All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford. The Red Devils' top director of football target, Dan Ashworth, doesn't view him as a "long-term" solution for the club, and new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe agrees with that assessment.

Ten Hag is expected to be safe until the end of the season, but there's no guarantee that he's still in the dugout come the start of the 2024/25 campaign. Ashworth and Ratcliffe have viewed some of the team's performances, and their early exit from the Champions League, as "unacceptable".

Man Utd must regret sealing Ten Hag signing who's cost £10m in 6 months

The midfielder has struggled this season at Man United.

By
Tom Lever

Feb 27, 2024

There were some signs that the Dutchman was beginning to turn things around as his side rattled off five straight victories in all competitions, but then their momentum was brought to a crashing halt on Saturday as they lost 2-1 at home to Fulham in the Premier League.

Nagelsmann in pole position for Man Utd job

Now, according to reports in Spain, Ratcliffe has decided that he wants to "revitalise" the team with the appointment of a new manager. Julian Nagelsmann, whose Germany contract expires after this summer's European Championships, is the 'leading candidate' for the job.

The German is in pole position and has reportedly been interested in taking the job since last summer. He now sees an opportunity to "make the jump" ahead of Ten Hag's likely departure. Thomas Tuchel, who's due to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, is also keen on the role, but Nagelsmann is very much the main candidate.

Bayern may have made a mistake in sacking Nagelsmann

Described as an "outstanding tactical mind" by sports journalist Jonny Bentley, Nagelsmann built a hugely impressive CV after taking over as the Hoffenheim manager in 2016 while he was still in his 20's.

After steering them to Bundesliga survival in his first few months in charge, he oversaw a spectacular ascent to fourth place in 2016/17, and third a year after as they reached the Champions League group stages for the first time in their history.

It was only a matter of time before he took the next step up the football ladder, and it was RB Leipzig who snapped him up in 2019. He took Die Roten Bullen to third in his first season, but more impressively still, they reached the semifinals of the Champions League, where they lost to Paris Saint-Germain. He narrowly missed out on his first silverware the following year, finishing runner-up in both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.

Then came his shot at the highest level with Bayern, which proved to be a mixed bag. While he won the Bundesliga in 2021/22, his side also crashed out of Europe at the hands of Villarreal in the quarterfinals. In 2022/23, Bayern were at risk of missing out to Borussia Dortmund in the title race, and the club's bosses decided to abruptly pull the plug in March.

Looking back, it appears a harsh decision, especially with the Bavarians still competing for a treble after reaching the last eight in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal. Indeed, though Tuchel was able to snatch the title from Dortmund, he's allowed Bayer Leverkusen to establish a huge lead this term, and he'll be following Nagelsmann out the door in the summer.

The United target may feel that he's grown from his disappointment at the Allianz Arena, and will surely be desperate to rebuild his reputation, starting at the Euros before a likely return to the domestic game.

Declan Rice admitted that the England's men team will draw inspiration from the Lionesses' 2022 triumph in Euro 2024 final against Spain.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• England women conquered Europe in 2022
• Three Lions are one step away from glory
• Rice determined to end 58-year wait

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sarina Wiegman's troops broke a 56-year drought for major titles, dating back to the men's 1966 World Cup win, with a thrilling victory over Germany in 2022 at a packed-out Wembley Stadium. Two years later, Gareth Southgate's men find themselves in their first major final on foreign soil and they remain determined to replicate the success of their female counterparts in Berlin.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT RICE SAID

  Arsenal star Rice, reflecting on the Lionesses' achievement, emphasised the desire within the team to make the nation proud.

  "We saw when the women's team won it, what it meant to them and the nation," he told reporters.

  "I see some of the girls at Arsenal and that's what we want. We want to win and make the nation proud. We are back in another final, which is history itself, but now we are aiming to do one more.

  "We don't want to keep talking about it and getting to finals and be happy with that. We now want to be a country where we win. We want to continue to grow and, for the young players coming in, we want to be a really big force."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  England are in their second successive European Championship final after they lost out to Italy a few years back at Wembley. Rice was part of that squad and now the 25-year-old is determined more than ever to set the record straight against Spain on Sunday.

  "Seeing Italy walk up to lift the trophy at your home stadium lives with you as a football player," added Rice.

