All posts by n8rngtd.top

Arsenal have signed Neto on loan from Bournemouth after allowing Aaron Ramsdale to leave the club.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Arsenal bring in Neto on loan
• Sold Ramsdale to Southampton
• Bournemouth stopper to backup Raya

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal have snapped up Brazilian goalkeeper Neto on loan from Bournemouth as cover for David Raya. The Gunners allowed Ramsdale to leave on deadline day, as he joined Southampton on a permanent deal.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Neto is an experienced operator. At the age of 35, he has won one cap for Brazil and has made 61 Premier League appearances, keeping 13 clean sheets. He has a contract with Bournemouth until 2026 but will spend the remainder of the season at the Emirates.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Neto has travelled across Europe throughout his career, playing for Fiorentina, Valencia, Barcelona, and Juventus before joining Bournemouth. He began his career with Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Arsenal face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Neto is likely to be on the bench after completing his move to the Gunners.

DC United's promising striker will take his talents to Nottingham Forest for the upcoming campaign, as he joins the U21 squad

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Kristian Fletcher signs for Forest from DC United
• Joins Premier League side on season-long loan
• Option to make transfer permanent

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kristian Fletcher has joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan from MLS side DC United, the Premier League side announced Friday. The 19-year-old Homegrown and U.S. youth international is slated to join their U21 side.
  "This is another important milestone in Kristian’s development and maturation as a Homegrown player," DC United general manager and chief soccer officer Ally Mackay said in a statement. "Going abroad and getting experience at a Premier League side is a testament to the work that Kristian has done to earn this opportunity.

  "We are dedicated to bolstering and uplifting our Academy and curating pathways for players to ascend to the D.C. United first team in addition to exploring different avenues for player development like going abroad. We are excited for Kristian and wish him the best of luck in England."

  Forest hold an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fletcher, who signed a homegrown contract with DC in 2022, has made 13 MLS appearances this season, scoring one goal.

  “I’m happy to be here and buzzing to get started," Fletcher said. "I knew Forest was a big Club, but being at the stadium and understanding more about the history, I now can’t wait to meet my teammates and get going.

  "I want to keep learning and developing and I'm confident this is just the start of what will be an incredibly rewarding journey with Forest and our fans."

  This will be his second stint in Europe after joining Swansea City's academy side on loan in 2023-24, where he scored eight goals.

• WHAT FOREST SAID

  Head of Academy Chris McGuane said: “I am delighted to welcome Kristian to Nottingham Forest and we are very happy to add the quality he has to our B Team squad. He brings experience of playing in the MLS and with the potential he has, we are looking forward to working with him and watching him progress further as a player.

  "We are excited to see the impact and development that he will make … Everyone at Nottingham Forest wishes Kristian all the very best as he starts what will be an exciting time for him at the club.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR FLETCHER?

  The 19-year-old will look to break into the XI of the U21 squad and impress. Through three matches this season, Forest's U21 side are undefeated and atop the Football League Trophy table.

Tottenham are now said to be eyeing a zero-cost move for a £250,000-per-week player who was once called "unplayable" by Michael Carrick.

Spurs looking to sign new forward for Ange this summer

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has relied on the likes of Son Heung-min and Richarlison for the majority of their output in front of goal, but that is something which technical director Johan Lange is looking to fix this summer.

Pundit really wants teenager to replace James Maddison at Tottenham

He’s yet to make his Spurs debut.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 16, 2024

That could also be in the form of a new striker to replace Harry Kane, as has been reported by reliable football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold, but another very credible media source in Fabrizio Romano claimed last month they wish to bring in another goalscoring winger.

"Look, a player they appreciate for a long time is Raphinha from Barcelona. We know the financial situation at Barcelona is not easy, so he could be one of the names. They will look at that kind of player," said Romano to JD Football.

"Another player they appreciate is Pedro Neto, but he has this issue with his injuries, so I’m not sure Liverpool, Tottenham or the other clubs following the player will be prepared to play big money for Pedro Neto this summer. That kind of player is the priority for Tottenham, I see them going for that kind of winger, a quality player to help with goals and assists."

Alongside the likes of Neto and Raphinha, Tottenham have been linked with other high-profile players like Eberechi Eze, with journalist Miguel Delaney reporting last month that they plan to make a "major signing" out wide.

