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Aston Villa could be close to sealing their second signing of the January transfer window as they have submitted another bid for a talented Championship starlet…

Aston Villa’s search for new signings

Unai Emery secured his first deal of the winter window by sealing a move for defender Kosta Nedeljkovic from Red Star Belgrade, yet he will remain with the club until joining up with Villa in the summer.

This means the Spaniard has not actually signed anyone as yet who will bolster his first-team squad between now and the end of the season.

This could change between now and Thursday, however, as David Ornstein has given an update on their chase for Middlesbrough forward Morgan Rogers.

The journalist said: “Aston Villa submit improved third offer to Middlesbrough for Morgan Rogers.

“Latest proposal worth in region of £15m including add-ons. No agreement with #Boro so far but negotiations ongoing + #AVFC hopeful of closing deal early next week.”

Could the Midlands outfit finally get the player they have been chasing for the previous few weeks? It looks like a deal could go through before deadline day on Thursday.

Emery could certainly form a frightening duo with him and Moussa Diaby on either flank as they would help ease the pressure on Ollie Watkins for goals.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star

It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 11, 2024

Why Morgan Rogers could benefit Diaby

Diaby arrived for a club record fee of £51.9m last summer, yet he has not quite lived up to those high expectations yet.

The Frenchman has registered 11 goal contributions in 30 matches for the club, but once he really settles down, there is no doubt he could start replicating the form he displayed for Bayer Leverkusen over the previous few years.

His favoured position is on the right wing and with Rogers operating on the left flank for Boro on a regular basis, the duo could be devastating together.

The 21-year-old has scored seven goals and grabbed nine assists in 33 matches this term, but it is not just his effectiveness in front of goal which would make him a good signing for Emery.

The youngster currently ranks second among the squad for big chances created (11), along with ranking fourth for key passes per game (1.4) and for successful dribbles per game (one), clearly indicating his desire to burst into the final third and create opportunities for his teammates. It's those attributes that could well be game-changing for both Diaby and Watkins in Villa's attack.

Rogers was previously dubbed “outstanding” by his former boss Michael Appleton during his loan spell at Lincoln City in 2021, and it is safe to say he has developed into a wonderful talent who could well be ready for the rigours of Premier League football.

While Rogers may not be a big name as such, the fact that he will only cost Villa £15m could prove to be a wise move by Emery as he keeps some funds for bigger signings in the summer.

The current Boro star could thrive in the top flight should he be given regular opportunities and a duo of him and Diaby on either wing may lead to the club ending their 28-year-trophy drought this term.

Tickets to watch Cristiano Ronaldo train for Portugal ahead of Euro 2024's opening fixtures are on sale for the eye-watering price of €800.

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• Fans can watch Ronaldo in open training
• Tickets on sale for exorbitant prices
• Portugal start Euro 2024 on Tuesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Portugal are preparing for Euro 2024 and will face Czechia, Turkey, and Georgia in their group. Before that, on Friday, there will be an open training session, for which there were 6,000 free tickets allocated. Per ESPN, they are now being resold at immense cost.

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  On the German ticketing website, kleinanzeigen, tickets are being advertised for as much as €800 (£674/$860). Ronaldo, of course, may be playing in his final ever international tournament at the age of 39, and it appears that supporters are desperate to get a final glimpse of the Al-Nassr star.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo has played in six European Championships, stretching back to 2004. He won the tournament in 2016, and in 25 games, he has scored 14 goals and registered nine assists.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Portugal's open training session will be attended by fans who have some lighter wallets. After that, Portugal kick off their tournament next week against Czechia.

USMNT star Josh Sargent has revealed how long he has been nursing the ankle problem that has forced him to undergo surgery and take regular rests.

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• Forward starred for Canaries in 2023-24
• Missed four months through fitness issues
• Now chasing down Copa America glory

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 24-year-old frontman has just enjoyed the most productive campaign of his career in front of goal – with 16 efforts recorded for Norwich in their bid to secure promotion back into the Premier League. That haul was achieved despite sitting out four months through injury.

