Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on signing a Ligue midfielder if they fail in their pursuit to welcome young star Kees Smit in 2026.

Newcastle set to make Kees Smit move

It’s a fairly open secret that Newcastle are after a midfield reinforcement in 2026. The trio of Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali is undoubtedly impressive, but as Joelinton continues to struggle, Eddie Howe could certainly do with some quality in depth to make a change.

Names like Alex Toth have emerged on the Magpies’ radar in recent months as a result, though it seems like Smit remains top of their midfield shortlist.

Reports have even claimed that Newcastle are set to make their move to sign the AZ Alkmaar star, despite competition from the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Such interest could hand those at St James’ Park some fresh Déjà vu after missing out on several big names in the summer. It’s only now that Howe is beginning to get his full squad together following the chaos of the summer window and instant injury to Yoane Wissa.

The Newcastle boss welcomed his forward into the squad for the first time on Saturday, telling reporters: “He’s got a lot more work to do to get to the very best level that he can. We hope to keep him available by managing correctly.

Related He once cost £38.5m: Newcastle plot concrete move to sign "brilliant" PL star

He desperately needs a move.

Posts ByTom Cunningham 5 days ago

With Wissa back, the Magpies and their manager can turn their full attention towards avoiding a repeat of the summer chaos even if they miss out on Smit.

Newcastle eyeing move to sign Kevin Danois

According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle have now set their sights on signing Kevin Danois if they fail to sign Smit in 2026. The AJ Auxerre midfielder has emerged as an ideal alternative as the Tyneside club continue to plan ahead.

Compared to Joao Neves and dubbed “intelligent” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Newcastle would be wise to instantly move for Danois if they miss out on their Smit next year.

The Magpies have seemingly learned from last summer and have identified a cheaper alternative who is yet to attract the same intense interest as their main target. Whether they’re forced to turn towards the Ligue 1 star remains to be seen, however.

Newcastle star was entering Obertan territory, now he's their "best player"

Newcastle United and PIF have now made their first move in the race to sign Brentford striker Igor Thiago, who has matched Nick Woltemade all the way for goals so far this season.

Whilst the Magpies have clear problems in front of goal in the Premier League – proven by their 3-1 defeat against West Ham United last weekend – their problems once again disappeared on the European stage.

Easing to a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club, both Dan Burn and Joelinton got themselves on the scoresheet in a refreshing change for Eddie Howe. With a trip to face Brentford up next, the Newcastle boss will simply be hoping for a repeat.

Speaking to reporters after securing a third-straight Champions League victory, Howe said: “Yes, it’s a big prize for us and our eyes are very much on it, and I want the players to be feeling the same.

“We said at the start of the Champions League campaign that we didn’t want to have that feeling that we were just pleased to be in the competition. It’s serious. We want to progress. We’ve put ourselves in a stronger position now to do that after the first defeat, but there are still many challenges ahead.”

Progressing on the European stage has certainly been no problem for those in Tyneside so far, but there’s no denying that their Premier League form has suffered at the same time.

Howe must boldly drop Newcastle star who has now moved clear of Isak

Newcastle fought their way to a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 6, 2025

Finding the balance and squad depth needed to thrive in both competitions should be Newcastle’s priority in 2026. As things stand, they’re six points adrift of the top four and, to make matters worse, it is Sunderland who sit in fourth place.

Following a slow start, those at St James’ Park should set their focus on the January transfer window and potentially welcoming attacking reinforcements.

Newcastle launch first Igor Thiago move

As reported by Trivela and ESPN Brazil and relayed by Sport Witness, PIF have now launched their first enquiry to sign Thiago for Newcastle in an addition that would certainly help solve their recent goalscoring woes.

Just like in their search for a striker in the summer, however, the Magpies aren’t alone. Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have also reportedly enquired about Thiago’s availability to spark an all Premier League race for his signature.

Appearances

11

16

Goals

7

7

Assists

0

0

Having matched Woltemade for goals so far this season, Newcastle’s interest in Thiago should come as no surprise. Dubbed “powerful” by Brentford boss Keith Andrews earlier this season, the towering forward also crucially earned Alan Shearer’s seal of approval.

The Newcastle legend said: “He barely played last season because of injury but he got his two goals in that half and that’s what a striker is going to get judged for. He looks like he can fill the void left by Mbeumo and Wissa.”

After signing Yoane Wissa in the summer, Newcastle should make a return to West London to sign Thiago when 2026 arrives.

Newcastle hold internal talks to sign Ederson

Football is a fickle game, but the feel-good factor has certainly returned to Manchester United in recent weeks, with Ruben Amorim’s men now in the midst of a rare three-game winning run in the Premier League.

