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After a difficult second season in charge, Erik ten Hag's Manchester United future remains in doubt with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Red Devils reportedly reigniting their interest in a former Real Madrid manager.

Erik ten Hag's Man Utd future

Ten Hag is a man under pressure. His Manchester United side have failed to qualify for the Champions League this season following a disastrous Premier League campaign and are now left hoping to salvage something from their campaign in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

The Red Devils very nearly went out to Championship side Coventry City in the semi-final of course, before winning on penalties. Ten Hag was quick to reiterate the achievement, nonetheless.

Those struggles have far from helped the Dutchman's job security, especially amid reports linking the likes of Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter to the job. And now, making matters worse for Ten Hag, the Red Devils have reportedly reignited their interest in another option.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester United have reignited their interest in Julen Lopetegui after the former Real Madrid boss was eventually rejected by AC Milan. The Spaniard's last job actually came in the Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers, before he left at the end of last summer's pre-season having not been backed in the transfer market.

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On paper, Lopetegui brings plenty of experience but in a move that United must get right, there still lies plenty of unanswered questions over his ability to take charge of a top club, while there is also the imminent threat of West Ham's pursuit of the Spaniard as well.

"Strong" Lopetegui is a risk

The last thing that Manchester United need is a risky appointment whose failure would take them straight back to square one. And Lopetegui represents that risk after a mediocre time in the Premier League. Gary O'Neil has since proven that mediocrity too, having taken the majority of the same Wolves side comfortably clear of the relegation zone and on the brink of breaking into the Premier League's top half.

Games

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Draws

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Losses

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Even though his time at Wolves came to an abrupt end, the club's chairman Jeff Shi was once full of praise for Lopetegui, saying via the official website: "Julen has a strong personality and he’s a coach with clear leadership, not just with football players but with the clubs he has been at.

"He has a lot of experience in elite football and his track record is proven. We know we are in a difficult moment as a team right now, so we especially need a strong leader, with a strong personality, more than any other time I have been here. It is because of this that Julen was always our preferred choice."

Just a day after the transfer window shut, Gio Reyna was an unused substitute once again during Borussia Dortmund's 0-0 draw with Werder Bremen.

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Reyna an unused subHas featured sparingly this seasonAmerican midfielder opted to stay during summer transfer windowGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Concerns over Gio Reyna's playing time with the U.S. national team are likely to grow after the midfielder was benched in Borussia Dortmund's scoreless draw against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

Reyna has only played 10 minutes under new manager Nuri Sahin in Dortmund's opening three matches of the campaign, which has included two league matches and a cup contest.

Sahin chose Julian Brandt to start in the No. 10 role and made several attacking substitutions throughout the match, bringing on Karim Adeyemi, Donyell Malen, and Felix Nmecha, underscoring just how far down the pecking order Reyna has fallen.

The match ultimately ended as a 0-0 draw, with Dortmund surviving Nico Schlotterbeck's 73rd-minute dismissal for a second yellow card.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reyna's lone appearance came in a brief cameo against Eintracht Frankfurt – a 2-0 win for .

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The American opted to stay at Borussia Dortmund this summer despite the apparent lack of opportunities. Reyna went out on loan to Nottingham Forest last season in search of more games, but he ultimately played just 230 Premier League minutes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Reyna has played fewer minutes combined from the 2021-22 season through now than he did in just his 2020-21 breakout campaign, when he played 1,983 minutes across 32 Bundesliga appearances.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR REYNA?

Following the match, players will depart for the international break. The USMNT will face Canada and New Zealand in their first two matches post-Copa America. There will be increased attention to see if Reyna will receive a call-up after his limited playing time to start the season.

تمكن نجم فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت، عمر مرموش، من مواصلة إبداعه حيث سجل هدفه الثاني في المباراة الجارية حاليًا ضد هايدينهايم، في بطولة الدوري الألماني.

ويلتقي الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الألماني، موسم 2024/25.

ونجح آينتراخت فرانكفورت في تسجيل هدفه الثالث في شباك هايدينهايم، في الدقيقة 58 عن طريق النجم المصري عمر مرموش.

