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Arsenal are now seen as the most likely landing spot for a £38 million forward who's currently representing his country at Euro 2024, despite there being very few previous links.

Edu and Arteta targeting striker and new winger for Arsenal

The north Londoners, according to various reports recently, are targeting a new striker and winger ahead of a potential third successive Premier League title race with Man City next season.

Related Mikel Arteta really wants forward and Arsenal may sign him after £37m price drop

He’s “massively admired” by the Spaniard.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 26, 2024

Indeed, sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta are believed to be on the hunt for a prolific new centre-forward who can lead their line – prompting Arsenal to make a previous offer for Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian rejected their advances, though, instead putting pen to paper on a new deal at RB Leipzig and remaining in the Bundesliga until next summer at least. Following their failed move for Sesko, some reports have claimed that Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, though reliable media sources are yet to back these claims.

Arsenal's top scorers in all competitions last season

Goals

Bukayo Saka

20

Leandro Trossard

17

Kai Havertz

14

Martin Odegaard

11

Gabriel Jesus

8

Gunners correspondent Charles Watts has said that Arsenal could bring in a wide player as well, leading to links with the likes of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams and Wolves star Pedro Neto most recently.

However, some doubts have emerged over a potential move for the former, as it is believed his salary could be extortionate and that may upset some members of Arteta's squad.

"In Williams’ case, the wages are also understood to be a pretty significant issue," said Watts to CaughtOffside this week.

"Athletic Club are big payers. They have to be to ensure they keep their team together given the unique way the club operates. So Williams is on good money and the word is that interested clubs have been surprised by the wages he would want to move this summer.

“Arsenal are good payers, but they have a wage bill that they have worked hard to get in check in recent years. So they won’t do anything stupid and undo that hard work. Williams is a talent, but he is still young and relatively inexperienced. For Arsenal to immediately make him one of the highest earners would be a risk, because it could unsettle the squad a bit, especially if he were to come in and suddenly be earning more than some of the experienced players who have been at the club for a while."

Luckily for the Gunners, an astute alternative could be Euro 2024 ace and Belgium winger Johan Bakayoko.

Arsenal seen as most likely destination for Bakayoko

Indeed, Dutch newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen, relayed by Sport Witness, claim Arsenal are the most "concrete track" for Bakayoko this summer, despite reported interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

It's added that a potential move for the winger could "evolve positively", and his club PSV Eindhoven will charge around £38 million for his services. The 21-year-old racked up 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season, with Ruud van Nistelrooy praising Bakayoko as a "dominant" forward (ESPN via livefootballontv).

Harry Kane reported for England duty nursing a knock, and the Bayern Munich striker has been unable to play a full part in training.

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• Picked up knock on domestic duty
• Has joined Carsley's Three Lions squad
• Working on an individual programme

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  There were suggestions that the 31-year-old frontman, who is captain of his country, may not link up with the Three Lions at all after being forced out of Bayern’s latest Bundesliga fixture. He was, however, cleared to leave Germany and head for St George’s Park.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kane was all smiles when joining up with Lee Carsley’s squad, but questions continue to be asked of how fit he is. England have already lost Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White and Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa to injuries – with said trio all being forced to withdraw.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kane – who became an international centurion when earning his 100th cap back in September – remains part of the fold for now, but only 21 players took part in training on Tuesday. It has been revealed that England’s skipper was left “working indoors on an individual programme”.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  Carsley has opted against drafting any replacements into his squad, as the Three Lions prepare to face Greece at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. They will travel to Helsinki for a meeting with Finland three days later, as England endeavour to preserve their 100 per cent record in Nations League Group B2.

Arsenal have reportedly already agreed their first summer sale before the window has even opened, with one Sky Sports journalist making a pretty bold statement this week.

Arsenal players who could leave this summer

Mikel Arteta and Edu are plotting ways to strengthen the squad with fresh faces ahead of next season, but to bolster their transfer kitty, certain squad members face the Gunners axe.

£43m attacker prioritising Arsenal move as Arteta tells board to sign him

He wants to make the move to north London.

ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2024

Reports have surrounded both senior first-team players Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey, with the Arsenal duo attracting Saudi interest as uncertainty grows over their futures in N5 (GiveMeSport via FFC). Jesus and Partey are on a combined £465,000-per-week, so offloading them would save the club real cash in terms of their wage bill.

Alongside the aforementioned, Edu could look to sell Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe to fund a move for Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes – who will soon command a temporary £100 million release clause in his Magpies contract (Fabrizio Romano).