While the prior win at Anfield may have been the cliched ‘statement’ performance, the subsequent display against Brighton provided even greater reason for encouragement.

Like the red arrows – or Sir Alex Ferguson’s beloved geese – United swarmed the Seagulls on Saturday night, with the frontline, in particular, simply proving too hot to handle.

This much-debated 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 set-up has no doubt had its critics, but the weekend triumph showcased what it can look like in full flow, with so many avenues available to hurt the opposition.

If it’s not Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, it’s Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro making an impact, with even the high press of the backline working to emphatic effect amid Luke Shaw’s involvement in the opening two goals.

Where Amorim’s machine currently looks at its best, however, is on the right flank, making it all the more troubling that the Portuguese will soon be without the dynamic duo of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo.

How many games Amad and Mbeumo could miss due to AFCON

There was a moment on the opening weekend that seemed to illustrate everything wrong with Amorim’s approach, with the left-footed pair of Amad and Mbeumo getting in each other’s way inside the area against Arsenal.

With both men looking to come in onto their favoured left foot, they had been occupying the same areas in the early weeks of the season. That has all changed since Sunderland, however.

There were shades of Yorke and Cole about the two men against the Black Cats, while they also combined again to devastating effect against Liverpool, with opposite number Milos Kerkez enduring a torrid day at the office.

As Amad has himself spoken of, there is a fluidity emerging regarding United’s right-sided duo, with the pair comfortable alternating between a no.10 or right wing-back berth mid-game.

Mbeumo, signed for a total fee of £71m this summer, now boasts five goals already for the Red Devils, while Amad has created two ‘big chances’ and provided one assist in the Premier League thus far, as per Sofascore.

Frustratingly, this developing partnership is set to be halted in the near future, with the upcoming African Cup of Nations set to kick off on 21 December. Amad and Mbeumo will be representing Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, respectively.

While festive fixtures are yet to be totally confirmed by broadcasters, United currently face Aston Villa (21st), Newcastle United (27th) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (30th) in late December, with further fixtures at risk in January should their nations progress.

Possible games without Amad & Mbeumo
Opponent	Provisional date
Bournemouth	15th December
Aston Villa	21st December
Newcastle*	27 December
Wolves*	30th December
Leeds	3rd Jan
Burnley	7th Jan
FA Cup 3rd round	10th Jan
Man City	17th Jan
*look certain to miss

There should be no pressure applied for the pair to forego their international commitments, however, with Amorim and co instead needing to find international solutions to help fill that double-barreled void.

How Man Utd can replace Mbeumo and Amad

As per journalist Samuel Luckhurst, the impending departure of the two widemen will likely see United block potential January exits, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee having been tipped to depart in the New Year.

In truth, the club’s attacking options are light as it is following the summer exits of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony, with Amorim unable to afford his frontline getting any weaker.

Thankfully, an obvious solution to the Mbeumo absence would be Mason Mount, with the Englishman – who was named on the bench last time out – comfortable either in a left-sided or right-sided number ten role.

That would then leave Cunha and Sesko to complete the attacking trio, with the likes of Zirkzee and Mainoo in reserve – while a surprise chance could emerge for academy sensation, Shea Lacey.

If Amorim is looking for a more natural replacement for either Mbeumo or Amad, however, it might be Patrick Dorgu who he turns to, with the left footer able to provide another “explosive” presence down the right flank – as U23 scout Antonio Mango has described him.

While predominantly deployed on the left flank following his January arrival from Leece, the young Dane has been ousted from that role of late, with Diogo Dalot slotting in at left wing-back in each of the last three victories.

It would seem bizarre to have a right-footer on the left, and a left-footer on the right, although that approach is working currently, ensuring Dorgu might be the man to fill that Amad-Mbeumo-shaped hole.

Indeed, prior to moving to Manchester, the versatile 21-year-old had regularly lined up as a right winger in Italy, with three of his five Serie A goals coming from a right-wing or right midfield berth, as per Transfermarkt.

An impressive ball carrier, like Amad and Mbeumo, Dorgu currently ranks in the top 7% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carriers per 90, as per FBref, as well as in the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 – highlighting his willingness to get forward.

Too often, the £30m signing produces a wayward attempt when cutting onto his right foot from the left, with there the chance that he might well benefit from being able to cut in onto his preferred foot instead from the opposite flank.

Noted as a statistically similar player to Amad in this season’s Premier League, as per FBref, Dorgu might well be the man to replace the Ivorian in something of a new role, having only featured on the right a handful of times to date under Amorim – namely on debut against Leicester City.

The ten-cap Denmark international will have big shoes to fill over the Christmas period, but he might just be the international solution that Amorim is in need of.