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• WHAT SARGENT SAID

  Sargent is now in the United States’ squad for a Copa America on home soil and has told the podcast of how he is managing fitness issues that have been troubling him since late 2022: “It is feeling good at the moment. It is kind of a day-by-day thing. I have been training with the guys the past couple of days and everything is going well. Hopefully it stays that way. For a while now, pretty much ever since the World Cup it is that balance to push the ankle or rest it. That has been a lot of talking with my club and national team. I am doing everything I can. After a big operation there are bound to be little things that aggravate the ankle. I didn’t know how it would be coming to the friendlies. It didn’t feel great but I put in a lot of work with the physios. Gregg [Berhalter] has put his faith in me to pull this around and get some minutes in this tournament and do well.”

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  The USMNT are confident of holding their own in Copa America competition, with Sargent adding on collective ambition following a 5-1 friendly defeat to Colombia and 1-1 draw with Brazil: “I don’t know what went on in the Colombia game but it was day and night with Brazil in terms of our approach and mentality. That is the real US and we know in a tournament like this we all have to be dialled in and at our absolute best.

  "This is a big moment and we need to show that grit and firepower and stick together as a team if we want to have a chance to win this thing. We want people to know that we have a lot of good young players coming up with the passion to play for that crest, and hopefully we represent that. As a group we have talked about it and when you go into a tournament the goal is to win it. But we know there are some of the best teams in the world. We might not have as many skilful players but as a team we can be better.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

  The United States will get their Copa America campaign up and running at AT&T Stadium against Bolivia on Sunday. A positive result in that contest will set them up for further Group C outings against Panama and Uruguay.

The importance of Liverpool's season went up a level or two when Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season after almost a decade in charge. Whilst those on the pitch attempt to end his tenure on the ultimate high, FSG have reportedly identified their top target, who has impressed Sky Sports pundit and former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Next Liverpool manager

Following in the footsteps of Klopp will undoubtedly be one of the toughest tasks in European football next season, handing those at Anfield with a crucial decision to make. Already, the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso have been mentioned as potential candidates, with all three possessing quality in their own right.

According to the latest reports though, Liverpool have made contact with Alonso and see the Bayer Leverkusen boss as their number one target. The Spaniard has impressed in Germany, taking Leverkusen to the summit of the Bundesliga and becoming only the second side in German football history to go 30 games unbeaten in all competitions.

With that said, it's no surprise that Robinson has been left impressed, telling Football Insider: “He should get the opportunity. Xabi Alonso has proved he is a quality manager. But for me, they’re huge shoes to fill.

"What Jurgen Klopp has done at Liverpool with the trophies he’s won is incredible. For the next man in, it’s a really difficult task. I wouldn’t want to be the next manager in, I’d want to be the one after him! The manager who replaces Klopp – it’s almost an impossible task.

“If you don’t pick up the baton and win trophies, it’ll be a problem. But the one after him – that’s the job you want because to follow someone of Klopp’s quality would be so hard.

“The way Klopp is held in such high regard by players and staff – for anyone to come in and even come close to that is going to take something crazy. But Alonso could be the man to carry on the mantle.”

"Quality" Alonso has earned Liverpool chance

A manager who has been moulded by the hands of Pep Guardiola, Rafael Benitez and Carlo Ancelotti throughout his career, it's no surprise that Alonso has paved the course to becoming a top manager. His record at Leverkusen speaks for itself, as he sets out to complete the task that not many have managed in modern-day Bundesliga history by beating Bayern Munich to the title.

Whilst it is still early days in his managerial career, Alonso's link as a Liverpool icon and his blistering tenure so far at Leverkusen makes him the ideal candidate to replace Klopp at the end of the season.

Liverpool are flying under Jurgen Klopp's managerial acumen this season but the players know that the German's reign is drawing to a close, having announced his decision to step down later this year.

Trophies have been won from all angles over the duration of Klopp's tutelage but he has admitted that he is "running out of energy" and FSG now have an onerous task of replacing an irreplaceable figure.

