All posts by n8rngtd.top

Arsenal are expected to sign world football’s “second best” player with the groundwork for a deal already done, according to a very reliable media source.

Andrea Berta holds talks with key Arsenal targets

New sporting director Andrea Berta is set to take the lead in what is anticipated to be a pretty busy summer window for the north Londoners.

Arsenal make offer to £30m star after Berta successfully convinced Arteta

The Italian and Arsenal’s manager are already working on the club’s transfer plans this summer.

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By
Emilio Galantini

May 9, 2025

Nuno Tavares, Albert Sami Lokonga, Fabio Vieira and Oleksandr Zinchenko could all quit Arsenal in the summer, according to Sami Mokbel, with Jorginho also agreeing to join Flamengo and Kieran Tierney set to make a return to Celtic after their contracts expire.

If Arsenal don’t agree an extension with Thomas Partey, following his arguably best season at the Emirates to date, then the Ghana international will follow them – so it appears there will be plenty of ins and outs.

In terms of incomings, Berta is believed to have reached out to the representatives of a few key summer targets already.

Recently, the Italian has been pushing to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with extensive discussions held, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

As well as this, Berta reached out for talks with Nico Williams’ representatives in one of his first acts as sporting director, as per The Guardian’s Ed Aarons, with Arsenal exploring a move for one of La Liga’s standout talents.

However, one man who could be arriving before any of them is Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi.

The Gunners have been in advanced talks for his signature since January (The Mail), and the reliable David Ornstein says that those within Arsenal are behaving like they’ve already sealed a deal for Zubimendi.

Arsenal expected to sign Martin Zubimendi this summer

Now, a very credible source in the BBC, and their reporter Mokbel, have shared an update of their own.

Arsenal are very much expected to sign Zubimendi, according to their information, and the groundwork for a deal has already been done, largely by ex-sporting director Edu Gaspar and interim chief Jason Ayto.

The Spain international’s £51 million release clause looks likely to be triggered, but Arsenal should be wary that Zubimendi rejected a move to Liverpool last summer.

Arsenal will be eager to get this over the line early doors after months of negotiations, especially considering Zubimendi’s pedigree as a truly elite number six.

“For me, Martín is the second-best player in the world. We are incredibly lucky to have these two, who I consider the best players in the world.” said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente on Zubimendi and Rodri.

“But we also have other fantastic players who’ve been here and are with us now—another fantastic player, Pepelu hasn’t come yet, but he’s been called up with us.”

Today is the day for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou and his team can make their fans forget about their diabolically poor domestic season by continuing their impressive European run and winning the Europa League Final.

However, with Manchester United having a stellar track record on the continent this season as well, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll get their hand on the trophy come full-time.

To give his team a better chance of coming away victorious, Postecoglou will have to make a number of changes to the starting lineup that lost away to Aston Villa on Friday night, like dropping Mikey Moore.

Why Moore should be dropped

The first thing to say is that while we think Moore should be taken out of the team, that doesn’t mean we don’t think he’ll have a large part to play for the club in the coming seasons.

After all, his youth record of 21 goals and 15 assists in 34 appearances across the various levels is nothing short of spectacular, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, he’s a “future superstar” in the making.

However, he is still just 17 years old, and while he has looked reasonably impressive for the senior team here and there, he’s not had a significant enough impact – three goal involvements in 21 games – to warrant a start in the club’s biggest game since the Champions League Final.

Moreover, his inexperience showed somewhat at Villa Park, as he struggled to assert himself on the game and eventually came off the pitch in the 87th minute, having made just seven passes and failing in 100% of his dribbles.

Moreover, with Brennan Johnson still the team’s top scorer in all competitions this term, with 17 in 49 games, it should go without saying that he should be starting on the right ahead of everyone else.

The other Spurs star who should be dropped

Given the underwhelming nature of the game, there are a few other players you could bring up who should probably be taken out of the team for the final, like Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and more.

Yet, in this instance, we are talking about another starter in the attack: Mathys Tel.

