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Chelsea are prepared to pay £19.5 million to sign a former Man City player for incoming new manager Enzo Maresca.

Maresca agrees to join as Chelsea close in on new manager

A plethora of reliable media sources, sharing news in the last few days, claim Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali and Chelsea's co-sporting directors are closing in on the appointment of Maresca to replace Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea hold talks for first Enzo Maresca signing in £2.1m-a-year giant

The Blues are already working to back their prospective new head coach.

ByEmilio Galantini May 28, 2024

The Guardian first reported that Chelsea offered Maresca a long-term five-year contract, which is far longer than what Pochettino was offered this time last year. Fabrizio Romano also stated that Maresca is ready to join Chelsea and said yes to a move away from Leicester, so soon after guiding the Foxes to a Championship title and Premier League promotion in his first season.

“Enzo Maresca will be the new Chelsea manager," wrote Romano in a CaughtOffside column today.

“Maresca wants to go to Chelsea and never had any doubts despite some reports suggesting that maybe he wants to stay at Leicester. Although he loves and respects Leicester, it’s been very clear ever since Chelsea entered this story that Maresca wants to be the next Chelsea manager.

Games

53

Wins

36

Draws

4

Losses

11

Points averaged per match

2.11

“Maresca believes in the Chelsea project around young players with a big future, he thinks it is a really exciting project. Meanwhile, Chelsea are convinced he’s a super talented coach and that’s why he’s a name appreciated by both directors and owners, all convinced he can be the man for present and future.

“Maresca’s obsession with ball possession, quality football, dominating the game, his knowledge of elite football despite being a young manager – all of this made the difference for Chelsea to pick him."

Romano has since given his famous "here we go" to Maresca joining Chelsea.

With the transfer market just around the corner, attention now turns to how Maresca could be backed with fresh faces. Chelsea have opened talks with Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, for instance, who would join on a free given his contract expires on June 30.

Chelsea prepared to pay £19.5 million to sign James Trafford

Now, as relayed by reports in Spain, Chelsea are prepared to pay £19.5 million for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford – as they ready a "significant move".

The board are thinking long-term, with the former Man City youngster showing great potential in flashes and displaying his suitability as a long-term option.

The 21-year-old, still in his infancy when it comes to the lifespan of a goalkeeper, already possesses notable experience – starting 28 Premier League matches for Burnley last term as Vincent Kompany's first-choice shot stopper for the most part.

The former England youth international has been playing senior football regularly since 2021, and could have many, many more years at the top level.

علق إكرامي الشحات، حارس مصر الأسطوري، على حالة الجدل التي أعقبت مباراة الفراعنة أمام بوتسوانا في تصفيات أمم إفريقيا، وذلك بسبب مشاركة مصطفى شوبير حارس الأهلي بشكل أساسي على حساب محمد عواد حارس الزمالك، في ظل غياب محمد الشناوي.

وقال إكرامي الشحات في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “أنا أريد أن أتحدث عن المشكلة التي حدثت بعد قرار حسام حسن المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر، بالدفع بـ مصطفى شوبير خلال مباراة المنتخب الوطني الأخيرة”.

وأوضح: “اختيار مصطفى شوبير ضمن قائمة أفضل حارس في إفريقيا، بناءً على الأداء في دوري الأبطال، وأنا أرى أنه كان صاحب اليد العليا في تتويج الأهلي بهذا اللقب”.

طالع أيضًا | مصطفى شوبير: فخور بمشاركتي الأولى مع المنتخب.. وجائزة “كاف” ستكون مصرية

وتابع: “مصطفى شوبير لعب 9 مباريات مع الأهلي في دوري الأبطال، ولم يدخل مرماه أي هدف، الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم يضع الترشيحات بناءً على هذه البطولة”.

وأضاف: “هذا ردًا على الزميل الذي صرح وقال على أي أساس مصطفى شوبير تم ترشحه لهذه الجائزة (يقصد أحمد سليمان عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك)، أنا أريد أن أسأل سؤلاً، ماذا لو كان المهدي سليمان شارك بدلًا من شوبير وعواد، هل كانت ستحدث أزمة؟ لا، إذًا الموضوع كان شخصنة وأهلي وزمالك”.

