Raheem Sterling's son Thiago has signed for Arsenal's academy but his dad faces an uncertain future after a disappointing loan spell with the Gunners.
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Sterling's son joined Arsenal's Under-9sSet to start his journey with the GunnersHis dad's career remains uncertainFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Thiago has officially been welcomed into Arsenal’s prestigious Hale End academy, joining the under-9 team and marking the beginning of what could be a promising football career. The news was shared on social media by Sterling’s partner, Paige Milian, who posted a heartfelt message celebrating their son's accomplishment.
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In a touching Instagram post, Paige expressed overwhelming pride in her son's achievements, noting the hard work he has put in to reach this milestone.
She wrote: "Beyond proud of my firstborn son Thiago for signing with @officialarsenalacademy U9’s. The growth, dedication, and hard work you’ve shown over the past year have been incredible to watch; you’ve earned this. This is just the beginning, so keep your feet on the ground, stay humble, and keep grinding, the journey doesn’t stop here. Let’s go TT❤️".
THE BIGGER PICTURE
While Thiago is taking his first steps with the Gunners, his father Raheem Sterling finds himself at a career crossroads. After being sidelined by Chelsea’s current manager Enzo Maresca at the start of last season, Sterling made a surprise switch to Arsenal on deadline day, joining on a season-long loan deal.
Sterling’s time at the Emirates failed to live up to expectations. Despite early optimism, he managed only seven starts in the Premier League and struggled to make a significant impact. Over the course of the entire campaign, he found the back of the net just once across all competitions.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Although Thiago is only just officially joining Arsenal’s youth ranks, he’s already had a taste of the club’s first-team environment. Last October, he had the honour of walking out as a mascot for Bukayo Saka during a Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium, when Arsenal secured a win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Essex 219 (Critchley 78, Anderson 4-70) and 128 for 4 (Westley 43, Critchley 35*) drew with Lancashire 207 (Bell 60, S. Cook 5-42) and 351 for 7 dec (Jennings 96, Hartley 73*, Bell 56)Essex captain Tom Westley dug in for two and three-quarter hours to deny Lancashire the LV= Insurance County Championship victory their batting fireworks looked to have set up.Westley faced 120 balls in scoring 43 as Essex batted for two sessions to save face, and the game, after a dispiriting morning when they regularly lost balls out of The Cloud County Ground.Lancashire had set a nominal target of 340 in 68 overs thanks to a perfect example of the Bazball ethos by scoring 184 runs in the 28-over morning session with 137 coming in the final 15 overs. The big-hitting trio of Tom Hartley (73 not out), Colin de Grandhomme (38) and Tom Bailey (25 not out) hammered nine sixes during a sustained period of carnage.Essex did not rise to the bait, though, and turned the McCullum-Stokes blue-sky thinking on its head as they settled in with the sole intention of saving a game that had lost 103 overs because of the weather. They had reached 128 for 4 from 58 overs when handshakes were exchanged on the draw at 5.52pm, both teams taking eight points.Related
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Of greater significance in the wider scheme of things, James Anderson bowled 13 overs in bite-sized spells on the first leg of his domestic warm-up tour ahead of the Ashes. While not as venomous as in Essex’s first innings, England’s premier seamer still had the opposition playing and missing with some regularity.However, anything other than a draw soon became moot, but not before Alastair Cook fell lbw for the second time in the match to Anderson, tucked up without scoring and with just five runs on the board.Essex crawled along to 23 from the first hour when Nick Browne was doubled up by Bailey and became another lbw victim.Westley and Dan Lawrence saw Essex through to tea two wickets down and 29 overs used up. But four balls after the interval, Lawrence shuffled across his stumps to be undone by an inswinger from Bailey.Westley’s vigil ended just as the final hour began when he was the fourth to go lbw to de Grandhomme after which it was left to Matt Critchley and Adam Rossington to see out time.It had been significantly more exciting earlier. Keaton Jennings and George Bell set up the platform for the blitz to come as they took their fifth-wicket partnership to exactly 100, adding 44 in the first three-quarters of an hour’s play, before both fell to Simon Harmer.Bell had just reached his second half-century of the game by straight-driving Shane Snater, when he misjudged the next ball after sweeping Hamer for a ninth boundary, and was lbw for 56.Jennings, having started his innings in mid-afternoon on Friday, was finally out for 96 after just shy of six hours at the crease when he had an uncharacteristic rush of blood and lofted Harmer to deep mid-on.It proved to be the point at which Lancashire went into complete overdrive as they took advantage of a depleted Essex attack shorn of Sam Cook, off the pitch with a hamstring injury.De Grandhomme launched three sixes from four balls he faced from Harmer. However, when the New Zealander had reached 38 from 31 balls – having put on 56 in seven freewheeling overs with Hartley – he went for one swing too many and had two of his stumps knocked out of the ground by Doug Bracewell.Incredibly, the tempo increased as Hartley and Bailey put on 81 runs in the eight overs during an unbroken eighth-wicket stand before the declaration at lunch. At one point the pair shared six sixes in a 20-ball spree against Jamie Porter and Snater.