The young Frenchman might well be one of the more exciting players in the Lilywhites’ squad, with some at the club reportedly labelling him a “generational talent” before he arrived in February, but against the Villans, he didn’t do enough to convince us he should keep his place in the team for tonight’s monumental clash.

For example, despite leading the line for 96 minutes, he failed to take a single shot on target, registered just 0.15 expected assists, failed in 80% of his attempted dribbles, completed only 12 passes, failed in 100% of his crosses, missed one big chance, lost ten of 14 duels, lost the ball 11 times and committed four fouls.

Add to that the fact that he’s scored just three goals and provided one assist in 19 appearances for the club this season, and it’s almost impossible to make a convincing argument about why he should lead the line against the Red Devils.

Moreover, Dominic Solanke, the man who should come in to replace him, has been far more effective in front of goal this season, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in 43 appearances.

Ultimately, Tel could still be a useful asset for Spurs in tonight’s final, but to get the most out of him, Postecoglou would be better off starting him on the bench and then bringing him on later into the match as things get stretched so that he can exploit the opening spaces with his pace.

Ange can fix Kulu & Bergvall blow by unleashing Spurs "monster" in new role

The gifted international could be the answer for Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 20, 2025

Manchester City are now set to table a huge contract offer, in an attempt to lure a “world-class” transfer target to the Etihad Stadium this summer, according to a report.

Man City pursuing new midfielders despite Rodri return

Man City never really managed to recover from Rodri suffering an ACL injury against Arsenal back in September, with Pep Guardiola enduring a rare trophyless campaign after the FA Cup final defeat, and the manager believes his side would have competed if the Spaniard had been available.

The City boss said: “I don’t have any doubts with Rodri there, and Phil there, and everybody there, the central defenders there, we would have competed; in the Champions League we would have been better.”

Guardiola will no doubt be hoping that Rodri’s return is a major boost for his side, but the manager remains tasked with bringing in at least one new midfielder this summer, given that Kevin De Bruyne’s time at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end.

Fabrizio Romano: Man City hold first talks to sign "incredible" £50m+ star

The Blues have made an enquiry over a defender, and discussions over a deal are expected to continue.

By
Dominic Lund

May 27, 2025

It will be difficult to find any player capable of providing goals and assists as regularly as the Belgian legend, but there has now been a new update which suggests Man City are stepping up their pursuit of a new midfielder.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man City are determined to lure AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders to the Etihad Stadium this summer, and they are planning to offer him a huge salary increase in order to get a deal over the line.

Having cooled their interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, who could be Liverpool-bound, the Blues are eager to land Reijnders, and they are willing to spend a large amount of their summer transfer budget on the midfielder and offer him around £130,000-a-week.

AC Milan are eager to hold out for a fee of £50m, however, so the 26-year-old is unlikely to come cheap, but Guardiola’s side want a deal to be wrapped up before the Club World Cup.

Reijnders could be "world-class" addition for Man City

Scout Ben Mattinson believes the maestro is able to play at a “world-class” level, and he certainly put in performances of that standard during the 2024/25 campaign, despite Milan’s struggles.

The Dutchman predominantly featured in central midfield, while also often dropping to a deeper role, but that did not stop him from regularly providing goals and assists across all competitions.

Whoever replaces De Bruyne will have very big shoes to fill, given everything the attacking midfielder achieved at the Etihad Stadium, but Reijnders’ recent exploits on the front foot suggest he could also go on to achieve big things with Manchester City.

Leeds United are now willing to trigger the £21m release clause in the contract of a “spectacular” midfielder, according to a report.

Leeds looking to sign midfielder amid £120m cash injection

The 49ers are showing they mean business as Leeds prepare for their return to the Premier League, having injected £120m into the club, with former Everton CEO Keith Wyness revealing the Championship title winners are willing to splash the cash.

Wyness said: “I think a chunk of it will be going towards transfer business. I think that £100million mark is a minimum spend now, and they’ve got to spend it wisely.

“This cash injection will pay for some new players to give the fans hope.”

One position in which the Whites are particularly keen on strengthening is central midfield, with Kalvin Phillips being linked with a return to Elland Road, while they are also “one to watch” in the race for Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma.

