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La Roja have proved that you don't have to be boring to win international trophies following their thrilling run in Germany

Sometimes football can be straightforward. Over the coming days, England's Euro 2024 campaign will be relentlessly dissected from all angles – and there's a lot to get through.

Why did Harry Kane move with the verve of an arthritis-stricken manatee all tournament, for example? Could we not have subjected Kieran Trippier to dangerous, experimental surgery to make him left-footed? And why did Declan Rice seem to forget England were playing in white in Berlin?

All of these posers are worthy of extensive analysis. However, the final itself can be understood fairly simply: Spain are a better football team than England, so they won.

La Roja's triumph wasn't down to having a vastly-superior talented squad, though. As we've heard so many times over the past year or so, this might just be the best Three Lions group in history, especially in terms of strength in depth, while Spain even had to fare without Player of the Tournament Rodri for the entirety of the second half.

Instead, Luis de la Fuente's side's emergence as the standout Euro 2024 team was a result of their brave playing style and well-balanced team selections. And it's a campaign that the Football Association should look at closely as they map out the country's likely post-Gareth Southgate future.

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  Innovation mixed with familiarity

  Right from the outset, Spain have been the footballing story of the tournament. Their opener against Croatia marked an extremely significant moment for a nation that has worshipped at the altar of tiki-taka for the best part of two decades.

  In their maiden outing at Euro 2024, De la Fuente's charges registered a lower share of the possession than their opponents for the first time in 136 matches. All the hallmarks that would go on to make this Spain side special were present in that encounter.

  Flying wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal were unplayable for significant spells, adding a refreshing directness to proceedings that had been lacking under Luis Enrique. Rodri was coolness personified and complemented nicely by the tidy-but-expansive Fabian Ruiz and pass-master Pedri. Alvaro Morata, not always universally appreciated, played his part as the selfless, nuisance centre-forward too.

  Their performance earned them plenty of admirers, as well as a 3-0 win. There was much more success to come, too.

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  Best tournament team in recent memory

  Spain completed the group stage with a 100 percet winning record, first downing Italy in the most one-sided 1-0 victory of all time, before a much-rotated side beat Albania by the same scoreline. This set up a last-16 meeting with Georgia.

  The minnows would take the lead thanks to a Robin Le Normand own goal, though four different scorers ensured that there would be no repeat of Spain's shock World Cup elimination at the hands of Morocco. The attacking fluency they showed that day was quite incredible, with a 76% share of possession resulting in 35 shots on goal.

  Germany in the quarter-finals presented a more intimidating challenge, but they found a way as La Roja's marvellous midfield trio showcased their talents. Substitute Mikel Merino was the hero, grabbing the extra-time winner, but early sub Dani Olmo, Rodri and Fabian were all sensational, pressing as a unit and using the ball positively to help send one of the favourites out.

  France were slain next, in what will go down in history as Lamine Yamal's coming-out party to the world. The teenager scored a world-class equaliser before Olmo provided his own moment of magic to settle proceedings and book a place in the final.

  Spain were heavy favourites against England and, after edging the first half, began to carve open their opponents after the interval. Williams found the breakthrough inside two second-half minutes, and if it wasn't for some lame finishing and Jordan Pickford's heroics between the sticks, the game would've been over before Cole Palmer equalised with an exquisite strike.

  As it turned out, though, this was simply a pothole on Spain's procession to the title. Four minutes from time, Mikel Oyarzabal finished off a typically incisive counter-attack to ensure football came home – to Spain, that is.

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  Easy on the eye

  When you look back at their run to the title, it's impossible to not be seriously impressed. Placed in a tricky group and then on the difficult side of the draw, Spain still managed to become the first team to win seven games at a European Championship.

  This wasn't solely a triumph of results, though. Spain's feat is made all the more noteworthy by just how watchable they've been. Free-flowing, full of energy out of possession and capable of keeping hold of the ball with relative ease when they need, they've looked like an elite club side in a sea of relative dysfunction this tournament.

  Their bravery and confidence has been eye-catching, too. Only Portugal averaged more progressive carries per 90 minutes at Euro 2024, and they also made the top four for take-ons attempted, carries into the final third and progressive passes.

