Manchester United fans have slammed Chelsea's Twitter account after they appeared to post a subtle dig at the club involving Jadon Sancho.
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A strike made in Milan, the Rossoneri duo came together to give the USMNT a 1-0 lead in the second half
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Joe Rodon will have been despondent come full-time at Wembley with how his loan spell with Leeds United was ending, concluding with the bitter disappointment of a Championship play-off final defeat, instead of the script everyone involved with the Whites wanted in the form of promotion.
The Welshman's future back at Tottenham Hotspur remains unsolved, but with Leeds still languishing in the second tier as a result of this latest play-off misery, it could be unlikely that the defender is sanctioned another loan switch back to West Yorkshire or even a permanent move to call Elland Road.
This will understandably be a bitter pill to swallow for everyone connected with the second-tier giants, as Rodon was a brick wall at times last campaign in an intimidating partnership with Ethan Ampadu in the heart of defence.
Rodon managed to collect 17 clean sheets of his own in a Whites side that looked destined to be returning back to the Premier League at one stage, but instead, the 49ers could now be shopping in the loan market once more to bolster their team.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Daniel Farke's nearly-men are eyeing up a loan swoop for Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist this coming transfer window, who has been handed plenty of first-team opportunities this season at Stamford Bridge.
Making 11 first-team appearances in the league is an impressive number for the 20-year-old to have accumulated, considering this campaign is when he truly began to make waves at a senior level, after years of strictly playing Premier League 2 football for the youth side minus the odd bench call-up every now and then.
He even scored off the bench against Everton after merely two minutes, whilst also playing against Leeds United earlier in the season in an FA Cup 3-2 humdinger in Chelsea's favour that saw the Whites push a youthful Blues team all the way.
Leeds aren't a lone suitor interested in Gilchrist, however, with further interest coming from fellow Championship sides Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End.
|
Rodon's numbers for Leeds this season |
|
|---|---|
|
Games played |
43 |
|
Average touches |
83.7 |
|
Accurate passes per game |
66.0 (91%) |
|
Clean sheets |
17 |
|
Balls recovered per game |
4.2 |
|
Clearances per game |
4.5 |
|
Stats by Sofascore |
|
Yet, Leeds' success story with Rodon, with his numbers mightily impressive when taking in the table above, could sway Chelsea into believing a stint in West Yorkshire could be a formative next step for the 20-year-old in his development, who has shown signs of his bright potential this season, even when things haven't been all smooth sailing at the Blues.
Gilchrist will hope that if his time with Leeds went well, that he could take even bigger strides in the senior mix back at Chelsea, becoming a starter for the club potentially down the line, a dream considering he has been in and around the Blues since 2014 as a child.
Only helping his side pick up one clean sheet from his 11 first-team outings in the Premier League to date in the men's team, with only two of those actually being fully fledged starts, his most promising display in the cut and thrust of the elite division came against Tottenham Hotspur at the start of May when that solitary shut-out was registered.
Shining in a rejuvenated Chelsea side that beat Ange Postecoglou's inconsistent Spurs 2-0, Gilchrist would last 85 mins on the Stamford Bridge turf and made the most of his rare start.
Making a combined nine clearances, interceptions and tackles in the game, the 20-year-old would also only surrender possession seven total times as a composed and smooth passer of the ball from out the back.
Playing all of these games at right-back, with his captain presence for the U21s only exclusively seeing him line up in the heart of defence as opposed to down the flanks, Leeds might well be able to offer him extended periods in his preferred centre-back spot as opposed to filling in gaps back at Chelsea.
Rodon's exit would also mean Leeds are on the hunt for a new partner to shore up the back four centrally alongside Ethan Ampadu, with the former Chelsea youngster presumably crossing paths with Gilchrist once upon a time at his parent club, during his topsy-turvy development in West London, before calling Elland Road home.
Not missing one single game of league action for Leeds, even in the high intensity of the play-offs, Ampadu was arguably even more of an integral cog in Farke's side last season than Rodon was.
