But the French superstar – expected to finally join Real Madrid this off-season after a transfer saga that has dragged on for years – was fed up after being asked whether he’ll support his anticipated new team in their own semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich tomorrow morning (AEST).
Speaking to reporters in the tunnels after PSG’s 1-0 second-leg loss ensured a 2-0 exit on aggregate, Mbappe merely rolled his eyes and walked off.
Asked at another point if he had played his last European game for the French club, he replied: “This season, that’s sure, it would have to be.
“Of course we are disappointed, we wanted to qualify for the final. In the Champions League you have to be effective in two areas, and on this point they were better than us so there you go.
“We are disappointed for the supporters, for those close to us, but that’s how it is. It’s a long process, but we showed through this season that we were capable of going far. I think the club is not far away.
“We had the ingredients to win, but as I said, in a Champions League match, it is necessary to be efficient in the box. We were not efficient in the two games.”
PSG’s Champions League dream is over for another season. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)Source: AFP
Mbappe was close to joining Real Madrid in 2017 and 2022, but this time is finally heading for the exit door at Paris, having reportedly told the club he will leave back in February and having already signed a contract with Madrid.
But he’ll end his seven seasons in Paris without a Champions League trophy, despite years of mega-money investment from Qatar, who became majority owners of the club in 2011 and sole owners the following year.
Since then, PSG have dominated the French league – which they have already wrapped up this year with a couple of games to spare – but have endured humiliating losses time and again in their bid to become Europe’s champion club.
Only once have they reached the Champions League final, in the Covid-impacted 2019/20 where most of the knockouts were held as single-leg ties – and even then they lost the final 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
Outside of that sole decider, PSG’s record in Champions League knockouts is miserable.
In Mbappe’s seven seasons, they have fallen at the Round of 16 stage four times and the semi-final twice – and have lost the second-leg in every single one of those ties.
Some of them have been humiliating defeats, like falling to a miserably out-of-form Manchester United in the Round of 16 in 2018/19, having won the first leg 2-0 before losing the second 3-1. That brought back memories of the year before Mbappe landed in Paris, when PSG beat Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of the R16 only to lose 6-1 in the reverse fixture.
This time around, France’s all-conquering team was bundled out by the fifth-placed team in Germany – a Dortmund side that wasn’t even expected to make it out of the group stage, when they were drawn alongside PSG.
The French team won at home and drew away in their two group-stage meetings with Dortmund, but Borussia still finished top of the group.
But when it counted in the knockouts, Mbappe went missing. After a horrible first half-hour in the second leg where made just four passes, he dragged himself into the game. He struck the crossbar in a desperate attempt to hit back after Dortmund took the lead in the second half when Mats Hummels scored a rare goal.
But the match ended a manner that very much sums up Mbappe’s disappointing farewell from Paris: racing away on goal, defenders in his wake – something we’ve seen time and time again. Then he slipped. The final whistle sounded.
It’s the end of the line.Source: AFP
Mbappe has not been the sole big-money signing in this period. Neymar arrived for a world-record €222m in 2017, the year that Mbappe also signed from Monaco on loan in a deal that would eventually cost €180m (approx A$290m) when made permanent. Lionel Messi then joined from Barcelona in 2021 to create a formidable attacking triumvirate.
Neymar has left, Messi too. PSG desperately fended off Real Madrid’s interest in Mbappe, reshaping the team around him and promising to go all-out in the Champions League hunt.
Yet for all their years of spending on star players and coaches, their ongoing dominance of the French Ligue 1 and domestic cups – in a fortnight they’ll face Lyon in the Coupe de France final again – the ultimate glory has eluded PSG and their cashed-up Qatari owners.
Now 25, Mbappe remains one of the most talented players in the world – if not the sole holder of that title. He’s a World Cup winner and France are second-favourites for the upcoming European Championships.
But was that immense talent wasted in seven years at PSG?
He’ll be left to watch another Champions League final from home, perhaps rolling his eyes and thinking of what could have been.
After spending 15 years trying to escape the quagmire of the National League, Wrexham have earned back-to-back promotions and can now plan for League One, the third tier of the English football pyramid.
A 6-0 thrashing of Forest Green on April 14 sealed promotion for Wrexham as they returned to League One for the first time since 2005.
Granted, there has been nowhere near as much fanfare surrounding the Welsh club’s achievement compared to when they won the National League last season.
Perhaps it is because of the many near-misses that came with trying to get out of the fifth tier, giving a town down on its luck for so long something to cheer for once again.
Regardless of how many bottles of beers and champagne have been sprayed and consumed, Wrexham must now prepare for next season as they inch closer towards the bright lights of the Premier League.
It is a dream Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have never shied away from, even when the club were in the National League.
But they are now just two leagues away from English football’s top tier and the billions of eyeballs that come with it.
League One will present its own unique set of challenges, with every club going to be a harder test than what Wrexham has ever faced and on a weekly basis.
Unfortunately for the club, it could also mean the end of the road for several of the cult heroes football fans have come to know and love from watching the hit series Welcome to Wrexham.
Wrexham are going up to League One. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CULT HERO, SKIPPER TO FACE BRUTAL PROMOTION REALITY
At the end of this season, 11 Wrexham players will be out of contract: Steven Fletcher, Eoghan O’Connell, Mark Howard, Rob Lainton, Ben Tozer, James McClean, Callum McFadzean, Jordan Tunnicliffe, Aaron Hayden, Liam Hall and skipper Luke Young.
Of that group, only Hall, McClean and Fletcher arrived after Wrexham had been promoted to League Two.
Hall, a 19-year-old goalkeeper, has the option for an extra year on his contract and could be kept on.
As for McClean and Fletcher, who have made a combined 867 appearances across the Premier League all the way down to League Two, they have made vital contributions to Wrexham’s season despite their respective ages of 35 and 37.
McClean has three league goals and ten assists to his name while Fletcher has proven to be somewhat of a super sub, scoring eight league goals for Wrexham.
With all of their veteran nous, Wrexham could and likely will keep both on for another season as they navigate the perils of League One.
But what about the rest of that out-of-contract group?
Rob Lainton, the injury-riddled goalkeeper who has featured heavily on the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, has been with the club since November 2018.
But he’s likely to be a casualty of a ruthless player cull given Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo was first choice goalkeeper and Howard the preferred backup.
As for Howard, who is 37, he would likely be offered a new deal with the expectation he would be the back-up for whoever Wrexham decide to pursue as their first-choice goalkeeper next season.
Lainton’s time at Wrexham is likely up. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Either way, at least one of Lainton or Howard is likely to move on, if not both.
That brings us to the defenders amongst the expiring contract crew in Tozer, O’Connell, McFadzean, Tunnicliffe and Hayden.
Of this group, O’Connell is the biggest contributor having started 28 league games for Wrexham and makes the most sense to remain at the club.
As for the other four, it’s grim reading.
Tozer, 34, has made the matchday squad on 42 occasions but has started in just 25 as his age and lack of pace has somewhat caught up to him, although his infamous long throws remain a lethal asset in Wrexham’s arsenal.
It would be no surprise to see McFadzean depart having made just two appearances off the bench in League Two all season long.
Same goes for Tunnicliffe who has made seven league appearances in total.
Hayden, who has endured his own injury issues at Wrexham but also contributes with vital goals, has started in 15 of the 16 games he was in the squad.
At 27, he could be kept on but having failed to nail down a starting spot in League Two, there’s little reason to believe that will change in a higher division.
And what of club captain Young, who joined Wrexham way back in 2018?
A brutal call will likely have to be made on Young who has battled with injuries and has started just 12 league games this season along with 13 appearances off the bench.
Even though he dons the skipper’s armband, Wrexham cannot rely on players like Young who, despite their lengthy tenures at the club, simply haven’t earned consistent starts in League Two.
But this is the ruthless, brutal nature of English football’s lower tiers and for Wrexham, they are going to have to make some uncomfortable decisions for some familiar faces.
Wrexham skipper Luke Young may be cut loose. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
THE FALLEN GIANTS HOLDING WREXHAM BACK AS KEY STARS FINALLY ON LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
When Wrexham made several marquee signings while in the National League, those players had dropped down from League One and League Two.
Superstar striker Paul Mullin was lured to the club from League Two’s Cambridge United, Ollie Palmer joined from Wimbledon in League One and Elliott Lee moved from Luton Town, who were in the Championship.
Those players were, quite simply, far too good for the fifth tier.
Understandably, a key reason why Wrexham were able to sign these players was largely because of McElhenney and Reynolds’ deep pockets, pockets none of their National League rivals could ever compete with.
Wrexham once again loaded up on players from above when they made it to League Two, signing McClean from Wigan Athletic (League One), George Evans from Millwall (Championship), Will Boyle from Huddersfield (Championship) and Jack Marriott from Fleetwood Town (League One).
When Wrexham were in the National League and League Two, these players were largely head and shoulders above the competition.
But what will happen in League One, when these players won’t have the advantage over some of their lesser rivals?
Mullin, 29, has only played a single season in League One and scored just three league goals for Tranmere Rovers from 20 appearances in the 2019/20 season.
Yet his 24 league goals this season proves Mullin is aging like a fine wine and could enjoy better fortunes in the third tier.
Although Palmer joined from Wimbledon who were in League One, he hadn’t exactly lit up the third tier with just 10 goals in 41 total appearances for the Dons.
However, he brings much more to Wrexham’s style than just goals and as evidenced from the documentary, is a lively presence amongst the squad.
Mullin scored 24 goals over the course of the League Two season. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Lee, a diminutive attacking midfielder who knows how to score, has already proved himself in League One having amassed 113 total appearances with 24 goals and 13 assists to his name across five seasons in the third tier.