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  Challenging the status quo

  Witnessing the best footballing team of the tournament lift the trophy has also challenged the orthodoxy of recent international tournaments. At Euro 2016, Portugal quite frankly stunk up the place going forward, before clutching a dramatic final victory against France.

  Didier Deschamps' side have hardly been entertainers themselves, either. Considering the insane talent at Les Bleus' disposal, the amount of eye-catching displays they've treated us to over the past eight years is staggeringly low, with solidity being prioritised above all else. Even at the most-recent World Cup, Lionel Scaloni's victorious Argentina were shocked by Saudi Arabia in the opening game and were far from convincing during the knockout stages, relying on grit and determination to get the job done.

  These case studies have resulted in a widely-held belief that in order to triumph at tournaments, you need to adopt a safety-first approach. England boss Gareth Southgate certainly subscribed to this particular truth, especially after their World Cup exit in 2022. In Qatar, the Three Lions played the most entertaining football of his reign, only to crash out in the quarter-finals.

  Scarred from that experience, he largely opted to revert to type by keeping things safer this tournament, instructing his charges to remain compact before counting on substitutions or individual moments of xG-defying magic to win games. Reaching the final might suggest his methods have been vindicated, but playing in this way means you must be pretty much spotless defensively or exceedingly lucky. They were neither in Berlin.

Tottenham could be a part of one of the "biggest transfer stories" this summer as news comes out of N17 this week.

Lange making transfer plans to sign winger for Spurs

Technical director Johan Lange enjoyed quite the debut transfer window at Spurs in January, sealing early deals for Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin before eventually helping the club to hijack Barcelona's move to Swedish sensation Lucas Bergvall.

Ex-Tottenham scout thrilled as Spurs eye James Maddison-like move

The north Londoners have been told they’re targeting a player akin to their current star.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 8, 2024

The Dane is now making preparations for the summer window alongside Chief Football Officer Scott Munn, with ex-managing director Fabio Paratici also thought to be assisting Spurs on a consultancy basis.

Tottenham apparently want a star winger as their major signing of the next transfer window, leading to their reported interest in the likes of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and Wolves winger Pedro Neto lately.

This is despite the Lilywhites already possessing an abundance of quality out wide, with Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner all proving brilliant in recent weeks.

Spurs have the option to sign Werner permanently from RB Leipzig for around £15 million, so it will be interesting to see if they trigger that clause given the German's fine start to life in north London.

In any case, Ange Postecoglou's side do in fact end up going for another wide player, they have plenty of options – with pundit Paul Robinson telling Tottenham News that Eze would be a great capture.

“I think he’d be a great signing for Tottenham, I mean we’ve seen his qualities in the Premier League this season,” said Robinson.

"He’s 25, with his attacking prowess, he has the ability to play in the midfield but more of an attacking midfielder. You look at the options Tottenham have got in those areas, Brennan Johnson’s come in – would they have signed Eze last year ahead of Johnson? There’s an argument potentially they would have done if they could have done."

Tottenham to look at signing Nico Williams

Now, though, it appears another option for Spurs could be Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams.

The £43 million winger has bagged three goals and seven assists this season, with Chelsea and Arsenal thought to be real admirers. According to journalist Ryan Taylor of The Mirror, Spurs could look to sign Williams ahead of their London rivals, in what he describes as potentially one of the biggest transfer stories this summer.

The Spaniard looks set to be a hot commodity this summer, and his £43m release clause may well be a luring factor for Tottenham.

The Red Devils cannot afford a bad start to the 2024-25 season, and much will depend on who is selected to start on the flanks

“We want this club back to where it was more than a decade ago, to a club that wins the Premier League, which can win Champions Leagues," Erik ten Hag said in an interview with Dutch outlet last week. "We are really a long way away from that, I think."

Heading into the third season of his reign, the Manchester United manager is still desperately trying to temper expectations among a fanbase starved of tangible success over the past 10 years. It could be argued that the Red Devils are no better off now than when Ten Hag initially joined the club from Ajax in 2022, with an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League last term representing an all-time low. He has, however, somehow managed to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS that he is the right man to lead their revolution.

The minority owners have handed Ten Hag a new two-year deal, mainly as a reward for his role in the development of United's younger players and May's unlikely FA Cup triumph over noisy neighbours Manchester City. But as we all know, new contracts don't serve as a security blanket for managers in the modern era. If United don't hit the ground running in 2024-25, Ten Hag's future will once again be called into question.

