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Manchester United and INEOS have made contact with a £325,000 a week “machine” over a summer move, according to a new report. The next two transfer windows are going to be very important for the Red Devils, as INEOS work to get players into the club who fit the style that new manager Ruben Amorim wants to play at Old Trafford.

Man Utd now want to win race for £10m-a-year target by offering huge deal

INEOS are now willing to throw everything at a deal in summer 2025.

By
Brett Worthington

Nov 7, 2024

Man Utd transfer news

There are always plenty of rumours involving United, but since the arrival of Amorim, talk of transfers has intensified. The Portuguese looks keen to reunite with some of his Sporting players at his new club, but he will have to wait until the summer to do that.

It was also revealed this week that United are plotting a fresh move for Jarrad Branthwaite next summer. The Red Devils were very interested in the summer and saw bids of up to £50 million rejected, but that interest hasn’t gone away, as they now believe he could fit perfectly into Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

As well as Branthwaite, United are also looking to win the race for Alphonso Davies. The left-back is in the final year of his contract at Bayern Munich, and it looks unlikely at this stage that he will sign a new contract. United are ready to offer him a “huge deal” to beat Real Madrid to the signing. Trying to sign Bayern Munich players doesn’t stop there for the Red Devils, as they also have their eye on another soon-to-be free agent.

INEOS already in contact about signing Leroy Sane for Man Utd

According to Christian Falk, Manchester United are interested in signing Leroy Sane and have already made an enquiry for his services. The 28-year-old has been at the German giants since 2020, when he joined from Manchester City, and he has been a regular contributor for them in recent years.

Sane, who earns 384,615 euros a week at Munich, which is roughly £325,000, scored eight goals and recorded 11 assists in 27 Bundesliga games last season, but they missed out on the title to Bayer Leverkusen.

The winger is now in the final year of his contract at Bayern Munich, and United are interested in signing him when his deal expires, so much so that they have already made contact. Sane, who was described as a “machine” by Thomas Tuchel, is not short of options though, as fellow Premier League team Arsenal are also interested in signing the speedy attacker.

The Germany international is going to wait for negotiations with Munich before making a decision on his future. Either way, United are keen on landing the winger, and he could be seen as a replacement for Antony, who looks to be no longer needed at Old Trafford.

David Coote has been banned by UEFA following his derogatory comments on Jurgen Klopp which led to his Premier League sacking.

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• Coote banned by UEFA until end of June 2026
• Contract already terminated by PGMOL
• Also under an FA investigation over betting breach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Coote’s troubles began in late 2024 when a leaked video surfaced, showing him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Klopp. He was heard using expletives to describe Klopp and expressing his disdain for the German coach.

  He said: "He accused me of lying and then just had a right f*cking pop at me. I’ve got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f*cking arrogant. I do my best not to speak to him. You can see me there with mask on. Social distancing – 10 metres apart. But my God, German c*nt, f*ck me."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Following the release of the footage, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) swiftly took action, suspending Coote from his refereeing duties. However, the situation escalated when a second video emerged, appearing to show the 42-year-old sniffing a white substance. With his position becoming increasingly untenable, the PGMOL decided to terminate his contract, citing the serious nature of his conduct.

• WHAT UEFA SAID

  On Thursday, UEFA released an official statement confirming Coote’s suspension from refereeing duties across all competitions under its jurisdiction until June 30, 2026. The governing body cited multiple breaches of disciplinary regulations, including violations of basic standards of decent behaviour and bringing the sport into disrepute.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  In addition to UEFA’s ruling, Coote remains under investigation by the Football Association (FA) over allegations of breaching betting regulations. The former referee has strongly denied any involvement in improper gambling activities, but the FA’s inquiry is ongoing.

Wayne Rooney is looking for a way back into management, with the ex-England captain joking about wanting the top job at Everton.