Assuming McClean puts pen to paper and stays in Wrexham for another season, he brings plenty of pedigree having played 221 games in the Championship.
The Irishman, 35, has also proved his durability having featured in 37 league games this season.
With the squad now starting to level out in terms of where the level they’ve played in their career, Wrexham may be forced to heavily invest in their squad once more.
But when they have previously been able to offer generous financial packages teams couldn’t compete with, that might not be the case in League One.
Stockport County, who have already secured the championship in League Two, have strong financial backing and will rival Wrexham in the transfer market.
McClean has proved to be a shrewd signing for Wrexham since arriving from Wigan last summer. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Throw in Charlton, Wigan Athletic, Reading, Blackpool and Huddersfield, who have all been in the Premier League at some stage since 2007, and one realises how big the calibre of clubs in the third tier are compared to League Two.
Simply, Wrexham are going to have a serious fight on their hands if they are going to go for back-to-back-to-back promotions.
But one key factor in their favour is the manager, Phil Parkinson.
The Wrexham boss has overseen more games in League One (385) than any other division in his managerial career, meaning he knows exactly what’s required to not only avoid the drop, but succeed.
Parkinson has also twice led teams in League One to promotion, guiding Colchester United to a second-place finish in 2005/06 and Bolton Wanderers in 2016/17.
There’s also no understating the momentum generated by consecutive promotions, either.
Just look at Ipswich Town, who are on the brink of going from League One all the way to the Premier League in the space of two seasons.
With Parkinson’s know-how of navigating League One coupled with a squad that really only knows success, it’s a lethal combination.
But how might they strengthen the squad ahead of its biggest challenge yet?
Parkinson has led teams to promotion from League One on two occasions. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WHO MIGHT JOIN THE WREXHAM REVOLUTION NEXT?
Given Wrexham’s ability to attract a strong calibre of players to lower leagues, there’s plenty of anticipation regarding who could be tempted to join the team in League One.
One obvious candidate Wrexham would love to snap up is goalkeeper Okonkwo.
The 22-year-old’s contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the season and Wrexham executive director Humphrey Ker has gone on the record stating he is “desperate” to keep the goalkeeper at the club.
However, Okonkwo’s wages could prove to be a stumbling block given Wrexham reportedly paid less than half of his wages during his loan spell, per The Athletic.
There were also reports Wrexham, along with Bolton and Charlton, were tracking 21-year-old Northern Irish talent Benji Magee.
TEAMTalk claimed Wrexham were tracking the Loughgall forward during a season in which he scored 16 goals in 31 games in the Northern Ireland top flight.
More transfer speculation for Wrexham awaits, especially now that they know which league they will be competing in next season.
But if the whispers regarding Okonkwo and Magee suggest anything, it’s that Wrexham may look to bring in younger talents with resale potential as opposed to proven stars that will only depreciate in value.
An incredibly difficult season awaits for Wrexham, especially with a handful of League One teams claiming Premier League status at least once from the turn of the century.
But with McElhenney and Reynolds at the helm, it doesn’t feel like Wrexham’s Hollywood story is going to end any time soon.
A tense sideline exchange between Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp raised fears the Egyptian winger could exit the club, but that might not be the case after all.
Elsewhere, Manchester United’s summer rebuild is reportedly set to spare no-one, including a fabled academy product that’s struggled to shine this season.
Catch up on the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
Liverpool expect Mohamed Salah to at least see out of the final year of his contract at Anfield, according to reports on Monday.
Sky Sports and The Athletic reported Salah, 31, has given no indication that he wishes to leave and Liverpool are not planning to sell.
The Egyptian was involved in a public spat with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the touchline as he prepared to come on as a substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham.
Speaking after the match, Salah said: “There’s going to be a fire today if I speak.”
Liverpool rejected advances from the Saudi Pro League at the beginning of the season, including a reported £150 million ($188 million) bid from Al Ittihad.
However, Klopp will leave the club at the end of the season, sparking speculation over what the future holds for some of his senior players.
Salah and Klopp had a tense exchange on the sideline during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with West Ham. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Gulf Kingdom is expected to be a major player in the summer transfer market to lure more star names to a league that already boasts the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sadio Mane.
Salah has scored 24 goals this season, but his form has tailed off since he was injured at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
As Salah’s goals have dried up, Liverpool’s season has unravelled. The Reds have fallen out of the running for the Premier League title and been eliminated from the Europa League and FA Cup.
Salah has just over 12 months to run on a three-year deal signed in 2022 worth a reported £18 million a year.
Salah has previously been the subject of heavy interest from Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
RED DEVILS TO SPARE NO-ONE AS SUMMER FIRE SALE LOOMS
Manchester United could be in for a huge summer of exits as they plan ahead for a season without the financial benefits of playing in the Champions League.
Unable to finish ahead of Aston Villa for the first time in Premier League history, it means the Red Devils must begin preparing for a Europa League campaign next season, which brings reduced revenue.
According to The Telegraph, that means a whole host of United stars are set to be put up for sale as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos look to make the team competitive once again.
The report states only Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund are off-limits to potential suitors, meaning even the likes of Marcus Rashford could be sold for the right price.
However, Rashford’s weekly wages of £325,000 ($AUD621,000) could prove to be a stumbling block for any interested parties.
The report also claims the Red Devils will be after a central midfielder, a striker and a right-sided centre-back but funds to sign those players must be generated from sales.
Marcus Rashford could be put up for sale this summer ahead of a major rebuild for Manchester United. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Another play who could be out the exit door is Mason Greenwood, who has spent the season on loan with Spanish side Getafe.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault in 2022 but had the charges against him in 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement from the case.
After the Red Devils commenced and completed their own investigation into the matter, it was decided the best way to go proceed was to send the forward out on loan, where he ended up at Getafe for the season.
Greenwood has ten goals and six assists in 31 games for the Spanish club and his form this season has caught the eye of Italian giants Juventus, per The Times.
Juventus have made Greenwood one of their primary transfer targets in the summer but the former England international won’t come cheap, with the article valuing him worth up to $AUD76 million.
Greenwood is wanted by Juventus. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BEST OF THE REST …
Newcastle United face an anxious wait as news of talismanic midfielder Bruno Guimaraes’ £100 million release clause was revealed.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian midfielder’s nine-figure exit fee is only active from the last week of May to the last week of June.
It could spark a wild frenzy amongst some of Europe’s biggest names like Arsenal, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, per Sky Sports.
With Newcastle flirting dangerously close to falling foul of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), it’s expected the Magpies will have to sell a big name in the summer to balance the books.
And Guimaraes may be the one who is forced out the exit door, although reports claim Newcastle will not entertain bids any lower than the £100m release clause.
Bruno Guimaraes has a £100m release clause, but it’s only active for a month. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Guimaraes isn’t the only Brazilian midfielder who could be a hot commodity in the summer window, with West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta set to pique the interest of big clubs.
Paqueta has impressed in his second season with the Hammers and was closely linked with a move to defending champions Manchester City last summer, but it failed to materialise as they swooped for Wolves’ Matheus Nunes instead.
However, the rumours of Paqueta going to the Etihad have not gone away as West Ham face a fight to keep the Brazilian at the club in the summer.
But Paqueta appears content to remain in London, stating he’d “be lying” if he said he wasn’t happy at the club.
“I have enormous respect for the club. I’m very happy here, if I say I’m not, I’d be lying.
“Of course it involves a lot of things that are happening off the field, but I remain focused on doing my best, finishing the season well. I started well, I hope to finish well.
“What they say (about Manchester City) is everything from last window. Now, it’s time to finish the season and wait for what will happen.”
After mounting a surprise title tilt last season, with Granit Xhaka enjoying one of his finest campaigns for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta still believed he could find an upgrade in the centre of the park – and he splashed a Premier League-record £105m for Declan Rice.
Now, Rice is becoming an integral cog in the engine room as the Gunners remain firmly in the mix for the title.
What impresses Arteta most about Rice? “The way he dominates key aspects of the game,” replied the manager.
“First of all, it’s the way he reads the game, his intelligence, his decision-making on and off the ball, when to pass the ball, how to pass it, where to look, how to execute, and the timing of that, which is very, very relevant, especially in his position.”
He’s only growing more and more connected with his teammates. He could be the key to going one better than last season and finishing with the coveted trophy.
Although the Gunners rounded out the first half of the season with a disappointing defeat at the Emirates to West Ham, it doesn’t take away from what’s been yet another dazzling run for Arteta’s side.
Declan Rice has looked worth every bit of Arsenal’s major investment. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA (3rd, +15 GD, 39 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Douglas Luiz
Plenty of expert predictions for this season had Villa finishing well out of the title race. Manchester United great Gary Neville predicted a sixth-place finish, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had them out of the top six. It’s fair to say precious few predicted a genuine title challenge, but that’s what Unai Emery’s men have served up. A staggering 15-game win streak on home soil came to an end just before Christmas, though they salvaged a draw with a 97th-minute equaliser against Sheffield United.
Villa’s inability to beat a number of lower-table teams this season — see Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Bournemouth and now Sheffield United — is their biggest blemish this season.
Three of those four games also came away from home, so if Villa are serious about a top four finish they must find a way to take maximum points when expected, especially against those who are struggling.
Ollie Watkins continues to turn in several all-action displays up front, contributing nine goals and six assists to date this season.
But the player most vital to Villa’s transformed fortunes is Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz who orchestrates every deadly move from midfield.
Luiz’s box-to-box displays have been something to behold as he breaks up opposition attacks only to drive the team up the field and thread the needle with aplomb.
