All posts by n8rngtd.top

The centre-back has shown immense potential since breaking into Xavi's line-up, but is better off being rested for two meaningless friendlies

Pau Cubarsi has been turning heads at Barcelona. Xavi has admitted that the defender's passing range is among the best he has ever seen. Ronald Araujo, meanwhile, compared him to Gerard Pique, while fellow teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal dubbed him one of the best in the world.

To an extent, all three were correct in their summations. The centre-back has burst onto the scene for Barca over the past six weeks, looking every bit the La Masia graduate who can shepherd the Blaugrana backline that the club has craved for years.

This is undoubtedly reason for excitement. Xavi's side have endured a miserable season, full of injuries, poor results, and the ultimate collapse of what seemed to be a promising title defence that has led to the manager's decision to walk away at the end of it. The club has been looking for positives to cling onto, and Cubarsi's emergence – along with that of Yamal – is certainly one.

But, like so many youth products to rise through the Barca academy system, those good vibes could yet be squashed. And once again, the Spanish national team are to blame.

Manager Luis de la Fuente has called-up Cubarsi for Spain's friendlies against Colombia and Brazil, offering a starry-eyed 17-year-old the opportunity to represent his country. But for Barca, who have seen so many of their top talents either drained or injured in part due to the rigours of international football, Cubarsi is better off at home.

The teenager was never going to turn down a national team call-up, but Spain should know better than to throw another immensely-talented youngster into the fire before he has settled in at a senior level.

• Getty Images
  

  Rapid rise

  Perhaps because of his position on the pitch, Cubarsi hadn't been spoken about in the same glowing terms as some other recent La Masia graduates, such as Gavi, Yamal and Alejandro Balde. Still, Cubarsi captained youth teams at numerous levels, and in 2022, became the third-youngest Barcelona player to make an appearance in the UEFA Youth League.

  Xavi rewarded him shortly after, calling the centre-back up to first-team training in 2023. Prior to this season, though, Cubarsi figured to be a player-in-waiting for Barca's reserve side. He started the season with Barca Athletic, making nine appearances for the team which plays in the Spanish third division before coming anywhere near the senior team.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Breakthrough

  On January 18, Barcelona were carved apart by a Spanish third-division side – albeit briefly. Unionistas de Salamanca, whose stadium seats a mere 6,000 fans, made Barca panic in the first half of their Copa del Rey tie. They led 1-0 after 30 minutes, as a sweeping move made an experienced Blaugrana unit fall apart in conceding.

  At half-time, Xavi turned to his bench to amend things. Cubarsi was his first call, the centre-back brought into the fray to shore things up for a Barca defence that looked like it could collapse at any second. In 45 minutes, he won every tackle he made, touched the ball 65 times, and completed 93 percent of his passes. If there were supposed to be any nerves associated with being a 16-year-old entrusted with turning around a game that was in danger of slipping away, then they weren't to be found here.

  The manager sang Cubarsi's praises at full-time. "He's very well prepared," Xavi said in his post-game news conference. "He doesn't seem 16 when you speak with him. He is a focused and responsible kid. I don't think he lost a single ball, either.

  Since then, Cubarsi has made 12 further first-team appearances, becoming a regular alongside Araujo, and has now received a call-up to the national side.

• Getty Images
  

  Showered in praise

  Praise for Cubarsi's performances has poured in from all over the footballing world; that is how it works for those who don the Blaugrana. Comparisons to legends of the game haven't been hard to find, either.

  "Technically, [Pique] always offered a solution," began Araujo when asked about his new defensive partner. "He reminds me a little bit of Pau Cubarsi, because he has something of him, he’s very smart. The truth is that he has unbelievable talent at just 17 years old."

  Former Bayern Munich and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, meanwhile, has suggested that Cubarsi could be better than both Pique and Carles Puyol, telling after the teenager's Man-of-the-Match-worthy display against Napoli in the Champions League: "He played ridiculously good, that is a star now, a star of the future. He’s obviously completely different from Puyol, Pique was brilliant, but I think his long-range passing is better than any of those. By far."

  But perhaps the most flattering adulation came in the gossip columns, when Spanish publication reported that Pep Guardiola is monitoring the teenager, and hopes to bring him into the Manchester City setup.