Arsenal are making real headway in their move for a summer transfer target as they look to pre-agree a deal, even if talks are far from done, as it is believed they’ve already agreed loose contract terms.
Arsenal's summer transfer plans amid injury crisis
With both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of this season, manager Mikel Arteta’s lack of depth in the attacking areas has been seriously exposed, especially when factoring Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka’s injuries as well.
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Arteta started a front three of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri in their last Premier League clash against Leicester City, but none of the aforementioned trio came to Arsenal’s rescue.
Mikel Merino came off the bench to grab an heroic brace in the final 10 minutes, handing Arsenal a vital three points and 2-0 win in dramatic fashion, but it is unclear whether the Spain midfielder will be used in that capacity against West Ham.
West Ham (home)
February 22nd
Nottingham Forest (away)
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Man United (away)
March 9th
Chelsea (home)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Sterling, who signed from Chelsea on loan last summer, has been slammed for his sub-par performances – with critics urging the Englishman to do more as Arsenal become in dire need of a vocal point up front.
“It’s been evident since his move to Arsenal that there are a few concerns in the background,” said ex-Premier League scout Mick Brown to Football Insider.
“Firstly, he hasn’t been playing regularly, which always raises questions about why because Arteta thought he could get the best out of him.
“But when he has played, he’s been well below the level expected and required of him in that team. It may well be that he’s gone over the top fitness-wise and in terms of the stage of his career.
“His performance levels have been frightening really, and he needs to step up at this stage of the season because otherwise who knows where he’ll end up.”
Based off his outings this season, it appears unlikely they will pursue a permanent deal for Sterling, with Arsenal targeting new attacking options ahead of next season.
Jorginho and Thomas Partey are also out of contract at the end of 2024/2025, meaning Arsenal need to bring in a elite-level midfielder in their stead.
Arsenal agree "broad" personal terms with Martin Zubimendi
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as reliably reported, is a serious target for Arteta in this regard.
Arsenal have been attempting to agree a pre-summer deal for Zubimendi since January, with the Spaniard’s contract also containing a ÂŁ51 million release clause, which means the Gunners can bypass Sociedad transfer talks and head straight to the player.
According to TEAMtalk and journalist Ben Jacobs, who share another update on Arteta’s pursuit of the 26-year-old, Arsenal are in advanced talks with Zubimendi and “broad” contract terms have been “verbally” agreed.
However, while Arsenal are moving forward in negotiations, it is far from done or formal at this stage, and there is still time for fellow interested clubs to come in and hijack a move.
So, they’re approaching this move with cautious optimism, as hurdles like agents fees, taxes on the release clause, Zubimendi’s own stance and the fact a deal is not finalised yet still stand in the way.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is now willing to sell a “superb” player to fund a summer move for a big-name defender, according to a report.
Financial issues at Old Trafford
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival as a minority owner, there have been widescale staff cut-backs as a means of cost-cutting, amid what is said to be a “challenging long-term financial picture”.
250 employees were made redundant last summer, and the possibility of sacking even more staff is now under consideration, highlighting the scale of the financial issues at Old Trafford.
The issue of making a loss of ÂŁ300m over the past three years has also been compounded by Man United’s absence from the Champions League, with the lucrative European competition earning rivals Liverpool at least ÂŁ83.8m already this season.
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With Ruben Amorim’s side underperforming once again this season, the new manager may have to be creative if he is going to bring in the players he wants this summer, and a report has revealed he could sanction the departure of a forward.
According to GiveMeSport, Amorim could be willing to green-light Alejandro Garnacho’s departure in an attempt to raise the funds required to pursue a move for Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, amongst other big-name targets.
Marcus Rashford’s departure is evidence the United boss is unafraid to get rid of big-name players, and Garnacho may also be shown the exit door in the summer.
Manchester United's AlejandroGarnachocelebrates after the match
The winger attracted interest from Napoli and Chelsea last month, at which point the Red Devils were holding out for a fee of ÂŁ70m, so a sale this winter could raise more than enough funds to pursue a move for Balde.
Back in January, it was reported Barcelona would consider offers of around €55m (£46m) for the left-back.
Garnacho praised for "superb" Europa League display
Although there was a lot of speculation surrounding the 20-year-old’s future in January, he put in a solid performance against FCSB in the Europa League at the end of last month, picking up an assist and receiving praise from content creator Mark Goldbridge.
Goldbridge makes his thoughts about selling the youngster quite clear, and it is difficult to disagree that selling him for the sole purpose of paying off debt would be extremely disappointing.
Not only that, but the idea of sanctioning the Madrid-born winger’s departure to fund a move for Balde is also a little odd, given that United already brought in a left-back in January, with Patrick Dorgu arriving from Lecce.
That said, Garnacho’s performances have been by and large unimpressive this season, failing to score in the Premier League since November, so he definitely needs to show signs of improvement between now and the end of the campaign.
Leaving their business until the final hours, Fulham reportedly made a last-minute attempt to sign a London rival who only discovered their pursuit of his signature in the final hour of deadline day.
