The USMNT boss has a roster emerging that he can trust, with several playing their way into – or out of – World Cup contention
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Even as he raved about the performance of some of his U.S. men's national team stars, Mauricio Pochettino continued to offer caveats. Yes, some players shined in this camp. No, that wouldn't guarantee them anything in the future.
"It's open," Pochettino said Tuesday night. "It's open for every single USA player that is playing here or outside of this country. I think we need to feel that possibility."
Pochettino does genuinely mean that. He is assessing all options, particularly now that the team is in a better place than it was earlier this year. The focus is no longer on which players are committed and passionate, but rather the players that fit into the system and the players that will, ultimately, make this team better on the road to and during the 2026 World Cup.
Several made their cases during this international break, which began with a 1-1 draw with Ecuador last weekend and concluded with a 2-1 win over Australia on Tuesday night. Both performances were, by and large, strong. Both were huge improvements on what we saw even last window. And both offer a glimpse into the style and substance the USMNT could play with next summer.
Pochettino is assembling his pieces. There seems to be a group emerging that he can trust, with several playing their way into – or perhaps out of – that group over the last few days.
"Not only do you need good players, but you also need good teammates, good people, people that put the interest of the national team above their own interests," Pochettino said. "That's is important to see: the behavior in situations when you're not playing well. We take notes and then, of course, we'll see when we decide the roster."
Who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.
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Stock up: Tanner Tessmann
For months, there’s been a defensive midfielder-sized hole next to Tyler Adams. Who would fill it? Would Johnny Cardoso step up? Couldn Weston McKennie slot in? What about Yunus Musah? At the moment, the player seemingly best equipped to play next to Adams is actually Tanner Tessmann.
Tessmann didn’t do anything flashy this camp, although he did have one ridiculous pass at the end of the Australia game. He, generally, won’t be asked to do anything flashy. What Pochettino wants from that spot is someone who can hold space while Adams roams and destroys. He also wants someone who can play the ball forward in ways that Adams can’t.
In that sense, Tessmann seems like a perfect fit. His defensive awareness has improved massively and he’s always had the athleticism and skill on the ball required for the position. Because of that, he’s in a good spot right now.
"The goal is for the U.S. to win the World Cup," he told GOAL last week. "It's not about me winning the World Cup. When you win, your country wins the World Cup. Whatever I can do to make that happen, I'm going to do it. That's my No. 1. So, even when I'm left off, it's personally disappointing, but when I see the guys go out there and play well, I love seeing that. I just want to be available, be healthy and be there controlling what I can control.
"At the end of the day, the decision is up to other people. They select the team, and I trust their decision. At the end of the day, it's about America winning the World Cup, not me winning the World Cup."
Much can change over the next few months, something Pochettino has said time and time again. At the moment, though, Tessmann seems like the best answer to a question that’s been on the minds of USMNT fans for some time.
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Stock down: Cameron Carter-Vickers
Throughout camp, Pochettino did his rotating. Much like previous camps, Pochettino wanted a look at different things but he also wanted to manage the altitude that impacted everyone in that second game outside of Denver. Despite all that, we never saw Cameron Carter-Vickers – and that means that the Celtic star missed a chance.
We haven’t seen Carter-Vickers since that messy Nations League window in March, and Celtic’s European elimination in the early weeks of this season will do him no favors. This seemed a good camp for him to get into the team and prove he can play in a back three, something he generally doesn’t do on the club level.
Instead, Chris Richards and Miles Robinson started twice with Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie handing off the spot beside them. That leaves Carter-Vickers staring down the reality of the depth chart.
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Stock up: Haji Wright
Of the USMNT's strikers, none are in better form than Haji Wright. He showcased that on Tuesday, as he ensured that that form carried over on his cross-Atlantic trip.
Handed his first USMNT start in a year, Wright made the most of his opportunity. After missing much of the Gold Cup due to injury, Wright responded with both goals in the 2-1 win over Australia. The first was the finish of a striker in-form as the Coventry City star blasted a shot into a place where no goalkeeper could stop it.
The second was a bit of finesse: a curled effort that was preceded by a dribble that saw Wright totally breeze past his defender. It was a statement game from a player that has been making a lot of statements on the club level, where he currently leads the English Championship in goals. Wright now has 11 goals and his last 11 games for club and country.
"I think I have to just continue to perform", Wright said after the game. "If I just shut off now, my chances will probably diminish. I'm happy it happened, but can I try to build off that now?"
He'll have to do that. Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are seemingly penciled in as the top two options, with the former asserting himself as the No. 1 with his own goal this window and Pepi still bouncing back from injury. Wright seems to be the one just behind.
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Stock down: Josh Sargent
Speaking of other strikers in the pool, it feels unfair to pick on a guy that wasn't in camp. But such is the reality of Sargent's current situation. Everyone knows the scenario: Sargent scores boatloads for his club, but hasn't scored for his country since 2019. It's a problem, one that could have and should have been solved by now.