To keep the wolves from his door, the 54-year-old has to settle on his strongest line up, and the biggest conundrum he faces is in wide areas. United's 2-0 pre-season win over Rangers on Saturday could go a long way to making the decision process easier, though, with Amad Diallo and Jadon Sancho both reminding everyone of their frightening potential – to varying degrees.

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  Sancho's last chance

  United's new £52 million ($68m) signing Leny Yoro was the headline act at Murrayfield, and the 18-year-old defender didn't disappoint, justifying comparisons to club legend Rio Ferdinand with his elegance on the ball and imposing physical stature. But the second-biggest story of the day was Sancho making his first appearance for the Red Devils in almost a year, after finally mending his fractious relationship with Ten Hag.

  Sancho was shipped back to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January after publicly criticising Ten Hag, but he's now back in the first-team picture at Old Trafford, and looks set to be given a final chance to prove his worth. "Everyone can make a mistake. If the player reflects on this well, you draw a line and move on," Ten Hag added in his sit-down with . "This club needs good players, and one thing is certain: Jadon Sancho is a very good player. I hope that we will still click and that he will contribute to our success."

  It didn't quite click against Rangers. As was the case throughout his first two seasons at United, Sancho only showed glimpses of his quality as he struggled to make a decisive impact in the final third. But he did at least take some risks on the ball, and considering it was his first outing after his summer holidays, the performance was encouraging enough to suggest he does still have plenty to offer.

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  'Has to be Amad's year'

  Unfortunately for Sancho, he was eclipsed by the man on United's opposite flank. Amad's first few years at Old Trafford have been equally frustrating, in part because of injuries, but the Ivorian's persistence paid off at back end of last season as he started to earn regular minutes on the right wing.

  Against Rangers – a team where he spent a forgettable loan spell in 2022 – Amad was electrifying, utilising his pace and dazzling dribbling skills to create numerous openings for United. The 22-year-old also managed to cap an impressive display by opening the scoring, cutting in on his left foot before firing an unstoppable low shot into the far corner.

  This was the same version of Amad that netted the winner against Liverpool in an epic FA Cup quarter-final tie in March, before going on to inspire a 3-2 home win over Newcastle – one of the few bright moments in United's dismal Premier League campaign. He can be the difference-maker on his day, but the time has come for him to show he can deliver on a consistent basis.

  "We have to see Amad in a different way. Of course, he’s still young but he is not inexperienced anymore," Ten Hag told after the game. "At the end of last season, he had a very good time in our first team and played some good games. Now for this season, this has to be the year."

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  Move aside, Marcus

  Amad's versatility gives him an edge over Sancho when it comes to nailing down a spot in Ten Hag's XI. The two-footed Ivory Coast international can function on both wings, as a No.10, or potentially even as a false nine – a position he took up on occasion while on loan at Sunderland.

  Sancho was initially signed to solve United's problem on the right, where he excelled for Dortmund last term, but Amad looks set for an extended run there now. That's not necessarily a bad thing for Sancho, though. He's naturally right-footed and has the capacity to cause far more damage when cutting inside, while he also tends to make more vertical runs from the left.

  That is where Sancho's future could lie, but up to this point, Marcus Rashford has been blocking his path. The once-beloved academy graduate was United's best player in 2022-23 as he reached the 30-goal mark for the first time, inspiring Ten Hag's side to Carabao Cup glory and third place in the Premier League.

  But Rashford should no longer be considered untouchable. The 26-year-old didn't just fail to live up to the same high standards last season; he let the club, the fans, and most importantly himself down on his way to posting just eight goals in 43 appearances.

  The injury-enforced absence of Luke Shaw came as a real blow for Rashford, but that doesn't excuse his dramatic decline in performance or his disinterested body language. United were exposed constantly down the left side because Rashford shirked his defensive duties and he squandered countless attacks by misplacing passes or attempting shots from ridiculous angles.

  It has been suggested United could sell Rashford if a suitable offer comes in this summer, which would be in the best interests of all parties concerned. But if he stays put, Sancho or Alejandro Garnacho – who can also switch between the left and right – should be ahead of Rashford in the pecking order.