واختتم: “التشكيل الذي يضعه المدير الفني هو حر فيه، لا أحد له الحق في مناقشته، لأنه من سيُحاسب في النهاية، إذًا هو عندما قرر الدفع بـ مصطفى شوبير كانت بناءً على رؤيته الفنية، ممكن لكي يدعمه في الجائزة المرشح لها كأحسن حارس في إفريقيا، أو لأي سبب آخر”.

England recover from rusty batting display and hosts’ bright start to run chase to seal victory

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2020

Jason Roy celebrates his century•Getty Images

England overcame several scares in their first game back in sky blue since the World Cup final to beat an inexperienced Cricket South Africa Invitation XI by 77 runs as they warmed up for next week’s ODI series in Paarl.Jason Roy struck a fluent 104 as he continued his comeback from a shoulder injury, but there was precious little else for England’s batsmen to shout about as they were bowled out for 240 in 44.1 overs.And it looked as though they were set for a humbling defeat when Jacques Snyman started positively in the run chase, taking them to 91 for 1 after 17.3 overs, but after Matt Parkinson and Tom Curran made breakthroughs, the hosts’ raw middle order was exposed, with a collapse of nine for 72 handing England the win.Despite the low-key nature of the contest, Roy admitted to having been a bit “giddy” at the prospect of getting back on the field with England, having been rested for the tour of New Zealand before Christmas before picking up a shoulder injury at the Mzanzi Super League.”It was nice to get the shirt back on,” he said. “I was pretty giddy getting on the plane back home to come out here. Obviously I haven’t represented England for a while now so it’s quite nice to get going.”Playing a warm-up game in Paarl when the last game you played was in the World Cup final is quite difficult but we’ve got to build foundations again going forward for the next few years.”[The World Cup win] is a memory that we can keep close to us, but we’ve got to move forward and work hard for the next four years now until the next World Cup.”After winning the toss and choosing to bat, England made a disastrous start as they slumped to 16 for 3 after 19 balls. In a passage that must have reminded the tourists’ supporters of several games more than a decade ago, a fast bowler named S Tait struck early – though this time it was the left-armer Stephan, as opposed to Australia’s Shaun – trapping Jonny Bairstow lbw and having Joe Root caught down the leg side first ball. Eoin Morgan then chopped on, shaping to cut Imran Manack’s offspin, to leave the tourists in trouble.Joe Denly, in an unfamiliar role at No. 5, steadied the ship with 29, but he and Tom Banton fell to Smangaliso Nhlebela’s left-arm spin in quick succession to leave England five wickets down with only 109 on the board. Part-timer Andile Mokgakane bowled Sam Curran, but Roy began to find some rhythm, shifting through the gears to reach a 94-ball hundred as he added fifty for the seventh wicket alongside Chris Woakes.Woakes continued to tick over with Tom Curran and Chris Jordan, but the wickets continued to fall as England eventually limped up to 240, Matt Parkinson the last man out with 35 balls unused.In response, Snyman, a top-order batsman from Pretoria, started aggressively despite the early loss of Kabelo Sekhukhune, who was bowled by Sam Curran. He struck Woakes for six, before taking 14 from a Curran over, while No. 3 Jean du Plessis struck a couple of boundaries to leave the CSA XI 58 for 1 after ten overs of the chase.But the introduction of dual spin in the form of Adil Rashid and Parkinson stemmed the flow of runs, as du Plessis was stumped off a wide and Jesse Christensen was clean bowled. Snyman’s scoring dried up, as he added only one boundary after the Powerplay, and was eventually trapped in front by Tom Curran.Curran also removed the team’s senior player in Qaasim Adams, the 35-year-old Western Province batsman, before a run-out, and two wickets apiece for Woakes and Jordan sealed England’s win.One mitigating factor in England’s wobbly display with the bat was a two-hour power-cut, due to load-shedding, that hit the ground midway through the first innings. It left Roy unsure of how to pace England’s innings, and also caught him unawares at the moment he reached his century.”I thought the umpire stitched me up, to be honest!” he said. “Everyone started clapping and I didn’t have a feeling because I didn’t get clapped for my fifty or anything.”I could only assume it was for my hundred so I raised my bat. He said ‘are you sure they are not clapping the team’s 150?’ I said ‘I bloody hope not’, as I would have looked like a bit of a muppet.””It was frustrating without [the scoreboard] but more with the team score because you don’t know where you are after 10, 15 or 20 overs. It is annoying especially when you get to the 30-over mark. You like to know where you are at that point.”