Not Cunha or Mbeumo: Man Utd gem is becoming one of the "best in the world"

Manchester United have yet another world-class star on their hands under Ruben Amorim.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 30, 2025

Price century followed by four wickets for departing seamer Zaman Akhter as Derbyshire fall short

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Aug-2025Ollie Price illuminated the final day of the Towergate Cheltenham Festival, scoring a superb hundred as Gloucestershire beat Derbyshire Falcons by 59 runs to make a winning start to their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.The Oxford-born batter posted 103 from 115 balls and staged stands of 141 with James Bracey and 97 with Ben Charlesworth for the second and third wickets respectively as the home side ran up an imposing 341-8 at the famous College Ground. Promoted to open the innings, Bracey contributed an enterprising 83, while Charlesworth and skipper Jack Taylor weighed in with half-centuries.Brooke Guest raised a brilliant 86 from 88 balls and shared stands of 64 with Matt Montgomery and 76 with Amrit Basra, who scored 42 and 40 respectively, as the Falcons made a decent fist of chasing. But paceman Zaman Akhter returned figures of 4 for 47, including a decisive spell of three wickets in six balls, to swing the contest back in Gloucestershire’s favour and ensure Derbyshire were dismissed for 282 in 45.5 overs.Derbyshire won the toss, elected to field and saw debutant Rory Haydon remove Australian Test batsman Cameron Bancroft lbw in a tidy new-ball spell of 1-16 from six overs with one maiden. Driving and cutting fluently, Bracey and Price found runs easier to come by against Ben Aitchison from the Chapel End. these two matching one another blow for blow as boundaries began to flow. When Nick Potts replaced Aitchison, Bracey hoisted him high over mid-wicket for six to bring up the half century stand, twice repeating the feat with further effortless pick-ups a few overs later to afford the innings added impetus.Bracey went to 50 via 40 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes and then smashed Potts for another six over mid-wicket as the innings assumed three figures. Potts was withdrawn after conceding 42 from three overs, but there was no reduction in the rate of scoring from the Chapel End, Price reverse sweeping Montgomery’s off spin for four to raise the hundred partnership in just 15 overs. He brought up his 50 via 59 balls soon afterwards.Derbyshire desperately required a breakthrough and Montgomery obliged, bowling Bracey via an inside edge with the score 148-2 in the 23rd. Bracey had dominated a stand of 141, his aggressive knock spanning 66 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes and affording his side an excellent platform. Price and Charlesworth consolidated thereafter, adding 50 for the third wicket in 63 balls in the face of accurate bowling from Joe Hawkins and Basra.A bumper Festival audience rose to acknowledge Price’s fourth List-A hundred, the 24-year-old reaching the landmark in 111 balls with a swept single behind square off Montgomery. Having hit 10 fours and a six, he was then bowled by Andersson. But there was no respite for the visitors, Charlesworth moving seamlessly to a run-a-ball half century with 4 fours and a six.Aitchison had Charlesworth held at long-on for a 59-ball 60 and Graeme van Buuren caught at the wicket for eight as Derbyshire briefly applied the brakes, only for the experienced Jack Taylor to combine power and deft placement in raising a quickfire 67 from 37 balls with 10 fours and a six to carry Gloucestershire out of sight.Forced to score briskly from the outset, Derbyshire lost Harry Came to scoreboard pressure in the seventh, the opener driving a length ball from Matt Taylor straight to mid-on with 24 on the board. But Caleb Jewell and Montgomery made amends, finding the boundary with sufficient regularity to advance the score to 53 at the end of 10 overs.Returning to Gloucestershire on loan seven years after leaving to join Warwickshire, Craig Miles struck an important blow when persuading Australian Jewell to cut to Charlesworth at backward point for 35 with the score 61 for 2. But the visitors continued to make a fight of it, Montgomery and Guest bringing up 100 inside 18 overs to keep the required rate at around 7.5 an over. The 50 partnership occupied 55 balls, the third wicket pair establishing themselves in a manner which suggested Gloucestershire might not have things all their own way.Having accrued a six and 5 fours in raising a 39-ball 42, Montgomery blotted his copybook, playing back to van Buuren’s slow left arm and chopping on to terminate a partnership of 64 in 11.3 overs as Falcons slipped to 125 for 3. Akhter and van Buuren applied the squeeze during the middle overs and Jack Taylor benefited, having Martin Andersson held at extra cover with the score 152 for 4.Derbyshire were still in with a chance while Guest remained at large, the captain going to 50 from 61 balls, while debutant Basra demonstrated clever improvisation to hit the ground running, plundering sixes at the expense of Jack Taylor, Josh Shaw and Miles to keep the reply on track.Gloucestershire needed a wicket and Akhter responded by taking three in the space of six balls. He bowled the combative Basra for a 31-ball 40, had Guest held at long-on in his next over and then removed Ross Whitely cheaply to reduce the Falcons to 234 for 7 and relieve pressure on his team. Requiring a further 107 from 11.1 overs, Derbyshire were never really in the hunt thereafter, Aitchison succumbing to Matt Taylor for 19 as the chase ran out of steam.