Douglas Luiz is the midfield lynchpin driving Aston Villa forward. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
BOURNEMOUTH (12th, -5 GD, 25 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dominic Solanke
Last season was a shemozzle, a mess, a rollercoaster (but not the fun kind). Remember the 9-0 thumping from Liverpool that saw Scott Parker sacked in August? Then came an ownership takeover, a slump to last place in March, before a late-season resurgence to finish 15th under Gary O’Neil, who probably deserved to win manager of the season.
They embarked on a stunning spending spree in the off-season, with a whopping net spend of €126.19m – sixth in the Premier League and in front of Liverpool and Newcastle United. Then they sacked manager O’Neil before the season began. The new owners had high expectations – but while there’s been some promising signs, things haven’t been smooth sailing. They were 19th and winless after nine games (three points), but have since turned things around impressively to rack up 22 points from the next nine games (W7 D1 L1).
After a 6-1 defeat to Man City they could have fallen apart, but instead they’ve been one of the form teams in the league to soar out of the relegation battle.
The big difference from last season has been Solanke’s form, with the ex-Liverpool striker hitting 12 league goals in 18 games – more than last campaign’s top scorer Philip Billing (7) managed in a full season. If he stays at Bournemouth (amid interest from Tottenham and West Ham), the Cherries could even threaten a top-half finish.
Dominic Solanke is enjoying an absurd goalscoring run. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRENTFORD (14th, -3 GD, 19 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Bryan Mbuemo
It was always going to be a tall task spending half a season without star striker Ivan Toney, but Brentford have managed to survive.
Toney was banned from playing until early January after breaching the FA’s gambling rules, meaning the Bees had to rely on other sources for goals.
Cameroonian winger Bryan Mbuemo has largely shouldered the burden and has a club-leading seven Premier League goals to his name.
However, Brentford — and this will be a constant theme for a lot of these teams, so bear with us — have been crippled by serious injuries throughout the season.
Kevin Schade, who turned his loan move to Brentford into a permanent one in the summer, was meant to help share the goalscoring duties but has been out of action since late September with no return date set in.
Star defender Rico Henry is out for the season while right back Aaron Hickey has also been sidelined for several months among others.
The Bees’ form this season has also been quite patchy, winning just one of their first eight games before four victories in their next six. But they’ve now lost four in a row and six of their last seven, seeing them slide towards the relegation zone.
With Toney due to return in mid-January, it could be the boost Brentford need to kickstart their season once again.
Brentford have struggled without their star striker Ivan Toney this season. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON (8th, +5 GD, 30 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Pascal Groß
After the lofty heights of a sixth-place finish last season, high expectations had been set for the Seagulls in the 2023/24 campaign.
But a bright start in which Brighton won five of their opening six games is in the distant past, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side have tasted victory just three times in the following 12.
Although De Zerbi’s great entertainers have been kept scoreless just once this season, they have scored two or more goals just five times since a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in late September.
What is most alarming about Brighton this season is the number of goals they’ve shipped, which stands at 33.
For reference, 16th-placed Nottingham Forest and 18th-placed Luton Town have conceded 34.
Part of this is no doubt down to a backline crippled by injuries.
Star left back Pervis Estupinan had been out for some time before marking his return to action with a screamer against Tottenham, while Tariq Lamptey and Adam Webster have also spent time on the sidelines.
De Zerbi has also switched between Jason Steele and summer signing Bart Verbruggen in the goalkeeper position, offering little consistency in a crucial part of the field after Roberto Sanchez’s exit to Chelsea.
One shining light of consistency this season has been German stalwart Pascal Groß, who continues to be a vital cog in De Zerbi’s Brighton machine.
Another bright spot for Brighton is the goalscoring prowess of Joao Pedro, who joined from Watford for a club-record fee of £30 million.
And despite all of the things that have gone awry for the Seagulls this season, they’re still just three points away from the Europa League spots.
Joao Pedro (centre) leads the goalscoring charts for Brighton. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BURNLEY (19th, -20 GD, 11 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Josh Brownhill
Burnley won the Championship last season at a canter but life in the Premier League has most certainly not been kind.
There was plenty of intrigue as to whether Vincent Kompany’s brand of football at Turf Moor would hold up against the best England has to offer and so far, the answer has been a resounding no.
Kompany took a significant risk going into the season with the youngest squad in the Premier League with an average age of 24 years and 170 days.
So far, it is a risk that has not paid off as Burnley sit 19th and have conceded the second-most goals in the league.
Burnley lost 11 of their first 13 games, achieving a win and a draw over fellow relegation candidates Luton Town and Nottingham Forest respectively.
But apart from that, there hasn’t been much to sing about on the terraces of Turf Moor although a much-needed 2-0 victory away at Fulham will give Kompany’s troops a needed lift going into the second half of the season.
Skipper Josh Brownhill has been one of the few shining lights in this Burnley team, providing a wiser head in a team brimming with young and eager minds.
Staying up this season will be a mammoth task but with Kompany’s remarkable leadership skills, don’t count out the Clarets just yet in the fight for survival.
Vincent Kompany has a massive job on his hands to keep Burnley in the Premier League. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA (10th, +2 GD, 25 pts): F
Mid-season MVP: Cole Palmer
If Chelsea fans thought last year would be the worst of it, well, can only provide our condolences.
A fresh start under new manager Mauricio Pochettino as well as several of the players becoming more familiar with the Premier League had Blues fans hoping for the world.
Instead, they’ve been delivered an atlas.
Chelsea managed to ship off $AUD435 million worth of talent (per Transfermarkt) elsewhere including Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) and Mason Mount (Manchester United) to name just four.
But the players brought in — at an estimated total expense of $756 million — have simply not lived up to the billing.
Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo was the most expensive of the lot, joining Chelsea from Brighton for an eye-watering $187 million.
Yet the Ecuadorean continues to struggle to live up to his price tag and doesn’t look at home in Pochettino’s system.
Sure, Pochettino has been dealt a somewhat rough hand with injuries as skipper Reece James continues to spend more time off the pitch than on it while the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are sidelined for some time.
Yet for a team that has been so expensively assembled and one of Chelsea’s grand stature, just six wins from 17 league games is simply not good enough.
One summer signing who has looked sharp since arriving is Cole Palmer, who looked to be a seriously risky piece of business at $76 million.
But the Manchester City youth product has delivered several crucial performances for Pochettino’s side and is cold as ice when stepping up to take penalties.
Despite Palmer’s emergence, it cannot be ignored that Chelsea are a serious risk of failing to qualify for European football for a second-straight season.
And if that happens, it’s safe to say Chelsea’s answer will be to throw more money at it and hope it fixes itself.
Despite heavy investment in the summer, Chelsea are still struggling badly. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRYSTAL PALACE (15th, -9 GD, 18 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Eberechi Eze
After Roy Hodgson steered the club away from relegation at the end of last season, Crystal Palace rewarded him with a one-year extension.
It’s taken just 19 games for Hodgson, a boyhood Palace fan, to have the Eagles once again nervously looking over their shoulder at the drop to the Championship.
After just two defeats in the first eight games, Hodgson’s troops have suffered a massive nosedive in form.
Palace have lost seven of their last 11 fixtures, with only one win — against 19th-place Burnley — in that run.
The main issue crippling Palace is their inability to find the back of the net, with their tally of 19 goals the third-lowest in the league: only Burnley (18) and Sheffield United (15) are worse.
Talk is heating up about the Palace top brass eyeing up a move for Steve Cooper, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, as a mid-season replacement for Hodgson.
It could be what the team needs if it is to surge up the table and unlock the attacking talent it possesses.
The dynamic duo of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze is one of the league’s most exciting on paper, but largely due to injuries they have not been able to share the field.
If those two can start to fire, Palace theoretically should pull away from the danger zone.
Roy Hodgson has overseen a worrying run of form at Crystal Palace lately. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EVERTON (17th, -1 GD, 16 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dwight McNeil
It’s worth starting with the obvious: Everton copped a Premier League-record ten-point penalty for financial breaches last month that dropped them to 19th and level on points with the bottom-placed team. Without it, they’d be in the top half of the table right now. But the players have responded brilliantly to that hefty blow, beating Newcastle and Chelsea comfortably in recent weeks to climb out of the relegation zone. They are doing so even after recording a €42.30m transfer profit in the off-season – one of only four teams to receive more than they spent. After narrowly avoiding relegation in recent seasons, the points penalty has ignited a fire in their collective belly and they look set to push well clear of danger.
The key marker of improvement behind Everton’s resurgence is their defensive record, a hallmark of Toffees boss Sean Dyche.
Everton have conceded just 25 goals this season, a figure equal with heavyweights like Newcastle and Manchester United.
Although Everton have improved as a collective, one star who looks especially rejuvenated under Dyche is winger Dwight McNeil.
The winger burst onto the scene at Burnley during Dyche’s tenure and the two are once again getting the best out of each other, with McNeil constantly whipping in dangerous crosses that have opposition backlines scrambling.
Despite a 10-point deduction, Everton have not been feeling sorry for themselves. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
FULHAM (13th, -8 GD, 21 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: João Palhinha
After losing talismanic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi club Al-Hilal in the summer, serious questions were going to be asked about Fulham and Marco Silva this season.
Would they have the same goalscoring credentials? Will Silva tweak his team’s style of play to mitigate the loss of Mitrovic?
Could they actually replace Mitrovic and achieve the same results?
In short, no.
Summer signing Raul Jimenez and Willian lead the club’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League with just four to their names, followed by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Alex Iwobi who have three each.
