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Despite Newcastle United's recent injury crisis, Eddie Howe's side have produced an excellent run of form that has catapulted the Magpies back into European contention.

His side are currently unbeaten in their last four Premier League outings, including a 4-0 hammering of Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park last weekend.

They've kept two clean sheets in as many games, with Howe's defence thriving despite losing players such as Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries in recent weeks.

Their various setbacks has allowed Dan Burn to shift to a more central role, as a wide left-sided centre-back, which has seen the 31-year-old regain some of his good form from last campaign.

However, ahead of the summer, the Magpies are still looking to strengthen their backline, with the club targeting one player to help solve their defensive woes.

Newcastle leading the race to sign new defender

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are leading the race to sign Bournemouth centre-back Lloyd Kelly after the defender rejected the Cherries' latest contract offer.

The 25-year-old, who is Bournemouth's current club captain, is out of contract in the summer with Liverpool and Tottenham also interested in his signature, but it appears as though Howe could be reunited with his former player on Tyneside.

Kelly, who is valued at £13.6m as per Transfermarkt, has made 18 Premier League appearances this campaign, with the defender failing to feature since the middle of February after suffering a hip injury.

However, despite his latest injury setback, Kelly would undoubtedly be an upgrade on one member of the Magpies' backline, with the club needing to prioritise his addition this summer.

Why Lloyd Kelly would be an upgrade on Burn

The "outstanding" Kelly, as described by Magpies boss Howe during his time in charge at the Vitality Stadium, could be set for a reunion with his former boss, having played 9 times under the Englishman previously.

Howe's a huge admirer of the defender, with the current Newcastle boss saying: “He’s certainly someone who I think could have leadership capabilities as he grows through his career.

“But he is an outstanding player, who has great potential."

When analysing the 25-year-old, who has often featured at left-back during his time on the South Coast, he appears to be an upgrade on current Magpies defender Burn.

Whilst there's no debating the 31-year-old's defensive abilities, the current Bournemouth man trumps Burn in other key aspects for a centre-back or full-back.

Kelly averages 1.1 progressive carries per 90 in the Premier League this season in comparison to Burn's tally of just 0.5 per game. The Cherries defender also beats the Newcastle-born talent for progressive passes per game, with his tally of 3.5 clear of Burn's 2.7.

Given his recent injury troubles, Kelly has failed to add to his already impressive tallies, but with the 25-year-old being six years younger than Burn, he has the potential to thrive under Howe for a long time at St James' Park.

The signing would be one of little risk given there's no transfer fee involved, with the club potentially able to strengthen by signing a proven top-flight talent, whilst complying with the Premier League's FFP rules, especially after their recent losses for the previous financial year.

Newcastle's hierarchy should waste no time in the summer in winning the race for Kelly's signature, especially given the competition they face from fellow English sides, with the defender able to thrive under Howe's guidance once again.

Newcastle favourites for "monstrous" signing who Isak would love

The pair have been in excellent form so far this campaign.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 14, 2024

A new U.S. coach is reportedly on the way, and he'll look to restore faith and optimism ahead of World Cup 2026

U.S. Soccer reportedly have their man, and, boy, did they get a good one. It took more than a month after the firing of Gregg Berhalter, but it was seemingly worth the wait: Mauricio Pochettino is set to become the next U.S. men's national team manager.

That's a huge deal for American men's soccer, which has found its new figurehead. The former Chelsea, Tottenham and PSG boss is set to become the USMNT's leader as this program heads into its most important tournament: the 2026 World Cup, hosted in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Ahead of that World Cup, U.S. Soccer needed to make a splash. The pressure was firmly on the federation to ensure that this hire delivers against expectations and sets the course for a flagship U.S. soccer programs for years to come. There was zero margin for error.

Pochettino has a connection to US Soccer, as he previously worked alongside current sporting director, Matt Crocker, who was running the Southampton's academy during the coach's time there. When he outlined his criteria for replacing Berhalter last month, Crocker said, "Whether they're from the U.S. or elsewhere, they've got to fit the profile, which is a serial winning coach."

