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As they potentially look to replace Callum Wilson this summer, Newcastle United have reportedly made contact with the entourage of a Champions League-winning striker.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are closing in on what must be an important summer at St James’ Park, with exit rumours continuing to surround star man Alexander Isak. In what would be the move of the transfer window – perhaps in terms of both valuation and the impact it would make – both Liverpool and Arsenal are reportedly targeting the Swede, who’s worth £150m.

Whilst there’s no doubt that his exit would leave a gaping hole, Newcastle would at least be free from any PSR constraints to finally welcome reinforcements of their own.

That said, Isak may not be the only one to depart this summer, with Callum Wilson currently on course to leave as a free agent when his contract comes to an end in the coming months. In one swoop, it’s certainly a real possibility that Eddie Howe could be left without both of his strikers.

£42m Newcastle star who Howe loves "will" leave in future, agent reveals

He’d be a huge loss for the Magpies.

By
Barney Lane

Mar 8, 2025

If that does prove to be the case, the arrival of one particular target will be more important than ever and the Magpies seem to be well aware of that. According to CaughtOffside, Newcastle have now made contact with Tammy Abraham over a summer move from AS Roma.

The former Chelsea man has spent the campaign on loan at Milan in a mixed spell and has since found himself on the radar of the Tyneside club, along with the likes of Aston Villa and West Ham United.

Whether a return to the Premier League beckons for the 27-year-old remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that he’s one to watch amid growing rumours. An experienced goalscorer these days, he could instantly ease Newcastle’s Wilson blow.

"Amazing" Abraham could make Premier League return

Eyebrows were raised when Abraham swapped Chelsea for Milan in 2021 after winning the Champions League with the Blues, but the forward’s Italian adventure has proved more than worthwhile when fit and firing. Now, five years later, he looks destined to receive the chance to return to England’s top flight as a far more complete player.

Earning the praise of Jose Mourinho during their time together in Rome, the so-called Special One told reporters after a 3-0 win over Monza in 2022: “Today he was my Tammy.

“He played how I wanted him to. He won everything, he kept the ball, he provided an outlet, he won the first ball and he gave us an option in behind to push them back.

“We always talk about strikers when they score and obviously tonight was Paulo [Dybala]’s night, but Tammy was amazing.”

After scoring eight goals in all competitions in more of a backup role on loan at Milan this season, Abraham could yet become the perfect option for Newcastle behind Isak next season.

It’s a role that Wilson has struggled to fulfil amid injury issues, but one which could yet see the former Chelsea man thrive at St James’ Park.

Glasgow Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson has enjoyed a strong start to his short-term stay in the dugout after replacing Philippe Clement at Ibrox.

The former Scotland international secured a Europa League last 16 win over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on penalties before overseeing a dramatic 3-2 win over Celtic last time out in the Scottish Premiership.

The Light Blues took the lead thanks to goals from Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande, but they needed a last-gasp winner from Hamza Igamane after the hosts battled it back to 2-2.

Vaclav Cerny had one of his quieter games, having scored four goals in six appearances before that match, and he has been speaking about his future with the Light Blues beyond the end of his current loan spell.

The Czechia international has said that he “definitely” wants to extend his stay at Ibrox, whilst speaking during the international break, but has also admitted that there has been “no contact” about a possible deal.

Cerny, therefore, is still in the dark in regards to whether or not he will be at Rangers or Wolfsburg, or somewhere else entirely, at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Why Rangers should sign Vaclav Cerny permanently

The Ibrox bosses should be doing everything that they can to secure a permanent deal for the left-footed star in the upcoming summer transfer window, or an extension on his loan if a permanent move is not possible.

Since joining the Gers on loan from the Bundesliga outfit last summer under Clement, Cerny has been in electric form for the Scottish giants on the right flank with his ability to score goals and create chances for the team.

The 27-year-old magician has racked up 17 goals and seven assists in 44 matches in all competitions for the club so far this season – making him the second-top scorer at Ibrox behind Cyriel Dessers (22).