Aston Villa are one of several clubs eyeing a move for a rising Portuguese star ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window.

Aston Villa chasing Champions League spot

The Villans are in the midst of one of their best-ever Premier League campaigns thanks to the management of Unai Emery. The Spaniard has kept Villa firmly in the race for Champions League football all season, with the Midlands outfit battling Tottenham for a spot in Europe's premier club competition.

A Champions League finish would provide Aston Villa with extra funds heading into the 2024 summer transfer window and the club have seemingly already begun planning for how they would spend that cash. Reports earlier this week claimed that Aston Villa are one of three Premier League teams interested in a deal to sign Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso on a free transfer.

Stan Collymore desperate for Aston Villa to sign 21-year-old this summer

He’s been a standout for his club.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 14, 2024

Elsewhere, Aston Villa are reportedly working to sign Inter Milan and Netherlands full-back Denzel Dumfries, while Ferdi Kadioglu has "said goodbye" to current club Fenerbahce ahead of a possible move to Aston Villa.

Aston Villa eye forward compared to Jack Grealish

While a lot of defenders are currently being linked with a move to Villa Park, a rising star at the other end of the pitch has now been named as a target for the Champions League-chasing outfit.

According to The Sunday Mirror, relayed by Sports View, Aston Villa are set to battle with Brighton, Wolves and Fulham for the signature of Vitória Guimarães' Jota Silva. Jota has been dubbed the “Portuguese Jack Grealish” because of his looks and similar playing style and has been a standout performer for his current side this term, chipping in with 15 goals and seven assists in all competitions across 2023/24, turning out in a range of attacking positions, mainly as a right winger and centre-forward.

Villa are seemingly set to face stiff competition from the aforementioned Premier League sides for Jota, who is valued at £17m, but if the Midlands outfit can secure Champions League football, it may give them the edge in any potential transfer race:

“I want to reach the top of world football. I want to play in the Champions League and my dream is to reach the national team. That’s why I’m working," said Jota.

The 24-year-old has since realised his dreams of playing in the national side, making his senior Portugal debut vs Slovenia on March 26. Following his first call-up, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez was quick to praise the left-winger's versatility and work ethic:

"Jota is a different player. I like his versatility, he works hard, he is competitive," said Martinez. "This shows his journey, going through the second division gives different qualities. I watched his last game very closely. In football, you also need luck. I believe he is in a very good moment and deserved to be called up. When you are in a team that is playing well and has a good dynamic. Jota represents that and is an example for players who did not make it to the youth national teams. Now he is at a level that deserves to be in the national team. He is a good example."

MatériaMais Notícias

Luis Felipe Scolari é uma figura ímpar entre os técnicos mais marcantes formados no Brasil. Comandante no pentacampeonato da Seleção Brasileira, em 2002, Felipão também é marcado pela maior derrota do Brasil em Copas do Mundo. Sobre o Mundial de 2014, o treinador analisou as falhas da equipe e ainda revelou conflitos nos bastidores do grupo: ‘A gente ia manobrando, mas não tínhamos o mesmo ambiente de 2002’.
+ Confira a classificação dos grupos da Libertadores

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Ao programa “Grande Círculo”, do canal SporTV, Felipão criticou os erros cometidos na semifinal diante da Alemanha e desabafou sobre o clima entre os jogadores. De acordo com ele, a Seleção de 2014 não era unida como a de 2002.

-Eu acho que nós colocamos responsabilidade demais a partir do momento em que ganhamos a Copa das Confederações. Nós todos achávamos que aquele caminho estava sendo bem trilhado, tínhamos todas as condições e que independentemente de uma ou outra coisa estaríamos disputando o título de qualquer forma. Para chegar à semifinal foi difícil, empatamos um jogo que tivemos que ganhar nos pênaltis (Chile). Mas a gente chegou à semifinal que se traduziu de forma que nem posso imaginar… Nem imagino até hoje como a gente perdeu daquela forma. Não tem cabimento nenhum, nem daqui 100 anos vamos ter um momento errado como nós nos portamos no jogo – começou.