Fulham transfer news
Up until deadline day, the Cottagers endured a fairly quiet window before seemingly springing into life. The biggest headline at the West London club came when reports revealed that they had reached an agreement to re-sign 36-year-old Willian on a free deal after he left Olympiacos as a free agent. The Brazilian, set to make another Premier League return, will be looking to leave one last mark on England’s top flight.
Meanwhile, since the transfer window has slammed shut, Fulham have seemingly set their sights on another bargain deal in the form of a transfer for Bright Osayi-Samuel.
The Fenerbahce full-back is out of contract this summer and the West London club are reportedly working on negotiations to secure his services on a pre-contract agreement. It’s a right-back problem that needs solving amid Kenny Tete’s own contract doubts and it’s one which a rival star could have solved in the dying embers of the window.
Bright Osayi-Samuel
According to talkSPORT, Fulham made a last-minute attempt to sign Vladimir Coufal from West Ham United, but failed in their attempts as the right-back only discovered their interest in the final hour of the window given he was taking part in a match in West London on deadline day.
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They could land a bargain deal…
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Busy in a derby day defeat at the hands of Chelsea, Coufal very nearly had a simple journey following that 2-1 loss on Monday evening only to stay put at West Ham instead. Whether Fulham return for his signature when the summer arrives remains to be seen in what would certainly be a wise addition.
"Brilliant" Coufal could be Osayi-Samuel alternative
Whilst Fulham’s focus should be on signing Osayi-Samuel, Coufal wouldn’t exactly be a bad alternative to turn to should they fail to sign the Fenerbahce man ahead of the summer window. At 32 years old, the West Ham defender is a man full of experience and Premier League knowhow, having adapted to England’s top flight almost as soon as he arrived in 2020.
Dubbed “brilliant” by former West Ham boss David Moyes during his first season at the club, Coufal may be an ageing option but he’s also one that is still capable of making an impact when called on from the bench.
Starts
8
15
Assists
0
2
Tackles Won P90
1.10
1.93
Ball Recoveries P90
2.93
3.50
If it’s not to be Osayi-Samuel, then Coufal could arrive as a back-up option to Timothy Castagne, who would be thrown into the starting role once and for all at Craven Cottage.
Fulham haven’t been afraid of welcoming rival stars in the past – signing Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal last summer – and could yet repeat that trick when they get another chance this summer.
Mic'd Up: The Apple TV+ analyst hails Messi's competitive spirit, wonders where De Bruyne might end up next
Kevin Egan has been around since the early days. He is, by modern standards, a veteran of the MLS media landscape, having covered the league, in some form since the early 2010s. The current iteration is far different. Lionel Messi is, of course, the headliner, the Argentine and his-now eight Ballons d'Or shifting the landscape when he moved to the States in 2023.
But Egan, who knows what it looks like to watch a veteran phone it in, says the Argentine is as fiery as ever.
"What I enjoy most about it is, is that he's such a competitor within the league," Egan tells GOAL. "A lot of big names have come here in the past, and, well, they've been past it, and it hasn't worked out. And there's been all the talk of the retirement League – 'retirement league' and Messi have not been mentioned once in the same sentence."
But Inter Miami are far more than "just the Messi show." They are a side reshaped under new manager Javier Mascherano, far more balanced than the team that lost to Atlanta United in 2024 MLS Playoffs. They aren't the only contenders, though, in Egan's view.
"I'm a Columbus Crew guy. The star for Columbus is Wilfried Nancy, and I don't think you can say that about any other team in Major League Soccer," he says.
He knows a thing or two about this all. The Irishman leads MLS 360, Apple TV's flagship program covering Major League Soccer. It's chaotic, Egan admits, but he loves it.
"I love the energy you can bring to that show. You welcome people into a show like you'd welcome them into your house for a party," he says. "Like you decide how you're going to open the door, the energy you give, the music, the food you put on, all those things every time you host a party in your house."
Egan talked Messi and Miami, Kevin De Bruyne and Cavan Sullivan in the latest edition of Mic’d Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
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ON MESSI AND MIAMI
GOAL: I have to start with the biggest team from a fan point of view, and that would be Miami. What have you made of them this year? Under Javier Mascherano, new manager, maybe almost a different system, right?
EGAN: They play the way he played. When you think about it seriously right now, there's a combination of his and Lionel Scaloni's Argentina. I see young players at the back like Noah Allen that are playing in the same way that Mascherano played. Noah Allen's only 5-9, and he's putting out fires everywhere he's reading the game really well. He's tough in the challenge. And I think with Scaloni's Argentina, pieces were put around Messi to help him succeed, and I see that here with Inter Miami like Federico Redond, Benja Cremaschi.
Yannick Bright has been next level for this team. These are guys that are very similar, in a way, to the Leandro Paredes and the Rodrigo de Pauls at Argentina, in what they're doing for this team. So it's really that's been fascinating to see Yannick Bright. I'd keep an eye on that name, because he's a draft pick. I'm going to make a bold prediction here that Yannick Bright – if he keeps going the way he's going with the eyeballs on Inter Miami – not only is he going to have a lot of European clubs after him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he started folks are pushing his way into the conversation around maybe an Italy call up. Because he's been next level of late for me.
