All posts by n8rngtd.top

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou rejected the possibility of signing centre-back Max Kilman this summer, instead opting for Micky van de Ven, according to The Athletic's Tim Spiers.

Is Kilman leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers?

One of Tottenham's biggest targets this summer was a new centre-back. Having witnessed Spurs' lack of defensive solidity from a distance last season, Postecoglou was desperate to reinforce a porous backline.

Postecoglou's prayers have now been answered with Spurs signing two new centre-backs this summer: Ashley Phillips and Van de Ven.

Phillips is more of a project player, arriving from Blackburn Rovers at just 18-years-old, and perhaps even going out on loan to get more first-team experience. Van de Ven, however, is expected to make an immediate impact following his £43m move after a breakout season in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

It could have been very different though, with Spiers announcing that Spurs' recruitment staff were very "hot" on Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Kilman, but Postecoglou took against the idea.

Speaking on The View From The Lane podcast, Spiers suggested that Postecoglou wan not keen on Kilman, partly due to his lack of pace and ability to therefore fit into the Australian's system.

"I feel like speed is the key here, in terms of why there were so keen to bring him [Van de Ven] in. I know that they looked really closely at Max Kilman from Wolves and that the recruitment team were really hot on him and I can understand why because he and Van de Ven share an awful lot of attributes in terms of their size, their physicality. Kilman is excellent technically.

"A similar price as well, I think Kilman could be got for £40m, from what I hear. He also has family in London, I think he'd have been open to the move.

"But the issue with Kilman is he's not quick, that's what he lacks, and I do feel like speed is the key to what Postecoglou wants. And from what I'm told, the recruitment team were really hot on Kilman but Postecoglou was not, and I'd imagine it's for that reason [a lack of pace]."

Whether Spurs will sign a third centre-back this summer remains to be seen, but it seems it certainly won't be Kilman.

Postecoglou's tendency to play offensive football with attacking full-back means that his central defenders need good recovery pace as to not get caught out on the counter-attack, something Kilman lacks.

Van de Ven, however, has showcased his speed in the Bundesliga, with a now viral clip of his recovery pace to make a goal-saving block against Union Berlin documenting just how quick the 22-year-old is.

How much is Kilman worth?

As Spiers mentions, a transfer for Kilman would likely cost around £40m, similar to that Spurs have paid for new signing Van de Ven.

Although, considering Wolves have already lost two centre-backs this summer in Nathan Collins and Conor Coady, they may have pushed that price tag up even further.

The 26-year-old is a very competent Premier League player and has blossomed at Molineux since arriving from Maidenhead United in 2018, however he is four years older than Van de Ven and arguably has less potential to develop further.

The 26-year-old is also a left-footed centre-back who is tall and physical who possesses great ability with the ball at his feet, but the signing of Van de Ven perhaps represents better value for money.

Leeds United have bolstered their playing squad with four new additions since their relegation from the top-flight at the end of last season.

Who have Leeds signed this summer?

The Whites made their first signing of the summer transfer window last month as they brought in versatile Ethan Ampadu on a permanent deal from Premier League side Chelsea.

They then brought in goalkeeper Karl Darlow from Newcastle United to compete with Illan Meslier for the number one spot and signed Sam Byram on a free transfer following his release from Norwich City.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Their most recent arrival came on Thursday night as the club confirmed that they have signed Wales international Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur on loan.

However, they are yet to bolster their attacking options and that area of the pitch could be added to before the end of the window as Daniel Farke's side are reportedly keen on signing Michail Antonio from West Ham United.

How good is Michail Antonio?

The Whites head coach could finally replace Rodrigo, who left the club on a permanent basis to join Al-Rayyan SC this summer, by securing a swoop for the Hammers striker.

He is a proven top-flight performer who could thrive in the Championship with the step down in quality and provide the goals that the club lost when they sanctioned the excellent Spaniard's departure from Elland Road.

The former Valencia ace scored 26 Premier League goals across three seasons in Yorkshire, which works out as roughly 8.6 league goals per campaign, and produced 13 in 31 appearances last term in spite of the team's eventual relegation.

