Whilst recent results may have restored some of the good feeling at Old Trafford, it is clear that Erik ten Hag is still on thin ice at Manchester United with Sir Jim Ratcliffe already looking at other options.
Ten Hag facing uncertain future at Man Utd
Amad Diallo's last grasp winner at the weekend saw Man Utd progress to the FA Cup semi-finals at the expense of rivals Liverpool. Whilst the added time victory was celebrated on the red side of Manchester, many in the fanbase may still feel that the Red Devils need a new manager if they are to return to the top of the Premier League.
Man United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe planning to move for “important player”
The update comes courtesy of journalist Fabrizio Romano.
ByHenry Jackson Mar 10, 2024
Currently sitting sixth in the table, United are nine points away from the Champions League places and look unlikely to make up the gap in the remaining 10 games of the season.
Brentford
Away
Chelsea
Away
Liverpool
Home
Bournemouth
Away
Burnley
Home
Crystal Palace
Away
Arsenal
Home
Brighton
Away
Sheffield United
Home
Newcastle United
Home
In his first season in charge, Ten Hag managed to guide the Red Devils to a third-placed finish as well as a League Cup victory over Newcastle. This season has not gone as well with United struggling in the league and bowing out of Europe in embarrassing fashion, finishing at the bottom of their Champions League group.
Ratcliffe had initially shown faith in Ten Hag, however, the new part owner now looks set to explore other options to fill the dugout at the Theatre of Dreams.
Ratcliffe wants Southgate at Man Utd
As reported by The Daily Star, the new part-owner has identified Gareth Southgate as his number one target to be Ten Hag's successor at Man United.
The outlet states that "Ratcliffe and INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford have consulted some of United’s former greats about who should replace Ten Hag. And the overwhelming choice was Southgate". The former Middlesbrough manager was also the favourite of incoming director of football Dan Ashworth who had previously worked with Southgate during his time at the FA.
Despite the club's interest in the coach, the report claims that Southgate, who plays an attacking 4-3-3 system, is not interested in discussing his future at the moment with the 53-year-old focused on the upcoming European Championships in Germany.
The England boss's contract is set to expire in December 2024 with a compensation fee of around £800,000 necessary to lure Southgate away from the national team once the Euros conclude in July. Ratcliffe reportedly wants a decision from the 53-year-old soon so that he can start planning for next season.
Whilst often maligned for his style of play, Southgate has overseen vast improvements to the national team. The last three major tournaments have seen the Three Lions reach the semi-finals, final and quarter-finals respectively, with just a penalty shootout keeping them away from European Championship glory back in 2021.
With a major rebuild at Old Trafford planned for the summer, the Red Devils could do a lot worse than a manager known in England and with a proven track record in turning around struggling sides.
O Gre-Nal 431 pelo primeiro jogo da decisão do Campeonato Gaúcho vem repercutindo nas redes sociais. De virada, a equipe de Tiago Nunes bateu os colorados de Miguel Ángel Ramírez por 2 a 1, no Beira-Rio. Na web, os torcedores do Inter perderam a paciência com o goleiro Marcelo Lomba após o gol de empate gremista, marcado de cabeça por Diego Souza. Para eles, Lomba falhou em não tentar fazer a defesa. + Confira a classificação do Campeonato Gaúcho
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No Twitter, as críticas ao goleiro assumiram o topo dos assuntos mais comentados no Brasil.
"O Lomba não esperava a cabeçada"
O GOLEIRO TÁ ESPERANDO O QUE, ENTÃO? UMA TAÇA DE CHAMPANHE?
— iludida do Inter (@iludidadointer) May 16, 2021
A bola vindo e o Lomba: pic.twitter.com/VlxbL2VV0K
— Naty 🏁🇦🇹📚 (@Naty13033) May 16, 2021
O Marcelo Lomba não faz esforço nenhum de ir na bola pelo amor de Deus
— paulo riccardo (@RiccardoPaulo44) May 16, 2021
O Marcelo Lomba não faz esforço nenhum de ir na bola pelo amor de Deus
— paulo riccardo (@RiccardoPaulo44) May 16, 2021
"Marcelo Lomba não esperava a cabeçada"
ESPERAVA O QUE ENTÃO??? UM AUTÓGRAFO DO DIEGO SOUZA!?
— Borrachos (Conta Reserva) (@borrachosdosul2) May 16, 2021
Coventry City couldn't have dreamed of a better away day at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup, dramatically scoring twice in injury time to win 3-2 to seal a Wembley semi-final showdown with Manchester United.