To succeed in 2026, the federation needed to make a big move, and that's exactly what they did by selecting Pochettino. He's a proven commodity in Europe, even if he doesn't yet have any international experience as a coach. With several stints at the highest levels of European soccer, Pochettino might be the most high-profile hiring in American soccer history (although Jurgen Klinsmann might have something to say about that).

But what does Pochettino bring to the table? How is he different than his predecessors? What can he do to get this team ready for 2026? GOAL takes a look

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  Talent development

  Harry Kane was always going to be a superstar. So too, was Heung-min Son. But would they have become the stars they are without Pochettino's guidance and patience?

  Particularly in the early years of his career, Pochettino proved himself as a talent developer. Kane and Son became heroes under his watch at Tottenham, but they're just the best examples. He got a lot out of a little at both Southampton and Espanyol.

  Pochettino was let go from Chelsea this spring after one season with the club, which finished sixth in the Premier League and didn’t qualify for this season of UEFA Champions League. In that season, however, the world was introduced to Cole Palmer, who rapidly went from young hopeful to star under Poch's watch.

  It is, admittedly, all a bit different for the USMNT. Pochettino won't be working with these players day in, day out. Rising stars such as Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and Yunus Musah won't get everyday instruction, but the guidance they get from a manager such as Pochettino could be crucial.

  Pochettino knows how to work with younger players. The best parts of his career centered on him taking a team and making them better than they were before. As he steps into a youthful USMNT, there's reason to believe that he can take this group and deliver vast improvement.

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  Big-name respect

  One of the criticisms that Berhalter faced, particularly towards the end, was that the relationships between player and coach had become too familiar. That criticism cited issues with ego, behavior and comfort levels. No worries now on that front with Pochettino, who is a coach that will command respect.

  He will come in with no attachments to these players, offering everyone a much-needed fresh start. He also will enter with some pre-built respect stemming from his days in Europe. The man has coached Kane, Son, Kyliann Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, for goodness sake. When he speaks, you should probably listen.

  If Pochettino can handle egos at PSG, arguably the biggest snakepit in the world at the time, he can handle this USMNT. Everyone is starting with a blank slate except Pochettino, who enters with a resume and reputation that the USMNT's players have to acknowledge from day one.

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  Tactical triumphs

  It wasn't until recently that Pochettino found hismelf managing a team with expectations. He was always the coach of the underdog, the one that could get his team over the line against bigger and more established programs.

  That's what he's stepping into with the USMNT, too. This is a good team, not a great one. To win, they'll need to get results against great teams.

  They failed to do so under Berhalter, which is one reason he's gone. This group rarely struggled to beat the teams they were supposed to beat, Copa America 2024 aside, but they almost never beat the teams they weren't supposed to beat. This team has talent but, if it wants to go far at the World Cup, they'll need success both when expected, and when unexpected.

  Pochettino has done just that countless times. He took a Tottenham team that was always outside of the Big Five and turned the Premier League into a Big Six. He did so by routinely challenging and beating the league's established giants. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal – all fell victim to his Spurs team.

  You can look at his Champions League history, too. Spurs' triumph over Real Madrid is heralded as one of his finest achievements, as he took down the Kings of Europe in the 2017 group stage with a midfield of Harry Winks and Eric Dier. Pochettino out-thought Zinedine Zidane that day.

  Pochettino has the tactical expertise to go toe-to-toe with the best, and you rarely see the best in the international game. As a result, the U.S. will have a leg up on many teams they'll face before the opening whistle is even blown.

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• Tournament success

  Speaking of the Champions League, we have to address tournament play. That's Pochettino's only real mandate with the USMNT. He'll be judged, almost exclusively, on how this team fares in the 2026 World Cup. Nothing else really matters. This is all about succeeding in one competition.

  A quick look back at the 2018-19 Champions League shows that Pochettino can do that. After escaping a group that featured Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSV, Tottenham topped Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax en route to the final, where they fell to Liverpool. It was the first time Spurs had made a European final since 1984 and the first time ever they'd made a Champions League final.