It hasn't, though, and while Sargent has been unable to change that trend, others have popped in with goals. This camp it was Balogun and Wright. Over the summer, it was Patrick Agyemang. At the moment, it seems like all four of those guys are ahead of the Norwich City star.
Now the big question is how – or if – Sargent can fix it. Scoring goals at Norwich is great, and he's proven he can do that for years. The big question will remain if he can do it for the USMNT. With only two international windows remaining before the World Cup and a need to see more from the four strikers ahead of him, there may not be a chance for Sargent to change perceptions.
Because of that, it's getting tougher to see a scenario for Sargent to push his way into the World Cup picture. Strikers, however, are tricky, as one run of form either way can change a roster. That said, Sargent's runs of form tend to come in the wrong shirt as his USMNT struggles seemingly continue to haunt him.
Chepauk will be abuzz on Sunday for the next installment of the IPL’s most-storied rivalry
Deivarayan Muthu22-Mar-20255:07
Can Mumbai Indians bounce back this season?
Big picture: IPL’s most-storied rivalryChennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI). The winningest IPL teams, with five titles each, will renew IPL’s most-storied rivalry on the opening weekend of the new season.It’s also a changing rivalry. An entire generation was used to seeing MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma walk out for the toss and call the shots. In IPL 2024, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Hardik Pandya took over captaincy but neither could lead their team to the playoffs. While CSK narrowly missed out, MI finished rock bottom and Hardik faced up to hostile receptions from their fans.Related
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Hardik has likely won the MI fans back by helping India to the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy titles, but he will miss Sunday’s game at Chepauk because of an over-rate offence from last season, with Suryakumar Yadav set to stand in as captain. Jasprit Bumrah’s injury – he is likely to be unavailable until April – disrupts MI’s balance even further. How can they replace two irreplaceable players?History is also against MI. The last time they won the opening game of their season was way back in 2012. Coach Mahela Jayawardene said he was reminded of it even before their first press conference of the season.As for CSK, they’re back to their happy place – spin-friendly Chepauk. They have packed their squad with slower bowlers in a quest to maximise their home conditions. While R Ashwin will roll back the years – he has already said “it feels like 2011 again” at a recent book launch in Chennai – along with Ravindra Jadeja, Noor Ahmad might provide a peek into the future with his left-arm wristspin.Dhoni’s arrival in Chennai last month was enough to cause a stir. Imagine the kind of frenzy that could grip IPL 2025 if he reprises his age-defying six-hitting from last season.A full house at Chepauk, where the gates will be open to the public three hours before the start of the game, will be quite the spectacle.MS Dhoni prepares to bat at the nets•PTI New loyaltiesDeepak Chahar has played all of his 81 IPL games with Dhoni in the same squad at both CSK and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS). For the first time in his career, he will go up against Dhoni and CSK. Chahar and Trent Boult could form a mouth-watering new-ball partnership for MI. Mitchell Santner, who was also a familiar face at CSK for a number of years, has also found a new home at MI.Rookie seamer Anshul Kamboj, who made his IPL debut for MI last season, has moved to CSK for IPL 2025. Given his ability to swing the new ball both ways, he’s a candidate to replace Chahar at CSK along with Khaleel Ahmed.Team news & likely XIIsCSK’s players are injury-free, but they have a problem of plenty. Devon Conway or Rachin Ravindra? Vijay Shankar or Deepak Hooda? Sam Curran or Jamie Overton? Khaleel Ahmed or Anshul Kamboj?Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Devon Conway/Rachin Ravindra, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Deepak Hooda/Vijay Shankar, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), 9 R Ashwin, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Matheesha Pathirana, 12 Khaleel Ahmed/Anshul KambojIn the absence of Hardik, Suryakumar will lead MI in their opening fixture. South Africa allrounder Corbin Bosch, who won the SA20 with MI Cape Town, might be brought in to provide the balance that Hardik usually does, unless MI lean towards an extra overseas spinner in Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Satyanarayana Raju, who often bowled at the death in the Andhra Premier League, might come in as an Impact Player, in place of one of the batters, when MI bowl. Raju, 25, was among the first group of bowlers to bowl at the nets on the eve of the game.