Mark Robins' Sky Blues could find themselves playing against the Red Devils twice more next campaign if they can also break out of the Championship, with the West Midlands outfit just four points shy of the playoff spots.
Regardless of what happens, Coventry will keep their fingers crossed that they can keep a firm grip on this attacking midfield hero who didn't cost the club a single penny in transfer costs when he entered the building back in 2020.
Callum O'Hare's time at Coventry
Callum O'Hare would join the Sky Blues as a hot prospect eager to make a name for himself, unfortunately let go of by his boyhood club Aston Villa in the process.
Still, that wouldn't play on the 5 foot 9 creator's mind too much who has been a consistent hero for Coventry since making the move permanent four years ago after an initially fruitful loan.
Callum O'Hare
Joining on a free transfer when the Sky Blues had just made it up to the second tier, O'Hare's rise and continued excellence has coincided with his side knocking on the door of the Premier League after once being viewed as a sleeping giant.
O'Hare has amassed an impressive 51 goals and assists from 173 Coventry appearances to date, with 13 of those coming just this season for Robins' men.
Although the 25-year-old might have taken a relative back-seat compared to the likes of Haji Wright and Ellis Simms in Coventry's Cup upset at Molineux – with the number ten only given a 20-minute run-out – O'Hare was still key late on to that dramatic 3-2 victory being achieved.
He wouldn't pick up another goal or assist to add to his sparkling Sky Blues back catalogue, but O'Hare would give his side the necessary grit and fight required to shock the Premier League hosts – the ex-Aston Villa man would win five ground duels, alongside attempting four dribbles to unlock the scared Wolves defence.
He also teed up Simms to play Wright in for the winning strike against Gary O'Neil's flustered men, an adventurous foray forward justly rewarded.
Callum O'Hare's transfer value in 2024
Obviously, O'Hare's transfer value has now been bumped up from the £0 he was once purchased for with the 25-year-old now worth €1.0m (£855k) according to Football Transfers.
No doubt Coventry would want any potential suitor to cough up more than that, knowing how vital he is to the Championship side's cause currently.
However, they could be powerless to lose O'Hare on a cheap deal – the 25-year-old attacking midfielder's contract is up at the end of this season, alerting suitors to his services consequently.
Battling to be back in Robins' first-team plans this season after a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury, O'Hare has more than proven his worth back in his team with "outstanding" performances as his manager has previously described.
1. Josh Eccles
€7.7m (£6.5m)
2. Haji Wright
€6.5m (£5.5m)
3. Milan Van Ewijk
€4.7m (£4m)
4. Liam Kitching
€3.7m (£3.1m)
5. Jake Bidwell
€3.4m (£2.9m)
The 25-year-old is still some way off being at the top of the list involving the most valuable players at the CBS Arena, but it would still be a monumental sucker punch for Robins and Co if they were to lose their much-loved servant.
Coventry will have their eyes on replacements already if that circumstance does arise, however, knowing that they have a reputation for being able to operate shrewdly and effectively.
The New Zealand captain’s action had been reported during the Galle Test in August earlier this year
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2019
Kane Williamson has a bowl•Getty Images
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson’s bowling action is legal again, the ICC confirmed, following an assessment in Loughborough on October 11.Williamson had been reported during the Galle Test in August earlier this year. He bowled three overs of offspin in that game, conceding nine runs without taking a wicket. But now, following a test in an ICC-accredited bio-mechanics centre, it was found that the elbow extension of all his deliveries was within the permissible 15-degree level of tolerance.This was the second time that Williamson’s bowling action had come under scrutiny. He was reported in 2014 and had to make some changes before he could bowl in international cricket again.Williamson is currently nursing a hip injury that had sidelined him from the ongoing five-match T20I series at home against England but, with the ICC clearing his action, he can bowl again when he returns to play for New Zealand.
وجه محمود عبد المنعم “كهربا” لاعب النادي الأهلي، رسالة عقب تتويج الفريق ببطولة كأس السوبر المصري، بعد الفوز على الزمالك، مساء الخميس.
وفاز الأهلي على الزمالك بركلات الترجيح بنتيجة 7-6، في المباراة النهائية لبطولة كأس السوبر المصري، بعد نهاية اللقاء بالتعادل السلبي في الوقت الأصلي والإضافي.