Moves for Bissouma or Phillips could make sense, having proven themselves in the Premier League, but there have now been suggestions that Daniel Farke’s side may also take a risk on a La Liga midfielder.

According to a report from Super Deporte (via Leeds United News), Leeds are now willing to activate the £21m release clause in Uche’s Getafe contract, with the midfielder catching the eye of some bigger clubs courtesy of his performances in Spain.

Brighton & Hove Albion are also in the race for the Nigerian, with the Seagulls also showing a desire to trigger the release clause in his contract with the Spanish side, so there may be stiff competition for his signature.

New target: Leeds want to sign "spectacular" GK who's outperforming Meslier

Leeds have joined the race for a new goalkeeper having missed out on Caoimhin Kelleher

By
Dominic Lund

Jun 5, 2025

"Spectacular" Uche impressing in La Liga

The 22-year-old emerged as a key player for Getafe in the 2024-25 La Liga season, making 33 appearances, during which time he has displayed his versatility by featuring in a range of positions, including striker, although the maestro most commonly plays in a midfield role.

It is clear to see why the Nigeria international has been given the nod further forward, having picked up four goals and six assists in La Liga during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring with an impressive effort from outside the box back in August.

However, the “spectacular” Getafe gem, as lauded by manager Jose Bordalas, is also strong at winning back possession, ranking in the 95th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, and the 89th percentile for interceptions, when compared to his positional peers.

Uche’s versatility could make him a very useful option for Farke next season, and £21m feels like a fair fee, given his recent exploits in La Liga, but Brighton’s interest could pose a problem, considering they are a more established Premier League side.

Aston Villa may have an element of uncertainty hanging over them this window, but that hasn’t stopped Unai Emery pushing hard to sign a talented midfielder from the continent.

Aston Villa could be forced to sell before they can buy

By now, most Premier League fans will be aware that Aston Villa run the risk of being penalised in line with Profit and Sustainability Rules if they don’t manage to sell some players before the June 30th deadline.

In turn, a host of stars have been linked with moves away from the club. Morgan Rogers is said to be a £100 million target for Arsenal and isn’t the only player being lined up by circling sides.

Nevertheless, Emiliano Martinez is one of the most likely candidates to be sacrificed and could ease pressure on offloading the likes of Rodgers this summer. The Argentina international is being courted by Manchester United and several Saudi Pro League teams.

Planning for the future without their long-serving number one, Aston Villa could look to sign LOSC Lille’s Lucas Chevalier, giving an indication of the one-in-one-out policy that could be adopted in the West Midlands to carefully navigate their delicate situation.

Losing out on a Champions League slot has created an unwanted PSR shortfall, but that isn’t something that can’t be fixed with savvy decision-making.

Aston Villa now ready to offer major deal to sign £50m Mozambique winger

He could replace Marcus Rashford.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 4, 2025

Leon Bailey could net £25 million if he is sold to Neom SC and Jhon Duran’s big-money sale earlier this year could create some wiggle room later down the line, so who could Aston Villa buy in that case?

If recent developments are anything to go by, Emery is willing to take a major step towards improving his midfield, with the added caveat that his latest target can play in several different positions.

Aston Villa make first move to sign Fares Chaibi from Eintracht Frankfurt

According to reports in Italy via Frankfurter Rundschau, Aston Villa have taken concrete steps to sign Fares Chaibi from Eintracht Frankfurt and the Bundesliga outfit may consider a sale under the right circumstances.

The 20-year-old is predominantly an attacking midfielder, but he can also feature on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward when needed.

Earning a modest £12,968 per week in Germany, roughly speaking, Chaibi has registered two goals and three assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.

Making their first move, Aston Villa believe the Algeria international has the talent to become a special player at Villa Park, and they are now trying to push a deal over the line.

Moving back to matters previously mentioned, this swoop may be contingent on whether they can come out the other side of the PSR deadline unscathed, so it remains to be seen whether they can force this one through.

Following an excellent campaign last time out, Nottingham Forest are looking to use the summer transfer window to ensure that their European qualification was no blip. And that could reportedly start with the addition of a Bayern Munich midfielder.