الهدف جاء بعد تمريرة من ناثانيل براون، حيث وصلت الكرة إلى عمر مرموش، وانطلق بها ببراعة من الناحية اليسرى قبل أن يسدد كرة رائعة في الشباك، ليسجل هدفه الثاني في المباراة والثالث للضيوف. هدف عمر مرموش الثاني في مباراة فرانكفورت وهايدينهايم

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وتشير النتيجة في الوقت الحالي إلى تقدم آينتراخت فرانكفورت بثلاثة أهداف دون رد.

There are not many youth systems in English football as successful as Chelsea’s Cobham academy. In recent years, Chelsea’s academy products have dominated English football, and not just whilst playing at Stamford Bridge.

Some, like Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount, make a major impact at Chelsea, via a loan spell where they hone their skills in a first-team environment. Gallagher is now a key member of Chelsea’s first-team squad, and Mount won the Champions League with his boyhood side, before leaving for Manchester United last summer.

Mount was not the only Cobham product to win the biggest prize in European football in 2021. The likes of Reece James, now club captain, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who now play for Roma and Nottingham Forest respectively, were some of the other Cobham graduates involved in the squad.

Not only do the Blues take British talent and turn them into superstars at Cobham, but they also buy players from further afield. A recent example of this is Charly Musonda, a highly-rated winger who joined Chelsea from Anderlecht in 2012. Sadly, due to injury issues, it did not work out for Musonda at Chelsea, and he now plies his trade in Cyprus for Anorthosis.

However, the west Londoners might have a more recent youngster brought in from outside of Britain, who could turn out to be one of the club's most profitable academy graduates in recent years.

Ian Maatsen’s transfer value in 2024

In 2018, Chelsea signed young left-back Ian Maatsen from PSV Eindhoven’s academy for a fee of just £94k. Since joining the club, Maatsen has managed just 16 appearances and is yet to register a goal involvement.

However, he has been on loan at various clubs, particularly impressing at Burnley last season, where he scored four goals and assisted six in the Championship to help the Clarets get promoted to the Premier League.

Now, Maatsen finds himself on loan at Borussia Dortmund, a move which took place in January and will last until the end of the season. Despite signing a new contract before he departed on loan, Football Insider, believe the Blues are considering selling Maatsen during the summer transfer window.

The rumoured price tag set by Chelsea for Maatsen is £30m. If they managed to get that much money, it would represent excellent profit from the £94k they spent on the Dutchman, a margin of a whopping 31,478%, to be exact.

However, Chelsea’s expectations for Maatsen’s cost might be too high. The "special" talent – as described by Blues writer Tom Overend – is valued at £17m according to Football Observatory, £13m less than what Todd Boehly and Co would allegedly accept for him in the summer.

Ian Maatsen’s season in numbers

Maatsen has had an impressive time of things at Dortmund during his loan spell so far. The 22-year-old has played 18 games, a stint which has yielded four goal involvements, two goals and two assists.

The Netherlands U21 international has been superb in attack for Dortmund and has been tucking into midfield and holding width on the left-hand side at times. He has been a constant creative threat. According to Sofascore, Maatasen has created three big chances in the Bundesliga and averages 0.6 key passes per game.

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Defensively, the left-back has also performed well. As well as being part of five clean sheets in the Bundesliga, Maatsen averages 1.9 tackles per game and an impressive 5.1 ball recoveries per game. This is no surprise, given his pace helps him to make quick recovery runs and win the ball back for his side. On average, the defender also wins 3.2 ground duels per game.

The youthful loanee has developed a good understanding with Dortmund’s left-wingers. Whilst the German outfit do not have a set option out wide, Maatsen has a good partnership with the likes of Karim Adeyemi, Jadon Sancho and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, all options for Dortmund on the left.

It has certainly been a productive loan spell for Maatsen in Germany thus far. He has played a big part in his side reaching the Champions League semi-final, where they will face PSG, and the Dutchman will also have a large role to play as they push for a top-four finish this season.

It remains to be seen whether Dortmund themselves will match Chelsea’s £30m price tag for Maatsen. Regardless, it is a fee that represents great profit for the Blues and can be reinvested to help improve their squad and push them up the table.

