Jack Grealish has explained how angry he was at being overlooked for England's squad for this summer's Euro 2024.
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Southgate dropped Grealish for Euro 2024Was devastated after failing to make the cutHailed Carsley for reinstating him to the groupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Grealish's omission was a significant talking point prior to the tournament, with many fans and pundits expressing surprise over Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave out the playmaker. The Manchester City star has now admitted that his form at club during the 2023/24 season wasn’t up to his usual standards. However, he argued that a team requires balance in every position and believed his experience and achievements warranted his inclusion in the squad.
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"I'll be honest with you – I didn't really agree with it,” Grealish said of Southgate's decision during an interview with
"You need a bit of a balance in every position on the pitch and I class myself [as] quite an experienced player now. I have won a lot of stuff now so, you asked me should I have gone, yes, I still think I should have, but obviously it wasn't meant to be."
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Since the conclusion of Euro 2024, Grealish has been given a second chance to prove himself on the international stage under the leadership of interim manager Lee Carsley. Grealish repaid the trust by scoring in a 2-0 victory against the Republic of Ireland.
When asked if he had a point to prove upon his return, Grealish said: "Of course, I wanted to come here and train well and play well. I thank the manager Lee Carsley for giving me that chance and having that trust in me. It obviously really meant a lot, I think throughout my career when I have played under managers who have shown trust in me and communicated with me the way he has the last two camps, it really helps me. It makes me feel that the manager really does rate me and I can't speak highly enough of him since I have been here."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH?
Looking ahead, Grealish will hope to maintain his place in the England squad and continue to build on his form. With matches against Greece and Finland scheduled this week, he is determined to prove his worth once again and inspire the Three Lions to more victories.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have three players representing them at Euro 2024 who will all be hoping to perform to as high of a level as what they managed to hit in the 2023/24 season with their club side. Gary O’Neil’s side finished 14th in the Premier League last campaign, an impressive placement in his first season in charge.
The trio of his players at the Euros are representatives of Portugal; namely, they are Jose Sa, Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo. Only two of those three have featured so far, with Jose Sa yet to make an appearance. It seems unlikely the goalkeeper will displace Diogo Costa from the starting lineup after his penalty heroics, barring injury.
Neto has featured in three out of Portugal’s four games so far, missing the round of 16 win over Slovenia. He started their final group game against Georgia, playing 75 minutes, and had 45 minutes off the bench in the second game. Semedo has yet to start but has played in all of his country’s games so far.
However, come the end of summer, the Midlands side may well be able to boast a fourth player in their squad who played at Euro 2024, following links to one of the tournament’s breakout stars.
Wolves target Euros sensation
The player in question here is Fenerbache and Turkey left-back Ferdi Kadioglu. The 24-year-old has impressed as his country reached the quarter-finals in Germany, where they will face the Netherlands, and he is now linked with a move away from the club this summer.
According to a report from Turkish news outlet Milat Gazetesi, Wolves are one club who are interested in signing the exciting left-back over the summer transfer window. The article explains that Wolves are one of the sides who are 'closely following' Kadioglu, and could look to sign him this summer.
Ferdi Kadiolgu for Fenerbahce.
However, they will face major competition from elsewhere in the Premier League and the rest of Europe. The report states that London trio Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham are interested in signing the left-back, with competition coming from Germany in the form of Borussia Dortmund, Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen, and Spain with Atletico Madrid and Valencia also interested.
In terms of a price, Fenerbache will not accept any offers below £35m, after previously asking Dortmund for such a fee previously. The German giants bid £25m, but that was an offer turned down by the Turkish club.
Why Kadioglu would be a good signing
There is no doubt that Kadioglu has been a standout player in Turkey’s impressive Euro 2024 run so far. He has played 90 minutes in each of their four games, playing as a flying left-wing back who has impressed defensively and in the final third.
Against Austria in his side’s round of 16 victory, he was given a 7/10 for his performance by GIVEMESPORT. He was given plenty of praise, with one analyst – Ben Mattinson – hailing him as a "total footballer" for his display against Ralf Rangnick's team.
Should Wolves sign Kadioglu, he could be the ideal replacement for Rayan Ait-Nouri, who seems set to leave Wolves this summer. According to reports, Liverpool are thought to be keen admirers of the left-back.
