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Andre Onana will reportedly move out of Alexis Sanchez's house with the Manchester United goalkeeper also reviewing Paul Pogba's old mansion.

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• Onana keen to settle in new house
• Wants to buy a property of his own
• Has looked at Paul Pogba's former home

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Onana is keen to purchase a home of his own as a mark of his long-term commitment to the club. Since his arrival in the summer of 2023, Onana had been living in the same property where Sanchez stayed during his stint with the Red Devils.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Onana is reportedly looking to buy a property in the same upscale neighbourhood with his wife Melanie and their four children set to move in in the next few months. In his search for a new home, Onana and his family considered several options, including the former residence of another ex-Manchester United star, Pogba. Despite its appeal, the Pogba residence ultimately did not meet the needs of Onana and his family, leading them to continue their search for the perfect home.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Onana's first season at United was fraught with challenges. Reunited with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, he struggled to find his footing and his performances were marked by inconsistency, raising questions about his ability to handle the pressure of being the first-choice goalkeeper for one of the world's biggest football clubs. However, with time, he has proved his mettle and has become an undisputable starter with his shot-stopping ability, composure on the ball, and leadership qualities.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ONANA?

  Onana kept a clean sheet against Fulham in the Premier League opener. He will now look to build on that performance when United lock horns with Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

GOAL caught up with the USMNT defender to discuss his ambitions, and what it will take to get there

Mark McKenzie knows the label. "Fringe player," he says.

Those are his own words and, while harsh, they are true. There's generally a core group within the U.S. men's national team and, for the majority of his career, McKenzie has been on the outside looking in.

In some ways, he embraces that fringe role. He works hard within it. He plays his part, challenging those in front of him. He fights for whatever small victories he can get. He pushes for more whenever and however he can.

That doesn't mean he likes it, though, and it certainly doesn't mean he's willing to settle for it. After four years with the national team and with a new era about to begin, McKenzie is poised to pounce on the opportunity. He's ready to shed that label. He's lived the life of a fringe player, and wonders, could now be the time to become something more?

"That's been kind of my story with the national team for some time: being there, but not being a 'player' or being one of the 'players' .. just kind of being a fringe player, I guess you can say," McKenzie tells GOAL. "I don't like to put that label on myself, but within the national team, that's always just been my spot. "I've been there with the group and almost breaking through, but not there yet – or haven't been given a chance yet to showcase that consistently. That's been what's kind of held me back from being able to break through on the national team.

"You have to accept that every coach is going to make a decision, and he's not in best position either, so you have to have a sense of grace and empathy for him as well. He's trying to put together the best team he sees and win a game, win a tournament, or at least be successful over over a period of time. It's a difficult position to be in, but nonetheless, there's new opportunity here. It's exciting. The World Cup is on just the other side of the horizon. That's my goal. That's my ambition."

Ahead of September camp and a coaching change that will reportedly put Mauricio Pochettino in charge of the USMNT, GOAL caught up with McKenzie to talk about his rollercoaster career, the toughest moments, his professional goals and his strategy to move from the fringe to center stage.

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  Awaiting opportunity

  This past summer was, in some ways, a milestone for McKenzie. He was selected as one of the 23 players to represent the USMNT at the Copa America. He's one of the best players in the country, one of the elite. His spot in the squad justified that.

  That's not the full story, though. McKenzie didn't play during the Copa. Not a minute. Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Cameron Carter-Vickers all got time, but not McKenzie. He watched on as the USMNT fell apart, inexplicably failing to make it out of the group stage. There was a feeling of helplessness to it all.

  "It's been tough," McKenzie said. "It's been a grind, especially most recently with the Copa America, and not getting any minutes there. I was feeling like I deserved at least an opportunity. But again, I don't have that control."

  McKenzie has no ill will towards Gregg Berhalter, who was the coach that introduced him to the national team, and was ultimately fired in the wake of the Copa America failure.

  "We spent the last five years with Gregg," he says. "We'd gotten to know him well and what he wants in the team, and I can only show appreciation for him bringing the opportunities that I was shown."

  McKenzie has never expected to be handed anything. He does, however, find himself hoping that the next USMNT coach – presumably Pochettino – gives him something he wants so desperately: a fresh start.

  "After experiencing several games with the national team, you want to continue to play at that level," he says. "You want to continue to put yourself in that sphere and be one of the few to represent your country. It's a real honor, it's a privilege, it's a blessing to say you're one of the few who can do that. Every opportunity, every window, every call-up, comes with the idea that I need to step up. I want to play. I want to rise up to the occasion."

  And it's not just about having an opportunity, but seizing it.

