The four midfielders are yet to make their mark in U.S. colors, but all have serious upside that could help Pochettino's World Cup plans
When Mauricio Pochettino looks at his player pool, he has plenty of questions. The USMNT are strong in one or two areas – winger, central midfield – but wide open in others. Recent losses to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League proved that, if nothing else, there is ample of room for improvement in this team.
An optimist might say this is a good thing, especially given that there are some intriguing options to work with.
And perhaps the most perplexing spot is the midfield. In Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah, Pochettino has three established internationals who all play regularly for top European clubs. They were excellent at the 2022 World Cup, but have barely featured together at full fitness since. Three years on from thoroughly outplaying an England midfield, that trio can't necessarily be counted on.
Of course, absence breeds opportunity, especially in international football. And the U.S. does have some intriguing backups. Johnny Cardoso, Tanner Tessmann, Aidan Morris and Gianluca Busio have a combined 52 national team appearances. None of the three have managed to hold down an extended run in the squad.
But they have shown, albeit in glimpses, that they could be in line for more minutes with this summer's Gold Cup and next year's World Cup on the horizon. And if Pochettino is to change his lineup – or has to shift things around due to injury – each could have a shot with the first team.
GOAL looks at the pros and cons of each, and asks who might be the first to break into the XI.
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Johnny Cardoso: Up next?
Perhaps the most obvious candidate for the XI, Cardoso could yet be the kind of defensive midfielder that national teams crave. Tall, strong, and smart on the ball, he is everything that a modern No. 6 should be. Things haven't quite panned out to date – Cardoso stalling through the 2023-24 season as Betis struggled.
This campaign, though, looks different. After an unstaeady start to the season, he has settled in of late. A fine showing – including a well-taken header – against Real Madrid on March 1 kicked things off. More recently, he was named Man of the Match in the derby against Sevilla, with Betis winning that fabled fixture for the first time in seven years.
He's a bit of a strange player, though. Cardoso's defensive numbers are elite, and he's a real expert at holding down the base of midfield while a second central player roams. What he doesn't do particularly well – which might certainly hold him back from cracking the XI – is progress the ball forward.
His passing numbers, in fact, are pretty dismal. He ranks in the 56th percentile among center midfielders in pass completion percentage, 11th in progressive passes, and 23rd in through balls. Those numbers would seem to run counter to Pochettino's preferred system of quick transitions.
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Tanner Tessmann: Defensive enforcer
Tessmann is a remarkably similar profile of player to Cardoso. Both are physically imposing defensive midfielders. Both are 6-0 or taller. Both play as part of a double pivot – and function in the sitting role while a more active midfielder buzzes around them. Tessmann, though, is far more limited, a specialist rather than intriguing plug-and-play option.
He may have established himself as a regular for Lyon, but Tessmann is still a defensive midfielder who is very good at defending – and not much else. In open spaces, when snuffing out counter attacks, he might some day be elite. He is fierce in a tackle, and smart enough on the ball to recycle possession.
But he struggles when the game speeds up, and has to play under pressure. He doesn't have the instinctive "La pausa" – reading of the game – that most top quality defensive midfielders do.
For the USMNT, that makes him problematic. Pochettino has experimented with him in a number of different roles, either as a defensive or box-to-box presence. And he has never looked quite at home in either. When the game slows down, he can't pick an incisive pass. When it speeds up, he looks a bit overwhelmed.
But he might yet have a role to play. He could be vital, in fact, if the USMNT need to shut games down. Throwing an extra center back on for defensive solidity isn't as cool as it used to be – coaches instead typically opting to pack their midfield and constrict spaces. Tessmann would seem to be ideal for such a role.
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Gianluca Busio: The outside man
Busio, for his part, is a more attack-minded player who is comfortable higher up the pitch. An all-action type capable of playing all over the middle of the park, he is perhaps the most intriguing option of the bunch – who might be more reliable on a roster in a major tournament. For Venezia, he plays in the middle of a midfield trio, serving as the all-action presence while the two beside him tend to function in more defensive roles.
It's a difficult ask of the American. Busio's legs or fight cannot be questioned, but it's tricky to operate in such a role, especially given he plays in a 19th-place side who routinely have significantly less of the ball than their opponent. Venezia, in fact, are 18th in Serie A in ball possession, and 19th in goals per 90 minutes.