While Spurs are keen to add a new striker and new centre-back as well, with Postecoglou admitting to the latter, it could be a very busy transfer window at N17 and chairman Daniel Levy will be looking to cut costs wherever possible.

Therefore, the free agent market could be a fruitful pool of talent for the north Londoners, and Italian newspaper Tuttosport has claimed that they have their eyes on an interesting new target at zero cost.

Tottenham eyeing free move for Anthony Martial

Man United attacker Anthony Martial, rumoured to be on around £250,000-per-week, looks set to leave Old Trafford on June 30.

The Frenchman doesn't feature in Erik ten Hag's plans, but he may well feature in Postecoglou's. According to Tuttosport, as relayed by Football Italia this week, Tottenham are interested in signing Martial on a free deal this summer but face competition from Juventus.

The 28-year-old has played just 13 league games this season but has displayed imperious form in past seasons. Indeed, former Spurs midfielder Carrick even once called him "unplayable".

"He has that ability. He’s shown that from day one since his debut against Liverpool, when he scored," said Carrick.

“We have to realise how good he is and can’t expect everything from him all the time. But, when he’s in that kind of form, he’s pretty much unplayable, so it’s nice to have him playing for us.”

Celtic took another step in the right direction as they attempt to win the Scottish Premiership title for the third season running with a 3-0 win over Hearts on Saturday.

The Hoops hosted the Jam Tarts at Parkhead and secured a comfortable victory in Glasgow, thanks to two first-half goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and a late penalty from Matt O'Riley.

Brendan Rodgers' side are bidding to ensure that they do not end the campaign without a trophy to show for their efforts, having been knocked out of Europe and the League Cup earlier this term, and have a huge match upcoming in the title race against Rangers next weekend.

One player who has played themselves into being undroppable for the Old Firm clash with his performances in recent weeks is forward James Forrest, who put in a fantastic display against Hearts.

James Forrest's performance against Hearts in numbers

The experienced winger was selected to line up on the left side of the attack on Saturday, with Daizen Maeda returning to the bench, and justified his selection with a fine showing.

Forrest, who was handed a match rating of 7/10 by the Daily Record, did not register a goal or an assist for his efforts throughout the afternoon against Steven Naismith's side but did offer quality in and out of possession.

The Scottish whiz had more touches (50) of the ball than Kyogo (20), who scored the first two goals for the Hoops, and this speaks to how frequently he got on the ball in an attempt to make things happen.

As you can see in the table above, the right-footed speedster created two chances, was efficient in his dribble attempts, and worked hard for the team defensively to make tackles in order to break up Hearts attacks.

Why James Forrest is now undroppable

The 32-year-old Celtic star has stepped up in recent weeks with a string of superb performances on the flank, which is why he should now be undroppable for Rodgers heading into the clash with Rangers at Parkhead next Saturday.

In his last seven appearances for the Bhoys in all competitions, Forrest has racked up an eye-catching four goals and one assist for the Scottish giants.

Maeda – the manager's alternative option for the role on the left of the front three – has scored four goals and provided two assists in 23 Premiership starts this season.

This suggests that the Scotsman could, given his recent output in front of goal, offer more than the Japan international in the final third, which is why he deserves to keep his place in the team.

Forrest, who has won 52% of his ground duels in the league, also works hard for the team, as shown by his three tackles won on Saturday, to go along with his attacking actions.

The veteran forward should, therefore, be undroppable after his latest impressive showing on the left wing, given his superior attacking statistics in comparison to Maeda and red-hot form in the final third.

The defender opened up on the off-field difficulties of being traded and the experienced he's had so far

DeAndre Yedlin has experienced plenty in his career. At 31, he's now the veteran, which is wild for those who remember him going toe-to-toe with Belgium's Eden Hazard at the 2014 World Cup behind his pace and the irrational confidence of a 21-year-old.

This past winter, though, Yedlin experienced something new, something that no athlete is ever really prepared for: getting traded.

It's a phenomenon unique to sports. Teachers, construction workers and paralegals aren't suddenly shipped out of town for allocation money. Things change rapidly in sports and, for those part of those sudden changes, the only hope is that things work out okay.

They have for Yedlin, who says he's unexpectedly found a new home in Cincinnati. After leaving behind Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, Yedlin has adjusted well to life in his new city, one that he plans to call home for a long time. Even so, there's still some heartbreak there. There are still times he thinks about what was left behind.