However, Fulham somehow managed to score 16 goals in the space of four games, including back-to-back 5-0 wins at home over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.
Throw in a recent 2-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Burnley and you start to see why Fulham are just a very, very odd team this season.
One man crucial to Fulham’s hopes of a comfortable mid-table finish this season is defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, who almost joined Mitrovic out the exit door but to German giants Bayern Munich instead.
Palhinha could have easily downed tools given the move of a lifetime didn’t come off, but the opposite is true.
The Portuguese start leads the league in tackles by a massive margin and will be crucial to Fulham’s efforts in the second half of the 23/24 campaign.
Fulham are all but certain for a comfortable midtable finish. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL (1st, +23 GD, 42 pts): A+
Mid-season MVP: Mohamed Salah
They’re scoring goals for fun, have the best defensive record in the league and if it weren’t for an egregious officiating error, would be undefeated.
Oh, and they’re sitting in first place too.
It’s been some start to the season for Liverpool who have won 12 of their 19 league games so far.
Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah has been pivotal to Liverpool’s success this season thanks to his 12 goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
The new-look Reds midfield has also impressed, especially summer arrival Dominik Szoboszlai.
Despite all of the Reds’ success this season, they have not been without their flaws.
Liverpool have had to come from behind to either win or draw on eight occasions this season and of those eight games, a goal has arrived in second-half stoppage time.
One side of that argument plays into Jurgen Klopp’s previous comments about his players being “mentality monsters”.
On the other hand, it is an unsustainable trend that could come back to bite Liverpool dearly.
Of course, the biggest question that faces Klopp’s side is how they will cope without Salah when he takes off for the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Given he has been involved in 19 of Liverpool’s 39 league goals this season, his absence takes away the team’s best goalscoring threat.
But Klopp is one of the best managers in the world for a reason and will have devised a plan to make up for Salah’s absence.
Just how well that plan works will likely prove the difference between winning the Premier League and falling agonisingly short yet again.
Mohamed Salah is vital to Liverpool’s title hopes. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
LUTON TOWN (18th, -13 GD, 15 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Ross Barkley
They’ve got no money, the smallest ground in the league, and it’s fair to say they were given no chance of survival. From the start of the season, they showed they were up for the fight. But the big question was always around whether they had enough quality.
In their first 12 games, they had six points and had scored just 10 goals. It felt like they probably deserved more – they gave Man Utd a huge scare and came within inches of beating Liverpool.
But they turned things around after that. Since then, they’ve scored 10 goals in six games and racked up nine points!
After being all-but-written-off in pre-season, they’re mounting a genuine run at avoiding relegation.
The Hatters have now won both games since captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, including a genuine ‘six-pointer’ over Sheffield United.
Ex-PL defender Stephen Kelly told BBC Radio: “Sometimes it can be a horrendous moment like that that galvanises you as a group of players.
“Quality-wise I don’t think Luton are there when it comes to the Premier League and they can’t compete with the finances. But they compete with hard work, energy and desire.”
Maybe the magic touch of quality comes from Barkley, who has slotted in perfectly after joining from French first-tier team Nice in the off-season.
The former Everton and Chelsea midfield star is shining in a deeper role, picking up the ball deep and driving forward. His long balls and ability to draw in defenders has been crucial for Luton’s attack. The 30-year-old is undergoing a career resurgence – and it might just carry the Hatters to survival.
Ross Barkley is enjoying a career resurgence at Luton Town. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER CITY (4th, +22 GD, 37 pts): A-
Mid-season MVP: Rodri
The status that comes with winning four Premier League titles in a row explains why this season so far feels a little below par for Manchester City.
It’s been a rather bizarre season for Pep Guardiola’s side, who found themselves in fourth at the halfway mark of the 23/24 season.
Some things remain relatively normal: Erling Haaland leads the golden boot race with 14, City are the league’s highest scorers with 43 and have conceded the third-fewest goals (21).
But there’s a feeling City, for the first time in a long while, might be a little vulnerable.
The absence of star Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has no doubt played a major role in that sentiment, while Haaland’s recent injury has lightened the load on opposition backlines.
Yet there’s one alarming stat which suggests those two aren’t the vital pieces to City’s title charge.
Instead, it’s Spanish midfielder Rodri.
Granted he’s not going to provide the mind-boggling assist and goal numbers De Bruyne and Haaland provide.
But from the three games City have not had Rodri available, they have lost all three: a 2-1 loss to Wolves as well as 1-0 defeats to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
City also could and perhaps should have a better defensive record, if not for the 4-4 and 3-3 goalfests against Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.
In fact, City have conceded goals in the 90th minute and beyond for three of their four draws this season, pointing to a serious concentration issue that has crept in for Guardiola’s side.
However, there’s always a sense of inevitability with City given they know exactly when to peak during the final run-in and simply cannot be counted out until it’s mathematically impossible.
Manchester City have not won when Rodri has been absent. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
MANCHESTER UNITED (7th, -4 GD, 31 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Bruno Fernandes
Let’s start with the positives. They’re seventh on the ladder and still in top-four contention. Bruno Fernandes is putting together a season for the ages when it comes to playmaking (more on that below). But it’s fair to say there are still big problems.
Ten times this season, Manchester United have conceded more than one goal in the space of 10 minutes or less. This month alone that has included two in five minutes (Villa), two in six (West Ham), two in five (Bournemouth).
Then there’s the attack. United have scored just 21 goals this season, which is the equal-third fewest of any team in the Premier League.
Before their impressive comeback win over Aston Villa, United’s forwards had scored a combined four league goals from open play in 18 games. The team had gone over 420 minutes without scoring before Garnacho’s opening goal against Villa. Big-money signing Rasmus Hojlund’s goal in the game was his first in the league … in his 15th appearance!
“Too many people talk about the strikers at Man Utd,” Garnacho said after the game.
United fans will be hoping their forwards can finally find some form and shut up the critics.
Thankfully, they’re getting plenty of service from Fernandes, who keeps creating chances at a remarkable rate. His expected assists this season stands at 6.47 per understat, while his actual assists is just three. If his teammates can stop missing so many chances, United can still make something of this season.
Bruno Fernandes is providing chances but his United teammates are struggling to finish them. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
NEWCASTLE (9th, +12 GD, 29 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Anthony Gordon
It was always going to be a difficult ask for Newcastle to build on the wild ride all the way to the Champions League they enjoyed last season.
And so far, that’s exactly what it’s proving to be.
A 5-1 win over Aston Villa and an 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United are distant memories as Eddie Howe’s side limped its way to the halfway mark, losing four of their last five games.
The depth of Eddie Howe’s squad has been tested beyond belief as the addition of a European schedule has placed plenty of strain on a playing group desperately short on depth.
Couple that with lengthy injury spells to key players like Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes and Sven Botman to name three and it’s easy to understand why the Magpies are suffering this season.
There’s also been the unwanted distraction of marquee summer recruit Sandro Tonali’s suspension for gambling, robbing Newcastle of a player deemed pivotal to their domestic and European hopes.
But amid all the doom and gloom in the Toon, winger Anthony Gordon has been a shining light.
Gordon wears his heart on his sleeve and it’s his relentless energy that has resulted in vital goals for Newcastle.
The 22-year-old has six league goals to his name but, most crucially, has started 17 of 19 games.
Having guided Newcastle back to the Champions League last season, Howe’s job is extremely likely to be safe despite the team’s struggles this season.
But given it is the first sustained period of on-field woes, it will be extremely intriguing to see how patient Newcastle’s Saudi ownership are.
Newcastle are struggling to emulate the highs of last season. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (16th, -12 GD, 17 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Morgan Gibbs-White
It wasn’t anything close to the transfer extravaganza prior to their Premier League return last year, but Nottingham Forest still decided to loosen the pursestrings and bring a raft of stars to the City Ground, including star wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga.
Despite the high-profile additions, Forest boss Steve Cooper couldn’t quite get them firing when he needed to and as a result the cult hero was sacked.
Looking at Forest’s results this season and it’s hard not to see why club owner Evangelos Marinakis lost patience with Cooper.
Things appeared reasonably bright for the Reds at the start of the season having lost just four of their opening 11 games and even then, those defeats were to Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
But after a surprise 2-0 win at home against Aston Villa, the wheels fell off for Cooper and his team.
Four straight losses — including a 5-0 humiliation away to Fulham which resulted in Marinakis hurling his matchday accreditation into the front garden of a home near Craven Cottage — cranked up the pressure on Cooper.
A 1-1 draw against Wolves only proved to be a brief stay of execution, as a 2-0 loss to Tottenham the following week brought an end to Cooper’s time at the club.
Former Wolves boss Nuno Esperito Santo has now arrived and although he tasted defeat amid controversial circumstances in his first match in charge, Forest looked a brighter side in a 3-1 win away to Newcastle.
Although Forest may privately harbour aspirations bigger than just survival, Nuno’s remit will no doubt be to avoid the drop.
Dynamic forward Morgan Gibbs-White will be vital to achieving this aim, as will the goalscoring prowess of Kiwi striker Chris Wood.
Morgan Gibbs-White (left) is one star who is set to play a big role in keeping Forest up. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SHEFFIELD UNITED (20th, -32 GD, 9 pts): E
Mid-season MVP: Gustavo Hamer
The Blades have lacked a cutting edge (sorry) up front, but they’ve also been sliced apart defensively. They’ve got the worst offensive and defensive record in the league by some distance. In fact, after 19 games, they hold the second-worst defensive record in Premier League history. Their 47 goals conceded is second only to Barnsley 1997-98 (50 conceded).