As you can see in the clip above, Cerny has the pace to get away from defenders in counter-attacking situations, whilst also having the quality and composure in front of goal to tuck chances away.

The Czechia international has only provided two assists in 27 matches in the Premiership so far this term for Rangers, but that does not paint the whole picture of his creative performances.

As you can see in the table above, Cerny has created an eye-catching 68 chances and six ‘big chances’ in his 27 games, which suggests that his teammates have let him down with their wasteful finishing in front of goal.

The Wolfsburg loanee is valued at £7.5m by Transfermarkt and Rangers must pounce on a permanent deal for him if that is close to the value the Bundesliga side hold him at, because of his terrific performances in the final third this season.

Rangers will also have to deal with potential outgoings from Ibrox, with clubs interested in their star performers, amid a report linking Nicolas Raskin with a move away.

The latest on Nicolas Raskin's future

According to TEAMtalk, there are several teams eyeing up the Belgium international ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, thanks to his displays for the Light Blues this season.

The report claims that Aston Villa, Brentford, and Leeds United – who signed Glen Kamara from Ibrox in 2023 – are all interested in signing Raskin from Rangers later this year.

It also reveals that teams in Germany and Italy are also keeping tabs on his situation, along with the English teams, and that Rangers ‘will do well’ to avoid cashing in on the central midfield star.

Transfer Focus

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

TEAMtalk states that the Scottish giants have placed a significant price tag of at least £20m on the Belgian starlet’s head, and it remains to be seen whether or not any of the interested parties are prepared to pay that for him.

Nicolas Raskin's soaring market value

Rangers have hit the jackpot with the former Standard Liege man since he made the move to Ibrox from his home country to sign for Michael Beale’s side in January 2023, joining in the same window as Todd Cantwell.

The Gers reportedly paid Norwich City a fee of £1.5m to sign Cantwell and the English midfielder racked up 14 goals and 12 assists in 64 matches before being sold to Blackburn Rovers for just £500k last summer.

That was a gamble that, ultimately, did not pay off for Beale or Rangers as the attacking midfield star was sold for a third of the price that they paid for him.

Raskin, who scored against Celtic last time out, was reportedly signed for a fee of £1.32m from Standard Liege, and that gamble is one that could be set to pay off.

Rangers reportedly value the Belgium international at a staggering fee of £20m, which means that his value has soared by a whopping 1,900%, from £1.32m to £20m, and it means that he is currently worth £12.5m more than Cerny, despite the Czech winger’s impressive form this term.

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star has provided impressive defensive performances in midfield in the Premiership and the Europa League to earn that interest from abroad and his huge valuation.

Rangers have, therefore, hit the jackpot with Raskin because they have turned a £1.32m investment into a £20m-rated asset who is now worth even more than their star loanee, as well as being worth 1,900% more than the fee they paid for him.

UCL club chasing "quick" Rangers star and he could now leave with Igamane

A concern for the Gers…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 25, 2025

Whilst the Light Blues should want to keep hold of their best players in every transfer window, selling Raskin for a big profit would be a huge success story for the recruitment team and, potentially, convince other young prospects to join Rangers to follow in his footsteps.

Andy Robertson labelled Liverpool target Florian Wirtz an "exciting talent" as the Reds aim to wrap up a deal for the exciting Germany playmaker.

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• Liverpool step up Wirtz pursuit
• Reds ready to shell out club-record fee
• Robertson spoke out on potential signing

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 22-year-old playmaker is on the verge of joining the Reds in what could become the most expensive transfer in British football history. Although negotiations are still ongoing between Liverpool and Leverkusen, reports indicate that a deal has been struck, with only the payment structure left to finalise.

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  Should the €150 million (£127m/$171m) deal be completed as expected, Wirtz’s move to Anfield would eclipse the £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo, setting a new benchmark in Premier League transfer spending. He had a sensational campaign in Germany, scoring 16 goals and assisting 15 times, spurring the Merseyside club to break the bank for the Germany international.