Nuno Espirito Santo extends Nottingham Forest contract

Starting as they mean to go on this summer, Nottingham Forest confirmed the news that Nuno Espirito Santo has agreed a new deal with the club and will now remain in charge until at least 2028.

The Portuguese manager has taken the Midlands club to fresh heights in the Premier League and Evangelos Marinakis was clearly keen to ensure that he remains the man for the job at the City Ground.

The Greek owner told Nottingham Forest’s official media channels: “Nuno has made a great impact and performed very well during his time with us so far.

With that contract signed and delivered, Nottingham Forest can now turn their attention back towards the transfer window. Already, it looks as though Jair Cunha, Igor Jesus and Cuiabano are all on their way from Brazilian club Botafogo, who just defeated Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup. But those in the Midlands could yet return to the market.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 13, 2025

Reports are now suggesting that the Midlands club have joined the race to sign a Champions League midfielder who looks destined to return to the Premier League this summer.

Nottingham Forest join £30m Palhinha race

According to Caught Offside, Nottingham Forest are now eyeing a move to sign Joao Palhinha this summer. The midfielder is reportedly free to leave Bayern Munich for up to €35m (£30m) in what is a cut-price deal considering that the German giants initially paid Fulham as much as £42m to secure his signature just one year ago.

The transfer fee is unlikely to be the main sticking point in any deal. Instead, there may be concerns about Palhinha’s wage demands. If he requests the same £8.5m-a-year contract that he earns at Bayern Munich then the likes of Nottingham Forest could instantly look elsewhere for options.

With Manchester United, former club Fulham, Benfica and West Ham United also in the race for his signature, Palhinha may have a decision to make regarding his salary if he wants to secure an exit away from Munich this summer.

At his best, there’s no denying that Palhinha is capable of making a significant impact with Fulham boss Marco Silva dubbing him “impressive” during his time in West London. Now, however, the Portugal international desperately needs a return to English football to rediscover his top form.

Thomas Frank will be the next Tottenham Hotspur manager to try and catapult the club back into a Premier League title battle over the next couple of seasons.

The Dane will certainly come under scrutiny if he’s unable to push the Lilywhites up the league table, needing to right the wrongs endured under former boss Ange Postecoglou.

However, the Aussie did secure the Europa League title, handing his successor the chance to build on the triumph and be competitive in the Champions League throughout 2025/26.

A balance will need to be struck if the club are to be a success in various competitions, subsequently allowing the new manager to be an instant hit with the supporters in the coming months.

If the Dane is to thrive in North London, he will need quality and depth in certain key areas to help balance the quest for success in Europe and domestically.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Mohammed Kudus has been a player who’s been firmly on Spurs’ radar over recent days, with the Lilywhites submitting a £50m offer, but it was swiftly rejected with the Hammers demanding a hefty fee for his signature.

He currently has an £85m release clause in his contract, but it’s been reported that he could be available for a lower fee, but it remains to be seen if the player himself would be keen on a move across London.

However, they could be about to make a move for another Premier League star in the form of Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson, according to journalist Paul O’Keefe.

He confirmed earlier this week that the Lilywhites are closely monitoring the American international, who featured in all but two league games last season.

O’Keefe also confirmed that the 27-year-old is seen as a key option for Frank this summer, after he registered ten assists in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Reports earlier this year suggested Fulham would be open to letting him leave if they received a £40m bid.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a more important signing than Kudus

There’s no denying that a move for Kudus would bring added excitement to the fanbase, ahead of what’s set to be a new era under the guidance of Frank in North London.

Given the other targets this summer, it’s evident that the Dane is targeting attacking reinforcements, with the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo also being linked with a move to the club.

However, given the side’s tally of 64 league goals last season, they clearly have the firepower to cause problems for multiple sides in the division, potentially leading them to future success.

As a result, the new boss should look to prioritise a move for new defenders, with Robinson just one player who would be a more important addition than Kudus this summer.

Spurs currently only have one senior left-back in the form of Destiny Udogie, but the Italian has also had his injury struggles, missing 13 league games in the 2024/25 season.