كهربا كان قد تم اسبتعاده من قائمة الأهلي قبل المباراة النهائية لبطولة كأس السوبر المصري، بعد نشوب أزمة بينه وبين الجهاز الفني لعدم مشاركته في لقاء سيراميكا كليوباترا بدور نصف النهائي.
طالع | مصطفى شوبير يتحدث عن المنافسة مع الشناوي ويوجه رسالة لجماهير الأهلي بعد التتويج بالسوبر
ووقع النادي الأهلي غرامة مالية على كهربا قدرها مليون جنيه، بجانب سفره إلي القاهرة وعدم استكمال بطولة السوبر مع الفريق.
ونشر كهربا عبر “استوري” على حسابه الخاص بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي “إنستجرام”: “مبروووك الكأس علينا كلنا”.
وأضاف: “كنت معاكم بروحي ووعدوتني أن تعودوا بالكأس، كنتم قد الوعد كالعادة”.
وأتم: “دائما رجالة، شكرًا ليكم كلكم على وقفتكم جنبي دايمًا في ضهري، على السوبر أهلاوي”.
It didn’t take long for Steven Smith to clamp down on any whispers he might be surplus to the requirements of the Australian T20I side. A commanding half-century that combined pugnacity and poise in exactly the right doses steered Australia to what ended up being a stroll of a chase against Pakistan with victory by seven wickets. It needn’t have been as easy as that, though, and didn’t look nearly as comfortable when they lost David Warner and Aaron Finch inside the powerplay, more than a hundred runs still to get without the comfort blanket of an explosive Glenn Maxwell in the middle order.It was an innings every bit as modern as T20 cricket requires of its players, but the 51-ball 80 Smith struck contained shots that wouldn’t have been out of place at this year’s Ashes. Eleven fours and a six, exactly a half-century of them, came in boundaries, and by the final two overs, Smith was properly peaking. You almost wished Pakistan, who had done quite well at the end of the first innings to post 150, had put up something more challenging than that, if only to watch a little bit more of the game’s hottest player operating at his best.Steven Smith goes after a short ball•Getty Images
He was helped by the belligerence of Australia’s openers, making their intentions plain as early as the second over. Warner took apart Imad Wasim, normally so reliably economical in the powerplay, finding four fours in what seemed like all four corners of the ground to get Australia off to a flyer, before his run of unbeaten scores was ended by Mohammad Amir. Their dismissals within three overs of each other was, in truth, the only time in the whole contest where it felt Pakistan were within a punter’s chance of making a game of it in Canberra’s first T20I, but having added 48 in the powerplay, Smith knew he could take his time to settle in without the asking rate spiralling out of control.Pakistan’s bowling in the phase right after left something to be desired, though, and Smith was given regular opportunities to relieve the pressure, finding four boundaries in the next three overs. That was in stark contrast to the exceptionally frugal efforts of their Australian counterparts, who executed what looked like well thought out plans to each of Pakistan’s batsman.Babar Azam was denied the fuller lengths that allow him to step into those gorgeous cover drives, some of which he unfurled in the early stages before Australia pushed their lengths back, to immaculate success. Haris Sohail was cramped for room with length deliveries that ended with him skying one in the air in a near-replica to the way he was dismissed in Sydney, while an improved Adam Zampa meant Pakistan didn’t have the release in the middle overs so vital to pushing their score up to 170, close to which appeared par on a cracker of a batting surface.Iftikhar Ahmed gave Pakistan a strong finish•Getty Images
The top order, once more, left Azam on his own to fend off the Australia attack. Fakhar Zaman’s tortured existence at the crease lasted seven balls before driving a catch straight to mid-off, while Mohammad Rizwan struggled with the exact problem his predecessor was criticised so heavily for. The dot balls mounted at his end, only increasing the pressure on Azam to keep the runs flowing. It wasn’t until Iftikhar Ahmed came in at No. 6 that Pakistan took Australia’s bowlers to task; until then, the run rate was barely over a run a ball.Exceptional work in the field saw Azam dismissed for exactly 50, underestimating the strength and accuracy of Warner’s throwing arm as he turned for a second, with the throw from deep midwicket smashing into the stumps with the Pakistan captain well short of his ground. It appeared the end for any sort of competitive score, but Ahmed put on a display of brilliant hitting the top order looked utterly incapable of to make his first half-century. Kane Richardson came in for especially heavy punishment in his final over, which leaked 22, as, against all odds, Pakistan posted 150 thanks to Ahmed’s 34-ball 62.Australia had done enough in the first ten to ensure they never required much explosive hitting to get to the target. The odd boundary was all they needed in the second half of their innings, with a player of Smith’s class comfortably capable of providing that. When he wasn’t playing unseemly, albeit mightily effective, ramp shots and tennis forehands, he was piercing gaps in the offside that barely seemed to exist.A tight 16th over from a much improved Shadab Khan – Pakistan’s best bowler by some distance – was the last time things got slightly hairy for the hosts, with 30 needed off four at that point. Half of those would come in the next over, though, with Smith taking Amir apart while displaying the full array of his capability for good measure. From thereon, Australia would ease home without really getting out of third gear. In truth, that could be said about the entire evening in a somewhat forgettable game, lit up only by the shimmering brilliance of a man fit to play international cricket no matter what the format.