• WHAT ROBERTSON SAID

  Speaking to , Robertson shared his thoughts on the player Liverpool fans hope to soon welcome to Merseyside.

  "He was excellent against us (Scotland, at Euro 2024) I do remember that," he said.

  "Obviously that game was extremely tough for us, but he was excellent, he was the one causing us problems in the half-space, running in behind, he can mix it up. I haven't seen too much of him but I have played against him and that was enough to see he was going to be a top player. We played Leverkusen in the Champions League this year as well and we dominated that game a bit more as well, so it was probably a bit more difficult for him, but certainly in the German team against us he was excellent.

  "We're certainly linked with him, that's for sure! You can't miss it, you can't not see it. But if we get him through then an exciting talent is through the door. We've already got a lot of exciting talent in there. He's a right good player. He'll only help us, and if he does get through the door then we'll be excited to play with him."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Liverpool’s triumph in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign took many by surprise. Now, with the club crowned champions once more, Robertson acknowledges the shift in expectations heading into next season.

  "I think that [pressure] is something that we're going to need to deal with," Robertson said. "The lads that have been there for a while. Me, Virgil, Mo and Ali, after we won the league the last time, we were kind of used to the pressure.

  "For a lot of the lads that won it for the first time this season, and the lads coming in, they'll feel the pressure for the first time. We'll be favourites and there will certainly be more expectation on us than there was at the start of last season. That kind of suited us last season, we could go under the radar, get off to a good start, and by the time people took us seriously we were probably too far ahead!"

The Todd Boehly era at Chelsea has seen huge funds dropped in the transfer market to try and hand various managers with the ammunition needed to achieve Premier League glory.

The American has splashed over £1.3b on new additions since taking over in May 2022, with the 51-year-old investing over £40m in 17-year-old Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP.

The teenager is set to return to his boyhood club on loan until the summer of 2026, when he will move to Stamford Bridge looking to nail down a regular starting role despite his tender age.

He won’t be alone in being a teenage sensation on the books by that point, with Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian both moving to the club before Quenda arrives in West London.

The trio will be hoping to make an immediate impact in England, potentially trying to emulate the success of one player who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his time as a Blue.

Eden Hazard’s stats as a Chelsea player

Back in the summer of 2012, Chelsea forked out £32m for the signature of Belgian winger Eden Hazard – a deal that will undoubtedly be one of the best in the club’s history given his record at the club.

The attacker is not only one of the best to grace the Bridge but also England’s top-flight as a whole, registering 110 goals and 78 assists in his 352 appearances during his seven years in West London.

There’s no debate that his best season came in his final year at the club, notching 21 goals and 17 assists in his 52 outings, helping the Blues win the Europa League in his final game before his eventual departure.

After winning two league titles, one FA Cup, a Carabao Cup and a PFA Player of the Year award, Hazard would move to Real Madrid in a £150m deal in the summer of 2019 – banking a whopping £118m profit in the process.

However, despite the huge spending over the last few years, the club have been unable to land a replacement, potentially offloading one who could’ve fit the bill too prematurely.

The Chelsea star who could’ve been the next Hazard

Cole Palmer is the latest attacker at Chelsea trying to play a key role in their ambitions of returning to Premier League glory, undoubtedly being the star in the final third since his move in 2023.

He’s notched 60 combined goals and assists in his 78 outings, helping Enzo Maresca’s side push for a Champions League place come the end of the current campaign.

However, he could’ve been aided in his attempts by Christian Pulisic, had the Blues decided to keep hold of the forward, rather than sell him during the summer of 2023.

The American international star scored 26 times in his 145 appearances after joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2019 – the same window Hazard departed for Madrid.

Such an occurrence led to journalist Owuraku Ampofo dubbing the 26-year-old as the “next Hazard”, but he was prematurely sold by Todd Boehly – joining Italian giants AC Milan for just £17m.