And then going forward, this team's a lot of fun to watch. I think Telasco Segovia has been a tremendous pickup, a young Venezuelan attacker who has a huge future ahead of him. His first goal, he said to his friends on the day of his debut, he said, 'I'm going to score tonight. I'm going to be assisted by Messi.' And they're all laughing with him on his Whatsapp group, and then, of course, he goes out and gets the assist for Messi. And it's the most beautiful finish. So, great story, but it's definitely not the Messi show. It's the collective.
GOAL: You say it's not just the Messi show. But you've covered him since pretty much day one. Can you even come close to summarizing his impact on the league?
EGAN: First of all, I think what I enjoy most about it is, is that he's such a competitor within the league. A lot of big names have come here in the past, and, well, they've been past it, and it hasn't worked out. And there's been all the talk of the retirement League – "retirement league" and Messi have not been mentioned once in the same sentence. Because he's come here and he's just brought a fire. Jordi Alba, I mean, he's arguing with the referee each and every game, but I kind of love to see that. It just shows how invested they are. Sergio Busquets plays every single minute, as does Lusi Suarez, who came off in the last game, but they've got a massive clash coming up against LAFC midweek, so I'm not surprised to see him rested. But there's Messi in an MLS game against Toronto, playing 90-plus minutes a few days before they take on LAFC.
And that is a priority, by the way. Winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup has to be considered a massive priority for Inter Miami – and the Club World Cup this summer as well. But it's been special. I covered El Classico for many years on the sidelines of the Camp Nou, and the Santiago Bernabeu to witness the Ronaldo versus Messi clashes, MSN versus BBC. It was just such an epic time. Like all football fans, fans of Messi, to see him here in Major League Soccer, to see him also promoting the games and invested in every single part of it – from the youth academy at the club with his kids playing there – it's just the complete package right now. You couldn't ask for anything more.
GOAL: You pick up on something interesting in terms of "retirement league." I always think of Steven Gerrard at LA Galaxy, who didn't look like he cared, to be honest
EGAN: He had a really interesting quote one time – and he got hammered for it, and I appreciated it, and I hated the people that were hammering him. He said, "Everyone talks about the heat, the cold, the altitude, the travel, But you don't know until you experience it." And that's the case for anything in life. You don't know what it's like to drive a car until you drive a car. You don't know what it's like to jump out of a plane until you do it.
And I think a lot of players struggle with that. The travel is exhausting in Major League Soccer. Look at Messi and what he's doing this this week: going across to LA is a five and a half hour flight from Miami to play a midweek game, to be back playing on Sunday, to be back playing again midweek. It's exhausting. Messi turns 38 years of age in a couple of months, so to go through that, like Gerard commented on – I remember Sean Maloney and I became friends in Chicago when he was playing in Chicago, the former Celtic player, and he said the same thing. He said, "It's exhausting, like, it's not easy."
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ON LUIS SUAREZ
GOAL: I wanted to ask about Luis Suarez. It hurts my knees to watch him run. What do you make of his season? Should he still be doing it?
EGAN: He's talked openly about the process, the injections and what he has to do to complete football matches. But here's the thing, he's playing every single game. Like Allen Obando is a young signing on loan for Barcelona in Ecuador that's come in. And Suarez is just on a different level. I mean, it's not even close. His relationship with Messi, Alba and Busquets means so much. But it's not only that – it's his personality, and it's his drive and his winning mentality. That's the one aspect of these, this quartet from Barcelona that's probably not spoken about enough just watching them and watching their body language on the pitch.
Suarez hasn't scored as many goals as he would have wanted by now. He only has one MLS goal this season, although he scored in the CONCACAF Champions Cup as well. But to many he's probably the MVP at this point. If you were to gauge it, after seven weeks – Miami have only played six games – but Suarez has had the biggest impact on Inter Miami, I would argue, given the assist that he's had in games, given the impact in games overall. He may be on one knee, he may be in his last season, for all I know, but he's producing right now for Javier Mascherano. It's just, how long can he keep it going?
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ON KEVIN DE BRUYNE AND MLS
GOAL: So Kevin De Bruyne and MLS is the hot rumor right now. Miami have his discovery rights, which could mean something. Is he the right guy for Miami, and what would that mean for MLS? EGAN: We've had debates about this backstage at Apple. We've gone back and forth, a bunch of us, because obviously Kevin De Bruyne, he's in the conversations as the greatest Premier League midfielder ever. Look at what he's accomplished. And he's been Manchester City's best player throughout that golden era. It depends what team he's in, being honest.
The link was San Diego. But they're playing such an explosive counter-attacking style that I don't know if De Bruyne would fit that style right now. He's an unbelievable player, but he is a player that's been struggling of late, like with injuries. I know his talent would be spotted instantly. He'd pick off passes for fun. I think he'd actually suit the Miami team really, really well. I just don't know next year what Miami's plans are with their DPs. And he would need to be a DP. He's not coming here for less.