Right-back Djed Spence has subsequently had to operate out of position at times to cover for the Italian, highlighting the need for depth in such a department this summer.

When delving into Robinson’s stats from last season, he’s managed to star at both ends of the pitch, handing Frank the talent that he craves during his first season at the helm.

The full-back, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Toby Bryant, created 1.3 chances per 90, along with a 53% dribbling success rate – having the tools to get forward areas in North London.

Out of possession, he was just as impressive last campaign, winning 1.7 tackles per 90, whilst winning 5.8 duels per 90 – handing the side the added defensive quality it needs in 2025/26.

It’s unclear how much a deal would set the hierarchy back this summer, but from the stats produced in recent months, it’s evident that he’s coming into the prime years of his career.

He would be a phenomenal pick-up, undoubtedly handing Frank an excellent star in a position that has undoubtedly been one of the hardest to fill over the last couple of years in North London.

Frank's answer to Bale: Spurs make "generational" £70m ace their top target

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be putting their focus on a deal to land one attacking star.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 3, 2025

Chelsea are now through to the Club World Cup final after brushing aside Fluminense with ease 2-0 in New Jersey.

After just about getting the better of Brazilian outfit Palmeiras 2-1 in the last round, Enzo Maresca’s Blues managed to progress through to the final stage by beating yet another South American side, as either Real Madrid or Paris St. Germain now await the West Londoners for a chance at pre-season glory.

João Pedro would steal most of the headlines from the straightforward win by popping up with both of Chelsea’s goals on the day, as the brand-new attacker looks to instantly settle into his new environment after leaving Brighton and Hove Albion behind.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 13, 2025

Joao Pedro's performance in numbers

After clearly impressing Maresca with a lively 26-minute run-out against Palmeiras, the Italian would hand the exciting 23-year-old attacker the first-team reins as Chelsea’s main man up top against Fluminense.

It was an inspired decision from the former Leicester City boss to axe Liam Delap in favour of starting the fresh number 20, with Pedro only needing an hour to score a brace to hand his new employers an uncomplicated passage through to the Club World Cup final.

It was a confident and assured performance from a star who will want to make that sole striker spot his own ahead of the new Premier League season getting underway, with Pedro firing home a clinical 30 goals across his last two seasons at the Seagulls, before Chelsea came calling.

Based on Nicolas Jackson’s selfish miss in the second half, which sent Cole Palmer into a frenzy, he could well make that up-for-grabs position on the pitch his own very soon.

But, he wasn’t the only standout performer as Chelsea’s Brazilian opponents were dealt with comfortably, with this fellow attacker for the Blues sticking out once more, as some now even herald him as Chelsea’s finest player of the entire Club World Cup tournament.

The 8/10 star turning into Maresca's "best player"

Of course, those with connections to Stamford Bridge will be rightly enthused by Pedro’s flashes of excellence.

But, there have been other key individuals for Chelsea across the whole span of the tournament who have stood out even more than the much-talked-about South American, with Pedro Neto definitely fitting into this bracket.

Across his five games in the United States heat, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger has tallied up a crucial three goals, with his goal against LAFC in the middle of last month getting Maresca’s men up and running in the competition.

Whilst he didn’t collect another memorable strike against Fluminense, it wasn’t through lack of trying, with the tireless attacker seeing his only effort of the game be blocked, away from just shining as a vibrant and slick option down the Blues’ left flank when running forward with pace to burn.

Amazingly, Neto would complete four successful dribbles across his standout 68-minute spell, with his surges up the field constantly allowing for openings to happen, with Neto also accurately completing every single pass that came his way when feeding the likes of Pedro to shine.

Whilst the former Brighton striker did snatch most of the plaudits come the full-time whistle, Neto wasn’t short of admirers himself either, with journalist Zach Lowy taking to X to declare the Portuguese entertainer as Chelsea’s “best attacker” this tournament and “arguably their best player” full stop.

That is quite the call to make, but it was backed up by The Standard’s Sam Tabuteau post-match, who also declared him ‘Chelsea’s best performer’ in America, amidst a high 8/10 rating for his efforts against Fluminense.

