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USMNT forward Haji Wright has left the U.S. camp and will return to his club after picking up an injury

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• Haji Wright has left USMNT camp with Achilles injury
• Will return to Coventry City for further examination
• Leaves U.S. manager Pochettino shorthanded at forward

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The U.S. were dealt a significant injury blow this weekend, with Haji Wright picking up an Achilles injury that will rule him out for the remainder of the Gold Cup, the USMNT announced. Wright missed the second fixture of the U.S.'s Gold Cup campaign, but was expected to be a key fixture in Mauricio Pochettino's squad for the remainder of the tournament.

  "It’s sad. He’s a very good guy and added a lot of quality in the group as a different option," Pochettino said in Saturday's pregame press conference. "He's a player that can play different positions in attack. Yes, a sad situation, sad for him, sad for the team, yeah, but I think we need to prioritize his process of recovery. A sad moment, but we need to be looking forward and try to accept the reality and keep being strong."

  Wright will now return to his club team Coventry City for further evaluation.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wright figured to be a valuable option in multiple positions for Pochettino at the tournament. The Coventry man can play either on the left or through the middle of a front three – although he didn't start the first game of the campaign. The 27-year-old made his presence felt in the Americans' Gold Cup opener as he scored after being subbed in the team's 5-0 win.

  Pochettino revealed Wright had arrived to the U.S. camp with pain in his Achilles.

  “For Haji. He already arrived with some problems with the Achilles," the manager said. "We could not fix the problem with the pain. That is why we made the decision we had to make”

  Per Gold Cup tournament rules, Wright cannot be replaced on the roster.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Wright has impressed for Coventry of late, becoming a key man for the He has scored 31 goals in all competitions across the last two seasons, leading Coventry to an FA Cup semifinal in 2024 and a Premier League promotion push last season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WRIGHT AND USMNT?

  There is no timeline for Wright's return to play. The U.S. conclude their Gold Cup group stage against Haiti on Sunday.

Liverpool are believed to be interested in signing an “exceptional” player this summer, but it could be a controversial piece of business by the Reds given the target’s relationship with a current Liverpool star.

Liverpool looking at replacements for star players

Arne Slot continues to eye up fresh faces ahead of next season, especially with doubts surrounding the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

Rayo Vallecano right-back Andrei Ratiu has been linked with a move to Liverpool at the end of the season, being seen as a potential replacement for Alexander-Arnold, should he decide to trade Anfield for Real Madrid.

On the opposite flank, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez now looks like the leading contender to be Andy Robertson’s long-term successor for the Reds, and a fresh report has claimed that the 21-year-old is ‘on track’ to complete a move to Merseyside this summer.

Luis Diaz isn’t guaranteed to stay at Liverpool beyond this season, despite enjoying some good moments in 2024/25, including an excellent performance against Everton in midweek, assisting Diogo Jota for the winning goal. Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been mentioned as a possible option to come in and replace the Colombian.

Slot eyeing move for £50m Real Madrid star Arda Guler

According to a new report from Caught Offside, Liverpool are keen on signing Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler this summer, with the 20-year-old expected to cost around £50m or perhaps even less this summer.

FSG’s recruitment team have a “strong appreciation” for the highly-rated Turkley international, but there is a possible speed bump regarding a move to Anfield, due to his recent spat with Dominik Szoboszlai during the international break. The pair traded social media blows after Turkey’s 3-0 win over Hungary, clearly having little time for one another.

Despite this, Guler should still be looked at as a great option for Liverpool in the summer window, with many players throughout history able to be good teammates, even if they don’t get along off the pitch.

The young Turk is a player who could have a massive career, possessing a wand-like left foot and being hailed by Jose Mourinho last year: “Arda is showing great personality and exceptional quality. To play at that club, personality is crucial. Players must internalize that they are good enough to play there. They can’t be afraid.”

He has struggled to be a regular starter for Madrid this season, only making seven starts and 19 appearances in La Liga, but there is no shame in that, considering he is up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, among others.

Liverpool begin pre-summer move for £21m right-back, Slot's a huge fan

Arne Slot is a big fan of his latest target…

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Apr 3, 2025

The idea of enjoying more minutes elsewhere at a club like Liverpool may appeal to Guler, so he should be looked at as an extremely exciting option in the coming months.

Gennaro Gattuso admitted he would not pick himself for the Italy squad today as the new national team boss discussed his playing style as a coach.

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• Gattuso says he wouldn’t pick a player like himself
• New Italy boss targets World Cup place
• Italy nine points behind Norway in qualification

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Speaking at his unveiling press conference, Gattuso addressed questions regarding his reputation for aggressive and combative play style. The former midfielder and AC Milan legend defended his managerial record as he stressed the evolution of the modern player and the need for tailored management.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gattuso takes over the Azzurri after Luciano Spalletti's dismissal following a 3-0 loss to Norway in World Cup qualifiers. Italy currently sit in the third spot of Group I, below Norway and Israel. Despite back-to-back World Cup qualification failures, Gattuso expressed optimism and confidence in the talent available, singling out several players he considers among top 10 globally in their positions.