In terms of pure goals and assists numbers, Kadioglu scored three times and registered five assists in 51 games, respectable numbers from left-back. Ait-Nouri played fewer games, just 38, and only scored one goal and registered two assists.
The Turkey international also puts up better creative numbers as per FBref, averaging 8.83 progressive passes per 90 minutes which ranks him in the top 1% of positional peers in leagues similar to the Turkish top-flight. He also averages 1.38 key passes, which ranks him in the top 17%. In contrast, as per Fbref, Ait-Nouri averages just 3.83 progressive passes and 0.97 key passes.
Rayan Ait-Nouri up against West Ham's Jarrod Bowen.
The Fenerbahce defender is also a wonderful ball-carrier, as he has shown in Euro 2024. Kadioglu averages 5.19 progressive carries and 3.98 carries into the final third, both of which place him in the top 1%. In contrast, the Algerian averages just 2.59 progressive carries and 1.85 carries into the final third per 90.
Progressive passes
8.83
3.83
Key passes
1.38
0.97
Passes into penalty area
2.60
0.50
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2.59
Take-ons attempted
2.77
4.44
Take-ons completed
2.08
2.40
Carries into final third
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1.85
Both players are of a very similar profile; that is to say, fast, flying wingbacks who are able to contribute in the final third whilst also being excellent defensively. Kadiolgu’s 7.44 ball recoveries are slightly better than the 5.26 ball recoveries per 90 of Ait-Nouri.
It certainly seems like a deal Wolves should pursue if they sell their star man. They would be able to add a like-for-like replacement to their squad, whilst keeping a profile that O’Neil would be able to effectively utilise in his system. For a fee of around £35m, it could be a superb investment for Wolves.
Wolves want ÂŁ30m Neto replacement who "looks like a PL star"
He was one of the best players in his division last season
D’Arcy Short has been called up as a replacement for Warner
Daniel Brettig30-Nov-2020David Warner is in an 18-day race to be fit in time for the opening Test of the summer against India, after he was formally ruled out of the remainder of the white-ball matches and replaced in the squad by D’Arcy Short, while Australia’s vice-captain Pat Cummins is also to be spelled until the opening long-from game at Adelaide Oval from December 17.The groin/adductor tear Warner suffered while fielding against India on Sunday night at the SCG has not been ruled serious enough to remove him from calculations for the start of the Test series, although he will need to make a rapid recovery given the short turnaround time.Former Cricket Australia team doctor Peter Brukner suggested* that in his experience, similar injuries were likely to take between four and six weeks to heal, and said that Warner would be more likely to be fit in time for the second Test at the MCG on Boxing Day than the first.”It certainly seemed to be a significant injury, what we’d call a grade two, the fact he’s not having surgery indicates he hasn’t torn it off the bone or anything like that, but it was clearly more than a grade one and traditionally we’d say that was a four to six week injury if you’re looking at a footballer, hopefully closer to four than to six,” Brukner told SEN Radio. “It’s 18 days between yesterday and the start of the first Test, so that’s cutting it pretty fine.”Probably the odds are that he’s not going to make it, but knowing Davey he’ll give it a good crack and he’s in superb shape and he’ll do everything possible, he’ll be very well looked after by the physios, David Beakley and his group. So I think he’s a chance but probably the odds are against him playing the first Test – second Test should be fine, much more realistic.”Australia’s opening two victories over India made it patently clear how valuable Warner is as a top order batsman in home conditions, forming a platform against the new ball but also scoring freely and setting up an innings for the likes of Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Australia’s’ coach Justin Langer said Warner’s timely return would be pivotal to the Test team’s fortunes, in addition to giving Cummins some time off following his IPL stint and lengthy quarantine.ALSO WATCH: David Warner run out by direct hit (Indian subcontinent only)”Pat and Davey are critical to our plans for the Test Series,” Langer said. “Davey will work through his injury rehab and in Pat’s case it is important all of our players are managed well to keep them mentally and physically fit throughout what is a challenging summer. The priority for both is being fully prepared for one of the biggest and most important home Test Series we have played in recent years, especially with World Test Championship points up for grabs.”Labuschagne said that Australia needed to adapt to a scenario where they would be missing Warner for at least four matches, but he expected the super-fit 33-year-old to make his return for the Test series.”He’s been a massive part of us winning this series and it’s not great that we’ve lost him, but like anything it provides an opportunity for someone else to step up in the top order and make runs,” Labuschagne said. “It’s