  Admittedly, that success didn't really translate to PSG, but you can't hold that against Pochettino. No one has cracked that code yet at that particular club and, with Mbappe now gone, that ship has probably sailed in Paris.

  Either way, while his record isn't perfect, there is a long list of accomplishments. Pochettino knows what to do when the stakes are high and legacies are at play in the biggest of tournaments.

West Ham United have already begun their hunt for a new manager, it has been reported, and have even gone on to make an early offer for their David Moyes replacement.

Moyes going down swinging

Despite constant speculation about his future, West Ham boss David Moyes isn't going down without a fight, and neither are his side. A late Michail Antonio header helped them hold Liverpool to a point at the London Stadium, and effectively ended Liverpool's Premier League title hopes in the process.

A point didn't really help either side though, with West Ham now sitting four points behind Newcastle United in the Premier League having played a game more.

The Reds will be hunting for a new manager at the end of the season with Jurgen Klopp's departure, and there appears to be a strong possibility that the east Londoners may be doing so too, with Moyes set to be out of contract as things stand.

New manager offer made but move unlikely

Now, reports have once again linked the Hammers with a replacement for Moyes, and even goes as far to suggest that the Londoners have made an offer. The man in question? Ex-Sevilla, Spain and Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, who has been out of work since leaving the Molineux outfit days before the new season.

There had already been reports of talks, but now Italian sources [via Sport Witness] claim that the Hammers have put forward an offer for the ex-Real Madrid boss. Not just any offer either. They claim that David Sullivan has tabled a ‘rich offer’ for his services this summer.

However, a move seemingly remains unlikely, with the report going on to note that Lopetegui prefers the opportunity to manage AC Milan, which is another option for him at present with current boss Stefano Pioli expected to leave San Siro this summer.

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This tactician would be a fantastic alternative to Ruben Amorim

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 27, 2024

And some in Milan are keen to see him arrive, with former Rossoneri star Filippo Galli singing Lopetegui's praises: "It’s true, things didn’t go well for him at Madrid and Porto, but as coach of Spain they achieved great results, offering spectacular football, and he won with Sevilla.

"Let’s not forget that he belongs to the Basque school, from Xabi Alonso to Arteta and Unai Emery, many are doing very well. Lopetegui is a modern coach, who builds his teams according to the principles of positional football."

Meanwhile, there isn't consensus over Lopetegui moving back to England, and The Guardian add that "key figures at the London Stadium are understood to be split on whether the former Spain and Real Madrid manager is the right man to replace Moyes".

They even add that there is still a glimmer of hope for Moyes, and that the Hammers could make "a late U-turn", though at this point there seems to have been too much smoke not to be fire regarding his departure.

Glasgow Rangers forward Ross McCausland was one of the stars of the show on Tuesday night as he played a key role in the thumping 5-2 win over Dundee at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership.

The Northern Ireland international scored the first goal for the Gers on the night, prodding the ball past Jon McCracken, before going on to register an assist for the fifth goal from Scott Wright.

A product of the Gers academy system, the 21-year-old starlet has emerged as a regular first-team option under Philippe Clement this season and looks to be one of the most promising young talents at the club.

However, the Light Blues could now land an even bigger talent than McCausland as they reportedly eye up a teenage sensation from England.

Rangers' interest in Championship starlet

According to the Daily Mail, Rangers are one of a number of teams interested in a possible swoop for Stoke City teenager Sol Sidibe in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that Premier League giants Chelsea have been keeping tabs on the 17-year-old defensive midfielder, who was dubbed a "terrific" talent by former boss Alex Neil.

It adds that the Light Blues and Italian side AC Milan are also keeping an eye on his situation as they eye a potential swoop to sign the young whiz.

As you can see in the table above, plenty of players have made their debuts and broken through at first-team level for the club well before their 20th birthday, which suggests that the potential is there for Sidibe to come straight into the senior side.

Why Sol Sidibe is a bigger talent than Ross McCausland

McCausland had only played three first-team matches for Rangers prior to the 2023/24 campaign and has now racked up 39 games by the age of 21, with 37 of those coming this season.