-Em 2002, tínhamos um tipo de pensamento. Para 2014, tínhamos outras ideias e outros jogadores, embora tivéssemos bons jogadores. Tínhamos uma certa influência de situações que não conseguimos acabar na Seleção. Não foi por isso também (que perdeu). Dentro dos resultados, nós vínhamos conseguindo passar nos pênaltis… Chegamos a uma semifinal. O jogo que nos marca como derrotados é o jogo da semifinal. Não tivemos derrota nenhuma até o jogo da Alemanha. A gente ia manobrando, mas não tínhamos o mesmo ambiente (de 2002). Isso era público e notório – completou Felipão.

O ex-técnico do Cruzeiro ainda contou um momento de discordância entre jogadores antes do 7 a 1.

-Em 2014, não conseguimos esse entrosamento (de 2002). Mesmo em 2014, quando teve uma situação crítica que fomos montar uma carta, um comunicado para a imprensa, houve discordâncias muito grandes entre jogadores no grupo. Não conseguimos aquela unidade de pensamento muitas vezes porque jogando aqui no Brasil tínhamos conhecimento e ouvíamos pessoas que não precisávamos ouvir. Lá fora não foi assim – desabafou.

– Foi um dia que nos reunimos e falamos que tínhamos que montar uma situação nova, que nós queríamos colocar para determinada pessoa que comandasse isso e houve discordâncias entre três ou quatro pessoas. Já teve gente de fora interferindo dizendo que se fosse isso não concordava. Jogamos no Brasil em situação que muitas vezes não é benéfica para a seleção brasileira. Qualquer campeonato disputado fora temos mais possibilidades ainda pelo ambiente que se forma do que aqui dentro do Brasil – comentou Luis Felipe Scolari.

Por fim, Felipão analisou as falhas cometidas dentro da semifinal que custaram a goleada história e posterior queda do técnico do comando da Seleção Brasileira.

-Saímos com a bola, jogamos para o lado, voltou no pé de um jogador nosso, ninguém falou nada, roubaram a bola do nosso jogador que imaginávamos estaria de frente, sabia o que estava acontecendo. Roubaram a bola e fizeram o gol. Em dois minutos fizeram dois gols. Não tinha explicação para isso. Depois imaginamos uma equipe que estivesse mais ou menos espelhada na Alemanha e não aconteceu – ponderou.

– Tivemos erros em bola parada que marcávamos individual por umas série de detalhes que tínhamos visto nos jogos da Alemanha. E também erramos. Foram erros nossos que permitiram que a Alemanha crescesse e dominasse o jogo – concluiu.

No Cruzeiro, último clube onde trabalhou, Felipão deixou o cargo após 3 meses por estar insatisfeito com os bastidores do clube mineiro.

South Australia gave themselves a chance defend a low total but Marnus Labuschagne rallied the chase

Daniel Brettig20-Oct-2019

Nick Winter removed Usman Khawaja for a duck although the batsman wasn’t happy with the decision•Getty Images

