All posts by n8rngtd.top

The Reds' mounting fatigue and worrying lack of strength in depth was brutally exposed by Eddie Howe's inspired Magpies at Wembley

It's just as well Liverpool have such a healthy advantage at the top of the Premier League, because it feels as if the Reds are unravelling. Just five days after being knocked out of the Champions League by a superior Paris Saint-Germain side at Anfield, Arne Slot's side were outplayed in even more worrying fashion by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

Sunday's game may have finished 2-1, but the final scoreline flattered the defending champions, who were abysmal during a horribly flat first-half performance and not much better after the interval.

It was only after the introductions of substitutes Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa, who netted a consolation goal in injury time, that a disturbingly lame Liverpool showed any signs of life. Indeed, Newcastle fully deserved a victory that ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought for one of the largest and most likeable fanbases in English football.

GOAL runs through all of the big winners and losers from a massive 'cupset' in front of a raucous crowd at Wembley….

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  WINNER: Thomas Tuchel

  The boy from Blyth, the teenager who lost a finger in a freak accident, the adolescent who had to forge his adulthood in non-league, now the senior pro with a senior England call-up and an everlasting hero to Newcastle. What a week it’s been for Dan Burn.

  Thomas Tuchel brought about headlines for the wrong reasons when he decided to include the uncapped 32-year-old in his first squad as Three Lions boss. “He has had a very impressive career and he’s a very solid player,” was the German’s explanation. "He’s a very solid defender and a leader in the group. I have spoken to Dan and it was a very impressive phone call with very impressive messages that made me very comfortable in this call-up that we have picked a top team player that will help us build the right team."

  Indeed, Burn provided for his team at both ends at Wembley. It was his towering header that broke the deadlock shortly before half-time. It was his commanding display that kept Liverpool at arm’s length for 95 minutes before Federico Chiesa wriggled free of the Magpies’ shackles.

  Today, tomorrow, forever, Burn is the winner of Newcastle. No one can take that from him. In footballing terms, Tuchel has been vindicated before he’s even taken charge of a match. They all laughed at him, but they’re not laughing now. Roll on the international window.

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  LOSER: Mohamed Salah

  It feels wrong criticising Mohamed Salah given everything he's done for Liverpool this season. Put quite simply: the Reds wouldn't be 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League without their Egyptian King, who's putting together arguably the finest individual campaign we've seen since Thierry Henry's heyday.

  However, the game's greatest players are judged by the highest of standards, and there's simply no hiding the fact that Liverpool's talisman went missing twice in the same week. After being once again pocketed by PSG full-back Nuno Mendes on Tuesday night, Salah also failed to show up against Newcastle.

  Perhaps we shouldn't have been too surprised. The winger has a poor record at Wembley – it's now one goal in EIGHT appearances at the home of English football – but it was still staggering to see Salah fail to register a single shot over the course of the 90 minutes for the first time in his Reds career.

  One imagines that whatever hope Salah had of winning the Ballon d'Or is now over after his – and Liverpool's – week from hell, but Slot needs his star man to rediscover his spark immediately after the international break because the league is not yet won, particularly with the leaders looking emotionally and physically drained after a second shattering setback in five days.

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  WINNER: Alexander Isak

  When Newcastle spent a club-record £63m to sign Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022, it was considered a bit of an overpay. He had just come off a year in which he scored merely six goals in La Liga, and though he was heavily linked with Arsenal for months, the Gunners plumped for Gabriel Jesus instead.

  Nearly three years on, and everyone associated with the Magpies will consider that a bargain worth paying a hundred times over. Isak has been the face of Newcastle’s season to this point, and it was only fitting that he got in on the act with a goal – and several iconic images in the aftermath – to boot.

  Virgil van Dijk, the Player of the Match in the 2024 final against Chelsea, appeared to have had the Swede’s number in the first half, winning essentially every duel and clearing every ball that came his way. But out of the blocks for the second half, Isak looked reborn. There was an extra oomph in his step, the eyes of a man who knew his moment was to come.

  Isak had the ball in the net twice. Firstly, he was denied by an offside flag having turned a loose ball over the line following a corner, only for captain Bruno Guimaraes to be penalised for offside. Nothing would stop Isak at the second attempt, however. Andy Robertson was targeted by high balls and crosses all day long, and the resistance eventually broke when Tino Livramento’s delivery to that side was met by Jacob Murphy. There stood Isak, a couple of crucial yards free of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, to turn home with precision, right in the side of the net away from Caoimhin Kelleher.

  Someday, up may go an Isak statue, a smirk widening over his face and his thumb pointing backwards at the mess he’s left defenders in. In the not-too-distant future, Newcastle must bat away offers from other clubs who will try and pry him away. He’s their best striker since the great Alan Shearer, and this doesn’t have to be the end of his legend, rather the start for a new era in a more competitive English landscape.

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  LOSER: Arne Slot

  Just like Salah, Slot has worked wonders this season. With essentially the same squad as Jurgen Klopp, he's put Liverpool in an incredible position to win what would be just their second Premier League title – and has received plenty of plaudits as a result. However, the Dutchman undoubtedly made some mistakes on Sunday.