Maybe this year they could negotiate something where he's on a smaller salary this year, and they could fit in. I don't know how they'd work it, but Miami have been wonderful at figuring out how to make it work with some of the younger players they brought in. And some of the younger players they brought in for small money because they want to play with Messi. And maybe that would be the case with De Bruyne too. Maybe De Bruyne would love to play with those guys, enjoy life in Miami with his family.
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ON HIS EARLY FAVORITE FOR MLS CUP
GOAL: Who's your early favorite to win it all?
EGAN: I would say, yes, Miami. After that, I'm a Columbus Crew guy. The star for Columbus is Wilfried Nancy, and I don't think you can say that about any other team in Major League Soccer. How many times do you look at a team and go, "OK, San Diego, it's Chucky Lozano." Pick another team like Vancouver – it's Ryan Gauld, it's Brian White, it's Andres Cubas. You go through every single team… Emil Forsberg with the Red Bulls, you know, in Atlanta, they've got Miguel Almiron back now, and Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Nancy, is the one you think of straight away when you think of Columbus Crew, and that's because of the unbelievable work he's done. Before he joined Columbus, he brought a Montreal side with such a small budget to become the best road team in MLS history, with 11 wins that year. In 2022, he comes in, wins MLS Cup in his first season in Columbus, wins Leagues Cup the following year. Here he is this year, having lost Christian Ramirez, having lost Aiden Morris, having lost, more importantly, Cucho Hernandez, and here they are unbeaten at the start of the year, and they have a better record at this point than they had the previous two years under Nancy. That speaks to his coaching. He's managed to replace Cucho and Morris with MLS Next Pro graduates, guys like Sean Zawadzki and Jacen Russell Rowe that are producing for him.
I don't think that squad is good enough to win it, but the window's open till April 23 and I know Columbus are actively searching to bring in a high-profile striker and replace Cucho in a suitable way. So if they can do that, they've got the coach to get them there. They've got the versatile players. And I'd urge anybody who's checking this out right now, to watch them play, because they play with a freedom that no other team comes close to. Their center-back, Steven Moreira, MLS Defender of the Year last year. I'm watching the game the other day, and he's playing as a left winger at one point, he's picking the ball up as a 10. He's the one who passes the ball through to Russell Rowe who scores.
It's fascinating to watch, how one guy goes, the next guy slots in, and takes up his position. There's a beautiful nature about the way they play that is all Wilfried Nancy. And if, if a smart club is out there from the Premier League or La Liga, they have to be looking at Wilfried Nancy. This guy's next-level. He deserves attention right now.
GOAL: There don't appear to be many needle-moving coaches in MLS like him.
EGAN: Everything is an opportunity for Wilfried Nancy rather than an obstacle. He doesn't complain about the schedule, he doesn't complain about losing stars. He sees it as an opportunity to coach up somebody else. I've had many chats with him on coaches calls and things like that, where I've come away inspired and feeling like I could run through a brick wall for this guy, genuinely. There's certain coaches that you go on a call with, they're like, "The schedule is a joke. We have to now do this. We have to do that." Do you not think that percolates throughout your entire squad? And do you not think the players then moan about it too? The players feel injustice, and the players are moaning about the referee.
He has a way of reframing the mind and training the brain to see everything as an opportunity, to see everything as a possibility. "Impossible is nothing" he said after MLS Cup. Like, he honestly is an inspiration. He is someone who climbed up through the ranks at Montreal, from being a youth coach to being Thierry Henry's assistant to taking over to now taking over the Columbus Crew. And he'll keep climbing, because he's got a wonderful way about him. He inspires the young players coming through.
He's able to manage the superstars. Last year, he suspended Cucho internally for something. And all of us were like "this is crazy. You're taking out your best player." But Cucho came back better than ever. So, obviously Cucho had tremendous respect for him, and they figured it out behind the scenes. If you want to talk about culture, there's no better man in the league than Wilfried Nancy, and that's going to go far for him, maybe beyond Columbus Crew. For now, I love having him a Major League Soccer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ resurgence under Vitor Pereira continued as they secured a stunning 2-0 win over Manchester United on Boxing Day.
The result moves the Old Gold out of the Premier League relegation zone heading into 2025 and early signs look positive under the former Porto coach.
Vitor Pereira
The Portuguese boss has earmarked Matheus Cunha as one of his most important players and the Brazilian was excellent against the Old Trafford side on Thursday evening.
If he continues this sort of form, there will be plenty of interest once the January window opens, no doubt about that.
Matheus Cunha’s game in numbers vs Man Utd
Cunha scored his tenth Premier League goal of the season against United, while also netting for the third match in a row.
The forward also succeeded with four of his six dribble attempts, made one key pass, took 93 touches and created a big chance as he caused chaos for the United defence throughout the clash.
He was even fouled five times, and it is clear that Wolves function better when Cunha is in the starting XI.
There was a player who was even better than Cunha against the Red Devils. Could he finally be the heir to Ruben Neves that the supporters have sought?