But to be fair, expectations were low this season, especially when they sold two key players in Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and Sander Berge to rivals Burnley. At times they have been a shambles that feels more like a bunch of individuals than any sort of united team. They’ve lost two games 5-0 and another 8-0, sacked a manager and need a miracle to avoid relegation. It’s been a sorry season.
Hamer, a 15 million pound signing, has been a rare shining light. He struck an absolute screamer on his Premier League debut and has impressed with his workrate on and off the ball. He is creative and courageous – which sometimes results in gifting possession to the opposition too frequently – but he has the kind of intensity and drive to win that is infectious. At least, Sheffield fans will hope so, otherwise it will be straight back to the Championship for the Blades.
Sheffield United are favourites to be relegated. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TOTTENHAM (5th, +11 GD, 36 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Ange Postecoglou (we had to!)
From leading the league in October, to managing to find a way to score goals after losing arguably the club’s greatest-ever striker Harry Kane, and most importantly playing an attractive style of football, it’s been one hell of a start to the season for Spurs. They’ve faced a major injury crisis that’s about as bad as any team in the league, and took out two of their star signings (and most important players overall) James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
At the same time, they’ve been struck down by suspensions – like Cristian Romero, who sums up their season with his two red cards followed by a big injury.
Sure, they had a poor November, but overall the first half of the season has been more than impressive.
They lost 14 games last season. At the mid-point of this season, they’ve lost five.
And if Postecoglou thought he had already undergone a brutal test with a casualty ward at capacity as well as constant suspensions, he’s got a nightmare scenario in the very near future.
He’s about to lose star midfield duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr to the African Cup of Nations as well as club captain Heung-Min Son to the Asian Cup.
But the Australian boss has never shied away from a challenge and he won’t be about to do so now.
Perspective is also needed when viewing Postecoglou’s achievements amid the brutal hand he has been dealt when it comes to the unavailability of several of his first team stars.
When he’s had everyone free to play, we’ve seen just how good this Tottenham team can be.
Postecoglou has enjoyed a true rollercoaster of a Premier League season and we’re only at the halfway mark. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WEST HAM (6th, +3 GD, 33 pts): B
Mid-season MVP: Jarrod Bowen
Prior to the season, the big question surrounding West Ham was about how they would navigate life without talismanic midfielder and captain Declan Rice after his £105 million move to Arsenal.
Granted, a direct replacement of Rice’s quality was just about impossible.
But thanks to the summer additions of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, Rice’s absence is not as keenly felt as first feared.
Hammers boss David Moyes also began the season as one manager tipped as a likely chance of getting sacked and, for a brief period this season, it looked like that could have eventuated.
A run of five defeats in seven games heaped pressure on the Scot, but in typical Moyes fashion, he managed to turn the ship around.
Since that run, West Ham have lost just once — a rogue 5-0 hammering at the hands of Fulham — and have won six of their last eight to rocket up from 12th place all the way to sixth.
Pivotal to this uptick in form is the dynamic trio of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
Paqueta leads the league in the most through balls with 19, ahead of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard, and has five assists to his name.
After a slow start, Kudus has found his feet in the Premier League and has four goals in his last six league games.
But it is Bowen who has been the real shining light of West Ham, with his 11 goals to date proving vital.
His pace and ability to stretch opposition backlines is crucial to the Hammers hitting teams in transition and, as it stands, should be considered a lock for England’s squad at EURO 2024.
Jarrod Bowen is in sensational form for West Ham this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WOLVES (11th, -4 GD, 25 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: Matheus Cunha
When Julen Lopetegui resigned on August 8, many Wolves fans would have been forgiven if they feared the worst going into this season.
The relatively underwhelming appointment of Gary O’Neil — who was sacked by Bournemouth not long after the end of the 2022/23 season — did little to allay those fears.
Despite the initial fears, Wolves fans backed O’Neil to the hilt and that bond has strengthened over the course of this season.
The highs have been very high for Wolves so far, with home wins against the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City giving the Molineux faithful plenty to sing about.
But the one thing that has tightened the bond between Wolves fans and O’Neil is the fact the club has been on the wrong side of an alarming number of VAR calls.
It began in the first match of the season when Wolves were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic.
Wolves also had two penalty calls go against them in the 3-2 defeat to Fulham, with O’Neil even claiming referee Michael Salisbury told him he made a mistake in awarding one of the penalties.
It led O’Neil to state his team had lost seven points as a result of VAR’s ineptitude, but it also helped create a siege mentality amongst the entire club.
To an extent it’s paid off, with Wolves sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone and only six points off seventh, the position which qualifies a team for the Europa Conference League.
Matheus Cunha, who joined on a permanent deal in the summer, is a big reason for Wolves’ improvement this season as are the goals from Hwang Hee-Chan.
Cunha’s four goals and five assists goes some way to explaining the attacking threat he provides for O’Neil’s team and will look to continue to be a nuisance for the opposition.
Ange Postecoglou is finally trimming some of the fat from his squad, with three of his Tottenham Hotspur players headed for the exit door.
Sergio Reguilon, who joined Tottenham in the summer of 2020, is set to link up with Manchester United on a loan deal, per The Athletic.
The Red Devils had hoped to snap up Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, but a deal was deemed to expensive so they have since moved for the Tottenham defender.
Reguilon had featured throughout Tottenham’s pre-season but has had to make do with a backup role so far this season as Destiny Udogie earned the starting role at left back.
Another defender who won’t be at Tottenham for much longer is academy product Japhet Tanganga.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the final member of the departing trio, with the Dane heavily linked with a switch to Fulham.
The Cottagers appear resigned to losing star defensive midfielder Joao Palinha, who looks likely to join Bayern Munich.
But Fulham are wasting no time in finding Palinha’s replacement and have made a £25 million offer for Hojbjerg, per the Daily Mail.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is heavily linked with a move to Fulham. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
SOCCEROO SET FOR SURPRISE REUNION?
Socceroos star Harry Souttar could find himself leaving Leicester City almost as quickly as he arrived.
The towering centre-back has struggled to break into Foxes boss Enzo Maresca’s side this season, with Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard preferred ahead of him.
Whether Souttar would leave on a permanent deal or a loan remains to be seen, but a departure from Leicester looks to be his best chance for regular game time.
Harry Souttar looks likely to leave Leicester in search of regular football. (Photo by Will Palmer/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ENGLAND STAR PENS EMOTIONAL GOODBYE TO RED DEVILS
Dean Henderson has penned an emotional goodbye after securing a permanent move away from Manchester United.
The England international has joined Crystal Palace on a five-year, £20 million deal having struggled for first team football at his boyhood club.
Henderson, who had been with the Red Devils since he was 14, stated his United journey was a “dream come true.”
“Saying goodbye to United is an emotional moment for me,” Henderson said.
“This club has been a part of my life since I was a kid.
“From growing up as a United fan, to joining the academy aged 14, to stepping out on the pitch at Old Trafford!
“The journey has been a dream come true and I feel very blessed and fortunate to have fulfilled that dream.”
The 26-year-old will now contest for the starting goalkeeper role with Sam Johnstone at Palace.
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Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou looks to add one final piece to his squad for the season ahead while one of his midfielders could be headed out the exit door.
Elsewhere, Romelu Lukaku could be reunited with a familiar face in Italy as he plots yet another temporary exit from Chelsea.
Catch up on all of the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
It was Brentford’s third bid for the winger but they are now set to move on to other targets, leaving Tottenham practically unchallenged in their pursuit of the Welsh winger.
Romano claims Tottenham are now “prepared to approach” Forest over a deal as Ange Postecoglou has “already approved” a potential bid.
Johnson played a starring role in keeping Forest safe from relegation last season with eight goals.
Brennan Johnson has plenty of admirers at Tottenham. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LUKAKU SET FOR WILD REUNION AS MESSY CHELSEA EXIT NEARS
Romelu Lukaku is set to be reunited with Jose Mourinho after Chelsea reportedly struck a deal to loan the Belgian to Roma.
The Telegraph reports Lukaku has even agreed to take a wage cut to join Roma, with Chelsea netting a loan fee upwards of £5 million.
As part of the deal, Lukaku will also have to take yet another wage cut if he is to return to London at the end of the loan deal although a £37 million release clause has been inserted into his Chelsea deal.
Lukaku and Mourinho crossed paths when they were both at Manchester United from 2017 to the latter’s sacking in December 2018.
In Lukaku’s only full season under Mourinho at Old Trafford, he scored 16 league goals from 34 appearances and will hope to replicate similar figures in the Italian capital.
Lukaku looks set to return to Serie A. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
£38M WOLVES ACE SKIPS TRAINING AGAIN IN EFFORT TO FORCE THROUGH CITY SWITCH
Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Nunes has refused to train for two days as he hopes to force through a transfer to Manchester City.
According to The Times, Nunes has continued to reiterate his desire to leave Wolves amid big interest from the Premier League champions.
City had a £47 million bid rejected for Nunes, with Wolves holding out for a figure around £60 million.
Pep Guardiola’s side are hoping to boost their midfield stocks amid the news Kevin de Bruyne will miss six months due to a hamstring injury
Nunes joined Wolves for £38 million last August in what was a club-record fee at the time and will net a profit if the Portuguese international is to be sold, but how big of a profit the club lands remains to be seen.
Matheus Nunes wants out at Wolves. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
RED DEVILS MULL MOVE FOR SPURS OUTCAST
Ange Postecoglou could lose a tough-tackling midfielder as Manchester United are weighing up a move for Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The Telegraph reports United are keeping a keen eye on the situation having been offered the chance to sign the Dane.
Hojbjerg has not started any of Tottenham’s three Premier League games this season and is viewed as an expendable figure as Postecoglou revolutionises his Tottenham squad.