  "We know that in the last final we probably just sat off and didn't attack as much as we should have. There are not many times you go back-to-back in finals but this group of players are so hungry.

  "We know it's going to be tough and know you can't overlook Spain, who have been a top nation for so many years. But I've never seen a group so motivated, in training, and how we talk with each other around the place. Everyone is so driven to win this game."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Defender Kyle Walker echoed Rice's sentiments, noting that England's previous experience in finals would serve them well and that playing away from home might reduce some of the pressure. "The emotion of Wembley was completely different, with miles and miles of people chanting you and cheering you on as you leave St George's Park," Walker told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We're on a different turf now and maybe that might work to our benefit, where there's not so much pressure on us. But as people and players, who have experienced these finals before, we have to deliver on the big occasions."

Manchester United's recently released away kit for the 2024-25 campaign is enjoying record sales, according to a report.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man Utd launched navy blue away strip
• Kit enjoying record sales despite price
• New jersey includes nod to the city

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The navy blue away kit, which was manufactured by Adidas, was launched this week and the reports that it is breaking records. The new strip, which was designed with a retro look in a nod to the jerseys of the 1990s, has proven popular among Red Devils fans, with many hailing it as the best one the club have had in many years.

Advertisement

• Manchester United
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The authentic version of the away shirt is available for £110, though a cheaper version is priced at £80. The club say that the strip is a tribute to the city of Manchester, with three lighter shades of blue running through it in a nod to the three rivers – the Irk, Medlock and Irwell – that run though the city.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The away shirt will be worn by the United squad for the first time on Sunday, when Erik ten Hag's team take on Arsenal in a friendly in Los Angeles, California as part of their pre-season tour of the United States.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

  After Sunday's game, the Old Trafford club will continue their pre-season preparations with games against Real Betis and Liverpool before they return to England to prepare for the Community Shield match against Manchester City.

Over the last couple of seasons, Everton have had to work on a strict budget given their FFP troubles in recent months, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.

The FFP issues have given boss Sean Dyche the opportunity to work closely with his squad, putting trust in some of the younger members of the Toffees' first-team squad.

Players such as James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite have been the main beneficiaries within the Everton squad this season, with the duo cementing their starting positions – making 26 and 24 appearances respectively.

The club have had to sell some of their key assets in recent years to balance the books, with the likes of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon just two examples of players the club have had to sell to try and comply with the Premier League's FFP rules.

Everton have also previously sold a young talent to another Premier League rival, with the club potentially regretting the deal with the player currently excelling in England's top-flight.

Ross Barkley's time at Everton in numbers

Ross Barkley came through the academy at Goodison Park, before making his first-team debut for the club back in 2011 – quickly impressing for the Toffees.

He made 34 appearances during his first full season in the Premier League, scoring six times at the age of just 19 – a staggering achievement for a player of such a tender age.

Barkley consistently featured for the Toffees over the next couple of seasons, with the midfielder going on to make at least 29 appearances in each of the next three campaigns.

His good form at Goodison Park saw him feature for every single age group from U16s to U21s, before the midfielder made his England senior debut in August 2013 during the 4-0 win against Moldova.

He rapidly became a regular within the England setup, with his form internationally and at club level catching the eye of some of Everton's Premier League rivals.

Ross Barkley's stats since leaving Everton

The midfielder secured a £15m move to Chelsea during the January transfer window in 2018 after being sold by Marco Silva, with Barkley signing a five-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

He enjoyed a good full first season in London, with the former Everton man making 48 appearances for the Blues during 2018/19. However, his first full season was the peak of his Chelsea career.

A combination of injury and other players' form in midfield, Barkley found himself with limited game time making 31 appearances with most coming from the substitutes' bench.

He subsequently found himself on loan at Aston Villa during the 2020/21 season, with the highlight of Barkley's season coming in the 7-2 victory over Liverpool – with the former Evertonian on the scoresheet.

However, he couldn't force himself back into the Chelsea first-team, eventually being released to join OGC Nice in Ligue 1. He signed a one-year deal in France, once again failing to find his feet before joining Luton Town last summer.

He's been pivotal in Luton's efforts to survive relegation from the Premier League this season, with his top-flight experience the key.

Barkley's featured 21 times so far this campaign, with the midfielder "not far off player of the season" as stated by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson and in with an outside chance of making Gareth Southgate's squad for the Euros this summer. It's funny how things can change in such a short period of time.

