How will England replace captain Leah Williamson in the Lionesses' 2023 Women's World Cup squad?

After the Arsenal star was ruled out of this summer's tournament with an ACL injury, who will step up in her absence?

On Friday, England were dealt the news that they will be without captain Leah Williamson for this summer's Women's World Cup.

It's a hammer blow for so many reasons. The Arsenal star is the Lionesses' leader and an excellent centre-back who forms part of such a formidable back line.

Not only does head coach Sarina Wiegman need to select the personality best-suited to taking her armband, but also the right player to replace her in the heart of defence.

The latter might not have the most straightforward solution. With the versatility that exists throughout the England player pool, there are a number of possible options and the route the coach takes could have quite a domino effect.

🏆 TOP STORY: England captain Williamson to miss World Cup

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Do Arsenal have any chance of winning the title?!

🚨 MUST READ: Toxic CR7 isn't getting his own way at Al-Nassr

GOAL takes a look at the candidates to captain the Lionesses at the 2023 Women's World Cup, who could replace Williamson in the starting line-up and who might take her spot in the squad as a whole with the reshuffle that may be needed.

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    Millie Bright

    When Williamson was missing from England squads during the first half of the season due to an ankle injury, it was Millie Bright, her centre-back partner, who took over the role as the Lionesses' captain.

    The Chelsea defender is currently sidelined with her own knee injury and expected to be out for several weeks. But if she is fit in time for the World Cup, it is expected that she will wear the armband.

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    Lucy Bronze

    Another candidate for captaincy is Lucy Bronze. The Barcelona full-back has assumed the role before but not under Wiegman. She boasts a wealth of experience, having won 18 major honours – including three Champions League titles – with five different clubs.

    Bronze is likely to be near the top of the list when it comes to the coach's options for the armband and could certainly come into consideration if Bright does not recover from the injury that has kept her out since late March.

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    Alex Greenwood

    Like Bright, Alex Greenwood has worn the captain's armband for England this season, leading the team out in the Arnold Clark Cup in February when they faced Italy. Not only is she a contender to take Williamson's role as skipper, though, but also her spot in the centre of defence.

    Greenwood has often been Wiegman's go-to to play there when Williamson or Bright have been missing, or when Williamson has been deployed in midfield, and she is probably the most likely candidate to partner the latter at the 2023 Women's World Cup now.

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    Jess Carter

    When England were without Bright during the April international window, Wiegman moved Greenwood into centre-back and had her role at left-back, that she played in during February's games, filled by Jess Carter.

    The Chelsea star is a very versatile player, capable of operating in any position in the backline and also in midfield. With Williamson dropping out of the line-up, moving Greenwood inside would open up a spot in the XI on the left of that defence that Carter could well be chosen to occupy.

Portugal vs Liechtenstein: Where to watch the match online, live stream, TV channels & kick-off time

How to watch Portugal vs Liechtenstein in the Euro 2024 qualification stage from the UK, US, and India, as well as kick-off time and team news

Portugal will hope to begin their new era under Roberto Martinez with a win against Liechtenstein in their Euro 2024 qualificationopener on Thursday.

⚽️ Where to watch Portugal vs Liechtenstein in the UK

⚽️ Watch Portugal vs Liechtenstein in the US

New boss Martinez is seeking to raise spirits after a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of an inspired Morocco side in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Martinez has named Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in his squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Ronaldo left Manchester United in November before joining Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, and has netted nine goals in 10 appearances for his new team. It remains to be seen if the former Real Madrid and Juventus star can make an impact for the national team under the new head coach.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the Euro 2024 qualifying fixture Portugal vs Liechtenstein, plus team news, recent form and more.

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    Kick-off time

    Date:

    March 23, 2023

    Kick-off time:

    7.45pm GMT / 3.45pm EDT / 1.15am IST (March 24)

    Venue:

    Estádio José Alvalade

    The game is scheduled for March 23, 2023 at Estádio José Alvalade. It will kick off at 7.45pm GMT in the UK, 3.45pm EDT in the US and 1.15am IST (on March 24) in India.