The move has allowed the winger to take his career to the next level, registering 16 goals and 10 assists in his first season in Serie A, cementing himself as a key member of the side at the San Siro.

He’s since taken his game up a notch in 2024/25, already scoring 15 times to date, subsequently outscoring current Blues star man Palmer, who’s only managed 14 under Maresca.

As a result of his consistent displays under Sergio Conceicao, his market value has skyrocketed, with Transfermarkt now valuing Pulisic at £42m – a rise of £25m in the near two years since he left England.

His subsequent value is also higher than new signing Quenda, who’s only valued at £25m despite his big-money transfer to the club, showcasing the mistake the club may have made in allowing the American to depart.

Boehly has gained a reputation for making needless additions since his takeover, spending huge fees on players not up to the level required of the Premier League.

He could’ve saved himself a lot of cash had he kept hold of Pulisic, with their loss Milan’s gain, potentially being a key player in their Serie A title ambitions for many years to come.

Quenda upgrade: Chelsea make enquiry to sign "one of the best left wingers"

Chelsea appear to be making serious moves ahead of the summer transfer window.

By
Ethan Lamb

Mar 23, 2025

Atletico Madrid are getting closer to signing Milan full-back Theo Hernandez, with the Liga club reportedly offering an increased fee.

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• Frenchman entering final year of contract
• Atletico Madrid in pursuit
• Reportedly offered around €20m

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The left-back has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Liga club and has moved one step closer to signing for the Spanish giants after Atletico decided to increase their offer from €15 million (£13m/$17m) to somewhere closer to €20m (£17m/$23m).

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  The 27-year-old recently rejected an approach from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, opting to stay in Europe for the peak years of his career. Having come through the youth ranks at Atletico Madrid before switching across to city rivals Real in 2017, Hernandez knows the Spanish capital well and is reportedly keen to head back.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Hernandez won two major trophies during his time in Milan, getting his hands on the Scudetto in 2020/21 and winning the Supercoppa Italiana in 2024/25. He was also named as the club's Player of the Season in 2019/20 and was named in the Serie A Team of the Year on four occasions.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HERNANDEZ?

  Milan may have been hoping for a slightly bigger fee, but Atletico's €20m offer appears likely to get the deal over the line. The Frenchman is out of contract in 2026 and the Rossoneri will be desperate to recoup a fee for their highly-rated full-back.

Leeds United are now seriously interested in signing an “excellent” £25 million ace to replace Illan Meslier should they be promoted to the Premier League, according to a new report.

Farke remains confident Leeds' promotion will be sealed

It looked as though it was going to be another successful weekend for the Whites on Saturday afternoon, as they were closing in on another three points to move them a step closer to promotion. However, a mistake by goalkeeper Meslier was punished not once but twice, as his fumble allowed Harry Darling to equalise at 1-1 and then Zan Vipotnik’s shot in the 96th minute snuck under the Leeds goalkeeper.

It is not the first time that Meslier has cost his side all three points this season, but despite the fact the Whites have only won one of their last five matches, their worst form of this campaign, Daniel Farke remains confident that Leeds will still win promotion to the Premier League.

“We have gone many, many steps, and right now it’s the final step. That’s always the most difficult,” the boss said this weekend.

Farke must ruthlessly axe Leeds star who earns more than Gnonto & Meslier

This Leeds United star’s first team spot is now arguably up for grabs.

By
Kelan Sarson

Mar 31, 2025

“There’s never a guarantee of success, but we have been in this situation before. I know how tricky it sometimes is to lead from the front, but also what is necessary to bring it over the line, and we will try everything to make sure the lads have the best chance to make the final step. If you ask me right now, I’m 100% convinced that next season we will play in the Premier League.”

Leeds looking to replace Meslier with Southampton star Ramsdale

Given Farke is confident that his side will be a top-flight team next season, it may be no surprise to see plans are already being worked on for the summer, and a new goalkeeper seems to be high on the agenda. According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have now placed Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on their transfer shortlist should promotion be sealed.

