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The squad is missing some key names, forcing Mauricio Pochettino to shuffle the deck ahead of final two matches of 2025

The November U.S. men's national team camp was supposed to be a glorious return. It was meant to be a big test, one designed more around building rather than experimenting. Parguay and Uruguay, the two upcoming opponents, were supposed to be measuring sticks for a full-strength USMNT.

Instead, this camp serves as something of a reminder that, at this level, not everything goes as planned. Players come and go, injuries take their toll and tough decisions have to be made. This camp, then, is now defined once again by a team at less than full strength.

That's not to say this November camp lacks purpose. These games are still vital tests, but will be played with a different roster than anticipated.

"We want to win and, for sure, we are going to give the possibility to different players and the chances to perform, and maybe to present the possibility for them to be called in the future," USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters on Thursday after revealing the roster. "We want to give the opportunity in international duty to give experiences to some players, because you never know what can happen before we announce to the world the roster for the World Cup."

This, ultimately, is what can happen before – and during – a World Cup. Injuries can take away players such as Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson. Poor form can impact players such as Yunus Musah. Wear and tear can get to someone such as Chris Richards, who has been so ever-present.

How, then, will those players in camp respond? 

GOAL looks at key takeaways from Pochettino's roster release.

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  Reyna's return

  The prescription for Reyna has been obvious for some time now: he needs to play. It's why he hasn't kicked on with the USMNT in recent years. It's also why he had to move clubs in Germany this summer. So far, he hasn't played nearly as much at Borussia Monchengladbach as many would have liked.

  Yet, for the first time since the Nations League collapse in March, he's been called back into the USMNT. What he makes of that is up to him.

  "We already know the potential of Gio, and the talent," Pochettino said. "He is an enormous talent and it's true that he's not playing too much. But I think it's a good opportunity in November because, until March, we're not going to be able to be together again. There are not too many possibilities to see him again, and try to share time or to perform on the pitch. It's about being with him, to share time, and get to know him better. 

  "He's a special player. He's a very talented player. That is why we need to be open and to provide – even if he's not playing too much – because he's suffered and was injured. Now, he's started to be fit again, and it can be a boost of motivation for him to be with us. That is important for us."

  This isn't necessarily Reyna's last chance to make the World Cup roster, but it is getting late. He's featured just once under Pochettino and did little to impress. Now, handed another lifeline, can Reyna deliver?

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  'Milan or Palace, they are not right to complain'

  Per usual, there are a variety of reasons for absences. Several players, such as Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah and Cameron Carter-Vickers, are out injured. Others, such as Pulisic, Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman are just getting back from injury.

  Others were more surprising. Weston McKennie, Pochettino says, will stay with Juventus to adjust to life under Luciano Spaletti, his newest coach on the club level. Perhaps the most notable absence, though, is Chris Richards, who was left out of the squad days after Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner took aim at the USMNT for playing the centerback last month despite an ongoing calf issue.

  Glasner, it should be noted, proceeded to play Richards 90 minutes the very next day. Pochettino, meanwhile, was left frustrated by the coach's comments, particularly as a coach who – with experience at Tottenham, PSG and Chelseas – used to be in his shoes on the club level.

  Palace weren't the only club that expressed frustrations, though, as Milan also reportedly reached out to US Soccer about Pulisic's status following his hamstring injury last camp. Pulisic, who was the subject of much controversy over the summer when he decided to skip the Gold Cup, has reportedly resumed training and is expected to return to Milan’s squad for Saturday’s Serie A trip to Parma.

  "This is to provide him the possibility to recover 100-percent and be full and be ready to play after international duty with his team," Pochettino said of the decision to allow Pulisic to stay with Milan. "That is common sense. We never risk players. He played against Australia because he felt really good and because all of the assessment from our doctors and medical staff were right – and the player agreed with us.

  "He didn't play the first game against Ecuador because he came into the game with a problem that he made, again, with his club in Italy. That is why. We care about him. But that can happen when you play game. There is always a risk when you play."

  Regarding the protests from Crystal Palace and Milan over conflicts between club and county responsibilities, Pochettino has a clear point of view, saying, "they are not right to complain."

  "People say, 'It's a friendly game', but no, that is wrong," Pochettino said. "We are not playing friendly games. We are playing games that prepare our journey to the World Cup. If not, we'd just play the Under-20s, because why play games? It's something that makes me very, very sad because I think sometimes people don't understand, or maybe they don't think about what it means to have the responsibility to represent a country or a national team, in this case, the USA.