The 21-year-old had been playing academy football on a regular basis prior to the current term, with nine goals and five assists in 41 B team outings.

Sidibe, meanwhile, made his first-team debut for Stoke at the age of 16 and has already played eight senior games for the club in all competitions this season.

This means that the young whiz has already made more than three times as many first-team appearances for the Potters by the age of 17 than McCausland had by his 20th birthday last May, when he had played two games for Rangers.

Sidibe has also registered one goal and seven assists in 18 academy games this season for Stoke, which is one goal contribution every 2.25 matches on average as a defensive or central midfielder.

Whereas, McCausland managed 14 goals and assists in 41 B team appearances as a winger, which is one every 2.93 outings on average. That average drops to one every 4.33 first-team games with three goals and six assists in 39 games.

Cantwell and 8/10 Rangers star have just made themselves undroppable

The Light Blues forward enjoyed a fantastic evening against Dundee on Tuesday night.

By
Dan Emery

May 15, 2024

Sidibe could, therefore, arrive as a bigger talent due to his emergence at a much younger age whilst also making a bigger impact in the final third at youth level, despite playing in a less attacking position.

This is why Clement should push to bring him to the club this summer as the Stoke youngster could emerge as a future star for the Light Blues, given the promise he has shown so far.

Coleen Rooney has revealed how son Kai responds to being asked “are you as good as your dad?”, as he follows in Wayne’s Manchester United footsteps.

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• Wayne is United's all-time leading scorer
• Son could follow in his footsteps
• Considers himself to be a different player

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At 14 years of age, the oldest child in the Rooney clan is showing plenty of promise within the Red Devils’ academy system. He has already won trophies at youth level, while also boasting a prolific strike rate – with finishing ability seemingly being inherited from his famous father.

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• WHAT COLEEN ROONEY SAID

  There is a long way to go before he can claim to have stepped out of the shadow cast by Wayne – who is United’s all-time leading goalscorer – with Kai eager to avoid comparisons for now. Coleen has told : “We’ve never pressured them into even playing football. We’ve always just let them decide what they want to do. My eight-year-old was playing and doing really well but then decided he didn’t want to, and that’s OK.

  “I think they sometimes get pressure off other people, you know. People approach them now and then if we’re out, they do say, ‘Are you are as good as your dad?’. Kai says ‘I’m a different type of player.’ You’ve got to let them know that you don’t have to follow and to be your own person.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rooney has four sons with wife Coleen – Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass – with no pressure put on any of them to tread the same career path that he once took. Coleen added: “They’re very sporty but my younger two enjoy music. One is learning guitar, the other piano and both of them drums. The two older ones are football-mad and my eldest loves speaking Spanish at the minute and is into this Spanish rap. So he’s doing that all over the house. The house is even noisier.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Wayne Rooney does not have to contend with that on an everyday basis, as he is currently based in Devon – 260 miles away from his family home. That is because the ex-England international is looking to rebuild his reputation in coaching circles with Championship side Plymouth.

West Ham United have been offered a first potential signing for prospective new manager Julen Lopetegui, who appears set to take over from David Moyes when the Scotsman leaves on June 30.

West Ham agree terms with Lopetegui as Moyes exit confirmed

The Hammers have now officially confirmed that Moyes is set to depart after the expiry of his contract, bringing an end to the four years of his memorable second stint at the London Stadium.

Fabrizio Romano shares what happens next as West Ham agree Lopetegui deal

There is hope that things will move quickly now.

By
Ben Browning

May 6, 2024

During his tenure, Moyes has cemented his legacy as one of the club's most successful ever coaches and a legend in his own right. The 60-year-old steered West Ham away from relegation in 2019/2020, going on to achieve qualification for Europe in each of his full seasons in charge thereafter till now.

Reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2021/2022, Moyes guided West Ham to a Conference League triumph in Prague one year later – putting an end to the club's four-decade-long wait for a piece of major silverware.