unfortunately how the game works, there’s always an opportunity for someone else when something like that happens. We hope Davey gets a speedy recovery and he’s back as soon as we can get him. He’s a very strong character and he’ll be back.”I hope he’s back for the Test series, but I’m not a physio or a doctor, so I think for us it’s just about being able to adapt. We need to make sure we adapt for this last one-dayer and then if he’s not available it provides an opportunity for someone else to step up. That’s how we have to play it.”Short had been on standby in Sydney in the event of injury, and comes into the team with the benefit of a couple of Sheffield Shield appearances for Western Australia earlier in the season. It remains to be seen whether he slots straight in opposite Aaron Finch at the top of the order, or the selectors shuffle around their other available options, including that of Matthew Wade.The uncertainty around Warner’s fitness adds further intrigue to debate around the opening spots in the Test team, as the incumbent Joe Burns and the aspiring talent of Will Pucovski wait in hope of chances to wear the baggy green this summer. Labuschagne said that Burns was capable of stepping up to play a more senior role should Warner be absent.”Joe’s averaging 40 in Test cricket so he’s certainly established and he’s got four Test hundreds, so he’s a very good player,” Labuschagne said. “Although he hasn’t made the runs in Shield cricket he would’ve liked, he got 99 [97] against Pakistan in the first Test last summer and he negotiated through that new ball period almost every time.”So he’s not far away from a couple of really big scores and I think if he was to step up into that senior opener role, 100% I think he’s that sort of player that can step up if the team really needs it.”Meanwhile, allrounder Mitchell Marsh will not join the Australia A squad for the matches against India as he continues his recovery from the ankle injury sustained at the IPL. He will now target a return in the BBL with the Perth Scorchers.
San Diego FC are due to play LA Galaxy in their first fixture at the start of the 2025 season, as they become the league's 30th club
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San Diego FC will travel north to face LA Galaxy in first gameWill host St. Louis CITY after in inaugural home fixtureSDFC have signed Chucky Lozano as first designated playerGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
The opening two games of San Diego FC's first ever schedule have been revealed early, with the expansion franchise set to play twice in their home state within the first week of the campaign, MLS announced in a release. They will travel to 2024 MLS Cup hopefuls LA Galaxy to open their first season, before hosting St. Louis CITY – the last team added to MLS prior to San Diego's arrival.
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San Diego has steadily fleshed out its roster ahead of a 2025 kickoff. They signed a duo of players from the Danish top flight in Marcus Ingvartsen and Jeppe Tverskov. Their biggest move to date, though, has been the arrival of Mexican star Lozano, who will leave PSV in January and make an MLS move.
The expansion franchise will play their home games at Snapdragon Stadium, a 35,000-seater soccer specific ground – shared with the San Diego State Aztecs and NWSL side San Diego Wave.
DID YOU KNOW?
San Diego hired former USMNT interim boss Mikey Varas as their first head coach, they announced last month. Varas spent three years with first the U-20s and then the National Team, and served as an assistant coach for FC Dallas from 2019-2021.
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@sandiegofcWHAT NEXT FOR SAN DIEGO FC?
The new franchise will continue to flesh out their roster in the coming months. San Diego's full schedule will be released in December.
Manchester City are reportedly considering Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim as their new manager to succeed Pep Guardiola in 2025.
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Guardiola's future hangs in balanceMan City preparing for life without the SpaniardAmorim has emerged as a potential candidateFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Guardiola, who has been at the helm of Manchester City since 2016, has been instrumental in delivering unprecedented success to the club including a historic Treble in the 2022-23 season. But the manager's future remains uncertain and the man himself has stated that "anything can happen", leaving the door open to both extending his stay or moving on.
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According to , the club’s hierarchy is already working behind the scenes to recruit a worthy successor and have set their sights on Amorim, who has already been on the radar of top European clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool. A significant factor in City’s interest in Amorim is his close relationship with Hugo Viana at Sporting, who is set to join the club as director of football after taking over the reins from Txiki Begiristain. With Viana overseeing recruitment Amorim would be a logical choice for the managerial role, should Guardiola decide to step down.
DID YOU KNOW?