  Cubarsi, for his part, has tried to ease the hype. "I will just keep working to make sure things keep going well,” he said. But the excitement, both from within Catalunya and beyond, simply cannot be controlled.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Spain's wonderkid woes

  The expectations placed on teenagers in recent times has, however, been an area of tension in Spain. A concerning pattern has emerged of the national team calling-up inexperienced youngsters to the senior squad as soon as they start playing first-team football at club level, only for them to burn out and begin to suffer from injury problems before they've even entered their early-20s.

  Spain, of course, are not unique in this respect. Most national sides want to fast-track their best talents into the senior team. There is no shame in wanting to win. But, whether it be by bad luck or poor judgement, La Roja have have played a role in a handful of young careers that are at risk of being ruined by fitness woes, with Barca trio Ansu Fati, Gavi, and Pedri having all either sustained major injuries or seen their young legs battered while playing for their country.

  Part of the blame can be laid at former coach Luis Enrique's door, but it is a pattern that has continued under De la Fuente. Gavi had only started three games for Barcelona when he was first called-up as a 17-year-old in October 2021. Yamal, meanwhile, had only made five appearances when he was handed his international debut as a 16-year-old in September 2023.

  Pedri had the opposite problem, and was 42 appearances into his first season at Barca as an 18-year-old when Luis Enrique decided he was going to make him the fulcrum of his Euro 2020 team – before allowing him, inexplicably, to represent the country at the Olympics just weeks after that tournament had ended. Unsurprisingly, his hamstrings have never been the same.

  Fati was also rushed into international action despite injury concerns – bringing about workload issues that undoubtedly contributed to his chronic knee injuries.

Aston Villa have progressed encouragingly since the arrival of Unai Emery in October 2022, however there is still a long way to go for the Villans before their expectations are achieved.

In his first season at Villa Park, Emery took the side he inherited from Steven Gerrard from 16th place to 7th, transforming the level of standard in the Midlands and landing Villa a place in the 2023/24 Europa Conference League.

With the former Arsenal boss firmly guiding his squad in the right direction, highlighted by their start to the Premier League season as they sit just one point below the top four, the future looks to be bright for the Villans.

As well as improving the situation on the pitch, Emery was joined by former colleague at Sevilla, Monchi, to orchestrate a successful summer of transfers, as five high profile acquisitions arrived to bolster the squad at Villa Park.

The Spanish duo shattered Villa’s record-transfer fee to welcome £51.9m forward Moussa Diaby to the club, with the highly-rated 24-year-old’s decision to join Villa telling of how far the side had progressed since the new manager’s arrival.

Despite starting this season well and hiring strongly in the summer, the January transfer window is fast approaching, with one name linked to Villa after being rumoured to be of interest to the Midlands club during the summer market.

Who could Aston Villa sign in January?

According to new reports, Aston Villa are speculated to be one of the sides eyeing Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

As reported by 90min, Villa are joined by West Ham United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur as those monitoring the 27-year-old’s situation as he struggles to secure game time for the treble winners.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Midlands side have been linked to the Englishman, with the Times suggesting that the Villans were the frontrunners to secure his signature last summer in a deal rumoured to be worth £60m as his future at Leeds United was questioned.

Rumours resurfaced this summer after his first season at City, as Football Insider named Villa as an interested party in the midfielder, claiming that they were not put off by his desire to remain in Manchester.

While reports remain purely as speculation, given Villa’s previous admiration for the former Leeds dynamo, the movements of Phillips in the January transfer window could be something to keep an eye on.

How much is Kalvin Phillips worth?

After spending £45m to welcome the Englishman to the Etihad, times have been far from smooth for Phillips, despite picking up medals in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in his first season in Manchester.

The 27-year-old has had the privilege of witnessing history unfold in the 2022/23 campaign at City, watching from the bench more than being part of it as he played just 593 minutes over the entirety of the season in all competitions.

After capturing the eye of Pep Guardiola due to his formidable performances at Leeds, the midfielder has faced the harsh reality of being a sporadic player low in the ranks at City, with those ahead of him in the pecking order carrying a world-class calibre.

As a result, the Englishman’s market value has taken a huge decline, signing as a £45m talent to currently sporting a value of just €10m (£8.7m), attributive to his first year at City being spent primarily on the bench.

With the European Championships coming in 2024, there are some questions to be asked as to whether Phillips can afford to continue to occupy a sporadic role at the Etihad, as his career ticks away and his actual ability is less thought about.

How much does Kalvin Phillips earn?

After spending his entire career at Leeds prior to his move to Manchester, there was little debate to be had when it came to Phillips’ choice to make the bold decision to leave his boyhood club.