• WHAT GATTUSO SAID

  Gattuso said: "Everyone thinks of Gattuso who runs, grit… I think that the teams I coached played good football. They told me not to say it but I'll say it: today I wouldn't put a Gattuso on the pitch in my team, with the mess he was making, the way I see football now. I like to keep up to date and talk about football, I know what kind of football I like. You have to get into the players' heads, not all are the same. Today the footballer is different, he is much more professional: they just have more difficulty working as a group, not only in the national team"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ITALY?

  Italy will return in September to face Estonia in Bergamo before travelling to Hungary to meet Israel. With automatic qualification now unlikely, Gattuso’s side will aim to secure a play-off spot and avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup.

West Bromwich Albion are in danger of falling out of the playoff positions in the Championship now after their first defeat in seven in the difficult division popped up away at Norwich City.

Goal difference is the Baggies’ best friend currently in sixth spot, with the likes of Middlesbrough and Bristol City breathing down the necks of Tony Mowbray’s men to try and leap into the second tier’s nervy lottery at the expense of the West Midlands outfit.

Mowbray will just pray that his key West Brom personnel can step up to the mark when needed between now and the close of the regular season, with Baggies managers of the past such as Slaven Bilic relying on the magic of Brazilian superstar Matheus Pereira to seal promotion.

Pereira's promotion heroics at West Brom

The second-tier high-flyers hit instant gold when snapping up Pereira on an initial loan deal back in 2019 as the South American ace made the Championship his very own playground.

Indeed, the one-time senior Brazil international would light up the notoriously strenuous league with top-drawer display after top-drawer display, leading to a mammoth 28 goal contributions coming his way across 43 total contests in that debut year.

Promotion was won automatically off the back of the now 28-year-old’s sublime heroics, with Pereira then going to solidfy himself as a Premier League-calibre performer with 11 goals and six assists picked up from 33 top-flight clashes.

Mowbray doesn’t quite possess such flashy options at his disposal at the moment – away from the likes of assist king Tom Fellows perhaps – but there is one face in the West Brom camp who could be the side’s best purchase since the golden days of Pereira, even as he remains injured.

West Brom's best signing since Pereira

Mowbray re-entered the building back in January with a sizable injury issue troubling him, considering he would have been told to help his new outfit win promotion even with a star player sidelined.

The star player is, of course, Josh Maja, who has found himself out of the West Brom first-team set-up for an agonising 14 games now after suffering a nasty lower leg injury that has since required surgery.

This has been a bitter pill for Mowbray and Co to swallow with the ex-Sunderland striker a man possessed in front of goal before this horrible setback, with Maja up to a stunning 12 goals and two assists from 26 Championship contests before January’s heartbreaking development.

Further lauded as a “special” talent by former West Brom boss Carlos Corberan before his departure to Valencia, it did feel as if Maja’s goals alone could have been the kick the Baggies needed to consolidate a playoff spot, knowing that he can cause second tier defences all sorts of bother in the blink of an eye.

Despite missing large portions of the campaign, the injury-prone 26-year-old still finds himself proudly top of the goalscoring charts, with the decision to bring in Maja on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 more than paying off even if he finds himself stuck in the Hawthorns treatment room.

It could be argued, therefore, that he’s been the best bit of business conducted by West Brom since Pereira’s explosive arrival onto the scene, with a hope Maja can be back fit if his side reach the playoffs, having been ruled out now for the rest of the 46-game season.

If he can inspire that same promotion-winning feeling, memories of Pereira’s heroics would certainly come flooding back.

Mowbray has unearthed West Brom's new Harvey Barnes in "unbelievable" star

West Bromwich Albion have uncovered their new Harvey Barnes in this sensational attacker.

By
Kelan Sarson

Mar 26, 2025

Estevao Willian has revealed how he managed to swap shirts with Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the Club World Cup.

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• Chelsea-bound star takes on Inter Miami with Palmeiras
• Swaps shirts with Messi and Suarez
• Spoke about two forwards afterwards

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Estevao is still only 18 but can already boast a shirt collection that contains the jerseys of Messi and Suarez after swapping with the Inter Miami stars after a 2-2 draw with Palmeiras at the Club World Cup. The result sends both teams through to the knockout stages of the tournament in the United States.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea after the tournament, certainly wasn't fazed about taking on some of the biggest names in football in the match. Yet the teenager did admit that coming up against Messi was a thrill as he revealed how he managed to swap shirts with both Inter Miami forwards.