In 2024, we're now seeing the quality Barkley first showed when he first broke onto the scene at Goodison.

Arsenal have transformed as a team over the last few years, from one stuck in midtable mediocrity to one seriously challenging for major honours.

Mikel Arteta's presence has been an enormous factor in this transformation, but so have Edu Gaspar's transfer dealings.

The Brazilian has seen the likes of Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus join the team, while those deemed surplus to requirements have been efficiently axed.

However, while the former Invincible has an impressive track record in this regard, his predecessors didn't, and one of the players who left before he arrived has outscored Jesus this season.

Gabriel Jesus' performance this season

It's been just over a year and a half since Jesus completed his £45m move from Manchester City, and while he has been electric at points, it's hard to call the transfer a runaway hit.

The main reason for this is the 26-year-old's terrible injury record at the Emirates. Last season, he missed 17 games due to a knee injury he sustained at the World Cup, and this year, he's already missed 16 games across four spells on the sidelines, three of which have been related to his knee.

That said, he's looked tremendous when he's been on the pitch. For example, last year, the "exquisite" forward, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in just 33 appearances, meaning that, when fit, he was averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 games.

Despite enduring a much more stop-start campaign this year, the São Paulo-born ace has still scored eight goals and provided five assists in 26 appearances. This means he's averaging a goal involvement every two games, an average that could well improve with his imminent reintroduction into the starting lineup.

In all, while he's not as prolific as fans might have hoped and has an injury record that likely gives Arteta sleepless nights, Jesus has been an asset to the Gunners in the year and a half he's been a part of the club.

However, he is being outscored by a former Gunner who's not even playing in England.

Chuba Akpom's performance this season

Yes, the former Arsenal striker who's put away more chances than Jesus this season is Hale End graduate and former England U21 international Chuba Akpom.

The Newham-born ace joined the north Londoners in 2002 as a six-year-old and made his first team debut in September 2013, replacing Olivier Giroud in the final minute of a Premier League clash with Sunderland.

The next six years would see the 6-foot striker go out on six different loans, but none of them went particularly well, and with it clear that he wasn't going to make it at the top level, he was sold to Greek outfit PAOK Salonika for around £2m in August 2018.

In Greece, the right-footed Englishman found stability and relative success, netting 18 goals and providing ten assists in 79 appearances and winning the league and cup in 2019.

This success caught the eye of Middlesbrough in the Championship, who spent around £3m to bring him back to England, although a return of just five goals and two assists in 39 games across the 2020/21 campaign saw him sent back to PAOK for the subsequent season.

Upon his return to the Riverside in 2022/23, the "terrific" striker, as Boro manager Michael Carrick dubbed him, exploded, scoring 29 and providing two assists in 42 games, earning him a £12m move to Dutch giants Ajax.

Now, while places in the starting lineup have been hard to come by for the 28-year-old in Amsterdam, he has still managed to score 11 goals and provide one assist in 29 games, which is a pretty impressive record considering he has only started seven matches.

Jesus is now being outscored by Arsenal star who was sold for just £18m

The international star has been scoring for fun.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 17, 2024

Ultimately, Arsenal were probably right to move on from Akpom when they did. Still, his form in the Championship last season and his record for Ajax this year suggests he could've been useful as an option off the bench, especially as he's outscored Jesus.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri Gonzalez has returned to training with the Catalan side following his injury at Euro 2024.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Pedri returns to training after injury
• Showcases striking new haircut in photo
• Unlikely to return for Barca's La Liga opener

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pedri had been showing very good form at Euro 2024 for Spain before the midfielder suffered an unfortunate injury after a reckless challenge by Germany's Toni Kroos during the two sides' high-intensity quarter-final. The 21-year-old was taken off by Luis de la Fuente and La Roja immediately revealed that Pedri's Euro journey was over, with the youngster expected to miss out on at least six to eight months of action.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona look to begin life under Hansi Flick with a bang, but the German boss will have to contend with the unavailability of a number of key players like Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Ansu Fati, Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez and Eric Garcia. However, the former Germany boss will be happy to see that Pedri has returned to training on the pitch at Barcelona's training centre while the Catalan team continue their United States tour.

• WHAT PEDRI POSTED

  The Barcelona starlet posted a photo of him training on the pitch for the first time since the injury and also showcased his new striking hairstyle in the process.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR PEDRI?