At Elland Road, the midfielder was living the dream, playing at the top of his game for his club while picking up a weekly wage of £30k-per-week, a figure that rocketed when he flew the nest.

Currently, the City outsider collects £150k-per-week, earning more than first-team starlet Julian Alvarez, who earns £50k-per-week less than the Englishman.

In his first year with the Sky Blues, Phillips picked up a sum of £7.8m, which is mind-blowing when realising that the midfielder was paid around £1.95m-per-start for the four starts he made across the entire campaign.

Where could Kalvin Phillips fit in at Villa?

There is a lot to be said of Phillips’ mentality, however it’s somewhat over-ambitious and borderline naive to believe that there is some practicality in battling a midfield phenomenon as inevitable as Rodri for a place in the squad.

It’s unfortunate that the former Leeds man's talent and career trajectory so far has amounted to him being a bench player, especially when considering how different his progression could have been if he joined Villa instead of City in 2022.

He wouldn’t have won any of the accolades that he did last season, but he wouldn’t be in the situation of having to look for solutions to prevent his career from derailing due to lack of game time.

January could be the perfect time for Villa to finally join forces with the Englishman, who could give to Emery’s side as much as they could give back.

Rumours of potential interest in Phillips has surfaced at a time when a midfield vacancy could well be evident in the squad soon, as question marks have appeared over the future of summer acquisition Youri Tielemans.

The Belgian is said to have a ropey relationship with Emery, as reported by Football Insider, and has already gone public while on international duty about his frustrations with not having sufficient game time at Villa Park.

In Phillips, Emery could not only capture a replacement for the wantaway Belgian, but also an upgrade on the former Leicester City star.

If you rewind to the 2021/22 campaign, it’s clear to see just why Villa were interested in the Englishman, and why he was appreciated by Guardiola, for his rounded contribution in the middle of the park.

As highlighted in the table above, Phillips has far more of a box-to-box ability than Tielemans, based on his average defensive contribution in the midfield.

This element of his game may come as more of a use to Emery, considering how he favours to line up his midfield in a free-flowing formation, with the City ace having the ability to fulfil the combative elements in the engine room as well as being a competent passer.

Once lauded as “phenomenal” by Fabio Capello, who was full of enthusiasm for the Englishman and his compatriot Declan Rice, Phillips could be handed a chance to revive his career at an exciting time at Villa, in a role that could see him usurp Tielemans.

After two years away, the superstar Chelsea forward is finally back to reclaim her place ahead of this summer's tournament

The world has seen plenty of Catarina Macario over the last few years. They've seen her highs and her lows. They've seen her rise through the ranks at Stanford and become a U.S. women's national team star. In some ways, the world has seen Macario grow up.

One thing Macario did not want the world to see, though, were her tears. They'd seen plenty of other emotions from her, but the last thing she wanted everyone to see was her crying.

She wanted to, though, when she entered the field for Chelsea on March 3. By coming on in a clash with Leicester City, Macario finally ended 641 days of injury hell. It's a long time out, so you can't blame her for holding back the tears when she finally got that moment.

"It just really felt like a dream," she said. "It just felt surreal. Looking back at the 641 days, it kind of just all happened in the blink of an eye if that makes sense, and then it's like 'Oh, okay, so we're playing now'. I felt like crying but, at the same time, like not because, well, first of all, I'm in public!"

It's been about a month since that return and, at least for this week, Macario's focus has shifted. She's back with the USWNT, and at the perfect time, too. The Olympics are coming, after all.

• Getty
  

  Missing the World Cup

  The nightmare began all the way back in 2022.

  It was Lyon's final game of the 2021-22 season, a 4-0 domination of Issy on June 1 of that year. The league was already in the bag. They'd won it three days earlier by beating Paris Saint-Germain. It was time to celebrate the season with one more big performance. Macario lasted just 13 minutes. She was stretchered off, later confirming the worst a few days later: a torn ACL.

  So much has happened since. Macario switched clubs, joining Chelsea this past summer. She missed dozens of games for club and country. Most notably, though, she missed the World Cup. It's hard not to wonder what could have been. What would the USWNT have looked like with a creator like Macario on the field?

  Ultimately, she wasn't there, and the U.S. fell short. Their Round of 16 elimination at the hands of Sweden was their worst-ever World Cup finish. Macario could only watch on helplessly.