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Naman Dhir, 6 Robin Minz, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Corbin Bosch/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Karn Sharma, 11 Trent Boult, 12 Satyanarayana Raju/Ashwani KumarBig questionMI have previously had high-profile overseas players like Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga. This season they have some relative unknowns in the IPL like Ryan Rickelton and Bosch. With two of their highest-profile Indian players unavailable for their opener in IPL 2025, how will they manage without compromising on their batting depth or bowling options? Is Bosch the best candidate to slot in for Hardik?In the spotlight: Noor Ahmad and Suryakumar Yadav Noor Ahmad, the 20-year-old Afghanistan wristspinner, has already been named by Gaikwad as a player to watch out for from CSK. His ability to turn the ball both ways at quick speed could give CSK’s attack a potent point of difference, especially at Chepauk. The last time he played a franchise T20 tournament on spin-friendly surfaces, he was often unplayable and came away with the Player-of-the-Tournament award in CPL 2024. Noor isn’t new to the Super Kings set-up: he has already worked with Stephen Fleming at Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA.Suryakumar Yadav has not passed 15 in his last five T20 innings – and fifty in his last nine innings – but MI have brushed off any concerns around his form. In his last innings against CSK at Chepauk, in 2023, he was tied down by Jadeja, Maheesh Theekshana and Moeen Ali on a slow track. Can he turn things around on Sunday?Key statsBoult has been bossing Gaikwad, having dismissed him three times in 26 balls in the IPL while conceding only 23 runs.Suryakumar has struggled against Jadeja in the IPL, managing 45 runs in 59 balls at a strike rate of less than 77 while being dismissed three times.Ashwin is the leading wicket-taker at Chepauk in the IPL with 50 strikes in 42 innings at an economy rate of 6.26.CSK have won five of their last six matches against MI, including three on the trot.Pitch and conditionsA slow track, which might aid spin, is likely to be rolled out for Sunday’s game. There’s a chance that both teams could pack their XIs (or XIIs) with three frontline spinners. Dew was a major factor during IPL 2024 and also during TNPL 2024, but the new IPL rules, which allow the team bowling second to get the ball changed on demand once anytime after the tenth over in evening games, might help counter that.Quotes”It [CSK’s opening combination] is decided, but it is not good to reveal here (laughs).”
“The show must go on. There are boys who can take up the responsibility and are very keen to take the field tomorrow.” Next three fixturesCSK will have a four-day break before they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Chepauk once again on Friday. They will have a shorter turnaround before they meet Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati next Sunday. They will then head back home for an afternoon game against Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 5.MI will continue to be on the road. Hardik will be back to lead them against his former team Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on March 29 before they make the trip to Mumbai for their first home fixture of the season, against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, on March 31. From the high-scoring Wankhede, they will go to a potentially low-scoring Ekana stadium where they will face Lucknow Super Giants on April 4.
The captain Ashleigh Gardner chipped in with 52 as Giants chased down 144 with 12 balls remaining
Srinidhi Ramanujam16-Feb-20253:53
Mithali Raj impressed with Priya Mishra’s talent
Gujarat Giants were inspired by Priya Mishra’s three-wicket haul and captain Ashleigh Gardner’s breezy 52 to post a comprehensive six-wicket win over UP Warriorz in their second home game of the WPL 2025. Giants were a much-improved outfit with the ball and on the field, and followed it up with a clinical batting effort where the likes of Harleen Deol and Deandra Dottin also chipped in, to chase down a modest 144 in Vadodara with 12 balls remaining.With the injured Alyssa Healy not available and Chamari Athapaththu making way for Alana King, Warriorz lacked power up front. New captain Deepti Sharma’s 39 and Sophie Ecclestone’s excellent bowling performance went in vain as Giants bounced back from the opening-day loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru to get off the mark early in the tournament.Related
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Gardner hits second fifty as Giants captainGardner carried on from where she left off, scoring yet another crucial fifty to lift Giants from 2 for 2. After her unbeaten 79 in the opener against RCB, Gardner came in to bat as early as the second over after Giants lost Beth Mooney and D Hemalatha early. She got going by scoring back-to-back fours off the debutant fast bowling-allrounder Kranti Goud in the third over.She was particularly brutal against Saima Thakor, who conceded 20 runs in the fifth over. Two of the three sixes of the over were hit by Gardner, one over long-on and another over deep midwicket. She used her feet well to charge down the ground when necessary and converted full tosses into fours or sixes. With Laura Wolvaardt, she stitched a crucial 55-run stand for the third wicket.She brought up her fifty off 28 balls, with a humongous six over deep square leg off Alana King after flicking away the previous ball to deep backward square leg for four. Overall, she hit five fours and three sixes.With 131 runs in two matches at an impressive strike rate of 195.52, Gardner is the leading run-scorer of the tournament as of now.Dottin’s all-round performanceAfter Tahlia McGrath dismissed Gardner in the 12th over, Giants needed 58 off 49 balls. But Dottin came in and swung her bat straightaway over midwicket to collect her first six, off King. Putting her power game to use, she punished McGrath for two more fours in the next over and released pressure off Giants.The dew factor and a few dropped catches didn’t help Warriorz either as Deol also played the role of anchor to keep the chase at a healthy run-rate. Deol made an unbeaten 34 off 30 balls while Dottin hit a quickfire 33 that included three fours and two sixes.Earlier, with the ball, Dottin struck in the second over, dismissing Kiran Navgire with an inswinger and then knocked off Uma Chetry with a short ball in the tenth over when Warriorz were just trying to steady the ship after a