  "I was in different clubs for more than 15 years working and I was always respectful of the national team, accepting the rules. I think the players are the most important. And the players know how we act, and how we respect, and they respect that because we are clear in our communication. I think in these situations, Milan or Palace, they are not right to complain. Because I think as a coaching staff we care about the player. We are the first to care, and we've never made a player play with some doubt. Never. Never."

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  The star strikers

  Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright are all in camp together. That hasn't happened since the Copa America in 2024, largely due to extended injury absences by Balogun and Pepi. Now fit, all three are scoring at the club level. It's a great time for all three to be in camp.

  Realistically, if the World Cup were to start today, this would likely be the striker group. There's an argument to be made to include someone such as Patrick Agyemang or Josh Sargent, but if you're selecting three, these are clear choices. They all check the boxes for the striker position, including the most important one: goals.

  Balogun has built momentum with the USMNT and Monaco by scoring multiple goals recently, Wright is running rampant through the Championship, and, now healthy, Pepi is still finding ways to score despite not starting for PSV.

  "This type of player is a very talented player," Pochettino said of Pepi. "We were talking about Gio, but it's the same with Ricardo, and the aim is to provide a big boost or motivation to them to keep pushing and keep improving. They need to have that motivation and to know that we care about them. When players are good in the mind, it's important to improve their legs and physical condition. They need to know that they are in the race for a place on the roster for the World Cup, and that is the most important thing.

  "Then they can play, more or less. But the thing is that they need to give their best to try and arrive in the best shape, to be animals, to be really strong and arrive for a competition that is going to be the most important in the history of the national team."

  While there are few questions about the top three spots on the striker depth chart, there are still questions about the first one. Who starts in this camp? Who starts when the World Cup begins? We may finally get some answers to those questions now that everyone is healthy, scoring and, finally, in camp together.

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  No room for Turner among goalkeepers

  Since the start of the Gold Cup, Matt Freese has been the starter in goal. By and large, Turner has been his backup. However, even following news that Turner is training with Crystal Palace to stay fit, he was not included in this squad. That seems as clear of a message as any as to where he stands in the goalkeeping group.

  The belief, by and large, has been that Freese is in pole position, but nothing is decided. Turner, the former USMNT starter now back in MLS with the New England Revolution, would be waiting for his chance to prove why he should be the guy in goal for a second consecutive World Cup. He won't get that chance this camp, though, as he was left off in favor of Patrick Schulte, Jonathan Klinsmann and Roman Celentano.

  There are now questions about Turner's pathway back, particularly given the fact that there's just one more international break before the World Cup. All eyes will be on him to start the next MLS season, then, as he now fights to earn his place on the team.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim “loves” a key midfield target who’s similar to Mason Mount and would like to bring him to the club.

Amorim heaps praise on Mount

Mount’s time as a United player has been frustrating to date, with injury problems often getting in the way and preventing him from kicking on his career.

The Englishman, on £150,000-a-week, is admired greatly by Amorim, however, who hailed his qualities back in August, showing that he sees him as an important part of his plans.

“It’s unbelievable the way he [Mason Mount] works, moving all the time from positions. He knows all positions, but also the other guts, it was a good test to prepare the first team.”

For Mount, it’s a case of staying fit and proving his worth, with his versatility allowing him to thrive in a two-man midfield in Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, or as one of the attackers behind the striker.

United need further depth in the middle of the park, however, especially with Casemiro potentially departing at the end of the season, and they have now been linked with an excellent potential replacement.

Amorim "loves" Man Utd transfer target

Speaking to Tipsbladet [via Sport Witness], journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claimed that Manchester United boss Amorim “loves” Morten Hjulmand and would ideally like to snap him up, providing he stays in a job, with the Sporting CP defensive midfielder having a £70m release clause.

“In relation to United, it is about whether Amorim is fired or not. Amorim loves him and Juventus is also interested in him. This summer, Juventus could not spend €50-60m on his position because they needed strikers.”

Hjulmand could be exactly what United are after, being compared to Mount in terms of style, albeit playing a more defensive role, as well as earning praise from Denmark manager Brian Riemer.

“His character, his leadership, his personality [and] his communication are not very common in today’s football, and I was at many clubs, in Copenhagen, Brentford, Anderlecht. It reminds us of the defensive midfielders of the past, who controlled the entire game, who led the teams, you don’t see that much nowadays. It’s something rare what Hjulmand has. I’m a big fan of his, I think we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg with Hjulmand.”