Bukayo Saka

7.67

Declan Rice

7.39

Martin Odegaard

7.36

Kai Havertz

7.15

Gabriel Magalhaes

7.01

The north Londoners have plenty of nominees for the chopping block, and another player who looks likely to be moved on is goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. The Englishman has lost his place to David Raya, and it is believed Ramsdale has agreed with Arsenal that he can seek a move elsewhere this summer.

Once Arteta's undisputed number one, the 25-year-old is attracting rival Premier League interest, with some reports suggesting he's even turned heads at Chelsea (Sami Mokbel).

“If I’m Chelsea, I’m phoning up and saying I’ll take Ramsdale; give me Ramsdale, my friend," said former AFC Wimbledon midfielder Robbie Earle earlier this season.

"If you’re not going to use him, because Ramsdale is at the level you’re talking about. Ramsdale’s talking about he’ll have to go and play somewhere if he’s going to be in the Euros. If he’s overlooked by Arteta – I don’t know why Arteta wants the two goalkeepers and all that, and we’ve heard all the reasons behind it – if I’m Chelsea right now, I’d go and put it amongst them. I’d take Ramsdale because he’s at the level you’re talking about that Chelsea need."

Newcastle agree deal to sign Ramsdale from Arsenal

However, according to Sky journalist James Green, Mauricio Pochettino is set to be thwarted in a potential move for the £120,000-per-week ace.

Speaking on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel, as transcribed by The Boot Room, Green has boldly claimed that Newcastle have already agreed a deal to sign Ramsdale from Arsenal this summer.

"I’ll give you this. I understand and I found out directly from a player’s agent that one of our players is off to Newcastle and a deal has been agreed. One that has caused debate and divide this season," Green said.

"Do you know who I’m going to say? It is my understanding that Aaron Ramsdale has agreed to join Newcastle in the summer.

"That has come directly from speaking to somebody who I am very close with who has spoken to his agent and he’s said it’s done, the deal is happening."

MatériaMais Notícias

O zagueiro Bruno Alves deve ganhar uma nova sequência como titular na zaga do São Paulo devido a lesão do equatoriano Arboleda, que tem uma contratura na coxa esquerda e deve ficar as próximas três partidas (Palmeiras, Vasco e Athletico), no departamento médico.

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Bruno vem sendo uma espécie de ’12º jogador’ do Tricolor no sistema defensivo com três zagueiros. O camisa três participou de 28 jogos na temporada, com 12 vitórias, oito empates e oito derrotas. Além disso, foram dois gols marcados, contra Sporting Cristal-PER e 4 de Julho-PI.

Jogando com Miranda e Léo, possíveis parceiros nas próximas partidas, foram seis jogos, comuma vitória, dois empates e três derrotas, tendo somente 27,8% de aproveitamento. O único triunfo foi diante do 4 de Julho-PI, na Copa do Brasil.

Ao longo desses jogos, Bruno Alves teve diversas parcerias na defesa além da citada acima. Crespo usou o zagueiro com Arboleda e Léo em nove jogos disputados. Além deles, Luan, Reinaldo, Diego Costa e Rodrigo Freitas atuaram junto com Bruno na zaga em algum momento.

ATUAÇÕES: Rigoni e Pablo marcam e são os destaques do São Paulo na vitória contra o Vasco

VEJA A TABELA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO BRASILEIRÃO

Bruno Alves começou a temporada como titular do São Paulo, mas com a chegada de Miranda e o crescimento de Léo, o defensor acabou perdendo espaço na equipe. No entanto, com as recentes lesões no elenco e convocações de Arboleda, Bruno teve diversas chances no time principal.

RETROSPECTO DE BRUNO ALVES NA ZAGA DO SÃO PAULO

Jogos com Arboleda, Bruno Alves e Léo no trio de zaga – sete vitórias, um empate e uma derrota

28/02/2021 – São Paulo 1 x 1 Botafogo-SP – Paulistão
03/03/2021 – Inter de Limeira 0 x 4 São Paulo – Paulistão
06/03/2021 – São Paulo 4 x 0 Santos – Paulistão
10/04/2021 – São Paulo 5 x 1 São Caetano – Paulistão
12/04/2021 – São Paulo 1 x 0 Red Bull Bragantino – Paulistão
16/04/2021 – Palmeiras 0 x 1 São Paulo – Paulistão
20/04/2021 – Sporting Cristal-PER 0 x 3 São Paulo – Libertadores
07/07/2021 – Internacional 0 x 2 São Paulo – Brasileirão
17/07/2021 – São Paulo 0 x 1 Fortaleza – Brasileirão