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    How to watch Portugal vs Liechtenstein online – TV channels & live streams

    TV channels & streaming options

    Country TV channel Live stream
    UK Viaplay Xtra Viaplay Xtra
    U.S. N/A ViX, DAZN
    India Sony Ten 1 SD/HD Sony LIV

    The Euro 2024 qualifying round match between Portugal and Liechtenstein will be broadcast on Viaplay Xtra in the UK.

    In the U.S., the match can be streamed on Vix and DAZN.

    Fans in India can catch all the action on the Sony Sports Network.

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    Team news & squads

    Portugal team news

    Cristiano Ronaldo is back for Portugal after a disappointing World Cup campaign, and the 38-year-old is now set to make history as the most-capped men's player in history.

    Martinez has picked more or less the same squad that played in Qatar. Veteran defender Pepe was initially included in the roster but had to be dropped due to an injury.

    Position Players
    Goalkeepers: Costa, Sa, Patricio
    Defenders: Silva, Pereira, Leite, Inacio, Cancelo, Dalot, Mendes, Guerreiro, Dias
    Midfielders: Fernandes, Palhinha, Mario, Nunes, Otavio, Neves, Vitinha, Silva
    Forwards: Ronaldo, Jota, Ramos, Felix, Leao

    Liechtenstein team news

    The Liechtenstein squad includes Noah Frick, who is the son of the country's all-time top scorer Mario Frick. His brother Yannick Frick, however, has failed to make the cut as they prepare to take on Portugal.

    Position Players
    Goalkeepers: Buchel, Ospelt, Lorenzo
    Defenders: Traber, Malin, Yildiz, Gassner, Hofer
    Midfielders: Wolfinger, Luchinger, Netzer, Sele, Frick, Lorenz, Salanovic, Weiser, Meier, F. Wolfinger, S. Wolfinger, Frommelt, Hasner
    Forwards: Beck, Kardesoglu, Marxer

    Head-to-head record

    Date Result Competition
    August 13, 2009 Liechtenstein 0-3 Portugal Friendly
    October 9, 2005 Portugal 2-1 Liechtenstein World Cup qualification
    October 9, 2004 Liechtenstein 2-2 Portugal World Cup qualification
    June 10, 1999 Portugal 8-0 Liechtenstein Euro qualification
    April 1, 1999 Liechtenstein 0-5 Portugal Euro qualification

    Portugal have dominated fixtures between the two teams, with six wins and a draw from seven games. Anything other than a win will be considered a failure for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. on Thursday.

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    Useful links

    • Portugal team page

    • Cristiano Ronaldo – latest news

    • Live football on TV in the UK

    • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

    • Ronaldo set to make history for Portugal

Sutton makes Spurs Bielsa claim

Chris Sutton has suggested Marcelo Bielsa has had his head turned by Tottenham Hotspur as they continue their search for a new manager.

The Lowdown: Spurs interested in Bielsa

Reports have recently suggested Tottenham are interested in hiring the Leeds boss to replace Jose Mourinho as the club’s permanent manager (Football Insider).

Bielsa’s current contract at Elland Road is set run out at the end of the term (The Athletic).

The Latest: Sutton makes Bielsa claim

Speaking on BBC 5Live following a call from a Leeds fan, Sutton suggested the Argentinian has had his head turned by Spurs. He said:

“He’s not signed a new contract with Leeds United. Everybody gets their head turned, everyone gets their head turned. My source is not Marcelo Bielsa, but I will have a word with my source.”

He continued, to Leeds fan Derek: “I understand your point but the fact of the matter is, whether you like it or not, he hasn’t signed a new contract for next season. Is something amiss?”

The Verdict: Why?

Bielsa is a club legend at Leeds United. He was the man to take them back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years, and they are on course to finish in the top half this campaign. His achievements mean he is adored at Elland Road. He is also a legend across the globe, too – former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has previously admitted to being inspired by the ex-Marseille manager (via Give Me Sport).