However, supporters have grown dissatisfied with their side's style of football lately, and you can't forget that West Ham's league form has been subpar. They flirted with the drop for much of 2022/2023, and have lost by four or more goals on multiple occasions across all competitions this term.

This has prompted West Ham to make a managerial change, with reliable media sources claiming West Ham have agreed terms with Lopetegui. The Spaniard, who left Wolves at the start of this season, is apparently set to take over from Moyes.

West Ham won't announce Lopetegui's arrival until after the end of the season (Malik Ouzia, Standard Sport), but he is all but confirmed as their next head coach. The tactician's debut season will be a mightily important one, with Moyes being a tough act to follow.

West Ham's summer window will also be significant, as many squad members are on the decline, ageing, out of contract or linked with a high-profile summer exit. The east Londoners, led by technical director Tim Steidten, are eager to strengthen their attacking options.

West Ham offered £52 million forward Vitor Roque

Now, according to The Boot Room, West Ham are one of the numerous sides being offered Barcelona forward Vitor Roque.

Agents have apparently reached out to West Ham to make them, making the Irons aware of Roque's availability for a loan this summer, coming after a season of limited opportunities following his transfer to Barca for around £52 million.

“He is a promising young man with a bright future. Barça wins a lot, they sign an excellent footballer,” said Brazil Under-20s coach Ramon Menezes on Roque.

“He is a very strong player, very intelligent to play and to attack spaces. He has talent, a lot of speed and a great sense of goal.”

The 19-year-old, it would seem, has a lot to offer for Lopetegui if West Ham opt to make any formal move.

The five-time defending champions face a fight to maintain their superiority within the English game under their new coach

No team has dominated in the Women's Super League era like Chelsea. Each of the last five league titles have been claimed by the Blues, they've won the FA Cup in three of the last four seasons and they've also played in all of the last five League Cup finals, winning two. They are England's dominant force and, without a shadow of a doubt, the team to beat.

The question is, can they keep that up after a summer of significant change? There are six new faces in the first team for 2024-25, on top of eight senior exits, but the most notable change of all is in the dugout. After 12 years in charge, Emma Hayes bid farewell to the club in May, taking up a head coach role with the United States women's national team in which she has already won an Olympic gold medal.

Sonia Bompastor, the former Lyon boss, is her replacement, someone Hayes knows well from her time coaching in the U.S. and believes can help the team continue to progress forward. The appointment firmly highlights Chelsea's ambitions on the European front, as Bompastor has won the Champions League title this club craves – as both a player and a manager. They will hope she can provide a missing ingredient in that quest.

But continued domestic success is also very important. Chelsea are the team with the target on their backs after five successive league triumphs and both Manchester City and Arsenal have made some impressive signings this summer as they once again try to knock the Blues off their perch.

Can the champions of England make further progress in Europe? And does that have to come at the expense of some of the domestic success they've enjoyed? Or can Bompastor deliver both at the same time? We're about to find out…

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  Mood around the Blues

  Chelsea haven't undergone this much change on the women's side of the club perhaps ever. Stalwarts like Fran Kirby, Maren Mjelde and Jess Carter have all moved on while, after 12 years under Hayes, this team will be led by a different face, a different voice and some different ideas, as Bompastor looks to make her mark on England's all-conquering side.

  There's no doubt that Hayes holds iconic status in the blue corner of London, but that doesn't mean there cannot be excitement about a new era. Some may be a little uneasy about change and what it holds, but Bompastor has impressed during the summer with the intensity of her football and her personality off the pitch, while her success in the Champions League commands real respect.

  Fans have thoroughly enjoyed being the dominant side in England over the last five years, but it feels like the appetite now is for a European triumph. That's not to say supporters won't expect the team to be competitive with the likes of Arsenal and Man City, or that disappointing results on the three domestic fronts wouldn't be frustrating. However, if Bompastor can deliver a Champions League title, it would achieve a feat that the fans – and the club – have been craving for a very long time.