Nonetheless, the Reds are in a superb position and boast a squad brimming with talent, and if the right manager is brought in, Liverpool 2.0 will enjoy silver-laden success for years to come.

Liverpool's manager shortlist

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso and Italian Roberto De Zerbi are considered the frontrunners at this early stage but Liverpool have mapped out more than just two options to succeed Klopp.

Ruben Amorim, leading Portuguese table-toppers Sporting Lisbon, is also on the radar though according to Record – via TEAMtalk – the 39-year-old will not enter discussions with the Anfield side until the end of the season.

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Amorim is also understood to have a €20m (£17m) release clause in his contract that Liverpool will need to meet to prise him away from the José Alvalade Stadium.

The perfect manager for Trent

While that release clause is rather lofty, FSG will be hellbent on securing Klopp's perfect successor and may well be content with granting such an outlay to ensure Liverpool continue to thrive.

Amorim might not be long into his managerial career but he has worked wonders in Lisbon and toppled the Benfica-Porto monopoly in 2020/21, winning the Liga Portugal with Sporting, and has won the Taça da Liga on three occasions, twice with his current club and once with S.C. Braga.

Such success has led journalist Zach Lowy to herald his "special" approach; an impressive trophy haul in the maiden phase of his career does him no harm in staking a claim to lead Liverpool's talented players.

Across 190 matches at the helm with Sporting, the former Benfica defender boasts a noteworthy 2.25 points per match, and while he favours a three-man defence – something Klopp has never utilised with Liverpool – tweaking the squad in this regard is hardly going to lay waste to the club's long-term plans.

It could even bring the best out of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has long been a right-back but is starting to shift into a central midfield role in possession to maximise his world-class creative ability.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, shot-creating actions and passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes, the top 11% for interceptions and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90.

Amorim's possession-heavy style – which has seen Sporting hold 59.3% of the ball to Liverpool's 59.5% this season – could well benefit him massively. Indeed, it's arguable that the Reds would see no less of the ball than they have under their German hero.

Additionally, the requirement of a wing-back (Amoriom uses a 3-4-3 formation) could be perfect to allow Alexander-Arnold to take his influence to new heights, providing him with a greater license to roam and continuing a development that might lead to a future role of permanence in the centre of the park.

England boss Gareth Southgate pointed out two key areas where the Three Lions are lacking at Euro 2024.

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• Southgate points out areas where England are lacking
• Remain unbeaten at Euro 2024
• The Three Lions next face Slovenia

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England started their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Serbia, however, in their second group game, they struggled to pick up a point against Denmark. While the Three Lions remain on course to make it to the knockout stage of the Euros, their underwhelming performance against the Danes has led to severe criticism.

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  Now manager Southgate has opened up about his team's struggles in Euro 2024 as he claimed that Harry Kane and Co are lacking physically which is preventing them from coping with his tactics. He also urged his players to have more control of the ball to dictate games.

• WHAT GARETH SOUTHGATE SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the 53-year-old said, "We are not pressing well enough, with enough ­intensity. We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition. We can’t press as high up the pitch as we might have done in the ­qualifiers, for example. And we are not keeping the ball well enough. We have to keep the ball better and build with more control."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  The Three Lions will be back in action on Tuesday as they are all set to take on Slovenia in their final group game of Euro 2024.

A manager who adopts a "similar" playing style to Jurgen Klopp could become Liverpool's next boss this summer, according to Reds legend Jamie Carragher.

Liverpool looking for Jurgen Klopp successor

The Merseysiders are flying high in the Premier League, still topping the table after their 4-1 win away to Brentford on Saturday lunchtime, but it is still impossible to ignore the imminent exit of Klopp.

The legendary German has confirmed that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season, following eight-and-a-half years as manager, in a decision that has left Liverpool supporters both heartbroken and stunned.

The search is now on to find the perfect successor, which is going to be an incredibly difficult task, and Xabi Alonso is the current front-runner to come in. His Bayer Leverkusen side are now eight points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, and his past as a Reds player makes him an even more popular option.