He has already come close to an exit this window as Spurs accepted a £30 million offer from Atletico Madrid for Hojbjerg but the deal broke down after he couldn’t agree personal terms.
Hojbjerg has been at Tottenham since 2020 when he joined from Southampton and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club.
The NBA Summer League is over, with the Cavaliers crowned champions as basketball fans got their first glimpse at Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller and a host of other stars on the rise.
Now attention turns towards another intriguing offseason, with potential James Harden and Damian Lillard trades on the cards.
Plus — the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns have emerged as big winners from free agency so far, while the Houston Rockets made some peculiar moves in the summer.
With all that in mind, here are a few key storylines to come out of the offseason so far.
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‘Bulls***’ – Landale gets trolled by dad | 00:24
WHAT HAPPENS WITH JAMES HARDEN?
Starting off with Harden, all signs point towards there being no trade on the horizon in the short-term at least, not that that is a surprise anyway with Daryl Morey in charge.
After all, Morey was more than happy to remain patient on the Ben Simmons trade front before eventually striking a deal to reunite with James Harden in Philadelphia.
Now it looks like Harden is heading for the exit door, reportedly unhappy with the way the Sixers handled his potential free agency.
That is according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, who wrote late last month that Harden was “extremely upset” and “made his dissatisfaction clear”.
It looked clear for a while though that Simmons’ days in Philadelphia were numbered, but that didn’t stop Morey from holding out for the best value before trading the Australian.
By all reports the Clippers, Harden’s preferred destination, could also be made to wait as Morey kicked off negotiations with an asking price which Adrian Wojnarowski described as “exorbitant”.
“Teams are not engaging the Sixers with the kind of asks that Daryl Morey is asking for James Harden,” Wojnarowski said during a recent appearance on ESPN’s ‘NBA Today’.
“That’s where Daryl Morey always starts in trade talks, really high. Over time, perhaps, you work him back down.”
James Harden wants to join the Clippers. (Photo by Adam Glanzman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
Although it is no sure thing at this point that Harden even ends up being traded, with rival executives telling The Athletic at Summer League that they are “universally convinced” Philadelphia is now trying to keep the 10-time All-Star.
That is consistent with reporting from Wojnarowski, who predicted the Harden talks will “linger into the summer” as the 76ers hold out hope of finding a potential resolution.
“But like Ben Simmons, there’s hope on the Sixers’ side that eventually, at some point, they can get James Harden on board about being in Philadelphia in the last year of this deal,” the ESPN insider said.
“This opt-in that he did at $35.6 million. Now they may get to training camp and it may look different in Philly. They may have a James Harden who is not as enthusiastic about his return as they are. And then maybe they get more serious about it.”
One name that is highly unlikely to be seriously considered by the Sixers in any potential Harden package is young guard Tyrese Maxey, who is widely seen as untouchable.
Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice reported late last month that the 76ers are not expected to sign Maxey to any extension this offseason.
However, as Neubeck wrote: “This is not viewed as a condemnation of Maxey or a reflection of how the team values him”.
Rather, the Sixers still see the 22-year-old as a key part of their future but are hoping to guarantee future financial flexibility for potential moves in free agency next summer.
Tyrese Maxey is the future in Philadelphia. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
AND WHAT ABOUT JOEL EMBIID?
Well, based on his recent comments, we will only be able to answer that question if Harden is traded.
Should his Sixers co-star be dealt to the Clipper as expected, whether Embiid stays or forces his way out will largely depend on what Philadelphia gets back in return.
“I just want to win a championship,” Embiid said last week.
“Whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s going to be, whether that’s in Philly or anywhere else.”
Obviously losing Harden would be quite the setback to Embiid’s hopes of contending for a championship, so the Sixers are said to want an “All-Star level return” for the 33-year-old.
That is according to a report from Philly Voicein which Kyle Neubeck writes that the Sixers “would prefer to be able to make or keep the team as competitive as possible as soon as possible”.
That is consistent with comments from 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, who told 97.5 FM that the team is “attempting to honour” Harden’s trade request but only at the right price.
“If we don’t get either a very good player or something we can turn into a very good player, we are not going to do it,” Morey said.
For what it’s worth, Embiid’s comments aren’t an indication that he wants to be traded. Ian Begley of SNY reported as much this week.
Begley wrote that Embiid and Morey met in the wake of the former’s comments, with the Sixers superstar making it clear he wants to be in Philadelphia and deliver a title to the city.
“The Sixers have absolutely no plans to trade Embiid,” Begley added, per sources familiar with the matter.
Of course, this again could all change depending on a potential Harden trade but for the time being Sixers fans can breathe easy.
What happens with Harden could determine Embiid’s future. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
WILL DAME GET HIS WISH?
Philadelphia is not the only team expected to play the waiting game when it comes to a superstar trade, with Portland still yet to find a deal for veteran guard Damian Lillard.
Every man and his dog knows at this point that Miami is Lillard’s favoured landing spot, although the Heat’s potential best offer isn’t something the Blazers are willing to accept — for now.
Miami has three first-round picks it could stump up, although that would also require the Heat getting the Thunder to change the protection on their 2025 first that they owe them.
A third team could then add in another first-round pick while the Heat also have three first-round swaps they could add to the table.
Whether they are willing to part ways with all three remains to be seen and for now there is no real incentive to do so with other teams not posing too much of a threat.
The Blazers are reportedly after four first-round picks and a few young rotation players for Lillard, with Nikola Jovic and rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr. frequently mentioned in mock trades.
Veteran Duncan Robinson, who is owed $18.1 million next season and has three years left on his current contract, or Caleb Martin could also be dealt in a possible Lillard trade.
Damian Lillard has requested a trade. (Photo by Carmen Mandato / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP
Of course, Tyler Herro is the other name at the centre of a deal with the Blazers but he would likely end up at a third team as opposed to being sent to Portland in a straight-up deal.
So, what is the latest on how close either side could be to a trade?
Well, according to Wojnarowski, there is no reason for the Blazers to speed up the process with no looming deadline they must make a move before.
“I think for the Portland Trail Blazers, they don’t want to rush into what they consider a bad deal,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s ‘NBA Today’.
“The Miami Heat, the team that is most motivated to trade for Damian Lillard, where Damian Lillard wants to end up, they don’t want to be in a situation where they’re bidding against themselves right now.
“They know that the market doesn’t love the idea of paying Damian Lillard a $60 million average at 35 and 36 years old, the last two years of that deal.
“There’s no rush for either side to be real aggressive in their conversations with each other, and for Portland, they’re motivated to wait this out and continue to see, ‘How do we get the most back for Damian Lillard?’
“They don’t see it as moving quickly on a deal unless Miami came with all of their assets, you know what they’re able to trade for Damian Lillard. They’re not motivated to do that now, they’d be bidding against themselves.”
Speaking of which, the Raptors look to be one of the more intriguing teams to follow this offseason with the potential for a few big moves still on the cards.
Miami is the ideal landing spot for Lillard. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
ARE THE LAKERS BIG WINNERS FROM FREE AGENCY?
The Lakers’ front office hasn’t exactly been the subject of much praise previously.
That’s what trading for Russell Westbrook does to you, although on a more broader note they made a big mistake in not better prioritising continuity in the aftermath of their championship run.
This summer though Rob Pelinka and the Lakers are getting their flowers, and rightly so.
The Lakers had already taken a step in the right direction before last season’s trade deadline, ending the Westbrook experiment and making shrewd moves to build around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
That saw L.A. make a surprise run all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where the Lakers fell short against this year’s eventual champions — the Denver Nuggets.
While the Nuggets will still be deserved favourites heading into next season, the Lakers have only built on that successful run with a series of clever calls this summer.
First and most importantly, they didn’t repeat the same mistake they made with Westbrook by shooting for the bigger name and sacrificing their depth in the process.
The Lakers added Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince and Gabe Vincent, with the latter offering a better option than the departing Denis Schroder.
Prince isn’t a bad 3-point shooter either, going 38 per cent from deep in his past three seasons and shaping as the perfect 3-and-D wing for the Lakers to fill out the second unit.
The Lakers have put the right pieces around LeBron James. (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP
Then, of course, there is the most impressive move of the lot — re-signing the rapidly improving Austin Reaves on a four-year, $54 million deal.
There was talk that Reaves could receive offer sheets up to $100 million this summer, with the Lakers so desperate to extend him that they were more than happy to match those figures.
Instead, Reaves returns to L.A. on a team-friendly deal after a breakout 2022-23 campaign that saw him emerge as the team’s third-most important player behind James and Davis.
Speaking on his ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcast, JJ Redick called the Lakers one of the biggest winners of the free agency period.
“Now, if you look and you’ve got Gabe Vincent coming, Taurean Prince coming on a very favourable one-year contract. Gabe Vincent is making 11 [million] — not even the full mid-level. You bring [D’Angelo] Russell back. You bring [Rui] Hachimura back, they’ve got a really good basketball team,” Redick said.
“So much of their success ultimately, in the regular season specifically, will be based on health… we’re talking about one of the best teams in the Western Conference for sure.
“… I think Hachimura signed for 17, Russell signed for 18.5 … there’s nothing against those guys at those numbers, but Austin Reaves at 12 starting out? Gabe Vincent at 11? “I cannot believe they got those two guys next season for about $23 million between them. You can make an argument that both those guys are worth $20 million a year. Just a fantastic value add with Gabe Vincent.”
Gabe Vincent is off to the Lakers. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Whether it is enough to take the Lakers one step further next postseason, should they make it that far, remains to be seen.
But it is certainly a better position to be in than where the Lakers found themselves last summer.
