Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou could be without an “exciting” player for nearly two months after an injury, which would come as a real blow for the Australian as he seeks to deliver on his promise of silverware.

Postecoglou promises Spurs supporters silverware this season

The 59-year-old, speaking to the press back in August, claimed that he “usually” wins a trophy in his second season in charge – inadvertently pledging to end Spurs’ 16-year wait for silverware this campaign.

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It was a bold statement by Postecoglou, considering the pressure that comes with a public message of that nature, but it perhaps also displays a real confidence in his own ability to bring success back to N17.

“Usually, in my second season, I win things. That’s the whole idea,” said Postecoglou on ending Tottenham’s trophy drought, in an interview with Sky Sports.

“First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully, the second year is going on to win things. Of course, it’s easier said than done, particularly in the Premier League and the competition we’re in. That’s always the way I’ve looked at it, is that the second year you should be in a position where you can push on, depending on how the first year has gone.”

Postecoglou did get some stick for this, but the former Celtic boss later doubled down on his statement after a defeat to Arsenal in the North London Derby. Indeed, Postecoglou then claimed he “always” wins things in his second year in another show of faith in both this team and his ability as manager.

Spurs have gone on a run of four consecutive wins in all competitions since losing 1-0 to Arsenal. Victories over Coventry City, Brentford, Qarabag and Man United have swung the momentum back in Postecoglou’s favour, and he has the chance to make it five as his side travel to take on Ferencvaros in the Europa League tonight.

They’ve also done well without some key senior players, with Richarlison out injured recently. Unfortunately, though, both Son Heung-min and Destiny Udogie will miss Ferencvaros through injury too, and a concerning update has come to light on winger Wilson Odobert.

Wilson Odobert could be out for nearly two months at Tottenham

According to club insider Paul O’Keefe, taking to X, it is believed Odobert could be out for over six weeks at Tottenham – following a hamstring problem he sustained during Spurs’ dramatic EFL Cup win over Coventry.

Odobert, signed from Burnley in a deal worth £25 million, was forced off after 18 minutes against Coventry – and was given the nod to start two Premier League games by Postecoglou before his forced absence.

The 19-year-old Frenchman will be desperate to come back as soon as possible, as will Postecoglou, who called Odobert an “exciting” new arrival.

“Well, what you saw out there,” said Postecoglou on Odobert’s signing.

“It’s just really exciting. I was excited by the way he went about things. He always wants to take his opponent on, you know, even if he hasn’t been successful, he goes at him again and this is a 19-year-old playing for his new club in front of 60,000 people, and just played football the way he wants to play it, and I love that about him.

“He got tired in the second-half, but it’s really exciting for us that another young player comes in that is going to make us a better team.”

Allrounder says England hoping to do “something special” in Australia, but World Cup comes first

Andrew Miller11-Oct-2021Chris Woakes says that England’s multi-format players must find a way to put the Ashes phoney war on the back-burner, and focus instead on their immediate challenge at the T20 World Cup, after months of behind-the-scenes wrangling finally resulted this week in the naming of a 17-man squad for next month’s tour of Australia.Woakes was one of the players with young families to have expressed serious reservations about the England touring party’s quarantine restrictions, both in the lead-up to the first Test at Brisbane on December 8 and potentially thereafter as the series moves across state borders. And while their stance has attracted some criticism, notably from Ian Botham, who last week questioned whether the players “fancied the ultimate test” of an Ashes tour, Woakes was adamant that the post-Covid world fully justified their refusal to put up with less-than-sympathetic conditions.”We all realise the world is a different place to what it was 18 months ago, before the pandemic happened,” Woakes said. “So I don’t think there’s any hiding behind Covid. If we were living in a normal world, this wouldn’t be the case. We would be champing at the bit. But quarantine is a big thing. We’ve done a hell of a lot of it and so the thought of having to do 14 days of it with families is quite a big thing for a lot of people.”Related