Luis Suarez saved Uruguay for perhaps the final time as his late equalizer helped his country to a shootout win over Canada in the Copa America.
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Suarez scores late equalizer
Canada missees twice in shootout
Uruguay finish third at Copa America
(C)GettyImages
TELL ME MORE
Saturday's clash was a bit more lively than typical third-place games as a heavily-rotated Canada team really tried to dictate the match. The Canadians came out determined from the opening whistle, which forced Uruguay to turn things up a notch themselves.
You wouldn't blame Uruguay for checking out a bit, particularly after the events that unfolded following their semifinal loss to Colombia. However, Marcelo Bielsa fielded a strong XI that included the likes of Darwin Nunez, Rodrigo Bentancur and Jose Gimenez, all of whom were among the main characters of the chaos midweek.
Uruguay scored first thanks to Betancur, who finished just eight minutes into the match. The lead lasted just 14 minutes, though, before Canadian youngster Ismael Kone's spectacular flick leveled the match.
From there, Canada continued to push and were rewarded late on after tossing their stars into the match. Jonathan David scored what was thought to be the match-winner in the 80th minute, seemingly sealing third place for Canada. It wasn't to be, though, as Suarez scored a last-gasp equalizer to send the match to a penalty kick shootout.
Once there, both Ismael Kone and Alphonso Davies missed from the spot while Uruguay went a perfect four-for-four to win the shootout 4-3.
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DID YOU KNOW?
This was Canada's first-ever Copa America, and they finished in fourth place. Les Rouges had previously failed to qualify for the 2016 Copa, which was the last time this tournament was held on U.S. soil.
Uruguay, meanwhile, has won this competition 15 times, finished runners up six times and, now, snagged third place on 10 occasions.
Getty
THE MVP
Luis Suarez:
One more ride for El Pistolero.
If this was it for him a Uruguay shirt, and it very well could be, Suarez went out with one more magic moment. His last-gasp equalizer was his 69th goal in an Uruguay shirt and, while he's scored more memorable, it felt like it could be a fitting end.
Suarez is a legendary figure, one who has carried Uruguay on his back for years. And, on Sunday, he did it one last time with a late goal to help his country to a podium finish.
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THE BIG LOSER
Darwin Nunez:
You know he was just itching to score. After everything that happened midweek, it would have been easy for Nunez to be on autopilot, but that's just not who he is. This felt like a big game for him, but it never really happened.
The Liverpool star was taken off at halftime, having been relatively ineffective throughout his 45 minutes. His big moment never came. In fact, it never felt close.
Who knows when we'll see Nunez in an Uruguay shirt again as suspensions and sanctions loom large. A goal would have been a nice message to send but, unfortunately for him, it wasn't to be.
There’s no two ways about it: the 2023/24 campaign has been an extremely difficult season to be a Chelsea fan.
Without the distraction of European football, the development of an approach should be clear to see under Mauricio Pochettino by now, but unfortunately, that’s not been the case.
The Blues' 11th position in the Premier League highlights their struggle to perform, while their defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup final was the latest kick in the teeth.
However, there have been a handful of positives to take so far, with one new signing proving to be a bargain after his value soared to double the worth of Christopher Nkunku.
Christopher Nkunku’s estimated worth
Over the last two seasons, Nkunku has been one of the most in-form attackers in Europe for RB Leipzig, scoring 20 goals and providing 15 assists in the 2021/22 Bundesliga campaign, and scoring 16 times in 20 starts last season.
Therefore, it was no surprise to see Chelsea express their interest in the forward last summer, and they eventually got their man in a deal worth £52m.
However, Nkunku has been unable to match that unbelievable form in a Chelsea shirt this season, with the number 18 missing a huge 30 games already courtesy of various injuries.