  Slot's distrust of Darwin Nunez is obviously understandable, but the decision to persist with Diogo Jota up front was ill-advised at best. The Portuguese has just not looked right since returning from his latest injury lay-off and, after a poor performance against PSG, it was a genuine surprise to see Jota chosen to lead the line at Wembley.

  The wisdom of persisting with his preferred midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also has to be questioned, given each one of them appears to be running on empty. Surely, it would have made more sense to inject some much-needed vitality into the engine room by recalling Jones, who made a positive impact when he came on?

  Slot also needs to explain exactly why he's been so reluctant to use Chiesa, who gave Liverpool a flicker of hope with his injury-time goal. The Italian's injury issues are well-known, but he surely deserves more game time – particularly as so many of Liverpool's forwards are toiling either physically or mentally right now.

  Of course, the title is still there for the taking for Slot and his players. But there is still work to be done, and the coach definitely has a job on his hands lifting a team running worryingly low on energy at the worst possible time. Because just sticking with his tried-and-trusted starting line-up is clearly not going to cut it anymore, as both Newcastle and PSG have proven.

As much as Gary O’Neil was a success for Wolverhampton Wanderers during his first season in charge as manager, having guided his team successfully away from the Premier League relegation zone, this campaign to date continues to make for grim reading.

The 4-0 defeat away to Everton this midweek could prove to be the final straw for the 44-year-old at the Molineux helm, with his porous Old Gold side now up to a shocking 36 goals conceded in the top-flight from just 14 clashes.

It remains to be seen between now and Monday night’s game with West Ham United whether the plug is pulled, with some reports stating he could somehow survive to live another contest, even after such a car-crash loss on the road to the Toffees.

O'Neil's future at Wolves

That is the case according to a fresh report by talkSPORT, who state that O’Neil could remain in the Wolves dugout for the game versus the Hammers, even with the hierarchy aware that fans who watch week in, week out have simply had enough of the ex-AFC Bournemouth man’s ways.

The anger Wolves fans feel at the moment was evident for all to see at the end of the disastrous evening at Goodison Park, with audible boos ringing out towards O’Neil, who opted to console his distraught troops after such a harrowing night.

Whether he is kept around short-term or not, it does feel as if it’s inevitable that O’Neil will get the sack at some point down the line, especially if his team’s current woes continue.

Wolves might also feel the need to act fast if they want to attract a top successor, with this former managerial target perhaps back on their agenda to oust the under-fire boss.

Wolves could look towards "genius" replacement

It has been speculated in the past that the Old Gold have been keen on appointing Graham Potter, with the former Brighton and Hove Albion man rumoured to be in the running for the Wolves job back in November when O’Neil was under similar waves of pressure.

Now, with West Ham also reportedly eyeing up the ex-Seagulls boss to replace Julen Lopetegui – according to Football Insider – the Premier League strugglers should swoop back in to try and tempt the out-of-work boss to take over.

It’s very much dependant on whether or not Potter would feel he’s best equipped for the intense heat of a relegation battle, having found his ego in the managerial game to be bruised after a sobering time on the sidelines at Chelsea, where he only managed to pick up 12 wins from 31 games.

Still, there are plenty of reasons why Potter is always linked with these openings when they pop up, having once been branded as a “genius” by football journalist Sam Morton when in charge of Brighton.

Looking at the table above, the Solihull-born boss would have the capabilities to keep Wolves up based on his first two seasons at the Seagulls, with the potential for the Old Gold to be looking up at the top half of the table down the line.

Moreover, Potter’s insistence on playing with attack-minded full-backs during his time at Brighton would also suit his potential new employers well, with the 49-year-old’s preferred 4-2-3-1 set-up on the South Coast getting the most out of the likes of Marc Cucurella, who played 37 times under the Englishman before joining Chelsea on a £60m deal.

That will be music to the ears of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has excelled as a similarly expansive option for O’Neil’s men this season even through all their misery, with the 23-year-old chipping in with three goals and two assists in league action, taking his total tally for the club to ten goals and ten assists in all competitions.

The Algerian defender – who has himself been linked with a big-money move away from Molineux – could be Potter’s next project in that left-sided berth, having also deployed a back three on occasion too, which could allow Ait-Nouri to be unleashed in an attacking sense.

Of course, O’Neil could turn the tide if he picks up a win at West Ham next, but Wolves could do far worse than appointing Potter as his replacement if a dismissal is imminent.

Curtains for O'Neil: Wolves dud was just as costly as Dawson vs Everton

Gary O’Neil might have reached the end of the road as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager after a humbling 4-0 loss to Everton.

By
Kelan Sarson

Dec 5, 2024

The Saudi Pro League has not reached out to Vinicius Junior in an attempt to sign him from Real Madrid, one of the division's chiefs has said.

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• Vini Jr linked with €1bn Saudi move
• Reported to have met with league officials
• SPL chief sets the record straight

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Executives from the Saudi top-flight reportedly met with the 24-year-old in 2023 to discuss a transfer that would see him sign a deal worth a potential €1 billion (£840m). He continues to be linked with a move to Middle East, though Madrid hope to convince him to sign a new contract.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The reports say that the SPL leaders are acting on behalf of clubs to bring in the two-time Champions League winner, but the division's general manager of marketing communications, Mohammed Basrawi, says otherwise.