For the Wednesday Convo, a weekly Q&A with central figures in the U.S. soccer scene, GOAL US caught up with Yedlin to talk about this winter's big trade, the lessons he's learned along the way and how he feels about those that compare eras of the U.S. men's national team.

• USA Today Sports
  

  How are you enjoying life in Cincinnati?

  Yedlin: "Honestly, coming here, I had no clue what to expect. I knew about the team. I knew it was a good team, and they had great players. I knew the coaches, but, there's a lot bigger part of life than just the soccer part. What's it gonna be like living here? And honestly, it has been incredible from day one.

  "I went in with no expectations. I did. I honestly had no clue what to expect. I'd only been here for national team games, where we stayed downtown. You don't get to get that taste of what a city is like. You don't get the feel, but, in coming here, it really has become like a second home. Obviously, I call Seattle my first home, but it really has become like a second home. There's so much for kids to do and one thing that it made me realize is that it really doesn't matter where you are. I think as long as you're with the people you love, and they're happy and you're happy, then the place is going to feel incredible.

  "Hopefully, I can stay here longer. We'll see. I have a year left on my contract, and I think a year option after that. It's a place that I would love to stay. It really is. It's a great place."

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  What's the hardest part about being traded?

  DY: "Honestly, the thing that I was most sad about was to leave Drake [Callendar] and his wife, Kyra. Earlier, I think it was the year before, it was me, Drake Callender, and Aime Mabika, who's at Toronto right now. Aime got traded to Toronto, and that was really hard for both me and Drake, because we had created, like all three of us, this friendship group. Now it's just me and Drake, and then obviously my wife and Drake's wife are best friends as well. They'd be over at the house all the time. When we found out that Cincinnati could happen, bless my wife, that was the only thing she said: 'I just don't want to leave Kyra.'

  " I think, if it was the younger me, then my mind would have gone to, 'Oh, what is everybody going to think about this move? What is the public going to think? How are they going to view me now? Am I not I'm not worthy of being here?'. That whole thing, but for me, it was just, man, it's unfortunate that I have to say goodbye to this guy and his wife."

• AA
  

  You've had a lot of different stops in your career with different cities and cultures. What has that been like?

  DY: "Seattle to London was an interesting one, because Seattle's a big city, but it's not London, you know? I'd always wanted to live, or I thought I did, in a big city. So I get to London it really is a big city and that part of it was tough for me. I thought I was going to be able to navigate it better than I was. There's a lot going on, a lot to get into, especially at a young age. I'm making a lot more than I ever had. Those first couple of months, especially on top of not really playing, I was definitely figuring stuff out.

  "When I moved to Sunderland, basically same thing with Newcastle, they're not too far apart from each other, but I felt when I moved up north, I felt a little bit more at home. I think it was maybe the calmness of the city. There's a bit more nature out there. I'm a huge nature guy. I love being out in nature. When I'm in nature, I just feel grounded and balanced, so I felt a lot more comfortable up there. And then, obviously, it helps that, when I was with Rafa Benitez [at Newcastle], I was playing. We were doing really well, so I'm sure that obviously helped the comfort level.

  "My daughter was born in Istanbul, so as far as raising a family for me, that was a new start. It wasn't, for me, the best place for our situation and that's why, ultimately, we ended up heading back to Miami, but it's an unbelievable place. I need to visit and bring my daughter back.

  "The culture there is unmatched. I remember my favorite experience in Turkey was going to a place called Cappadocia, which was, back when the Ottoman Empire in rule, it ended up being where there were small groups of Christians, and that was not the norm there in that part of the country. They would hide in these caves that they built in these rocks and the caves are still there. The paintings on the wall are there for all to see. If you haven't been, it's an unbelievable place."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  You've played with USMNT legends and this generation of rising stars. How do you compare them?

  "I like using real-life examples a lot. Am I right now the same person as I was when I was 21? No, I'm different. It doesn't mean I'm better or I'm worse, but I'm just a different person. They're different generations. I don't want to say one's better, one's worse. They're just different. They're different generations, different experiences, different times, different situations, different society. There are a lot of things that are just different about it.

