Manchester City have failed to gain support from other clubs over a plea to push back the start date of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
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Man City denied Premier League requestSeeking delayed start to 2025-26 campaignClub World Cup involvement in summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
has reported that Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano raised the issue of delaying the start to the Premier League season to allow more rest after competing at the first summer FIFA Club World Cup across June and July. But no-one else at the shareholders' meeting on Thursday backed his position, leading City to "make their displeasure clear". An un-named representative from another club is said to have pointed out that the Club World Cup is not obligatory but promises lucrative pay-outs, implying City want to have their cake and eat it too.
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The Club World Cup has moved from its annual December slot, a mini-tournament involving only a handful of sides, to a 32-team quadrennial competition akin to the international World Cup. Manchester City are among the European representatives as a winner of the UEFA Champions League in the past few years. But so too are Chelsea, and they perhaps read the room a little better in that Premier League meeting by not asking for significant domestic concessions to help them further their own interests.
WHAT THE PREMIER LEAGUE SAID
"We're having this imposed upon us, particularly by FIFA," Premier League official Tony Scholes said on the subject of the Club World Cup last week. "So that there's an element of saying why adjust our competition when we've been imposed with a competition we don't agree with."
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Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
Only 34 days separate the end of the Club World Cup, which finishes with the final at MetLife Stadium on July 13, and the start of the Premier League season, scheduled for August 16. Elite players across Europe are still reeling from a lack of rest off the back of Euro 2024 last summer, while the next World Cup for international teams takes place at the end of next season.
Paul Scholes slammed Manchester United sensation Kobbie Mainoo as he drew comparison with Arsenal's Declan Rice.
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Scholes slammed Mainoo Man Utd midfield star saw a dip in form this season Man Utd take on Spurs on Sunday Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Mainoo had a breakthrough year in the 2023/24 campaign at Old Trafford as he appeared in 35 matches across all competitions and had eight goal contributions. His impressive club form earned him a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad at Euro 2024. The midfielder's form, however, has gone downhill in the current season as he has been struggling to figure out his ideal position under new manager Ruben Amorim.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Amorim has experimented with Mainoo's role in the team since taking charge of the club last November. In their recent Premier League loss to Crystal Palace, the player was even used as a forward. Looking at the Mainoo's dwindling form, United legend Scholes has slammed the youngster as he drew a bizarre comparison with Arsenal and Three Lions midfielder star Declan Rice.
WHAT PAUL SCHOLES SAID
Speaking on , brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes said: "I think Mainoo is lost. I've talked about Declan Rice being lost before – I think Mainoo is lost as well. They don't know what to do with him.
"I don't think he knows where to play on a football pitch because he's been played in one of the number 10 positions, he has been played in the two in the midfield, which I can see probably doesn't suit him because I don't think the greatest athlete. He's a great footballer. I think the No 10 does suit, (but) the false nine, never in a million years."
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
The Red Devils will aim to get back to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday as they travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur.
Removal of set batter, with lesser hitters to come, could have made the difference
S Rajesh11-Nov-202118.3 Dropped! That was ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary for the third ball of the 19th over, when Matthew Wade, then on 21 off 13, was given a life by Hasan Ali. You could sense that it could be a vital drop, and it was confirmed emphatically when Wade smoked the next three balls for sixes to end the contest without even the need for a 20th over.ESPNcricinfo LtdHow costly was that missed chance?According to ESPNcricinfo’s Luck Index, that error cost Pakistan 15 runs. Wade took two runs off the ball off which he was dropped, and then hit 18 off the next three, which means 20 runs were scored off four balls. Luck Index estimates that those four balls would have only gone for five runs had the catch been taken.Watch cricket live on ESPN+
Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of the second semi-final is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).
This calculation is done by assuming that Wade would have been dismissed off that ball, and three balls he played subsequently would have been played by Pat Cummins and Marcus Stoinis, who was the non-striker. Based on the scoring patterns of these batters, Luck Index estimates that five runs would have been scored off those three balls, which would have left Australia needing 15 from the last over. That, the algorithm estimates, would have been too much for the remaining batters to achieve.Babar Azam, the Pakistan captain, made a mention of that error in his post-match comments, and seeing the impact of that missed opportunity, it’s not difficult to see why.