Jogos com Bruno Alves, Miranda e Léo no trio de zaga – uma vitória, dois empates e três derrotas

29/05/2021 – São Paulo 0 x 0 Fluminense – Brasileirão
05/06/2021 – Atlético-GO 2 x 0 São Paulo – Brasileirão
08/06/2021 – São Paulo 9 x 1 4 de Julho-PI – Copa do Brasil
13/06/2021 – Atlético-MG 1 x 0 São Paulo – Brasileirão
30/06/2021 – Corinthians 0 x 0 São Paulo – Brasileirão
04/07/2021 – Sâo Paulo 1 x 2 Red Bull Bragantino – Brasileirão

Jogos com Arboleda, Miranda e Bruno Alves no trio de zaga – duas vitórias, um empate e uma derrota

23/04/2021 – São Paulo 2 x 0 Santo André – Paulistão
29/04/2021 – São Paulo 2 x 0 Rentistas-URU – Libertadores
05/05/2021 – Racing-ARG 0 x 0 São Paulo – Libertadores
25/07/2021 – Flamengo 5 x 1 São Paulo – Brasileirão

Jogos com Diego Costa, Rodrigo e Bruno Alves no trio de zaga – uma vitória, um empate e uma derrota

12/05/2021 – Rentistas-URU 1 x 1 São Paulo – Libertadores
18/05/2021 – São Paulo 0 x 1 Racing-ARG – Libertadores
25/05/2021 – São Paulo 3 x 0 Sporting Cristal-PER – Libertadores

Jogos com Diego Costa, Bruno Alves e Reinaldo no trio de zaga – um empate e uma derrota

20/06/2021 – Santos 2 x 0 São Paulo – Brasileirão
27/06/2021 – Ceará 1 x 1 São Paulo – Brasileirão

Jogos com Diego Costa, Bruno Alves e Léo como trio de zaga – um empate

23/06/2021 – São Paulo 2 x 2 Cuiabá – Brasileirão

Jogos com Bruno Alves e Reinaldo como dupla de zaga – um empate

16/06/2021 – São Paulo 1 x 1 Chapecoense – Brasileirão

Jogos com Bruno Alves, Rodrigo e Luan como dupla de zaga – uma derrota

13/03/2021 – Novorizontino 2 x 1 São Paulo – Paulistão

Fourteen wickets fall at Chester-le-Street as Yorkshire steal a march on Northern rivals