It doesn’t matter which order you put them in, Australia’s batting is frail right now, and their home conditions are not helping

Alex Malcolm22-Nov-2024Australia spent six months talking about the batting order, with Steven Smith central to the discussion.The chorus was almost unanimous. Smith had to get back to No. 4. It was his rightful spot. A spot where he has been one of Australia’s best ever. Smith said Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne “hated” him opening despite the fact he requested to do it citing a sense of “security” when he batted behind them.Cameron Green’s injury paved the way. Australia picked a makeshift opener in Smith’s place in Nathan McSweeney, who was deemed the next best batter available.Related

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And just one day into Australia’s back to the future batting adventure, Jasprit Bumrah blew that preferred top-order apart with a near unplayable spell of fast bowling on a near unplayable surface.It doesn’t matter which order you put them in. Australia’s batting is frail right now. It has been for a while. Their home conditions are not helping. Top-order batting in Australia has rarely, if ever, been harder than it is right now, as India can also attest to after a day of carnage at Perth Stadium where 17 wickets fell, only three batters reached 20 and no-one passed 41.And while Australia’s fast bowlers are loving life, having toiled on some very flat surfaces earlier in their careers, Australia’s team is discovering, like India discovered against New Zealand at home just recently, the more extreme the batting conditions become the more chances visiting sides have.Australia won four of their five home Tests last summer, but they lost one of them to West Indies and gave Pakistan a chance in two others. In similarly challenging conditions in New Zealand, they were fortunate to escape with a 2-0 victory. Australia’s batters are not separating themselves from their opponents in the same conditions.India were rolled for 150 and it looks above par right now. Australia are under enormous pressure against them on home soil once more, having entered as the far more settled group.Jasprit Bumrah was unplayable with the new ball•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaFor Smith, it’s torture. Australia’s greatest player of this generation is staring his cricketing mortality square in the face.He walked in as the security blanket at No. 4, although it’s hard to know how happy Khawaja felt about it as they crossed at the gate, and had his defence breached first ball.That Australia were 19 for 2 in the seventh over was not overly alarming given the conditions. McSweeney’s debut innings had been challenging. Those critical of his elevation to open in this Test with just two first-class innings’ worth of experience in the role might feel justified by his 13-ball 10. But he was undone by some exceptional bowling from Bumrah. He was beaten by a delivery that angled in and zipped away. He was then trapped lbw by a delivery that pitched wider and veered back into his front pad like a missile, with Bumrah’s flawless seam position looking exactly the same for both deliveries.Smith might have entered in the same over had Labuschagne been held by Virat Kohli. Bumrah went wide of the crease again and angled in before taking it away. Labuschagne shuffled across the crease, twisted chest on and nicked it knee high to second slip. Kohli had it and then fumbled it while his team-mates celebrated around him.Khawaja wasn’t so lucky, having looked as comfortable and assured as any Australian batter. From around the wicket, Bumrah first beat him with a beauty before catching the edge with a similar back-of-a-length ball that angled in and straightened. Khawaja was squared up completely as he edged it to Kohli, who held this chance easily.In walked Smith, but he couldn’t survive his first ball. Another inswinging missile thundered into his pads as Smith shuffled across and fell to the off side. For one of the rare times in his career, he did not review.It was a cracking delivery, in the midst of a truly extraordinary spell of bowling from a masterful fast bowler at the peak of his powers. First-ball ducks can happen to any player. Smith can be forgiven in that context. His line of credit extends beyond any player in this Australian team. But it is worth noting it was his third straight Test dismissal lbw and his fourth in his last five first-class innings, if you include his lone Sheffield Shield outing this summer. Two of those have come not offering a shot. Two others have looked identical – shuffling back and across, losing his bearings to off stump, getting beaten on the inside. He also fell in the same fashion in the first over at the Gabba when opening for just the third time in his career.Smith has spent a decade inviting the world’s greatest bowlers to hit his front pad in line with the stumps and for most of that decade he has plundered runs at a record rate. Now he’s missing them with alarming regularity.Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh could not produce counter-attacking heroics to rescue Australia, as they have done so often in recent times. It is of little surprise given neither had played in over a month due to the birth of their respective children.Marnus Labuschagne’s 2 off 52 balls was stubborn but not game-changing•Associated PressLabuschagne’s innings was torturous. He made 2 off 51 balls before he too was pinned lbw by Mohammed Siraj. He has gone nearly two years without a Test century in Australia and is averaging 15 from his last nine Test innings, which includes a 90 in his previous Test match.Mitchell Starc, who had bowled superbly earlier in the day, was adamant post play that the pitch was not that difficult to bat on, saying the bowlers were allowed to bowl good balls. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who top-scored for the day with 41 on Test debut, said the surface had more life in it than the MCG pitch he played on for India A just a fortnight ago, where scores were marginally better.Starc is right in the sense that Bumrah’s exceptionalism is worthy of acknowledgement. Sometimes the greats are just too good on the day.But when it comes as part of a downward trend, when the likes of Aamer Jamal, Shamar Joseph, and Matt Henry have all scythed through the same line-up in recent times, then it can’t just be written off as one special spell from one special bowler.Australia’s current population has ticked past 27 million this year and none of them could have handled Bumrah’s spell. The concerning part for Australia is that the best of them aren’t handling many spells at present on home turf.