This season, Hjuland has completed 91.5% of his passes in the Primeira Liga, as well as averaging 2.3 tackles per game, so he is a force both in and out of possession.

Man Utd could now pay £52m for "lethal" new striker with 28 goals last season

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The fact that Amorim already knows the 26-year-old Dane well from their time together at Sporting can also only be a good thing, and he has quality and energy to bring so much to United’s midfield.

A full day of Major League Baseball gets started on Saturday afternoon and rolls through the evening. 

The story of the last two weeks has been the shaky play from the Yankees, relative to its blistering start. However, it seemed like the offense broke out of its slump on Friday against the Blue Jays. Can the team keep it rolling on Saturday with Nestor Cortes on the mound? 

Here’s our pick for that game as well as every other one on the stacked Saturday card. 

Rockies vs. White Sox Prediction and Pick

Pick: White Sox (-115)

Two of the most futile teams in the big leagues meet on Saturday and I’ll side with the small home favorite.

Rookie Jonathan Cannon has made six starts this season and has showcased a decent breaking ball with pinpoint control (94th percentile walk rate). 

His best days are also ahead of him. While he has a 4.59 ERA, his xERA sits at 3.81, meaning some positive regression is coming. 

Reds vs. Cardinals Prediction and Pick

Pick: Cardinals (-190)

The Cardinals are justified big favorites with Sonny Gray on the mound, who has been on point all season with a 2.81 ERA with a near-32% strikeout rate.

Yankees vs. Blue Jays Prediction and Pick

Pick: Yankees (-125)

The Yankees skid has been prolonged, but I think the team is in a good spot to snap out of it against the Blue Jays due to an edge on the mound and at the plate. 

The Blue Jays struggle against left handed pitching, 24th in OPS, which sets up nicely for Yankees’ starter Nestor Cortes. 

Further, Chris Bassitt can’t be trusted. He has diminished control (near-nine percent walk rate) and has an xERA nearly one run higher (3.45 vs. 4.22). 

Marlins vs. Phillies Prediction and Pick

Pick: Phillies (-250)

The Phillies had no issues with the Marlins with Bryce Harper out of the lineup, and I expect another win on Saturday against a lowly Miami team with the always capable Aaron Nola on the bump. 

Athletics vs. Diamondbacks Prediction and Pick

Pick: Athletics (+170)

Zac Gallen will return to the mound for Arizona after hitting the injury list for a hamstring strain on May 30th, and I’ll fade him in his first start back. 

Gallen may be on a pitch count, which can lead to more variance from a shaky Diamondbacks bullpen.

There are enough question marks to take the big underdog.

Nationals vs. Rays Prediction and Pick

Pick: Nationals (+115)

Aaron Civale is due positive regression from his poor metrics, posting a 5.20 ERA against a 4.00 xERA, but there are still some poor numbers indicating it may not come so fast. 

Civale has been a victim of a ton of hard contact with his diminishing fastball, allowing a hard-hit percentage of 40.6% (career high) and is a predominantly flyball pitcher (sixth percentile ground ball percentage), meaning he can quickly find himself into trouble. 

Astros vs. Mets Prediction and Pick

Pick: Mets (+100)

The Mets should be able to stay hot against the Astros, who are top five in the big leagues against left handed pitching. 

Southpaw Framber Valdez has struggled to stay healthy this season and pitch to his Cy Young expectation. Valdez has a fourth percentile hard-hit percentage and has lost his ability to find his strikeout prowess, right at the big league average. 

Ride the streaking Mets. 

Guardians vs. Royals Prediction and Pick

Pick: Royals (-110)

The Royals, one of the best home teams in baseball, have arguably its best pitcher on the mound in Cole Ragans. Ragans is the superior pitcher with a nasty fastball that strikes out nearly 30% of the batters he has faced this season, and will have the Royals’ bats playing at home to back him up. 

Kansas City is the second best hitting team at home this season, a big reason why the team is 29-15 on the year at Kauffman Stadium. 

I’ll take the home team in a matchup that is lined like a coin flip. 

Cubs vs. Brewers Prediction and Pick

Pick: Cubs (-105)

Justin Steele should continue to pitch to his fine form against a Brewers team that is 20th in OPS against southpaw. 