Test batting aspirants on both sides were left without much to show for themselves for the second innings in a row as Queensland’s Sheffield Shield contest with South Australia was left poised for a tight finish after no fewer than 18 wickets fell on day three at the Gabba.Of those batsmen in contention for the first Test against Pakistan in Brisbane next month, no-one managed more than Joe Burns’ 22 to go with 39 in the first innings. Travis Head (a duck and 12), Usman Khawaja (2 and a duck) and Alex Carey (14 and 20) were all left shaking their heads, with the Queensland captain least happy of all.Shaping to defend a left-arm delivery from Nick Winter, Khawaja was beaten on the inside edge and the ball appeared to brush his thigh before he was given out caught behind. Khawaja, having been lbw in the first innings, lingered at the crease, knowing his chances for a big score to press for a Test recall are starting to run out.Burns’ exit was more clear cut, at the start of a sequence in which the Bulls lost 5 for 7 having been 0 for 47 in pursuit of 150 for victory. After Burns, Khawaja, Matt Renshaw, Charlie Hemphrey and the debutant Bryce Street all fell in the space of three overs, Marnus Labuschagne and the wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson steadied the chase to leave the hosts requiring another 48 runs on the final morning.They required as many as 150 only through a spirited last wicket stand of 61 between Chadd Sayers and Wes Agar, after the Redbacks had again folded to the Queensland seamers on a pitch that had quickened up over three days though no longer offering much sideways movement.An opening stand of 37 ended when Jake Weatherald cut forcefully but straight to backward point. Jake Lehmann ended a wretched match with a pair, nearly lbw first ball then caught behind when trying to leave his second.Head got to double figures but was dismissed by a ball delivered from around the wicket once again, swishing wildly at Cameron Gannon to slice to gully, before Henry Hunt was unfortunate to be lbw to Michael Neser as the ball looked to be angling down the leg side. Tom Cooper edged an away swinger to Renshaw at slip, and Carey was annoyed at himself to nick an attempted forcing stroke in the same direction.

Sunderland return to action once again in the Championship as they travel away from Wearside to take on Birmingham at St. Andrew's this afternoon.

The Black Cats head into this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield in Yorkshire earlier this week, thanks to a first-half goal from Matthew Pearson.

Head coach Michael Beale could now look to make some changes to his starting XI in a bid to return to winning ways against the man he replaced in the dugout – Tony Mowbray.

Abdoullah Ba is one player who should be ditched from the line-up, and replaced by Patrick Roberts, after a disappointing performance last time out.

Abdoullah Ba's performance against Huddersfield

The French midfielder lined up on the right flank against the Terriers and failed to make a positive impression with his work in and out of possession.

He played the opening 61 minutes of the contest and created one chance for his teammates, whilst the dud also failed to register a single shot on target.

The 20-year-old lightweight lost three of his five ground duels and did not complete any of his three attempted dribbles before being hauled off just after an hour.

Abdoullah Ba	Last three matches
Starts	Three
Sofascore rating	6.43
Goals	Zero
Assists	Zero
Key passes	Two
Big chances missed	Two
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see from the table above, Ba has been in poor form over the last three matches with a startling lack of impact at the top end of the pitch.

He has spurned the two good opportunities his teammates have created for him and only made two key passes in three starts for the Black Cats, which is why Beale must now ditch him from the line-up and start Roberts on the right wing.

Why Patrick Roberts should start

The £11k-per-week magician recently started in the 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle and showcased his quality, and importance to the team, in a fine display.

Ba started in midfield that day, instead of on the right flank, and that allowed Roberts to play out wide. It was an opportunity that the English forward grasped with an impressive performance.

Patrick Roberts	Vs Plymouth
Minutes played	69
Sofascore rating	7.5
Key passes	Three
Assists	One
Pass accuracy	96%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester City starlet, who was once hailed as "magic" by journalist Josh Bunting, was extremely reliable in possession of the ball with only two misplaced passes and three chances created, one of which led to a goal.

Roberts, who Bunting also claimed has "sheer quality", rolled the ball off to Pierre Ekwah from a free-kick to catch the Plymouth defence off guard and allow the ex-West Ham gem to fire a shot into the back of the net to make it 1-1 at the time.

The 27-year-old wizard, who won five of his eight duels on the day, was involved in more goals (one) and provided more key passes (three) than Ba has in his last three starts combined – in just 69 minutes against Plymouth.

This is why Beale should ruthlessly ditch the former Le Havre prospect from the starting XI in order to make space for Roberts to come in on the right wing to cause Birmingham problems in their own third.

Tottenham are now keen on signing a £64 million star who Man City boss Pep Guardiola has lavished with praise, as the Lilywhites continue to prepare for what will be a very interesting summer transfer window.

Spurs drawing up summer shortlist

Technical director Johan Lange and the wider Spurs recruitment team are said to already be at work ahead of the summer, with club insider Paul O'Keefe recently claiming that Barcelona star Raphinha is among the options they're considering.