Guardiola’s future could be complicated by the looming shadow of financial sanctions. City are currently facing 115 alleged breaches related to financial misconduct, and there is a possibility of severe punishments, including expulsion from the Premier League. The uncertainty surrounding these charges adds another layer of complexity to Guardiola’s decision on whether to extend his contract or move on at the end of the 2024-25 season.
However, if Guardiola leaves City, he will not take the England job, with Thomas Tuchel the FA's pick to step into the hot-seat.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
Amorim's managerial career has been defined by his tactical acumen and ability to develop young talent. His success at Sporting Lisbon, where he has secured two Portuguese league titles, makes him a favoured candidate for the post. A new era could possibly be on the horizon if Amorim indeed goes on to succeed Guardiola.
Like every Premier League club, Newcastle United discovered their fate for the new season last Tuesday, with the announcement of the fixtures ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Eddie Howe and his side will be hoping for a better campaign than the most recent, which ended with heartbreak following the final domestic game.
Manchester United’s FA Cup final victory had a major knock-on effect for the Magpies. The Red Devils’ win over Manchester City sealed their qualification for the Europa League in 2024/25, knocking Chelsea down to the Europa Conference League, and Newcastle out of Europe competitions altogether. Thus, finishing in seventh, a place that usually comes with continental qualification, was in vain.
Newcastle begin the season hosting newly promoted Southampton at St James’ Park, before making one of the Premier League’s longest away trips, to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth. To round off August, the Toon will host Tottenham Hotspur in what will be an exciting crunch clash.
In their quest to return to European competition next season, Newcastle will no doubt dip into the transfer market to add to their squad, They have recently been linked with one player who could bring depth and quality to their midfield.
Newcastle target midfielder
The player in question here is Southampton‘s Argentine midfielder Carlos Alcaraz. The 21-year-old was a key player for Southampton during the first half of last season as they quested for promotion, before making a loan move to Italian giants Juventus for the second half of the campaign.
According to a report from Mirko Di Natale, an Italian journalist, Newcastle are one of the clubs who are interested in signing the Argentine ahead of the new season. Di Natale claims that the Magpies and Ange Postecioglou’s Spurs side have “asked Southampton for information” on the young midfielder.
Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
This interest comes after Juve’s apparent reluctance to complete a deal permanently to sign the young midfielder. The Old Lady did have an optional buy clause in the loan deal, worth £40m, but they do not seem likely to keep the 21-year-old in Turin beyond the expiration of his loan deal.
This has opened the door for a move by both Newcastle and Spurs. The price they would have to pay is unclear at this time, but it could well be along the same lines as Juve’s buy clause. However, according to Football Observatory, the value of the youngster is considerably less, at just £16.9m.
Why Alcaraz would be a good signing
Alcaraz was a very important player for Southampton last season before he made the loan switch to Turin. Saints manager Russell Martin used him 23 times, with the Argentine chipping in with three goals and an assist.
At Juve, he played just ten times after suffering from a slight hamstring issue, and registered one assist along the way. Scout Antonio Mango described him as "special" in 2023, and it is clear to see why.
One of the most valuable things about Alcaraz is his versatility. Last season, across all competitions with the Saints and Juve, the 21-year-old featured in six different positions, in games in which he played 45 minutes or more. However, Kulig described the midfielder as an “advanced playmaker”, suggesting this is his best role.
Central midfield
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3
Centre forward
6
1
Attacking midfielder
4
1
Right winger
2
1
Right midfielder
1
1
Defensive midfielder
1
0
Should the Magpies get this deal over the line, Alcaraz could form an excellent midfield partnership with Newcastle’s talismanic midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
The 26-year-old Brazilian has been linked with a move away from the club constantly this summer, but his release clause of £100m has now expired, as per Fabrizio Romano, increasing his chances of staying at St James’ Park.
The pair complement each other fairly well, with Alcaraz being a wonderful ball carrier, who can operate higher up, and Guimaraes in a slightly deeper role, looking to thread through balls and progress the play, which the stats demonstrate. In all, they would form a good pairing in midfield.
kalvin-phillips-bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-opinion
As per Fbref, Alcaraz averages 2.06 progressive carries per 90 minutes, and 2.48 carries into the final third per 90. Whilst Guimaraes is still a great ball carrier, averaging 1.79 progressive carries, his progressive passing stats are slightly better than Alcaraz's numbers.