Opening stand of 202 with Nick Gubbins sees Leicestershire brushed aside

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Aug-2025

Ali Orr and Nick Gubbins put on 202 for the first wicket•Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket

Hampshire 253 for 3 (Orr 131, Gubbins 81) beat Leicestershire 252 (Budinger 65, Masood 57, Cox 55, Abbott 3-36) by seven wicketsAli Orr’s first List A century for three years made sure Hampshire got their Metro Bank One-Day revenge on Leicestershire Foxes with a seven-wicket mauling.The Foxes beat Hampshire in the 2023 final, having also beaten them in the Group Stage that year, before knocking them out in the quarter-final last season.Kyle Abbott’s three wickets kept the hosts down to 252, despite fifties for Sol Budinger, Shan Masood, and Ben Cox, before Orr and Nick Gubbins – who now has 325 runs in the competition with 81 here – made light work of the chase. The opening duo put on 202 and raced to the winning line with more than six overs to spare.The only moment of worry came for Orr when he chopped onto his stumps, but didn’t dislodge the bails. Otherwise, it was a steady accumulation through risk-free batting, progressing through 59- and 67-ball fifties – the former for Gubbins going with his 144 not out, 40 and 60 in his other three One-Day Cup innings.Since arriving from Sussex at the start of last year, Orr has been beset by injuries – most notably a broken arm. He was finally able to add to the Rothesay County Championship hundred he scored against Durham in May 2024. His second for his new county coming in 126 balls and celebrated with gusto.Gubbins fell to a great diving catch by Budinger, Orr was lbw for 131 with five to win and Brandon McMullen was bowled for a duck, but the damage had been done.Earlier, Abbott was mesmerically accurate throughout and found the early breakthrough when former team-mate Ian Holland’s push was stunningly caught by Ben Mayes in the first over.The Abbott and Mayes combination also brought the downfall of Lewis Hill – attempting to charge a bouncer. But Budinger aggressively countered, and with Masood built the foundations the Foxes planned for having won the toss.On the back of a century against ex-employers Nottinghamshire Outlaws, Budinger oozed class in his 41-ball fifty but he started a trend of reaching a half-century but not kicking on. He tickled Felix Organ behind to end a 75-run stand, before Peter Handscomb loosely drove to extra cover.Masood watchfully passed his 52nd List A fifty but wastefully ran himself out for 57, with Cox keeping him company for his own 55.But after the pair had put on 63, the visitors struggled to build partnerships and rather tiptoed to 252. Having dismissed Handscomb, Andrew Neal also had Liam Trevaskis slogging to deep midwicket to take an impressive 2 for 43.Brad Wheal chipped in with two wickets on his return from injury, Abbott ended with 3 for 36 and Mayes – for the second time in the competition – four catches with the gloves, as Hampshire ended strongly.They carried that momentum into their batting as Orr and Gubbins clinically ticked the runs off.

With a few big names out, Mauricio Pochettino has brought in some old faces who are set to prove they deserve a shot at the roster going forward

A national team camp is a strange thing – especially when there’s nothing tangible to play for. The USMNT find themselves in an unusual position: World Cup qualification is already secured, and there’s no real pressure to win over the next two weeks. But with the tournament on home soil fast approaching, the vibes for friendlies have never been more intense. And with public scrutiny only intensifying, what actually happens on the pitch matters way more than in any normal friendly. 

Of course, if the U.S. were full strength, this would be more of a test than an uncertain couple of weeks. Christian Pulisic has just returned from injury and was reportedly held out of this camp by AC Milan as a precaution. Tyler Adams is also sidelined, while Chris Richards was reportedly kept back by Crystal Palace. Yunus Musah has fallen out of favor recently, and Weston McKennie will watch from home after being left out of the squad.