  "Sometimes when you get to camp, you do everything you can to put yourself in that position, and like I said before, sometimes it's just not necessarily you," he said. "It's maybe just the coach has certain preferences and the team can be doing well, too. Those are just his people or the players that he prefers. It's hard to be on the outside looking in, naturally.

  "All I can do is control what I can and every time I get a call-up, make sure that that opportunity is something that I put my best towards, that I put my all into. … I need to make sure I'm prepared for that and I showcase what I can do. I need to make sure there are no doubts."

  For some, though, there remain lingering doubts about McKenzie, stemming from one night in 2021.

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  The worst night, and an important lesson

  It was the biggest game of McKenzie's life to that point, and it all unraveled within 60 seconds.

  Heading into the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League final, McKenzie seemed like a rising star. He'd finally broken out of the January camp bubble, emerging as a legitimate centerback with the main group. Prior to the Nations League, he'd started a big friendly against Switzerland and, given his performance at the club level with Genk, he was feeling himself a bit.

  "We were in the Swiss Alps, away from everything, and just really focused on the game," he recalls. "We played Switzerland. It was my first big test against an international foe right before we had the two Nations League matches, and was able to showcase what I could do at that level."

  But?

  "But then you hit a point," he says, "where you let a mistake happen."

  That mistake came less than a minute into the match against rival Mexico. After a backpass from DeAndre Yedlin, McKenzie felt the pressure coming in around him. He tried to play the ball out wide, but didn't get enough of it. Instead, he passed it directly to … an opponent, Tecatito Corona, who made no mistake: 1-0 to Mexico.

  And McKenzie knew it was his fault.

  In his first big international match, McKenzie had made the worst possible first impression. That's hard to recover from.

  "As my dad always says, 'Rise up'. There's no reason why you can't rise up," McKenzie said. "The only thing holding you down is yourself … As a defender, the mistakes can be more costly. I just had to recognize like, 'Look, it happened, but I can't let it kill me now'. We had 89 more minutes, even more because it was a long game, left to play."

  Summoning the confidence to not just continue, but try to excel, in such circumstances is no easy task. And for McKenzie, it was a lesson in not just how to avoid the mistakes, but how to respond to them.

  "That was my first taste of the international level," he said. "Those mistakes can punish you – or sometimes they don't. Those are the mistakes that hurt your team. Recognizing that, taking that in stride, staying cool… it happened, that's the experience, but that's not me. That doesn't define me. It won't define my career. However people want to pin it, that's on them."

  Making matters worse, in the aftermath of that moment, McKenzie was the victim of racist abuse on social media. It changed his perspective on how, as a professional athlete, he can be perceived, and how to deal with what can be an ugly reality.

  "We lack empathy," he says, "because people are getting worked up over a game. It's literally a game of 11 guys playing against 11 guys, chasing after the ball to try and outscore each other. If we really put it into that context, this game isn't changing anything. We have other issues in the world."

  The game is more than just a profession to McKenzie. It's his career, of course, but he also says it's his passion. And that night marked one of the biggest teaching moments of his ride so far.

  "It's like being in a fish bowl," he says. "These are our careers, our livelihood, but this will come and this will go, and there are going to be others that come into it as well. We're humans. We're not FIFA players. FIFA is one thing. I can understand when you make a mistake in FIFA or 2K or whatever the game is, you get mad at the video game. Us, we're just humans as well.

  "When you just talk about the national team and the ups and downs that I've been through, another thing has just been recognizing that every career is different and they're just about accepting the challenges head-on and being able to adapt and adjust on the day."

• The move to Toulouse

  McKenzie can obviously talk about wanting more, but that's not how you actually get it. He knows he needs to prove himself further, and that's why he made his big move this summer.

  After three-and-a-half seasons at Belgian side Genk, McKenzie realized that he'd accomplished all he could with that particular club. He was linked to several other teams this summer but ultimately moved to Toulouse, making the big leap up to Ligue 1. He started his first match against Nice on Aug. 25 and he's hoping that the new challenge in the top flight in France could offer him the springboard he needs with the USMNT.

  "It's making that extra and doing the little things that I felt personally, that was a difference," he says. "That's the step and, ultimately, that's what I wanted to do in my career, right? I wanted to be an environment where it's about winning, but ultimately where you're being challenged because guys are technically that much faster, or guys think that much faster, or guys are tactically that much more sound… I think for me, it's all about the intensity and the quality of players and how fast players are able to think with or without the ball."

  The transfer window quite literally provided an opening, and McKenzie went through.

  "It's about building on the foundation that I've already put in place and doing all the things that have gotten me to where I am," he said. "That was my mindset going into the whole transfer window."