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• Toffees legend invited to new stadium
• Impressed by what he saw
• Would love the chance to work there

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Merseyside native Rooney began his career with the Toffees, as he burst onto the scene as a teenager in 2002, and returned to his roots 2017 after 13 years with Manchester United that saw him become the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rooney has been welcomed back into the Everton family after being invited to take in a tour of their new £800 million ($1 billion) stadium at Bramley-Moore dock. Said venue will be open for business ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

• WHAT WAYNE ROONEY SAID

  Speaking on Everton’s , Rooney said of the impressive facility: “It's brilliant, obviously driving in I've gone past it quite a few times. It's the first time coming in and obviously seeing it from the inside is brilliant. A long time coming! I remember when I joined Everton at nine and there was talk about a new stadium then.

  “From a selfish point of view you wish you were playing and wish you were involved in the game. It's history. Obviously the last game at Goodison is going to be history and the first game here is going to be something unique. Hopefully I'll be here to watch the game.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rooney was asked which seat he would like to fill in the state-of-the-art stadium, to which he replied: “There [the dugout]! I remember going to Goodison and being sat behind the pillars. There's no obstructed views – I don't think there will be a bad view.

  “Even though it's a big stadium it still feels quite tight. With the way the stadium is built I imagine the noise will generate and keep the noise in the stadium.”

Birmingham City fans won’t just be content with their side winning promotion at the end of the season, hopeful that the Blues could potentially take the Championship by storm after rising out of League One’s murky waters.

Back-to-back promotions do happen, just ask Ipswich Town supporters, with Chris Davies wanting to be the manager to hopefully take Birmingham all the way back up to the Premier League one day, having been out of the big time since relegation at the end of the 2010/11 season.

When the Blues were routinely keeping their heads just above water in the second tier, before a disastrous relegation, they were also responsible for some top homegrown starlets rising up the ranks, with Demarai Gray one standout example.

Gray's time at Birmingham

Gray might not have quite reached the insane heights of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham after he left the club, nor Nathan Redmond who went on to be a household Premier League name, but the tricky winger has had a career of note after exiting the Blues in 2016.

Gray would fire home eight goals from 78 appearances in the West Midlands, on top of picking up four assists, which would then alert Premier League suitors such as Leicester City to his services.

The Foxes splashed out £3.75m to get their desired target, with Gray going on to become a dependable first-teamer at the King Power Stadium over various campaigns, amassing 13 goals and 15 assists from 169 total clashes.

The 5 foot 11 attacker also found himself on the books of both Bayer Leverkusen and Everton briefly, before a move to Saudi Arabia came to fruition, where the Al-Ettifaq FC winger now earns a bumper £75k-per-week salary.

With Gray going on to make a name for himself away from his boyhood employers, many homegrown products back at St. Andrew’s must have looked to the winger for inspiration when attempting to cut their own teeth in the senior game, with the Blues prodigy even labelled as ‘another Demarai Gray’ back in 2015.

What happened to Birmingham's next Demarai Gray

It was an outlandish label to put above the player in question’s head nine years ago, but that pressure was still put on his shoulders by then Birmingham boss Gary Rowett, who will no doubt regret this suggestion now.

Viv Solomon-Otobar – who lined up for the Blues down the opposite flank to Gray – was the talent heralded as the second coming of the ex-Birmingham number 33, off the back of scoring his first-ever strike for the club in a 5-2 win versus Fulham.

Away from scoring a notable goal at Craven Cottage, Solomon-Otobar would only go on to score one more strike for the second-tier outfit, with just eight Championship appearances coming his way during his final campaign.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Yet, Birmingham did want to keep Solomon-Otobar rooted at the club despite some up-and-down displays, even offering him a new contract after some loan spells away, but he opted to join Bulgarian titans CSKA Sofia instead in 2019 to begin his nomadic career post-Birmingham.

The former recipient of the Blues Young Player of the Season award has played in Bulgaria, Ukraine and Scotland since exiting, with a spell now out in faraway China seeing him shine.

Solomon-Otobar is now on the books of Chinese Super League side Cangzhou Mighty Lions, as the 28-year-old continues to try and rebuild his career after failing to live up to his top billing in England.

This year, in league action, Solomon-Otobar managed to amass an impressive ten goal contributions from 29 games, as the 28-year-old’s unusual career path goes on.

Rowett would never have anticipated the 5 foot 11 attacker’s playing days going this way, with Solomon-Otobar arguably now forgotten about at St. Andrew’s, rather than being remembered as another bright star from the club’s academy.