few early wickets.Ashleigh Gardner smacked a fifty off 28 balls•WPLMishra’s momentum-changing overWarriorz were 73 for 3 after 10 overs, and with McGrath and Grace Harris yet to come, they would have hoped for a lift-off. But Mishra landed a big blow by removing both the Australians in the span of three deliveries. For McGrath, she bowled a googly that skidded on in line of middle and off and scrapped past the batter’s inside edge and hit the pad first, and then off the bat and onto the pads. McGrath reviewed the lbw decision but it was struck down.A ball later, Mishra bowled another googly, a flighted delivery on off, and Harris went for a big slog across the line only to be beaten on the inside edge as the ball crashed onto the stumps. Mishra let out a loud roar after producing a statement performance.Warriorz struggle with the batAfter being asked to bat, Warriorz decided to open with Kiran Navgire and Vrinda Dinesh, who had suffered a shoulder injury last season after playing four matches. But neither of them made an impact with Dottin and Gardner striking inside the powerplay.Uma Chetry, at No.3, also toiled to middle a lot of deliveries but utilised her strong bottom hand to smash four boundaries in her 27-ball 24. With Deepti at the other end, the duo produced a 51-run partnership to rescue Warriorz from early jitters. Deepti, who had hit an unbeaten 88 against Giants last year while batting at No.4 the only other time before Sunday, was the positive of the lot and smashed 39 off 27. She used her trademark sweep shots to good effect and also kept the scorecard ticking in the middle overs with pull shots and punches off the backfoot. Eventually, Deepti was also dismissed by Mishra in the 15th over.Despite the late flourish at the end of the innings thanks to Thakor and King, Warriorz finished with an under-par total.The Ecclestone vs Wolvaardt battleWolvaardt was keen to charge down the track and disrupt the bowlers early into the chase but was challenged by Ecclestone. Though the scorecard might not offer a glimpse into the battle, Warriorz were briefly in the game, thanks to Ecclestone. After the England left-arm spinner picked up her first wicket off the second over, she was given another over in the powerplay.Wolvaardt shimmied down and smashed one down the ground for four after missing Ecclestone’s first ball of the fourth over. Four dot balls followed. Eventually, Wolvaardt fell to Ecclestone for 22 off 24 balls. In a moment of indecision that left her neither playing forward nor back, she was beaten on pace in the ninth over. Overall, Wolvaardt scored six runs off Ecclestone’s ten balls with only three scoring shots in it.Ecclestone finished with figures of 2 for 16 but that wasn’t enough for Warriorz.
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke wants the club to do more business at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window closes next week.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Arsenal on Saturday, the German head coach outlined how he would like the rest of the window to look over the next seven or eight days.
Farke said: “Let’s see if we do even more offensive signings. One maybe two would be beneficial. I’m not too strong about numbers. I think it’s necessary to do something in the full-back position.
“Noah and Dominic are two really good options but to have two or more signings for the offensive it would be beneficial but while not doing anything silly.”
Leeds were put to the sword by Arsenal, losing 5-0 at The Emirates, after those comments from Farke, and the front three showed that they may not be up to the task of starting week-in-week-out in the Premier League.
Wilfried Gnonto, for example, was not a guaranteed starter in the Championship for the German boss last season, yet has found himself starting both games in the top-flight this term.
Why Leeds may need an upgrade on Wilfried Gnonto
The Italy U21 international only started 26 of his 43 appearances in the second tier last term, per Sofascore, as Dan James and Manor Solomon were the preferred wing pairing when fit.
Solomon’s return to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of his loan spell left a vacant position on the left flank, though, which has been occupied by Gnonto so far.
It remains to be seen where new signing Noah Okafor will fit in, as the former AC Milan man has played on both wings and as a central striker in his career.
This means that one of the forwards that Farke wants to add to the squad before the end of the window could be a left-sided attacker to fill that spot that Solomon vacated, as Gnonto has yet to prove that he can be a regular starter in the Premier League.
The Italian forward scored nine goals and provided six assists in the Championship last term, which was a solid return, but he has had a less-than-impressive start to the top-flight campaign.
Minutes
67
66
Shots
3
0
Shots on target
0
0
Key passes
0
0
Big chances created
0
0
Dribbles completed
0/2
0/2
Duels won
4/10
4/8
As you can see in the table above, Gnonto did not register a shot on target, create any chances, or complete any of his attempted dribbles in over two hours of football in the first two matches.
Leeds United'sMateoJosephcelebrates with Ethan Ampadu and Wilfried Gnonto
The 21-year-old attacker, who scored two goals in 24 games in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign, may not have what it takes to deliver quality on a regular basis at that level, which is why the club may need an upgrade on him.
Leeds ready to pay £30m to sign new forward
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieiri, Leeds United are keen on a deal to sign Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa before the end of the summer transfer window, and he could be an upgrade on Gnonto.