  "You need to take things into perspective," Macario said, "and I feel like everything works out for a reason. I think the way that I've been able to cope has just been really leaning on my support system, like my friends and family. They've come and visited me, and that helped a lot. It was actually quite sunny over the summer in London, which helped a lot! It felt like it was a little bit back home in San Diego or Brazil!

  "It's just trying to focus on the little bit of things that I could control. Obviously, it did take a lot longer than I expected, which was devastating. The most important thing is that now I'm back and I hope that I can contribute to the team as much as possible."

Advertisement

• Chelsea FC
  

  Life in London

  They say every cloud has a silver lining. Yes, even two years of injury rehab. Macario's long layoff offered her the opportunity to do something she hadn't really gotten to do in the few years prior: breathe.

  This past summer was nice. Having moved to London to join Chelsea in June, Macario was given some time to settle in. Not through choice, of course. She'd much rather have been playing from the start. But, when you can't play and you're alone in a big new city, it is quite tempting to explore.

  "What I've been able to enjoy the most is that, when I got there, obviously I wasn't playing so I got to experience London a little bit as a tourist," she said. "That was like, really fun. I had a lot of friends and family come visit me which definitely made the time go by faster. I just got to explore the city a little bit, go to a few like jazz clubs or like comedy clubs or just see a few musicals, which are things that I love. That's what Cat the person likes to do. That was something that I found really fun and entertaining and it just has made me very happy."

  When asked about those musicals, Macario admitted that she's seen Hamilton twice. "Highly recommend," she says. Lion King, Les Miserables and Matilda are also among her favorites.

  But tourist time is over. Macario is now solely focused on recreating herself on the field.

• Getty
  

  A long-awaited return

  Macario begins by giving all credit to Chelsea. How many clubs would sign a player dealing with an ACL tear? How many clubs would give her the grace and resources to recover in a way that's best for her, not the club?

  She's only just gotten there, but Macario already feels pretty at home in Chelsea blue.

  Macario scored in that first match back in March, announcing to the rest of the world that she was ready to go. She then came off the bench to score the winner in a 1-0 FA Cup win over Everton. And then, in the Champions League, Macario provided a fine assist to continue her comeback.

  "I obviously knew that I had been working towards that for a while, " she began, "but I think probably the biggest thing was just getting over that mental hurdle that was like, 'Okay, I'm good to play again, I got this'. You just have to rip off the band-aid, I guess. It all just really felt surreal, and to have
  scored, I was not expecting that at all! I was just like, 'Well, I'm just happy to be on the pitch again and to be with my teammates', and then when that happens, I'm like, 'Oh, my God!'

  "That's kind of how I feel for the national team as well. Obviously it's a it's a huge honor to represent the U.S. and to wear the jersey. I feel like I'm just grateful, above everything, just to be here again. I just hope to do well and to make a good impact."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Big USWNT stars back in the fold

  The SheBelieves Cup is massive for the USWNT. Not only is it crucial for Olympic prep. Not only is there a trophy on the line. It's also the return of two USWNT stars – both of whom could start at the Olympics this summer.

  Macario is one, of course. There's a chance she steps right into the XI to provide that creative spark the U.S. lacked at the World Cup. Macario could have been the team's secret weapon last summer, and she still could be this summer.

  The USWNT attack is stacked. Some combination of Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw and Alex Morgan will likely be the starters. Could Macario get in? Possibly… perhaps as a No.10 ahead of two holding midfielders or perhaps in one of those wider spots as a playmaking winger. Macario's ability to make things happen could be vital to a U.S. team that lacked that ability this past summer.

  The other returnee could be huge, too. Mal Swanson is back as well, one year after her own devastating injury. Just months before the World Cup, the winger tore the patellar tendon in her left knee, knocking her out for the past 12 months.

  She recently returned herself, scoring for the Chicago Red Stars. Swanson is another player that could be massive for the USWNT attack. She very well could come for one of those wing spots, reclaiming what was lost when she went down a year ago.

  "There are no words to describe how good Mal is," Macario said. "Honestly, she makes us so much better. She's the type of player that you always want to play with. Even though I got injured a little bit before her, I was just absolutely gutted for her because she was really in the form of her life leading up to the World Cup, and I have no doubt that she'll get there again.

  "We'll hopefully be slicing and dicing the competition again soon."

West Bromwich Albion have been handed another injury blow to one of their most regular features, with a reliable journalist delivering an update on the player's fitness based on what he's heard from the Hawthorns.