In effect, Busio is charged with carrying a massive load in an outmatched team. There are, of course, many examples of athletes standing out among a poor roster. But Busio's potential feels slightly untapped – especially because he has seldom been given an opportunity to show what he might be able to do in a high-level team that has the ball more.
His MLS career, from 2018-2021, showed glimpses of what he might be. He was a classy presence for Sporting KC, and entrusted with a primary role in a competitive side. Perhaps Venezia was the wrong move for a player of his ilk. But Pochettino has already given him a look. There may yet be more to come going forward.
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Aidan Morris: Jack of all trades
Morris, too, might be able to offer something. The least experienced of the quartet, he could certainly provide in a pinch. The former Columbus Crew midfielder earned a move to Middlesborough after establishing himself as a weaving presence in the middle of the park in MLS.
He is, in many ways, more similar to McKennie than Adams, a player who performs at a solid level in multiple areas of the game without particularly standing out anywhere. He will certainly have been battle-hardened by the English Championship – and could be a part of the Gold Cup roster.
He impressed in the dead rubber fixture against Canada last September, but is yet to make his mark under the new manager. Consider him more of an emergency option than man knocking on the door.
Veteran England seamer will continue in white-ball formats
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2022
Katherine Brunt took a five-wicket haul in her final Test•Getty Images
Katherine Brunt, England Women’s leading international wicket-taker, has announced her retirement from Test cricket. She will continue to be available for selection in the limited-overs formats.Brunt made her Test debut in 2004, and a year later was named player of the match after taking nine wickets and scoring a half-century as England won the Ashes for the first time in 42 years. She claimed a five-for in her last appearance, against Australia in Canberra over the winter, and retires with 51 wickets in the format – the ninth-highest of all time.Her decision means that Brunt will not be involved when England play South Africa at Taunton in the one-off Test – their first four-day encounter since 2003 – starting on June 27.Related
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“I feel like as an athlete there is never an obvious time to step away from doing the thing that you love,” Brunt said.”But over the past two years thoughts of retirement have surfaced more and more, so I’ve decided to make a smart decision rather than an emotional one. Test cricket is my absolute passion and to retire from this format was truly a heart-breaking choice to make, but it allows me to prioritise white-ball cricket.”I know that I leave it in a great place, the bowlers coming through are ready and they’re just itching to be let loose. And with the South Africa game around the corner, I’m very much looking forward to watching them from the best seat in the house.”Brunt, 36, played only 14 Test across an 18-year career, largely due to a dearth of fixtures in the longest format. She never bettered her performance at Worcester in 2005, but revived memories of those glories with 8 for 84 as England drew a thrilling Test in the winter’s Ashes.
Jonathan Finch, director of England Women’s cricket, said: “Katherine’s passion and commitment was never more evident than when she played Test cricket for England and you only need to watch the last Ashes Test to see her desire, her heart and her undoubted ability with the red ball in hand.”She has given everything for England Women in Test cricket and we are fully supportive of her decision to focus on white-ball cricket on the international stage. Katherine can leave the red ball behind knowing she is a true legend in that form of the game and that she has set standards that future generations can only aspire to.”As well as facing South Africa and India in bilateral white-ball series this summer, England will also be looking to challenge for T20 gold at the Commonwealth Games.Brunt is England Women’s leading ODI wicket-taker, and second only to Anya Shrubsole, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, in T20Is. Both players will be involved in the Hundred, the second season of which begins after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games.
West Ham United chiefs are said to be enamoured by an attacking player who is on manager Julen Lopetegui’s personal radar, with the January transfer window looming and technical director Tim Steidten under pressure to deliver.
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Claret & Hugh state that the German is facing continuous scrutiny inside the club, and his signing of Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund has been particularly criticised, following a start to life at West Ham overshadowed by injury.
There are also some doubts surrounding Brazilian starlet Luis Guilherme amid his struggle to make a real impact thus far, with Steidten’s overall decisions and conduct failing to pay any real dividends as we fast approach the January transfer window – where he will be tested yet again.