Steele may have an 0-3 record, but he is pitching to a 3.08 ERA with a similar xERA (3.27) while striking out about a quarter of the batters he is facing. 

I think this matchup sets up nicely for him to grab his first win of the year. 

Pirates vs. Braves Prediction and Pick

Pick: Braves (-155)

Will Paul Skenes, the NL Rookie of the Year front runner, put together another monster effort against a talented Braves roster? 

While Skenes is more than capable of handling any big league roster, the Pirates inability to give him run support will stop the team from winning. 

The Pirates are hitting .238 against lefties and rank 19th in OPS, but I think we are getting a break on the price because of Skenes. 

Padres vs. Red Sox Prediction and Pick

Pick: Padres (+125)

The Red Sox will start Cy Young candidate Tanner Houck (2.18 ERA) on Saturday, but the Padres may be up to the test with Michael King on the mound. 

King has been fantastic all season, pitching to a 3.75 ERA with an excellent offspeed pitch arsenal that leads to a 92nd percentile hard-hit percentage. The Red Sox have serious power in the lineup, but King has done a fine job of avoiding blowup innings with his ability to work around hitters. 

Dodgers vs. Giants Prediction and Pick

Pick: Giants (+185)

While Tyler Glasnow has been excellent in his first season with the Dodgers, this is simply too wide of a price for him on the road. 

Glasnow has a ton of strikeout prowess, he is in the 98th percentile in terms of strikeout rate, but the Giants strikeout at a league average rate and the team held up nicely against him earlier this season. San Francisco tallied three earned runs with four hits in six innings, good enough that can extend this game into the bullpen portion of the evening. 

Meanwhile, Erik Miller is an elite groundball pitcher, 93rd percentile with a strong strikeout rate, 27%, that can limit the power of the Dodgers lineup. 

Rangers vs. Orioles Prediction and Pick

Pick: Orioles (-155)

The Rangers issues against lefty pitching is well documented, 20th in OPS against southpaws. However, this month as a whole has been trying for the defending World Series champs, as the team limps in batting .227 as a unit in June. 

I’ll grab the Orioles at a reasonable price tag.

Tigers vs. Angels Prediction and Pick

Pick: Angels (+105)

The Tigers continue to be overpriced due to a strong pitching staff, but the run support simply isn’t there. Detroit is hitting .213 as a unit this month, and can’t cover this price tag against a better lineup on the road. 

Twins vs. Mariners Prediction and Pick

Pick: Twins (-125)

Twins’ starter Pablo Lopez continues to erase a slow start to the season, and his underlying metrics make him a worthwhile bet against a Mariners team that is only hitting .210 in the month of June, the lowest in the big leagues. 

Lopez has been a victim of poor variance, his 3.27 xERA is far lower than his 5.11 ERA with an elite strikeout rate of 27%. 

I’m counting on the Twins’ starter to roll through the overrated Seattle lineup. 

Juventus have decided to part ways with head coach Igor Tudor, ending their seven-month journey together in which he guided the club to a top-four Serie A finish and Champions League qualification. But after an eight-game winless run and mounting pressure, the club have acted decisively by appointing Juventus Next Gen coach Massimo Brambilla as a stopgap while directors probe short-term fixes and long-term replacements to steady a wounded team.

• Juventus sack head coach Igor Tudor

  Juventus confirmed the sacking of head coach Tudor on Monday after an alarming eight-game winless run that leaves the club languishing outside the Champions League places. The decision was driven by the team’s ongoing struggles in front of goal and the sense that Tudor’s ideas had failed to take hold. The 46-year-old, who joined Juventus in March, departs just months after signing a contract extension until 2027.

  Juventus went to the Stadio Olimpico aiming for a response but instead suffered a 1-0 loss to Lazio that underlined a wider crisis. The Bianconeri have now failed to score in four consecutive games and are eight matches without a win. The attack has dried up and despite deploying two strikers at times, the final third has been blunt, chances have been wasted and defensive lapses punished. Como’s earlier surprise win and the subsequent run of draws and defeats revealed structural problems rather than one-off bad luck.

  After the final whistle on Sunday, tensions spilled over in Turin and inside the club the decision was taken: Tudor would be relieved. Before the announcement, the Croatian faced the media and addressed his players’ responsibility and morale, offering a mixture of realism and defiance. He insisted the squad must stay united and work harder to fix their mistakes which could be a message aimed at keeping dressing-room cohesion even as the board prepared a managerial change.