Meanwhile, no other Leeds player managed more than five goals in the division and this suggests that Farke does not have a wealth of goalscoring options at his disposal, which is why Antonio would be a much-needed signing for the German head coach.

The Jamaica international, who current Brentford coach Thomas Frank once stated is "a handful" and is "a little bit like [Romelu] Lukaku", scored 14 goals in all competitions for the Hammers last season and has scored ten Premier League goals in three of the last four campaigns respectively.

These statistics show that the veteran attacker is a proven goalscorer at the top level who could offer a similar level of production to Rodrigo, whilst the drop down to the Championship could also allow him to improve upon his record as he would be facing lesser quality defences.

Antonio's performances in the Europa Conference League last season were particularly impressive. The 33-year-old marksman averaged a Sofascore match rating of 7.43 across nine appearances as he plundered six goals and one assist to help the club win the competition.

This suggests that the former Nottingham Forest man still has plenty to give on the pitch, in spite of his age, and could be an excellent signing for the Whites due to his knack for finding the back of the net.

Therefore, the £85k-per-week gem could replace Rodrigo as Leeds' go-to man for goals at the top end of the pitch if Farke is able to convince him to make the switch to Elland Road and ditch top division and European football with West Ham this season.

Leeds United are “one of the clubs” in the race to sign Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer this summer, and a reliable journalist has revealed when to expect developments on a potential move.

Where was Cameron Archer born?

Archer was originally born in Walsall and has been at Villa Park since his childhood days having graduated from the club’s academy to get promoted to the first team back in 2021, but having only ever made 13 senior appearances, he’s spent most of his career out on the road.

The England youth international has carried out three development loans since bursting onto the scene, the first at Solihull Moors, the second at Preston North End and the third and most recent being last season at Middlesbrough, and it sounds like he could now be heading for a permanent exit despite still having four years remaining on his contract.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that the Midlands outfit are “open” to selling the 21-year-old as a result of strong interest from the likes of Sheffield United and Michael Carrick’s side once again, but if the following update is to be believed, Daniel Farke has entered the race with the aim of bringing him to Elland Road.

Are Leeds signing Cameron Archer?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs delivered an update on Archer’s future at Aston Villa and name-checked Leeds as a team firmly in the running to secure his signature. He said:

“With Archer, what's interesting is that he's been made for sale now. So there is an opportunity to do that deal. He's had a couple of good loan spells in the Championship including with Middlesbrough and now, Aston Villa are willing to let him go. I think that he put himself in the shop window with I believe, a couple of goals and an assist at the under 21 Euros for England.

"He also scored plenty of goals, he got into double figures for Middlesbrough last season and I think that was only in about 20-odd appearances and he added several assists on top of that. So that can be one to watch because Aston Villa are now prepared to sell him. Leeds are one of the clubs no doubt Middlesbrough are another. So I would expect movement on Archer between now and the end of the window."

How many goals has Cameron Archer scored?

At Middlesbrough last season, Archer posted a remarkable 17 goal contributions (11 goals and six assists) in 23 appearances, with this form having seen him hailed “incredibly prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for Leeds.

Villa’s £20k-per-week earner also has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline so he would be a great option for Farke to have in the building, not only in terms of being able to cover for injuries in other roles but additionally if the boss ever wanted to switch up his team selection to have multiple top players out on the pitch together.

Furthermore, the centre-forward shares the same agent, Unique Sports Group, as Karl Darlow, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could give them a small advantage should they try to get a deal over the line.

The Whites have also been heavily linked with a swoop for Everton striker Tom Cannon, but with the need for attacking reinforcements strong, Archer could be following in the formerly mentioned player’s footsteps to walk through the doors as a pair before September 1st.

Manchester United are still in the race for Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard, and a new report has now revealed they are ready to make an offer…

Who is Benjamin Pavard signing for?

Pavard is at the centre of a transfer saga, with a number of Europe's top clubs vying for his signature, including Inter Milan, with it recently being reported he has agreed personal terms on a four-year deal with the Serie A side.