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  The domino effect

  One of the things that makes this version of the USMNT so unique is that many of these players have grown up together. Weston McKennie spent his teen years playing alongside Auston Trusty and Brenden Aaronson. He remembers battles with Tyler Adams before the two ever made it. There are bonds on this team that were formed long before these players ever put on a national team shirt.

  Those bonds, though, are constantly being put to the test. It's a competition, after all. McKenzie grew up with Trusty, but now they're fighting for the same spot. They're among the four centerbacks in camp for September friendlies – the USMNT play Canada Saturday, and then New Zealand on Sept. 10 – and each of those four has a point to prove in a tight race. Ream needs to prove Father Time hasn't arrived just yet. Richards needs to show he's THE guy. Trusty is looking to show he belongs in the picture. And McKenzie wants to move to the front from the fringe.

  "As a player, you have to be able to compartmentalize the individual aspect of the sport," he says, "because when you allow certain individual thoughts and selfish thoughts to intersect or overshadow or deviate into the collective goals and ambitions, then that's when you become detrimental to the team. That's when you become maybe a thorn within the team's side that could push a team in the wrong direction."

  How do you both be a piece of the puzzle, but also help all of the other pieces fit together?

  "If I'm not pushing myself to get the best out of my game and trying to maximize the opportunity, then the next guy, he's not going to do that," McKenzie says. "He's going to feel like he doesn't have to worry it and ultimately, that natural competition that you have will then push him to push himself even harder – and then that pushes the next guy to go even harder. It's a domino effect."

  Everyone on the USMNT knows that the slate is now clean – one coach is out, another is on the way, and spots are back up for grabs. Aside from maybe two or three players, no one is really safe. Players such as McKenzie find hope in that. Others, the locked-in starters, get the motivation to prove themselves again.

  It all leads to fierce battles, especially now. The 2026 World Cup – to be hosted in the U.S., Canada and Mexico – is less than two years away, so players will now be battling with their dreams on the line. Just doing the math, someone will have to miss out. McKenzie has been on both sides of it. He missed a World Cup, but made it to a Copa America. He knows the sting and the joy.

  And In the end, the players you compete with are your friends.

  "We're challenging each other to be better," McKenzie says, "but then again, off the pitch, you have to be able to say, 'Alright, business is business'. We handle our business. We can shake hands and be like, 'Alright, cool, what do you want to get for lunch, bro? Let's go grab some Chipotle. Oh, we've got an off day tomorrow? Let's go get some Chick-Fil-A and chop it up. How's your girl? Oh you're married now?'

  "It creates this dynamic where we can have this healthy competition on the pitch and still be boys off the pitch and not carry it, because when you start carrying that stuff off, then it becomes a problem, and then it becomes a thing where we're not going to be able to be successful."

Since Todd Boehly became owner of Chelsea in 2022, they have spent over £1b to assemble the squad which you see in the present day. Whilst not all of these signings have been a success, they have certainly not been afraid to break the bank on multiple occasions.

Twice in 2023, Chelsea smashed the record British transfer fee, firstly by signing Enzo Fernandez for £107m from Benfica in January. In the summer, they broke the record again, signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton for £115m.

Boehly has also spent lots of money to improve Chelsea defensively. They signed Lyon right-back Malo Gusto for £26.3m, as well as French centre-back duo Axel Disasi for £38.8m last summer, and Benoit Badiashile for £35m in January 2023. Both players were signed from Monaco.

However, Chelsea might not yet be finished signing French centre-backs, having been linked to one of the most exciting Les Bleus talents from recent years, who could well prove to be better than Badiashile.

Chelsea's centre-back target

The man whom Chelsea are reportedly targeting at centre-back is one of the most valuable young defenders in world football, Castello Lukeba of RB Leipzig. According to FootMercato, the Blues enquired about Lukeba this summer, although Leipzig are steadfast in their commitment to keeping him at the club.

According to Transfermarkt, 21-year-old Lukeba at £34m, with Chelsea’s own Levi Colwill the only U21 defender valued at more, £42.9m to be exact. Leipzig paid Lyon almost exactly that to sign Lukeba in the first place, spending £34.3m on the 21-year-old last summer.

Interestingly, Lukeba has a release clause of the value of £60m in his current contract with the German side. However, that does not become active until the summer of 2025, meaning Leipzig are under no pressure to sell him in 2024. He has become a key player for them this season, making 28 Bundesliga appearances so far.

Chelsea might have to fight a Premier League rival for the signature of Lukeba, with Manchester United also rumoured to be interested in the centre-back, according to FootMercato. The Red Devils are thought to have been monitoring the Frenchman “for several weeks”.