Julen Lopetegui’s patchy start to life in the dugout at West Ham United hit its apotheosis after Manchester United were dispatched at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Jarrod Bowen’s late penalty handed the hosts the goods, taking them level on points with Erik ten Hag’s beleaguered outfit but ahead due to a superior goal difference.
There’s plenty of work to do, but West Ham have showcased their quality against a Red Devils side that desperately needed to emerge from east London with the win, and it could be the confidence boost to restore this exciting spread of high-class Hammers talent.
Why this could be a turning point for West Ham
Man United’s profligacy allowed West Ham to go unpunished following a lacklustre opening, but there was a tenacity and drive about the hosts that was most pleasing after the break. West Ham showed grit and guts that partnered with the quality dotted across the field.
There might have been some controversy around Bowen’s last-gasp winner, but West Ham won’t care, not least after harking back to some questionable decisions that have fallen Man United’s way in recent fixtures between these teams.
Crysencio Summerville’s goal, his first since joining from Leeds United in a deal worth over £25m plus add-ons, could see the 2023/24 Championship MVP start to find his footing under Lopetegui, suggesting that he should start on the left flank over Carlos Soler, who failed to impress in the makeshift role on Sunday.
Crysencio Summerville scores for West Ham
The electric-paced Dutchman was joined by former Red Devil, Aaron Wan-Bissaka in putting in a highlight performance that might just speak of cogs coming together for a club starting to move from second gear.
Declan Rice’s third return to east London will present a tough test, but some winnable matches are rolling up for the Irons, who might now be able to make some headway in the Premier League.
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Nott’m Forest
City Ground
09/11/24
Everton
London Stadium
25/11/24
Newcastle
St. James’ Park
30/11/24
Arsenal
London Stadium
03/11/24
Leicester
King Power Stadium
Let’s hope that it prompts the Spanish tactician to be a bit more flexible with his team selection, perhaps convincing him to make a bold move and axe Lucas Paqueta from the starting line-up, with the Brazilian playmaker flattering to deceive once again.
Why Julen Lopetegui must drop Lucas Paqueta
It has not been a good start to the season for Paqueta, often appearing as a mere shadow of the all-influencing superstar who has raised the roof at the London Stadium across the past several seasons.
Minutes played
45′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
33
Shots (on target)
1 (0)
Accurate passes
22/29 (76%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles (completed)
0 (0)
Tackles
0
Ground duels (won)
2 (0)
Possession lost
10x
Yellow card
1
Writing in their post-match player ratings, the Daily Mail branded Paqueta with a 4/10 score, commenting on ‘another disappointing afternoon’ in which he failed to influence proceedings and was duly hooked at the interval, having taken fewer touches than his shot-stopper Lucasz Fabianski.
The Brazil international failed to create a single key pass nor attempt a dribble, while he also lost possession every 3.3 touches, with his static and colourless performance sure to have done little to persuade Lopetegui that he deserves to be handed a sixth successive starting berth in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest next weekend.
Lucas Paqueta arguing with David Coote
It’s no coincidence that West Ham’s uninspiring beginnings under Lopetegui have run parallel with Paqueta’s own shortcomings, having averaged just one key pass per game and won just 35% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore, with an average of 3.1 per game.
Last year, for contextualisation, the 27-year-old was far more imposing in his combativeness, averaging a whopping 7.6 duels per game and winning 50% of such challenges.
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta
The Telegraph reporter and West Ham supporter Dan Silver summed it up nicely: “Skilful player for sure, it (sic) we looked a much better team without him.”
Of course, Paqueta might carry more natural-born talent than any other star at Lopetegui’s disposal, but he’s not unleashing such skills on the pitch right now, and though Soler flattered to deceive in an experimental role, you’d argue that the playmaking Spaniard has a point to prove and might be a difference-maker in a more suitable central role.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
A position occupied by Paqueta, but after another grey display, it’s perhaps time for change.
West Ham wasted £37.5m on Pellegrini signing who earned way more than Kudus
West Ham wasted a huge amount of money on a player who failed to deliver.