West Ham’s most recent results
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#19
21/12/2024
Brighton (H)
Premier League
1-1 draw
#18
16/12/2024
Bournemouth (A)
Premier League
1-1 draw
#17
09/12/2024
Wolves (H)
Premier League
2-1 win
#16
03/12/2024
Leicester City (A)
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3-1 loss
#15
30/11/2024
Arsenal (H)
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5-2 loss
#14
26/11/2024
Newcastle United (A)
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2-0 win
#13
09/11/2024
Everton (H)
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0-0 draw
#12
02/11/2024
Nottingham Forest (A)
Premier League
3-0 loss
#11
27/10/2024
Man United (H)
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2-1 win
#10
19/10/2024
Tottenham (A)
Premier League
4-1 loss
West Ham are prioritising the addition of a top-class centre-forward next month, with the likes of Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson on Steidten’s transfer agenda, but it is clear the Hammers need some inspiration from somewhere as they look to potentially climb up the table and challenge for a European spot.
Lopetegui’s side could also look to bring in another attacking midfield player, and one player who’s been linked in that regard is Real Sociedad playmaker Brais Mendez.
Real Sociedad midfielder Brais Mendez
The Spaniard, who’s racked up six goal contributions across all competitions so far this season (three goals, three assists), could leave Sociedad for around £49 million – which is the La Liga side’s reported asking price.
West Ham chiefs impressed by Real Sociedad star Brais Mendez
That is according to CaughtOffside, who also write that West Ham chiefs have been “left purring” over Mendez’s ability.
They have apparently ran the rule over him in recent matches against Leganes, Las Palmas and Celta Vigo, and the club like what they see. Lopetegui, meanwhile, is believed to personally want the 27-year-old, who also has four caps for Spain at international level.
Brais Mendez for Real Sociedad
Other media sources have reported that Lopetegui has personally requested the signing of Mendez for West Ham, so this could be one to keep an eye on as we quickly move towards the January window’s opening.
While CO also claim that Sociedad aren’t particularly keen on parting company with Mendez, who can also play as a defensive midfielder when required, the price tag is set and Lopetegui “could be saved from the sack” if they’re able to beat Aston Villa to his signature.
This Premier League season has been Ipswich Town’s first in 22 years, and to say it’s been tough so far would be an understatement.
Kieran McKenna’s side have already played Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in their first 14 games, and while they’re down in the relegation zone, they’ve looked better than people were expecting.
Much of their success has come thanks to the signings made over the summer, but not everyone bought in over the window has been a roaring success in Suffolk.
In fact, one addition, who the manager was particularly excited about, has been dreadfully underwhelming and should be axed from the team for some time.
Ipswich's summer success
So, starting with the positives, and while there have been several successes from the summer arrivals, the most obvious is Liam Delap.
The young striker joined the club from Manchester City for around £20m, and while he was a relative unknown then, he isn’t now, as several clubs from the ‘big six’ have supposedly taken interest following his impressive return of six goals and one assist in 15 games.
He’s not been the only new arrival to have found the back of the net, though, as Irish international Sammie Szmodics appears to have found his feet at Portman Road following his £11m move from Blackburn Rovers.
He hasn’t been quite as prolific as the former City man, but given that he’s played out on the left, his haul of three goals in 13 games isn’t too bad.
Finally, while he was signed on loan last year, Omari Hutchinson made his move to East Anglia permanent in the summer, and while he endured a slow start to the campaign, he once again looks like one of the best players in the team.
He was sensational in the win against Spurs and then scored a brilliant goal to secure a point at home against Manchester United. However, while all three of these signings have made the team better, the same cannot be said of another wide player signed from a Championship giant.
The Ipswich player who must be axed
So, with most of the significant summer signings already covered, it should be no surprise that Jack Clarke is the one we are talking about.
Ipswich spent £15m plus add-ons to sign him from Sunderland in the summer, and considering he produced 44 goal involvements in 92 games across the last two seasons, it was easy to understand the move.
In fact, the club were so pleased with the additions that when speaking to the press, McKenna said of the York-born ace that he’d prove to be a “terrific asset” for the Tractor Boys.
Appearances
50
42
Goals
11
15
Assists
14
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.50
0.45
Unfortunately, that has not proven to be the case so far this season, and after being given another chance to start in the game against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night and failing to reach the required level, the manager simply must axe him from the starting lineup.