Although he has not put pen to paper on a new deal, he has previously said he will wait until the end of the season to contemplate such a move (Sky Sports). While Spurs have more funds and are more established, Bielsa has free reign at Leeds to put the team together as he wishes – whether he would have that freedom at Tottenham is up for debate.

While Levy may be interested, it is hard to see Bielsa making the switch to north London.

In other news, Levy wants to hire this Champions League winner as the new Spurs manager.

Mbappe is back – but Messi remains the GOAT! PSG winners & losers as thrilling win over Lille overshadows Neymar injury woes

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner curled in a stoppage-time free-kick to rescue a come-from-behind 4-3 win for the French champions

Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier might just have had his job saved. With his side 3-2 down against Lille entering the final couple of minutes having taken a 2-0 lead, the writing was on the wall for a coach who had previously overseen three straight defeats.

Not every coach has players like Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi to call upon, though.

Mbappe stepped up first, prodding home Juan Bernat's pull-back to level the scores, before Messi curled home a superb low free-kick in the fifth minute of stoppage-time to send the home crowd into raptures.

It had looked pretty routine for PSG early on. Mbappe and Neymar both scored within the first 17 minutes, but Lille stuck around, and Bafode Diakite eventually benefitted, pulling one back after a well-worked corner routine.

PSG endured a miserable start to the second half, as first Neymar badly rolled an already-injured ankle and had to be stretchered off, before Lille equalised from the penalty spot through Jonathan David.

The visitors then took the lead as Jonathan Bamba fired home a fierce shot to cap a fine counter-attack, but they were unable to hold on in the face of two of the game's true superstars.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Parc des Princes…

  • WINNER: Kylian Mbappe

    PSG, unsurprisingly, looked far more dangerous when Mbappe was on the pitch in their 1-0 loss against Bayern Munich, and having made that return from injury, he was back in the line up on Sunday.

    What an impact he made, too. Mbappe bagged the opener with a sublime piece of skill and comfortable finish, and stretched the Lille defence throughout.

    He then found the vital equaliser in the final minutes, too, bursting into the box and poking Bernat's cut-back into the bottom corner.

    Mbappe wasn't a one man show – Messi made sure of that – but he was every bit the star performer for PSG here.

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    LOSER: Neymar

    Well, that looked like it hurt!

    Neymar has been trying to play on the same ankle he sprained at the World Cup for nearly six weeks. It was, perhaps, always bound to catch up with him.

    And so it did on Sunday, as he badly twisted his ankle early in the second half. He was unable to walk off himself, and had to be stretchered from the field.

    PSG play Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 17 days, and Neymar now appears to be a serious doubt for that fixture.

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    WINNER: Lionel Messi

    Messi was anonymous for 90 minutes here. The Argentine hardly touched the ball. And aside from a covert dummy in the build up to PSG's second goal, his impact on the game had been minimal.

    But that's kind of how Messi is these days. The World Cup winner has become a 'moments' player; a footballer who can simply pick his spots to show up at this point.

    And on Sunday he did just that, scoring a wonderful free-kick deep into stoppage time to seal a dramatic late win for a PSG side that badly needed it.

    Mbappe may have been the most consistent contributor on the day and across the season for PSG, but Messi is still the best to ever do it, and he's not tired of showing it yet.

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    LOSER: Nuno Mendes

    Can he ever catch a break?

    Nuno Mendes isn't the finished article at full-back, but he's a serious talent, and has shown immense potential in his first 18 months in Paris.

    Injury struggles have stunted his development this season, though, and they popped up again on Sunday.

    Mendes exited the game in the first half with a foot injury, another blemish on what has become a difficult campaign for the Portugal international.

    PSG will hope it's not too serious; his pace will be vital against Bayern's speedy wingers in two-and-a-half weeks' time.