What's the latest injury news at West Brom?

As it stands, Carlos Corberan has Semi Ajayi, John Swift, Daryl Dike, Jeremy Sarmiento, Josh Maja, Adam Reach and Martin Kelly all out on the sidelines with their own respective problems, and another casualty has now joined them in the treatment room.

The Baggies secured a much-needed 2-0 home victory over Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Tuesday evening, but despite the positive result, there was a negative to occur for the boss in the form of losing one of his stars to injury.

Cedric Kipre was forced off the pitch after 86 minutes and was replaced by Caleb Taylor after contesting a high ball, which will cause a real concern among supporters because he’s been one of their most utilised players this season.

The Ivory Coast centre-back has started 12 out of the 13 games in the second tier since the start of the campaign (WhoScored – Kipre statistics), though if the following update is to be believed, the 26-year-old will have to wait a while longer before he’s making his next appearance.

Cedric Kipre injury update

Taking to X, Darren Witcoop shared an injury update on Cedric Kipre and confirmed that West Brom's defender is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and that he will learn the extent of his problem when he travels for a scan in the near future.

"West Brom fear Cedric Kipre faces a long lay off with a serious knee injury. Kipre went against QPR tonight and the defender, who has been in good form with the Baggies, faces a scan to determine the extent of the injury."

How good is Cedric Kipre?

According to journalist Josh Bunting, Kipre is a “fantastic” defender at this level, which he’s proven so far this season by averaging 3.6 clearances per game in the Championship (WhoScored – Kipre statistics), but that’s not all that he's capable of at the heart of the backline.

Standing at 6 foot 3, Corberan’s colossus has also won 14 out of his 23 tackles made since the start of the current term, which is not only the most but also the joint best success rate throughout the whole of the squad in the Midlands (FBRef – West Brom statistics).

Therefore, West Brom will know that losing the services of Kipre for the foreseeable future would be a huge blow if the worst possible news is confirmed following his scan, so there’s a chance that the boss may need to enter the market to find a replacement at centre-back during the upcoming transfer window in January.

One "key" Chelsea player has apparently opened talks to join a new club and it could even happen in January.

Chelsea stars who may leave

Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino could add more new names to his squad in January, but there are a few squad members who also seem set for the exit door.

Chelsea already moved to offload a host of players over the summer transfer window, raising around £230 million in the process (Transfermarkt). Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi were all either sold or loaned out before deadline day.

The aforementioned crop may soon be joined by defender Trevoh Chalobah, who is apparently "90%" likely to leave Chelsea in January. As well as Chalobah, it is believed left-back Ian Maatsen is "set" to depart Stamford Bridge, coming after talks over a new deal for the Dutchman went nowhere. Chelsea are apparently searching for Maatsen's replacement too.

There had been some suggestions in past weeks that Marc Cucurella could leave, but those reports have died down somewhat, as the Spaniard is now featuring regularly under Pochettino. Thiago Silva, who's started all 11 of their Premier League games this season, is out of contract at the end of 2023/2024 – so he seems destined to leave next year.

Thiago Silva opens Fluminese talks

The Brazilian has been an incredible servant since joining on a free transfer from PSG in 2020. Silva has gone on to become a fan favourite and recently described as a "key player" by journalist Pete O'Rourke for Football Insider.

Silva is a veteran of the game and helped Chelsea to a 2021 Champions League triumph at the expense of Man City. Sharing an update on his future, journalist Jorge Nicola has told his YouTube channel that the 39-year-old's talks to join Fluminese next year are "underway". While this is over a summer move, Silva's contract expiry date means that a winter exit is also possible – albeit a "small chance".

The South American ace has been praised by Chelsea teammates, like Benoit Badiashile, who told talkSPORT that he's a "real leader".

"First and foremost, it's a real honour to play alongside him," said Badiashile on Silva this year.

"And do you know what? For a young player like me, he's someone that makes things easy. He's a legend, isn't he? He's a real leader, he's very, very experienced of course. Any of the advice that he gives me is always welcome, he's advised me not only when we've been playing – he's spoken to me during the game.

"But also before the game and in training as well. So he's someone that you can only learn alongside. And as I say, it's an absolute honour to line up alongside him."

Paul Mullin delivered his trademark fist pumps to Wrexham fans following confirmation of their promotion, but almost injured himself in the process!