The report states that the Whites are now seriously looking to sign a new number one this summer, given the mistakes that Meslier has made this season, despite Farke’s public backing of the Frenchman. Meslier’s contract expires in 2026, so Leeds will have a decision to make on his long-term future, and this summer could be the only realistic chance to cash in and upgrade.

However, Leeds are not the only team interested in signing Ramsdale, as AFC Bournemouth are also keeping an eye on things and could make a move once the Saints are relegated.

Newcastle United are also fans of the goalkeeper and could move for him as they eye a long-term replacement for Nick Pope. The also adds that Ramsdale has a relegation clause in his contract, and any club wanting to sign him will have to offer him the guarantee of football, as he wants to compete for the England number one spot.

Leeds’ chances of signing Ramsdale, who cost the Saints £25 million in the summer, do rest on them securing promotion to the Premier League, as the Englishman is looking to remain in the top flight. Despite the fact that Southampton have been terrible in the Premier League this season, Ramsdale has impressed many, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart labelling his performances as “absolutely excellent”.

Tottenham have reportedly enquired about Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo while they continue to work on a move for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo.

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• Spurs interested in signing Semenyo
• Bournemouth rate winger at £70m
• Spurs also eyeing a move for Mbeumo

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tottenham have been active when it comes to identifying targets this summer as the Lilywhites are keen on providing their new boss, Thomas Frank, with the best possible side on the back of their horror domestic season, which saw Ange Postecoglou sacked from his post, days after winning the Europa League.

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  Tottenham have reportedly turned their attention towards Bournemouth's star winger Semenyo, as they are keen on signing new attacking options with the likes of Timo Werner and Richarlison struggling. The report comes from The Athletic, which has claimed that Bournemouth rate the Ghanaian winger at a price point of £70 million ($94m).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Tottenham are already eyeing another Premier League winger in the form of Brentford's Mbeumo, and the North London side are currently stuck in a battle with Manchester United for his signature. The Lilywhites reportedly launched a bid worth £70 million ($95m) for the winger; however, he is said to be more interested in a move to Old Trafford.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SPURS?

  Whether Tottenham actually make a move for Semenyo will depend on their chase of Mbeumo. The saga may likely end up stretching out until next month; however, Frank will be hopeful that whichever player they sign can be available to him before the start of pre-season training.

Nico Williams warned Barcelona he would join Real Madrid if they didn’t act, forcing the Spanish champions to race for the winger’s signature.

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• Winger told team-mates about Madrid option
• Barca reactivated deal after internal doubts
• €62m release clause triggered fast response

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williams is closing in on a move to Barca, but only after the club was jolted into action by Real Madrid’s interest and his flirtation with them. According to journalist Miguel Rico, the Athletic Club winger told friends at Barca that he was open to joining Los Blancos if his preferred move to Camp Nou did not materialise. Madrid’s involvement forced sporting director Deco and the Barca board to re-engage seriously with Nico’s camp. Negotiations accelerated quickly from there, with personal terms now agreed.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Blaugrana club had previously shelved their interest in Nico after he renewed with Athletic until 2027, believing the door was closed. But Nico's release clause, which is €62 million (£53m/$67m) in total due to (Consumer Price Index) changes, remained untouched. Meanwhile, a potential deal for Liverpool's Luis Diaz stalled due to his higher asking price and age. Williams, still only 22, became Hansi Flick’s priority target for the left wing, offering youth, elite-level experience and a financially viable deal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Williams has already made 167 senior appearances for Athletic Club at just 22. He won the Copa del Rey with Athletic and posted 31 goals and registering 30 career assists already. His brother, Inaki, is now Athletic's captain following Oscar de Marcos’ retirement.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCA AND NICO?

  Barca aim to finalise the signing soon, and with personal terms agreed and Williams pushing for the move, the deal hinges on the La Liga champions paying the release clause in one go, something the club are confident they can do, despite registration warnings from La Liga president Javier Tebas.