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street01-Aug-2020
A bright August morning at Chester-le-Street; a morning of pitch inspections, warm-ups and applause for callow first-team hopefuls; a morning like any other; Well, not quite, of course. It is 310 days since Essex won the title at Taunton in 2019. This season is well-advanced yet it is just starting and no Yorkshire or Durham cricketer had a first-class run or wicket to his name this summer until Alex Lees pushed Ben Coad’s third ball of the match into the covers and scrambled a run with Sean Dickson.In normal times such an opening to a match might prompt courteous applause from the White Rose enclaves at Chester-le-Street. But these are nothing like normal times. The unpeopled stands at the Riverside, even the smaller one below the dressing rooms, seem as vast and austere as the Piazza San Marco. Scorecards were printed this morning albeit there was no one to buy them. Teams were revealed even though most of those in the ground knew what the sides were anyway. Cricketers announced things to themselves. And this will be our pattern for a while as cricket copes with an imperilled world. “And so each venture is a new beginning,” wrote T S Eliot in “East Coker”.Like others around the country on this curious day, the game featured debutants of various types. Lees was playing four-day cricket against Yorkshire for the first time since his departure in 2018 and his scuttled single foreshadowed over four hours in which Durham’s batsmen tried to chisel runs from the visiting quartet of pace bowlers but instead were bowled out for 103 in 58.4 overs. Gareth Harte, who made an unbeaten 33, was one of only three men to make double figures.Yet any thought that this Riverside pitch is shielding demons was quickly demolished. Yorkshire’s batsmen halved the deficit for the loss of Adam Lyth, caught at slip by Dickson off Chris Rushworth, whose first three overs had cost 27 runs. It even appeared that Steve Patterson’s batsmen would have a lead by the close but instead something of the lustre was removed from Yorkshire’s day by the loss of the three wickets in 11 balls just before the close. Two of these fell to Paul Coughlin who bowled Tom Kohler-Cadmore for a pleasant 41 and three balls later had Patterson leg before. Coughlin’s time at Trent Bridge was marred by so many serious injuries that no one could now wish him ill. He has already changed this matchAnd the game may even have been even been galloping towards a two-day finish had not a morning shower interrupted the cricket after half an hour and drenched the Riverside before the players had their boots off. That took care of play before lunch. The umpires made a couple of inspections but there was no irate member exhorting them to “bloody well get on with it”. Play resumed at 1.10, not that it brought Durham’s batsmen much comfort.Indeed, any encouragement they took from surviving the opening half hour proved illusory almost at once. Having survived a few leg before appeals from his former colleagues, Lees was pinned in front by an inswinger of very full length from Matthew Fisher. Nearly five overs later Coad nipped one away very late to Dickson, who edged to Jonny Tattersall. These successes would have been greeted with satisfied murmurs and even the odd cheer from travelling supporters but Yorkshire’s players had to make do with the rather quieter acclamation of two Headingley panjandrums.The Kirkstall Road folk missed an afternoon they would have enjoyed. Jordan Thompson replaced Coad at the Finchale End and enjoyed immediate success when he nipped one away from Cameron Steel, who edged a catch to Tattersall. Four overs later it was 41 for 4 when David Bedingham clipped Thompson dexterously off his ankles, only to see the ball skim straight to long leg where Fisher scooped up a fine low catch. Jack Burnham grafted away for 42 minutes in scoring seven runs but then lost both patience and his off stump when attempting a loose drive.Yorkshire’s bowlers allowed no reprieve. Patterson’s tactics followed the simplest of patterns: first Coad and Fisher bowled straight and full; then he and Thompson did the same. It brought Yorkshire three lbw decisions either side of tea as home batsmen took liberties which, while not diabolical, were certainly unwise. Mathew Potts helped Harte put on 17 for the ninth wicket but then clipped Coad to Fisher at square leg. Rushworth misdrove his third ball back to Coad and Harte was left unbeaten after battling away for over two hours, his innings marked mainly by grimy application but also by fours either worked through the slips or driven past the off-side field.When Yorkshire had hit as many boundaries in 11.2 overs as Durham had managed in their entire innings, the shape of the game looked clear. But now there is far more doubt about the matter, especially if Dawid Malan can be removed early on the second day. Like this truncated season itself, the match is in the hazard. “Every attempt is a wholly new start,” Eliot said, before adding gloomily, “and a different kind of failure.” Many batsmen around England would already nod in grim appreciation this August evening. Let us hope ECB officials are not also doing so before the leaves turn brittle and coppery.

India’s spin bowlers strangled Sri Lanka, leaving an obligingly small target for Shafali Verma and her team-mates to run down and so take Harmanpreet Kaur’s team into the T20 World Cup semi-finals with an all-win record after the second of two matches at Junction Oval on Saturday.Radha Yadav’s career-best 4 for 23 was well supported by Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma on a slow surface that afforded variation in pace off the pitch if no extremes of turn, enough to prevent Sri Lanka from developing any momentum after the loss of their top-order talisman Chamari Atapattu.Verma’s aggression quickly made the chase a matter of pageantry for the India-dominant crowd that had assembled at the ground, leaving Australia to play off against New Zealand on Monday for the right to join India in the final four from the group.Before Atapattu…
New Zealand’s successful defence of a meagre total in the early game had given an indication that the surface was not the easiest for batting and would get harder as the afternoon wore on. Sri Lanka duly batted first upon winning the toss, in the hope that Atapattu could guide them to a total sufficient to challenge India’s supremacy in the tournament thus far, with a bevy of spin bowlers waiting for their chance to impose the sort of pressure they had done on Australia in Perth.For a time, it was all going according to plan. While not quite exploding out of the blocks, the Sri Lankans were decently placed at 42 for 1 after seven overs, and Atapattu found enough timing to reach the boundary five times while also clearing it once. Continued acceleration from that point might have brought a tally in the region of 140, more than enough to defend in the prevailing conditions.Shafali Verma gave India a blazing start•Getty Images