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Woakes admitted he does not yet know the precise travel arrangements for his family, given that the multi-format players are due to link up with the Test specialists in mid-November, at the conclusion of their campaign in the UAE.”There is a small thing of the World Cup first, so obviously I have my eyes firmly on that,” he said. “It’s good news with regards to Australia and the Ashes tour. There was never too much doubt that everyone was keen to go and play but obviously there are things happening in the world right now and people want securities around what life is going to be like once we are there.”While England’s selectors have managed to pull together their strongest available squad, with Jos Buttler confirmed as Joe Root’s deputy after his own concerns about the tour conditions, there is a notable lack of firepower compared to the plans laid out by the ECB this time last year.With Jofra Archer and Olly Stone both injured, and Ben Stokes still unavailable despite tweeting on Monday that his latest finger operation had allowed him to grip his bat handle properly for the first time in six months, the selectors have opted for “Plan B”, with a reliance on accuracy and discipline to back up the squad’s sole out-and-out quick in Mark Wood.And that’s where Woakes hopes to come into his own this winter. By his own admission, his experience in Australia on the 2017-18 tour was a chastening one, as he claimed 10 wickets at 49.50 in England’s 4-0 series loss. But, at the age of 32 – and after two years of stealthy improvement on overseas campaigns – he believes he now has the skills required to perform a key role with the Kookaburra ball, and give the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson the back-up they will require to compete this time around.”Obviously, I toured there in 2017-18 and it didn’t go as well as we would’ve liked as a team, so I’m really hoping we can do something special this time round,” Woakes said. “Going Down Under is never an easy tour, they play really hard cricket there, and tradition and history suggests we don’t go there and win too often as an England side. But the opportunity to compete and win an Ashes is something that doesn’t come around too often for players. So of course we are excited about that prospect.”England have not won in Australia for more than a decade now, since Andrew Strauss’s men prevailed 3-1 in 2010-11. And yet, that bowling attack – led by Anderson, with the likes of Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan playing key roles after Broad’s tour was cut short by injury – was also light on genuine 90mph-plus bowlers, and was instead notable for the manner in which it “bowled dry” to frustrate Australia’s batters in the course of three innings victories.Chris Woakes returned to the T20I side during the summer•Getty Images”We do have Mark Wood as one bowler with express pace,” Woakes said. “By no means do we have anyone bowling above 85[mph] after him, but teams have had success there by being relentless, putting the ball in the right area, and moving it off the straight and having good plans.”We have to come up with plans to get their best players out, and to try and take 20 wickets to win Test matches. We have to draw on the experiences of teams that have been there and won. Not only the 2010-11 England side, but more recently India and South Africa before that, and try to replicate how they did it.”Given his primary focus on white-ball skills in the UAE, Woakes said that he had not yet been practising with a Kookaburra this winter. However, having gone (for a variety of reasons) more than a year between Tests, he can take some confidence from his relative success in his two most recent overseas appearances, with a total of seven wickets at 25.71 in New Zealand and South Africa in 2019-20.”I haven’t played a huge amount of overseas cricket since [the 2017-18 Ashes], but when I have, I feel like I have improved,” Woakes said. “I feel like I am bowling a better length more consistently and actually I have to been able to get that Kookaburra ball to move a bit, when I haven’t previously.”I am four years older [than in 2017], I have played more cricket, I’ve got more experience under my belt, and I believe I am a better bowler now than I was then. I have played a lot more frequently since then and I feel a bit more at ease at that level.”For the time being, however, Woakes’ primary focus is on his return to the T20I squad – and the prospect of adding the 20-over World Cup to the 50-over crown that he played such a key role in winning in 2019. Despite playing just ten T20I matches in more than a decade of international cricket, Woakes’ exploits for Delhi Capitals in the IPL have earned him another shot in the shortest format, and one that he is eager to seize.”We have no choice [but to compartmentalise],” Woakes said. “We have a big World Cup in front of us, you don’t want to get to the end of the World Cup and think ‘I wasn’t fully engaged'”We have to give this our full attention – what is going on with the Ashes is on the back-burner and there are people dealing with that on our behalf. You can’t get too fixated on that – it is important we focus on the here and now. It is a great opportunity to lift some silverware for your country and, to be honest, I think this T20 World Cup could pretty much be won by anyone.”

