starter for the U.S. at goal. Availability is often one of the most underappreciated traits in sports, and unfortunately for Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen – neither of whom are on this current roster – it may mean one or both miss out on next summer's main event.

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• Getty Images
  

  How do you rate the performance overall?

  TH: Pretty good, given that Max Arfsten couldn't decide if he was playing for or against the USMNT for most of the 90 minutes. Malik Tillman and Diego Luna were really rather good throughout, as was Chris Richards at the back. There are certainly some question marks. Patrick Agyemang is way too raw, and Brian White can't be trusted as a starting No. 9. But otherwise, this was a solid performance. Good enough to beat a better team, though? Nah.

  JS: Self-inflicted wounds haunted the USMNT throughout the match. Two errors from Arfsten allowed Costa Rica to score, but the Crew fullback rebounded with a goal and an assist. Overall, the positives outweighed the negatives, considering the squad makeup and the nature of the match. If there was one area to question, it would be perhaps not starting John Tolkin over Arfsten, and the timing of substitutions from Pochettino. The Argentine waited awfully long to make a sub, and it ultimately proved to be costly with Costa Rica's late equalizer.

  RT: So-so? There were some positives. Luna's determination, Tillman's resolve, half of what Arfsten did. There were bad things, too: Tillman's initial miss, the defending on the second goal, the other half of what Arfsten did. In this game, you lose points for mistakes, but you can earn them back by responding. So credit to the U.S. for never letting their heads drop. For Pochettino, seeing that will be as sweet as seeing any goal.

  AL: The U.S. might be counting their lucky stars that Freese had an other-worldly showing in the penalty showing, but they can't afford to keep having some of the defensive lapses. Odds are, Guatemala aren't good enough to capitalize on those, but expect Mexico to do so. Pochettino has some difficult lineup decisions to make. On one end Arfsten clearly offers the wing play that this team so desperately lacks, but he was responsible for all four goals scored in this contest. He wasn't the only culprit, but as this team goes forward, it might need some tinkering to provide more stability in the back.

• Imagn
  

  Surely, the U.S. won't lose to Guatemala, right?

  TH: Nah, there's no way… 2-1 Guatemala. Book it.

  JS: The U.S. should, theoretically, handily defeat Guatemala. They're a squad with confidence right now, sure, but there's no scenario on paper in which the USMNT doesn't walk away with a victory. It would take a total disaster – defensive errors, a red card or something of the sort – to imagine Guatemala walking away with a victory. But hey, look at what Guatemala did to Canada. So who knows.

  RT: The path has certainly opened up for them.Guatemala earned their victory over Canada, who were nowhere near decisive enough, so the U.S. will now fancy their chances. Canada, though, had an opportunity to win in the end, despite being down a man, showing the quality gap between the two sides. As long as the U.S. avoid catastrophic mistakes, they'll be favored. But again, Canada showed how easily a team can slip if mistakes are made.

  AL: Stranger things have happened, but no. It's looking like a USMNT vs Mexico final. Again. CONCACAF is likely thanking its lucky stars.

• Imagn
  

  How bad was Canada's loss for Jesse Marsch?

  TH: Well… yikes! Jesse Marsch now looks a bit foolish for throwing shade at the USMNT for the best part of 18 months. They will be back, but this seemed to be their chance to win it all. The drought goes on.

  JS: For Canada, woof. Jacob Shaffelburg is suspended for at least one game at next summer's FIFA World Cup, and Marsch missed another trophy opportunity for Les Rouges. Sure, they were without a few starters, but even then, Canada were favorites to lift the Gold Cup. Had it been a Canada vs USMNT semifinal, it would have been difficult to not see Marsch's side winning. So much for that.

  RT: It shows how fine the margins are these days. Yes, Mexico, Canada and the U.S. are all top dogs in this region, but the teams behind them are no longer puppies. Teams such as Honduras and Guatemala can now threaten, and that says nothing of the usual B-tier that includes Panama, Jamaica and Costa Rica. CONCACAF has gotten better and, based on these rosters, the Big Three are actually a bit worse – which is why every game can be tight. Canada played it too close to the margins. Unfortunately for Marsch, the penalty gods weren't on their side and their tournament ended earlier than anyone could have expected. It's a back-breaking blow for a team that really believed they could earn respect, and maybe a trophy, this summer. Instead, they're the first of the Big Three to be watching from home.

  AL: Marsch has been a much-needed shot in the arm for a Canada program that has been mired in both financial issues and controversy over the drone scandal at the 2024 Olympics. However, even he would likely acknowledge there were some missteps in this Gold Cup. You have to wonder if the suspension Marsch served as a result of the Nations League third-place game played a role in halting momentum. This was a legitimate chance for Les Rouges to win a trophy that would propel them forward. Now questions will linger over this team in the months ahead. However, if Marsch can learn from this, continue to integrate recent recruits such as Promise David and Daniel Jebbison, and get Alphonso Davies back at full strength, Canada can still make noise next year. Let's not forget, they're hosting games at the World Cup.