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Dragons on their way to League One
• Top-three finish wrapped up
• Another brace for prolific frontman

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons are heading back to the third tier of English football after wrapping up a top-three finish in League Two. Another step up the EFL ladder was confirmed after thumping Forest Green Rovers 6-0 at SToK Racecourse.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Prolific frontman Mullin, who has passed 100 goals for the club, helped himself to another brace in that convincing win. There were wild scenes of celebration in North Wales at the final whistle, with jubilant supporters flooding onto the pitch.

• WATCH THE CLIP

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT MULLIN SAID

  Once the crowds had cleared, Mullin was able to go through his Jurgen Klopp-esque fist pump routine – which has become customary after a big victory for Wrexham. The 29-year-old was, however, feeling the effects of a long, hard season and claimed to have got cramp when getting the fans going.

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino expects Lionel Messi to play in the lead up up to the Copa America with his side only left in one competition.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Martino says Messi will play
• Miami only have MLS games
• Jordi Alba to miss Nashville game

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Martino said he expects Messi to stay in the starting lineup despite the summer tournament fast approaching. The former Barcelona manager cited his side's elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup as a reason, with less rotation needed given the lighter schedule. However, he did confirm that Jordi Alba will miss Miami's clash with Nashville SC on Saturday with a muscle issue.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Miami currently sit in first place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 15 points from their opening nine games despite missing Messi for four of them. Martino said he should have a full squad, bar Alba and Federico Redondo, from now until the Copa America and Olympics – the first of which kicks off on June 20 in the USA.

• WHAT MARTINO SAID

  On Messi, Martino said, as quoted by : "There's nothing special right now with Messi. We will be playing games on the weekends for the next few weeks, we just have one midweek game against Orlando City.

  "We will evaluate those moments once the schedule begins to compress, but I don't think we need to analyze a special plan [for Messi] because he feels good. He's working well on a day-to-day basis, and at the pace we are going we will remain in the same way."

  Regarding Alba, he added: "Jordi suffered a muscle injury, he will miss this upcoming match and the next one. After that, we will begin evaluating on a game-by-game basis."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND MIAMI?

  Miami will look to stay top of the table with a home win against Nashville Saturday before a meeting with second-placed New York Red Bulls next week, who are only behind on goal difference but have played a game fewer. As for Messi, he will aim to get back to his best ahead of the Copa with Argentina gunning for a third major honour in a row following their World Cup triumph.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is no stranger to spending big money in the transfer market and his next quest in the market has now been identified, according to reports.

Chelsea's transfer activity…

In the summer window, the Blues made a major splash in the market by bringing in exciting young faces such as Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Christopher Nkunku.

With any bedding in process regarding new players, some fare better than others, which is reflected in the fact that Chelsea sit tenth in the Premier League table, having taken 16 points from their opening 12 fixtures.

Nevertheless, Argentinian coach Pochettino is keen to strengthen his side even further over the next window or two. Recent reports have suggested that Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen is on the radar at Stamford Bridge and the Nigeria international has indicated that he is open to a move to west London.

CaughtOffside report that Chelsea have also met with Brentford striker Ivan Toney's entourage as bringing a number nine into the building continues to be a pressing priority for Pochettino. Arsenal are also strong contenders to acquire the England international. Despite initial claims that Toney could leave Brentford for £80-100 million, the outlet signify that the 27-year-old could be available for as little as £55 million.

One Spanish publication has speculated that Barcelona winger Raphinha is another name in Chelsea's sights as the Blues aim to add more variety in the final third to help break down opposition backlines. Despite this, midfield is another area where Chelsea are plotting potential signings, and one report has now revealed that the Premier League giants have a significant advantage in the chase for a young star.

Chelsea lead Gabriel Moscardo race

Taking to social media platform X, Evening Standard football correspondent Nizaar Kinsella has issued an update regarding Chelsea's pursuit of Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, claiming that the Blues are now "leading the race" for the 18-year-old, who is "one for the future".

In the attached report from the Evening Standard, it is claimed that it could cost interested suitors a fee in the region of £26 million to tempt Moscardo to seek a new challenge. Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool are also keen on the Brazil Under-23 international; however, Corinthians will not discuss his potential sale until after their presidential elections have concluded on November 25th.

Moscardo, who has been labelled "unique" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, primarily operates as a defensive midfielder and has won 2.1 tackles per fixture alongside making 1.3 clearances and 1.1 interceptions per appearance in the Brazilian top-flight (Moscardo statistics – WhoScored).