… and after Atapattu
However, Kaur’s side bowled with the confidence of a team undefeated in the tournament, not panicking when the early exchanges did not go their way. Harshitha Madavi’s dismissal, bowled between her pads by Gayakwad, was swiftly followed by a disastrous miscalculation from Atapattu, who swivelled to pull a short ball from Radha and could only pick out deep backward square-leg with unerring accuracy.From there, the innings slid ever more steadily into the mire, as Radha collected her first four-wicket haul in T20Is, Gayakwad completed an exemplary spell, and Poonam Yadav twirled down another tantalising quartet of overs. In all, India’s spin bowlers returned figures of 16-1-77-8 between them, as it was only Shikha Pandey’s medium pace that was taken regularly for runs at a rate to Sri Lanka’s liking.Verma trending up
Given her penchant for punchy and match-defining innings, a chase for 114 to win was ideally suited to Verma, and she did not disappoint in maintaining an utterly fearless approach with the bat. Sri Lanka, as has been their problem throughout, were generous in spurning chances – one each from Verma and Smriti Mandhana – while a couple of other shots sailed a matter of centimetres beyond outstretched hands.Verma capitalised by going on to her highest tally of the tournament, with her trend of 29, 39, 46 and now 47 before being run-out a highly promising one for India’s prospects at the pointy end. Kaur promoted herself to No. 3 and connected with a few blows that will help her regain some confidence after a run of outs – even if she only got as far as 15. In the end, the target was reached with 32 balls to spare.

West Ham United lost their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday night after drawing against Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium, unable to overturn the 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Germany.

Over a week ago, at Leverkusen, David Moyes' side fought valiantly; on home turf, West Ham produced a confident and controlled performance and will be devastated that they couldn't add to Michail Antonio's early goal, succumbing in the dying embers when Jeremie Frimpong's strike took a big deflection off Aaron Cresswell, Xabi Alonso's side's season-long unbeaten record still intact.

So… what now? The Hammers can take solace from their spirited approach in both legs and while Fulham won at the London Stadium last weekend as Moyes rested several players, the side are eighth in the Premier League and just two points off inconsistent Manchester United, who hold on to the final Europe-qualifying spot.

With just five games remaining this term, hitting a rich vein of form is now crucial, and with Jarrod Bowen fit once again, United might just craft a successful finish.

Jarrod Bowen's season in numbers

West Ham's talisman. The first signing of Moyes' second tenure at the club. The top scorer in all competitions this season with 19 goals. The clincher of the Europa Conference League trophy last summer.

Bowen has been lauded for his "unbelievable" goalscoring feats by talkSPORT's Simon Jordan earlier this season and has been so important throughout West Ham's brightest period in a generation.

It was the England international's whipped assist that found Antonio's head in the early phase on Thursday evening, an illustration of his multi-faceted skill set and the ability to breach even the most secure, steeliest defences in Europe.

He's a first-class player and his offensive tools will be vital in the weeks to come if West Ham are indeed to reclaim a qualifying spot and secure a fourth successive season on the continent.

However, his placement in the thick of the attacking action makes him the obvious pick, but there was another player in midweek who, if they hadn't already, underscored why they are actually Moyes' most important player.

Why Edson Alvarez is so important for West Ham

The man in question is Edson Alvarez, who missed the first leg against the newly-crowned German Bundesliga champions due to suspension – his absence was keenly felt.

Alvarez signed for the Hammers in a £35m deal from Ajax last summer in what is clearly the most direct replacement of Declan Rice's presence, with the Arsenal star leaving for a record £105m after winning the Conference League.

Matches played

37

Matches started

36

Goal

4

Assists

2

Pass completion

88%

Key passes per game

1.0

Tackles per game

2.1

Interceptions per game

1.7

Clearances per game

1.5

Duels won per game

4.4 (58%)

Dribbles per game

0.9 (61%)

A force of a midfielder, Alvarez ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 15% for interceptions, the top 1% for blocks and the top 2% for clearances per 90, as per FBref, having also been hailed for his "unreal" form by journalist Jack Fawcett.

Replacing Rice was never going to be an easy task but Alvarez has excelled, completing 86% of his passes in the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, averaging 2.6 tackles, 5.6 ball recoveries and 2.4 clearances per game, succeeding with 65% of his 0.9 dribbles per match and winning 51% of his 5.1 contested duels per game.

Against Leverkusen, the Mexico international made five tackles, won ten duels and took 72 touches, earning a player rating of 8/10 against Europe's most in-form team, with The Standard's Malik Ouzia saying: 'How he was missed when suspended in Germany. Read the game superbly to allow teammates to go hell-for-leather in the press.'