Inter have not yet agreed a fee with Bayern Munich, however, and Man United are willing to offer him more money to move to Old Trafford, which could potentially give them an advantage in the race for the centre-back.

Fabrizio Romano has recently taken to X to share quotes from Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta, who has given a new update on the Italian club's pursuit, saying: “Pavard? Deal on. We are still negotiating with Bayern”

“Player’s will is crucial and he wants to join Inter. Bayern need a replacement to let him leave, this is the issue. But talks are ongoing”.

Inter seem to be progressing in their pursuit of the Frenchman, but they are still negotiating, and the door may be open for some of the other interested clubs to hijack the move, including Arsenal and Man United.

According to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), United have informed Bayern they have €40m (£34m) "ready" to spend on the defender, but they will need to move Harry Maguire on before they are able to pursue a deal.

Maguire refusing to sign for West Ham United has thrown a spanner in the works for Erik ten Hag, but he retains an interest in the Bayern star, even though he would be happy to move to the San Siro.

The Red Devils are willing to outspend Inter in order to win the race for the former Lille man, which means Bayern are currently holding out for a bid of £34m from the Italian club, so there may still be time to hijack the move, if Maguire is sold.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE

How good is Benjamin Pavard?

As per WhoScored, the France international was the highest-rated centre-back in Europe's top five leagues last season, particularly impressing with his passing ability, averaging the third-highest number of passes per game in the Bundesliga.

On the other hand, Maguire is poor in possession of the ball, averaging a pass-completion rate of just 84.5% per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 47th percentile compared to his positional peers.

As such, Pavard could definitely be an improvement in that regard, while he has also averaged far more tackles per 90 during that timeframe, indicating he could be a real upgrade on Maguire defensively.

The former Stuttgart man is versatile, capable of playing at both right-back and centre-back, and he has plenty of experience competing for major honours, winning 13 trophies throughout his career, including the 2018 World Cup.

Pavard could be a fantastic replacement for Maguire, having been hailed as "excellent" by members of the media, but Man United will need to sell the 30-year-old quickly if they are to stand a chance of beating Inter Milan to the Frenchman's signature.

Arsenal could look at a late move to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, however, a report has stated that the Gunners will need to move on one specific player first.

What’s the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar have been productive so far this summer when it comes to new signings, with Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya all brought to north London from West Ham, Chelsea, Ajax and Brentford respectively.

In total, the Gunners have spent £200m but have brought in just £29m through player sales. However, it appears as if the club are looking to increase the latter figure by raising £100m in sales before the deadline.

That’s according to The Daily Mail, who claim that Folarin Balogun is one player who may depart with Arsenal valuing him at £50m. Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham have all registered their interest in the forward, with AC Milan, Inter Milan and Monaco also keen.

At the back, Gabriel Magalhaes, who has been left out of Arteta’s first two starting line-ups this season, has also been linked with an exit amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Real Madrid.

However, it is believed that the centre-back is likely to stay, although there is a chance the Gunners could allow Garbiel to leave if they can find a replacement. That is where Guehi comes in, with the report adding that a deal could be difficult to do late in the window but that Arsenal admire the player.

Who is Marc Guehi?

Guehi is an out-and-out centre-back who appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €35m Transfermarkt valuation.

Dubbed an “absolute tank” by England U21s goalkeeper Josef Bursik, the 23-year-old began his career on the books at Chelsea and spent two seasons on loan at Swansea City. During that time, Guehi made 59 appearances in all competitions in south Wales which earned him a big-money move to Crystal Palace.

Since arriving at Selhurst Park back in 2021, the defender has turned out on 84 occasions and even captained the club in a 3-0 win against Arsenal during the 2021/22 season with the Eagles.

Over the last 12 months, as per FBref, Guehi has been a solid performer. Compared to his positional peers in the top five European leagues, he has placed highly for progressive passing distance, long passes completed, successful take-ons and passes into the final third, showing his quality on the ball. Guehi also ranks high for fouls drawn and ball recoveries, while also averaging 1.47 tackles and 1.25 interceptions per 90.