Andre's display vs Manchester United
Cunha may have proved he is vital to Pereira’s attack against United, but Andre is now a key cog in the club’s midfield. The Molineux outfit has missed Neves since he left last summer, but it certainly appears that Andre could be the answer.
The midfielder dictated play wonderfully, completing 95% of his passes during the game, along with succeeding with 100% of his long balls.
Wolves vs Man Utd – Key stats
Stat
Highest Ranked
Accurate passes
Matt Doherty and Andre (59)
Key passes
Kobbie Mainoo (3)
Shots on target
Matheus Cuna (2)
Tackles
Toti Gomes (5)
Ground duels won
Matheus Cunha (13)
Via Sofascore
Defensively, Andre won seven of his eight ground duels, made four tackles and lost possession just six times. It was an excellent display and proves that the Brazilian can control games, which earmarks him as a successor to Neves.
His performance was praised by many, with GOAL giving him a match rating of 8/10, signifying how important and crucial his display was during the 2-0 win.
If Pereira can continue to get the best out of the midfielder, then he will be as important as Cunha over the next few months, especially with the club fighting to avoid relegation from the top flight.
Following the game, talent scout Jacek Kulig even lauded Andre, saying it was “a superb performance by the 23-year-old Wolves midfielder” and it appears as though his display is gaining rave reviews from all over.
Andre
Going forward, Cunha and Andre could well be the two most important players under Pereira, and he is certainly bringing the best out of both of them, despite only being in charge for a short period of time.
Early indications suggest that Wolves have appointed the right manager in Pereira. After his first two results, the Old Gold look like a team revitalised.
Wolves and Pereira could now sign "powerful" defender in loan-to-buy deal
The 26-year-old is keen on a move to the Premier League.
Celtic swiftly return to action in the Scottish Premiership after Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Dundee United as they take on Ross County away from home on Saturday.
The Hoops secured a comfortable victory at Parkhead during the week, thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, and are now 15 points clear at the top of the table.
Brendan Rodgers will be delighted with the performance of his team domestically this season, whilst the Scottish giants have also only lost once in six Champions League outings.
The Northern Irish boss, however, is tasked with ensuring that his team remains consistent and enjoys a similar second half of the season, to add more trophies to the cabinet.
Rodgers could use the January transfer window, which officially opened for business last week, in order to do that, by adding further quality to his squad in the next few weeks.
In fact, the Celtic boss is reportedly looking to bring in a new forward to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch before the deadline at the start of next month.
Celtic eyeing new forward
According to Italian outlet Il Messaggero, as relayed by Sport Witness, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Lazio winger Gustaf Isaksen in January.
Rodgers is plotting a swoop to sign the 23-year-old forward after failing to get a move over the line to bring him to Parkhead in the summer transfer window.
Celtic reportedly wanted to sign the Danish wizard in the summer in the last week before the deadline but were unable to strike a deal for his services, and they ended that window without signing a recognised winger.
This latest report from Il Messaggero claims that the Scottish Premiership champions are now back in for him again, whilst Serie A side Bologna are also keen on the young forward, which means that they could face competition for his signature.
The outlet adds that Lazio would prefer to sell him at the end of the 2024/25 campaign but they are open to cashing in on him in January if an acceptable offer arrives at the table before the end of the window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It reveals that the Italian side have set a price tag of €15m (£12.5m) for the forward, although there is no mention of how much Celtic or Bologna would be willing to pay for the left-footed whiz.
Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops will go through with an official offer to sign the winger, it would be an even bigger deal than the one that brought Arne Engels to Parkhead in the summer.
The fee Celtic paid for Arne Engels
The Scottish giants smashed their club transfer record ahead of the 2023/24 campaign by paying a reported fee of ÂŁ11m to sign the central midfielder from Augsburg, to bolster Rodgers’ options in the middle of the park after Matt O’Riley completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Celtic had three bids turned down by the Bundesliga side before they ended up splashing out a club-record fee, and it could be a similar case with Isaksen – albeit across two windows – after they failed to get a deal done for him in the summer.
Engels produced three goals and two assists in 32 appearances in the German top-flight for Augsburg last season, and has increased his output in the final third during his time in Glasgow so far.
Appearances
18
Goals
4
Big chances created
5
Assists
2
Key passes per game
1.4
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian talent has already racked up six goal contributions in 18 Premiership matches this term, providing a strong threat at the top end of the pitch from a central midfield position.
Celtic will now be hoping that the 21-year-old ace continues to develop and can grow to be worth even more than the ÂŁ11m that they invested in him last year.
For a fee of ÂŁ12.5m, Isaksen would arrive in an even bigger deal than Engels but also as another player with time ahead of him to grow and develop, whilst he has shown plenty of quality in his career already to suggest that he could be a star for the Hoops.
Why Celtic should sign Gustav Isaksen
Rodgers should swoop to sign the impressive youngster from Lazio because he could be Nicolas Kuhn 2.0 as another incredibly talented left-footed right winger.