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• WHAT ESTEVAO SAID

  He told ESPN Brasil: "When it was half-time, I was p*ssed off because the team was losing, but I ran into the tunnel, caught him, and swapped with him. It's incredible, a guy you play on a video game, you're swapping shirts with him, sharing the field with him. It's an incredible situation. He (Messi) winked at me and my legs started to shake, right at the start of the game. It's so emotional, he's an idol, a reference not only for me, but for the whole world. It's such a joy to have shared the pitch with him."

  Estevao also explained how he managed to swap shirts with Luis Suarez as well: "With Suárez too (he changed his shirt). At half-time, when we were getting back into the game, the ball was still in the middle, he came, greeted me, asked to change the shirt. Of course. He asked to change it later. This affection is incredible."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ESTEVAO AND MESSI?

  Messi and Inter Miami will go on to play PSG in the last 16, while Palmeiras and Estevao will face Botafogo in an all-Brazilian clash.

Ferran Torres is eager to link up with Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal at Barcelona, believing the trio could be exciting under Hansi Flick.

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• Ferran wants to play alongside Nico
• Nod to potential front line with Yamal
• Says Barcelona could form a “good trio” up front

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Torres has expressed excitement at the idea of playing with Williams at Barcelona, as the Catalan giants continue pushing to finalize the winger’s arrival from Athletic Club. Speaking at his summer football camp in Foios, Ferran said he hasn’t discussed the move directly with the winger, despite seeing him in Ibiza, but said he would “love to play with him.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Catalan giants are closing in on a deal for the 22-year-old, who has already agreed personal terms. The club sees him as a key piece in their rebuilding project under Hansi Flick. A trio involving Williams, Torres and Yamal could offer pace, flair, and fluidity in attack, something Barca lacked in key moments last season.

• WHAT FERRAN TORRES SAID

  Speaking to, Torres said: "I haven't spoken to him. We met in Ibiza, but we prefer not to talk about it. All the top players want to come to the big teams, and Barca is one of them. I don't know what will happen, but I hope it's for the best."

  Referring to his potential link-up with Williams and Yamal, he added: “We’ve already played together in the national team. I’d like to play with him, and we could form a good trio if everything goes well.”

  Ferran also shared that he’s fully recovered from his recent appendicitis surgery and is eager to prove himself again this season: “I see myself at Barcelona and I’m going to stay at Barcelona. I’m optimistic and I’m going to fight to earn a starting spot.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona’s preseason starts on July 13 and with Torres back fit and Nico’s arrival looking increasingly likely, Flick will have plenty of options to shape an exciting new-look frontline.

Germany came from behind to record a vital win over Denmark in the European Championship group stages, albeit in controversial circumstances.

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• Schuller scored winner
• Denmark appealed for a head injury stoppage
• Germany as good as through

• TELL ME MORE

  Germany all but secured their qualification for the European Championship knockout stages as they came from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 in a tense, entertaining game that was dominated by VAR on Tuesday evening.

  Christian Wuck's side thought they had the lead after 17 minutes, as Klara Buhl fired a low effort through a group of players, but VAR ruled that Sjoeke Nusken touched the ball from an offside position as it flew into the back of the net, and it was subsequently ruled out.

  And within eight minutes, Denmark left Germany reeling by taking the lead thanks to a brilliant strike from Amalie Vangsgaard; capitalising on a loose touch in the defensive third, she unleashed a rasping drive from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner.

  Amazingly, in the 39th minute, VAR again intervened, to deny Die Nationalelf a penalty. The referee had initially given it for a handball after a cross struck the hand of Frederikke Thogersen, but the replays showed that the contact took place outside of the box, and a free-kick was awarded instead.

  After the restart, Germany finally had VAR go their way, as Linda Dallmann went down in the box under a challenge from Katrine Veje. A review followed, and after sending the referee to the screen, a penalty was given. Nusken stepped up and finished from 12 yards.

  They kept their foot on the accelerator, and had the lead in the 66th minute. Denmark attempted to clear, but ended up firing the ball into the face of Emma Snerle, who went down with a head injury. Germany played on, and Jule Brand found Lea Schuller, who finished coolly to give her side a controversial lead.

  Germany stayed solid thereafter, limiting Denmark to a handful of attacks, as they saw out a vital victory.

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  THE MVP

  Nusken was at the centre of absolutely everything good for Germany. She scored a pressure penalty, and ran her heart out in central midfield, all the while geeing up her team-mates and dragging them along when Denmark had the upper hand. A terrific midfield performance.