It will be intriguing to see if Neto can kick on after all this pre-season praise when Premier League football returns to West London, with the Club World Cup trophy also perhaps making the trip back to England very soon if all goes to plan.

Bigger star than Estevao: Chelsea hold talks over signing £78m "superstar"

With Estêvão Willian set to arrive from Palmeiras, could Chelsea actually sign a bigger talent by snapping up a “gifted” superstar worth £78m?

By
Ben Gray

Jul 8, 2025

With a World Cup looming and losses piling up, those on the outside are finding it difficult to trust Pochettino's process

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Multiple times over the last few months, Mauricio Pochettino has responded to questions about American soccer culture. It's not Argentina, he has said. In an ideal world, it would be something like college football. The passion, the togetherness, the pageantry – having recently experienced it, Pochettino was enamored with it. Imagine that atmosphere for U.S. men's national team games.

Fortunately for Pochettino, though, that isn't the case. For all of the benefits of the culture of Argentina or NCAA football, there are downsides – namely the pressure on those who take the field. Every game, every result, regardless of circumstances, matters. Pochettino himself said he believed in that line of thinking at his first news conference when he was hired last year. 

That, though, hasn't been the case with the USMNT in 2025, a year in which Pochettino has largely prioritize process over results. With a World Cup looming, those on the outside are finding it harder and harder to trust that process, particularly without any guarantee of what that end result will be. Through all of the noise, Pochettino has continued to experiment and, at least in the short term, that tinkering is not working.

The reason has been clear: Pochettino is desperate for competition within the squad, so much so that he was willing to shake the core of the USMNT to generate it. The problem he's discovered is that the USMNT's core is more important than ever – and more irreplaceable, too. And so the losses have piled up – he has just nine wins in 17 matches since taking over for the fired Gregg Berhalter last year – forcing Pochettino and the USMNT to confront reality. The plan isn't working.

American soccer fans are more patient than most, and Pochettino has alluded to that. However, the time for patience is nearing an end. Soon, the time for results must begin. In the wake of a 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday night, Pochettino, rightly, said that a team really doesn't have to win until the World Cup begins.

That may be true, but in the high-pressure environments he's so enamored with, losing this much wouldn't be tolerated. Optics matter. So do results. The good news? This is fixable so long as Pochettino and the USMNT stare down a few harsh truths.

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  A rough 2025

  Numbers don't lie, it has been said. And the USMNT's numbers in 2025 aren't telling a good story.

  After losing to Mexico in Guadalajara last year, Pochettino's USMNT went into 2025 seeking a signature win. It hasn't come yet. While a series of Gold Cup victories with a weakened squad surely built momentum, it doesn't overshadow the series of losses to World Cup-caliber teams. Losses to Panama and Canada initiated the USMNT's summer shake-up. Pre-Gold Cup defeats to Turkey and Switzerland set off alarm bells.

  Pochettino was notably upset by the Gold Cup final loss to Mexico, at least partially because he knew that it meant the narrative would shift around his players' efforts this summer. And then came Saturday, a 2-0 loss to South Korea. With some, but not all, of the regulars back in the picture, the USMNT once again lost to a World Cup-bound team.

  Pochettino, though frustrated, said he saw positive signs. Coach speak, surely, because the USMNT were, by and large, second best in just about every version of the eye test. In their last seven matches against top-25 teams, the U.S. have been outscored 11-2 in the first half, and haven't beaten a non-North American top-25 squad since Iran at the 2022 World Cup.

  For all the talk of promise, talent and excitement, the fact is that, right now, this USMNT group has yet to show they can beat legitimate opposition. They've gone toe-to-toe with a few, for sure – namely Brazil last summer – but the program has lost virtually every ounce of goodwill in the year since that pre-Copa America friendly.

  So is it doom and gloom? Absolutely not. In truth, the answers are essentially staring Pochettino in the face.

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  A dead-end competition

  Johan Cruyff once said that this sport is simple – the hard part is to play simply. That quote can apply to management, too. Sometimes, setting up a team can be as easy as "play the best players."