Argentina's Messiah! Winners, losers and ratings as Leo inspires vital victory over Mexico

With Argentina struggling against Mexico, they needed their captain to step up. Lionel Messi did just that, scoring a stunning opener in a 2-0 win.

Lionel Messi. It just had to be, didn't it?

Just when his country needed him the most, he popped up with a moment of magic to keep Argentina's World Cup dream alive and sink Mexico at the Lusail Stadium on Saturday night.

What had been a dismal affair was lit up by Messi on 64 minutes when he drilled a perfect shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards to break the deadlock.

And he then set up Enzo Fernandez for a stunning second late on to seal a crucial victory for Lionel Scaloni's side.

It was a win that revitalised Argentina's hopes in Qatar following their shock 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in their opening group stage game.

And while they were far from their best once again, they now know that victory over Poland on Wednesday will seal their spot in the last 16.

Below, GOAL runs through the winners and losers from an emotional night for Argentina and their sensational skipper…

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    The Winners

    Lionel Messi:

    Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Messi, like his team-mates, had endured a miserable evening until Angel Di Maria picked him out 25 yards from goal midway through the second half. Then, two mecurial touches of that left foot was all that it took to turn what had been a truly dire game on its head. The first was perfect, cushioning the ball into his path. The second was unerring, drilling an effort across Guillermo Ochoa into the bottom corner. It was Messi's eighth goal at a World Cup, drawing him level with Diego Maradona. But, more importantly, it was the goal that kept Argentina's dream of lifting the trophy in 2022 alive. Messi had been totally ineffectual up to that point, but one moment of quality was all it took to revitalise his side's hopes in Qatar and remind the world that he is not done just yet.

    Angel Di Maria:

    There were very few Argentina players who could hold their heads up high following this uninspiring display, but Di Maria did at least look like he was trying to make a difference. Things didn't always come off for him, especially in the first half, but after the break it was the Juventus star who looked the most likely to make something happen. Argentina started to get some joy down the right hand side and Di Maria was always the man who was probing and trying to run at his man and get behind the Mexico defence. And it was his pass that picked out Messi in some space for the goal. It wasn't an excellent performance by Di Maria by any means, but in a poor team display, he made a difference when it really mattered.

    Enzo Fernandez:

    What a way to score your first international goal. The 21-year-old was brought off the bench midway through the second half and was one of the substitutes who really made a difference for Argentina. Lionel Scaloni’s side had been really poor, but the second half changes led to an improvement and they were comfortably the better side after Lionel Messi had broken the deadlock. There was still some nerves around, however, with the score only 1-0. They needed a second goal just to be sure and it was Fernandez who provided it, curling home a quite stunning effort on 87 minutes to put the game to bed. It was a wonderful finish and a special moment for the Benfica starlet.

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    The Losers

    Loser: Rodrigo De Paul

    You will have to go a long way to find a performance from a top level player that was quite as dismal as the one De Paul served up during the first half at the Lusail Stadium. The Atletico Madrid man was pitiful in the heart of midfield, enduring a miserable opening 45 minutes. His passing was poor throughout and he brought nothing to his side, at either end of the pitch. Argentina couldn't get any control in the midfield until Messi's opening goal and De Paul's struggles were a major part of that. He wasn't alone in underperforming by any means, but it was apparent very early on how bad a night he was having and the only surprise was he managed to stay on the pitch for the entire game.

    Loser:LautaroMartinez

    The Inter forward was brought into the starting XI after Argentina's miserable showing against Saudi Arabia, but made no impact whatsoever. This was his big chance to impress, but he wasted it completely. It must be noted that he was provided with very little service, but that does not excuse what was a totally ineffectual performance from the forward. He had just 14 touches of the ball while he was on the pitch and made just six passes, with a passing accuracy of just 50 percent. Awful.

  • Argentina Ratings: Defence

    Emiliano Martinez (6/10):

    Made one spectacular save in the first half, but other than was completely untroubled.

    Gonzalo Montiel (5/10):

    Looked well off the pace. Poor.