The reporter claims that the Whites are ‘leading’ the race to bring the French forward over to England, with Nottingham Forest also said to be interested in snapping him up.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Tavolieri adds that Leeds are ready to pay the £30m asking price that Strasbourg have placed over Bakwa’s head, which is why they are now at the front of the queue of suitors.
However, the journalist does not reveal whether or not the Whites are in active talks with the Ligue 1 side or if they have already made an offer for the 22-year-old star.
It is now down to the Championship champions to agree a deal with Strasbourg and convince the player to make the move to West Yorkshire, before Forest have a chance to swoop in.
Why Leeds should sign Dilane Bakwa
The Whites should push to bring Bakwa to Elland Road before the end of the summer transfer window because he could arrive as a big upgrade on Gnonto, as a player who can play on the right or the left flank.
Whilst the Italian gem is only 21 and has room to develop into a Premier League-grade starter, the Strasbourg star’s performances in Ligue 1 suggest that he is ready to hit the ground running with goals and assists.
RC Strasbourg'sDilaneBakwacelebrates scoring their first goal with teammates
Bakwa created one ‘big chance’ and registered an assist in his team’s 1-0 win over Metz in Ligue 1 on the opening day of the current season, before he came off the bench to provide another assist against Nantes on Sunday.
The 22-year-old star’s performances in Ligue 1 in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns also suggest that he has the quality at the top end of the pitch to make a real impact for Leeds in the Premier League on the left wing.
Appearances
31
30
xG
3.17
4.36
Goals
3
6
Big chances created
13
12
Key passes per game
1.6
1.6
Assists
6
8
As you can see in the table above, Bakwa has created an eye-catching 25 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 61 games in Ligue 1 in the last two seasons.
This shows that the French star, who was described as “menacing” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could provide more than Gnonto as both a scorer and a creator of goals, given what he has shown in one of Europe’s major leagues in comparison to the Italian’s exploits in the Premier League.
Bakwa’s ability to play on either the left or the right flank also provides Farke with flexibility in how he can set his side up. He could play Bakwa on the right, as a left-footed player, with Okafor on the left, or the French star on the left with Dan James on the right, or even vice versa.
Not just Gruev: Farke must drop 4/10 Leeds star who lost 100% duels
Daniel Farke should ruthlessly drop this Leeds flop as well as Ilia Gruev for the next Premier League game.
ByDan Emery Aug 24, 2025
The signing of the £30m-rated star would, therefore, open up a lot of interesting possiblities for the manager, tactically, whilst also providing him with an upgrade on Gnonto, on both flanks.
Melbourne Renegades squeezed out a two-wicket win over Perth Scorchers on a much-criticised Marvel Stadium surface to end a six-match losing streak against the West Australian team.Social media fired up over a patchy-looking outfield which looked well below its best following a university graduation ceremony last week attended by tens of thousands of people, plus several recent concerts from Pearl Jam and Coldplay, among others.Chasing Scorchers’ 8 for 143, Renegades were well placed at 3 for 96 in the tenth over, but lost 5 for 44. Captain Will Sutherland scored the winning runs with one over to go.Scorchers’ batters found the going tough on a seaming wicket after being sent in, with Renegades paceman Tom Rogers (3 for 22 off four overs) instrumental in another strong bowling performance.Cooper Connolly (66 off 50 balls) and BBL debutant Matthew Spoors (29 off 26) were the only double-digit scorers for Scorchers. While Scorchers limped to 4 for 48 at halfway, Renegades bashed 42 off their four powerplay overs.They remained well ahead of the run rate through cameos from Tim Seifert (28 off 14), Jacob Bethell (30 off 22) and Laurie Evans (24 off 18).Scorchers spinners Ashton Agar (1 for 20 off four overs) , Connolly (1 for 17 off three) and captain Ashton Turner (1 for 3 off one) slowed the run rate, as well as took wickets. A brilliant direct-hit run-out by Matthew Kelly at deep midwicket reduced Renegades to 7 for 128 after 16 overs, and Fergus O’Neill was caught at mid-off with four needed off nine balls.One of the game’s major features was an outstanding fielding performance from Renegades’ livewire Mackenzie Harvey. He pulled off a sensational catch at midwicket, taking a leaping backward one-handed grab to dismiss Spoors. Mackenzie also executed a direct hit run-out and saved several runs with his fielding.Scorchers took 11 balls to score their first run, and O’Neill (1 for 18 off four overs) didn’t concede any up to his ninth delivery – and then only from a misfield.Australian one-day and T20 representative Connolly scored just one off his first 12 balls, but blasted Scorchers to a respectable score, belting six sixes – including two off successive balls over cover off quick Kane Richardson.Renegades improved to 2-1 while Scorchers dropped to 1-2 after successive loses.
This summer just keeps on getting better and better for Chelsea.
On top of their impressive performances on the pitch, the Conference League champions have been incredibly effective off of it, in the transfer market.
The latest player who looks set to join Enzo Maresca’s revolution is the promising Jorrel Hato, whose move from Ajax has already been given the “here we go” treatment from Fabrizio Romano.