  It's something that the USMNT, for one reason or another, has not done for a long time. Injuries have robbed the U.S. of Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi for extended periods of time. Christian Pulisic skipped out on the summer, although he returned for that South Korea game.

  Meanwhile, talented players such as Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Joe Scally, Tanner Tessmann, Aidan Morris, Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman and Haji Wright were left at home for this camp. So, too, were centerback contenders Mark McKenzie, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty. There are others. Quite clearly, the USMNT that played South Korea wasn't at full strength. That was true for the Gold Cup, in part due to injuries or club situations. Much of it, though, is also seemingly by choice.

  He hasn't outwardly said it, but Pochettino was clearly frustrated by the results in the Nations League, and his roster selections since indicate that. It's been quite clear that he's been trying to foster competition to both introduce potential World Cup contenders and remind the established players that nothing is guaranteed.

  "When you see different national teams that won World Cups, I think you really understand what [that means]," Pochettino said. "Players need to feel the threat from your teammate, and they need to defend their place in every single possibility that they join the national team.”

  The problem is that there's been to defend. The competition has produced very few bonafide contenders while robbing this group of several crucial chances to build chemistry with the players that will actually be at the World Cup next summer. The biggest lesson we've learned over the last six months is that there are a finite amount of World Cup-quality players in this player pool, and at no point recently has that group actually been together.

  Former USMNT star Charlie Davies put it bluntly after the South Korea loss, saying, "I’m trying to stay positive, but this is a failure. We don’t have a signature win, we don’t even have a signature XI… We have signature sh*t, is what we have."

  The results, ultimately, have suffered because of that. South Korea are very good, and they're also a well-drilled team that knows who they are and what the guys around them are going to do.

  Pochettino seems ready to fix that for the USMNT. He said prior to camp that this was his final go at experimenting and, starting in October, the process of buckling down will begin. The problem is that, while that timeline works for Pochettino, it doesn't for the public as they look for some signs of life months before a World Cup.

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  Dealing with public perception

  Social media, of course, is an imperfect barometer of national team progress. So, too, are pundits. In truth, there's really no dissecting Pochettino's plan until it runs its course, even for those who understand their version of the national team.

  There is something to be said for public opinion, though, particularly in a country that, as Pochettino said, is still expanding its soccer culture. The fastest way to nurture that culture is to win and, in particular, to win at World Cups. Right now, it's hard to argue that the U.S. looks to be in a better position to do that than they did when the final whistle blew on their 2022 adventure in Qatar.

  “Mauricio Pochettino isn’t a fool, but he’s trying to pass the buck here,” former USMNT striker Herculez Gomez said this week. “He’s putting up excuses like ‘Hey, I don’t score the goals and I can’t defend them, the real thing we’re trying to do here is instill a culture, and get them on the right path.’ They didn’t give you $6 million a year so we can look back 20 years from now and say ‘Oh Mauricio Pochettino, he’s the one who laid the foundation.’

  "No, no, no. It’s for a World Cup, a tournament. They need you to get this pool of players ready for a home tournament, not to shape the next 60 years of American soccer, which he has no understanding of.”

  Former USMNT midfielder Stu Holden, meanwhile, was frustrated with Pochettino's tactics, which have failed to produce many goals against top opponents, saying, The fact is, again, we didn't score a goal. Again, we didn't beat a top-25 opponent, which we haven't done since the 2022 World Cup. And once again, we're left with more questions than answers."

  Former USMNT star Charlie Davies put it bluntly after the South Korea loss, saying, "I’m trying to stay positive, but this is a failure. We don’t have a signature win, we don’t even have a signature XI… We have signature sh*t, is what we have."

  Pochettino shouldn't be surprised by the criticism. In truth, it's healthy to have such debates in a soccer country. These comments aren't any different than coaches in Argentina, France or England would deal with. In fact, they're almost certainly more measured.

  The difference between those countries and the U.S., though, is that America is about to host a World Cup. The program is no longer in a place to send messages or, as Gomez said, build foundations. It has to be in a place where it could win World Cup games.

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  The need for wins

  Tyler Adams understands the frustration. He, too, doesn't want the USMNT to lose these games.