Says it is “imperative for the team to be seen taking a united and consistent stand against racism, especially given South Africa’s history”

Firdose Moonda26-Oct-2021

CSA has noted the personal decision by Quinton de Kock to not take the knee ahead of Tuesday’s game against West Indies*. All players had been required, in line with a directive of the CSA board on Monday, to take the knee in a united and consistent stance against racism. And de Kock, who had chosen not to take a knee – or raise a fist or stand in attention, the other expressions of support for the BLM movement – in the past, opted against taking part in the game in Dubai altogether in a late decision.The board’s view was that while diversity could, and should, find expression in many facets of daily lives, this did not apply when it came to taking a stand against racism. In an update after the South Africa vs West Indies game started, the board said it would await a further report from team management before deciding on the next steps. All players are expected to follow this directive for the remaining games of the World Cup.Related

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"We didn't anticipate we would be viewed as a white takeover'

On Monday, the CSA board said it recognised concerns that “the different postures taken by team members in support of the BLM initiative created an unintended perception of disparity or lack of support for the initiative”, and feel it is “imperative for the team to be seen taking a united and consistent stand against racism, especially given South Africa’s history”.Since the BLM movement re-emerged last year, South Africa have adopted varied stances towards supporting the anti-racism movement, but the national team has not taken a knee together. The closest South Africa came to that was when all the players, support staff and administrators involved in the 3TC event last July, including director of cricket Graeme Smith, took a knee before play. Thereafter, all South Africa’s players raised a fist before the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka last December, before the discussion re-emerged on their tour to the West Indies this winter.Watch the T20 World Cup on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of South Africa vs West Indies is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

It was agreed that team members would make their own decision about whether to take a knee, raise a fist or stand to attention during that series. Notably, all the players of colour and some white players and members of staff, including coach Mark Boucher, Rassie van der Dussen and Kyle Verreynne, took a knee while other white players raised a fist and the rest stood to attention.CSA’s board has steered away from directing the team until this point, but changed their mind after South Africa’s opening T20 World Cup match against Australia, where Australia took a knee but South Africa maintained their three options. England, West Indies, India and Scotland have also taken a knee so far, while Pakistan held their hands to their hearts. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have not made any gestures yet but Bangladesh have previously taken a knee.”Concerns were raised that the different postures taken by team members in support of the BLM initiative created an unintended perception of disparity or lack of support for the initiative,” a CSA statement read. “After considering all relevant issues, including the position of the players, the Board felt that it was imperative for the team to be seen taking a united and consistent stand against racism, especially given SA’s history. Several other teams at the World Cup have adopted a consistent stance against the issue, and the Board felt it is time for all SA players to do the same.”The CSA board directive comes at the same time as the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings are being conducted, aimed at investigating the extent of racial discrimination in South African cricket. Several former players have made allegations of exclusion and told stories of being othered including Ashwell Prince, Paul Adams, Omar Henry, Roger Telemachus and Loots Bosman. The hearings are in their second phase and are listening to responses from those who have been incriminated by first phase testimony. Among them was former team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee, who criticised the national team for not taking a united stance in making a gesture in support of antiracism.CSA will appear at the hearings on Thursday, in its first public appearance since the start of the proceedings. It has resolved not to comment on any SJN matters until after the hearings but appears to have responded to one of the issues raised, which is about the national team taking a knee.”A commitment to overcoming racism is the glue that should unite, bind and strengthen us. Race should not be manipulated to amplify our weaknesses. Diversity can and should find expression in many facets of our daily lives, but not when it comes to taking a stand against racism,” CSA board chair Lawson Naidoo said.The hearings will conclude on Friday and the ombudsman Dumisa Ntsebeza will issue a report to CSA by November 30.

Chelsea’s start to the new Premier League campaign has caught many people by surprise, with Enzo Maresca having an immediate impact during the early stages of his tenure.

The Italian arrived from Leicester City after securing the Championship title for the Foxes last season, but got off to the worst possible start after falling to a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the opening day.

However, since then, the Blues are unbeaten in the league, winning four and drawing one as his side sit in the top four with one game to go until the next international break.

It’s been an excellent start to Maresca’s time in the capital, with the Italian hoping to maintain the form from his first few months in charge.