  While his teammates continue their United States tour, Pedri will look to continue his injury recovery and hope to return as soon as possible, though he is likely to miss Barcelona's opening La Liga clash against Valencia on August 18.

West Ham are reportedly looking to end their ties with Betway after the betting company played a part in Lucas Paqueta's alleged betting charges.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• West Ham could end Betway ties
• Betway reported Paqueta's breaches
• Hammers to fight midfielder's potential lifetime ban

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  In August of last year, Paqueta was suspended by the FA over alleged betting breaches during his time with West Ham. The Brazilian was accused of deliberately getting booked in four Premier League games against Leicester in 2022, and Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth in 2023 in order to make money for friends. Since then it has been claimed that Paqueta could receive a lifetime ban for his breaches.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Brazilian star was charged with spot-fixing after Betway, West Ham's main shirt sponsor, raised the alarm over the amount of bets placed on Paqueta to be booked in West Ham games last season, according to The Sun. As per the report, the Hammers are unhappy with the online gambling company as they did not report the issue to the club and instead directly reported the suspicious bets to integrity investigators. This may cause the club to break ties with Betway after the end of their current £10 million-a-year contract.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  A new government restriction on gambling-related front-of-shirt advertising that takes effect that summer means that West Ham already looking at other options for the 2026–2027 campaign. Sleeve sponsorship deals with gambling companies will still be permitted, but West Ham are unlikely to explore Betway for that arrangement. The club insists, nevertheless, that the Paqueta case has nothing to do with their decision to move on from the gambling company.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR PAQUETA?

  As per an earlier report by The Sun, West Ham are considering taking the FA to court over the potential decision to hand Paqueta a lifetime ban from footballing activities. The club are considering taking the FA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to contest the FA's jurisdiction to ban Paqueta for life.

Newcastle United have endured their fair share of injuries this season, with Eddie Howe patching together his squad throughout the campaign. The former boss has at least received a major boost on that front, however, with one star set to return earlier than expected.

Newcastle injury news

The Magpies are already without the likes of Nick Pope, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier as the Premier League season approaches its final stages. And those injury problems have far from helped Newcastle's form, with their European ambitions becoming more and more unlikely every week, especially after their latest defeat against Chelsea.

With two wins in their last six games and mounting injury problems, Newcastle have been left with it all to do if they are to qualify for some form of European football this season. As their Stamford Bridge defeat showed, however, Howe's task is a difficult one in the coming months and one that could have so easily been worsened by further injury news.

Newcastle could sell a player who's earning 9x more than Lewis Miley

The experienced Toon star needs to be moved on this year.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 13, 2024

The Magpies boss initially shared concerns over the extent of Anthony Gordon's injury against Chelsea, saying via Premier Injuries: "Gordon looks like a knee problem and it doesn’t look too good at the moment; it is unclear. Hopefully, we can give him that in the next couple of days, and we can get him seen to."

Since then, those fears have fortunately been eased to finally hand Howe some positive news. According to Jacob Whitehead of The Athletic, Gordon has avoided any serious damage to his knee and could even be back for the Manchester City game as soon as this weekend. Even if it's not the City game, the Newcastle star will reportedly be available for England selection in the upcoming international break.

"Great" Gordon's return will be a welcome boost

In a season to forget, Gordon has been one of the few bright sparks at St James' Park, fully living up to his £40m price tag and £60k per-week salary, which initially raised eyebrows. If the 23-year-old makes his return as soon as the City game, then Newcastle will stand a far greater chance of causing an upset in the FA Cup last eight and making an appearance at Wembley to help salvage their campaign.

Former manager Frank Lampard was well aware of Gordon's quality even during his Everton days, saying after the winger's goal against Brentford in 2022: “It’s what I wanted from him. It was a great run, great timing and a great pass, and his composure was great. I’m delighted for him and thought his all-round performance was great. There’s pressure on him and I thought he handled it brilliantly.”

With ten goals and seven assists to his name so far this season, Gordon has done enough to be considered for a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad, signalling even more relief that his injury is not as severe as first feared.

Manchester United’s incredibly dramatic 4-3 FA Cup victory over fierce rival Liverpool could very well be the catalyst for a last-minute revival of the campaign.

After that result, the Red Devils are now in the semi-final against Coventry City, while also sitting sixth in the Premier League.