However, there is one deal the club are supposedly keen on doing, which could split the fan base: signing Alejandro Garnacho.
The Manchester United ace feels like someone the club do not need at the moment, especially as they could use the money on someone else they’ve been linked with, someone who’d be a far better signing.
Chelsea target better signing than Garnacho
There may be a sizable portion of the Chelsea fan base who don’t like it, but as things stand, it does appear as if the club are interested in Garnacho.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Stories from earlier this week claimed that the Blues would push for the United ace towards the end of the window, and that he could end up costing around £40m.
While the Argentine is undoubtedly a talented player, and there is therefore a chance he could be a hit at Stamford Bridge, this still feels like a transfer that could be a mistake, especially when the club are supposedly still interested in someone who’d be a far better signing.
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho
At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Chelsea are one of several teams keen on England international Marc Guehi.
In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues have already made contact with Crystal Palace over the talented defender.
In terms of the money needed to sign the 25-year-old, the story claims Palace want €50m, which comes out to around £43m, and while that’s not cheap, it feels like fair value for a player of Guehi’s quality, and helps make the case he’d be a far better signing than Garnacho.
Why Guehi would be a better signing than Garnacho
While we aren’t denying that Garnacho is a talented youngster with some impressive elements to his game, it’s clear to us that Guehi would be the far better signing for Chelsea this summer, and there are several reasons why.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
The first is the simple fact that adding a Premier League-proven centre-back, who’s heading into the peak of his powers, would have a far larger impact on Maresca’s side than adding another young attacker would.
For example, if the United ace were to play in attacking midfield, he’d have to act as backup to Cole Palmer and, if he were to play on the left, we doubt he’d get in ahead of the recently signed Gitten.
Appearances
216
Goals
8
Assists
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.05
National Team Caps
23
In contrast, a partnership at the back of Levi Colwill and the Palace ace feels like one that could make a massive difference to the team, both thanks to his vast experience and the simple fact he’s an excellent defender, as exemplified by his 23 senior England caps and the slew of top sides vying for his signature.
Moreover, according to research carried out by The Athletic, the “monster” defender, as dubbed by reporter Bobby Manzi, is just two years from reaching his peak age.
In contrast, the Argentine is around six years away from reaching his peak, and the club should be looking to win things in the coming seasons.
Finally, the chance of the Eagles ace joining the team and causing problems in the dressing room feels incredibly low, which cannot be said about the Madrid-born star.
He has already publicly fallen out with Ruben Amorim, and it was such a severe falling out that, according to some stories, the manager told him he’d have to pray another club came in for him this summer.
Ultimately, Garnacho might be a talented youngster and someone who could be a great player in time, but thanks to his vast experience and dependability, Guehi would be a far better assignment this summer.
More exciting than Hato: Chelsea close to agreement for "phenomenal" CF
The talented gem could be a superstar for Chelsea.
Chelsea are mounting a serious push to sign a “mature” player who’s also a wanted man at Liverpool, with Enzo Maresca looking to shore up a key area of the squad which could be central to a major overhaul.
Maresca’s side are currently in the midst of an intriguing Club World Cup campaign after a long campaign, and they’ll face-off against Portuguese heavyweights Benfica in the last 16 after luckily avoiding Bayern Munich in the next round.
Player left "very surprised" by Chelsea decision with five-man sale possible
The west Londoners have U-turned over giving him a chance under Maresca.
1
By
Emilio Galantini
Jun 25, 2025
The CWC is a controversial talking point given the clubs taking part will have precious little rest before the start of preparations for next season, but Chelsea are reportedly determined to win the tournament, especially with the significant prize money on offer for the victors.
Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season
Average match rating
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
They’ve already pocketed £8.8 million in performance-related prize money after winning two of their opening three games, and if they get past Benfica, Chelsea will receive another £10.1 million (Standard Sport) – taking their total windfall from the CWC to nearly £20 million, plus their participation fee.
This kind of cash could do wonders to assist Chelsea’s recruitment drive whilst helping them comfortably avoid the PSR threshold, with Maresca reportedly keen to sign a new centre-back alongside wingers and a striker.
Their backline could look very different by the commencement of 2025/2026 in particular, as journalist Graeme Bailey recently reported. It is apparently very possible Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga could all be sold before deadline day, with Chelsea having their eyes on firmly on Ajax defensive starlet Jorrel Hato, among others.
The versatile centre-back/left-back could upgrade the heart of Maresca’s defence whilst providing adept cover for Marc Cucurella, and he could be available for just £40 million.
Chelsea have held talks with Ajax over signing Hato, according to journalist Simon Phillips, and they’re still very much in pursuit of his signature.
Chelsea "pushing" to sign Jorrel Hato
As per Bailey, speaking to TBR Football in an update, both Arsenal and Liverpool are big fans of the Netherlands international, and Arteta’s side have been following him since his early teens.