  "One of the things about sports, which you can't really get away from because it is a competitive sport, but it's just this nonstop comparing. Michael Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, but, like, let's just enjoy the greatness of of all of them. Messi, Ronaldo, let's just enjoy the greatness of both. Why does it always have to be an argument about who's better and who's worse? At the end of the day, you're not going to change somebody's mind anyway. If someone believes something, I'm not going to sit here and say, 'Oh, Jordan was better than LeBron', and somebody now doesn't believe LeBron is better. I'm not going say 'Oh, Jordan had this many rings' and that'll change their mind. It's just a means to get into another argument with somebody or a debate, which we've all had plenty going around.

  "I think debates are healthy at times, there are certain things where you just got to sit back and say, 'I'm just going to enjoy the greatness of both of these eras or these three eras, and that's it'. Going back to what I said, it's just a different time. There's not really a way to compare different coaches or different players. It's a different time in our society with social media, which plays a role. There are different opportunities now for players going over to Europe that probably weren't there before. All of these things play a hand in it."

Arne Slot might not have been anointed as the new Liverpool manager yet but the managerial saga to find Jurgen Klopp's successor is cut and dried at this point, with Fabrizio Romano rubber-stamping the deal.

Liverpool have enjoyed some lofty heights under Klopp's guidance but there are several pressing concerns heading into this new era, with the future of Darwin Nunez arguably the most important point of contention for FSG's CEO of Football, Michael Edwards.

Whether the Uruguay international will be Liverpool's first-choice striker next season remains to be seen at this early stage, and while there have been some promising reports regarding fresh faces to could make an impression at a new-look Liverpool side, Slot might find that turning to his compatriot Cody Gakpo would present the perfect internally-found solution.

Cody Gakpo's season in numbers

Liverpool welcomed Gakpo to Merseyside in January 2023 following the Netherlands star's impressive three-goal World Cup campaign in Qatar, beating Manchester United to his signature in a £35m deal.

Last season, despite Liverpool's torrid performances, the 25-year-old scored seven goals and added three assists from just 17 Premier League stats, "hailed for his "special skill set" by Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders.

Many will have hoped for him to raise his game several levels this season, and while Gakpo has enjoyed a measure of success as one of Liverpool's forwards, he has not had a seamless ride.

Still, he's scored 15 goals from 30 starting appearances in all competitions this term and has been utilised across a range of positions to ameliorate a staggering injury-stricken period throughout the campaign.

The 6 foot 1 ace could benefit greatly from a new manager in Slot who could realise his quality and place him in a regular and unchanging position, for the most part.

Moreover, with Julian Ward back at Liverpool, heading FSG's new player development strategy, Gakpo could find the diligent care needed to identify his strengths and use them in a way that would fit the new infrastructure on Merseyside.

Why Cody Gakpo could star under Slot

Gakpo has failed to cement a regular starting role in the Premier League for Liverpool but he has more than enough quality and style to cement a place as the striker of Slot's system.

The Feyenoord head coach emphasises heavy-intensity, fluid and fast-paced attacking football, and Gakpo boasts the modern outlook on his craft to make an impression and potentially oust Nunez as the No. 1 focal frontman.

After all, as per FBref, the Dutchman ranks among the top 19% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for passes attempted, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 17% for progressive carries, the top 10% for successful take-ons and the top 2% for tackles per 90.

This is an incredible array of noteworthy metrics that highlight Gakpo's inborn technical skill and intelligence, emphasising progression through means of distribution and as a vehicle himself.

By driving into dangerous positions, Gakpo is able to maintain a sense of dynamism that surpasses the lion's share of centre-forwards in the Premier League – it is for this reason that Klopp has opted to deploy him across a range of positions this season.

Naturally, the £120k-per-week talent is at his most potent when placed in his preferred position at centre-forward, but he invariably showcases his creativity and versatility.

Could he have done better this season? Undoubtedly, but Gakpo has grown in confidence and fluidity as the season has entered its later phases.

Sure, his recent efforts have been punctuated with ineffective and, once or twice, ignominious displays but then so too have his peers. So too has Nunez flattered to deceive so acutely that he has removed LFC-related imagery from his Instagram account following criticism.

So too has Mohamed Salah been bemoaned his profligacy in front of goal, miles away from the usual imperiousness that has categorised his extraordinary Premier League career.

Gakpo, lest we forget, has been shoehorned into every role imaginable in Klopp's final year. Sure, he's effective and technically proficient enough to make an impact across such roles, serving as a tactical nomad, but he'd prefer to cement a place in Liverpool's starting team.