  "I love the feeling of winning," Tyler Adams said after Saturday night's loss. "So I would like to win games before the World Cup. But I understand his thought process. We talked about it in there. You can still have a good performance and not necessarily get the result. Yeah, I think at certain times, it's important to get some results but, for what positives we can take from today, it's about getting new faces into the national team and getting them exposure."

  Going forward, getting those results won't be easy. Up next is Japan on Tuesday, to close the September window. After that, the U.S. faces Australia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay to close 2025. All five of those teams are bound for the World Cup. All will present challenges the USMNT will need to navigate next summer. In that sense, these are the perfect tests, but they're ones the USMNT will actually have to show up prepared for by bringing their best.

  No one is asking for, or expecting, the USMNT to go out and win all of those games. There will be bumps along the way. Bumps are good. Bumps provide lessons, prepare a team, separate those who can make a difference from those who can't. The road to 2026 can't only be bumps, though. There needs to be some tangible success to build confidence, both inside and outside of the program. 

  Maybe that won't make a difference in the long term. Maybe all will be forgotten with a few wins next summer. There's something to be said about the present, though, and what that means for the future.

  “We need to start to win when the World Cup starts,” Pochettino said on Saturday. “There are too many examples of teams that win and then arrive at the World Cup and they don’t arrive in the best condition. I was involved in 2002 with Argentina, we were winning for years and then, the World Cup, and we were out in the group stage.

  “I think for sure we have talented players and we are going to be much better and we are going to prove and for sure we are going to arrive in the best condition. That is my message to the fans. We are going to arrive in a very good condition and with the help of the fans, I think we are going to be very, very difficult to beat.”

  The USMNT hasn't shown that yet. It sure would be helpful if they did soon.

Celtic are beginning to circle for key targets and could now be set to be embroiled in a high-profile chase for a prolific goalscorer, according to reports.

Celtic's striker question yet to throw up a definitive answer

Brendan Rodgers has made it crystal clear that Celtic want several options across their forward line after Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure. Meanwhile, Nicolas Kuhn moving to Como has left room for more goals to come into the side over the coming weeks.

Addressing their striker situation, the Irishman admitted Shin Yamada’s arrival from Kawasaki Frontale is just the tip of the iceberg, as he stated: “He’ll have a medical over the next couple of days and we’ll have a look at him. We’ve lost a lot of goals, so we need to replace that. Hopefully, this can be one of a number of players we can bring in that aspect.

“He’s got intensity and workrate. It’s something the scouts have seen. In terms of the club, we will bring in players to develop and players for now. Even though he’s a bit older, he’s probably one that can give us that intensity and pressure.”

Intriguingly, Rodgers has seemed to confirm the suspicion that Celtic are operating two different transfer strategies this window. On one hand, the Bhoys appear like they are trying to get ahead of the curve with ‘club’ signings, while arrivals such as Kieran Tierney come in with more of a personal touch from the manager.

Odsonne Edouard is another reported target that may fall into the latter category, albeit it is hard to envisage the Scottish Premiership champions matching his Premier League-level wages.

Balikwisha will love him: Celtic exploring deal to sign "exciting" star

Celtic could land a dream signing alongside Michel-Ange Balikwisha by landing this star.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 17, 2025

With Celtic clearly in the market for another leading light in attack, recent developments may point supporters in the direction of their latest pursuit.

Celtic see bid rejected for Louis Munteanu

According to reports from iAMsport.ro, Celtic have seen an opening bid of £6.9 million turned down for CFR Cluj forward Louis Munteanu, with their owner Ioan Varga said to be holding out for a fee of £15.6 million.

Meanwhile, Ligue 1 clubs Rennes, Lille and Nice are also monitoring his situation at the Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium.

Earning his stripes last term, Munteanu registered 25 goals and three assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, and he kicked off the new campaign with a goal in Europa League qualifying against Paksi FC earlier this month.

Making his presence known, the 23-year-old is a clinical finisher with a track record of delivering at a high standard. However, it remains to be seen whether Celtic will bow to his lofty valuation or whether alternative targets will be pursued.