  "Juventus FC announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as head coach of the Men's First Team, along with his staff consisting of Ivan Javorcic, Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci," a statement read.

  "The Club thanks Igor Tudor and his entire staff for their professionalism and dedication over the past few months and wishes them all the best for their future careers.
  "

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  Tudor’s brief but eventful reign in Italy

  Tudor’s tenure began with promise. Appointed in March 2025 to replace Thiago Motta, he was tasked with stabilising Juventus and leading them back into the top four, a goal he achieved, securing Champions League qualification and earning a two-year extension until 2027. His early record spoke volumes with five wins, three draws, one defeat in nine Serie A matches.

  Under Tudor, Juventus displayed renewed tactical discipline and defensive stability. He reintroduced aggression and compact pressing, while young stars like Kenan Yildiz flourished under his guidance. “We feel terrible, but we need to stick together and pull through,” Tudor had said after the 1-0 defeat to Lazio. “Everyone is responsible — we’ll play again in two days, and with a win we can get going again.”

  But the momentum evaporated quickly. Juve have now gone four matches without a goal and eight without a win, a sequence that saw them crash out of domestic rhythm and stall in Europe. Their last victory came in mid-September with a thrilling 4-3 win over Inter, but since then, their attack has dried up. Even Tudor admitted after the Lazio defeat:

  “Today we tried with two strikers, we were there and had chances, but we’re definitely missing something. When you get to the final 20 meters, someone has to score, otherwise you get punished.”

  The loss to Lazio was the tipping point. Fans grew restless, and internal discussions intensified as the gap widened between Tudor’s tactical stubbornness and the club’s evolving vision under incoming CEO Damien Comolli.

• Who could be Juventus’ next manager?

  With Brambilla appointed only as a temporary solution, Juventus have already begun evaluating long-term candidates. According to multiple reports, Roberto Mancini, Luciano Spalletti and Raffaele Palladino top the list.

  Mancini, recently departed from Saudi Arabia, brings experience and composure, with a track record that includes a Premier League title, three Serie A crowns and the Euro 2020 triumph with Italy. His structured yet flexible style appeals to Juventus’ management, who seek stability and tactical maturity.

  Spalletti, the architect of Napoli’s 2023 Scudetto, represents another high-profile choice. Known for fluid football and nurturing young talent, his methods align closely with Comolli’s long-term vision for Juventus with a dynamic, high-tempo side built around emerging stars like Yildiz and Jonathan David.

  Palladino, though less experienced, has admirers within the club for his progressive ideas and his success with Monza and Fiorentina. From abroad, names such as Edin Terzic and Marco Rose have also surfaced, both renowned for their modern tactical identities and youth development credentials.

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  Brambilla steps in to begin Juve's new chapter

  In the wake of Tudor’s dismissal, Brambilla steps up from Juventus Next Gen with the task of steadying a side short on confidence and cohesion. This is not unfamiliar territory for the 51-year-old coach, who has earned respect within the club for his tactical clarity, calm temperament, and commitment to developing young talent.

  Brambilla first managed Juventus Next Gen between 2022 and mid-2024, leading them to the Coppa Italia Serie C final and the Serie C play-offs, where they achieved their best-ever league finish clinching the seventh spot. After briefly departing, he returned to the setup in November 2024, taking charge of a struggling side that had won just once in 14 matches. Within months, Brambilla revitalised the squad, steering them clear of relegation danger and back into the play-off zone. His success in nurturing players like Dean Huijsen and Yildiz showcased his ability to blend youth with a structured, attacking philosophy.

  That same progressive mindset now gives Juventus hope. Brambilla favours constructive, possession-based football, encouraging vertical play and intelligent pressing – an approach that contrasts Tudor’s rigid structure. As Juventus prepares for a demanding run, starting with Udinese, then Cremonese away, and Sporting CP in the Champions League, Brambilla’s interim spell doubles as an audition. If he can inspire a response from this underperforming squad, the hierarchy may be tempted to extend his stewardship.

Everton have room for manoeuvre in the transfer market and could use their newfound stability to their advantage in pursuit of a Premier League star who has had a glittering career, according to a report.

Everton set to freshen up in attacking areas

With Beto emerging as the main force behind Everton’s climb up the table under David Moyes, there is plenty of work to be done in the window as the Toffees go about restructuring across their front four positions.