How Lukeba compares to Badiashile

If Chelsea were to sign Lukeba in the coming weeks, it would create interesting competition between him and his fellow Frenchman, Badiashile. The first thing to note is that both players are left-footed, meaning they will likely be competing to play in the same position.

Statistically, both players are quite similar. Their progressive passing numbers are almost identical. According to Fbref, Lukeba averages 3.79 progressive passes per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the 62nd percentile. In comparison, Badiashile averages 3.65 progressive passes per 90 minutes, which, as per Fbref, places him in the 58th percentile among defenders in Europe.

Both players are deceivingly quick across the ground, too, which helps them when it comes to ball recoveries. Their numbers are similar here again, with Lukeba averaging 5.90 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, which places him in the top 18% of centre-backs. In contrast, Badiashile averages 5.79 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 20%.

Where Lukeba trumps Badiashile is in his progressive carrying numbers. The RB Leipzig man averages 0.96 progressive carries per 90 minutes, which puts him among the best 20%. Comparatively, Badiashile averages just 0.27 progressive carries per 90 minutes, which ranks him as low as the 18th percentile.

Lukeba would certainly make a good option on the left-hand side of a back three in possession. His pace, ability to defend wide areas and progressive nature would make him a good fit for that role.

Should Chelsea decide to bring the 21-year-old in this summer, it would be an interesting contest between him and Badiashile for a place in the Chelsea backline, especially considering the fact they would need to compete against Colwill for a starting spot, too.

Either way, considering how poorly the Frenchman played against Arsenal – dropping a 2/10 performance in the eyes of GOAL reporter Tom Maston – an upgrade wouldn't be a bad idea, would it?

Boehly must cash in on Chelsea man who dropped a 2/10 v Arsenal

The Blues central defender has been linked with a move away from the club this month.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 24, 2024

Barcelona and Bayern Munich are reportedly in talks with Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah over a late move in the summer transfer window.

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• Barcelona interested in Jonathan Tah
• Bayern also keep line open for defender
• Tah won't extend Bayer Leverkusen contract

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tah has become a target for Barcelona late in the summer window after the uncertainty surrounding Ronald Araujo's injury and Andreas Christensen suffering a new issue just before the start of the regular season. It has been reported that the Catalan side are prepared to shell out close to €20 million (£16.8m/$22.2m).

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The German defender is also a target for Bayern Munich after they lost Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United as per Sky Germany. The report has also suggested that Tah has already told Die Werkself of his intention to not extend his contract which ends next summer. As such, the Bundesliga champions may be ready to sell the 28-year-old. However, Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes has denied the possibility of a sale this summer.

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  WHAT ROLFES SAID

  Speaking to Sky Germany, Rolfes said: "I’m expecting Jonathan Tah to stay. I had no call with Bayern or Barca recently. There are no news at all regarding a deal, so I expect him to stay.

  “We are calm. Tah is a mature player and is totally focused. We are not contemplating any moves.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR TAH?

  With just over 36 hours remaining until the end of the summer transfer window, it is highly unlikely that Tah will be headed anywhere. However, a winter move still remains on the cards with the defender expecting a move away from Die Werkself.

Liverpool will be bidding to keep their Premier League title hopes alive with victory away at Goodison this evening, although there may be a sense of distraction among the travelling party amid the continued hunt to find Jurgen Klopp's successor in the dugout.

Leading target Xabi Alonso has already outlined his commitment to Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen, while talk has also gone cold regarding Sporting CP sensation, Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese coach also earning admiring glances from West Ham United.

With the end of the season fast approaching, it looks as if the Reds have identified a new frontrunner in the form of Feyenoord boss, Arne Slot, although the Dutchman is seemingly not the only high-profile name under consideration…

Liverpool's search to replace Jurgen Klopp

As per various sources – including The Athletic – the Merseyside outfit have already made contact regarding the potential appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur target, Slot, with the 45-year-old having come to prominence after leading the Rotterdam side to the Eredivisie title in 2022/23.

Despite the interest in the one-time AZ Alkmaar head coach, journalist Robin Bairner of Football Transfers has also revealed that Liverpool are keeping their options open, having "held talks" with Lille's Paulo Fonseca.

The report suggests that those discussions took place earlier in the season, with the Portuguese said to be 'admired' by those at Anfield for the work he has done both in France and in prior stints at the likes of AS Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk.

How Fonseca compares to Arne Slot

There is much intrigue surrounding the aforementioned Slot due to his recent success in his native Holland, with the in-demand coach even lauded as "similar to Pep Guardiola" by journalist Marcel van der Kraan, due to his "ultra-attacking" approach.