This has inevitably seen the French ace’s value take a hit, with the 25-year-old now estimated to be worth £34m by CIES Football Observatory, which is half that of a certain Chelsea star.
Chelsea must rue selling a "leader" who's outscoring Gallagher this season
The talented international just couldn’t make it work in West London.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 14, 2024 Nicolas Jackson’s value in 2024
Just like Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson was brought to the Premier League this summer in a complete attacking rebuild, joining from Villarreal for just £32m.
The “extraordinary” striker, as dubbed by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, instantly proved to be a threat in pre-season, notably scoring and picking up two assists in a 4-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, Jackson only scored once in his first eight Premier League games, missing three big chances on his debut against Liverpool.
But since then, the number 15 has been much improved, netting 12 times and picking up three assists in 31 starts across all competitions, becoming an attacker that the Argentine can rely on to perform.
His quick adaption to the Premier League has seen Jackson’s estimated value soar in less than a year, to the point where he is now one of Chelsea’s most valuable players.
Chelsea's Most Valuable Players
Player
Value
Fernandez, Palmer
£85m
Jackson, Caicedo
£68m
Mudryk, Disasi, Colwill, Sterling
£51m
Madueke
£43m
Nkunku
£34m
Via CIES Football Observatory
As you can see, only Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer are worth more than the Senegal star, while also being worth double Knunku. At just 22 years of age, Jackson still has plenty of development and growth to go, with his potential being one reason why he’s valued so highly.
Furthermore, Pochettino will hope that his star striker can become the focal point of Chelsea for years to come and, in the short term, continue his excellent run of form that’s seen him score in his last three matches.
Arsenal are firing on all cylinders at the moment and have managed to pair their steely defence with a ruthlessness in front of goal they haven't shown before.
The Gunners have won their previous six Premier League games by an absurd margin of 25-3 and, aside from their blip in the Champions League, have looked unbeatable.
Mikel Arteta has seen his team go from one that scored a single goal from 63 shots before the winter break to one that can't stop scoring, which is even more impressive considering Gabriel Jesus has been injured for a month.
Arsenal's top goalscorers this season
Position
Player
Appearances
Goals
1
Bukayo Saka
34
16
2
Leandro Trossard
31
10
3
Martin Odegaard
33
8
3
Gabriel Jesus
23
8
4
Kai Havertz
36
7
4
Gabriel Martinelli
31
7
5
Eddie Nketiah
32
6
All Stats via Transfermarkt
The Brazilian last played against Nottingham Forest on January 30th, and while he's likely to come back into the side when fit, the player fans thought was his backup, Eddie Nketiah, might not.
The Englishman has been fit for this run of games but hasn't been picked, which could spell trouble as a Hale End gem with an eye for goal continues to develop.
The former Chelsea youth product went into this season as backup behind the talented but increasingly injury-prone Jesus, and so there was a feeling that he would get a reasonable amount of game time over the year.
For the first part of the campaign, this was true, as when the former Manchester City ace was absent, Nketiah stepped into the fold, and by 1 January, he had made 26 appearances for the team, with 13 of those being starts, in which he scored six goals and provided four assists – a reasonable if unspectacular return.
Eddie Nketiah's season in numbers
Appearances
32
Starts
13
Minutes
1345'
Goals
6
Assists
5
Minutes per Goal Involvement
122'
All Stats via Transfermarkt
However, since the turn of the year, he has made just six appearances, but all of them have been off the bench and only add up to 88 minutes altogether, in which time he has not scored or assisted any goals.
Now, this sort of involvement might be understandable had Jesus been fit and in the team, but he hasn't been. Instead, Arteta has opted to alternate between Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz in place of the Englishman, making it feel like his time as an essential member of this Arsenal team is ending.
The Lewisham-born forward could remain and fight for his place. He has shown he can score in the top flight, but with Jesus set to return soon, the club supposedly looking for a new striker in the summer and the emergence of a talented nine in the academy, it seems like the 24-year-old's time in red and white is up.
Why fans should be excited about Khayon Edwards
So, the youngster who could potentially put the nail in the coffin of Nketiah's Arsenal career is 20-year-old Khayon Edwards.
The Islington-born nine has been a force of nature for the Gunners' youth teams over the last few years and, across 76 appearances for the U18 and U23 sides, has a remarkable return of 37 goals and 13 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.52 games.
Interestingly, while it's common for youth team players to start in multiple positions with junior teams to try and find where they excel best, Edwards has played the vast majority of his games as a centre-forward, so he has plenty of experience in the role.