The Brazilian averages 7.80 progressive passes per 90, which is a fair amount more than the Argentine, who plays an average of 6.36 progressive passes. Creatively, the 26-year-old also excels, although not by much, averaging 1.71 key passes per 90 compared to 1.15 from Alcaraz.
Southampton midfielder Charly Alcaraz.
The issue with this pairing would perhaps come defensively. Neither are natural sitting midfielders, with both preferring to operate as number eights, or higher in Alcaraz’s case. Instead, they might be better off with a defensive midfielder behind them, who can do the dirty work as the duo look to get forward.
However, they are still good off the ball, with Alcaraz averaging 2.79 tackles and interceptions and 4.67 ball recoveries per 90, and Guimaraes averaging slightly more, with 3.39 tackles and interceptions and 6.53 ball recoveries.
douglas-luiz-bruno-guimaraes-liverpool-opinion
Should Howe’s side bring in a natural number six, it could help this midfield partnership flourish, giving them less defensive responsibility. Whilst Alcaraz and Guimaraes are not bad defenders, they will play their best football further forward and with less to worry about from a defensive point of view.
Signing Alcaraz would be an astute piece of business from Newcastle. They would be bringing in a versatile player who is a wonderful ball carrier and can work well with Guimaraes in midfield. For a fee of around £40m, it would be an excellent way to strengthen their squad as they look to secure a return to European football and target silverware in the 2024/25 season.
Newcastle can take Guimaraes to the next level by signing ÂŁ34m "monster"
The Magpies are fighting Chelsea and Tottenham for this fast-rising talent.
Batsman will join club after Christmas, following conclusion of England tour of South Africa
Matt Roller05-Nov-2020Sam Billings has become the latest Englishman to be confirmed as an overseas player in this season’s Big Bash League after signing for Sydney Thunder.Billings is the Thunder’s third overseas signing after Alex Hales and Adam Milne, but will not be available until after Christmas following his inclusion in England’s white-ball squads to tour South Africa, and with a mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon arrival in Australia.He has had two previous stints in the competition, both at cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers, and becomes the ninth Englishman to have their involvement confirmed after Hales, Tom Banton, Lewis Gregory (Brisbane Heat), Dawid Malan (Hobart Hurricanes), Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone (Perth Scorchers), Tom Curran and James Vince (Sydney Sixers).With seven of those players – Hales and Vince are the exceptions – involved in the South Africa tour, several clubs are looking for short-term replacement players, with Will Jacks (Hurricanes), Dan Lawrence (Heat) and Joe Clarke (Scorchers) understood to have been lined up. Melbourne Stars are also understood to have a deal in place with Jonny Bairstow following the South Africa tour.ALSO READ: BBL clubs face juggling act around quarantined England playersBillings fills a long-standing gap in the Thunder side through his ability to keep wicket. Last season, duties behind the stumps were split between Matthew Gilkes and Jay Lenton, with neither nailing down a spot, and aside from Jos Buttler during two stints as an overseas player, the only wicketkeeper to have scored 100 runs in a BBL season for the Thunder is Ryan Carters back in 2012-13.Unlike many of his international team-mates, Billings also prefers to bat in the middle order than at the top, which Shane Bond, the Thunder’s head coach, said was a key reason he had been signed. When the Thunder are at full strength, he will slot into a batting line-up featuring Hales, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Alex Ross and new signing Ben Cutting.”It’s not easy to get someone who wants to be a middle-order batter, but he wants to do that for us,” Bond said. “And I know he wants to continue to do that role for England – and that offers so much to our team.”ALSO READ: Billings targets England finisher role as top-order options overflowBillings enjoyed a breakthrough summer in England’s white-ball teams, first impressing in the ODI series against Ireland before scoring a maiden hundred against Australia at Old Trafford in September.”Coming to the Big Bash after [batting consistently] against Australia’s finest is a big confidence booster,” he said. “You don’t take anything for granted, but to have that behind you definitely helps… it was something I was very proud of, and it’s definitely one of my best summers of cricket.”Billings also said that he felt a connection to the club, having played grade cricket for Penrith in the west of the city in 2013-14. “They represent Western Sydney and, having played club cricket for Penrith, I know the area fantastically well,” he said. “I still have a lot of very good friends from my time there.”Something I do know about Western Sydney is the ‘togetherness’ of the group. That’s something I picked up on, and it was something Jos Buttler, who played for Thunder, mentioned as well; that the people get stuck in for each other. With that in mind, I’m very happy to be on board with Sydney Thunder.”The BBL’s schedule was released on Thursday, with Tasmania and Canberra hosting the first batch of games from December 10.