It might sound harsh, but it’s fair, and it may well be the best thing for the 24-year-old, as his display against the Eagles did not impress the watching press, with the East Anglian Daily Times’ Alex Jones giving him just a 4/10 at full-time.
In all, the former Sunderland star has only been able to muster a single assist in his 13 appearances this season, which is a far cry from his form in the northeast and certainly not enough to warrant a start ahead of Szmodics tomorrow afternoon.
Ultimately, Clarke is not a bad player, but he’s in undeniably poor form at the moment, and with every game being a must-win for Ipswich, McKenna would be doing him and the team a favour by taking him out of the firing line for a while.
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Afghanistan showed there’s not much between the two teams, but they will want their batters to kick on from starts in what is a must-win game for them
Mohammad Isam24-Feb-2022Big Picture Chattogram was still talking about Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Afif Hossain on the morning after their 174-run seventh-wicket stand that turned Bangladesh’s lost cause into a 1-0 lead in the ODI series against Afghanistan. Ahead of the second ODI on Friday, the excitement levels have gone up a notch. The first ODI showed there is very little between the two sides, and that is good news for fans looking for an enticing contest.Afghanistan must have wondered what hit them. They reduced Bangladesh to 45 for 6, without breaking much of a sweat. Left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi blazed through some of the best batters, using subtle swing and seam variations. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman also took a wicket each, but thereafter, despite their accuracy, they couldn’t break through Afif and Miraz.Part of their problem was considerable dew after sunset, but also how Afif and Miraz played quite sensibly against their best bowlers and attacked the others. Yamin Ahmadzai and Gulbadin Naib will need to bowl better in game two.Related
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There will also be a lot more focus on the Afghanistan batters who didn’t convert starts. Only Najibullah Zadran batted deep. They will need more from their batters in what is a must-win game for them.The home side have even more to worry about, particularly their batting. It remains to be seen how debutant Yasir Ali reacts to his first-match duck. The senior batters have seen and done it all, so they can be expected to bounce back. Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim had long net sessions during an optional training session on Thursday.Form guide Bangladesh: WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)Afghanistan: LWWWWIn the spotlight Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled a mean first spell to sink Bangladesh’s top and middle-order in the first ODI. His first spell of 5-1-19-4 included some smart bowling. He got the ball to move just enough to take the edge or skirt away from the bat. Someone who sees Mitchell Starc, Zaheer Khan and Mohammad Amir as his idols, Farooqi has the makings of a regular in the Afghanistan side.It took Afif Hossain some time to get his first big knock in international cricket but for the Bangladesh team, it came at the right time. Afif showed in the first ODI that he has plenty of options while batting, but also knows how to choose wisely. After a number of seasons in domestic cricket where he played very well, this unbeaten 93 was quite the breakthrough knock.Team news Bangladesh are unlikely to break a winning combination, despite the collapse.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Litton Das, 2 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Yasir Ali, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanAfghanistan too may not change their XI, given that most of their batters got starts while their bowlers did a fair job until Afif and Miraz took over.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Gulbadin Naib, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Yamin Ahmadzai, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiPitch and conditions Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo described the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury pitch from the first ODI as good one for batting. But some balls did keep a bit low.The weather remains fair in Chattogram.Stats and trivia Bangladesh have lost only two of their last 16 ODIs played at home. When he took Rashid Khan’s wicket in the first ODI, Shakib Al Hasan became the third bowler after Muthiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne to take 100 wickets, across formats, at two or more venues. Muralidaran is the clear leader in this pack, with 100-plus wickets at four venues, but Shakib’s 221 wickets at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka is the most by any bowler at a particular venue. Quotes “We have to play better cricket tomorrow than we did yesterday. We bowled 13 wides yesterday. We dropped a catch. We were 45 for 6. We need a massive improvement on yesterday’s performance in every department.”