"Definitely" – Sky pundit thinks Spurs could strike "easy" move for star

The deal could be there to be done this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 28, 2024

In an effort to back manager Ange Postecoglou, reports suggest the north Londoners are after upgrades all over the pitch, including at centre-back, full-back, central midfield and further forward.

Indeed, Tottenham apparently want a star winger and continue to be heavily linked with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher, among other midfield options. Meanwhile, other media sources claim Postecoglou is interested in another back-up defender and potential alternatives in the full-back area.

Crystal Palace (home)

March 2nd

Aston Villa (away)

March 10th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Luton Town (home)

March 30th

It could be a busy summer at N17, but their budget may still be limited depending on whether they qualify for the Champions League at the end of this season.

Versatile players who can be deployed in multiple positions could be a key way to ensure Postecoglou is backed with depth, while also making sure they don't spend over the odds on a plethora of major signings.

One potential option who would certainly fit that mould is Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich. The 29-year-old, who has played as a centre-back, full-back, defensive midfielder and winger throughout a decorated career, is also out of contract next year and hasn't committed to an extension.

This gives Bayern just two windows to either agree on an extension or sell, and this is where Spurs come in.

Tottenham now want to sign Joshua Kimmich

According to HITC and journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham are now "keen" on signing Kimmich who himself fancies a move to the Premier League.

They will have to contend with the likes of Man City and Liverpool, who are also thought to be admirers, but links to such a prestigious player are perhaps a sign of the wonderful times at Spurs right now.

Rumoured to command a £64 million price tag this year, Kimmich has been branded a player with "absolutely everything" by Guardiola.

Kimmich would bring a winner's mentality, having clinched eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League winner's medal and numerous other trophies during his time in Bavaria.

Leeds United could be in trouble after some news emerged on young sensation Archie Gray ahead of Saturday's clash with Plymouth, after a string of impressive performances.

Archie Gray: Leeds' latest starlet

There was plenty of intrigue in Gray all the way back in December 2021, when a raft of COVID-19 issues and injuries saw him named on the bench for the senior side when they hosted Arsenal in the Premier League, though he didn't make an appearance in the eventual 4-1 defeat.

Fast forward to this season, and his much-anticipated breakout in the senior side finally arrived, with the 17-year-old starting in Daniel Farke's midfield on the opening day of the Championship season. He has not looked back since, racking up 34 appearances in all competitions this season, and has been a revelation in a Leeds side coming to terms with the major changes that came with dropping into the second flight of English football.

Playing both at right back and in central midfield as required, Gray has been a key part of a side now eyeing up automatic promotion to the top flight at the first time of asking, though they are facing a hard-fought battle with Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, at least one of whom will be consigned to another year of second division football come the end of the campaign.

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The Elland Road side clearly know the value of their latest star, and tied him down to a new deal just last month which is set to run until 2028 in a bid to protect his value and keep him in Yorkshire. That might not be so easy though.

Gray transfer update brings concern for Leeds fans

As per a report from Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Farke's side are braced for a 'deluge' of bids for the teenage star, with clubs up and down the Premier League keeping a close eye on his progression in the Championship.

They add that though the club had 'no interest in selling Gray' in January, they may be forced to reconsider should they not bounce straight back into the top flight this season. As per one source, they will have to “rebuff a lot of bids" for the teenager with the likes of Everton and Crystal Palace among those interested in the star.

Any deal for Gray would likely have to include a big fee close to a record sale for the Elland Road side, something that Everton may not be able to achieve unless they part ways with one of their own stars such as Amadou Onana amid increased Premier League scrutiny on their finances.

Leeds record sales

Sold to

Fee

Raphinha

Barcelona

£60m

Kalvin Phillips

Manchester City

£45m

Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United

£30m

Tyler Adams

Bournemouth

£20m

Perhaps more worryingly though is potential interest from Premier League giants Liverpool, who are keen to add him to their ranks. It is unclear where Gray would fit into the Reds, even less so with the impending departure of Jurgen Klopp and the recent uncovering of Conor Bradley.

Nonetheless, the Reds would certainly be able to offer a hefty fee for the teenager, who may wish to taste Premier League football next season, and losing another one of their own is something that may well be in the back of the minds of Leeds fans.