• WHAT BASRAWI SAID

  Asked about the possibility of signing the Brazilian, he told : "A sensitive issue. Honestly, as a league, we don't get involved in the signings each club intends to make. Would we like to have him here? Of course we would, but we, as a league, don't choose the signings; they depend on each club."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?

  Vinicius remains tied to Madrid until the summer of 2027 and will hope to end the season with La Liga and Champions League winners' medals before he considers moving to another club.

GOAL looks at how the Champions Cup could begin a domino effect of trophies for Miami in 2025, if they can capitalize

Over the past 20 years, no name in world soccer has loomed larger than Lionel Messi. An eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, the Argentine has captivated a generation with his brilliance. From Barcelona in Spain to PSG in France – and now at Inter Miami in MLS – the 37-year-old has been the face of every club he's represented.

Now, he’s in the twilight of his career. His boots are slowly unlacing, and his knees are starting to ask for grace. Yet, one thing remains unchanged – his relentless pursuit of excellence.

But time is running out.

Messi’s contract with Miami ends after the 2025 season, meaning this could be the final chapter of his storied career in MLS. In one and a half seasons, he’s led Miami to a Leagues Cup title in 2023 and a Supporters’ Shield in 2024, but they've fallen short in domestic play – missing the MLS playoffs in 2023 and bowing out in the first round in 2024.

also came close in other events, losing the 2023 U.S. Open Cup final to Houston and falling in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup to Monterrey in the quarterfinals. Yet, despite all of that, it still feels as if Messi's time in MLS hasn't delivered fully on expectations.

Miami have a chance to add five more trophies in 2025: the Champions Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and MLS Cup – a shot at unprecedented greatness over the next eight months; a chance to deliver. Baby steps, though.

It starts with the Champions Cup – a trophy only one MLS team has ever won, the Seattle Sounders. If Miami wants to capitalize on Messi’s time in MLS. and show the world this was all worth it – the roster building, the marketing, the money spent – this is where it begins.

Messi and Co. have already advanced past the first two rounds. Now they're in the quarterfinals – the same stage where they fell short in 2024 – and they have a two-legged affair with LAFC. With the right cards and a bit of luck, this could mark the beginning of a historic MLS campaign.

Becoming the second MLS club to claim the trophy would be meaningful on its own – but it could also spark a cascade of silverware over the months ahead. GOAL explores what it could mean.

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  Why the Champions Cup matters

  In the grand scheme of North American soccer, the Champions Cup stands as the ultimate test – a tournament that gathers the best from across CONCACAF – from the Caribbean islands and Central America to the mountainous regions of Mexico and the major cities of the United States. It’s where a true champion of the region is crowned – and MLS clubs have historically struggled to reach the summit, with one exception: Seattle in 2022.

  That year, Brian Schmetzer's Seattle Sounders became the first MLS side to win the competition. Ironically, the Sounders are the only other MLS team competing in every tournament that Miami is in for 2025. But that’s not the focus here.

  History is not on Miami's side, and it's exactly why they need to attack this tournament with relentless ambition.

  Winning the Champions Cup would secure Miami a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and deliver a $5 million payday, but beyond the prize money and future berth, the biggest reward would be the validation that comes with it.

  It’s fair to say Miami hasn’t fully lived up to expectations since Messi’s arrival. The Supporters' Shield is a significant achievement, but with the expanded MLS postseason and the unpredictable nature of the playoffs, it’s no substitute for a championship title. Now, Miami has a chance to change the narrative. If they can achieve greatness with Messi in 2025, past disappointments will be forgotten. The early playoff exit in 2024? The missed finals? All are wiped away if they lift this trophy.

  The opened their 2025 Champions Cup campaign with a dominant win over Sporting Kansas City in Round 1 and followed it up with a contentious victory over Jamaican side Cavalier SC in Round 2. Now, in the quarterfinals though, there's a very possible reality that it could be a preview of this season's MLS Cup final – facing fellow contenders LAFC.

  If Miami wants to make history with Messi, it needs to show it can deliver in these moments. The club needs to show it is than just Messi; they'll need grit and determination from everybody on the pitch, and Javier Mascherano at his best on the touchline.

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  Learning from past experience

  In their two-legged affair against Monterrey in 2024, Messi missed the first match due to injury at home in Miami, and returned for their second leg in Mexico – but his inclusion played no role in them turning around an initial 2-1 deficit. A needless David Ruiz red card saw the reduced to 10 men with 25 minutes to spare, and they conceded two late goals in leg one to put themselves in a hole that Messi could not lift them out of; they fell 5-2 on aggregate.

  Lucky for Miami, they won't have to travel to Mexico this time around, and their Argentine superstar will be available for selection for leg one of their series on the road in Los Angeles.

  If they can take the experience from last year's competition, and learn from it, they'll set themselves up for success.