Fonseca, it must be said, is also intent on implementing a style of play that is pleasing on the eye, having previously told The Athletic that for him, "it's never just about the result", as he seeks for his sides to "dominate and create more chances than the opposition".

In pursuit of trying to "create something spectacular", in his own words, the 51-year-old has utilised that approach to good effect in recent years, notably winning a host of domestic honours during his time in Ukraine – including winning three successive league titles.

As for the current campaign, Fonseca has steered his Lille side to fourth in the Ligue 1 table, having also reached the last eight of the Europa Conference League, where his side were narrowly defeated by Aston Villa on penalties.

Much like Slot, any move for the Mozambique-born coach may represent something of a gamble as he never worked at a truly elite club – perhaps Roma aside – yet according to Fabrizio Romano, he does have the credentials to flourish in the Premier League.

Discussing Spurs' interest in him back in 2021, Romano said that Fonseca "is perfect in the dressing room and perfect in his relationship with the players", perhaps making him an ideal candidate to try and fill the hefty void left behind by the departing Klopp.

As Romano stated, the Liverpool target was also "always appreciated by the fans" during his two-year stint in Rome between 2019 and 2021, ensuring a connection could well be made between himself and the Anfield crowd, if a deal is to be agreed.

As such, while it may be Slot who is taking the limelight at present, Fonseca is certainly not someone to be overlooked as the race to replace Klopp heats up.

Liverpool eye new manager known for unleashing youngsters – it's not Slot

A third target has been identified alongside the rumours surrounding Amorim and Slot.

By
Ben Browning

Apr 23, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur are a team with imperfections. Daniel Levy knows that, as does Ange Postecoglou. Despite losing successive Premier League matches, hampering the bid to qualify for the Champions League, Levy will still be confident that his decision to appoint Postecoglou last year was the correct one.

Fifth in the standings, Tottenham have two games in hand and only trail fourth-place Aston Villa by six points, though still face Chelsea and Liverpool away from home, also welcoming Manchester City to north London.

But should the club miss out on a spot among Europe's elite next year, the progress made under new management should not be discredited, with this developing squad boasting all the signs of a promising project still in its embryonic stage.

Postecoglou's expansive, free-flowing style of football won fans over instantaneously at the start of the campaign but inconsistencies and injuries have since marred the success that saw him become the first manager to win the Manager of the Month award in each of his first three months in the Premier League.

The latest on the never-ending injury front has seen pacy winger Timo Werner pick up a hamstring injury during Sunday's loss against the Gunners, withdrawn after 31 minutes.

Joining Spurs on loan from RB Leipzig in January – with the option to make the deal permanent for £15m – Werner has scored two goals and supplied three assists from ten starting appearances in the Premier League, remarking "I love it here" during one post-match interview.

With trips to Chelsea and Liverpool looming in the English top-flight this week, Postecoglou will likely need to shuffle the pack, with Werner starting the past five games – but who could replace him?

1

The obvious choice

Brennan Johnson

Most Lilywhites supporters wanted Brennan Johnson to start over Werner against Arsenal, offering a fleet-footed style but having also found greater, richer potency in front of goal this season, especially over the past few months.

Signed from Nottingham Forest for a whopping £47.5m fee last summer, the Wales international is shaping into a very useful asset, with plenty of room for improvement but plenty of ways to enflame the ire of Tottenham's opposition.

Content creator Dan Cook – known as 'HLTCO' on X (formerly Twitter) – perhaps summed up Johnson's skill set best, saying: "Brennan Johnson is such an exciting player to watch. He’s got frightening pace and directness; constantly looking to make something happen, it must be an absolute nightmare to defend against him."

While Johnson is typically found on the right flank, his two-footedness makes him a danger wherever he is deployed and he may well be the No. 1 choice to replace his German peer at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

2

The tactical tweak

Heung-min Son

Next we have Heung-min Son, whose return to the left wing wouldn't be a revelation down N17 but given that he's started out wide just twice in 2024, it would be something of a tactical tweak.

Tottenham's long-time star has been in fine fettle this season, scoring 16 goals and supplying nine assists across 30 Premier League matches and playing a pivotal part in his outfit's resurgence under new management.

Of course, with Harry Kane not directly replaced as the focal frontman at the start of Postecoglou's reign, Son is needed at centre-forward, though Richarlison is pushing for a return from the outset and his brilliant purple patch earlier in 2024 underlines his prowess as an efficient striker.

As per FBref, the Spurs skipper ranks among the top 2% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 3% for pass completion and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90.

Only Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah and Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes trump the South Korea star in big-chance creation this season and it's no joke that Son is one of the most dynamic players in the business.

He might be one of the deadliest finishers in the Premier League, but Son can throw down with the best when it comes to playmaking and controlling the flow of play.