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  Ten Hag's biggest mistake

  That being said, Rashford is not the most disappointing winger in United's ranks right now. That unwanted title actually belongs to Antony, the mercurial Brazilian who has proven to be all style over substance since his £85m ($110m) move from Ajax two summers ago.

  United have confirmed that Antony missed their first two pre-season outings against Rosenborg and Rangers due to a "niggle", but even when fully fit, it's difficult to see how he gets back into the team. Antony has managed just 16 goal contributions in the iconic red shirt to date, a total that doesn't even come close to justifying the club's huge financial outlay.

  But far more worrying than any statistic is the fact that Antony has looked completely out of his depth in English football. The 24-year-old has plenty of tricks in his locker, and a dangerous left foot, but he's surprisingly slow and far too predictable.

  The Brazil international yet to come up against a Premier League defender he can beat one-on-one, which has been a huge problem for United. When he plays, the Red Devils' threat down the right is almost non-existent.

  Getting Antony off their books may be out of the question for United this summer because of how far his stock has plummeted. It doesn't help that Ten Hag still has his head in the sand either, with the delusional Dutchman "still convinced that he has the potential to play at this club".

  Make no mistake: it would be a travesty if Antony plays ahead of Amad again in the upcoming campaign. Ten Hag has made plenty of mistakes in his time in Manchester, but letting a talent like Amad go to waste in order to accommodate such a limited footballer would be unforgivable.

A top European club are reportedly excited at the prospect of selling their "Rolls-Royce" player this summer, with Liverpool in the race to sign him.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds will have a new manager in place by the time the summer transfer window arrives, at which point the individual in question will be eyeing a number of new signings to be more suited to their style and system.

Centre-back is one position where Liverpool could look to upgrade in, ahead of Joel Matip's likely exit at the end of the season, and Crystal Palace ace Marc Guehi has reportedly held talks with the Merseysiders over a summer move to Anfield. The 23-year-old may feel like a switch to a bigger club could enhance his England hopes moving forward, having potentially outgrown his current club at this point.

Shakhtar Donetsk ace Georgiy Sudakov is another player who has been backed to join the Reds in the near future, although the youngster has a mammoth £128m release clause in his current deal with the Ukrainian giants.

In another rumour, Liverpool are believed to be in pole position to complete the signing of Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, should the new manager feel that further midfield additions are required, despite last year's rebuild in that area of the pitch.

Club excited to sell "Rolls-Royce" Liverpool target

According to a fresh report from Record [via Sport Witness], Porto are "rubbing their hands together" at Liverpool's interest in Alan Varela this summer, as they look to receive big money for one of their most prized assets.

His price tag appears to be rising all the time, as he prepares to face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and he has a €70m (£59.6m) release clause in his current deal.

Varela continues to stand out as an excellent option for Liverpool this summer, although it only makes sense if Thiago departs, as is expected when the injury-prone Spaniard's current deal expires at the end of the season.

At just 22, the Argentine is at the opposite end of his career to Thiago, with so much more to come from him, but he has also become a vital player for Porto, making 31 appearances since joining from Boca Juniors, and scoring and assisting twice apiece for good measure.

Varela has even been compared to former Liverpool favourite Javier Mascherano, who was such a popular and influential presence at the base of the midfield between 2007 and 2010, helping them reach the 2007 Champions League final and making up the "best midfield in the world" alongside Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.

James Pearce can't believe what he's heard on Liverpool's penalty claim

How wasn’t Alexis Mac Allister awarded a penalty?

By
Henry Jackson

Mar 11, 2024

The young midfielder may not be a priority target, with the defence arguably needing more focus, but signing him could be an outstanding long-term piece of business.

Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as favourites to land Joao Neves from Benfica, according to a new report.

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• PSG make major bid for Neves
• Set to offer Benfica a €70m bid
• Will also include players in the deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neves has been in demand this summer for multiple clubs after impressing in Portugal with Benfica. However, as per Fabrizio Romano, PSG have now emerged as the frontrunners for the 19-year-old's signature.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Romano reports that PSG have made a bid of €70 million (£59m/$75.9m) for the Portuguese midfielder and are also going to include multiple players in the deal with Benfica's demands currently being much higher. Renato Sanches could be one of the players included in the transfer.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Neves will sign a five-year deal with the Ligue 1 champions and will earn a reported annual salary of €5 million (£4.2m/$5.4m), with the youngster is expected to become a starter for Luis Enrique's new-look side.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR NEVES?