Consistency breeds results. They say that hard work trumps talent but luckily the former PSV phenomenon has both in abundance. However, this pithy translates to positional understanding and Gakpo needs this.

Given that Nunez's antics on social media have piled on top of a growing sense of questionability surrounding his future at Liverpool – Barcelona have recently been linked with the Uruguayan as they search for Robert Lewandowski's long-term replacement.

15 goals in all competitions is hardly a bad return for a player who infrequently appears from the outset. There's no question that he is a better finisher than Nunez: the 24-year-old ranks among the top 18% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored but he also ranks among the top 1% for shots taken per 90.

What does that tell you? It tells you Liverpool aren't getting bang for their buck. Nunez is Anfield's record acquisition at £85m and after missing 47 big chances across his opening two Premier League campaigns, having played 63 matches and scored 20 goals, there are real concerns that he is simply not the natural, silky smooth goalscorer needed to shoot Slot's squad toward the forefront of the continental scene.

By the way, Gakpo – for comparison purposes – has scored 14 goals and missed 11 big chances across the season-and-a-half he has played in the English top flight. He's patently the better finisher.

Slot could revive Salah by unleashing struggling Liverpool ace in new role

This tactical tweak might work wonders for the Reds next season.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 11, 2024

Could Gakpo be Slot's man? The raw goal-striking data would suggest that he has tools to hand Liverpool a more prolific No. 9 than they currently wield as their number one.

What's more, he's the complete package. You wouldn't bet against Slot falling for his countryman and providing him with the platform to thrive at the arrowpoint of a new, exciting Liverpool system.

U.S. men's national team's Christian Pulisic scored just minutes into AC Milan's clash with Inter, leading the way in a 2-1 win

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Pulisic scored in 10th minute
• Third goal of season
• USMNT star off to incredible start

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Christian Pulisic's goal came just 10 minutes into Sunday's derby, giving AC Milan the early lead over Inter. After Milan won the ball in Inter's half, Pulisic took off, breezing past several defenders towards goal. The American then slotted his shot past Yan Sommer, sending the red half of Milan wild.

  Inter pulled one back in the 28th minute on a goal from Federico Dimarco. Milan, though, were able to steal a late win as Matteo Gabia scored in the 88th minute to seal a massive 2-1 win for Milan.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The goal continues Pulisic's hot start to the season as the American has been incredible for Milan in recent weeks. The goal is his third in Serie A this season to go with two assists, while Pulisic also scored in Milan's Champions League defeat to Liverpool midweek.

  Since the start of last season, Pulisic has the joint-most goal contributions of any player in Serie A, with Sunday's finish taking him to 31 over the last year-plus. The only player with as many is Lautaro Martinez, who assisted Inter's goal on Sunday.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC?

  Following the derby, Milan will look ahead to a clash with Lecce on Friday. After that, focus returns to the Champions League, with the Rossoneri looking to put points on the board when they visit Bayer Leverkusen on Oct. 1.

Luis Enrique insisted Mikel Arteta is ahead of him in his project with Arsenal after his Paris Saint-Germain side's poor defeat to the Gunners.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• PSG humbled by Arsenal in the UCL
• Gunners walked away with a comfortable 2-0 win
• Enrique admitted that he needs more time

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  First-half goals from Arsenal's Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka sealed a crucial victory for the Gunners, in their first European win of this season. The game highlighted the contrasting stages of development between the two clubs, with Arsenal under Arteta looking polished and determined, while Luis Enrique’s PSG side still appears to be a work in progress.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  WHAT ENRIQUE SAID

  In his post-match press conference, Luis Enrique was full of praise for Arteta and the progress Arsenal have made in recent years under the Spaniard. “I can’t really evaluate things on the same scale,” he explained. “Mikel Arteta is in his fifth year with Arsenal, and I’ve only been managing PSG for a year and two months. While I have a clear vision of where I want to take this team, it’s difficult to predict how much time we’ll need to reach that level of performance.

  "I can't properly evaluate the level of our team, we will have to wait until the end of the season. This was our first big rival at a higher level. We knew from the first minute they would press us high and they did it aggressively and we couldn't cope with that pressure."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  One of the key factors in PSG’s defeat, according to Luis Enrique, was Arsenal’s physical dominance and aerial superiority. The manager acknowledged that his players struggled to cope with Arsenal’s intensity and pressure, and it was this inability to compete in physical battles that ultimately led to PSG’s downfall.