  LAFC are no easy foe, though. Turkey international Cengiz Under is adapting to life well in MLS after joining the club on loan, while star winger Denis Bouanga continues to be one of MLS' best attackers. What the are missing though, is Olivier Giroud – who is sidelined due to injury, and expected to miss both legs – but ultimately, his unavailability might be what can give the an edge.

  Without a proper striker available against a defensively stout foe like Miami, Steve Cherundolo's squad will be forced to rotate their attack and try to create chances in an abnormal fashion – which is where Miami could strike. However, the manager is one of MLS' best tacticians; outsmarting him on the touchline will be a key part of finding success over two legs – Mascherano's biggest test yet as a head coach at the MLS level.

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  Dedication, drive and doubt

  When Mascherano was announced as Miami head coach ahead of the 2025 campaign, there was immense skepticism around the hire. His only experience close to the professional level was at the 2024 Paris Olympics with , and frankly, they underwhelmed with an early exit from the competition. He was doubted to succeed before his first press conference.

  Winning knockout matches? Winning trophies? Those are things that prove doubters wrong – and this tournament will mean just as much to him, as it will for his squad. The South Beach club has a chip on their shoulder, manager included.

  Messi, meanwhile, needs to show he has what it takes to be the leader Miami needs him to be – his stateside legacy is on the line as the continue their run in the competition.

  The Argentine has found immense domestic success, including being named 2024 regular season MLS MVP, but he's yet to make his presence known in tournament play for Miami. He missed their Open Cup final loss vs. Houston in 2023 to injury, missed Leg 1 to Monterrey last spring, missed the entire 2024 Leagues Cup and across three legs against Atlanta in the postseason last November, and played in all three matches, but only found the back of the net once.

  Redemption is on the table for him – he needs to seize it and not let go of it until the final whistle of their campaign blows in 2025 – because if both he and Miami play their hand accordingly, a special few months could be on the horizon.

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  Beginning of something special

  The Champions Cup final is set for June 1, just 13 days before Inter Miami hosts Al Ahly FC in the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Messi and Co. will face the Egyptian giants in an intercontinental showdown to kick off the revamped 32-team tournament. Drawn into Group A, Miami will also take on Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras and Portuguese heavyweights FC Porto in the group stage.

  Their Champions Cup campaign will be the best possible preparation for the Club World Cup, as the competition will only get tougher the further they advance. Throughout most of the MLS season, they won’t face opponents of the caliber awaiting them in the Club World Cup – not a slight against the league, but a reality. Miami's chances of making a deep run will only improve if it impresses in the Champions Cup.

  Beyond chasing their first trophy of 2025, the CONCACAF tournament offers Miami a rare opportunity to build momentum – a spark that could set off a domino effect of silverware.

  And with Messi in a contract year, possibly embarking on his Last Dance, Miami can't afford to waste this opportunity. The road ahead is clear: lace up, lock-in, and seize the moment.

Nuno Espírito Santo has conducted excellent work in charge of Nottingham Forest this season, leading them to fifth place in the Premier League after the first 15 outings.

He’s made the Reds a tough outfit to break down, exceeding all expectations in the opening months of 2024/25 after impressive business during the off-season.

Nikola Milenkovic will undoubtedly go down as one of the signings of the season, starting at the heart of Nuno’s backline, providing that real commanding figure that the club have been lacking over the years.

The Serbian scored his first goal for the club in the win over Manchester United at the weekend, now making his £12m transfer fee look like a bargain and worth way more than what they paid for his services.

However, their dealings in the window haven’t all been successful, often wasting a lorryload of money on players who simply aren’t up to the level required of the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest's worst signings since promotion

After fending off interest from West Ham United, the addition of Jesse Lingard gave the supporters a huge buzz of excitement, especially given his top-flight experience and quality.

Despite the early promise, the move would be a disaster, making just 20 appearances in all competitions – scoring twice with none coming in the Premier League.

He cost a pretty penny despite arriving on a free transfer, earning £115k-per-week, making him the highest-paid player in Forest’s history at the time of his move to the City Ground.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner joined in the summer of 2023, looking to provide long-term stability in the goalkeeper department after various loan deals the season prior.

However, the move for the American international was a disaster, featuring 21 times in all competitions before being dropped by Nuno upon his arrival last December.

The former Arsenal talent had a save prevention rate of -5.45, showcasing how often he was to blame for needless errors during his spell as a regular starter.

One other player has been just as disappointing during his own spell in the East Midlands, with Nuno desperately needing to offload him in January.

The player who Nottingham Forest need to offload in January

Attacker Emmanuel Dennis brought about huge excitement after costing £20m during the summer of 2022 – looking to provide the quality needed to secure their top-flight status in the first year after a 23-year absence.

Expectations were also placed on his shoulders given his record the season prior with Watford, scoring ten times despite the Hornets’ eventual relegation back to England’s second tier.

However, his time at the City Ground has been a disaster, only making 25 appearances in all competitions despite former boss Steve Cooper dubbing him as a “game changer” upon his transfer.

The Nigerian only notched two goals in his first season in Nottingham, before being sent on multiple loan spells in 2023/24 to Istanbul Basaksehir and former side Watford.

Neither move could catapult him into Nuno’s plans during pre-season, and despite going on the tour of Spain, he wasn’t included in the Premier League squad and also failed to secure a move away.