However, Chelsea are “pushing hard” for Hato, so it could be the west Londoners who reign supreme in the race for his signature.
“We know that Chelsea are pushing hard to sign Hato and Liverpool still really like him. But I think Arsenal would be annoyed if they didn’t get Hato considering how much work they’ve been putting in,” said Bailey.
“Arsenal have been chasing Hato since he was around 14 or 15 years old, so I think there is a bit of confidence there. They want to sell Zinchenko to make room for Hato and then we still expect Kiwior to go as well.
“There will be plenty of room in that squad for Hato who is able to play a variety of roles.”
England international and ex-Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson knows his Ajax teammate very well, calling Hato “very mature” for his age and tipping him for a bright future.
“It’s crazy how young he is, but obviously how mature he looks when he’s on the pitch and also off the pitch,” he told Ajax’s official website, via the Liverpool Echo.
“He’s a very mature person. Works hard. Fantastic player. And yeah, he has a bright future ahead of him, I’m sure.”
استقر الجهاز الفني لـ منتخب مصر الثاني، على مواجهة منتخب البحرين خلال شهر أكتوبر المقبل، ضمن الاستعدادات قبل المشاركة ببطولة كأس العرب المقبلة.
ولعب منتخب مصر ضد تونس، على ملعب هيئة استاد السويس، وديًا، في إطار الاستعدادات للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025.
طالع.. فيديو | منتخب مصر يكرر فوزه على تونس وديًا بثلاثية استعدادًا لـ كأس العرب
وقرر حلمي طولان المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الثاني بدء الترتيب للمعسكر المقبل في أجندة شهر أكتوبر.
من جانبه، أعرب الكابتن حلمي طولان المدير الفني للفريق عن سعادته بنتائج المعسكر الأول وتحقيق الفوز في مباراتيه أمام تونس، مشيدًا بالتزام اللاعبين وروحهم العالية خلال المعسكر سواء في مقر الإقامة أو التدريبات.
وأكد المدير الفني على الاستجابة الكبيرة للاعبين لتعليمات الجهاز الفني والتي تؤكد أننا نسير في الطريق الصحيح نحو المنافسة الجادة في بطولة كأس العرب.
ووجه حلمي طولان الشكر لمحافظ الإسماعيلية ورئيس هيئة قناة السويس على الدعم الكامل للفريق خلال معسكره، ولجماهير الإسماعيلية التي وقفت وراء الفريق في المباراتين. مواعيد مباراتي منتخب مصر الثاني أمام البحرين
وتحدد السفر إلى البحرين يوم 6 أكتوبر وأداء مباراتين وديتين هناك أمام نظيره البحريني الأولى يوم 9 أكتوبر والثانية 13 من الشهر نفسه.
Tottenham Hotspur’s frontline has impressed throughout the 2024/25 campaign, posting some impressive figures despite their lowly Premier League standing.
The Lilywhites posted a total of 64 league goals in their 38 outings – an average of 1.68 per game, with only six teams in the division scoring more throughout the same period.
Brennan Johnson finished as the club’s top scorer with 11 goals, securing an impressive turnaround after criticism from the supporters led to the Welsh international deactivating his social media accounts.
His £47.5m switch from Nottingham Forest was seen as a huge investment, but given his goal in the Europa League final, it now looks to be money well spent by the hierarchy.
They have the opportunity to land another deal of that magnitude this summer, with new boss Thomas Frank undoubtedly needing funds to transform the squad ahead of 2025/26.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
Over the last couple of weeks, new attackers have been on Spurs’ radar, as the hierarchy look to further boost the options currently available in the final third.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has constantly been touted as a potential option for the club, with the Lilywhites in a battle with Manchester United for the Ghanaian’s signature.
However, another name has been mentioned over the last couple of days, with Brentford’s Yoane Wissa also on the club’s radar, according to The Guardian.
They report that the hierarchy have held internal talks over a move for the DR Congo international, who netted 19 league goals in 35 appearances under Frank this campaign.
It also states that they could face competition from Nottingham Forest, after Nuno Espírito Santo’s side once again entered the race after having a £22m bid rejected back in January.
Why Wissa would be a better signing than Mbeumo for Spurs
After the arrival of Frank from Brentford last week, it’s no surprise to see some of the Dane’s former players linked with a move to North London during the off-season.
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after the match
Alongside Wissa, winger Bryan Mbeumo has also been mentioned as a potential target, unsurprisingly so given his 20-goal season for the Bees in 2024/25.
The Cameroonian has been one of the most dangerous attackers this season, being one of only five players in the division who have achieved such a feat.
However, Frank will face stiff competition from Manchester United for the 25-year-old’s signature this window, with the London outfit demanding a fee in the region of £70m to part ways with him this summer.
Such a fee seems a little steep, with any pending arrival taking playing time off top scorer Johnson, which could be a controversial decision given his form this campaign.