If he is to be successful during his debut season at the helm, he may be reliant on a player who has demonstrated his ability to single-handedly win a game for the Blues over the last 12 months.

Cole Palmer’s time at Chelsea

After failing to muscle his way into a regular starting role at Manchester City, Cole Palmer wanted a move away from the Etihad to gain added game time to aid his development.

He subsequently joined Chelsea in a £40m deal last summer, a move that seemed expensive at the time given his time under Pep Guardiola, having only made 41 appearances over a three-year period.

However, the English winger quickly established as a key first-team member under former boss Mauricio Pochettino – taking the Premier League by storm in his debut campaign at the Bridge.

The 22-year-old registered 33 combined goals and assists last season, finishing as the league’s top contributor – one ahead of Erling Haaland – but it wasn’t enough to secure a Champions League spot for the Blues.

Palmer has continued his excellent form under Maresca this season, posting a tally of six goals in as many league games in 2024/25 – including four in the previous outing against Brighton – the second time he’s managed to score four in a game during his time at the Blues.

However, the club were also targeting another attacker during a similar period, with the hierarchy making the right call in landing Palmer instead of the talent.

The man who Chelsea nearly signed instead of Palmer

During the summer of 2023, Chelsea were in the market for a plethora of new attacking talent before a move was completed to sign Palmer from Manchester City.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

One player who was close to a move to the capital was Ghanaian winger Mohammed Kudus, but a move for his services never materialised.

According to ESPN, it was reported that Pochettino’s side had ‘pursued a deal’ for Kudus during the summer of 2023 but missed out on a move after a rival club were in advanced negotiations for his signature.

The 24-year-old would eventually move to West Ham United in a £38m deal, with the Blues missing out on his capture, forcing them to explore other options, which led to the arrival of Palmer.

Games played

39

39

Minutes played

3130

2974

Goals

28

8

Assists

15

7

Goals + assists per 90

1.1

0.4

Whilst at the time it may have been a disappointment to miss out on the £100m attacker – as valued by his club – his failure to score a single goal this season, along with Palmer’s form at the Bridge, shows the club made the right decision in avoiding him and landing the England international instead.

The current Chelsea man has thrived with the increased game time, potentially seeing Manchester City regret the decision to offload the talent, with their loss undoubtedly Chelsea’s gain.

He has the ability to be a crucial player in Maresca’s hunt for a Champions League spot, with missing out on Kudus for a move to land Palmer a blessing in disguise for the club.

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ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2024

Newcastle United take on a resurgent Chelsea side this afternoon and Eddie Howe will be hoping for a much better performance than the one his team gave last weekend.

The Magpies succumbed to an impressive Brighton side who look like they are ready to take the next step up under Fabian Hurzeler. The same cannot be said, at this moment anyway, of Howe’s Newcastle.

Failing to rejuvenate the squad properly in the summer is coming back to haunt him, no doubt about that.

Against the Blues, the Englishman could perhaps make a few changes to freshen things up, as a few members of the side were disappointing last weekend, including Jacob Murphy.

Jacob Murphy’s game in numbers vs Brighton

Alongside Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, Murphy was unleashed as part of a front three hoping to cause havoc to the Brighton defence.

Chalkboard

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

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Despite having 21 shots, the Magpies failed to score, and the winger was fairly subdued throughout the game.

Murphy may have attempted two dribbles, made a key pass and had two shots blocked, but aside from this, he wasn’t at his best.

The Englishman lost possession ten times, won just one of his five attempted duels and was dribbled past once during his 65 minutes on the pitch, being replaced by Harvey Barnes, who won 100% of his duels and succeeded with 100% of his dribbles, showing much more dynamism than Murphy.

It thus should be the former Leicester City man who comes back into the starting XI vs Chelsea, meaning Murphy will drop to the bench.

Howe must unleash Harvey Barnes vs Chelsea

Barnes simply possesses a more direct attacking threat in the final third. This season, the 26-year-old has scored three goals while chipping in with a single assist in ten games.

Murphy, on the other hand, has grabbed just two assists in eight games, while failing to score in the Premier League.