Birmingham had the original version of Bellingham but sold him for just £3m

Birmingham City sold their original version of Jude Bellingham for just £3m.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 25, 2024

Leeds United have made the perfect start to their Championship campaign this time around, sitting top of the table after the first 17 outings in 2024/25.

Daniel Farke’s side appear to have put last season’s play-off final heartbreak behind them, looking a step above the vast majority of sides in the division.

The Whites have only tasted defeat twice, against Burnley and Millwall, winning ten matches in the process, which includes a six-game run of consecutive victories at Elland Road.

Last night was no different, with goals from Joel Piroe, Sam Byram and Dan James securing yet another three points, strengthening their grip on top spot at the summit of the table.

However, their recent success has been even more impressive after their transfer window in the summer following their failure to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Leeds’ transfer window in the summer of 2024

Crysencio Summerville played a vital role in Leeds’ success last season, setting the Championship alive week in and week out with his mesmerising performances.

The 23-year-old scored 20 times whilst registering nine assists in the process, leading the club to a play-off place before their eventual defeat to Southampton at Wembley.

Given their failure to return to the top flight, coupled with his Championship Player of the Year award, it was highly unlikely he would remain in Yorkshire, joining West Ham United for a fee in the region of £25m.

He wasn’t the only star to depart Farke’s side, with fellow attacker Georginio Rutter departing to join Brighton and Hove Albion for £40m after his own run of seven goals and 15 assists – with the latter the highest of any player in the division.

Youngster Archie Gray was the third major sale that window, joining Tottenham Hotspur for around £30m after his breakthrough year, which saw him feature in a variety of roles, such as central midfielder and even right-back.

Whilst the three departures saw the club bank over £100m – a staggering figure for a second-tier side – it left huge holes all over the pitch and cast doubt over their promotion aspirations for the current campaign.

However, a portion of the money was reinvested back into the playing squad, with one of the new additions setting the Championship alight after his summer transfer.

The player who has become a bargain for Leeds

Before his summer move, very few Leeds supporters would have heard of the name Ao Tanaka, but it’s safe to say a couple of months into his spell in Yorkshire that he’s slowly becoming a fan-favourite.

The 26-year-old Japanese star joined in a £3m deal from German side Fortuna Düsseldorf over the off-season in an attempt to provide added squad depth in the midfield department.

However, injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Illia Gruev have catapulted him into the limelight, giving him the opportunity to demonstrate his skill set.

Tanaka has been one of the stars of the side so far this campaign, with analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing the talent as “one of the best signings in the Championship” this summer, with his display last night evidence of why he’s been so impressive.

During his 90-minute display in the win over Luton, he completed 114 passes – the most of any player in the division to date, and the most of any Leeds player since 2013/14, according to Opta.

He also achieved a tally of 133 touches, winning four duels and two tackles as he helped Farke’s side extend their current winning run on home soil.

The boss was full of praise for his midfielder after the final whistle, dubbing him an “unbelievable signing” – a statement hard to disagree with given his impact in the absence of two crucial first-team members.

Given his recent form for the Whites, the likes of Ampadu and Gruev will massively struggle to dislodge Tanaka from his current role, potentially holding the key to any potential success come the end of the campaign.

However, his form will undoubtedly attract major interest over the coming months, with the Japanese ace potentially becoming the next star to depart Elland Road for a mammoth fee should they fail to win promotion once more this year.

Leeds star has been the best player in England across two stats this month

The Leeds United star has been an excellent addition to Daniel Farke’s squad.

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By
Dan Emery

Nov 26, 2024

The Whites earned a crucial three points to retain their spot atop the Championship table amid a push for automatic promotion

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• Leeds defeat Millwall 2-0 in Championship action
• USMNT's Aaronson stars EFL clash
• stay atop standings with three points

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United defeated Millwall 2-0 on Wednesday, retaining their spot atop the English Championship.

  The American played all 90 minutes, putting on a brilliant midfield performance to secure all three points. A third-minute own-goal from Millwall's Jake Cooper opened the scoring before Ao Tanaka put the match to bed with an 85th-minute dagger.