Jack Harrison and Armando Broja were among several loanees to depart following the conclusion of their loan spells. Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin appears destined to follow by leaving the club once his contract expires.

After missing out on Liam Delap to Chelsea, plenty of other contenders to add another option through the middle have begun to crop up amid Everton’s move to the newly-named Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Villarreal star Thierno Barry is on Moyes’ radar this summer and has a release clause of £34 million inserted into his current agreement at the La Liga outfit.

In addition, Fenerbache forward Oguz Adyin is being tracked by Everton and is capable of playing on either flank or through the middle, indicating that finding versatility may be the order of the day for the Friedkin Group.

Everton enter race to sign England full-back who can play on both flanks

He could be a brilliant addition for David Moyes.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 7, 2025

Sourcing a reliable stream of goals is one thing, though many would argue that despite the Toffees being an extremely tough nut to crack, a lack of creativity was their undoing last term.

Seeking to negate a common theme of recent years, Everton have now received encouragement in pursuit of a solution to that problem.

Everton could sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City

According to Graeme Bailey in conversation with Everton News, Everton could have a plausible chance of signing Jack Grealish from Manchester City on a loan basis with an option to buy as long as they can find a way to foot part of his £300,000 per week wages.

He explained: “Grealish is the highest paid English player in the Premier League – over £300,000-a-week – what would and could Everton afford, maybe half at best – but who covers the rest.

“City know they will need to cover some wages, so it is not impossible – indeed, a loan with an option makes things plausible and the chance to stay in the North West, I wouldn’t rule Everton out. They are still in the market for a Richarlison, so imagine him and Grealish heading into the new stadium – would raise a few eyebrows for sure.”

Everton aren’t the only club circling to sign the Three Lions international, who has previously been labelled “excellent” by Paul Dickov.

Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa all keen on Grealish if the price is right, indicating that he still has more to give at the elite level.

Even in a disappointing campaign from a personal standpoint, the 29-year-old created 24 chances on Premier League duty as the Citizens claimed a place in next season’s Champions League.

Needing more minutes to stake a claim for England’s 2026 World Cup squad, Everton could be the ideal destination due to their dearth of options out wide.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that an “awesome” Sheffield United could depart alongside Gustavo Hamer in the summer transfer window.

Hamer has been linked with Sheffield United exit

The Blades suffered Championship playoff final heartbreak on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Sunderland in the dying seconds at Wembley, bringing an end to an ultimately disappointing season.

Hamer has been sensational for United this season, scoring 10 goals and registering eight assists in the league, not to mention winning the Championship Player of the Year award, highlighting what a magnificent individual campaign he enjoyed.

Sadly, the Blades now face a real battle to retain the services of the 27-year-old, who may want to test himself in the Premier League or another top division moving forward, rather than staying put in the Championship for another year. Everton have already been linked with a move for Hamer earlier this month, whereas Leeds United tried to sign him last summer.

Hamer may be far from the only United player to move on to pastures new, however, with plenty of other heroes potentially wanting a new challenge after the misery of Saturday and failure to get back into the top flight. Now, a worrying update has emerged regarding one such figure.

Sheffield United could also lose "awesome" star

Speaking to EFL Analysis, Bailey said that Sheffield United could also lose Vinicius Souza this summer, ahead of a potential exodus:

“I don’t see how they can hang onto their Brazilian stars, though. Gustavo Hamer ran the final before going off injured, which is a very strange repeat of what happened to him whilst with Coventry City. The other is Vinicius Souza – a huge talent, quite literally – the giant Brazilian has been awesome for United but there are a host of clubs looking at him. I also think their Bosnian star Anel Ahmedhodzic is unlikely to want another Championship season.”

Souza is another key man for United, so losing him would be a major setback, following a season that has seen the 25-year-old shine at the base of Chris Wilder’s midfield.

The Brazilian averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles per game across 38 Championship appearances, as well as two clearances per match, while Jimmy from Blades Ramble has hailed his performances, admitting he has proven him wrong:

“I have to hold my hands up because I did not think there was a player in there and one performance does not make an absolute superstar, but everything he’s showing at the minute is showing that he can definitely cut it at this level. It was one of the most impressive performances on Friday night, and he won Player of the Match. If we can keep hold of him, I think we’ll do really well.”

3 amazing defenders Sheffield United can sign to replace Robinson in the PL

Sheffield United could look to axe Jack Robinson with the experienced defender’s contract nearly up.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 20, 2025

United must do all they can to convince Souza to remain at the club and try his luck again this season, but in truth, it is easy to see him joining Hamer out of the Bramall Lane exit door.