The 42-year-old is far from the only contender to be Liverpool's next boss, however, with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi linked with a switch to Anfield, as well as Sporting CP leader Ruben Amorim.

Carragher reveals surprise candidate

Speaking to The Redmen TV [via Empire of the Kop], Carragher name-checked Benfica manager Roger Schmidt as an option to replace Klopp this summer, following something he has "heard".

"There’s the guy at Benfica that I’ve heard mentioned, Roger Schmidt. Who I think has got that link to the sort of Red Bull school. I think when people are mentioning him, it’s almost sort of the style is similar to Klopp’s style, so you think, ‘okay, would that be a good fit and would you have to change that much?'"

Schmidt could be an intriguing option for Liverpool. The 56-year-old is now an extremely experienced manager, winning the Primeira Liga title with Benfica in 2022/23, and also tasting Austrian league glory during his time with RB Salzburg back in 2013/14, highlighting his longevity.

The fact that Carragher mentioned Schmidt's playing style drawing comparisons with Klopp's could also mean that a move for him makes sense, with the Benfica boss known for adopting a 4-2-3-1 system, which certainly isn't dissimilar to how Liverpool set up, albeit with a bit more emphasis on controlling the base of midfield.

He likes to press from the front, just like Klopp, and the current Reds players could therefore find the transition relatively comfortable, rather than bringing in a manager with very different tactics.

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That being said, Alonso still feels like the most exciting candidate, for all of Schmidt's plus points, with the Spaniard a younger, more vibrant option who looks like one of the outstanding managers of the younger crop coming through. Failing to bring him in would ultimately feel disappointing at this point.

Enzo Maresca held his first proper interview as new Chelsea boss and has revealed the figures that influenced his coaching style.

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• Maresca holds first interview as Chelsea boss
• Snubs Guardiola in list of coaching influences
• Says 'Italian heritage' of Chelsea a factor in move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Maresca made the shock move to Chelsea from Leicester City last month, despite having only recently led the Foxes to promotion from the Championship to the Premier League. He took over from the departing Mauricio Pochettino to become the Blues' seventh permanent manager since 2016. In a club interview, the Italian was questioned about his coaching influences and he surprisingly snubbed former boss Pep Guardiola but that could potentially be because he was asked about coaches he played under.

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  WHAT MARESCA SAID

  Maresca was asked which coaches from his playing days helped shape him, and he answered: "Absolutely. As you say, I played under (Carlo) Ancelotti, (Marcello) Lippi, (Manuel) Pellegrini, all of them are very important managers. We all try to take things and then we create our own box with all these things inside. It’s what I’ve tried to do since I started thinking about being a manager."

  The 44-year-old was also asked about the Italian heritage at Chelsea and said: "One of the reasons for sure [I joined]. I’m very proud to be an Italian manager here again. Probably there is something between Chelsea as a club, as a family, and Italian people that works well!"

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  The Italian has a major job on his hands at Stamford Bridge after Pochettino led the Blues to a rather poor season by the club's standard and on the basis of the signings they made last summer. However, Maresca will know that he has a crop of very talented players to work with in the form of Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Christopher Nkunku, Enzo Fernandez and Reece James among others and will hope to find some success right off the bat.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MARESCA?

  The 44-year-old will lead the club for the first time during the Blues' pre-season United States tour when his side take on League One side Wrexham at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on July 24.

Rangers may be top of the Scottish Premiership and on course to beat Celtic to win the title, but reports suggest that they could be set for several departures away from Ibrox this summer.

Rangers transfer news

As Philippe Clement gears up for his first full season in charge after the success of the current campaign, Rangers have been as ruthless as ever. As things stand, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, John McLaughlin, Leon Balogun and Borna Barisic are all set to leave as free agents come the end of the season. Meanwhile, John Lundstram could also leave if the Gers fail in their reported attempts to seal a new contract with the midfielder.