However, inconsistency has been a common theme for Erik ten Hag this season, meaning that progress is often halted almost instantly.

Having said that, there has been one constant, and that is the outstanding performance of Kobbie Mainoo, who could thrive even further next campaign if United do sign their current midfield target.

Man Utd's search for a midfielder

Italian news outlet CalcioMercato recently reported that Man United are keen to reinforce the midfield department in the summer, with Joao Gomes said to be one of their main targets.

Ten Hag has first-hand experience playing against the Brazilian, with the 23-year-old being a key player in Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers side, so the former Ajax boss has a strong understanding of what he could bring to the side.

It is reported that the former Flamengo player is estimated to be worth €40m (£34m), but Wolves are set to demand a higher fee at the end of the season.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanting to change the culture at the club, a player like Gomes fits the bill for the type of requirements the new owner will look for in a signing.

Man Utd have begun talks to sign a £50m Harry Maguire replacement

Erik ten Hag is keen to reinforce his backline next summer.

By
Tom Lever

Mar 26, 2024

How Joao Gomes could slot in at Man Utd

Mainoo’s rise to the top has been simply unbelievable, to the point where he’s not only a key figure in the Man United side, but he’s also earned his first England cap.

At just 18 years old, the number 37 has started 14 Premier League matches while displaying the maturity and mentality of a seasoned professional with experience way beyond his years.

The versatile midfielder’s position in the team has fluctuated between a few roles, but his main position has been as a defensive midfielder, like against Jurgen Klopp’s side last time out.

However, with the potential introduction of Gomes, Mainoo could be deployed in a more familiar and better-suited number eight position, which would allow him to showcase his ability to impact the game in the final third as well as drop deeper when needed.

As can be seen in the table above, showcasing Gomes’ average statistics in the Premier League this season, he’s the definition of a “warrior,” as dubbed by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, with his duels won, balls recovered, and tackles serving as evidence.

The Wolves gem with a “winning mentality” – as per Kulig – also ranks as the third-highest tackler in the entire league per game, which would see him slot alongside Mainoo perfectly.

Ten Hag’s midfield balance is currently all over the place, with Casemiro struggling to cover ground and keep up with intensity, as shown by his dribbled past per game average of 2.2, and the signing of Gomes could enable Mainoo to sprinkle his magic further up the field, just like the goal of the month he netted against Wolves in February.

Gomes also only loses the ball 9.3 times per game, which would provide much more control to United in possession while also limiting the number of times the team gets counterattacked, which would see Mainoo’s untouchable dribbling occur more often.

Overall, having the security of Gomes alongside Mainoo, who can simply act as a ball-winner and retainer, will enable the youngster to blossom into a world-class talent that he has already shown glimpses of.

The 23-year-old was subbed on late, scoring a crucial goal as Leeds bagged a point on opening day.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Leeds draw Portsmouth 3-3 on opening day
• Brenden Aaronson bags equalizer
• First Leeds goal since 2022 for American

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Brenden Aaronson got his 2024-25 English Championship campaign off to a strong start, scoring a crucial stoppage time goal to earn Leeds United a point in a 3-3 draw with Portsmouth at Elland Road.

  It was a six-goal thriller which almost saw Leeds open their season with a loss due to conceding a penalty kick in the 89th minute to go down 3-2. Then, Aaronson stepped up.

  The American attacker was fed on the top of the box and after some tidy footwork, he hit the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net to open his account for the season. The strike was his first for Leeds since Aug. 2022 against Chelsea.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Aaronson returned to Leeds this offseason after spending the 2023-24 season on loan in the German Bundesliga with Union Berlin. He joined the English side on a permanent transfer from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2022, but struggled to find his footing at Elland Road in his debut season under Jesse Marsch.

  Fellow American Tyler Adams was also on the roster, while Weston McKennie joined them on loan for the second half of the 2022-23 season.

  After returning to the English outfit this summer for preseason after participating in Copa America with the U.S. men's national team, Aaronson vowed to Leeds fans to "get Leeds United promoted back to the Premier League."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• (C)GettyImages
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR AARONSON AND LEEDS?

  Leeds are back in action on Wednesday as they begin their journey in the EFL Cup. They'll take on Middlesbrough as Aaronson looks for his first start of the season under manager Daniel Farke.