Looking to rebuild an ageing midfield, Manchester City have now reportedly made contact to sign a Serie A star with sporting director Hugo Viana hoping to secure his signature this summer.

Man City set to kick-start summer rebuild

The Premier League already received a glimpse of what Manchester City’s rebuild may look like in the January transfer window when the Citizens welcomed the likes of Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov. Now, six months on, the Manchester club could seriously step things up. With a Kevin de Bruyne-shaped hole to fill, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast.

Names such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz have both been mentioned, with a move for the former looking particularly likely to take place when the summer arrives. Following an excellent season at Nottingham Forest, the midfield star has earned the attraction of those at The Etihad, who are primed to make their move in the coming months.

If there were any doubts that Manchester City needed a rebuild, then their recent 0-0 draw against relegated Southampton should have acted as a timely reminder. The Saints were on course to match Derby County’s record low points tally in the Premier League before the most unexpected point saw them avoid embarrassment.

After a frustrating afternoon, City boss Pep Guardiola went against Ruben Dias’ criticism of Southampton’s defensive approach, telling reporters: “They can do whatever they want.

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By
Ben Gray

May 13, 2025

“For many years here, we faced teams in different approaches, and they decided they have to play. It’s on us to break them. In those terms, many times teams have played five in the back or six and the striker has gone on our holding midfielder and there’s no space, it’s difficult.

“You have to break it, and we had the chances. When you review the chances for nothing, we could not score and it happened. Now we prepare the [FA Cup] final and now it is next time and Fulham.”

Man City open talks to sign Reijnders

Away from their frustration on the pitch, meanwhile, the Citizens have pushed on with their summer rebuild. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Manchester City have now made contact to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and whilst there is yet to be a formal offer, talks have begun and Viana is hoping to get a deal done this summer.

It would certainly be a statement opening for the new sporting director to sign such a talent, especially if Manchester City then go on and rebuild their midfield even further with the likes of Gibbs-White and Wirtz. In three swift moves, Guardiola’s side could be back to their dominant best.

Once dubbed an “immense” signing for AC Milan by U23 scout Antonio Mango, all signs are pointing towards Reijnders becoming equally impressive if he decides to join Manchester City this summer. In a summer of change at The Etihad, the Dutchman could be the start of a much-needed midfield rebuild.

After earning promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking, Birmingham City reportedly mean business ahead of what will be a crucial summer transfer window.

Birmingham emphatically return to the Championship

When the Blues were in a position to spend as much as £20m to sign Jay Stansfield last summer, promotion became a must for all involved at St Andrew’s. And to their credit, promotion is exactly what came next. The Blues dominantly raced to the top of the tree, breaking the League One points record by reaching the 108 mark with one more game left to play.

Expressing his delight after breaking such a record, manager Chris Davies told reporters: “For all the people that thought it was going to be easy for Birmingham, you can never take away from this group of players what they’ve done.

“They’ve achieved history and I’ve said to them I don’t think that’ll ever be beaten. To beat Wolves’ record and get 105 points in a season is an incredible achievement. Full credit to everyone, players and staff for what they’ve done. They’ve given so much and they deserve to have an occasion like this.”

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They’re not alone, though.

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By
Charlie Smith

Apr 11, 2025

Now, with the Championship awaiting, Birmingham will be looking to take things to another level under the ownership of Tom Wagner, which could yet result in more than just survival next season.

The Birmingham chairman took the opportunity to promise those at St Andrew’s that this is just the start of the history created during his tenure, telling fans amid the Blues’ recent title celebrations: “I just want to say a big thank you to all of the supporters.

“We don’t forget that this is your club and it’s an honour to be a Blue. I promise you that this is not the best day that we will enjoy together. It’s not even close.”

Exciting Birmingham transfer plan emerges

According to Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, Birmingham are likely to be targeting similar players to Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town this summer, despite only just earning promotion from League One.

It would be a major statement of intent to compete with the three relegated Premier League sides, but as they showed when they splashed out to sign Stansfield last summer, Birmingham certainly have the resources.

Just who arrives is the big question, as rumours begin to emerge. A move to St Andrew’s is no longer one which comes with the fear of relegation – it’s one which should come with excitement over a project that is still in its early days yet already proving to be a success, perhaps even following the tracks of Ipswich last term.