Dhaka needed 11 off the final over, and Shuvagata Hom struck successive sixes off Thisara Perera to seal the chase
Mohammad Isam09-Feb-2022How the match played out Shuvagata Hom struck two sixes in the last over to drag Minister Group Dhaka over the line against Khulna Tigers. Dhaka needed 11 runs off the final over bowled by Thisara Perera after Khaled Ahmed conceded just four in the penultimate over.But Hom, who was dismissed at a crucial stage against Chattogram Challengers on Tuesday, slammed Perera for a straight six before pounding the ball over extra cover much to his team-mates’ delight, thus finishing with an unbeaten nine-ball 18 including the two sixes. Eventually, Khulna’s 129 would not prove to be enough.Big hit Dhaka had removed half the Khulna side in the first seven overs. It started with Soumya Sarkar offering a catch to deep square leg off Rubel Hossain. And after a mix-up with Jaker Ali resulted in a run-out, Andre Fletcher holed out at cover off Arafat Sunny, who also removed Yasir Ali with a beautiful arm-ball off the very next delivery.But it was only when Sikandar Raza came to the crease that Khulna got back on track. Raza stopped the slide by putting together mini partnerships with all three of Mahedi Hasan, Perera and Ruyel Mia. He struck the ball well through the leg side, picking up all but a four and a six each though the off side out of a total of five fours and four sixes, as he struck 64 off 50 balls.But Dhaka too never looked settled in the 130-run chase, slipping to 12 for 2 in the fourth over. Captain Mahmudullah and Jahurul Islam added 57 for the third wicket, before Ruyel, the left-arm quick making his BPL debut, clean bowled Jahurul for 30.That followed both Mahmudullah and Shamsur Rahman finding long-off off consecutive Perera deliveries – the last ball of the 16th over and the first of the 18th – leaving Hom and Azmatullah Omarzai, the young Afghanistan allrounder, with 24 required from the last 17 balls.Big miss Khulna’s top five departed cheaply – they were 32 for 5 in the seventh over – despite Mushfiqur Rahim deciding to bat first. Although Fletcher has looked in good form throughout the tournament and Soumya had begun to get some good form off late, they still fell for 6 and 1, respectively. Yasir and Mushfiqur, who have usually contributed when the top three has failed, also fell early. That left the remaining Khulna batters with too much to do.
James Anderson has called for English cricket to “redress the balance” between red- and white-ball formats, throwing his weight behind Joe Root’s demand for a “reset” in priorities.In the aftermath of England’s innings defeat in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, which saw Australia take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and retain the Ashes, Root implicitly criticised the standard of County Championship cricket and said that a third successive thrashing in an away Ashes series should prompt changes in England’s approach to developing Test cricketers.”It’s a big part of where the game is at in our country right now that the only place you can really learn [to play Test cricket] is in the hardest environment for what is quite a young batting group,” he said. “You look back at 2015 and the reset that happened in white-ball cricket, and maybe that’s something that needs to be happening in our red-ball game as well.”Anderson, speaking to reporters at England’s optional training session in Melbourne on Thursday following another round of PCR tests, echoed Root’s comments and admitted that England’s recent performances had been “inconsistent”.Related
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“What I will say is, I think that there has been a big push with white-ball cricket since the 2015 World Cup,” Anderson said. “So I just would like to think that maybe the balance between red- and white-ball cricket is there, going forward. At the minute, it’s tipped slightly towards white-ball, and it has been for the last few years.”If you look at our performances in Test cricket over the last few years, they’ve been pretty inconsistent. So, from that point of view we can hopefully just redress that balance a little bit.”The standard of the county game has come under fire in the early stages of the inquest into England’s defeat but Anderson denied that it had dropped since his first-class debut in 2002. However, having taken 41 first-class wickets at 8.87 for Lancashire since the start of 2019, he suggested that the standard of pitches has dropped in recent years.Anderson has taken 41 first-class wickets for Lancashire at 8.87 across the last three years•Getty Images
“I don’t think [the standard has dropped],” he said. “There’s a bit more cricket now, I guess. There are more competitions to think about.”I think that the one thing for me is that potentially the wickets aren’t as good as they used to be. You see a lot more result pitches now in county cricket. So perhaps, with the bigger picture, that’s something we can think about in the future.”Anderson also gave Root his backing to continue as captain and said that England would need to “block out what’s happening off the field” in the final two Tests, with seven members of the wider touring party testing positive for Covid-19 in recent days.”Everyone thinks so highly of him [Root],” he said. “Not just as a bloke but as a cricketer, and as a captain. So yes, hopefully he will continue.”We are just hoping it’s not spreading any further and we can make sure everyone is safe and able to travel to Sydney. We’re trying to control the spread as much as possible and use the safety protocols around the hotel.”It’s not ideal but it’s been that sort of tour. Something has been happening all the time. We have to restore some pride and try and compete – that’s our main focus as players. We have to block out what’s happening off the field and focus on the fourth and fifth Tests.”It can be difficult at times, especially for guys experiencing the Ashes for the first time who are not that experienced with Test cricket and touring. That’s where the more senior players come in, we have to try and rally round, make sure everyone is in a good place and a good headspace.”