After being chucked out on loan all across various unique locations when on the books at Chelsea – with destinations ranging from Leipzig to Spezia to Sheffield – Ampadu will hope he remains fixed in West Yorkshire ahead of an up-in-the-air campaign next time around, even if many of his teammates from last season relocate.
|
Ampadu's loan spells |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Club |
Games started |
Games substituted on |
Minutes per game |
|
Leeds |
54 |
0 |
90 |
|
Spezia |
32 |
0 |
86 |
|
Venezia |
29 |
3 |
79 |
|
Sheffield United |
25 |
2 |
84 |
|
RB Leipzig |
3 |
0 |
26 |
|
Sourced by Sofascore |
|||
Feeling valued at Leeds after a mixture of up-and-down loan stints, Ampadu could be the perfect mentor to Gilchrist – who has gone on to be successful after coming through the youth ranks at Chelsea – and a perfect partner for him to bounce off of as a result.
With Ampadu excelling more in his duo with Rodon in terms of tenacity and energy as a ball-winner, seen in him averaging 6.9 ball recoveries per match, Gilchrist could come in and be as level-headed as Rodon on the ball as a calm and measured operator seen in him averaging an 85% when it comes to passing accuracy per game.
Signing a new deal at Stamford Bridge recently to keep the dream alive he can make the grade at his boyhood employers, the time is right, therefore, for Gilchrist to earn his stripes with a loan move away.
Many stars of past and present in West London have benefitted from short-term moves away, with Conor Gallagher announcing himself to the Premier League on loan at Crystal Palace amongst other examples, even if Ampadu struggled on his own conveyer belt of stints away from Chelsea.
Leeds will just keep their fingers crossed that Gilchrist can be their next Rodon or indeed their new Ampadu, with the "unbelievable" defender as labelled by John Terry, potentially set to arrive at Elland Road.
Leeds make enquiry to sign dream Kalvin Phillips alternative
Leeds United are looking at this midfield talent who has similarities to Southampton star Will Smallbone.
By
Kelan Sarson
May 30, 2024
American soccer players are now household names on the global scene, something virtually unfathomable just 25 years ago
Soccer in America wasn't born in 1994 but, at the very least, it was reborn. A new era began when the World Cup came to the United States. For the first time ever, American soccer was in the global limelight and, for the first time ever, the sport felt relevant on a broader scale.
The U.S. is still benefitting from the impact of that World Cup, particularly as the country prepares for a 2026 return. That moment back in 1994 sparked a renaissance, as the U.S. men's national team moved into the new millennium with more momentum than ever before.
Throughout the start of the 21st century, American soccer has seen players continue to raise their level. Playing in Europe was once unheard of; now, there are stars competing for league titles and Champions League crowns on a regular basis. It's an incredible rise, one headlined by countless trailblazers. From Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams, American players are now household names, something almost unfathomable just a few decades ago.
So, as we approach the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, GOAL is on hand to rank the top 25…
It was another painful case of so close yet so far for Arsenal this season as they took the Premier League title race right up to the final day, only to finish two points behind defending champions Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta's side have been spectacular, but they still need to take one more step before they can surpass Pep Guardiola's juggernaut, and that final step may well come in the shape of a new striker.
The Gunners conceded five fewer goals than City but also scored five fewer, so the fact that recent reports have linked them to a new number nine should excite fans, especially Bukayo Saka, who could see his numbers supercharged by a more clinical alongside of him.
According to a recent report from Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal have been monitoring Bologna's star striker Joshua Zirkzee in recent months and are now 'super interested' in signing him in the summer.
Alongside the Gunners, the report names AC Milan, Manchester United and even Juventus as some of the other clubs interested in the young Dutchman, which could complicate matters for Edu Gaspar and Co.
However, the good news is that Bologna aren't demanding an arm and a leg for the player, as his release clause is reported to be just €40m, which converts to around £34m. Additionally, reports from earlier this month revealed that the North Londoners already had an offer prepared for the player himself, suggesting that a move could be closer than some realise.
While the interest from other major teams certainly complicates any potential deal, Edu and Arteta would be wise to pursue Zirkzee as a striker of his calibre is unlikely to cost £34m for much longer.
Saka has been a tour de force at points this season, and while he might have faded in some games, his return of 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances is genuinely remarkable – boarding on world-class, some might say.
However, at just 22 years old, there is undoubtedly more to come from the Hale End superstar, and the fact that Understat has him underperforming his Premier League expected assists figure of 11.33 by 3.33 suggests that we could see it with a more clinical number nine next to him – which is where Zirkzee comes in.