It was like being back in 2016 as the Three Lions were again frozen out by the boys from the land of fire and ice

Just when you thought England had banished the ghosts of their past, they succumbed to another shock defeat to Iceland, throwing their preparations for Euro 2024 into disarray.

Iceland produced one of the greatest shocks in international football history when they knocked Roy Hodgson's England out of Euro 2016 the day after the United Kingdom had voted to leave the European Union. And while the Three Lions have felt like a much stronger team in the subsequent years, here was a reminder that they are far from the finished article as they head out to Germany.

Their status as favourites will have been rocked by this defeat, and so will their confidence as they quickly ran out of ideas as to how to get past the compact visitors.

Aaron Ramsdale's confidence will also be affected after conceding a near-post strike from Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson while Southgate must have also been concerned when John Stones, his only centre-back to have major tournament experience, picked up an ankle injury and was then withdrawn at half-time.

The performances of Anthony Gordon and Marc Guehi were the few bright spots of a dark night for England on what should have been a rousing send off. Instead, they head to Germany with plenty of unanswered questions.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Wembley Stadium…

• Getty Images
  

  LOSER: Aaron Ramsdale

  Southgate declared before the game that Arsenal man Ramsdale was his second-choice goalkeeper behind Jordan Pickford, and his performance here appeared to confirm that status.

  Ramsdale has committed far bigger errors than conceding the goal he let in at Wembley, but he still will be disappointed with how he let Thorsteinsson's low shot beat him at his near post. When your side do most of the attacking, you need to be extra concentrated and be on top of the few shots you do face, and Ramsdale fell short in that respect.

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• Getty Images
  

  WINNER: Iceland

  Rishi Sunak, King Charles, Gareth Southgate, your boys took a hell of a beating! The country's leaders have changed, but England are still no match for the tiny volcanic island which has a smaller population than Croydon.

  Iceland must have thought their shock elimination of England in Euro 2016 was a once-in-a-lifetime result, but eight years later they pulled off another huge surprise, claiming their first ever win at Wembley.

  The stakes were lower here, but the result and performance from England was no less concerning. While Roy Hodgson's side lost to a team at their peak, in a tournament in which they had already held Portugal to a 0-0 draw, Iceland are no longer the force they were a few years ago, having finished fourth in their qualifying group before falling to Ukraine in the play-offs.

  But they still know how to organise a defence, frustrate a more illustrious side and how to take their few chances, which is what Thorsteinsson duly did.

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  LOSER: England's attack

  England's biggest strength on paper is their attacking quality, but their star players were all stunted by Iceland's defensive organisation.

  Harry Kane missed the type of chance he had been scoring all season for Bayern Munich, somehow sending Cole Palmer's inviting ball wide over the target. The captain's all-round game was also uninspiring, perhaps the result of the back injury he picked up late in the season.

  Palmer and Phil Foden managed to create some space with their nifty footwork, but the Manchester City midfielder's passing left a lot to be desired, while he also missed the target from a promising opening.

  Anthony Gordon was England's brightest attacker and was the only player to get the fans inside Wembley off their feet thanks to his darting pace. But they were soon sitting down again due to his poor final ball, which he hit either at Icelandic defenders or into the crowd.

  Bukayo Saka looked rusty when he came off the bench while Eberechi Eze, one of the standout players against Bosnia, offered little in his 12 minutes on the pitch.

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  WINNER: Serbia

  Serbia might have felt disheartened about their prospects for the tournament after losing their first warm-up game against Austria, but their spirits would have been lifted by watching England struggle so much against a disciplined low block.

  Dragan Stojković's side will be fired up for their game against the Three Lions in Gelsenkirchen in what is set to be their first game at a European Championship since Euro 2000, and now they have a clear blueprint to follow thanks to Iceland.

  England will still be favourites, but Serbia will know they have a good chance of causing an upset so long as they can prevent their opponents from cutting inside too much and block their passing lanes, as Age Hareide's side did to perfection.

  Serbia also have far superior attacking quality to Iceland in the form of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Luka Jovic, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, giving them real hope of getting at England's depleted backline.