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  Transfer business

  Bompastor hasn't hesitated to dip into the French market during her first transfer window at the club, bringing in Maelys Mpome from Montpellier and the Paris Saint-Germain duo of Oriane Jean-Francois and Sandy Baltimore. Lucy Bronze, who Bompastor knows well from her time at Lyon, has also joined from Barcelona, alongside Julia Bartel, one of the Catalans' academy products. That means, despite eight departures, this squad remains well-stocked in all departments.

  Of those, Baltimore is the stand-out arrival because of her game-changing qualities that can win matches for the club. At 24 years old, her best years are certainly ahead of her, too. If she can settle well and make an early impact, she will make up for the exits of Kirby, Jelena Cankovic and Katerina Svitkova, who all had very different Chelsea careers but who all ultimately left the team lighter in attack upon their departures.

  Though there is a smattering of scepticism around the heavy focus on the French market, that is nothing that won't be alleviated by some strong early performances from those players. As such, Bronze is probably the signing that raised the most questions, especially given the squad already boasts two top-quality international right-backs. That said, she will add some necessary leadership after the club bid farewell to Mjelde and Melanie Leupolz.

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  Pre-season performances

  Chelsea went to the U.S. for their pre-season tour, taking on NWSL champions Gotham before an all-WSL match-up with London rivals Arsenal. Those two games are best to read into, especially given the recent 9-0 thrashing of Feyenoord comes with the caveat of the opponent being reduced to 10 players after less than half an hour, with the score only 2-0.

  In those, Chelsea fans will have been pleased with what they saw, too. The Blues really took the game to Gotham, going 3-0 up with less than half-an-hour on the clock, and they looked sharp in a 1-0 win over the Gunners as well, despite being in the early stages of their pre-season schedule. The likes of Mayra Ramirez and Lauren James only played limited roles on that tour, too, before racking up further minutes in friendlies back on home soil, with the Blues playing some behind-closed-doors matches as well as those well-publicised.

  Among all the positives, the one big negative from Chelsea's summer has been injuries. First to fall was Erin Cuthbert, who at least looks like she will be back in the early weeks of the new season, before Sophie Ingle then suffered an ACL injury against Feyenoord. It leaves the Blues a little lighter in midfield for the coming campaign, especially as Francois is also still working her way back from a few niggles.

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  Talking tactics

  There won't be too many obvious differences between Hayes' Chelsea and Bompastor's Chelsea this season, as there will be a lot of games where opponents sit back in a low-block, reducing the matches to attack versus defence drills which are all about players coming up with solutions, rather than a style of play. Furthermore, under Hayes, Chelsea dominated most matches and scored a lot of goals, and Bompastor also wants to do that.

  However, if there is one particular contrast, it is that the new coach wants the Blues to win possession back as quickly as possible. That's something that should certainly suit this squad, as it contains a whole host of aggressive, energetic and hard-working forwards, such as Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Ramirez, Guro Reiten and Aggie Beever-Jones.

  When it comes to the personnel in the XI, one thing fans can expect from Bompastor is that she will give young players a chance. The former France international worked as the head of Lyon's academy before taking the first-team role at the club and so is well-placed to develop the promising talent that the Blues possess, whether it be those in the youth set-up or the flurry of teenagers signed for the senior side in recent years. That was evident throughout pre-season, as Wieke Kaptein, Maika Hamano and Beever-Jones stood out in particular.

  One thing that will be especially interesting to track as the campaign progresses, meanwhile, is how Bompastor's team changes. That's because Chelsea have a few key players who are currently sidelined with long-term injuries, most notably Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel. How she fits Kerr and Ramirez, for example, into the same team will be intriguing, while it's also likely that Beever-Jones gets more chances in a central position early on but then moves wider as those strikers come back into the fold.

Manager Nuri Sahin confirmed the news, with Reyna not expected to return until after the November international break.

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• Gio Reyna suffers injury setback
• Midfielder out until end of November
• Battling through groin injury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Borussia Dortmund confirmed Friday that U.S. men's national team midfielder Gio Reyna has sustained a setback in his return from a groin injury he picked up in early September. As a result, he will not return to the pitch for club or country until after the November international break.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reyna sustained the initial injury in USMNT camp in September, forcing him to pull out of the window and return to Germany. Now, he's set to remain on the sidelines even longer.