Heather Knight says preparations have been “pretty average” less than a week out from T20Is
Alan Gardner14-Jan-2022England captain Heather Knight has admitted to “concerns and anxieties” among the touring party in Australia after news of a support staff member testing positive for Covid-19, the latest disruption to their preparations ahead of the Women’s Ashes.The unidentified individual received a positive result in the second round of PCR tests conducted since England’s arrival in Australia. They are now in isolation and will remain in Canberra while the group moves on to Adelaide ahead of the T20I leg of the Ashes, which starts on Thursday. No other positives have been reported, with a further round of testing to be carried out before the team flies by charter on Monday.England have been in Australia for less than a week and were already having to rejig their plans after the schedule was changed in the run-up to departure – the T20Is were brought forward, ahead of the one-off Test, due to quarantine requirements for the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.Related
Knight vows to 'fight fire with fire' during Women's Ashes
Ashes schedule adjusted to allow for World Cup quarantine
Women's Ashes walks Covid tightrope ahead of World Cup
They then saw their first outdoor training session affected by torrential rain, with Knight describing England’s build-up so far as “pretty average”.The discovery of a positive Covid case in the camp has added to the restrictions England are under – although two scheduled intra-squad warm-up games in Canberra this weekend will still take place – amid an atmosphere of extreme caution before the World Cup.”We were prepared for this,” Knight said, “I think it would be pretty naive to think we wouldn’t be affected by it [Covid-19] but there’s concern and anxieties from the group. We’ve had to live under pretty strict protocols since we’ve arrived, we’ve only been allowed to socialise outdoors for exactly this reason, to try and limit the spread.”It’s going to be a nervous 24-48 hours, but the PCR tests we’ve done already have all come back negative. Fingers crossed. It was always going to be affected by Covid. We’ve had to ‘safe live’ for two weeks in the UK, from Christmas pretty much, just in order to get out here. It’s been a colossal effort.”With Covid numbers in England having surged during December after the arrival of the Omicron variant, players were told to limit contacts to those within their household ahead of departure for Australia – leading to some unusual training routines. Alongside the changes to the Ashes itinerary, Knight said it been “quite hard to focus on the cricket”.”It’s not been ideal, that’s for sure,” she said. “The lead-up has been pretty average, but that’s all out of our control. For those two weeks before we left England we could only train as individuals, with our households, so we’ve had mums feeding bowling machines, boyfriends slinging, girlfriends slinging, dads batting, and supporting our training. As you can imagine it’s been pretty comical, but also not ideal preparation for a series of this magnitude.”We found out that with that quarantine in New Zealand, our preparation’s going to be a bit shorter. Getting our heads around that and trying to find ways to get ourselves ready, physically and mentally, has been a little bit hard, and then you throw Covid in there and shifting goalposts with the World Cup as well, as you can imagine it’s been quite hard to focus on the cricket.”It didn’t help that the first training session it rained cats and dogs. We haven’t had the best preparation but what we’ve got to do is try and make the most of it.”Changes to regulations while the squad was in the air mean players are currently unable to eat together at restaurants outdoors, although Knight was hopeful of that being relaxed at some stage.”Restrictions are in place to try and protect the integrity of the series, but we also need to make sure that we look after players and staff and everyone who’s out here as well,” she said. “We need to find that balance between trying to keep the integrity of the series and staying as safe as possible but also feeling like you can live within the restrictions with a tiny bit of freedom, which I think is important.”The switch to beginning the series with three T20Is has meant changes to planning – in particular how to get overs into the bowlers ahead of the Test – but Knight also suggested that T20 was her side’s “strongest format” and represented an opportunity to start the series well. She also said the disruption may help to “take the pressure off” against the No. 1-ranked Australians.”Of course there’s a frustration but it’s the times we’re living in at the moment,” she said. “It’s very challenging to tour with Covid around. The restrictions we’ve been under have changed as well, so just being adaptable to that has been quite tricky. As soon as you get your head around something, something else changes.”But we’ve got no other option but to try and make the most of it and do the best we can. Maybe it will take the pressure off, we’ve just got to find a way to free up, go out there and throw caution to the wind a bit. Mentally it’s going to be tough but we’re doing everything we can to try and get ourselves prepped and ready for the first game.”England are looking to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 2015, with three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test to be played under the multi-format points system. The touring party includes an England A squad, who will provide warm-up opposition before playing their own fixtures against Australia A.