A favorable opponent and fine run of form hands U.S. an opportunity to compete for a trophy that once seemed out reach

There's a famous story about a team talk Sir Alex Ferguson gave to Manchester United ahead of a home fixture against Tottenham. The Red Devils' dressing room was riled up. They knew that they were heavy favorites against the-then mid-table side. They needed calming. Ferguson's team talk was three words:

"Lads, it's Tottenham."

That anecdote, recounted by Roy Keane, has since become a meme. Spurs fans, no doubt, have been bludgeoned with it over the years. But it's also a universal language, an appropriate aphorism when a team is facing an opponent they really should beat. And as the USMNT face up against their Gold Cup semifinal opponent on Wednesday in St. Louis, a similar sentiment comes to mind:

"Lads, it's Guatemala."

It, of course, said with no disrespect to the Central American side. They were deserved quarterfinal winners over tournament co-favorite Canada, which sustained a self-inflected wound by going down to 10 men to a team that would always be up for a fight. Still, this feels like a must win for the U.S., a gift from the soccer gods that presents them with an opportunity to reach a Gold Cup final that – just a few weeks ago – they were considered outsiders for.

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  An unlikely run

  This is a remarkable set of circumstances. Just a few weeks ago, the vibes were terrible. Christian Pulisic's decision not to play for the USMNT this summer sent shockwaves through the sphere of angry talking heads. He responded to the critics with an interview that only prompted more mud slinging. The US got battered by two decent European teams in pre-Gold Cup friendlies.

  Mauricio Pochettino's side were regarded as either the third or fourth most likely team to win the tournament – depending on how much respect you prefer to give to Panama – behind Mexico and Canada.

  There were various streams of thought floating around in the footballing ether. Some argued that this whole thing was a free hit – such was the relative weakness of the U.S. squad. Others reckoned that the USMNT have to win the Gold Cup, because it's what they do. Outside of that, there was a general apathy. These are a load of third stringers, who the hell actually ?

  Flash forward, and the kids – and backups – are alright. The U.S. made light work of the group stage, ground out a gutsy 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia, and valiantly turned things around after almost chucking it all away by beating Costa Rica on penalties in the semifinals.

  Pochettino talked a lot about "character" – whatever that means. Former USMNT players and current soccer analysts Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas praised the effort, which doesn't mean much, either. Point is, the USMNT are back, baby. Bring on the one liners, the zingers, soundbites and buzzwords that the national team discussion thrives off.

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  The actual football

  Of course, there is also quite a lot to like about the U.S. as an actual football team at the moment. This side wouldn't compete in, say, a World Cup if it were in 12 months. But for this genre of football, they're quite good.

  Chris Richards has come on leaps and bounds, and looks like a top-tier center-back. Tyler Adams is a wonderful No. 6. Malik Tillman is finding his feet at the national team level (and seems bound for Bayer Leverkusen). Diego Luna endeared himself to the manager after playing through a broken nose in January, and has further impressed with a series of exciting performances as a dyanmic attacking midfielder.

  Yes, there are question marks – Max Arfsten is committing a remarkable act of playing both for and against the USMNT – but the overall point is that this is a much better side than many thought it might be.

  The results have been positive. The group stage wins were relatively comfortable. The Costa Rica victory was by no means simple, but the U.S. played well enough over the course of 90 minutes – and showed enough in penalties, with goalkeeper Matt Freese making three saves – to say that they deserved the victory.

  They are not at the level of, say, Mexico. But they are good value for where they are – and really should add another win.

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  Pochettino and public opinion

  This is a real lifeline for Pochettino. His position was never in jeopardy, no matter what happened here. But public favor has been uncertain. Pochettino hasn't quite endeared himself to this fan base in totality. Comments about Weston McKennie and Tim Weah's visit to the White House – which implied that the coach wanted to be in their position – didn't go down well on social media.