The 27-year-old still remains on the club’s books despite not featuring since April 2023, pocketing a small fortune in the process, burning a while in their finances.

Given his £40k-per-week wages, the hierarchy desperately needs to offload the attacker in January, or even offer a mutual termination to get him off the wage bill and potentially allow for new signings.

It’s such a shame to see a player with high expectations fail to deliver, but his time at the City Ground has been dreadful, simply being unable to adhere himself to the fanbase.

There’s no doubt that if they were to try and sell him next month they would be lucky to recoup the majority of the fee spent on his services, but ultimately, anything is a bonus at this point given his lack of impact since arriving.

Nottingham Forest make enquiry to sign £33m ace who is "blowing teams away"

Nottingham Forest face a Premier League battle to sign an exciting forward.

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By
Brett Worthington

Dec 9, 2024

Ipswich Town’s confidence will now feel battered and bruised after Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United convincingly put the dire Tractor Boys to the sword on Saturday.

Just before this dismal 4-0 defeat, Kieran McKenna’s men had basked in the glory of a last-gasp winner away at Molineux, only to be reminded of the gulf in quality between those near the bottom of the Premier League and the attacking might of teams such as the Magpies back at Portman Road.

It was another shaky showing from wobbly Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, who could now find his first-team spot is up for grabs after leaking four goals to gift Newcastle a perfect away day just before Christmas.

Arijanet Muric's woes at Ipswich

Of course, the Kosovan was let down by an extremely porous back four in front of him, but the Tractor Boys ‘keeper never looked convincing in between the sticks across the 90 minutes.

Amazingly, the ex-Manchester City man was fishing the ball out of his net with barely a minute on the clock, as Alexander Isak powered an early effort home despite Muric attempting to parry the shot away.

The in-form Magpies number 14 would go on to score a blistering hat-trick in the one-sided affair, with Isak’s second of the day far too easy for the Swede to convert, who ended up simply stroking the ball past Muric after a horrendous mix-up at the back.

Off the back of such a nightmarish afternoon, McKenna could be tempted to drop his error-prone shot-stopper as games now come thick and fast in December, considering the 26-year-old also has just one paltry clean sheet next to his name from 16 Premier League outings.

Whilst he assesses the other options he has at his disposal in goal, McKenna will also be debating who his starting right-back is moving forward after Harry Clarke’s equally weak display versus Newcastle.

Clarke's performance in numbers

Only making his fourth start in the Premier League since promotion, it feels unlikely that Clarke will be handed more frequent opportunities in the senior mix if his poor showing against Howe’s men is anything to go by.

Chalkboard

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Unfortunately, the ex-Arsenal youth player has looked somewhat out of his depth when shoved into the first-team picture in the top flight, seen in his two yellow cards versus Brentford back in late October and in this horror show against the rampant Magpies.

Clarke was regularly turned inside out by the likes of Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon marauding forward for the vibrant visitors, with zero tackles tallied up by the below-par 23-year-old showing his reluctance to get stuck in to try and thwart Newcastle constantly finding an opening.

Moreover, the right-back’s wayward passing – which saw the lacklustre Tractor Boys number two squander possession 13 times – meant no real meaningful attacks could be formed out from the back courtesy of the ropey defender, who also failed to register a single accurate cross all afternoon despite a colossal seven attempts.

This could trigger another change in personnel ahead of Ipswich travelling to Arsenal on the 27th, knowing full well that another shoddy display across the back four might well result in Mikel Arteta’s men hammering the sorry Tractor Boys in North London.

With Axel Tuanzebe out injured, McKenna would have to likely call upon Ben Johnson to replace Clarke, with the ex-West Ham United man arguably an underwhelming summer buy so far, having made just five top-flight starts himself.

Still, the frustrated Ipswich boss will have to make some tough calls now after witnessing such an abject display from his downbeat troops.

He's outscoring Delap: Ipswich make contact over signing £20m monster

The incredible goalscorer would improve Ipswich’s squad.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 19, 2024

Weston McKennie is reportedly “closer than ever” to signing a new contract at Juventus, with the USMNT star ready to extend his spell in Turin.

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• American moved to Turin in 2020
• Has 12 months left on current deal
• Fresh terms will include pay rise

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international first linked up with the Bianconeri in 2020. He is now the longest-serving outfield player at the Allianz Stadium. Questions have been asked of his future across several transfer windows.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A loan spell was taken in at Leeds in 2023, with a forgettable stint at Elland Road ending with relegation out of the Premier League being suffered. It was difficult at that point to see how he fitted back into the fold at Juventus.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  A succession of managers have, however, found a role for him. McKennie’s versatility has been put to good use, with the 26-year-old filling defensive and midfield berths. His value to the collective cause is now about to be recognised.

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  TELL ME MORE

  According to , McKennie will agree an extension with the Serie A giants through to either 2028 or 2029. Said terms will include an improved salary. His current deal is due to expire in the summer of 2026.

The scintillating 22-year-old USWNT star is dealing with a new reality with her health, but Rodman's return makes the team better

Trinity Rodman, at just 22, has shown she can create great pain for those that line up against her. Rodman, at just 22, also knows that she'll be dealing with her own sort of pain the rest of her career.