  With the win, Leeds sit on 79 points in first place, while second place Sheffield trail them by two points while all 24 teams are now level on games played with 37.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 24-year-old midfielder was recently omitted from Mauricio Pochettino's March CONCACAF Nations League squad for the USMNT. The Argentine manager claimed that Aaronson was a victim of a small squad selection, but was adamant he's still someone that the national team is watching.

  "I think we have too many players for only one position and this was a possibility to provide balance," Pochettino said in a press conference.. "When you have 23 players to call in a competition for two games in a short space of time, balance is important. It's only really 20 players because you have three keepers, of course. We talk about [Brenden], but we can talk about many other players and we are disappointed we cannot call all of them. In our mind, Brenden is still a player that we consider so highly, but he'll have to wait until the next one."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Leeds fell to Millwall just over a month ago in the FA Cup, being shocked 2-0 at home at Elland Road.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LEEDS?

  The return to Championship action on Saturday against QPR. They'll look for another three points to secure their hold at the top of the Championship.

Mikel Arteta believed in the "romantic potential" of Raheem Sterling's move to Arsenal, according to a new report.

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• Sterling joined on promise of Arsenal stability
• Has not played as much as expected
• Arsenal only had to pay nominal fee

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per The Athletic, Arsenal boss Arteta believed there was a romantic potential to reuniting with Sterling, having coached the former England winger during his time at Manchester City. However, he has struggled for minutes, and has made just 10 starts in all competitions.

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  Sterling was searching for stability after also struggling for minutes at Chelsea. However, as the Gunners did not include a purchase option in the deal to sign the forward, Arteta has not been motivated to prioritise his playing time over the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Arsenal signed Sterling mainly due to the fact that he was a low-cost option, as there was no transfer fee, nor a loan fee, and the Gunners only had to pay a portion of his wages. Arteta personally pushed for the move, but he is not likely to remain in north London. Chelsea plan to move him on in the summer, although they accept his wages may prove prohibitive and whittle down the number of potential suitors who can sign him.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Arsenal play Chelsea this weekend as the Gunners look to stay in touch with runaway leaders Liverpool; the Reds are 15 points clear after Saturday's fixtures.

Manchester United have been credited with an ongoing interest in a new forward in recent months, and now a familiar name has resurfaced as Ruben Amorim looks to tune his squad to his style of play.

Amorim begins Manchester United reign

A 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town kickstarted Amorim’s Premier League tenure at Old Trafford and offered a stark reminder of just how much work was needed in Manchester.

Opting for a midfield duo of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, the pair offered little by way of mobility, while Diogo Dalot and Jonny Evans are likely to be ousted from any first-choice XI in the months to come.

Man Utd now want to sign "tough-tackling" £24k-p/w star who Amorim loves

He could be the perfect addition for the Red Devils in 2025.

By
Ben Browning

Nov 25, 2024

Up front, Marcus Rashford opened the scoring but offered little else, while neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee inspired confidence when they were introduced from the bench.

The need for a new forward is clear despite hefty investment in recent months, and United continue to be linked with a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres given his links to Amorim.

However, they also appear to be keeping a close eye on another impressive option.

Manchester United monitoring Premier League ace

A fresh report has revealed that Manchester United remain keen on signing Matheus Cunha in the transfer windows ahead.

United reportedly already held talks over signing the Brazil star in the most recent summer transfer window, but ultimately opted to sign Zirkzee – a decision that has not yet borne fruit, with the pair enjoying contrasting starts to the campaign.

Now, they have retained that interest despite signing the Netherlands international, with the report claiming that “Manchester United and Tottenham are monitoring Cunha”, who still has two and a half years left to run on his £60,000-a-week deal at Molineux.

However, they will be forced to wait before making any move for the Brazilian, with the report adding that “Wolves insist no key men will be sold in the January transfer window” as they look to battle relegation, with Cunha a star man for Gary O’Neil as he singlehandedly wins points for the Old Gold, racking up ten goal involvements thus far in the process.

Earlier this season, he was hailed by pundit Micah Richards, who explained: “His football IQ is absolutely sensational. He’s the one who can unlock the doors. He finds the little pockets of space and makes the right decisions at the right times.”