Barnes has also created three big chances, averages 0.9 key passes and succeeds with 50% of his dribble attempts. Compare this to the 29-year-old, who has created one big chance, and also averages 0.9 key passes per game, but succeeds with just 33% of his dribble attempts.

Comparing Murphy and Barnes in the PL this season

Metric

Barnes

Murphy

Goals

3

0

Assists

1

2

Big chances created

3

1

Successful dribble percentage per game

50%

33%

Key passes per game

0.9

0.9

Total shots per game

1.9

0.9

Stats via Sofascore

It is evident who Howe should unleash in the starting XI, especially if he aims to secure a positive result against Enzo Maresca’s men today.

The £80k-per-week dynamo is in wonderful form and his cameo last weekend proves he is ready to be unleashed from the first whistle against the Blues.

Howe lavished praise on the winger earlier this campaign following his stunning late winner against Wolves, saying: “His qualities are unbounded and he is a goalscoring winger and there are not many around. He is one of the best finishing wingers I’ve seen.”

If he starts today, Barnes can potentially be a game-changer for Newcastle. For that there is no doubt.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Oct 26, 2024

يبدو أن الأجواء في الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد ليست مستقرة، خاصة في علاقات بعض اللاعبين، عكس ما تظهره الكاميرات التي تتابع المباريات.

العلاقة بين كيليان مبابي وفينيسيوس جونيور تعود إلى الأضواء من جديد داخل ريال مدريد، حيث أثار الصحفي أنطون مينا، في حديثه على إذاعة “كادينا سير” الإسبانية، جدلًا بشأن طبيعة العلاقة بين الثنائي، مشيرًا إلى أنها ليست جيدة كما يبدو للجمهور والمتابعين.

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وأوضح الصحفي خلال حديثه أن الأمور بين النجمين ليست على ما يرام، قائلًا: “العلاقة بين مبابي وفينيسيوس ليست سلسة كما يحاول البعض تصويرها، صحيح أنهما ليسا خصمين أو أعداء، ولا يوجد كره بينهما، لكن فكرة الأخوة التي يتم الترويج لها بعيدة عن الواقع”.

وأشار الصحفي إلى أن هذه الفجوة في العلاقة قد تؤثر على أداء الفريق داخل الملعب، حيث قال: “أرى أن هذا الوضع ينعكس سلبًا على أسلوب لعب ريال مدريد، فالمفترض أن يكون هناك انسجام بينهما، لكن الحقيقة أن كلًا منهما لا يبحث عن الآخر خلال المباريات، ولا يتواصلان بالشكل المطلوب”.

وتابع: “عندما يكون لديك اثنان من أفضل اللاعبين في العالم في مراكزهما، يجب أن يتعاونا بشكل مستمر، لكن حتى الآن، لا نرى هذا على أرض الملعب”.

وأتم: “أمور كهذه ليست هامشية، بل تلعب دورًا حاسمًا في نجاح أي فريق، وإذا لم يتحسن التفاهم بينهما، فقد يؤثر ذلك على فرص ريال مدريد في تحقيق الألقاب”.

Cricket Australia has been urged to commit to governance reform by its most powerful shareholder amid a backdrop of disgruntled and divergent state associations, half of which toppled Earl Eddings.Eddings resigned as CA chair on Wednesday, having lost the support of NSW, Queensland and Western Australia. The power shake-up, on the eve of the governing body’s annual general meeting and a tick under two months out from the men’s Ashes, means the sport is in a state of flux yet again.CA’s interim chairman Richard Freudenstein fronted Thursday’s virtual AGM, insisting his organisation had listened to its states’ concerns and will engage “more consistently and more deeply”.”I will commit that there will be more chair and ACC [Australian Cricket Council] meetings in the near future,” Freudenstein told Cricket NSW equivalent John Knox.Knox, who led the charge to oust Eddings and predecessor David Peever, called for improved consultation and communication, tweaks to CA’s nomination process for new directors and better succession planning.The former Credit Suisse Australia chief executive also requested a review of the role of chair and its responsibilities, noting Eddings’ income created an environment where “the chair needs to act like an executive to justify the compensation”.”It is highly unusual in any business or sporting environment that the chair of any organisation would be paid such a significant multiple of what other directors are,” Knox said.Freudenstein pushed back regarding that issue while speaking with reporters, claiming “there are very good reasons why the chair’s pay is what it is”.”The role of chair is different to the role in many other sports bodies and that’s because of the international aspect that comes with it,” he said. “There are significant responsibilities with the ICC, as well as all the bilateral relationships. As well as managing a complicated federated system in Australia, and you’ve seen the level of complication that can cause.”CA reported a $151,000 loss for 2020-21; a significantly better outcome than what was forecast during last year’s cost-cutting mission that so deeply frustrated NSW and Queensland.The AGM was not nearly as tense as it might have been if Eddings was present, with Freudenstein, CA chief executive Nick Hockley and even Knox thanking the deposed Victorian for his service.But as CA starts searching for its third chair in a tick over three years, the state of its strained relationship with shareholders was clear.”It is crucial the shareholders and board of Cricket Australia work closely together over the next few months to learn from the past and put in place the necessary changes,” Knox said.Cricket Victoria chair David Maddocks lamented the rolling of Eddings, saying many people had expressed “sadness and disappointment” about it and the nature in which it occurred.