Perhaps, playing Tottenham's best forward in his natural position to combat Werner's absence is actually the way to go – who'd have thought it?

3

The academy star

Mikey Moore

The wildcard. The up-and-comer. England's most prodigious talent. That last sentence is admittedly subjective but 16-year-old Mikey Moore has now been training with the Tottenham first team and will be desperate to make his professional debut before the campaign's conclusion.

This season, the dynamic forward has been in staggering form at youth level, scoring 16 goals and providing nine assists for his teammates over just 14 outings across the U18 Premier League and the FA Youth Cup.

Described as a "superstar" by Fabrizio Romano, it's a dangerous game to heap praise too lofty on a youngster before they've even dipped their toes into the senior scene but Moore's age-belying talent makes it hard not to get giddy if you're wearing lily white.

A stunning ball-carrier with a ferocious strike and balletic movements, Moore's regular inclusion in the senior training set-up speaks of the high regard he is held in and he might just find himself unleashed in the fixtures to come, should Werner fail to make a quick recovery from his hamstring issue.

Usually placed centrally for Spurs but enjoying prolific success on the left flank for England, scoring a hat-trick against Croatia U17s last time out, Moore has the built-in athleticism and natural swagger to propel him to the front of the pack and there is now every chance that Postecoglou could decide to unleash his starlet at the season's final stage.

It might just be the start of something special…

Spurs star who dropped a 4/10 in the NLD must never start for Ange again

Tottenham’s top fours hopes were dented following defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 29, 2024

It's all still to play for in the Scottish Premiership title race and Rangers have been handed a boost ahead of their most important game of the season up against Old Firm and title rivals Celtic.

Rangers transfer news

As things stand, the Gers sit three points behind Celtic with Saturday's clash representing a potential title decider. If Celtic win, then they will secure another league title and their first since the return of Brendan Rodgers. if Rangers defeat their rivals, however, then the two sides will be level on points heading into the final stage, when things may be decided on goal difference.

Rangers eyeing move for £2.5m defender dubbed the "best" in his league

The Gers have set their sights on the summer transfer window.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 9, 2024

This means that Rangers need all the attacking options that they can get. Already on that front, they've suffered a blow in the form of Oscar Cortes' continued absence due to injury. The Lens loanee showed plenty of promise at the start of his spell but has been disrupted by injury ever since. Nonetheless, reports suggest that those at Ibrox are still looking to turn his loan move permanent this summer.

In his absence, Philippe Clement could yet receive a boost in the return of Abdallah Sima though. According to Dr Rajpal Brar, Rangers are still hopeful that Sima will play a part this season, despite suffering continued hamstring problems.

Dr Brar told Ibrox News: “Unsure if it’s a reinjury but if it’s just tightness on his hamstring, then he could potentially return before the season.

"The club seem hopeful of his return and it remains to be seen how serious it is, but at this stage, surgery cannot be ruled out.“

Why Sima's fitness is crucial

With 16 goals and two assists to his name this season, no one is questioning Sima's clear quality, but his mounting injury problems should be a concern if Rangers are looking to turn his loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion permanent, as reports have suggested.

The winger has missed 16 games in total for the Scottish giants this season, with his hamstring the main concern. If Rangers are to splash out to welcome him in a permanent deal, then hamstring surgery could be the best way forward to end the winger's problem once and for all to hand the Gers a player capable of making the difference all season long.

For now, however, Clement must hope to get Sima to the end of the campaign. Patching him up for the Celtic clash may prove worthwhile if he is fit enough to make the squad.

The Brighton loanee already showed Celtic what he's capable of a few weeks ago in a thrilling 3-3 draw and is likely to show them once again if presented with the chance this Saturday. Perhaps the key to Rangers' title turnaround, those at Ibrox will be hoping to see their winger make a quick return.

Everything you need to know about the new Barcelona kits for the 2024-25 season.

Barcelona continue to partner with Nike for the 2024-25 season as the club marks its 125th anniversary in style.

Shop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

The American sports manufacturing giants have been supplying the Catalonia-based side's kits since 1998 and the the 26-year-old partnership with Nike will continue despite a switch to Puma being considered at one point.

GOAL takes a look at what the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and co. will be wearing in the upcoming season.

• READ MORE: All the new 2024-25 football kits

• Nike
  

  Barcelona 2024-25 home kit, release date & price

  Shop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

  Barcelona's 2024-25 home kit has been billed as being "inspired by the club's legacy, trajectory and roots" and it is a throwback to the first ever Barca kit from 1899. It was officially released on July 18, 2024.