    Nicolas Otamendi (6/10):

    Barely put under pressure by the Mexico attack.

    Lisandro Martinez (6/10):

    Cruised through the contest without having to break sweat.

    Marcos Acuna (5/10):

    Not really involved.

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  • Midfield

    Angel Di Maria (7/10):

    Made a real difference in the second half. Got the assist for Messi.

    Rodrigo De Paul (3/10):

    Awful. Improved slightly after half-time, was shambolic before the break.

    Guido Rodriguez (4/10):

    Not quite as bad as De Paul, but couldn't get any control in midfield.

    Alexis Mac Allister (5/10):

    Couldn't get into the game.

Magic Mbappe! PSG winners, losers & ratings as vulnerable Juventus the latest victims of in-form star

A stunning Kylian Mbappe brace carried a sometimes-shaky Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-1 victory in their Champions League opener against Juventus.

At first glance, PSG are a fresh-off-the-lot Ferrari. Peel away the sparkling chassis and glistening paint, however, and there are serious engineering flaws that could prevent their Champions League charge. Again.

At times against Juventus, the most expensively-assembled front-three in history were completely unplayable, and Mbappe's quick-fire brace, helped by Neymar, showed the special, glistening side of the French club.

Yet, defensively they never looked entirely comfortable, with Filip Kostic and Juan Cuadrado causing trouble with their pinpoint deliveries into the box. Once Weston McKennie cut into their lead, their mental approach seemed to disintegrate in a scary reminder of what happened against Real Madrid last March.

New boss Christophe Galtier still has work to do to prove the same old problems that have prevented the club lifting the trophy can be addressed.

But it helps he has Mbappe on his side. That's a head start over almost anyone on the continent.

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    The Winners

    Kylian Mbappe:

    The inevitable Mbappe.

    Neymar has been stealing the headlines at the start of the season with his goal-scoring exploits, but the Frenchman offered a timely reminder of why PSG did everything in their power to keep him as the club's figurehead for years to come.

    Each of Mbappe's goals were astounding in their effortlessness, and he made Gleison Bremer look nothing like the heir to Turin's defensive throne he was brought in to the Old Lady to become.

    Benfica:

    Benfica would have felt a pang of anxiety when they saw themselves drawn in Group H alongside PSG and Juventus a few weeks ago.

    But on the evidence of this display, the Portuguese giants can be hopeful of navigating through to the knockout stages this season.

    Not only have they begun strongly themselves – beating Maccabi Haifa 2-0 in their opening game – but also they avoided Juventus earning a point in Paris, which could have been a death blow.

    Keylor Navas:

    After a move to Napoli fell through at the eleventh hour, Navas might have been settling in for a season on the bench.

    Then, Gianluigi Donnarumma misjudged coming for a corner, with Weston McKennie nodding home.

    While Donnarumma went on to make some nice saves, the slight error suggested PSG's No. 1 is fallible, opening the door for Navas to perhaps get some minutes as the season progresses.

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    The Losers

    Massimiliano Allegri:

    After taking criticism for his negative approach against Fiorentina at the weekend, the Bianconeri boss doubled down here, setting his side up in a low block early on in an attempt to starve Mbappe and Co. of any space to exploit in behind before hitting them on the counter out wide.

    It didn't work, with PSG's star man netting an early brace which ultimately put the game beyond the visitors.

    Allegri could have shifted his own personal narrative if Juventus had managed to grab an equaliser during their late pressure, but alas, they did not, meaning the debate over whether Juventus should be more assertive from the start will rumble on.

    Bremer:

    Bremer was heralded as the answer to Juventus' defensive issues in the summer, but he looked like a rabbit in the headlights on his Champions League debut.

    He just could not live with Mbappe's movement, being sucked in for Mbappe's first goal and almost being caught out several times thereafter.

    There is no doubting that Bremer is an accomplished young defender – his displays for Torino last season prove that – but he does need to put in a more confident performance in his side's next European game.