As it stands, if anything, L.A. is still in need of a bit more depth in its frontcourt and Pelinka admitted as much earlier in the month.
The Lakers GM told reporters the team would be “actively in the market to add another big” with specific strengths.
“I think dimensional-izing the skills at that position would be important,” Pelinka said.
“So we don’t want to sign someone who replicates the skills that Jaxson Hayes has. So, if we can diversify the big position and have different looks, that would be good.”
Beyond Hayes, Pelinka said L.A. is “actively in the market to add another big,” and hinted that the Lakers would pursue a player with stretch 5 capabilities.
“I think dimensional-izing the skills at that position would be important,” Pelinka said. “So we don’t want to sign someone who replicates the skills that Jaxson Hayes has. So, if we can diversify the big position and have different looks, that would be good.”
That is at least according to the latest reporting from NBA insider Marc Stein, who reported in his latest Substack that: “League sources say Dallas has not ruled out participating in a sign-and-trade deal that lands Christian Wood with a new team if it is presented with such a scenario”.
Christian Wood is a Lakers target. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WHAT TO MAKE OF HOUSTON’S FREE AGENCY HAUL?
While the Lakers are one of the bigger winners to come from the free agency period so far, no one knows quite what to make of the Rockets after a few head-scratching moves.
Houston, who already had an impressive young core headlined by Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun, tasted early success at this year’s draft.
First, the Rockets took Amen Thompson fourth overall before snapping up Cam Whitmore after the high-upside the Villanova freshman dropped all the way to the No. 20 pick.
It was expected Houston would then be aggressive in the free agency period with nearly $61 million in cap space and an obvious need to add veterans to its young roster.
The Rockets did just that, making two of the biggest moves of free agency. Just who they signed and how much they gave up to get them, however, was a point of contention.
First, Houston agreed to sign Fred VanVleet to a three-year, $128.5 million max contract with a third-year team option before offering Dillon Brooks a four-year, $80 million deal.
These are two players who were two of the most inefficient scorers in the NBA last season, with Brooks taking 991 shots and making just 39.6 per cent of them.
According to The Ringer’s Chris Vernon, there was only one player in the league who took more shots and hit less: VanVleet.
Fred VanVleet is a leader. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
That may be a concern given how much the Rockets paid to get the two players to Houston, although a struggling team is always going to have to pay more to land big-name free agents.
Plus, the hope for VanVleet would be that this was just an outlier for a guy who has plenty of other strengths that the Rockets actually need, including 3-point shooting.
For all the issues VanVleet had in his mid-range game, he still made 44 per cent of his open catch-and-shoot 3s and shot 34.2 per cent overall from deep.
In fact, VanVleet has made 37.0 per cent or more of his 3-pointers in five of seven seasons in the NBA. For context, Kevin Porter Jr. (36.6 per cent) was Houston’s best 3-point shooter last season.
Of course, VanVleet will also take up a prominent role on the ball in Houston’s offence as the team’s starting floor general after averaging a career-high 7.2 assists last season.
Meanwhile, his leadership is a value add for a young team while the 29-year-old is also disruptive on the defensive end having averaged the second-most steals (1.8) in the league last season.
As for Brooks, for all the concerns about his efficiency on the offensive end there is little doubting he will help address the issues Houston has on the defensive side of the ball.
Plus, the Rockets are banking on the addition of VanVleet opening the game up for Brooks — and all of their players — to be improved shooters in the 2023-24 season.
Houston beat writer Kelly Iko wrote in The Athleticthat Brooks told him at Summer League that he was confident VanVleet would bring the best out of him.
Dillon Brooks has joined the Rockets. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“When I spoke to Brooks in Las Vegas last week, one thing he noted was the impact the former Raptors point guard would have on his offensive efficiency, an area he’s fully aware he struggled with last season in Memphis,” Iko wrote.
“VanVleet is one of the game’s premier passers and has elite court vision. There’s a reason Houston’s brass felt it necessary to pay big money to land his services. VanVleet’s gravity and drive-and-kick ability are two much-needed lifts to this team’s floor and ceiling.”
In less high-profile but still important moves, the Rockets also signed Australian Jock Landale to a four-year, $32 million contract with only the first year guaranteed.
Jeff Green, meanwhile, will bring veteran leadership to the locker room after Houston signed the championship-winning forward on a one-year, $6 million deal.
As a whole, these moves make Houston better in the short-term and should give the team a proper chance to evaluate which of its young players are the best bets to continue building around.
It cost the Rockets a lot though and whether it will be worth it in the long run remains to be seen.
Houston was big winners at the draft. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
HOW DID PHOENIX MANAGE THAT?
And just quickly, while the Lakers emerged as one of the bigger winners from free agency, how about the Phoenix Suns?
Adding Bradley Beal alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant saw the birth of a new NBA superteam. But usually that comes as a cost, especially under the new collective bargaining agreement.
It meant the Suns had limited wiggle room as they tried to add some much-needed depth around their star-studded trio who, along with Deandre Ayton, are down to earn a combined $162 million next season.
As Phoenix is projected to exceed the $182.5 million second apron, it also meant they were unable to use the $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception to build their team in free agency.
Instead, the Suns were only able to offer veteran-minimum contracts. But instead of struggling to make any movements around the margins, Phoenix was able to bring back Josh Okogie and Damion Lee while adding Eric Gordon, Yuta Watanabe, Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks and Chimezie Metu.
There was an interesting detail in a lot of Phoenix’s free agency moves this summer though — the fact it signed six players to two-year contracts with second-year player options.
It is something that definitely didn’t go unnoticed by ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks while Brian Windhorst also pointed out another benefit of the kind of offers Phoenix made.
“They won battles for some of these guys that had two or three offers by being like, ‘Hey listen we’ll give a player option,’” Windhorst said on ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcast. “If you have a player option on a minimum contract, it means you can’t be traded without your permission. Functionally, Eric Gordon (and the others) has a no-trade clause.
“So, if the Suns come to him mid-season and say, ‘Hey we want to trade you to the Charlotte Hornets for so and so,’ he could be like, ‘Nope.’
“… If you’re trying to weigh where you’re going to go and you’re like, ‘Wait a minute I can go play in Phoenix for a title in good weather with two per cent state income tax, and I can block a trade,’ I could see the strategy [in] what they were doing. And it made sense to me and I respected it.”
Ange Postecoglou has addressed media in Perth ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against West Ham, providing updates on the playing future of Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris in a wide-ranging interview.
Kane’s future was the first topic of discussion for Postecoglou, with Bayern Munich having already shown strong interest in signing the 29-year-old.
In fact, honorary president Uli Hoeness told SPORT1 earlier in the week that Kane has “very clearly signalled his decision” to leave Tottenham for the German champions.
For now it is just noise, with no confirmation of any such move as Postecoglou telling reporters on Monday that “no one” has spoken to him from Munich.
“I had a good chat with Harry,” Postecoglou opened.
“As I said before, nothing earth-shattering or defining from I guess what people are seeking.
Just a good chat. I sort of introduced myself and we spoke mainly about the club and kind of where he thinks it’s at and where he thinks we can improve things and training ever since, it’s been good.”
When pressed on the vision for the club’s future that he may try to sell to Kane, Postecoglou insisted his focus since arriving at Tottenham has never been about just one player — no matter how big the name.
“It’s not a specific vision for one person, it’s about the group,” the Australian said.
“Me and Harry were perfectly aligned in that, we want to see a successful team this year.
“For me it’s about really focusing on everybody and making sure that we set the environment in the right way. The players have been brilliant so far, really receptive and open-minded about what we’re trying to do. Coaches have been brilliant in delivering that message.
“It’s been as positive as you can. It’s preseason, you know. I think everyone thinks they have a great preseason until the games start but so far it’s been good.”
Kane has travelled with the team after being included in Tottenham’s pre-season squad set for Australia, at one point spotted shaking hands with chairman Daniel Levy.
Ange Postecoglou is Tottenham’s new coach. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)Source: Supplied
The 29-year-old’s future will continue to be a point of contention externally but Postecoglou said it won’t be a distraction inside the group.
It is also not a focus for Tottenham’s new boss himself, with Postecoglou telling reporters his chat with Kane was not an attempt to finalise the superstar striker’s future.
“Again, I said the discussion wasn’t really about that. It was more about, like I said, the collective and what we’re doing,” Postecoglou said.
“Harry’s the same as all the other players. It’s not something I ask when they walk through the door, ‘Have you got a ticket or not?’
“It’s just about as we go along, we’re working hard as a group. Some will be on for the whole journey and others won’t. But a lot of that sort of gets decided along the way. It’s not something that I’m sitting down and demanding from people right at the outset.
“The reality is we have got a bit less than a month before the season starts, the transfer window is still open for a while, so we’ll see how it all transpires.
“There are a lot of people that know Harry better than me but he’s not going to get fazed by anything. He’s here and while he’s here, he’s totally committed to what we’re doing.
“That’s the way I’ve seen things. In terms of me, it has zero impact on me. If other people and clubs want to talk about our contracted players, that’s more of an issue for them than us.”
Harry Kane’s future at Tottenham is up in the air. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
While Kane’s future at the club may be up in the air, it appears far more likely that captain Lloris will be out the exit door.
Lloris was given permission to skip the team’s pre-season tour squad, instead training back home as he looks to find a new club after 11 years in north London.
Postecoglou said he had a “good chat” with Lloris and confirmed the goalkeeper is ready to “begin the next phase of his career” away from Tottenham.
“He’s been an outstanding servant for this football club for quite a long time,” Postecoglou said.