Whilst it may sound odd for Celtic to sign a similar player to the German whiz when they still have him at the club, Isaksen can also play on the left wing or through the middle as a centre-forward. He could be utilised in all three positions before, potentially, taking over from the current star if he moves on in the summer.
Kuhn has scored 16 goals in 27 matches in all competitions for the Bhoys this season, cutting in on his left foot from the right, and the Lazio gem is a player with similar qualities.
The Danish sensation, who was once hailed as “extraordinary” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has produced two goals and two assists in 13 league starts for Lazio this term, after a return of three goals and one assist in 12 Serie A starts last season.
His form for FC Midtjylland in the 2022/23 campaign, however, suggests that the potential is there for him to make a bigger impact at the top end of the pitch in a team that dominates games and consistently creates big chances.
Appearances
32
Goals
18
Big chances missed
4
Key passes per game
1.7
Assists
5
As you can see in the table above, Isaksen provided a regular threat in front of goal in the Danish top-flight and proved that he can perform week-in-week-out in a dominant team.
These statistics suggest that Celtic could unearth another Kuhn-level forward by signing the ÂŁ12.5m star, as he could also thrive in Rodgers’ team and chip in with goals and assists on a regular basis.
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Therefore, breaking the bank to seal an even bigger deal than the one that brought Engels to the club could be worth it for the Hoops, whether it happens now or in the summer.
Liverpool have produced some remarkable players over the years, but the club’s academy has never quite been a hothouse for prodigious talents.
Steven Gerrard is one of the greatest English midfielders in history, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is the contemporary Scouse-born star boy, but the Reds haven’t maintained the fastest of production lines across the decades, instead honing one or two stars every now and then.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard
Is that changing? You’d certainly say so if recent history is anything to go by. Jurgen Klopp’s advent on Merseyside transformed Liverpool’s fortunes, saw Jordan Henderson lift Premier League and Champions League titles.
But the German also heralded an upswing in youth success, bringing a wave of talent to the fore.
Liverpool's best youth players
Right before Liverpool raised the Carabao Cup aloft in February, pundit Gary Neville infamously said: “Jurgen Klopp’s kids beat Chelsea’s billion-pound bottle-jobs.”
The injury-hit Merseysiders had prevailed against the odds, with a load of inexperienced youngsters covering yawning holes and claiming an unforgettable slice of silverware.
Ben Doak and Stefan Bajcetic were both injured, perhaps the two creams of the crop. However, the 2023/24 campaign had seen Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah emerge onto the scene and cement established first-team roles, while lesser-known prospects like James McConnell, Jayden Danns and Bobby Clark all played instrumental parts.
Trey Nyoni.
An overload of quality, and it’s no surprise that Slot moved to trim the squad when he arrived during the summer. However, he did oversee the arrival of a teenage talent who might just trump the lot at Kirkby. His name’s Rio Ngumoha – and you might want to remember it.
Why Liverpool signed Rio Ngumoha
There was always going to be room for one more – especially if the talent in question was as good as Ngumoha, who, only 16, is operating on a different stratosphere to his age-mates.
Reporter Lewis Bower even said: “I’ve probably never seen anything like it before. In terms of his ceiling, it’s frightening.”
The gulf between youth and senior top-flight football is chasmic. Liverpool, however, are convinced that Ngumoha is one of the most talented 16-year-olds across the globe, with his fleet-footedness and on-the-ball technique bespeaking his athletic precocity.
Chelsea have been left brooding over their talent’s departure, but then Liverpool simply acted, pounced upon a gem that had been loosed by the upheaval and bloated nature of the Cobham Academy.
For Ngumoha’s part, he was enticed by the pathway to Anfield’s senior stage, watching as ‘Klopp’s kids’ achieved such noteworthy success last term, namely with Quansah, Bradley and Danns announcing themselves.
Rio Ngumoha – Career Stats by Club/Level
Club/Level
Apps
Goals
Assists
Chelsea U18
9
1
1
Liverpool U18
8
0
2
Liverpool UEFA U19
5
0
2
Liverpool
–
–
–
Stats via Transfermarkt
Given that he’s only a few months into his 16th year, Ngumoha has eclipsed expectations, taking steady steps onto the scene and leaving Premier League legends such as John Terry saying: “This boy is and will be a top, top player.”
There’s an easiness to his play that few youngsters showcase on the field. He plays as if in a park, carefree and devastating with every move, flick, trick. You need only look at the short clip below to get a taste.
Ngmoha leaves you wanting more. An entertainer with a predatory sense that suggests he is destined for greatness – with care, patience, and tempered expectations, of course.
However, there’s a ball-carrying quality that points toward Ngumoha being Liverpool’s next version of Sadio Mane. There’s plenty of work to be done before that peak is reached, but the signs are promising.
Rio Ngumoha could be Slot's own Sadio Mane
Klopp once called Mane a “world-class” forward, and it’s a sentiment that is echoed by all of a Liverpool persuasion. Mohamed Salah might be one of the best players in the world right now, but when he flanked Roberto Firmino with his Senegal partner, they made a whole that was far greater than the sum of its parts.