Unless your name is Jose Mourinho, then goals galore has been the way forward for the majority of Premier League managers to create one of the most entertaining spectacles in world football.
Whether it’s been dramatic draws or ruthless thrashings, English football has been treated to some historic moments over the years, but who takes the crown for the highest-scoring game in Premier League history? We’ve taken a look at the six matches to feature 10 goals or more.
Rank
Match
Date
Portsmouth 7-4 Reading
September 2007
West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
May 2013
Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle
December 2012
Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal
August 2011
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan
November 2009
Tottenham 6-4 Reading
December 2007
The 11 biggest wins in Premier League history
These are some of the heaviest drubbings the league has ever seen.
ByRoss Kilvington Nov 13, 2024 6 Tottenham 6-4 Reading, December 2007 Four-goal Berbatov steals the show
Dimitar Berbatov for Spurs.
In a game that ended 6-4 to Tottenham Hotspur, the most surprising fact is that Reading were level with the north Londoners at 1-1 when the break arrived. It was, for those 45 minutes, like any other Saturday afternoon fixture.
But Dimitar Berbatov’s seventh-minute opener, followed by Kalifa Cisse’s equaliser just nine minutes later, were by no means signs of what was to come.
At one stage, Reading were even on course to seal the points, only for Berbatov to cancel the Royals out not once but twice on his way to a hat-trick.
After Ivar Ingimarsson struck, the forward first levelled things up to make it 2-2 before Dave Kitson’s effort forced the Bulgarian to take matters into his own hands yet again with arguably the finish of the afternoon, with the scores now at 3-3 by the time the clock struck minute 72.
However, Reading and Kitson weren’t done there, adding yet another goal to take the lead once again only for Steed Malbranque to step up to level things for a defiant Spurs.
There was no fightback from the Royals following Malbranque’s effort, who paved the way for Jermain Defoe’s goal to hand his side the lead with 12 minutes to go and Berbatov to steal the show with his fourth goal of the game in the 83rd minute.
5 Tottenham 9-1 Wigan, November 2009 Defoe enjoys five-star display as Tottenham thrash Wigan
Jermaine Defoe for Spurs.
As it turns out, anything Berbatov can do, Jermain Defoe can do better, much to the detriment of Wigan Athletic. Two years on from their 10-goal thriller with Reading, Tottenham enjoyed goals galore once again – and this time in far more comfortable fashion.
1-0 up at half-time courtesy of Peter Crouch, Defoe and the rest of the Lilywhites seemingly decided to change into their goalscoring boots at the break to hit Wigan for nine in sensational fashion.
Sealing the points and securing the match ball within the space of seven second-half minutes, Defoe found his first of five goals in the 51st minute before netting his hat-trick in the 58th following what proved to be a consolation from Paul Scharner a minute earlier. But Spurs weren’t done there.
In a ruthless mood, Aaron Lennon added a fourth and Defoe followed suit to stretch Spurs’ lead to 5-1 in the 69th minute. Many sides and many strikers would have been satisfied at that point, but Defoe found a fifth in the final three minutes of normal time before David Bentley and Niko Kranjcar turned a thrashing into a historic day for their side.
4 Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal, August 2011 Arsenal embarrassed at Old Trafford
Look away now, Arsenal fans. When it comes to Sir Alex Ferguson versus Arsene Wenger, Manchester United’s 8-2 thrashing of the Gunners is one that the former will enjoy looking back on a tad bit more than his counterpart.
This was the Red Devils at their ruthless best. As for the north London side, it almost sums up what was to come – this was Robin van Persie’s final trip to Old Trafford in Arsenal colours.
In the blink of an eye, Man United found themselves out of sight courtesy of Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young and the first of three Wayne Rooney goals. Theo Walcott’s effort just moments before the break gave Arsenal hope, but if ever that was crushed, it was in the second half.
Rooney recommenced the onslaught in the 64th minute before Nani made it a five-star display, with Park Ji-Sung ensuring the Gunners were hit for six.