One area of their squad that Manchester United looked to address in the 2024 summer transfer window was the midfield.
They made five summer signings, with the last one aiming to address some of the issues they had experienced in the centre of the park. Manuel Ugarte was the man brought into Old Trafford to try and solve the issues, joining from Paris Saint-Germain for upwards of £50.5m.
He joined Erik ten Hag’s existing midfield options including Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. The Dutchman also promoted Toby Collyer to the first team.
Mason Mount after Man United beat Fulham in the Premier League
However, the Red Devils might well look to bolster their midfield options again next summer and have recently been linked with someone to add quality to the middle of the park.
Man United target La Liga midfielder
The player in question here is Real Madrid and France international midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni. The 24-year-old midfielder was Casemiro’s replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu when the Brazilian left for Old Trafford, but he could now be joining the former Los Blancos man.
At least, that is according to a report from Spain, who suggest that the 36-time France international is ‘on the list’ of several Premier League clubs, with United believed to be one of the sides interested.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65836734
They will have to fend off big interest from arch-rivals Liverpool, as well as North London outfit Arsenal if they want to sign the former AS Monaco player, however. He could cost roughly the same price Madrid paid just over two years ago, £67m to be specific.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Why Tchouameni would be a good signing
There is no doubt that the 24-year-old is “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet,” as called by analyst Raj Chohan.
He has been a very important player under Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu and is one game away from a century of appearances, which he could bring up after the international break away to Celta Vigo.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described Tchouameni as a “machine” in the midfield, and that certainly rings true when considering his profile.
That is to say, Tchouameni is a superb duel winner thanks to his 6 foot 2 frame and long legs, which he can hook the ball away from an opponent with. The Frenchman is also wonderful in possession and has reams of technical quality which make him a superb ball-carrier and so effective at breaking opposition lines.
Whilst United signed Ugarte as the eventual replacement for Brazilian Casemiro, perhaps his replacement in Madrid could also be so in Manchester. When comparing United’s number 18 and the Real Madrid man statistically via FBref from the 2023/24 campaign, you can see that he beats the Brazilian in several areas.
From a defensive point of view, the Real Madrid number 14, ironically Casemiro’s old number, makes more interceptions per 90 minutes, with 1.27 compared to just 0.82 for the Brazilian. The France international also averages a better aerial duel win rate, with 68% compared to 65.4% for Casemiro.
On the ball, the 24-year-old is a better ball carrier and makes 1.27 progressive carries each game compared to just 0.55 for the United midfielder. He also looks after the ball better, with an average pass accuracy of 90.6%, whereas Casemiro ranks lower at just 81.8%.
You can also make a comparison between their ages. Age 32 years of age, Casemiro is very much on the decline now, as shown by the fact he has just 278 minutes to his name in the Premier League so far. At 24, Tchouameni has not even hit his prime, and could quite easily be in the United midfield for the next eight years at the top of his game.
The Frenchman also earns far less per week than the five-time Champions League winner. Casemiro is on £350k per week, the highest earner at Old Trafford, whereas the Real Madrid man earns just £200k per week, according to Capology, meaning United would save a fortune that way.
Should they manage to sign the Madrid star within the next 12 months or so, United could massively upgrade on Casemiro. Not only is he arguably a better player, but he is younger and on far less money, meaning it is a smart choice financially, too.
Perhaps the Frenchman will go on to be the next great midfielder for the Red Devils along with Ugarte, and help them return to their former glory.
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Thomas Tuchel has been linked with the Man Utd job again in recent days.