  The Portugal international has not yet started pre-season with Benfica following his Euro 2024 campaign with Portugal and if PSG strike quickly it is possible that he will start his preseason with the French side.

Mason Mount has outlined his and Manchester United's goals this term as the ex-Chelsea man insists he's "ready" to make an impact.

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• Mount swapped Chelsea for Man Utd
• Had tough, injury-hit debut season at Old Trafford
• Says team are "ready" for the new campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mount swapped Chelsea for United in a £60 million ($76m) transfer last summer but his first campaign at Old Trafford would be a frustrating one; so much so, that he was even linked with a swift exit. Injury and form struggles limited his game time, but now, the 25-year-old appears confident he and the Red Devils can have a far more positive 2024-25 season.

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  WHAT MASON MOUNT SAID

  In his first public interview since his unveiling at United, he told the club's website: "We know what we can do as a group and I think we showed it at the end of last season. We definitely have a group that can win trophies and that's the most important thing. We'll keep trying to do that and stay focused on that goal, because this is Manchester United and we need to set the bar as high as we can and we know how high the bar is. Now it's time for us to perform. But we're ready for it, as I said, and as many trophies as we can get, win as many games as we can. That's our focus throughout the whole group. We're definitely on the same page.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mount was once seen as one of England's brightest rising stars but his form in recent seasons has seen him fall out of favour at Chelsea, flatter to deceive at United, and fail to pick up more England caps. After a £60m move, pressure is on the midfielder, who nearly joined Arsenal or Liverpool instead, and his team to deliver. Whether they can do that this term remains to be seen.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Mount's United side take on Real Betis on Wednesday, followed by Liverpool on Saturday as they round off their United States of America tour. Then, a week later, they lock horns with rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley.

Dan Ashworth is already pushing for a Manchester United move to sign a Premier League star, according to a new update.

Ashworth to Man Utd latest

It is no secret that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has wanted to bring in Ashworth from Newcastle United as the Red Devils’ new sporting director, with the 53-year-old currently on gardening leave at St James’ Park.

Those at Old Trafford need to negotiate a deal with Newcastle for Ashworth, with journalist Ben Jacobs expecting a compromise to be reached between the two clubs.

"If Manchester United get to a point where they are prepared to wait, whether it gets done today, tomorrow or next week becomes less relevant because they have got more time.

"Everyone knows that Dan Ashworth will end up at Manchester United. His move to Old Trafford isn't really in any doubt, otherwise Newcastle wouldn't have announced that he was leaving. It's just a case of ironing out the club-to-club negotiations, and I eventually expect a compromise to be reached."

Report claims Man Utd are in talks with "unique" manager to replace Ten Hag

The Red Devils could make the change this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Mar 12, 2024

Should a move go through, Ashworth will be tasked with bringing in new players for Erik ten Hag, should the Dutchman remain in charge, and there have been rumours over a double deal for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana.

There has now been an update on the former of the two, with Ashworth getting involved.

Ashworth pushing to sign Branthwaite for Man Utd

According to Football Transfers, Ashworth is now pushing to sign Branthwaite for Man Utd after persuading INEOS and Ratcliffe that the 21-year-old is the player the club need to build their defence around.

Ashworth is hoping to conclude a swift deal, with those on Merseyside wanting around £75m for the centre-back, which could be broken down into £65m plus add-ons. Branthwaite has certainly caught the eye recently, with both Real Madrid and Tottenham also looking at the player.

He has been a regular under Sean Dyche and has come in for praise from Jamie Carragher, who said just last month: “I think he is [special]. And what is really special as well is the amount of centre-backs we have in the Premier League aged 21 or younger.

“Branthwaite has been outstanding, Murillo I think has been outstanding. But I think this lad has been pretty special and he’s a big part of why in my eyes Everton still have a great chance of staying up, him and his partnership with Tarkowski.”

Rangers have been dealt a potentially massive injury boost ahead of a defining period in their season, according to a fresh update at Ibrox.