Alongside Gabriel, Arteta has William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Rob Holding and the injured Jurrien Timber as centre-back options, whereas right-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu can also occupy central roles when needed.

Therefore, if Gabriel does move on before the deadline, a move for Guehi could be one to keep an eye on, whereas Torino’s Perr Schuurs is another who has been linked with a move to north London, so it could be a busy few days at the Emirates.

Sunderland are considering a move for Kelechi Chibueze, and a new report has revealed the chances of the club offering him a contract with the academy side in the near future.

Who is Kelechi Chibueze?

Chibueze is a goalkeeper who initially started his career within the youth setup at Premier League side Chelsea before making the move to Leicester City, but having departed the King Power Stadium upon the expiration of his contract on July 1st, as per Transfermarkt, he’s now a free agent.

With the 19-year-old being on the market without a home, that means he would cost nothing to recruit, making him an attractive prospect for any potential suitors out there, but it isn’t just his level of performances at club level that have been impressive.

The Foxes’ former shot-stopper previously represented England's U16s, where he made four appearances, and he will now be looking for his next permanent destination to try and help give him a chance of re-entering the international fold at a higher level.

Are Sunderland signing Chibueze?

According to The Sunderland Echo, Chibueze is currently on trial at the Academy of Light, with the goalkeeper having recently been training with Graeme Murty's U21s side.

The Championship outfit getting their target in the building to take a closer look at him is an "indication" that the hierarchy are considering offering him a contract, though it's worth noting that "no decision has yet been made" on whether this will actually come to fruition.

Whilst Nathan Bishop, who joined over the summer, has been training with the academy, Adam Richardson currently being out injured, alongside the departures of Jacob Carney and Harrison Bond, has "caused a void" in this particular department, so this could be a situation to keep a close eye on over the next few weeks.

How many clean sheets has Chibueze kept?

During his time at Leicester, Chibueze kept three clean sheets from a total of 19 appearances, so he’s still very much a work in progress, but there’s no doubt that joining the academy would help him to gain experience and develop as a player even further at Sunderland.

The Lewisham-born talent, who is of Nigerian descent, has also played against a decent level of competition when on international duty having faced youth teams like Croatia, Austria, Japan and Turkey as part of a group of friendlies, so this exposure to an increased standard of opposition will have done him the world of good.

Furthermore, the young shot-stopper only earned £500-per-week in the Midlands so he would be an extremely cheap and affordable recruit for Wearside chiefs to bring on board, a salary that would be more than worth paying for a possible star in the making.

The Black Cats will recognise that Chibueze is still only a teenager, but should he prove himself enough to be handed the chance to put pen to paper on a deal, he's likely to be given the opportunity he requires to go on and become an exciting signing for the long-term future of the red and white stripes.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have made some questionable signings over the years, with some talents proving to be big hits, and others being quickly forgettable.

This summer sparked change to the familiar squad at Molineux, with players needing to be offloaded and sold in order to balance the books with reference to the Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions in place.

Players such as club captain Ruben Neves and last summer’s blockbuster signing Matheus Nunes were sold to generate funds during the break, with the two sales accumulating £100m – £47m and £53m respectively.

While it was pivotal that business was efficient during the break due to tight financial pressures, transfers haven’t always been as smart for Wolves, as visible in the current members of the squad. Goncalo Guedes is one of the primary examples.

How much did Wolves sign Goncalo Guedes for?

Signed last summer from Valencia, winger Guedes made the £27.5m move to Molineux to join a host of Portuguese talent already in the Midlands.

At the time of his arrival, chairman Jeff Shi described the player as being “well suited to the Premier League”, insisting that the club had “been patient” to ensure they got the “right player."

Just over a year down the line and the 26-year-old has made only 18 appearances for the Old Gold, scoring on two occasions during his time associated with the club so far. It's safe to say that Fosun and Co picked the wrong player here.

What happened to Goncalo Guedes?