Alvarez is the glue that holds it all together, and while Bowen could be the spike-point at the front of the team, Moyes' Mexican general is the one who could make the real difference in these closing weeks of the campaign.

Phillips could never wear the shirt again if West Ham unleash 19 y/o star

This talent could soon follow George Earthy to the soil of the Premier League.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 17, 2024

If fans of rival Premier League teams were hoping that Manchester City would slow down after their treble triumph, they could be disappointed to see that Pep Guardiola's side may only get stronger with one of Europe's top talents considering a move to the Etihad.

Man City want decades of dominance

Whilst most teams would be content with the XI that wrapped up three trophies last season, Man City look eager to continue to bolster Guardiola's squad and ensure that their monopoly of English football continues for the foreseeable future.

Man City now ready to trigger release clause to sign £150,000-a-week star

A busy summer could be on the cards for Manchester City.

By
Zak Anderton

Mar 15, 2024

The forward line at the Etihad looks set for the next decade with 23-year-old Erling Haaland on track to break every record imaginable before he hangs up his boots. Joining the Norwegian in the future folklore at the Etihad will be Phil Foden. Also 23, the attacking midfielder is already a legend in the eyes of many in the blue half of Manchester.

One player entering the twilight of his time with the champions will be Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian has been arguably the best midfielder in the league during his time with City however persistent injuries suggest that his team could be in the market for a new midfielder this summer, with Joshua Kimmich linked with an Etihad move earlier this year.

Kimmich considering Man City move

As first reported on the X account of Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, it is claimed that Man City are one of five clubs Kimmich is considering joining. The Bayern Munich star is out of contract in 2025 and the Bavarian outfit are willing to cash in this summer if a suitable offer comes in.

Plettenberg names Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona as the other suitors for the 29-year-old. However, City may be favourites to seal the deal. A factor that could work in City's favour may be the midfielder's relationship with Guardiola. The Spaniard handed Kimmich his first Bayern Munich start and has been instrumental in the player's progression, calling him "outstanding". Kimmich's former boss also even referred to him as "almost my son" in response to rumours of the 29-year-old leaving Bayern back in 2015.

In the eight years that have passed since Guardiola left Bavaria, he has gone on to develop a style that Kimmich could slot perfectly into. Relying heavily on versatility between defence and midfield, Kimmich's ability to play as both a central midfielder as well as a fullback could make him ideal for the Spaniard's style of play.

Kimmich's versatility was a quality praised by his former boss Julian Nagelsmann who said of the player:

"It's so important to have a No.6 who wants the ball and has the necessary composure in possession. I know he prefers to play in the middle, but I don't need reminding. I've made a note of it"

"The great thing is he's world-class at right-back and in midfield."

The Orlando City forward is the only natural goalscorer in Marko Mitrovic's squad ahead of the 2024 Paris Games

Duncan McGuire couldn't stop smiling it when the call came in telling him he would be on the U.S. Men's Olympic squad.

"I wanted to jump up and down like a little kid," he admitted.

And it was a deserved acknowledgment. McGuire has been one of the best strikers in MLS for some time now, a bonafide goalscoring talent who puts in enough legwork to give opposing center backs nightmares for 90 minutes. He is industrious, strong, and clinical at all of the right moments.

As the rest of the squad trickled in, something became clear. McGuire might have been the obvious choice as a striker in the squad. But he is also the striker in the squad. U.S. U23 coach Marko Mitrovic has pieced together an interesting roster for the tournament, and is putting all of his goalscoring hopes on one forward.

Numerically, it makes little sense. He may only have 18 spots at his disposal – eight less than the total offered to coaches for Copa America and Euro 2024. But it is also a massive risk for Mitrovic to take just one forward – no matter how good he may be. And so as the U.S. heads into its first Olympics appearance since 2008, the hopes fall squarely on the shoulders of one man, who will have to make a squad selection game look like a stroke of genius.

• Getty Images
  

  Impressing for Orlando

  McGuire's career story is, in some senses, one of odds defied. After starring in the mid-tiers of the American club ciricut, the striker attended Creighton – buoyed by the fact that it was 20 minutes from his childhood home in Omaha. He was a bit-part player across first two college seasons, and exploded in the third by leading the nation in goals scored.

  That all turned him from an unlikely pro prospect into a top 10 pick. Orlando snatched him at No. 6, and brought him straight into the first team. McGuire found the net on his debut, bundling one over the line to take a 1-0 lead in an eventual 1-1 draw with DC United.