GOAL breaks down the best strikers available to Mauricio Pochettino on the USMNT's road to the World Cup

In the months leading up to the 2022 World Cup, the U.S. men's national team striker debate took center stage. In truth, it was due to a lack of real options. The position was a notable weakness for the U.S. under then-manager Gregg Berhalter, playing a role in their World Cup campaign in Qatar.

There's no such problem now. As Mauricio Pochettino prepares this USMNT for the 2026 World Cup, there is no shortage of striker options scoring goals all over the world. There are different profiles spread across different leagues, and several players will feel they have a realistic argument to be the starter by the time the 2026 World Cup rolls around.

Right now, though, the focus is on the CONCACAF Nations League and, unfortunately, the USMNT's top options likely won't be available for that tournament. Of the nine players on this list, six have missed or will miss significant time due to injury. Several of the USMNT's best No. 9s will be unavailable for that tournament but, for every setback one player faces, an opportunity opens for another.

So, as we march into the final year and change leading up to the World Cup, the race is very much on, and it'll continue in March. Ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League, GOAL breaks down the USMNT striker pool to rank the best options heading towards 2026.

Getty Images9Daryl Dike, West Brom

Who knows where Dike would be if injuries hadn't taken over these last few years?

It's been two years since we've seen a healthy version of Dike, who came back early in 2024 just to rupture his Achilles a few weeks later. It's been a nightmare for the former Orlando City striker who, when healthy, is a real handful that has the potential to compete at the top of this list.

"Daryl Dike, in terms of what he can give you, he's so different from all of them, that he's special in that sense," U.S. legend Jozy Altidore told GOAL in December. "This guy is the biggest wildcard because if they are all different, he's the most different, in terms of his ceiling."

It's just been too long since we saw that version of him. Hopefully someday soon we'll see him again and he can claim a spot that many thought he'd have by now if everything had gone to plan.

AdvertisementGetty8Duncan McGuire, Orlando City SC

The last year or so has been frustrating for McGuire, who began 2024 by seeing his big move overseas fall apart due to an administration error. He was still good for Orlando City, although not quite as good as he was in 2023. He went on to start for the U.S. at the Olympics, too, as the coaching staff put a bunch of faith in him to lead the line in France, although it didn't result in goals.

There's a reason he nearly got that move to Blackburn, though, and the 23-year-old striker will get another chance to prove it here in 2025.

A late-season injury knocked him out of January camp contention, but he is expected to be back in the first few months of the MLS season. McGuire has plenty to prove when he does get back as he looks to take a leap for club and country this season.

Getty Images Sport7Jesus Ferreira, Seattle Sounders

Ferreira draws criticism, but the guy gets goals on the international level. He's got 15 in just 23 appearances and people have downplayed where the goals have come from, which is how he got his "Pirate of the Caribbean" moniker.

Even so, if it was so easy, everyone would do it, right?