Chelsea have reportedly held Stamford Bridge talks over a potential move for a World Cup winning manager to replace Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea manager latest

It has so far been a debut campaign to forget for the Argentine in London, with the Blues struggling in the Premier League and losing in the EFL Cup final to Liverpool.

There is still time to salvage the season with FA Cup glory, however, Pochettino’s side will take on Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley.

Some Chelsea supporters have made their feelings known towards Pochettino and owner Todd Boehly in recent weeks, but recent reports have claimed that Pochettino’s job is safe until the end of the season.

That doesn’t mean that potential targets aren't being assessed behind the scenes, with the likes of Eddie Howe, Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim all linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge. Now, a new name has emerged in the media.

Hansi Flick linked with Chelsea move

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, talking to GiveMeSport, Chelsea have held internal talks over a possible move for Hansi Flick as the Blues look at ‘succession planning’.

However, discussions haven’t been in an ‘emergency’ style as they still hope Pochettino can succeed in London.

Flick has been out of work since leaving his post as Germany manager back in September. A World Cup winner as assistant to Joachim Low in 2014, the 59-year-old took his first senior role in management back in 1996 with FC Bammental and led Hoffenheim for five years.

The 4-2-3-1 boss also managed Bayern Munich between 2019-2021, winning a number of trophies at the Allianz Arena.

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German Super Cup

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Baden Cup

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Already linked with a move to replace Graham Potter at Chelsea in 2023, the Blues appear to have had their eye on Flick for some time, so it may not be a great surprise to see him arrive, should things not work out with Pochettino.

Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has revealed the unsung teammate who plays such an important role "within" the club.

Postecoglou's most in-form players at Tottenham

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou's arrival has not only given the club a new lease of life overall, but certain squad members appear transformed under the Australian.

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Son Heung-min, for instance, has rediscovered his very best form as Postecoglou's prodigal son – coming after a largely underwhelming 2022/2023 campaign where he couldn't quite hit his previous level.

Sarr is another who can be classed the same way. The Senegalese was a bit-part player at best under Antonio Conte last term, but this season, he's been a fixture in Spurs' midfield as their brightest rising talent right now.

James Maddison

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Son Heung-min

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Pedro Porro

7.19

Cristian Romero

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Dejan Kulusevski

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He's made 23 league appearances, scoring three goals and assisting three others, with Tottenham taking inspiration from the way they signed him from FC Metz in 2021.

They sealed an agreement for Sarr on a buy-to-loan-back deal from Metz that year, and it is believed Spurs are using that move as a blueprint for future transfers (Alasdair Gold).

Tottenham did the same with Destiny Udogie from Udinese, with the now-star left-back spending last term back out on loan in Italy, before becoming an essential member of Postecoglou's starting line-up.

Sarr's success story in north London has been excellent to watch, and the African ace has now shared who's been a big help for him behind-the-scenes.

Pape Sarr praises Yves Bissouma's important role "within" Spurs

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sarr named that player as fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma. The "underrated" Mali ace and Sarr have often partnered eachother to brilliant effect in the middle of the park this season. Interestingly, Sarr now claims Bissouma plays an "important" role within Tottenham generally.

“It really was a big help,” Sarr said on Bissouma. “I was settling in to a new life, not just a new club. I benefited from the advice of a lot of team-mates, not just Yves, although he was a big help: Hugo Lloris, Pierre Hojbjerg, Ivan Perisic. It was a tough time because I wasn’t playing regularly.

“Yves is a guy I appreciate a lot. We’ve both come over from Africa and he gives me lots of advice. He behaves a lot like my big brother. He has such an important role within the team and the club. I always listen to what he’s got to say.

“Playing in those games last season are moments I’ll remember forever. Playing in big games like that is a dream come true, what you aim for as a youngster. Irrespective of the results, which didn’t go our way, they were still fantastic experiences. I’d like to think it’s partly down to all the hard work I did in that first year."

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Pela oitava rodada do Brasileirão Feminino A1, o Flamengo empatou com o Real Brasília por 1 a 1 na tarde desta segunda-feira (17), no Estádio Defelê-DF. Com o resultado, as Meninas da Gávea chegaram aos dez pontos e ocupam a nona colocação do campeonato.