Having missed a first-half penalty, Van Persie eventually got himself on the scoresheet at Old Trafford, only for Carl Jenkinson’s red card to open the door for further Arsenal embarrassment.
Completing his hat-trick, Rooney converted from the spot not long before Young found his brace for goal number eight. United had delivered a damning statement. Arsenal, in historic fashion, had been humiliated.
3 Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle, December 2012 Walcott stars as Arsenal reach seventh heaven
Theo Walcott for Arsenal.
A year on from their nightmare afternoon at Old Trafford, it was Arsenal who found themselves dishing out the goals as Theo Walcott became the star of the show.
Level at the break courtesy of efforts from the winger and Demba Ba, Arsenal and Newcastle United endured quite the 45 minutes in the second half.
Despite shipping seven goals, Newcastle gave themselves hope on two occasions after the interval.
Sylvain Marveaux’s effort levelled things up to cancel out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s effort and equalised once again courtesy of Ba’s second of the afternoon in response to Lukas Podolski’s header. However, that’s where the Magpies’ hope came to an end.
Sealing the three points, Walcott found his second just four minutes after Ba had equalised before Olivier Giroud’s quickfire brace in the final 10 minutes put the Gunners out of sight.
Star man Walcott then secured the match ball and a stunning 7-3 victory for his side at the Emirates.
2 West Brom 5-5 Man Utd, May 2013 Sir Alex Ferguson ends United career with ten-goal thriller
Sir Alex Ferguson's final game at Manchester United.
Even with nothing to play for and retirement to enjoy, it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if Sir Alex Ferguson ripped up his speech to give his side one final version of his infamous hairdryer treatment after they conceded a three-goal lead to eventually draw 5-5 against West Bromwich Albion in his final game.
The legendary manager was initially on course for the perfect farewell, with Manchester United sitting three goals to the good thanks to Shinji Kagawa, Jonas Olsson’s own goal and Alexander Buttner’s effort.
Even when James Morrison and substitute Romelu Lukaku handed West Brom hope, it looked as though the Red Devils would cruise to victory having gone on to gain a 5-2 lead through Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez.
Almost foreshadowing the post-Ferguson era, however, the Baggies soon bounced back to hand the Manchester United icon the most dramatic final 10 minutes of his Premier League career that nobody saw coming.
As the clock struck the 80th minute, so did Lukaku, with Youssouf Mulumbu following up soon after. Suddenly a goal away from a dramatic comeback, a young Lukaku ensured that it was out with the old and in with the new when he made it five apiece in the 86th minute.
1 Portsmouth 7-4 Reading, September 2007 Pompey put seven past Reading in 11-goal epic
Portsmouth in 2007.
It’s the second time that Reading have featured on this list, and the second time that they’ve found themselves on the wrong end of the history books, as Portsmouth put seven past the Royals.
On another frustrating afternoon for the visitors, Reading were just 2-1 down at the break after Benjani’s brace was followed up by Stephen Hunt’s effort. They even found themselves level just three minutes after the break courtesy of Dave Kitson, only for a flurry of goals to arrive.
First came Hermann Hreidarsson’s equaliser in the 55th minute to open the floodgates, with Niko Kranjcar striking and Benjani completing his hat-trick to follow suit not long after.
Shane Long’s effort did at least interrupt the Pompey goals, leaving the score at a 5-3 thriller, before Ivar Ingimarsson’s own goal and Sulley Muntari’s spot-kick put the home side further out of reach at 7-3.
Sol Campbell then deflected in Nicky Shorey’s strike to end matters in what proved to be a historic 7-4 epic.
USMNT legend says of health scare, 'If I get one of you to go to the doctor and get a checkup, this was all worth it'
Meola has health scare on the eve of his 56th birthdayEx-teammates and fans send well-wishes for a speedy recoveryUSMNT icon uses experience to encourage others to prioritize health checksGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
Tony Meola, former goalkeeper for the U.S. men's national team, had a heart attack on Thursday night, on the eve of his 56th birthday. The soccer community quickly rallied around the American soccer legend, with tributes and well-wishes pouring in from former teammates, fans, and soccer organizations.