  “We expect that Juju (Julien Duranvile) and Karim (Adeyemi) will be available again after the international break in November. Unfortunately, Gio had a setback and it looks similar for him,” BVB manager Nuri Sahin said Friday.

  The 21-year-old appeared in all three matches for the U.S. at Copa America 2024, but has only made one substitute appearance for the Black and Yellow this season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Reyna's last start at the club level in a competitive match was on April 21, a 2-0 loss to Everton while on loan at Premier League side Nottingham Forest. During his six-month spell there, he earned just two starts.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REYNA

  The USMNT will play their first matches under new coach Mauricio Pochettino against Panama and Mexico in a pair of international friendlies this October window, before turning their attention to November. They'll compete in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against an opponent TBD.

  Reyna won't be a part of either camp, as a result of his injuries.

West Ham could hand incoming manager Julen Lopetegui the perfect start to his reign by landing an impressive new addition staight away when the transfer window opens, it has been reported.

Changing of the guard at West Ham

David Moyes' long reign at West Ham came to an end with a whimper on Sunday as his side were comprehensively beaten by champions Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League season, a result which saw Pep Guardiola's side lift the Premier League title in the process.

Now, BBC have confirmed the worst kept secret at the club, that ex-Sevilla and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui will be taking over from the Scot, with the deal set to be confirmed "later this week" in order to allow him to begin shaping the squad and experimenting across pre-season.

Moyes will not be the only one leaving the London Stadium, with Michail Antonio having potentially played his final game for the Hammers ahead of his contract expiring this summer, while Ben Johnson is also set to leave as a free agent amid widespread interest in the versatile 24-year-old.

Veteran pair Aaron Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna are also out of contract this summer, while decisions will have to be made on Lukas Fabianski, Danny Ings and Kurt Zouma, who will have just 12 months left to run on their contracts in east London.

There will need to be plenty of new faces at the London Stadium, and now the club may well have just identified their first.

Hammers eye up young defender

Foot Mercato credit West Ham with an interest in RB Salzburg defender Oumar Solet, who is set to be on the move this summer. Under contract with the Austrian club until next summer, he is ready to leave in search of a new challenge, with the 24-year-old on the radar of a whole host of clubs across Europe including Bayern Munich and Napoli.

West Ham already on the verge of first summer signing from Arsenal

The Hammers have wasted no time.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 19, 2024

He has previously been vocal in his desire to play in England, telling GOAL about his career ambitions: "To play for the best teams in the world, of course. To be an example for young players. I just want to show my skills to the whole world. Since the youngest age, I've been a fan of the Premier League, but from now on, I am really open about every top league."

Solet has drawn plenty of praise for his performances for Salzburg, with journalist Zach Lowry taking to X to dub him a "superb" defender after one particular performance against Sevilla in the Champions League.

Now, Foot Mercato reveal that the Hammers have shown "strong interest" and "intend to take advantage" of his contract situation, which could see him leave for less than perhaps his market value would usually be.

It remains to be seen whether West Ham can beat their rivals across Europe for the Frenchman, but the early signs suggest that Lopetegui's arrival could bring with it some exciting new faces at the London Stadium this summer.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers returned to Parkhead last summer to replace Ange Postecoglou for his second stint in the dugout in Glasgow.

The Northern Irishman had left Leicester City earlier in the year and was free to make the move back up to Scotland, after the Australian boss moved down south to join Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodgers enjoyed a relatively successful first season back at Paradise as he secured his second trophy of the campaign at Hampden Park on Saturday, beating Rangers 1-0 in the SFA Cup final.

The ex-Liverpool boss also guided the Hoops to the Scottish Premiership title and he will now look ahead to the summer transfer window to bolster his squad ahead of next term, when he will hope to add even more silverware to his cabinet.