That does leave a little room for some people to impress. Gio Reyna is the headline addition. But there are others, too, who could make an impact in what most will hope is set to be the final camp of uncertainty ahead of the 2026 cycle…

Getty Images SportGio Reyna

Let's get the obvious one out of the way. By all of Pochettino's supposed metrics, Reyna should not be here. Pochettino himself admitted that Reyna does not fit his vibe of "only call in guys who are playing consistent minutes." Reyna, he claimed, is a special case. 

And so the rollercoaster ride of Reyna and USMNT will continue. Pochettino has seen, in glimpses, what Gio Reyna can look like, full of creativity and verve. The manager, then, is probably hoping to use the next two weeks – and, by extension, next summer – to get that version out of him. Of course, this is a coaching job. But it is also a little bit on Reyna. Odds are, he will get his chances here, especially with Christian Pulisic still recovering from injury. 

"Success", in this case, is mightily subjective. But at a bare minimum, Reyna needs to show that some of that maverick quality that made him so good, so young, can be rediscovered on the national team stage. 

AdvertisementGettyAuston Trusty

This one feels a little like a math equation. Pochettino, we know, is probably going to use three center backs going forward. Two of them seem to be nailed on starters. Chris Richards is entering the too-good-for-Crystal-Palace phase of his career. Tim Ream is old, but incredibly reliable and the closest thing soccer can offer to a "glue guy." That leaves one spot up for grabs.

And right now, there are a slew of options. Mark McKenzie has been solid for Toulouse. Miles Robinson has done his part for FC Cincinnati. Cameron Carter-Vickers, who partners Trusty at Celtic, is certainly in the mix – albeit injured for the next few months. Noahkai Banks might have the highest ceiling of all of them, but this cycle is probably four years too early for the Augsburg man – talent notwithstanding.

With that, we return to Trusty, who might be the kind of seasoned presence to make an impact. He's played in MLS, the Premier League, the EFL Championship, and, now, the Scottish Premier League (albeit for a struggling Celtic). Whether that makes him a starter or not remains to be seen, but a good camp could certainly have him in the mix. 

GettyTanner Tessmann

Tessmann is a puzzling one. He didn't quite hit the ground running at Lyon last season after an encouraging three years at Venezia yo-yoing between Serie A and Serie B. He struggled at times, and was in and out of the lineup. But this season, thus far, he has impressed. The midfielder has added goals to his game, and looks freed in a more attacking Lyon set up. 

But translating his form to the national team has been difficult. Tessmann was arguably the U.S.'s best player against Ecuador in the first of two friendlies in October, but has otherwise been rather inconsistent. And with Pochettino favoring some of his counterparts in MLS, Tessmann finds himself on the bubble – despite having the talent to push for a spot in Pochettino's best XI. The good news? There would seem to be an opportunity here for him to show what he can do. Tyler Adams is out, which leaves Tessmann and Roldan as the most likely midfield pivot. There's a world in which that duo works a charm and propels Tessmann into genuine conversations about sealing a spot for the World Cup. 

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Getty Images SportBrenden Aaronson

This isn't a question of "should Brenden Aaronson make the U.S. squad?" He has proven, consistently, that he deserves to be in the mix on effort alone. It is no secret, either, that managers love him for his work rate and willingness to run with and without the ball. Aaronson is a coach's darling, and even if that doesn't always manifest itself in goals and assists, he will be on the plane. 

Rather, this is more of a depth chart thing. Aaronson is unfortunate, in a sense, that he plays at the U.S.'s deepest position. Pulisic will start on the left, through the middle, or one of the dual 10s that Pochettino seems to like. Malik Tillman probably has the other spot nailed down, while Diego Luna, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie are all in the mix. This depends on tactical tweaks, of course, but the broader point is that there isn't an easy path to minutes for Aaronson. That's not something that can be sorted overnight. It might not even be sealed in a couple of games, either. But Aaronson has stood out for a struggling Leeds side, and shown that, just maybe, there might be a bit of attacking quality creeping into his game. Prove that to his manager, and there could be a pathway to minutes. 

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Provável titular de Abel Ferreira após a contusão de Gustavo Gómez, o zagueiro Luan foi o grande personagem do dia alviverde, ao receber das mãos do vice-presidente Paulo Buosi, a camisa comemorativa do seu jovo de número 250 pelo clube, marca alcançada diante do Corinthians.

– Feliz e honrado. É motivo de muito orgulho representar este clube, que é o maior do Brasil. Atingir essa marca de 250 jogos é um privilégio muito grande, algo que consegui alcançar junto aos meus companheiros, que também têm marcas expressivas aqui dentro. Fico feliz porque realmente somos uma família, vivemos o clube intensamente. Acima de tudo, gostamos e somos apaixonados pelo que vivemos aqui. Como o Abel fala, vamos sentir saudades, então procuro desfrutar e viver intensamente todos os momentos aqui com meus amigos. Sem dúvida, daqui um tempo, quando eu parar de jogar, sentirei falta do que vivo aqui – disse o camisa 13.