Meola underwent an unspecified procedure after the heart attack. He told Front Row Soccer that he ran four miles last Saturday and had the heart attack five days later.
The former goalkeeper used this experience to advocate for regular health check-ups.
“If I get one of you to go to the doctor and get a checkup, this was all worth it for me,” Meola said, according to Front Row Soccer. “I’m going to be fine in a week, but I should have been smarter.”
AdvertisementTHE MESSAGES OF SUPPORTTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Meola, a legendary USMNT goalkeeper, earned 100 caps between 1988 and 2006. He represented the U.S. in three World Cups (1990, 1994, 2002) and was known for his shot-stopping abilities and leadership.
Meola's club career spanned various teams, including the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Kansas City Wizards, where he won the MLS Cup and MLS MVP in 2000. Post-retirement, Meola transitioned into coaching and broadcasting.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
Meola will focus on his rehabilitation and the broader message he's promoting about preventive health care.
Arsenal are eyeing a £50 million Barcelona target who Aston Villa manager Unai Emery rates “extremely highly”, with the north Londoners in the market for a new creative force.
Arsenal targeting new attacking midfielder for Arteta
The departure of crucial sporting director Edu Gaspar, who oversaw significant deals for the likes of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice during his tenure, provides a fresh challenge for Arsenal when it comes to tackling the transfer market.
Arsenal chiefs think they could mimic Odegaard signing in £25m playmaker
They’ve emerged as serious contenders to sign him.
ByEmilio Galantini Nov 19, 2024
As per some reports in the press, Arsenal are eyeing Luis Campos (PSG) and Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen) for the sporting director role, with Jason Ayto currently taking the position on an interim basis.
Nottingham Forest (home)
November 23
West Ham United (away)
November 30
Man United (home)
December 4
Fulham (away)
December 8
Everton (home)
December 14
Ayto was involved in a high-profile Arsenal transfer meeting in the USA last week (Charles Watts), where the topic of 2025 incomings was under discussion.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, managing director Richard Garlick, director Tim Lewis and the Kroenkes were also in attendance for the sit-down, and recent rumours suggest that an attacking midfield player could be on the agenda for next year.
Arteta has apparently floated the idea of a deal for Raphinha, amid the Brazilian’s exceptional run of form right now, while it is also believed that Arsenal have emerged as serious contenders to sign Arda Guler from Real Madrid.
Emirates Stadium officials apparently believe they could replicate the signing of Odegaard by tempting Guler to the Premier League, so this could be an interesting story to monitor considering the Turkey international’s struggle for game time at the Bernabeu.
More names are continuing to be linked in the build-up to January and next summer, with Villarreal star Alex Baena in the frame as well.
Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena.
The Spaniard was called up to represent the eventual Euro 2024 champions for their tournament triumph earlier this year, off the back of an incredible season where he finished 2023/2024 with more assists than any other player in La Liga.
His contract also includes a £50 million release clause, meaning Arsenal and Ayto could bypass club talks and head straight to the player himself to discuss terms.
Arsenal eyeing move for Emery and Barcelona target Alex Baena
As per The Boot Room, Arsenal could rival Aston Villa for the signing of Baena, who ex-boss Emery rates “extremely highly”.
The pair worked together at Villarreal, so he could be tempted by a reunion with his former manager, but the pull of a move to title-chasing Arsenal may also be hard to ignore.
Baena is also a wanted man at Barcelona, which sums up the 23-year-old’s sheer quality, and there are few players who’ve had a better 2024 than him.
“I defy you to find a U-23 player who’s had a better 2024 than Álex Baena,” wrote journalist Zach Lowy on X.