Agora, as Meninas da Gávea se preparam para o confronto com o Grêmio pela nona rodada. A partida será no CT Hélio Dourado, em Eldorado do Sul, no Rio Grande do Sul, no próximo sábado, às 15h.

Os gols da partida saíram ainda no primeiro tempo, com o Real Brasília abrindo o placar aos 23, com Gadu. O Flamengo respondeu aos 34, em cobrança de falta de Sorriso que Cida desviou para o gol.

O Flamengo, do técnico Celso Silva, atuou com a seguinte escalação:Kaká; Raquel, Stella, Cida e Sorriso; Kaylane (Carlinha), Dedê (Bruna Rosa) e Ana Carla; Rafa Barros, Flávia (Maria Peck) e Dani Ortolan (Jayanne).

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Three times in the last four years, Aston Villa have broken their transfer record. First, when Dean Smith was manager, they shelled out £33m to sign Ollie Watkins from his former club Brentford and then, 12 months later, they agreed to pay £38m to land Emi Buendia from Norwich.

Last summer, under Unai Emery, NSWE blew both of those transfers out of the water by parting with up to £52m to recruit Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, having previously signed Leon Bailey from the same side.

Aston Villa record transfers
Rank	Player	Signed from	Year	Fee*
1	Moussa Diaby	Bayer Leverkusen	2023	£52m
2	Emi Buendia	Norwich City	2021	£38m
3	Ollie Watkins	Brentford	2020	£33m
4	Pau Torres	Villarreal	2023	£32m
5	Leon Bailey	Bayer Leverkusen	2021	£30m

*With potential add-ons included

Could they eclipse it again this year? Well, on the one hand, they could potentially have some Champions League money on the way, even if they end up losing out to Spurs in the race for the Premier League top four. As part of the new competition format, the two-best performing nations in this year's tournaments will be entitled to an extra spot, and England is only a fraction behind second-place Germany in the current standings.

On the other hand, though, there's a sense that Villa may have to sell a first-team player before the end of June in order to comply with the league's Profit and Sustainability Rules. Those circumstances may not be especially conducive to a historic outlay.

Villa now set sights on Paqueta

Undeterred, NSWE are now eyeing up a deal for Lucas Paqueta, according to West Ham outlet Claret and Hugh. The Brazilian would like to move to reigning champions Manchester City, but Villa have joined Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United in making it clear that they will try to sign him if that deal doesn't materialise. Significantly, the 26-year-old's contract includes an £80m release clause.

Paqueta is currently under investigation for alleged breaches of betting rules, which he denies, and is apparently considering legal action against the FA if he doesn't receive a verdict by April. Any move, of course, will hinge upon whether he avoids a ban.

"Magician" Paqueta combines the ugly and the beautiful

Signing Paqueta could be a huge statement, and not just because of the record-shattering transfer fee. Villa and West Ham are two clubs of a similar status, each playing in European competition and trying to pierce the big-six bubble, so it may say a great deal about the former's trajectory if they can poach a player from the latter.

Dubbed a "magician" by former Premier League midfielder Robbie Mustoe, Paqueta can play as a left winger, number 10 and number eight. He's capable of playing the final ball – he ranks second in the West Ham squad (among those with at least 1,000 minutes played) for expected assists per 90 (0.17) and key passes per 90 (1.55) – but he can also launch dangerous attacks from deeper positions too. Nobody in the Irons ranks averages more progressive passes or passes into the final third than Paqueta (6.9 and 4.76).

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With a penchant for dazzling tricks, the former Lyon man also places second for successful take-ons with 29, only behind Mohammed Kudus (60). However, he embraces the dirty side of the game too, having won the fourth-most tackles (53) and made the seventh-most fouls (50) in the division. That, clearly, is a midfield combination that appeals a great deal to Emery, but Villa could face some mighty competition for this particular transfer.

Neymar may be nursing an injury, but the Brazilian has still been winning big after pulling in a huge poker cash haul alongside NBA star Jimmy Butler.