  The Argentine had a bit of a public spat with Pulisic, who had little trouble pinning the blame the fact that he didn't play in the pre-tournament friendlies on his manager. And don't forget, the USMNT had lost four straight home matches entering the Gold Cup, which hadn't happened since 1988. And in the process, Pochettino became the first USMNT coach to lose five of his first 10 games since Lothar Osiander from 1986-88.

  But now, opinion is turning. It starts with, you know, winning. And the USMNT has done plenty of that. That's the thing about sports: whatever off-field controversy may be circling a team or individual, winning cures all. Get the results, and fans tend to forget about whatever they were mad about pretty quickly. So, too, does the general vibe. Pochettino celebrating the penalty win against Costa Rica – and screaming "VAMOS" into a camera – went down well among the fans. "Look, this guy CARES!"

  Another win would only further the pro-Pochettino campaign. And the opponent, in all honesty, couldn't be kinder. Of the four Gold Cup semi-finalists, Guatemala are the lowest ranked. Their recent resume includes a 3-0 loss to Jamaica and 3-2 defeat to Guyana.

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  Lads, it's the USMNT

  But then, there's the flip side. For all of the chatter about how the U.S. have enjoyed a good tournament, there remains the sense that they have a soft underbelly. This team can be hit, rattled and beaten. Their record against teams that sit in deep and attack on the break is woeful. This is the issue with Pochettino's system: he likes to attack, but defensive vulnerabilities persist.

  Guatemala aren't low block merchants in the traditional sense, but they do love to defend. They have been out-possessed and outshot in three of their four Gold Cup games to date. There is a real directness about their play. And after beating Canada on penalties, they, too, are on the good vibes train.

  They also have a bit of cutting edge up front. Striker Rubio Rubin made seven appearances for the USMNT from 2014-2018 before using his one-time switch to represent Guatemala. He scored a crucial equalizing goal against Canada, and has spoken of his desire to put in a good performance for his adopted nation.

  "This tournament is a great opportunity to show what we can do. When the Guatemalan national team plays, it's a big deal. All the TVs are on, everyone is watching," he told .

  Charleston Battery manager Ben Pirmann, who signed Rubin from Mexican side Queretaro, backed him for success against the U.S.

  "Rubio and Guatemala have had an incredible tournament at the Gold Cup," he told GOAL via email. "Although I am American and a strong supporter of our national team, it is difficult not to jump on the bandwagon for Guatemala. They have played inspiring football for their nation and each other, and Rubio has been a massive part of that effort."

  A weakened USMNT? A Guatemala led by a former U.S. national, who plays in the USL? The scriptwriters might already be hard at work.

Jadon Sancho is close to joining Juventus and ending his hugely disappointing spell with Manchester United – but one thing is holding up the transfer.

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• Winger wants to join Serie A giants
• He's prepared to take pay cut to leave United
• But disagreement over severance pay blocking move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Juventus has emerged as a serious destination for Sancho, who burned his bridges with United after falling out with Erik ten Hag in 2023 and had an unsatisfactory loan spell at Chelsea, who agreed to pay a £5m ($6.7m) penalty fee to avoid having to sign him permanently. And after some disagreement about the transfer fee, the Serie A giants are now ready to meet the Red Devils' asking price and Sancho's wage demands, according to the Corriere dello Sport.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, the move is being held up. According to , Sancho and United are engaged in a 'tug of war' over the severance package. Sancho has one year left on the contract he signed with United following his £74m switch from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 and is reportedly demanding a pay-out of at least €5m.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Juventus are reportedly ready to pay €25m (£21m/$29m) plus bonuses to sign Sancho. And the winger has reportedly also agreed to take a significant pay cut to move to Turin and end his nightmare spell at United.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Sancho is one of five players to have told United they are looking to leave this summer, along with Marcus Rashford, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Alejandro Garnacho. Their sales are key to United financing more deals as they are about to max out their initial transfer budget of £100m on the signing of Matheus Cunha and the imminent deal for Bryan Mbeumo.