Arsenal are ready to accept bids for a £120,000-per-week player this summer after a decision by manager Mikel Arteta.
Players who could be sold by Arsenal this summer
Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga appears likely to be one of the first Arsenal departures of this summer window, coming soon after Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares left the Emirates after their contracts expired.
Edu plans move to sign ex-Gunner with ÂŁ50m Arsenal ace tipped to quit
The Gunners are ready to move.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 9, 2024
Sevilla have agreed personal terms with Lokonga, and talks are believed to be advancing with Arsenal over an initial loan deal. Young striker Mika Biereth also completed his move to Sturm Graz on Monday, with Arsenal announcing the 21-year-old's return to Austria on a permanent deal.
Other players who could be sold by Arsenal this summer are Emile Smith Rowe, Thomas Partey, Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah and Nuno Tavares, as sporting director Edu looks to bolster the club's transfer kitty and trim their wage bill.
Bukayo Saka
7.67
Declan Rice
7.38
Martin Odegaard
7.37
Kai Havertz
7.16
Gabriel Magalhaes
6.99
via WhoScored
Ramsdale is tipped to be destined for the Arsenal exit door, with David Raya taking his number one spot last season, while Partey has entered the final 12 months of his contract amid reported interest from Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Uncertainty also surrounds the future of left-back Kieran Tierney, after the Scotland international spent 2023/24 on loan at Real Sociedad. Tierney has Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko to compete with for the left-back slot, and the potential arrival of Bologna star Riccardo Calafiori could push him even further down the pecking order.
Tomiyasu and Kiwior can be deployed at left-back when required, while Calafiori is also capable of playing that role. Tierney's time at Arsenal could be coming to a close sooner rather than later, with the 27-year-old also suffering his fair share of injury problems.
Arsenal ready to accept Tierney bids after Arteta decision
According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Arsenal are ready to accept bids for Tierney, with Arteta deciding that the £120,000-per-week defender is not in his plans moving forward.
The former Celtic star has made 124 appearances in all competitions since making the move to London from Glasgow in 2019, but despite his obvious quality in flashes, Tierney's fitness problems have really hindered his place under Arteta.
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.
"He has been solid," said Ashley Cole on Sky Sports, via Metro, in 2021.
"I think he would have liked to see more game time, he’s had a few injuries that hampered his season. When he’s in the team, they are a different team, he’s willing to defend, he’s that kind of leader and warrior they need in this team.
"There were those questions marks over him and his ability to come from Scottish football and adapt to the Premier League. But I think he’s adapted very well.
"He’s got those leadership qualities which are needed along with the younger players in there."
Gabriel Agbonlahor has revealed new Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim declined offers for a pint while they were on the same coaching course.
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Agbonlahor discusses what Amorim was like on coaching courseEx-Villa striker names other iconic players they rubbed shoulders withNew Man Utd boss 'had an aura'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Agbonlahor, who scored 85 goals for Aston Villa between 2006 and 2018, said that throughout the coaching course, Amorim was there to learn, and would rarely "be seen after 8pm, when the course finished".
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Amorim was on the fast-track coaching course after he was suspended from his managerial post at Casa Pia, where it was discovered he did not have advanced enough qualifications to be managing in Portugal's third tier. According to Agbonlahor, he was "desperate for qualifications", and said that when it came to setting up coaching drills, Amorim turned up completely prepared.
On the coaching course with Amorim and Agbonlahor were a host of former Premier League players, including Lee Cattermole, Craig Gardner, Benjani and Chris Samba. While the Ex-Villa forward and his fellow Premier League pals went to a nearby Irish pub for a pint once their studying was finished, Amorim had a tendency to stay away, with learning the only thing on his mind.