It is claimed that “Wolves are aware of interest in Cunha” but “insist no sales will happen in January” – a decision that could actually work in Manchester United’s favour given reports of their limited budget in the new year, allowing one of their targets to be pushed down the priority list until the summer when increased funds may be available.

Of course, Cunha is well-versed in playing in a back-three system, having done so in Madrid and Wolverhampton to good effect.

The 25-year-old took time to warm to the Premier League following his move from Atlético Madrid, but now appears to be developing a clinical edge that was previously missing from his game, and Wolves could be set to make a massive profit on the £45m they shelled out to bring him to the Midlands.

GOAL US writers try to make sense of the USMNT's loss to Panama, as Pochettino era suddenly era stalls with disappointing defeat

Welcome to crisis central. The USMNT had a real chance Thursday night to exorcise some recent big-game demons, beat Panama in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League and push for a fourth straight trophy in the tournament.

So much for that.

Instead, they turned in a stale attacking performance before getting hit on the break at the death and losing 1-0 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. It was a cruel, cruel moment for the USMNT, and perhaps a stark reminder that this project might take a little more time to come together than most thought

There's been plenty of finger pointing. Some have blamed Pochettino for his poor tactics and bad substitutions. Others have claimed that star man Christian Pulisic should be singled out because he didn't score five, assist one, and lead this team to a 7-1 victory. More generally, there's been an outcry for more passion, more anger, and more grit.

And there might truth to all of that. Or it might be that the USMNT just lost a game they should have won. How could this happen? And, who, exactly, is responsible? And where do they go from here? GOAL US writers debate those questions in the latest edition of … The Rondo.

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  How much of a wasted opportunity was this for the USMNT?

  Tom Hindle: In the sense that there was a semi-relevant trophy to be defended, then it means something. With the USMNT, though, every win – every performance – is about redemption and program-building. Last summer, they lost to Panama to crash out of a home Copa America. A win here would have exorcised those demons a little bit and also served as a decent barometer as to just how far they have come. Beating the team you lost to last year is, objectively, a pretty good thing to do. That's more important than any meaningless medal. It's all a bit "back to square one vibes" at least for now.

  Jacob Schneider: It was a wasted opportunity in the sense that Pochettino had the ability to win his first trophy. It was a wasted opportunity to show that Gregg Berhalter was in fact the issue, not the player pool. Now? Not so sure.

  Alex Labidou: Wasted opportunity is obvious, as the U.S. only have one competitive tournament left – the upcoming 2025 Gold Cup – before the 2026 World Cup, and will miss several players in that competition due to the Club World Cup. Look at the reactions of former USMNT players ranging from Clint Dempsey to Taylor Twellman – they're pissed. And yes, they're paid talking heads who are employed to share hot takes but there was a common thread between them all, this was an embarrassing showing. Instead of ringing in a new era led by the highest-paid coach in U.S. soccer history, the Americans were flat, uninspired, and at times very one-dimensional in their first competitive match under Pochettino. There's been a lack of buzz around this team, which has been deemed for years as the "Golden Generation," and in part, it is due to what they have shown on the pitch. The USMNT needs to be better and the concern is there's not much time to put this all together before what should be a monumental World Cup for U.S. Soccer, and the sport in this country as a whole.

  Ryan Tolmich: In one sense, you could say it isn't? The road to 2026 is about meaningful games and, while there might not be a trophy on the line, the USMNT has somehow stumbled their way right into a more meaningful game then even a Nations League finale might have been. This team is suddenly under immense pressure to perform, and failure to turn up in the third-place match against Canada on Sunday could lead to real consequences for players in this squad. That pressure is, ironically, exactly what this team needs. So in the grand scheme, this could end up working out, even if there isn't a trophy at the end.

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  How much blame does Pochettino deserve?

  TH: A little bit of blame. The first thing that needs acknowledging is that there are a lot of injury woes. A bit of pace from Antonee Robinson on the left, Yunus Musah in a more natural position, and a fit Ricardo Pepi would certainly have helped. Still, with the players at his disposal, he could have pieced things together a bit better. There were two puzzling tactical decisions here. First, having two defensive midfielders – Tanner Tessmann and Tyler Adams – was pretty baffling. You don't need to have two lads who move the ball sideways a lot against Panama. And this was a game absolutely for Gio Reyna. Low blocks are hard to break down. Reyna is the guy here who has that kind of magical final ball in him. He can't go 90? Then get him on for the last 30. Too cautious all round, and done as a result.