Earning £90k-per-week, Shi’s claims that the winger was ready to play in the Premier League proved to be false, with the former La Liga forward wasting his time at Wolves away.

Signed in August 2022, Guedes was shipped on loan to Benfica by January, and is yet to make another appearance for the side with his future looking to be far away from Molineux.

Former manager Julen Lopetegui explained that the £27.5m man was “not happy” at Wolves after his loan move to the Eagles, as he returned to the Lisbon-based club this summer on a season-long loan spell.

After just 18 appearances, it would be assumed that the attacker’s time is over in the Premier League, with him failing to adapt and wanting away from England as he continues to seek sanctuary in Portugal.

Journalist Nathan Judah didn’t hold back on his opinion of the winger, saying he has “zero interest in rotten apples” following his second loan move to Benfica last month.

While the disappointment of the transfer is understandable considering the price paid to obtain his services just a year ago, the 26-year-old was poor in Portugal, scoring just once in the league during his half-season loan with the Eagles.

Wolves have dodged a bullet by loaning the dud, however considering their recent financial problems, the money spent to sign the want-away has proven to be a complete waste of funds.

It’s likely that the Old Gold will permanently offload the forward in the near future as Gary O’Neil continues to build his favoured squad, although his dip in form will be damaging to the Midlands side, who are unlikely to make a profit in the instance of his sale.

As per CIES Football Observatory, the Portuguese international is valued at €20m (£17m), showing a dip of almost £10m in relation to the price the Premier League side paid for him just last year.

There remains hope that the 26-year-old can rediscover his form in Portugal to bolster his value, however, circumstances won't change the fact that the market move was a low for Wolves.

Fulham have started the season exactly how you'd expect a side to start after losing their talisman late in the window, before facing a battle to keep hold of arguably their best midfielder – eventually winning that battle.

Without Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Cottagers have won just once in four Premier League games this season, which came against Everton on the opening day. They did put in an encouraging display against Arsenal, however, battling to eventually take a point away from The Emirates.

With losses against Manchester City and Brentford, though, Marco Silva and the board may already turn their attention towards the January transfer window. Given those results, one particular target has emerged that Fulham are interested in when it comes to potential reinforcements.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Fulham may have lost Mitrovic in the summer, but that's not to say that Silva didn't receive any boosts when it came to incomings in the summer transfer window. In total, the Cottagers welcomed seven fresh faces, ranging from experienced heads like Raul Jimenez and Alex Iwobi to rising stars like Calvin Bassey. Reports suggest that their spending could only be on hold, too, with an eye on the January transfer window.

According to O Jogo, via Sport Witness, Fulham are interested in signing Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis, who reportedly has a €120m (£104m) release clause. The Premier League side will have to act swiftly if they do want to sign the Benfica man, however, with Nottingham Forest, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich also reportedly interested in the midfielder.

It remains to be seen whether Fulham will be in a position to land Luis come January, or even next summer, it must be said. The fact that Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed just put pen to paper on new deals at the club could mean that Silva's need for a midfielder significantly goes down Fulham's list of priorities.

Should Fulham sign Florentino Luis?

At 24, Luis looks set to have the world at his feet, given the interest in his future from around Europe. And that interest comes as no surprise, as statistics show.

According to FBref, the defensive midfielder is in the top 97 percentile for passes attempted, whilst being in the top 93 percentile for completion rate, with 88.8%. Meanwhile, Luis is also in the top 96 percentile for tackles per 90, making 3.47, and the top 99 percentile for interceptions, with 2.62 per 90.

With numbers that impressive, the praise that Luis has received comes as little shock, with former Benfica coach Joao Tralhao saying, via HITC: "He has the talent and quality to play in elite teams. Remember when Real Madrid had the Galacticos? They needed someone to balance the team, and [Claude] Makelele was so important.

"More recently, Casemiro did that job, allowing [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Luka] Modric and [Karim] Benzema to attack. Florentino has those capabilities. He’s having an amazing season under Roger Schmidt. He can play anywhere, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, anywhere. He would have no problem adapting.”