AFPWHAT AGBONLAHOR SAID
Speaking on , Agbonlahor said: "He (Amorim) was so into it in a way of, like, he just had to get his badges to then go and start managing. In the coaching sessions, you get all the players, and there are some kids from Belfast academy's who come over, and he was very focused."
Agbonlahor then proceeded to praise Amorim's coaching methods, saying: "Since the start of last season Sporting Lisbon have scored the most goals in the top six leagues, 129 goals. They were waiting 19 years to win a title, he goes there and he's won two in the last five seasons. And he was at Braga for just two months before Sporting paid €10m for him, the fourth highest fee for a manager of all time."
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WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM & AGBONLAHOR?
With his future at Manchester United now confirmed, Ruben Amorim now has two games in which to say his goodbye's to the Sporting CP faithful. The first sees them pitched against his future rivals Manchester City in the Champions League, before his final game in charge see's them face Braga, the club from which Sporting brought him from in the first place. It is a rather poetic ending for Amorim, who leaves with a superb legacy at the club.
For Agbonlahor, many are now waiting to see if he utilises his coaching qualification, but it seems unlikely. Increasingly involved in punditry, Agbonlahor also described the coaching course as "very much a box-ticking thing".
“If we look at the way our innings was progressing, we were in a comfortable position till I got out”
Sidharth Monga09-Jan-20212:11
Chopra: Pujara’s back leg movement a ‘flaw’ causing dismissals against Cummins
Cheteshwar Pujara has refused to get drawn into any debate around his scoring rate, after receiving criticism from commentators, pundits and fans alike for his slow half-century which put too much pressure on those batting around him.Pujara said the difference between the sides was Australia’s accurate and relentless bowling while India had an inexperienced attack that couldn’t maintain the same discipline.Related
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World-class Pat Cummins decisively swings odds Australia's way
Pat Cummins, Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne put India on the back foot
Pujara scored 50 runs in 175 balls, but despite batting only six overs fewer than Australia, India fell behind the hosts’ first-innings total by 94 runs. Pujara’s pace in Tests has often sparked debate, with a suggestion that batting the way he does puts the rest of the side under pressure. Pujara was asked if he could have played more horizontal bat shots – on a day when Ajinkya Rahane got out trying to play one and Rishabh Pant badly injured his elbow playing another – to transfer some pressure back on to the bowlers.”I thought they bowled good lines and lengths, they had a fair idea of this pitch,” Pujara said. “I think we should give credit to the way they bowled. I felt that they didn’t give too many loose balls. If you look at our bowling line-up, there are guys playing their first and second Test match. So there are learning. They will get better. We are slightly inexperienced, but I think they will get better day by day. It is a good opportunity for them to learn and get better at what they are doing. I am sure they will learn from this.”Cheteshwar Pujara plays a defensive shot during his 176-ball innings•Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesPujara was again asked if during lunch he was given any advice from the team management to try and up the pace, but he avoided a direct answer.”If we look at the way our innings was progressing, we were in a comfortable position till I got out,” he said. “I think we were 180 for 4 [at one point] and we were doing well. So things turned around when Rishabh and I got out. Then we didn’t score many after that. I thought losing Rishabh was a turnaround. If we had another partnership there, we would have definitely put on a decent total on the board. Our aim was to get 330-340 but yes we missed out. Losing Ajinkya Rahane early was a big blow, but we recovered from there and there was a good partnership with Rishabh.”Pujara himself got an unplayable delivery from Pat Cummins, which he felt was the ball of the series.”I think that was the best ball of the series,” Pujara said. “I felt I couldn’t have done anything better even if I was batting on a hundred or a double-hundred. I don’t think I could have survived that particular ball, which kicked off back of a length. I had to play that ball. And there was extra bounce. It was just one ball that was really good. To be honest I couldn’t get away with that. You just have to accept it.”Cummins has now got Pujara out four times in the series for just 19 runs off 129 deliveries. “Pat Cummins has been bowling well throughout the series,” Pujara said. “He is ranked No. 1 at the moment. He is proving that. Again and again he is coming hard at us. Bowling the right areas. You have to give credit to the way he is bowling.”You hope that at some point he will make an error and as a batting unit we will get through this. I am very confident it is a matter of time. We have been batting well in patches. It is about collective effort from the batting unit. If all of us come together, we have a good chance of doing well. As a batting unit we are confident but credit goes to the way the Aussies bowled today.”