  JS: The 5-4-1 formation is a difficult one to play. Not sure it was the correct call, it was almost too cute. No starting fullbacks and a third-string forward surely didn’t help, but it was just lifeless. The midfield couldn’t progress. The needle was never threaded, the final pass was never made. There was no width or dynamism. Pochettino deserves critique for sure, but at some point, the players themselves need to look in the mirror and ask what they’re doing.

  AL: He gets a slight pass because he's still relatively new on the job and was missing a very important player in Robinson, who would've made a significant difference. And he's still has yet to see what he has in Johnny Cardoso or Folarin Balogun. Yet, Pochettino doesn't fully escape blame here. He went for a more cautious look with five in the back and while Josh Sargent wasn't great, the striker could make a case the system didn't give him much service. There were also some strange substitutions and tactical decisions. He was right to not have played Reyna, due to form and inconsistent playing time, but how does he explain keeping Matt Turner as starting goalkeeper? And if the USMNT needed a goal, wouldn't bringing in Diego Luna have helped in that case? He's been better form in MLS than Jack McGlynn has to start the season. This will be a valuable lesson in international management for Pochettino and hopefully, he can institute some immediate changes when the U.S. faces Canada.

  RT: He gets his share, for sure. His substitutions didn't address the primary problem: Pamana's low block. The game was crying out for a creator and Pochettino waited too long to get one in. He admitted after that Reyna and Luna were being looked at for extra time – but the U.S. never got there. Given his salary and stature, Pochettino is expected to guide this team to wins in games they would otherwise lose. He didn't do that, and his personnel decisions were at least partly to blame for the defeat.

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  Based on that performance, what is the U.S. missing?

  TH: Please, no more comments about "intensity" or "desire" or "grit" or "passion"… It's actually rather funny to see American soccer dragged down into the English rhetoric of "these lads just don't want it enough!" Of course they want to win a football match. Finding it really difficult to break down a solid defensive team without the players to do so? Have you considered merely ? No, the issue here isn't that there isn't a Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey to point and shout. The USMNT just doesn't have the right profile of player for these sorts of games. Different nations produce different kinds of footballers. Spain, traditionally, have a load of unbelievable tacticians but not much bite. England, recently, have excellent attacking midfielders, and wingers, but don't have a No. 6. The U.S. has brought in a generation of athletic, technical and hard-working footballers – Weston McKennie, Musah, Adams, Robinson, Pulisic – but doesn't have any real creators. So, this is a tactical thing. Poch has to figure out how to get around that issue, or rely on a moment of magic from someone. "Trying harder" will not solve the problem.

  JS: Actually, what's missing is leadership. Self-awareness. Grit. Anger. A sense of passion. Desire. The team lacks the traits of winners. The team lacks what makes the world’s best, well, the best.

  AL: On-the pitch leadership is a big one. This group of footballers might be the most talented collection of talent the U.S. have ever seen, but they clearly lack the grit of some of their predecessors. Let's make one thing clear: Pulisic is the greatest American club soccer player who has ever played the sport. He gets an unprecedented amount of pressure and scrutiny on a club level, but on national level, he has seemingly dodged criticism for how the U.S. have played in the last 12 months. If this was Donovan, Dempsey, Tim Howard, or Jozy Altidore, they'd almost call to it themselves. Pulisic isn't the only one – McKennie, Tim Weah also share the blame. But if Dempsey, Donovan, Howard, Carlos Bocanegra were out there, the U.S. certainly wouldn't have came out as flat as it did. Players need to take accountability.

  RT: "Intensity" was the buzzword. "Confidence" might be another. The big thing, though, is another match-winner, someone besides Pulisic that can put this team on his back and go win a game. Maybe that's Pepi or Balogun when those guys are healthy but, in this current group, no one has shown the willingness or ability to be the guy that goes out there and does what this team needs in the final third to win. It's a problem, one that has bitten this team several times. If Pulisic is off, so is everyone else. They need to find that secondary option and, if not, that's how you end up with results like this.