  "Today we were far away from the standards you need in this kind of match. Arsenal were much better in terms of pressure, intensity, they won every duel," Luis Enrique analysed. "It's impossible to play for a positive result when you don't win any of your duels on the pitch. We won none of our duels, their defenders completely anticipated our attackers, and our defenders failed to anticipate their attackers."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL & PSG?

  After cruising to victory against the Parisians, Arsenal will be back in action at the Emirates against a beleaguered Southampton on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, PSG will continue their journey on the road and travel to Allianz Riviera to face Nice in a Ligue 1 encounter.

A manager wanted by Chelsea has given the green light for them to make a move for him, as the tactician is keen on replacing Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea draw up managerial shortlist with candidates named

Since the west Londoners announced Pochettino's departure on Tuesday evening, Chelsea's shortlist of candidates to succeed the Argentine has come to light through reliable sources in the media.

Chelsea chief Boehly now offered £6 million-a-year manager with 11 trophies

He’s highly decorated.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 23, 2024

More names will keep coming to light as well. According to some reports, Chelsea have been offered FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao through his representative Jorge Mendes, but Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali's shortlist is unlikely to be influenced by agents.

A potential return to Chelsea for Thomas Tuchel has also been reported in the last few days. However, widespread news outlets have since denied the possibility of a reunion with the German, despite Tuchel being open to making a move back to Stamford Bridge.

Instead, the likes of Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Girona’s Míchel, Newcastle's Eddie Howe and Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca have all been floated as rumoured candidates in the past few days – as well as Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.

"Pochettino was not seen as a strategic fit," wrote journalist Ben Jacobs on X, following the Argentine's departure.

"Pochettino himself felt the situation might deteriorate further if he stayed. This was relayed to Todd Boehly in a phone call. Several senior players surprised by the news. The dressing room wanted him to stay.

"Chelsea are looking for a 'young' manager. That really means 'modern' and 'progressive'. Chelsea are not considering Thomas Tuchel or Jose Mourinho. Ruben Amorim is not currently a frontrunner either. Kieran McKenna is expected to be a leading candidate, but #CFC feel Brighton are further ahead so would need to move fast.

"Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Girona’s Míchel, Newcastle Eddie Howe and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness have all been discussed."

McKenna could be a particularly interesting option for Boehly and co. The 38-year-old has guided Ipswich to back-to-back promotions, all on a shoestring budget, with the Northern Irishman garnering quite a reputation for himself.

Chelsea chiefs believe McKenna has the skills to replace Pochettino, according to journalist Dean Jones, and apparently the admiration is mutual from his side.

McKenna green-lights Chelsea move with Boehly willing to pay £4 million

According to The Standard and journalist Nick Purewal, McKenna has given the green light for Chelsea to approach him, as it is believed he is keen on taking over from Pochettino ahead of next season.

Ipswich want him to stay and are prepared to offer McKenna a new contract in order to keep him at Portman Road. However, the Tractor Boys boss believes he is ready for that next big step in his career. The newly promoted side could demand north of £4 million in compensation for McKenna if he were to leave, but it is claimed that this hasn't deterred Chelsea in the slightest.

David Wagner has hit out at critics of Jurgen Klopp after he took up the role of Red Bull group's Global Head of Soccer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wagner slams critics of Klopp
• Insists criticism makes him 'sick'
• Defends ex-Liverpool boss

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Klopp stunned fans when he decided to take on the role of Red Bull's Global Head of Soccer, his first job since leaving Liverpool. Borussia Dortmund fans, however, have reacted more with disgust than surprise, insisting that their former manager is "dead" to them following his return to German football.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Now, Wagner, who was Klopp's best man at his wedding, and who is currently out of work after leaving Norwich at the end of the 2023/24 season, has defended his friend, claiming that his decision has no bearing on his legacy as a manager.

• WHAT WAGNER SAID

  Wagner told Sport 1: "I can understand those who might have wanted something different from him. But I condemn anyone who criticizes Kloppo for this decision. It makes me sick.

  "Jurgen Klopp is neither a worse nor a better person, nor a worse coach. What he has achieved remains the same.

  "I find it reprehensible when people question Klopp's values just because he will soon be working for an outstanding organisation."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Klopp does not start work until January. In the meantime, the stable of Red Bull clubs – seven in total – will aim to build momentum.