The 23-year-old "complete forward," as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 12 Serie A goals from an expected goals figure of just 9.11, per Understat, meaning he scored 2.89 goals more than would have been expected of him given the chances – an overperformance of around 26%.
|
Zirkzee vs Havertz vs Jesus |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Expected Goals |
Goals |
|
Zirkzee |
9.11 |
12 |
|
Havertz |
13.47 |
13 |
|
Jesus |
7.29 |
4 |
|
All Stats via Understat |
||
In comparison, Arsenal's primary strikers, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, both underperformed based on their expected goals figures in the league this season.
For example, the German found the back of the net 13 times from an expected figure of 13.47, and while that is quite good, it clearly shows that he's less clinical than the Dutchman when presented with similar chances.
Moreover, the Gunners' Brazilian striker scored just four league goals from an expected figure of 7.29, meaning he underperformed by 3.29. This highlights that while he's a technically gifted player, he's not someone who can be relied upon to regularly put the ball in the back of the net.
Therefore, while Arteta does have a pair of talented forwards at his disposal, neither one can be classed as genuinely clinical, which goes some way to explaining why the club's best rightwinger has fewer assists than the underlying numbers say he should.
Havertz repeat: Arsenal hold talks to sign a "future legend" of the PL
The incredibly talented star could revive his career in North London.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
May 29, 2024
So, if the North Londoners want to maximise the potential output of their star boy next season, then signing the "insane" Zirkzee, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, would be the way to go.
There are some huge names being linked with football's 'impossible job', but who stands out as the best fit for the Three Lions?
Most supporters still feel the familiar desolation that followed England's Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. Gareth Southgate resigned in the aftermath of that crushing disappointment, but three months have passed since then, and the FA has yet to make a decision on his permanent successor.
Lee Carsley was being considered as a leading candidate after an impressive start to his interim reign. England played on the front foot in comfortable wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland as the former U21s boss ditched the overly cautious blueprint that made Southgate such a divisive figure.
But it was a false dawn. Carsley was brought crashing back down to earth on Thursday as he watched Greece pick up a deserved win over his dismal England side at Wembley. Carsley went for an ultra-attacking line-up, with Jude Bellingham deployed as a false nine in the absence of Harry Kane, and it completely backfired as England were left exposed on the counter.
The Three Lions bounced back with a 3-1 away win against Finland, but it was another unconvincing performance that raised more questions over Carsley's credentials. "I keep saying the same thing. My remit was six games and I'm happy with that," he said after the game. "This job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and I am still on the path to that."
Carsley didn't completely rule himself out of the running, but it seems like his time in the dugout will be short-lived. The question is: who is better suited to the job? GOAL has ranked the nine other main contenders, with only a select few falling into the world-class bracket…
Nottingham Forest’s financial troubles have been well documented over the last couple of months, with the Reds hit with a four-point deduction after breaking the Premier League’s PSR rules.
Evangelos Marinakis splashed the cash after promotion to make the club competitive to avoid an immediate return to the Championship but overspent as a result of the Greek’s ambition at the City Ground.
For the 2022/23 financial year, the club overspent by £34.5m, despite the sale of academy graduate Brennan Johnson for £47.5m to Tottenham Hotspur – but it was completed after the deadline, which saw the Reds still breach the rules despite the big-money sale.
As a result, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side will have to raise at least another £20m before the 30th of June, with Murillo linked with £60-70m moves to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
However, the Forest supporters shouldn’t worry, with the club targeting another Brazilian centre-back to fill the void should the talented youngster depart the City Ground this window.
According to Revista Colorada via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are set to hijack West Ham United’s deal for Brazilian centre-back Vitão this summer.
The 24-year-old Internacional defender, who is valued at £5.9m, as per Transfermarkt, has been subject to strong interest from Julen Lopetegui’s side this summer, but Forest could be set to swoop in and steal him from the Hammers’ clutches.
The report states that Nuno’s side could be set to offer a higher offer than West Ham, whilst also handing Vitão a higher wage to convince him to ditch London for the East Midlands.
Whilst no Reds supporter would want to lose Murillo after his Player of the Season campaign in 2023/24, but they would be signing an excellent replacement in Vitão should the 21-year-old leave during the off-season.