“May 26: Finishes as top assist provider in La Liga,
“July 14: Wins the Euro title with Spain,
“August 9: Scores a goal & assist in the Olympic final vs. France,
The current interim head coach is the favourite to be Justin Langer’s permanent replacement
Andrew McGlashan10-Feb-2022Australia’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch has lauded the “calm” character of Andrew McDonald who is emerging as the frontrunner to replace Justin Langer as head coach.McDonald, who was already set to oversee the T20I series against Sri Lanka before Langer resigned, will now also be in charge for the tour of Pakistan next month in his role of interim head coach while the permanent replacement is chosen. He has previously stood in for Langer on limited-overs tours of India and New ZealandFinch emphasised that, as with Langer’s departure, the final decision on who takes the role is not one for the players to make but was full of praise for McDonald’s qualities. He has a long association with McDonald having played under him with Melbourne Renegades and Victoria as well as Australia.Related
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“He brings a lot of respect from the players, a calm approach, never seems to get flustered by any situation or result,” Finch said. “He brings a really good attitude and he’s been with the group for quite a while now.””I’ve worked with him for a long time, we played together for a long time, I know he’s very good at his job. Again, like everything that has gone before us, the players don’t make those decisions. We give our opinions, we give our feedback and that’s about it.”Whoever takes on the head coach position full-time in the coming months, they will have Australia’s T20 World Cup title defence in October to prepare for on home soil.”There’s quite a bit of pressure on after winning the World Cup, it does raise expectations, but we feel we’ve played some really good T20 cricket recently so we are excited,” Finch said. “Especially [with] us winning it in the UAE, that was something not many people gave us a chance to do. They would have given us a more realistic chance at home, so it certainly raises the pressure no doubt. But when you play for Australia there’s pressure on every series and tournament.”When Langer resigned, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed they would be looking for a single replacement rather than splitting the head coach role between Tests and limited-overs cricket although he did signal an increasing use of assistants and specialist coaches.”A collaborative approach with the players is very important,” Finch said. “When you’ve got different formats and guys are rotating in and out, creating a consistent environment is really important in that regard.”Following Pat Cummins’ comments on Wednesday, Finch reiterated that the Australia teams were now much different to the sides that Langer took over in 2018 but he was full of praise for the role the former head coach had played.”The group is in a really different space from four years ago. It’s quite an experienced group,” he said. “JL did an amazing job for four years and that ended with a brilliant T20 World Cup win and a 4-0 Ashes win. As a playing group we couldn’t thank him enough and the amount of work he’s done for me as a batter, a leader, a person, has been fantastic.”
FIFA's expanded tournament previously only had an agreement with DAZN, but broadcast now in the mix
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Club World Cup gets U.S. TV deal with TNTPreviously agreed global streaming deal with DAZN2025 competition features expanded field from seven to 32 teamsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
With less than four months until the tournament begins, FIFA has found a U.S.-based broadcaster to air a percentage of matches for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
TNT Sports will broadcast 24 of 63 matches this summer, on networks TNT, TBS, and truTV thanks to a deal with DAZN.
TNT will air matches of teams U.S. fans know best, such as Inter Miami and Paris Saint-Germain, while DAZN will still carry all 63 matches globally, streaming them for free.
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FIFA announced their agreement with DAZN in December to stream matches for a reported $1 billion.
previously reported that Apple TV was interested in getting TV rights, but those talks collapsed. The New York Times reported the deal was worth nearly $1 billion dollars prior to collapsing.
“Partnering with DAZN to present the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 further bolsters our sports portfolio this summer and brings another world-class event to our TNT Sports portfolio,” TNT sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to this new partnership with DAZN as we collectively deliver this exciting new global soccer club competition in the US this summer.”
Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group, added: “The combined expertise of DAZN and TNT Sports will deliver what FIFA and fans want – a tournament for generations to remember. With our new partners at Warner Brothers. Discovery, DAZN will enhance and expand production, marketing, and ad sales for the tournament, to maximize engagement and reach and ensure that fans receive the very best viewing experience.”
DID YOU KNOW?
The 2025 Club World Cup is featuring an expanded field from seven to 32 teams for the first time, but it hasn't come without controversy. Scrutiny has arrived due to FIFA's expanded calendar over the past year, highlighted by match congestion and a lack of care for the amount of games players are featuring in.
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J.LEAGUEWHAT NEXT FOR THE CLUB WORLD CUP?
The 2025 Club World Cup kicks off on June 14 in Miami and runs through the final in New Jersey on July 13. The two U.S. based teams competing in the competition will be MLS sides Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders.
The Group Stage draw occurred last December, with the opening matches of the competition confirmed ahead of the highly anticipated tournament.