Rangers dogged by injuries

The Scottish Premiership giants return to action with the league visit of Hibernian on Saturday afternoon, knowing they can go two points clear of Celtic at the top of the table, once they have played the same number of matches.

While Philippe Clement's side are in a great position to seal a special achievement this season, a string of injuries are threatening to hold them back in their quest for glory.

The likes of Danilo, Kieran Dowell and Abdallah Sima have all been relatively long-term absentees, affecting the level of depth at the manager's disposal. Those aren't the only individuals who are unavailable currently, however, with key midfielder Todd Cantwell also among those on the injury list.

Ridvan Yilmaz has now been added to the absentees, too, having hurt his leg on international duty last week, acting as a real concern, considering he has featured regularly at left-back this season, making a total of 22 appearances in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers handed Yilmaz huge injury boost

According to a source who has spoken to The Daily Record, however, Yilmaz could be back for Rangers' massive clash with Celtic, with his injury suffered for Turkey not as serious as first thought:

"We’re hoping the recovery process will only take seven to 10 days. Fortunately the injury is not too severe. While we don’t want to put an exact date on it, we’re hoping he will be in the squad or, even better, on the pitch against Celtic."

This is fantastic news for Rangers, assuming Yilmaz does make a speedy recovery, considering how close a potentially defining league clash with Celtic is. The Gers host their biggest rivals on April 7th, and the result at Ibrox could easily end up determining where the title ends up come the end of the season.

Granted, Borna Barisic is a safe pair of hands who could fill in for the Turk if he is not back in time for the pivotal derby clash, but the latter has been more of a regular under Clement for a reason, representing a younger option.

His manager has also said of him, "he has made a really big evolution – Ridvan is a fighter and we need fighters," with his mentality something that could really come to the fore as a critical period in the campaign arrives.

Rangers hit gold on £4m gem who's worth more than Osimhen in 2024 money

Rangers struck gold by selling a striker in 1995 for a big profit

By
Ross Kilvington

Mar 26, 2024

Given Rangers' bad luck of late, it wouldn't be a shock to suddenly see Yilmaz ruled out of the Celtic match, missing more action than this update has claimed, but having him available would be a welcome shot in the arm.

Bournemouth have agreed to sell star striker Dominic Solanke to Tottenham for a club-record fee.

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• Solanke eager to make Spurs switch
• Personal terms already agreed
• Bournemouth will receive club-record fee

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Athletic report that Bournemouth and Tottenham are closing in on an agreement for Solanke, with the striker "desperate" to complete a move to north London. The Cherries are expected to receive a club-record fee that will eclipse the £41 million ($52m) sale of Nathan Ake to Manchester City in 2020.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In Solanke, Ange Postecoglou is acquiring a forward well suited to his pressing system. The 26-year-old is just hitting his peak but is a keen runner and can also play with his back to goal. The England international will have the chance to prove himself at the top again after failing to do so with Chelsea and Liverpool.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Bournemouth's No.9 bagged 19 goals in the Premier League last season. It takes his total tally in the division to 29, meaning the one-cap international scored over half his goals in the top flight in just one campaign.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SOLANKE?

  Providing the formalities of the deal pass without any issues, Solanke will be hoping to join up with Spurs soon to get familiar with his new team-mates ahead of the club's Premier League opener against Leicester.

The Women's Super League giants won this battle between champions, with young England star Aggie Beever-Jones also shining in a good pre-season debut

There was plenty going on as Chelsea, champions of England, visited Gotham, champions of the United States, for a pre-season friendly on Monday. Be it the NWSL side's U.S. women's national team stars showing off their Olympic gold medals, tennis icon Billie Jean King participating in the ceremonial torch lighting before kick-off or the excitement around Gotham's Jess Carter and Ann-Katrin Berger coming up against their former side, it was all happening. Amid it all, though, the Blues got straight down to business as they recorded an impressive 3-1 win in their first outing of the summer.

Gotham were missing some big names for this match, particularly the six Olympic champions who watched from the stands, though they have also just reached the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup final without those players and thus boasted not only a deep squad, but one with much better match fitness than a Chelsea side who haven't played since May. That didn't show in the first half, though, as the Blues' first match under new head coach Sonia Bompastor began with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd breaking the deadlock after just seven minutes.