Anyone who has watched her on the pitch knows that there's magic at Rodman's feet, often happening at lightning pace. Rodman is special and, when she's playing, special things tend to happen. Let this week's revelation, then, serve as a reminder that sometimes life isn't always fair – even for the most special of talents.

Ahead of her long-awaited U.S. women's national team return – her first since helping Emma Hayes' squad win the gold medal at last summer's Paris Olympics – Rodman admitted that the back injury that's been plaguing her since 2021 will never be completely healed. There's a very real chance we have already seen the healthiest version of her.

Yes, she'll continue to improve as a player. Yes, she'll learn to manage the pain. Yes, the technical gifts will catch up to and even surpass some of the physical ones. Physically, though, Rodman, in her own words, will never again "be 100 percent."

That's the reality for the USWNT – although they'll still be building around her for the next decade, if all goes to plan. That's the reality for fans, who may need to temper expectations when it comes to Rodman's fitness and availability. And, most of all, that's the reality for Rodman, who will seemingly be dealing with back pain for the rest of her career.

That's the glass half empty, though, and when it comes to players such as Rodman, there's little time to dwell on the negatives. Her return is massive as the USWNT prepare for two friendlies against Brazil – Saturday in Los Angeles and next Tuesday in San Jose – and it's one that she seems to be relishing.

Rodman and the USWNT are set to take their next step into this new era together. Fully fit, or mostly fit, or somewhere on that spectrum, Rodman makes the USWNT better. And the hope is that these upcoming games can serve as a reminder of exactly who Rodman can be, even with a new reality.

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  A long-awaited return

  On the first day of USWNT camp, the team posted a video of captain Lindsey Heaps walking into training, a big smile on her face.

  "Look who's back!" she said, pointing to Rodman next to her. Trinity, in turn, replied, "It's me!"

  Rodman's return is the story of the week, as she rejoins the national team for the first time since the 2024 Olympics. It was during that tournament that she, alongside "Triple Espresso" members Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson, reached icon status.

  Rodman netted three goals while adding an assist in Paris, contributing a goal in each of her first four appearances in France en route to a gold medal. That included the winner in the quarterfinal against Japan – the team that beat a Rodman-less USWNT in February's SheBelieves Cup finale.

  Like Rodman, the rest of Triple Espresso has been out of action for some time. Wilson is taking time away due to her pregnancy, while Swanson, too, has been away from the team for personal reasons.

  Rodman is back, though, providing a jolt to the USWNT attack. It has largely done well without her as young stars such as Alyssa Thompson and Ally Sentnor have come into their own post-Olympics. Even so, there's no one in this pool quite like Rodman, which is why Heaps is so damn excited to see her.

  "I'm very, very happy to have Trin back," Heaps said. "I think we all are. I think her presence, on and off the field, is just different. You get another voice in there, another enthusiastic voice, someone that brings energy on and off the field. That's something that you want because it's a domino effect.

  "It helps us, particularly with a lot of new young players here. They want to see that and they want to feel that. She's young, too, so they get to see it first-hand from someone like her – who also brings a load of confidence – which, at her age, is so crucial in this environment."

  Rodman's road back hasn't been easy, though. She's had to confront some tough realities along the way.

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  Rodman's injury issues

  It was disconcerting for any fans of the USWNT, and for fans of the sport in general. In a NWSL game last September, Rodman was forced out of the Washington Spirit's 3-0 loss to the KC Current. She couldn't leave under her own power. Rodman, the USWNT 22-year-old prodigy, left the field in a wheelchair.

  It wasn't her first back injury and, as it turned out, it wouldn't be one she would recover from easily. The issue in September was described as an "intense back spasm" but Rodman confirmed that there are greater issues at play. She didn't look quite like herself on the Spirit's road to the NWSL final, and the club has been careful to manage her to start this 2025 NWSL season.

  "Honestly, I don't know if my back will ever be 100 percent," Rodman said this week. "It's kind of an issue where it's not one specific thing. It's just the way my back is structured and it's more so management than a curable fix. I think we've managed it really well and I'm happy with the progression that we've had, but I don't think my back will ever be the way it was my rookie year, which is unfortunate."

  Even as Rodman's career is just getting started, she now knows that she'll have to adjust to that reality, both physically and mentally.

  "It's tough for me coming off such a good season and the Olympics and then going into an injury and now trying to find my place again and find my role and rhythm," she admitted. "I think having such an incline of momentum of going and going and going and then getting injured to where it's like 'Am I starting again?' Because you can't just get right back into it.

  "It's been the mental battle of 'I can't be the Trinity I was at the Olympics' now coming back from injury, so I'm trying to play the role as best as I can and still be effective in a different way as I build back up into it."

  Building up is, as she said, a process, and USWNT boss Emma Hayes knows that as well as anyone.

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  Managing her minutes

  During her time managing at Chelsea, Hayes was tasked with the rehabilitation of one of American soccer's top stars: Catarina Macario. For several years, the midfielder/forward was sidelined with injuries. It took careful planning to get her back to where she needed to be and now, finally, Macario is healthy enough to be a USWNT contributor again.