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  THE BIG LOSER

  Snerle was so unfortunate to be struck by the ball as she was, given Denmark were attempting to clear their lines, but it directly led to Germany's winner. The referee should have stopped the game because it was a head injury, but because she didn't, it is the only selection we can make. She will hope to recover in time to play a role in the final group game but, without her injury, maybe the Danes take a vital point. Football really is a cruel sport.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Germany are as good as though and will face Sweden in their final group game on Saturday. Denmark will face Poland on the same day, although they could be out by the time that game is played, if Sweden beat Poland in their fixture on Tuesday evening.

Brazilian superstar Neymar has lifted the lid on his recent clash with a supporter during another damaging defeat for Santos.

• Neymar clashes with fan after match
• Defeat left Brazilian club in drop zone
• Superstar lifts lid on incident on social media

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neymar's return to Santos has not gone completely to plan, with defeat last time out dropping the team into the relegation zone. The match also saw Neymar exchange words in a heated clash with a supporter after the final whistle. Neymar has now taken to social media to explain the situation and reveal why he was so frustrated.

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• WHAT NEYMAR SAID

  He posted on Instagram: "In the heat of emotion, it’s hard to control your feelings when you’ve been unfairly offended and I’ll never argue with a fan when he’s demanding me on the pitch. He has the right to say whether I’ve played badly or not, and he has the right to boo. What he can’t do is offend me, the way he offended me. (Unfortunately, at the time I only heard him talking, the game was stopped). Saying that I’m a mercenary with my father, talking about my family/friends. I’m sorry but it’s hard to control. I came to Santos to try and help the club in the best way possible, on and off the pitch. And the day the fans think I can’t help anymore or that I’m damaging the club in any way, I’ll be the first to pick up my things and leave. Santos football club is one of my greatest passions and as long as I have the strength, I will do my best for this club. I will run, shout, and even fight if possible to get Santos where it deserves to be."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Neymar returned to Santos after a nightmare spell in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal. The forward has scored four goals and contributed three assists in 15 matches for Santos but has only tasted victory seven times. This is not the first time his frustrations have boiled over since returning to Brazil. He also snapped at a reporter after a recent defeat to Mirassol.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  Santos and Neymar are due back in action on Saturday against bottom side Sport in Brazilian Serie A.

Dusan Tadic is in line to make a surprise move to La Liga following the end of his contract at Fenerbahce.

• Tadic to join Atletico Madrid
• Winger to make maiden move to Spain
• He has 111 caps for Serbia

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tadic's contract at Fenerbahce expired this summer, and, according to , he is set to sign for La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. He was in contact with the Rojiblancos, and negotiations have progressed in recent times regarding his signature.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tadic, who made waves during his tenure at Southampton in the Premier League and Ajax in the Eredivisie, played a key role under Jose Mourinho's mentorship at Fenerbahce. He joined the Turkish side in 2023, following the expiration of his contract at Ajax. He featured 109 times for Mourinho's side and recorded 29 goals and 35 assists.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Tadic, who has represented the Serbian national team 111 times, scoring 23 goals, will make his first-ever move to La Liga or Spain at the age of 36.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TADIC?

  After successful stints in England, the Netherlands, and Turkey, Tadic will hope to maintain his sparkling form in La Liga too.

Armando Broja is reportedly on the verge of sealing a permanent transfer to Burnley after the Clarets reached an agreement with Chelsea. The 22-year-old forward has endured a difficult few years, beginning with an Achilles tendon rupture that sidelined him for a lengthy spell. Unfortunately, further misfortune followed when he sustained a significant ankle injury shortly after returning to action.

• Broja set for Chelsea exit
• Burnley likely to be his destination
• Albanian eager to get fresh start elsewhere

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The deal has progressed rapidly, with Broja now expected to undergo a medical examination later on Saturday before completing the move. The Albania international has been cleared to travel as final preparations are made for the transfer to be completed, as claimed by

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Broja has been sent out on multiple loan spells in recent seasons, including stints at Southampton, Fulham and Everton. While he showed flashes of promise at Southampton during the 2021-22 campaign, his time at Fulham and Everton failed to reignite his momentum. Notably, he failed to register a single goal during his periods with either of those clubs.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Overall, his Chelsea career saw him make just 38 senior appearances, in which he scored three times. Despite being a product of the club’s youth academy, he never truly managed to break into the Blues' plans on a long-term basis. 

  AC Milan and Ajax both explored the possibility of a transfer, while RB Leipzig and PSV Eindhoven were also monitoring the striker’s availability. However, discussions with all four clubs failed to materialise into firm offers, leading to the eventual deal with Burnley becoming the most viable path forward.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Chelsea are reportedly prepared to sanction a full sale for a fee in the region of £20 million ($27m) and the entire amount will be accounted as pure profit as Broja is an academy product. He remains a central figure for Albania and regular minutes in the Premier League will be vital to ensuring he can perform at his best during upcoming World Cup qualification matches. The decision to join Burnley is seen as a strategic step toward that goal.