Alongside Wrexham, Birmingham could shake things up in the summer transfer window in the Championship. In previous campaigns, it’s been the relegated sides at the forefront of the big moves, but under rich ownerships, the two promoted teams are reportedly likely to go head-to-head with those at the very top of England’s second tier.

An “outstanding” defender who could be ideal for Arne Slot is now high on Liverpool’s transfer radar, according to a report.

Reds set sights on new left-back

Andy Robertson has been a fantastic servant to the Reds, with the Scottish left-back playing a key role in the Premier League title triumph this season, but it appears as though a long-term replacement could be brought in this summer.

Milos Kerkez is among the main targets, given the Hungarian’s impressive performances for AFC Bournemouth this season, while Slot’s side are also in the race for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Ait-Nouri as a potential alternative.

There will be competition for Kerkez’s signature, however, with Manchester City also keen on the left-back, which means a list of alternative options is being compiled, and a report has now revealed a new target is now on the shortlist.

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

May 3, 2025

According to Anfield Watch, Club Brugge defender Maxim De Cuyper is now high on Liverpool’s transfer radar ahead of the summer transfer window, having scouted the left-back over the course of the last 12 months.

Dubbed a dream target, the Reds and FSG seemingly view De Cuyper as an ideal alternative to Kerkez, having impressed in the Champions League this season, most notably catching the eye by covering the second-most distance for Brugge in the competition.

Given that players in a Slot system need to work hard off the ball, the 24-year-old could be the perfect addition to the squad, and the fact that he could be available for £21m is also attractive, with Kerkez likely to cost far more.

Not only that, but the Brugge defender is also versatile and able to play at right-back, which also makes him appealing, given that Trent Alexander-Arnold is in line to leave this summer.

"Outstanding" De Cuyper impressing in Belgium

The full-back is yet to prove himself in a major league, but he has certainly caught the eye with his performances in Belgium this season, having received high praise from scout Ben Mattinson, who believes he is now ready to make the move to a bigger club.

Mattinson highlights the Belgian’s attacking capabilities, and he has flourished going forward over the past year, ranking in a high percentile across a number of key metrics.

De Cuyper has proven he could be ready to make the step-up to a top club this summer, although it may be wise for Kerkez to remain the top target, given that the Bournemouth defender has already proven himself at Premier League level.

Today is the day that Leeds United could officially secure their promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking in the Championship.

The Whites play host to Stoke City at Elland Road in a 3 pm kick-off this afternoon, knowing that if they win and Sheffield United fail to beat Burnley in their 5:30 pm kick-off, they will be promoted.

Despite beating Oxford United 1-0 last time out in the Championship, Daniel Farke could look to make some changes to his starting line-up to keep the team fresh, after only two days of recovery, and Dan James is a star who should come back in.

Why Dan James should start for Leeds

The Wales international missed the 2-1 win over Preston North End with an injury and returned to play a part off the bench in the clash with Oxford on Friday.

After his cameo at the Kassam, James should now be put back into the starting line-up against Stoke this afternoon, just days after he was named as one of the finalists in the race to win the Championship Player of the Season award.

The former Manchester United winger has scored 12 goals, created 16 ‘big chances’, and delivered nine assists in 30 starts in the second tier this term, which shows that he has made a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

Leeds know that today could be the day that they seal promotion, if they beat Stoke, and they need their best players on the pitch in order to have the best chance of success.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Farke must bring the influential star back into the team by ruthlessly ditching Brenden Aaronson from the side that started on Friday.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international played 89 minutes against Oxford and failed to offer much in front of goal, as he missed one ‘big chance’, lost possession 15 times, and failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

Aaronson was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment back in February, and that assessment still rings true, as it was his 12th game without a goal or an assist in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.

The £45k-per-week flop has produced two goals and zero assists in 19 matches in 2025, with one of those goals coming in the 7-0 win over Cardiff, which illustrates how ineffective he has been in the final third.

As you can see in the table above, Wilfried Gnonto has been more effective as a finisher whilst also providing more creativity despite starting 17 fewer games than the American dud.

This suggests that Farke should keep the Italy U21 international in the team, moving him into the number ten role, and drop Aaronson from the side in order to start James on the right wing.

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By
Dan Emery

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This would mean that Leeds would have an attacking midfield trident of James, Gnonto, and Manor Solomon behind either Joel Piroe or Patrick Bamford in the centre-forward position.