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• South American suffered ligament damage
• Missed title win & Copa America as a result
• Enjoying summer break before pre-season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Having suffered knee ligament damage in October 2023 while on World Cup qualifying duty with his country, Neymar has been on a long road to recovery. He has made just five appearances for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal since linking up with them last summer.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  A return to fitness is now in sight – after being forced to sit out the 2024 Copa America – but Neymar is finding other ways to keep himself amused. The South American is a big poker fan and has taken part in some of the biggest tournaments on that circuit.

  Instagram

• THE GOSSIP

  Neymar has been back at the table, with cards continuing to fall kindly in his favour. He did lose one $174,000 hand to basketball superstar Butler, but still finished the day with more than $500,000 to his name – with his haul of $100 bills being showcased on social media by Miami Heat forward Butler.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While being in a position to relax and wind down during the summer break, Neymar will be expected to form part of pre-season plans at Al-Hilal. He has ruled out a move elsewhere, amid talk of a reunion with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, and will continue to pull in more funds from his lucrative contract in the Middle East.

Sheffield Wednesday will be aiming to make it three wins from their last four in the Championship when they face off against Bristol City this coming weekend, Danny Rohl's Owls not quite waving the white flag on their season just yet.

The often dire mood around Hillsborough has been lifted somewhat by recent positive displays, with the South Yorkshire titans able to pick up wins against Birmingham City and Millwall owing to new faces such as Ian Poveda and Ike Ugbo excelling.

But, there will be even more cause for joy from a Wednesday perspective when it comes to the rising stars emerging from the youth set-up at the club with Bailey Cadamarteri and Pierce Charles being given more and more game time under Rohl.

The German manager could be willing to give more first-team opportunities to this promising right-back as a result, with the 19-year-old defender in question looking to replicate Liam Palmer's long-standing time with Wednesday after he came through the Owls academy.

Wednesday's next Liam Palmer

Teenage sensation Joey Phuthi has been in and around the first-team picture at Wednesday for some time now, battling to now make the grade in the senior set-up at the club after playing for both the U18s and U21s.

This season, Phuthi has been handed chances here and there to impress in the first-team side – notably given 28 minutes to shine in the FA Cup away at Coventry City at the start of the month.

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Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The final scoreline might have read 4-1 in favour of the Sky Blues on the night, but Phuthi would have been pleased with his minutes regardless.

Funnily enough, the Zimbabwean youngster's only other taste of senior football came in the Championship against the same opponents late last year.

That was Phuthi's first ever match in the first-team fold at Wednesday, coming on with the clock ticking down as a late second-half substitute.

Yet, the teenager wasn't fazed by the big occasion and walked off the pitch with a 100% passing accuracy next to his name from a short but sweet five-minute cameo appearance.

Described as being a "dangerous" player by former Owls boss Xisco Munoz in pre-season – with Phuthi unafraid to join in with attacks as a talent adept at playing further forward in midfield if necessary – the 19-year-old is still some way off from cementing himself as a first-team regular.

Yet, with Palmer getting closer to the end of his extensive career now at 32 years of age and Pol Valentin being the only other recognised right-back option, he could be banging down the door for more starts at Hillsborough very soon.

Sheffield Wednesday's right-back situation

It will be a sad day for Wednesday fans when Palmer does hang up his boots, with the Owls veteran making 425 appearances for the club in total with 27 of those coming this campaign.

Yet, the die-hard Wednesday fanbase could well be reassured by knowing the future is bright with Phuthi waiting in the wings ready to come in and impress in the starting eleven.

It also wouldn't be completely ludicrous to see Rohl bed Phuthi into more games as an option off the bench, with 18-year-old hotshot Bailey Cadamarteri taking to the senior side with flying colours up top this season from out of nowhere.

Phuthi will want to replicate Cadamarteri's calmness to star when he's thrust into a similar spotlight down the line, bagging four goals for Rohl's Owls after making the leap up from the youth set-up look effortless.

Palmer will just continue plugging away and performing for Wednesday even so late into his career, not even thinking about any possibility of retirement yet.

But, with the crop of young talent coming through in South Yorkshire encouraging to see, those who will be gutted when Palmer does eventually retire can at least be somewhat relieved by potentially having another figure similar to the long-serving asset emerge in Phuthi.