It was recently reported that the Bhoys manager is already eyeing up a new signing to add to the group, with a reunion with one of his former Leicester City stars on the cards.

Celtic's interest in former Leicester enforcer

According to recent reports from Ghana, as relayed by The Scottish Sun, the Hoops are lining up a swoop to sign defensive midfielder Daniel Amartey.

The former Foxes enforcer currently plays for Besiktas in Turkey and the Scottish giants are said to be looking at him as a possible addition to their midfield in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Journalist and agent Gürkan Borangil has also claimed that Celtic are keen on the 29-year-old battler and added that Rodgers has told the Celtic board that he would like to sign him, whilst the reporter also revealed that it could take a fee within the region of €4m (£3.4m) to secure his services.

However, it remains to be seen how much the Hoops are willing to pay for the central midfielder, who can also play as a centre-back, or if they are ready to submit a bid for him yet.

Last summer, reporter Ibrahim Sannie Daara claimed that Amartey turned down an approach from Celtic to complete a move to Besiktas from Leicester, as they had put a better offer on the table for the experienced ace.

The Bhoys could now make up for missing out on him last year by completing a deal to sign the former Premier League gem from the Super Lig side this time around.

If Rodgers and his recruitment team can get a move over the line for Amartey then they could land an upgrade on current midfielder Tomok Iwata.

Tomoki Iwata's emergence for Celtic

The Japan international may have feared that his Celtic career was over after the manager decided to bolster his options in midfield last summer.

Iwata had only played 13 times in the Scottish Premiership under Postecoglou during the 2022/23 campaign and was already behind Matt O'Riley, Callum McGregor, and Reo Hatate in the pecking order.

Rodgers then brought in Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Paulo Bernardo, and Odin Thiago Holm to add more depth to the middle of the park, which may have left the 27-year-old gem fearing the worst.

However, he ended the 2023/24 Premiership season with more minutes played than all three of them for Celtic, and only 62 fewer minutes than Hatate, in 19 appearances.

Iwata started nine league matches, three more than in the previous campaign, and enjoyed mixed success on the pitch with his play in and out of possession.

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese ace was a reliable passer but rarely provided creativity with his use of the ball, with less than one key pass every other game.

He also left a bit to be desired with his work out of possession as the midfielder only just won the majority of his ground duels, and was bettered more times than not in aerial contests.

Overall, these statistics suggest that Iwata was a solid, but unspectacular, performer in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants, which was reflected in his role in the squad, as he featured in half of the games and did not start in 29 of them.

Why Celtic should sign Daniel Amartey

Rodgers must now push ahead with a deal to reunite with Amartey at Parkhead as the former Leicester titan has the potential to provide a stronger presence in midfield.

His strength could be particularly useful in the Champions League, or any other European competition the Hoops end up in, when the team are not expected to dominate the ball and will need to be strong defensively to keep the opposition at bay.

Iwata, as shown in his aforementioned statistics, is not a brick wall in midfield and does have the potential to be bullied by opposition players, as shown by his 50% duel success rate overall in the league.

As you can see in the table above, Amartey offered far more than the Celtic lightweight out of possession at league level this season, with a much greater success rate in general, and particularly in the air.

The Ghana international's strength was also on display in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign as he won 59% of his duels, and 62% of his battles on the ground, across 20 appearances for Leicester, which shows that he can do it at the top level.

Amartey, whose attitude was once hailed as "first class" by Rodgers, also completed 91% of his passes in the English top-flight that term and 90% of them in the Super Lig this year.

This suggests that the 6 foot 1 brute has similar passing quality to Iwata, as they are both reliable with their use of the ball without being particularly creative, but dominates the Japanese dud when it comes to the physical side of the game.

4/10 Celtic flop should not be a regular in 24/25 after Hampden no-show

The Hoops forward produced another underwhelming display for Brendan Rodgers on Saturday.

By
Dan Emery

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Therefore, Rodgers and Celtic could land an upgrade on their current option at the base of the midfield by landing a deal for Amartey, who could be a fantastic, strong, defensive midfielder to call upon in big matches.