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Desde 2017 no clube e com 10 títulos conquistados, Luan pregou respeito ao bom time do Mirassol e elogiou o potencial do zagueiro Naves, que pode receber chance diante do time do Interior:

– O Mirassol é uma boa equipe, assisti a alguns jogos, tem o artilheiro do campeonato… O Mozart é um bom treinador, trabalha muito bem. O time deles é consistente, acredito que será um grande jogo. Temos um plano de jogo e vamos seguir para conseguir a vitória. “Muito feliz pelo Naves, vendo ele crescer. O desenvolvimento dele está sendo muito rápido, surpreendente. Ele tem muito potencial. Sou suspeito para falar porque eu vejo o estilo de jogo dele e lembro um pouco de mim quando era mais novo. Para mim, ele tem mais potencial do que eu tinha na idade dele e acredito que ele pode ter uma grande carreira – finalizou Luan Garcia.

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O provável Palmeiras para encarar o Mirassol neste sábado é: Weverton, Rocha, Luan, Murilo e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Richard Rios, Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga; Endrick e Flaco López.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

A bola rola para Palmeiras x Mirassol neste sábado (24), a partir das 18h e o jogo terá transmissão apenas do Paulistão Play e da Cazé TV.

Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen missed out as Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi won the African Player of the Year award. The Moroccan full-back collected the honour on Wednesday evening, sealing a triumphant year in which he won the treble, including the Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League trophy. The only blemish was PSG’s defeat in the Club World Cup final to Chelsea in New York, where he was forced to settle for a silver medal.

• Hakimi emerges as the best in Africa

  A visibly moved Hakimi thanked the people who had shaped his journey, including his family, PSG teammates and Morocco manager Walid Regragui. 

  "It's really an honour for me to be here today and I'm proud to win such a prestigious trophy," Hakimi said.

  His celebrations, however, are tempered by a painful reality as he is currently recovering from a severe ankle sprain. Morocco are hopeful he will recover in time to lead the host nation at the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21. If fit, he will spearhead their attempt to win the tournament for the first time since 1976.

  The ceremony turned into a showcase of Moroccan football’s growing influence. Ghizlane Chebbak won the women's African Player of the Year prize, edging teammate Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade. Chebbak had finished as top scorer in this year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, even though Morocco ultimately fell short against Nigeria in the final.

  Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, hero of Morocco’s remarkable World Cup run and now a key figure in Saudi Arabia, claimed the men’s Best Goalkeeper award. Meanwhile, Morocco’s under-20 World Cup-winning side was voted the continent’s top national men’s team, further underlining the nation’s talent pipeline. The accolades continued with Watford’s 20-year-old midfielder Othmane Maamma named Africa’s Best Young Male Player, while Doha El Madani retained her crown as the best young women’s player.

  Cape Verde manager Bubista was honoured as Men’s Coach of the Year after guiding the island nation, home to just over half a million people, to an extraordinary qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie completed her own hat-trick by picking up a third consecutive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

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  Salah’s form under scrutiny as Liverpool struggle

  The awards setback for Salah comes at a time when his club form has slipped noticeably. His influence at Liverpool has waned, and the team’s attacking struggles have been laid bare. His output has dropped significantly as he is taking fewer shots and venturing into the penalty area far less than he used to. The Egyptian is far from the only forward under pressure. Florian Wirtz, signed as a creative centrepiece, has yet to tally a goal or assist in the Premier League. By all accounts, he is still adjusting to the speed and physicality of English football. Alexander Isak, who was acquired from Newcastle for a club-record fee, has also endured a frustrating start. Injury setbacks have restricted his involvement, limiting any chance for rhythm or consistency. Hugo Ekitike, who began brightly, has delivered flashes of quality but has been unable to pull together a sustained run of top-level performances. The collective downturn has placed Liverpool in a precarious spot, as they currently sit in the eighth spot with 18 points.

• Should Salah step aside?

  Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison believes the time may be approaching for a bold reshaping of the attack, one that might involve phasing Salah out of the starting XI.

  Hutchison said: "The uncomfortable conversation will be around the likes of Mo Salah because there’s a way to get Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz into the same team, but it means there’s no place for Salah. You can have [Milos] Kerkez on the left and [Conor] Bradley on the right as wing-backs. Then you have [Dominik] Szoboszlai and [Ryan] Gravenberch in midfield. If you want to put a positive spin on it, every team in the Premier League would love Wirtz, Isak and Salah. Now Slot’s job is trying to come up with a formula to get all those three into the same 11, with Ekitike, because you can’t spend all that money on Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike and tell them to fight for their place in the side."