  He marked the goal with a backflip celebration – a sight that soon became familiar for fans across MLS. McGuire never really slowed down from there. He finished the season with 15 goals, making him Orlando's top scorer. His 18 goal contributions in all competitions were second to only Facundo Torres among Orlando players.

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  Senior team experience

  It only made sense, then, that the U.S. national team setup started to pay attention. Unlike most who get a look for the senior squad, McGuire was never a fixture among youth sides. His first proper appearance in U.S. colors, in fact, came in October 2023, when Mitrovic called him up to the U23 squad.

  Of course, McGuire found the net in that window. He entered the fray in the 70th minute against Japan, and two minutes later, the backflip was on display again, McGuire bagging the fourth in a 4-1 win. That was enough for then-manager Gregg Berhalter to pay attention. He called McGuire up to the USMNT's senior camp in January. The head coach, who has since been sacked, pipped McGuire for success – despite having a rich slate of strikers to choose from.

  "It was all about him and his play," Berhalter said shortly after announcing his squad. "He had a fantastic year with Orlando. He scored 15 goals, was a standout player, so he earned his call-up. It's great when players put themselves in positions to earn things like that. So far, he's looked good. I saw sharp movements behind the backline, inside the penalty box, and clever movements … he's made a good impression."

  Chances at the top level were admittedly limited. A much-changed USMNT lost 1-0 to Slovenia in their only friendly of the window, with McGuire failing to make an impact in 30 minutes of play.

• USA Today Sports
  

  Blackburn … or not?

  There remained – and still remains – a sense that McGuire is destined for bigger things than MLS. He isn't quite the archetypal American soccer player. Strong, athletic, powerfully rotund, the striker is the exact type of No. 9 who could succeed in the English game – albeit not consistently in the top flight.

  And he tested that theory in January 2024, in one of the strangest transfer sequences in recent memory. McGuire was reportedly within minutes of moving from Orlando to Blackburn. All of the pieces were in place. A fee had been agreed, personal terms were settled. McGuire was, in fact, 30,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean when the deal fell apart.

  It then emerged that fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday might negotiate a move of their own. However, that also collapsed. Then, Blackburn came back in and negotiated a six-month loan with an option to buy. But an administrative error saw Blackburn fail to piece together the necessary paperwork in time. A subsequent appeal was denied by the English Football league, and McGuire was sent home.

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  A limited pool

  And so we arrive at the doorstep of the Paris Games, with McGuire at the forefront. The striker has continued to find the net for Orlando – albeit at a less impressive rate. Still, his seven goals in 19 MLS appearances so far are nothing to be sniffed at. They have all come with relatively limited service, too. McGuire is outperforming his expected goals, and Orlando have failed to create chances on a consistent basis to date.

  That would seem to stand him in good stead ahead of the Olympics. Mitrovic has taken a real risk. McGuire is the only natural No. 9 in the squad, despite the fact that there were, in theory, other choices. Ricardo Pepi could have had a chance, but PSV decided against releasing the misfiring striker. Jesus Ferreira or even Haji Wright could have been added to the squad as overage options, but both of them were also left at home.

  Mitrovic has insisted that McGuire isn't the only option through the middle.

  "We played several games without a central forward," he told . "We know that there are several guys on our team that can play in the forward position. If there is a decision where Duncan doesn't play in any given moment on the field, then you have a replacement."

  Those options don't exactly inspire confidence. Paxten Aaronson has operated as a false nine of sorts before, but never really settled. Taylor Booth could do a job – at a push. Kevin Paredes is a versatile option, but is certainly better used out wide.

Super Over It came down to a Super Over. Of course it did. For the second time in a matter of months, New Zealand were cruelly denied at the last by England. It wasn’t quite the high drama of the World Cup final – in fact at times it was more like low farce – but once again Eoin Morgan’s men prevailed following a tie in normal time, claiming the T20I series 3-2 after holding off the home side in a rip-roaring finale.This was a fitting way to decide a series between two teams who just cannot shake one another, although the white-ball players might be happy not to cross paths again for a while. Just as it seemed New Zealand had held their nerve in the final over of a rain-shortened game, from which England needed 16, Chris Jordan popped up to hit his first ball for six and then Jimmy Neesham’s final delivery for four to tie the scores. Neesham was not alone in offering up a rueful smile as the teams prepared for another tie-breaker.It was Jordan, best mate of England’s World Cup Super Over hero, Jofra Archer, who then sealed a slightly more comfortable margin of victory. Defending 17, and having given up a wide from his second ball, Jordan limited New Zealand to a single boundary as Martin Guptill, who led the way earlier in the day with a blistering fifty, was again left out on the middle on the wrong side of the result.Set 147 to win the decider after rumbustious contributions from Guptill, Colin Munro and Tim Seifert, England gave it a hearty crack. But as wickets fell they were left needing 26 from the last two overs, and New Zealand always appeared to be just out of reach. Sam Billings ramped four but Tim Southee limited the damage from the rest of his over; Neesham then stepped up to restrict England to three from his first three balls, as well as taking the wicket of Tom Curran.James Neesham and Sam Billings react as the games goes into a Super Over•Getty Images