Although they’re playing in vastly different quality divisions, the pair have produced very similar stats, as per FBref, with the Internacional talent having the ability to follow in Murillo’s footsteps at the City Ground.
The two Brazilians both excel with the ball at their feet, with the current Reds defender completing nine more progressive carries during the 2023/24 campaign.
However, Vitão, who’s previously been dubbed as the “future of Brazilian football” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has achieved a better pass completion rate, finding a teammate on 52% of his attempted long passes – a tally 5% higher than Murillo despite the 21-year-old excelling with his passing ability in the Premier League.
|
How Vitao and Murillo compare in 2023/24 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Vitao |
Murillo |
|
Progressive carries |
13 |
22 |
|
Pass accuracy |
85% |
77% |
|
Tackles won |
50% |
58% |
|
Long pass accuracy |
52% |
47% |
|
Shots per 90 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
Despite his success in possession the 24-year-old trails the Reds centre-back in terms of tackles won, with the youngster winning 8% more of the tackles he’s entered over the last 12 months.
Both have demonstrated their qualities in different divisions, but given his stats in his homeland this season, the more senior asset could be the ideal man to fill the void left by the £70m rated star.
With Forest desperately needing to raise funds this month, any deal for Murillo would be a phenomenal one – especially considering the club only paid £15m for his signature last summer.
Vitão would be a cheap replacement and one that would be able to make his mark on England’s top-flight, whilst also massively boosting the club’s current financial position.
Forest can take Hudson-Odoi to the next level by signing ÂŁ17m "monster"
The Reds are aiming to bolster their ranks ahead of the summer window.
By
Ethan Lamb
Jun 8, 2024
Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri was on song during the Gunners' 3-0 win over Preston, and Mikel Arteta is full of praise for the youngster.
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Chelsea chief Todd Boehly is willing to make a significant bid for one £85 million Paris-Saint Germain star this summer.
Until very recently, Chelsea were thought to be the lead contenders to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, until the 22-year-old opted to join Bayern Munich instead.
Chelsea prepared to bid for new priority target in ÂŁ50 million forward
The west Londoners are keen on bringing in a new attacker or two.
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Emilio Galantini
Jun 25, 2024
Olise chose Bayern over Chelsea to play in the Champions League next season, dealing a setback to co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, who are attempting to back new manager Enzo Maresca with quality new additions.
They still want to bring in a new winger after missing out on Olise (Nizaar Kinsella), and are currently weighing up alternatives. Reports have since emerged that Chelsea could submit a bid for Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, who spearheaded his side to a surprise Europa League triumph at the expense of Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen and will cost around £50 million.
|
Chelsea's top scorers in all competitions |
Goals |
|---|---|
|
Cole Palmer |
25 |
|
Nicolas Jackson |
17 |
|
Raheem Sterling |
10 |
|
Noni Madueke |
8 |
|
Conor Gallagher |
7 |
There are other star wide players who could be on the move this summer, like Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, and he's also been linked with a move to Chelsea this week. A more expensive but very highly-rated option, according to some reports, is PSG winger Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international started 32 Bundesliga games on loan at RB Leipzig last term, scoring eight goals and racking up 11 assists over a very productive season.
According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are willing to make a significant bid for Simons, but it is unclear whether they're prepared to go as high as his £85 million asking price.
The 21-year-old is also being chased by Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Arsenal, while Luis Enrique could even decide to keep hold of the Dutchman for next campaign, so it won't be an easy deal by any stretch.
“It will be interesting to see if that’s what Enrique wants, but based on what he’s said publicly, he seems very keen on Simons’ profile," said Ligue 1 expert and CBS Sports correspondent Jonathan Johnson on Simons' future in the French capital (via CaughtOffside).
"There’s been talk of potential offers from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, but I think it would have to depend on the offer, because I don’t really see PSG doing business unless there’s an offer that’s deemed too good to turn down.
“I expect decisions to be made soon, and PSG’s preparations for next season can even start now, given that they’ve gone out of the Champions League. There’s still a cup final to win, but Ligue 1 has been confirmed, so Enrique can start discussing with the club which positions need reinforcing and how Simons might fit into his plans for next season.”
Sporting pulled off a sensational comeback against Braga to give Ruben Amorim a fairy-tale ending before he departs for Manchester United.
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