In an already crowded midfield environment, Moscardo would be likely to fall under the umbrella of being another long-term project for Pochettino to develop at Stamford Bridge if he were to move to the English capital.

Phil Parkinson says Wrexham need to "sit down & resolve" the fact that nine of their players are out of contract this summer after earning promotion.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wrexham promoted to League One
• Nine players out of contract
• Parkinson wants quick resolution

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After securing a second straight promotion last weekend, manager Parkinson has turned his attention to the futures of his soon-to-be out of contract players. They include goalkeepers Mark Howard, Rob Lainton, and Liam Hall, defenders Callum McFadzean, Aaron Hayden, Jordan Tunnicliffe, and Ben Tozer, and midfielders James McClean and Luke Young. Stopper Arthur Okonkwo, who has been on a season-long loan from Arsenal, is out of contract at his parent club, with the Red Dragons reportedly considering recruiting him permanently.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

  He said, via BBC Sport: "We've got a lot of players out of contract, so we need to sit down and resolve that. Our first job is treating the out-of-contract players respectfully. Last year we didn't have many out of contract, but this year is different. Those talks are important and it is important that we get them done sooner rather than later."

  Parkinson added: "I have been very much focused on the team and getting the job done, but naturally conversations are always going on about budgets, whatever division we were going to end up in and possible players. We are ahead of schedule on those discussions without a doubt. The planning for recruitment can start right away. So it is a really exciting summer that lies ahead of us. The massive challenge for us is can we build this squad strongly to challenge in League One, and I am really looking forward to taking on that challenge throughout the summer months."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After securing their passage into League One, Wrexham will face their toughest test yet and if they want to continue their run of promotions, co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will need to decide which players to sign, which are released, and how much they will back Parkinson financially. The Hollywood actors want to see the Welsh outfit in the Premier League one day but that will take a lot of investment from the popular duo.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Wrexham, who sit third in League Two behind Mansfield Town and Stockport County, are away to play-off chasing Crewe Alexandra on Saturday before rounding off their season at home to top of the table Stockport on April 27. The pressure, though, is very much off.

Manchester United prospective investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has no intention of letting go of one star at Old Trafford and he believes the man in question can have a key role in the Red Devils' future under his leadership, according to reports.

Manchester United exit rumours..

Anyone who has a basic grasp on events at Old Trafford will be able to tell you that off-field problems have mounted at Manchester United over the last few years as the Premier League giants continue to perform below expectation. This term, Jadon Sancho has hit the headlines due to a public feud with Erik ten Hag that has still yet to reach a resolution, after the England international responded to criticism of his performances in training by accusing the Dutchman of making him a scapegoat.

Now, former Borussia Dortmund man Sancho is being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia ahead of the January transfer window. Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq were keen on his services during the summer and once the New Year rolls around, more sides from the Gulf region could offer the winger an escape route from his Old Trafford nightmare.

One other player who has attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League in recent times is club captain Bruno Fernandes, who reports in Spain suggest is being lined up for a €100million (£87 million) move to the Middle East.

Earlier this month, journalist Rudy Galetti took to social media platform X to reveal that the Saudi Public Investment Fund are planning to meet with Fernandes' representatives to discuss a shock transfer, as he stated: "PIF is already taking some concrete steps ahead of the next summer transfer session. Bruno Fernandes is emerging among the targets on the list: some representatives are set to contact and meet his entourage to explore the room of negotiation."

In the aftermath of Manchester United's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in October, pundit Roy Keane issued some scathing criticism of the Portugal international, stating on Sky Sports: "Today having watched him again I would take the captaincy off him 100 per cent. I know it's a big decision, obviously they changed the captaincy with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material."

Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans to build around Bruno Fernandes

According to a report from Football Insider, prospective Manchester United investor Ratcliffe wants to keep Fernandes around at Old Trafford and actually even build his vision around the talented midfielder.

The outlet claim that the 29-year-old is happy at Manchester United and Ratcliffe plans to fend off any interest from Saudi Arabia once he inherits control of footballing matters at the Red Devils, rating the Portugal international very highly.

Despite criticism regarding his displays, Fernandes has averaged around three shots and 2.7 key passes per match in the Premier League this term, providing a valuable creative outlet for Manchester United (Fernandes statistics – WhoScored).

Now, it looks as if his long-term future at the club is secure as United aim to enter the hunt for Champions League qualification over the coming months.