Sadio Mane Liverpool graphic
Mane, 32, was a talisman throughout the glory days of Klopp’s reign, so incredible on the flank as he combined deadly finishing with artful cunning and technical brilliance.
Ngumoha hasn’t quite nailed down his best position as he continues to cut his teeth at youth level but he does start on the left with the greatest regularity, and he could be Mane’s natural successor if he sharpens a goalscoring edge over the coming years.
The youngster’s burgeoning reputation could even see him take Luis Diaz’s place in the coming years, with the Colombian one of the finest players in the Premier League but turns 28 in a few weeks and appears to be at an impasse vis-a-vis contract talks.
His deal expires in 2027 and Liverpool, while satisfied that they are getting bang for their buck with the Colombian, will be aware that he is settled in the heart of his prime and would garner a pretty penny indeed if he were to pick up a suitor – Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have been known admirers in 2024.
Liverpool star Luis Diaz
While it would be ridiculous to hurl the 16-year-old Ngumoha into the deep end, Cody Gakpo is thriving at present and Diogo Jota also brings an exciting take to the left wing position.
There’s room in the first team for Nguomha. After all, he’s already received a taste of the senior stage under Slot’s management, placed on the bench against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, though he didn’t grace the grass.
In any case, every indication suggests that Liverpool have an incredible talent on their hands and could reap the lucrative rewards of the incisive swipe this summer. Talk of him being Mane’s successor might be a little premature, admittedly, but Slot’s Liverpool offer a platform as good as any for a top-class youngster looking to make their name.
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GOAL selected the 25 best talents in women’s football born on or after January 1, 2005 – but where are they now?
Every year, GOAL releases its NXGN lists, highlighting the best young talents in world football. After starting with the men’s game in 2016, the first women’s list was published in 2020, with many of its alumni having already gone on to achieve incredible things.
And so after theNXGN 2025 list was revealed, here’s a look at where the wonderkids of 2024 are today:
Every NXGN list
Dembele, Tielemans & 2016's best wonderkids
Mbappe, Donnarumma & 2017's best wonderkids
De Ligt, Kluivert & 2018's best wonderkids
Haaland, Sancho & 2019's best wonderkids
Saka, Rodrygo & 2020's best wonderkids
James, Oberdorf & 2020's best women's wonderkids
Pedri, Ansu Fati & 2021's best wonderkids
Le Tissier, Bennison & 2021's best women's wonderkids
Bellingham, Musiala & 2022's best wonderkids
Dumornay, Fowler & 2022's best women's wonderkids
Gavi, Garnacho & 2023's best wonderkids
Shaw, Thompson & 2023's best women's wonderkids
Yamal, Mainoo & 2024's best wonderkids
Getty
25Brooke Aspin (Chelsea)
2024: After signing for Chelsea in the summer of 2023, Aspin spent the 2023-24 season back on loan with former club Bristol City, but her time with the Robins would end on a sour note as they suffered relegation from the Women's Super League. For the 2024-25 season, Aspin again went out on loan, this time to newly-promoted WSL side Crystal Palace. However, a devastating ACL injury in November cut that spell short.
2025: Aspin's focus for the forthcoming year is on her recovery from that knee injury, with her unlikely to feature again in the 2024-25 season as a result of it.
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(C)Getty Images
24Toko Koga (Feyenoord)
2024: Koga made the leap overseas, joined Dutch side Feyenoord and started all of the club's final 11 league games of the season after breaking into the line-up in late January. The defender's year would yet get bigger, too, as she was included in Japan's squad for the Olympic women's football tournament in France. There, Koga started three of Nadeshiko's four games, including the heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in extra time to the United States in the quarter-finals.
2025: Koga has continued to assert herself at Feyenoord in the 2024-25 season, starting every league game to date and even netting a trio of goals, including a brace in the 5-3 win over Excelsior. For Japan, she scored the winner against the United States in February as her country won the SheBelieves Cup.
Getty Images
23Liana Joseph (Lyon)
2024: Joseph enjoyed her first involvements with the U20s, included in the squad that travelled to Colombia for that year's World Cup. She only made one start, in the group stage against Fiji, but marked it with four goals. Joseph would also add to her lone appearance for Lyon's world-class first team, getting two more chances to impress in the latter stages of the 2023-24 season.
2025: After remaining at Lyon for the first half of the 2024-25 campaign, making just one league appearance, Joseph moved to Strasbourg on loan in the New Year. Regularly involved with France's U19s now, it's anticipated that she will travel with the team to their European Championships this summer, should they qualify.
Imagn Images
22Amanda Allen (Orlando Pride)
2024: After making 11 appearances for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL and the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, albeit just one start, Allen was loaned to USL Super League side Lexington in September. There, she made nine starts, but did not end her goal drought. That has unfortunately continued with the Canada youth teams, too. Allen was part of the U20 side that reached the quarter-finals of their World Cup, starting all four games, but couldn't find the back of the net.
2025: Allen, now back at Orlando ahead of the new NWSL season, will hope for a more prolific 2025.