As a result, Wissa would be a better addition, with the “unbelievable” forward, as labelled by Frank, offering a central option – a position that has been a struggle since Harry Kane’s departure.
When comparing his stats to those of current talisman Dominic Solanke, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing the need to pursue a move for the Congolese star.
Games played
35
27
Goals & assists
23
12
Shot-on-target accuracy
46%
40%
Pass accuracy
77%
70%
Passes into final third
1.4
1.1
Aerials won
46%
43%
Progressive carries
1.9
1.2
He’s massively outscored the club-record signing, whilst also posting a higher shot on target rate – showcasing his clinical nature when in the final third.
The Bees star has also completed more passes and made more passes into the final third, handing the likes of Johnson to improve their own tallies in 2025/26.
His all-round quality is also reflected in his aerial success rate and progressive carries per 90, able to play as a focal point or play on the shoulder of the defender if needed.
It’s unclear how much the Bees would demand for his signature this summer, but he’s proven that he’s a top-level Premier League forward who could further improve Spurs’ fortunes.
Brentford's YoaneWissacelebrates scoring their first goal
Given his impact, the hierarchy need to look past Mbeumo and focus on Wissa, with his addition handing Frank another attacking star in his quest in North London.
Better than Semenyo: Spurs open talks to sign "one of the best wingers"
Tottenham are looking to sign a new forward this summer.
Rangers supporters surely can’t wait for this miserable season to finally end.
On Wednesday night, Barry Ferguson’s side fought back from a goal down win 3-1 at Ibrox, with Cyriel Dessers scoring twice, before Nicolas Raskin made the points secure for Rangers late on.
Having also smashed Aberdeen 4-0 on Sunday, the Gers have secured back-to-back home wins for the first time since 2 February; they were without a win in seven successive matches at Ibrox beforehand.
The Light Blues will conclude the campaign against in-form Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday lunchtime, but most Rangers supporters are more preoccupied with wondering who their next manager will be.
Well, could we find out very soon?
The latest on Davide Ancelotti to Rangers
Earlier this week, a report by Madrid-based outlet AS claimed that Davide Ancelotti is one of the front-runners to become the new Rangers manager.
Anthony Evans of the Daily Record noted that it has ‘taken us all by surprise’ that Ancelotti is the ‘leading contender’, even if Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes he is ‘one of the most sought-after’ coaches in world football.
On Monday, it was confirmed that his father Carlo, will become the new Brazil manager, with Davide now hoping to pursue his own managerial career.
Nevertheless, it would surely be a major risk at this juncture for the new 49ers ownership group to appoint a 35-year-old with no prior experience of being a head coach, so here’s who they should hire, or should we say re-hire, instead.
Who should be the new Rangers manager?
According to a report by Mick Brown of Football Insider, Rangers are ‘set to step up their efforts’ to re-hire Steven Gerrard as manager, adding that the board are eager to appoint a new manager ‘quickly’ ahead of the transfer window opening and then pre-season.
Steven Gerrard
Mike McGrath of the Telegraph has previously documented that Gerrard is on the 49ers ‘longlist’ of candidates, but could he now be at the front of the queue to secure an Ibrox return?
The 44-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Al-Ettifaq in January, with John Duerden of the Guardian describing his time in the Saudi Pro League as ‘mostly underwhelming’, winning just 19 of 55 matches in charge of the Dammam-based outfit.
However, the Liverpool legend was significantly more successful during three and a bit years as Rangers boss, as the table below outlines. His reputation became “amazing” in the words of former England defender Glen Johnson and it’s not hard to see why.
Rangers’ season-by-season review 2016-2021
Season
SPFL
Points
Scottish Cup
League Cup
Europe
Pre-Gerrard
2016/17
3rd
67
SF
SF
Did not qualify
2017/18
3rd
70
SF
SF
Qualifying round
Gerrard appointed
2018/19
2nd
78
QF
SF
Group stage
2019/20
2nd
67*
QF
F
Last 16
2020/21
1st
102
QF
QF
Last 16
2021/22
Gerrard departed after 13 Premiership games.
*season curtailed due to Covid
All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt
Indeed, Gerrard led Rangers to their only Premiership title since 2011, going the entire league campaign undefeated, winning 32 of 38 matches.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout describes Gerrard’s tenure as “impressive” considering he took on a “very difficult” job, while Ewan Murray of the Guardian documents how he was ‘adored’ by the Rangers support, despite requiring three attempts to ultimately topple Celtic, historically preventing ten-in-a-row in 2021.
StevenGerrard
Speaking on talkSPORT, Rangers legend Ally McCoist believes Gerrard “would be welcome back”, adding that a return could be best for all involved.
So, having proved he can deliver silverware in the past, Gerrard is surely the perfect candidate to be re-appointed.
He'd kickstart Ancelotti era with a bang: Rangers in talks for first signing
Rangers could kickstart the Davide Ancelotti era with a bang by signing this star.