Lyonnes, eight-time European champions, agreed on a fee with Ajax for the teenager's services

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USWNT's Yohannes completes OL Lyonnes moveTeenager picked USWNT over Netherlands in 2024Will play with national team captain Heaps in FranceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. women's national team phenom Lily Yohannes finalized a transfer to French powerhouse OL Lyonnes from Ajax on Monday.

Yohannes, 18, signed a three-year contract with the club, with her deal running through 2028 in France.

The teenage midfielder reportedly garnered a fee of $530,000 (€450,000), with Ajax also receiving a sell-on percentage fee for a future transfer. Her previous contract in the Netherlands with the Dutch club ran through June 2026.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reigning champions of England, Chelsea, were also reportedly in the running for Yohannes' services.

Yohannes has 10 caps for the USWNT, and in June 2024, she scored 10 minutes into her international debut in a friendly against South Korea.

In November, she declared her international allegiance to the USA after previously mulling the options of playing for the Netherlands. She was born in Virginia but moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was 10. At age 15, she signed a professional contract with Ajax.

"She's got unbelievable maturity and coachability, and someone who I know is going to become an important part of our program," USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said in May. "But I'm invested in that development, and we have to be patient with that considering her tender age and her lack of international and high-level experience."

At Lyonnes, she will play with fellow U.S. international Korbin Albert and team captain Lindsey Heaps.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2023, Yohannes became the youngest player to ever start a UEFA Women's Champions League game at 16 when she was named to the starting XI for Ajax in a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR YOHANNES?

Lyonnes' 2025/26 campaign begins this fall, and she will report for preseason action in the coming weeks.

It’s fair to say West Bromwich Albion’s season hasn’t gone to plan in the Championship with Tony Mowbray axed after just 17 clashes back at the Hawthorns helm.

Losing the steady presence of Carlos Corberan abruptly has ultimately derailed the Baggies’ promotion push, leaving Mowbray with the tough task of picking up the pieces after the Spaniard walked away for a chance at Valencia.

Unfortunately, the 61-year-old would only pick up a meagre five victories from those 17 games, with the failed promotion chasers now after another new manager to freshen up the stale environment.

Marti Cifuentes has been the main name getting all the buzz, but the second-tier underperformers could now opt to appoint this left-field name instead of landing the Queens Park Rangers boss.

West Brom keen admirers of Cifuentes' alternative

Indeed, reports in recent days have suggested that talks have been held between the Baggies and the Hoops over a deal for Cifuentes, with West Brom clearly a fan of what the 42-year-old has managed to achieve to date at Loftus Road.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

But, he isn’t the only face being considered for the vacant job post, with journalist Darren Witcoop taking to X recently to confirm that the Championship side are also ‘admirers’ of current FC St. Pauli head coach Alexander Blessin.

Blessin took over the reins at the German giants from Fabian Hurzeler, with the 51-year-old perhaps following Hurzeler’s career path even more if he too takes the leap to relocate to England.

After all, when glancing at Blessin’s career achievements so far as a manager, he could actually be viewed as an upgrade on Cifuentes, meaning he might well become the main desired target if QPR aren’t willing to sanction a move.

Why Blessin could be an upgrade on Cifuentes

Before looking more in-depth at Blessin’s varied CV as a manager, there are a multitude of reasons as to why West Brom have cherry-picked Cifuentes as a candidate to replace Mowbray.

Last season saw the ex-Hammarby boss transform QPR’s fortunes on the pitch, with relegation looking nailed on at one point under the previous tenure of Gareth Ainsworth, only for Cifuentes to lift the once downtrodden Hoops all the way up to 18th and six points clear of the dreaded drop-zone.

But, the Spaniard has struggled at points this season to kick on, with a sobering 5-0 loss to an already promoted Burnley side more than kicking his side in the teeth last match.

Whilst Blessin has equally had to navigate choppy waters this campaign in the German top-flight (six points above the relegation zone), his overall resume as a manager to date does look slightly more impressive than his counterpart’s.

Most notably, the Stuttgart-born coach was an overwhelming success in Belgium with Royal Union Saint-Gilloise before the Bundesliga beckoned.

FC St. Pauli

33

9

7

17

Union Saint-Gilloise

58

36

12

10

Genoa

33

11

12

10

KV Oostende

65

26

11

28

RB Leipzig (U17s/U19s)

87

56

6

25

Away from some hiccups at his current employers, Blessin has largely been a success wherever he’s been managing all across Europe, with his celebrated 58-game stay at Union SG even seeing him lift the Belgian Cup.

Overall, the West Brom target has steered all of his teams to an impressive 138 victories from 276 career games. To add context, Cifuentes has a lesser 130 from a heftier 321 clashes.

With his expansive 3-5-2 set-up also potentially suiting the likes of wide man Tom Fellows, this might well be a match made in heaven if a move is signed off on, with the Baggies hopeful they can pick up their next Corberan-style figure shortly to put Mowbray’s dismal return firmly in the past.

Surprise Corberan repeat: West Brom can take big gamble by hiring 3-4-3 boss

West Brom are eyeing a deal for a Premier League coach who could be a Carlos Corberan repeat.