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  Should we stop with Golden Generation references?

  TH: Sure? Maybe? Who actually cares? It's a platitude that doesn't really mean anything, a pretty arbitrary talking point that gets no one anywhere (which is what makes it funny.) This is a generation of pretty good footballers who are more tactically intelligent and technically skillful than the ones who came beforehand. That's probably more the natural evolution of a footballing culture than a "Golden Generation." Odds are, another wave will come through, and they, too, might be better. Golden? Probably not. And it really doesn't matter.

  JS: Not sure this term is even thrown around anymore. A "Golden Generation" of footballers was 2014 Belgium. This group? They’re not at that level. This was never generation was never golden.

  AL: No. This is still the best group of talent the U.S. have ever put together. They have players who are in leading roles at AC Milan, Juventus, Fulham, Real Betis. By comparison, look at the U.S. roster from 2010. Read some of the clubs they played on – IK Start, AGF Aarhus, Watford (in the Championship at the time). In the early 2010s, it was a dream to see Americans playing in Champions League or Europa League. In 2025, that's the expectation.

  RT: That label was premature to begin with, but it's also premature to rip it away. Ultimately, this team is midway through the journey, not at the end. The moments that will define their legacy are still on in front of them. Regardless of what they have done or will do, it'll all come down to how they perform next summer at the World Cup. We can reignite this conversation then and decide, either way, if they deserve to be remembered as something better – or worse – than their predecessors.

Fulham are interested in a loan swoop for a “sensational” £80,000 star, according to a new report. The Cottagers will be looking to get back to winning ways on Thursday, as they host Brighton at Craven Cottage. Marco Silva’s side have been brushed aside by Wolves and drawn with Tottenham Hotspur in their last two league games.

Fulham now pushing to sign £30k-p/w "complete package" for Silva in January

He could be a sensational signing at Craven Cottage.

1

By
Ben Browning

Nov 25, 2024

Fulham transfer news

It has been an impressive campaign for Silva’s side so far, and January represents an opportunity for them to further strengthen their side as they try to fight for a place in the top half at the very minimum.

January is fast approaching, and Fulham are already being linked with potential new additions. One player the Cottagers are interested in signing is Evan Ferguson from Brighton, as the striker looks set to be available on a loan in the New Year. The Irish international has struggled for regular football so far, and several Premier League teams are keen on signing him on a temporary basis.

As well as Ferguson, Fulham are also interested in signing Wataru Endo from Liverpool. He is another player who has struggled to get regular minutes this season, and he seems unwanted under Arne Slot. Liverpool would be looking to get around £12-14 million for the player, as other Premier League teams also keep an eye on his situation.

But Endo is not the only midfielder on Fulham’s radar, as they have an interest in a player who could be available for a loan.

Fulham considering January swoop for Chelsea outcast

According to TBR Football, Fulham are interested in signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on loan from Chelsea in January. The 26-year-old joined the Blues in the summer transfer window, following Enzo Maresca in making the move to Stamford Bridge from the King Power Stadium.

The midfielder, who was dubbed “sensational” by Brendan Rodgers, was excellent for the Foxes last season, scoring 12 goals and recording 14 assists in 44 Championship games, as he helped Leicester City seal promotion to the Premier League. But in this 2024/25 campaign, it hasn’t been as successful for the midfielder, as he’s played just 12 games in all competitions, four of which have come in the league.

Now this report states that Fulham are among the teams interested in signing Dewsbury-Hall on loan in January. Maresca remains a big fan of the player, but his limited game time means a temporary move away could be on the cards.

Brighton and Brentford, as well as Fulham, are interested in taking Dewsbury-Hall, who earns £80,000 a week at Chelsea, on loan. However, the deal may not be straightforward to do, as Chelsea would rather keep hold of the midfielder and let other players leave the club in the New Year.

Dewsbury-Hall has yet to start a game in the league, which will be rather difficult to swallow for a player who was so vital at Leicester, but a move to Fulham could be easier to complete, as Dewsbury-Hall’s agents, Wasserman, also represent Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, potentially paving a path for smooth negotiations.