  He added: "They have to be starters now. I would be very tempted to play all three from now to the end of the season and play their way into form, into goals, into chemistry, into improving the league position. I know it’s a big jump from now to the end of season, but that will be Liverpool’s team and individuals going forward. That’s what I would look at. So the uncomfortable conversation is around why and how you don’t get Mo Salah into that team anymore. Perhaps the Africa Cup of Nations would be the time to try it!"

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  Pressure mounts on Slot to fix Liverpool’s fragile core

  Before resolving the selection dilemma in the forward line, Slot faces equally urgent issues in defence and midfield. Liverpool have become worryingly easy to play through, conceding goals in ways that would have been unthinkable under Jurgen Klopp at his peak. The balance in midfield continues to feel unsettled, with new signings still struggling to integrate. Salah’s looming departure for the Africa Cup of Nations next month may provide clarity, or further complicate matters, depending on how the team performs without him.

Warwickshire 258 (Mousley 74, Barnard 48, Young 48, Hutton 4-46, Abbas 3-33) vs Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire are within 300 runs of securing the Rothesay County Championship crown after bowling out Warwickshire for 258 on day one at Trent Bridge.Needing to secure a maximum of 10 points from the final round of matches to lift the title for the first time since 2010 after their victory over holders Surrey last week, Nottinghamshire fulfilled their first requirement by taking all three bowling bonus points, led by Brett Hutton’s four for 46 and Mohammad Abbas’s three for 33.And Surrey’s failure to take any of the five batting bonus points potentially up for grabs in their match against Hampshire at Southampton, means they require just two more in this match to be certain of becoming champions.Put simply, if they can muster anything above 300 with the bat within 110 overs in their first innings, the title will be theirs even were they to lose this match and Surrey win theirs.They might have been on the field in pursuit of those runs already if Dan Mousley had not defied difficult batting conditions by scoring 74 after driving Warwickshire recovery from 127 for five.Mousley shared a 117-run sixth-wicket partnership with Ed Barnard, who exactly matched Will Young earlier in making 48 from 104 deliveries. Warwickshire, who began the day in fourth place, are keen at least to overtake Somerset and finish third.After choosing not to bat first, Nottinghamshire presumably would have hoped to send Warwickshire to lunch in a more precarious position than 70 for one. As it was, in an opening session limited to 25 overs after a wholly unforecast stoppage for rain, the visitors lost only Alex Davies, who was leg before to the 10th ball of the match as Hutton found some early movement through the air.Not that it was for want of trying by the Nottinghamshire attack. Abbas, returning from a minor back issue, bowled seven overs that on another day might have generated two or three wickets. Young and Rob Yates played and missed several times and edged other deliveries past the slips. Both executed some good shots, to be fair to them.More rain delayed the afternoon session by 50 minutes. It began with another early wicket, Yates well held at second slip by Freddie McCann in Abbas’s second over.Abbas has taken the place vacated by Josh Tongue, ordered to rest up by England after his match-winning performance against Surrey last week, which illustrates the depth of Nottinghamshire’s bowling resources. Their other centrally-contracted fast bowler, Olly Stone, though he missed the first tranche of matches through injury, will complete the season having not appeared in the Championship side.Though the sky cleared, batting remained a challenge, although patience and some nifty footwork appeared to be paying off for Young. Having saved himself on 35, managing to kick the ball away a delivery from Dillon Pennington squirmed under his bat towards the stumps, he was nearing a half-century against his former county.But then he unexpectedly wafted at a ball from Hutton outside off stump and paid the price. With Surrey already dismissed by Hampshire for just 147, a first bowling point for Nottinghamshire was enthusiastically applauded by the home crowd, fully aware that the requirement to take the title was already down to just four more points.Two more wickets before tea reduced Warwickshire to 127 for five. Sam Hain, pushing forward, and Zen Malik were caught behind in consecutive overs, the latter off a ball from Lyndon James that moved late to find the edge of his defensive bat.The middle session thus belonged to Nottinghamshire, yet Mousley and Barnard resisted and then fought back in the final session, Mousley becoming more confident and aggressive as the partnership grew, accelerating to a half-century from 62 balls, which he celebrated by going down the pitch to hit James back over his head for six.In the final half-hour, though, the pendulum swung back to Nottinghamshire, left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White claiming the second bowling point with a caught-and-bowled to remove Barnard before Abbas, bowling fast and straight with second new ball in hand, dismissed Michael Booth and Ethan Bamber in consecutive deliveries.Hutton wrapped things up by bowling Tazeem Ali before Mousley holed out to long off, leaving Nottinghamshire within touching distance of the prize.