  Instead of vertical blue and maroon stripes, the 2024-25 home kit features just two blocks of blue and maroon on the torso, with the Barcelona club crest uniting them in the middle, while the sleeves are in corresponding blue and maroon colours.

  The Nike 'swoosh' and the Spotify logo are rendered in gold, while the Catalan colours are visible on the back of the collar.

  Very similar to the iconic 1998-99 season kit – then unveiled as Barca's 100th-anniversary kit (1899-1999) – this kit marks the club's 125th anniversary.

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• Nike
  

  Barcelona 2024-25 away kit, release date & price

  Shop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

  Barcelona's away kit for 2024-25 is a black number, with subtle neon-like flourishes featuring the club colours on the crest and Nike logo.

  The Spotify logo is emblazoned on the front of the shirt and rendered in a pinkish, neon red, while maroon and blue feature on the sides.

  It was officially released in September 2024, just after the season started.

• Getty
  

  Barcelona 2024-25 third kit, release date & price

  Shop Barcelona 2024-25 kits at NikeBuy now

  After some delays, FC Barcelona have finally unveiled their third kit for the 2024/25 season on September 17, as part of their "Together We Rise" campaign, which celebrates the rise of women's football and reflects the belief that women and girls are driving forces behind change.

  Following the success of their two-tone home kit, which celebrates the club’s 125th anniversary, and the black away kit, first showcased against Girona last weekend, the light green third strip has now been revealed. Featuring a unique blend of green hues, it marks a first for the club during this milestone year.

  The Nike Barça 2024-25 third jersey showcases a sleek and contemporary design, blending a soft "Barely Volt" hue with striking blue logos and detailing. Officially, the shades are labeled as "Barely Volt / Old Royal."

  A unique feature of the shirt is the inclusion of a gender symbol, adding a thought-provoking touch to its design. While the color palette isn't entirely new for the Catalan giants, with Volt being a familiar choice, this marks the first time the club has donned the softer "Barely Volt" shade.

  As seen with Nike's other 2024-25 third kits, Barcelona’s jersey includes a rotated Swoosh. The crest sits on the left side in a vibrant monochrome volt design, accented with blue.

  The Blaugrana might debut the new kit in their Champions League opener against AS Monaco on Thursday at the Stade Louis II.

  Released on September 17, the Nike Barcelona 2024-25 third jersey is available for purchase at a price of €150 (£125, $167).

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• Barcelona 2024-25 training kit release date & price

  According to leaks, Barcelona's 2024-25 training kit will be in garnet with inserts of gold and blue.

  Deliberated as the new Nike Vaporknit pattern, the jersey is based on Nike's 2024 national team shirts with a new pattern over the shoulders.

  All the logos, including that of the brand, sponsors and club crest will be embossed in gold.

  The pricing for the training wear is likely to be around £65 ($80) for the adult version.

Harry Kane was defended by Arsenal legend Martin Keown from "out of order" criticism after Bayern Munich star's flop display against Aston Villa.

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• Kane remained goalless against Leverkusen & Villa
• Has faced severe flak from the German media
• Keown put in staunch defence of England skipper

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite Kane’s impressive tally of 54 goals in 53 games for Bayern the German media has taken issue with his recent performances. The England skipper failed to find the net against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend and also drew a blank against Villa on Wednesday evening which has drawn severe media criticism.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After a quiet display in last week's 1-1 draw with Leverkusen, slammed the forward's performance and he was in the headlines again after his showing against Villa, only registering two late shots late in the game as the Premier League side won 1-0.

• WHAT KEOWN SAID

  In response to the criticism, Keown took to the White and Jordan show to address the media’s harsh stance on Kane. He said on : "I think the German media are having an absolute laugh to be criticising him after what he’s done for Bayern since he’s been there.

  "He isn’t the reason they didn’t win the Bundesliga last year. He’s been magnificent. He could’ve got them back into the game against Villa right at the end but Emi Martinez made a great save.

  “I find it ridiculous. If he was German he would be lauded and we’d be talking about him for years to come, but in Germany for some reason they want to criticise him. It’s out of order. 54 goals in 53 games is not someone who is not doing it.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  While Kane may face ongoing scrutiny from sections of the German press due to his recent dip in form, his accomplishments at Bayern are difficult to ignore. His ability to find the back of the net has not diminished, with the 31-year-old scoring 10 goals in eight appearances across all competitions this season. In fact, even in the Champions League he bagged four goals against Dinamo Zagreb, which propelled him to become the highest-scoring English player in the tournament, overtaking Wayne Rooney.

Tottenham Hotspur failed to qualify for the Champions League after looking nailed on for a return to Europe's elite club competition for much of the early days of the campaign, though there is little question that progress has been made under Ange Postecoglou.