    Neymar:

    After assisting Mbappe with a sumptuous chip in the first half, Neymar might have expected his old mate to return the favour a few minutes after the interval.

    Instead, the Frenchman ignored his run and went for goal himself, thumping an effort into the side netting. Neymar – who would have had the simplest of finishes – did well to play it cool, but it was a disappointing moment after their earlier chemistry.

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    PSG Ratings: Defence

    Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):

    Made an important save to protect his side's lead in the first half. Probably have collected the ball and prevented McKennie's goal.

    Sergio Ramos (6/10):

    Did fairly well defensively. You imagine his presence prevented an all-out capitulation at the back when the pressure was on.

    Marquinhos (5/10):

    Far from authoritative at the heart of the defence, as the unease with which he dealt with crosses was worrying.

    Presnel Kimpembe (5/10):

    Perhaps could have cut out Filip Kostic's corner before McKennie nodded it home.

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    Midfield

    Achraf Hakimi (8/10):

    Pushed on down the right-hand side to great effect and assisted Mbappe's second goal with a deft pass.

    Marco Verratti (8/10):

    Proved that he is still one of the very best around when fit. Spotless in possession and dogged when he did not have the ball.

    Vitinha (7/10):

    A neat and tidy midfield performance. A good, sensible addition to PSG's ranks this summer.

    Nuno Mendes (5/10):

    Beaten too easily in the air by McKennie for his goal. Not much to report offensively.

The 'Scottish Fabregas' and the future of Portugal – Chelsea & Porto's young stars to face off in Youth League final

The two clubs meet in Nyon on Monday as the winners of the biggest European trophy in youth football are decided

Having come through semi-finals against Barcelona and Hoffenheim respectively, Chelsea and Porto face off in the UEFA Youth League final on Monday.

Both teams boast a wealth of young talent, with the clash in Nyon (kick-off 5pm BST/12pm ET) set to showcase some potential stars of the future.

But who should fans be paying particular attention to? Goal takes a look at the best players on each side…

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    Romario Baro | Porto

    An attacking midfielder, the 19-year-old captains Portugal at youth level and has already been approached by Juventus. Once of Sporting, he has scored six goals and laid on three assists in Porto's passage to the Youth League final.

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    Charlie Brown | Chelsea

    Don't let his cartoon namesake fool you – Brown is serious talent when it comes to putting the ball in the net. With 12 goals in eight games he is the Youth League's top scorer this season while he has also scored 20 goals across Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy for the Blues' Under-23 side.

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    Diogo Costa | Porto

    No player has made more Youth League appearances than Porto goalkeeper Costa, with the Portugal Under-21 international already having trained with the club's first team. He missed the semi-final victory over Hoffenheim on Friday but will return for Monday's final.

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    Billy Gilmour | Chelsea

    Once a model for Burberry, Gilmour is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Scotland in decades. Plucked from Rangers in 2017, he has already made his debut for the Under-21 side at international level despite not turning 18 until June. Compared to Cesc Fabregas due to his ability with the ball at his feet.

Saints fans love Lemina news

Southampton fans are delighted after it was revealed two Premier League clubs are interested in signing Mario Lemina this summer.

Lemina made the move to the Saints in 2017 from European giants Juventus – such a transfer meant there was much expected from the Gabon international. However, he ended up making just 52 appearances across two seasons, and didn’t manage to play more than 25 games in either of those campaigns (Transfermarkt). Since then, he has been on loan at Galatasaray and is now at Fulham on a temporary basis.

It seems he has no future at St. Mary’s Stadium. Fortunately, both West Ham United and Newcastle United are believed to be interested in purchasing the midfielder. The Guardian says that the south-coast outfit are looking for about £7m to let him go.

The news was shared on Twitter by @SaintsfcViews, and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their delight, with fans clearly feeling the absolute best thing they can do now is cash in and forget he ever existed…

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Lemina news below

“Result”

Credit: @SpencerHoughts

“Feel free”

Credit: @RichardStowell2

“£7m? please please please”

Credit: @Chris_FN_Ward

“I will drive him there”

Credit: @snwilliams10

“On my knees”

Credit: @IngsIsKing

“Money in the bank – get the deal done.”