Palmeiras e Guarani se enfrentam neste domingo (05), às 16h, em Campinas, pela 12ª rodada do Campeonato Paulista. A partida terá transmissão do Paulistão Play (streaming), Premiere (pay-per-view) e tempo real do LANCE!. > Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2023 clicando aqui
O Verdão é o atual líder do Grupo D, com 27 pontos, e tem a melhor campanha do estadual.Em caso de vitória, a equipe comandada pelo técnico Abel Ferreira garante o mando de campo nas quartas de final diante do São Bernardo. Caso a equipe do ABC somepontos contra o Água Santa, o Alviverde disputará a próxima fase fora de casa.
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>Para não perder a liderança do grupo, Palmeiras segue preparação para enfrentar o Guarani pelo Paulistão
No último lugar no grupo B, com 13 pontos, o Guarani não consegue mais se classificar para a fase seguinte, mas também não corre risco de rebaixamento para a Série A2. O Bugre irá tentar surpreender o Palmeiraspara aumentar suas chances de estar na próxima Copa do Brasil.
GUARANI X PALMEIRAS CAMPEONATO PAULISTA – 12ª RODADA Data: sábado, 5 de março de 2023 Horário: 16h (de Brasília) Local: Estádio Brinco de Ouro, Campinas, Brasil Árbitro: Thiago Luis Scaracati Assistentes: Fabrini Bevilaqua Costa e Denis Matheus Afonso Ferreira VAR: Daiane Muniz dos Santos Onde assistir: Paulistão Play (streaming), Premiere (pay-per-view) e tempo real do LANCE!
Aston Villa took on European heavyweights Bayern Munich on Wednesday night and came out on top, continuing this impressive rise under Unai Emery, a rise that is now seeing one of their key players looked at by teams across Europe, according to a new report.
100% ground duels: 9/10 Aston Villa star was as key as Duran & Martinez
Aston Villa managed to pull off a fantastic Champions League win by toppling Bayern Munich 1-0.
ByKelan Sarson Oct 3, 2024 Aston Villa latest updates
The 1-0 victory over Bayern continues what has been another impressive start to a season for the Midlands side. Emery has got his team competing on multiple fronts, but it appears he still wants more, as they eye potential new recruits for 2025. The Villans have already been linked with moves for Valencia’s Hugo Duro and Atletico Madrid’s Samuel Lino in recent days, as Emery looks to improve his forward line in the New Year.
Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
They are not the only players being watched by the Premier League side, as Villa had scouts in place on Tuesday night to watch Rav van den Berg and Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough. But as Emery eyes potential new arrivals at the start of the New Year or next summer, the latest transfer update will come as a concern, as one of Villa’s important players is being linked with a move away.
Aston Villa's £130k-p/w star tracked by European clubs
According to Aston Villa’s former senior scout Mick Brown, Ollie Watkins is being closely watched by teams from across Europe. Brown was at Villa Park until 2021 and has continued to maintain close connections with the club, and he has now told Football Insider that Watkins’ ability has significantly improved, and he could now be ready for a bigger step into one of Europe’s super elite.
Brown told Football Insider: “I’ve heard there are plenty of top clubs interested in him.He’d definitely be able to make the step up. When I was at Villa, I was always on to the management about getting Ollie Watkins from Brentford.
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“At that time, he was one of the few players, and still is, that wants to run in behind.All the strikers want to come to feet now and lay it off to a midfielder and play from there. Sometimes you’ve got to play off the shoulder and run in behind.
“If you drew up that profile, he’s your man. That’s what he does. It’s something different these days.The lad has improved his whole game since we signed him, and he scores goals.
“Plus, he runs in behind, which is not just about him; it’s about the rest of the team. He gets the team up the park and inspires them.That type of player will always attract interest from top sides wherever they are. He’s a game-changer, and he’s shown that for Villa and for England.”
The 28-year-old, who was dubbed a “nightmare to play against” by Conor Coady, has been at Villa since 2020, when he joined from Brentford, and he has been an important figure for the Midlands side for a number of seasons. In the 2023/24 campaign, Watkins netted 27 goals in all competitions, and that earned him a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad. The forward is said to be on a weekly wage of £130,000, which could well be doubled if he were to get a big transfer.