  Rodman's situation wouldn't seem to be that dire. She can clearly play through her back issues and, as she said, she's learning how to best manage the pain. Hayes, though, intends to be cautious – which means we may not see Rodman fully unleashed in these games against Brazil.

  "She's had an ongoing back complaint," Hayes said in a news conference. "And she's on the right road to that, but it can be easy to trigger it… So I have to try and find the sweet spot in camp to reintegrate her back into the team and also manage her, because she has a long season ahead."

  Even former USMNT stars Tim Howard and Landon Donovan expressed concern about Rodman's revelation, and the need to exercise caution when it comes to managing her playing time.

  “This is a problem because, with a lot of things that you have to manage in your career injury-wise, a back is not a good one," Donovan said on the duo's podcast. "Because there are just a lot of things that can go wrong, so I do worry a little bit about that with her. And hopefully she has the awareness and the people around to make sure… that you’re managing it right so she can play."

  Howard praised Rodman's electric skills, saying, “She’s got brilliant pace, really strong, obviously great tight feet in and around the penalty area. But, like, ultimately it’s her explosiveness that gets her off the mark. Hopefully, she can manage that and we don’t see any sort of demise, because she’s absolutely sensational to watch."

  Rodman has played in each of the Spirit's first three regular-season matches, but only made her first start last weekend against Bay FC. In total, she's played 120 minutes across those three games. At this point in both the season and the USWNT's World Cup cycle, there's no real reason to risk her – no matter how enticing that may seem. Heaps has been impressed during the few training sessions the USWNT.

  "For her to come back from the injuries that she's had and to train like she's been here for the last eight months," Heaps said, "that's really exciting for me."

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  Getting Rodman going

  The benefits of having Rodman on the squad are twofold. As Heaps said, she brings a different level of enthusiasm to the group, one that is already rubbing off on those that hadn't played with her at the Olympics.

  "I'm super happy for her to be after battling back from an injury," said defender Emily Sams, who did battle with Rodman and the Spirit last season during the Orlando Pride's title run. "I'm just happy to see her back here and smiling. She seems to be having a great time just being back here."

  More importantly, though, there's the soccer side. What makes Triple Espresso so dangerous is the pure speed at which they can play – and that's not just physical speed. All three move and interpret the game at a breakneck pace and all three know their roles well.

  Rodman's job has generally been to stretch defenses and give defenders hell when she gets them 1v1. It's something Hayes' USWNT leaned on heavily last summer.

  "When we face the Spirit, we have to be on our A-game," Sams said of playing against Rodman. "It's a 1v1 battle on the wing so, whoever's playing outside back, you just have to be fully prepared for that and do pretty much anything you can to slow her down.

  "In the final, you saw Kerry Abello and her going at it all game. You just have to try and do anything you can to slow her down. She's obviously so good, so, yeah, it's a nice change to be on the same side as her for this camp."

  And even at less than 100 percent, Rodman's scintillating skills will always be problematic for defenders.

  "As a midfielder, with any of our attacking players, they make it a lot easier for us," Heaps said, "because, when it doubt, you know you can get the ball into space and they will go at defenses and make it impossible to win the ball from them. There's such an attacking threat and unbelievable qualities that they all have. But, obviously, Trin has her own and she's very, very unique in the type of player she is."

  It's been too long since Rodman wore that USWNT kit, too long since the game has seen that unique ability on display at the international level. There are still some questions about what her best will look like – and how often she'll be able to reach it – but Hayes and the USWNT will have time before the 2027 World Cup to figure that out.

  For now, when she hears someone exclaim, "Look who's back!" Rodman can happily say, "It's me!"

Rangers supporters everywhere are still ruing Sunday’s League Cup Final defeat, with Glasgow’s giants playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Hampden, with second-half equalisers from Mohamed Diomande and then Danilo forcing extra time and ultimately penalties for the Ibrox side.

In the shootout, someone has to miss and, unfortunately for those bedecked in red, white and blue, housed in the west end of the National Stadium, that man was Rıdvan Yılmaz, his tame effort easily kept out by Kasper Schmeichel, as Celtic once again hoisted aloft the trophy.

However, Philippe Clement’s team will soon be back in action, welcoming Dundee to Ibrox on Saturday, with a chance to exact revenge on their fiercest rivals right around the corner, given that the next Premiership Glasgow derby in Govan is coming up as soon as 2 January.

Speaking of January, the start of a new year also signals the opening of the transfer window, so could one of the most expensive players in the current Rangers squad be on the move next month?

Rangers forward could leave the club

As reported by Rob Laurens for French outlet Le Républicain Sportif, Saint-Étienne are considering a move for Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers in January.

Les Verts, ten-times French champions, are one of France’s biggest clubs but, following promotion via the play-offs, are currently embroiled in a relegation battle, sat third bottom of Ligue 1, having lost six of their last eight, including three on the spin, hence why les Stéphanois are seeking attacking reinforcements.

Transfer Focus

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In terms of Dessers, his career has already taken him to various Belgian and Dutch clubs, as well as one season in Italy, arriving in Glasgow to much excitement for a not insubstantial £4.5m fee in July 2023.