Understandably, his exploits at youth level have attracted plenty of attention from more than just scouts and the like, as Kaya Kaynak, football.london's chief Arsenal writer, described him as a "deadly" forward when he watched him play in 2021.
Khayon Edwards' Arsenal Youth Record
Team
Arsenal U18
Arsenal U23
Appearances
41
36
Goals
23
14
Assists
9
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.78
0.50
All Stats via Transfermarkt
On Arsenal's own website, he has been described as 'a hard-working attacker whose style of play and potency in front of goal emulates fellow academy grad, Eddie Nketiah', which does suggests he has the ability to make it into the first team.
With such an impressive resume at youth level, the 5 foot 11 goalscorer was sent out on loan to League One side Leyton Orient at the start of February in the hope that some first team football could give his development a real boost.
In the month he has been in East London, he has started two games and come off the bench twice to pick up a total of 157 minutes of action, and while he has failed to score thus far, he did impress manager Richie Wellens with his energy, as he claimed "We’re starting with a front three, and at times we ran them ragged. Really clever sometimes in pockets, sometimes outside, our rotations were fantastic."
Khayon Edwards could form a brilliant partnership with Ethan Nwaneri
So, Edwards is a fantastically talented young striker with a real chance of displacing Nketiah in the first team a couple of years from now, but excitingly, he could do so alongside another of Hale End's most promising youngsters, Ethan Nwaneri.
The 16-year-old first grabbed the headlines in September 2022, when Arteta made him the youngest Premier League player of all time when he substituted him on against Brentford at just 15 years and 181 days old.
However, he's more than just a niche pub quiz answer in the future, as he currently has 16 goals and nine assists to his name in just 44 youth team appearances for the Gunners, and he has plenty of experience playing with Edwards.
Ethan Nwaneri's Arsenal Youth Record
Team
Arsenal U18
Arsenal U21
Arsenal YL
Appearances
23
20
1
Goals
15
5
1
Assists
5
4
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.86
0.45
1
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, the pair both played and scored against Reading's U21 side in September 2023, with Nwaneri in midfield and Edwards up top, in what could be a visage of an Arsenal side to come.
While three years Edwards' junior, the "special player", as U23 scout Antonio Mango dubbed him, has two senior appearances under his belt and could well break into the first team around a similar time despite his younger age.
Moreover, his ability to play in multiple positions and Arteta's claim that he has the "ability to take the ball in tight areas, to escape a little bit like Jack Wilshere used to do" suggests he could occupy that same midfield role he did against the Royals, feeding balls into the frontline and racking up assists as his fellow Hale End graduate racks up goals.
Arsenal got it right binning £17m ace who felt "tricked" by Arsène Wenger
Signing the talented forward was a big mistake.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Mar 1, 2024
Ultimately, there is a long way to go for both promising youngsters, but with their records at the youth level and the way people in the know talk about them, don't be too surprised if they are tearing it up for Arsenal in the Premier League in a few years.
Phil Parkinson has revealed what must be explained to Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney when Wrexham complete transfer deals.
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Red Dragons have risen into League OneWorking on further bolstering their ranksFamous chairmen involved in recruitmentGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Famous co-owners at SToK Racecourse continue to make the funds available that allow regular forays into the recruitment market to be made. They have completed some shrewd business, with Arthur Okonkwo, Lewis Brunt and George Dobson added to the ranks on a permanent basis this summer.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Red Dragons remain in the market for “a few” fresh faces, meaning that Reynolds and McElhenney need to write more cheques. They will be involved every step of the way when it comes to getting players through the doors, with there a desire to preserve the family feel to life in North Wales.
GettyWHAT PARKINSON SAID
Wrexham boss Parkinson has told of how transfer business plays out: “It’s great that Ryan and Rob are owners of the club so it’s important that when someone signs they get a welcome from Rob and Ryan. They’re great at that, they’re very engaged, whenever we’ve signed a player, or when we sign a player they want to be involved in terms of us explaining why we’re signing the player and what qualities that particular player brings to the squad. Of course, yeah, they want to make them feel welcome because there’s a togetherness about us here at Wrexham and it’s something that we want to continue with.”
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WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
Reynolds and McElhenney have overseen rapid progress at Wrexham, on and off the field, with back-to-back promotions being covered by an award-winning documentary series. Parkinson’s side are now up into League One, which will present plenty of challenges in 2024-25.