With that said, it will certainly be interesting to see if Fulham push on and pursue the signature of Luis when the transfer window comes around.

Chelsea are in a difficult moment on the pitch and could now be set to offload one of their players in January after he held discussions with the club over his future, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Chelsea?

Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino has urged his players to mature following their difficult start to the 2023/24, which took another negative turn on Sunday against Aston Villa as Ollie Watkins condemned Chelsea to another defeat following Malo Gusto's red card at Stamford Bridge. Nicolas Jackson will also serve a suspension after picking up five yellow cards for dissent.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Pochettino stated: "We need to grow up as a team, not only in an individual way. A player like Nicolas is so young and is feeling his way into the Premier League and learning. He needs time, and in this type of game we are competing and want to win. But the players, when they are young, need to learn with experience and when they make a mistake."

Football Insider report that despite Chelsea taking just five points from their opening six matches, Argentinian boss Pochettino is under no pressure from the club hierarchy and will be given time to turn their fortunes around. Chelsea see Pochettino as someone who can restore the club back near the top of the pile in English football. However, there is an awareness from all sides that results must improve in the coming weeks.

Next up for Chelsea is a home clash against Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round of the Carabao Cup and they will be hoping to arrest their slump in form that has yielded no victories since their 2-1 triumph over AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the competition.

Nevertheless, the Blues continue to have a long injury list and will be without Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka, Noni Madueke, Benoit Badiashile, Marcus Bettinelli, Christopher Nkunku, Trevoh Chalobah, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana for the tie.

Who could leave Chelsea?

Marc Cucurella is believed to have held talks with Chelsea boss Pochettino about his future at the club and is now eyeing a January exit from Stamford Bridge, according to The Sun.

Manchester United were keen to take the Spain international on loan during the summer, though the deal fell through and they instead brought in Sergio Reguilon from Tottenham Hotspur. Cucurella is now weighing up his options and is keen to leave unless his minutes improve in the Premier League.

Since completing a money-spinning £63 million move to Chelsea last summer, Cucurella has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, making 34 appearances in total for the Blues, registering two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues across the last 365 days, Cucurella has excelled in the art of successful challenges, making around 3.83 per 90 minutes, putting him in the 99th percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Chelsea may need to grant the full-back more license to show his capabilities in SW6 or they run the risk of losing his services when the January window opens.

Luis Suarez has bitten back at his critics, with the Inter Miami star saying “people in soccer do not have memory” after opening his MLS goal account.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ex-Barcelona striker reunited with Messi
• Managing long-standing knee problems
• Has his first MLS goals for the Herons

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The veteran Uruguayan frontman has been reunited with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at Chase Stadium. He is now 37 years of age and is having to manage long-standing knee problems that will impact how many games he is able to play in 2024.

  Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WHAT SUAREZ SAID

  He has figured prominently for Inter Miami so far, but had seen questions asked of his contribution after struggling for goals. After bagging a brace in a 5-0 MLS demolition of Florida neighbours Orlando City, Suarez said: “From an individual standpoint, I am happy to be able to help the team. A striker and professional soccer player has to be accustomed to living with daily criticism. People in soccer do not have memory so in that sense I am very used to it. I have been playing professional soccer for almost 20 years, so I do not worry about things that people might be saying.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Suarez has the full backing of those around him in Miami, with Herons boss Tata Martino saying: “I said last week that to analyse a player when the team did not play a good game is unjust. The reality is the team played very well and Luis shined in all his splendour, not only as a goal-scorer but also with his assists.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• USA Today Sports
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  USMNT star Julian Gressel added on seeing Suarez rediscover his spark in a talismanic performance: “He left it all on the field without talking, and it is obviously very nice and it gives the whole group a good feeling when he is doing that type of stuff. Two goals, two assists, and an unbelievable assist as well where he is on a hat-trick in the first half and (instead) squares the ball to Robert (Taylor). I think that shows who he is, that shows what he does for this team, and how important he is. To have a guy like him on the team with that individual quality, I think we saw it today. That is something that is certainly good to have moving forward.”