Ferreira took a step back last season but has now moved on from FC Dallas into a new situation in Seattle. With the Sounders, Ferreira is a big piece of the puzzle, one that, from the outside, seems to fit together nicely with a lead by Jordan Morris. That, in theory, should lead to a return to form. If Ferreira can be in that 15-20 goal range in this MLS season, he'll remain in the hunt.

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Getty Images6Patrick Agyemang, Charlotte FC

It's almost unfathomable that Agyemang is even on this list. Six months ago, he wouldn't have been close. A few years ago, he was playing Division 3 soccer. Now, he's right there and could realistically be in the squad for the CONCACAF Nations League.

That comes after a breakout January camp. Agyemang scored two goals in just under 90 minutes, showing the movement and finishing required of a true international-level forward. He is still new to all of this, though, and still has so much to prove. This will be his first full season as a starter in MLS, and he'll have to prove himself at that level first if he wants to become a consistent member of the USMNT.

For Agyemang, it will all be about starting hot. If he can get some goals early in the MLS season, he'll be in a good spot.

Erik ten Hag’s tumultuous Manchester United career could be over as soon as this weekend. That’s according to reports shared by TEAMtalk, which claim United will sack the Dutch manager if his team fails to beat Brentford at Old Trafford on Saturday.

This term, Ten Hag has led United to their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with his side picking up just eight points from a possible 21 and stuck in 14th place. As a result of the club’s poor start, the powers that be at Old Trafford have already been eyeing replacements for Ten Hag. Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel was believed to be their top target, however, any chance of landing the German came to an end on Wednesday when he was appointed as the new England boss.

TEAMtalk now claim that another of Chelsea’s former managers, Graham Potter, is the front runner to replace Ten Hag should he be unable to save his bacon at the weekend.

Ten Hag pleads with board for De Jong

If Ten Hag can make it past Brentford, the Dutchman believes he can save his United career, and the club’s season, in January with a marquee signing, according to reports from Spain. Sport.es report that Ten Hag has demanded that United sign Frenkie de Jong from FC Barcelona after the New Year, with the 54-year-old manager believing the former Ajax wonderkid to be the player that would finally glue his ever-changing side together.

According to the Spanish newspaper, De Jong, 27, is Ten Hag’s “dream” signing. The two worked together at Ajax between 2017 and 2019, with the midfielder the star player in the young team that won the Eredivisie and made it to the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since the 1996/97 season.

De Jong, called an “extraordinary footballer” by Xavi, left Ajax for Barcelona at the end of the 2018/19 campaign and has been continually linked with a move to United ever since Ten Hag took charge in 2022.

Ten Hag obsessed with his former Ajax players

Since moving to United, Ten Hag has made a habit of buying his old Ajax players. In just two years, he’s signed no less than five players whom he managed during his time at the Johan Cruyff Arena – Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, and Antony.

Combined, they have cost United a whopping £222 million, but none have yet justified their hefty transfer fees, nor why Ten Hag decided to bring them to Old Trafford in the first place.

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A further six players Ten Hag has signed for United – Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat, Wout Weghorst, and Joshua Zirkzee – also have backgrounds in the Dutch top flight. Back in August, Ten Hag addressed accusations from United fans that he is obsessed with signing his former Ajax players and ex-Eredivise stars.

“It’s club decisions. None of them is only my decision,” he said, according to Sunday World. “It’s always backed or even brought up through the scouting, recruitment, the technical director, the sporting director.”

Mathys Tel will not join Manchester United from Bayern Munich despite agreeing to make the transfer before Monday's deadline.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Tel agreed to make Old Trafford switch
• Man Utd walked away from Bayern talks
• Arsenal still interested in forward

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 19-year-old reportedly agreed to join the Red Devils in the final days of the transfer window, allowing United to enter negotiations with the Bundesliga giants.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  Talks between United and Bayern have broken down, however, as reports the German giants' excessive demands have resulted in the Premier League side walking away from the deal.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While the road to Old Trafford has been blocked for Tel, he could still leave the Bavarian side before the coming deadline, with Arsenal said to be interested in him.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TEL?

  After losing 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, and reportedly giving the green light for Marcus Rashford to join Aston Villa on loan, coach Ruben Amorim will hope the Red Devils can still bring in some more firepower on deadline day after walking away from Tel.