But Jordan just managed to clear deep point with his first blow, picked up two from the next ball and then flicked a Neesham full toss for four more to leave the teams dead level again. Jonny Bairstow, who fired England’s chase with 47 from 18 balls, and Morgan both struck sixes in the Super Over and this time the result was all but certain by Jordan’s final delivery.England’s requirement was already a demanding one – albeit at the venue for the highest successful chase in T20Is – but losing two wickets in the first seven balls undermined them further still. Tom Banton chipped Trent Boult over long-on but fell lbw next ball, despite confusion surrounding his review as the initial ball-tracking projection seemed to have been produced from the wrong delivery.The returning James Vince was unable to match the impression made by Dawid Malan at No. 3 in the previous T20I – Malan was omitted according to pre-series planning despite his hundred in Napier – as he spooned his second delivery to mid-off, and although Morgan hit Boult for two sixes and a four, his dismissal in the same over via a lofted shot that failed to get beyond the infield saw England fall to 39 for 3 after the Powerplay.As befitted the recent contests between these two sides, England kept coming, however. Bairstow cleared the ropes five times in a belligerent knock and while he and Sam Curran were together at the crease, England were in with a sniff, only for both to be dismissed in the space of consecutive balls.Sam Curran, promoted up the order to No. 5, took Scott Kuggeleijn for two fours and two sixes in four balls as he raced ahead of his partner. Bairstow then struck the first three balls of Ish Sodhi’s only over beyond the ropes between long-off and long-on as England soared to 90 for 3 at just past the halfway mark, needing 57 from 30.It was Neesham, one the main protagonists from that World Cup final, who got the better of Bairstow, inducing a thin edge behind (and an audible expletive from the England opener). Sam Curran was then lured from his crease by Mitchell Santner, with Seifert completing a crucial stumping by millimetres to lift New Zealand, only for Billings and Tom Curran to keep England in touch.With its short straight boundaries, Eden Park is something of a paradise for white-ball power hitters – and a game reduced to 11 overs a side meant no margin of error for the bowlers. Guptill and Munro were into their work immediately, carving and bludgeoning their way to 55 without loss from the three-over Powerplay.England pose with the T20I trophy•Getty Images

Guptill was the more ruthless, clearing the ropes five times on his way to a 19-ball half-century – his first in international cricket since the opening game of the World Cup, back in June. He set the tone by smearing his second ball over the leg side, as Sam Curran’s opening over cost 17, before twice crashing Tom Curran into the crowd as the next went for 20. Jordan and Adil Rashid were both dispatched into the top tier as New Zealand delivered some payback for the pasting they received on Friday in Napier.With Munro hitting two sixes in his first four balls on the way to 46 off 21, England were scrambling. Only when Rashid and Saqib Mahmood delivered back-to-back single-figure overs did they threaten to pull the scoring rate back, but Seifert’s aggression kept New Zealand in the contention for a total around 150.Rashid broke the opening stand at the start of the sixth over, Guptill miscuing a leg-side heave to pick out the man on the rope. Mahmood then forced a similar error from Colin de Grandhomme. At the end of the seventh over, New Zealand were 95 for 2 but Seifert crunched his third and fifth balls for leg-side sixes to reignite the charge. The final stretch yielded another 51 runs, as England’s attempts to make the batsmen hit square met with only sporadic success. Sam Curran started his second over well, having Munro caught at deep midwicket and following up with two dots – only for Seifert to rattle off 6-6-4 in response.Seifert’s fun was ended by a searing Tom Curran yorker, one ball after another punishing straight hit for six, and Ross Taylor was run out going for a second off the final ball of the innings. It was a challenging target but, once again, England and New Zealand were to prove (almost) inseparable.