The Swedish winger quickly made it two when she combined well with Aggie Beever-Jones before the young England star got her name on the scoresheet before the half-hour mark, Rytting Kaneryd returning the favour when she released her team-mate behind the Gotham defence with a dangerous long ball.

Through an unlikely source, the NWSL champions got back into things quickly enough, with who else but Carter netting her first goal for the club when she finished a free-kick like a centre-forward, rather than a centre-back, to pull one back for the hosts against her former team. Yet, despite Hannah Hampton being forced into a strong save by Yazmeen Ryan's free-kick only a couple of minutes later, Gotham were unable to maintain real pressure on Chelsea and, as substitutions disrupted the flow of the second half, the game would peter out into a 3-1 result for the visitors thanks to that electric start.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Red Bull Arena…

• USA TODAY Sports
  

  WINNER: Lauren James

  It's been three months since fans last saw Lauren James in action, the electric forward having to miss all four of England's summer fixtures due to a foot injury that proved annoyingly problematic while the Lionesses were securing automatic qualification for the 2025 European Championship. Fortunately, any concerns those associated with club and country might have had were eased on Monday as she returned to action at Red Bull Arena.

  It wasn't one of James' most outstanding performances – she struggled to get involved, in truth – but that's not any big worry in the first game of pre-season. Instead, the positive was that the 22-year-old moved freely and got 45 minutes under her belt after a difficult summer.

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• LOSER: Erin Cuthbert

  As pre-season begins, injuries are the worst fear for any manager, player and fan and, on Monday, one was dealt to one of Chelsea's most important players as Erin Cuthbert limped off with just 20 minutes on the clock. It was bad luck that the Scotland international awkwardly tumbled to the ground while battling away in midfield, and it resulted in a player who so rarely stays down under a challenge giving Bompastor cause for concern.

  The positive was that Cuthbert was able to somewhat walk off the pitch herself, with aid from the medical staff, rather than needing to be stretchered away. However, the knock to her knee was still worrying as the midfielder was in clear discomfort as she returned to the dressing room.

  It'll take a few days for the full extent to be known and the club will hope for good news as to lose Cuthbert would be to lose not only a crucial player, but also a key leader in this team.

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  WINNER: Aggie Beever-Jones

  Last season was a breakthrough one for Beever-Jones, the versatile forward who is Chelsea through and through and has been at the club since she was nine years old. After loan spells with Bristol City, in the Championship, and then Everton, in the Women's Super League, the 21-year-old came to the fore in Emma Hayes' final year and scored at a remarkable rate, despite often being used as a substitute. She was so good, in fact, that it led to a senior England debut.

  For the coming season, competition in the forward areas has only increased. Sandy Baltimore, an established France international, has arrived from Paris Saint-Germain, the young Lucy Watson has joined the pre-season tour hoping to show that she has what it takes to have her own breakthrough year and some long-term absentees will return to the fold before the end of 2024, namely Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel. There is also a new coach to impress in the bid to be in the starting XI.

  However, any concerns that Beever-Jones' game time could be impacted by any of these factors were quickly squashed on Monday night as she made a blistering start to the pre-season tour, showing new boss Bompastor just why Hayes trusted her.

  For the first goal, it was the winger who picked up a loose ball in midfield and restored calm by teeing up Cuthbert for her assist; the second saw Beever-Jones show clarity in her decision-making when she cut the ball back to Rytting Kaneryd after making a good run; while the third, her goal, was about her speed, awareness and finishing. The 21-year-old only looks likely to build on last year after this first glimpse of 2024-25.

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  WINNER: Lucy Bronze

  Chelsea's starting XI on Monday felt like a big indication that Lucy Bronze is going to get the role she craves with the Blues. Bompastor did not hold back with her line up, putting out what was essentially a full-strength team, and it was the England star who she chose at right-back, ahead of Eve Perisset and Ashley Lawrence.

  Bronze left Barcelona this summer because she wanted more minutes than she was going to be offered by the Catalans in the upcoming season and it's fair to say that her switch to Chelsea raised eyebrows, as the club was already well-stocked in her position. Yet, the early signs are that she could well usurp her competition to get the regular starting gig for the English champions.