Credit: @justinaminute

In other news, Ralph Hasenhuttl reveals this failed Southampton swoop.

Everton fans blast Holgate vs Tottenham

Lots of Everton fans have been left to blast the display of Mason Holgate in their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Friday night.

The former Barnsley man was guilty of some very poor defending along with Michael Keane for both of their goals conceded at Goodison Park, as Harry Kane pounced both times to earn Spurs a point.

Holgate did not have his best game for the Merseyside club statistically as well, as he failed to block any shots on Jordan Pickford’s goal and also lost possession of the ball on no fewer than on 11 different occasions in the match, earning him a very measly 6.4 overall rating on Sofascore, the second-lowest out of any Toffees outfield player to have set foot on the pitch.

Everton fans on Holgate display

These Blues blasted his performance on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even going as far as to compare the English central defender to a ‘Sunday league’ player.

That may feel a little harsh on a young player with potential, but it’s fair to say the Goodison faithful were not happy with what he produced against Jose Mourinho’s side…

“Keane and Holgate like a pair of Sunday league players. Other than that we battered them there. Looking more like a shootout for 7th place now with spurs #EVETOT #EFC”

Credit: @PaulEddie84

“So frustrating. Didn’t play badly. Keane and Holgate poor. James and Sigurdsson really good. #efc”

Credit: @james_mcgrow

“Defensive mess again! Absolutely awful and Holgate at fault again for me #EVETOT #EFC #COYB”

Credit: @Macca8t1

“Good 1st half performance. Always look better when we play the ball quicker and close down as a team. Allan looks a couple of games away from full fitness, still not convinced with Holgate. #efc”

Credit: @caehoward

“Holgate for me at fault both goals. Didn’t communicate with Keane in both, could of instructed Keane the 1st, didn’t listen to Keane at all the 2nd when he was screaming. And all the rumours are about Mina? #EFC”

Credit: @AlanWong_1987

“Keane & Holgate cost us the points tonight with their playground defending #Everton #efc”

Credit: @Kmac7472

In other news, find out what transfer update has been lauded by Toffees here!

Lautaro Martinez, Arthur & 15 summer transfer targets in Brazil & Argentina

The two South American giants have a rich pool of talent, and plenty of young stars will be followed by Europe's biggest clubs in the summer

  • 1Marcelo Torres (Talleres)

    At just 20, stocky centre-forward Torres is making waves on loan at Talleres, and was one of the stand-out players from Argentina's Under-20 engagements in 2017. Boca wisely decided to loan out the young star in order to further develop his game, but it would be no surprise to see him lining up alongside the likes of Tevez at the Bombonera before too much more time passes.

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  • 2Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors)

    At the tender age of 22, the Boca winger is already a full Argentina international, and was watched closely by Arsenal over the winter before deciding to stay at the Bombonera and fight for the Copa Libertadores alongside Carlos Tevez. Pavon is adept at playing through the middle or down either flank, though it is when he has a nervous full-back in his sights that the ex-Talleres man really shines.

  • MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty

    3Paulinho (Vasco)

    At just 17, Paulinho is already a fixture in the Vasco first team and might just be the next big thing to come out of Brazilian football. The teenager can play off either wing and is improving in leaps and bounds, and while he is still a relative novice, it is only a matter of time before Europe's elite come calling.

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  • 4Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors)

    Captain of Penarol while barely out of his teens, the Uruguayan midfielder has taken the Primera Division by storm since moving to Boca in 2017. The 21-year-old is strong, confident with the ball at his feet and blessed with a great eye for goal, and is a virtual certainty to make the Celeste squad for the upcoming World Cup. Nandez had attracted attention from Germany before signing at the Bombonera, and if he continues to develop at his current rate, interest from a European giant will arrive sooner rather than later.

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