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By
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What those departures will do, however, is free up room for further reinforcements, which could start with Oscar Cortes. After already impressing on loan from Ligue 1 side RC Lens, Rangers are reportedly interested in making Cortes' move permanent this summer. Alongside that, it will be interesting to see whether those at Ibrox do the same for fellow loanees Mohamed Diomande and Fabio Silva, who have also shone in recent weeks.

That said, the headlines have once again been centred around potential exit news recently. According to the Daily Record, Rangers could lose MacKenzie Strachan to Brentford this summer upon the expiry of his current contract. The Ibrox academy gem has caught the attention whilst starring for the Rangers B team and seems increasingly likely to be on the move, with the Gers reportedly unlikely to stand in the way of his departure.

At Brentford, the defensive midfielder would first join up with the Bees' B team alongside the likes of Romeo Beckham, before hoping to work his way into the plans of Thomas Frank. At 20-years-old, Strachan will be desperate for first-team opportunities sooner rather than later, be that at Rangers or Brentford.

Young gem Strachan to add to Rangers departures

Keeping a title-winning squad together is usually seen as the priority, but with or without the Scottish Premiership this season, it's set to be all change at Rangers as things stand. Clement, in a ruthless mood, looks destined to make his own stamp on the current squad ahead of his first full season in charge. Having turned Rangers' season around, it's fair to say that the former AS Monaco boss has more than earned that right.

What will frustrate the Gers though, is the loss of young talent like Strachan. The 20-year-old came through the academy, but has struggled to gain first-team minutes and now looks destined for the Premier League. Those at Ibrox will be hoping not to regret the decision to allow the youngster to leave, who could eventually thrive under Frank.

Before any of those departures can take place, Rangers must turn their focus back towards the league title in the hope of completing their turnaround once and for all to leave Celtic bewildered. Strachan, watching on, could at least see his boyhood club lift the utlimate silverware in Scotland before he departs in the summer transfer window come the end of the campaign.

Real Madrid's Zidane dynasty came to an end as Theo joined Cordoba to restart his career after 14 years without a senior appearance with Los Blancos.

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• Theo Zidane left Real Madrid
• Will join Cordoba on a two-year contract
• Penned an emotional farewell message on social media

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Zidane surname is synonymous with Real Madrid's golden era, courtesy of Zinedine's illustrious career, first as a player and then as a coach. He joined the Spanish giants from Juventus in 2001 for a record-breaking fee and went on to win the Champions League in 2002. His success story continued as a manager as he guided the team to an unprecedented "threepeat" of Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018 and two La Liga championships in two separate stints.

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  Unfortunately, none of Zinedine's four sons could replicate his success at the Santiago Bernabeu. Theo, the youngest of the lot, ended his stint at Valdebebas and has signed with Cordoba to seek a fresh challenge in senior football after he failed to make it to Carlo Ancelotti's first-team squad from Castilla. He joined Real Madrid's youth academy, La Fabrica, 14 years ago as a promising young talent and over the past three years, from 2021 to 2024, he played 93 matches for the reserve team, scoring three goals.

• WHAT THEO SAID

  In an emotional farewell video posted on his Instagram account, Theo expressed his gratitude and affection for Real Madrid. "Today it's time to say goodbye to the club of my life, Real Madrid," he wrote.

  "I joined as a young boy 14 years ago and today I can say that I am leaving as a man. This has been my home, my school, my family. I have grown as a footballer and as a person, and I will always carry with me the values that this club has transmitted to me. I want to thank every coach, all the workers at the club, and every one of the teammates I've had – some of whom have become friends.

  "Every moment shared, every teaching, and every learning received has been special to me. Now this stage is coming to an end and new doors are opening along the way. I only have words of gratitude. Wherever I go, I will always carry a piece of this shield in my heart. Hala Madrid!"

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Theo's move to Cordoba is seen as a significant step in his career, offering him a fresh start and the opportunity to establish himself away from the shadow of his father's legendary status. He has signed a two-year contract with the club and will play in the Spanish second division in the next season.