“Captain of the club, he’s made an indelible mark at Tottenham football club. I had a chat with him and he felt that he’s obviously hoping for a move somewhere else so he can play and begin the next phase of his career.
“I had a good chat with him and really left it up to him whether he wanted to come along because I think he deserves that respect to garner the direction of his own future because of his standing.
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“I’ve only sort of had two or three chats with him but even at training I can see he’s an outstanding goalkeeper but also an outstanding human being as well. From my perspective we had an open discussion and he just felt it would be better for him hopefully with a move imminent rather than bringing him halfway around the world that he stays at the training ground, works there and prepares for his next opportunity.
“It doesn’t diminish his contribution to the football club. It’s the hardest thing for a footballer, sometimes you can’t write your endings.
“It’s probably not the way he wanted to finish his career at Tottenham with everything that he’s contributed, but at the same time I don’t think it needs to be anything other than a positive outcome in that he leaves as someone who’s made a mark at a very big football club and for all players I guess that’s what they’re looking for.”
Hugo Lloris is looking for a fresh start. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Lloris’ imminent departure means Postecoglou will be on the lookout for a new captain, although the Australian is going into that process with an open mind.
“Some of those things you’re better off letting it grow organically rather than forcing things and having preconceived ideas,” he said.
“I just want to see how the group works. Like I said, so far the whole group has been really strong in terms of committing to what we’re going to do and that’s what you want to see. Within that you see individuals who will look to lead and they all lead in different ways.
“It doesn’t always mean it’s the highest profile or loudest, it’s sometimes by actions and what I’m looking for is hopefully leadership within the whole group. Guys that are prepared for what we’re about to embark on and to take that responsibility.”
Postecoglou admitted it was “pretty bizarre” that he would be overseeing his first game as Tottenham coach back in Australia, with the Spurs facing West Ham at 8pm (AEST) on Tuesday.
“Chuffed to bits that this is going to be our first official game,” added Postecoglou.
“I always enjoy it, obviously I came here with Celtic last year. I knew the lads would enjoy it here, the weather’s beautiful, it’s been great and I think they would enjoy the environment here and I think they have.
“It’s important for us, it’s an important tour for us because we get to spend some time together as a group, get to know one another, and so far it’s been positive.”
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Australian football fans will be spoiled for choice this week, with the FIFA Women’s World Cup also kicking off on Thursday as the Matildas play the Republic of Ireland in Sydney.
It presents yet another opportunity for Australia to capitalise on the success of its men’s national team in Qatar, although Postecoglou warned it won’t happen automatically.
After all, in an interview with Stan Sport FC last year, Postecoglou conceded he initially thought Australia’s triumph at the 2015 Asian Cup would be a “watershed moment” for the sport.
“The reason I was obsessed with winning the Asian Cup was because I thought that could be a watershed moment for Australian football because I think winning is everything,” Postecoglou said at the time.
“I equated it to the Euros. When a nation wins the Euros, irrespective of how strong a nation – could be a Denmark or Greece – it’s a seminal moment in that country’s evolution because, all of a sudden, they feel like they’ve achieved something.”
Instead, Postecoglou was left feeling “flat” after the success failed to have the widespread impact he had been hoping for.
Matildas set up camp at Brisbane base | 01:34
That, of course, doesn’t mean history will repeat. But Postecoglou isn’t just assuming the best either.
“Where it is right now is where it’s been many times,” he said on Monday.
“It’s what happens from now on. Australian football has always been pretty good at making a mark. Sonny mentioned 2015 and the Asian Cup and barely a ripple.
“Hopefully what it means now is, particularly with the girls, it’s getting great exposure all over the world. In the UK there’s great exposure there and there’s a great chance to make an impact.
“The Socceroos were brilliant at the World Cup. The A League is producing good young players. It’s about the game taking advantage of that and making an indelible footprint in the sporting landscape here, which we know is always challenging. It’s where it’s been a lot of times. Hopefully this time it takes advantage of it.”
Manchester City are showing no signs of slowing down their spending with a world record bid lodged for a defender, while a European giant could hijack Manchester United’s pursuit of Mason Mount.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are on the verge of signing a forward on a staggering eight-year deal as new Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino moulds his squad.
Catch up on the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
Manchester City are wasting little time in cementing their position as the dominating force in European football.
Pep Guardiola’s side have made a bid for Declan Rice and seem confident of beating Arsenal to the England international’s signature, but it appears City are not done yet.
According to the Sky Germany, City have lodged an eye-watering $146 million bid for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
Guardiola is reportedly a huge admirer of the 21-year-old and is making that known with a world-record bid for a defender.
Gvardiol has emerged as one of the best young defenders in the world and would complement a City backline brimming with talent, although it would force Spanish international Aymeric Laporte further out the exit door.
Josko Gvardiol is reportedly the subject of a world-record bid for a defender. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SLIDING DOORS MOMENT BEHIND YOUNG GUN’S IMMINENT BLUES MOVE
Talk about a sliding doors moment.
In the January window, Nicolas Jackson was on the verge of signing for Premier League battlers Bournemouth on a permanent deal, only for the transfer to collapse when he failed his medical.
Fast forward six months and the Villarreal forward has now completed his medical ahead of a $57 million deal to Chelsea, per Sky Sports.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano also reports Jackson’s contract with Chelsea is eight years, a staggering length rarely seen in modern football.
The signature of Jackson will be Chelsea’s second of the summer after snapping up Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku as the Blues refresh their attacking stocks.
Despite his injuries in La Liga last season Jackson scored 12 league goals, five more than Chelsea’s top scorer Kai Havertz.
However, nine of those goals were scored in the final eight games.
Nicolas Jackson is on the verge of joining Chelsea. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EURO GIANTS SET TO HIJACK UNITED DEAL FOR ENGLAND STAR
It’s an open secret Manchester United are heavily interested in Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
However, three bids — with the last a $104 million offer — have not been enough to tempt the Blues to part ways with their academy product, leaving the Red Devils frustrated as the deal heads to a stalemate.
Yet United’s inability to get a deal done could play into the hands of a European rival.
According to The Guardian, Bayern Munich are “stepping up their interest” for Mount as they look to capitalise on United’s struggles.
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel knows Mount extremely well from his stint as Chelsea manager and is a big fan of what the midfielder offers.
Given Bayern would only be in competition with Chelsea in continental football — something the Blues won’t be involved in this season due to a horror 22/23 campaign — there’s a chance the London side could even accept a lower offer from a foreign club.
Chelsea value Mount at $123 million, a figure United are reluctant to meet given Mount has just one year left on his deal.
Tottenham are edging closer to two new signings as Ange Postecoglou slowly but surely begins to mould his squad ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Meanwhile, a Manchester City star has snubbed the club’s offer of a contract extension to join a European giant while a Chelsea forward is set to move to a London rival.
Catch up on the biggest transfer whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
DEAL FOR NEW GK ‘VERBALLY AGREED’ AS ANGE GETS TRANSFER WHEELS ROLLING
Tottenham have wasted little time in moving on from their pursuit of David Raya as the club narrows in on an Italian goalkeeper instead.
According to Sky Sports, Spurs have “verbally agreed” a $AUD32 million fee with Empoli for Guglielmo Vicario, with the formal bid expected to arrive imminently.
Vicario has made 71 appearances for Empoli since joining in 2021 and was called up to the Italian squad in September 2022, although he is yet to make an appearance for the Azzurri.
Tottenham’s decision to shift direction from Raya to Vicario comes after Brentford refused to lower its $75 million valuation of the Spaniard despite having one year left on his deal.
The goalkeeper position has emerged as a high priority for Spurs in the transfer window given skipper Hugo Lloris’ stated desire for a new challenge.
But Postecoglou isn’t done with adding to his spine just yet.
Romano stated the deal isn’t advanced just yet, but the player is “keen on the move.”
Given Eric Dier has a year remaining on his deal with Spurs and a raft of other centre-backs headed out the exit door, Tapsoba would add quality and depth to a position of great importance.
Matildas name provisional World Cup team | 01:06
CITY HERO SNUBS OFFER AMID IMMINENT EURO GIANT MOVE
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave the treble winners to join Barcelona on a free transfer, according to reports on Wednesday.
Gundogan is believed to have been offered a three-year deal by Barcelona and is expected to complete his move to the Spanish champions when his City contract expires at the end of June.
City were reported to have been willing to give their 32-year-old captain a new one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
But Gundogan’s impending move to the Camp Nou was revealed on the same day City agreed a £30 million ($38 million) deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
Kovacic’s versatility and experience would help compensate for the loss of the influential Gundogan, whose leadership and knack for scoring crucial goals played a key role in City’s success in Pep Guardiola’s reign.
Gundogan is set to leave City after helping them win the treble. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
CL HERO SET FOR SURPRISE LONDON SWITCH
Arsenal are set to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz after reportedly agreeing a £65 million ($82 million) fee for the German on Wednesday.
Havertz will be allowed to discuss contract terms and undergo a medical at Arsenal after their London rivals accepted the lucrative offer.
The 24-year-old has emerged as a top target for the Gunners in recent weeks as they look to improve a squad that finished second in the Premier League last season.
After three inconsistent years with Chelsea, Havertz is on course to become Arsenal’s first signing of the close-season.
It is believed Chelsea’s owners want to avoid letting players enter the final two years of their deals and Havertz, whose contract runs out in 2025, has not agreed an extension.
Having joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, Havertz has scored 19 goals in 91 Premier League appearances.
Despite some erratic finishing and diffident performances at times, Havertz will always have a place in Chelsea fans’ hearts after scoring the winner in their Champions League final victory against Manchester City in 2021.