Of course, that will now need to be shaped next season, but Tottenham's squad are blessed with a collective malleability that saw Postecoglou drill his philosophy in with efficacy and ease over the first few months – which saw him collect a three-peat of Premier League Manager of the Month awards.

This fast start had seen lofty dreams of title contention lift the previously beleaguered outfit, but after flattering to deceive throughout different zones of the campaign thereafter – a by-product of damaging injuries and a knock to the cohesion – Spurs have had to settle for fifth place.

After seeing Harry Kane sold to Bayern Munich in a £100m transfer last summer, Heung-min Son might have been forgiven for losing his way in the Lilywhites attack – indeed, the South Korean had not been at his best last year and had lost his long-time strike partner.

But, promoted to skipper after Hugo Lloris lost his starting spot last summer, Son has enjoyed an emphatic campaign, scoring 17 goals and adding ten assists in the Premier League.

He's had his detractors in the final phase of the year after seemingly running out of gas, but the club captain is still an elite forward and must serve a central role next year.

The same, however, cannot be said for Richarlison, who might have picked himself up off the wayside after a dismal 2022/23 season – his first after signing under Antonio Conte in a £60m deal – but must be brutally ditched this summer, lest Tottenham stagnate.

Richarlison's season in numbers

Richarlison has undoubtedly improved this term after his abject first campaign as a Spurs player, but he has bobbed up and down in the form rankings and is not quite proving that he is the man to lead the line over the coming years.

To his credit, Richarlison has come on leaps and bounds vis-a-vis goalscoring after suffering from a much-criticised maiden campaign in London, where he was but a shadow of his one-time vigour and vitality as one of Everton's focal frontmen.

The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare noted how much Tottenham had "missed his physical presence" during the closing months of the campaign. While he's only 5 foot 10 in height, the Brazil international is a fearsome and tenacious player, ranking among the top 9% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for interceptions, the top 1% for blocks and the top 8% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.

The thing is, Tottenham don't lack his physical presence as much as they lack a physical presence at the spearhead. Son is a wonderful footballer and one of the finest finishers in the Premier League, outperforming his xG (expected goals) for the past eight seasons in a row, as per Understat.

However, the 31-year-old's inability to exert his dominance up front has left Tottenham feeling somewhat toothless in recent months – this is one of the predominant reasons behind Spurs' late-season struggles, and indeed Son's.

Richarlison offers that angle to Tottenham's attacking arsenal, so to speak, but is he really the best physical dominator available to Postecoglou? The craggy-faced Australian deserves plaudits for the work he's doing at Tottenham but the direction the club are headed hangs in the balance.

It's imperative that Tottenham make the right choice this summer.

Why Spurs should sell Richarlison

Let's dig into the first, frankest reason that Postecoglou must ditch Richarlison: his hardly impressive injury record. Across his two campaigns in north London, the one-time Watford forward has missed 20 fixtures due to injury, equating to 21% of Tottenham's football.

This is a real problem heading back into European competition next season, with a heightened expectation to compete across multiple fronts. Tottenham only played four matches across the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this year too, and the manager will definitely expect his squad to wade deeper after the off-season.

Richarlison is also a player categorised by purple patches, which in itself is not a bad thing but his demonstrable failure to maintain scoring rates at a steady pace compounds the ebb and flow in results and performance levels that Spurs failed to shake under Postecoglou.

But most importantly, Richarlison earns a pretty penny at Tottenham, with a salary not reflecting his standing in the squad nor his point on the Spurs scale.

Above is a table comprised of first-team stars earning less than Richarlison. The fact that he is taking home greasier bacon than right-back Pedro Porro, who has been immense this season and one of Tottenham's finest players, hailed for his "outstanding" term by his manager, is remarkable.

But moreover, Tottenham's deserved Player of the Season, Micky van de Ven, is not even on that list, earning £50k per week after transferring from Wolfsburg for £43m last summer.

Of course, Richarlison was an established Premier League striker when he alighted down N17 but there's no way that, in hindsight, he boasts a standing and quality in the squad to accurately reflect his earnings – and indeed the outlay to bring him to the team.

Postecoglou is understood to have identified a multitude of players to be sold this summer. Newly-crowned Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal are preparing a bid for Richarlison in what adds to news from GiveMeSport that Tottenham will now prioritise a move for Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez, who posted 26 goals and eight assists this season.

The Lilywhites must show their ruthless streak this summer to build from a promising foundation, and Richarlison must be sold.

Spurs lining up “priceless” Hudson-Odoi partner in £50m “monster”

Ange Postecoglou’s side showed promise this season but improvements are patently required.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 25, 2024