ByDan Emery Apr 24, 2025

Rajasthan Royals are on top of the table, but a win for LSG will close the gap to just two points

Karthik Krishnaswamy26-Apr-20244:04

Economy over wickets – Ashwin’s role at Royals this season?

Match detailsLucknow Super Giants (Fourth – P8, W5, L3) vs Rajasthan Royals (First – P8, W7, L1)
Lucknow, 7.30pm (2pm GMT)Big pictureForm is a fickle thing in T20, but if there’s such a thing, LSG and RR are the two form teams of IPL 2024, the only two with two or more wins in a row leading up to their meeting in Lucknow. Both teams sit in the top four at the moment, and RR, who already have 14 points, could have one foot in the playoffs if they win on Saturday night.This is a contest between broadly similar teams: both have strong top orders and occasionally get into a muddle with middle-order roles, and both have excellent attacks with plenty of variety. It’s hard to pick a favourite. LSG have won three of their four home games so far this season, but RR are perfectly equipped to compete on whatever surface Ekana throws up, whether it’s slow and low black soil or true, bouncy red.Both teams are looking ominous if you go by the metric of key players finding form midway through the season. Yashasvi Jaiswal did so with a match-winning century in RR’s most recent game, against Mumbai Indians on April 22, and Marcus Stoinis matched him in LSG’s most recent game, against Chennai Super Kings on April 23.Everything points to a tight and tactically interesting contest, and if you need anything else to whet your appetite, there’s the prospect of Mayank Yadav returning to action.Form guideLucknow Super Giants WWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Rajasthan Royals WWWLWYashasvi Jaiswal found form with a hundred in his previous game against MI•BCCI

Previous meetingBoth teams were playing their first match of IPL 2024 when they met in Jaipur on March 24. An unbeaten 82 from Sanju Samson led Royals to a total of 193, and LSG were in the hunt thanks to half-centuries from KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran. It came down to a gettable 65 from 36 balls with both of them at the crease, but a terrific end-overs display led by Sandeep Sharma sealed a 20-run win for Royals.Team news and impact player strategyLucknow Super Giants
Mayank Yadav, who has missed LSG’s last four matches with an abdominal issue, bowled in the nets in the lead-up to Saturday’s game. S Sriram, the team’s assistant coach, said Mayank is “pretty close” to a comeback. If he returns, Yash Thakur could make way for him. LSG have not used M Siddharth’s left-arm spin in recent games, but he remains an interesting option to come off the subs bench and take the new ball if needed.Likely XII 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt & wk), 3 Marcus Stoinis, 4 , 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Ayush Badoni, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Mohsin Khan, 12 .Rajasthan Royals
Sandeep Sharma returned from injury and took match-turning figures of 5 for 18 in RR’s last match, against Mumbai Indians. He is likely to keep his place and share the new ball with Trent Boult. If a black-soil pitch is rolled out in Lucknow, there is a chance Royals could bring in Keshav Maharaj as their third spinner.Likely XII: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 , 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Dhruv Jurel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 .In the spotlightQuinton de Kock has had a quiet IPL by his standards. He averages just 28.50 after eight innings, and while he’s made three fifties, all of them have come at strike rates below 145. LSG would love it if he found some of his old fluency, but the RR attack may present him a stern test: he has T20 strike rates of below 125 against all their key bowlers – Boult, Sandeep, Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin.Marcus Stoinis also found form with a match-winning 63-ball 124 against CSK•BCCI

He’s taken just one wicket in seven matches this season, at an average of 240.00, but R Ashwin will tell you (as he has on his YouTube channel) that wicket-taking is becoming irrelevant in T20. He may be right on one hand, since his economy rate (8.88) is nearly identical to that of Yuzvendra Chahal (8.83), who happens to have taken 13 wickets this season. What is different and possibly worrying is that Ashwin hasn’t tied left-hand batters down to his usual extent: his economy rate of 8.68 against left-handers is his worst of any IPL season. LSG could have de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya and possibly Devdutt Padikkal in their top eight; can Ashwin dominate his favourite match-up like he’s done for so many years?Pitch and conditionsRed soil or black soil? It’s the question to ask in the lead-up to every game in Lucknow, and it’s a potentially tricky one for the home side ahead of this game. LSG love controlling games with their spinners on black-soil pitches, but Royals come here with one of the best spin attacks in the competition.Stats that matter Royals have won three of their four matches against LSG so far. The two teams have never met in Lucknow, however. Mayank Yadav has the best middle-overs economy rate (5.00) and average (7.00) of any bowler in IPL 2024 (minimum 30 balls bowled in that phase). Sanju Samson is five hits away from becoming the 10th member of the 200 sixes club in the IPL. Quotes”You’ve got to keep that white noise away. That’s the skill of really good teams. You can’t look too much at what others are doing. We have no control over that. We’ve got to turn up every day and be the best that we can be, and then, we’ll definitely qualify [for the playoffs] if we do that.”
“We’ve played eight matches and won seven of them, and in those seven matches we’ve had six different Man of the Match [winners]. So everyone in the team has been contributing. This is the biggest thing that wins matches. Whenever there’s a requirement, a different player [steps up]. It’s not like just one player is winning us games.”