Then manager Michael Beale stated at the time that “Cyriel pushed extremely hard to make this transfer a reality”, but his time with the Light Blues since has been, at best, mixed.

Why Rangers should cash in on Cyriel Dessers

On paper, Dessers has scored 34 goals in 80 appearances for the Gers, which is not too bad at all.

He’s bagged 12 goals this season, on target at Celtic Park last May as well as in European fixtures against Servette, Real Betis, Dynamo Kyiv and, most recently, Olympiacos.

However, the Nigerian has also garnered a reputation for squandering big chances.

He’s taken 144 shots to score 27 times in the Premiership and UEFA competitions while, also according to FBref.com, his xG figure across five Europa League fixtures this season is four, with this yielding just a solitary goal so far.

Following the draw in Piraeus in early November, in which he did equalise, Dessers joked that if he scored every single chance that came his way he “probably would not be at Rangers”, but could that become reality as soon as January?

In recent weeks, Clement has made the bold call to drop Dessers, leaving him on the bench for the last five matches, with Hamza Igamane repaying his manager’s faith by scoring five times in his last six appearances, with the Moroccan very much the man in form.

So, how do Rangers’ attacking options compare to one another?

Given that Igamane, Černý and Bajrami only arrived this summer, and Danilo’s time at the club has been blighted by injury, they’ve all played significantly fewer minutes than Dessers.

However, on a per-90 basis, the Nigerian is being outperformed by both of the other two natural centre-forward options, namely Igamane and Danilo, suggesting it may be time to cash in.

During the summer, it was reported by Graeme McGarry for the National that Dessers turned down the chance to join Atlanta United, with the MLS outfit bidding £4.5m for his services, having just sold former-Celtic centre-forward Giorgos Giakoumakis to Cruz Azul for close to double that.

This time, should Saint-Étienne, or anyone else for that matter, put a similar amount of money on the table for Dessers, Rangers should do everything they can to facilitate his exit.

Rangers could finally sell Dessers with move for "incredibly prolific" star

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Glasgow Rangers dropped further behind their rivals in the race for the Scottish Premiership title after they were held to a 3-3 draw by Hibernian on Sunday.

The Gers dropped a 2-0 and 3-2 lead to walk away from Easter Road with just one point, which has left them 16 points behind Celtic in the top-flight table as it stands.

A hat-trick from Hamza Igamane was not enough to secure all three points for the Ibrox giants, who were let down by their goalkeeper for the third Hibs goal.

Liam Kelly came flying off his line from a corner and got nowhere near the ball, allowing Rocky Bushiri to, essentially, head the ball into an empty net, and the Gers have now been urged to sign a new goalkeeper.

Rangers told to sign Premier League stopper

English Football League pundit Don Goodman has told Rangers to consider a swoop for Wolverhampton Wanderers second-choice goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who is currently behind Jose Sa in the pecking order under Vitor Pereira.

Jack Butland is currently out injured after suffering ‘significant’ internal bleeding in his leg and the Daily Record reports that it remains to be seen when he will be able to return to action, leaving Kelly as the first-choice for the time being.

Speaking to Plejmo, as relayed by the Daily Record, the pundit said: “Sam Johnstone moving to Rangers could be a move that suits all parties.”

Goodman then added: “Rangers have to consider their options in the transfer window after Jack Butland’s injury. A permanent move could be dependent on the price tag but a loan is likely to come down to whether Sam Johnstone would be interested in a move to Scotland.”

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Johnstone joined the Old Gold for a reported fee of £10m in the summer but has only played seven times in the Premier League this season, and the Gers could offer him an escape to Ibrox to play regular football in Butland’s absence.

The England international could come in as a fantastic short-term addition for Philippe Clement if the club can convince Wolves to loan him to them for the rest of the campaign.

Why Rangers should sign Sam Johnstone

Kelly’s performance against Hibernian was a concern as he struggled to deal with the set-pieces and crosses into the box that the home side consistently delivered.

There was a moment not long before the goal where the Scottish dud came out to attempt to claw away a corner and missed the ball completely, but it did not result in a goal.

As you can see in the table above, he has lost 50% of his aerial duels across his three appearances in the Premiership so far this season, which illustrates his struggles dealing with balls into the box.

Johnstone, who was once hailed for an “unbelievable” save by Gary Lineker, has proven himself to be very reliable when it comes to dealing with those situations. He has won 100% of his aerial duels in the current Premier League campaign and has never won under 67% of his aerial battles in a single top-flight season in England.

These statistics suggest that the Wolves shot-stopper, who has also completed 63% of his attempted passes this season, could come in as a huge upgrade on Kelly in that area of the game, helping Rangers to consistently deal with set-pieces more effectively.

Johnstone could also, as shown by their respective pass completion rates, offer more composure on the ball to help Rangers play out from the back under pressure, which is another reason why the Gers should take Goodman’s advice and swoop for him as a big upgrade on Kelly.

Rangers could repeat Russell Martin disaster with move for £30k-p/w target

Rangers should avoid a deal for the centre-back who has been linked with a move to Ibrox.

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